More than 500 Islandia residents came down to the First Responders Recreational Ball Field on October 22 for the Village of Islandia’s Fall Fest. The event featured a DJ, games, food, hayrides, a costume contest, an apple pie eating contest, and pumpkin picking. Members of the Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144 handed out American flags and poppies to those in attendance. Islandia Fire Marshals gave out smoke alarms, presented a K-9 demonstration and showed children how to properly put out a fire. There was also a raffle for a chance to win a 65-inch flatscreen TV.
The Easter Bunny poses with some of the residents who attended the “Meet the Easter Bunny” event at Islandia Village Hall on March 27.
On March 27, in celebrating a safe Easter, the Village of Islandia hosted a socially distanced “Meet the Easter Bunny” event. Residents drove around the Village Hall parking lot and had the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny, while village employees and volunteers gave out Easter baskets and face masks. Children wearing masks also got the chance to have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny.
With the weather getting warmer, the First Responders Recreational Ball Field is expected to see more village residents using the park. The park features a variety of amenities, including a state-of-the-art ball field, a children’s playground, a fitness path and a gazebo.
The ball field has bleachers which can hold several hundred spectators, concession stands and restrooms. Since it first opened in 2018, the ball field has hosted baseball and softball clinics, as well as youth and adult baseball and softball contests. Residents can use the field for themselves when it is not in use (proof of village residency is required).
The village recently purchased a pitching machine to help ballplayers improve their hitting skills and intends to install a batting cage and bullpens in time for this coming season.
A children’s playground is located inside the park where children can climb, swing and slide. Residents can take advantage of the walking path featuring ten separate exercise stations.
The park also features a common area with a gazebo that has been the site of village events, such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt, Village Bar-B-Que and Pumpkin Fest and the first-ever Movie Night. The village anticipates bringing back these events this year.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Residents can also access the park for non-profit and commercial uses. For more information, contact the village’s parks and recreation commissioner, Denise Schrage, at 631-348-1133 or at dschrage@newvillageofislandia.com.
Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia, salutes after laying a wreath in front of the Veterans Memorial at the Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony on November 7.
On November 7, Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia, took part in a special Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Triangle. The ceremony honored those who served and continued to serve in the armed forces.
Village of Islandia hosted a socially distanced Pumpkin Fest on October 24. More than 50 families drove around the Village Hall parking lot and remained in their vehicles as village employees, volunteers and members of Boy Scout Troop #252 gave out trick-or-treat bags, face masks and pumpkins.
Forty residents came to First Responders Recreational Ball Field on September 18 to take part in Paint Night. They expressed their artistic abilities as they painted their versions of a butterfly sitting on a blade of grass.
Allan M. Dorman (front row, center), Mayor, Village of Islandia, poses with members of the Central Islip, Lakeland and Hauppauge Fire Departments at the village’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 9.
On November 9, the Village of Islandia held its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Triangle. Mayor Allan M. Dorman, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, was joined by local elected officials, war veterans and representatives from the Lakeland and Central Islip Fire Departments to honor those who served and continue to serve in the armed forces.
The ceremony was preceded by a performance from the Central Islip High School marching band. During the ceremony, Mayor Dorman asked those in attendance to remember those local residents who served in the military and have since passed on. He also recognized all the local veterans’ groups that were in attendance. An invocation was delivered by Tom Brauner, Chaplain, Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144.
Children take part in the costume parade during the Village of Islandia’s Pumpkin Fest on October 26.
More than 500 residents came down to First Responders Recreation Ball Field to celebrate Halloween at The Village of Islandia’s Pumpkin Fest on October 26. Throughout the event, children decorated their pumpkins, took part in a Halloween costume parade and contest and joined their families on hayrides. Islandia’s own “Joe the Singing Bus Driver” performed Halloween songs for the children. Families were treated to refreshments and got to take home goodie bags and their very own pumpkins.
Mayor Allan M. Dorman (fifth from left) poses with John Kennedy (fourth from right), Suffolk County Comptroller, members of the Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144, the Korean War Veterans Association, Central Long Island Chapter, local first responders and Islandia Village safety officers at the First Responders Memorial after a special dedication ceremony on September 11. The village remembered five local first responders who died during the 9/11 attacks.
On September 11, the Village of Islandia held a special ceremony at the First Responders Memorial in honor of the memory of five local first responders who were killed during the September 11, 2001 attacks: Raymond M. Meisenheimer, Peter Brennan, John P. Napolitano. Glen K. Pettit and William J. Mahoney, Jr.
Mayor Allan M. Dorman was joined by village safety officers, local first responders and members of the Col Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144 and the Korean War Veterans Association, Central Long Island Chapter, in remembering those who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks.
The First Responders Memorial was unveiled on June 2, 2018. It features five plaques, one for each of the five local residents who lost their lives that day. Mayor Dorman said this ceremony will continue to be held at the Memorial to remember those who perished that day.
Allan M. Dorman (third from left), Mayor, Village of Islandia, is joined by elected officials, Jake’s 58 representatives and former major league players before the start of the 1st Annual Baseball Clinic. Also pictured (left to right) Fred Cambria, former Pittsburgh Pirate; Tim Teufel and Mookie Wilson, former New York Mets; Chuck Kilroy, General Manager, Jake’s 58; Peter King, U.S. Congressman; and Turk Wendell, Ed Kranepool and Art Shamsky, former New York Mets.
On August 8, the Village of Islandia hosted the 1st Annual Baseball Clinic at First Responders Memorial Ball Field for children ages 6 to 15. Children had the opportunity to learn about hitting, base running, pitching, fielding and catching from former members of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. Mr. Met also came down to provide encouragement to the children. After the clinic, children and attendees took pictures and received autographs from the players.
Food and drinks were sold at the concession stands. Jake’s 58 and Delaware North donated the sales proceeds to benefit the USO.
The clinic was sponsored by Jake’s 58. Delaware North, which operates video lottery terminals, donated $1.5 million toward the construction of the ball field, which was completed in 2018.
