May 21, 2012

CONNETQUOT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JOINS BAGELS & BOOKS BREAKFAST AT COHALAN COMPLEX CHILDREN'S CENTER

Ronkonkoma, NY ---  Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA) President Tony Felicio, Jr., participated in the Children’s Center Bagel & Books Breakfast on Thursday, May 17th, at the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip, NY.  Felicio was invited to attend this morning ‘thank you’ event by Andrea Ramos-Topper, Regional Director of the Education and Assistance (EAC) Corporation.  The EAC operates the Children’s Center which provides a safe area for youngsters while families are involved in court proceedings.   

Felicio was invited to attend this gathering of children’s advocates, who have partnered with the EAC to provide funding, or supplies, for the children who pass through the center each day.  On May 17th Felicio delivered 7 very large plastic bins filled with healthy snacks, bottled water and fruit juices for the children.  Felicio was quoted as saying “ … when our Connetquot teachers were called upon to give back to the community and to help those less fortunate, our teachers came through, again!  It is very rewarding to know that our teachers’ efforts in providing healthy snacks and beverages to the children will assist the EAC in continuing to operate, and help children and families.”

The CTA President was in good company as Mrs. Ramos-Topper, and Head EAC teacher Wendy Meyer,  thanked Connetquot’s teachers along with several judges, representatives of the District Attorney’s office along with officers of the Suffolk County Courts.  Mrs. Ramos-Topper singled out the following individuals for their support of the Children’s Center:   Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs, Suffolk County District Administrative Judge and Honorable Madeleine Fitzgibbon, Supervising Judge, Suffolk County District Court;  the Honorable Gaetan Lozito, Honorable Chris Kelley, Honorable Richard Horowitz, all judges sitting in Suffolk County District Court;  Warren Clark, District Executive for Suffolk County Courts.

For the Connetquot Teachers Association, today’s delivery of healthy snacks and beverages is the most recent result of a community-wide effort to collect such donations from the district’s 11 schools.  Felicio extended his gratitude to the teachers of the following schools for donating, collecting and packaging today’s donation to the Children’s Center:  Arthur Premm Alternative Pre-School; Edward J. Bosti, Cherokee Street, Helen B. Duffield, Idle Hour, John Pearl, Edith L. Slocum and  Sycamore Avenue Elementary Schools; the Ronkonkoma & Oakdale-Bohemia Middle Schools and Connetquot High School.

In January the CTA delivered hundreds of hats, scarves, gloves, books and toys to the Children’s Center.  The Children Center’s Head Teacher, Mrs. Wendy Meyer, had explained the need for hats and mittens for children who pass through the center.  At the time Felicio said that,  “  … as educators we are in the business of caring for children, and we give back to those less fortunate.”  Mrs. Meyer, said that “ … when the children leave for the day, they are given a book to take home and, as a result of the CTA’s support, we can also provide them with a hat, gloves and a scarf.”

Mr. Felicio pledged the continued support of the Connetquot Teachers Association for the youngsters that need the resources provided by the Children's Center.  He assured Mrs. Ramos-Topper that the CTA will continue to collect, and donate, nourishing snacks, books, toys, hats, gloves and scarves for the children in the future.

READ THANK YOU LETTER

(l-r) Andrea Ramos-Topper, EAC Regional Director; Tony Felicio, CTA President; Warren Clark, District Executive for Suffolk County Courts; Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs, Suffolk County District Administrative Judge.

(l-r) Leslie McLoughlin, Resource Coordinator; Honorable Chris Kelly; Andrea Ramos-Topper, EAC Regional Director.

Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs, Suffolk County District Administrative Judge; Cheryl Zimmer, Chief Court Attorney.

CTA President Tony Felico, Jr., (far left) joins fellow partners in the effort to support the Childrens Center at the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip.

CTA President Tony Felicio, Jr., delivered 7 large plastic bins containing nourishing snacks, along with bottled water and fruit juices. Joining Felicio in the photo are: (l-r) Cheryl Zimmer, Chief Court Attorney; Susan Fox, Associate Court Clerk; Andrea Ramos-Topper, EAC Regional Director; Wendy Meyer, Children’s Center Head Teacher; Jacqlyn Melita, program aide; Jamie Marchese, volunteer intern.

(story & photos by Joseph Maniaci)