Frank Archipolo was driving on the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway on what appeared to be routine evening. However that would soon change for the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department employee when he saw smoke coming from a home in Plainview.
Archipolo pulled off the highway and went towards the danger. He ran to the house and spotted a woman and a man standing near the front door, where he then helped the woman down from the porch and asked her if there was anyone else in the home. The woman told him that her daughter was still inside, so Archipolo entered the house.
As he did, the woman’s daughter came toward him. He helped her out, and the family’s dog escaped as well, all thanks to Archipolo’s act of heroism.
“I just thank God that I was able to be there and everybody was safe,” Archipolo told the Town of Oyster Bay Board at a recent meeting in which he was honored for his courage. “Of course, my wife was yelling at me,” he joked.
Archipolo may be humble about the experience, and even joke about it, but Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto was quite serious in praising Archipolo for his efforts.
“You are in no small measure what the Town of Oyster Bay should be, and is all about,” Venditto said to Archipolo.
Venditto also took the opportunity to praise Town of Oyster Bay workers for their efforts. The supervisor frequently commends town workers for their work, and has specifically referred to efforts following Hurricane Sandy and recent winter storms.
“I have mentioned repeatedly about the value of our town workers and the job that they do,” said Venditto. “Not only when they are one the clock, but also when nobody is watching. There are many acts of courage by our employees in all sorts of adverse situations.”
Venditto also spoke about efforts following the snowstorm in March. The supervisor said that he had to leave the Town of Oyster Bay and traveled through other municipalities and found that the town was in much better condition than other locations.
“After 24 hours, there was a marked difference,” said Venditto, again praising the efforts of town workers and comparing the Town of Oyster Bay to other locations.
“I’ll go further,” added Councilman Anthony Macagnone. “After 72 hours, there was a marked difference.”
