Kismet Raises Thousands of Clams
Volume 49, Issue 9
Pictures and Story By Bradlee White

The morning rains may have kept some away, but those who dared saw something of a miracle as the sky cleared 10 minutes to show time. The Kismet Clam Shucking Contest conceived 11 years ago, raised over $18,000 this past Tuesday for the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition (WIBCC). In addition to the clam shucking contest where contestants race the clock to clean 50 clams (today’s winner was the Inn’s Stevie “Boom” Batz Quiles with Kismetians Gary L. and Brian DJ K. runners-up), there were corn shucking contests for children, raffles and tennis clinics staffed by US Professional Tennis Association volunteers for adults and children. Pro Danny Burgess brought 20 children from his Freeport Tennis Across America organization. (Other Pros were Ed Wolfrath, Dory and Matt Levitor, Bob Dreishpoon, Vickie Warton, Kim Wayne and Ashley from Freeport). Francesca and Maggie came from Babylon to staff the kids’ jewelry sales for WIBCC. Gary Lieschinski raised $4200 alone by allowing his blond pony tail to be cut off in public. Gary’s collector, Punk Rock Pete, received large amounts of money from a mysterious pretty woman and dollar bills from scores of children. Later, Warren Lem raised $70 by letting Niamh and Molly shave his legs.

The event was planned and coordinated by Lauren Dennis with a lot of help from the Out’s Warren, the dozens of other Kismet volunteers who tirelessly cooked, served, announced and sold tickets and Ginny Rignante, Jane Tinelli and Margaret Campers of WIBCC.

 

Everyone’s a Winner

All the children won prizes at tennis and corn-shucking. Raffle prize winners included Ann Littlejohn who won a painting by Teri Dahl and Christine Helbig, a “Sex In The City” gift bag. The top prizes of $1500 and $1000 were won by Fair Harborites Suarez and Ascetella. Morgan Mooney claimed the 50/50 prize of $1214, though Papa Tim said he just gave her the tickets to hold.