North Bellmore Public Library hosting free concerts, all summer long

All summer long, the North Bellmore Public Library is hosting free, outdoor concerts for residents of the Bellmore community, and beyond. With a slew of upcoming performances in the week ahead, the library is also using the concerts as an opportunity to collect nonperishable food items for the Nassau County Veterans Food Pantry in East Meadow, better known as the Vet Mart.

The concert series kicked off with a performance by the American Air Power Museum Concert Band. The band is affiliated with the museum of the same name in Farmingdale. A nonprofit band, it puts on shows for a good cause — and is one of the last few active concert bands in the immediate area.

“This is the first of many concerts that we’re going to be holding here throughout the summer on Thursday nights,” library trustee, Brandon Gimpelman said at the concert. “I just want to thank all of the community members for their support in this endeavor, and I want to thank all of our wonderful staff here — our director Jessica Tyemcki, assistant director Jim Luberto, head of our custodial staff Eric Gardener and librarian Josh for putting this all together.”

The library partnered with the Levittown American Legion Post 1711. Members of the American Legion were there for a color guard ceremony before the concert began. The Post runs a monthly food drive, and collects donations for a variety of organizations, including Long Island Cares and the Vet Mart, among others.

“Thank you all of you who brought canned goods and nonperishable food items,” Gimpelman said. “It really goes a long way.”

Peter Silvestri, first vice commander of the American Legion, spoke about Post 1711’s efforts to combat food insecurity.

“It was started by one of our members during Covid — we’re going on two years now,” he said of the monthly drives. “We take cash donations and purchase through them. We also deliver to the Beacon House, churches, anybody that needs it. Only one of the places weights food for us, which is Long Island Cares, and I think we’re somewhere over 7 tons — just to Long Island Cares alone.”

Post 1711, located at 3123 N. Jerusalem Road in Levittown, collects food on the third Saturday of every month, rain or shine.

“I think it is great that the library has us here, putting us on the map,” Silvestri said. “If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by on Saturday — you have until one o’clock, drop it off inside the building.”

The American Air Power Museum Band kicked of the concert series with a blend of patriotic and show tunes, and even played some hits by Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley. At all upcoming concerts — every Thursday at 7 p.m. on the lawn of the library — the library will be collecting food for the American Legion.

For a list of performances and to learn more about the efforts of the library, visit NorthBellmoreLibrary.org.