[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E494-E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO ST. JOSEPH'S VILLAGE IN SELDEN, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 18, 1999

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this historic chamber to 
share with my colleagues the story of St. Joseph's Village in Selden, 
Long Island, New York. On Saturday, March 20, 1999, this special 
community, built by the Diocese of Rockville Center, will celebrate the 
20th anniversary of its ground breaking. I stand here today in the 
People's House to talk about St. Joseph's Village because it embodies a 
unique spirit of community and cooperation; where its residents help 
each other and work to improve the lives of those in the surrounding 
community--even the world.
  This Saturday evening, I have the privilege of helping the community 
pay tribute to a community within a community; St. Joseph's Village. 
Since its inception, 20 years ago, its 200 residents have made 
noteworthy contributions to an array of causes, from national charities 
to local food and clothing drives, and have improved the lives of 
individuals from around the world and at home on Long Island.
  St. Joseph's Village began as an experiment. It was the first 
subsidized senior and

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disabled housing development built by the Diocese of Rockville Center 
on Long Island and, initially at least, a controversial plan. Many 
residents in this middle class area resisted the notion of a subsidized 
apartment complex in their community. But St. Joseph's Village proved 
to be an outstanding neighbor and a model for the developments that 
followed it. Villagers often visit the nearby Hawkins Elementary School 
and read to students. This unique program, called ``Reading Buddies,'' 
pairs up seniors with young children for mutual literary enjoyment. 
Other seniors devote their time preparing and serving to their fellow 
senior citizens at the local Senior Nutrition Center. Sixty other 
residents organized a project to donate money each month to improve the 
lives of three underprivileged children living abroad in Third World 
nations.
  Mr. Speaker, words can hardly express the deep debt of gratitude we 
on Long Island owe to the residents of St. Joseph's Village for all 
they have done to serve our community and improve the lives of our 
neighbors. I ask my Congressional colleagues to join me, the community 
and all who have benefited from their generosity in thanking the 
residents for all their good work. And on this day of their 20th 
anniversary, we wish them many more years of success and good fortune.

                          ____________________