The Christina Renna Foundation recently held their 17^th Annual Angel’s Wish Gala.  The foundation is dedicated to “A Prayer, A Wish, and a Dream of a Cancer Free World.”  They support children’s cancer research and furthering awareness and education through the support of cancer groups and outreach programs for the direct support of those in need.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “On behalf of the Lindenhurst Village Board, we are honored to support the Christina Renna Foundation for their selfless dedication on their journey to fulfilling Christina’s dream of eradicating childhood cancer.”

Pictured here (left to right) are:  Trustee Patrick Pichichero, Mayor Michael Lavorata, former Trustee Joan M. Masterson, Gala Hosts Phil & Rene Renna, Trustee Maryann Weckerle, Lindenhurst Library Board Trustee Ken St. John, Trustee Douglas Madlon, and Deputy Mayor RJ Renna.

The Lindenhurst Fire Departments Chiefs’ Office recently honored their long-time Administrative Assistant, Karen Leonardi, with a surprise retirement celebration.  Karen spent the Saturday morning brunch at the Fireman’s Pavilion shaking hands, receiving hugs, and laughing with the stream of family, friends, co-workers, and firefighters who showed up to celebrate her 33 years as a Village employee with the Fire Department.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “We will really miss Karen in the Chiefs’ Office.  It is a big loss for our Fire Department.  Karen has worked hard, and selflessly given her time and talents to our Lindenhurst community.  We are saying good-bye, but not really because she is still, and will always be, a part of our Village family.”

Pictured here are Village co-workers and friends wishing Karen a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement.

Welcoming a new pastor within a church is a time for celebration.  St. John’s Lutheran Church of Lindenhurst recently experienced the joy of installing the Reverent Marc Herbst as their new pastor. 

Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey said, “Pastor Marc is a dedicated and experienced church and community leader, and he is an excellent choice to lead the St, John’s congregation.”

Pictured here celebrating and welcoming the new pastor and his family to the Lindenhurst community are (left to right):  Trustee Douglas Madlon, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Rev. Marc Herbst, and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey. 

Also present, but not pictured, from the Town of Babylon were Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Deputy Supervisor Anthony Martinez, and Councilman DuWayne Gregory.

LINDENHURST NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION & BALL DROP

The Village of Lindenhurst culminated their 100^th Anniversary Year in the same way they kicked it off – with a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop!  While last year’s event drew hundreds of residents, families, and visitors out in the rain, the milder weather this year brought thousands to Village Square to celebrate 2023 and welcome 2024!

Sponsored by the Village of Lindenhurst and the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce, the event featured live music by The Good Life band, fun giveaways, dancing robots, the ball drop, and fireworks! 

The Village celebrated Joseph Randazzo, Lindenhurst’s only-surviving WWII Veteran, as the evening’s honoree to help drop the Lindenhurst New Year’s Eve Ball.  Unable to attend at the last minute, Mr. Randazzo, who was just eighteen-years old when he enlisted in the U.S. Army through the Draft Board on June 6^th, 1944 – D Day, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was proudly represented by his daughter and extended family.

The Lindenhurst New Year’s Eve Ball, designed and built by long-time Lindenhurst resident Floyd Chivvis, and his crew at Chivvis Enterprises, Inc., was operated with the expert assistance of the Lindenhurst Fire Department. When the countdown ended, a spectacular Fireworks by Grucci show wowed the happy crowd!

Pictured here with members of the Randazzo Family are Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey and Mayor Michael Lavorata (Photo Credit: Ed Shin).

The Village of Lindenhurst, and the Rotary & Kiwanis Clubs of Lindenhurst sponsored a holiday luncheon for the seniors at the Lindenhurst Rainbow Senior Citizens Center.  The highlight of the luncheon was the lighting of the Christmas tree by Mayor Michael Lavorata.  Trustee Douglas Madlon and Trustee Maryann Weckerle were also in attendance to wish everyone the happiest of holidays, and all the best for the New Year.

Pictured here (left to right) are:  Trustee Maryann Weckerle, Trustee Douglas Madlon, Village Clerk Katie Schrader, Senior Center Manager Dawn Shipsey, Secretary to the Mayor Brianna Bartolotta, Village Deputy Clerk Katie McCaffrey, Village Administrator Joe Barone, and Mayor Michael Lavorata.

Due to the bad weather predicted for Sunday, Winter on Wellwood is being rescheduled. This event is a large coordination of schedules across the various partnerships and we have all done our best to ensure that the community can still enjoy all aspects of the Winter on Wellwood event and that nothing had to be cancelled. Because of that, Winter on Wellwood will be split between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday, 12/8 at 7:00 PM the Lindenhurst Fire Department Holiday Parade will kick off and make its way down to the Village Square for the Historical Society’s (Breslau Lindy) tree lighting ceremony.

Saturday, 12/9 at the Village Square will be Santa in the Park from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (photos with Santa from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM) and the free carousel (sponsored by the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce). The Kindl Market will operate from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Although this is not what we had originally planned, we hope that the Lindenhurst community (and our neighboring communities) can still enjoy our weekend of Winter on Wellwood!

Thank you to the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce, Lindenhurst Fire Department, Lindenhurst Business Improvement District, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, Lindenhurst Historical Society (Breslau Lindy) for making sure that we can still provide such a great event to the residents!

Dozens of Civil War Buffs and Local History Enthusiasts took part in the Society’s Self-Guided Tour of the graves of Lindenhurst’s American Civil War Veterans interred at Breslau Cemetery

Lindenhurst, NY – On Saturday October 28, 2023, under bright blue skies and amid the peaceful, manicured grounds of Breslau Cemetery, the Lindenhurst Historical Society hosted nearly 100 visitors; Civil War buffs and local history enthusiasts, who partook of the Society’s self-guided tour of the graves of Lindenhurst’s American Civil War Veterans interred at Breslau Cemetery.

The tour, sanctioned by the Breslau Cemetery Association, was part of the Lindenhurst Historical Society’s yearlong commemoration of its 75^th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary and was an activity coordinated with the Inc. Village of Lindenhurst’s Centennial Celebration. 

Nearly forty Civil War veterans, some of whom were present at Appomattox and Gettysburg, called Breslau and Lindenhurst home. Thirty three of those veterans were laid to rest in Breslau Cemetery.  For the tour, many of those graves were marked with an American flag and displayed markers describing the late veteran’s biographical background and experience.  The 119th New York Willis Company H. Civil War living historians along with Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) re-enactors regaled visitors with lore and artifacts, setting the stage and helping visitors envision what life was like for Civil War soldiers, veterans and civilians. Marianne Guglieri, Lindenhurst Village Museum Director and her son, Peter, authentically outfitted as a citizen and soldier respectively,  were especially informative;  sharing their knowledge and expertise about the American Civil War;  bringing to life an exciting chapter from Lindenhurst’s historically rich past to all those attending. 

The Village of Lindenhurst is happy to announce the groundbreaking of South Wellwood Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvements!  The project, which is a recommendation from the Village’s Walkability Study, includes the following exciting improvements:

-Replacement of sidewalks

– Replacement of existing brick work with updated pavers

-New curbs

-Removal and replacement of trees

-New parking angles to make parking easier

-Bulb-outs and Rapid Flashing Beacons to increase pedestrian safety

-A complete road resurfacing

We owe great appreciation to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey for their support and assistance to the Village’s project. The pedestrian safety improvements could not have been done without the $350,000 in JumpStart funding provided by the County.

Deputy Mayor RJ Renna said, “The Village looks forward to continuing to make improvements for the betterment of our community!”

Pictured here (left to right) Back Row: Villa Pizza Owner Joe Delprete, Superintendent of DPW Rick Sorrentino, Trustee Patrick M. Pichichero, GPI Engineer Brian Heaslip, Trustee Douglas Madlon, Trustee Maryann Weckerle  Front Row:  Deputy Mayor RJ Renna, Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce President Jo-Ann Boettcher, and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey, NYS Assembly member Michael Durso, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Mayor Michael Lavorata, NYS Senator Monica Martinez, GPI Engineer Frank Pearson

The Lindenhurst St. Patrick’s Parade Committee announced that Suffolk County Legislator Kevin J. McCaffrey will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 3^rd Annual Lindenhurst St. Patrick’s Parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 23^rd, 2024.

Parade Committee Co-President & Deputy Mayor RJ Renna said, “As the respected Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, a former Village of Lindenhurst Deputy Mayor & Trustee, a long-time Lindenhurst resident, and as a descendent of Ireland, Legislator McCaffrey is the perfect choice to lead our 2024 Parade.”

Parade planning is fully underway, and kicking off the March festivities will be a “Grand Marshal Green-Tie Gala” on Saturday, March 2^nd, 2024.  The event, black-tie optional, will take place at The Piermont in Babylon, 7:30PM-11:30PM, featuring cocktails, dinner, dancing, and music.

Parade Day in Lindenhurst, on March 23^rd, will kick off with a celebratory 8:00AM mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C.C., 240 South Wellwood Avenue.  The parade itself will step-off promptly at 12:00PM at Lindenhurst Fireman’s Park, travel west on Hartford Street, turn south on to Wellwood Avenue, and end at Gates Avenue.  Grand Marshal McCaffrey announced that he has chosen the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, recipients of the 2023 Parade “Best In Show” Pipe Band Award, to lead him and the 2024 Parade along the “Green Line”.

“With Legislator McCaffrey, and the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums leading the way, our 2024 Parade will be another successful celebration of St. Patrick, Irish heritage and tradition, local pride, and family fun in the Village of Lindenhurst!,” added Parade Committee Co-President & Proprietor of Belfast Gastro Pub David Crowe.

For Parade Information, including Green-Tie Gala Tickets, Sponsorship Opportunities, and Participation Registration, please visit www.lindenhurststpatricksparade.org.

Pictured here (left to right) are:  Parade Committee Co-President & Proprietor of Belfast Gastro Pub David Crowe, 2024 Grand Marshal & Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey. Parade Committee Secretary & Lindenhurst Village Clerk Katie Schrader, and Parade Committee Co-President & Lindenhurst Deputy Mayor RJ Renna

The Village of Lindenhurst recently broke ground to make way for a new storage shed at Shore Road Park.  Using funds the Village received through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), the Village intends for the storage shed not only house Department of Public Works park maintenance equipment, but to also be used as a supplemental storage facility for the youth sports leagues that utilize the Shore Road Park fields.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The Village of Lindenhurst has put careful planning into allocating our ARPA funds, and we are proud that this project will be of benefit to both the Village and the community.”

Pictured here (left to right) are:  Trustee Douglas Madlon, Trustee Maryann Weckerle, Deputy Mayor RJ Renna, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Lindenhurst Soccer Club President Paul Gordon, and Trustee Patrick M. Pichichero.