Welcome and welcome back. Kismet’s summer season has begun and will officially ramp up this Memorial Day weekend.
The Kismet Fire Department (KFD) annual Installation Dinner was held on April 28. Members, significant others, KFD alumni and honored guests celebrated the 50th anniversary of the department. Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone presented a proclamation and citations to six members honored for their outstanding length of service. Larry Cole, Warren Lem and Joe Kelly were there from the beginning with 50 years of service each. Sam Wood has served 45, Mike Fiore, 35 and Tom Licari, 25. Other members received service pins and officers were sworn in. The Kismet Fire Department Auxiliary (KFDA) presented the Department with a large banner – a Jim Phelan creation—at the regular KFD meeting on June 7.
Kismet recently mourned the loss of three beloved residents. An obituary for Rose Lem, a Kismet pioneer and founder from the 1950s, appears on other pages here. Paul Barbara who passed in April was a 30-year Kismet resident, co-owner and everyday presence at Surf’s Out (formerly The Out and currently The Dive). His wife, son and many friends mourn him as a truly generous man who was larger than life. Paul earned the nickname “the Grand Poobah” as he zipped around town on his Segway, his trademark cigar in his mouth. Kathleen Henry and her husband, John, were long-time Kismet renters, community participants and recent owners of “Innisfree” house. This weekend’s plant sale honors her.
The new digital Kismet Homeowners Directory (kismethomeowners.com) went live May 1. Elliot Epstein did a fantastic job putting it all together and will be making additions and corrections in early June.
The Kismet Fire Department Auxiliary (KFDA) will be holding the Kathleen Henry Memorial plant sale on Friday, May 26, from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Kismet Firehouse. Based on last year’s smash sellout sale, it’s a good bet there will be few if any leftovers. Kismet League for Animal Welfare (KLAW) will be raffling a scratch-off raffle ticket wreath with tickets selling at 1 for $5, 5 for $20. The DirtyVice band will play at the Kismet Marina Sunday, May 28.
Upcoming events include a book launch at the Schwartz house, 74 Oak Walk, on Friday June 2, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.,for “Kismet, A Novel,” by Becky Chalsen (beckychalsen.com). Interested people can RSVP to Debbie Schwartz, 914-373-1601. The second annual New Year’s Eve party was created by Linda Roundsman Knoth as an event for everyone to meet and greet old summer friends and make new ones. It will be held Saturday, June 3, from 3-6 p.m. at Kismet Park (playground/tennis courts), with music by Tommy Duck Semes. Everyone is invited and asked to bring champagne or beverage of choice and a dish to share. Kismet homeowners are invited to attend and join the Kismet Community Association at its Annual Spring meeting, Sunday June 11, at 10 a.m., at Kismet Firehouse.
