text: "Just driving around, at the East Fishkill Rec (Center), you see 'Congratulations, Joe Panik, World Series champ!' " Panik said. "Then driving on (Route) 82, there's a sign: 'Honk for Joe Panik,' and I thought that was the coolest thing. Somebody told me there was a 'Honk for Joe Panik' (sign) and actually hearing somebody honk for me, I'll be honest: That's pretty cool."
  On Nov. 30, he joined fellow big-leaguers Matt Barnes, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox; George Springer, a Houston Astros outfielder; and free-agent pitcher Craig Breslow, formerly of the Red Sox, for a free children's clinic in Newtown, Connecticut.
  Three days later, Panik spoke to students at George Washington Elementary in Mohegan Lake, where he attended when his family lived in Westchester County before moving to Hopewell.