Bees are Everywhere

Ben Vitale

Recently I had a swarm of Honey Bees infiltrate my property. The Bees were everywhere, in the air, in the trees, and on my garage! I had no idea as to what can be done to remove the Bees from my property, so I called an exterminator. I was surprised and in a subtle way pleased because I was told that many exterminators do not deal with Bees. I was given the telephone number of a Beekeeper, by the second exterminator that I called.

My wife and I were surprised to have a "pest experience," turn into a "learning experience." We called the Beekeeper and he asked me to take a photo of the Bees, and Email it to him; which I did. By the time that I took the photo, the Bees were already gathered into a cluster that resembled a Football. From my photo the Beekeeper identified the Bees as "Honey Bees."

I was expecting the Beekeeper to come to my house with a white suit and face shield, but instead came with a special device that sucked the Bees into a box that resembled a "Bee box," that Beekeepers use to harvest Honey from Bees.

I was totally amazed at the Beekeepers account of why the Bees were on my property. When Bees are disturbed or have reason to move to another location they swarm and usually wind up at a location that is not necessarily the location of their new home. Scouts are sent out in search of a suitable location for a permanent home. The scouts return to the main group with reports of possible locations for their permanent home. With "tongue in cheek," a second wave of Scout Bees is sent out to evaluate the locations found by the Scouts; let's call the second wave of Scouts, "Building Inspectors." LOL. The group of Bees will move to a new location usually within 24 hours, unless they decide to make the current location their new home.

I was amazed to see the Beekeeper suction the Bees into a box with a specially designed Bee gathering device; it was basically a vacuum cleaner. The Beekeepers head was only 18 inches from the cluster of over 10,000 Bees; he was not wearing any protective clothing. My wife was 35 feet away from the Bee cluster, and she got stung by a Bee!


We have all heard that the Bee population is on the decline! What is not generally known is that the Bees are alive and well in Suburbia; but are not doing very well in Farm Country. As explained, the insecticide that farmers use is indeed killing the insects, but also killing the Bees.

I found the Beekeeper, Waldemar Galka, to be very knowledgeable on the subject of Bees. It was a pleasure talking to a Beekeeper, who readily shared his expertise about such a fascinating subject. Removal of the Bees was not free but Mr. Galka gave us a free jar of Honey that he had collected at his own Bee Farm. It does not get any better than that. A "pest experience," turns out to be a "Learning experience;" and we walk away with a smile on our face and a bottle of Honey!

As I have learned, Bees are not exterminated, but rescued. Please do not attempt Bee removal yourself; only an expert can determine when Bees are or will be aggressive. If you have any problems with Bees, you might want to email Waldemar Galka at waldig@netzero.com or Call: 631 724 3546

(Left click the arrow to start the Video below.)

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Reminder From The Fifth Precinct

The next Fifth Precinct Open Community Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 7:00 PM at the Fifth Precinct, 125 Waverly Avenue , Patchogue.

FYI: You do not have to be a member or represent any group to attend this meeting. If you are having a neighborhood problem, you should attend this meeting.


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Happy Easter and Passover to all!

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Noise Along Patchogue River


We the members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch are not usually bothered by noise from Night Clubs and Tiki Bars; but Patchogue Village residents that live near the water are.


Please read the Patchogue Patch Blog written by Jo Miller so that you may be informed of noise problems on the other side of our village. Feel free to offer your ideas and possible solutions. You might also make a statement in support of our neighbors to our South.


Please read all of the comments below the article! I was absolutely astounded to find out the magnitude of their noise problems! Our neighbors to the South have been having problems for a Decade, and nothing meaningful has been done to remedy this situation.


(Left click the link below)


http://patchogue.patch.com/blog_posts/noise-pollution



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Swezey's a Piece of History

I can remember Swezey's Department Store. Stairs going up! Stairs going down! Little secluded areas! The store had a charm that invited people to shop there. At Christmas time I always went to Swezey's to buy Christmas Presents. I really knew it was Christmas time when I found myself in Swezey's Department Store!

My wife just uncovered a piece of Patchogue History. While cleaning out a storage chest Marie found an unopened fitted Bed Sheet that she had purchased from, you guessed it, Swezey's. 

Why do I feel so good when I look at these photos?

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Published articles that should be read in preparation for the upcoming Patchogue Village Election, which is to take place March, 20, 2012.

The upcoming Patchogue Village Election is considered by some to be a defining moment in the history of our village. We certainly were on the right track for the longest time; but other residents do not like what they see. The Truth lies buried somewhere within the articles and comments that are linked below.

It is up to you the village resident to take the time to read all of the articles below. Yes it will take a few hours, but it is up to you the village resident to determine, what is true, and what is not true! Is someone manipulating words to their advantage?

Unlike the days of old, most of the residents of our village have a college level mastery of the English language. Where creative writing was above the comprehension of our parents, it can easily be understood by most of the residents of Patchogue Village.

It is now our task to study the evidence and make our own educated decision, as to who will best serve Patchogue Village in the future.

(Please read both the articles and the comments.)

(Left click a title (below), and be sure to use the back-arrow to get back to this page.)

First read the Long Island Advance , 2/23/2012 Pages 3, 15, and 17.

Patch's 2012 Voter Guide

Why am I Running for Trustee?

NU Village Issues Forum

Surveys & Polls

Online Poll: Do you support the 291 Apartments at the Four Corners?


The Four Corners: A Historical Perspective, A Plan for the Future

Blog: Evaluating the Patchogue Village Election



A Response to Mayor Pontieri's Attack Ad: My Qualifications to be the Mayor

The Truth Hurts

"Certain Benefits”

To The Residents of Patchogue


Dear Residents of Patchogue Village:

Patchogue Village 2012 Mayoral Nomination

Setting The Record Straight on Village Audit

Let the Facts Speak for Themselves - from the Patchogue 2012 Team

Promises

Revisionist History

A Voice from the Village

The Truth Hurts: When 'Yes' Should Be 'No'

Are You a Friend of the Carnegie Library?

Patchogue First and Paul Pontieri

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From the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch


I have been advised of two alleged burglaries that took place on Maple Avenue in Patchogue. Do not leave your house or car doors unlocked. An alleged Burglar actually walked into a house on Maple Avenue, while the residents were in the house. This report came from a Neighborhood Watch member; I am hoping that we get one of the usual PD notification from the Fifth Precinct, with more details. In any case it is always a good idea to lock your doors, and pay attention to who is walking down your block.


Please pay attention to strangers; especially if they are acting suspicious. As usual take photos of suspicious individuals using your telephoto lenses. Don't forget to turn off the Flash! It might be a good idea to check if your security camera is indeed recording images. If you have any video clips of suspicious individuals please advise the PD; also advise the Neighborhood Watch.



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911 Boat Rescue
Must see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOrzF7B2Kg

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Live Patchogue Board Meeting TV Broadcast
The possibility of having our Patchogue Village Board Meetings televised has once again become an active issue. I would like to mention that this idea is not new; members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch Group have suggested a Patchogue Village Television Channel, as far back as 2001.
The following is a re-print of my 2001 article in the Maple Avenue Gazette, asking for a village TV Channel.

Our Own Village TV Station!
(May 2001 Issue of the Maple Avenue Gazette)


A small community in Brooksville Florida, called Cloverleaf, has their own cable TV channel. On this channel they "air" their own community related material such as, up-coming events, special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. When the local residents simply do not want to look at TV, they just set their dial to channel 52, which is the "Town Crier TV Channel." The locals, simply love their own personal TV Channel.

In an attempt to promote a sense of family and community, in our village, I suggested to our village government, the adoption of a "PatchogueVillage Cable TV Channel." A single TV channel would display pages of text, informing our residents of upcoming events, birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions, to the background of some soft music. Our village representatives have been negotiating with the cable TV Company for a long term contract. This is the ideal time to negotiate our own TV Channel, with the cable company. As it turned out, our village government did not implement my idea! The contract is signed, and we do not get our own, village cable TV channel.

I have a feeling that we may not need to bother our village government, because of "Public Access TV." If anyone would like to help, implement, or discuss this issue, please send an email to XXXX@email.com I could think of no better way to create a sense of community, and family.

My suggestion for a Patchogue Village Television Channel was rejected in 2001, hopefully we could get our TV Station in 2012.


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Lighthouse Mission needs your help

Ben Vitale

"Oh Yeah, I know the Lighthouse Mission (LM), they help people." Until a few days ago I did not actually know what the Mission did! The lighthouse Mission has been in our area for years, but I never bothered to pay attention. By some strange sequence of events I found myself donating clothes to the LM at their current location in Bellport.

By virtue of time, many people have learned to experience a casual conversation, as opposed to just hearing the words that are spoken. I walked into the Lighthouse Mission, in Bellport, to get some information. I was greeted by "Pastor Jim," and I said, do you accept donations of clothes? The Pastor's words, went directly from my ears; to my heart! Yes I heard the words but I immediately perceived a sense of urgency. "Yes, we need Winter clothes, jackets, gloves, jeans, sweaters; warm clothes!" Pastor Jim also said that the most critical need is always for food.

The words poor, homeless, underprivileged, and unemployed, have taken on new meaning. Not too many years ago, unemployed and homeless, were words that referred to someone else. In recent years, these words have hovered over all of us! After 40 years, I just retired from my last place of employment. Thirty days after my retirement I was shocked to find out that company management, had closed down the last support facility, with the intention of outsourcing support services. This could have happened to me; what if I was 30 years old with small children? Three men were laid off. The unpredictable projectile of unemployment, passed through the space that I once occupied, and hit three men and their families!

Pastor Jim brought my wife Marie and I on a personal guided tour through his Bellport facility. I was amazed to learn that the Lighthouse Mission, has since 1992 been delivering food, on a weekly basis to 3,000 people in our area. The LM has three trucks and delivers food, to locations in Coram, Lake Ronkonkoma, Wyandanch, Central Islip, Bellport, Shirley, Port Jefferson Station, Patchogue, and Riverhead.

The Mission also hosts programs for children as well as young adults. The facility in Bellport is used as a place the youth can go to after school. They can play table games or even receive help with their homework! The Lighthouse Mission is a Christian Group, and has Bible studies. Pastor Mike, the Youth Director, made a profound observation; "They see we care about what's going on in their lives, hearts, and minds, these days!"

I must admit that I am compelled to stand beside myself! I had no idea that the Lighthouse Mission did so much for so many, without any means of support except donations. Please let these words go to your heart! If you are one of the more fortunate among us, please consider donating Food, Clothes, Money, Equipment and or Services to this worthy organization.

Call Pastor Jim and ask him what he needs! 631 758 7584


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