'Music for Maria' at Five Points Cafe

On Sunday June 3, from 1- 5 p.m., in downtown Sayville will be hosting a benefit concert to help defray the training expenses of Sachem alumnus Maria Michta as she prepares for the Olympic Trials, which are just one month away.

Michta, a four time high school racewalk national champion has gone on to even greater fame as an adult. For 10 years now she has represented her country on the U.S. National team, competing in 10 different nations on 4 different continents, all with the goal of someday making the Olympic Games. She placed 30th last year at the World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea and comes into the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials as the favorite, having won the last 3 Indoor and the last 2 Outdoor National Titles- last year setting a meet record with a time of 1:34.52 for the 20 Kilometer (12.4 miles) Racewalk.

An eclectic line up has been inked to perform with Sayville resident Pete McNeill opening up with acoustic classics and soft rock. McNeill was Maria Michta's high school coach who along with coach Alex Young introduced Maria to the racewalk event. McNeill's son, Patrick, might even jump in for a few numbers.

Next up on the card will be the local Sayville group known as The Committee to re-elect Millard Fillmore Band. Bill Moretti, Joe Cook, Mike Hagstedt, and Rick Mannoia perform classic 60s and 70s songs with a few Irish pub songs and Banjo licks thrown in for fun.

The headline act will be International Blues Challenge Finalist Tommy Keys. Singer/songwriter and keyboard player extraordinaire, Keys is a crowd favorite on the Long Island circuit and on June 10th will be inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. His latest CD, "The Man in the Moon", is currently #4 on Sirius/XM radio's BB Kings Bluesville Station. What most fans don't know about Keys is that the Sachem graduate was once a member of the track and field Team!

Five Points Cafe has been open for just over a year and has quickly become one of Sayville's most popular eateries. Known for regular live music and it's highly rated Burgers, Five Points has a classy but relaxed feel and a reasonably priced menu to match. Come on down to Five Points on Sunday June 3 and enjoy some good music, good food, and good vibes as we celebrate the Olympic Spirit with Maria Michta. To find out more go to mariamichta.com, tommykeys.com, or fivepointscafe.com.

Submitted by Pete McNeill

Sachem Schools will also host a Maria Michta Day Walk-a-thon on Sunday, June 10 at 8:30 a.m. on the Sachem North track to raise money for Michta's training expenses.