Pat Hahn, Center Moriches 
 Community association: Center Moriches Watchdog Community Association founder and president, Boy Scout Troop 800 scoutmaster, Center Moriches Beautification Committee member 
 How long have you lived in Center Moriches? A little over 32 years. I’m retired from the state of New York, I was CSEA president. I’m from West Islip, and I lived briefly in Bohemia, where I rented, and then came here. 
 What attracted you to Center Moriches? How nice it was. The pristine of the community. The school district was small, for families. I like knowing that we’re close-knit, we help each other through different organizations, different churches. 
 How have you seen it change? With the school taxes going up as readily as they are and more people losing their homes with the economy. That also knocks business. You’ve got a small, quaint little town that has businesses that have been here for generations and they start to squander. They’re our neighbors and now the young guys are running the business and they’re struggling. There’s not enough residents here to support the town. That’s the change. 
 Tell me more about the organization you started, the Center Moriches Watchdog Community Association. My wife and I started it. It’s a civic association, we represent 7,000 residents of Center Moriches. We also incorporate the neighborhood watch, we are like the watchdogs of Center Moriches. We work directly with Suffolk County Police Department to help coordinate the neighborhood watch. We also deal with civic problems in Center Moriches. Our recent accomplishments include the crosswalk on Frowein and Railroad Avenue, and the left turn signal on the light and raising the height of the ‘No Turn on Red’ sign so you can actually see it. Recently, we’re pushing for a Main Street crosswalk by Bank Street Park. We also have a coalition called Moriches in the kNOw, we co-sponsor that. We combat drugs in the area because that goes along with the neighborhood watch and all that. It’s a major problem and parents don’t know where to go, where to turn. And it makes us aware of what’s going on. We’re in touch with the narcotics division, with COPE and with the commander of the 7th [precinct]. 
 In terms of Neighborhood Watch, what is the benefit of your organization if any community could start a Neighborhood Watch on its own? We have a hotline, we have a calling post to reach out to anyone in our organization. If the schools says there is a perp following a student, I can make a call and all eyes and ears are on the situation. Normally, you have one neighborhood and one watch leader. If there is a problem and they reach out to the police and are not satisfied with the result, that’s it. We figured we’d incorporate it so there is more attention. I also provide resources on <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cmoricheswatchdogcommassoc/">my website</a>, like a description sheet, so if you see something happen you can download the form and write it down so you have a reference when you make a report to the police. 
 And you’re involved with the Boy Scouts? Yes, I’m the troopmaster for the Boy Scouts and also oversee the Cub Scouts. We’re the Color Guard for the Flight 800. There was a woman on the flight, Virginia Perez Holtz, and her mom and dad owned the Pathmark. I used to do security there, so I knew her as a little girl. She was on that flight. So when I registered the Boy Scouts, I asked for the number 800, and we got it. Now we serve as a memorial to Flight 800. 
 What makes Center Moriches unique? Pride. We take pride in our town. We push to get things done. We were able to get the $3 million grant for our town. Our sidewalks were decrepit, they were unsafe. We also take pride in how the community was established and working to restore that. We want to maintain the history.

Pat Hahn, Center Moriches Community association: Center Moriches Watchdog Community Association founder and president, Boy Scout Troop 800 scoutmaster, Center Moriches Beautification Committee member How long have you lived in Center Moriches? A little over 32 years. I’m retired from the state of New York, I was CSEA president. I’m from West Islip, and I lived briefly in Bohemia, where I rented, and then came here. What attracted you to Center Moriches? How nice it was. The pristine of the community. The school district was small, for families. I like knowing that we’re close-knit, we help each other through different organizations, different churches. How have you seen it change? With the school taxes going up as readily as they are and more people losing their homes with the economy. That also knocks business. You’ve got a small, quaint little town that has businesses that have been here for generations and they start to squander. They’re our neighbors and now the young guys are running the business and they’re struggling. There’s not enough residents here to support the town. That’s the change. Tell me more about the organization you started, the Center Moriches Watchdog Community Association. My wife and I started it. It’s a civic association, we represent 7,000 residents of Center Moriches. We also incorporate the neighborhood watch, we are like the watchdogs of Center Moriches. We work directly with Suffolk County Police Department to help coordinate the neighborhood watch. We also deal with civic problems in Center Moriches. Our recent accomplishments include the crosswalk on Frowein and Railroad Avenue, and the left turn signal on the light and raising the height of the ‘No Turn on Red’ sign so you can actually see it. Recently, we’re pushing for a Main Street crosswalk by Bank Street Park. We also have a coalition called Moriches in the kNOw, we co-sponsor that. We combat drugs in the area because that goes along with the neighborhood watch and all that. It’s a major problem and parents don’t know where to go, where to turn. And it makes us aware of what’s going on. We’re in touch with the narcotics division, with COPE and with the commander of the 7th [precinct]. In terms of Neighborhood Watch, what is the benefit of your organization if any community could start a Neighborhood Watch on its own? We have a hotline, we have a calling post to reach out to anyone in our organization. If the schools says there is a perp following a student, I can make a call and all eyes and ears are on the situation. Normally, you have one neighborhood and one watch leader. If there is a problem and they reach out to the police and are not satisfied with the result, that’s it. We figured we’d incorporate it so there is more attention. I also provide resources on my website, like a description sheet, so if you see something happen you can download the form and write it down so you have a reference when you make a report to the police. And you’re involved with the Boy Scouts? Yes, I’m the troopmaster for the Boy Scouts and also oversee the Cub Scouts. We’re the Color Guard for the Flight 800. There was a woman on the flight, Virginia Perez Holtz, and her mom and dad owned the Pathmark. I used to do security there, so I knew her as a little girl. She was on that flight. So when I registered the Boy Scouts, I asked for the number 800, and we got it. Now we serve as a memorial to Flight 800. What makes Center Moriches unique? Pride. We take pride in our town. We push to get things done. We were able to get the $3 million grant for our town. Our sidewalks were decrepit, they were unsafe. We also take pride in how the community was established and working to restore that. We want to maintain the history.

News

Watchdog leader is community's 'eyes and ears'

Center Moriches

Pat Hahn, of Center Moriches, is the Center Moriches Watchdog Community Association Founder and President, Boy Scout Troop 800 Scoutmaster and Center Moriches Beautification Committee member.

Newsday

hlMORICHES

Homepage Trending

Cyclospora: How to protect yourself

Jones Beach Bandshell free concert lineup

Trump accounts: What LI parents need to know

Summer Fun Book

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Suffolk County officials Monday warned of scammers, preying primarily on the elderly, who direct people to liquidate their life savings to buy gold bars. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Gold bar scam warning in Suffolk County

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed heads to a new restaurant opened by the same owners who created Westhampton Beach Brewery.

Out East: Brewery opens new restaurant

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visited Garcia's Taco Bar in Brentwood to try their birria ramen.

Trendy Bites: Birria ramen

NewsdayTV's Marie Elena Martinez got a sneak peek at the new Babylon Whiskey Down Diner location, which is currently under construction with plans to open in the fall.

Take a peek inside Whiskey Down Diner's new location

For a quick trip not far from home, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano checks out the Rockaway Hotel.

A getaway close to home for mom

A weaver from Huntington helped hide guns from the British at his home. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

America 250: The arsenal in Huntington

Joe Tosini, owner of River Center Shopping Center in Riverhead, said the businesses in the center lost power during Saturday's storms and that their electricity wasn't restored until late Tuesday afternoon. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Riverhead shopping center back in business after 3-day power outage

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano joined the volunteers of Save the Great South Bay to clean oysters. The oysters are cleaned weekly and then placed back into the bay, where they'll be able to help filter the water.

Help boost the Great South Bay oyster population

Juan Bonilla Lagos, who was arrested by ICE in October near his Plainview home, was freed from jail after nine months.

Plainview man detained by ICE freed from jail after 9 months 

As boaters set out on the water this summer, they will be paying more at the pump. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Boaters feeling the pinch at the pump 

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

Dangerous heat ... America 250: Manor of St. George ... Mets report card at All-Star break ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

Dangerous heat ... America 250: Manor of St. George ... Mets report card at All-Star break

News - megaslot

Newsday has the most up-to-date stories on Long Island & NTC. Join us & stay current with news articles on sports, business, health, technology & more.

Stay logged in.