FW: blog

 

Unless the Lord build thehouse, they labour in vain that build it...psalm 126 states..

we often run around, scurrying, doing nothing really, but keeping busy.....we very rarely stop. and recognize that the house is made of walls but the home is made of love...do we stop before we go anywhere in our day, relax, look at the birds, be grateful to God in our own home..be thankful..be thankful before we build the house to make it a home

Most Saturdays are sat of love for Habitat, because volunteers stop and build the house into a home with love, and volunteers and the families...be Christian Jew or Muslim or no faith, it is a labor of love..a love of sweat and helping and changing a neighborhood.....this all works, and makes it happen for the best..makes thousands of homes, from the Jimmy Carter work camp this week in Los Angeles to Argentina where we have built anumber of homes with our tithe to El Salvador as well and Tajikistan and from Yonkers to Mamoroneck to Rye to Bedford...all have been with love...so dont just build a house. build a home in your heart and then in your community....with the Lord...jjk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

an intersting day..the headlnes consumed by baseball..by a winning team and by someone who will receive more than 25 million a year...we could build 250 homes a year on one of the salaries..i congradulate anyone who can get that type of salary.. no question, though we hope they help contribute to great causes in the meantime...sit back someday and look at what rules our headlines.an interesting case study..One headline of interest is Housing suit may exceed 400 thousand..

a suit that was brought against the county for not challenging municipalities enough in segregation and zoning laws against housing segregation.....a case in point...one person who lives in an affluent town stated, you should help over there,not in my town...help in Portchester not here...in Rye...well that attitude is one that we have seen exist for those of us who wanted to have homes built for years...an apologetically teh acceptance of such an attitude as the quid pro quo, and it would never change...however we are proud that we have built in larchmonnt bedford, and are meeting in armonk and north castle...and other areas as well.

why stop people from having a home..EVERYONE A HOME is my theme, we can do this and do it well with people realizing that it is healthy, safer, lowers taxes and helps allcommunities if you have affordable homes that people own, and pay taxes on....so heres to baseball, they are happy in Beantwon and Worcester Ma today..but let us be happy in those who dare to speak up for rights of people the average American family to get a simple decent home.  the World Series of housing is coming up...who do you want to win..

how about everyone, EVERYONE A HOME....in our lifetime..God bless you and yours, jjk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

Sunday today we had Harvey School out, and another great group, as well as Irvington Presbyterian church...tomorrow Big Blue cmes out on site again, and we get ready for a season of finishing and starting new homes....very excited about our work as we go into our 20th anniversary..many people come to mind in terms of hero volunteers..from Gingie to George, from Alex to Ann and from Rich to Bob, all of them give so much of themselves to help us, both young and old..needless to say the Lanza family foundation has been paramount to our success and groups like Citibank, Bronxville Reformed Church and St. Augustines church..high schools like New Rochelle and Scarsdale, Lakeland and Roosevelt, and so many that join us..

dreams of a new tomorrow are coming, or new homes, or new structures, or new green building, all coming together to make it look amazing for us.. no question.

we are grateful for all you do, and have done as always...and on this Sunday, when many volunteer and many pray, we ask again for yoru prayers and support...and vica versa as we give Thanks...jk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

here we are ...the 20th anniversary is almost upon us here in Habitat...

an article in the Larchomnt Gazette...about our work..and Walk for Homes..an editorial in our favor about not hurting habitat in yonkers...an interview this weekend in the ny times...

we are often in the newspapers...I work hard, and Habitat does to educate about the affordable housing needs, the crisis and the win win affordable homes create for people in this county..no question..one of the top three taxed counties in this country...yet we create taxpayers, help stabilize communities and help so many in a variety of ways....

 

I reflect this morning early as it is, about our Bob Vila house which went up 9 years ago this week on Porach street..we were putting gravel in the foundations..and then a week later, the work started, a blitz build...where volunteers from all over the country and here started a home that was televised nationally every morning, what an amazing fete...God truly blessed it, long before Extreme Makeover, we were here...

now today we put gravel in four new homes Concrete with thanks to ALTUS..and the precaste concrete industry and Olde Castle...for helping us so much...four new cutting edge homes will be put up in Yonkers...

carbon fiber in the walls...and new homes in two days...amazing...with solar panels on top of them. With the fires in California, I know homes like this would be still standing today..lets hope the technology spreads like good wildfire across the country, concrete homes..the first made by Thomas Edison, and most of the worlds homes are not made of wood, but stronger material....heres to Yonkers, Altus and our work on these vitally important homes...

 

Along with that a year ago this time, we decoarated Mr Ponds home, that had burned down, a woodhome, that many New Rochellians and firefighters union members and contractors and other helped to rehab so that decoations for Halloween could be put up and his home for the holidays would be ready for Thanksgiving...we give thanks to God for allowing us to be part of this...

 

Last nite I went to the Police Foundation dinner, in New Rochelle...one that had many police who can not respond to a second shift crisis here in the city, in time, as many cant live near New Rochelle now....

We are embarking on building Homes for police..a proposal for a coop  or condo building for these great

men and women who protect us as they come on the force...more to follow..

 

In all we say and do we give thanks..pray for the Jimmy Carter work camp in Los Angeles..the last time I was there with my good friend John Verni and Millard and we blitzed 21 homes in S. Central LA...

pray for the fire victims..pray for our work here home and abroad..with gratitude for you..jjk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

Blessings to all ofyou today with you and yours.. A great day to be working to help Habitat, to accomplish something to help others, and to help yourselves in your own lives..I was fortunate to be at a citibank opening last nite, in New Rochelle...Gladly as the many employees and execs fromt eh NY region came, i realized none of them looked familiar in suits, but when i I envisioned them in tehir Jeans and their habiatt citi t shirts, i knew that more than 60 per cent of them had worked on our habitat sites..."Jim I worked withyou in Yonkers five years ago"   Donna now in Bronxville, held meetings for me in Ossining. Richard now covering NY Ct and Massachusetts..stated I will be at yoru houses in Bedford next week...Peter Van Eyck regional manager, stated...I will be here for you..last build was great for us...lets keep going!!  Steve Silverman hilited our partnership and metioned the Jimmy Carter work build in LA next week and how he had worked with us and so many employees partner with Habitat....He came up later and said Jim anyway I can help. Steve is now Director of Public Affairs Globally and had once spoken in front of many employes on Bob Willmstadts behalf, former COO and foundation head...at a great build day we had...thank you Steve. He said he wants to help in New Rochelle with us on our homes here too....

It is a great day for me, when i realize we have been part of a corporate culture of volunteer service...More and more corporations realize it is great business to give back, to have team building in the community and to help others....Citibank does it internationally now...and I truly believe when marge Magda and Bob Willumstadt came and helped us in White PLains 12 years ago that was one of the first citibank days they had and the relationshop grew from there...a great day...needless to say..

 

So heres to great corporations like Citibank...and many many others that make up our corporate team buuild.

Also yesterday a call from Joe Odonnel athletci Director of Pace University with a call to me,, Jim lets do the atholetic kickoff again, like we did in the past...Team Habitat it is called...I have created Team habitat with oneo fthe S's of sports standing for Service...Stay tuned...

so as i reflect on yesterday, i know today will be even better, because we have build a strong foundation built on many who are on our team..from cproations, congregations, colleges, and kids...the EXCITEMENT IS STILL BUILDING....!!!!! jOIN US...God Bless, jim killoran

 

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

a great day, already, early, but early is good for me ..as it is quiet, allows me to check our sties, pray, do a WVOX radio interview and get moving...

This mornings tour took me to Yonkers early...riding by our Willow homes, our Porach homes, our Purser place homesite, our brush with kindness sites...a playground we hope to paint, i prayed on the waterfront as i saw a revitalized waterfront where the water taxi left to go to manhattan...prayed for all of you our volunteers and supporters, and for many more homes and abetter society.

My radio interview this morning entailed talking about homes for Veterans, homes that could be made like levittown adn the GI Bill ofyesteryear.. I will be contacting...Ron Tocci today about seeing what we can do..

lets remember veterans returning to our towns and cities..lets make homes for them too....it is time..

a new day in Westchester and the world..celebrate it, make it happen..join us..  the Excitement is buidling.

God bless you, Jim Killoran

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY TODAY IN YOUR LIFE FROM ALL OF US HERE AT HABITAT...TODAY WE RE BLESSED TO HAVE IBM VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE ON SITE AGAIN, VOLUNTEERS WHO COME NOW YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE WANT TOHELP THEY SAY, HOW CAN WE...A SYNAGOGUE WRITES THIS MORNING TO ME, HOW CAN WE HELP, CAN WE BUILD CAN WE MAKE A DONATION...AMY AND ALLIE CALL FROM PIER VIEW COURTLANDT SIXTH GRADE YESTERDAY, WE WANT TO DO THE NICKELS FOR NAILS PROGRAM WITH YOU, CAN WE HELP...

THE MAMORONECK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HOLD A FAIR YESTERDAY THAT SUCCEEDS TO RAISE MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WANT TOHELP THEIR OWN TOWN, DID THEY HELP..YES...WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU, OR PEOPLE LIKE YOU HELPING US...

SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER IS THE KEY, NO QUESTION...YOUTH GET CHALLENGED AND IN A MELEE THIS PAST WEEK..PEOPLE TRY TO HIDE WHAT HAPPENED, POLITICIANS..YET WE BELIEVE THAT SERVICE IS THE KEY FO RYOUTH TO GET INVOLVED AND FEEL EMPOWERED THEY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, RATHER THAN HURTING ONE ANOTHER...

USUALLY I AM ON WVOX ON RADIO TALKING ABOUT OUR WORK, LIKE I WILL SHORTLY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE BELEIVE NEW ROCHELLE CAN IMPROVE AND AN UPDATE ON HABITAT ACTIVITIES...THEY ALSO ALLOW ME TO DO PSA'S ABOUT OUR WALK FOR HOMES NOW...

THE RADIO ANNOUNCER TALKS ABOUT HOW HE IS NOT IN FAVOR OF RELIGION BUT FOR ME, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE HAMMER...TO HELP TO CHANGE THE WORLD NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION..SO JOIN US...

WE GIVE GREAT PRAISE FOR ALLOF YOU TODAY, YOU HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH IN LIFE. GOD BLESS, JJK

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: BLOG

 

 

A BEAUTIFUL DAY, NO QUESTION...SUN IS SHINING..VOLUNTEERS ARE BUILDING ON THIS SUNDAY..IN YONKERS, NEW ROCHELLE AND MAMORONECK.

 

YONKERS...VOLUNTEERS FROM IONA COLLEGE ARE WORKING HARD ON 2 HAWTHORNE STREET WITH OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PURSER PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD...WHERE THEY ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS...

 

WE HAVE RECEIVED THE BUILDING PERMIT FOR OUR HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD..WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, ON PURSER PLACE...WHO MANY ARE LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS..AND HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY TO HAVE US THERE.  OUR NEIGHBOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS IN BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND OUR PROPERTY, FROM DAY ONE HAS STATED TO US, HE WANTS TO BE AGREAT NEIGHBOR AND WORK WTIH US CLOSELY, AND IS NOT SELLING HIS PROPERTY...

FROM DAY ONE WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE SO HAPPY WE ARE KICKIGN OUT THE DRUG DEALERS AND USERS, HELPING TO PAINT THE PLAYGROUND AND IMPROVE THE AREA

MUCH MISINFORMATOIN HAS BEEN SPREAD ABOUT THE PROCESS, ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND ABOUT HABITAT, WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THIS, AND WE KNOW GOD HAS BLESSED HABITAT TO BUILD HOMES AND TO ACT IN WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS....

 

IN NEW ROCHELLE OUR BRONXVILLE HIGH SCHOOLERS CONTINUED TO WORK ON OUR HOMES AND ON A BURNED OUT HOME...DOWN THE STREET AND PAINTING THE PARK ...HELPING AS WE DO IN THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT LINCOLN PARK AND ON DEWITT AND ON LINCOLN AVENUE.

IT IS AN HONOR TO HELP WORK TOCHANGE A NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE DO.

 

WE ALSO HAD OUR HEROES IN MAMORONECK, OUR POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNVIERSITY IN BROOKLYN. THESE FUTURE ENGINEERS,  MOSTLY LIVING IN BROOKLYN COME ALMOST WEEKLY. THEIR CHALLENGE AS I SAID TO THEM TODAY IS TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX, TO DESIGN GREEN BUILDINGS FOR THEIR FUTURE AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME THAT WONT FLOOD, AND THAT WILL HELP WITH APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT

 

SO WE ARE BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS, TO HAVE YOU READ THIS, TO HAVE SO MANY HELP US ADN TO HAVE SO MANY REALIZE A SIMPLE DECENT HOME FOR ALL IS POSSIBLE IN OUR LIFETIME.

LAST I WAS ABLE TO GO TO JOEL OSTEEN LAST NITE AT THE GARDEN IN MANHATTAN...A GREAT EXPRESSION OF FAITH BEING SPREAD ACROSS THE WORLD...HIS TESTAMENT TO THE LOVE OF GOD AND JESUS CHRIST AND HIS STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LIVING DAY PSALMISTS..GIVING PRAISE TO THE ONE GOD WE ALL BELEIVE IN, WHETHER WE CHRISTIAN JEW OR MUSLIM BECOMES A BLESSINGS FOR ALL WHO HEAR HIM, AND WHO PARTICIPATE WITH THAT IN MIND IN THE THEOLOGY OF THE HAMMER. WE GIVE PRAISE FOR YOU AND YOURS TODAY..JJK

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

Monday morning...waking up. people moving, all types of people going to work..what type of home do they start from...a mansion in Bronxville, a basement in Mamoroneck..a small room in New Rochelle, an apartment in Larchmont...how are they starting the day...walking down Main street..the Grapes of Wrath comes to mind...many immigrants, hoping to work, working hard..like my grandparents...who came and worked on the sewers..and we all climbed the ladder...Did you run out the door, did you stop and say a prayer, did you think how grateful we can be we start from a decent home..did you take for granted water running from the shower, when Atlanta is under a drought control and the Colorado River is drying up too, according to  NY times article...how much we need to start with a psalm of Thanksgiving and realize we have so much and need to give back....and change the world for the better...this past weekend i had more than 100 youth coming out  with us on sites..inspiring to me, and inspiring to others to see them working all over the county...just like the kids today at mamoroneck high school...

Join us in this mission to be thankful and then improve our communities with simple decent homes, condos coops and greener communities...may you be blessed in all you do... and like the Psalmist wrote Sing to the Lord a new canticle, sing to the Lord all the earth, for what we have been blessed with every minute and for how we can improve the world today in our own society..jjk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FW: blog

 

at this point in time, we are working on a number of different things...I want to thank fellow police officers, firefighters, teachers, who serve our communities and our kids..no question, every day..

to that end walking police on the street in new rochelle were glad to be seen by businesses, residents customers...my hope and prayer now is that we can buld affordable coops and condos for our police throughout the county and throughout the area..

 

We celebrate our building permit for Yonkers yesterday for Purser place and for working in the future with our neighbors, the school, the pta, the neighbors who live on purser place...and more.

 

I also need to thank all our sponosrs who have helped us, who have put their capital behind us...it is a great day in Yonkers, in New Rochelle in Rye in Bedford, in Peekskill, because our habitat volunteers are there...how about your town...or neighborhood.. God bless

jjk

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.