Young And Looking For Something To Do? Week Of August 4 - 11

By Cristen Feeney

August 4-11

August is well underway, and while you may be dreading the end, there is still plenty of summer-fun for everyone of all ages, this month.

On August 4 from 10am-5pm, there is a garage sale at 43 Aberdeen Rd in Smithtown. There are items being sold such as a television, a wall oven and audio and video equipment. Head down and see if you can find something you’ve been looking for. This is a great and inexpensive way to furnish a dorm room.

On August 5th, Ralph’s Ices on Maple Avenue in Smithtown is holding their Give-Back night in support of Smithtown Children’s Foundation. If you buy an ice from 5-11pm, 20% of your purchase will go to the Children’s Foundation.

Also on August 5th, if you or anyone you know is undergoing or has been treated for cancer, there is a yoga class at 6pm at Stony Brook University Cancer Center to celebrate your health and help you feel good about your body. 

 August 7th, Nesconset Swirls and Twirls will be hosting a fundraiser for the Nesconset Downtown Revitalization Project from 11am-11:30pm. Text “OURTOWN” to 516-279-3799 and get 10% off your purchase. All proceeds during event hours go to the project.

If you’re a teen in grades 6-12 looking to help the Smithtown Library raise funds to benefit the library and get some community service credit, there is an opportunity to volunteer on August 8 at the Summer Concert. To register or find out more, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.smithlib.org/teens/335-smithtown-main-teen-programs” http://www.smithlib.org/teens/335-smithtown-main-teen-programs

August 10 is the Long Island Adventure Race 5K! It’s an Obstacle/Mud Race. The event is for anyone 8+ whether you’ve run a 5K before or you’re just looking for a fun event. For more information, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.liadventurerace.com” www.liadventurerace.com

 On August 11th, there is an Open Mic Night at Mills Pond House Gallery for anyone who is looking to get some music out there. Performers can come at 1pm and bring 3 songs to share with the group. It’s a great way to have a fun afternoon and promote yourself as a musician.

Nissequogue River State Park's Healing Garden With A Healing Backdrop

By Maureen Rossi 

As July made its grand finale,  local residents gathered for wine and cheese at the Administration Building in the Nissequogue  River State Park.  Melodious sonnets echoed from a single violin, the backdrop for enthusiastic chatter, as members and guests of the Commack-Kings Park Rotary Club (CKPRC) and the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation (NRSPF) readied for the dedication of the new “Healing Garden” they were donating to the park.

In addition to Rotarians and Foundation members, Deputy Regional Director of New York State Parks, Brian Foley, was on hand for the garden dedication. Foley thanked all involved in the creation of the Healing Garden which is neatly tucked in a quiet northern quadrant of the park with spectacular views of the Kings Park Bluff. “This is a sign of things to come as we move forward with this park”, he exclaimed.

Foley found the site of the healing garden enormously appropriate given the history of the property. “So many families from Kings Park came from other countries to take care of the patients here,” he explained.   “This is a very special week for Kings Park with this dedication and the Centennial Celebration of the Kings Park Fire Department.”

Hues of pink and orange floated across the slowly darkening sky like pastel ribbons and many guests went to the water’s edge to view the sunset; the clear cool night allowed celebrants to see clear across to the Connecticut shoreline. The night was perfect for the ceremony. 

(photo by F. MercuriThe Healing Garden was a partnership between two organizations, the Commack - Kings Park Rotary Club and the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation. In a presentation made before the dedication Pat Biancaniello, a member of both organizations, explained how the idea of the garden developed. The NSPRF has always advocated for the creation and preservation of the park and its beautiful vistas. Their efforts have been invaluable in ensuring that the park is here for everyone to enjoy. Rotary, she said, “does it all”. She explained the work of the Rotary both internationally and locally. “Rotary is about helping people, and communities. Working together to create a healing garden at the site was a perfect fit.”

She reminded everyone of the early days when Mike Rosato, Linda Henninger, Rob Trotta and Sean Lehman requested that she get involved with park. Then a visit to Snug Harbor in Staten Island (the site of a beautiful healing garden) at Assemblyman Engelbright’s suggestion.  The rest is history. 

Biancaniello thanked Rotary and the Foundation for their support of the project. She thanked Brian Foley for his support, former NRSP manager Sean Cruickshank, current manager of the park Bill Purtill* and Sunken Meadow State Park Manager Jeff Mason. All of whom she said were incredibly supportive and helpful. Pat also thanked the many supporters of the project with special recognition for IGA owner, Charles Reichert for his generous support.

The original garden design was donated by Joan McGuillicudy, The Surrogate Gardner. The construction and  labor on the project was donated by St. James resident Eric Hagenbauch of Finesse Landscape Design. Eric and his crew put in over 230 hours on the project.  He shared some of his secrets with the crowd.

“I took all the materials around the back of the building on a golf cart so there wouldn’t be any tire marks near the garden,” he explained. “I was worried about who would water the garden so I installed a sprinkler system as well,” he said.  He also took great care to shape with an artist’s hand what appeared to be an old gnarled tree into what he now calls “The Tree of Life.”

People  came from almost every hamlet in Smithtown showing tremendous support for the garden. Looking through the crowd many Kings Park community leaders were found enjoying the garden. Offering their support were Mike and Rosemary Sullivan, Gail and Jack Hessel, Maryann and Larry Flynn and Richard Macellaro. 

“This is why we all chose to live here, for the natural beauty and the healing garden takes us one step closer to this park becoming a great place,” said Rob Trotta. Everyone seemed to share his sentiment.

 Link to YouTube video of the event by Frank Mercuri http://youtu.be/7YXH-AEU62c

*Edit was made to correct the spelling of NRSP Manager Bill Purtill

Commack Man Dies After Driving Into Hauppauge Building

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash into a Hauppauge building that resulted in the death of the driver.

Peter Fedden was operating a 2008 Honda eastbound on Commerce Drive when he failed to stop at an intersection and crashed into a building, located at 159 Adams Boulevard at approximately 12:10 a.m.  Fedden was trapped in the vehicle and police officers from the Emergency Services Section extricated the victim from the car. Fedden, 29, of Commack, was airlifted by a Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Fedden’s vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Fourth Squad detectives are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452 or Suffolk Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Former Smithtown Resident Pen's The Awakening Of Agnostos - Myths of the Olympians

The Awakening of Agnostos - Myths of the Olympians by Jennifer Paquette and Nicholas Perrotti

Author Jennifer Paquette,  a former Smithtown resident, has turned to the Greek gods and mythology to explain the Bermuda Triangle. The creative idea to use mythology in a new way was not Ms. Paquette’s, the idea came from her son Nicholas Perrotti, who at age 14 developed an interest in mythology and encouraged his mother to write about it and to be “creative”.

Paquette liked Nicholas’  idea of writing about the gods of Olympus and began to jot down her thoughts. Her ideas  were met with “it has already been done before”.  Thus began the collaboration of mother and son that led to The Awakening of Agnostos - Myths of the Olympians. 

The Awakening of Agnostos tells the story of the Bermuda Triangle named Agnostos - The Triangle of the Unknown, a mysterious place on earth and the only place where the gods of Olympus have no power. Hecate, the Goddess of Magic, is banished to Agnostos and stumbles upon the a gateway to the center of the earth where a god more powerful than the Olympians lives. Five Olympians must enter the abyss and fight the unknown god to maintain their positions as supreme rulers of Olympus and save Earth.

Nicholas Perrotti and Jennifer PaquetteThe Awakening of Agnostos - Myths of the Olympians is the first in a series the mother - son team is collaborating on. The book is published by Write More Publications and is available on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. 

Author Jennifer Paquette grew up in Smithtown and currently lives in New York City with her husband John and their two teenage sons John and Nicholas. She enjoys writing.  Her published works and soon to be published works include: The Haircut, Kiss of Eris, Kiss of the Mer-Zombie and The Awakening of Agnostos. 

Nicholas Perrotti was born in Cleveland, Ohio and currently lives in New York City. He is entering his junior year at Stuyvesant High School. Nicholas is described as having an undying love for good books, mythology, movies, art and architecture.

14-Year-Old Pedestrian Critically Injured In Nesconset

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that critically injured a female pedestrian in Nesconset on Sunday night.

Natalie Maloney, 14, of Ronkonkoma was attempting to cross Nesconset Highway and Middle Country Road in Nesconset last night at approximately 11:40 p.m. when she was struck by a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Domiciano Rubi, 64, of Brentwood.

Maloney was transported by Nesconset Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where she is listed in critical, but guarded, condition. Rubi and his passenger were not injured in the crash.

The Suburban was impounded for a safety inspection. The investigation is continuing. Anyone who may have any information regarding this crash is asked to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.