Travel Club

Our travelers gathered Friday night for another awesome excursion into the community. The crew met up at the Mamaroneck train station last Friday night to take the rail down to Larchmont where we went to Plaster Palace and had dinner together.

 The Travel Club crew meets every Friday night for dinner and an activity in the community. It’s a fantastic group of young men and women who just really enjoy each others company, share some laughs and have a whole lot of fun.

Plaster Palace offered a wide variety of plaster molds for our participants to choose from; mugs, plates, trays, bowels and boxes. The majority of us picked the heart shape jewelry box (being the season and all) while others picked mugs or bowls to design and paint. Our projects should be ready for retrieval in one weeks time.

We had dinner at Ray’s Chinese Restaurant just a block away. The restaurant had set up a series of tables creating an intimate setting for us, which was perfect because it was one of our fellow travelers birthdays; Will Greco. Everyone in the restaurant chimed in a spirited “Happy Birthday” followed by cupcakes.

We made the chilly walk back to the train (which was late!) and made it back to the train station just in time for pick up. Even with the cold and late train our group was not phased in the slightest, such is the power of friendship.

The Rock Club

South East Consortium is reaching new heights at the rock climbing program. With the assistance of volunteer belayers, climbers get together once a month and explore the walls at the New Rock Club.

Rock climbing proves to be an excellent activity for children with special needs. Rock climbing helps develop eye- hand coordination, improves spatial awareness, motor planning, balance and coordination. Rock climbing can also help children set attainable goals and instill self- confidence; this can translate to other arenas of life such as school or social interactions.

The rock walls offer a varying degree of difficulty for our climbers. There is a learning room with 10 foot walls for our first timers or those who want to brush up on their climbing skills. On the main floor the gym boasts a variety of walls to be conquered including 40 ft and 50 ft rock faces.

There was obvious improvement seen in our returning climbers this past weekend. Peter Rice shot straight up his first three walls in no time at all. TJ Neeves scampered up every wall that was presented to him and Adem Dickenson and Shane Ingram buddied up to support each other while they climbed. Kayla Rodriquez got along great with her belayer which helped propel her up several walls at the gym.

We owe a lot of thanks to our wonderful volunteer belayers (the person on the ground giving or taking slack and keeping our climbers safe.) Our assortment of volunteers includes fire fighters, medical students, teachers and parents. One thing they all have in common is their love of climbing and the desire to share that world with our participants.

The sense of accomplishment one feels after ascending a particularly difficult wall is hard to measure. However, the expression on our climbers faces afterwards is easy to read: “I did it!”

Magical Mystery NYC Trip

To start our wintry adventure in NYC on January 26th the Magical Mystery group met at the Mamaroneck Train Station. We traveled to Grand Central Terminal and visited the New York Transit Museum where they had a really neat Holiday Train Show display set up and we enjoyed taking in all the sights.

Next we walked down the street to TGIF Fridays where we had a great lunch before we hopped on the subway to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. There was so much to look at and some really interesting displays.

On our way back we stopped on wall street to take a picture with the Charging Bull. Once we arrived back to Grand Central we grabbed a snack and got on the train back home. Despite the cold weather we all really had a wonderful day.

Clash Mash Party

On Saturday January 25th South East held a "Clash Mash" dance party. Everyone came wearing an array of fun unmatching clothes to dance the night away. The dance floor was filled with stripes, plaids, polka dots, and even different shoes and socks. All that came had a great time spending the evening hanging with friends, snacking on tasty refreshments and dancing to the sounds the DJ was spinning.

A Motown Holiday

Twas the night of the Holiday Show and all through Heathcote

All the actors were stirring to a musical note

The decorations were hung on the stage with care

Friends, family and staff, everyone was there!

The audience was nestled all snug in their chairs

While visions of Motown danced in their stares

Mothers and Fathers lost their heavy winter clothes

When just a moment ago they were near froze

When out on the stage came a most angelic choir

All sprang to attention to see what was to conspire

The first number, ‘Santa Clause is comin to Town’

It tore the house down!

Onlookers let loose a joyous cry

As we listened to ‘Angels we have heard on high’

Coleen and Claire dazzled all, each spinning a hoop

This truly was a magnificent troupe

The first act ended as it had began

Energy high, all was going to plan

Before intermission, ‘ Chunnakah’s da bomb’

Lindsays dance solo was an absolute phenom

Back in our seats we were transported to a winter wonderland

With an onstage performance that was truly grand

Christian and Briana had a magical duet

So moving, so dear, take a look around, many eyes were wet

And then in a twinkling I heard in the aisle

A young elf named Alec with a most joyous smile

He came bearing gifts of candy canes and laughter

The show was in motion so we all thanked him after

At the conclusion we were welcomed to carols

With enough good cheer to fill several large barrels

It was an evening not soon to be forgot

To be looked back upon with much warm thought

We hope you spend your holiday in good cheer

South East Consortium looks forward to seeing you in the New Year

With the end of the season within sight

Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!

Day on Broadway – White Christmas

It was a cold winter day, the perfect weather for our Day on Broadway group to see “White Christmas” at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Shortly after being shown our seats and ordering from the menu, food started to come out, everyone enjoyed their dinners as they waited for the show to begin. This was a great time to converse with friends and enjoy the sights and sounds of the theatre.

Those who attended really enjoyed seeing the wonderful dance numbers as well as singing along to many beloved songs from the timeless “White Christmas” film.  The show ended with a big surprise! While the cast of the show sang “White Christmas”, snow started to fall from the ceiling. Everyone laughed and cheered as the snow fell all around us. A perfect end to a great day!

Bridgeport Hockey Trip

BRRRRRRRR!!! Was the general consensus of Sunday afternoon to all of those in attendance of South East Consortium’s Magical Mystery Tour.

The gang embarked from a chilly Mamaroneck train station in the morning arriving in Bridgeport Connecticut just in time for a delicious brunch at Barnum House on Broad Street. The group settled down with scrumptious food and delightful conversation. We could have carried on there the rest of the day but we had to leave the cozy confines of Barnum House for the main event of the afternoon; The Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey games.

With spirits warmed and the excitement level high the group bundled up and made the five minute walk to the Webster Bank Arena. The roar of the crowd could already be heard as we approached the rink. The Tigers were facing off against the St. Johns Ice Caps. It was sure to be a great game on the ice!

Tigers got on the board first at 7:00 of game play, the aftermath of a frantic scrum in the crease. The home team scored again at the 2:24 mark of the second period. They were owning the ice but not for long. The Ice Caps answered back scoring two goals before the end of the second period.

Slap shots weren’t the only hits made on the ice in the second period. Halfway through the second period a fist fight broke out between two players amidst a play. This pacifist never condones fisticuffs but the tussle did get the crowd on their feet and the blood pumping.

Unfortunately the rough and tumble Tigers could not hold out to grab a W on Sunday. The Tigers fell to the Ice Caps 4-3. Even with the defeat of the home team and the prospect of a frigid walk back to the train station the gang had a fantastic time witnessing the face paced excitement on the ice.

Additionally we did not walk away empty handed. Will Byrnes and Laura Howey were both able to snag t-shirts (mid flight) ejected from the t-shirt cannon after the first period. Lucky ducks!

Metro North carried us home peacefully as we all recounted the events of the day. Even with the howling wind and the dropping temperatures every last one us had a smile on our faces, warming our hearts and all of those around us.