Farmingville Residents Enjoy Community Day

In an effort to bring residents together, the Farmingville Residents Association and the Farmingville Historical Society organized the second annual Community Day that took place at Farmingville Hills County Park Saturday.

Live music, vendors, Civil War reenactors and Portuguese folk dancers served as entertainment for the residents that attended. Those who came out to the park also had a chance to sit inside the Bald Hill Historic Schoolhouse and take part in a discussion with a representative from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. The representative talked about how people farmed and lived back in the mid-1800s.

"I think you have to know where your community comes from," said BJ Intini, president of the Farmingville Historical Society, on why it's important to teach people about the town's history. "I think you have to know why Farmingville is Farmingville."

The Bald Hill Schoolhouse was built in 1850 and schooled children in grades 1-8 until it closed in 1929. It is located next to Farmingville Hills Park on the same grounds as the Terry House, which was the home of the Terry family in the early 1800s.

"Education is so important," Intini said. "This schoolhouse is on its original property and has its own identity." Intini added that the Historical Society hopes to open up the schoolhouse more often, and even bring Sachem fourth graders on field trips there some time in the future.

Local bands and artists such as Jack's Waterfall, Blind Robbery and Scutches performed. Jack Licitra of Jack's Waterfall, once a Farmingville resident, said he thought Community Day was "a great idea. Once you get people drumming together it's [fun]."

Those who attended Community Day said they thought it was a good way to get the community together.

"They should do it more often. It should be four times a year," said Mark Sweeny, who grew up in Farmingville. Sweeny recalled what Farmingville was like when he was younger, mentioning that there were no traffic lights along Portion Road into Smithtown.

Along with Intini, other coordinators of Community Day said the goal of the event was to bring Farmingville residents together for an evening of free activities and entertainment.

"I think in any community it's important to get people together," said Jennifer Ross, a coordinator. "A sense of belonging, a sense of fun ... We need to feel a part of something."

"We wanted to do something free...and we wanted to make it family-oriented," said Marissa Pizza, a director of the Residents Association. "From vendors to music...there's something for everyone."

Pizza said the event was funded by sponsors such as Allstate and Ralph's Italian Ices. She said she hopes that Community Day can happen more than once a year, but that funding is an issue.

Because Farmingville has such a rich history, Pizza said the Residents Association is happy to be able to put on events to celebrate it.

"We have a lot of pride and faith in the town and we know it has potential," she said.