Help Save Our History

First Annual Turkey Trot Fundraiser!

The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation is Sponsoring this soon to be classic Thanksgiving Day Event on Thursday November 7th 2008.

Start time is 8:30 at the Nissequogue River State Park Office on the Historic Grounds of the Kings Park State Hospital. This beautiful and historic course is a mixture of hills and flats, snaking around the former gothic buildings of the Kings Park State Hospital.

Come Join the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation and Help Us Build a Park.

All Proceeds will be use to make necessary repairs to the Park Office and Repair the Majestic Copula which has become the "defacto" symbol of the New Nissequogue River State Park.

Click Here to Download Application

or

Register Online at www.ourstatepark.com !

First Annual Slavic Heritage
Night at the Museum!

Dec 5th 2008 - 7:30pm
RJO School - 101 Church Street, Kings Park
 631-269-3305

Admission is Free!

Featuring Polish Music by:

The K.P. Trio led by
Charles Fontana on Accordion!

Also Featuring:
The Polish American Dancers of Long Island

Plus:

The Ukrainian Folk Dancers!

Kings Park Museum Books
New Release!

The Kings Park Heritage Museum is proud to announce the publication of the long awaited book on the History of St Johnland written by Bradley Harris and King Pedlar and Published by the Kings Park Heritage Museum entitled "St Johnland a Forgotten Utopia".

Prior to becoming a elder care facility, St Johnland was a home for children founded by the Reverend Muhlenberg in 1865 to help inner city orphans and children of single parents a place to learn and grow.

This ground breaking book by Kings Park Historian King Pedlar and Smithtown Historical Society's President and former Smithtown Council Member Bradley Harris, is a heartwarming historic documentation of the children of the St Johnland Home and their lives together.

This book is available via mail order from the Kings Park Heritage Museum for a suggested donation of $12, which included shipping.

Also available via mail order are George Tiernan's book "Kings Park a Pictorial History 1870-1960", Myra Fontana's Book "Irish Immigrants of Kings Park" and David Flynn's Book "Early Homes of Kings Park - 1690-1917", each has a suggested donation of  $12 via mail order.

Buy all 4 books for $35 - Shipping Included!

Send $12 donation for each book ordered or
 $35 for all 4 books to:

Kings Park Heritage Museum
101 Church Street
Kings Park, NY 11754

for more information email:

info@kingsparkmuseum.com

Kings Park Musician
John Corr - Irish Folk Music

Kings Park native John Corr's Music is available for sale at the Kings Park Heritage Museum with proceed benefiting the local Kings Park Community. John is recognized as one of the premier artist specializing in Irish Folk Music with an American Twist. The Kings Park Heritage Museum is proud to make this music available.

Click Here to Download Sample Tune - Danny Boy

John Corr CDs Available:

Tappin' the Boots

Northeast Mariners

CD Available for $12 Donation Each, Shipping Included.

Send Check to:
Kings Park Heritage Museum, 101 Church Street, Kings Park, NY 11754

Smithtown Historical Society Honors
Supervisor Patrick Vecchio
30 Years as Smithtown's Supervisor

 
Supervisor Vecchio pictured above with Charlie Crowley in late '70s

Sept 23, 2008 - The Smithtown Historical Society honored Patrick Vecchio's 30th Year as Smithtown Supervisor at the Flowerfield Catering Center. "Smithtown already has term limits", proclaimed Noel Gish, "Every four years, the people in our community have an opportunity to register their approval or disapproval...and have chosen to return Mr. Vecchio back to office."

Both friend and soon to be friend joined together for this once in a lifetime gathering. Also in attendance was Smithtown Historian Brad Harris, Congressman from the 1st District Tim Bishop, New York State Senator John Flanagan, New York State Assembly Member Mike Fitzpatrick, Suffolk Legislator John Kennedy and the entire Smithtown Town Council including Pat Bianccaneillo, Ed Wehrheim, Robert Creighton and Tom McCarthy.

 The highlight of the evening was a slideshow put together by Tony Tanzi and Noel Gish which featured historical photographs of Pat Vecchio's life, both as a NYC Police Officer on Security Detail and as Smithtown Town Supervisor.

Click HERE to Watch the Slide Show

Click Here to Watch Tribute Speeches

Kings Park Museum
Heritage Week!
 

The Kings Park Heritage Museum highlighted the Museum's 14 year of existence with Kings Park Heritage Week which was held October 16-19, 2008.

The Town, The School District and the Museum Volunteers can feel deep pride in successfully creating this community asset and preserving our shared history!

Arts and Letters Hall of Fame
Induction Dinner

The Kings Park School District is proud to honor these graduates and residents of Kings Park who have contributed to our community through their respective fields. The awards presentation was on October 16th, 2008. Close to 200 people attended and enjoyed a great evening with friends and fantastic dinner provided by  Carrabba's Italian Grill!

All Heritage Week Pictures by King Pedlar!

---- 2008 Honorees ----

Robert Reddy - Jazz

Pictured Above Left, Mr. and Mrs. Reddy accepting the Hall Of Fame
Honors for their son Robert, who was on tour with his jazz band on the
Evening of the Arts and Letters Hall of Fame!

Louise Scutiero - Artist

Pictured above Honoree Louise Scutiero with just a few of what
reported to be at least 50 proud family members
 

Edward Nicoletti - Movie Productions

Pictured Above Bob Nicoletti with Myra Fontana and Dr Cooper.
Bobbie was accepting the award for his brother Ed Nicoletti who at the
time of the ceremony was on location filming in California.

Lorraine Pravato - Opera


Pictured Above Famed Opera Singer Lori Pravato accepts Honors!
 

Steve Weber - Media Center

Pictured Above Anita Weber, Steve Weber and Kings Park
High School Principal Dr. Cooper.

Click HERE to View YouTube Video

Pre-Event Local Newspaper Coverage:

Post-Event Local Newspaper Coverage:

An Evening with Walter Nowick
Piano Concert
 

Carnegie Hall in Kings Park for Heritage Week!

World Famous Pianist and Kings Park Native Water Nowick gave a virtuoso, performance at the Ed Hogan Auditorium in celebration of Heritage Week on October 17th, 2008. Mr. Nowick toured the Soviet Union during the height of the cold war spreading fellowship through music.

Working with the Kings Park High School Film Club, the Kings Park Heritage Museum video taped this performance using four video cameras for a future documentary. The students are working hard on the final cut of the film.

Below is a raw clip from one of those cameras. Too great to wait for the actual film!

Click Here to View Raw Video Of  Concert!

Kings Park Psychiatric Center
Walking Tour
 

Kings Park Heritage Museum conducted several "Walking Tours of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center" and "Nissequogue River State Park during Heritage Week 2008.

The purpose of these tours is to increase understanding of the the History of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Debunk False Rumors, Discuss Possible Futures, Promote the Nissequogue River State Park, Discourage Trespassing and get some healthy exercise as well.

One unexpected outcome, the tour guides learned additional facts about the History of the KPPC from former employees and local residents.

   To make a reservation for future tours please email: info@kingsparkmuseum.com

Kings Park Heritage Museum
Afternoon Brunch

Outback Steakhouse once again sponsor the Heritage Museum Brunch. Jessica Maher of the Commack Outback Steak House was the perfect host!



Pictured Above are the Helping Hands Award Recipients for 2008. This award is given out each year to recognize those people who's selfless work has made the Kings Park Heritage Museum an even better place to visit.

Included in this year's class is Mrs. Lois Vulpis, by all accounts a "Dynamo!" who has single handedly vaulted the Heritage Museum to the next level through her organization and presentation talents.

Also honored was Kevin Johnson Jr., who spent hours and hours archiving the Kings Park Fire Department Photograph Collection for the Heritage Museum; all while having a broken leg.

Pictures above are the Superintendent Award Winners for 2008. This award is presented to those going above the call of duty to help make the Kings Park School System more responsive to the needs of the community.

Included in this class are Keri and Charlie Leo whose efforts to the community are much too long to list, not the least of which is their selfless work with the Kings Park Youth Organization, even going to the point of using their own home to store equipment and hold meetings.

Also Pictured Above is Dave Henderson, who received a separate award from the Village Film Festival for his fiction film on the Kings Park Psychiatric Center which humanizes the names and numbers which so often make up the institutional setting.

Local Newspaper Coverage:

Kings Park Heritage Museum
Mentoring For Children

Smithtown Town Council Member Pat Biancaniello visited the Kings Park Heritage Museum on October 8th, 2008 to speak to a group of Kings Park's Smartest, the Girl Scouts of Troop 48. The days topic was "Women's Right To Vote".

"Women are Like Teabags"

The lone woman on the Smithtown Town Council proudly proclaimed. "You never know how strong you are until things get hot!". Pictured above the young ladies of Troop 48 had plenty of questions for Council Member Pat.

The Heritage Mentoring Program which is part of the overall outreach program by the Kings Park Heritage Museum to bring together Kings Park Best Role Models and Young Students to learn from each other and grow as people as a community.

In addition to her work on the Smithtown Council, Pat Biancaniello is also the former president of the League of Women Voters of Smithtown and will be speaking on "Women's Suffrage - How the Vote Was Won" on October 27 at the Old Town Hall in Babylon.

For More information click HERE to download more information or contact the Airmid Theatre Company at www.airmidtheatre.org or call 631-704-2888.

Local Newspaper Coverage:

Irish Night At the Museum

Close to 400 People attended this years Irish Heritage Night at the Museum hosted by Mrya Fontana on September 19th, 2008. Singing, Dancing and of course Irish Soda Bread helped make the evening enjoyable for all! One highlight of the evening started out as a disaster, the step dancers music would not play on the PA System, but without missing a beat, Myra's husband Charlie Fontana, picked up his accordion and began playing the Irish Folk Music for the young ladies to step to. What a fantastic surprise, that man is talented.

Museum Trustee and Proud Member of the Son's of Italy, Joe Merola couldn't help but remark, "You don't know the half of it, Charlie is Italian!"

Click Here to Watch Video!

American Legion Donates American Flag
to Heritage Museum!

Pictured above,  Kings Park's Mattie O’Riely presents American Flag to King Park Historian and fellow American Legion Member King Pedlar as a much anticipated addition to the Cusick Room at the Kings Park Heritage Museum. This historic flag flew over the Veterans Plaza for one year, Memorial Day 2007 until Memorial Day 2008.

Mattie O’Riely served in the Pacific Theater in 1943, building the landing strips which enabled damaged aircrafts and injured airmen to land. “There were long periods of boredom separated by moments of complete terror. When those bomb start falling all around you, you find a way to keep going and be someone your fellow soldiers can count on.”

In addition to his military service, “Mattie O” as he is affectionately known, was the editor of the Kings Park State Hospital’s Newspaper called “The Reporter”. Mattie’s quick wit and optimistic outlook was the trademark of his editorial work. When asked about his writing style, Mattie remarked……”My typewriter always had a smile!”

"Mattie O" a Kings Park Original!

Click Here to Download Video

or

Click Here to View Video on YouTube

Local Newspaper Coverage:

Landing Avenue Methodist Church

The Landing Avenue Methodist Church is located in a small valley on Landing Avenue, Just south of the Smithtown Landing Golf Course. This church was originally founded in 1834 and held mass every Sunday until 1957. Many of the original congregation is buried in the church yard which surrounds the church. One can not help but notice the small church surrounded by these tombstones and wonder what the inside of the church looks like. My daughter once asked, "Are all the people dead? Is that why the church is never open?

When members of the Kings Park Heritage Museum noticed that the semiannual church service was to be held in September, we marked our calendar.

I Walked up the stairs of the church on that September morning, slowly opened the doors and looked inside to see the most beautiful lady lighting the candles for mass. She was not a young lady but in my eyes, she was so elegant that these pictures could not do her justice.
 

The first thing which stuck me was that the church looked like this was just another Sunday, putting aside that the last service was close to a year past. Secondly I noticed that the tombstones which driving by in a car looked so creepy, now from inside the church looking outward appeared to be comforting and I felt a warmth and peace which is very difficult to explain.

I recognized many of the people arriving as being members of historic Kings Park and Smithtown Families, each with a heartwarming story to tell about their family and the church, each more then willing to show where their relatives are buried and tell about lives past.

I couldn't help but rummage through the attic and found many very interesting artifacts which are also captured in the pictures posted here, not the lease of which is a certificate from the Ladies Temperance Movement.

After church we all went outside the church, had an old fashion lunch complete with lemonade and walked around the church cemetery. I couldn't help but wonder how many times this afternoon has played itself out over the years. One thing is for sure, I will never miss one of these masses in the future.

After most people left, I went to say goodbye to the lady who I first met while she was lighting the church candles, I couldn't find her, I asked Mr. Hawkins if he had seen the lady, he said that I must have been drinking too much lemonade and explained that he lit the candles this morning.

-Steve Weber-

Click HERE to View Cell Phone Video

or

Click Image Below to View:

 

Local Newspaper Coverage:

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2009 Kings Park
Jazz Festival

The Kings Park Heritage Museum will be hosting the second annual Kings Park Jazz Festival to celebrate African America History Month on February 27th 2009, 7PM at the RJO Auditorium, Kings Park.

Admission Is Free!

Last Year's Event was a tremendous success and we plan on this year's festival to shine even brighter. We will be honoring Ranny Reeve, who through jazz music has made Kings Park a better place to live.

Appearing well be:
 

-----------------------------------------------------
The Ranny Reeve
 Jazz Band
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And Blues Artist Extraordinaire...

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Paul Zunno's
Solo Acoustical Show
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- with -
Paul's Special Guest:

Stephanie Harris
and the
 Onesock Dancers

Onesock Productions is currently touring throughout the United States and Canada. The company is founded by musician Paul Zunno and choreographer and dancer Stephanie Harris. They have created a concert that combines their solo performances. The accompanying workshop designed by Harris, sets a piece of choreography on local students which they perform with Paul Zunno.

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Paul Zunno Supports
"911 First Responders"

A while back I received an email from Susan Centore, a long time supporter of my music, about a book written by her husband, Steve Centore. The book is called, “One of Them, A First Responder’s Story”. Susan explained how her husband, a responder to the 9/11 terrorist attack in NYC, had became gravely ill following his exposure to working at ground zero. I then began researching any sites dedicated to ill 9/11 first responders. I found John Feal and the FealGood Foundation, a non-profit organization, created to educate the public about the health effects on 9/11 first responders as well as to provide assistance to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them over the last five years.

To show my support to these two men and others like them I have re-recorded my song, “Hold Me Up” with Steve Wolf (Drums) and Brett Boss (Bass). The song was recorded at Monster Island Studio in New York City and engineered by Mike Caffrey. It turned out that Mike was also a responder to the 9/11 terrorist attack, something I didn’t know before booking the session. It was mixed by Jonathan Wyman and mastered at Gateway Mastering by Adam Ayan.

Please educate yourself about this issue and please support this cause by downloading 'Hold Me Up'. All proceeds from the digital download of the song will go to the FealGood Foundation.
Thank You - Paul Zunno

 

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Kings Park Town
"The Second Wave"- 1964-1969
 

Kings Park's Rapid Expansion!

During the mid to late 1960's Kings Park experienced a period of unprecedented rapid growth which was fueled by the Aerospace Industry, Defense Contractors and the Kings Park State Hospital.

This film documents the changes which occurred during that time period, including the building of the Kings Park High School, Park View Elementary School and the many housing developments including Old Bridge Estates, Wilshire, Crestwood, Gramercy Towne, Miller Homes, Flower Hill, Hillside Terrace and Lawrence Manner.

Also included are clips from the last year of RJO School when the historic building served as both the Jr. and Sr. High School, including Mr. Bowman's Archery Club, the Baseball Team, Track Team and a very rare clip of William T. Rogers, after whom the current middle school is named.

Click Here to View Video!

 

Photo Gallery:

Click Image above to View!

Video restored/prepared for the Internet and article written by Steve Weber, Historic References from Miles Borden, "History of Kings Park" Published by the Kings Park Heritage Museum. Special thanks to Mrs. Gardner who had Charlie finally clean out the basement and found these historic films!
 

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The Lost Camp Of St Johnland
Video By Steve Weber

King and Steve Search for the St Johnland Camp which was located in Sunken Meadow State Park in NY until 1951. St Johnland Home was a home for children, each summer the children would walk to this rustic camp on the shores of the Long Island Sound to enjoy what nature had to offer and get away from the summer heat back in the St Johnland Home. In 1951 Sunken Meadow was expanded and the camp was disbanded and the land claimed under eminent domain by Robert Moses.
 

Click Here to View Video

Memorial Day 2008 - Kings Park
Video by Steve Weber

The theme for this year's memorial day is Kings Park is "Freedom Isn't Free". Many Americans have fought and died to insure that we have the freedoms which we all enjoy today.  Deacon John set the tone with his opening prayer: "Give us the strength not to be angry with our neighbors who may disagree with us, rather let us rejoice in the many, many freedoms you have given us." So from all the People of Kings Park, to all our Honored Veterans, Thank You.

Click Here to View Video