January 4, 2023 South Bay Shore

Suffolk County “Hog” Motorcycle Club Mounts 4th Annual Ride To Bring Holiday Cheer To Families At Ronald McDonald House NY Metro

Approximately 200 members of the Suffolk County “HOG” (Harley Owners Group) made the 40 mile ride from Oakdale, NY to New Hyde Park, NY on their 4th Annual Holiday Motorcycle Ride to bring toys and cheer to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

The ride delivered dozens

of toys that were given out by Santa Claus and raised more than $6,000 for the construction of a new Ronald McDonald House to be located in Suffolk County to serve families there.

The event is the biggest of the year for the Suffolk County HOG group.

“These kids in the

hospital are very sick and their families are under a lot of stress,” said Nicholas Nigro, Organizer of the Annual HOG ride. “They should be able to celebrate for a day. If it brings a smile to their face for one day, that’s all we want to do.”

The event started with a gathering of the riders at the Suffolk County Harley

Davidson, located at 4020 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769. Members packed the toys on a three-wheeled motorcycle “sleigh” and in a group of Jeeps and the convoy of riders departed at approximately 11 a.m.

The group traveled along Sunrise Highway and Ocean Parkway, with a scenic view of the

beach, before turning north toward the Ronald McDonald House, located at 267-07 76th Ave, Queens, NY 11040, arriving at approximately noon.

Riders disembarked and distributed toys to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

“Events like today put smiles on the faces of the

families that stay here and its just so special,” said Matt Campo, CEO of RMHC NYM. “We will collect enough toys in the last 30 days of the year to last us all of next year. Every time a child comes back to their room there’s something waiting for them.”

BARNEY 5-7 year old male. Gentle soul. Looking for a family to love.

DAHLIA 4-5 year old female. Happy and sweet girl who loves to sit right beside you.

GIA 8 year old female. Full of life with lots of energy and happiness to share.

PEPPERMINT PATTY 1-2 years old male. Loves going out for walks, playtime and running.

SIR SPARKLEPUFF

8 year old male. Lhasa Apso mix. Full of playfulness and enough cuddles to go around.

NAPOLEON

10 year old male. Pekingese mix. Confident and an ideal lap warmer.

CARNE ASADA

5 month old male. Labrador mix. Spunky little fellow. Eager to learn.

ROWDY

6 month old male. Pit mix. Sweet natured and affectionate boy.

Runners Win Awards

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for January is Pal-O-Mine Equestrian

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is a local non-profit organization that began in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. They grew from having two programs, eight horses and 80 students per week to 11 programs, 25 horses and 400 students per week - and they continue to grow today! “Our mission has been, and continues to be, to provide a comprehensive therapeutic equine program using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing,” said Lisa Gatti, Founder and CEO of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. “We proudly serve individuals with disabilities, those who have been abused or neglected, the military and the impoverished.”

Their location in Islandia offers an unequaled setting for equestrian activities, with a 20-stall barn on 13 acres, handicapped accessible bathrooms, a 100’ x 120’ indoor arena with state-of-the-art-footing and a rider hoisting system, 3 outdoor riding arenas, classrooms, accessible playground, a greenhouse and a wellness center. They offer the following programs:

Lessons: This program provides quality adaptive riding and unmounted lessons that benefit individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional and mental disabilities. Each one of their riding instructors excels in their field and continues with training and certification throughout their careers.

Equine Assisted Learning: This program incorporates horses experientially for educational and emotional growth and learning. Using unique approaches to create positive and constructive learning experiences for children and adolescents who are at risk of failing in the traditional academic setting, this program has changed the lives of countless individuals.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: This follows a model designed by EAGALA,

Inc., the leading international EAP training and certifying organization. Currently, Pal-OMine Equestrian has 7 Licensed Mental Health Professionals and 11 Equine Specialists who are certified in this model. Groups that are participating focus on the following issues: grief, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, addiction and codependency.

Speech & Occupational Therapy: Clients respond well to therapy incorporating activities with animals, and a variety of therapy goals can be addressed using this treatment strategy. Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists run this program to provide therapy services with the assistance of wonderful animals.

Military: For more than four thousand years, horses have been an integral part of warfare. Today, horses are still playing an important role in war, this time in the recovery of military veterans who have suffered emotional and/or physical injuries. This program is an EAGALA designated Military Program and offers individual, group and family sessions to help people heal.

Corporate Leadership: The way individuals interact and react with horses is very similar to the way they interact with their clients, customers, peers and work groups. People interpret horse behavior/emotions through the lens of their personal perception. How they interpret horses can often be a metaphor for their work, attitudes and relationships. Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is proud to offer a Corporate Leadership program.

For more information about this organization and all they offer, please call 631-348-1389 or visit www.pal-omine.org. Don’t miss next week’s article to learn about how you can get involved and help others in your community.

Members of the Bay Shore Boys Cross Country team

County honors.

to Jake Gogarty, Peter Bagattine, Anthony Belford and Dylan Beggins (not pictured). Jake Gogarty was also named the 2022 Suffolk XC Runner of

Year. Photo courtesy of the Bay Shore School District

Coach of the Year by the Suffolk County Cross Country Coaches. Pictured with Bay Shore Boys Cross Country team member Jake Gogarty who won the Suffolk County Championship. Photo courtesy of the Bay Shore School District

Tennis Coach Recognized

TENNIS COACH

- ay Shore’s Girls Varsity Tennis coach Deanna Lamberson has been named the 2022 Tennis Coach of the Year. Photo courtesy of the Bay Shore School District

Identity Theft Prevention Tips

(NAPSI)-A recent online survey by Toluna/ Greenfield Online, Inc. found that while most consumers try to protect their identity, many admitted to risky behavior that could put them at risk for ID theft. To help educate and protect consumers, world-renowned fraud prevention expert Frank Abagnale offers these tips:

• Shop smart: Limit the credit cards you carry.

•Keep receipts and check

your statements: Examine every charge on your statement before paying. Your receipts provide a great cross-reference check and guard against suspicious activity. You have 30 days from the date of your statement to notify your financial institution of any discrepancies; otherwise, you can be liable for any purchases.

• Protect your computer when online shopping: Make sure your security

patch and anti-virus software are updated regularly. Consider technology to protect against potential viruses.

• Watch where you shop online: Look for the lock icon on the site’s browser status bar, a sign that that site is safe. If you have never heard of a website before, see if it has security precautions in place and isn’t a fake site set up by identity thieves.

•Don’t write checks:

Give cash or gift cards. The information on a check—name, signature, address—can be used to steal identity.

•Strengthen passwords: Use passwords with at least eight characters, including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols that are easy for you to remember but difficult for predators to guess.

• Watch your wallet: Be careful at parties, restaurants, fitness clubs,

shopping carts and your car.

• Don’t take the bait on phishing scams: Also, beware of shoulder surfing (when a thief looks over your shoulder while you’re at an ATM, either directly or via a camera).

• Stop mail and newspaper delivery when you’ll be away from home.

• Consider an identity theft protection service: One low-cost solution monitors the online

criminal underground where identities are bought and sold and instantly alerts you if your Social Security number or up to 10 credit card or debit card numbers are posted by thieves. The service also scans online directories and search engines, prime sources for spammers and thieves, letting you know where your information is available, and provides advice on how to remove it.

Did You Know?

As more people work remotely, electricians and safety advocates are warning that various missteps may be putting people at unnecessary risk of fire and other unsafe conditions. Electrical equipment is necessary to run home offices just like it is traditional offices. Some people may find they have a shortage of electrical outlets to power their devices, and as a result they may turn to extension cords or power

strips. While that may seem like an easy fix, it is easy to inadvertently overload outlets and circuits by connecting more than one power strip or extension cord together in a practice known as “daisy chaining.”

According to the U.S. Office of Compliance, using a daisy chain in the workplace violates the National Electrical Code as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s rules. While it may not break code at home,

overloading any outlets increases risk for fire. The National Fire Protection Association indicates that more than 45,000 residential fires are started each year due to electrical failure and malfunction. Overload causes products to overheat, and that can spark fires in the power cords themselves or inside the wall where electrical lines are hidden.

PUZZLE ANSWERS:

On Monday, December 19, 2022, Noelle Lambert and The Bryn Elliott Team concluded their Holiday Donation Drive, which ran for four weeks and had drop-off locations throughout Long Island. The drive brought in countless donations, all of which were given to a local non-profit organization, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH).

“It was such a great experience and people didn’t hold back,” said Noelle Lambert, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “I received calls, texts and emails from people who heard of the drive and wanted to donate, many of which ended up giving so much that they couldn’t bring it all into a drop-off location in one trip. Although it’s a very sad reality that many individuals are experiencing homelessness and other hardships right here on Long Island, it was really refreshing to see our community come together and do something about it.”

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless strives to end homelessness on Long Island, and to alleviate the issues associated with homelessness and poverty for homeless and at risk persons in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The organization’s distribution center where the donations were brought is located at 600 Albany Avenue in Amityville,

and is also known as their boutique. People in need can make an appointment to come to the boutique and leave with clothes and other items, such as non perishable food and personal care products for free. LICH is here to work directly with people in need, as well as with case managers, shelter staff members, school employees, church members and the like who are helping these individuals.

”This organization does so much good and it was a pleasure to contribute towards their important mission,” said Bryn Elliott, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “So many people have clothing and miscellaneous items that they aren’t using, while others are in real need; it’s just a matter of coordinating a collection. However, it’s clear that the holiday spirit helped our drive quite a bit. I want to express how thankful we are to all who donated, as well as for the businesses that allowed us to use their locations for the drive, which includes USA Auto Body in East Patchogue, The Fish Store in Bayport, Long Island Media Group in

Farmingdale and Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Smithtown and Farmingville.”

“We are so very grateful for this drive that Noelle and The Bryn Elliott Team put together,” said Bailey Riekkinen, Community Engagement Specialist at LICH. “The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless will continue to advocate and serve until we achieve our mission of ending homelessness on Long Island. In 2022, we referred over 700 households for permanent housing through Coordinated Entry, a system that ensures the most vulnerable Long Islanders are prioritized for permanent, affordable housing. Affordable housing is scarce on Long Island, and we are consistently working hard at connecting Long Island’s most vulnerable to the available resources. Additionally, we received and distributed over 10,000 pounds of food and toiletries along with countless clothing items to locals that are homeless and at-risk on the streets and in shelters through our boutique and pantry.”

Together we can make a true difference in our community. If you would like more information about starting a donation drive with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, please contact Bailey at 631.464.4314 x125. For more information about LICH and all they offer, visit www. addressthehomeless.org or call 631.464.4314.

Donations collected from the drive

Noelle Lambert & Bryn Elliott

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