Focus East Patchogue

Information from Focus East Patchogue:

Our next meeting of Focus will be held on Wednesday, April 25, at the Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue.  The time is 7pm to 8:30pm. We thank Evan, George and the staff for opening their facility to us.  You may not be aware, but Evan was one of the original founders of Focus, ten years ago.

We also want to thank Gary for allowing us to meet at his home at the last minute and for his warm hospitality offering coffee and snakes.  It was totally unexpected but thankfully welcomed.

You should know that Pastor John, from Oasis Ministries, contacted me the next day, after our last meeting, to apologize.  He was visiting the sick of his congregation and totally forgot to make arrangements for us. He couldn’t apologize enough.  We still thank Oasis for their invitation, and recall having held several meetings there, where they too offered coffee and donuts providing a comfortable space to discussing our issues.

Assemblyman DEAN MURRAY notified us that BEST YET MARKET will officially open on Friday, MAY 4, 2012, at the SWAN COMMONS Shopping Center, in East Patchogue.  It was originally scheduled for April 20, but because they were opening another location they wanted to have both Grand Openings on the same day.  He has asked that we let our Focus members know so that they may share in this special long awaited event.  He reminded us that we share this achievement in having a new Supermarket in our area.

Although you may notice several vacancies on Main Street, we should know that all of Main Street is prospering much more than the Main Streets of other towns and villages in Suffolk.  For example, Sayville, which has always been an inspiration to us, we understand, is now more than 30 percent vacant.  This is not good news for any of our villages because we all support each other directly or indirectly.  The best way we can help is by supporting our local merchants thereby circulating our money back into our local economy.  This helps maintain job security, elevates our reputation and demographics and encourages investors into our area and the adjoining villages.

WHY do we Focus on MAIN STREET?
Have you ever wondered why almost every Town and Village has a Main Street?  How can there be more than one Main Street?  Its history is not only informative but illustrates the importance of why the revitalization of any Town begins on their Main Street.

The early settlers arrived in America by boats. The land was mostly forests of trees. Their first task was to build a large building as a safe shelter for everyone. In time they would help each other construct their own homes. The first building was usually a place of worship which also doubled as a public meeting place, a local town hall, a place to hold social events, etc.
Their work required food and supplies which meant the building of a General Store.  Their dreams required a PLAN which was developed from their experiences, from the countries they came from and considering their talents and abilities to implement them. It all began with a simple road they would call MAIN STREET where they would grow from more than one place of worship, more than a general store, but with specialty shops, one or more hotels, a sheriff’s office and jail, a court house, a blacksmith shop, a stable, an ice house, one or more salons, etc.  As Main Street would grow, so did the community and its reputation.

 In time they would add roads behind this Main Street and they were usually designated as First Street, Second Street, etc.  When you visit a Village or Town today, located the ocean or a harbor, you will notice that most still maintain a Main Street followed by First, Second, Third, etc.  In time, new streets took on the names of those people most prominent in that Town or Village.

You might ask yourself that aged old question, what came first the chicken or the egg?  In this case, Main Street came first and to this day it remains the center of activity to any town.  When a Main Street is closes they call the town a Ghost Town.  (By the way, God created the chickens, male and female, to be fruitful and multiply)

Focus East Patchogue was formed out of need to revitalize our Main Street.  In 2000, there were many vacant stores and offices.  Our area came dangerously close to becoming a ghost town.  It is hard to understand but the bordered up Plaza Theatre constantly stood as a symbol of our inability to prosper.  Local merchants were reluctant to invest or in improving the façade of their stores or shops.  Many wanted to relocate. Your work has changed that.

The first ten years were the hardest.  We need others to continue the work and make all of Main Street a shopping and entertainment joy. Are you ready?

Enjoy the weather.  God Bless