April through June 2020 Setalker
Editor's Note: I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks to all the contributors of this edition and every other past edition of the Setalker. This publication is written by the residents and for the residents of the Setauket Meadows Condominium Community. Without your energy and time it takes for you to prepare your contribution to this edition, it would not have been possible to publish it. I enjoy reading your submissions as do many other residents of Setauket Meadows. We truly have some accomplished talent amongst us. I know we have many more people who can contribute to the Setalker. We have attorneys, administrators, medical personnel and a variety of other talents who I encourage to share your life's experiences. You know who you are so please allow the rest of us to share your expertise.
Ray Dawson
Ray Dawson
HOA Board Information and News
The Board hopes everyone is enjoying the very mild winter here in Setauket Meadows and for those in Florida and other warmer climates, we hope you are soaking up the sun. We look forward to seeing you all soon. As the winter season slowly comes to an end, we have been fortunate to not have any significant snow events. Hopefully, we do not have any surprises in April!! With respect to the community there have not been any significant issues. However of note, new dehumidifier equipment has been delivered and is in the process of being installed. They are also working on the new ductwork to accommodate the new system. We anticipate by May it should be complete, tested and operational. To date, the old system has been chugging along without major issue or expense. Four D Landscaping has started the spring cleanup, leaves and flower beds. If there are any repairs, changes or additions of this spring season please contact Eileen Duffy. With respect to Four D, the ownership has changed, however our contract stays in place. The managers and services are the same and we do not foresee any issues. In February, the Board of Directors decided to change the Broker for the Master Insurance policy for Setauket Meadows. We were with the prior company for at least six years and had some issues. We have received several quotes over the years and this time solicited a new quote from the VRP Agency. The objective was a complete review of our existing coverage, their recommendations and finally the price. Based on this analysis and review, we felt VRP was the best choice. With respect to the Estate Fence/Beautification Project, our meetings with the Crest Group, the developer for Setauket in the Woods, was postponed as a precaution due to the restrictions required from the Corona Virus. Effective Monday, March 23 their offices are closed. We will attempt a phone discussion with them to see what progress has been made with permits and approvals for the Estate Fence. The Board’s sense is that all things are delayed…………………. Please remember that we are on summer time and garbage cans do not go out before 6 PM on the appropriate days. Finally, given the situation from Corona Virus we are being very cautious about having any groups of residents in the Clubhouse. A community email was sent to all residents requesting that we ask everyone to not use the Clubhouse for a period of time and the Board recommends that all residents refrain from having any events, card games, playing pool or use of the gym or pool for the foreseeable future. Depending on how this situation progresses, the May 14 HOA Meeting, might have to be rescheduled. As a note, the HOA has been fined because people are leaving the Clubhouse after midnight when the alarm is set and also for leaving doors open when they leave, again set off the alarm requiring a visit from the security company and or the police. We ask that all residents take this situation seriously and act accordingly. 
Social Committee Update
by Ellen Silverman Here's a list of upcoming events that we're arranging for our community. In light of the Coronavirus health guidelines and our intention to do our part to keep you safe, please understand that the dates for some of these events have not yet been established and some might have to be rescheduled. As always, please watch for emails with more precise, up to date information! We can look forward to:
rescheduling. Bagels in the summer...also delicious!
Breaking News: Our 2020 Spring Fling magically morphed into our 2020 Fall Fling.At The Waterview (formerly Lombardi's on the Sound), Port Jefferson Sunday evening, October 18, 2020, from 5-9 PM Remember to mark your calendars! Please watch your email for details.
Let's welcome them back to the Clubhouse "stage"!
sure to delight our kids and grandkids?
to do it again.
than usual at home. We might want to turn lemons into lemonade by taking out our painting materials, our sketch pad, our quilting projects, our yarn, our cameras (indoor still life shots if you can't go out), etc. We'll keep you posted - and you can start letting us know if you're interested in participating.
definitely time to do it again! As I just mentioned, there are lots of talented individuals in our community... so many things that you can share: a hobby, a craft that you'd like to demonstrate, a musical presentation, an informational talk, a comedy routine, etc. You name it, we're interested! AND MORE!
Ellen S on behalf of Your Social Committee 
Recipe of The Month
by Pat Dawson Chicken Piccata Pasta Toss INGREDIENTS:
Computer or Home Security Tips
by Ray Dawson In the January 2020 Setalker and the October 2019 Setalker I discussed Computer security tips. In this edition of the Setalker I will discuss home security tips. In my opinion they go hand in hand because if your computer gets hacked your home is hacked too. So, how can we make our home feel more secure? There's a few ways including but not limited to security cameras, locks that can be opened by using the internet, security monitoring companies and probably the easiest of all......your own common sense. Let's talk about security cameras and security companies. There are many security cameras out there. To find one you like please click on this link below to see the CNET web site for a review of several video doorbells. This, by far, not a complete list. Do your research. www.cnet.com/news/best-video-smart-doorbell-for-2020-arlo-google-nest/
Real Estate News
by Phyllis Colby Editors Note: Our community is approximately 15 years old and our air conditioning units are nearing their natural lifespan. I think this article is worth a second read.
4/2 BILL & MARY NEGRA
4/3 JOE & SHERI PLEVA 4/16 JAMES & SUSAN MALONE 4/18 GERRY & KATHY HOLLY 4/27 RON & BARBARA DREYFUS 5/7 CARL & HARRIET KIRSHNER 5/9 DOMINICK & LINDA DISTEFANO 5/9 DOMINIC & JUNE LIVACCARI 5/11 ANTHONY AND NANCY PELOSI 5/12 MIKE & MARY ANN MAURO 5/12 BILL & DARIA MACOMBER 5/23 LEE & ANN STEIN 5/27 TONY FORTE & LESLIE SIMON 5/29 RAY & PAT DAWSON 6/1 TOM & JOSEPHINE GERMANO 6/3 CLAIRE AND KEN RATHJEN 6/7 MEL AND DONNA HELLER 6/8 LAWRENCE AND DARLENE KICK 6/10 ANTHONY & CAROL STANZIALE 6/16 GEORGE & PAT ZIPPEL 6/27 JOHN & ANN RAZZANO 6/28 SEBASTIAN & CAROLYN LIVOLSI |
Speaking of Sports
by Joe Polizzi Two wrestlers grappling for position and then the magical pound-pound-pound on the wrestling mat by the official and we have a pin and a win. Parents cheered and players gave high-fives and all was normal in the world of Middle School sports, so we thought. Who knew that that was the last time I would watch my grandson, Lance, wrestle or for that matter watch any of my grandchildren compete. All major sports, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, PGA as well as high school, middle school and town sports have been either suspended or cancelled. Sports were always a constant. They could be watched on TV or heard on the radio or observed from the sideline. They were the “great escape” from the troubles around us. When things got dull we could always find solace in a discussion about your favorite team or player no matter how biased you were. We obsessed by watching two or three events in a day and flipping back and forth between channels in fear that we might miss that final game winning shot, home run or touchdown. Now the arenas are silent and the cheers are gone. But for the fans the void might be time while the hourly workers, the vendors, parking attendants, ushers, etc the loss is much more serious-MONEY. Lance won’t be wrestling any more this year but I hope the sports start-up would be soon. Once sports returns, we can once again spend some of our leisure time watching sports on TV, vendors can hand out hot dogs and our grandchildren can participate in an activity that teaches them more than just a full nelson wrestling hold. By the way, Lance won that aforementioned match. Imagine you’re twelve years old and your mother receives government permission to emigrate to America. Shortly after your father is approved to make the trip to the USA. You and your brother are left to live with relatives waiting for that day that the family will be united. September, 1963 arrives, you’re now 15 years old and you and your brother board an AlItalia flight destined for Idlewild Airport, New York, New York. So many emotions are filling your mind and body-joy of making your family whole again, excitement of being in a new country and fear of how will I be accepted and if I can adjust to this brave new world. Such were the conditions for Mario, nee Serafino, Carravetta as he came to this country. Mario enrolled in Henry Hudson JHS in the Bronx. He is confronted with an assimilation dilemma: How do I become accepted? The great equalizer surfaces-SPORTS. While in his hometown of Lappano, Italy he played soccer. He rapidly improved and was selected by a local “Youth Soccer Club Team” something equivalent to our elite travel teams. No longer will he play on mediocre fields he advanced to well manicured and maintained stadium venues. (Mario is in the second row, second from the right in the dark shirt with his arms folded. He is listed as Serafino Carravetta.) This was the background that Mario brought to his junior high team. As he excelled in his native sport, acceptance followed and his reputation preceded him as he entered Monroe HS. Mario also wrestled while at Monroe but his best day was ahead on the soccer field. Monroe played DeWitt Clinton HS for the Bronx Public High School Soccer Championship. Not only did Mario, a natural forward, score the two winning goals in a 2-1 win but he also received Tournament MVP. Now it was on to the City Championship game against Evander Childs HS. Evander Childs was the more superior team and quickly ran up the score to a 5-1 halftime lead. At halftime Mario approached Coach Janglo, a 1952 Helsinki Olympic gymnast, and asked to be put in goal. Coach objected but Mario vowed he would keep the score respectable and thus avoid total embarrassment in the Championship game. Janglo gave in. Monroe lost 7-1 but the second half was more competitive. Thus emerged the new and future position for Mario- goalie. Mario’s soccer odyssey did not end with high school. He played in the Journal American Soccer League till age 21 and won a league MVP. Next he went on to the highly rated professional Swabin Team. In the late 1960’s American professional soccer players worked in the day and practiced and played at night and on weekends all for $50 a game. A big difference from what professional soccer players make today. September, 1968, five years a one day after arriving in America Mario turned in his “green card” and became an American citizen. Something he is most proud of. In September of 1971 he returned to Lappano to play goalie and lead his team to some tournament victories. In the early 1970’s Mario met and married his better half, Raphaela. But marriage, fatherhood and work did not lessen his enthusiasm for soccer. He coached in a women’s soccer league, men in an over 30 year old league and then the Three Village Youth Soccer league. He felt most actualized while at Three Village Soccer because not only did he teach soccer skills and strategy but he instilled a love for soccer and a true sense of sportsmanship. This transcended in him winning the 1988 Sportsman Award for Long Island Junior Soccer and in 1994 The Man of the Year Award from Three Village Soccer. In 2004 he left his soccer escapades and settled for the relaxing lifestyle of Setauket Meadows. Mario has now retired and spends time visiting family and friends in Chicago, Canada, Phoenix and of course Lappano, Italy. But at Setauket Meadows Mario’s competitive juices can still be seen on the bocce court, the pickleball court, the tennis court and the clubhouse card table. Take it from someone who plays against him regularly-the man hates to lose. But then isn’t that the sign of a true athlete. Thus Mario is the embodiment of a true immigrant success story and we are all a little bit more fortunate to know him. As always stay healthy and hitt’em straight…...Joe Polizzi 
Corona Virus Advice
by Mary Negra,RN This is a very serious and scary time for all us. We are faced with daily updates that change our plans and needs. We cannot interact with our children and grandchildren as we would like. Our usual activities may not be available. What is the best choice when we don’t have full information? First of all, do an accurate assessment of your state of health. If you are high risk due to age and chronic disease, STAY HOME. Have food and medicine delivered. Ask family or healthier neighbors to lend a hand. Most are only too happy to do so. Washing frequently, especially after handling anything from outside your home, is critical. Soap and water is best. Save the gel for when water is not available. Scrub vigorously for 20 seconds. If you are 70 or more but healthy, restrict your interactions as much as possible. Stay back when talking to anyone. No touching. For all of us, we need to respect the health of each other. Cough into your elbow. Don’t clog the health care system with unnecessary calls or visits. If you are not sure about a problem, ask someone you trust before driving to the hospital. Obviously, acute symptoms such as shortness of breath or very high temperature require prompt treatment. Call an ambulance. All of us will have to deal with the difficulties of isolation. Call your neighbors. If you can, go for a walk. Even if you cannot shop, if you can drive, park at the beach and sit in the sunshine. Find ways to lift your spirits, like watching old movies or listening to music. We all need to avoid the remedies or advice sent out by amateurs on the internet. Follow the recommendations of the CDC.(https://www.cdc.gov) I am really impressed by Dr. Fauci of NIH.(https://www.nih.gov) He is sensible, serious and not an alarmist. I wish you all continued good health. And if you see me out walking, step out the door and say hello. 
Campus Love Connection
by Rich and Emily Lester Below is an article that Emily and I did for the University of Bridgeport (UB) alumni outreach program - we met at the college and will be celebrating our 50th Wedding anniversary next year. UB: How did you meet? Rich: We met sophomore year (Oct. 1967) at a Mixer in the Student Union. I asked Emily to dance and she said yes. We danced and talked for a while, then I asked if she would like to leave and get a drink (she thought I meant for a soda), We went outside, and I took a bottle of Old Richards Hard Cider from the trunk of my car. That was the start of our relationship. UB: Where was your first date? Emily: Our first date was going to a movie in downtown Bridgeport. We do not recall the name of the movie. UB: Was it love at first site? Rich: No, but our relationship grew during our sophomore thru senior years. It helped that when we were home, we were only 25 minutes apart. We got engaged during our senior year prior to my leaving to serve four months active duty in the NY National Guard. I missed graduation, but both of our families attended to watch Emily graduate. Next year we will be celebration our 50th wedding anniversary. UB: Did you work in the field you studied? Rich: Yes, I majored in Mathematics, and after determining that I did not want to teach or become an Actuary, I took the single computer programming course that was available in my senior year – FORTRAN programming. That sparked my interest in the computer field, and I subsequently had a successful 40 years working in the computer field. Emily: Yes, I attended UB to earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, which was a four year plus two summers program. We were a group of 60 women, and the dress code was skirts and blouses every day to class. Miss. Ford, who was my advisor, also taught public health nursing. She influenced me to work in the home care field, which I did for 40 years. UB: What is your favorite UB story? Rich: When I was a senior, my younger brothers (Dennis and Darrell) who are twins, were freshman at UB. I had to take a language class to graduate, and they had to take a language course as well. So, the three of us took Dr. Bloom’s Spanish class. He was a very good teacher and had a terrific sense of humor. My brothers and I would share our homework assignments. One assignment was to see a Spanish movie. So, the three of us and Emily went to the theater, and unfortunately found that there were no English subtitles. Emily: In the mid 1960’s, there were very strict dorm rules. Woman were only allowed in men’s rooms for 1 hour on a Sunday with the door open. The women’s dorms doors were locked at 11 PM. One winter night, Barbara, Linda, Pat, Abby and I were out and lost track of time. We returned to the dorm at 11:05 pm and found the doors locked. Well, no one answered the door and the five of us had to sleep in a car for the night. UB: Where did you live while attending UB? Rich: In our Freshman year, the fall of 1966, North Hall was divided into North and South Halls, for men and women respectively. This was, in effect, the first coed dorm on campus. I lived in North Hall for three years, and my senior year was spent in an off-campus house on Fairfield Beach with my friends Chuck and Joe. Emily: I lived in South Hall my freshman year, the only year it was coed. I then moved into the newly opened Bodine Hall for the next three years. It was conveniently located right across from North Hall. UB: Where you part of a UB Club, fraternity/sorority, student government or sports team? Rich: I played Freshman Soccer. My shining time was when I was selected as Captain for our game against the Coast Guard Academy. It was a rainy, windy, miserable day, but I scored my only two goals of the season from around mid-field by kicking the ball with the wind bouncing it over the goalies head. Emily: I was a Resident Advisor for two years. UB: Who was your favorite faculty member? Rich: Dr. Bloom (Spanish) and Professor Sherry (Math) Emily: Miss Ford UB: Is there anything else you would like to share? Rich’s younger brothers Dennis and Darrell both graduated from UB. Darrell subsequently married Rocey, who also graduated from UB. Emily and I have two grown sons, two terrific daughter-in-laws and one grandson. We both retired in 2011 and have been watching our grandson every Wednesday and Friday since he was 2 months old (he is now 7 years old) – our favorite times. We had a terrific education and a great time at UB. We want to acknowledge that while we were at UB, the country was in turmoil. Both Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. The Vietnam War was being protested on many college campuses. Graduation in 1970 was almost cancelled, and finals were cancelled. Racism escalated causing many riots throughout the country. And the men who were graduating had to deal with the draft and the Vietnam War. 
Joke of The Month
by Pat Dawson Something for us seniors. It's about.............I forgot. Turn the volume up. 
4/4 Dominick Distefano
4/5 Richard DiCecio 4/6 Carole Buckley 4/7 Barbara Dreyfus 4/8 Tom Purcell 4/8 Joe Zanca 4/12 Carl Kirshner 4/12 Dolores Lockerbie 4/13 Phyllis Colby 4/14 Olivia Fresolone 4/16 Joan McCool 4/17 Betty Gasperin 4/18 Andrea Kozlowsky 4/24 Ray Ruocco 4/25 Betty McCarthy 4/26 Josephine Falcone 4/26 Diane Ward 4/29 RoseAnne Falcone 5/3 John Milano 5/10 Ralph Fresolone 5/11 Dan Keefe 5/13 Lois Bauer 5/13 Josephine Suozzi 5/14 Susan Koehn 5/15 James Malone 5/16 Marie Costignola 5/17 Darlene Kick 5/18 Marsha Darvin 5/20 Frances Forrester 5/20 John Ward 5/23 Mike Mauro 5/25 Marie Healy 5/29 Allen Frawley 5/31 Ellen Petix 6/1 Don Muffly 6/4 Mary Negra 6/5 Mary Ann Mauro 6/6 Jerilyn Ulrich 6/6 Joe Schade 6/8 Sue Marks 6/9 Candace Ruocoo 6/9 Tom Needham 6/11 Jerry Linder 6/18 Fran DiCeccio 6/18 Margie Lobello 6/21 George Zippel 6/22 Lou Petix 6/25 Linda Distefano 6/25 Paul Schulman 6/26 Jane Dieterich 6/29 Terri Brennan |