About 40 volunteers with the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce’s Cemetery Restoration Committee headed to the historic Lakeview Cemetery Sunday for a spring cleanup.
The vols spent about 2 and 1/2 hours at the cemetery, picking up trash, raking leaves, and clearing the land of brush and fallen branches in anticipation of warmer weather.
See photos below by Benny Migliorino of Benny Migs Photo.
The cemetery is located off West Main Street, just east of Waverly Avenue near the Patchogue Family YMCA.
It’s maintained, in part, with help from volunteers and events such as Sunday’s.
Volunteer Christopher Capobianco, who is leading the committee’s recent membership drive with his wife, Arlene Guzman Capobianco, said the cleanup was the first of many events planned for 2017 and beyond to further help restore the prominent cemetery.
“I saw a lot of excitement from people that were there Sunday, even with the cold and windy weather,” he said. “I felt it too, as I have not spent a lot of time in the cemetery myself.”
“In the short time we were there, a lot of questions about the history were asked and people were genuinely interested,” he continued. “This property is an important part of our history. We need to raise funds to continue the work of restoring and maintaining the grounds, establishing ownership and so on. But, equally important is engaging the community so we all have a sense of ownership of this amazing property. Sunday was a big step in that direction.”
Click here to read all about the cemetery’s rich history.
