Finley Honor Society Members Volunteer
Community service and volunteering is an important part of being a member of an honor society, and so it is at J. Taylor Finley Middle School where members of the National Junior Honor Society chapter contributed time one recent Saturday morning beautifying Caumsett State Park in Lloyd Neck.
Faculty advisor Matthew Perlongo helped coordinate the activity, bringing the Finley honor students into contact with Caumsett’s “weed and feed” program. The group spent three hours “weeding in the walled garden, helping park staff prepare for the busy summer season,” Mr. Perlongo said.
Caumsett, which the state acquired for $4 million in February 1961, is one of the crown jewels in the state park system. The huge site includes untold miles of paths and trails for horseback riding, biking, jogging, walking and studying nature or even cross-country skiing. The multi-dimensional property features acres of woodlands, salt marshes, grassy meadows and a rock shoreline.
“After weeding, the park provided all the volunteers with cold drinks and pizza,” Mr. Perlongo said. “It was a great opportunity for the kids to do some volunteer work somewhere that they have all enjoyed as patrons. The park is well known and loved in the Huntington community and the kids got a lot of satisfaction out of helping to make it more enjoyable for everyone.”
This year’s Finley honor society officers are Alex Castillo (president), Natalie Lanzisero (vice-president) and Katherine Gerdes (secretary).
According to the New York State Parks’ website, Caumsett “has beautiful gardens, excellent fishing and scuba diving by permit. In 1921 Marshall Field III purchased 1750 acres of Lloyd Neck to create one large estate. He named the land after its Matinecock Indian name, Caumsett, which means ‘place by a sharp rock.’ Field created a self-sufficient English-style estate as a combination country club, hunting preserve and home, complete with its own water and electrical supply. When the estate was finished, it had facilities for every sport except golf.”
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