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.

Girl Scout Troop 3823 has taken up a first-of-its-kind Bronze Award Project in the Lindenhurst community by installing a “Little Food Pantry” at the Rainbow Senior Citizens Community Center.

The Little Food Pantry, which applies the community library concept to food donations, will assist our neighbors who may be dealing with food insecurity by helping them stock their pantries with dry goods and canned goods. Operating on the honor system, the food items are intended for those in genuine need. While the Girl Scout Troop will monitor and continue to supply food items, it also encourages residents of Lindenhurst to donate food items. Dry goods and canned goods can be dropped off at the Rainbow Center, located at 293 Buffalo Avenue, Lindenhurst.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The Little Food Pantry is a fantastic idea and will be a blessing to many individuals and families. I thank Troop 3823 for their hard work and for this contribution to our Lindenhurst community.”

Pictured here are Mayor Michael A. Lavorata (left) and Trustee Douglas Madlon (right) with the members of Girl Scout Troop 3823.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Lindenhurst Mayor Michael A. Lavorata & the Village Board of Trustees, along with Village Historian Anna Jaeger, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey, Town of Babylon Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez, Town Councilman Anthony Manetta, and a crowd of residents, young and old, closed out the Village’s 100th Anniversary Celebration with the dedication of the Village of Lindenhurst Centennial Bell. After a brief ceremony, everyone in attendance was given the opportunity to ring the bell. One resident exclaimed before enthusiastically taking his turn, “God Bless Lindenhurst!”

The Village purchased the cast bronze bell, which was forged in Holland, from the renowned Verdin Company, as a symbol of the Lindenhurst community’s enduring spirit and unity. It is inscribed with the words “Celebrating 100 years of resiliency and strength in our Village – past, present, and future.” and is on display on the lawn of Village Hall at 430 South Wellwood Avenue.

Pictured here (left to right) are: Deputy Mayor RJ Renna, Trustee Patrick Pichichero, Village Historian Anna Jaeger, Trustee Douglas Madlon, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey, Town of Babylon Councilman Anthony Manetta, and Town Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez.

On a recent summer Saturday, the Lindenhurst High School Orchestra performed some beautiful music for all who gathered at Village Square Park during the Lindenhurst Farmers Market. Special thanks to LHS Orchestra Music Director Kristin Lombardo, and her talented students for their lovely, musical presentation.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The Lindenhurst High School Orchestra is one of our community’s many treasures, and all were blessed to see and hear them perform.”

The orchestra was invited by Darlene Fantel, Director of the Lindenhurst Farmers Market, which is located at North Wellwood & Hoffman Avenues, every Saturday morning from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Come by and visit each week from now until November!

Pictured here with the Lindenhurst High School Orchestra students are Orchestra Director Kristin Lombardo, Trustee Douglas Madlon, Mayor Michael Lavorata and Farmers Market Director Darlene Fantel.

To serve you better, the Village of Lindenhurst is upgrading its parking meters on Wellwood Avenue to touch-screen parking meter kiosks that accept both coins and credit cards.  In addition, we are introducing “Pay-by-App” and “Pay-by-Text” options that will allow customers to pay without using the kiosk!

As part of this new system, most parking spaces on Wellwood will be numbered and to begin any parking transaction, customers must enter their space number.  Customers parking in a numbered space must use a new parking kiosk or their smartphones (pay-by-app or pay-by-text) to pay for parking.  Customers parking in non-numbered spaces with an old-style parking meter should continue to use the old meter as they do today.

Also, free 15-minute “in-and-out” will remain on both North and South Wellwood!  Here are some additional instructions related to the new meters:

All meters are in effect Monday through Saturday from 9 AM TO 9 PM

CLICK HERE to view a brief video that describes how to use the Flowbird parking app!

Questions? Call the Village Public Safety office at 631-793-5366.

Back by popular demand, this year’s event will feature old “tyme” music and Strawberry Shortcake Sundaes

Lindenhurst, NY – The Lindenhurst Historical Society invites one and all to return to summer days gone by; when Sunday afternoons were spent strolling in the park, serenaded with melodies like “In the Good Old Summertime” and lingering long enough to enjoy that perennial summer favorite—strawberry shortcake.

Back by popular demand, the Lindenhurst Historical Society is once again hosting its Old Tyme Summer Sundae Social on Sunday June 23, 2024 at the Lindenhurst Village Square from 1PM to 3PM. This year, strawberry shortcakes replete with vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream will be on sale for all to enjoy.  Period costumed members of the Lindenhurst Historical Society will be on hand to inform local history buffs, summer dessert aficionados and Sunday strollers about life in Lindenhurst during the 90s… that’s the 1890s and setting the mood will be Get Your Groove On DJ, providing period accurate music; the perfect accompaniment for viewing the Society’s historical photo display depicting Lindenhurst in days gone by.

“The Lindenhurst Historical Society is pleased to once again host this event;  inviting friends, old and new, to join us and spend some time sharing stories about Lindenhurst’s past and helping the Society further its mission to preserve and celebrate our Village’s rich and colorful  history, ” said Lindenhurst Village Historian and Event Chairperson Anna Jaeger.

“We greatly appreciate the support the Lindenhurst Historical Society received from the community during last year’s Lindenhurst Historical Society 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary celebrations,” said Lindenhurst Museum Director and Event Co-Chairperson Marianne Guglieri. “We are especially pleased at the recognition and support received for this year’s Sundae Social.  The H.F. Wreith Insurance Agency (368 South Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst) and the East Neck Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (134 Great East Neck Rd, West Babylon) have made generous contributions to this year’s event, helping to ensure a successful Summer Sundae Social.  Please join us at the Lindenhurst Village Square.” 

Mother Nature provided a spectacular day for the annual Lindenhurst Fire Department Invitational Parade & Drill.  Fire Departments from across Long Island came to Lindenhurst to participate, and enjoy a day of festivities and thrilling drill competition. This year, the parade was extra special since the LFD invited a group of Firefighters from Germany to march alongside them.

Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “It was a site to behold, with so many firefighters marching in formation, accompanied by marching bands, and followed by fire trucks and rescue vehicles. I also had the honor, along with LFD Chief David Collins, to present the German firefighters with a proclamation welcoming them to our Lindenhurst community.”

Pictured here with members of the Walldorf Germany Fire Department –Max Bowitz (Captain) and Christiane Stabb (Member, Deputy Head of County Fire Service Association, Former Mayor of Walldorf, and Member of State Parliament)  are (left to right):

PHOTO #1 – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey, Mayor Michael Lavorata, Deputy Mayor RJ Renna, and Trustees Douglas Madlon and Maryann Weckerle.

PHOTO #2 – Trustee Maryann Weckerle, LFD Chief David Collins, and Mayor Michael Lavorata.

The Village Board recently acknowledged May 14th, 2024 as “Apraxia Awareness Day” in
the Village of Lindenhurst. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is an extremely
challenging neurological speech disorder that affects 1-in-1,000 children. The disorder
causes children to have significant difficulty learning to speak, and is among the most
severe speech deficits in children. Pictured here with Mayor Michael Lavorata is the
Pope Family, who have two children diagnosed with CAS, and who seek to bring about
greater awareness of the disorder.
Mayor Lavorata said, “Our highest respect goes to these children, as well as their
families, for their effort, determination, and resilience in the face of such obstacles.”