This Week's Spotlight: The Captains of the Highview Playground

The clock is ticking as time grows closer to the build date of the Highview Playground. With less than a month to go, the following site captains are working almost every day to prepare for the scheduled build date of Oct. 5.

Overseeing the build is Site Captain, Dominick Caponigro, who has been working with the designers of the playground. He is the main coordinator making sure all the materials are available and that the captains are set with their duties and their volunteers. He will be the main liaison between the volunteer captains and the designers. 

Then there are the captains who will oversee their own crews of about 10-12 people each day the week of the build. The captains are:

• Sandro Bucci - Lives in Nanuet, two boys in Nanuet schools, Architect with DRPilla in Nyack.
• Ed Dingman - Lives in Nanuet, two boys who go to Nanuet Schools, member of school board, retired NYPD detective.
• Scott and Catherine DuPlessis - husband and wife team, Nanuet residents.
• Freddy Massa - Lives in Nanuet, two boys who attended Nanuet Schools, works in family business Ultra Enterprise Solutions.
• Joseph Morahan, Sr. - Active Nanuet resident for 45 years. Five kids, retired- carpenters union, consultant and previous supervisor to Ahean and Holtzman, Contractors.
• Joseph Morahan, Jr. - One of the younger captains. Nanuet HS alumni, helped build original park, local carpenters union.
• Frank Portelle - Lives in Nanuet and has a child in Nanuet Schools
• Michael Tesseyman - One of the younger captains. He grew up in Nanuet, helped build the original park when he was a boy, coaches basketball at St. Anthony's for 10 years, now he is the coordinator. Just started his own company Tesseyman Construction. 

All volunteers. They will be at the site every day the week of the build from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. for five days in a row. They are men and women in our community who have families, jobs, and many other commitments. They have put all other responsibilities on hold to give back to the Nanuet community. 

Their commitment to seeing the project through is above and beyond what most volunteers are expected to give. 

The real work for them has started already. As they prepare for Oct. 5 they are in the process of organizing volunteers who have the skills and abilities to assist with the construction for the week. 

"I have a wife who is responsible for getting me involved because my two children, Nicole, age 11, and DJ, age nine, have played at the old playground forever and had their heart broken for the first time when it was torn down.  They attend Barr Middle School and Highview Elementary and can’t wait until October 9 when the ribbon is cut for the new playground," said Caponigro.

Almost all the captains and volunteers have similar stories. Either their children grew up going to that park or their children—up until a few months ago—were still enjoying the park. 

When asked why they are doing so much for the park the answers seemed to all be in sync.

"To make sure that I give back what my children have been given and now what their children have been given. I was on the first build 20 years ago and laughed at the thought of it ever being built again. I am proud of this community and the amount of time and volunteering that has been given back by the small and big number of residents- old and new.  Legacies are what we can give to our children and their children. I will do my best to do my part to make sure 'together ... we will do it again,'" said Joseph Morahan, Sr.

"I cannot lie, I jumped right at the chance to give back what has been given to my two sons. My father was a mason and I learned my trade at 16. The joy that we have been given over the years—I want both my boys to see what can be accomplished when a group of people all want the same thing. I will make sure that they and their children will be proud of what I was able to do, combined with all of the other captains' talents and interests. I know that they will notice and then lead by my example, and my wife's example, on how the playground started with just one person, but ended with an army," said Sandro Bucci.

"We were told the first build was a once in a life time opportunity, little did I know that I would be doing it again, but this time actually as a captain, where as before I was a tire cleaner. What has motivated me is looking at such a spectacular undertaking and breathtaking build as will be seen through, not just my eyes, but my nieces (Katie, Shannon and Shea)  and nephews (Sean and Owen) who are all local in the Nanuet district.  It's something that I just can not pass up to volunteer and be a part of," said Joseph Morahan, Jr. 

It's truly amazing to watch a community come together to work with each other for a common goal. Parks are great places for our children to play, to meet other people in the community and also a place to create memories. 

"I work for a family business Ultra Enterprise Solutions which I have taken off work and will be on site every day and every hour of the rebuilding of the new park. When I was chosen to be a captain by the community I was honored and I will not let them down," said captain Freddy Massa. 

The students who attend Highview Elementary will be able to witness a project from start to finish as they head back to school. It's something they will always remember. 

"These captains are all a testament of what can and will be done during the 5-day build and it's no secret that our volunteers will be coming with their saws and hammers as they did 20 years ago.  I am proud that I will get to see it happen in person, again. It's no secret why Nanuet is one of the top 100 places to live in America," said Sheila Morahan-Gick, Public Relations Chair for the Highview Playground Steering Committee.

The captains still need volunteers and it's not too late to sign up. You can sign up to volunteer on the Highview Playground website. There are three different shift schedule set for each day from 8 a.m. -9 p.m. However, you don't have to commit to many hours. If you have one or two hours to spare, the committee will make it work. Every little bit helps. 

"We would like to invite the Nanuet community and those from the surrounding areas to stand up and be counted as this playground is for everyone.  Come out, have fun, and be responsible for thousands of smiles for years to come," said Caponigro.

Hats off to the captains, as they put aside their own responsibilities to rebuilding a piece of Nanuet for all to enjoy. 

*Special thanks for the information provided by Sheila Morahan-Gick, the public relations chair of the playground.