The Oyster Bay community can be proud of itself for coming out to support the second Relay for Life event, held on Friday, June 6 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the grounds of the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. The evening was devoted to raising money to find a cure for cancer, as well as to celebrate the survivors, thank the caregivers and to give courage to those fighting the disease. The money raised will be used for research and services provided by the American Cancer Society to those fighting the disease. This year again, the co-chairs of the event were Oyster Bay-East Norwich School Board Vice President Robin Dando and Sharon Woodstock.

The Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School (War) Memorial Field was transformed into a tent city inside what would become the lap track for the Relay for Life.

Most everyone had a personal reason for being there, since cancer touches so many lives. Survivor Linda Cazzola credited her cancer cure to, "A great doctor, a good attitude, my husband and Sharon Woodstock." Lori Cennamo DiMaggio, who survived breast cancer said it was through, "A great doctor, a really positive attitude and my sister Sharon Cennamo Woodstock." She couldn't say enough about Sharon. "She took care of our aunt who just died of brain cancer. Sharon's a brat sometimes, she's the baby, but she has amazing caregiving talent and is a phenomenal fund raiser." That turned out to be true as the evening progressed. Sharon Woodstock and Dawn Cerrone were called up to the stage of the showmobile by Ted Vlavianos, as the leaders of the teams that raised the most money to fight cancer. Mr. Vlavianos, a Bayville resident for 25 years, is now the senior director of Relay For Life of Nassau County, and is himself a cancer survivor.

Ted Vlavianos invited the five highest fund raising teams to come up to the showmobile stage. He said Oyster Bay had raised about $90,000 as the evening began and the five teams had collectively raised about $50,000. The Care Bears raised $5,785 as of 10 p.m. The Care Bears team was composed of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School faculty and they raised the money along with their students. They were the fifth highest fund raiser for this year.

The Acorns were in fourth place. Mr. Vlavianos said, "Angela conned me into donating." He said they had made $6,942.14. He said the 14 cents was significant in that it showed they were grabbing for every penny they could. This was the second year they were among the top five, he said. The next highest raising team were the Learners for Life, the Oyster Bay High School administrators who raised over $7,660.

He asked everyone to leave the stage except the last two contestants: Dawn Cerrone of the Vernon Idols team and Sharon Woodstock of the Woodstock Home Design team. He said, "These two are so competitive they may just wrestle, I'm not sure. The Vernon Idols team and Woodstock Home Improvement team both caused me a little heart problem because they were storing away their money until the last minute. The reason is that they were on the phone competing like in a telethon." "Sending text messages," said one of the women. He said yesterday (Thursday), they had raised about $14,000 each.

Mr. Vlavianos said the school held several events including, Dancing with the Vernon Stars; Change for Charity and on Thursday, a car wash. One young girl's voice from the audience called out, "And a bake sale."

Dawn Cerrone said, "We were doing such an awesome job with the car wash we had parents who didn't even want their cars washed, they just wanted to write checks. We received one check for $1,700 and another for $1,000 and the sixth-grade Leaders Club was washing every car they could get!" Mr. Vlavianos said, "And if you ever met Dawn Cerrone you'd give her a thousand dollars too."

He said Sharon Woodstock's team, Woodstock Home Design raised $16,173 and Dawn Cerrone's team the Vernon Idols raised $16,789. "So they raised $33,000 between these two teams. Thank heaven they are both crazy because the American Cancer Society is the beneficiary of their dedication and devotion. Sharon did a yard sale with multi families and then a comedy night to raise the money. I don't know how to thank you guys enough," Mr. Vlavianos said. He asked for a round of applause which was easy to raise.

Sharon returned to her team and family members, who were wearing yellow shirts, the color of the "Woodstock" of Peanuts fame. Dawn Cerrone returned to her Vernon team.

Robin Dando thanked everyone for coming to take part in the fight against cancer. She said, "Today we celebrate all of our friends and family who have won their battle against cancer; to remember those who lost lives; and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives; and to support the American Cancer Society to help research to eliminate cancer and provide needed services in our communities." She introduced Dr. Louisa Kramer-Vita, a cancer survivor and a former English supervisor at Oyster Bay High School.

Dr. Kramer-Vita said, "About six years ago, around Thanksgiving, I had a life changing situation. The doctor said, 'Yes, it is cancer, it is malignant and it is aggressive.' I heard the words but I did not really comprehend the message. It took time to understand what lay ahead of me. It took time to refuse to change my lifestyle. It took time to be angry and it took time to accept the situation as it was. But most of all it took time to acknowledge that throughout the next few months, I would fight the hardest battle of my life. I could not have done it except for my family, my very aggressive oncologist and Oyster Bay. My oncologist said, 'you will lose a year of the life that you know but you can survive.' Dr. Harrington said, 'We'll work it out.' So I came to work almost every day through surgery, chemo and radiation because I received outrageous support, from my department, my secretary and the entire district. So, here I am today, with you celebrating my life and the life of so many others." There was applause.

Dr. Kramer-Vita continued, "Thank you Oyster Bay for celebrating, for remembering and for helping others to fight back. Tonight you are honoring survivors and caregivers. You are raising money for research so cancer can be eliminated and you are having fun. But most of all you are being Oyster Bay. The most caring school district in the world. Thank you for being what you are and for what you are doing. Thank you for giving time to raise money for the cancer society for celebrating life and for not dwelling on the negative. I'm proud to be associated with you because of your willingness to confront the unknown, to help fund the search for a cure and to work as a community. Be assured that each and every one of you is making a difference by being here tonight. Thank you for coming and thank you so much for caring." There was more applause.

Mr. Vlavianos announced it was time for the survivors to take their first lap. When they returned, they presented their caregivers with a purple sash and together they made a second lap, followed by the crowd of well wishers. Mr. Vlavianos said, "If you are a caregiver and your loved one isn't here come on up and we'll give you a sash. This is a night when we celebrate life and hope."

From the showmobile music flowed and teams marched and ran around the track doing their laps, and it was time for a memorial moment to remember Anthony Petrovic.

Mr. Vlavianos suggested people look at the rendering of the proposed Anthony's Garden that will be built at the entrance to the Vernon School, which Anthony attended. Bricks are being sold for $100 to create the path. Mr. Vlavianos said, "As you know we had such a loss in the community recently. We want to honor the memory of Anthony Petrovic." He said Principal Allison Brown would say a couple of words and then Anthony's classmates would do a memory lap in his honor to the strains of Amazing Grace played by a bagpiper. A large section of the track was lined with luminaria dedicated to Anthony.

Tom Gould set up a PowerPoint presentation of photographs and art work done by Anthony Petrovic. Anthony lived from 1998 to 2007, too short a life, but one graced with an outgoing, warm and loving personality; a loving family; and with a talent for art and music. Overhead the moon had become a sliver of orange.

Vernon Principal Allison Brown said she was speaking for the Petrovic family, who attended the relay in memory of their son Anthony Petrovic. She said Ms. Petrovic wrote, "I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart that you are here today in remembrance and celebration of Anthony, our son. Through the years you have shared his triumphs and tribulations and been supportive and caring and for that I am forever grateful. Your participation in these events and future events will help to find a cure for Anthony's illness and all those suffering from cancer.

"Anthony was a special boy and he demonstrated unheralded bravery on the face of a dim and uncertain fate. He lived each day and in his short time made his life and the lives he touched worthwhile. Despite the adverse effects of treatment through the difficult years of therapy Anthony always continued to pursue his creative passions for art and music. His humility and kindness to others was beyond his short years and he never complained about the cards he was dealt. He had so many friends, both teachers and peers, and his striving to be the best that he was capable of, even when tired and with no energy, set an example for others to emulate. [Principal Brown's voice was filled with emotion.] He was a sensitive child and he never let those around him feel down. On the contrary he strove to make everyone feel happy and comfortable. "Cancer is the most terrible of all demons, taking the slow and relentless toll on the system, offering glimmers of hope and then just as quickly dashing them away. It is especially tragic in one so young, making life seem so cruel and unfair. Anthony was our blessing and he was also a blessing to others. And he would not want us to remain bitter at his departure, his early departure, but go on and make the most of our lives, as he did. I pray that he is at peace now and I pray that one day a cure soon is found." Principal Brown thanked everyone for coming to the event.

It was then that the team captains were called up to light the luminaria candles that celebrate life.

The Oyster Bay High School students lighted the candles spelling "HOPE" set up in the bleachers. Mr. Vlavianos said, "I hope one day we will find a cure."

Ted Vlavianos, a Bayville resident for 25 years, and now the senior director of Relay For Life of Nassau County, is himself a cancer survivor. He was the owner of the Souvlaki Place on the Bayville strip when he had his cancer fight with lymphoma. He was part of an experimental trial that offered 25 percent success. He had two bone marrow transplants. His own personal experience in fighting cancer gave him the impetus to become involved with the Relay For Life. "It motivated me to get out of the restaurant business. I volunteered for a while for the cancer society and now I do this full time. But this is not about me," he said.

He worked with Oyster Bay during their first Relay for Life. He is involved with 14 events in Nassau County presently. On May 31 he worked with Locust Valley High School and their very successful Fourth Relay for Life with about 700 people attending. On Saturday, June 7 he was at the North Shore High School event. In Oyster Bay, there were about 550 people, he estimated. He said, "The momentum builds. This is a national event. People all over are being exposed to it." Mr. Vlavianos was glad this year the event in Oyster Bay was able to be held outdoors to get the full experience. "Our intent was always to be outside," he said. Last year inclement weather forced the event into the OBHS gymnasium.

"It's wonderful for the kids to run around and enjoy themselves," he said.

As the evening progressed, OB-EN Board member Keith Kowalsky and his wife Laurie and former board member Jim Smiros were waiting for the luminarias to be lighted spelling "HOPE."

Lori Russell Cody was there too. Lori Russell Cody said, "I'm 10 years cancer free. I had breast cancer, there were calcifications in my base line mammogram and I had a mastectomy and reconstruction. I feel fine. Some days go by and I don't even think of it. It's amazing."