Clifford Fishler Places in Maccabiah Games

Clifford Fishler, 17, a senior at Great Neck South High School, joined the United States Fencing Team for the World Maccabiah Games, placing in the top 8 for the individual epee event which included many highly ranked world fencing competitors. Every four years, the United States brings hundreds of athletes for various athletic events, with a total of 8500 athletes from 60 countries in this Olympic style event. The 17-member fencing team included mostly Division 1 colleges that competed against the skilled Russian, Israeli, and German teams. Clifford was a silver medalist in the team event.

Blazing Trails 4-Autism 4-Mile Run/Walk

Organizers of the 2nd annual Blazing Trails 4-Autism 4 Mile Run welcome Brickwell Cycling & Multisports and its proprietor Andrew Motola back as a sponsor for the second year of the event.

Among many fabulous prizes being provided by this very generous sponsor, Brickwell will once again be donating a 2010 Cannondale CAAD road bike valued at more than $1000 to be given out as the super raffle prize to a lucky participant in the Run.

This year’s Run will once again be based at the Great Neck South High School/Middle School campus, but to accommodate what could be as many as 1000+ runners and walkers, the race committee has laid out a vastly improved course which will start on the L.I.E. Service Road and proceed down Lakeville Road into some very nice local neighborhoods before returning for the second half of the Run on the scenic campus paths and the exciting finish on the High School track.

Also new this year, the 2009 Run/Walk has been selected to be a part of the USATF-Long Island Grand Prix of Long Island Road Races.

Park District Team Competes in Optimist Regatta

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, six participants from the Great Neck Park District’s Optimist Sailing Program competed in the Green Fleet Optimist Regatta hosted by the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. The event took place in Manhasset Bay on a windward-leeward course that was approximately 1-mile long. The sailors had to race once around the entire course, which started at Manhasset Dock, also known as “Worry Wart” Dock. The participants, between the ages of 10 and 14, included Chloe Cristian, Arianne Greenstein, Ashtyn Greenstein, David Schisler, Rupert Stuart-Smith and Joseph Sassoon. Coaching them were Douglas Reynolds, assistant director of the Steppingstone Sailing Program, and Joseph Feinsilver, head coach. The Great Neck Park District team was 6 of 40 entries. The whole team crossed the finish line in the front section of the competitors. But, everyone was a winner in this regatta, receiving shirts and medals. After enjoying a nice lunch, the team each sailed their own Opti boat back to Steppingstone Marina. Join the Great Neck Park District Sailing Program next summer.

Long Islanders Hit the Beach for Local Disaster Relief

Hundreds of Long Islanders flocked to Centre Island Beach Saturday, Aug. 8th, to attend the 20th Annual Swim-A-Cross and Beach Bash BBQ. The event raised $15,000 for the American Red Cross in Nassau County.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Frank Cassano, CEO of the Nassau Red Cross, “and with the economy being the way it is, we are very pleased with the turnout.”

Parkwood Pool Swim Team Wins the Finals!

The Great Neck Park District, Parkwood Froggies Swim Team won first place at the Nassau Municipal Swim Conference- Division Four Finals on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Eisenhower Park. The Parkwood Froggies took the lead by 90 points in their competition between six teams across Nassau County. Of the 60 swimmers on the team, 30 individual Froggie team members between the ages of 6 and 17, made it to the finals. Among them was Jeremy Porras, age 16, who was honored by the Nassau Municipal Swim Conference, with “Swimmer of the Meet” and “Swimmer of the Year” awards. Jeremy won all of the races he competed in during the summer of 2009 and was the most valuable member of the team. He spent this summer employed as a lifeguard at the Parkwood Family Aquatic Center.

SCO Celebrates 20th Annual 5K Run to Help the Children

The annual SCO Family of Services Peter Speranza 5K Run to Help the Children is celebrating its 20th year on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Sea Cliff. This 5K race benefits the developmentally disabled and physically challenged children whose lives have been significantly changed with SCO’s help. The 5K Run is named in memory of Peter Speranza, former board member and longtime supporter of SCO. Please come and join SCO in celebrating this milestone and bring the whole family for a day of fun while supporting a great cause! To help celebrate the 20th anniversary, there will be games and prizes for all. This will be our best year yet!

Wildwood Play for Pink Fundraiser a Success!

On Monday, Aug. 3, Wildwood Pool and Tennis Club hosted more than 40 ladies at the 3rd annual Play for Pink Tennis Tournament and Games Day.

Not withstanding the inclement weather, Wildwood‘s Play for Pink Tennis Tournament and Games Day was once again a smashing success.

Parkwood Pool Swim Team Wins Championship

The Great Neck Park District, Parkwood Froggies swim team won their first regular season division championship this summer, thanks to all of their practice and hard work. This is the first championship win for this team since 2003. The Froggies, with 60 team members, ages 6 through 17, won all of their five meets, accomplishing an undefeated record of 5 and 0.

Beginning in June, they practiced Monday through Friday and competed with other teams on Saturday mornings. They were coached by Danny Porras, Abby Snead and Jesse Stallings. The Parkwood Family Aquatics Center hosted 2 of the meets throughout the summer. The final meet is Sunday, August 16 at Eisenhower Aquatics Center at 8 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the meet and support our Great Neck Park District Swim Team! Be a part of a championship team next summer at Parkwood.

3 on 3 Hoops Team to Raise Funds for Winthrop’s Cancer Center for Kids

Is your 3 on 3 hoops team as good as you think? Gather your finest players and test your skills against some of the best teams on Long Island while raising funds for children with cancer at the Jay’s World Childhood Cancer Foundation’s 15th Annual Top Gun Basketball Tournament, Sunday, Sept. 13, in the gymnasium at North Shore High School in Glen Head.

Fifth Annual Cancer Center for Kids Golf Outing Raises Funds

The fifth annual Cancer Center for Kids Golf Outing, held at the Hamlet Wind Watch Golf & Country Club in Hauppauge on June 22, was a terrific success, raising more than $50,000 in support of vital support programs for Winthrop’s pediatric oncology/hematology patients. More than 100 golfers braved threatening skies to play 18 holes for a great cause. Once the final players moved inside for dinner and awards, the sky filled with heavy rain and thunderstorms while the golfers further demonstrated their generosity, purchasing bundles of raffle tickets for an array of donated prizes.