Good News: For Local Couple, Wedding Was a Numbers Game

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to nitty-gritty breakdowns of government and school district issues. But some stories are simply inspiring, often showing that at the heart of our communities is a desire to do good. Here are some of the touching headlines from the past seven days.

Couple Counts on Love by the Numbers

Gaetan J. Pamphile will have no excuse if he forgets his wedding anniversary: he selected Tuesday for his wedding to Latasha Thomas because of the date's sequential numbers: 11/12/13.

Thomas, a labor and delivery registered nurse at Huntington Hospital, and Pamphile, manager of the department of registrar at Long Island University's C.W. Post campus, will wed Tuesday, a date that many see as significant because of the sequential numbers.That, in fact, is why Pamphile liked the date, Thomas said.

"The numbers seemed to fall in sequence with what he considers his lucky numbers 11-11, which is his birth date," she said. "He loves to say the day of his birthday 11-11. So he thought it would be so awesome to have a cool anniversary date, and how fitting this year comes 11-12-13. It was right up his alley!"

They plan to marry in a civil ceremony and have their wedding reception at Prime restaurant.

Smart Board Hopes

A Commack woman, who works as a special education teacher in an impoverished area of South Bronx, is asking her neighbors to help her raise money to add an interactive whiteboard to her classroom for her students.

Michelle Fargnoli, a graduate and resident of Commack, teaches children with multiple and severe disabilities who are growing up in areas of high poverty. She explained that her students lack access to supplies that best meet their educational needs, such as an interactive whiteboard.

Fundraiser Friends

It’s not always easy being the new kid on the block, but a fifth-grade student at Nassakeag Elementary began a fundraising effort that helped her bridge the gap to new friendships and make a sizable donation to the American Cancer Society.

Turkey Drive Returns

Long Island largest on-site food drive, the 5th Annual Bethpage Turkey Drive to benefit Island Harvest Food Bank, is expanding this year to take place in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, organizers announced Wednesday.

Long Islanders are asked to donate frozen turkeys, non-perishable food items or cash donations, which will help Island Harvest supply meals to the over 300,000 hungry Long Islanders in need, including the thousands of Hurricane Sandy victims still facing hardship.

Family Finds Two Missing Dogs

A family turned to Facebook to find their dogs, Curly and Moe who went missing earlier today. Through the power of social networking both dogs were found and returned hours after they took off near Washington Street and 25A in Setauket.

The owner, who goes by Alabama Tony on Facebook, found Moe relatively quickly, but was desperately reaching out to Setauket, Port Jefferson residents to help him find Curly. Luckily after over 700 shares on Facebook, Curly was also found unharmed.

A Jeweler's Act Of Kindness

Deborah Goldhammer had an experience AT Netusil Jewelers she will never forget when she took her son into the shop to buy a gift.

"I explained that we were shopping for my son's 12 year-old friend who was celebrating his 10-year cancer free anniversary. I wanted to engrave a dog tag for him," Goldhammer said in an email.

"As soon as I asked the price, he asked my son what was more important, the price or the thought.  My son of course answered the thought and then Andrew [the owner] said that was right and this wasn't going to cost us anything because it was the thought that counted. I was shocked."

School Honors Veterans

The Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School hosted a panel discussion with local veterans as part of it's 'Invite a Veteran to School' program. This annual panel asks veterans to come into the schools and talk about their experiences in the military, why they decided to join the armed forces, and what it's like living as a veteran.

The panel is open to all students in the district who are encouraged to come with a question to ask the speakers. This is the third year the district has hosted the program, which is entirely run by the school's student council.

Student Cleans Up

St. John the Baptist High School student Gillian Sokol is one of over 40  Junior Commissioners from 11 Islip Town high schools who have been sworn in to launch the JC Program of Keep Islip Clean for the year.

Field Hockey Champs

Sachem East varsity field hockey won the Long Island championship and is heading to the state semifinals.

According to Sachem Report, the girls won the Wednesday LI championship game 6-1 over Massapequa at the Dowling Sports Complex. The team now advances to the New York State Class A semifinals at Cicero-North Syracuse on Nov. 16. The team has not lost a game since Oct. 24, 2011, and has won the last two state titles.

The team now advances to the New York State Class A semifinals at Cicero-North Syracuse on Nov. 16. The team has not lost a game since Oct. 24, 2011, and has won the last two state titles.

Student Gives Birthday Presents To Charity

Video games, toys and even iPads are often gifts that a 10-year-old would be thrilled to receive for themselves on their birthday, but a fifth-grader at Bay Elementary only wanted to be given pet items to donate to an animal shelter.

Lena Marin, who just turned 10 on Oct. 27, held a slumber party with 12 of her friends who were all asked to bring pet toys, pet food and other items that were given to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter the next day.

“She decided to do this months ago and never wavered,” Janine Marin, Lena’s mom, said in an email to Patch. “Really proud of her and the 5th grade girls she is friends with; they all got behind her idea.”

Janine Marin said that items collected include over 30 toys, 10 food items, blankets, collars and wee wee pads.

"Wall of Wars"

The Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center honored veterans Friday with the introduction of the Walls of Wars monument, which will pay tribute to service men and women of every war in American history.