The Farmingdale Community Summit Council, Inc., hosted its first Community Summit last Wednesday, entitled "Farmingdale - A Community of Opportunity." This community-wide event, held at Farmingdale High School, offered dozens of local businesses and organizations an opportunity to showcase what they offer to the residents of Farmingdale.

Summit President and Committee Co-Chairs Tom Sabellico, Dr. Roberta A. Gerold and Ken Ulric noted, in a pamphlet offered at the event, that many residents have questioned what exactly is the "Summit." They explained that the answer can most graphically be given by referring to the names of the individuals and organizations that are involved in the Summit Council, and adding the names of all the students and others who helped the organization during the year with their efforts and contributions.

The Farmingdale Community Summit Council was formed during the enormously emotional month immediately following the events of September 11, 2001. The Summit represents a "coming together" of residents, organizations, merchants and houses of worship in the communities that comprise the Farmingdale School District for the common good of all.

Ulric noted that the event was one good thing that came out of an awful tragedy, the bringing together of a community. Representatives from organizations of all kinds were on hand at the event to display their involvement in the community and, in many cases, offered residents an opportunity to also get involved. Some of the organizations that were represented at the Summit included the Farmingdale Public Library, the Farmingdale School District, Farmingdale Youth Council, Farmingdale PTA, Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale, Village of Farmingdale, Farmingdale Federation of Teachers, LaSalle Regional School, Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society, the Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary, Farmingdale Lunch Rotary, Farmingdale CARE, Farmingdale Kiwanis, the Nassau County Police Department's 8th Precinct, the South Farmingdale Fire Department, the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, Jr. League of the Women's Club, the American Association of University Women, New Island Hospital, Farmingdale Physical Therapy, Farmingdale State University, St. Luke's Lutheran, Here & There Travel, Moby Drugs, YES Community Counseling, Farmingdale Adult Care, BJ's Wholesale Club, LI Blood Services, American Cancer Society, State Bank of LI, Roslyn Savings Bank, Citibank, and many more.

Different sporting organizations were also on hand, including Farmingdale PAL, Winning Beyond Winning, Friends of Farmingdale Athletics, Farmingdale Titans, Farmingdale Baseball, Farmingdale Wolverines, Farmingdale Hawks,

Representatives from Kids First Evaluation and Advocacy Center Inc. also attended and provided free speech screenings for children. Residents could also obtain childcare services, sign their children up for sports activities, register to vote, register at the library (and receive amnesty from library fines if they returned books that night), purchase raffle tickets, receive a variety of screenings at the health fair, and obtain information and giveaways from over 100 tables.

In addition, local elected officials were on hand at the Summit to speak to residents. Those who were invited included County Executive Tom Suozzi, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Senator Charles Fuschillo, Senator Kemp Hannon, Assemblyman Steve Labriola, Legislator Salvatore Pontillo, Farmingdale Village Mayor Joseph Trudden, and Oyster Bay Town Councilmembers Angelo Delligatti, Anthony Macagnone, Joseph Muscarella, Chris Coschignano, Bonnie Eisler and Mary McCaffrey.

Food was provided for residents in the cafeteria, and entertainment included a recorder concert in the auditorium, the Paul Gatto Jazz Combo and the High School Barbershop Quartet, who walked around the Summit and performed for residents in attendance.

The Farmingdale Community Summit Council was formed with the following mission statement: "A coming together of communities in the Farmingdale School District for the common good." In addition to the Summit, other activities organized by the council include Farmingdale Respects, which was a coming together of local communities in a common place to show respect for all those who served the communities and nation as a result of September 11, 2001; Farmingdale Reads, which promoted literacy throughout the community by asking all residents and students to read either the same publication or that with a similar theme; Farmingdale Jumps, which provided wholesome family entertainment to students and their relatives; and Farmingdale Remembers, which was formed in an effort to erect a permanent monument in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and the spirit of community that resulted afterward.