Did any of my gentle readers attend the Tavern Concerts at Historic Richmond Town?  Stay tuned for the jug band playing this weekend!  How about the Staten Island OutLOUD presentation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Ice Palace" at Fort Wadsworth? Don’t forget to put the Borough President’s Borough Hall OPEN HOUSE “Direct Connect Sunday” on your list of things to do on Sunday, 1/31 from noon to 3.

The LEGO Americana Roadshow, an educational and FREE traveling installation of LEGO replicas, is at the Staten Island Mall.  Throughout the Mall you will see replicas of The White House, Independence Hall, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, the Washington Monument and much more.  Exhibition hours are Monday through Saturday from 10-9 and Sunday…

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I finally saw the new “Star Wars” movie in 3D.  This 3D technology has become so vivid and life like—all the trailers for the coming attractions, even the animated movies, were also in 3D.  Years ago, when I watched action/adventure movies like “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings”, it was exciting.  Now I feel like I am part of the action. Will the next type movie be “virtual” with vibrating chairs and surround sound as in the theme parks?  

Did you start cleaning out your basement and attic of old electronics for the electronic waste recycling event?  Don’t forget that you can drop off at the Sanitation Department’s site every Saturday and the last Friday of the month at 100 West Service Rd. from 10-5. 

If you have a child who was born in 2011, is…

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I hope your holidays were happy, fun and blessed.  I was fortunate to have been surrounded with family and friends for a week before Christmas and afterwards, made some new friends, Annette and Fr. John, and met my old friend, Pat, from Roanoke, VA enjoying a five-hour chat fest with her.  It was a very special holiday season. 







So now, as I write this on the Eve of the New Year 2016, I wonder if this year, instead of resolutions, I should jot down “goals”.  Every year, the diet and exercise is a given. In 2016, let me begin with “patience”.  I sometimes become irritable because things don’t always seem to go the way I imagine they would.  Do any of you, my gentle readers, identify with me?  My goal is to count to ten or…

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How many of you saw “Star Wars:  The Force Awakens”?  Did you go to Star Wars Trivia Night at the Liberty Tavern or a tree lighting or Interfaith Prayer Group or Lessons and Carols at St. Paul’s Memorial Episcopal Church or gather donate toys, food and/or clothes to the clothing drive at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center?  Whatever you did last week, this week try not to lose it--your patience with friends or family or that stranger who cut you off in the Mall parking lot, your nerve with telling someone you love them or your mind with all the details of putting together a holiday feast.  Please remember that not everyone is making plans to celebrate.  Some have experienced loss or are ill and can use an invitation to go out for coffee or…

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On Saturday, three more carolers joined our group at the Silver Lake Nursing Home to sing for the residents.  I thank my gentle readers for passing the word.  We met at the dining room on the lower level and then continued on to the dining rooms on other floors.  One senior, who is a proud 103 years old, sang merrily along with us.  On one floor, I heard an alarm go off.  It was a woman who got out of her wheel chair (thus, the alarm) and started dancing as we were singing “Santa Baby”.  Oh how these wonderful men and woman must have loved to party in their younger days!  May God bless them all and help keep their spirits up.  I want to thank my brother, Mark Kamienowski, for playing his guitar and keeping us in line and with the beat!  The St. Peter's…

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The Holiday Stroll along the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) last Thursday was a blast. Santa Claus was out and about.  Families were happy and friendly--tasting food, drinking hot cocoa, coffee and even wine at Jean’s Fine Wines and taking pictures with Santa.  This was an enjoyable event, one which I recommend to all my gentle readers.  Shop locally this holiday season. Small businesses are the backbone of our Island.  Below are some of the photos taken at the Stroll.


 


 

 

 


 


 

 






The Menorah Lighting ceremony will take place Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.  at Borough Hall Plaza, 10 Richmond Terr. and will feature musical performances from various community groups. 

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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and long weekend off.  Are you ready for the Holiday Stroll along the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) tomorrow, Thursday, 12/3 from 4-6 p.m.?  This is a terrific family event featuring the Forest Ave. strip from Hart Blvd. to Broadway!  Businesses set up tables outside their stores/offices, greeting the Strollers, sharing food, goodies, information and give-aways. You can have your picture taken with Santa, enjoy Christmas carolers and most importantly, meet friends and make new acquaintances along the way.  (Check out the cheek-to-cheek close-up of me and Santa from last year's Stroll!)

Don’t forget to stop by the patio at Burrito Bar and Restaurant to welcome our own Sgt. Bryan…

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This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day.  I hope you. my gentle readers, will find the time to give thanks for your life, your family, friends and neighbors.  As good or bad as you may feel your life is, there are others who have nothing or much less than anything you can ever imagine.  I urge you to remember those in your lives who are in need of companionship; maybe a phone call or a visit would make their day.  Holidays can be lonely.  If you can, invite someone to your home or volunteer to serve food at a community food kitchen. 

 

Spotted a few "lucky" turkeys outside of Staten Island University Hospital today.  They seem very happy roaming around the streets.

 

 

Did any of you visit the New York Public Library this week? Maybe you…

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Do you write?  Have you ever kept a diary or a journal?  Was English composition your favorite subject in school?  If you haven’t yet done much creative writing but would like to start, why don’t you try out Memoirs OutLOUD--a creative writing workshop at St. George Branch of the New York Public Library, 5 Central Ave. held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m.  They will help you explore your potential with interesting exercises.  You can bring some of your work to share with the group and can work at your own pace.  No pressure, just fun and support.  You can come to every session, or drop in & out, according to your personal schedule.  Writing is good for the soul! 

Speaking of the New York Public Library (one of my favorites), I…

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I met some of my gentle readers and friends I haven’t seen in quite some time at the “Optimism Strikes out Parkinson’s” Bowl-A-Thon on Sunday at Rab’s Country Lanes. The raffles were terrific and the bowlers were fantastic.  I just watched but remember how enjoyable it is to bowl (when you aren’t super competitive and just play to have fun).  Did you participate in the PUMPKIN SMASH last Saturday so the NYC Compost Project can turn them into compost for parks and green spaces?

 

PLEASE TELL YOUR CHILDREN OR NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH:  AHRC NYC is offering the Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP).  If you are between the ages of 16-24, out of school, not employed, do not have a college education, call Anna, 718-662-1432 for more information.  You…

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