"A Sense of Community"

Involved people create the sense of community, and it is up to the residents to become engaged in their community. Community is…..

I was walking on Thorne Street approaching Maple Avenue on a rainy Sunday after the only snow storm we had this year. It was cold so the slush was frozen, my hands were full, I was handing out the flyers for the first Community Forum being held by Nu Village the new Civic Association that is in the process of forming. 

A tall young man was helping an elderly women cross the street. He had a good hold on her arm with one hand as she held on tight and gingerly took her steps. She had her handbag and grocery bag in one hand. In his other hand he struggled with a wire cart on wheels. As I approached I offered my assistance, I put everything down and went over to them. I said, “let me take your bag” as I reached for it, she was handing it to me, I realized what I just asked this women to do. I started to laugh and said out loud “oh my gosh, I just asked you to give me your purse and you don’t even know me”.  We all laughed, as I placed the bags in the wire cart and took it over to the car. The young man and I helped the women into the back seat of the car, she thanked me and said she was going to Bravo, to shop, she needed a few things and despite the weather she felt she wanted to get out. I handed the flyer to the young man and asked him to join the Forum.

As a member of the Civic Association I hope to see our community develop some of the following things. If you believe in any of these ideas, please let us know at Nu Village, we would like your input and your help in further achieving the “Sense of Community” we all would like.    

Institute a Patchogue Home/Street Pride program and have contests, then have plaques posted on the street of the winners, the entire street is involvement, not just one house. Fine the absentee landlords for the condition of their properties.  Fine the owner of cars and the landlords of the house where the violations occur.  Take the fines and establish a Beautification fund to assist Village Residents who may not have the means to maintain their home. Develop a Senior program so that seniors can get assistance with home repairs for nominal costs. Explore the Possibility of offering Village sponsored Day Care services. Create a place on the Village website where a new resident can access all committees, organizations and when they meet. (not just specific to the Village Government) If possible determine a set amount as a surplus for the Village, if that amount is reached, give some back to residents. Create a system where new construction/renovation etc of projects for Village is opened to Village residents first provided they meet bonding requirements if necessary and the required qualifications. Don’t go outside the County if possible and definitely not out of state. Maybe, part of our DPW department could institute the old fashioned way we cleaned streets, along with the street sweeper we could have the liter picked up as well.

Community to me is a place where you know the local shop keepers and the people on the street. Where you help a neighbor and respect your leaders. Know you may not be able to do it yourself, and participate in things bigger than oneself. Listen to each other, before we interupt because we want the floor or we do not want to hear what is being said. Community is made up of individuals who collectively come together and step up to the plate to make a change and they offer solutions. Be part of the solution, complaining without action is part of the problem.

NEXT EVENT For NuVillage: 

(Free Hotdogs and Music Saturday, March 10th come to our Election Rally, at Brickhouse Brewery, 1-4pm )