The TIMES of Middle Country
Serving CentereaCh
Volume 11, No. 15
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Selden
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northern lake grove
July 30, 2015
$1.00
Bright lights, summer nights Historic Amusement Parks of Long Island also: ‘The Cottage’ in Northport; beautiful babies; Stony Brook Film Festival winners announced
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Photo by giselle Barkley
Believe it or not, the sun is setting on July and only a month of summer fun remains. Above, children enjoy a ride at the Terryville Fire department’s annual July carnival on Friday.
Homes for heroes Suffolk County fights veteran homelessness
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A quarter-century stint of sisterly spirit african american sorority gives back to LI nabes By giSelle Barkley
Giving back and making a difference in the community is what the women in the Sigma Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha have strived for since June 23, 1990. But the quest to serve the community did not start with the chapter. According to Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., Howard University student Ethel Hedgeman founded AKA, the first African American sorority, on Jan. 15, 1908, in Washington D.C. Her goal was to unite like-minded women to help give back to those in need. One hundred years later, her efforts still
drive members like Pleshette Shelton, the current president of the Sigma Psi Omega chapter in Bay Shore in Suffolk County. “We went from doing 20 programs a year, to last year we did, I want to say 45,” Shelton said in a recent interview. Shelton’s chapter was charted by 26 African American women in Hauppauge. Now, the local chapter doubled to include around 50 members. Although the women in the chapter are Suffolk County residents, this graduate chapter welcomes all AKA members regardless of which university they attended SORORITY continued on page a6
Chapter members make healthy snacks for children.
Photos from Pleshette Shelton