Dozens of local community organizations gathered in the gymnasium of Farmingdale High School on Thursday, April 21 for the Third Annual Farmingdale Community Summit Council Expo & Health Fair.

The Expo, dubbed Farmingdale, A Community of Opportunity, allows civic associations, merchants, elected officials and sports groups to showcase their organization to local residents as well as become familiar with each other.

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 original purpose of the Summit was to bring together as many residents, businesses and organizations for the common good of the communities serviced by the Farmingdale School District," said Summit President Tom Sabellico. "The Expo is a natural extension of that, actually bringing everybody into one room, thanks to the school district, to show the community the many opportunities that exist here in Farmingdale."

Some of this year's participants included; Winning Beyond Winning, the Sugar Control Center, the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society, Farmingdale Rotary, Farmingdale Youth Council, Liberty Tax Service, Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale, Farmingdale Federation of Teachers, YES Community Center, Farmingdale Swim Club and Farmingdale Baseball. Other booths, such as Cuts Fitness for Men, gave away water bottles, while Stuff-a-Bagel offered a spread of food samplers. Both Priestley Chiropractic and Wider Chiropractic issued free massages to interested passers-by.

Village Deputy Mayor Joe Rachiele and his daughter, Julia helped staff the Rotary Club's booth. Julia was selling car magnets to raise money and awareness for the Gift of Life, a program that helps children from third-world countries receive much needed surgeries.

"We bought 500 last summer and hope to raise between $750 and $800," Rachiele explained.

Debbie Podolski, a Council member, commented "this is a wonderful event." Podolski, who is also the director of the Farmingdale Public Library, added that the Summit's monthly meetings are always held there.

Sabellico and Council members welcomed local elected officials such as Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Town Clerk Steve Labriola and Legislator Dave Mejias.

"If you needed to get something done in Farmingdale, everybody you needed to speak to was at the Expo that night," Sabellico said.

While calling out the winning ticket numbers for the Chinese auction toward the end of the evening, Supervisor Venditto said, "Everyone's a winner in Farmingdale."