Archives for October 2019
Supporters Step Up at Mid-Island Little League Fundraiser
[sliceshow id=”35320″]
Mid-Island Little League families and friends were on deck at COMMONS Café Wednesday in support of the team, where a fundraiser was held to raise money for their trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The impressive Mid-Atlantic champs are currently just two wins away from winning the U.S. finals.
“We don’t say the ‘L’ word so WHEN they win tomorrow, they’ll play Saturday. Then after they win that one, the next day they win the whole thing!” said Michele Vazzo, Mid-Island mom and head of the fundraising committee.
They certainly have every reason to be optimistic. After winning 15 consecutive games this season, the team continued their winning streak with two victories at the start of the series, defeating the Midwest 5-2 and the Southwest 2-1. Their next game is against Hawaii on Wednesday, August 22 at 7:30pm. You can catch it on ESPN.
Christine Vidal, whose son Derek Mendez plays on the team, says the boys are in awe of all the attention but still gracious about it. “They’re busy giving autographs all day. But I just love their attitude. They took to everyone. They’re not cocky. They have a right to be but they’re not. They’re very confident and they’re very humble.”
It’s not every day that people ask your little leaguer for an autograph, but at the end of the day they’re still regular boys, she added. “They still got summer homework to do!” she laughed.
She also mentioned that Derek celebrated his 13th birthday the day the team arrived in Williamsport, on August 13. “That was the best birthday ever for him.”
Jennifer Astarbi, whose son plays for the 11-year-old All Star team, has been making the four-hour trip back and forth to Williamsport with her kids to cheer on the team for every game. She says it’s exhausting but worth it. “You can’t imagine what it’s like in the stands. The excitement is unlike anything you’ve ever seen!”
“It’s even better than a Mets game,” chimed in her daughter Sofia.
“Everyone thought we were the underdogs,” joked her son, Peter. “But not anymore!”
Tommy Kalantzis, who serves on the Mid-Island Board of the Directors and coaches the 8-year-old team, was busy with his wife Natalia selling raffle tickets at the fundraiser. They’re planning to attend Saturday’s game and have been helping all week with fundraising efforts. “We wish them all the best – bring it home, boys!” he exclaimed.
Fundraising has been a high priority for Mid-Island. The team posted a plea on their Facebook page for donations this week, citing that expenses have been a burden for the families. “What you may not realize is that these kids haven’t been home in almost a month between regionals and now the series,” it read. “While Little League does a tremendous job feeding and housing the kids, the parents are put through tremendous expense. Hotels and food are not cheap, especially when room rates seem to suddenly rise as these events happen.”
In the spirit of giving, 100% of the proceeds from the COMMONS Café “Pop-Up Community Day” Wednesday will be given to the boys’ families. According to Kristine Garlisi, Chief of Staff for the Nicotra Group, the whole fundraiser was set up within just a few hours after Ms. Vazzo reached out to her last week. 100% of the profits from the COMMONS café contribute to the funding for Staten Island non-profit organizations and scholarship recipients through the Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation.
“People who have big hearts want to open them,” Ms. Vazzo said. Anyone who would like to donate can either message the team’s Facebook page or donate to their Go Fund Me page.
And don’t forget to sign Staten Island’s Parent’s Congratulations Card to Mid-Island. Let’s show these boys they have the love and support of over 1,000 neighbors, friends, and family in Staten Island!
By Jeannine Cintron
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
12 Weeks of Summer – Week 4!
Summer is only 12 weeks long, so get out and enjoy as much of it as you can with your family before you blink and it’s over. Staten Island is home to are TONS of events, (even FREE ones) including classic favorites mixed with some exciting new offerings, to keep you busy, busy, busy. Here’s your Week 4 lineup of summertime stuff to do!
Thursday, July 12
Historic Richmond Town Summer Eats
Thursday nights at Historic Richmond Town will be buzzing with free family-friendly summer fun, featuring food trucks, music, photo booths, games, entertainment and Egger’s Homemade Ice Cream. Click here for more info on the weekly event.
Friday, July 13
Sprinklerfest
The annual wet and wild event at Snug Harbor is back to make a splash this year — with over 30 sprinklers spanning several acres of lawn, plus music, live entertainment, food, and games. Click here for more info on one of the summer’s coolest events.
Saturday, July 14
Back to the Beach
It’s easily one of the biggest weekends of the summer for Staten Island, when the Midland Beach boardwalk is filled with games, delicious food, rides for kids, vendors, and more free fun. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, but we recommend being around for the Saturday night fireworks display!
Sunday, July 15
Beach Day
It’s been a busy few days, so a relaxing beach day is in order. Stay on Staten Island and you can head to the Back to Beach celebration in Midland Beach when your done soaking up some sun. Or head over the bridge and spend the whole day at a beautiful New Jersey beach with your family.
Click here for a list of Staten Island Beaches.
Click here and scroll down to “Beach & Park Destinations” for our beachy suggestions off the island.
Monday, July 16
Visit Clove Lakes Park
Clove Lakes is one of Staten Island’s most scenic and picturesque parks. The photo ops are endless…and so is the duck population. The adorable feathered friends may waddle and swim up to anyone tossing them a bite. Just be sure to come prepared with duck food and ONLY feed them the pellets– bread and other human food may grow bacteria that can harm the ducks. Click here to find out everything this beautiful park has to offer.
Tuesday, July 17
Check Out the Library
The library is chock full of free programs for kids of every age. Events sponsored by Con Edison, Staten Island MakerSpace, local musicians, magic acts, even police officers — every library has special programs that are always free of charge. You can check out our daily calendar for updated events taking place in every branch in Staten Island. And click here for a list of library branches on the island — there are lots to choose from!
Wednesday, July 18
Homemade Fun Day
Have your kids made slime yet? Probably so, but if not, here’s our take on the slime craze, plus a super-simple recipe for how to make the ooey-gooey stuff. If you already have a houseful of slime gurus, try some thing new instead. Click the links below to try these fun DIY ideas with the kids.
DIY Flower Seed Bombs
Homemade Play-dough
Homemade Bath Bombs
12 Weeks of Summer – Week 3!
It’s only the first full week of July, which means we still have two months of summer left to enjoy and you’ve got plenty of opportunities to make this summer unforgettable for your family. Here’s Week 3 of our 12 Weeks of Summer. Have fun!
Thursday, July 5
Science Experiment Day
Staying low-key after your 4th of July celebrations? Keep the kids busy with some easy and fun science experiments. Check out this handy list of experiments for kids from the Krazy Koupon Lady. We also highly recommend DK’s Smithsonian Maker Lab and Maker Lab Outdoors, which are chock full of super educational and fascinating science projects for curious kids.
Friday, July 6
Family Game Night
There’s rain in the forecast, which makes for the perfect time for board games. We’ve rounded up 15 awesome games for your family’s next board game night.
Click here for the Top 15 Board Games.
Saturday, July 7 (Special Trip Saturday!)
Animal Appreciation Day
Hit the zoo or aquarium, check out a bug museum or go whale watching. Here’s a bunch of ways to spend your off-island day with the creatures you love most, from our 61 Day Trips list:
Turtle Back Zoo • West Orange, NJ • 973-731-5800
Insectropolis • Toms River, NJ • 732-349-7090
Bronx Zoo • Bronx, NY • 718-220-5100
New York Aquarium • Brooklyn, NY • 718-220-5100
American Princess Cruise Whale Watching • Queens, NY • 718-474-0555
White Post Farms • Melville, NY • 631-351-9373
Catskill Animal Sanctuary • Saugerties, NY • 845-336-8447
Sunday, July 8
Boardwalk Bike Riding
Cruise your bikes amidst the stunning backdrop of the Verrazano Bridge along the FDR Boardwalk. You can even rent specialty cycles, bicycles and other pedal-powered vehicles (ride with your whole family!) from Wheel Fun Rentals. Find them on the boardwalk at Jefferson Avenue or Sand Lane.
Monday, July 9
Visit an Elderly Person
Take the kids to spend time with an elderly relative, neighbor, or visit a local nursing home for a fulfilling experience you won’t soon forget. Check out this helpful guide from Love to Know offering gift ideas and things to do.
Tuesday, July 10
Paint & Hide Rocks
Did you know that you can paint pretty rocks and hide them around town for others to find? It’s called Kindness Rock Painting and there are many of groups devoted to it. There’s even a few here on Staten Island!
Click here to learn all about Kindness Rock Painting
Wednesday, July 11
Go Dancing
Make sure you check out Boogie Woogie Wednesdays at the Staten Island Children’s Museum before the summer is over. All summer long admission is free every Wednesday from 5 to 8pm in July & August, beginning Jul 11. The fun includes storytime and crafts at 5:30, snacks at 6:30pm, and the dancing kicks off at 7pm. Each week includes a different cultural dance theme.
Read Next | Learn about Staten Island Home Improvement and Contractors
Combating Summer Slide
Summer is the perfect time to show kids that learning doesn’t just happen at school. And one of the best ways to make at-home learning fun during the summer is to take it outside! You can conduct simple experiments that may be too messy for indoors, find various bugs and birds, give writing prompts about nature, examine flowers, trees, and gardens or try a nature-themed art project.
Choose a Framework to Keep Summer Learning on Track
Having a framework is very helpful for parents in focusing their children on periods of dedicated learning time each week throughout the summer. Get kids in the habit of sitting down for skills-building activities using mazes and puzzles to keep it fun.
Play Summer Games
While there are plenty of games specifically designed to build math skills, you probably already have a few options sitting in your garage. For instance, a yard game like cornhole requires on-the-spot addition. Monopoly also requires players to count. Math Slam, Connect Four, Ticket to Ride, Even Steven’s Odd, and Rush Hour are just a few others that help foster math skill building. Even hopscotch helps build valuable skills!
Show Them the Value of Money
One of the best ways for kids to practice math is by learning to control their own summer spending money. For older kids, you may give them more control over saving and spending. For younger children, you may need to mentor and monitor more closely. Either way, allow your child to earn money and then practice spending it in ways she chooses. Ask your child questions about the purchases she makes-if she buys a candy bar, how much money should she expect to have left? What could she purchase with her money? Is there a larger-ticket item she wants to save for? Help her meet her goal by setting up a weekly budget.
Read Next | This Is How to Prevent Your Kid From Catching Colds
Get in the Kitchen
Summer means more time to take things slow. And by asking your child to help prepare meals, you’re also developing his math skills. Choose a recipe that has a lot of measurements and halve or double it for an added math challenge. For younger kids, this may require a bit of assistance. It’s a great way to visualize different measurements, perform some calculations, and end up with a tasty treat-all in just an hour or so!
Take a Trip
Many families choose to take trips over the summer, and this presents a great opportunity for children to practice math skills. Get a paper map or find an electronic one, and ask your kids to calculate potential distances. You might even involve your child in planning a route or comparing distances, choosing the best routes based on traffic or construction, or adding up the legs of a journey.
Listen to Audiobooks and Podcasts
Listening is an excellent way for kids to engage with material that they might not otherwise. Choose education-oriented or fun podcasts that you can listen to together or alone, preferably ones that speak to your child’s interests. Try videos as well; there are many videos for kids to practice their vocabulary words or you can make a video together.
Make Reading a Family Affair
Not only is maintaining a reading habit over the summer essential for staying up to speed, it can also be a great avenue for family bonding. Try starting a family book club that meets on one scheduled night or morning a week. If your children are at different reading levels, one might read the book solo, while the other works with you. Let them choose the topic. There are many great tools to help you select the right book; check out the booklists at Common Sense Media for reading list inspiration. Pose questions like “What surprised you most about the book?” or “Who was your favorite character?” You’ll learn more about what your children have on their minds, all while keeping skills sharp for the school year ahead.
Provided by Highlights Learning, makers of Big Fun Activity Books
Read Next | Learn about Staten Island Home Improvement and Contractors
Mental Illness – Breaking the Stigma
Far too often, there is a lack of sympathy or understanding the impact mental illness can have on an individual, their family and the community as a whole.
I know first-hand what impact mental illness can have on a family. My mother suffered from mental illness. From when I was about 6 years old my mother fought depression and emotional issues that took a toll on her daily life. She was diagnosed with having several nervous breakdowns during her life, spending weeks at a time in the hospital. It was always a difficult time for my Dad, brother and me seeing her this way.
My family would tell me stories of the difficult times she and her siblings had growing up. Did that play a role in her mental illness? Quite possibly.
As you can imagine my mother’s mental illness was hard on our family at times, especially for my Dad. Although I am sure it took a toll on him, he always remained her biggest champion, forever by her side. Reflecting on that now, I see that quality he had is true to his character and it helped keep our family strong.
The experience with mental illness so close to me had an impact on my job as a police officer. We handled many jobs involving EDPs (Emotionally Disturbed Persons). I guess that is why those jobs seemed to tug at my heart, especially when it was a woman around my mother’s age.
My intention in sharing this is not for sympathy, but simply to raise awareness to the fact that mental illness comes in all forms and it can impact any family. The world needs a little more EMPATHY!
Resources for Children
Staten Island Mental Health Society Early Childhood Services
The SIMHS’s four Head Start/Early Learn Centers serve more than 300 children (at any one time) between the ages of 3 and 5 each year. Pre-K is offered at each Head Start center.
To be eligible for Head Start, a family’s income must meet federal guidelines. There are no fees or tuition, and free transportation is provided.
“The nationally acclaimed, award-winning curriculum focuses on school readiness, and gives each child learning and playing experiences that prepare him or her for school, academically, emotionally, and socially. Bi-lingual teachers assist children for whom English is a second language. Children are also provided with a wide range of health and social services.”
http://simhs.org/early-childhood-services/
Child Mind Institute
Offers specialized behavioral treatments that were designed and found to be effective specifically for children. Our psychiatrists are experts in how children and adolescents respond to medication and bring a collaborative approach to helping parents determine when and how medication should be part of a child’s treatment. For children with severe symptoms or families who are traveling long distances, we also offer intensive interventions to help kids experience big change in a short period of time.
https://childmind.org/our-care/
Resources for Adults
Staten island University Hospital – Northwell Health
Department of Psychiatry of Staten Island University Hospital, a fully comprehensive service addressing the needs of patients requiring psychiatric care.
Staffed by an accredited team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, activity therapists, working with primary care physicians and allied health professionals, the Department offers sophisticated multi-disciplinary care wherever and whenever it is needed.
Richmond University Medical Center
The Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Program (CPEP) is a multifaceted treatment program offering a full range of psychiatric emergency services including crisis intervention in an emergency room setting, comprehensive evaluation by psychiatrist, nurse and social worker, referral and linkage to the appropriate community clinics in 5 days after the CPEP visit. The services also include extended observation unit (up to 72 hours), alcohol and substance abuse counseling, mobile outreach team, and a 24 hours crisis hotline.
http://www.rumcsi.org/behavioralhealth
By Michael Reilly, Staten Island Community Education Council President and current candidate for South Shore State Assembly.
