The Bell Ringer

Editor: Joan Sommermeyer

SUMMER 2000

Family, Congregation and Friends say Good-Bye to 

G. Robert Williams

August 31, 1918 - July 11, 2000

Family, church members and friends gathered together on Saturday, July 15th to celebrate the life of Bob Williams. Officiating the service was retired Pastor and friend, Reverend John Wallace. *There have been many members from the Sweet Hollow family that have touched our lives in a special way and upon their passing have left a gap in our personal and church life. As it was a time to say farewell to one member, we continue to celebrate the contributions of all those who have been a part of the Sweet Hollow family. *Bob joined Sweet Hollow on December 2, 1956. In 1962, he was elected by the congregation to serve as deacon. He served five terms as elder, first elected in 1982, and serving a total of fifteen years. Many of those years he served as Stated Clerk of Session. *Bob has taken part in many activities of the church including office volunteer, stewardship, budget, nominations and countless other committees, but he is best known for his work as Editor-in-Chief of the Bell Ringer. His long career in writing dates back to the Second World War where he wrote news releases for the War Office. He also worked at a number of newspapers and then for New York Telephone from which he retired after thirty-four years. *As Editor-in-Chief of the Bell Ringer, Bob set a tough schedule for himself, an edition each month with the exception of July and August. His work on the Bell Ringer not only reported on the happenings of the church members, he managed to keep up and report on those members who had moved from the area. His expertise and dedication to the Bell Ringer kept the Sweet Hollow Family, both near and far, "in-touch" with one another. *We thank the Lord for allowing Bob to be part of our church family. He will truly be missed. 

Pastor Wallace Retires

 "I slept in Church because I'm striving to be more like God, and on the seventh day he rested"

Chef Ron's Corner

B-B-Q Sauce

For the brisket, proceed as follows;

Lagniappe:*You can stack slices on the tin foil, add sauce to the cut surfaces, slightly overlap slices and then return to the barbecue... or just serve slices as is and pass extra barbecue sauce at the table.

  With Deepest Sympathy

PULPIT SCHEDULE

The following is a schedule of  guest ministers filing in until an interim minister is found.

July 30    Nancy Jennings

August 6    Rev. Donald Derolf

August 13    Rev. Fred Woodward

August 20    Rev. Garfield Brown

August 27    Rev. Garfield Brown

Meals On Wheels

Contact: Allen Rogers or the Meals on Wheels office @ (631) 271-5150

The first Day of Sunday School will be September 10th. There will be a Welcome Back Bagel Brunch following worship service. Everyone is welcome!

The Sunday School was able to complete a total of 57 Gift of the Heart kits. It was their mission project donated in honor of Pastor and Mrs. Wallace's retirement. 23 school kits, 19 health kits, 8 clean-up kits and 7 layette kits were sent to aid people in need throughout the world. *Many thanks to all those who provided items and complete kits to help make the children's project such a great success.

There is still a need for a Sunday School teacher to team-teach the 3rd and 4th grade class. The teaching schedule will be shared with other participants helping in the Sunday School. Please contact carol Keil or the church office if you are interested.

    "The characters in this book are real, the names have been changed because your brother can't pronounce them"

  What are your convictions?

 Jimmy Carter recalls sitting in a church in Plains Georgia thinking about the title of the morning sermon. "I don't remember anything our pastor had to say, but I'll never forget the title: "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence  to convict you"

Answered Prayer: Nancy Lenhart is recovering from her surgery. and Richard Sperry is up and around again after a brief medical set back.

The Bell Ringer would like to recognize the following people whose work was also greatly appreciated in the addition of the new pastor's and church offices.

Raymond Moder, Joe Moder Jr., Steven Moder, Wayne Moder, Bill Wansor, Bill Guichard. Justin Guichard, Chris Nolan and Danny Martin

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS is a special feature in this issue of the Bell Ringer. Fred Chacalos's daughter, Jean Chiovarelli, has recently written an article about her father in the "I Remember When" column of the May 25th issue of the Long Islander. The Bell Ringer has been given permission to reprint Jean story.

The Long Islander

I Remember When....

By Jean Chiovarelli

I would like to tell you the story of a man I know. He worked during a different time than what we're used to now. He didn't carry a business card and never signed a contract. His handshake was all that was needed to close a deal. He simply called himself a carpenter during his 50 plus years of working. He loved his work, was married and had seven children. That man is my father Fred Chacalos.

In 1962, my father was first introduced to Bill and Lil Karl, owners  of the KARL'S Mariners Inn in Northport. At that time the restaurant consisted of the original house, the Connecticut room  and the bar. My father's first job was to rebuild the dock. Over the years his work included adding the entryway, several additions, the lighthouse out back, walk-in freezers, new floors, repairing chairs, etc., Basically the Karls called my father whenever anything was needed to be done at the restaurant or their home. They all became good friends, In the late 1960's, Mr. Karl actually sent my Dad to the Bahamas to get ideas for the new Rum Keg room. I'm sure  my mother was thrilled being left home alone with at that time six children.

Over the years our family life and that of the restaurant became intertwined, Celebrations such as birthdays, baptisms ands communions were celebrated at the Mariners Inn. My siblings and I would frequently climb into Dad's Ford pick\up on a Saturday for a ride over to the restaurant. Mr. Karl would take us into the kitchen for hot fudge sundaes. I can still recall the taste  of the homemade whipped cream. We would play in the 8-foot-tall lighthouse that overlooked Northport harbor, I can vividly remember Dad building it in our garage, How disappointed we all were when he hoisted the lighthouse  onto the back of his pick-up and delivered it to the restaurant.

Unfortunately, those wonderful times did not last forever. Inevitably, we grew up and started preferring the company of our friends. The glory days of the restaurant were waning, too. Times have certainly changed. Our memories and a few worn and tarnished souvenirs are all that is left  of a wonderful vestige.

There is only one thing however, that is left. Throughout the restaurant my father had installed massive exposed ceiling beams that were originally light posts on Southern State parkway. In the bar of the restaurant was a beam where my father had carved "Fred Loves Jane" encircled by a heart. This beam was the last salvageable remnant of all that my father had done there. I couldn't accept that it would be destroyed along with the restaurant. With the owner's permission and armed with a chainsaw and a few old 2x4's my Dad, husband and I cut the beam out and brought it back home.

Today. Karl's Mariners Inn may just be a memory pf the past. However, each time I see that beam nestled high in my new den, fond memories flood my mind. Memories of good times past and the recollection of Dad's humble yet noble career.

Please call the church office with announcements, news, joys or anything you would like to see included in the Bell Ringer.

Special thanks to John Chacalos, Kathy Reiser, Bill Walter, Carol Keil, and Jim Sommermeyer for their contributions to this issue of the Bell Ringer.