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Storms can be a gift. They may not seem it at the time, but as I heard Claudia Resko, a mom of a teenage son say, it was the first time in a long time that she spent quality and quantity time with her son Mike. People with power offered their homes to their friends and family and memories were made for the Tortoras and the OConners at the Dowds and the Boilens. Teens took refuge all over town, I heard there were kids hanging at the Turianos, the Pascales, the Bakers, the Cirrones, the Eliassons, the Cusanos and countless other homes in Yorktown. Neighbors had snow parties, children screamed with delight about missing school and we all counted our blessings and said it could have been worse. For some, it is Friday morning and their power has just gone out again! Be patient and kind in public, many nerves are, most likely, frayed!
On Saturday at 1:30 p.m., in the height of the storm, one group of 267 teens from St Patricks church received their confirmation. It was an unforgettable day. Snow, family travelling from afar, stand- ins for sponsors because the weather did not cooperate and a man who collapsed in the midst of all of this - I have heard from other congregants that the man is doing well. It was a strange and harrowing experience for all of us in the church, I can only imagine how hard it was on the mans family. It makes you stop and take pause of what is important.
Family plans were adjusted. The Matzura family celebrated Nick and Vincents confirmation in the dark at Gaudios. The Callicchia, Pecoroni, and Cappoccia families celebrated Catherines confirmation in the dark at Piatto Grille with a smaller crowd than expected. And the Scanlon family went home to celebrate Caleighs confirmation with three car-loads of company to no power and branches that made a blanket across their front lawn and driveway. I witnessed Nicholas Belmonte help his mom Nelly, in high and stylish heels, get to their car safely. The Brandt family sat on 202 in a dead stop for almost two hours. Many parties were cancelled but many memories were made. I have to give props to my husband Brian McCarthy, who put snow tires on our car a half hour before we needed to leave for the church. As most moms can agree, I wasnt too happy about the timing of the tire change prior to confirmation but it was a blessing afterwards!
Halloween was a trick this year. Many homes did not have power. Kim Manghise refused to give up on Halloween. She and 11 of her neighbors had power on Mill Pond. Kim made the most of the holiday by carving a pumpkin while sipping hot cocoa with her sons Vincent and Joseph after her husband Vinnie shoveled their driveway. The happening block after 6 p.m. in Yorktown was Walter Road. There were loads of people, from babies in strollers to adults in costume, making the most of the trick by treating on the block with lights. The Bakers, the Marks, the Murphys and the Regans all had their doors open to their neighbors and friends and it became an impromptu block party in October. Elizabeth O'Donnell, Caitlin O'Donnell, Antonietta DiMatteo, Lindsay Baker, Risa Repetto, Lexi Delbene, Jaclyn Tarkin, Antonietta DiMatteo, Jessica Tarkin, Angelah Regan and Kaeleigh Aulicino had a blast. Some people travelled from the dark side to the light while others travelled from the light to the dark side. Either way, there was certainly a community feel to the night.
To have your social event, announcement or honor included in Yorktown Neighbors Notes, email Jane McCarthy at Janesez@verizon.net.
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