April 12, 2023 East Islip

Troop 205 Recognizes Its 105th Eagle Scout

TROOP 205 RECOGNIZES ITS 105TH EAGLE SCOUT - Legislator Steven J. Flotteron recently recognized Jack Christopher Wodicka of East Islip with Troop 205 on being their 105th Eagle Scout at his Eagle Court of Honor at the Timber Point Elementary School. Jack’s Service Project, earning him Eagle Scout status, was a renovation of the Great River Memorial Park which included installing a walkway, two large anchors, and solar paneled lights to illuminate the American flag. He also cleaned and much the area and added new flowers. He is currently a junior at East Islip High School where he excels academically, musically playing the trombone and has been a scholar athlete on the varsity boys swim team.

The Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County Summer Camp Program Returns For Summer 2023

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s (GSSC) registration for its beloved summer camp programs is officially open! Girl Scouts can expect a jam-packed roster of exciting new events and curricula for the upcoming 2023 summer camp sessions. This year’s summer camp programs will run from June 26th through August 25th at Camp Edey in Bayport. Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s summer camp offers a wide range of activities and programming, from STEM to the arts, all summer long.

“We are thrilled to have girls back at Camp Edey this coming summer,” said Tammy Severino, GSSC President & CEO. “Camp is a long-standing tradition in Girl Scouts and offers our girls a variety of opportunities to learn and explore in an empowering place. We can’t wait to share the campgrounds with girls from all across Suffolk County this year and encourage anyone who wants to take part to join us.”

Girl Scout summer camp helps expand girls’ interests, confidence, and knowledge in the outdoors in a fun and safe space. During camp, girls can learn new skills with the backing of a global sisterhood that helps them expand their horizons while connecting with their communities. GSSC’s summer camp programs are part of the ongoing mission to help girls

April Happenings

discover and connect with the world around them as they take action to make it a better place for all.

Every Girl Scout can find a summer camp program that is right for them at GSSC summer camp. This year’s programs include Day Camp for girls in grades 1-6, Teen Ventures (grades 7-9), and Sleepaway Camp (grades 5-9). These programs include everything from swimming, scavenger hunts, outdoor sports, crafts, gaga ball, disc golf, and much more.

Camp Edey is located in Bayport on 95 acres on the Sans Souci Lakes. It is home to the Juliette Low Friendship Center and has two pools, an archery range, and more.

Registration is now open. For the early bird special, guests must register before April 14. For more program and registration information, visit https://www.gssc.us/ en/camp/summer-camp. html.

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County: The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is one of the largest youthserving agencies on Long Island, serving over 15,000 members dedicated to the mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. For more information about Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc. us.

Did You Know?

Only certain veterans can get the complete comprehensive caregiver benefit package through the VA. DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

is working to change these laws and correct this inequity. Many Americans are asking their legislators where they stand on the issue.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

12:00PM-4:00PM

ANIMAL ADOPTION EVENT

This event is sponsored by Long Island University. Adopt an animal at LIU Post, the Pratt Recreation Center Lot. Follow @ourcauseforpaws on instagram for updates. Rain date is April 16th.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

8:00AM-4:00PM

CAR SHOW & SWAP MEET

Long Island Cars will present their "Super Swap Sunday" Car Show and Swap Meet at Flowerfield Fairgrounds. Enjoy classic show cars, vendors fair food and live music. Visit LongIslandCars.com for more information.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

6:00PM-8:00PM

ALZHEIMER'S COMMUNITY FORUM

The Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will partner with the Wyandanch Senior Center and The Witness Project. for an in person event called “Alzheimer’s Community Forum" at the Wyandanch Senior Nutrition Center. For questions call Joanna Rekas at 631-315-2916. To register visit communityresourcefinder.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

7:00PM-10:00PM

HARD LUCK CAFÉ CONCERT

The concert will feature Rachael Sage and Avi Wisni. An open mic precedes the concert. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Cinema Arts Centre/FMSH members) and can be purchased online at cinemaartscentre. org or at the box office now through the evening of the event.

Make a submission! Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more info, call 631.226.2636 x211 or send events to nataliealmeida@longislandmediagroup.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

1:00PM-4:00PM

SPRING LITURGY & LUNCHEON

Calling all alumni, The Academy of St. Joseph will be hosting their 2023 Spring Liturgy and Luncheon on the Brentwood Campus. Call for reservations at 631-2731187 ext. 154.

1:30PM BUNCO

The Joseph Barry Columbiettes, the auxiliary for the Knights of Columbus, will be hosting BUNCO. Games begin at 2:00PM, $12 per person and it includes coffee, tea and snacks. For reservations call Susan at 516-680-8487 or email SueSarandis@gmail.com.

3:00PM-4:30PM

BOOK READING

North Babylon Resident, Cheryl Williams will be doing a reading of her new book, A Lesson A Day: A Child's Way at the North Babylon Library. Call the library at 631-669-4020 to register.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

8:10AM-10:30AM

BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS

Legislator Arnold W. Drucker is partnering with NuHealth to provide free mammograms to women over the age of 40 at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset. For more information and to make an appointment, contact Legislator Drucker’s office at 516-571-6216 or adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

8:00AM-2:00PM

VENDOR MARKET/YARD SALE

The Grace United Methodist Chuch in Lindenhurst will be hosting an indoor vendor market and yard sale. This event

is rain or shine. For more information call 631-226-8690 or email gumc.lindy@ gmail.com.

1:00PM-4:00PM

EARTH DAY CLEAN UP

The Levittown Community Council invites Levittion families, organizations and business groups to help clean up various locations throughout Levittown. All participants will meet at Veterans Memorial Park. For more information email levittowncouncil@yahoo.com.

7:00PM-11:00PM

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL

Join the Seatuck Environmental Association in-person at the Scully Estate in Islip. Enjoy a pre-event reception featuring light fare courtesy of Costa Verde Hospitality, beer courtesy of DUBCO, wine, live music with Dennis & Ivan, and of course multiple short films shown on the big screen.Visit seatuck.org for more information.

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

10:00AM-4:00PM

SPRING VILLAGE CRAFT FAIR

Outdoor Spring Craft Fair with 100 exhibitors all crafts. Set on the beautiful grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society. Refreshments available and live music. Rain date May 7th. Call 631-8461459 for more information.

2:00PM-6:00PM

ARTHRITIS RAFFLE FUNDRAISER

The annual raffle fundraiser to benefit AiArthritis at the Lindenhurst Gazebo. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/aiarthritis. Deadline to purchase tickets is April 16th. Email auctionforarthritis@gmail.com with any questions.

Students’ Civics Project Collects Donations For Homeless Shelter

At the beginning of the school year, Islip High School civics teacher Ted Blanchard introduced seniors Estefany Gonzalez and Anali Turcios Alvizures to a civic readiness project with a goal of gathering donations for the homeless. The two students accepted the challenge enthusiastically and started brainstorming ideas to make the project a success, meeting with building administration to pitch their ideas.

The seniors identified an organization to work with, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless in Amityville. They communicated with community engagement specialist Bailey Riekkinen and learned about the significant need for clothing, shoes and

toiletries. They developed a plan, created flyers and posters that were shared with the community, and began a collection following winter break. The response was overwhelming, with the community rallying behind the students and filling donation boxes and bags in the high school’s main office with clothing, blankets and toiletries.

On March 15, Gonzalez and Turcios Alvizures provided LICH with the hundreds of donated items. Meeting with Riekkinen, they learned about the varying needs of the homeless and those in emergency shelters, as well as the procedure for processing donations and distributing to those in need through the Coalition’s boutique.

“For Estefany and Anali,

this project was not just about collecting donations, it was also about learning to be engaged in their community and giving back to those in need,” Assistant Principal Meghan Stern said. “Throughout the project, Estefany and Anali emphasized the importance of empathy, compassion and understanding. They developed a deeper appreciation for the challenges that homeless individuals face and gained a better understanding of how they can make a positive impact in their community. The project taught them the value of civic engagement, and they left with a sense of pride and fulfillment, knowing that they made a difference in the lives of others.”

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for April is Rebuilding Together Long Island

www.rebuildingtogether.org

Rebuilding Together

Long Island (RTLI) is a nonprofit organization, headquartered in Farmingdale, serving Nassau County and most of Su olk County. As an a liate of the national organization, Rebuilding Together, their mission is repairing homes, revitalizing communities and rebuilding lives.

To accomplish their vision of safe and healthy homes for everyone, they provide free essential home safety repairs and modifications for economicallydisadvantaged homeowners, whether they are older adults, veterans, families or persons with a disability or limited mobility.

Although RTLI’s teams work year round, April is a particularly important month because it is National Rebuilding Month. “Too many Americans su er from the health and economic consequences of living in substandard housing and under served communities,” said Caroline Blakely, President & CEO of Rebuilding Together. “National Rebuilding Month serves as an annual month-long call to service to encourage people to support their neighbors, strengthen their community and ensure everyone is living in safe and healthy homes.”

RTLI together with its 120 sister a liates will all look to surpass last year’s accomplishment of working with over 13,000 volunteers to repair close to 800 homes and over 150 community centers nationwide. As you drive around Long Island, watch for RTLI’s lawn signs. If you see one, you will know their volunteers are hard at work helping someone who needs a helping hand.

Once accepted into the program, each home receives a safety check of every room. Each home has its own challenges. RTLI also listens to the homeowner to determine their priorities. Hazards and unsafe conditions are noted and given to the volunteer crews so they can prepare a materials list and then

get to work. Minor plumbing and electrical repairs may be made, but they may also do weatherization, flooring (if the current floor is a hazard), sheet rock repair and a myriad of other repairs. If someone has limited mobility, a wheelchair ramp may be constructed, grab bars and railings installed, doorways widened where possible to accommodate a wheelchair. Conversions of bathtubs to walk-in showers can also be done and under certain circumstances, a stair glide may be installed. While RTLI cannot always take care of every issue in the home, they will tell you that every home they work on is left safer than is was and the lives of its residents are improved when the project is complete! So how can you help?

•If you know someone who may benefit from their services, have them call the RTLI o ce at 631.777.7894, Monday – Friday, to see if they qualify for the free program.

•Join the RTLI team! Volunteers can sign up at rebuildingtogetherli.org/ volunteer-today. Currently they are looking for individuals who are fluent in Spanish and for an o ce person, particularly if they are familiar with Salesforce. Additionally, if you are handy with tools, the Nassau and Su olk crew teams are always looking for more help.

•Donate at rebuildingtogetherli. org. RTLI relies on the donations of our neighbors, some grants and corporate sponsorships, as they do not receive any government funding.

•RTLI encourages local business to get involved and sponsor a project. The organization can find the right project for your business to sponsor and you can then promote your generosity on social media to show your commitment to improving the health and safety of someone in need locally.

When we work together, we can bring about transformational change quickly in our communities. Stay tuned for next week’s article to learn more.

STUDENTS’ CIVICS PROJECT COLLECTS DONAtions - Islip High School seniors Estefany Gonzalez and Anali Turcios Alvizures collected donations for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless in Amityville for a civic readiness project. Photos courtesy of Islip School District

If your non-profit would like to be featured in this column,please email noellelambert@longislandmediagroup.com for consideration.

Keira Tantillo Named All-Eastern Musician

East Islip High School senior Keira Tantillo was recently named an AllEastern musician by the National Association for Music Education, and will attend NAfME’s Eastern Division Conference, to be held April 13-16 in Rochester.

The top junior students who participate in the New York State School Music Association are selected by East Islip teachers biannually to attend the conference as a senior. The names are then sent before the NAfME selection committee, where the state presidents rank the students in December. Tantillo was selected to perform in the 2023 AllEastern Honors Mixed Choir, representing East Islip and New York State as one of the most musically talented and hardworking musicians.

rehearsals and master classes. Preparation will continue during Friday and Saturday, culminating in a Sunday concert performance at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester.

“I am honored and privileged to be attending this event with Keira,” said East Islip Art and Music Director Dr. Rob Wottawa. “I have witnessed Keira grow over the past eight years into a very accomplished musician, performer and kind person who is always helping our department.”

Tantillo, who was honored by the East Islip Board of Education at the March 29 meeting, has been accepted into the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for music performance.

amazing people,” Wottawa said, “and Keira is a perfect example of how our program supports hardworking students to develop a firm foundation at our elementary schools and blossom into professional musicians through our middle and high schools.”

Accessing Schooling Options

KEIRA TANTILLO NAMED ALL-EASTERN MUSICIAN - East Islip High School senior Keira Tantillo was recently named an All-Eastern musician by the National Association for Music Education and honored by the board of education. Photo courtesy of East Islip School District

The Girl Scouts Of Suffolk County Kick-Off Cookie Season

Tantillo will arrive at the Conference on a Thursday to begin intensive

“Our East Islip music teachers work to build our students up into

(NAPSI)—Parents are more optimistic about their children’s academic, emotional, and social development and they increasingly support school choice according to EdChoice, which wants all K–12 students to access the schooling options— public, private, charter, homeschooling or other— best for them. Learn more at www.edchoice.org.

ZONKA

5 year old male. English Bulldog. Enjoys walks and treats. Huggable

GIRL SCOUTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY KICK-OFF COOKIE SEASONGirl Scouts of Suffolk County (GSSC) is excited to announce that the Girl Scout Cookie Program is running now through April 17, 2023. To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program and how to support local Girl Scouts, visit: https://www.gssc.us/en/cookies/ about-girl-scout-cookies.html.

Students And Community Team Up To Collect Jeans For Teens

Islip High School students in teacher Renee Clock’s Junior Chamber of Commerce Club, along with teachers, faculty and staff, worked to collect denim jeans for the Town of Islip’s Teens for Jeans donation program.

Partnering with local businesses, Islip High School has participated in this community service endeavor, which provides jeans to people living in local homeless shelters, since 2012.

“With active

participation from our Islip team and our community partners, we have been able to collect over 500 pairs of jeans every year,” teacher Renee Clock said. “That’s over 5,000 pairs of denim jeans for our local community.”

STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY TEAM UP - Islip High School students in teacher Renee Clock’s Junior Chamber of Commerce Club, along with teachers, faculty and staff, worked to collect denim jeans for the Town of Islip’s Teens for Jeans donation program. Photos courtesy of Islip School District

“Long Island Cars” Super Swap Sunday Car Show & Swap Meet Sunday

Long Island Cars will present their “Super Swap Sunday” Car Show and Swap Meet on Sunday April 16th at Flowerfield Fairgrounds off Route 25A in Saint James. Flowerfield Fairgrounds, once a turn of the century flower farm, will be filled

with classic and collectible automobiles including show cars from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, one-of-a-kind custom cars, antiques, exotics, street rods, muscle cars and imports. Show cars will be competing in classed judging with trophies. The event will

April 16th

also include Long Island Cars signature swap meet with well stocked vendors offering older parts, literature, accessories and collectibles for swap and sale. If you are looking for those rare car parts to complete your custom or collectible car, this is the

event you’ll find them. If you are looking to buy a dream car, check out the car for sale section where owners will be selling cars directly to the public. You’ll experience live music by “The Fugitives”, fun fair food and more. Flowerfield Fairgrounds

is located on Parkside Drive off Route 25A in St. James. L.I.E. 62 North, take Nicolls Rd (Rte 97) North to the end, make a left /west on Route 25A for 2 miles (GPS coordinates: Parkside Dr., Saint James 11780). 8am to 4pm, rain date: April 23rd.

Admission: $10.00; 12 years and under are free; free parking. Show or sell your collectible car with admission. Judged cars and vendors register at the gate between 7am and 10 am. (631)567-5898 or LongIslandCars.com.

Strong communities are able to thrive thanks to the efforts of their residents, including those who give up their free time to volunteer with local charitable organizations. Though the impact of volunteers is often seen through the lens of the projects they help to initiate and complete, there’s no denying just how valuable

The Impact Of Volunteers

volunteers are from an economic standpoint. In its 2018 “Volunteering in America Report,” AmeriCorps, an organization dedicated to strengthening communities and fostering civic engagement through service and volunteering, reported that Americans volunteered nearly 6.9 billion hours worth an estimated $167 billion in

2017. Volunteering figures to be even more valuable in the months and years ahead as towns, cities and countries look to recover from a global pandemic that claimed millions of lives and devastated economies big and small. As the world attempts to rebuild itself once the pandemic has ended, volunteers can play vital roles in reestablishing

their communities. In fact, many people have already made that recognition. According to data from the professional social networking site LinkedIn, the site’s users had added more than 110,00 volunteer activities to their profiles between the early stages of the pandemic in 2020 and the end of summer 2020.

NOTICE-Fed

Engineer, Electrical sought by Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. in Melville, NY. Dsgn analog circuits incl power supply, ampli ers/ sensors, & digital, microprocessor-based circuits considering rmware reqmts; troubleshoot eld problems/test prototypes/integrated systems as a part of dvlpmt process; perform tolerance analysis; review dsgns; dvlp product specs w/ dvlpmt/mktg team; dvlp/improve product dvlpmt processes & other engg processes; prep accurate, up-todate reports for eld & executive mgmt. Req’s: Bachelor’s deg in Electrical Engg or Comp Sci & Engg plus 2 yrs’ exp w/ dsgn & dvlpmt of consumer electronic products w/ AFCI & GFCI technologies, sensor interfacing & signal conditioning, circuit dsgn using discrete semiconductors & magnetics, & product validation tests for UL, FCC, CSA & similar agencies. Up to 10% domestic & int’l travel reqd. Salary range: $91,250-$115,000. Send resume to humanresources@leviton.com or 201 N Service Rd, Melville, NY 11747. 410507N041223

Public Relations Specialist (Hicksville, NY) Salary $68,000/yr. Act as PR Specialist of our org & clients; Understand PR objectives, dsgn & plan PR campaigns & media relations strategies; Write press releases & prep pitches for media, create multimedia content on social media, & dsgn event posters & other visual materials; Build Visual Identity System, & rltd duties. Master’s in PR or Communication Arts, 2 yrs exp as PR Specialist, Art Director or rltd involving branding using Visual Identity System dsgn & managing media relations. Mail resume to Chinese American Better Life Promotion Center Inc, 43 E Barclay St, Hicksville, NY 11801

410455N041223

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SEPTA Provides Inclusive Resource Fair For Families

Islip SEPTA presented an Inclusive Resource Fair at Islip High School on March 3, providing important resources for all families while highlighting students with different abilities. The successful evening connected school partnership and family engagement.

A comprehensive group of individuals and organizations were on hand to share information and resources with attendees, including ACCESS-VR, Adelphi University, Autism on the Seas, special education advocate Danielle Brooks, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Care Design NY, Challenger Athletics, Andrew M. Cohen Law Offices, The Cube basketball facility, Dance Connection, EJ Autism Foundation, Empowering Artists with Disabilities, HOPEFitness Sports Foundation, League of YES, Long Island Educational Opportunity Center, Music Academy for Special Learners, National Alliance on Mental Illness, New York’s 529 College Savings Program, Islip Town Councilman Jim O’Connor, Parent to Parent of New York State, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Tommy’s Friends, special care planner Mitch Weisbrot and Whole Child Academy.

Historically High Fuel Prices

Historically high fuel prices will undoubtedly prove to be one of the defining stories of 2022. As the average price for a gallon of gas reached heights drivers might never have imagined as recently as February 2022, some might have wondered just how much that same gallon might have cost roughly 100 years ago.

According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the average price for a gallon of gas in 1929 was 21 cents. Inflation calculators indicate that 21 cents in 1929 would have about the same purchasing power as $3.59 has in 2022, suggesting that drivers had a far less painful trip to the pump in 1929 than they have had for much of 2022.

National Wrestling Hall Of Fame

NATIONAL

WRESTLING

HALL OF FAME – Thomas Fauvell of West Islip was inducted into the NWHOF October 1, 2022. As a graduate of West Islip High School, 1970, Tom was awarded WIHS Athlete Citizen and one of the most versatile athletes by his coaches and teammates; wrestling, lettering, and posting numerous records. As a teacher and coach, Tom was named NYSPSW Coach of the Year three times and named U.S. Marine Corp Vince Lombardi Northeast Coach of the Year. Tom continues to contribute to local wrestling programs including Wrestling Takes Down Drugs, volunteer Referee Pinning Down Autism, clinics for coaches, referees & wrestlers, and appearing in the Netflix movie “First Match” promoting female USA Wrestling. He is currently Vice President of NY State Wrestling Officials Assoc., Rules Interpreter for NY City Wrestling Officials Assoc. & NY City Coaches, Board Member of Metropolitan Wrestling Assoc., active National Federation of Wrestling Officials Member, Friends Long Island Wrestling, a USAW Leader Member, and its NY-US-AW Down State Youth Assigner. Congratulations on this Lifetime Achievement Honor. Pictured: Honoree Thomas Fauvell & his wife Patricia at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction amongst his numerous trophies, awards, and honors.

Find Your Way Home

My real estate journey began in 1984 back when I was managing apartments. After taking a few years off to raise my four children, I decided to get back in the real estate game! , I joined Douglas Elliman in 2013 after several years with another firm. I was impressed with their presence in the market. I love the South Shore and have called West Islip my home for over 30 years. My children, and now my grandchildren, love the beaches and the proximity to both Fire Island and the New York City. During my free time, I savor moments with my grandchildren and family. Let me show you what I love the most about West Islip and the South Shore of Long Island. Call me today!