Star Wars Visits CP Bayville

Jun 25, 2021 | Blog, In the News

The Force was Strong in Bayville as Star Wars Characters Visit Residents and Staff at CP Bayville.

The Force was strong in Bayville on a recent sunny Thursday as an audience of happy residents and staff enjoyed Star Wars Day on the lawn! Various Star Wars characters attended in full costume and with props, including a remote control D-O droid. The residents had so much fun posing with the characters for pictures, holding light sabers, watching light saber battles, blasting storm troopers and watching the D-O droid roll around them.

The 501st Legion’s Empire City Garrison, the Rebel Legion’s Echo Base, and the Saber Guild’s Endor Temple were thrilled to attend CP Nassau’s Star Wars picnic with the residents and Staff at Bayville. All three groups regularly attend various hospitals and charitable and community events throughout the year on a volunteer basis.
 
These groups have been impacted by the Covid crisis the past 15 months, and many of these events they normally look forward to had been cancelled. The members of all three groups were excited to be invited to CP Bayville, and wanted to provide a great experience. Many were moved by the joyous reactions of the residents and staff. For some it was the first volunteer event they have been able to attend since the Covid crisis began, and it felt great to be able to be a force for good in the community again.
 
Chris Feehan is on staff at CP Nassau in the Development Department and is the Commanding Officer of the 501st Legion’s Empire City Garrison (The New York chapter of the 501st Legion). Chris has been volunteering with the 501st Legion for over 12 years and has done over 500 events in 7 different Star Wars costumes during that time. Chris commented, “ I can honestly say that the Bayville event was one of the most moving and rewarding for me personally. I have heard what the Bayville residents and staff had been though during this Covid crisis and I was determined to do whatever I could to get some of my fellow volunteers to participate in this event. To see the residents smile, to see the staff excited, to give them all a positive experience meant the world to me and the men and women of the groups involved. I always joke that I’ll put on a Star Wars costume for “Any Excuse,” for this event it wasn’t an excuse it was an imperative.” 
 
According to Lynn Manno, a staff member at CP Bayville and a huge Star wars fan, The Jedi knights that attended demonstrated light saber techniques for everyone, and even simulated battle with the dark side. They gave everyone lessons on how to use The Force. 
 
Collectively all of the residents and staff used The Force to knock one of the characters off of his feet. The storm troopers handed out “wanted” posters asking residents if they’ve seen Luke or Leia, while The Mandalorian was in search of Baby Yoda. The “Blast a Trooper” part of the day allowed residents and staff to shoot at the storm troopers and The Mandalorian with foam darts. Who knew that staffer Lisa Raia was such a great shot….landing a foam dart right in the middle of the Mandalorian’s forehead! 
 
Lynn reports, “We could tell all the residents were having a great time by the big smiles on their faces. The staff had fun too… some even brought their own light sabers! One staff person was heard saying “This is the best day at work ever!” The characters also handed out souvenir trading cards to everyone and Avelina Perez even got her own BB-8 stuffed animal, which she immediately hugged and kissed. It’s safe to say that the residents and staff at Bayville are already looking forward to the next Star wars event.” 
 
Special thanks to Mary Brosky and Cathy Serpico for working out the arrangements and logistics. 
 
CP Nassau and CP Bayville are so very grateful to Chris Feehan and his fellow volunteers for bringing so much fun, excitement and joy to our residents and staff.
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Legislative

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As part of our ongoing Legislative efforts, Assistant Executive Director Peter Dolan has reached out to Assemblyman Mike Durso throughout the year and visited with him in his local office in Massapequa Park.