For every 6-year-old joining Farmingdale Baseball Leagues' Rookie Division, this is a brand new experience; and yet the beautiful thing about baseball and softball is that it continues to be a brand new beginning for all of us involved in it every year. As we shake off the cobwebs of winter and exchange the snow shovel for a rake to clean up our lawns, we all look forward to a new year, a new season, every team starting with a chance, every kid filled with the thrill of the game.

This year Farmingdale Baseball League (FBLI) will be experiencing that thrill for the 51st time, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. As an original member of the Farmingdale Youth Council, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last October, FBLI has been consistently providing organized local baseball and softball leagues and tournament and travel teams for the community for thousands of area children from the ages of 6 to 18. Some children playing in the league now are grandchildren of FBLI alumni. Several FBLI alumni went on to become very active in the organization and in the Farmingdale community. Both Hon. Salvatore B. Pontillo, Nassau County Legislator, and Hon. Angelo Delligatti, Town of Oyster Bay Councilman and former supervisor, are both FBLI alumni.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, FBLI will hold its traditional Opening Day Parade on Sunday, April 22. The parade will step off at 2 p.m., sharp, from Howitt Middle School, and will proceed west on Conklin Street, then south on Main Street, and west on Motor Avenue to Allen Park. The players and coaches marching will be joined by bands and bagpipers and apparatus from our local volunteer fire departments from the Village of Farmingdale, South Farmingdale and North Massapequa. Once the parade reaches Allen Park there will be the traditional singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and FBLI's Annual Balloon Launch.

This year, the league will honor all of its past volunteers who are now deceased, and in particular, the league's immediate past treasurer, Tom Fusaro, who died at the age of 43 this past December. Tom will be honored, posthumously, as the parade's grand marshal and his deeds will be commemorated with a plaque. Tom was a lifelong resident of Farmingdale and an FBLI alumnus, who died suddenly on Dec. 27. Tom has made an invaluable contribution to the youth of Farmingdale, serving as FBLI's treasurer and a team manager and coach for many years, as well as serving as a coordinator and coach for PAL basketball for both boys and girls. Tom was employed as a general manager at Stellex Monitor Aerospace in Amityville for 16 years, where, in keeping with his dedication to children, he organized the annual corporate fund-raising campaign for the Ronald McDonald House Foundation. Tom is the son of Thelma Fusaro and the late Vincent James Fusaro, and is survived by his wife, Frances, his daughter, Alana and his son, Thomas Jeremiah. He is also survived by his brother, Vincent James Fusaro, of Port Jefferson Station, and his sister, Pamela Hannigan, of Abington, MA, as well as many nieces and nephews. Tom was well loved by FBLI and in recognition of Tom's service to youth, FBLI has established the Thomas Fusaro Sportsmanship Award Fund. A scholarship award will be given annually to a child playing in the league who exhibits the highest quality of sportsmanship, and a plaque will be given to the volunteer who exhibits the same qualities. Donations to the Fusaro Fund may be made by forwarding checks, payable to FBLI, to the league at 34D Hempstead Turnpike, Farmingdale, 11735.

The league has adopted a specially designed logo for its 50th anniversary and has issued a special commemorative embroidered hat with that logo to each child and coach in the league this year.

Additional plans for the league's 50th anniversary celebration include Picture Day on Saturday, April 28 at Woodward Parkway School (rain or shine), Baseball Day on Saturday, June 9 at Allen Park, and a Special Anniversary Dinner Dance on June 16 at the Stuart Thomas Manor. The dinner dance will feature a live a cappella performance by The Traditions. Tickets are available for $40 per person at the league's office. Call 249-7375 for details.