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 attended Memoirs OutLOUD and will start your own blog or journal or diary.  Did your child learn to do magic at the Mariners Harbor Library?  I worked with a physician many years ago, Dr. Richard Kampf, in the Corporate Medical Department.  He was not only a compassionate and wonderful doctor but a magician.  When my young son, Jeff, came to visit our office, the doctor performed magic tricks astounding his visitors.  He even gave my son a few of his props and shared his secrets with him.  I have always been a fan of magic shows--even card tricks excite me.  If magic tickles your child’s fancy, check out a few magic books in the children’s section of the library.  The holidays are a great time for your child to astound your friends and family! 

On Thanksgiving Day, put your turkey in the oven and participate in a Thanksgiving Day yoga donation practice at 8:45 a.m. at 5 Boro Power Yoga, 176 Rose Ave. All proceeds will be donated to Project Hospitality--monetary and non-perishable food donations will be accepted.

Don’t Miss the Annual Day After Thanksgiving Hike, Friday, 11/27 at 10 a.m. at Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. This hike is 2 ½ hours and moderately paced. 

On Friday at 1, instead of Black Friday, celebrate “Buy Nothing Day” at Clay Pit Pond State Park, 2351 Veterans Rd. West with recycling relay races and repurpose items that might otherwise be discarded.   

To encourage localized shopping, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has launched its annual “Passport to Staten Island” contest.  Small Business Saturday takes place 11/28, two days after Thanksgiving.  Customers can take their “passport” into neighborhood stores while shopping for the holidays. After your passport is stamped at 8 different participating Island locations, you will be entered to win an American Express Gift Card, courtesy of the Chamber.  The participating businesses will have the “Shop Small” sign displayed, with special offers and giveaways.  Business owners interested in signing up for this program can call the Chamber at 718-727-1900 or visit shopsmall.com. You can start at Casale Jewelers, 1639 Richmond Rd. for a day that includes refreshments, giveaways and a chance to win over $5,000 worth of designer jewelry in the "Treasure Chest Challenge". Don’t forget to shop locally, shop Staten Island and print your passport:  http://bit.ly/1MHkfax 

On Sunday, 11/29 at 2, at St. John’s University, 300 Howard Ave, join Staten Island OutLOUD's Big Read series on "The Great Gatsby" concluding with this performance, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, "Winter Dreams," one of the "Gatsby quartet" of stories that forecast some of the major themes and characters of Fitzgerald's novel.

Have you donated blood lately?  There is always a need for blood, especially at this time of the year.  You can call the New York Blood Center at 800-933-BLOOD (2566) or visit www.nybloodcenter.org to set up an appointment.  Donors must be healthy, at least 16 years old (with parent's written consent) and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.  You should eat prior to donation, bring photo ID. There are blood drives all over the Island at various venues or you can donate at our local hospitals.  Call Richmond University Medical Center at 718-818-1234 or Staten Island University Hospital at 718-226-9428. 

On Saturday and Sunday from 11-5, a Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair will be held at Alice Austen House, 2 Hylan Blvd. and will feature gifts made by local artists and artisans.

Wishing you all a blessed holiday, remember to laugh, love, be happy, be kind and thankful for all your blessings.  If you would like to share photos from Thanksgiving or any event you attended, you can call me at 646-258-9696, leave a comment below or e-mail me at joan.coogan@gmail.com

Posted by Joan Coogan on

Tags

Email Send a link to post via Email

Leave A Comment

e.g. yourwebsitename.com
Please note that your email address is kept private upon posting.