News & Views

Vivian Martin

World Trade Center volunteer unwinds in Long Branch

I recently interviewed a house guest of retired Col. and Mrs. Avery Grant who had come to New York to assist as a grief counselor for the workers who were cleaning up after the disaster at the World Trade Center.

A member of the West Portland United Methodist Church, Ore., Joe Spinelli felt a strong desire to come to the East Coast to help out, since his expertise is in hospice care as a grief counselor.

He was pleased that nearly all the trip was free to him. His church was able to provide funds, someone gave him a commuter pass to use for his trips into New York, and the Grants provided him with food and shelter.

Spinelli stated he grew up in Roselle Park but moved to Long Branch and lived here from 1981-1985, living across the street from the Asbury United Methodist Church.

He came to Long Branch to visit and stay with an old friend, Elisa Dirogatis, for a time.

When he arrived in New York, he visited the break areas of rescue workers at ground zero to offer comfort to the workers by way of conversation that led away from what they were doing to take their minds off their tasks.

Spinelli decided to make connection with a local United Methodist Church, and chose St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, corner of Broadway and Washington Street, as the church he would attend.

St. Luke’s pastor, the Rev. Sunny Shim, stated Spinelli came into its Bible study with luggage and a guitar, explaining his reason for being in the community was his involvement in helping with the World Trade Center disaster.

He was overwhelmed by the experience of helping which allowed him to be part of the experience.

Back in his home church in Oregon, Spinelli stated he is chairman of evangelism and witness, missions and social concerns; a voting member of the administrative board; a certified lay speaker; and a member of the praise band.

Spinelli’s final statement to me was, "I made use of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I shared his love and comfort with people in their time of need."

"This has been a defining moment in my life. Responses from people whose lives I have touched put a stamp of validity on who I think I am," he stated.

The following poem was written by Jordan Hartgens, 10, who is in the fifth grade at the Leap Hart Elementary School, Columbia, S.C.

Jordan is a former member of Trinity AME Church. She is the niece of John and Marietta McKinney, and Eunice and Lester Taylor of Long Branch.

Remember forever

Remember the day when buildings fell.

Remember the day when planes did crash.

Remember the day when the street was full

of ash.

Remember the day when innocent people were killed.

Remember the day when we all were scared.

Remember the day when everything went wrong.

Remember the day you almost lost or lost a person dearest to you.

Remember the time.

Remember the date.

Remember everything that started at 56 minutes past eight.

Remember forever.

Forever remember.

by Jordan Hartgens

Sept. 11, 2001. The day the Trade Center fell, and the Pentagon was crashed into.

This ’n’ That

An "hour of power" is held each Thursday from noon-1 p.m. at Trinity AME Church, 64 Liberty St., where the Rev. D.E. Brown is pastor. There is Bible teaching and preaching, worship, praise, songs, and fellowship.

The hour of power concludes with a free lunch for all attendees. Everyone is welcome, and that means you! For more information, call (732) 222-6598.

Asbury Park/Neptune Alumni chapter Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity is hosting a tennis and card party Nov. 17 from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Jersey 34 Tennis Club, Route 34, Matawan. Tennis is open to singles or doubles (if single, we will match you); and card games include "bid whist," bridge, pinochle, spades, "dirty hearts," pokeno and ...

A soul food menu will be served, and music will be provided for dancing and entertainment. Donation is $25 and $30 for tennis players, with prizes to be awarded. Proceeds benefit Kappa’s program for acceleration in computer science for minority students, and donations are appreciated.

Regarding the Liberty Street School get-together, calls are coming in, but the time is short, so if you do plan to attend, please call me (Vivian) at (732) 229-7740, so I can add your name to the list. Your friends are welcome; just have them call so their names may be added to the list.

We are just getting together for old times and hopefully will be able to compile a directory for distribution at a later date.

Thought for the week:

May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live!

Irish toast