This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Pirates Visit Huntington Lighthouse Music Fest and Veterans History Project Lays Roots in Huntington

Welcome to "About Town," a new column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what the town's talking about. Check in often, because we will be updating often. And if you see something ... say something.

Ahoy mateys! If ye were pillaged and plundered by a boatload of teen pirates during the recent Lighthouse Music Fest, be calmed to know that the loot was destined for a worthy cause.

A group of Northport students took it upon themselves to dress as pirates and head out in a zodiac that belonged to the parents of one teen. Nobody knew of their plans to hold up the gathered ships for bounty and then donate the money to the lighthouse.

"We all almost died and got seriously choked up when they came to the dock and brought us the money", said Pam Setchell, president of the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society and owner of Viewpoint Photography. "We were stunned. It was so wonderful."

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In fact, they were so impressed by the group's efforts that they invited them back to be an official part of next year's Music Fest.

"Every year there is something amazing that happens and this is one for the 2010 Music Fest", Setchell said. "I have been truly blown away by the outpouring of support. So many people called to help and sympathized with the pain that we went through to put it on in light of hurricane Earl."

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Setchell also credited The Town of Huntington Maritime Services and Mike Londrigan of SEATOW as being invaluable to the success of the festival.

VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT LAYS ROOTS IN HUNTINGTON

Rep. Steve Israel was at Huntington's American Legion Post on Sunday to promote a new initiative that will train boy and girl scouts to interview local combat veterans. The interviews that the scouts conduct will be prepared for inclusion in the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans to better understand our nation's history.

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone and Town Council members Mark Mayoka and Glenda Jackson were also on hand as local scouts were trained, and then met with veterans from the Northport VA.

"It was a beautiful sight to see young people excited and eager to listen to stories told by an older generation, something that has been mostly lost in our culture of electronic entertainment and organized sports," Jackson said.

Rep. Israel has a long record of advocating on behalf of veterans. "The best way to honor our veterans is to remember their sacrifices," he said. "Too many young Americans don't realize how high the price was for their freedom. That's why I've organized this Library of Congress Veterans Oral History program on Long Island, and I'm grateful that our local boy and girl scouts will be participating."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?