Community Columns

Wading River news: SWR High School alum remembered at 9/11 service

Anna of Sound Gardens in Wading River shared the following: “Don’t look for happiness, create it.” Spending time in nature surrounded by flowers and trees is delightful to the eyes, stimulating to our sense of smell and therapeutic for our soul.

Shoreham resident Frank Montalto crossed paths with me recently at Mesquite Tex-Mex in Wading River. Parked outside the restaurant by the ponds was an image that stopped me dead in my tracks: his beautiful metallic blue and black ’79 Bronco with a plush black interior. Frank told me he found it on eBay but replaced the mismatched tan interior with black upholstery trimmed in baby blue. My husband owned the same model from the same year with the same transmission. We enjoyed driving in it with our two eldest children, who at the time were babies. What great memories!

A 9/11 memorial service was held Sept. 11 at Shoreham Fire Company No. 3 in honor of those who lost their lives in the attacks. One of the many was Shoreham-Wading River High School’s Kevin Williams. Kevin’s family still honors his memory by running events in his name that included renovations to the high school baseball field and a toy drive that takes place at Phil’s in Wading River before Christmas (kevinwilliamsfoundation.org). There’s also a rock at the memorial with a plaque attached to it honoring other students — from Rocky Point High School — that were killed in the World Trade Center: Joanne Ahladiotis, Class of 1992; Samantha Egan, Class of 1995; Lisa Egan, Class of 1988; and my friend Mike Curtin, Class of ’75. God bless the families of all the victims whose names appear at the memorial. We will never forget.

Ann and Patricia (Putey) Logan of Shoreham were standing outside Shoreham Fire Co. 3 selling the last 250 or so tickets to the Megabucks Raffle as I pulled up to purchase mine. Ann wants to thank everyone who supports the fundraiser, from buying tickets and attending the barbecue to serving food and drinks, setting up and cleaning up. This is Co. 3’s most important fundraiser of the year as it lends support to a majority of the firehouse’s budget.

Cooler weather is just around the corner so enjoy it when it arrives. In the meantime, be grateful for what you have, for those you love and be well until we meet here again in this space.

Liz Taggart_BwContact Elizabeth Taggart at [email protected] or 631-929-5933.