Friday, 28 December 2012 00:00
Join the South Shore Audubon Society for a bird walk at the Massapequa Preserve from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Jan. 6. Walk leaders and other birders and nature enthusiasts will be happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. The bird walk is free. Bring binoculars. Rain, snow or temperature below 25 degrees F will cancel. The group will meet at the Northeast parking lot at the Massapequa Long Island Railroad Station. For more information, visit www.ssaudubon.org or call Steve Schellenger at (516) 987-8103
Flash Mob starring American Idol Star Jackie Tohn set for Sunday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Huntington Hilton, Route 110, in Melville as part of the ORT Party Planning Showcase & Ultimate Teen Party. Performance roles in the KALIEDESCOPE OF LIGHTS video is limited to the first 200 children, ages 11 to 13, who apply. Free to attend. The child that gives the best performance will win a free ‘Club Style’ party for up to 75 people at Wall Street in Commack. All participants will also receive free professional head shots and candid shots at the party. Pre-registeration is preferred by visiting www.ortpartyplanning showcase.com. The showcase runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monsignor Delaney Council of Knights of Columbus and St. James Church are holding a blood drive at St. James Church Parish Center, 3:30 to 8 p.m., Hicksville Rd and Seamans Neck Rd., one block south of Hempstead Tpke., in Seaford. For information call (516) 694-2016. Help meet Long Island’s daily need for 800 pints. Blood supplies are especially low after the holidays.
The community is invited to Temple B’nai Torah (2900 Jerusalem Avenue, Wantagh) for a screening and discussion of Hester Street by Joan Micklin Silver on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. Starring Carol Kane and Doris Roberts, Hester Street, is the touching story of Russian immigrants on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1896. The old world and new world collide as the family struggles to adjust to American life. Will they forsake their heritage? Free parking. Call Rabbi Bellows at (516) 221-2370 for information.
The Parkway Community Church will be holding a winter coat drive during the months of November and December. All coats will be donated to The Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) in Hempstead, a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island. All donations of new or “gently” used coats (infant, child and adult sizes) can be dropped off at the Parkway Community Church, 95 Stewart Ave., in Hicksville between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, call 516-433-5659.
A safe, confidential, supportive environment to talk about what you have been through, reactions and feelings and how to move forward. You are not alone. Facilitated by a professional therapist. Three consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. in the Hicksville-Plainview area. $60 for three meetings. To register call Nancy Berlow, LCSW: 516-356-7109. All inquiries are confidential.
Soldiers Angels sends care packs to deployed troops all through the year. Cards and letters for our deployed troops, local veterans and for our wounded heroes are also needed. Soldiers Angels also accepts donations for our local veteran missions in the community. For more information on this and other local missions of support email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You may drop off cards and letters of support to the LevitStyle office at 19 Jerusalem Ave., Levittown. You can also visit the Soldiers Angels website at www.soldiersangels.org.
Ladies, do you love to sing? Then we’ve got a place for you. Join Twin County Chorus in the joys of a cappella harmony. We rehearse every Thursday evening in Levittown from 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Call Bobbi at 516-798-4325 or Susan at 516-729-8323 for more information. Or visit the website: www.twincounty.org.
•Homemakers Club Levittown Day Chapter meeting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays at the VFW Hall Post #9592, Hickory Lane, Levittown. Call 579-4420.
•Overeaters Anonymous meeting every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 474 Wantagh Ave., Levittown. Do you have a problem with food? We are a 12-step group for those who eat compulsively. Call 794-1333.
•Overeaters Anonymous. Are you a compulsive overeater? Under eater? Overeaters Anonymous can help. There is a meeting on Tuesdays on the corner of Salisbury Park Dr. and Carmans Rd., East Meadow, across from the firehouse from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. Call for directions 997-4534. For information about the meeting call Nancy 798-2547 (between 7 and 9 p.m.) or Ed 845-5423.
•Business Networking International. Join the “All In” chapter of BNI at its breakfast meeting every Tuesday at 7 a.m. at the East Bay Diner, Merrick Rd., Seaford. Referrals are exchanged between local business people to help their businesses grow. Call Denise Langweber for more information at 765-2800, or meet the group there.
•Bingo For Kids/Families. On Tuesday evenings you can have fun with your family at a special bingo designed just for kids. At Temple Beth-El of Bellmore, 1373 Bellmore Rd., N. Bellmore, you can play bingo for prizes (not cash). Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per player. An adult must accompany the children. Adult play is optional. Bring a marker or purchase one at the event. The snack bar will be open at 6 p.m. and will serve a variety of reasonably priced items. No food can be brought with you into the temple because strict kosher food laws are observed.
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
When Msgr. Ralph Sommer was growing up he found inspiration from the example of his uncle, Father Ralph Besendorfer. “He was a Brooklyn priest,” said Msgr. Sommer, who is known to parishioners as “Father Sommer” or “Father Ralph.”
“My uncle was a most powerful and delightful influence, happy, caring, and helpful,” said Father Sommer, outgoing pastor of St. Brigid’s Church, in Westbury. “I would look at him and say, ‘I could do that.’”
For a number of years, Father Besendorfer would come out to St. Bernard’s in Levittown on weekends to assist.
Now, Father Sommer finds himself about to become pastor of St. Bernard’s on June 26, succeeding Msgr. Gerard Ringenback, pastor of St. Bernard’s since 2001.
He doesn’t know if anyone at St. Bernard’s will remember his uncle, Father Sommer said, but “if I meet people who remember him from that time, it will be a nice thing.”
Born in Flushing, Queens, Father Sommer grew up in Garden City, attending St. Anne’s School. He advanced to St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary, a high school for young men considering the priesthood.
“It was a caring community,” with priest-instructors and students who shared an interest in exploring the priesthood.
For college, he left the seminary system for Adelphi University near his home. “I walked every day. We didn’t have another car.”
Adelphi offered an opportunity to test his vocation. He majored in psychology, “which I thought would help me if I became a priest.”
After Adelphi, he returned to priestly studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington. Upon graduation, he was ordained a priest in 1983.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 07:26
Under dark cloudy skies, Coach Bob Fehrenbach and the MacArthur Lady Generals, defending Long Island champions, ended their season with a 12-1 loss after forcing a third game in the best of three series from East Meadow.
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

Senior pitcher Anthony Semonella at Division Avenue High School has received a scholarship from the University of Bridgeport and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at the collegiate level. He was joined by parents Donna and Ralph Semonella, Principal Dr. Francesco Ianni, Physical Education Chairperson Mauro Chiti and varsity baseball coach Tom Tuttle as he signed a letter confirming his acceptance to the university’s athletic program.
Photo provided by Syntax
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
St. Thomas Aquinas College freshman Robert Naughton, of Levittown, has made his impact known in the NCAA Baseball East Coast Conference. Naughton started out his 2013 campaign not allowing an earned run in the first 19 innings he pitched.
At completion of his first season Naughton pitched 58 innings compiling a record of 6-1, leading the East Coast Athletic Conference with an era of 1.54.
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