Local doctor treats kids to free summer fun

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July 31, 2012

Local doctor treats kids to free summer fun

By JOE MAHONEY Staff Writer The Daily Star Tue Jul 31, 2012, 09:20 AM EDT

His patients call him "Doctor." But to the two dozen kids romping in the sun Monday afternoon at Lantern Hill trailer park, he was simply "Mike."

Meet Dr. Michael Freeman of Walton, a family practice physician who for the past month has been spending his Monday afternoons organizing activities for the Lantern Hill kids, many of them from families too poor to send them to a summer camp.

A family practitioner at Delaware Valley Hospital, Freeman completed his education at the prestigious Columbia Medical College with help from a National Health Service scholarship. He agreed to serve a rural area, and he and his wife and fellow physician, Denise, have made Walton their home for the past 14 years.

In training to become a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, Freeman said he recently learned about the new community center opened at Lantern Hill from a friend involved with Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties.

With experience working with what he called "marginalized children," the 49-year-old father of two said he decided that helping out at Lantern Hill would be a good way to obtain the community service required to become a deacon.

'It's really nice to see the kids and young adults appreciate the value of community," he said. "It's a natural thing for people to want to interact with other people because people get a lot and grow from other people. The people at Lantern Hill deserve to have a place where they can come out and enjoy the fruits of each other."

Freeman, a native of Long Island, organizes his visits to Lantern Hill around a theme. On Monday, it was safety, and the children were treated to exercises, training and exhibits by state Trooper Brian diLorenzo and his tracking dog, Semy; members of the Oneonta Fire Department; and Delaware County Emergency Medical Services.

Previous visits have provided children with hands-on training in making healthy snacks and maintaining dental hygiene.

Freeman often reinforces previous lessons. At one point, he spontaneously asked a young boy to repeat the Golden Rule.

"Treat people the way you want to be treated," the boy said.

Hazel Schmetka, a mother of one of the children attending the day camp, said: "I think this is wonderful for the kids. We've never had something like this before here. We haven't missed a Monday yet."

Peter Barilli, with two young grandchildren attending the program, said: "These kids are kind of stuck here, and this gives them something to do. They're really having a ball."

The community center keeps trying to expand its program offerings, and Lantern Hill manager Marie Arduini said she hopes to get more volunteers next summer to keep the day camp running on more days.

"Dr. Freeman has done just a wonderful job for us," she said. "The parents love it, and the children are learning in addition to having fun."

Freeman, accompanied Monday by his 13-year-old daughter, Emmi, said organizing entertaining activities for the children has been done with minimal expense.

"I knew we couldn't put a swimming pool here," he said. "I knew we didn't even have water for, let's say, even water balloons. But we found simple things, such as a sandbox and a lemonade stand. A tire-tree swing. Lawn games. Just learning from each other. There is a lot to be said for that. Simple, good stuff."

He said his involvement with the Lantern Hill families has enriched his own life.

"The paradox of a ministry," he said, "is you get more than your give," he said.