The following information was made available via the Suffolk County Police Department newsletter:

SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER
SPECIAL ALERT: FICTITIOUS EMAILS

Members of the public are advised that there are a series of fictitious emails circulating nationwide regarding gang activity and initiations. The emails have identified various communities throughout the country, and most recently they were circulated on Long Island with the following fictitious scenarios:

First Fictitious Scenario: A female gang member is said to leave a baby carriage unattended on the side of a roadway with an infant within. When female motorists stop to assist the baby, male members of the gang attack the motorist and assault the female.

Second Fictitious Scenario: Gang members are said to throw eggs at car windshields. When motorists stop to clean their windshields, gang members are said to assault them. The Suffolk County Police Department has not been notified of any actual incidents of this or a similar nature occurring within the Police District. Members of the public are further advised that multi-agency, anti-crime and anti-gang initiatives, involving the use of both uniformed and plainclothes personnel are continuing, as are saturation enforcement initiatives involving uniformed personnel.*

Although these emails are believed to be without merit, the Suffolk County Police
Department offers the following general safety tips for your consideration:

-When driving, keep your doors locked and windows closed.
-Always travel with a cell phone.
-Don’t stop at isolated pay phones or cash machines.
-Plan your driving route in advance, and be sure your car is in good mechanical condition with sufficient fuel to arrive at your destination.*

-If you must stop because your vehicle becomes disabled, or if someone tries to alert you to a problem with your vehicle, attempt to stop only in a well-lighted area in a public place. If you need assistance, activate your flashers and dial “911” immediately. If it is safe to do so, remain in your vehicle and keep your doors and windows locked.

-When parking at night, be sure to park in well lighted areas. Park as close to your destination as possible and take notice of where you parked.

-Be sure to locate your keys prior to returning to your car.
-When approaching and leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings. Do not approach your car if there are suspicious people or vehicles in the area. Always check around your vehicle, making sure there is no one hiding beside or within your vehicle.

Remember, if you are at all suspicious when driving or parking, stay in your car if it is safe to do so and attempt to safely drive away from the area. Drive to somewhere it is safe to stop, such as a populated public place or a police station, and dial “911” immediately.

You as members of the public are the Police Department’s greatest resource against preventing crime. Report suspicious activity to (631)852-COPS (2677), and in an emergency, or when urgent help is needed, dial “911” immediately.* To provide “tips” regarding drug dealers or prior crimes, dial 1-800-220-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by texting the tip to “SCPD” and the message to “CRIMES” (274637). Rewards may be available.* For Non-Emergency Police Response, please dial (631) 852-COPS (2677).

Visit us online at www.suffolkpd.org

Aristides Mojica

Inspector
Commanding Officer
Fifth Precinct

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Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Socially Acceptable Graffiti
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On April 22, 2009 I wrote an article about Graffiti in Patchogue. You might want to re-visit that piece after reading the rest of this article.
(Left click the link below)
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http://mapleavenuenw.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-04-29T20%3A27%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=6
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Last week I took a trip to Hawaii. I was amazed to see that Graffiti was everywhere; that is, wherever there is Black Lava Rock. Patchogue has had a problem with Graffiti in the past; Hawaii's solution to unwanted Graffiti is almost poetic!
(The photos were taken on the "Big Island," which is also called Hawaii.)

The texture of the Graffiti appeared to be different! A casual inspection revealed that no Spray Paint was used. I then pulled my car off the road and walked near the Lava Field to inspect the Graffiti "up close."

I was totally amazed to find that the Graffiti was "eco-sensitive; no spray paint was used and nothing was destroyed by the process of creating the art-work! Wow! For the first time in my life I felt a warm feeling of acceptance, as I examined the many masterpieces!

Everyone had a message to convey to the public; that is to anyone who drove by. From a public proclamation of love to a memoriam, all of the drawings had something in common; they were drawn with White Coral Rocks!

On a Black Lava background, white Coral stones were arranged to create the text images. The beauty of the Graffiti is that absolutely nothing was destroyed! Old messages were scattered by the rain, and the wind; and then the next artist would recycle the stones to create his own personal message!

The artists, could have easily used colored paint on the Black Lava Rock, which would have forever destroyed it's appearance; but they didn't! I did not see even one instance of paint being used to deface the beautiful Lava Rock.

My wife and I agreed, that the Graffiti was indeed socially acceptable, because property was not destroyed, and the rock arrangements would eventually revert back to their natural state.
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Unfortunately I did not have time to make myself immortal by creating my own rock arrangement! Wow! We should dump a load of Black and White Rocks in our own Shorefront Park, and see what happens! We in Patchogue might also get a poetic solution to Graffiti.

MANW

(DOUBLE LEFT CLICK ANY IMAGE TO MAKE IT LARGER)


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Friday April 30, 2010

Loud Music in a Patchogue Residential Area

Is being forced to listen to a loud Band playing on Main Street Patchogue, part of the "Community revitalization process?"
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This past Friday, the sound emanating from a Night Club on Main Street, projected through our residential area, most of the night. One hundred people in a Restaurant/Bar apparently took precedence over one thousand Patchogue residents, who are forced to listen to loud music at 11:30 PM.
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The drummer in the Band was predominately responsible for the disturbance. I could hear only the drummer! The low pitched "Thud," projected more than five blocks into our residential area. Wow! That's more than a quarter of a mile!
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I shouldn't have used the word disturbance; the drummer was actually a "World Class Drummer." Coming from a strong musical environment, I would not hesitate to hire this drummer, if he didn't play so loud. Wow! I thought that the drummer in my Band was loud! This guy brought new meaning to the phrase "Loud Drummer."
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In an attempt to locate the source of the music, I drove around and came upon the source of the loud music in a Night Club on Main Street. The front door was wide open. The open door was the real source of the problem. I did suggest to the Patchogue Village Code that the Night Club owner be told to close the front Door. On Saturday night, I only heard the drummer intermittently, possibly when the front door was opened.
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Loud music has and is an ongoing problem in our village. It might be a good idea to investigate using Sound Shields in these restaurants; they actually work.
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See Link Below:
http://www.nextag.com/DrumOne-Shield-Two-Drum-623668880/prices-html
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I believe that there is still hope for the Night Club industry and the local residents of Patchogue to co-exist, if the club owners, would pay attention to details like buying "Sound Shields," and closing the front Door.
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MANW

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Crime Report

I attended the Fifth Precinct community meeting on April Sixth, 2010, just to find out what is going on in our village. Other than cars and motorcycles , speeding down Maple Avenue; criminal activity, in Patchogue, has been quiet.

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Inspector Mojica did state that Petty Larceny of cars has been a problem. Residents were advised to lock their cars at night; and refrain from leaving valuables in plain sight.

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The representative from East Patchogue was concerned about the possibility that the Police presence in his town, would be lessened because of the Gang activity in some western towns.

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In general we are enjoying a crime rate that is 80% below the national average. Please don't hesitate to contact the Fifth Precinct and or our local Patchogue Village Government, with your neighborhood problems:

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SCPD.5THPRECINCT@suffolkcountyny.gov

Village Problems: 475 1225

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ABC Verses Cablevision! Who is right?

ABC is not a Cable TV content provider by charter. Via an FCC license, ABC is mandated to provide free public programming over the Air Waves. ABC has absolutely no authority to charge a fee for viewing it's content; however they are authorized by the FCC to run commercials.

A Cable TV content provider such as the Discovery Channel, has no authority to transmit their programming over the air waves, they are paid by Cablevision to carry their content. Cablevision usually runs commercials, or sells subscriptions, to pay for the fee charged by the content providers.

A few years ago a law suit resulted in Cablevision paying the networks some money to keep them quiet. Now ABC wants every Cablevision viewer to pay them one dollar every month, weather they look at ABC or not! My parents told me "if you let them take an inch, they will take a yard!" No truer words were ever said!

So it appears that ABC is already getting paid twice, for the programming that they are supposed to be providing for free. They now want even more money!

Direct FCC and Public Service Commission intervention is needed. This is not the "good old days;" technology has advanced!" Data and information should be considered as a utility, and be subject to controls and regulations.

I am not a big fan of Cablevision, but in this case I believe that Cablevision is right; I will not switch providers.

What is your opinion?



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Amazing Facts About Patchogue!
I re-visited a web site that I had previously used to gather statistical data; my last visit revealed many upgrades to that site. The Web Site has always been reasonably comprehensive; but now it fits into the "World Class" category! You might want to visit

http://www.clrsearch.com/RSS/Demographics/NY/Patchogue/

It is this last category that got my attention!

Crime in Patchogue.
The programmers that designed the "Crime Database," calculated a number which they call the "Total Crime Index." This number represents the probability that you will be the victim of a crime. This number does not represent any particular crime, but an average of all crime. Keep in mind that the number 100 represents the national average crime rate. So! The number 100 represents the crime rate, that would be normal, for most cities in the United States.

Looking at the percentages below, the towns of Bellport and Westbury, are in the Disneyland category! Crime? What is that? These towns have a crime rate of 1 and 2 percent of the national average, respectively. The numbers are amazing!

The town of Patchogue has a Crime Rate that is 80% below the national average! Take a look at some of the listings at the bottom of the list! Atlantic City, has a crime rate which is three hundred and Thirty Eight percent greater than the national average.

Look at the towns that are placed directly below Patchogue; this data is utterly amazing! I have repeatedly published articles, proclaiming that Patchogue is not a God forsaken crime ridden area, and it is not! I have also stated that the residents of Patchogue interact as family, and not as adversaries, and indeed they do! Now I have the data to back-up my statements!

(Please examine the data below)
CRIME RISK
Bellport 1
Westbury 2
Glen Cove 22
Stony Brook 22
Sayville 23
Patchogue 23
Blue Point 27
Westhampton 29
Huntington 31
Shirley 34
Mastic Beach 36
Bayport 36
Farmingville 40
Port Jefferson 43
Freeport 50
Greenport 52
East Patchogue 67
Yonkers 69
National Average = 100%
Brooklyn 114
Orlando 126
Las Angeles 174
Fort Lauderdale 239
Chicago 240
Las Vegas 284
Atlantic City 438

We should take up a collection to send the next "Patchogue bashing" journalist, to a therapist, to treat his or her case of "Writers Block."

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Mastic Beach may Incorporate
Residents of Mastic Beach are looking at Patchogue Village, as a role model, and are also trying to follow in the foot-steps of our monumental success story. A channel twelve editorial seemed to express the opinion that incorporation for Mastic Beach only means Bigger Government! The editorial is completely wrong, and exemplifies lazy journalism. It is a lot easier to sit at your computer for an hour and just put a few words on paper, than to actually hit the road and get the facts!

We the members of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch, together with the incorporated village of Patchogue, were part of that monumental transition, from a crime ridden slum to a world class community. No doubt about it; this transition would not have been possible, without the incorporated village of Patchogue.

The formula for re-vitalizing a community is complex, and must take into account, the opposing forces, that tug at each other in an attempt to bolster their own private agendas. The Patchogue Village Code Officers, along with the village Housing and Highway Departments are unilaterally responsible for the lovely appearance of our village.

Keep in mind that the landlords that do not live in the houses that they own, may at first, be on the opposing side! In the case of Patchogue village, the value of our homes increased by over 30% as the neighborhood improved. Today most of the landlords see the wisdom of maintaining the appearance of the neighborhood that contains their investment. This amazing transition would not have been possible without the dedication of our current slate of Patchogue Village officials.

Rehabilitation of a community requires the constant cooperation of many agencies. All agencies such as, the Neighborhood Watch, the Patchogue village Code, the Police Department, and local government, must work together in concert. If any single link in this chain is broken, the rehabilitation may fail! All of the above groups are absolutely required to bring back a community.

Kudos to the municipality of Mastic Beach; don’t let anyone talk you out of your new village, and your new community!

Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch


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The Nativity Scene is no longer at it's former location, on Main Street Patchogue, NY
The Nativity Scene was set-up in front of Saint Francis DeSales, on South Ocean Avenue, in Patchogue. As I have been told, the Nativity Scene was moved so that it would be in a more appropriate location. Unfortunately I missed the tree and Nativity lighting on December 14, 2009. Maybe next year! I personally feel that the Nativity Scene should be on Main Street, simply because of the high visibility location.
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Nativity Scene at the location of Emanuel Lutheran Church
Thanks to Emanuel Lutheran Church, Main Street, Patchogue, NY, we do have a Nativity Scene on Main Street, but not in the prime location, near the Patchogue Theatre.

To our Christian friends, let us say:
Merry Christmas

To our Jewish friends let us say:
Happy Hanukkah

To our friends in the Black Community, that have helped this Neighborhood Watch Group in numerous way, let us say:
Happy Kwanzaa

Why do we not have a similar sign in Patchogue?

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Report Crime via email to the 5TH Precinct in Patchogue.

On Tuesday December 1, 2009, I attended the “monthly open community meeting,” at the Suffolk County Police Department, Fifth Precinct, on Waverly Avenue, in Patchogue. Inspector Mojica reported that there are no major chronic crime problems in the Fifth Precinct. The Inspector did say that we do experience crime, but at a rate that would be normal for the average community.

Inspector Mojica reported that a few instances of burglary have occurred in East Patchogue, but because of reporting by the average citizen, the burglars were arrested.

The commanding officer told the people that attended the meeting that most of the criminals in the fifth Precinct, are brought to justice, because of “tips” from local residents.

We were advised to report neighborhood problems via email to:

SCPD.5THPRECINCT@suffolkcountyny.gov

Please forward this email address to your friends and family!

I am sure that these community meetings at the Fifth Precinct have had a positive effect on our area. Local residents have come to realize that their concerns have indeed been addressed by the police department.

The residents that attended the monthly community meetings in the past spoke with a sense of urgency. Obviously many of the urgent problems have already been addressed. This last community meeting took on a more casual persona.

Please address your neighborhood concerns to Inspector Aristides Mojica, and send them to the email address above. It is so wonderful to know that you have a friend at the Fifth Precinct!

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The Plaza Theatre May Not See the Bulldozer!
Patchogue, NY
The dilapidated remains of the once majestic Plaza Theatre stands as an eyesore on the Montauk Highway, which is the Eastern Gateway to Patchogue. While many are contemplating the demolition of this Plaza Theatre, some are considering the possibility of rebuilding.
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On November 23, 2009, I received an email from the Patchogue Arts Council, advising me of a presentation by Campbell Dalglish, who is a founding member of the Patchogue Arts Council. This presentation was given at the Patchogue Village Hall, during the regular monthly Patchogue Village Board Meeting.
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Mr. Delglish made a presentation to the people of Patchogue, informing them that a movement was in motion to save the Plaza Theatre, and turn it into an Arts Film Theatre, a Media Arts Center, and Media Arts laboratory complex.
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The Theatre would be divided into three rooms, each having 75 seats. These rooms would be used for business multimedia presentations; and also to show “Art type films.” Art films are specialty films that would not normally be shown at a Multiplex Theatre. Art films are generally viewed by intellectual people.
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The Media Arts Center would be used as a classroom, to educate and serve the teachers and students of our local schools. The Media Arts Laboratory would contain, state of the art film editing equipment that is generally too expensive for the amateur film maker to have in his living room.
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I originally went to Mr. Campbell’s presentation fearing that this proposed complex could interfere with our Patchogue Theatre. Our Patchogue Theatre has turned out to be a panacea for Patchogue Village; the last thing that we need is two theaters that are within blocks of each other.
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This proposal is being evaluated by the town and county government; Patchogue Village does not have anything to do with approval or rejection of the proposed complex. The presentation was made to the Patchogue Village government, and residents, as a courtesy.
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After listening to the presentation, the entire audience gave Campbell a round of applause, conveying their approval of his proposal. I too believe that this is a worthwhile endeavor that will benefit Patchogue Village!

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