Back in June NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine introduced the inaugural Main Street Mile in Farmingdale. The Sept. 3 one-mile race to which both elite and recreational runners were invited evoked significant participation from the local community.

Event sponsors included North Fork Bank, Cisco, Henry Schein, Verizon FIOS, Stop and Shop and many local businesses were involved as well. Main Street merchant The Runner's Edge presented the race.

The race was a huge success, attracting 242 total registrants, including 198 for the one-mile race, 44 for the Kids Fun Run.

In the men's division, Christian Fogarazzo of Bellmore was declared the winner after a photo finish. Ted Towle of Brooklyn and Reed Mauser of Setauket finished seconds with times of 4:12 and 4:13, respectively.

In the women's division Lyndsey Webber of Sayville completed with a time 5:07, while Jessia Reifer of New York City finished at 5:20 and Susan Menz of Briarcliff Manor at 5:32.

Farmingdale residents fared well in the race as well. Peter Hogarty, 4:58, Luke Alber, age 13, 6:08, David Kenndy, 6:19, Larry Lembo, 6:30, David Nanser, 6:31, Sal Noto, 6:49, Jeffrey Morrison - 6:53 and Lauren Renna - 7:05.

Proceeds from the race will go toward LaFontaine's non-profit organization Champions in Courage. CiC's immediate goal is to raise funds to build interactive playrooms in children's hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms are meant to replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during their hospital stay. This effort paves the way for their motto "no child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go it alone."

The rooms, dubbed the Lion's Den, have state of the art technology from Microsoft and Cisco Systems. Patients receive a "smart" card when they check into the hospital, identifying them as members of a special community with unique privileges. The key is an ID device that allows each child to personalize their experience within the Lion's Den room with activities such as web surfing, video game playing and videoconferencing.

Local dignitaries were on hand for the day's festivities, which culminated on the Village Green with Pat LaFontaine presenting the awards. Assemblyman Joseph Saladino presented The Runner's Edge owner Bob Cook and LaFontaine with proclamations. Legislator Dave Mejias, an avid runner, was pleased to be a participant in the Main Street Mile. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and village officials were also in attendance.

Mark Leff, a partner strategy manager with Melville-based Cisco Systems, was greatly involved in publicizing the event.

"We were quite pleased with the community participation, the reception and feedback from participants, and hope we can do this again next year," Leff stated.