Obituary of David Carll, Master Shipbuilder on City Island in the Town of Pelham

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David Carll was a prominent 19th century shipbuilder on City Island in the Town of Pelham.  In 1863, Carll obtained from the New York State Commissioners of the Land Office a grant for 442 feet on the water front on the east side of City Island for the purpose

Health Reform in Florida

Health reform has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, there are differences between the Senate version of the bill and the House version of the bill. Both chambers will elect members to convene a conference to reconcile differences between the two versions of the bill. The new version of the bill that emerges from the conference must then be voted on again by each chamber. If the bill is approved by both chambers, the president may sign the final version turning it into law.

To answer how the bill will affect Floridians, the government web site, www.healthreform.gov has listed several elements from both bills that benefit individuals and families in Florida, such as:

• Insurance companies will no longer be able to place lifetime limits on the coverage they provide, use of annual limits will be restricted, and they will not be able to arbitrarily drop coverage.
• 10 percent of people in Florida have diabetes, and 28 percent have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny health insurance coverage. Reform will establish a high-risk pool to enable people who cannot get insurance today to find an affordable health plan.
• Roughly 565,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida hit the “doughnut hole,” or gap in Medicare Part D drug coverage that can cost some seniors an average of $4,080 per year. Reform legislation will provide a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs in this coverage gap.
• Without reform, individuals and families in Florida will spend increasing amounts of money out-of-pocket to cover premiums, deductibles, and co-payments, from $19.4 billion today to up to $35.4 billion in 2019. Through health insurance reform, 2.5 million Florida residents could be eligible for premium credits to ease the burden of these high costs.
• Health insurance reform will create a new voluntary long-term care services insurance program, which will provide a cash benefit to help seniors and people with disabilities obtain services and supports that will enable them to remain in their homes and communities.

Since both versions of the bill have yet to be reconciled, some of these elements may increase or decrease.  To see the full list for Florida, visit the healthreform.gov site, here.

Below is a message about health reform from the Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.

Opening of the Extension of the Pelham Manor Trolley Line in 1910 -- The Toonerville Trolley Line

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The Pelham Manor trolley line inspired Fontaine Fox to create the Toonerville Trolley portrayed in his long-running Toonverville Folks comic strip.  Until Labor Day, 1910, that trolley line ended on Pelhamdale Avenue near today's Grant Avenue, only a few

Murder on Fowler Avenue in 1908

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A brief account of a murder that occurred at the home of Paul A. Heubner of Fowler Avenue in the Village of Pelham Manor in 1908 appeared in the January 2, 1909 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer.  The account is transcribed below.

"KIRK HELD FOR GRAND JURY
---

Village Elections in the Town of Pelham in 1912

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The following article, transcribed from the Saturday, March 23, 1912 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer, describes the results of the Village elections in the Town of Pelham that year.

"ELECTIONS HELD IN VILLAGES
-----
Ceder Has a Walk Over at North Pelham --

Medicaid Office Locator

Do you have questions about Medicaid in Florida such as:

• How do I apply for it?
• What's covered?
• Am I eligible?
• What's the status of application?

While some of these questions can be answered online, you may still feel the need to speak to someone about Florida Medicaid.  The Florida Agency on Health Care Administration has launched a web page HERE to assist people find their local Medicaid offices.  Once on the page, you can either select your county area by using the map of Florida or choosing the name of the county on the left hand side.  Either selection will bring up a new window with contact information of your local Medicaid office.

1906 Christmas Day Celebration at Christ Church in Pelham

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As Christians celebrate Christmas 2009 the world over this day, it seemed appropriate to provide some Christmas-related history on the Historic Pelham Blog.  I have written of Christmas in Pelham on the Blog before.  See:

Monday, September 21, 2009:  January

Christmas Eve Trolley Accident Near Chester Park in North Pelham in 1908

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Christmas Eve in 1908 was not particularly joyous for a number of people hurt in a trolley car accident late that evening near Chester Park in North Pelham.  Luckily, however, only a single passenger was on board at the time so a major disaster was averted. 

A

Attack on the Toonerville Trolley Line by Strikers in 1916

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Pelham and nearby localities suffered through a violent, months-long strike of trolley line workers in 1916.  In October of that year, the Westchester Electric Railroad Company decided to try to reopen the strike-closed line between New Rochelle and Mount

Prescription Drug Price Comparison Tool

The cost of medical prescriptions can be expensive. The Florida office of the Attorney General & the Agency for Health Care Administration have launched a website HERE, to help Florida citizens afford their medical prescriptions.  The site called, "Florida Drug Prescription Prices" over a series of pull-down menus which will allow to select the county, city, and prescriptions you're looking for.  After you've made your selections, a list will appear showing stores/pharmacies offering your prescription dosage.  The list is ordered by the cost of the prescription.

Also on the site, is public announcement with lists of $4.00 generic prescriptions offered at different pharmacies.  Those links are HERE and HERE.

Available on this blog (in the bottom right corner) are two lists with links to prescription drug discount programs.

Biographical Data for Famed Illustrator and Artist Edward Penfield of Pelham Manor

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Edward Penfield is considered one of the masters of graphic design.  He was a poster artist and illustrator in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  He lived in Pelham Manor.  There is a beautiful Web site devoted to his life and work located at http://

More on What May Have Been the First Telephone Installed in Pelham

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I have written before about what is believed to be the earliest telephone installed in Pelham.  See Tuesday, March 29, 2005:  The Earliest Telephone in Pelham Manor?

I recently have uncovered additional information about what may have been the first

Help With Medicare Assistance

Are you currently enrolled in Medicare and need some assistance?

The Social Security Administration may be able to assist you.  They offer a program to help individuals who enrolled in Medicare with their costs.  This program is not a replacement for enrolling in a Medicare Part D drug program.  If you're eligible, you can get extra help to pay for the monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to the Medicare Prescription Drug program. However, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug plan to get this extra help.

The guidelines for eligibility and the application are located HERE as well as contact information for any questions you may have.  To see if you're eligible, go HERE.

The Inaugural Run of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad Through Pelham for Local Officials in 1912

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A railroad known as the New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad was built in the early 20th century and once ran through Pelham.  Remnants of the railroad remain, including the railroad bridge that still stands over Highbrook Avenue. 

The inaugural run of

Abstract of 1884 Town Accounts of Town of Pelham Published in 1885

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The following abstract of the 1884 Town Accounts of the Town of Pelham appeared in the March 27, 1885 issue of The Chronicle, published in Mount Vernon, New York.

"ABSTRACT OF TOWN ACCOUNTS.

I hereby certify that the following are true and correct copies of

Development of Manor Circle Area of Pelham Manor in September, 1886

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The Manor Circle area of Pelham Manor just to the east of the branch line railroad tracks was first developed in the late 1880s.  I recently stumbled across a news item published in late September, 1886 noting that streets were being laid out east of the Pelham

Baseball Games Played by the City Island Beldenites and the City Island Rivals in 1884

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No, the Historic Pelham Blog has not evolved into a baseball blog.  It just so happens that I continue to run across early references to baseball played in Pelham.  Today's posting transcribes an article published in August, 1884 that references two baseball

SafeLink Wireless - Free Cell Phones

Do you or a loved one have a medical condition that may require immediate medical assistance but don't possess a phone?  There may be a solution for you.

SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month to income eligible customers.

To Qualify:
The process to qualify depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...You already participate in another State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps, and Medicaid.  Or your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. And no one in your household currently receives service from another phone carrier. And you have a valid United States Postal Address. In order to receive your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.  In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

You can enroll online at www.safelink.com . To apply you will need your address and social security number. If you exceed the free airtime (68 minutes in Florida), you can purchase additional minutes.

SAFELINK WIRELESS® service is a U.S. government supported program for income eligible households provided by TracFone Wireless, Inc. TracFone Wireless is America’s largest and number one prepaid cell phone provider in the U.S.

Baseball Games Played by the City Island Shamrocks in 1889

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Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting continues with more references to baseball played in 19th century Pelham.  I have located additional information about baseball games played by the Shamrocks baseball club on City Island.  Excerpts from an article published

Earliest Reference Yet to Baseball Played in Pelham

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I have located what seems to be the earliest reference yet to baseball played in Pelham.  An account published in 1877 makes reference to recreational baseball played on City Island.  The reference is contained in a brief article that I have transcribed in its

More 19th Century Baseball and Firefighting References

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Regular readers of the Historic Pelham Blog know that I routinely post items concerning 19th century baseball and 19th century firefighting in Pelham.  Today's posting combines both.  Baseball and firefighting references appeared in a news article published on

City Island Shamrocks Base Ball Club Changed its Name to the Minnefords in 1888

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I continue to document every reference I find about baseball played in Pelham during the 19th century.  For some of the prior postings, see:

Wednesday, November 25, 2009:  Even More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009: 

The Darling Triplets: Three Brothers Among Pelham's Earliest Firefighters

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In the early 1890s, firefighting units sprang up on City Island, in Pelham Manor and in Pelhamville within the Town of Pelham.  Shortly after New York City annexed City Island and nearby areas in 1896, an interesting article appeared in The Evening Telegram

Report of Fight with Trolley Construction Crew in Pelhamville in 1898

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In the late 19th century, rival trolley companies raced to construct lines throughout the New York region.  Rivalries among competing trolley lines led to at least one instance of violence in Pelhamville in 1898.  A fascinating account of the incident appeared

Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site on the Old Eastchester Village Green Turns On the Lights

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The Federal government recently provided funds for lighting the beautiful Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site located on the old Eastchester Village Green.  Last night I photographed the newly-lit site.  Posted below are four of the many, many

Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association

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The Chronicle, published each Friday in Mount Vernon during the 1880s, typically included a section reporting news in Pelham and City Island.  The May 30, 1884 issue contained an interesting report that detailed allegations of oyster theft against Captain

Accident on Horse-Car of the Pelham Park Railroad Line in 1889

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During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a horse-drawn car line ran from the Bartow Station on the Branch Line to City Island.  An image of one of the horse-drawn cars taken from an early 20th century post card appears immediately below.



A surprisingly

Brief History of City Island Published in 1901

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The opening of the "New Steel Bridge" connecting City Island with the mainland in 1901 was the cause for celebration.  Shortly before the opening of the new bridge, The New York Times published a brief history of the island on June 9, 1901.  The text of that