Dan's Papers - August 15, 2008 - Does It Get Any Better?

Tea for two? Not quite. Then how about a picnic for 7,000? That's right. Known as the "largest company picnic on Long Island," took place at Jones Beach State Park.

A Melville accounting firm, Marcum and Kliegman, sponsors the yearly picnic. The firm encourages other companies (like P.C.Richard and Capital One) to join them. That's why there are so many people. They have races and all kinds of events. Even a company T-shirt competition.

Now there's no way the North Fork can compete with a 7,000-attendees company picnic. But we do have lots of picnics during our glorious summers. Our businesses and civic groups are smaller, much smaller, than Capital One, for example. As are our picnics. Just know that our picnics are as tasty and happy as any big shindig up west.

In Greenport there's a guy, Augie Menchini, who helps run a super picnic. Augie works in Human Resources at Eastern Long Island Hospital. Every August, ELIH employees get together for food and fun. Augie invited me to join 'em and I just might. For one very special reason I'll tell you about in a minute.

ELIH's picnic is a long one - from 11 a.m. to late in the afternoon this Thursday. If you've seen ELIH you know it's on the water and they've got this big tent and a gazebo out back. Perfect. The picnic food is perfect, too. It's grilled by ELIH administrators such as CEO Paul Connor III, who told me he likes to cook the chicken. I'll let you in on a secret, Paul. Your chicken tastes great but needs a little more grill time. That's according to Augie. I'm just telling you.

ELIH employees can bring their children and everyone enjoys the games physical therapy folks plan. Lots of action, lots of motion. Everyone loves the dunking tank, too. Although not everyone is dunked. Some just watch and laugh and laugh. The dunking tank was last year's picnic innovation. I know Paul was dunked but Augie didn't say why. The chicken, maybe?

Here's why I'd like to go to ELIH's picnic. Over the past year I've been stuck with lots of needles by lots of doctors. I figure if I could dunk a few docs I might adequately express my gratitude.

East of Greenport, out in Orient Beach State Park, there's another August picnic. Greenport's Diane Amussen told me about the group she belongs to. It's Women in Conversation and it's been active on the North Fork for about 11 years.

The group meets once a month at Clinton Memorial AME Church in Greenport. And while members research and discuss serious subjects like conservation, race relations and emergency preparedness, they do stuff, too. For instance, they initiated The Community Land Trust, sponsored a 9-11 forum, and provided reflectors for those who bike to work in dark early morning hours.

So picnic time is a chance to "chill out" according to Diane. Some WIC members go for a swim and all of them eat and eat and eat some more. Then they talk.

This year, Dave and Tricia Howe are the picnic-put-together people. They have their work cut out for them with more than 200 hungry North Forkers arriving around noon. The association provides hot dogs and hamburgers and guests bring salads and desserts to share. There's even a dessert contest. Dave says there's one guy, Tom Wetzel, who always asks for a hamburger with a "high fat" content. Seems Tom's wife, Joan, watches his diet carefully and Tom longs for burgers as he knew them years ago - before they were 90% lean.

There are sack races for the kids and kayak races, too. With prizes, of course. "I love watching everybody having a good time. Seeing everybody smiling." So says Dave.

Just forget about traveling to Jones Beach for a summer picnic. Stay right here on the North Fork. And when you've had your share of burgers, beer and brownies, and the picnic's ended, search out the clean-up committee. You'll go home feeling good.