Photos by Cynthia Paulis
More than 2,000 Long Islanders enjoyed the festivities at Captree State Park as Assemblyman Joseph Saladino hosted the ninth annual Marine and Outdoor Recreation Expo on Sept. 15.
Attendees learned about sustainable sources of energy as well as ways to protect the planet, especially the island’s marine environment. There were demonstrations in camping, boating, water safety, renewable energy, wildlife and environmental education, fly fishing, arts and crafts, face painting, clowns, touch tanks, balloon animals and plenty of rock and roll.
“The Marine Expo is designed to teach families about protecting our marine environment and to introduce them to the many businesses that create marine recreation,” said Saladino. “We would like to see the charter boat captains and their boats stay in business. We want to draw people here. It is very important for them to learn about the quality of our waters, and most of all it is a fun day with some of the best musicians on Long Island.”
Massapequa Park Mayor Jeffrey Pravato, who attended with his family, said the event is a great educational opportunity for both children and adults.
“It teaches them about the environment, about fishing,” said Pravato. “It’s a really great day for our residents to come down and learn all about what nature has and gives back to us and what we can do to make the environment better for us.”
Legislator Michael Venditto said the event was a great way to cap off the summer.
“Events like this are made possible by the great leadership of Assemblyman Saladino and leaders like him in the community, but also by our residents here who frequent the south shore,” said Venditto. “They always give a lot back to the community so days like this are really what it is all about.”
There were many educational exhibits for people to learn about different organizations, including Massapequa’s YES Community Counseling Center (www.yesccc.org). Heather McCauley, from the center, explained how the organization supports the community.
“We work with families from Massapequa, Seaford and Farmingdale, and we just merged with an organization called People in Bethpage,” she said. “We have a drug and alcohol abuse program and we also have a grant to work with families and children, as well as a grant to work with Hurricane Sandy survivors to help process all of those people who have long term and psychological and emotional effects of the storm. We came here to raise awareness of our program because it doesn’t always get out there to communities.”
Receiving the New York State Outstanding Community Volunteer Award was Massapequa resident Tim Taylor, who also serves on the Massapequa school board.
“I have been helping Joe run this for the last few years.” he said. “I think this event is absolutely wonderful.”
A sweet treat for dessert came in the form of a 40-foot sea horse cake sculpted by Saladino. The crowd also had a chance to listen to the Bary Zaks Band with a surprise drum rendition from the assemblyman.
As the day drew to a close, former members and relatives of the Massapequa band The Stray Cats came together to play at the event. Doug Collman played lead guitar; Brian Carroll, owner of Creation Arts was the bass player; lawyer by day and keyboard player at night was Joe DeGaetano, who plays in Dog House Blues Band; singer John Hensler; Bill Pollock, teacher at Birch Lane; brother of Stray Cats founder Brian Setzer, Gary Setzer played drums.
The day was enjoyed by all, imparting the importance of environmental preservation for generations to come at this family friendly event.
