Patchogue Robber Arrested

Ben Vitale

 

On Dec 18, 2014, the Long Island Advanced reported that the person who robbed a credit card, from a woman who was going to her car, after using the ATM Machine at the Capital One Bank in Patchogue, was arrested. The actual robbery took place about a week earlier!

I was very surprised that the LI Advance was the only Newspaper that had reported the arrest of the criminal! I was wondering if this report was actually true so I contacted the Village of Patchogue trustee Lorie Devlin, and Mayor Paul Pontieri, to see if the perpetrator was actually arrested!

Both Paul Pontieri and Lorie Devlin reported that the perpetrator, Jonathan Kreppein from Shirley, was indeed arrested.

As a result of recent crimes in Patchogue, Mayor Paul Pontieri had meetings with Legislator Calarco, and Inspector Mojica, commanding officer of our Fifth Precinct, on Waverly Avenue. A plan was put in place that should minimize crime in our area. As a result of this meeting the Police Department will be providing an increased presence in Patchogue.

Paul Pontieri also asked the Inspector to do a risk assessment on the core downtown area, and advise as to where we need to improve lighting, and remove bushes or shrubs. The Risk Assessment would indeed include other recommendations. Inspector Mojica is committed to keeping our Community safe.

Our Public Safety officers will also be showing an enhanced presence in our village shopping areas. The “eyes and ears” of the police department is not limited to our Public Safety Officers. Each and every one of us should be watching for suspicious behavior, and actually report suspicious occurrences. If you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. If you see suspicious activity that may be in violation of any Patchogue Village Code, call Public Safety, at “475 Christmas,” 631 475 1225.

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 Secret of the Most Beautiful Christmas Tree Discovered
Ben Vitale



Photo Credit: Ben Vitale



Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

For decades I have had the honor of having the most beautiful Christmas tree, right in my own living room. I have the honor of having the most beautiful Christmas tree every year because of my wife’s expertise in the art of selecting Christmas trees. The trees that my wife has selected through the years were always perfect; at least “I thought so!” I must admit that I have not paid attention to certain small details in the past. I was not fully cognoscente of the fact that a “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree can be made to look like the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, in NYC, with a little bit of help! Yes Marie does have an aptitude for selecting beautiful Christmas trees, but I did not realize that she gave the trees a bit of Tender Loving Care; just like the TLC a women gets when she goes to her Beautician! LOL!

 

Well folks I just can’t remove the smile from my face since I found the evidence beneath my Christmas Tree! This year I did indeed pay attention to the small details and discovered a pair of Garden Clippers, under our Christmas tree! Marie cut off the long scraggly "Charlie Brown” Christmas tree branches so that our Christmas tree now looks like a perfect triangle! Yes it is as pretty as the one in Rockefeller Center! LOL!

OK… Our tree was indeed beautiful when we purchased it and Marie made it look even better. “Breathtaking!” LOL! Yesss! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa “to all and to all Good Night!”

Please read the article that was published on Patch a few years back in order to bring a new perspective to this article. http://patch.com/new-york/patchogue/bp--the-most-beautiful-christmas-tree-on-long-island

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Report from the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch

Dec. 10, 2014

I attended the December, Fifth Precinct Open Community Meeting, which was held at the Patchogue Medford Library, on Main Street, in Patchogue, on Dec. 10, 2014, to get some information about recent crime issues in Patchogue Village. I was concerned about the most recent assault on an off duty New York City Police Officer, on Jennings Avenue; hoping that they did not represent a trend in our village.

Aristides Mojica, Commanding Officer of the Fifth Precinct, in Patchogue, NY, told me that every community can expect to have some crime. In the case of the most recent crime where a police officer was assaulted by a criminal on Jennings Avenue; the perpetrator was not a local resident, nor was he someone who came to Patchogue to patronize one of our Clubs. The perpetrator was arrested and is currently in jail. I have also received comprehensive information from Lorie Devlin, Patchogue Village Trustee.

I feel safe to say that we are not in the midst of a new crime wave; and that crime in our village is comparable to the most low crime municipalities on Long Island…  Thank God!

MANW

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Santa is now on the Internet Directly from the North Pole!

Ben Vitale

I’m so excited! I have discovered that I still believe in Santa Clause! Yesssss! Over Five million people have discovered Santa’s new “Reindeer Cam” site on the Internet! You must look carefully because Santa only appears on Camera with his Reindeer, at specific times! Santa feeds the Reindeer three times a day; look at the “FAQ” tab for the schedule! I have not seen Santa’s Sled yet; I guess that his elves are still working on it, in preparation for his long journey on Christmas Eve! Yessssss.

You might want to have Santa actually send a letter to your child; just fill out the form along with Five dollars for postage! LOL!

Im so excited; I believe my Christmas season has actually began because I looked at Santa’s North Pole “Reindeer Cam.” I believe that I have actually heard Alvin the Chipmunk talking to me directly from the North Pole! Wow! LOL! Yessssss! How cool is that?

There is also a Facebook link on this site where you can read wonderful comments made by other people that are also looking at Santa and his reindeer!  

OK! I’m sure that your children would really love to see Santa’s Reindeer and Santa! Be sure to get posted on Santa’s “Nice List!” Yesssssssss! Yo! Ho! Ho! “Merry Christmas to all; and to all good night!”

Please click the link below to see Santa! LOL!

http://reindeercam.com/

Please forward this link to your Grandchildren!

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Members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch, Patchogue, NY.

 

 

The next "5th Pct Open Community Meeting" will be held on December 10, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., at the Patchogue - Medford Library, Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

The "Fifth Precinct Open Community Meeting," is a forum to discuss problems that you may be having in your neighborhood.  If you are having any local issues, be sure to attend this meeting.

You do not have to belong to or represent any organized civic association to attend this meeting. Please tell your neighbors about this meeting!

 

MANW

 

 

 

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You Know You Are in Trouble at the Office When 
Ben Vitale

 

A friend of mine and her coworkers have for decades discussed in a facetious way, the logistics of how management expedites on its employees!  The name of a very popular game that management often plays is called “Workspace Polo!” LOL! The office or workspace that you enjoy could easily be taken away from you by some anonymous manager.

As departmental budgets continue to be cut, the chances of losing a major part of your work space increase exponentially! For many decades, my friend and her coworkers vocally fantasized in a humorous way, the possibility of management stealing their workspace! Here’s how the scenario was visualized! You are at work, and three stone faced men walk into your office or work area, and do not acknowledge the fact that you are there.  One person has a Clip Board and a Pen; the other two men have a Tape Measure, and they start taking measurements of your room.

One thing you can depend on is that company management does expedite on subordinates that they know little or nothing about. The trick is to initiate a “work space confiscation,” in such a way as to not be responsible for the outcome! Here is how this task is implemented! Management targets a 5000 square foot facility that they know little or nothing about! The target space is usually part of some subsidiary that is located on “another planet!” LOL! The occupants of the 5000 square foot facility are evicted and given a 1000 square feet room.  So...  What to do? Ok! The only answer is to throw out thousands of dollars’ worth of valuable parts and equipment into the trash can. The logistics of putting 5000 square feet of equipment and parts into a 1000 square foot room is usually pawned off to a part time, summer employee that is making $7.50 an hour with no benefits. After the summer is over the “part time summer employee” disappears from the payroll, and becomes the person who will be directly blamed for any repercussions of the workspace confiscation. LOL! “What did he throw out!” “Who told him to throw out our Fork Lift?” LOL! Who said that there was no such thing as the perfect crime! LOL!

Recently, management was looking for Real Estate that they could re-deploy. After many years of joking around about management stealing her workspace “it happened!” LOL! My friend was sitting at her desk one sunny Monday morning, drinking her coffee, when three people quietly walked into her work area and said absolutely nothing. The three people paid absolutely no attention to the fact that my friend was sitting at her desk; she was essentially demoted to the stature of a Pot Belly Stove, on a hot summer day. LOL!

My friend suddenly started to smile, and said to herself! “OMG!” It is actually happening!” “Yesss; It is really happening!” LOL! As tears started to roll from her eyes she just leaned back in his chair and started to laugh! “Yep,” They are really going to steal my workspace! LOL! And Yes… The stone faced administrative zombies just kept measuring her room! LOL!

So what is the outcome?  Thousands of dollars of parts, and equipment vaporize, and disappears in the compacting dumpster. Productivity of the original occupant of the 5000 Square foot workspace goes down by 80%, and someone from management gets a large pay raise for a job well done!  LOL!

Has anything like this ever happened to you?

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The Jar of Life Demonstration
Ben Vitale

Many people have viewed segments of what appears to be a video of a college physics experiment on the Internet, but few have seen the surprise that is presented at the very end of the video!  Various presentations of this same demonstration can be found throughout the Internet, re-created by many different people. Unfortunately the wonderful lesson about happiness, and it's relationship to how you deal with life, is only found at the end of the video. Please watch the video to the very end, and make a special effort to understand the message that the author is trying to convey! I know from personal experience that the concept presented in this video is absolutely true! Expanding on this concept; if you allow toxic people and situations to fill your life, you will not have room for the things in life that are really important, such as good friends and Family! Be careful not to fill your “Jar of Life” with meaningless and toxic things!

Please view “The Jar of life!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_N_uvq41Pg

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Members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE STORM!

If you are having any neighborhood issues you should attend this meeting. You do not have to represent any "group" to attend.

https://local.nixle.com/alert/5247264/?sub_id=1205369

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Members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch!

With the exception of a few suspicious cars, everything in our neighborhood watch area seems to be quiet. If you are having any local problems, please reply to this Email.

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How to Spend a Sunday Afternoon
Ben Vitale

I am of Italian descent but I am convinced that I must have some "Gypsy" in me; I cannot stay in one place. Every time I see a Violin I get chills up my spine! LOL! This Sunday Marie and I went to Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton.
A club called the Beach Hut operates at Cupsogue Park, at Westhampton Beach.

I just love the operation there! Entertainment is provided starting at about 4:30. This Sunday the East End Trio, provided the entertainment. I was very impressed with the lead singer; he sounded exactly like James Taylor, and Neil Diamond! Nostalgia was flying over me! Great Fun!
http://www.theeastendtrio.com/

Food and drinks are available, There are plenty of public tables, and some people bring their own snacks. I personally try to help the Beach Hut pay for the entertainment.
What could be better... Fresh air, great music, food and drinks at Westhampton beach. We met a few great people and had a wonderful time.
 

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How to Destroy Your Computer!

Ben Vitale

 

Did you ever wonder why your computer died? You used it yesterday and today it refuses to go on! A computer fails for many technical reasons, but I have destroyed three computers because of a static electric discharge, from my body. On two occasions I heard a snap, and saw a small spark as I pressed the power button on my computer; I knew immediately that my computer was destroyed. On another occasion I drew a spark to my keyboard; that destroyed Computer number three!

When humidity is low your body could charge up like a capacitor, to voltages in the area of 10,000 Volts. Did you ever draw a spark from your body when you touched a “ground” such as a water faucet? When you see and hear the spark you should also feel an electrical shock. Some computer components are only rated at 5 volts; you can imagine what 10,000 volts will do to these components!

It might be a good idea to position your computer near an available “ground” if possible!  I personally prefer to place a bare Copper wire across my desk that is attached to a “ground,” such as a water pipe or radiator.

When humidity is low and conditions are conducive to generating static electric charges, I usually get some advanced warning; every time I touch the room light switch, my body discharges through the light switch. So… When this happens I spray the room with Radio Shack Anti -Static Spray, before turning on my computer.

When you walk across the room to use your computer, always discharge your body to a “Ground” before touching or pressing the button to turn on the computer. Also; do not touch the keyboard before discharging your body. Once you discharge yourself do not move or slide any part of your body, before pressing the “on” button.

Do not attempt to install a ground wire without contracting your Electrician, to ascertain that your household wiring and equipment is safe to use.

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Did you ever play Stickball?

Ben Vitale

 

 

Many Long Island residents originally lived in the "Big City;" New York City. In the 50s, after the depression, money was scarce; very few people had money in their toy's budget. When I was a youth, my parents could not afford to buy me a Baseball Glove, and Baseball Bat. The name of the game for the entire population was to "improvise." Did I feel deprived...  Absolutely not; everyone that I knew was poor, but we did not know it! We simply did not have a frame of reference to compare against. It is amazing, how one could feel wealthy, in a poor community!

Most of my friends could not afford to buy real Baseball Equipment so we improvised! Someone that had a few dollars left over from his "Communion money" would buy a "Softball!" In Brooklyn, we called this a "Spaldeen." Now the scary part; we needed a Baseball Bat to play baseball, but no one could afford to buy one! “Hummm... “ Someone had to borrow a broomstick handle from their mother's broom, so that we could use it as a "Baseball Bat." The trick was to manage to get through the entire game, without breaking your mother's Broom Stick! If someone broke the Broom Stick, you would be in serious trouble! LOL.

OK! We managed to locate a Ball and a "Broomstick Bat," but where do we play Stickball? In the street of course; in the midst of moving Automobiles and Trolley Cars! LOL. Every city street had a "built in" Baseball Diamond; the "Sewer Covers" that were in every street made a wonderful "Home Plate" and "Second Base. "Hummm...” Where is first and third base? First and Third bases were the car door handles of any car that just happened to be parked on the side of the road. OMG; I certainly would not want anyone to use my car door handle for first base! It's amazing how one's perception of the same situation changes with age! LOL.

As soon as a game of Stickball began, concerned residents would hang out of their windows and remind us that if we broke their window we would have to pay for it!  Actually a “Spaldeen” ball would not damage anything that it hit except a glass window from a residence. I have never seen a “Spaldeen” break a car window! OMG a broken window was a year's worth of "Allowance!" OK… I managed to break one window; which put my allowance into austerity mode!

Stickball has become a tradition to many people. A group of people from across the country return to Brooklyn annually to play a “reunion game” of stickball. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/stickball-reunion-mixed-reviews-brooklyn-neighborhood-play-ball-lost-article-1.385876

I just loved to play stickball when I was young… Yesterday I discovered a treasure at the local novelty store; a genuine “Spaldeen.” It is amazing how a simple object like a rubber ball could bring back so many wonderful memories!

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Trick to Clear Snow Without a Snow Blower!

 Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

I discovered this simple trick out of sheer desperation. It had snowed last night and we had 2 inches of fresh powdery snow…  My snow blower refused to start. I am not superstitious, but I am totally convinced that my Snow Blower is haunted! LOL.  My snow blower actually knows when it snows, and will not start under any circumstances. It works just fine in the fall! I actually tried to re-deploy my snow blower to collect leaves; it also failed miserably at that task. My snow blower is indeed haunted! LOL.

I decided to try something that I have thought of doing before; use a leaf Blower to clear snow. OK… Using a Leaf Blower to blow Snow… Hummm! I did ultimately manage to clean my driveway and walkway using the leaf blower; it worked amazingly will!

The trick to successful use of a leaf blower is to start using the Leaf Blower as soon as possible, before the snow gets slushy. I even had success clearing a six inch snow drift, of very dry snow, with my Leaf Blower. When dealing with high snow, locate the Leaf Blower plastic nozzle, at ground level, underneath the snow. The Leaf Blower acts like a pneumatic air compressor and lifts the snow straight up, in the form of a snow blanket. The snow acts like a pneumatic piston; once off the ground, the snow breaks up.

The leaf blower did do a reasonable job on my Walkway.

Ear, Eye and GFI  protection should also be used.

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Rock Salt is Not Available

Ben Vitale

 

Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

After the snow storm on Wednesday, residents of long Island were inundated with heavy wet snow that was in the form of slush. Those that had commercial snow blowers may have been able to force their machine to deal with slush; those with low priced equipment could not deal with the slush. The slush turned to solid Ice the very next day.

I made four trips to multiple Home Depot and Lowes stores in order to purchase Rock Salt. Each day I received the same answer; sorry, we do not have Rock Salt. A savey customer told me that that he believes that the corporate office was not delivering Rock Salt because it is now “out of season.” I then looked over to the Gardening Department and saw a pallet full of Charcoal Briquettes.  My wife then suggested putting Charcoal Briquettes on the ice; hummm… It just might help!

The employees were helpless because their corporate offices were not delivering the Rock Salt. I intentionally gathered a group of employees, and told them that I was going to play the irate customer! I said that they could not get involved with this Salt issue, but I can. I told the employees to please tell their boss what an “irate customer” told them. I then smiled, and proceeded to be an irate customer! Hey! “yannow” it’s fun to be an irate customer once in a while. 

I believe that the CEOs of Home Depot and Loews should go on undercover Boss, and speak to the hundreds of people, that are still waiting for Rock Salt, here on Long Island. The employees were exemplary; Lowes and Home Depot should be proud of them. I’m not so sure that I could say the same about the corporate management! It’s great to be an irate customer; I can’t get fired! LOL

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Ice Flow in Patchogue NY

Photo Credit: Ben Vitale

There has been what appears to be, a small Ice flow in Patchogue, NY; probably caused by tide, wave and wind conditions on the Great South Bay. In this case, chunks of ice were deposited against and over the bulkhead at the Sandspit Marina. It appears that conditions were in our favor, and we did not sustain any damage. Ice flows at other locations have caused heavy damage to homes and properties; please look at the link below. https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+jam+photo&tbm=isch&imgil=pFYKW3p62MQNsM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F...  If you get a chance to go down to the Marina you will see that another Ice flow is pushing it's way over the rock jetty at Patchogue River. I have seen Ice flows cause havoc on streams that are located in upstate NY. When a stream gets totally blocked; that's when the trouble begins! Ice jams are sometimes relieved with dynamite. Once the Jam is relieved, you do not want to be downstream! Our mini Ice Flow in Patchogue, NY, does not represent a hazard, but it is a beautiful thing to look at.  

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