Blogs 12 Long Island

Finding a Job

By Doug Geed

Claudia of Smithtown was doing really well -- a computer specialist making about 130-thousand a year for a big LI company. But then, like so many other Long Islanders, she lost her job. It was the second time in a year she was laid off.

She went months searching for a new job ("there are jobs out there, but you're competing against hundreds of others for that one job") and finally found a part-time gig as a bank teller working 25 hours a week.

Claudia is far from alone. Bob Simmons is a career counselor who says he's seen a dramatic rise in the number of middle-aged, high-paid executives who have been laid off and are having to settle for jobs at less than half the salary they were making. Bob now employs a social worker to counsel people in that position. With no disrespect to bank tellers, restaurant workers, maintenance workers or any other profession, he says when you've been making 6 figures and you're the head of a household, the change can be devastating.

But in this economy, some would say any job is a good job. As Claudia points out, she's a single mom whose ailing mother lives with her. "I'm it" she says -- "I have to support the family."

If you're looking for a job, here are some sites that may help.

www.careerbuilder.com

www.monster.com

www.careerjournal.com

Cutting Back on Health

By Doug Geed

Maybe it's skipping a restaurant meal. Maybe it's digging through your tape and dvd collection to find an old movie instead of going out to a see a new one. Or maybe it's turning your upcoming summer vacation into a long weekend instead of a week's stay.

Long Islanders are doing everything they can to save a few dollars in this recession.

For some, unfortunately, it's by sacrificing medical care. "Luxury" items -- cosmetic surgery, teeth-whitening -- there's been a slowdown in them for quite some time according to doctors and dentists. But even routine check-ups and doctor's visits are being put on hold. Instead of going in for that 6-month or 1-year check-up, you put it off for a few more months -- and then again -- hoping times will get a little better.

The danger, of course, is that you could be ignoring a potential health problem that may be very expensive to treat -- when it could have been much cheaper to prevent.

But it's hard to find fault with people doing this. If they've lost their job and/or their health insurance, you can see why they'd choose this option. Even people WITH insurance still have to make co-payments -- which can be as little as 5 or 10 bucks for a doctor's visit up to 50 bucks. Then there's blood-work, other lab work or prescriptions. A routine visit can end up costing a hundred bucks or more -- a lot of money these days.

Doctors are coming up with payment plans or even in some cases providing their care for free. One doctor in Nassau told me a patient he's had for 10 years just lost his job. "How can I just stop treating him when he needs me now more than ever?"

There are also discount plans you could look into where prices are pre-set -- 20 bucks for a cleaning, 130 for a filling.

It's an area where no one wants to skimp -- their health. But until the economic health of our country gets back on track, it may be something you'll see more of.

What Do You Think About this Economy?

By Doug Geed

Pat Sileo remembers her days working in the Human Resources department for a major LI company. She says often times, she would close the door of her office and start crying after telling someone they had just been laid off. Now it's Sileo herself who is without a job.

Her husband Carl is a talented architect who was laid off from his job in Manhattan just a week and a half ago. Now the South Huntington couple joins the ranks of unemployed Long Islanders who are looking to start all over again in new jobs.

When will all of this end? That's the question everyone wants answered.

News 12 Long Island and Hofstra University polled Long Islanders about the economy and the results were predictable. 43-percent of people are either somewhat or very concerned about losing their job because of the economic crisis. 40-percent say they aren't concerned. For 7-percent of the people we polled it was a moot point -- they had already lost their job.

In another question, we asked Long Islanders to think ahead one year and tell us if they think they'll be better off than now or worse off. 52-percent said they expect to be better off.

Finally we asked if they thought the stimulus plan will help the middle class. More than half -- 53-percent -- said no.

Some depressing answers in what's a very depressing time.

An LI Civil Rights Hero

By Doug Geed

He was born in 1939 as deep as you can get in the Deep South. "L-A" as he calls it -- Lower Alabama.

His grandfather was a lifelong member of the Ku Klux Klan and his dad was also a KKK member.

Pretty unlikely that Bob Zellner would become an active and dedicated servant in the fight for civil rights, but that's what happened.

Zellner -- who now lives in North Sea, outside of Sag Harbor on the South Fork -- has written a new book called "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek," which chronicles his struggles as a white civil rights activist.

Zellner was considered a traitor among his fellow white Southerners -- and was hated almost as much as the blacks who struggled for such simple freedoms as the right to sit down on a bus, use the same restroom as white people, eat in the same restaurants as anyone else and -- perhaps most importantly -- cast a vote for elected officials who just might try to change the embarrassing and repulsive way our society treated African-Americans.

Zellner first met Dr. Martin Luther King when he was in college doing a paper on the civil rights struggle. He went to hear Dr. King and Rosa Parks speak at a church. He was warned that he'd be arrested if he went to Dr. King's church (a white man stepping inside a "black" church was considered a crime), but he went anyway. He actually escaped the law that day, but was arrested 8 or 9 other times in 7 different states.

He can't even remember how many times he was beaten, but vividly remembers how a police chief released him to an angry mob that beat him and then dragged him to a cow pasture with a rope. Bob's a smart guy and, through his fear, he managed to get the crowd bickering among themselves. When he convinced them he was a fellow Alabaman and not a "meddling New Yorker," they finally let him go.

I interviewed Bob this past Tuesday and haven't gotten a chance to read his book yet, but based on the stories he told me, I'm sure it's entertaining, enlightening, appalling and uplifting all at the same time.

Spike Lee thought enough of it to turn the wheels in motion to make a movie about Bob's story.

You can see my interview with Bob Zellner starting Sunday night, March 15th in our 5 pm newscast and running all through the day Monday the 16th.

A longer version of our interview will air in my "East End Show" which airs every Saturday at 7, 9, 11, 1 and 3 -- and Sundays at 7, 9, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30.

You may want to check out Bob's website -- www.bobzellner.com

What a Mess

By Doug Geed

It's hard coming up with the right analogy. It's like if someone you gave money to comes up to you and says that they screwed up and lost all of it and that the only way for you to make it better is to give them more money. You'd be like 'Well I didn't do anything. YOU messed up -- YOU pay for it."

It's like the mortgage mess. The great majority of Long Islanders responsibly pay their mortgages and taxes on time. They borrowed a certain amount of money to buy their dream home. And now, because so many others got in over their heads and bought something they couldn't afford, the responsible ones have to bail them out. And let's not forget all the greedy lenders who saw a way to make a quick buck by making all those risky loans. When those loans caved in, now THEY have their hands out -- and again, it's the responsible people who have to dig in their pockets to save them.

Unfortunately, such is life across Long Island, the nation and the world here in 2009.

But if you speak to economic experts, it's the only choice we have. Dr. Pearl Kamer -- economist with the Long Island Association -- can explain things nice and simply for the average person (like me) whose strongest subject in school wasn't economics. She says for every house that goes into foreclosure, the value of other houses in that community goes down 1-to-2 percent. So if a dozen houses in your area go into foreclosure, that's thousands of dollars that you've lost, at least in equity. Plus, no one wants a boarded up home on their block. It's bad for the image, but also invites crime and vandalism. Kamer -- and most experts -- argues that even though "the good guys" have to pay for it, preventing any more foreclosures in this recession is vital.

Likewise, Melville economist Marty Cantor says this recession is so deep and so broad, that the U-S government is the only one who can come up with the money to fix it. Whether it's by re-building bridges and roads, giving aid to schools to prevent layoffs, giving money to banks and mortgage lenders to stop the flood of foreclosures, we have no choice but to spend taxpayer dollars to turn this thing around.

So even if economics wasn't your strongest subject that should make sense. But it still doesn't make you any less mad -- especially when you see greedy corporate executives walk away with millions in bonuses while their companies got a free handout from the public. What a mess.

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Money for Our Schools

By Doug Geed

The numbers are pretty staggering -- approximately 4-million dollars in Levittown, North Babylon, Elmont, Baldwin, Deer Park and Bellmore. 2-million for Amityville, Wantagh, Roosevelt, Plainedge and Kings Park. 11-and-a-half million for Hempstead, 12-million for Sachem and nearly 30-million for Long Island's largest school district, Brentwood.

Those dollar amounts represent how much LESS in state aid school districts across the Island would get under the proposed state budget from Gov. Paterson.

Even if you don't know much about politics or how our local governments work, it easy to see that it's bad news. If a school district is taking in less money, it usually turns to you, the homeowner, and imposes a tax hike to replenish it. And remember, school taxes make up about two-thirds of the average Long Islander's property tax bill. If you pay 6-thousand a year in taxes, 4-thousand of that goes to your school district. So a 5 or 10-percent increase in your school taxes is a lot more devastating than a 5 or 10-percent hike in your county taxes.

Now there is some good news. I spoke with a long-time state legislator who's very familiar with the school aid process. He didn't want to be quoted because in these unprecedented economic times, it's hard to predict anything. But he feels certain that those aid numbers will get better.

It's a political game that gets played every year in the state. The Governor -- whether a Democrat or Republican -- proposes a certain amount for school aid. Then state legislators (who have to face all those angry voters in their local supermarkets, fire houses and PTA meetings who feel like their district isn't getting its fair share) make sure they boost the amount of state aid that will be included in the final state budget that they vote on.

Another wild card is the federal stimulus plan. A chunk of money (no one knows the final amount yet) will be given to states for the specific purpose of helping local school districts avoid program cuts, teacher layoffs and tax hikes.

So the final figures should be a lot better than they are right now. Still, the legislator I spoke with says it's likely some districts will see a decrease in state aid -- some about the same -- and for a few, a slight increase.

I wish the news was better, but unfortunately, the recession hits every aspect of our daily life. All you can do is urge your child to make the most out of everything your school district has to offer. Maybe they'll come out a lot smarter than we did and won't let the country slip into the mess we created.

Click on this link for a list of the proposed cuts for each district on the island.

A Passion for Presidents

By Doug Geed

Steve Gilroy was a teenager back in the 70's when he heard that Richard Nixon was going to be speaking at Roosevelt Field Mall. Steve had no interest in politics, Presidents or Nixon, but he and some friends went for that all-American reason -- the chance to be on tv!

He got there early and got a spot right in front and something happened. He became fascinated watching Nixon speak. It was official. Gilroy -- a history and Civil War buff since childhood -- developed a penchant for Presidents. Since then, Gilroy -- who lives in East Norwich and teaches history in Manhasset schools -- has been to 9 inaugurations, 3 Presidential funerals and has met 7 Chief Executives. (For the record, he says Nixon was the most unusual -- strange, awkward, uncomfortable in any social setting. Gilroy worked at Sagamore Hill for awhile and Nixon visited there with his grandaughter and he remembers how weird it was hearing Nixon speak "baby-talk" to her. He says the first George Bush was the most relaxed and friendly -- and Bill Clinton was the one with most Presidential charisma -- an "aura" that you feel as soon as you see him in person.

I've been in the news business nearly 30 years and have met a couple of Presidents, sitting and former, and it isn't easy. I asked Steve how he makes it seem so simple to have met 7 of them and he told me what he tells his students -- "You have to be politely pushy." Be too polite and you'll miss the chance, be too pushy and you'll be cast aside.

This coming Monday (President's Day of course) photographer Brian Endres and I will tell you the quirky story of Steve Gilroy. The piece will start airing at 8 am and continue all afternoon and night.
You'll be amazed at what Steve has in his house -- from Presidential buttons, hats and shirts -- to a Presidential toilet seat and vials filled with dirt from the birthplaces of almost all of our Presidents. He even has a replica of the Oval Office in his house.

A bit much? Some people might think so. But Steve says he has never been bored for one second in his life and always urges both his students and his own children to be passionate about something -- whether it's sports, music, theater or politics. Good advice.

Hope you can join me this Monday. It's a fun story.

Which Stimulus Plan is Better?

By Doug Geed

So, my assignment today was a story on the economic stimulus plan being debated in the Senate -- compare it to the one already passed in the House and try to see which is more beneficial to Long Island.
The answer I got from everyone I reached out to was pretty much what I expected -- that there's good and bad in both and it depends on what you'd like to see happen.

It's very difficult to boil down an 800-billion-dollar plus proposal, but in broad terms, the Senate version relies a little more heavily on tax credits and incentives to get the economy going than the House version. The House bill does give more direct government aid -- about 40-billion dollars more. That's good news in the sense that it's 40-billion dollars less that those local governments will have to look for elsewhere (namely to you, the taxpayer) -- or 40-billion dollars less in services they'll have to cut.

But if you're in the business of selling cars, you might like the Senate version, which would allow anyone who buys a car to deduct the sales tax on their income tax bill. Likewise, the interest they're paying on any auto loan. There's also a major tax credit in the Senate bill for people who buy a new house.

Meanwhile, there's Dr. Pearl Kamer, an economist for the Long Island Association who says that neither stimulus plan does much stimulating. She believes much of the money is just being thrown at governments to stop the bleeding -- to prevent things from getting worse, not necessarily to make things better.

And then there's the labor unions. Remember all those construction workers anxious to get back out there to work? When all of this talk about Congress passing an economic stimulus plan first surfaced last year, all anyone talked about was spending the money on "public works" -- such as roads, bridges, sewers -- repair work on our aging infrastructure. Now, those projects are just a small portion of both of those massive bills.

When the Senate passes its version, leaders from both the House and Senate will meet to work out the significant differences in the two packages. Once they reach agreement, the plan goes to the White House for President Obama's signature.

Will it work? Nobody knows -- this is unchartered territory. And what's the best for Long Island? Well, depends on who you ask....

Long Islanders Who Have Seen It A Lot Worse

By Doug Geed

"Back then we saved money for what we wanted. Now, they just go out and buy it and worry about paying for it later."

Those words were spoken by Anthony LoMonaco who looks no where near his age of 97. He was one of five senior citizens from Franklin Square who I sat down with this afternoon. The idea was to hear from people who lived through the Great Depression to get their thoughts on the current recession.

All were unanimous in believing that people today don't respect the value of a dollar like they did years ago and how that helped cause today's mess. "Now it's like we can buy anything and everything and don't worry about it," is how 87-year-old Bill Lerstad put it -- an almost eerily accurate account of the housing crisis in which people bought houses that were much more expensive than they could afford.

Dottie Aversano says her family didn't have it too bad. Her grandfather owned a fish market in Brooklyn, so they had regular access to food during the Depression. But she says nothing went to waste. Her mother became an expert at cooking every part of the fish -- the head, the tail, even the guts.

At 80, Vivian Horn was the youngster in the group I chatted with, but she remembers her sister telling her about how much money their father lost in the Depression and how he almost had a nervous breakdown.

Anthony's family moved to Brooklyn from Sicily in 1920 -- their father died in 1925. During the Depression, he (just like his brothers) had to quit school at 15 to earn money for the family. Anthony made 5 dollars a week -- and was proud of it.

Bill remembers taking walks up 5th Avenue and being amazed at all the World War One veterans selling apples for 2 or 3 cents each just to scrounge up enough money to feed themselves.

All of them said they were worried and at times scared. But still, this was their childhood and even though times were about the toughest this country has ever seen, they still manage some good memories. Families were close -- you relied on each other to get through everything. You tried to find laughter in just about anything. Thinking too much about your predicament was too depressing.

They also all share concerns about today. They lost thousands of dollars in investments because of the current recession. They have children and grandchildren who lost jobs or are simply having trouble making ends meet.

   But all of them believe it will get worse before getting better. And their advice for getting through it? Well, nobody had a secret formula.
    "Just take each day as it comes" says Dottie.
    And from Mary "We just have to follow through and hope that everything will reverse itself and we'll get back on track."
     Bill wants to remind everyone to be careful with their money and just don't spend it because you feel like spending it.

For anyone who ever questions why history is important, I wish they were in that living room in Franklin Square where I met these 5 people. They lived through a crisis -- a crisis that we hope will never be equaled in severity as the one we're in now.
Things will get better. I really believe that. After all, Anthony, Vivian, Mary, Bill and Dottie are living proof.

LI's Miracle on the Hudson Survivor

By Doug Geed

"I thought they were the last four words I was ever going to hear."

That's what Bill Zuhoski told me was going through his mind on the afternoon of January 15th.

The four words he was referring to were "Brace yourself for impact." U-S Airways Pilot "Sully" Sullenberger spoke those words over the loud-speaker to passengers aboard Flight 1549, which struck a flock of birds over the Bronx shortly after taking off from LaGuardia. We all know the outcome by now -- a safe, miraculous landing, with no engines, into the Hudson River.

Bill Zuhoski is 23 years old, although he talks and acts much more maturely than his age would indicate. (No doubt this experience will add even more to that maturity.) I stopped by his hometown of Cutchogue this week for an interview, two weeks after the incredible incident.

"Zuhoski" may sound like a unique name to you, but it fits right in with some of the old-time farming families of the East End. His dad was one of 9 children, so there are "Zuhoskis" all over the Mattituck-Cutchogue area. But this incident has made Bill even more well-known.

   "Wow -- ANOTHER interview, Bill?" a woman said smiling as she walked by Karin's Deli on Route 25 where Bill and I met. Cutchogue, if you haven't visited there, is a quaint, country-like community -- more resembling a Midwest farm town than a typical Long Island suburb. It's where Bill grew up and where he appreciates life more than ever.
     Bill wasn't even supposed to be on that flight, but his earlier plane was cancelled. He sat toward the back of the plane and dozed off because of a 20-minute delay on the runway. The plane finally took off and Bill remembers a "jerk" a minute or two after takeoff. (He assumes that was the plane hitting the birds.)
   Immediately, he says passengers just started looking around, alarmed. He heard a stewardess on the phone saying quietly, "Well, where IS the fire extinguisher?" Passengers then started saying that they saw smoke.
   The flight crew quickly went around to make sure everyone's seat belt was still securely fastened. The plane was descending and all Bill saw out the window was land. No one was quite sure what was happening. Bill was in a middle seat. The man sitting next to him wrapped his arm around Bill's as they both put their heads down in their laps. I guess at a time like that, holding onto another person -- even a stranger -- brings you some comfort.

    I asked him to describe the impact of the landing on the water and he just slowly shook his head from side to side and looked up -- searching for a way to describe it.
    I asked "When you're driving and you hit a really huge pothole and there's a violent bounce -- like that? 10 times worse?"
    "Yeah -- 10 times worse" he replied.
    He wiped some blood off his face -- not much, he said and not quite sure where it came from.
    After the plane settled, he said the only sense of panic came in that first minute. Passengers started rushing toward him -- the back of the plane -- and he and another passenger had to tell everyone to stop pushing and stay calm or "nobody will get out."
    The whole time water -- very cold water -- was filling the plane. Very quickly he says it got as high as his neck. So he climbed onto a seat and took off his clothes -- down to nothing except an undershirt and his boxers.
   Although a relative of his -- a Navy SEAL -- would tell him that was the smartest thing to do (since shoes and clothes bog you down in the water and also make it easier for hypothermia to set in) Bill has taken quite a lot of joking over it. ("Oh you're the naked guy" people would say.)

Eventually, Bill started working his way toward the front of the plane and he was one of the last to get off. Immediately, rescue workers hugged him and threw blankets around him to get him warm. A helicopter overhead was blowing down fierce winds and you can only imagine how cold it was. He could barely get his mouth to work to say "Thank you" to those helping him.

Bill's mom is a teacher at Cutchogue's elementary school who ironically was in Manhattan on a field trip that day.
Bill's dad is a contractor who started driving from the North Fork towards LaGuardia as soon as he heard on the radio that a plane went down. The odds were strongly against his son being on that plane, but he says he had a "sick feeling" and decided that if it wasn't Bill's flight, then he'd just turn around and go back, but that if it WAS, then he'd have gotten a head start getting his son back. His instincts were right.

I asked Bill if he'll fly again and he said, "I don't know. But if I do, not for a long time." He's already turned down interview requests where he would have to fly to get to the station.
Next week, he, several other passengers and the pilot will be interviewed on Good Morning America and he says he is looking forward to telling Captain Sullenberger "thank you" in person.

If you'd like to see my interview with Bill, it will be on this coming Sunday, February 1st, starting in the 5pm newscast. It will run all of Sunday night and Monday day as well.

Bill's a nice guy with a nice family that lives in a nice town. Thankfully, we're finally able to tell a story that has a happy ending.

Going Hungry

By Doug Geed

It's not much -- maybe a ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee, but if you're cold and have little or no money for food, it's the greatest sight in the world. And people who visit the various soup kitchens and food pantries throughout Nassau and Suffolk are very appreciative.

And according to Long Island Cares, roughly 10-percent of Long Island's population is served by those organizations. LI Cares was the agency started by LI singer Harry Chapin in 1980, the year before his death. It is the only food bank on Long Island. Using state funds and donations, it buys food and other supplies in bulk at discounted prices and delivers it to more than 500 agencies across the Island. According to Executive Director Paul Pachter, more than 300-thousand Long Islanders were served by one of those agencies.

The problem for many groups across the island is that in this economy, more and more people are looking to pantries and soup kitchens for help while at the same time, donations are down. As more and more people are losing their jobs or falling behind in their mortgage payments or having trouble paying their health insurance, at best, they're donating less money or goods -- at worst, they become in need of those services themselves.

As Zona Stroy -- head of a wonderful Riverhead-based organization "Open Arms Care Center" -- put it "Many of the people who used to donate are now stopping in for a sandwich or a cup of coffee."

Pretty powerful stuff -- and pretty sad. It's no longer nameless, faceless homeless people who are looking for help -- it's our neighbors and co-workers.

Here are some links to various agencies on Long Island that could sure use your help:

http://www.licares.org/
http://prontoli.org/index.aspx
http://www.islandharvest.org/
http://www.the-inn.org/

The Inauguration of the President

By Doug Geed

So I've gotten a lot of questions about my recent 3-day trip to Washington to cover the inauguration. From family members it's usually "So did you get to meet him?" The answer is "not by a long shot." Although when I was doing one of my broadcasts from the top of the CNN Building, which is a few blocks away from the White House, I did see the President and First Lady walk outside to attend a ceremony. (He didn't wave to me.)

   From friends and colleagues it's usually something along the lines of "So what was 'the moment' you'll always remember?"
   That's a lot harder to answer. In my earlier blog I talked about the hour-long wait we had at the train station just to BOARD a train! The line of people that wrapped around the entire train station and parking lot will forever be etched in my mind.
    Of course, there's watching all the dignitaries walking out on the steps of the Capitol. There was the thunderous applause when Barack Obama strolled out in all of his Presidential "cool and glory." And there's that incredible scene when a new person places his hand on a Bible and assumes the most powerful position on the planet -- without one drop of blood being shed. The peaceful transition of power in our country is something that is so special and unique.

     But I guess what I'll take most from this amazing experience were the images of just plain people -- the everyday Americans who traveled literally from every corner of the country to witness history.
     I saw elderly African-Americans -- like all of us, fighting the huge crowds and cold temperatures, walking for miles. Yet despite their fatigue, there was nothing -- and you could see it in their faces -- NOTHING -- that would stop them from being a part of this magical moment.
    There were college-aged kids who were so vital in getting this man elected. It's an age where they could be cynical or simply disinterested in politics, yet Barack Obama electrified them like no other candidate. Their cheers of joy -- their satisfaction -- it was evident on their faces. They are the future of this country and they're proud to have made a loud statement about which direction it'll go in.
    And then there was an image that is like something out a movie -- maybe something Steven Spielberg would take months preparing, setting up and filming.
    It was mid-morning of the inauguration and we were near the Washington Monument -- the simple yet elegantly beautiful white stone tower that stands straight up into the air the length of nearly two football fields. On the ground it is surrounded by 50 flags -- one representing each state. The wind was blowing pretty hard and the flags were whipping wildly -- all in unison. And surrounding the entire monument, as far as you could see, were people. I looked to left. Way in the distance, the dome of the U-S Capitol. I looked to the right. Way in the distance, the Lincoln Memorial. Straight ahead -- way in the distance -- the rounded top of the Jefferson Memorial. It was an incredible image. And filling in all the space in between each of those monuments -- and I mean every inch of space -- were people.

Washington is a beautiful city and it was at its most exciting and electric that day. And it's a beautiful country we live in. You can only hope deep in your soul that we never lose our sense of goodness, fairness, hope and optimism that was in the air that day.

Big Things for Patchogue!

By Doug Geed

I grew up in Syosset, so during my youth, I barely even heard of Patchogue. For us, it was a place "way out in Suffolk." (Ironic, now that I spend so much time "way out" even by Patchogue standards -- on the East End.)

But my wife was raised in Bellport, so we spent a lot of time in Patchogue and came to know it very well. In fact our first date (way back in 1981) was at a place called Two Morrow's Pub (great burgers and a fireplace -- boy, did I know how to impress the ladies!).

My first job right out of college was at W-A-L-K Radio in East Patchogue. So I grew to love this village. There's so much history and charm to it. Like Bay Shore, Riverhead and many other Long Island downtowns, they suffered economically when big shopping malls started popping up in the 60's and people started turning away from their local Mom and Pop store to do one-stop shopping. So there's no question, Patchogue went through some tough times -- and still does to an extent today.

Remember Swezey's? What a great place! A unique one-of-a-kind department store, like something you'd find in the mid-West. Small, friendly, wrap-your-gift-for-free-at-Christmas -- yet always managed to have everything you needed. Swezey's was a fixture in Patchogue for more than a hundred years, but it closed about 10 years ago and the building has sat vacant on the corner of North Ocean and Main Street ever since.

But within the next 6 months, expect some major construction. A real estate developer out of East Setauket -- Tritec -- is starting a 130-million dollar downtown revitalization project. The company bought 6 parcels, including the Swezey's property, and plans to build 240 new rental units, a 104-room Hilton Gardens Hotel, 30-thousand square feet of retail stores and 15-thousand square feet of office space.

Of the 240 apartments, 67 will be considered "affordable." Tritec's Robert Coughlan told me that means about 1-thousand dollars a month for a studio. Other apartments will be as large as 3-bedroom units for 25-hundred dollars.

The project was announced with much fanfare by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Patchogue's Mayor, Paul Pontieri, Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington, Tritec's Coughlan and others, including affordable housing advocates. Officials say they're specifically targeting young people, saying the only way companies on Long Island can weather this economic storm and hope to grow is by having access to young workers. And the only way to have access to young workers is to give THEM access to a place they can afford to live.

They envision a vibrant, exciting downtown area where residents will be able to walk out of their new apartments and shop, congregate in open courtyards with fountains and eat in a string of new restaurants -- all within walking distance. And they expect this to be a formula to turn around other downtown areas on Long Island -- getting people to live in refurbished or brand new apartments on Main Streets so they'll have a vested interest in keeping the downtown looking good. That, in turn, attracts new businesses to the area and helps some of the old-time shops expand and prosper.

Sounds good to me. Let's hope it works. For many people, Long Island is just one long, sprawling suburb. Our downtowns are what help make the Island the special place that it is.

For more information about the Patchogue project, check out this link:
http://www.patchoguevillage.org/DEIS/draft_environmental_impact_state.htm

Going to See Our New President

By Doug Geed

So we flew back in MacArthur this morning after a pretty hectic but incredibly rewarding three days in our nation's capitol for one of the biggest events that city -- and our nation -- has ever seen.

My photographer Brian Endres and I stayed in Columbia, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb about a third of the way toward Washington. Each day we'd make the half-hour drive to New Carrollton, Maryland, which is the first stop on the Orange Line of The Metro (D.C.'s equivalent of the LIRR). From there, a 20-to-30 minute train ride got us into the heart of D.C.

Tuesday morning, the day of the swearing-in, we knew we'd have to leave early. We were up at 4 and out the door a little before 5. As we approached the exit ramp for New Carrollton, we knew we were in trouble -- nothing but taillights and stopped cars. After a slow 45-minute crawl, we got a parking space and walked into the train station holding our commemorative Metro Fare Card with Barack Obama's face on it. (Buying fare cards for the length of our stay was the first thing we did when we arrived Sunday -- a mere half-hour wait.)

So we walk into the New Carrollton station with all our equipment, and, for some reason, we see the first of many burly cops we would encounter during the day diverting people AWAY from the turnstiles that let you into the station. He explained to the people ahead of us that there was a LINE to get into the turnstiles and the line went "that way." "That way" was toward a long, long line of people walking up a flight of stairs that led you to Amtrak. So then I said (already dreading his response) "Please tell me once you get up those stairs, all you do is turn and walk down the other stairs." He put a large smile on his face and said "No. I won't lie to you, it's pretty ugly up there." Then he looked at the group of us now around him and he said "In fact, I probably won't be here by the time you get back here."

Now New Carrollton is a large station with an elevated platform. If you live in Nassau, picture the Hicksville Train Station. If you live in Suffolk, picture Ronkonkoma. The line we got on went up the stairs, around the platform, down another set of stairs, into the parking lot -- sweeping AROUND the parking lot before going back into the station and the turnstiles. The adventure lasted an hour. But I have to say that even on that ridiculous line, everyone was laughing and just making the best of it. I cannot tell you the excitement, the joy, the optimism, the good will -- the feeling of just plain GOODNESS that was in the air during our entire stay. Even the burly cop at the turnstiles (who WAS there at the end of our hour-long trek, by the way) was nothing but smiles and professionalism. I literally did not encounter one person who was in any way impolite, nasty, impatient or rude the entire trip, which is amazing considering everywhere you went from the airport to the downtown streets to all the national landmarks, there was huge crowds that often had you pressed up against someone.

And I have to say the city and surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia did a great job handling the massive numbers of people who flew in for the event. One little bit of frustration was when our train pulled out of New Carrollton. Now again, that's the first train station on this particular line heading into D.C. (just as Ronkonkoma is the first stop on the Main Line heading into NYC). The very next stop is Landover, Maryland and as we were pulling into the station, I saw a half-empty parking lot. The train doors opened and about 20 people got on.

I gave up my seat to a woman and I asked her if she just got to the station and she said yes, she drove up 5 minutes ago and simply parked and walked on the train. Seems everyone thought they were outsmarting each other by going to the "first" station.

I'll write more blogs in the days ahead, but right now my feet hurt. Plus I want to get home to see my wife and kids and give them the Obama Inauguration buttons, refrigerator magnets and sweatshirts that I paid way too much for.

But I have one final thought and that is that we live in a wonderful country. For all our faults, what happened yesterday was incredible. First, that we have the right, every four years, to decide who we want to lead us is something we always need to be grateful for and never take for granted. And the fact that on one particular day, the transfer of power is done peacefully, amidst much joy and celebration, is terrific. The loser, especially if it's a sitting President, doesn't use the military to surround the White House and keep out his opponents. He simply hands over the keys, shakes hands to the victor and wishes them well. That's amazing.

Speaking of amazing, here's a photo taken by my friend and News 12 co-worker Cecilia Dowd. She was fortunate enough to attend the swearing-in and had a heck-of-a better vantage point than I did!

Doug Geed's video blog from Washington

By Doug Geed

[Editor's Note: News 12 Long Island's Doug Geed is in Washington DC, reporting on the inauguration of Barack Obama. Doug's reports will appear on News 12 Long Island all day on Inauguration Day (Tuesday). While he's on location, Doug is also filing these Video Blogs.]

Doug Geed signing off.

Obama takes the oath.

Inauguration symbolism.

Funding for the Arts

By Doug Geed

   Those in the art community say it comes with the territory -- when times are tough, they're one of the first to feel the pinch. And with the recession we're in now, that's proving true once again.
   Arts Councils across Long Island are seeing serious cutbacks in their funding -- 20-to-40 percent to LI's largest, the Huntington Arts Council. The Brookhaven Arts Council lost all of its funding from the town -- 30-thousand dollars -- and faces cuts from other sources, including Suffolk County and the state.
   Ask any non-profit organization what it's like to ask for donations in these times when people are being laid off or have seen their life savings evaporate. As you can imagine, gifts, sponsorships and even volunteers are way down.
    But people in the art community are passionate about what they do and firm in their belief that especially in times like these, their work is vital. Huntington puts on a great summer arts festival in Heckscher Park. Programs in schools, libraries, for senior citizens and children could all be jeopardized. They're asking for help.

Here are some links if you are interested.

http://www.huntingtonarts.org/
http://www.eastendarts.org/
http://www.brookhaven.org/AdvisoryCommitteesCommissions/ArtsHumanitiesCouncil/tabid/78/Default.asp

http://www.nysca.org/public/home.cfm

Windmill Power

By Doug Geed

When someone says "windmill" you probably conjure up an image of an old-fashioned wood-shingled structure from the olden days -- the ones used to grind cornmeal.

While they are nice to look at, they don't do much in terms of providing power for our homes today.

But more modern windmills do. Long Island towns are taking a closer look at how they might be beneficial. In Southold, they just passed an ordinance earlier this year allowing their construction on farmland parcels that are 7 acres or larger.

But many homeowners are looking to install them as well and so the town is considering new regulations that allow windmills on smaller residential properties.

There are downsides -- they stick into the air 30, 45 or 60 feet or higher. (The higher you go, the stronger the winds and the greater the benefit.) They also aren't cheap -- a 45-foot tall one can cost about 20-to-25-thousand dollars to install. (There may be some incentives and rebates available however.) And of course, you have to live in a windy location -- near an open field, by the water or high on a hill. If conditions are right, I'm told the wind alone can provide up to half the annual use of an average house here on Long Island. In rough terms, that's about 14-hundred dollars a year in savings. (You do the math to see if it's worth it -- your initial investment divided your annual savings.) But there's no question our country is looking for different ways to provide power and it just may be that we as Long Islanders have to get used to a new part of our landscape. Here are some links that provide information about installing windmills where you live.

http://www.e2sys.com/

http://gosolar.com/

Those Speed Limit Signs Really Work!

By Doug Geed

You've probably seen them -- those portable speed limit signs that are on tires. They're dropped off at a location and kept there temporarily then moved to another spot where people tend to speed. It posts the speed limit for that area and then in flashing red numbers, the speed YOU are driving appears.

There's one by a school near my house and I have to admit if I'm driving faster than posted speed limit, I slow down. It's not only that YOU see you're driving too fast, the flashing numbers tell everyone in the area that you're driving too fast. It's like the machine is embarrassing you into obeying the law.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was jogging, I saw another one of the signs pop up near where I live, on a residential street that's kind of used as a short-cut between two busier streets. It seemed like an odd place for one, but as soon as I saw it, I started smiling. I jog regularly and I love it, but I run pretty slowly -- about a ten minute mile. And as I rounded the curve on this street and saw the sign, I saw a bright red "6" flashing on it. It took me a few seconds, but I realized, with no cars anywhere near me, the sign was posting MY speed limit. "6" -- is 6-miles an hour -- or, a 10-minute mile.

As I said, those speed limit signs really work!

PS: Slow down. Especially around the holidays with all the added stress, no one is concentrating as much as they should while driving. And as a jogger, I can tell you, virtually every car that passes me is breaking the speed limit. Make it safe for everyone.

Heating Help

By Doug Geed

It's only the first full day of winter and already, many Long Islanders have had it! Today's cold temperatures and frigid winds were too much to handle for many. Just imagine being in your own home with not enough heat.
Unfortunately that's the situation some Long Islanders find themselves in. A woman in Freeport told me she keeps her oven on -- with the door open -- to help warm up her apartment. (A dangerous thing to do by the way.)

There's a better way. If you live in an apartment and aren't getting enough heat, your village, town or county can help. If you live in Nassau, you can call 516-227-9715. If you're a tenant in western Suffolk, you can call 631-852-5900. If you rent an apartment in the town of Brookhaven or any of the 5 East End towns, you can call 631-852-5841.

If you own your own home, run out of heating oil and simply cannot afford another delivery, you may qualify for an emergency delivery. For information in Nassau, call 516-227-7386. In Suffolk, 631-853-8825.

And please keep an eye on your neighbors in this cold weather, especially senior citizens. They may be too proud to ask for help.

Turning 50 Ain't Bad

By Doug Geed

So several different people asked me the same thing in the newsroom the other day as we were munching on the birthday cake and cookies some of my colleagues had gotten me -- "What's it feel like to turn 50?" And my answer was "I don't know. The same as turning 40, 28-and-a-half or 10 I guess." And by that I meant that I simply don't know what any number means in terms of age. Yeah, my body's slowed down a bit, but my mind still feels like it did 10, 20 or even 30 years ago.

The fact is, none of us knows why we're here or exactly how we're supposed to act. It's a guessing game. You act like you THINK an adult is supposed to act -- or how a senior citizen is supposed to act -- or how a middle-aged man is supposed to act.

It's like when one of your kids comes to you with a dilemma and asks you what to do. You pause, run some things through your mind and then say "Sweetie, the answer is C." She says "Thanks, dad!" and as she walks away you say to yourself "Jeesh, I hope that was the right answer!"

But I do know this. I've been blessed with a great life for a half century. I grew up in Syosset, right by the high school, about two miles away from where I now work. I loved two things as a kid -- sports and television. And when I wasn't playing baseball or swimming or doing something else athletic, I was watching my favorite tv shows -- from Hollywood Squares to Bewitched to Mannix to the greatest television show of all time, Kiner's Korner. (Only Met fans will remember that one.)

And now to be working in the television industry, in a profession I love -- journalism -- in my own hometown, is an incredible honor.

I also know this. It is good people surrounding you that makes life worth living, and I've been blessed with a bunch. There's my wife of nearly 24 years. I don't know where I'd be without her, but it certainly wouldn't be nearly as fun. There's my three kids whom I adore, cherish and even like as people. And there are many, many close friends I've had through the years including many who a part of the News 12 family.

So when I'm celebrating number 60 or, if I'm lucky enough, number 90, and someone asks me what's it's like to turn that age, I'm sure I'll say the same thing because I'm sure I'll FEEL the same thing -- "I don't know."

But I do know that turning 50 ain't bad.

http://www.martylyonsfoundation.org/

A Morale Boosting Night

By Doug Geed

I know, I know -- the news is depressing to listen to these days. Now imagine how me and my fellow anchors at News 12 feel every single day talking about the recession, layoffs, foreclosures and bailouts. So much of this is cyclical -- just part of our economic system. But an awful lot of it is due to just plain greed.

That's why it was so enjoyable for me to host the recent Suffolk County Council Boy Scouts annual dinner where the organization gave out its Distinguished Citizen Award. This year there were three recipients -- all of them professional athletes who I've enjoyed rooting for in the past -- and all of them Long Islanders who give back so much to their community.
Marty Lyons -- the former defensive lineman and member of the so-called Sack Exchange for the NY Jets was honored along with two former NY Islanders -- Clark Gillies and Pat LaFontaine.

   Marty founded and heads the Marty Lyons Foundation which, since 1982, has granted wishes to terminally ill children. Pat's organization -- Companions in Courage -- builds unique interactive game rooms in hospitals for children. And Clark's group -- The Clark Gillies Foundation -- helps children across Long Island and the tri-state area who are physically or financially handicapped.
      Think of all the nonsense going on involving professional athletes these days. They make millions of dollars playing a game yet waste their talents and disappoint their family, friends and fans by refusing to play for their team because they don't like the way management has decided to use them -- or by driving drunk -- or by organizing illegal dog-fighting gambling rings -- or by carrying guns illegally in public places.
   But it was refreshing to see these talented athletes who now spend their lives helping the less fortunate.

And as for the Boy Scouts -- what an amazing group of kids. You hear all the bad news happening in the world -- all the lying, cheating and greed -- and then you look to this organization and the volunteers and the participants and it gives you such a boost in morale. Their dedication to country, to family, to community and just basic simple goodness is an inspiration in so many ways. What an honor to share in their great night.

Here's some more information on the charities of Marty, Clark and Pat.

http://www.cic16.org/index.asp

http://www.clarkgillies.org/

MTA Fare Hikes

By Doug Geed

I often wonder how a recession ends. There's such a domino effect. The cost of things go, so people spend less. People spend less, so businesses make less and they stop ordering new items and start laying people off. Government takes in less money, so it either TAKES more money from us to pay for services, or give us fewer services.

But the bottom line--it's always us that somehow has to pay more and do with less while doing it. And that could not be more true than if you commute to the city.

Right now, the MTA's proposed budget for next year calls for a 23-percent fare hike. Ouch. But a commission headed by former MTA Chief Richard Ravitch is expected to release its findings on Friday. Its mission is to recommend ways for the MTA to close a huge budget gap.

The good news -- word circulating now is that only an 8-percent increase in train fares will be proposed (even though 8-percent is painful enough). The bad news -- they may also propose tolls on East River crossings that are now free. There's also talk of a payroll tax on businesses -- an idea many think is horrendous given what businesses are already up against.

All of this falls into the hands of the State Legislature. The Ravitch Commission findings will go to Albany lawmakers who will then have to decide how much state aid to give to mass transit -- ultimately translating into how much fares will go up. Long Island's delegation in the State Legislature has vowed to fight bridge tolls -- arguing that they unfairly target Long Islanders who, after all, live on an Island and have no choice but to pay them.

But the state itself is facing a huge budget gap and how much can it afford to give in mass transit aid? And even if it decides that should be a top priority, who pays for the state aid? You got it -- us.

These are bad times, no doubt about it. Again, I wonder how it ends.

Watch Out For Deer!

By Doug Geed

I admit it, I was one of them. One of those tourists who loved spotting a deer on the side of the road or grabbing a bite to eat in someone's yard. And while they still are beautiful animals to look at, I've become all too familiar with the damage they can cause. They can literally wipe out a farm or a vineyard or a nursery, not to mention a neighborhood filled with flowers and shrubs. Deer damage to the agriculture industry is a story unto itself.

But I want to talk about the other kind of damage deer can do -- to a car. November is mating season -- or "rutting" season as it's called. And since the deer have only one thing on their mind, they can run out into the road in an instant. In the small town of Southold alone, on the North Fork, they average more than 200 deer-car accidents in November, the busiest month.

And these are serious accidents. On average, they cause anywhere from 15-hundred to 5-thousand dollars damage to the vehicle. There was also a fatality -- someone on a motorcycle.

Bob Jester -- a well-liked and well-respected science teacher at Riverhead High School says he's had an accident in each of the past three Novembers involving a deer. And he says no matter how carefully you drive, he echoes what all other deer accident victims seem to say "he just APPEARED."

A close friend of mine hit a deer driving in Connecticut once and I can tell you, it is very, very scary stuff. So, especially at dawn and dusk, if you're driving anywhere in eastern Suffolk, take it nice and slow -- make sure those seat belts are on -- and keep your eyes open -- wide!

Who Stole the Love?

By Doug Geed

It's really one of my favorites "downtowns" on Long Island, even though it technically isn't a downtown. I'm talking about Love Lane in Mattituck, on the North Fork.

Route 25 runs through the heart of the hamlet, but if you make a left turn just as 25 makes a sharp bend to the right, you'll be on a quiet, quaint, picturesque road lined with trees, flags, flower planters, a chocolate shop, a cheese shop, a terrific market that's like something out of New England, a quirky furniture shop on the corner, about a half-dozen other unique shops, and, of course, a post office.

But what you won't find on this street (that someone referred to as the "Mayberry of Long Island") is the historic street marker "Love Lane." It's a metal sign, heart-shaped, with an arrow through it and it has sat on the corner of Love Lane and Route 25 since the 1970's. But somebody stole it -- twice. It was taken last month but found a few days later in an alley way between stores. The town put it back up, but it was taken again and this time, there's been no "sign" of it.

The fact that anyone would steal anything from here is shocking enough to residents and shopkeepers, but the fact that it's their beloved little sign makes them even more disappointed. Couples and lovers would often pose for a picture under the camera.

Southold Town Police Chief Cochran says for now, his officers don't have a whole lot to go on. Maybe it was a teen-aged prank -- maybe it was a souvenir hunter. But he says in a small town like Southold "people talk. Word gets around." We'll find it, he believes. Let's hope he's right.

The Mortgage Crisis

By Doug Geed

   Ironically, Jean from Bethpage was on the phone with her mortgage company when she heard a knock at the front door just about a year ago. It was a processor -- delivering papers that told her she was in foreclosure and that she might lose her house. Her husband had lost his construction job and they fell behind in their mortgage payments.
    The story will probably have a happy ending for her family. After a year of draining, aggravating negotiations, it appears her lender has accepted a new deal and they'll be able to keep their house.
     But thousands of other Long Islanders may not be so lucky.

Economists say Long Island was hit hard by the mortgage crisis -- harder than any other area of New York State and harder than most areas of the country.

The problem is that house prices in Nassau and Suffolk sky-rocketed to artificially high levels. That's great news if you sold at the right time, but terrible news for those who bought -- and many people bought well over their heads with low, temporary "teaser" rates that have now jumped substantially.

Dr. Pearl Kamer -- chief economist of the Long Island Association -- expects house prices here on the island to drop another 15-percent through next year. That's on top of the significant drop they've already gone through.

She says that's bad in many ways because as house prices go down, a whole new crop of homeowners will have mortgages higher than what their homes are worth. But she -- and other economists -- say this is just a big "correction" to get prices back to where they should be. Most experts agree that prices on Long Island are STILL artificially high and need to go down.

Of course that's of little comfort to you if you're struggling with a whopping monthly mortgage that you simply cannot pay. Experts urge anyone facing that situation to seek help. Here are some links below where you can find that help.

They also say not to panic and budget very wisely. Carefully break down what you need and what you want and -- painful as it is, especially with the holidays right around the corner -- only go with things you need for now. CD's, Treasury Bills -- safe investments with not-so-great interest rates -- may not be a bad choice until things settle down, they say.

Let's hope for everyone's sake this is temporary and good times wait ahead.

Long Island Housing Partnership

www.lihp.org

http://www.mlsli.com/housingresources.cfm
http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/long-island-volunteer-center/OpenAboutOrganizationAction.do?organizationId=235883
http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp5.cfm?dept=31&id=1677
http://www.lifairhousing.org/home.htm
http://www.volunteermatch.org/opps/opp273565.html

Say Thanks to a Veteran

By Doug Geed

I watched "Saving Private Ryan" again last night, an incredibly powerful movie that I think everyone in this country should be required to watch.

In case you've never seen it, it's Steven Spielberg's outstanding film that tells a fictional story in the all-too-real setting of D-Day -- the invasion at Normandy, France, in June of 1944, that turned around World War Two in the Allies' favor. D Day

It's an amazing movie and among the many images that remain in my mind is the final scene. The national cemetery -- all those white crosses and stones commemorating our brave men and women who served our country. I think of Long Island's national cemetery in Pinelawn, the nation's largest, and the final resting place for my dad, an uncle, my godfather and thousands of others.

Fortunately, none of my relatives had to go through what so many others did on that day in Normandy, but I'm sure they saw their own horrors that haunted them for the rest of their lives -- horrors that they never shared with anyone else. Typical of that generation.

Then I think of all the veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and now Iraq and Afghanistan. How many of them carried or will carry physical and/or emotional wounds because of what they went through?

No matter where we are -- stuck in traffic, getting angrier by the minute on the L-I-E, frustrated by the long line we're on at the supermarket while we're trying to rush home to catch our favorite show, or cursing at our television set because our favorite team is losing -- let's always remember that right at that moment, there are thousands of men and woman scattered all around the globe far from their families. And the only reason they're th Flag ere is to protect the freedoms we enjoy back home.

So on this Veterans Day, if you see anyone who served our country or does so now, just give them a thank you. I bet it'll make them -- and you -- feel good.

An Incredible Night

By Doug Geed

Wow.

As a journalist, not being able to come up with the right words to describe something is not a good thing. But that's the position I find myself in as I look back on my experience of covering Barack Obama on Election Night in Chicago. "Wow" is about the best I can come up with.

My friend and talented co-worker, News 12 LI Photo-Journalist Brian Jingeleski and I were given the honor of covering what we knew would be an historic event. Our biggest fear was coming up with the right way (me with words, Brian with video) to tell this story to our viewers.

This was the first African-American to be elected President of the United States. The majority of voters in the country placed their trust and their hopes in the hands of a black man -- hoping that he can be the one to lead us out of these turbulent times. We chose a black man to become not only our representative, but the leader of the free world and the single most powerful and influential leader on the planet.

I think back on the history books I used in school that showed the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware -- Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address -- FDR telling a frightened Depression-era nation that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." We knew the election of Barack Obama would be right up there with all of them.

It was my second visit to Chicago and I absolutely love that city. On Election Night, it showed all of its heart in Grant Park -- a massive public park that sits right along Lake Michigan in the downtown area.

    I have so many memories permanently etched in my mind. There was the moment they first let people run up to the area near the stage where Barack Obama would eventually proclaim victory. They ran in -- cheering, screaming, laughing, waving flags -- occasionally just bursting into loud applause or chanting "Yes We Can!"
    There was the moment when Obama's victory was projected and a thunderous roar was let out.
    Then there was silence as the crowd listened to the incredibly gracious and classy concession speech by Senator John McCain as it was was broadcast live throughout the park. A man the crowd had opposed so vocally during the campaign they now applauded.

Then of course, there was the appearance of the President-Elect himself. The roar was deafening -- like a rock concert or a Super Bowl crowd -- as the next Chief Executive of our country walked out to greet his supporters and deliver his own electrifying speech.

But there's no question that the number one thing I will remember about that night, for the rest of my life, was a much quieter moment. It took place after Obama's victory was announced but before he made his appearance.

The crowd was gathering around the stage. I saw an African-American family. There was man, well into his 70's or even 80's. His son, probably around 40, holding his own young son, about two years old, who was completely exhausted and sleeping with his head on his father's shoulder. There was his other son, probably around 5 years old who, unlike his brother, was wide awake. He was dressed in a little suit and tie and was holding a small flag in each hand pumping his arms up and down with a big beaming smile.

I looked at each of their faces. The grandfather -- old enough to have lived through that disgusting chapter in our history where just because of the color of his skin he could be turned away from a restaurant, forbidden to use a public rest room or denied a drink from a water fountain. It was late at night, he had walked a long way through an enormous crowd and you could see he was tired. But you could also see in his eyes what he felt in his soul: an enormous pride and overwhelming joy in what he was witnessing.

Then there was the father. He had a subtle, confident smile as he held his sleeping son in his arms hoping that finally -- finally -- the world might change and become a better place for his kids to grow up.

There was the little boy with the flags -- his joy and excitement uncontrollable as he tried to soak up everything happening around him.

And even the little sleeping two-year-old represented something to me -- the unknown. Will we all wake up and see that this was a dream? Or has our country really turned the corner and is ready to be united and treat each other fairly and respectfully?

     Barack Obama faces enormous challenges. He may turn out to be a terrible President, a great one or a mediocre one.
     But one thing is certain. Decades from now, there will be a picture of him in a school history book giving his Presidential acceptance speech before a crowd of tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters on an unusually mild November night in Chicago. And we saw it.
   Wow.

Spooky Walk

By Doug Geed

It all started when Marcella Weiss heard the sounds of kids laughing from the other side of the lake where she lived in East Moriches more than 20 years ago. Turns out the sounds were coming from Camp Paquatuck, a non-profit summer camp for kids that are mentally and physically challenged.

Marcella got involved in the camp and tried to come up with ways to raise money for it. At the time, she also worked at Clark Botanical Garden in Albertson which had a haunted Halloween exhibit. She brought the idea to the camp in Center Moriches and in 1989, the first "Spooky Walk" made its debut. It's a walk through some "haunted" woods and then a tour through some buildings with scary characters. That first year, they had 400 visitors paying 2 dollars each and they were very proud of their 800-dollar donation to the camp. Imagine how thrilled they are now that Spooky Walk has raised over a million dollars -- yes, a MILLION -- since that first year.

They knew they had latched onto a big idea. The Moriches Paquatuck Squaws -- a group of very dedicated ladies -- have volunteered their time and made it their mission to make the Spooky Walk an exciting event for families -- the young, the old, the adventurous and even the scared.
Okay here's the bad news -- the Spooky Walk is only open four nights of the year -- the final two this coming weekend, Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th. (Again keep in mind, it's run purely by volunteers on a non-profit basis.) The good news is, you'll have a blast walking through it. And your 10-dollar admission helps a very worthy cause.
Spooky Walk is open from 7 until 9 pm, but get there early. The lines can be long and it takes you awhile to walk through the whole thing -- maybe 45 minutes. No one is allowed on line after 9 pm.
Check out the website for more information. And please check out my East End report this coming Sunday beginning 5 pm and Monday day for a story on this fun Long Island tradition celebrating its 20th anniversary!

http://spookywalk.com/FAQ.html

Darkside Haunted House

By Doug Geed

I'm not sure why we like to be scared. Maybe it's because we all have deep, dark fears and getting scared helps us face some of those fears without it really counting -- like a "do-over."

Well, if being scared is your idea of fun, the Darkside Haunted House is the place for you. If you've never heard of it, it's located in Wading River. It's a former potato barn that LI contractor Mike Meola converted into a haunted house. Now in its 11th year, the barn is sectioned off into various rooms that you make your way through.

Photographer Brian Endres and I went to Darkside, and, using a special night camera, video-taped opening night.

What really impressed me this year was the outside. Before you even go into the barn, you have to walk through the grounds of a kind of haunted village filled with crazed hillbillies. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that. But I will say, the costume and acting at Darkside are top notch. As you walk past the gate and begin your journey into the outside area, you see a long stretch of grass. Standing at the end -- sometimes with arms folded, sometimes calmly leaning against a fence -- is a very intimidating character -- Cooter, Keeper of the Mausoleum. He slips behind the fence as you approach, but trust me, you'll see him -- and plenty of his buddies -- again.

Darkside can be a little intimidating for little ones -- hard to give an age. At 9 or 10, with eyes closed and grasping onto a parent, they seem to handle it okay. But one thing to keep in mind, the characters here (and any haunted house) will never touch you. They can't. They may scream and get in your face, but never worry about being touched or hit. (And they'd like to remind you -- no touching or hitting THEM please!)

All you really need to worry about is getting scared. And that can be fun.

Please check out an upcoming edition of my East End Show on weekends for a story on Darkside. You can check for show times on our website -- and you can also go to Darkside's website for hours, directions and other information.

http://www.darksideproductions.com/main.htm

Ouch

By Doug Geed

So as a Met fan since birth (well almost) this one hurt. To me, the '08 collapse was worse than the '07 collapse because we were supposed to LEARN something from last year. And on top of that, this year we had Johan. (Johan, by the way, gets NONE of the blame -- he was a shining star.)

Losing Billy Wagner hurt. He is one of the premier closers in baseball and if you take away ANY team's closer, you'll hurt their chances a lot. But the team STILL had enough talent to overcome that. And yeah, the bullpen does deserve a lot of the blame for the collapse.

But the final week, the offense should get most of the blame. They scored a total of 5 runs in their last 3 games combined -- that last series of the year -- the weekend debacle against Florida. The last game before THAT series started, their final game against the Cubs, they had a runner on third with none out in each of the past 3 innings with the score tied. A fly ball would have won them the game, but they couldn't come up with one.

To me, the team didn't have any heart. They could dominate some games, but look terribly weak in others. So many times during the season, they looked intimidated by their opponent -- and sometimes WEAK opponents like the Nationals or Pirates. I've lived through some brutal seasons, but I can't remember a season where I said so many times to myself, my friends or even on the air "that was the most crushing loss I've ever seen." It's like the '08 Mets somehow could always come up with a new way to win in a more heart-breaking fashion. And the bottom line is, we were playing a weaker team -- the Marlins -- AT HOME in the final weekend of the season. It's the same team that humiliated us last year by beating us on our own turf and knocking us from the playoffs. No matter what, you need to find a way to win at least two of those games.

The team needs a natural leader. At least one gritty player who may not have tremendous talent but makes up for it in grit and determination -- the "do-anything-to-win" attitude. And I admit, like a lot of stunned Met fans, I'm saying the teams needs to be shaken up. But most fans are also saying they don't want to trade Wright, Reyes or Beltran. For economic reasons, Delgado will probably come back and of course, Santana is our king. So if the "core" of the team stays -- along with GM Omar Minaya and Manager Jerry Manuel -- what's left to "shake up?"

It won't be an easy off season, but then again, for Met fans, it usually isn't. I don't know what's worse -- having a job where I have to make the moves to bring the franchise to the next level, or being a fan and having to watch your team die a slow, painful death as it nears the playoffs. Ouch.

Fall Fun on LI

By Doug Geed

Okay, I think most Long Islanders would agree that summer is our best season. You get to swim in our wonderful beaches. There's all the backyard barbecues and swimming parties -- no school lunches to make for the kids -- less traffic on the parkways and LIE as you head to work.

But all good things have to come to an end. And I've always believed what makes the end of summer a little easier to take is the terrific season that follows.

Fall means so many things -- football -- apples -- pumpkins -- the best
and freshest vegetables at our local farmstands -- Halloween -- getting lost in a corn maze. Honestly, as great as it is lying out in the sand on a hot summer afternoon by the ocean, isn't it just as great on a bright, sunny fall afternoon -- the crisp air -- temperature about 60 degrees -- just cool enough where you need a sweater? And that smell ! To me, each season has a certain smell. Fall is like a combination -- a woodsy, smoky smell -- and a little cinnamon -- a certain crispness and certain sweetness in the air, like apple pie. (Roast turkey isn't far behind!)

In the next few weeks, I'll be featuring all the great things about this terrific season on my East End Show. First up, this coming weekend, we'll visit a farm where you can pick your own apples and peaches. Pumpkins farms, haunted houses and wineries will follow shortly.

You can catch "The East End Show" on weekends. On Saturdays, show times are 7 am, 9, 11, 1 and 3. On Sundays, it's 7, 9, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30.

You can also catch my East End news reports (which highlight the same interesting people, places and things in eastern Suffolk that the weekend show features) during our regular newscast every Sunday night beginning at 5 pm. They run all of Sunday night and all throughout the day on Monday.

I really hope you can find the time to take a drive out east and appreciate all that Long Island has to offer. Whether you go out for an entire weekend or just for a day, it's an experience I guarantee you'll never forget. I grew up in Nassau County and it took me awhile to appreciate all the wonderful things that are right in our own backyard. Now as a parent, some of our best memories involve trips to East End farmstands, pumpkin patches, apple orchards and vineyards. I hope you get to enjoy some of them, too.

Here are some links:

www.lifb.com/stands_location.0.html

www.pickyourown.org/nylongisland.htm

www.liwines.com

www.northfork.com

Good Luck Timbo

By Doug Geed

Timbo got into a scuffle with a shark in Massachusetts. He got the worst of it -- lots of scrapes and cuts along his side -- plus a broken jaw. That's usually what happens when a gray seal comes up against a shark.

When Timbo was found, he was pretty listless from all his injuries and all of the rehab centers in New England for sea mammals were filled. Luckily for Timbo, the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation had an opening.

For those of you who haven't heard of it, the Riverhead Foundation is the only facility in New York State licensed to rescue and rehabilitate seals, sea turtles and dolphins (yes, all of them are swimming around in our local waterways.)

Timbo came in (after catching a ride aboard the Cross Sound Ferry from Connecticut to Orient) in July and was just re-released the other day in Shinnecock Bay in Hampton Bays. I'm doing a story on it in my East End segments that will air next Sunday and Monday, the 28th and 29th beginning in our 5 pm show on Sunday.

The people at the Foundation do remarkable work. It is entirely non-profit and they are some very, very dedicated marine biologists -- many of them schooled right here on Long Island. Southampton College (now run by SUNY Stony Brook) has an excellent program in marine biology.

Before letting Timbo go, they attached a satellite transmitter to him so they can track his whereabouts. And they also want to get the word out to the public about the dangers of approaching seals. I have never seen one in the wild, but many Long Islanders have. They like to find sunny spots on a secluded stretch of beach or island. But many times they come ashore when they're sick or injured and it's important to stay away.

Seals have big beautiful eyes -- dark and intense looking. Their faces are cute, almost like a puppy. And for that reason, they seem so approachable. But, unlike a puppy, they can bite your hand off. They are strong, with sharp claws and three-pointed teeth. (A dog has one point on its teeth.)

So if you come across one -- or a sea turtle or any other sea creature -- keep your distance and call the foundation's stranding number -- 631-369-9840.

You can actually see some of the Foundation's work. It's located inside Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead. And although the owners of Atlantis have been very generous in their support of it, the Foundation still relies very heavily on private donations. I've included a link to to their website that has information on how you can volunteer -- even adopt a seal.

Hope you can catch my story next weekend. And hey -- you never know -- maybe if you're near the beach one day, you might even catch a glimpse of a seal popping his head out of the water or sunning himself. If he's got a pointy antennae sticking up from his neck, it's probably Timbo.

http://www.riverheadfoundation.org/

www.atlantismarineworld.com

http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/38hurricane/track.html

Storm of the Century

By Doug Geed

It was a non-stop, cross-Atlantic flight that headed right to Long Island -- and the results were absolutely devastating.
I'm talking about the hurricane that was the worst storm ever to hit Long Island -- at least in modern times.
It was Wednesday, September 21st, 1938. As Long Island gets ready to mark the 70th anniversary of the storm, tomorrow, Thursday, starting at 5:30 in the morning, we're airing a two-part series I put together that re-tells the story of this great storm from Long Islanders who survived it. We'll also show you rare home movies. A popular Greenport shop-keeper by the name of Sherwood Rouse took his 16 millimeter camera outside during the hurricane and recorded history. He has since passed away, but his son graciously shared the recordings with us.

The '38 hurricane took everyone by surprise. Not only was it before the time when hurricanes had names, it was before there was any kind of public access to weather forecasting. As Beecher Halsey, an 86-year-old Westhampton resident put it, you just depended on the old-timers and whether their bones told you if it was going to rain.

The hurricane took a common path -- starting off the west coast of Africa and making its way west. Check out this website provided by our Chief Meterologist Bill Korbel:

   It was a storm that moved very, very quickly. Remember, a hurricane is a storm that swirls counter-clockwise. Picture the hurricane like a big, swirling ball. The ball itself also moves. And this one moved quickly -- about 60 miles an hour.
   On Tuesday it was off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. It moved rapidly along the east coast, curving slightly AWAY from the coast. It was expected to continue moving away and harmlessly go out to sea. But suddenly around the Maryland-Delaware area, it made a slight left turn. That took it right to Long Island.
   So within 24 hours or so, this powerful storm made its way from Jacksonville to Long Island. You can imagine the fury when it struck -- with Westhampton as its dead center.

More than 50 people died on Long Island -- more than 700 throughout the northeast, as the hurricane continued to do major damage throughout New England. Most of those who died were on the barrier beach, by the ocean. By "barrier beach" we mean that relatively small sliver of sand that has the ocean on its south side and the bay on its north side. Long Beach is a barrier island -- Jones Beach -- Robert Moses Beach -- Fire Island. What happened is, the storm hit with such surprise and with such fury that any access from the barrier beach to the mainland of Long Island was cut off. People tried to row across the bay -- or float across while holding onto debris. The hurricane created more than a half dozen inlets -- where the ocean water washed right over the entire barrier island and met the bay water on the other side.

Annie Ciacia (pronounced "Chy-chy) remembers the storm clouds moving in that morning and her friends expecting a bad rain storm. Now 95 years old, she remembers clear as day telling her friends "No, something's going to happen." They went into the house -- a tree crashed down on the porch. Later, the chimney on the roof collapsed.

I've always loved history -- especially local history. And for those of you who have always found the subject boring in school and wondered why it was worth studying, this is a perfect example of how valuable it is. Spending just a little time with 95-year-old Annie and 86-year-old Beecher, I see their eyes light up. I see them as they were 70 years ago -- Beecher a 16-year-old high school student who ran home from school on that Wednesday when the hurricane approached so he could be with his family. And Annie -- a 25-year-old working at a rooming house in the North Fork community of New Suffolk. Her boyfriend trekked through the storm to make sure she was okay. (I imagine you can guess the rest of the story -- they were happily married for decades soon after.) The stories they have to tell are valuable lessons for us today.

I think of the poor people of Galveston, Texas and what they're dealing with in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Two million people near the Texas coast lost electricity. Two MILLION. That would be like two-thirds of Nassau and Suffolk homeowners without power. Could you imagine the outrage, the impatience and frustration that would cause? People waited four hours to get gasoline for their cars. FOUR HOURS on a line for your local gas station. And while they were doing that, other members of their family were waiting on line just to get INTO a supermarket. And once inside, they were greeted by virtually empty shelves.

Galveston, by the way, is a city on a barrier island -- the Gulf of Mexico on one side, the mainland of Texas across the bay on its other side. Sound familiar? It has a population of about 57-thousand. Long Beach, in Nassau County, is a city on a barrier island with a population of about 35-thousand. Another lesson to be learned.

Yes it's true -- sometimes the media can overplay things. I've been in the news business for more than 25 years and it's just part of the territory. But wouldn't you much rather take that than have a major storm take you by surprise and devastate your home, your family and your community? Listen to the experts when a potential emergency could happen. And if you don't listen to them, then listen to the Long Islanders who were around during the '38 Hurricane. They only wish there were experts around back then that they could have listened to.

Some more interesting links from Bill Korbel and me:

http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/38hurricane/index.html

http://chl.wes.army.mil/shore/

http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/libraries/quog/hurricane/index.htm

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ggl_main&s_subsrc=DonateToRedCross&s_src=F7FWE001&gclid=CMWi7qXv4ZUCFQK_Ggod21ZUYQ

I Miss Mickey

By Doug Geed

Okay, I'm going to be 50 years old at the end of the year. I have three children and have been a broadcast journalist for 28 years. But I am also an unabashed Disney geek. Yup -- I love Disney World and want to visit as often as I can. And I'm really sad that our latest trip is over.

Neither my wife or I were lucky enough to go there as kids. It was 1996 when we made our first trip as a family (two kids and a third on the way) and within a minute of driving onto the property we fully understood what all the fuss is about.

We just came back from family trip number 7 and it was awesome. The first day was a little rough. We flew down when Tropical Storm Fay was hovering over Jacksonville. So I always say, our first ride this trip was Fay! But after she pulled out, we had great weather.

I've earned quite a reputation here at News 12 as "Mr. Disney" -- but there are also a lot of people here who have been going since childhood and know a lot more than I do. And us Disney geeks can spot each other from a mile away. It's the reaction of people when you tell them you're going -- the eyes widen, the smile broadens and a "I'm so jealous" blurts out -- that's when you know you've found one.

We try to hit each of the parks a couple times -- once in the daytime, once at night. The new Toy Story attraction at Hollywood Studios (used to be called Disney MGM Studios) is awesome -- just an outstanding event that's worth all the attention it's been getting.

And there's just something so special about getting on a ride that you've done over and over -- a special feeling like "wow -- we're back." Our morning sports anchor, Erin Colton, is a very close family friend and actually went with us on our trip back in '06. I think she was a little overwhelmed. After our second time getting on "Peter Pan's Flight" or our third time on "It's a Small World" or our 5th time on "Tower of Terror" she was like "We're going on this AGAIN? We just did this the other day!" I mean don't get me wrong, at night we always make sure we have our grown-up fun by the pool and at the cabana bar, but when it's time for the parks, it's time to revert back to our childhood! And in this business, where we see so much of the bad side of life, it is such a relief going to what is rightfully called "the happiest place on earth."

I have to say, a couple of special attractions for us are both in the Tomorrowland section of Magic Kingdom. One is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, a great place to just sit back and relax. The other is Carousel of Progress. I'm ashamed to say that we didn't try it for years because we simply didn't know what it was. It turns out to be one of Disney's originals -- a favorite of Walt's that he created for the 1964 World's Fair. It is classic Disney and I urge everyone to visit it.

There were also quite a few Long Islanders when we visited -- quite a few people who recognized me and said hello. That's a great feeling -- to be so far from home yet to share this bond with others. Even a waitress at one of the restaurants (a transplanted Long Islander) stopped by our table to say she misses watching us!

I'd love to hear from any Disney freaks out there who'd like to compare notes. As you know, a lot of planning goes into a Disney trip and it goes by so quickly. The best therapy for when you get back is to either keep talking about it or start planning another one!

So let me hear about your family traditions -- favorite rides, restaurants, resorts, places in the park to hide away and relax. For the Geed family, it's unanimous -- our favorite ride is Tower of Terror. Splash Mountain comes in at number two -- and Rock N' Roller Coaster a super A-plus.

Liberty Tree Tavern is a dinner we have never missed. (For those of you who don't know, it's a restaurant in Magic Kingdom set up like an early American Colonial Pub -- and the theme is a Thanksgiving meal that's served every day of the year.

'50's Prime Time is a must for anyone who remembers the old t-v shows from the 50's and 60's -- Sci-Fi Drive-In is one of the most unique restaurants you'll ever see -- and Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace are our favorite breakfast spots. And a place that doesn't get a lot of publicity yet we love is Kona Cafe -- one of the restaurants in the great Polynesian resort. Jeesh -- our family even gets excited when we hear the voice of the guy who tells who to stand back from the monorail doors as they're closing. We know that recording by heart!

Yeah -- this may be a little over the top for many of you. But my guess is, if you've continued reading this entire blog, Disney is a special place for you too. And you totally understand it when I say, "I Miss Mickey."

Pow-Wow Time

By Doug Geed

Yeah -- Labor Day Weekend is always sad -- summer is over and it's back to school time. And this year, it comes the earliest it possibly could -- this weekend. (Somehow Labor Day weekend where two out of the three days have an August date just doesn't seem fair. BUT, next year, Labor Day comes on the latest possible date, September 7th, so we'll catch a break then.)

My wife and I like to host a lot of parties, but we always stay away from Labor Day Weekend because it seems somewhat depressing. But what we've done several times in the past is attend the Pow-Wow at the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton. I recommend it for anyone -- young or old, with kids or without.
We have so many treasures on Long Island and so many roots with our past (such as farms still in existence today, centuries after they began) and one of the most unique to me has always been the presence of a Native American tribe.

The pow-wow draws Native Americans from all across the country. About 100 booths are set up selling everything from native foods (Indian fry bread, corn fritters) to authentic native jewelry.

And the dancers and music are spectacular. It's the 62nd annual gathering -- one of the largest events on Long Island, and something you'll never forget.

Hope your summer was a good one!

Here's a link for more info on the pow wow

http://www.shinnecocknation.com/62powwow.pdf

Riverhead's Zero Tolerance Program

By Doug Geed

I think it's one of Long Island's most picturesque downtowns. The architecture in Riverhead is beautiful and varied. You sense the history Main Street and can picture it in its heyday when Suffolk's County Center was a bustling community.

Downtown suffered bad times in more recent years and it has bounced back quite a bit. But if you drive along Main Street now, you'll see an awful lot of vacant stores.
There are several reasons for this -- one big one is the massive pending project to completely revitalize the downtown area, in part, by turning around the storefronts that now face Main Street (Route 25) so that they'll face the Peconic River behind them.
The river is now a nice area for a stroll -- a boardwalk, brickwork and picnic tables. But the area around it is nothing more than a huge parking lot for the BACK of the Main Street stores.

The so-called Apollo project, to completely change the look of the downtown, is dragging on and many stores are going out of business.

There is also a perception that downtown is not "safe." To fight that perception, the town just put a zero-tolerance policy in effect. Essentially, any "quality of life" violation (anything from loitering and playing loud boom boxes to prostitution) will be ticketed immediately. Fines for such violations could be doubled.
Local officials say statistically, Riverhead is not an unsafe area but they agree the perception that it is exists. There's a theory that if one broken window is left unfixed or if a group of unemployed people are allowed to hang around a street corner doing nothing, then it gives the impression that "disorder is tolerated," as town supervisor Phil Cardinale put it. These are the things police are now going after.

In the meantime, if you haven't visited Riverhead, you're really missing out on a special place. Atlantis Marine World on East Main Street is a terrific place to visit -- a top-notch aquarium with beautiful architecture and landscaping. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. And they are also sinking a lot of money into an on-site hotel that should also give the downtown area a shot in the arm.
On the other end of Main Street is Star Confectionery (or Papa Nick's) as its know. Owned by the third generation of the same family, it is still one of our favorite places to eat on Long Island. It's like you're stepping into a 1930's luncheonette and whether you're simply getting pancakes for breakfast, a tuna sandwich for lunch or their homeade ice cream for dessert, it somehow just tastes better.
There are also many hardworking business owners along Main Street who are enthusiastic about the future of their downtown. They're hoping this new zero-tolerance policy will be a big success and will bring even more visitors to their town.
Just remember -- leave the boom box at home.

Grown on Long Island

By Doug Geed

   By now I'm assuming most Long Islanders have been to Riverhead, to shop at the Tanger Outlets, get wet at Splish Splash or explore Atlantis Marine World.
   But I hope they continue beyond Riverhead, either along the North Fork or South Fork. There, you'll see what sets aside the East End from the rest of Long Island -- farms. Rolling vineyards may have taken the place of most potato farms, but there are still many traditional farms left.
On News 12 Long Island, we've documented the enormous pressure facing those farmers -- pressure from land developers who would love to turn those wide open spaces into neighborhoods. And with the high cost of farming on Long Island, it's tempting for all of them to sell.
We've reported through the years on various programs to save open space. Some are complicated, some are controversial. But there is one sure-fire way we can all preserve farmland on Long Island and it won't cost us any tax money -- make it profitable for farmers to stand in business. And that's where you and I and all our neighbors come into play. All we need to do is buy local fruits and vegetables whenever we can.
   To me, a drive out east is a great way to spend a day or a weekend and there are some terrific farmstands you can visit. But you also visit your local supermarket. For years, King Kullen has been a great supporter of local farms, setting up separate areas in their produce department for Long Island goods. Now, more of our larger supermarket chains are doing it as well. (Look for the Grown on Long Island symbol where you shop.)
   There's also a new Farmer's Market you might want to check out. It's located in Holtsville, right off of Exit 62 of the Long Island Expressway. (Exit 62 is Nicoll's Road -- go south, turn onto Furrows Road and you'll see the Farmer's Market on your right.)
It is run by J. Kings, Long Island's largest food distributor. The company has about 65 trucks delivering food to stores and restaurants all across Long Island. Owner John King says that every day, his empty, refrigerated trucks are driving back from deliveries in Montauk and Orient, so he decided to bring back produce from East End farms. He then sells it directly from his parking lot in Holtsville.
It was kind of experimental and he opened it this summer not knowing what to expect, but it's gotten a big turnout. His goal was to get chefs to come and see what local farms have to offer and to buy their goods to serve in their restaurants. But it's also open to the public and it's proving popular. And East End farmers love having somewhere else to sell their produce -- instead of trucking it themselves into Hunt's Point in the city.
   For now, the Farmer's Market is open Wednesdays through Saturdays 9-to-4. I've included some links where you can get more information.
   You can also see it first-hand on my East End Show this weekend (along with a story about a fun and educational boat ride you can take with your family -- and a story about the largest buffalo ranch in the northeast that's located right in Riverhead!) The show times are Saturday at 7 am, 11, 1 and 3 and Sunday 7, 9, 11:30 and 3:30.
There are also other Farmer's Markets scattered throughout Long Island that provide produce picked that morning from the field.
   But for a real treat, pay a visit yourself to an East End farmstand. The quality is excellent, I guarantee it'll be the best corn-on-the-cob you've ever eaten and -- just think -- the money you plunk down to buy your food all goes to preserving the beautiful scenery in front of you.

http://jkings.com/
http://www.lifb.com/
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/regionmetrosuffolk.htm
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/regionmetronassau.htm

A Soldier's Story

By Doug Geed

   It was a moment that changed Chris Levi's life forever; a moment that he will never forget. Riding in his military vehicle in what's become one of the most dangerous locations in Iraq, a road, an explosion was triggered. In an instant, Levi lost both his legs. Part of his hand was blown off in the split second incident as well. The Army corporal from Holbrook says he didn't even feel any pain and knew right away what happened. Others with him were killed or injured. He remembers calmly telling anyone who would listen that he had lost his legs. Towels and blankets were wrapped quickly around his knees. The next thing he remembers, he woke up in a military hospital in Germany the next day.

   This Friday, August 15th, starting in the 8 am hour, we'll bring you "A Soldier's Story" -- an amazing tale of courage, patriotism and optimism.
As Chris spends months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center trying to learn to walk all over again -- this time with artificial limbs -- he still smiles and says how he loves his country, always wanted to serve in the military and has no regrets about what happened to him. He'll talk about how proud he is helping the Iraqi people in small villages trying to build a life of freedom. Watching him do his physical therapy makes you sad, makes you proud and makes you feel humbled.
   We all get stressed at work. We all get angry at unnecessary traffic jams and the high cost of living we have here on Long Island. We get upset when our team loses, angry at our kids when they didn't do like we told them. We get angry at poor service at a restaurant and wonder "why these things always happen to me" when all the close parking spaces are taken at the mall.
And then there's people like Chris Levi. Let's hope we all keep him in mind the next time we feel like we have something to complain about. And let's always remember the thousands of our men and women overseas right now -- some of whom won't come home to their families -- others who will return with no physical injuries, but with emotional and psychological scars that will affect them and their families forever.

   I hope you can join me for A Soldier's Story airing this Friday. And here is a link you might want to check out. The Holbrook Fire Department and other agencies are trying to raise money for renovations that are needed for Chris' house when he returns to Long Island.

http://buildinghomesforheroes.com/

The Strength of Family

By Doug Geed

It's a movie I think everyone should be made to watch -- Schindler's List. It personalizes the horrors of the Holocaust in a powerful way. And if you've seen it, you know the ending -- when the real survivors are shown on screen.
Every time I see the movie, I want to jump into that scene and give every one of those people a hug. And that's exactly the way I felt covering a news conference this morning at Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Taking center stage was Shunkale Stermer. (Her first name is pronounced "shoonk-uh-luh.")
The Long Island woman is a Holocaust survivor but told a story I've never heard. She hid, with about three dozen other people, inside a cave in the Ukraine for nearly a year. Actually, it was two caves. The Nazis discovered the first cave. Shunkale, who was only 8 at the time, remembers how everyone was petrified when someone came running to the back area of the cave and said "The Germans are here!" Shunkale says her very brave grandmother went to talk to the Germans to convince them to leave the people alone. A ploy, in reality, to stall them so that the rest of the family could escape. It didn't work -- they had to leave, but during it, they amazingly were able to get away from the Nazis and found a second, larger underground cave farther in the woods.

They entered through a hole in the ground, slid and crawled for 60-feet in a 3-foot wide opening until they reached a larger area where more than three dozen people from five families lived.

The women and children, including Shunkale, were never allowed to go outside. They never saw the sun or smelled fresh air. It was so dark under the earth you couldn't see your finger right in front of your face. Candles were their only light. Potatoes from area farm fields was their primary source of food. Some feathers and straw were their pillows.

38 people went into that cave -- 38 came out alive.

Shunkale is now 73 years old. She has three children and three grandchildren and will be among 40 people who are going back -- for the first time -- to the cave. She says no one ever knew where they were. After they left, the cave was abandoned and forgotten. In 1993, a "caver" (a person who explores caves) re-discovered it and found buttons, shoes and the names of families scratched into the walls.
LIJ is supplying doctors and medical supplies for the trip and a film crew will be along for a future documentary.

An amazing story of survival. And Shunkale says it was all made possible by the strength of her family. "We're all we had."

Check out this site for more information.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0527_040527_grottosurvivors.html

And if you ever run into Shunkale Stermer, she deserves a hug.

Merry Christmas!

By Doug Geed

I know what you're saying -- I'm late with my holiday wishes, but not by 7 months like you might think, by just a week.

July 25th is, in case you didn't know, "Christmas in July." At least in our house it is.

This whole thing was the idea of my wife. She started it about 10 years ago when our kids were really little. On July 24th ("Christmas Eve") she'll decorate the house -- not full-blown decorations as we do in December, but a small tree and other knick-knacks.

Then on "Christmas in July Day," Christmas music plays all day and night upstairs while downstairs, Christmas movies play all day and night. It's a Wonderful Life, the Flintsone's Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause, March of the Wooden Soldiers (one of the greatest films of all time), Charlie Brown's Christmas Special, and every other holiday movie we own get spread out on the floor and we all map out which ones we'll watch.

And -- thank goodness for air conditioning -- my wife cooks a full-blown dinner. And yes, we give presents to each other.

Yeah, it's hokey, but so far, even as our oldest prepares for his sophomore year at college, the kids are still into it. For my wife and I it's just another chance to make some family memories. Soon enough, we'll be watching our kids raising their own families and we'll be looking back at the all the fun things we used to do with ours and wonder how time can pass so quickly.

But that's something to worry about later. For now, let's just enjoy our families and the holidays. Merry Christmas!

An early autumn?

By Doug Geed

No, it's not that certain parts of our Island are getting relief from this heat, but there are some places that LOOK like fall is coming because the leaves are turning brown.

The reason -- those pesky cicadas that bothered so many of us with their noise. As we told you about here on News 12 Long Island, this summer we experienced the emergence of the 17-year cicada, which last appeared in Nassau and Suffolk in 1991.

Incredibly, they live as larva in the ground, feeding on the roots of grass and trees for 17 years before they emerge and start singing their chorus. They live only a few weeks, and before they die, the female buries her eggs inside the limbs of trees. They need soft bark, so they go for the very ends of tree branches. They actually make slits in the branches to lay their eggs -- slits that end up killing the tree limbs. Eventually, the leaves turn brown and fall off. The good news, it does no damage to the trees. By next spring, they grow new leaves as if nothing ever happened.

You're most likely to see the effects if you drive along the William Floyd Parkway in Suffolk -- Exit 68 off the L-I-E. If you go north and head up into the Ridge area -- and past Brookhaven National Lab -- you'll see tall mighty oak trees with clumps of brown leaves. The lab's director of natural resources, who we interviewed for our story appearing on tonight's newscast, described it as huge Christmas trees with gold ornaments in the middle of summer. So if you're driving along that roadway and, like so many Long Islanders, get concerned about a disease or pesticide problem, don't be alarmed. It's just another example of how amazing Mother Nature can be. For more on cicadas, by the way, this website is considered the be-all and end-all site! http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/projects/cicada/cc.php

The Best and the Worst

By Doug Geed

People often ask if I enjoy my job and the answer is without question yes! Another frequent question is how someone gets to have such a job. The answer is complicated. But to become a journalist I think you need two very basic things -- a tremendous interest and curiosity in just about everything and a desire to tell a story.

I just got back from Washington D.C. where I covered two different stories I'm working on. And yes, going on assignments out of state, even though it means temporarily separating yourself from your wife and children, is part of what makes this job exciting.

The stories could not be any more different -- while one dealt with the best life has to offer, the other deals with the worst.

I'll start with the fun one. Every year, President Bush (the first Little Leaguer ever to become President from what I understand) holds a T-Ball tournament on the White House lawn. T-Ball, in case you don't know, involves 5-year-old boys and girls in their very first Little League assignment. The ball is placed on a "t" or rubber stand and the kids just smack the ball off of that.

50 kids are invited to play -- one from each state and this year, New York's representative was a 5-year-old boy from Dix Hills named Shay Rubenstein, chosen, like all of the other participants, by random after being nominated by their local Little League, in this case, Half Hollow Hills.

It was a tremendous event. Literally the backyard of the White House was transformed into a mini-ballpark, ESPN commentators Mike and Mike did the "play-by-play," Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was among the baseball greats taking part, and, of course, President Bush led it all -- opening the ceremonies at home plate and then sitting in the stands with his wife for the game.

Each player then got their picture taken with the President and got an autographed baseball from him. It was a terrific event to cover, just pure fun and you couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of the antics of the kids.

We're putting together a story on the event that will air this Thursday, June 24th, starting in the 8 am hour. I hope you can watch.

The next day, we went to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to interview Chris Levi, a bright, articulate and passionate Holbrook resident. Chris' young life took a dramatic and tragic turn in March of this year when the Army corporal lost both of his legs and severely injured his arm in an explosion in Iraq.

He'll be in rehab at Walter Reed for more than a year. But he remains so energetic and optimistic, telling us he has no regrets about anything and stills feels passionately about being a soldier and carrying out the mission of helping the Iraqi people.

Still, it's sad to watch Chris doing his physical therapy -- learning to walk all over again with prosthetic legs. Just 24 hours before, I was laughing watching the intense little faces of 5-year-olds playing baseball literally in the backyard of the President of the United States while he was watching from the stands. I wonder how many little 5-year-olds will grow up to serve our country in the future and how many of them might end up hurt or killed. And it also drives home the point that without our soldiers, scenes like the one on the White House lawn aren't possible. I often speak at various events and usually, at the beginning, I take a moment and ask everyone to remember the men and women who are overseas and away from their families in a strange land so that we can enjoy our families in safety and in freedom.

So whether you're at the beach, having a backyard barbecue or just lying around in the sun, you should also take a moment to thank those serving in the military, remember those who lost their lives protecting our freedom and salute people like Chris Levi, whose powerful passion for his country changed his life forever.

By the way, we'll bring you Chris' story in a special report airing Tuesday, July 29th.

The Real Captain Quint

By Doug Geed

I first met Frank Mundus two years ago in his beloved Montauk -- honestly one of the most beautiful spots in the country in my opinion. Even though he was in his late 70's, he's still pretty imposing -- not so much in stature, but because of his gruff, no-nonsense attitude. I asked him what reaction people have when they find out who he is. He paused -- thought for a second and then said "They usually take a step back." Then he chuckled in that gravelly voice.

If you don't recognize the name Frank Mundus, let me back-track.

Certain movies CHANGE movies forever. The Godfather is the perfect example. Still one of the best movies ever made, it triggered an entire generation of organized crime movies that are still popular today. Harry Potter led to Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Spiderwick Chronicles and other fantasy books-turned-movies. Remember those hokey disaster films from the 70's -- Poseidon Adventure, Towering Inferno and Earthquake? And then there's "Jaws." It not only led to many sequels (none of them classics, unfortunately), but it paved the way for other "animals" versus "man" films.

There is a major Long Island flavor to the original 1975 Jaws. The movie was made from the book written by Peter Benchley. It takes place in the fictional town of "Amity." And the central figure (besides the shark) was the crotchety, quirky, cantankerous, ornery captain of the boat -- Captain Quint, played so well by the late actor Robert Shaw. Although there's some debate, that character is widely believed to be based on Frank Mundus.

Mundus came to Montauk in the early 1950's and ran a charter boat. What he's known for is taking people out sportfishing for shark. That was pretty much considered a ridiculous idea at the time. But after the enormous success of Jaws, shark-fishing became all the rage.

Long Islanders have the chance to meet Frank Mundus this summer in Riverhead. His boat the Cricket 2 (which he'll proudly tell you served as the model for the boat in the movie) is docked behind Atlantis Marine World -- right along the scenic Peconic River. He's selling his autobiography, photos and other memorabilia now through mid-August, then he's booking charters out of Montauk until early September. (His charters, by the way, are strictly catch-and-release -- keeping in tune with the mission of Atlantis Marine World.)

Like any other fisherman, he loves to share his stories. And he really is a piece of work. He didn't remember the interview we did in 2006, but I didn't expect him to. I can only imagine how many television cameras he's looked into and how many times he's had to answer the same question -- "What did you think of the movie?" (His answer by the way is that it's "one of the silliest and stupidest movies ever made -- totally unrealistic.")

And he hasn't changed two years later. During our interview by Atlantis, a yellow jacket kept circling around his head. Eventually it landed on his shoulder and slowly started walking toward his neck -- all while Frank calmly continued telling his stories. Finally I said "Frank, I realize you came face to face with some great white sharks, but there's a yellow jacket right on your neck." Without missing a beat he said "It's okay -- he bites me, he'll probably get nuttin' but poison."

Robert Shaw couldn't have delivered the line better.

Here's some links you might find enjoyable.

www.fmundus.com/

www.atlantismarineworld.com

Thanks, Mike Piazza

By Doug Geed

I'm not sure if it was 1967 or '68 -- I was only 8 or 9 years old -- but that's when my dad took me to my first Met game at soon-to-be-torn down Shea Stadium.

I've been a faithful Met fan ever since and have attended dozens of games as a child, a teen, a college student, a boy-friend, a husband and most recently, a father.

Back in the old days, my favorite players were Ron Swoboda and Tommie Agee.

Those '69 Mets were very special to me since they were the first team of "mine" to win a championship. Sadly, there haven't been many more (especially since I'm an avid Jet fan as well!)

The Mets had many more players I liked through the years -- Mookie Wilson, Dwight Gooden, Edgardo Alfonzo. But when Mike Piazza came along, I knew we had something special. (I even remember where I was when I heard the Mets had traded for him. My wife and I were strolling through downtown Greenport celebrating our anniversary in in May of 1998 when I heard the buzz.)

Piazza to me was always "old school" -- a very hard-working, keep-your-mouth shut, don't complain, just do your job player. He never seemed to whine or dodge questions, even when his team or he himself were going through tough times. And he always seemed to handle himself with class and dignity. That was especially true when Roger Clemens, quite possibly (relax, company attorneys -- I said "possibly") went on a steroid-induced rage and threw a shredded baseball bat at Piazza, claiming he thought the broken piece of wood in his hand was a baseball.

And of course, the list of historic home runs he hit in a Met uniform and the number of times he delivered a key hit would make this blog longer than even a long-time Met fan would care to read.

So when he announced his retirement this week, it was both happy and sad for me. Sad because the great game of baseball was losing a classy professional, but happy because it started the clock ticking for a very special event I've been planning for awhile.

My son was 9 years old when Piazza joined the Mets and, just like for me, he instantly became our favorite player. Within the first couple of years, it was obvious Piazza would not only end up in the Hall of Fame, but he'd be inducted on his first ballot. (For those of you who don't know, a baseball player has to be retired for five seasons before he is considered for induction into Cooperstown. He may or may not be voted in that first year, but can be in future years.)

So I'm not exactly sure when or where it was when my son and I discussed this, but one day we made a pledge: that no matter when it is and no matter where we are in life, we would attend the induction ceremonies for Mike Piazza. I've been to Cooperstown probably 8 or 10 times since I was a kid and it's a very special place for me and my entire family. (We also have two daughters who love the village and the Hall itself, just like my wife and myself.)

Ironically, or I guess appropriately, when I heard the news about Piazza's retirement, I was in my car driving to the Baltimore area to pick up my son from college. That little 9-year-old kid is now a 6-foot-2-inch college freshman. He'll be 24 during the Hall of Fame induction for Piazza -- and I'll be 54.

Life is so unpredictable, no matter how much you plan, you just never know where it's going to take you. But I have a strange feeling that I know exactly where I'll be on the last weekend of July, 2013 -- and who I'll be with.

And despite all the home runs, all the thrills, all the cheers, all the moments you made us proud to be Met fans, it's for THAT reason that I mainly want to say, "Thanks, Mike Piazza."