On a gorgeous first Sunday of June at the Garden City Middle School, the Peter Coleman - Bob Jahelka - John Kufs third grade lacrosse team hosted the Bethpage Golden Eagles in the season's finale. The Rams (7-1) dominated play from start to finish in chalking a decisive 8-2 win, the team's seventh consecutive victory of the season.

GC utilized its season-long formula for success with solid team defense and a major edge in groundballs. Brian Coleman (8GB,1A), Tommy O'Brien (5GB,1G), Austin Kufs (5GB,1A), Michael Borges (5GB), Ryan Buser (4GB) and James Raphael (3GB) helped lead the Rams to a season-high 61 ground balls. Sean Skramko (4 GB) played his best game of the season while displaying his patented one hand scoops.

Goaltenders Danny Flynn and Drew McAward, along with D-Dogs Brian Noonan, Tommy Martis, Brendan McGovern and Will Ruddy were solid all season while providing the Rams with the stingiest defense in the league, allowing a scant 4.2 goals per game. Crease attackman Evan Heinze added a goal to his team-high 15 goals while Steve Jahelka (3GB,1A) put the finishing touch on an outstanding season, scoring four times, raising his season tally to thirteen goals.

Shane Thorton (5GB) was a model of consistency throughout the season, scoring at least one goal in seven of the eight games while averaging 5-10 ground balls per game. Matt Clarkson (2G,6GB) was one of the team's most complete players and Michael Decker (1A), Griffin McQuilling and Joe Horan displayed dramatic improvement since the first of the team's semi-weekly practices beginning in early March. The coaching staff would like to thank and congratulate the boys and parents for their season long commitment and dedication to a fabulous season of lacrosse.

Thanks to the generosity of Garden City residents Jim and Ellen Riley, 73 developmentally disabled boys and girls who live at St. Christopher-Ottilie's Home in Sea Cliff, have a brand new basketball court that bears the name of Lou Carnesecca, St. John's University legendary former basketball coach. The Rileys provided the funding to build the basketball court that will be used this summer and fall as St. Christopher-Ottilie's own hoops stars, the Special Olympic gold-medal Owls, work on returning their Special Olympics gold medal for basketball.

When Jim Riley, a St. John's alumnus, reached out to Coach Carnesecca and told him of his interest in dedicating the court at St. Christopher-Ottilie in Carnesecca's name, the answer was an absolute "yes." The new Lou Carnesecca Basketball Court is the newest addition to the grounds of the recently renovated St. Christopher's Home. Along with the Rileys gift, this summer children will also be enjoying their new handicap accessible playground adjacent to the new basketball court, on the grounds where three brand new residential cottages were dedicated last June. The campus also has a Residential Treatment Center that is being renovated.

"Thanks to the generosity of our friends the Rileys, who made this possible, our boys and girls will have many years of enjoyment and benefit from the physical activity, and team building skills that come with playing basketball," St. Christopher-Ottilie's Executive Director Bob McMahon said.

"The basketball court, along with the new pool and our other recreational area will allow us to bring our children here for basketball tournaments, field days and just to have fun, as kids should. We have some top-notch basketball players here at St. Christopher Ottilie. I know that this basketball court will be the site of games and practices all year round. Having Lou Carnesecca and Jim and Ellen Riley here with us was a real honor. They are special people," he said.

As St. John's coach, Carnesecca led the team. During that span, the team never once failed to qualify for a postseason tournament, reaching the NCAA Tournament 18 times and the National Invitation Tournament on six occasions. During his career, Carnesecca was named Big East Coach-of-the-Year three times, Metropolitan Area Coach-of-the-Year six times by the New York Basketball Writers Association and Coach-of-the-Year in New York State by the New York Basketball Coaches Association in 1985 and 1989.

Coach Carnesecca compiled a 526-200 for a .725 winning percentage, the best all-time at St. John's and among the best all-time for a Division I coach. His success at the collegiate level earned him induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Headquartered in Sea Cliff, with offices and services in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as well as Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan, St. Christopher-Ottilie is one of the largest not-for-profit child and family services agencies in New York State, serving 4,000 children, some 1,200 foster families and hundreds of others in need who receive care and support at numerous locations. St. Christopher-Ottilie's mission is to care for those most at risk. Honored by both public and private organizations for its success and standard of excellence, St. Christopher-Ottilie focuses on three primary areas of care: preventive care programs, residential care programs and foster care programs.

Students at Charles Water Karate & Fitness have received belt promotions after successfully completing a series of extensive exams.

"Our goal at Charles Water's Karate & Fitness is to facilitate mental growth enabling our students to reach their highest potential as human beings," Charles Water, school owner and director, said. "Our studio teaches students how to defend themselves responsibly while instilling self-confidence, self-discipline and respect for others."

The featured speaker at the Tuesday, June 18 meeting of the Greater Long Island Running Club will be Deborah Hayes, founding director of Garden City Therapeutic Massage, specializing in pain and stress relief. The meeting will be held at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Road in Plainview, starting promptly at 8 p.m.

Several years ago Hayes was a victim in a severe motor vehicle accident, suffering a traumatic brain injury. Her recovery, in which therapeutic massage played an integral part, led her to become a licensed massage therapist in 1998 after graduating from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City.

Hayes brings compassion and knowledge to her massage therapy practice and provides valuable insights based upon her own firsthand experiences. A longtime athlete herself, Hayes has been a massage therapist at the Canon Long Island Marathon and other events.

Hayes is also affiliated with Pain Care of Long Island, a cutting edge, multidisciplinary pain management center, which includes a team of physicians, psychologists and physical and therapeutic massage therapists.

The general public is invited to attend what promises to be a very interesting and informative evening. For more information, call Mike at the Greater Long Island Running Club at 349-7646.

When the Garden City golf team was assembled this fall, the team's goals were lofty. The goal of first-year head coach Jim Malone was to take an individual sport and have the boys play together as a team. The team believed they could knock off perennial golf powerhouse Manhasset, who won the Nassau County team golf title last year.

After many practices and long hours spent on the links fine-tuning their individual games, the team, composed of 12 golfers, felt ready to start the season. Following a 15 and 0 start this past fall the team fell in their final match to a talented Lawrence squad. Despite the loss, the team captured their fifth consecutive conference title and was confident in its ability to perform well at the county championship in the spring.

After a solid first round at counties, the Trojans led by five strokes. It was in the second round, however, that the team caught fire. They cruised to a stunning 18-stroke (a combined 780 strokes) victory over Syosset (798). The depth of the Garden City team proved to be the deciding factor in the win as all six golfers played like true champions. It was the team's first county championship since 1997.

The starting six consisted of senior and fifth-year team member Rich Ferrucci, juniors Ryan Furman, Pat Kelly, Christopher Miller and Robert Ponzo and sophomore Brian Falk. Leading the way for Garden City in the county tournament were Ryan Furman and Pat Kelly. Kelly, who finished tied for second place in the individual competition, shot rounds of 74-74. Furman was close behind with rounds of 77-77, good enough for fifth place. Both players finished among the top nine individuals that were granted spots in the New York State Public High School Gold Championship.

After the county tournament, the team moved on to the Long Island championship where they played a talented Sachem squad. Although Garden City did not play their best, they gave it their all. However, on this day, they fell a mere five shots short of beating the Sachem Arrows.

Rebounding from their stunning loss to Sachem, Kelly, Furman and Coach Malone traveled to Cornell University for the state tourney. Playing against fierce competition from all of New York State, the two played solid golf despite brutally windy conditions.

Congratulations to the team, who reclaimed the Nassau County title. Th team wished Ferrucci, the only player not returning next year, good luck in the future. Also congratulations to Coach Malone for leading the team to its most impressive season in recent history.

J&B Restaurant Partners, Inc. (J&B), who purchased all Friendly's restaurants on Long Island a year ago, was the exclusive sponsor for the MIRACLE Miles walkathon on Sunday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the Warren King Field in Garden City. The MIRACLE Club, a fundraising group of students at Garden City High School, hosted the event and expected to raise a minimum of $10,000 for The MIRACLE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer care, research, education and advocacy founded by Garden City residents Michael and Patti Tenaglia.

Joseph Vitrano, J&B president/CEO, believes strongly in the work of The MIRACLE Foundation and said, "I am thankful that J&B can contribute to the local Long Island community and help The MIRACLE Foundation and The MIRACLE Club with their fight against cancer."

He went on to praise the work of these high school students, saying, "It is encouraging to be working alongside so many committed students that are dedicating their time and energy to such an important and worthy cause."

Garden City senior Jackie Long and junior Lyn Tenaglia founded The MIRACLE Club last year to promote cancer awareness and volunteerism among their peers. The club has over 100 members and has raised approximately $6,000 since September by purchasing, baking and creating new marketing opportunities.

"MIRACLE Miles is our most ambitious project yet," Tenaglia said. "The support and commitment to The MIRACLE Foundation by The MIRACLE Club and J&B will enable us to fulfill our commitment to provide and support the most innovative cancer care, research and education to patients here on Long Island. Their efforts will definitely make a difference to those touched by this disease. We thank them for their generous and kind support."

Nancy Fleming, a Garden City High School teacher and the club's adviser added, "These efforts have become a primary issue for our students - especially because cancer is a whole Long Island issue and everybody has been touched by it in some way. The students are committed to doing everything in their power to contribute and fight this disease."