Recollections of Christmas Eve
Ben Vitale

I have fond memories, of Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma’s house, 60 years ago. My Grandparents had a tradition of playing Poker, in between the courses of dinner; Today, three generations later, our Grand Children, who are adults, love to play Texas Holdem Poker, at family gatherings. The grandchildren are now teaching Grandpa how to play Texas Holdem Poker! Hummm… Is playing poker at family gatherings hereditary?  LOL

Many of our family traditions stem from my grandparents who came to America from Italy, in the 30s.  The Christmas Eve ritual at their house in Brooklyn, NY, was really interesting and choreographed with the precision of a Broadway musical production.  

On Christmas Eve, my grandparents served a seven course meal; each course was followed by a game of Poker. It was so funny! The table cloth was literally removed from the table after each course, and Poker was played on the Plate Glass Tabletop! Through practice, my family members had training, in the art of playing Poker that could be compared to the training that one would receive at a military Boot Camp. LOL. I firmly believe that if my family went to a Casino to play Poker, the Casino wouldn’t stand a chance! LOL.  After the last course, the family would play Poker for the rest of the night. With all of the above going on, some family members managed to go to Midnight Mass, which is a Catholic tradition!

Christmas Eve at my house takes the same effort and dedication that it did decades ago! Once again we are working hard in preparation for our Christmas Eve celebration, 2013. This year, our Christmas tree was just about the right size for the room; we didn't have to cut off any branches from the top of the tree.  21 people will be at our home this year on Christmas Eve. I have introduced another component into my family’s arsenal of traditions; Karaoke Sing Along, after dinner.

My wife and I can remember the Bubbly Lights that our grandparents always put on their Christmas, Tree 60 years ago. Marie and I carried on the tradition, and always had “Bubbly Lights” on our Christmas Trees. Our tradition has propagated itself through Three generations! My 21 year old granddaughter would never forgive us if we didn't have bubbly lights on our tree! Bubbly lights have become a multi-generational tradition in my family!

While writing this article I had an epiphany; I suddenly realized that Christmas Eve at my house has had a profound effect on our grandchildren. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if our tradition survives for decades to come!

You might want to read another Christmas related story that I published a few years ago. I personally feel that “Christmas Stories” are timeless, and become relevant at Christmas time every year!
http://patchogue.patch.com/groups/ben-vitales-blog/p/bp--the-most-beautiful-christmas-tree-on-long-island

Have a Merry Christmas everybody! Have a happy Hanukah! Have a happy Quanza

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below)

Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Christmas Tree Light Up Saint Francis De Sales December 8, 2013         
Philip Butler (Patchogue Knights of Columbus,Council #725)

The Patchogue Knights of Columbus,Council #725, with assistance from the Patchogue Fire Dept’s Union Hook & Ladder Co. #1, Matthew Coraro, Deputy Chief, put up the lights on Suffolk Counties’ largest Christmas Tree at Saint Francis de Sales Church this past Saturday, November 23rd.

“Tree Decoration Chairman” Paul Lauben did a great job, and thanks all for their help including Parish Roundtable coordinator Kevin Drawbridge, council Grand Knight Michael Boehm, Deputy Grand Knight Mike Hoesterey, Tom Berensten Philip Butler, Carmine Franzese, and John Terlecki. Pastor Father Tom invites the entire Patchogue community to the tree’s light up 4pm, this Sunday, December 8, 2013. Saint Francis De Sales is located on South Ocean Avenue and Amity St., Patchogue, NY.

Hot chocolate for all thanks to the Main Street Café.

Please forward this to your family and friends!

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below)
Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Reduce the Calories in Your Favorite Beverage  by 75 Percent

Ben Vitale

This is not an advertisement!

I have been trying to “be good,” with regard to my diet. Yes, I know we need lots of water every day, but water is tasteless.

My wife introduced me to a simple trick that she uses, to make a tasty low calorie drink. Simply fill one quarter of a glass with Apple Cider; the remaining three quarters of the glass are filled with water. Hummm… This drink actually tastes very good. I tried this same trick using Orange Juice; this also tastes good. I then tried “Green Tea and Honey” beverage, mixed with water; this is my favorite!

As time went on I discovered that I preferred to drink the diluted beverages as opposed to filling the entire glass with the high calorie beverage. So a 400 calorie beverage turns into a 100 Calorie drink, when served with the water mixture. One part beverage and three parts water tastes great.

I also use this same trick when I go to a fast food establishment; I mix their beverages with water. It is wonderful to be able to reduce my calorie input by using water, while not losing the flavor of the beverage. Many fast food establishments also provide water at their soda fountains.

You must experiment with different beverages and see which beverage/water combinations taste best to you. You might also want to experiment with different beverage/Water ratios; I sometimes use a 4 to one, water to beverage ratio. In this case, a 400 Calorie beverage is transformed into an 80 Calorie drink.

The water that comes out of my faucet does not taste very good; so I use a charcoal filter to improve the taste. The filtered water makes my mixtures taste even better.

Have you tried this trick? Have you discovered a secret combination that really tastes great?

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below)
*
Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Beware: Phone Call from Microsoft

I just received a phone call from an “un-named” person who said that he was from Microsoft. This person said that my computer was having a serious problem, and he asked me to log onto his web site, so he could fix my problem. While still on the telephone, I received another phone call from another
“un-named” person, on my second telephone line. The person on my second telephone line also wanted me to log onto his Internet site so that he could fix my computer. This person said that he was from technical support!

A Google search of “Phone call from Microsoft,” revealed that this is a Scam.  

Do not follow verbal instructions if you receive a similar call; hang up!

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Del Satins to Perform at the Patchogue Theatre

Ben Vitale

 

The Patchogue council 725, of the Knights of Columbus, is sponsoring a special performance of the famous Del Satins, to benefit the New York State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. This performance is   special, because the lead singer Stan Zizka is your neighbor! Wow! He lives in Patchogue Village.

The Del Satins worked with Dion originally from Dion and the Bellmonts, to record “Runaround Sue,” and “ Donna the Prima Donna.” I have found that both the young and the old are in agreement; this is a show that “should not be missed.”

Date:   Sunday, October 27, 2013

Time:   3PM

Place:   Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 East Main St., Patchogue, NY, 11772

Tickets start at $18 dollars, and are available via telephone, Web, or at the Patchogue Theatre Box office.

Telephone #:   631 207 1313

Web:  www.patchoguetheatre.com

“Donna the Prima Donna:”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6OmZmoblSI

“The Wonderer”   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH3iz4o6G5E


The Del Satins are also going to have a “meet and greet,” photo opportunity session.

If you love 60s music, you really should attend this performance!

Buy your tickets as soon as possible; this show will sell out quickly.

 

Sandy Recovery Insurance Workshop for Homeowners

 

Many homeowners that were displaced by “Sandy,” are still trying to dig through the tangled mess of paperwork and insurance forms, so that they can finish repairs, and finally move back into their homes.

A special workshop is being given by Christina Galante,  to help the homeowner navigate through the Insurance process.

Date: Monday, September 23, 2013

Time: 7:00 PM through 10:00 PM

Place: Touro Law Center

            225 Eastview Drive

            Central Islip, NY, 11722

Registration: is through https://cindyzeis3.eventbrite.com.

Trouble Registering? Contact Marian Russo 475-4300 xt 126 

This message has been distributed in cooperation with COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster)

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

To: Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch members

 The Fifth Precinct is having a Community Meeting

 Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2013

 Time: 7 PM

 Place: Patchogue Medford Library, 54-60 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY

 You do not have to be a representative of any organization to attend this community meeting. If you are having any type of neighborhood issues that could be resolved by the Police Department; I would strongly urge you to attend this meeting. The current leadership of the Fifth Precinct is extremely responsive to community problems.

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Announcement from  Ella B. McLean
Grace A.M.E.Zion Church
Cleveland Street
Patchogue, NY

YOU ARE INVITED:

 

"FESTIVAL OF SALADS"

GRACE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 ~ 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Feast on the more than 20 salads
for the donation of

$10.00 for ADULTS $5.00 Under 12

 

Tickets are sold at the door,  however some estimate of attendees will help.  Our event is open to the public and we look forward to the Fellowship with our Friends; and Members of The Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch Group.

 

Our mailing address is:

Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, PO Box 85, Patchogue, NY   11772. 

 

You may contact me -  Ella McLean @ 475.1916

or Jeannette Rivera @ 696.6682.

  

Thank you for your support.

 Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

How to Order an Egg Sandwich
Ben Vitale
 

I always dread ordering an Egg Sandwich at one of the local delicatessens. The cook needs to be spoken to in a language that is relevant to her; however the customer is forced to deal with this proprietary language of the trade, when he picks up his sandwiches. The more sandwiches that you order the more potential trouble the customer can get into.

OK… You’re in a crowded Deli and you place your order with the person behind the counter. “I need two Egg Sandwiches; the first sandwich is with no seeds, ham, turkey and cheese, on egg whites, with salt, pepper and ketchup. The second sandwich is with seeds, easy over, with ham, cheese, salt, pepper, and ketchup.”

The clerk delivers a sheet of paper with the ingredients that you want on your sandwiches, to the cook. When the order is complete, the sandwiches are given back to the clerk with the same piece of paper that lists the ingredients.

So… with 15 people in this store; “to whom do these sandwiches belong to?” The clerk is now holding two sandwiches and an ingredient list. In a crowded store, the only way to determine the owner is to recite the ingredient list! Now here is the part that makes my heart beat faster! The clerk starts his narration: “Salt, Pepper, Ketchup, scrambled, turkey, ham, no seeds, with seeds, swiss!” OMG! I thought it was my order but I did not order the swiss! My heart is now beating at 120 beats per minute; I wouldn’t want anyone to know how stupid I am! My brain simply can’t  process anything that fast! LOL

OK… The clerk once again appears, and starts his ritual; scrambled, no seeds, cheese, ham, turkey, salt, pepper, ketchup, egg whites, ham, cheese, with seeds, salt, ketchup, pepper. OMG it sounds like my order! “Yesss…” with the grace of God I was able to identify my sandwich without looking stupid! LOL

Last Sunday I went to the Deli with a Plan! “Yesss a plan!” I walked up to the clerk and said, “this order is for Ben.” The clerk looked at me with a facial expression, as if to say “why is this guy giving me his name?”

OK! When the order was complete the clerk recited his ritual but this time only said the word, “Ben;” I lit up like a Christmas tree! I smiled, the clerk smiled as if to say, “Wow asking for a name might just work better than reciting an ingredients list!” LOL. I smiled for three days! LOL Let’s see if the clerk asks me for my name next Sunday, when I order my egg sandwiches! LOL

Epilogue: I went back to the same deli because their Sandwiches are the best on the planet! While waiting for my order I paid attention to what other people were ordering. One person ordered scrambled and bacon times 3; another ordered ham and cheese times 2. Hum… I guess I was not too smart after all; everyone else around me figured out a way to beat the system! LOL. Oh yes… They did not ask me for my name when I placed my order! LOL. “Great fun” at the “deli!” LOL

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Anniversary of the Flight 800 Disaster

Ben Vitale

July 17, 2013 is the 17^Th Anniversary of the flight 800 disaster. The family and friends of the Flight 800 victims, gathered at the Smiths Point Park in Shirley, Long Island, NY, to attend a ceremony in honor of their departed loved ones. The ceremony took place at the Flight 800 Monument.

Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

After the ceremony, everyone that attended the ceremony was given a white Carnation. The attendees walked slowly beneath the international Flag display, on route to the water. The flags were all flown at half mast, to honor the loved ones that were lost in the Flight 800 disaster. The attendees then walked slowly along a 300 foot path, and then down the staircase that led to the water.

The Music that would normally be playing at the Beach Hut, was stopped, in honor of the Flight 800 ceremony.

Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

The family members all gathered along the surf, and dropped the flowers into the water. The entire ceremony was absolutely beautiful. As the family members walked by I could sense their feelings of love and closure.

Coincidentally a Documentary was aired on Channel 13, indicating that the plane was really taken down by a missile. The NTSB blames the disaster on a fuel tank explosion; the documentary says that the plane was taken down by a missile. Who do we believe? I was personally at Smiths Point the night of the disaster, serving in my official capacity as an Auxiliary Police Officer. I was told by some unknown person that the plane may have been taken down by a missile, possibly from our own Navy, during a military exercise; but this is hearsay!

After the families departed from the surf, the band started to play for  the huge crowd of people that came to enjoy their music.  “Life goes on!”

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Patchogue Seismic Fault Partially Repaired

(Update from 2012 report "Seismic Event near Maple Avenue; Patchogue, NY" )
Ben Vitale

Sewer Repair funds, can now be used for Road Repair, in Patchogue Village.  This could not have happened at a better time.

A recent study of the road conditions within the area serviced by the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch, has yielded valuable information.

Seismic equipment was installed into an automobile, and a not so scientific study has determined that riding over select streets in our area can create ground motion that is equivalent to a 7.2 earthquake. LOL

The above Seismogram is typical of some of the roads in our village, North of the Montauk Highway. It has been established that the most severely effected streets are Oak Street, Cleveland Street, Northridge Street, Wood, Grant, Taber Street, and portions of Maple Avenue. Cleveland St, Wood and Grant, have since been repaved, but Northridge Street, Oak Street, Maple Avenue, and Taber Streets, remain in disrepair!

Although ground motion of this magnitude generally would not create catastrophic damage to a car, the net effect is still substantial, when traveling at any speed, across these roads. "The back bumper of my Pickup Truck, has actually shaken loose, and fallen onto the highway! LOL

As I have been told, the stray Cats and Dogs have moved on to other parts of the village, because they experience a form of vertigo, similar to that experience by human beings, when walking on our local roads.

 

 

 

Hopefully Patchogue Village will consider re-paving the remaining streets. "Yessssss"

* Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

We have our own Sasquatch
Ben Vitale

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

A few years ago I went for my usual walk in Bayard Cutting Arboretum, in Great River, NY, armed with a camera and warm clothes. “Yep…” Summer and winter, my wife and I love to walk around the Bayard Cutting Arboretum park property, and take photos. In 2009 I photographed a very interesting looking footprint. I smiled, and told Marie that the footprint belonged to our own Long Island “Big Foot!” In actuality I figured that I had just photographed a footprint left by Romeo, chasing Juliet, through the snow covered fields. LOL

It seems like the quest for a Sasquatch is an ongoing production on TV these days! After watching one of these programs, I went back to my photo collection to find the photo of what I thought could have been made by “Big Foot.” To my surprise I discovered that the photo of the footprint that was made by some unknown entity, showed that the creature had 6 toes instead of 5. I then searched using Google and discovered that there is some biblical reference to “giants with 6 fingers and toes.” Wow! This brought new credibility to my photo!

http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/science/story.html?id=60c20777-ac74-4e06-8a25-1a2abd32a4df

http://2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6227

http://www.ufobc.ca/Supernatural/Bigfoot/sixtoed.htm

So… We have the first indication, that “we, the residents of Long Island,” may have our “very own” Sasquatch! It’s about time… everyone else has a “Big Foot” running around their “town.” I’m glad that we may finally have our own local Sasquatch.

The next time I decide to stroll through the Arboretum, I will bring bait. I figure that a bowl of my wife’s Italian food should be enough to entice “Big Foot,” to come out of the woods and have dinner.

“Hey! This is getting exciting!” Please share your Sasquatch stories using the “Comment box,” below. Have you seen “Big Foot,” anywhere on Long Island?

 

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below)

 

* Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Reminder (From the 5Th Precinct), Patchogue, NY

 

The next Fifth Precinct Open Community Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2013:

 

Time: 7:00 PM

 

Location: Patchogue-Medford Library 54-60 East Main Street , Patchogue.  The Library is on the south side of East Main Street , opposite the Patchogue Theater.

 

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Happy Memorial Day! View from the Garden State Parkway in NJ. Proud to be an American. 

 

(Left click photo to make it larger.)

 

Photo credit:   Ben Vitale

 

 

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Conviction by Comment Box
Ben Vitale

The Internet has given birth to a new type of government that has the power to condemn a person on the basis of hearsay, rather than fact. In the “old obsolete type of government that we once had,” a person was presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This type of government was too inefficient and too expensive to manage.

It is now acceptable practice to both prosecute and convict an individual, via a mechanism called a “Blog Comment Box.” The beauty of the new system of government is that it is very efficient; no facts, judge, jury, lawyer, or testimony is needed to get a conviction. Testimony by the accused or his legal representative is not required to get a conviction. 

This new form of government gets its roots from a practice that was common, many years ago; it is called “A Lynching.” If two or more people independently decide that you are guilty; you are indeed guilty. The two people that decided that a person was guilty, would then empower themselves to arrest and execute their subject. God help us all “people.” Look what you have done!

I might mention that the old laws that pertain to liable are still in force. If anyone makes a damaging statement, in a comment box, against another person, he is still subject to a law suit. If you did not use the word “opinion,” in your accusation, you could be sued for liable.

What are your thoughts about Comment Box justice?

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Debris From Superstorm Sandy Recycled
Ben Vitale

 

(See Video at link below)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQA_9eg8ic&feature=youtu.be

The “Hurricane Sandy” debris, from Fire Island, is being delivered to the Sandspit Marina, in Patchogue, NY. At first glance I thought that the debris was being taken off of the Barges and dropped directly into Dumpsters. I later learned that the Sandspit was actually a staging area, where the debris was being sorted and delivered to the appropriate agency for re-cycling.

This operation is actually a fine tuned, multi-agency effort. All sorted debris is not permitted to leave the staging area unless it passes an inspection. I believe that FEMA and the EPA are at the Sandspit, to make sure that each Dumpster only contains the prescribed debris. Special care is being taken to be sure that the “Wood Debris,” does not contain any Plastic materials. Plastic when burned is toxic. If an inspector does not approve a Dumpster, as being free of any foreign matter, the contents of that Dumpster are unloaded, and re-sorted.

I am generally not a big fan of anything that the government does! I have always held the opinion that the Government is not capable of doing anything right! In this case our government is indeed doing a world class job at re-cycling the debris created by “Sandy.”

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Please Prevent another Civil War
Ben Vitale

When I studied American History in grammar school I was upset and angered to find out that the United States was at war with itself! I vowed, at that time to never let that happen again. I was determined to never remain silent if this type of situation ever materialized. Unfortunately history is indeed repeating itself.

The latest practice of trying to force gun control legislation into law, in violation of our Constitution, has caused people and States to preemptively resist these laws. The problem is that many of the States have no intention of just handing over, their right to own guns to the Federal Government. That is; resist at all and any cost! This scares me; a person wrote in a comment box; “Let's just have the Civil War and get it over with already.” This is only the beginning of a chain of actions by multiple states, that are in response to the threat to our Second Amendment rights.  

The states of Tennessee, Alaska, South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Tennessee and Montana, passed “the Firearms Freedom Act,” That stated that their state is not subject to Federal firearms legislation.  http://firearmsfreedomact.com/   http://firearmsfreedomact.com/state-by-state/  The state of Wyoming passed a law that would fine and imprison any Federal Marshall that attempted to enforce Federal Firearms legislation in their state. There are about 20 other states that are considering similar legislation. Our Federal officials do not want to listen to what State officials have to say. “A Government, of the people, by the people, and for the people;” but our Federal politicians do not want to uphold that premise. Honestly; our elected officials swore to uphold the constitution of the United States! I believe that the politicians that do not uphold our constitution should be removed from office!

The Department of Homeland Security now has 2,700 armored vehicles in its arsenal. I was upset at first with this acquisition, but the DHS is in charge of Border, and terrorism security. If I were the DHS, I too would have acquired these vehicles as they became available from Iraq. We now have two Armies! I do not believe that the president should have total control of the DHS; too much control by any single person is not desirable.  The President has almost exclusive control of the DHS. I believe that a panel of Senators and Congressmen should be inserted into the DHS chain of command, to prevent a stupid directive from becoming a Civil War.  

Our government just purchased 1.6 Billion rounds of Hollow Point Ammunition; what does it plan to do with that amount of ammunition? Hum? 2,700 armored vehicles, and 1.6 Billion rounds of ammunition?  The Department of Homeland Security is not authorized to fight a foreign war, so it is slated to be used here in the United States. This has upset many “Conspiracy Theorists.” http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/14/why-is-department-homeland-security-buying-so-many-bullets/

Our politicians are first realizing the serious consequences of their actions, to force Gun Control, on states that have no intention of complying with Federal Law, if enacted.  Noted journalist Charles Krauthammer said, “Americans would revolt if Congress implemented sweeping, unprecedented gun control legislation.” Pat Buchanan suggested that this country could wind up in a revolution if the government continued with its assault on guns.

I am once again upset and angered! If the state of Montana imprisons a Federal Marshall for trying to enforce an unwanted gun law, what do you think will happen?  The department of homeland Security is charged to deal with insurrection, not foreign wars. The 2,700 armored vehicles and 1.6 Billion rounds of ammunition could be used on the people of Montana. That’s it; our government could be shooting at our relatives; American citizens.  If that doesn’t start a civil war, nothing will!

We must immediately insert a second line of control to the Department of Homeland Security; just to be sure a civil war is not inadvertently started by the stupid careless act of a single person. It is up to our Senators and Congressmen to intervene! We need a panel of Senators and Congressman, who have the absolute authority to control the actions of the Department of Homeland Security.

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Please Read Statement From Supervisor Ed Romaine Regarding Brookhaven Town’s Snow Removal Operation
http://www.brookhaven.org/PressRoom/tabid/56/newsid970/1798/Statement-From-Supervisor-Ed-Romaine-Regarding-Brookhaven-Towns-Snow-Removal-Operation/Default.aspx


The Town of Brookhaven Says That They are Ready for the Snow.

I do not believe that it is possible for Brookhaven to do a good job at snow removal. For Three decades I have seen the contrast between the snow plowing operations of Patchogue Village and Brookhaven Town. Brookhaven has never done an acceptable job; never! Look at the streets of Patchogue Village after a storm and you would think that you were in Miami! LOL. Brookhaven; Anchorage! LOL. Give me a break; it won't happen! I have heard that Patchogue Village is already plowing the streets; the snow has not yet started! That's a good work ethic! LOL


Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

Lighthouse Mission Brought Tears to my Eyes

Ben Vitale

The Lighthouse mission, in Bellport, NY, runs a Youth Program for children and young adults, that helps to bridge the gap between a street mentality, and a civil mentality that promotes positive thoughts and actions.

Unfortunately poverty breeds crime, guns, gangs, and drugs! The lighthouse Mission is succeeding in breaking a vicious cycle of dysfunctional friends, and dysfunctional neighborhoods, creating dysfunctional children and young adults.

The Lighthouse Mission runs Five youth and adult programs for ages: 18 Months through 4 years old, Kindergarten through 4th grade, grades 1through 5, grades 6 through 10, and a young adult homework help group, up to grade 12.

Most of the children and young adults that frequent the mission are from local Homeless shelters. These days, the Homeless Shelter has become the norm rather than the exception. A countless number of hard working people lost their Jobs because of the economy. These days, the Homeless shelter is on everyone’s Radar Screen.

I was invited to observe the grade 1 to grade 5, youth program session; and was completely “blown away,” with what I witnessed! The children socialized under a closely supervised group of volunteers. I was amazed to see Police Officers helping the children. Traditionally Police Officers are considered “the enemy,” in dysfunctional areas. The constant police participation in this youth program, has caused the children to perceive the police as friends instead of adversaries.

I saw a young child make a decorated paper bag, during a “craft session,” and give it to a police officer as a gift. At this point in time, tears came from my eyes! The police officer was also showing an emotional response; this simple gift was symbolic of a positive change in the perception of the Police Department, by our youth.  Not too long ago the area kids used to throw rocks at the police cars; now the Police are being perceived as friends! How wonderful!

The kids do crafts, play games, and are given food for lunch. In many cases this will be the only food that this child will receive all day.

Quoting Pastor Jim Ryan, ”Abuse, drugs, gangs, and crime is a real part of these children’s  lives.  We try to teach them that, Just because you come from that crazy lifestyle, it doesn’t mean that you have to be part of it.”

The Mission is a Christian based group; but instead of asking the children to say a canned prayer, the children are asked to write their own prayer! All  prayers are entered into a “Prayer book.” I was given the opportunity to read the Prayer Book.

One kid wrote “take care of my family. “

Another kid wrote; “keep my family safe and encourage me to do better.”

Another child wrote; “Make my mom better.”

Another youth wrote; “for my mom to find a job.”

Another child wrote; “for my mom’s foot to get better.”

Another wrote; “for my mom not to get sick again.

Children may act awkward, and speak in a non- articulate manner, but their minds are as sound as a rock. The prayer s above demonstrate that these children are indeed reacting to their environment. Children are not at all disconnected or stupid. Our children’s emotional stature could be more advanced than we give them credit for. This is scary! Is it possible that all of us should have been better parents?

 I am probably the world’s worst cynic; after visiting their youth program, I have become a believer. The lighthouse Mission has indeed had a profound effect on the lives of hundreds of our young people. Children learn by imitation, and are indeed being steered in the right direction by the Lighthouse Mission.

 The Lighthouse Mission is not funded by the government, and depends totally on donations. In addition to the youth program, the Lighthouse Mission distributes food to 4,000 people every month, 12 months a year. The Mission also distributes clothing for those in need.  

This group is not like some of the mainstream charities that show up with a food wagon for a week and soon disappear. The Lighthouse mission is there for the people 365 days a year, every year. I cannot imagine an organization more deserving of your support. If you can help with your monetary contribution, please call (631) 758 7584; also look at their Web site for program details; www.LighthouseMission.net

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below)

* Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.

The 5Th Precinct sent us another "Reminder:"

 about tomorrow's Community Meeting. There have been complaints about drinking and vandalism in our village; here is your chance to be heard.

 

Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: SCPD.5thPrecinctNewsletter
To:
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 4:46 PM
Subject: Reminder

Reminder

 

The next Fifth Precinct open community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the Fifth Precinct, 125 Waverly Avenue , Patchogue.

Comments? (Left click "Comments," below) * Our Thanks to Google/ Blogger for Hosting Our Site.