Jeff Reynolds has survived cancer twice. True to form, he’s now using the experience to help others. Sounds like he’s done a great job.
Continue readingEvery Mile Matters: Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds Shares His Story
Pal-O-Mine Events!
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is celebrating 30 years of service! Since 1995, they’ve provided a comprehensive therapeutic equine program, using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing among children and adults with disabilities, survivors of trauma and abuse, the military and the impoverished. Their J-STEP program goes further, using the more agricultural aspects of the farm setting to serve young adults with disabilities by teaching job-readiness skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as independent living skills including organization, hygiene, finance, and nutrition.
They invite you to Save the Date for a number of upcoming events that offer opportunities to connect with and support their work. First up is an Open House happening September 7th, 11am-3pm. Open to the public, this a great way to learn about Pal-O-Mine and how they may help. For those who already understand the deep value, please consider supporting Pal-O-Mine’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, which is occurring Saturday September 20th at 4:30pm. Additional fundraisers specifically to support work with Veterans and NYPD folk will occur October 19th at 10am. A truly lovely holiday event, Their Winter Wonderland will be happening December 5-7.
Visit the Pal-O-Mine Equestrian website to learn more!
J-STEP Hopes Folks Will Help Build a Kitchen
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is hoping folks will help build an accessible kitchen for its J-STEP (Job Security Through Equine Partnership) Vocational Internship program.
The Program
We’ve written about Pal-O-Mine before. Having served Long Island since 1995, some say their job is working miracles. Really, though, with the support of generous friends and foundation grants, what Pal-O-Mine does is provide a comprehensive therapeutic equine program, using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing among children and adults with disabilities, survivors of trauma and abuse, the military and the impoverished.
Their J-STEP program goes further, serving young adults with disabilities by teaching job-readiness skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as independent living skills including organization, hygiene, finance, and nutrition. J-STEP Interns plant and maintain their own flower and vegetable gardens, create and sell their own self-care line as well as run a successful CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. They also create and sell artisan crafts.
Why a Kitchen?
Gardening and farming directly relate to cooking as they provide the ingredients. Gardening, on a smaller scale, and farming, on a larger scale, involve growing plants, including vegetables, fruits, and herbs, which are then used in cooking to create meals. This connection extends beyond providing ingredients, fostering a deeper understanding of where food comes from and promoting healthier eating habits.
One essential independent living skill is the ability to cook and make nutritious meals. Being able to cook can generally improve overall health. It brings people together, relieves stress, can help people to save money, and is a source of great joy and personal confidence. Furthermore, learning to cook develops other key skills, such as time management, following instructions, and kitchen safety.
What Will it Take?
Pal-O-Mine spans across 13 acres. J-STEP is located on one of these acres. It includes a roadside farm stand, an accessible, temperature-controlled greenhouse, and their own small house where J-STEP interns do most of their work. The house consists of a bathroom and 3 small work areas that are separated by half-walls. In consultation with a building contractor, they estimate it will cost $250,000 to add a room with plumbing, electricity, and the latest kitchen equipment.
They ask for your help by funding this project so they they can help their interns live happy and healthy lives. They also hope you’ll check out the events below, and come see what the whole farm is about!
You may also simply donate.
Thank you for your kind consideration
Please Listen To This Woman. She Knows What She’s Talking About: Marian Conway’s Testimony on Bill to Limit Not-For-Profit Executive Compensation
All she’s asking for is reasonable compensation for nonprofit employees to do the work that has to be done. The way it is now, a non-profit often doesn’t even get reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred while providing services! She won’t say it’s not fair – because life isn’t fair — but it’s not right!!!
Continue reading2024 Smart Growth Summit
For decades now, Vision Long Island has made a huge difference in our communities, connecting great people and generally helping all sorts of folks wrap their heads around the challenges and opportunities to improve our built environment on LI. Their 2024 Smart Growth Summit is happening Friday, December 6, 2024 from 8am-2pm.
The event will feature over 1,000 local community, business and government, downtown revitalization and community development leaders. There will be nearly 20 workshops, 100 speakers, a trade show, and a concurrent Youth Summit. The breakfast “State of the Towns and Villages” session and luncheon alone are worth the program price.
The full schedule can be viewed on their poster, posted below. Better images are available on Vision Long Island’s website.
This is a great way to get an in-depth, inside scoop on important local issues, including infrastructure, redevelopment, energy, human needs, small business, walkability, transportation and more.
The LI Smart Growth movement generally attracts great people who care about the future of our communities. For an idea of the quality of folks who attend, check out these in-depth interviews hosted by Eric Alexander featuring a broad range of local leaders. You can also check out Vision’s YouTube channel to see important discussions they’ve hosted in the past, as well as people, projects and policies that they have highlighted.
It’s really valuable stuff. Best to come check out what they’re talking about now
EVENT DETAILS
When: Friday, December 6. 2024
2024 Smart Growth Summit: 8am-2pm
25th Anniversary Celebration: 2pm-4pm
Where: Crest Hallow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Tpke, Woodbury, NY
Tickets: for each event must be purchased separately. Here is the link to purchase tickets for both events.
September is Disaster Preparedness Month: Local Resources
Photo of Superstorm Sandy aftermath by Katheryn Laible
September is National Preparedness Month., and annual national campaign ”to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe.” Thousands of people are harmed by natural disasters each year. The early Fall is known for hurricanes. These and other major storms often come with some warning. Other events like house fires will never be expected. The best we can do, both for our family and in service to those who risk their lives to rescue others, is be prepared.
Be Ready LI
Be Ready LI is a collaboration from PSEG, 2-1-1 Long Island and United Way of Long Island. The website contains information on what to pack and other ways to prepare including: an emergency supply kit checklist, evacuation routes and family disaster plan advice and more information on how to handle valuable items, assets and pets. There are links to a broad variety of educational and other resources aimed at residents, businesses and others, covering a broad range of potential disasters and ranging from all levels of government, to power and transportation systems, to emergency service providers, as well as resources to track weather events and power outages. There are also special sections dedicated to children, seniors and individuals with special needs.
PSEG's Critical Care Program
There’s a much simpler recent press release from PSEG LI, that something of a quick sheet on how to be prepared. Among resources is a “Critical Care Program” specifically designed to serve individuals with special needs who may literally count on electricity to keep them alive.
Community Emergency Response Team
If you want to advance to the next level of being able to protect your family and neighbors, you might consider joining the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Nassau or Suffolk County. These are federally funded, community based volunteer programs providing special training that prepares citizens to assist emergency responders in the event of disaster, or in providing public education to make our communities more resilient.
At the very least, when you know something’s going to happen, please listen to the advisories, and stay home when recommended. It’s not a matter of personal bravery, but saving emergency management folks from having to put themselves at risk unnecessarily.
The better prepared we are, the better off we’ll be.
Update: The Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano Scholarship Fund
Here’s an update on the Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to enable people to benefit from the healing horses of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. Learn how to get involved!
Continue readingThe Spirit Endures: The Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano Scholarship Fund
Photo of Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano provided by Nancy Engelhardt
I recently shared how lovely the Pal-O-Mine Winter Wonderland was. It was one of those days that most would call miserable, but there, it was just fine. Warm and cozy if not outright sunny.
I was glad to run into dear Nancy Engelhardt. She’s the reason I know what Pal-O-Mine is. We were all connected through Leadership Huntington and she introduced me. She’s been a board member herself there for 12 years now.
I wrote a long, beautiful story about Nancy, herself, years ago for The Corridor: Long Island’s Journal for Strategic Alliances. It seemed like a full and accomplished life then. What she’s done since is remarkable. That’s for another day, tho. In this moment, I hugged and told her I loved her.
Her son, Jarrett, recently passed. As her eyes held volumes more, Nancy smiled, speaking of the faith that is never far from her lips and how she is grateful to feel him still, especially here. She asked if I’d seen the video of Pal-O-Mine Founder Lisa Gatti at his services.
There, Lisa shared her story of the handsome, charming young man who came to volunteer at 17 and became a fundamental part of this healing place. She smiled, recounting his passion for the horses and the day a boy with autism whom he worked with spoke for the first time.
I told her I had.
The Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano Scholarship Fund
Lisa had emphasized the indelible mark Jarrett Engelhardt Pagano had left on the farm and how his spirit would live on through all he’d touched there. Nancy was grateful to say that friends had come together to establish a Pal-o-Mine scholarship fund in his honor as a way he might keep serving all he loved there.
It’s a deeply meaningful, uplifting way to give.
Feed the Hungry, Get a Raffle Ticket and up to $20 Off at the Firefly
Island Harvest Food Drive at the Firefly
The fact is, 1 in 11 children and so many others on Long Island live with food insecurity. Gratefully, our Fireflies are committed to doing what they can to help. Please bring non-perishable food or hygiene items to The Firefly Artists, 90 Main St, Northport, between now and New Year’s Eve.
There are 10 days left in our food drive, which is part of the Island Harvest Turkey & Trimmings Campaign. We’d really love to fill this box we have in the gallery, and hope you will help! It’s easy, especially as we are in one of the best places for last minute gift shopping, and we and at least a few neighbors will be open late to better serve your needs! Cash donations to Island Harvest are also welcome.
In thanks for your donation, you’ll get a raffle ticket to win a matted print or “Red” by Katheryn Laible or “Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn” by Steve Caputo. We’ll also give you $20 off any single purchase over $200.
Thank you for all you do to support our communities!
Left; Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn by Steve Caputo. Right: Red by Katheryn Laible
Pal-O-Mine’s “Winter Wonderland”: A Thoughtful Program, a Holiday Wish List, Deep Appreciation
Pal-O-Mine crafts these unique, family-oriented events in deep gratitude for its community. The precious time and money folks give enables the farm and its life-changing programming to be. They are honored to get to know other folks who care, and appreciate all they bring.
Continue reading