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, ballon 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, not only salt water but the fresh water we count on for our drinking supply, and most of all it is a really fun day in the summer with some of the best musicians on Long Island.”
Legislator Michael Venditto 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.”
Jordan Christensen is the program coordinator with Citizens Campaign for the environment out of Farmingdale.
“We work to protect air, land and water resources in New York and Connecticut,” she said. “Right now we are focusing on Long Island ground water and drinking water protection campaign. We come here because we are working on a lot of legislation to protect Long Island’s water resources. We have been working with a lot of local assemblymen and legislators here. We just want to get the word out about our local campaign in the town.”
Under a tent was a long table with many plain sheet cakes measuring forty feet in length. Mike Benes owner of Merrit Bakery of Farmingdale also known as Mike the Baker explained what was going to happen.
“For Joe Saladino’s family fun fishing day we are going to make a big seahorse shaped cake for everyone to enjoy as the expo is wrapping up,” he said. “The cake is all made and Joe is going to shape it and my assistants and I are going to color it in.”
Saladino did surprise everyone with his artistic ability carving free hand a seahorse and worked arranging pieces of the cake until a giant seahorse emerged from the assorted square cakes.
Eventually, the audience was treated to dessert from 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, an ad-hoc group of musicians came together that included Creation Arts owner Brian Carroll, Birch Lane teacher Bill Pollock and drummer Gary Setzer, brother of Stray Cats founding member Brian Setzer.
As the last rays of sunlight glistened across the bay time, stood still as grown men once again became those teenagers playing music in a garage on Compass street in Massapequa.
