Once again it took a visit from my Cousin Eileen's kids to get me moving on a Long Island adventure. Brandon and Samantha spent a few days with me towards the end of July, and after their visit last year, the number one thing on their list was Adventureland. Their first full day here we planned on meeting up with two of my cousins and their kids in the evening to visit the small amusement park. The earlier part of the day there was a bit of rain, but around dinnertime it finally cleared up. We all decided to go ahead with our plans, and we got there and found out the park was closing at 6:00 PM. Due to reports earlier in the day, the park decided to tell the second shift not to come in that night. What? As you can imagine the kids were extremely disappointed. I believe the comments were, "It's not fair." At 8 and 11 that's the unfairness you experience in the world. LOL! Not that there was anything to worry about though. I promised them that we would make it back before they left the island.
I was happy when my Cousin Diane suggested Heartland miniature golf. I had always seen the place from the Deer Park train station, but never had the opportunity to go there. It actually turned out to be an inexpensive night. It costs $6 for the 18-hole miniature golf park, and we were there for over an hour. Of course, it was because we ladies weren't actually the greatest golfers, but hey it's just for fun! I love how it looks like you're playing through a mountain range. Granted I think the water would be a lot prettier if it looked more like real water instead of Tidy Bowl water, but it's still a pretty place. They also have a driving range, and I was just checking out their Web site and see they have a 9-Hole Par 3 golf course. www.heartlandgolfpark.com
After miniature golf we headed to Coyle's Homemade Ice Cream in Bay Shore. Now ending a summer night with ice cream is always a good idea, but it becomes an even better idea when you go to a place where the ice cream is homemade and the place is set up like an old fashioned ice cream shop. The place was full especially with my family taking up most of the counter stools, and people still kept coming in. They didn't care that the place was packed, they just stood outside. I can't say I blame them as the ice cream was great.
The next day was so hot and humid that we just spent the day by the pool. Nothing beats the heat more than taking a dip and relaxing poolside. In the evening I took Brandon and Samantha as well as my landlords' two children down to Sunken Meadow State Park. Here we got to enjoy a nice breeze and a walk in the sand, plus the kids waded in the water and climbed on the rocks. As you can imagine, the rocks were much more interesting to them than the boardwalk. The girls collected some seashells, and when we got in the car I remembered why you shouldn't bring seashells home. They may be pretty, but they can be stinky!
Sunday we headed out to Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead. We went with my friend Nicole and her two kids, and my Cousin Cathy and her son. With the anticipation of Adventureland, they weren't so excited at first about the aquarium but once they got there they had a great time. The first big hit was the shark tank. It's amazing when they swim by you. You are just awe struck at how large they are, and they're sharing the water with other sea creatures. There was a huge sea turtle in the tank and smaller fish just swimming around minding their own business. Of course there are smaller tanks through the halls of Atlantis, but the shark tank was definitely the favorite. Even though it was a hot and humid day, we managed to enjoy the outside area for awhile. We didn't see the sea lion show, but we saw a quick training with one of the stars. There was also a gator show and afterwards Brandon held a baby alligator. I think that's the biggest draw of places such as Atlantis that children not only have the opportunity to see the creatures up close but also touch them. At one section of the outside area, you can even go snorkeling. We passed up on that, however the kids did get a chance to try out a rock climbing wall added a different twist to the already adventurous day. Of course, before we left, we stopped by Ray Bay. A visit to Atlantis is not the same without petting the stingrays. These guys who are usually feared are actually very friendly especially if you have food, which is available at a nearby cart. They'll come right up to you, and some get so excited they'll splash you with a bit of water. I was happy we made it to Atlantis this time. It's one of those things where the kids have fun and get a bit of education. Even we adults learn a thing or two! http://www.atlantismarineworld.com
After Atlantis we headed towards Snow Flake Ice Cream Shoppe on West Main Street. Now the ice cream the other night was great, but this was even better. I don’t know how I got so lucky to eat so much delicious ice cream during one vacation, but I was enjoying it. Maybe I should write a blog about ice cream places on Long Island! After visiting Atlantis, definitely check out Snow Flake. http://www.snowflakeicecream.com/
Monday was the big day. Yes, we made it to Adventureland! This time we headed out with my landlady and kids. I have to say the thing I like best about Adventureland is that if you don't go on rides, you don't have to pay a thing. If you go on a lot of rides, you get the Pay One Price bracelet. If you only go on a few, you buy some tickets that are a dollar each. Last year I didn't go on anything, but this year I decided to go on a few. I can be a big baby when it comes to rides, but I survived the small Lady Bug coaster and Adventure Falls water ride! My landlady and I also went in the Ghost House which has been renovated, but for the older crew, I can tell you it's not that scary at all. For the kids the favorites were the Hurricane roller coaster and Adventure Falls. Actually the classic Pirate Ship and Wave Swing came in close seconds. We were in the park for almost 4 hours, and since it was a workday afternoon, it wasn't too crowded. There were basically large groups of day campers there that day, which is actually a great idea on the camps part. This amusement park has been around since 1962, and I can't believe I didn't go there until I was in my late teens. It's definitely a great way to spend a day with little ones and pre teens! http://www.adventureland.us
I had wanted to give Brandon and Samantha a better tour of Smithtown when they were here, but I actually would have done that on the Saturday which was the day that was the hottest and most humid. I had in mind Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Sweetbriar Nature Center, a swim in the Nissequogue and maybe even a canoe ride. Well, at least early Friday I gave them a quick tour of Hauppauge which basically meant passing by the high school, middle school and Forest Brook elementary school. Oh, and of course, I had to drive by the house I grew up in which also happened to be their mother's grandparents' house too. It’s always important to know the family history!
It's only been in the last few years that I realized just how much there is to do here on Long Island. There's definitely no reason why houseguests should be bored, especially little ones. There’s always plenty of do, especially in the nice weather. I think I will have to add another day or so to their vacation next year!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Day at the Park
Today I met up with my friend Nicole and her two children to walk around Caleb Smith State Park Preserve here in Smithtown. With the temperatures hanging around the 50s, it was a perfect day to explore the park, and with it slated to close on April 1, it was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.
As most of you know, there are many New York Parks that may close on April 1 and others where services will be reduced. There are some numbers being quoted regarding how much it costs to run each park and the money taken in. However with Caleb Smith just completing the renovations of the Nature Museum at the end of 2009, the numbers for this park aren’t a true reflection of the money it can bring in an average year.
I’ve been a member of the Friends of Caleb Smith State Park Preserve for a few years now, and I’ve witnessed the members raise money through membership, events, grants and sponsorships to help with the museum's renovation. Now all this money will just be flushed down the drain, including our tax money. New York state workers have been paid to work on the museum and materials have been bought. The museum looks great with its nature themed rooms, interactive exhibits and a medallion of Chief Wyandach restored to its rightful place over the fireplace mantel. If the budget cuts are approved, the gates will be closed. There will be no educational moments in the museum, no walks in the fresh air along the trails and no fishing. There will be one less escape from the traffic and hectic days of Long Island.
Last week Nicole and I attended a rally at Hecksher State Park that was organized by Suffolk County legislator Wayne Horsley. The event was attended by hundreds of park goers, New York State employees and local politicians. Nicole and I were also very happy to see Michael J. Fitzpatrick the assemblyman from our district who has been very helpful with the museum at Caleb Smith. Seeing so many people voicing their opinions and politicians listening to their constituents was definitely inspiring.
However, the Friends meeting this past Wednesday was not as promising as the rally. Basically everything is on hold until April 1. As a matter of fact, an event with a professional fly fisherman had to be canceled due to the money we would have lost if we canceled closer to the event. It’s difficult to imagine this park being completely closed to the public. And this is coming from someone who isn’t actually a nature girl, but I believe everyone needs to connect with nature every once in awhile.
Of course, there are still things we all can do. We can sign the online petitions, and we can write our state representatives. I have posted some links below, because if you visit our state parks and you vote, your voice should be heard!
http://www.nynjtc.org/issue/new-york-budget-proposals-would-close-some-state-parks
http://www.ourstatepark.com/
http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/join-fight-save-our-parks
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Volunteers of Hauppauge
My first experience with the Hauppauge Fire Department was in Hauppauge High School when my fellow classmates who were junior volunteers would be sitting in class and their beepers would go off. They would dart out of class and across the lawn to the station house right next to the school. It was kind of funny but at the same time kind of cool. Of course, we all joked that they only volunteered to get out of class every once in awhile.
The night of February 26th I found myself in a situation that wasn’t that cool or funny. A little before 8:00 PM the carbon monoxide detector in my apartment went off, and I quickly called 911. After getting off the phone with the operator, my mother and I didn’t even have a chance to get our coats and boots on before a member of the Fourth Precinct was at the door, quickly followed by my neighbor who is a volunteer with the Hauppauge Fire Department. As my mother, landlord’s family and I stood outside, our neighbor was quickly followed by a truckload of his fellow volunteers. Mind you the station house is diagonally across the street from us, but I’m still amazed at how these volunteers are in the middle of an everyday activity and then just drop everything and get to the station in record time. Plus, the members of that house were quickly followed by another truckload from the fire house down by the high school. By the way, we had quite a bit of snow earlier in the day leaving the roads a bit slick that night.
As the driveway filled up with firefighters, my landlady and I were joking about being outside with our coats thrown over our pajamas and no makeup on. But as the volunteers entered the apartment and main part of the house and their carbon monoxide meters started beeping, the seriousness of the event started hitting me especially when I looked at my landlords’ two children. There was a second when I thought we wouldn’t be able to go back in the house. The readings were higher in the apartment than they were upstairs, and there was talk of checking the furnace. It was then that my landlord asked if pulling the snow blower inside the garage while it was still running would cost a problem. As you can imagine, the answer was “yes”. Two firefighters entered the garage and the numbers were extremely high. From there all doors in the garage and house were quickly opened and fans were set up to help circulate the air.
I was amazed at how quickly the problem was resolved. I think we were only outside for about a half and hour or so. I was thinking about how first I thought it might be a false alarm and how I joked about my appearance, but then realized that this was a serious matter. Thinking how grateful we all were that the fire department responded and resolved the matter so quickly, I realized how fortunate we were. I thought about those who aren’t as lucky as us to have time to put on their coats and boots before they go outside and are in the cold in pajamas and bare feet, or those who think they may lose everything. How grateful they must be to have such a dedicated group of individuals who are willing to put their life aside to help their neighbors out, to save lives and to minimize the damage that can occur from fire or carbon monoxide.
For almost 80 years the members of the Hauppauge Fire Department have been serving the community of Hauppauge, Long Island. Besides being trained for routine fires, the members also receive training for hazardous material incidents, high rise fires, terrorist and bomb incidents, plane crashes, extricating crash victims and rescuing individuals trapped in building or underground collapses. For the men and women of the HFD, all of this is “just another run around the block”, and I can attest to the fact that the residents of Hauppauge are grateful for their dedication and proud to call them our own!
****************
SIDEBAR: A combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector alerted us before a more serious problem occurred. CO poisoning can cause mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss or consciousness and ultimately death. Make sure to test your detector and change batteries on a regular basis. (Most people do so when they set their clocks back or forward.) If your detector goes off or you experience the symptoms above, leave your house immediately and call 911 from a neighbor’s house. We were instructed by the fire department to leave windows and doors closed to help them locate the problem. And yes, I know, I did call 911 from my apartment. When I first moved into my apartment about 15 years ago, my original landlords’ detector went off. It turned out to be a false alarm as that particular unit needed to be re-set periodically. With it being by a window, it was filling with CO from the cars outside. With a prior false alarm and knowing no one was sick, I made the call from inside. However, your safest bet is to call from a neighbor’s house.
The night of February 26th I found myself in a situation that wasn’t that cool or funny. A little before 8:00 PM the carbon monoxide detector in my apartment went off, and I quickly called 911. After getting off the phone with the operator, my mother and I didn’t even have a chance to get our coats and boots on before a member of the Fourth Precinct was at the door, quickly followed by my neighbor who is a volunteer with the Hauppauge Fire Department. As my mother, landlord’s family and I stood outside, our neighbor was quickly followed by a truckload of his fellow volunteers. Mind you the station house is diagonally across the street from us, but I’m still amazed at how these volunteers are in the middle of an everyday activity and then just drop everything and get to the station in record time. Plus, the members of that house were quickly followed by another truckload from the fire house down by the high school. By the way, we had quite a bit of snow earlier in the day leaving the roads a bit slick that night.
As the driveway filled up with firefighters, my landlady and I were joking about being outside with our coats thrown over our pajamas and no makeup on. But as the volunteers entered the apartment and main part of the house and their carbon monoxide meters started beeping, the seriousness of the event started hitting me especially when I looked at my landlords’ two children. There was a second when I thought we wouldn’t be able to go back in the house. The readings were higher in the apartment than they were upstairs, and there was talk of checking the furnace. It was then that my landlord asked if pulling the snow blower inside the garage while it was still running would cost a problem. As you can imagine, the answer was “yes”. Two firefighters entered the garage and the numbers were extremely high. From there all doors in the garage and house were quickly opened and fans were set up to help circulate the air.
I was amazed at how quickly the problem was resolved. I think we were only outside for about a half and hour or so. I was thinking about how first I thought it might be a false alarm and how I joked about my appearance, but then realized that this was a serious matter. Thinking how grateful we all were that the fire department responded and resolved the matter so quickly, I realized how fortunate we were. I thought about those who aren’t as lucky as us to have time to put on their coats and boots before they go outside and are in the cold in pajamas and bare feet, or those who think they may lose everything. How grateful they must be to have such a dedicated group of individuals who are willing to put their life aside to help their neighbors out, to save lives and to minimize the damage that can occur from fire or carbon monoxide.
For almost 80 years the members of the Hauppauge Fire Department have been serving the community of Hauppauge, Long Island. Besides being trained for routine fires, the members also receive training for hazardous material incidents, high rise fires, terrorist and bomb incidents, plane crashes, extricating crash victims and rescuing individuals trapped in building or underground collapses. For the men and women of the HFD, all of this is “just another run around the block”, and I can attest to the fact that the residents of Hauppauge are grateful for their dedication and proud to call them our own!
****************
SIDEBAR: A combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector alerted us before a more serious problem occurred. CO poisoning can cause mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss or consciousness and ultimately death. Make sure to test your detector and change batteries on a regular basis. (Most people do so when they set their clocks back or forward.) If your detector goes off or you experience the symptoms above, leave your house immediately and call 911 from a neighbor’s house. We were instructed by the fire department to leave windows and doors closed to help them locate the problem. And yes, I know, I did call 911 from my apartment. When I first moved into my apartment about 15 years ago, my original landlords’ detector went off. It turned out to be a false alarm as that particular unit needed to be re-set periodically. With it being by a window, it was filling with CO from the cars outside. With a prior false alarm and knowing no one was sick, I made the call from inside. However, your safest bet is to call from a neighbor’s house.
Monday, February 8, 2010
A Smithtown Museum and a Port Jeff Photo Gallery
I have definitely been neglecting my blogging duties. Then again it is winter and too cold to be exploring Long Island or most places for that matter! Then again I did say somewhere along the line that besides talking about the different places to visit, I would talk about Long Island in general. I guess I have no excuse for not stopping by here!
Well I’m here now, and while I’m here there are a couple of places I can mention. Both places you can visit in the winter, but if you don’t want to brave the cold from your house to the car, keep them in mind when the warmer weather arrives. (Can you tell I’m not a fan of the cold!)
On Sunday, December 6th the Nature Museum at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown was reopened. The renovations have been a few years in the making, and thanks to the hard work of the park staff and the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve, the ribbon cutting ceremony finally took place on that cool, crisp early December day. The museum located on the first floor of the club house contains nature-themed rooms mounted with wildlife specimens and interactive exhibits for little ones and not-so-little ones to explore and enjoy. For the history buff there is also a terra cotta bas relief of Indian Chief Wyandanch hanging over the restored fireplace mantel and a freestanding exhibit of a wooden door damaged during a British attack in the 1700s. After visiting the museum, definitely take the time to walk along the beautiful paths that take you away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Jericho Turnpike where you can discover different habitats including freshwater wetlands, ponds, streams, fields and upland woods. The park is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located east of Old Willets Path and west of the Smithtown Bull on the north side of Jericho Turnpike.
In the beginning of January, my co-worker Joseph Rowland opened up a photo gallery in Port Jefferson. The grand opening on Saturday, January 9th had a great turnout as most of those in attendance had already experienced Joseph’s work online and couldn’t wait to see his photos in person. The gallery located at 318 Wynn Lane offers a wide selection of landscape, cityscape, wildlife and floral images. It’s a definite must see while you’re walking around or waiting for a table at Pace’s. I wish I understood more about photography to describe Joseph’s works of art, but I think he can do a better job of it. Visit his Web site at http://rowlandphotography.wordpress.com/ where you can find out more about the gallery and his techniques.
Considering I attended both openings, I wasn’t in total hibernation this winter! Maybe I will check out a couple of other things before the end of March, and I’ll be sure to share it right here. Until next time…..
Well I’m here now, and while I’m here there are a couple of places I can mention. Both places you can visit in the winter, but if you don’t want to brave the cold from your house to the car, keep them in mind when the warmer weather arrives. (Can you tell I’m not a fan of the cold!)
On Sunday, December 6th the Nature Museum at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown was reopened. The renovations have been a few years in the making, and thanks to the hard work of the park staff and the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve, the ribbon cutting ceremony finally took place on that cool, crisp early December day. The museum located on the first floor of the club house contains nature-themed rooms mounted with wildlife specimens and interactive exhibits for little ones and not-so-little ones to explore and enjoy. For the history buff there is also a terra cotta bas relief of Indian Chief Wyandanch hanging over the restored fireplace mantel and a freestanding exhibit of a wooden door damaged during a British attack in the 1700s. After visiting the museum, definitely take the time to walk along the beautiful paths that take you away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Jericho Turnpike where you can discover different habitats including freshwater wetlands, ponds, streams, fields and upland woods. The park is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located east of Old Willets Path and west of the Smithtown Bull on the north side of Jericho Turnpike.
In the beginning of January, my co-worker Joseph Rowland opened up a photo gallery in Port Jefferson. The grand opening on Saturday, January 9th had a great turnout as most of those in attendance had already experienced Joseph’s work online and couldn’t wait to see his photos in person. The gallery located at 318 Wynn Lane offers a wide selection of landscape, cityscape, wildlife and floral images. It’s a definite must see while you’re walking around or waiting for a table at Pace’s. I wish I understood more about photography to describe Joseph’s works of art, but I think he can do a better job of it. Visit his Web site at http://rowlandphotography.wordpress.com/ where you can find out more about the gallery and his techniques.
Considering I attended both openings, I wasn’t in total hibernation this winter! Maybe I will check out a couple of other things before the end of March, and I’ll be sure to share it right here. Until next time…..
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Little Cousins Come to Visit the Island
It’s hard to believe that another Labor Day weekend is behind us, and I still have a number of things I would like to see and do on Long Island. Then again it’s only the unofficial end of summer; we still have a couple of weeks to go. Plus, fall is also a great time to go peeking around in our nearby towns, parks, museums and more. Little by little, I will cross places off my list!
There were a few things I got around to when my cousin’s children came to stay with me a few weeks ago. Having guests is definitely a great excuse to get out and about in your area. Granted, since they are kids, they spent a lot of time playing with my landlord’s kids and swimming in the pool, but we managed to get out of the house too.
There was a little walk along the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow Park. I mentioned the boardwalk a few weeks ago in this blog. It was a beautiful night, and with the kids being from upstate, they got a kick out of going down to the beach and getting some sand between their toes.
One afternoon we visited the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City right across from Nassau Coliseum. I brought my cousin’s son here last year and it was a big hit. The museum pretty much covers the history of aviation from the first plane to man walking on the moon to current times. It also celebrates Long Island’s and the company Grumman’s contribution to the miracle of flight. It’s definitely an educational experience, and there are also pieces scattered about where you can get a feel for how it feels to be a pilot or be in a fighter plane. There is also a small Fire Museum in the Cradle that not only demonstrates a short history of the development of fire prevention, but also teaches children what to do in an emergency. Last but not least, there’s the IMAX theatre that plays interesting shorts and feature films. This year we didn’t catch a film, but last year my cousin’s son and I caught a short film on dinosaurs and the IMAX experience is amazing.
The Cradle of Aviation is part of museum row which is home to the Long Island Children’s museum and most recently Nunley’s Carousel. We didn’t have a chance to visit the children’s museum, but you can bet we all took a ride on the carousel. The artwork and sculpted animals on Nunley’s Carousel is stunning. Created in 1912 the carousel has had a few homes and was place in storage in 1995. Purchased by Nassau County as a historical artifact, the carousel was restored and place in its new home this year.
At the end of the trip, it turned out the favorite was a night at Adventureland. (My goddaughter still had her POP bracelet on a week and a half later!) If you live on Long Island, then you are very familiar with this small yet fun amusement park. I found out it’s a perfect way to spend a few hours when you have kids. There’s pay one price bracelets, and there’s no entrance fee if you don’t go on anything. It’s filled with rides and various games, and while most rides are probably more geared towards the kiddies, there are some for teens and adults to enjoy. I met another cousin here with her little ones, and I liked the fact that from her youngest who is 3 years old to my cousin’s son who is 10 there was something for everyone to do and enjoy at every moment.
Well, I thought I wouldn’t fill the time for the three full days that the kids were here, but I did it without a problem. And of course, there are other places that I wish we had the chance to visit. I think next year I may have to keep them for at least a week to cover everything!
There were a few things I got around to when my cousin’s children came to stay with me a few weeks ago. Having guests is definitely a great excuse to get out and about in your area. Granted, since they are kids, they spent a lot of time playing with my landlord’s kids and swimming in the pool, but we managed to get out of the house too.
There was a little walk along the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow Park. I mentioned the boardwalk a few weeks ago in this blog. It was a beautiful night, and with the kids being from upstate, they got a kick out of going down to the beach and getting some sand between their toes.
One afternoon we visited the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City right across from Nassau Coliseum. I brought my cousin’s son here last year and it was a big hit. The museum pretty much covers the history of aviation from the first plane to man walking on the moon to current times. It also celebrates Long Island’s and the company Grumman’s contribution to the miracle of flight. It’s definitely an educational experience, and there are also pieces scattered about where you can get a feel for how it feels to be a pilot or be in a fighter plane. There is also a small Fire Museum in the Cradle that not only demonstrates a short history of the development of fire prevention, but also teaches children what to do in an emergency. Last but not least, there’s the IMAX theatre that plays interesting shorts and feature films. This year we didn’t catch a film, but last year my cousin’s son and I caught a short film on dinosaurs and the IMAX experience is amazing.
The Cradle of Aviation is part of museum row which is home to the Long Island Children’s museum and most recently Nunley’s Carousel. We didn’t have a chance to visit the children’s museum, but you can bet we all took a ride on the carousel. The artwork and sculpted animals on Nunley’s Carousel is stunning. Created in 1912 the carousel has had a few homes and was place in storage in 1995. Purchased by Nassau County as a historical artifact, the carousel was restored and place in its new home this year.
At the end of the trip, it turned out the favorite was a night at Adventureland. (My goddaughter still had her POP bracelet on a week and a half later!) If you live on Long Island, then you are very familiar with this small yet fun amusement park. I found out it’s a perfect way to spend a few hours when you have kids. There’s pay one price bracelets, and there’s no entrance fee if you don’t go on anything. It’s filled with rides and various games, and while most rides are probably more geared towards the kiddies, there are some for teens and adults to enjoy. I met another cousin here with her little ones, and I liked the fact that from her youngest who is 3 years old to my cousin’s son who is 10 there was something for everyone to do and enjoy at every moment.
Well, I thought I wouldn’t fill the time for the three full days that the kids were here, but I did it without a problem. And of course, there are other places that I wish we had the chance to visit. I think next year I may have to keep them for at least a week to cover everything!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
2002 Reflections on 9/11
A few years ago I shared my thoughts on 9/11 with friends in an e-mail. I decided to post it in my blog, as that day affected so many Long Islanders.
*********
It’s hard to believe that it will be a year since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I know I have been through a range of feelings and thoughts these last 12 months, as I’m sure all of you have. While I was one of the fortunate ones who didn’t lose any family members or friends, I’m still affected by the fact that we were robbed of so many people. It’s been interesting to read some of the profiles that have appeared in the Long Island newspaper “Newsday”. As you read these stories, you are struck not so much by the number of people who passed away that day, but by the number of dreams and goals that were shattered, and most of all the number of people that each of these beings touched in their lives.
There are so many stories out there, but for me there are a few that stand out because I know a little bit more than what I have read in the papers or seen on television. When you’re learning about a person’s life through the media, his life may almost seem fictional. But through friends, acquaintances and memories of my school days, I realize just how real the people of 9/11 are. This September 11, I hope you will keep the following people, especially their loved ones who are left behind, in your thoughts and prayers.
There’s my friend Lola’s cousin Harry Ramos. Harry was a trader with May Davis in the World Trade Center’s south tower, and he was the only May Davis employee to die on September 11. He and his co-workers were traveling down the staircase from the 87th floor, when Harry encountered a stranger on the 57th floor who was having trouble descending the stairs. Harry and one of his co-workers decided to help the man, but after another twenty flights the stranger couldn’t travel any further. Harry told his co-worker to go ahead and he would keep the stranger company. Harry was never seen again, and on that day he left behind a wife and two children.
Then there is Angel Juarbe from my friends Lindsay and Jeanette’s neighborhood in the Bronx. Angel was a firefighter with Ladder Company 12 in the Chelsea section of Manhattan and the winner of the FOX television show “Murder in Small Town X”. One look at a photo of Angel, who is featured in the 2003 New York Firefighters’ calendar, and you know he was a beautiful person on the outside. But one look at an article about him or talking to his cousin Gladys like I have, you’ll find he was also a beautiful person on the inside. He was always quick to help out a stray animal or play with the kids in the neighborhood, and he always encouraged the children in his life to stay in school. Angel was last seen running towards the south tower after evacuating the nearby Marriott hotel. There’s probably a lot of things FOX or Angel’s family could have done with the money that he won from “Murder in Small Town X”, but they have decided to create a scholarship fund with it. Once it is established other people will be able to contribute to it, and every year Angel’s mom will grant a scholarship to a student attending one of the schools he attended. It’s what Angel would have wanted.
Out of everyone who was lost that day, it seems I have been affected most by the passing of two of my former classmates from the Hauppauge High School Class of 1986 – John Tipping and Joseph Perroncino. I was extremely shy in school, so I wasn’t a friend to either of them. Joseph was simply a familiar face in the halls of Hauppauge’s middle and high schools. As for John, he and I attended school together from 4th to 12th grade. He was one of the children of Forest Brook, and he always had a boyish face and a twinkle in his eyes. Despite the fact we never became friends, there is something haunting about losing someone you went to school with. It’s hard to explain those feelings, but I can tell you I feel a great sense of unfairness. John and Joseph should be at our 20th reunion in a few years talking about things like their careers, significant others, children and other memorable events. When I think of Joseph and John is when I get the angriest.
I can’t help but feel we were robbed on that day when Joseph, who was described as the backbone of his family in “Newsday”, was at work at Cantor Fitzgerald probably thinking it was a typical day. He was just doing his job; he didn’t choose to die for the American Dream at the hands of religious zealots, but yet he did.
John, a firefighter with Manhattan’s Ladder Company 4, was among countless of firefighters, police officers and emergency workers who somehow were able to do their job even in the face of such unexplainable evil. On September 10 while fighting a fire, John suffered a corneal abrasion when debris hit him in the eye. It was late by the time he was treated at the hospital so he decided to stay over at his firehouse. Despite the fact that his injury placed him on a medical leave of absence, while walking out the door the next day John heard the alarms and he hopped on a fire truck. It’s what any firefighter would have done. On October 14 a couple of friends and I attended one of John’s memorials at the main firehouse in Hauppauge. The amount of people in attendance, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was overwhelming. Many of those attending were former classmates of mine and John’s, and if there was any time that one wished a simple word or a touch of a hand could heal, it was that day. John’s body was found on March 12, 2002 along with the bodies of other members of Ladder 4. His brother-in-law and father were able to carry his flag-draped stretcher from Ground Zero. It’s a task that no father should ever endure.
A range of feelings has been felt this year -- way too many to include in one e-mail. But for all of you I hope whatever pain you have felt this year, has eased. I know it will never go away completely, but I hope it has eased somewhat. As for the lessons we have learned since that day, I hope we keep them forever. It shouldn’t have taken such tragedies to make us realize how fortunate we are to be Americans, and to make us look around at everything we have and at everyone in our lives and realize how lucky we are, but that’s the past. Now it’s time to forge ahead stronger, smarter and with more gratefulness in our hearts and guarantee that those who passed away on September 11 didn’t die in vain. I hope if you know of anyone that died that day, you will let everyone you encounter know about him or her. And now that you know of Harry Ramos, Angel Juarbe, Joseph Perroncino and John Tipping, I hope you won’t forget them.
As for those who died on that day, a dream of mine brings me comfort. In this dream I was standing with someone and there was John Tipping. I said something to the other person about John being a New York City firefighter and something to the effect that we had to be respectful of him. John turned to me and said, “Rita, thanks, it’s okay.” I woke up with the dream fresh in my head, and the first thing I thought was that John said, “It’s okay.” I would like to believe that, that where ever they all are it’s okay. I have a feeling that it is.
*********
It’s hard to believe that it will be a year since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I know I have been through a range of feelings and thoughts these last 12 months, as I’m sure all of you have. While I was one of the fortunate ones who didn’t lose any family members or friends, I’m still affected by the fact that we were robbed of so many people. It’s been interesting to read some of the profiles that have appeared in the Long Island newspaper “Newsday”. As you read these stories, you are struck not so much by the number of people who passed away that day, but by the number of dreams and goals that were shattered, and most of all the number of people that each of these beings touched in their lives.
There are so many stories out there, but for me there are a few that stand out because I know a little bit more than what I have read in the papers or seen on television. When you’re learning about a person’s life through the media, his life may almost seem fictional. But through friends, acquaintances and memories of my school days, I realize just how real the people of 9/11 are. This September 11, I hope you will keep the following people, especially their loved ones who are left behind, in your thoughts and prayers.
There’s my friend Lola’s cousin Harry Ramos. Harry was a trader with May Davis in the World Trade Center’s south tower, and he was the only May Davis employee to die on September 11. He and his co-workers were traveling down the staircase from the 87th floor, when Harry encountered a stranger on the 57th floor who was having trouble descending the stairs. Harry and one of his co-workers decided to help the man, but after another twenty flights the stranger couldn’t travel any further. Harry told his co-worker to go ahead and he would keep the stranger company. Harry was never seen again, and on that day he left behind a wife and two children.
Then there is Angel Juarbe from my friends Lindsay and Jeanette’s neighborhood in the Bronx. Angel was a firefighter with Ladder Company 12 in the Chelsea section of Manhattan and the winner of the FOX television show “Murder in Small Town X”. One look at a photo of Angel, who is featured in the 2003 New York Firefighters’ calendar, and you know he was a beautiful person on the outside. But one look at an article about him or talking to his cousin Gladys like I have, you’ll find he was also a beautiful person on the inside. He was always quick to help out a stray animal or play with the kids in the neighborhood, and he always encouraged the children in his life to stay in school. Angel was last seen running towards the south tower after evacuating the nearby Marriott hotel. There’s probably a lot of things FOX or Angel’s family could have done with the money that he won from “Murder in Small Town X”, but they have decided to create a scholarship fund with it. Once it is established other people will be able to contribute to it, and every year Angel’s mom will grant a scholarship to a student attending one of the schools he attended. It’s what Angel would have wanted.
Out of everyone who was lost that day, it seems I have been affected most by the passing of two of my former classmates from the Hauppauge High School Class of 1986 – John Tipping and Joseph Perroncino. I was extremely shy in school, so I wasn’t a friend to either of them. Joseph was simply a familiar face in the halls of Hauppauge’s middle and high schools. As for John, he and I attended school together from 4th to 12th grade. He was one of the children of Forest Brook, and he always had a boyish face and a twinkle in his eyes. Despite the fact we never became friends, there is something haunting about losing someone you went to school with. It’s hard to explain those feelings, but I can tell you I feel a great sense of unfairness. John and Joseph should be at our 20th reunion in a few years talking about things like their careers, significant others, children and other memorable events. When I think of Joseph and John is when I get the angriest.
I can’t help but feel we were robbed on that day when Joseph, who was described as the backbone of his family in “Newsday”, was at work at Cantor Fitzgerald probably thinking it was a typical day. He was just doing his job; he didn’t choose to die for the American Dream at the hands of religious zealots, but yet he did.
John, a firefighter with Manhattan’s Ladder Company 4, was among countless of firefighters, police officers and emergency workers who somehow were able to do their job even in the face of such unexplainable evil. On September 10 while fighting a fire, John suffered a corneal abrasion when debris hit him in the eye. It was late by the time he was treated at the hospital so he decided to stay over at his firehouse. Despite the fact that his injury placed him on a medical leave of absence, while walking out the door the next day John heard the alarms and he hopped on a fire truck. It’s what any firefighter would have done. On October 14 a couple of friends and I attended one of John’s memorials at the main firehouse in Hauppauge. The amount of people in attendance, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was overwhelming. Many of those attending were former classmates of mine and John’s, and if there was any time that one wished a simple word or a touch of a hand could heal, it was that day. John’s body was found on March 12, 2002 along with the bodies of other members of Ladder 4. His brother-in-law and father were able to carry his flag-draped stretcher from Ground Zero. It’s a task that no father should ever endure.
A range of feelings has been felt this year -- way too many to include in one e-mail. But for all of you I hope whatever pain you have felt this year, has eased. I know it will never go away completely, but I hope it has eased somewhat. As for the lessons we have learned since that day, I hope we keep them forever. It shouldn’t have taken such tragedies to make us realize how fortunate we are to be Americans, and to make us look around at everything we have and at everyone in our lives and realize how lucky we are, but that’s the past. Now it’s time to forge ahead stronger, smarter and with more gratefulness in our hearts and guarantee that those who passed away on September 11 didn’t die in vain. I hope if you know of anyone that died that day, you will let everyone you encounter know about him or her. And now that you know of Harry Ramos, Angel Juarbe, Joseph Perroncino and John Tipping, I hope you won’t forget them.
As for those who died on that day, a dream of mine brings me comfort. In this dream I was standing with someone and there was John Tipping. I said something to the other person about John being a New York City firefighter and something to the effect that we had to be respectful of him. John turned to me and said, “Rita, thanks, it’s okay.” I woke up with the dream fresh in my head, and the first thing I thought was that John said, “It’s okay.” I would like to believe that, that where ever they all are it’s okay. I have a feeling that it is.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunken Meadow State Park and a P.S. about the Outlets
Yesterday my friend Kathleen called me to ask if I would like to take a walk along the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow State Park. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but in the 32 years I have lived on Long Island, I have never been there.
Imagine my surprise while entering the park to see a picnic area and also to find out there's golfing! I was driving through thinking I have to return to the park and take a peek at the other areas.
Last night was for walking though, so I found Kathleen, and I couldn't believe how beautiful the walk along the boardwalk was. I mean we may not be a tropical beach, but the sand and the water were looking pretty good. Maybe because it was dusk, but everything was looking beautiful. Plus they say dolphins were found in the Long Island Sound this year, and that means that the water is cleaner! So maybe I'm not so off that the water was looking inviting.
From what I understand the boardwalk is 3/4 of a mile. If you walk from one end to another then we're looking at 1 1/2 miles. Not bad, plus the fresh sea air and the eclectic group of people. There were serious walkers to couples walking hand in hand to families and friends hanging out, everyone was there last night!
Sunken Meadow State Park is a perfect example of the little treasures we can find right in our own backyard on Long Island.
Speaking of our own backyard, if you live in Western Suffolk you probably have already discovered the outlets in Deer Park. I was there briefly back in December and only saw part of the shopping center. Today my mother and I went to check it out. It's nice and clean that's for sure and definitely a pleasurable shopping experience. The only thing is I don't think I saved as much money as you would think. Hmmmm....
Well, I'm glad I was able to enter another entry here. Wherever you "backyard" is, I hope you are enjoying it!
Imagine my surprise while entering the park to see a picnic area and also to find out there's golfing! I was driving through thinking I have to return to the park and take a peek at the other areas.
Last night was for walking though, so I found Kathleen, and I couldn't believe how beautiful the walk along the boardwalk was. I mean we may not be a tropical beach, but the sand and the water were looking pretty good. Maybe because it was dusk, but everything was looking beautiful. Plus they say dolphins were found in the Long Island Sound this year, and that means that the water is cleaner! So maybe I'm not so off that the water was looking inviting.
From what I understand the boardwalk is 3/4 of a mile. If you walk from one end to another then we're looking at 1 1/2 miles. Not bad, plus the fresh sea air and the eclectic group of people. There were serious walkers to couples walking hand in hand to families and friends hanging out, everyone was there last night!
Sunken Meadow State Park is a perfect example of the little treasures we can find right in our own backyard on Long Island.
Speaking of our own backyard, if you live in Western Suffolk you probably have already discovered the outlets in Deer Park. I was there briefly back in December and only saw part of the shopping center. Today my mother and I went to check it out. It's nice and clean that's for sure and definitely a pleasurable shopping experience. The only thing is I don't think I saved as much money as you would think. Hmmmm....
Well, I'm glad I was able to enter another entry here. Wherever you "backyard" is, I hope you are enjoying it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
