Good News of the Week: Donations Help Playhouse Buy Theater

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to nitty-gritty breakdowns of government and school district issues. But some stories are simply inspiring, often showing that at the heart of our communities is a desire to do good. Here are some of the touching headlines from the past seven days.

Mattituck Theater Group Finally Buys Playhouse

The North Fork Community Theater finally bought the building on Old Sound Avenue where it has put on shows for the community for the past 50 years, a deal that organizers said was a long time coming.

After securing $500,000 in donations from nearly 700 community members, the theater group on Tuesday closed on the deal, taking the historic structure off of the hands of the neighboring Mattituck Presbyterian Church, which has owned the structure since 1830.

“And now that we own the place, we can dream about the future and finally plan to make these necessary improvements,” said Mary Motto Kalich, board member and head of fundraising for the theater. “And if someone comes along and wants to build us a bigger lobby on the side of the building, I won’t argue with them.”

School Rallies for Student Battling Cancer

Members of the Kings Park high school soccer team, along with spectators and coaches, joined this week to raise money for student Lauren Lenardi, who is fighting a rare form of cancer that has kept her out of school for two years.

Held in occasion of Lenardi's 16th birthday, the event took place at the team's recent match-up with West Babylon.

"Lauren is an amazing person with tremendous spirit, optimism, courage, strength and wisdom beyond her years," said girls varsity soccer coach Bridget Keenan in an email to Patch. "We are blessed to know Lauren and all that she stands for. I hope that at least one time in our lives that each of us can find the inner strength that Lauren finds each day."

Locals Hold 'Em for ALS

A Mount Sinai woman this month raised $800 to benefit research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, at a Texas Hold 'Em Poker event.

Kristy Bohne's team, "Team Doug-Out," will be walking on Sept. 29 at the Long Island Walk to Defeat ALS.