The winds and rain from Tropical Storm Ernesto couldn't keep close to 300 participants from participating in the 2nd Annual Main Street Mile in Farmingdale on Sept. 2. The spirit of all the participants was in no way dampened by the weather as exemplified by this great turnout, which was presented by Bob Cook, owner of the Runners Edge on Main Street in Farmingdale, who was race co-director. Proceeds from the Main Street Mile supports the Companions in Courage Foundation, founded by former New York Islander and Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, who was in attendance and participated in the event.

The title event sponsor was North Fork Bank. Other sponsors included Cisco Systems, Stop & Shop (which donated all the water and fruit given to race participants), the Library Café, Dr. Larry Lembo, a Farmingdale-based chiropractor, World Gym in Wantagh, Babylon Bike Shop and the UPS Store in Massapequa. The Nutty Irishman was gracious enough to host the awards ceremony and provide food and drink for participants.

The race was a huge success, attracting 288 total registrants. There also a kids fun run where 25 participants ran a quarter-mile up and down Main Street and got medals and free ice cream from Bollingers and Ben & Jerry's on Main Street. In addition, there was participation from two Farmingdale soccer teams - the Farmingdale Force and Farmingdale Cyclones.

In the men's open division (under 40 years of age), Chris Mammone of Valley Stream won overall in a time of 4:18, followed by last year's winner Christian Fogarazzo of Bellmore in a time of 4:20, and Adam Morrison of Pickering, Ontario finishing third in a time of 4:22.

In the men's masters division (over 40 years of age), William Oehrlein of East Northport won in a time of 4:46; followed by Ken Bohan of Oyster Bay in a time of 4:48 followed by Donald Archer of Brentwood in 4:53.

In the women's division, Megan Holden of Sound Beach won overall in a time of 5:00 flat, followed up by Jen Campbell of Levittown in a time of 5:04, and Zofia Wieciorkowska of Stratford, Conn. in a time of 5:07.

In the women's masters division, Karen Conklin of Massapequa won in a time of 5:54, followed by Carman Anderson of Great Neck in 5:55 and in third, Michele Labiento of Floral Park in 5:58.

Farmingdale residents fared well in the race as well. Top finishers were Brendan Dagan in a time of 4:28 and 12-year-old Justine Fernandez who finished in a time of 6:47. Other Farmingdale finishers included Peter Hogarty - 5:07, Joe Picini - 5:27, 14-year-old Luke Alber- 5:29, Brian Mcdonough- 6:04; Tim Sheehan - 6:09; Brian Schumeuer- 6:09; Michael Fernandez - 6:37; Jeffrey Morrison - 6:47; 11-year-old Noel Merda - 7:08; 11-year-old Amanda Borstelmann - 7:11; 11-year-old Julia Horrmann - 7:12: 8-year-old Julia Tolson - 7:14; 73-year-old Geza Fela- 7:25, and Tom Lynch - 7:26.

The race's oldest finisher was 83-year-old John McManus of Woodside, who finished in a time of 11:58.

Proceeds from the race will go toward LaFontaine's non-profit organization Companions in Courage (CiC). 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 Cisco Systems, and Microsoft. 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 video-conferencing. A new Lion's Den interactive playroom will be opening at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian in October, the proceeds raised will go towards that effort. The total amount raised was $6,500 for this great cause.

Local dignitaries were on hand for the day's festivities, which culminated at the Nutty Irishman on Main Street, who were gracious enough to host the awards on short notice given the inclement weather, with Pat LaFontaine presenting the awards. Legislator David Mejias presented LaFontaine with a citation acknowledging the great work done for children with Companions in Courage. Nassau County Parks Commissioner Jose Lopez was also in attendance.

Ed Flynn, North Fork Bank vice president was present. "We are very pleased to be part of this event, supporting such a great cause and all the great work done by Pat LaFontaine and Companions in Courage," he said. "We look forward to seeing the Lion's Den open at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital."

Mark Leff of the Melville-based Cisco Systems, was greatly involved in publicizing the event as race co-director.

"We can't thank everyone enough for braving the weather to support all the great work benefiting children that Pat does," Leff stated. "It is also a pleasure to work with Bob Cook and the Runners Edge, and the North Fork Bank for all their generosity, two great class acts helping to support the community. We also look forward to the opening of the Lion's Den at Columbia Presbyterian, the result of the great work CiC does."

For more information on CiC visit www.cic16.org.