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Veteran's Summer Youth Program |
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 Each year the Smithtown Veterans Summer Youth Program
grows stronger and more popular. Now expanded to seven nights a week, over 3000 teens
gathered at Sunken Meadow State Park to enjoy games and music during this summer. Part of
the success of the Smithtown program is the commitment from the Suffolk County Police
Department's Fourth Precinct. Police Officers Lois Aprile and Denise MacDonald are not
just assigned to appear at the beach program but are actively involved in organizing and
running it. More than 50 adult volunteers chaperoned, keeping kids within a certain area but not interfering with the teens as the enjoyed the beachfront and boardwalk area. Pizza nights, bands and activities like a bungee jump, basketball and ping pong, kept kids coming back. Kevin Baratini, the DJ for Music Sensations, performed regularly and was clearly a hit. Mike Brady, who is credited with rescuing the program five years ago when it was dropped by the Town of Huntington, is proud that this drug and alcohol free program remains popular with Long Island teens. Despite a dozen "rain-outs" this summer, they averaged over 100 teens each night. Unlike some other summer youth programs on Long Island, kids from all over attended with no incidents or problems reported. According to Claire Rodin, Director of Suffolk County Youth Services, that's due in large part because of the "family" attitude the volunteers bring to the program. Although the program officially runs from June 26 through August 31, many of the volunteers keep in touch year around through business and other community organizations in the town. The Veterans' Youth Program and the St. James Veterans of Foreign War post recently received accolades from national veterans groups. One organization, which boast several Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, applauded the Smithtown program for its contribution to helping to keep kids drug and alcohol free, giving them alternatives to just hanging out and especially showing a commitment to youth. " Click
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