Island Park annual Peter's Clam eating contest benefits fallen NYPD officer Jonathan Diller's family

Peter’s Clam Bar, in Island Park, hosted its annual clam-eating contest last Sunday. The tradition brought participants and spectators from all over Long Island.

Beginning 10 years ago, the competition has raised money for local charitable organizations and people in need. Since its inception, and over 125,000 clams later, the event has collected nearly $500,000.

The competition was broken into two divisions, one for first responders and one for everyone else. The entry fee for the public competition was $50, but first responders took part for free. The winning first responder took home $2,500; the second-place eater, $1,500; and the third-place finisher, $500. The winner in the public division was awarded $1,000.

This year, all of the money raised at the event went to the family of the late Jonathan Diller, the New York City police officer who was killed in the line of duty in March.

“It’s not just about the fun,” Congressman Anthony D’Esposito said of the contest. “It’s really about raising money for a good cause.”

The first-responder contest featured 20 eaters from fire departments all over Long Island — Baldwin, East Meadow, East Rockaway, Freeport, Island Park, Malverne, Massapequa, Point Lookout, Port Washington, South Hempstead and Stewart Manor — all showing their support for Diller’s widow, Stephanie, and their 1-year-old son, Ryan.

“My own son is a highway patrol officer,” Peter’s Clam Bar owner Butch Yamali said. “And he’s a young man with children, so I don’t even know how (the Dillers) feel. We want to do everything we can to help that family.”

Over the course of three rounds of competition, more than 1,100 clams were consumed, and nearly $10,000 was raised for the Diller family.

“People throughout this region have big hearts, and you’ve seen it right here,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin said. “At the end of the day, we’re having some fun, we’re having a contest, but the best part is it’s all going to a good place.”

Pete Adams, of the Island Park F.D., was the winner among the first responders, and Larry Lehr, of the East Rockaway F.D., finished second. There was a tie for third place between Joseph Sadler, of the South Hempstead department, and Ralph Raymond, of Massapequa. They competed head to head in two consecutive tie-breaker rounds, but ultimately opted to donate the $500 third-place prize to the Diller family.

Adams, who is now a four-time contest winner, said that this year’s competition was special. “I’m a retired police officer myself, and so I really want to help this family,” he said.

Stephanie Diller addressed the crowd, expressing her gratitude for all the support the community has shown her and her son. “I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “I always say this: Thank you doesn’t seem like the right word. I wish there was something I could show you all, or say, so you could really understand how thankful I truly am.”