Posted in Communication, Community Service

Laurel Lions Club of Delaware

Posted on by Phillip Vélez

On September 11, 2025, I became a member of the Laurel Lions Club in Laurel, Delaware. I had recently relocated to Delaware from NYC and wanted to be part of a community group that had a long history in Laurel. The club provides me with an opportunity to get involved with charitable events and projects and meet like-minded people. The Laurel DE Lions Club has been serving the community since its formation in 1935. It is part of the Lions Club International Multiple District 22, which encompasses Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. The Laurel DE Lions Club in District 22-D was formed on November 29, 1935.

This local club is connected to the global Lions Clubs International, the largest service club organization in the world, with more than 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs serving in 200 countries. Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects. We are focused on supporting vision, the environment, childhood cancer, hunger, diabetes, and other pressing humanitarian needs to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.

My goal is to help promote the history and work of the Laurel DE Lions Club, with the ultimate aim of increasing its membership over time. Does the idea of becoming part of something greater than yourself appeal to you? Do you want to contribute to an organization whose focus is to make the world a better place? If so, then become a Lion.

Here are my top three reasons to join a Lions Club:

Local and Global Impact – Lions Clubs are world-renowned for their dedication to service. When you become a Lion, you’re not just attending meetings; you’re actively involved in projects that make a real difference, both locally and around the world. You’ll help decide where the club’s efforts and funds are needed most in your town, whether it’s collecting glasses, providing scholarships, or supporting a local food pantry. As part of Lions Clubs International, your local efforts contribute to a vast global network that addresses significant humanitarian challenges, including the worldwide fight against preventable blindness.

Develop Leadership Skills and Professional Growth – Lions Clubs are excellent training grounds for leadership. Regardless of your current profession or experience, being a Lion gives you practical, hands-on opportunities to lead projects, manage budgets, and organize events. You can volunteer to chair a committee, organize a fundraiser, or serve as a club officer (Treasurer, Secretary, President). You’ll connect with successful, service-minded people from diverse backgrounds in your community, expanding your personal and professional network in a meaningful way.

Gain a Sense of Purpose and Personal Fulfillment – Giving back is scientifically proven to boost happiness and well-being. By dedicating your time and energy to helping those in need, you gain a powerful sense of purpose that extends beyond your daily routine. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the direct, positive results of your efforts, like helping a child receive a life-changing eye exam or ensuring a family has food on their table. Your dedication has the power to meaningfully impact the lives of those who need it most.

So are you ready to be a Lion? Contact your local Lions Club today!

The Laurel Lions Clubhouse on 311 S Central Ave., Laurel, DE 19956, United States.
Posted in Communication, Networking

SUNY New Paltz Alumni Network

Posted on by Phillip Vélez
SUNY New Paltz signage near the Old Main Building – photo by Phil Velez

I am a proud alumnus of the State University of New York at New Paltz, my home away from home for approximately the last 30 years. For the past several, I have been a member of its Alumni Council, which represents over 72,000 alumni across the U.S. and around the world. I love promoting my alma mater whenever possible, however, this is the first time I’m blogging about it.

One of the aims of this post is to encourage my fellow New Paltz graduates, and students who attended the school, to become active within the Alumni Association. The university has created an online platform for the SUNY New Paltz community called the Orange and Blue Network. It’s the best way to stay connected with the amazing institution of higher learning located just 90 minutes from New York City.

Jacobson Faculty Tower at SUNY New Paltz – photo by Phil Velez

The history of the school nestled in the Hudson Valley begins in 1828 with the opening of the New Paltz Classical School. In 1833 it was re-organized as the New Paltz Academy which later became the New Paltz Normal School in 1885 and then the State Teachers College of New Paltz in 1942.

The college at New Paltz joined the State University of New York system in 1959, first being called the College of Education, then the College of Arts and Sciences before its current moniker as a university which it has been using since 1994.

My experience as a student at New Paltz has helped shape the person that I am today. My formative college years prepared me for life providing me a solid academic and social education I cherish to this day.

While an undergraduate, I became a member of the first fraternity at New Paltz which dates back locally to 1889. Becoming a brother of the Delphic Fraternity has historically tied me to SUNY New Paltz. Annual fraternity reunions have been held in the town of New Paltz since the early 1990s and I have only missed a few.

The Old Main Building at SUNY New Paltz – photo by Phil Velez

If you have registered for the Orange and Blue Network, thank you for being a part of the online New Paltz community. If you have not registered yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. The platform allows you to stay connected, share your journeys, and support the next generation of Hawks.

By registering, you’re not just reconnecting with old friends; you’re also becoming part of a dynamic community that continues to thrive and make a difference. Let’s come together, celebrate our shared heritage, and contribute to the ongoing success of SUNY New Paltz. Join us today and be a part of something truly special!

Posted in Technology, Trends, TV

Cutting the Cord: Saving Money by Getting Rid of Cable TV

Posted on by Phillip Vélez

The cable television monopoly is hopefully coming to an end and I am happy to finally be a part of it all. For years, I depended upon cable TV for its reliability, ease, quality, and clear reception. However, the monthly service fee kept creeping up and there were few realistic alternatives. That’s not the case any longer. 

Earlier this year, after a great deal of research and contemplation, I decided to cancel my cable TV service with Spectrum. Once the cost for the combination of TV and home internet surpassed $165 a month for basic service, I knew it was time to cut the cord. 

Today, there is a plethora of streaming services available, however, each is quite different with specific limitations. One service provides you with this channel, but not that one, one has more sports options but not many news options, ultimately, you could end up subscribing to several services with associated fees that add up to the same money you were spending on cable. If that’s the case, why bother? 

It took a lot of trial and error, pain, and patience, but after some time, I came up with my own package of services that worked. My first step was buying a Roku Stick. The $35 investment provides a wealth of free TV shows and channels, making it alone well worth it if you are not a big TV person. I cannot believe I waited so long to give streaming TV a try. 

I then signed up for Sling TV, which was sufficient for a while. The $40 a month cost for the first tier provided me with CNN, ESPN, and a few other required cable channels. The catch, however, was that Sling TV did not provide access to local networks. As a New York City resident, I cannot live without WABC-TV Channel 7, PIX 11, and WNYW-Fox 5. 

To get around the lack of local networks on Sling, I used an old-fashioned over-air TV antenna. The picture quality of the digital channels was incredible and the free price could not be beaten, but not all local channels are the same. I would get most of the free channels but then have no reception at all for a few. Switching the input source on the TV from Roku to the antenna soon became a hassle as well. 

Eventually, I settled on YouTube. I eliminated Sling and the antenna but now have major cable channels and local network stations. YouTubeTV’s base price did go up recently, but for both standard cable-like service and local TV stations, I think it is worth the cost. At the current time, it is $73 a month. 

Of course home internet is a necessity for streaming services, so I became a T-Mobile customer by signing up for its home internet service for $50 a month. The service provides high speeds and has been pretty good so far, with no major complaints. 

Now, my monthly subscription TV/home Internet cost is $123, a decent savings of $42. In one year, that will be (if prices remain fixed) a whopping $504 kept in my pocket. If you are interested in saving $500 a year on premium TV service, stop paying for cable! 

Posted in Social Media, Trends

Mastodon – A Social Media Site Similar to Twitter, But Different

Posted on by Phillip Vélez
Mastodon logo

I have been using Twitter since 2009 and it has become a major source of news and information for me throughout the years. It has been a great ride, but the social media website is currently experiencing uncertainty since it was purchased by Elon Musk. Whether it weathers the sensational storm or not, the online town square has definitely changed and it may be time to find a suitable substitute.

Mastodon may very well become the alternative. I have read a few articles (several linked in this post) and decided to give Mastodon a try. Though the social media network is very similar to Twitter, there are some major differences.

If you are familiar with Twitter, Mastodon will not look odd and you should be able to pick up the basics easily. You follow people who in turn hopefully follow you back, but like with Twitter, that’s not always the case. Twitter has garnered an impressive membership roll of over 200 million users since it was formed in 2006. Meanwhile, Mastodon was founded in 2016 and just approached one million registered users.

I joined Mastodon almost two weeks ago and so far I love it for its greater sense of community. People seem much friendlier and more willing to reshare content. I plan to give it a go and see how the site develops over time.

One huge difference with Mastodon is that you first join a server or “instance” and then you create your profile. Servers are either based on a specific topic like news, technology, or genealogy, or they are general in nature. Whichever instance you chose can be changed later and anyone you join will allow you to connect with users hosted on other servers.

Mastodon is a decentralized network of many servers coming together to form the “fediverse” which is an open-source federated platform. The wonderful thing about Mastodon is that it’s a non-profit company based in Germany that is open to the world. This makes it stand apart from a private company owned by a billionaire.

If you are looking for another social media network to replace or co-exist with your Twitter account, I would definitely recommend you check out Mastodon.

Feel free to connect with me on

Mastodon.

Posted in Blogging, Genealogy, history, puerto rico

Puerto RiKin – A Boricua Blog Showcasing My Puerto Rican Kin

Posted on by Phillip Vélez
Puerto RiKin

Growing up in Brooklyn and the Bronx, I heard a great deal about my parents coming from Puerto Rico. As a native New Yorker with most of my close family in the States, I did not get the opportunity to visit la Isla Del Encanto until I was about 19 years old. As I got older, a strong desire to become familiar with my Puerto Rican ancestry evolved.

I was fortunate to know my grandparents, but I did not hear much about my ancestors. I was told by relatives that Puerto Rico did not keep good vital records because it was not a United State and that it would be difficult to trace our lineage very far. That may have rung true many years ago, but thankfully with the advancement of online research databases, that is not necessarily the case today.

In 2018, I started researching my family history but quickly became overwhelmed by the prospect of making sense of the incredible data collected on one side of my heritage and the lack of it on another. Luckily, an aunt on my biological father’s side had already started building a family tree and was generous in sharing her findings. My mother’s kinfolk, however, was more of a mystery. I, therefore, decided to shelve the budding interest in my ancestral records for the moment.

When COVID hit in March and I, like many of us, found myself with more time on my hands, I dove headfirst back into studying my ancestors and learning as much as possible about genealogy in general. Since then, I have found a wealth of information regarding my Boricua roots. My aim moving forward is to share as much as I can with my family and anyone that might find the overall process interesting. To help facilitate this goal I created a new blog entitled Puerto RiKin, with a play on the word kin as in kindred, kinship, and kinfolk.

Although the focus of the blog is to highlight my ancestry, I also plan to chronicle my genealogical journey and eventually incorporate content of non-related Puerto Rican family lines. If you have been thinking about researching your family tree, feel free to check out the Resources page for links that will help you get started.