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.
Seven hundred Islandia Village residents braved the hot weather to attend the village’s 14th annual BBQ, which took place at First Responders Recreational Field.
Village employees and local Boy Scouts served residents hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, French fries, as well as ice cream and cold drinks to cool people off on the hot summer day.
A DJ provided music for the event, which also included board games, carnival games, a water slide, a petting zoo, and other outdoor activities. Residents had the opportunity to win one of two children’s bicycles and participate in a blueberry pie eating contest hosted by Allan M. Dorman, Mayor. The winner got to take home a blueberry pie.
Allan M. Dorman (fourth from right), Mayor, Village of Islandia, is joined by members of the Central Long Island chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association and the Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144, Gina Lekstutis (fourth from left), Owner, Gina’s Enchanted Flower Shoppe, and Michael Fitzpatrick (right), New York State Assemblyman, at the village’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 25.
On May 25, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, Village of Islandia, joined local war veterans and elected officials in its annual Memorial Day ceremony, in which those in attendance remembered all who died while in service to this country.
Tom Brauner, Chaplain, Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144, delivered the invocation. Afterwards, Mayor Dorman, a former U.S. Marine and a Vietnam War veteran, acknowledged the veterans’ groups in attendance and asked to remember village residents who served and have since passed away. The ceremony concluded with local elected officials joining veterans and village officials in placing ceremonial wreaths on the memorial.
During the ceremony, members of VFW Post #12144 presented Mayor Dorman with a plaque in appreciation of what he has done for its members, including the establishment of a new VFW hall across the street from the Veteran’s Memorial.
Allan M. Dorman (back row, left), Mayor, Village of Islandia, Denise Schrage (back row, center), Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, and Mike DiFilippo (back row, right), Owner, Give It Your All Sports, pose with the children who took part in the Islandia Baseball Camp at First Responders Recreational Ball Field on April 27.
On April 27, the Village of Islandia joined Give It Your All Sports in Ronkonkoma in hosting the Islandia Baseball Camp, a baseball and softball clinic that was held on the grounds of First Responders Recreational Ball Field. Participating children received a baseball cap and T-shirt and had the opportunity to learn about the game’s fundamentals from professional trainers.
Children collect eggs at the Village of Islandia’s 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which took place on April 13 at First Responders Recreational Ball Field.
More than 800 families took advantage of the warm weather as clouds gave way to sun at the Village of Islandia’s 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which took place on April 13 on the grounds of the First Responders Recreational Ball Field.
Children ran out onto the field and collected as many of the 16,000 eggs as they could. Each egg contained a piece of candy, and some of them included a ticket that children could redeem for a special prize.
In addition, children and their parents enjoyed cookies and hot cocoa and listened to songs performed by “Joe the Singing Bus Driver.” They also had a chance to guess the number of jellybeans in the jar for the chance to win a prize.
Residents enjoy refreshments and conversation during the grand opening of the Islandia Senior Center on March 23.
On March 23, the Village of Islandia welcomed senior residents to the grand opening of the Islandia Senior Center, located at Islandia Village Commons. Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia, gave a tour of the facility.
The center gives Islandia’s seniors the opportunity to socialize, watch movies, play board games and enjoy each other’s company.
The new facility is located at the former site of the Col. Francis S. Midura Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12144, which since has been relocated to 1218 Old Nichols Road in Islandia.
The Islandia Senior Center will be open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Santa Claus (third from left) joins Islandia Village officials at the village’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Village Hall on December 1. Also pictured (left to right): Michael Zaleski, Deputy Mayor; Denise Schrage, Commissioner, Parks and Recreation; Barbara Lacey, Trustee, as “Mrs. Claus”; Patty Peters, Trustee; and Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia.
On December 1, Village of Islandia residents came out to celebrate the holidays at the village’s thirteenth annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. “Joe the Singing Bus Driver” performed under the big tent as he played guitar and sang holiday songs, while residents sang along and enjoyed hot cocoa, coffee and cookies. After the tree was lit, Santa Claus came down to give out toys to the good little boys and girls of Islandia. The children also received candy canes, courtesy of Mrs. Claus.
In its December 20-27 issue, the Smithtown Messenger reported on the Village of Islandia’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1. Read Article
Patricia Ann Kellner (fourth from left), President, The DNA Genealogy Group, Marie Depaula-Walsh (fourth from right) and Robert Sutton (third from right), Volunteer Firefighter, Central Islip Fire Department, were recognized at a Good Neighbor Gala that was held on the grounds of Village Hall on November 30. Also pictured (left to right): Michael Zaleski, Deputy Mayor; Barbara Lacey, Trustee; Denise Schrage, Commissioner, Parks and Recreation; Patty Peters and Burhan Kisla, Trustees, Village of Islandia. Standing behind Ms. Walsh: Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia.
On November 30, the Village of Islandia held a Good Neighbor Gala on the grounds of Village Hall to recognize three of its residents—Patricia Ann Kellner, Maria Depaula-Walsh and Robert Sutton—for their positive impact on the community.
Ms. Kellner is President of the DNA Genealogy Group of Long Island and has found lost family members using genealogy and DNA, reunited adoptees to their families and developed successful genetic genealogy strategies. She manages numerous DNA tests, runs Facebook DNA genealogy groups, has hosted family reunions and created an extensive family tree. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and has a B.A. in Speech Communications.
Ms. Depaula-Walsh witnessed a tragic accident in September where a boy riding his bike was struck by a car near Gina’s Enchanted Flower Shoppe. She didn’t know the boy, but she felt compelled to learn more about the boy’s condition. She entered the flower shop to see if Gina Lekstutis, Owner, Gina’s Enchanted Flower Shoppe, had any more information on the boy. Ms. Lekstutis gave Ms. Depaula-Walsh a red rose and asked that they continue praying for the boy. Ms. Depaula-Walsh carried the rose with her as she shared the story with everyone she met, including Mayor Allan M. Dorman, and asked them to keep the boy in their prayers.
Mr. Sutton has been a Volunteer Firefighter for the Central Islip Fire Department since 1992. He runs the department’s fire prevention program and has been recognized for developing one of the best programs in the state. He hosts fire safety presentations and poster contests at local schools. He has served as President of the Suffolk County Fire Safety Educators from 2006 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2017, bringing his passion for education to all those in the organization.
At the ceremony, Mayor Allan M. Dorman thanked the honorees for their service to the community and the attendees for supporting their neighbors. He also said that there will be more Good Neighbor Gala events in the future as the village continues to recognize its citizens.
In its December 20-27 issue, the Smithtown Messenger reported on the Village of Islandia’s Good Neighbor Gala on November 30. Read Article
