Carmel

Special prayer vigil planned for holiday weekend

 

Making plans for the 4th of July weekend?

The Putnam County Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee has asked the public to attend a special celebration a week from today (July 2), when a vigil will be held to honor America's founding fathers.

Prayer vigil organizer Nancy Dill has encouraged participation to "come and hear the prayers and personal words spoken by our founders at the birth of our nation."

Organizers have promised the noontime ceremony will be brief followed by a light lunch.

Each year the Putnam Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee joins in celebrating both the National Day of Prayer each May as well as sponsoring the county's prayer breakfast in October that attracts hundreds of Putnam's movers and shakers who take time from busy schedules to reflect and pray for peace.

Dill recalled how George Washington prayed for the U.S. in June 1783 while commanding his troops.

Breakfast groups were begun in the early 1930's by business executives. Each year, a Presidential Prayer Breakfast is held at the White House after originally being inaugurated by the Dwight Eisenhower administration.

Dr. Patrick Delamere of Mahopac, chairman of the Putnam Prayer Breakfast Committee, explained programs like the National Day of Prayer and next Thursday's celebration have become annual events established by Congress that encourage "all Americans to pray for the nation, its people, and leaders. All are welcome to the ecumenical event."

The vigil gets underway at 12 noon next Thursday at Cornerstone Park in downtown Carmel.

Those planning to attend are asked to contact Dill by e-mail at nancyadill@ hotmail.com.

—Eric Gross

It's time to roll up your sleeve and donate a pint of blood

 

The Putnam Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police in conjunction with the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services, local residents employed by the Fire Department of New York, and the Carmel Lodge of the Knights of Columbus will be hosting their semi-annual blood drive tomorrow (Friday) at the Carmel Veterans Hall.

Blood drives are held each year at the start of the summer and before the Christmas holidays due to high demand.

The New York Blood Bank has reported a shortage of blood in recent weeks, and once warm weather and summer vacations arrive, blood drive organizer Denis Hanrahan said, "people forget to donate."

As an incentive to donating blood June 26, the blood drive organizers will replenish the pint donated with refreshments as well as coupons to Applebee's Restaurant in Southeast and Fiddlers Green in Carmel.

Those donating between 2:30pm and 8pm will also receive a commemorative Blood Center t-shirt.

Information is available today (Thursday) by calling Hanrahan at 225- 3048, Jim O'Neil, President of the Stephen Driscoll Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, at 222-0916, or Bill Richmond at 225-6822.

—Eric Gross