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Babylon Town completes turf field at Pape park in WB By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Carolyn James/Herald
The fields at John C. Pape Memorial Park in West Babylon, which just got a face lift, memorialize a West Babylon resident, inset, who was killed in Vietnam.
A grass football field on Old Farmingdale Road near West Babylon High School is now a multi-purpose turf field with space for the area’s football, lacrosse, soccer and baseball teams. Babylon Town Councilman Tony Martinez outlined the work recently, saying that before the upgrades, football was the only sport played there. “The baseball outfield is now part of the new football field and has been completely redone,” he said. The fields were previously known as the North Street Ballfield, according to Town of Babylon historical records. However, in 1970, they were named the John C. Pape Memorial Park Sport Facilities, in memory of Capt. John C. Pape, a West Babylon resident who was killed in Vietnam. Pape graduated from West Babylon High School in 1961. Following the example of his father, Charles, who served during World War II, he joined the Army. His younger brother Donald later answered the call to service, joining the Navy.
After serving one tour in Vietnam, Pape returned home for leave in 1967. At the time he held the rank of Lieutenant and served with the 1st Air Cavalry Division as a Rifle Company Commander. He received the Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, the 1st and 2nd Award of Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. News accounts reported at the time that he intended to make the Army his career. He returned to Vietnam, where he was promoted to Captain. But while serving in the Quang Tin Provence, he was killed in action. He left behind his parents, a wife and two young children, two brothers and a sister. The cost of the field upgrades, funded by American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, money, was $4.1 million. The contractor was LandTech. Also a part of the town’s field improvement program is the property behind Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church on Arnold Avenue, West Babylon. The church sold the property to the county and the town is entering into a lease agreement with Suffolk and will be renovating those fields as well.
Lindenhurst Village named one of top 10 communities in state By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com Lindenhurst has been named one of the top 10 places to live in New York state. The recognition, by U.S. News & World Report, caught the attention of state and local officials and long-time residents. Mayor Michael Lavorata said he was approached by several colleagues during a recent meeting of the New York State Mayors Association, who offered congratulations on the village’s inclusion in the rankings.
“I was flabbergasted,” Lavorata said. “I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was.” The mayor said the recognition was especially meaningful considering the transformation Lindenhurst has undergone over the past decade. Once struggling in the economic downturn that hurt small businesses, the village now boasts a revitalized downtown, a major transit-oriented apartment complex, refurbished parks, and a packed calendar of community events. Lavorata credited state and
federal funding for infrastructure improvements, including road repairs on Wellwood Avenue, as well as efforts by the village board and local organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce and the Beautification Society. “This recognition is a tribute to the hard work of so many in our community,” he said. For longtime resident John Lisi, a 53-year village resident and civic leader, the news came as no surprise. “It’s nice to hear that we
made that list,” Lisi said. “Lindenhurst has always been a small-town community—a sort of ‘Mayberry’—but it’s managed to hold on to its original character. The new restaurants, roadwork, and park improvements helped.”
Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer also praised the village’s progress. “Lindenhurst deserves these accolades,” he said. “The revitalization, restaurants, and downtown life have made it an CONTINUED ON PAGE 2