Conroy Scholarship winners Page 3 Vol. Vol. xx 60 No. No. x24
A lasting tribute to Freedom
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JUlY 2-8, 2026
MoNth xx-xx, 2023
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WBFD honors 48/49 Bold fallen firefighter condensed Michael Greene
20/20 condensed subhed By JEFFREY NEGRIN
jnegrin@liherald.com
search with other firefighters. He was named Firefighter of the Year by the West Babylon Fire West Babylon Fire Department Department and was scheduled members and residents gath- to receive the Silver Medal of ered to rededicate the inter- Valor from the Suffolk County section of Arnold Avenue and Fire Academy. Greene was described by colLearner Road as Mike Greene Way, honoring firefighter Mi- leagues as a devoted husband to chael Greene, who was killed in Elizabeth and father to his children, Colin, Katie, Kristen and the line of duty 20 years ago. Greene, a former captain Meghan. West Babylon Fire District and father of four, died June 16, 2006, while removing a salvage Commissioner Vincenzo Vaccover from the roof of a fast-food chiano said Greene served the xx xxx restaurant on Montauk High- department for more than 12 way in Lindenhurst that had years. “Those members who served sustained damage during a fire the previous day. He was elec- alongside Mike, I know we can all agree that his dedication, trocuted in the incident. The annual rededication hard work within this departceremony, held June 16, has ment did not go unnoticed,” become a remembrance of Vacchiano said. Town Councilman Terence Greene’s service and the risks volunteer firefighters and their McSweeney also paid tribute, families face while “answering saying, “Mike Greene was a dedicated firefighter and rethe call.” Greene, of Rendezvous spected member of this great Truck Company No. 4, joined department,” adding that his the department in April 1994. service left “a lasting impact on He served as lieutenant from everyone who had the privilege 2000 to 2002 and as captain from of knowing him.” McSweeney said Greene 2002 to 2004. At the time of his death, he was chief driver of the understood “what it meant to answer the call to duty,” addheavy rescue truck. He had also been recognized ing that he devoted “countless for earlier acts of heroism. On hours protecting others, servDec. 19, 2005, Greene helped ing his community and supportrescue a woman from a burn- ing his fellow firefighters.” ing home while conducting a CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
By xx CAROLYN JAMES
Photo Credit/Herald
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Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald Community leaders and Village of Babylon Historical Society members gather on the steps of the historical society for a photograph at the society’s America 250 event. Pictured: Karen Petz, Steve Loudon, Wayne Horsley, Kevin Conley, Donna Consola, Legislator RJ Renna, Marsha Collock, Judy Skillen, Gilda Gricka and Carolyn Romaine.
20/24 condensed subhed
Babylon groups mark America’s 250th anniversary with history and art exhibit
By JEFFREY NEGRIN
jnegrin@liherald.com
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By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Flags, historical photographs and memorabilia filled the Village of Babylon Historical and Preservation Society on June 11 as the organization partnered with the Babylon Village Arts Council to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The event featured a historical display curated by Town of Babylon Historian Mary Cascone and a flag-themed art exhibit showcasing work by local artists. Cascone, who also serves as a trustee of the historical society, said many of the artifacts came from her personal collection, built over the past 15 years through antique and thrift shopping, as well as items from the historical society and the Town historian’s office. A ship’s bell was on loan from the Barrier Beach
Civic Association. The exhibit was divided into three components — a display case, a two-sided historical display board and a collection of flag banners — and had been in development since fall 2025. “The display board helped me imagine the three eras of the exhibit—1876 for the 100th anniversary, 1926 for the 150th anniversary and 1976 for the 200th anniversary,” Cascone said. “Thankfully, we are now in a time when it is easy to find newspaper articles and I was able to collect news articles and ads from the summer of 1976 and display them with photographs from the village’s 200th celebrations.” Cascone credited Gilda Gricka, an employee in the town historian’s office and an officer with the historical society, with helping assemble the display. Gricka also baked a commemorative cake for the event. ConTinued CONTINUEDon ONpage PAGExx9
cjames@liherald.com
ConTinued on page xx