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HI TO ALL..

 

OCT 31, 2007 AN IMPORTANT DAY...FOR US HERE AT HABITAT ..I AM HOPING THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLY DAY..NOT JUST A HOLIDAY FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE...YES THATS RIGHT..ASKING FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GREAT SUPPORT AT THIS TIME..

 

WALKING IN MANHATTAN I OFTEN LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE LIVE IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS..HOW THEY LIVE IN CONDOS COOPS, HOW THEY TRANSPORT THEMSELVES, WHAT STORES ARE THERE..DID YOU KNOW THAT MANY BLOCKS HJAVE GREAT INSTITUTIONS OF RELGION THERE AS WELL...AS I PRAYED FOR OUR WORK TODAY IN WHAT I CALL MY PRAYER WALKS (AND A WALK WHERE I AM STILL IN LOVE WITH MANHATTAN AND ALL ABOUT IT.) I SEE THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY...OUTSIDE TELLS A STORY OF A MAN WHO INPSIRED MILLIONS TO PRAY IN 1837..WITH A SIMPLE MEETING FOR BUSINESSES...A MEETING THAT LED TO A REVIVAL IN NY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD...REMINDED ME OF SOMEONE LIKE MELVI JONES OF THE LIONS CLUB, WHO DEDICATED BUSINESSES LIFE IN SERVICE, OR ROTARY OR KIWANIS..WHERE THEY HAVE  A SIMPLE PRAYER BEFORE A MEETING..TODAY I MEET WITH A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AT LUNCHTIME OVER THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN NEW ROCHELLE...OR REVIVAL IF YOU WILL..I BELEIVE GOD NEEDS TO BLESS EVERY TOWN AND CITY IN A WAY THAT WILLHELP IT TO EXIST STRONGLY..SO EVERY DAY I WILL ASK FOR YOU TO PRAY FOR A DIFFERENT TOWN A DAY.....

 

AS  YOU CONTINUE TO WALK UP THE BLOCK TOWARDS LINCOLN CENTER YOU SEE THE JESUS CHRIST CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS...AND THEN CONTNUE ON AND THE LINCOLN CENTER SYNAGOGUE IS THERE...MANY PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WORSHIP...LEARN PRAY AND THEN GO TO WORK AND CHANGE THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN CIRCLES IN MANHATTAN..

I THEN WALKED BACK TOWARDS MY CAR...ONLY VIA WAY OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER...WHERE I STOPPED AND SAW FLAGS OF THE WORLD, AND THEN STOPPED AND SAID A PRAYER FOR NEW ORLEANS AND THE HOMES WE HAD BUILT IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER FOR KATRINA..RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN, I PRAYED FOR THE FAMILIES WHO MOVED INTO THE HOMES WE FRAMED UP THERE, AND THEN PRAYED FOR THE MANY WHO STILL NEED TO GET INTO THEIR HOMES...

 

TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO PRAY FOR NEW ROCHELLE IF YOU PRAY, FOR US TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES, TO CREATE A DOWNTOWN TAHT WILL INCLUDE COOPS AND CONDOS FORTHE AVERAGE WORKING PERSON, AND TO HELP SEE OCT 31ST AS A DAY WHEN WE KICKOFF THE THANKSGIVING SEASON...A SEASON WE GIVE THANKS OF ALL FAITHS, AS I WALKED IN ANOTHER SET OF STORES..THE STORES HAD ALREADY GOTTEN THE COSTUMES OUT AND PUT IN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS....

JOIN US IN THANKSGIVING FOR HABITAT FROM LA. TO NEW ROCHELLE FROM CAPO VERDE TO

SOUTH AFRICA, FROM THE STEPS OF ST PATRICKS TO THE WAILING WALL IN JERUSALEM...FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA..LET US REALIZE THAT WE CAN HELP EVERYONE A HOME IN THIS WORLD, SIMPLE AND DECENT, GREEN AND GREAT WTIH A FABRIC OF COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO CAN LIVE DECENTLY SUCCESSFULLY AND BLESSED.

 

LAST I WANT TO THANK THE BLESSED SACRAMENT STUDENTS WHO KICKED OFF THEIR HSTORIC CLUB MEETING YESTERDAY FIRST EVER IN NEW ROCHELLE FOR THE HABITAT CLUB THERE, AS THEY WILL BE GETTING INVOLVED WITH US, IN A BIG WAY...

 

WITH GRATITUDE, GRACIAS, GRAZIE, OBRIGADO...JIM KILLORAN

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A STUDENT WRITES..THANKS JIM FOR ALL YOUHAVE DONE..GLAD WE GOT OUT ON SITE THIS SAT..

THE CLUB MEMBERS REALLY APPRECIATE IT...HARVEY SCHOOL CALLS YESTERDAY..JIM, COME AND SPEAK AT OUR ASSEMBLY PLEASE...JOE ODONELL AND I MEET TODAY, A MEETING ABOUT OTHER COLLEGE KIDS COMING OUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD AND HIGH SCHOOLERS.. A KICKOFF OF TEAM HABITAT, FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY....WHERE ONE OF THE S'S OF SPORTS STANDS FOR SERVICE...SO MANY YOUTH, SO MANY GOING TOHELP CHANGE THE WORLD..

AND ALSO ADULTS, AND RETIREES, OTHER BIGGER YOUTH IF YOU WILL WHO HAVE HOPE TO SEE THE WORLD CHANGE IN THEIR YEARS WHEN THEY VOLUNTEER AFTER SUCCESSFUL CAREERS, A GREAT THING...

SO HERES TO ALL THE YOUTH FROM 8 TO 84 WHO HELP US, CHANGE THE WORLD TOGETHER...

PSALM 105 STATES GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER..WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE ON A FOUNDATOIN OF LOVE TODAY..MAY YOU BE BLESSED TODAY IN ALL YOU DO..JJK

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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so today has been an interesting day...as i write from our new rochelle habitat office,  where yesterday there was a melee on Main street. and i write about my friends the police..who i am a strong advocate about being on walking beats on main streets...across the county.I come from a long line of police (theres something unusual right..Irish American cops) who walked the beat in many Massachusetts neighborhoods and Main Streets....I also want to know that many police in our communities cannot afford to live easily in Westchester in communities where they protect us... Combined with this we work on downtowns being revitalized and all downtowns..putting people on main streets in housing situations, from condos to avalon rentals to decrease traffic, to increase business opportunities for small business and to enhance our world..

so heres to walking police on main streets our friends, as part of enhancing downtown communities.. During the years i have been part of Main Street Historic Preservation trust committees, held business breakfasts regularly, helped with revitalization committees, been chairs of sidewalk sales and events...

a revitalized Main street is one protected with walking police, home ownership for long term stake holders and tax payers dollars in condos and coops, affordable primarily and luxury and activity for the residents on Main and for others throughout the city to attend...heres to downtowns with real affordable opportunities, with safe Main streets and with revitalized communities across all of westchester not just new rochelle...

We also need City Hall on Main streets and police precincts to help bring back people to the heart of every community.....more to follow...

along with that safe communities are ones that engage its youth in after school activities, have home ownership in neighborhoods, who in effect as taxpayers and lifelong stakeholders, protect the neighborhood and fight for their rights..That is why people when they know habitat comes into a neighborhood will create safety, increased positive activity and help to stabilize turnover neighborhoods in downtowns and in homeowner neighborhoods.....i love community, i love habitat, i love our homeowners and i love that we will be part of your neighborhood someday....helping to make it safe...stay tuned for Habitat's Main Street condo proposal (affordable) in the future...I need like the Psalmist to give thanks to God today for protecting myself and my co Main street businessowners and customers and residents in New Rochelle for not letting us get hurt, and pray for the two who got stabbed on Main Street in New Rochelle and our youth...God bless, jjk

 

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The nite before last a parent calls me, so gladyou are building the homes in our area...what a great gift to hear from her...so many when they see habitat in a neighborhood ae excited.. from my first days in a Paterson NJ neighborhood, where drug dealers were not happy and then kicked out of an Eastside neighborhood, and neighbors and volunteers gathered every Sat and often sundays to sit on a porch..with families..neighborhoods get transformed in many ways...i have seen in in S. Central Los Angeles, Sonsonate El Salvador, El Florida, Tecate, Mexico; the Lower East Side of New York, e. 6th Street and avenue C....

North Chicago...Toronto, Glencairn Belfast Northen Ireland and many many more neighborhoods, ihave visited like W. Philly....What an honor to be part of the transformation of neighborhoods...Again the motivation is the love of the one God that protects, like the Psalmist says if you have God in your heart, and for habitat, a hammer in your hand...not as a weapon, but maybe a weapon of love.. an instrument of change, a tool of transformation...even in New Orleans...on Carrolton Avenue..and more...

instruments of love and change, can you be that in your work today, place of business, school, in your neighborhood for the better...as I go in life, sometimes I feel that it is getting harder and harder for politcs to really work. to really effect change quickly...interests, self serving, PACS, over regulated legislative processes, create lengthy dialogues and diatribes of indifference gobblydigook and lack of transformation....There are many great politicians..dont get me wrong, but the processes created by those who live to legislate often slow up any good that can be done by admirable straightshooting politicians..let us pray for politicians today if we can...

That is why i love faith in action..Yesterday another Temple called me, can we come out and help ...soon, a company too, when when can we come, citibank,30 strong next week Sullivan and Cromwell 70 strong Sat. IBM legal 30 strong Friday and today Homeside Insurance all building.. and the list goe on and on..

Get your church, your neighborhood, your school, your company your firm, your family, yourself involved today with Transformation...and may the one God of all religions that loves us the same protect and guide your every step today...with gratitude, JJK

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a long but successful weekend no question.. we are grateful for what has happened with so many helping this weekend..important..where people have been volunteering from yonkers to bedford..made a community garden, prepared a site, put in windows, put on a roof, helped fix a home..and more...all of this is profound for us in the future hope of helping so many make it so many to move ahead in society with a home.. Yesterday Sullivan and Cromwell stepped up working so hard in our Purser place neighborhood, transforming homes a garden and our site...thanks to Marlene, and Rich and the whole team there...what a great day..

Then Bedford Presbyterian church, st Mathews, and many more were there helping us move along with so much of the work on our Bedford homes..today Byram Hills and a high school youth group join in.

and this week we put up our homes on Purser place with home ownership and plans for a multi purpose park..which will be amazing for all we do for that neighborhood and families.

An article in the paper today discusses rentals for teachers in the Bronx, a great idea with some funding by the Federation of Teachers...however i would really love to see those condos or coops so teachers from the get go would be getting equity into their payment, getting some shares of success into their living situation. I appreciate the low rentals...but lets make it permanent equity for teachers who help change the course of our kids lives and inspire in so many ways.

Also today a benefit for us at teh Classic and collectible Car show this morning in Croton, by teh Rotary in conjunction with the Hot Rod Hotel....congratulations  to Louie Lanza and the work he is doing there, and the support of the Rotary there.

Last this week, tomorrow is the anniversary of the floods of Westchester a major disaster, let us remember all those who suffered...the more than 2000 homes that were affected and the people whose lives were so upended...we still work on homes in Mamoroneck now and need your help. a carnival for Habitat from 230-430 this week on October 19th occurs and a nite at Commerce Bank to help raise support for our work there occurs on Nov 7th..join us...we need your help..with all we say and do let us give Thanks! Jim Killoran

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Sat across the country..sat people from all over are helping in ways that people cant even imagine.. people are working all over, helping building moving families in.. seeing what we can do to assist in the world moving ahead, helping so many have homes..

 

Today we work in Bedford, in Rye in Peekskill, in New Rochelle, in all different sites as of this time..

We are almost ready to start in Yonkers..there small items will help us move the project and we are there.. An elderly gentleman calls and he is looking for us to help with a brush with kindness project..can you help me.. more and more Brush with kindness projects come to us, asking for our help..asking for us to be able to help them on the sites..on their homes....so many in need, another couple looks for us to assist them as they were burned out of their home...and daily new families come in asking for help from us for their American Dream...

 

Another Habitat Sat..before Columbus Day weekend..we need your help now...Join us...God bless you,Columbus day weekend our Italian American friends, and God bless America and this world, through Habitat eyes....EVERYONE A HOME!

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Easy like Sunday morning,

 no question, easy like Sunday morning...Columbus day weekend. many things go on....

yesterday our volunteer base was down overall for the weeeknd..next holiday weekend we will be pushing ahead for so much..a great time..

 

Today i reflect on the ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLOOD OF APRIL 15TH TILL NOW...what have we done, what did we accomplish.. where do we go from here...how do we protect our world for our grandkids for our future, for our environment, for affordable homes..

so much to think about..an article coming out in the Journal news hilites, what is going on, what has happened and immediate thoughts...for the future, what recommendations...can we make to fix rivers..

Mamoroneck and White Plains, New Rochelle and Bronxville and Yonkers, what can be done..

what can do to help protect families, we may be designing a flood free home...and are working with different groups to come up with this recommendation..we are doing much to protect the environemnt, make homes water resistant and keep the heat on everyone to make it a dryer world for us all...

todays summer weather in the middle of fall, reminds us that anything can happen, 80 degres on October 4th...reminds me of the year 911 occurred, dec 1 we were outside in shorts...

 

anyway easy like Sunday morning, pray if you can no matter what faith for our success and if you can make a donation today to us, we need it! God bless, jjk

FW: blog

 

Columbus day the celebration of america..Italian heirtage, Spanish heritage..everyones heritage..

today on  Good Morning America the show was from Mexico...with the show talking about the number of Spanish in this country, and the number of people who want to be here...so many a great country we live in..

what world are we creating here, a world of renters, or homeowners, a world of diverse immigrants and citizens who dream of having a home..out of reach, lets hopenot, that is our mission, to help dreams be realized for all Americans..and for 200 other countries as well..Today in New Orleans countries are represented in habitat affiliates, for a conference...the conference to share ideas, and help affiliates learn and help dreams come true for those across the world...may it be a blessed conference..and may you have the dream of home ownership....and if you already do, please help us help others accomplish this dream..

God Bless, jjk.

FW: blog

 

Yesterday I spoke with Rabbi Wohl and Anu from the Rotary service club, doing great things in their own ways in New Rochelle..both predicated in their mission to service....this morning we have a conference call about our Bedford weekend ...coming up this weekend..we have so many joining us this week in building..from Sullivan and Crowmell to IBMs legal team to St. Mathews Episcopal church to the J Teen group which did a great job yesterday in Mamoroneck to high schools and many many more..all have come to help in the spirit of Service or rather the Spirit of Service...the motivation of habitat is clearly one from the Ruah, from the hebrew word of the Spirit and a Spirit of Service..an early morning call from Henry Rivera of Living Transformation interrupts this blog...jim can you get me a mason to help us at the flock...to help the guys where they live..they need workon the house..also the meeting today is at 530 about the fair on Lawrence street, a Street where three people got killed these last couple of years..and we pray the Spirit of God takes over with volunteers, habitat grondworks, the city, Living transformation and more...

we will help with a rehab of a street cafe there for kids, like we helped rehab the food pantry there for the many who need help and it came out beaitiful... i have seen over the years, the Spirit of God transform neighborhoods communities, kick out drug dealers, help rise up beautiful homes and homeowners and neighborhood gardens and neighborhood areas together in a great way...and also transform volunteer lives...so as we move into one of our busiest weeks ever, i say thank you, whether you believe in the Spirit of the one God that  unites us all to join together, Chrsitian Muslim, Hindi and more and people of faith and no faith, all together in Service...may your life today be transformed in a special way as you give to someone who crosses your path today...jjk

FW: BLOG

 

HI AND BLESSINGS TO ALL THIS MORNING.

LORD WHO SHALL ABIDE IN  THEY TABERNACLE? WHO SHALL DWELL IN THY HOLY HILL

hE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SPEAKTH THE TRUTH IN HIS HEART.

HE THAT BACKBITETH NOT WITH TONGUE, NOR DO EVIL TO HIS NEIGHBOR...

 

THE PSALMIST WROTE THIS, A PSALM OF DAVID..15, THAT TALKS ABOUT RESPECTING NEIGHBORS..WORKING TOGETHER, AND HELPING ONE ANOTHER AS PRAISE TO THE LORD..

 

I AM HONORED THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORDS IN GOOD FAITH..AND EXCITED THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON PEARLS..A NEW MULTI PURPOSE PARK WILL BE ANNOUNCED, THAT FIVE HOMES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON, AND THAT 6 MORE HOMES WILL GO UP.. NO QUESTION..

 

THIS EXCITING ENDEAVOR WILL INCLUDE HELPING PEOPLE TO HAVE HOMES, A PLACE TO PLAY AND A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO LIVE..WITH KICKING OUT DRUG DEALERS, USE OF CRACK AND OTHER DRUGS AND CREATING ANEW WITH OUR NEIGHBORS A  GREAT COMMUNITY..

 

A PARENT CALLED ME FROM PEARLS ABOUT 930...LAST NITE..JIM WANTED TO SAY I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT IS CORRECT...AND GLAD THAT THE CRACK AND DRUG VIALS IN THE AISLE NEXT TO THE SCHOOL WILL GO AWAY AND YOUR FAMILIES WILL HELP KEEP AN EYE OVER THE HOMES...AND YOUR VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP KEEP UP THE AREA....WHEN THIS PARENT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE PLAN WE HAD OFFERED FROM DAY ONE...THEY WERE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE ONE HUNDRED YARD PLUS LONG MULTI PURPOSE FIELD OPPOSITE OUR HOMES...

 

WORKING WITH MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS...WHO  I THANK, WE TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.. PEOPLE DISAGREE..SOME, A FEW, BUT WE ARE GLAD THEIR KIDS WILL HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO PLAY NOW AS WELL.

 

TODAY I MEET AT A HOME WE STILL REHAB ON VAN RANDST IN MAMORONECK THE SIX MONTH ANNIVERSARY.....ONE HUNDRED HOMES...200,000 PLUS DOLLARS OF SUPPLIES MORE THAN 2500 VOLUNTEERS SINCE APRIL 21...ON APRIL 15TH THE FLOOD HIT, AND THE REST IS HISTORY...

LIKE NEW ORLEANS...WE WENT IN, WE HELPED WE GUTTED MOLDED WALLS SHEETROCKED PAINTED, AND BROUGHT HOPE...LIKE NEW ORLEANS THE WORK IS NOT COMPLETE YET...WE HAVE ONLY BEGUN WHAT WE CAN BE DOING IN COMMUNITIES, WITH ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS...

 

I AM BLESSED BY THE LORD AND EXCITED FOR ALL OF YOU , THAT HABITAT IS HERE IN WESTCHESTER, THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS AND PRAY FOR YOUR WELL BEING...

WE CONTINUE TO NEED YOU RSUPPORT AND PRAYERS, THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING..

JJK

FW: habitat blog

 

Hi to all,

 

We have been doing amazing things here. the golf event went great again. Thanks to First American Title, Joe French, Anthony Iovine, Brian Rachal, Ken Arndt and everyone who helped and also thank you God for great weather again.

 

Nickels for Nails...again..another school contacts me, we will raise support for you, we will do this...

we will help get change places in schools, train stations, etc..EVERYONE A HOME..everyone doing something helps us get it done.. thanks Pelham Middle Schools for entertaining this..

 

Another call yesterday comes from a donor and investment cfo who calls and says Jim, we want you to help come on our foundation board, to help recommend where we can give money locally to different causes..I was honored and blessed to know i can help other groups with input as well as our work at Habitat, more to follow..

 

 

Today my radio show at 9am covers local community info as well as announcing an Octoberfest event on the 28th to help us with our homes in New Rochelle...

 

This morning I meet with Sandy annabi and Mayor Amicone, both supporters..and yesterday more parents wrote to us saying , Jim your homes along with a 100 yard park is the best thing for our neighborhood in Yonkers..Lets get the homes and the Park done now, let us raise another neighborhood together in hands hearts hammers and hope.. and make it green and great for the school children and our neighbors on Purser Place...

 

In all we do and say like the Pslamist says, Let us Give Thanks....Jim Killoran

FW: blog

 

hi to all.

We wake up we move around, we shuffle off to work sometime aimlessly sometime with great purpose, sometimes wondering why...many in the world dont wake up with food, shelter or clothing...a homeless man walked into my office the other day, needing help...

and then families..families live on the edge..real estate costs are the highest part of their life..highest part of their need, most critical fora roof over their head...so many move around quickly...

 

what can we do, we do we do, how do we make it work..can the real estate community become a little less greedy, a little more empathetic or do we wait for a subprime mortgage crisis for them to see the lite...do we fight every affordable housing project...for other things...till we are blue in the face, while taxes keep going up on the backs of free rides to multi millionaires...like i have said, i love welath..love it..love to see people..have not have niot.....and for habitat the mission is lifting up those on the bottom and middle ladder of society into the wealth of home ownership...we pay taxes immediately while we are building here, a strategy costing us thousand to make this happen..Economically taxes being paid by a lot of small homeowners add up..make up schools funding, stabilize communities and then

 

Golf tournamenet, today, for habitat at Siwanoy...not that is a community of great weatlh..thanks to First American Title for its sponsorship..I used to play golf with my dad, my high school buds and even won the title on the states with the team st St. Joephs college in Maine,...a fun sport..takes a long time for me to play today, due to work commitments...but we have  reliable groups made up of companies such as Sperry Van Ness and others that help us all the time.. Thank  you....we have so many that are now stepping up the plate to help us.. we have only just begun this exciting journey of helping to create wealth for the many who need it...

 

As we get closer and closer to our 20th anniversary of 2008 i am blessed to have so many realize that a simple decent home is not a bad thing in Westchester but one that all deserve.. God Bless you  jjk