The Lindenhurst Board of Trustees recently recognized and honored this year’s Village of Lindenhurst Summer Camp “Kienle Award” winners. Named after Summer Camp Program Founder Ed Kienle, the prestigious annual awards are given to the most Outstanding Campers. This year’s award winners are Lexi Varricchio & Nick Gordon. Summer Youth Director Mike Canobbio praised both campers for their leadership, cooperation, enthusiasm, and for setting the standard for all other campers to follow.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “This season marked the 75th Anniversary of the Lindenhurst Summer Camp, and the Village is so proud of the history and success of this beloved youth program. Congratulations to Nick & Lexi for achieving this top honor. Lindenhurst is proud of you!”

Pictured here (left to right) are: Deputy Mayor RJ Renna, Camp Counselor Valerie Cruciata, Summer Youth Director Mike Canobbio, Nick Gordon, Lexi Varricchio, Mayor Mike Lavorata, and Trustees Douglas Madlon, Maryann Weckerle, and Patrick Pichichero.

The Lindenhurst Veterans of Foreign War Post 7279 recently celebrated their re-opening with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony organized by the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, along with several State, County, Town and Village officials, joined Post Commander Tom Kelly and other VFW Officers to officially commemorate their re-opening (pictured here).

The Wade-Burns Post Hall, located at 560 North Delaware Avenue, had a devastating fire in September 2019, and was forced to close its doors. Through the generosity, and hard work, of local officials, craftsmen, laborers, VFW members, and the community, the hall was rebuilt, and is now open for use by the VFW membership, Scout troops, community groups, and private rentals.

Lindenhurst Village Square Park was recently filled to capacity with people and excitement during the much-anticipated performance of “Totally Taylor: A Taylor Swift Tribute Act”. Part of the Lindenhurst Free Summer Concert Series, the evening featured songs from Taylor Swift’s 11 albums, custom-made colorful outfits, and well-precisioned choreography — all to mirror the glitz, glamour, energy, and sounds of Taylor Swift!

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The concert was amazing, especially for the many young people in attendance. It felt like you were at a Taylor Swift concert! Thank you to all who attended this extra-special summer concert in our Lindenhurst downtown.”

Pictured here (left to right) are: Alyssa Ragogna, Carolyn Ash, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Totally Taylor Tribute Artist Kelsey Elquist, Nicole Lavorata, Joe Conti, and Joci Lavorata

The Lindenhurst Rainbow Senior Citizens Center recently held a “50 Years of Fun” day to celebrate their half-a-century of service to the seniors of our community. The carnival-themed party was a huge success with games & prizes, special crafts, music, food, and gift bags for each senior filled with goodies!

The Rainbow Senior Citizens Center staff and volunteers, helmed by Senior Center Manager Dawn Shipsey, host a number of activities, including bingo, quilting classes, exercise classes, art classes, coffee, coloring and conversation clubs, horse racing, karaoke, movie days, luncheons, and special events and trips. The Rainbow Senior Center is also a nutrition site in conjunction with the Town of Babylon, where hot meals are served to seniors Monday-Thursday. For more information, call them at 631-957-7526.

Village Trustee Maryann Weckerle said, “We thank the staff and volunteers – both past and present – of the Lindenhurst Rainbow Senior Citizens Center for 50 years of dedicated service to our community. The Rainbow Center is a place where we strive to make our seniors feel welcome, happy, healthy, empowered, supported, and loved.”

Pictured here (left to right), enjoying the cotton candy that was provided by East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, are: Village Administrator Joe Barone, Senior Center Manager Dawn Shipsey, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Trustee Maryann Weckerle, Trustee Doug Madlon, and Rainbow Center staff members Susanne Rochel & Joan Carenza.

Lindenhurst Junior Mayor Kennedy Pugh (pictured here) came to the Village Board with a proposal to help get her community to spread more kindness. Her idea was to create a “Kindness Wheel” – people could spin a color wheel and receive a color-coded “random act of kindness” task to perform. The Village Board thought this was a fantastic idea, and in cooperation and coordination with the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce, Kennedy set up her Kindness Wheel at the August “Wednesdays on Wellwood” street fair. At the event, over 300 people spun her Kindness Wheel, creating a positive effect in the Lindenhurst community and beyond.

Deputy Mayor RJ Renna said, “I spun the Kindness Wheel and had to say hello to a stranger. It was a lot of fun to do, and I hope everyone else enjoyed spreading their kindness as well. I was so impressed by Kennedy’s creativity and drive in coming up with this idea and seeing it through to fruition. Small actions can create a large impact.”

The Village created the Junior Mayors program in 2023, in partnership with the Lindenhurst School District, as part of its Centennial celebration. It was such a great success, the Village decided to continue the program, to annually recognize and nurture our young leaders of tomorrow!

In conjunction with Breslau Engine Company’s Annual German Festival, the Society will host the noncompetitive fitness walk touring Lindenhurst historical sites.

Lindenhurst, NY – On September 15, 2024 in celebration of the Village’s German origins and the community’s founding as Breslau 154 years ago, the Society will be hosting its second annual Volksmarch. Volksmarching was founded in Germany over 50 years ago. Participants are invited to stroll through the Village stopping at designated historically relevant sites.  The noncompetitive walk is approximately 3 miles in length and can be easily traversed at a leisurely gait. At each designated stop, participants will be greeted by a docent conversant in the site’s history and will be given recognition for completing the stop.  All registrants completing the entire route will receive a commemorative medal to indicate they successfully completed the walk.  There is a registration fee for the event and pre-registration is recommended.  The Volksmarch is being held in conjunction with the Lindenhurst Fire Department Breslau Engine Company’s Annual German Festival.

The walk will begin and end at Firemen’s Park Pavilion and will take place from 9AM to 2PM.  Pre-registration will be available by contacting the Lindenhurst Historical Society on its Facebook page at Lindy Breslau and accessing the QR code or by emailing the Society at Lindenhursthistoricalsociety@gmail.com.  Fees for pre-registration or day of event registration is $15 for individuals and $20 for families.  All participants, those pre-registered and those registering day of will need to report to the pavilion to obtain their registration materials.  Collectable commemorative medals will be awarded at the conclusion of the walk at Firemen’s Pavilion. One medal will be awarded to each individual participant and to each family participating. Additional medals can be purchased for $10.  The Breslau Engine Company’s German Festival will follow immediately at 2PM at the Pavilion and participation in the Volksmarch includes admission to the German Festival.  For more information please visit the Society’s Facebook page – Breslau Lindy or call (631) 226-0209.

Seventy-five years is a long time. Seventy-five years of serving the youth of Lindenhurst is a long, proud time! The Lindenhurst Village Camp is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this summer. Founded by Edward F. Kienle, in conjunction with the Village of Lindenhurst and Lindenhurst School District, the program has been a staple of the community since 1949.

When Mr. Kienle first helped establish the program, it was housed at the elementary schools in Lindenhurst. Thousands of Lindenhurst children spent their summers enjoying wholesome recreational activities, theatrical reprisals, arts and crafts projects, sit down games and countless other activities. Mr. Kienle hired many local teachers to supervise as competitions among the different playgrounds was electric and exciting for the campers.

Each year the summer program culminated with the Youth Day Parade through the Village. This was followed by activities such as talent shows, running races, 3-legged races, pie and watermelon eating contests and the crowning of “Little Miss Lindenhurst”. It was always a fun day for the youth of Lindenhurst.

The camp eventually moved away from the elementary buildings and consolidated to the Village Park, with primary activities being held at Kienle Little League Field (Mr. Kienle never envisioned that being a full turf infield as it presently exists), and Thomas A. Brennan softball field. Each summer for six weeks, hundreds of campers still enjoy many of the activities established by Mr. Kienle in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Softball, baseball, tennis, baseball, soccer, basketball, kickball, jump-the-brook, running races, arts and crafts, sidewalk chalk drawing, touch football, and whiffle ball are among the daily activities today. Campers enjoy treasure hunts, obstacle courses designed by counselors, scooter races and the ever popular running bases games. The playground apparatus is full of campers all day, and the sprinklers are running all afternoon to cool off the boys and girls.

Field trips to fun locations have been added in addition to Water Slide Day, DJ parties, talent shows, color wars and visits from local self-help/self-awareness groups. Each week ends with Camper of the Week activities with joke telling and creative dances included on Fridays.

The camp culminates with the annual Awards Day ceremony. At this event, the prestigious Edward F. Kienle Memorial Camper of the Year plaques are presented to the outstanding male and female campers from the 10 – 14 year old groups. It honors their participation, cooperation and sportsmanship, three qualities that Mr. Kienle admired in our youth.

There is a reason the Lindenhurst Youth Center, Lindenhurst Varsity Football Field and LNLL Little League Field all display the name of Edward F. Kienle, a man who cared about and helped children. As the saying goes, “We Never Stand So Tall As When We Stoop To Help A Child.”

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The Lindenhurst Village Board is proud to support the continued success of this program that Edward F. Kienle started 75 years ago. Our Village Summer Camp is such an important program for our youth and their families. The Village of Lindenhurst is extremely grateful to our current Summer Youth Director, Mike Canobbio, and to his hard-working, dedicated staff of counselors who carry on Mr. Kienle’s legacy, year after year. It takes a village, and Lindenhurst is the best!”

Pictured here (left to right) modeling this year’s commemorative Edward F. Kienle staff shirts are Camp Counselors Mike DiGiuseppe and Dan Narowski.