During a special monthly meeting at the Stuart Thomas Manor, Farmingdale Summit Council President Tom Sabellico reviewed both the recent accomplishments and future goals of the group.

Their mission is one of creating a community of opportunity, specifically, a coming together of communities in the Farmingdale School District for the common good. At meetings, regular happenings of the Farmingdale community are discussed. Organizations are asked to bring literature advertising upcoming events in an effort to create a larger network of public awareness. Created in 2001 in the spirit of September 11, a group of 57 organizations in the area banned together in hopes of doing something together.

"The whole idea of the Summit was that every time you came to a meeting you were there for the good of the community," Sabellico said.

Their first cooperative project was Farmingdale Respects, a candlelight vigil held in remembrance of those who perished on September 11. Then came Farmingdale Remembers, a set of September 11 monuments now hosted by the Farmingdale Public Library. This was led by Mark Wenzel, assistant director of the YES Community Counseling Center.

"We accomplished what we set out to do," Wenzel said. "They are real solid pieces of work, a real striking remembrance."

Currently in its fourth year, Farmingdale Reads is the brainchild of Dr. Roberta Gerold, the superintendent of Farmingdale schools. Emulating a program that began in another part of the country, Farmingdale Reads encourages a community literacy effort. Literacy baskets are being put together for individuals who are homebound or those who have not yet joined the library.

"Farmingdale Reads now has over $3,000 available to get literacy baskets out in order to help get the literacy rate up," Sabellico said.

The Summit is also offering its second Farmingdale Writes writing contest. All entries must begin with the words: "The person who influenced my life most is..." Submissions are limited to 500 words and may be in the form of essays, short stories or poems. Artwork and photography, no larger than 8-1/2" by 11", will also be accepted. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Nov. 24. All entries should be sent to Farmingdale Public Library, Attn: Debbie Podolski, Director, 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735 or to Farmingdale Public Schools, Attn: Marcia Klein, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

The Summit's Annual Expo and Health Fair will be held at Farmingdale High School in April of 2005. Last year over 70 exhibitors participated and nearly 1,000 people attended. Summit Vice President and Farmingdale Federal of Teachers member Ken Ulric said it is a wonderful opportunity for each group to talk about what they do.

"All organizations in Farmingdale operate independently, this is a wonderful opportunity to network," Ulric said.

Summit Corresponding Secretary and Farmingdale Schools Administrator Ellen Krammer is currently working on a project called Farmingdale Families. This is an effort to get food to hungry Farmingdale families during the holidays.

"We didn't know the scope of how many people in Farmingdale were actually hungry," Krammer said.

Krammer is seeking turkey donations but said she has limited space to store them. In their organizations' true networking nature, a member of the South Farmingdale Fire Department also present at the meeting offered Krammer the use of a refrigeration unit at the fire house. After a round of applause and look of gratitude, Krammer said, "that's what this is all about."

"We have terrific people in Farmingdale," Sabellico said. "We are a very committed and busy community."

For more information on the Farmingdale Community Summit Council, Inc. or to join, call 249-3450. The Summit meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library.