Garden City, New York, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino, a Long Island native, gives free lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. His Lecture is part of the museum's Countdown to Apollo at 50, celebrating 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969.

Astronaut Mike Massimino: Hold onto Your Dream (& Coffee)

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 24, 2018

Former NASA astronaut MICHAEL J. MASSIMINO – Long Island’s inspiring space ambassador from Floral Park – made a big bang three times this Wednesday, June 21, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum: during its 10th Annual Luncheon, a small group Meet & Greet, and a full-house lecture at the JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium.

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO is holding GIOVANNI, 3 1/2 years old, from Manhasset, wearing an astronaut's space suit costume, after the museum's Members Meet & Greet. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO holds GIOVANNI, 3 1/2 years old, from Manhasset, wearing an astronaut’s space suit costume. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Air & Space Hall of Fame Induction for Class of 2018

During the 10th Annual Luncheon at the Cradle of Aviation, Mike Massimino, LOUIS and CONNIE MANCUSO, and ALICIA PATTERSON were inducted into the Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

  • VIDEO of Massimino’s acceptance speech:

 

LOUIS MANCUSO JR. accepted on behalf of his parents. DEBORAH HENLEY, Vice President and Executive Editor of Newsday, accepted on behalf of Newsday’s founder, Alicia Patterson.

Meet & Greet

During the Meet & Greet, lucky museum members and STEM students (Science Technology Engineering Math) sitting around a large table in a conference room had the chance to ask Massimino questions. When a student asked Massimino about space food, he said it was good, and then explained how everything gets recycled, including urine, so “today’s coffee is tomorrow’s coffee.”  

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino, a Long Island native, gives free lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino, a Long Island native, gives free lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Evening with Mike Massimino Lecture

Massimino’s free lecture at the JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium was part of the Cradle of Aviation’s Museum Countdown to Apollo at 50, celebrating 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969.

When a young audience member asked Massimino how he became an astronaut, he went into great detail, including how the Cradle of Aviation Museum played an key role when he was growing up.

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino gives lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino gives lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

FYI from FLI: My daughter Sue went to Space Camp at the Cradle of Aviation in the late 1980’s, and I would have loved to join her. 

When Massimino applied to NASA to be an astronaut, he was rejected. He didn’t give up, and applied a second time, and was rejected. He didn’t give up, and applied a third time – and the rest is Hubble Space Telescope repairs and “The Big Bang Theory” history.  

Spaceman

At the museum’s gift shop, I bought two signed copies of Massimino’s 2016 book “Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe” – one for myself and one for my brother Lou. He’ll get a bang out of it.

Official site:  MikeMassimino.com

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Levittown, New York, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory and Liuba Grechen Shirley, held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Grechen Shirley & Gregory Debate: Rivals of ‘The King’

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 6, 2018

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory and Liuba Grechen Shirley, held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY and LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

On June 26th, Democratic Primary voters in NY Congressional District 2 will determine which candidate – LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY or Leg. DUWAYNE GREGORY – challenges the long-entrenched Republican incumbent in the midterm election.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley speaks during Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY speaks during NY Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Community organizer, business and non-profit leader Liuba Grechen Shirley and Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory faced each other Monday, June 4, in a debate held by the Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory speaks during Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Liuba Grechen Shirley held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY speaks during NY Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The two Democrats, not surprisingly, have much more in common than not, but there are differences and points they each stressed.

Gregory is the Majority Leader of the Suffolk County Legislature, where he’s been legislator for the 15th District since 2008, compared to Grechen Shirley who hasn’t held an elected office.

Grechen Shirley’s fundraising efforts have been more successful; plus, the mother of two toddlers recently gained national attention when she became the first female congressional candidate to get FEC approval to use campaign donations for childcare when she’s working on her campaign.

The following short videos – each about 5 minutes – are Gregory’s and  Grechen Shirley’s closing statements, and give insights about the candidates and the goals each would have if elected to congress:

  • VIDEO – DuWayne Gregory’s closing statement:

  • VIDEO – Liuba Grechen Shirley’s closing statement:

The candidates most forcefully voiced opposition for their Republican opponent running for his 14th term, Rep. Pete King, a politician they agreed neither reflects the values, nor serves the needs, of his constituents well.

When an audience member asked Gregory and Grechen Shirley what would happen if he or she didn’t win the June 26th primary – each promised to support the winner’s campaign to unseat King. 

Gregory & Grechen Shirley Debate: SLIDESHOW | GALLERY

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