Shirley Store Owner Helps Robber - Only In Our 'Hood

I wasn't surprised to hear about the Shirley convenience store owner who wound up praying with a robber and giving him $40 and a loaf of bread. That's just the kind of neighborhood we are.

Newsday reports a masked man with a bat entered Shirley Express Convenience store on William Floyd Parkway. He demanded cash and store owner Mohammad Sohail grabbed his rifle and ordered the man to the floor. Suddenly Sohail felt compassion as the robber said, I have no money. I have no food. I haev no job. I have to take care of my family." The man indicated he wanted to be a Muslim, too, and prayed with Sohail.

Sohail gave him 40 bucks, bread and when he went to get him milk, the robber fled on foot. Sohail doesn't want him arrested or punished but hopes he learned a lesson from the experience.
By the way, the gun Sohail brandished was legal.

It's a great example of the understanding and compassion people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances show for each other in our neighborhood.

Memorial Day In Mastic Beach

Happy belated Memorial Day! Some bad news in our family has kept me away from my personal blogs for a few weeks. This past weekend, we took some much-needed time out. We got out on our boat for the first time and launched at Mastic Beach Marina I. As always, everyone was friendly and helpful. It felt good to get out on the bay and get some sunshine after a backyard barbecue with family. My husband is a disabled Vietnam veteran so I try to infuse a little joy into this day filled with sad memories.

How did you spend Memorial Day and are you looking forward to summer as much as I am? (Although the last couple of chilly, gray days don't feel anything like the warm, hazy days of summer I was dreaming of...)

Happy Spring & The 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Happy first day of spring! The telltale signs are appearing with budding flowers, longer days and warmer sunshine. As spring approaches, many of us are consider Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets.

The Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley are holding their 14th Annual Spring Egg Hunt on April 4, 2009, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the William Floyd High School Gym. The event is limited to 800 participants and is open to children under 10 years of age.

Children must have a ticket to attend. Tickets can be picked up at Century 21 Cor-Ace Realty, Hansen Carpet (where we usually go), Ice Cream Cottage (their rainbow cakes are incredible) and Subway on Montauk Highway in Shirley.

For more information, call Joe Asaro at 878-3400 or Bill Ryan at 399-5502.

The Loss of Corey Stark

Posted on the William Floyd School District website:

Tuesday, February 24th 2009
The William Floyd School community is saddened by the sudden loss of one of our students, Corey
Stark, a high school senior, who passed away this afternoon. Counselors will be made available at
the high school for our students. Our thoughts and prayers are with Corey's family and friends
during this difficult time.

Our community is terribly saddened by this tragic loss. Prayers, sympathy and support go out to Corey's family and friends.

I'm A Seabird, Light and Free

The salty sapphire sea

Calls out to me

I respond with a caw

Hold on with my claws

To a pole in the water

Then my wings flutter

I'M OFF.

Perched on the boat's hull

One hungry gull

The smell of the fish

Making me wish

The the folks with poles

Would somehow go.

I'M OFF.

Pecking the shoreline

Small scraps are mine

Shells in the way

Of my catch of the day

Now I have enough

Tiny but tough.

I'M OFF.

Dominion nest

Overlooking the rest

Eggs to protect

The sun reflects

Off my shiny back

As my wing flap.

I'M OFF.

We all return to the sea,

The place we must be,

Not to breathe like a fish,

Just because we wish,

To make seaside homes,

Then fly and roam,

To return once more,

To the endless shore.

© 2009 - All Rights Reserved Stacey Mamasaid D.

Learn More About Incorporated Village of Mastic Beach

Find out more about our hamlet becoming a village. Visit the website for the Mastic Beach Village Exploratory Committee to see who the key players are and what is being done to move in the direction of becoming a Village. There are links to find out more about Mastic Beach and its history as well as a link to offer your help. Let's make Mastic Beach the best it can be! I included them in my list of links show along the right side of the page.

Lastest Mastic Beach Poll

I recently posted a poll, which ended. Before I put up a new poll, I decided to reveal the results of this one to show the top priorities for Mastic Beach residents:

According to the poll, the top priority for 2009 is making Mastic Beach an incorporated village according to 45 percent of the people.

Other priorities all received equal standing. The poll revealed 18 percent want school safety improved, 18 percent feel rentals should be better regulated and 18 percent would like to see Neighborhood Road improved.

Now that we have our priorities in order, it's time to come together as a community and make it happen. Here's to an even more fantastic Mastic Beach in 2009!