Islandia Village Mayor Allan M. Dorman (left) and Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi (right), who joined Mayor Dorman in the lighting of the tree.
Islandia residents turned out for the 7th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 1 at Village Hall. Children went on hayrides, visited the Christmas cottage and had the opportunity to meet Frosty the Snowman.
Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi joined Mayor Allan M. Dorman in the lighting of the tree. After the ceremony, residents went to the big tent and enjoyed cookies and hot cocoa as “Joe the Singing Bus Driver” played guitar and sang holiday songs. Santa Claus hitched a ride with the Central Islip Fire Department inside their fire truck and came to distribute toys to the good boys and girls, with help from Santa’s elves. Santa also posed for pictures with the children, who also received candy canes, courtesy of Mrs. Claus.
Mayor Allan M. Dorman (fourth from right) poses in front of the Islandia Veterans Memorial with local war veterans and members of The United States Marine Corps at the village’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 10.
On November 10, the Village of Islandia held its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Village Memorial Triangle. Mayor Allan M. Dorman, a Vietnam veteran, was joined by local elected officials, war veterans and representatives from the Central Islip, Hauppauge and Lakeland Fire Departments to honor those who served and continue to serve in the armed forces.
There was a musical performance by the Central Islip High School marching band and a presentation of the colors by local members of The United States Marine Corps. Members of Cub Scout Troop #270 in Ronkonkoma joined war veterans in placing a wreath and bouquets of roses in front of the memorial.
There was a moment of silence for U.S. Army Chaplain Monsignor Francis Midura, who passed away on July 30. Msgr. Midura presided over the village’s Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day ceremonies and the special memorial service on the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Children dressed up as characters from “The Wizard of Oz” take part in the Village of Islandia’s 8th Annual Pumpkin Fest.
The Village of Islandia held its 8th Annual Pumpkin Fest on October 20 on the grounds of Islandia Village Hall. Eight hundred local children and residents came dressed in their favorite costumes, decorated pumpkins, took part in a costume parade and helped themselves to cookies and hot cocoa. Prizes were awarded for best costume.
In addition, there was a petting zoo and hayrides for the children, as well as live music from “Joe the Singing Bus Driver” and an appearance from the Central Islip Fire Department, which offered literature on fire safety and prevention.
On October 6, Village of Islandia residents cleaned out their garages, attics, basements and closets and brought their unwanted items to the “Ye Olde Fashioned Tag Sale” on the grounds of Village Hall. More than 800 people were on hand to buy and sell items such as toys, books, clothes, lamps and assorted knick-knacks.
This is the village’s second Tag Sale. The village held its first one on August 11 and, after seeing the large turnout, considered the event a success and decided to bring it back to the village hall grounds one more time.
On August 11, the Village of Islandia asked its residents to clean out their garages, attics, basements and closets and bring their unwanted items to the “Ye Olde Fashioned Tag Sale.”
Village residents were on hand to sell items such as toys, books, clothes, lamps and assorted knick-knacks.
Children take part in some of the games at the Village of Islandia’s 7th annual BBQ.
On July 14, more than 800 Islandia Village residents came out to the 7th Annual BBQ. Village employees and local Boy Scouts served residents hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, soda and water. Children enjoyed the day with hayrides, games, pony rides, a petting zoo, arts and crafts; face painting, and piñatas. A local DJ provided the music to keep the party going. Residents of the Arbors Assisted Living Facility and local elected officials were also in attendance.
In addition, there was a blueberry pie eating contest with the winners getting a blueberry pie and a $25 gift certificate to Dave and Buster’s. The Central Islip Fire Department was also on hand to teach children about fire safety. The village also had its DWI Awareness program, in which those on peddle carts donned a pair of goggles to simulate the effects of being intoxicated and attempted to navigate a course designed by the Public Safety Department.
Pictured (left to right): Alan Weiss, President, and Neil Dembinski, Member, Freedom Flying Memorial; Patrick and Brian McCormack, Bagpipers for Memorial Day ceremony; Islip Town Supervisor Tom Croci; Islandia Village Mayor Allan M. Dorman; New York State Senator Lee M. Zeldin; Sal Scarlato, President, Art Andolfi and Lou Montani, Members, Korean War Veterans Association, Central Long Island Chapter; Islip Town Councilman John Cochrane; and Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi.
Ceremony Honors War Veterans, Including Former POW from World War II
On May 26, the Village of Islandia held a Memorial Day ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial Triangle, located at the intersection of Old Nichols Road and Johnson Avenue. The event opened with an invocation, and was followed by a wreath ceremony. Gina’s Enchanted Flower Shoppe provided flowers for the ceremony.
The ceremony also included a flyby from the U.S. Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron 361 in Cutchogue in a Sikorsky UH-34D helicopter. These helicopters were used during the Vietnam War for combat rescue missions.
Islandia Village Mayor Allan Dorman, a Vietnam veteran, addressed members from the local chapters of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Korean War Veterans of America and the Vietnam Veterans of America, residents of The Arbors Assisted Living Facility and local elected officials. He also honored two local residents: Bill Dufek, a retired U.S. Army drill instructor, and Jim Dowling, a former Highway Superintendent for the Town of Smithtown who was a Prisoner of War during World War II. Mayor Dorman also presented a special bouquet of flowers to Marilyn Griffaton, Village Administrator, whose husband, Charles, passed away earlier this year. Mr. Griffaton served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962.
Islandia Village Officially Opens its Community Garden for Seventh Season
Village residents, board members and employees got together at the village hall grounds to take part in the village’s seventh annual Community Garden planting on May 12. They planted tomatoes, spinach, beans, radishes and peppers in the community garden. The young plants were graciously provided by Borella Nursery. Now, local residents can visit the garden, help take care of the plants and enjoy watching the fruits of their labor grow.
The garden was opened in 2006 as the result of an initiative put forth by Village Mayor Allan Dorman. Mayor Dorman and the village residents are hoping for a bumper crop this year. Residents who participate in the planting not only help beautify the village, but will get a chance to work alongside their neighbors and enjoy each other’s company.
Rain did not stop approximately 500 children from coming out to the Village of Islandia’s 7th annual Easter Egg Hunt. Children collected eggs to find tickets they could redeem for special prizes. Children had an opportunity to go on the hayrides and have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny.
Islandia Village Trustees Patricia Peters (back row, left) and Barbara Lacey as “Mrs. Claus” (back row, center) and Mayor Allan Dorman (back row, right) pose with Santa Claus at the village’s 6th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. They are also joined by Abigail and Holly Neri, whose family helped light the tree.
Islandia residents turned out for the 6th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 3. Children went on hayrides, visited the Christmas cottage and had the opportunity to meet Frosty the Snowman.
Members of the Neri family assisted Mayor Allan M. Dorman in the lighting of the tree. After the ceremony, residents went to the big tent and enjoyed cookies and hot cocoa as “Joe the Singing Bus Driver” played guitar and sang holiday songs. Santa Claus hitched a ride with the Central Islip Fire Department inside their fire truck and came to distribute toys to the good boys and girls, with help from Santa’s elves. Santa also posed for pictures with the children, who also received candy canes, courtesy of Mrs. Claus.
