By Barbara Morris
Donald Boncoeur, president of the Federated Blocks of Laurelton, wrote to me recently telling of his organization’s May 6 meeting, which was to have former Detective Michael Johnson, who was attached to the Street Gang Division, as its featured guest speaker. He was to tell about signs to look for related to gangs. We hope you were able to attend.
In that same letter, Boncoeur said, “In order for our organization to continue, we must have fund-raisers. Our next function will be our silent auction at Occasions on 127th Avenue and Merrick Boulevard, Springfield Gardens.”
Realizing that sometimes people have conflicting dates, he added, “If you are unable to attend, please make a donation.” He also noted a new program called Good and Welfare, in which information of a personal nature about our neighbors is listed.
The items described included the sad news that Community Board 13 member Bess DeBetham recently lost her sister, and Federated Blocks member John Butler and board member Judy Rivera are recuperating from surgery. If you have any Good and Welfare news, please contact Boncoeur at 718-978-3889.
For those who wish to make a donation, remember, this organization is incorporated as “Laurelton Citizens League Inc.” It is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt community organization that meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at 219-01 Merrick Blvd. For information about the buffet dinner and silent auction, call 718-525-1152, 718-723-4594 or 718-723-4650. The fee for adults is $35 and for children under 10 it is $15.
The Metro Eagles Sports Club Inc. at 128-26 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Laurelton is holding registration for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 for the Metro Eagles Track Team. Above all, this group aims to have its youth be students and not just athletes. All the young people are taught that discipline is the basis for mental and physical training as well as for life itself, and discipline is therefore enforced within the program.
The Metro Eagles is proud that many of its young members have attended colleges and universities throughout the country on full or partial scholarships. The group can be reached at 718-528-5855 or 718-949-5511.
Ridgewood Savings Bank at Merrick and Francis Lewis boulevards in the heart of Laurelton has served our community well for a very long time. It has gone out of its way to provide the longest business hours of any bank with which I am familiar. The bank’s employees provide free coffee for morning customers and free shopping bags (decorated appropriately for special holidays), and they participate in community activities and provide special financial seminars and more.
They have always been an asset to our community. Every Saturday in May from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a Customer Appreciation Month celebration. When I dropped in on May 1, the bank was almost afloat with balloons of all shapes and colors, many attached to youngsters who had been fingerprinted, photographed and face-painted by a handsome clown with a funny red ball nose.
There were goodies galore for the youngsters to enjoy and raffles for all the folks to fill out in an effort to win one of the super prizes being offered. There also were plans to include prize wheel gifts, free hot dogs and soda, a banjo band, stilt walkers and many more surprises.
I appreciate Ridgewood Savings Bank and especially the kind of checking account I have with them, which makes it easy not to make mistakes as it has multiple ways to ensure I make my entries and deletions correctly. I hope everyone joins in my appreciation of the bank’s very fine and capable staff.
We are not only fortunate to have Ridgewood Savings Bank in town but are also blessed to have the Laurelton Medical Center at 224-12 Merrick Blvd. To reach the center or the Laurelton Medical Center Nuclear Medicine at the same location, call 718-949-9400.
I started going there shortly after they opened. And although I don’t go to the doctor as regularly as I should, when I have gone there, as I did at the end of April with several serious injuries, their friendly, very professional staff treated me with expert, efficient care, which I am sure was the cause of my rapid recovery.
Special thanks to Dr. Slavin, Mrs. Akuoku and all the other great folks who were so helpful.
