Devouring clams for a good cause

They came from all over Long Island to compete in the second annual Clam Eating Contest at Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park.

Peter’s owner Butch Yamali, himself an honorary Island Park firefighter, said, “You know every one of these firehouses on the South Shore needs money. They lost everything in Sandy — equipment, trucks, uniforms. I knew there were these eating contests, so this was a way to combine a contest and help at the same time. This year we have Pete Rose coming, and World Champion Eater Takeru Kobayashi.”

The three-day event kicked off Aug. 14, with professional eater Ed “Cookie” Jarvis downing 36 clams in 60 seconds. Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty, the IPFD’s first assistant chief, Jim Sarro, and firefighter Matt Graci joined him.

The next day, “Charlie Hustle,” Rose, stopped by for some autographs, photographs and, of course, clams. “These are fresh and tasty,” he said, “and this is for a good cause. I was in White Plains, and Butch asked if I could come by, so here I am. This is all for the firefighters. They deserve it — that is a tough job.”

Aug. 16, contest day, kicked off with a demonstration by Kobayashi. Asked about his secrets, he said he begins training for a competition three months in advance. “I start drinking a lot of water, to expand my stomach,” he said. “Then each day I add more food, also to expand my capacity.” Then, during the competition, he added, “I eat close to the food — other contestants sit up. It takes seconds off my time.”

The eaters represented the Baldwin, East Rockaway, Hempstead, Island Park, Lido-Point Lookout, Long Beach, Malverne and Stewart Manor fire departments.

Each of the firehouses has its own Hurricane Sandy story to tell. Sarro said that Island Park lost pretty much everything, including a truck and two ambulances. Larry Lehr, of East Rockaway’s Main Street Fire House, said it is still not repaired. “We are not rebuilt,” he said. “We spent $100,000 to shore up the building, but we need money to rebuild.”

“We are trying our best to raise more money,” said County Legislator Dennis Dunne, chairman of the Public Safety Committee. “Many fire houses are still not fixed, some are only partially done, some still need equipment.”

The winner, the IPFD’s own Pete Adams, received $2,500 for the Island Park Firehouse. “I never did this before,” he said. “I’m surprised. Cocktail sauce helps, but I do love clams a lot. It was three heats. When I saw I was so far ahead of everyone I slowed down, so I was ready for the second and the final round.”

The firemen were followed by a “public” contest, and the winner was Scott Stucowski, of Wantagh, who went home with $1,000.