Community project bench unveiled

Center Moriches Middle School eighth-graders Dominick Gallo and Bennett Curtin recently installed a memorial bench as part of their MYP Community Project.

The project, according to the boys, took about five months to complete. They had to contact the Town of Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department for approvals and meet with the park supervisor to talk about the idea and where the bench should go.

Next, they started a GoFundMe to raise money for the bench, in addition to getting quotes for the bench, concrete, and plaques.

“We were excited to raise just enough money to make it happen,” they said.

After the concrete was poured and the bench was delivered, their dads helped them attach the plaques.

The memorial bench is now located at the Moriches athletic turf field in honor of the late coach, Adrian Gilmore.

“Coach Adrian started our travel soccer team, MYO Storm, in 2019. We started playing for her when we were 7 years old. We played in tournaments and leagues all over Long Island during the fall and spring soccer seasons. We also played futsal with her during the winter months. We practiced as a team all year long and got better with every season. We spent so much time together on and off the fields. In 2021, we were the Long Island Junior Soccer Division Champions. Coach Adrian was always so proud of us.

“She meant a lot to us and to so many others in the community, and this project is our way of recognizing her impact,” said Gallo.

According to Gallo and Curtin, they wanted to create something that would honor her and make sure she was never forgotten.

“The memorial bench is a place where people can sit, think about her, and remember all the positive impact she had on everyone she coached,” they said. “It also gives future players a way to learn about who she was and how much she cared.”
They completed the project also knowing the importance of giving back to someone and the community.

MYP is a part of the school district’s International Baccalaureate program, where students learn regular school subjects, but also do hands-on projects and connect what they learn to real life.

A bench was officially installed on April 10.