Kenneth Kmetz wouldn't give up his quest to get the memorial brick he'd paid for to honor his deceased parents.
Newsday photo by Gwen Young
Every week, we try to help readers who have trouble getting quality of life issues resolved, people who have been unsuccesful despite multiple tries and who end up in a bureaucratic tangle.
This week’s column on Sunday will feature two problems that were solved by readers without our help. The key to their victories can be summed up in one word: PERSISTENCE.
We hope their stories will give inspiration to readers who are trying to resolve issues on their own. Today’s blog is about Kenneth Kmetz of Mattituck.
If you’ve been able to fix a problem yourself and think your story can help others, tell us how you did it and what it took to get the issue resolved, leave a comment here or email details to watchdog@newsday.com.
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In December 2006, Kenneth Kmetz of Mattituck, paid $50 for a memorial brick to honor his deceased parents. Kmetz bought the brick after seeing a sign at a local park that read “Help support Pike Street Park. Extended buy-a-brick program.”
He called the telephone number, paid by check and waited. After a few months, he called the contact person who told him to wait three months. After three months, Kmetz called again and was told to wait another three months. That scenario was repeated several times, but Kmetz wouldn't give up.
In April this year, Kmetz wrote to us for help. He felt he'd waited long enough. We asked him to call one more time. Finally, he was told the brick was ready to be picked up at a local store.
When he went there, he was told the bricklayer had retired and another mason would have to be found before the brick could be laid at the park.
Kmetz read the three engraved lines stamped in black on the brick:
IN MEMORY OF
STEPHEN J. KMETZ
DOLORES KMETZ
He made a decision. Instead of finding someone to install the brick at the park, he took it home and placed it in a special front yard garden.
Despite the long wait, Kmetz is pleased with the result.
“The moral is, even though you have an obstacle thrown in front of you, and you feel like you’re never going to see the end of the tunnel, there is an end to the tunnel,” he said. “You just have to pursue it and keep going after it, and don’t let it get you down.”
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