The TIMES of Smithtown
Volume 29, No. 3
Serving Smithtown • St. JameS • neSconSet • commack • hauppauge • kingS park • Fort Salonga March 17, 2016
$1.00
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It’s history Town buries capsule for 2066 celebration By alex petroSki
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Smithtown’s Sesquarcentennial year, which began on March 3, 2015, has come to a close. Smithtown concluded its yearlong 350th birthday celebration this past March 3 with the burial of a time capsule on the lawn in front of Patrick R. Vecchio Town Hall. “I think it surpassed anything that any of the members of the committee might have guessed or hoped for,” Maureen Smilow, of Smithtown 350 Foundation, said in a phone interview. She was one of the members of the foundation, which was responsible for organizing the events over the course of the year. Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio (R) was also involved with many of the events over the course of the year. “I think that the public who participated in the events will take a lot out of it because they were living history,” Vecchio
said. “For me the last year was a wonderful experience.” “The gala ball that was held in the midst of basically a blizzard turned out to be a huge success,” Vecchio said when asked which of the events were most memorable for him. The gala dinnerdance was held at Flowerfields in St. James last March. A time capsule buried in 1965 in front of Town Hall was opened to kick off the celebrations on March 3 a year ago. The Sesquarcentennial year got off to a rocky, yet funny start. “The smell was unbelievable,” Smilow said about the moment the half-century-old milk can was opened. “Everyone on stage had to stand back, it was horrendous,” she said laughing. The can was not properly sealed when it was buried, so over the course of 50 years moisture got in and reeked havoc on the contents, which were arguably not that exciting had they been in mint condition. The milk can contained two hats, a phone book, a local newspaper, a flyer for pageant tickets and an CAPSULE continued on page A9
Photos by Pat Biancanello
Top, the Smithtown time capsule sits in the hole it will remain inside for 50 years. Bottom, Supervisor Pat Vecchio makes his contribution.