Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Tony Martinez and Councilman Tom Donnelly recently presented Deer Park resident James Boss with an official Certificate of Appreciation. Boss has organized three music festivals in honor of Sue Marchetti, a late family friend and next-door neighbor, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2014. All proceeds from the concerts were donated to the Lustgarten Foundation to help combat the disease. Receiver of Taxes Corinne DiSomma was also in attendance for the presentation.
Supervisor Schaffer commended Boss for his successful efforts in organizing the event and wished him luck with his future plans before the presentation at Town Hall in Lindenhurst.
Boss, 20, is entering his senior year as a music industry major at SUNY Oneonta. The three festivals, dubbed “Susiepalooza,” have raised over $16,000 for charity in total. Each lineup has featured a slew of rock bands, with this year’s including 12 acts. Some acts were local, while others traveled distances from Michigan and Canada. The show takes place in the backyards of the two family’s residences in Deer Park. After his time at Oneonta, Boss hopes to organize more music-related events professionally, as well as work in the music publicity field.
Pictured from left to right are: Deputy Supervisor Martinez, DiSomma, Ann Boss (James’s grandmother), Chris Boss (James’s father), James Boss, Linda Boss (James’s mother), Julia Boss (James’s sister), Supervisor Schaffer (wearing official “Susiepalooza” sunglasses) and Councilman Donnelly.