Author Archives: Ann Parry

About Ann Parry

Ann Parry Photography Inc. | site: ANN-PARRY.com | photoblog From Long Island: FromLongIsland.com • • • Long Island, New York, is my home base for photographically capturing PORTRAITS, the arts • civics & government • animals • classic cars • aviation & space • • • I'm also a freelance newspaper & magazine photographer, and a contract photographer for a news wire service.

Westbury, NY. January 2017. NY congresswoman Kathleen Rice speaks at Our First Stand Rally

Our First Stand: Save Health Care, with Reps. Kathleen Rice & Tom Suozzi

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
January 17, 20217

Last Sunday, during the Our First Stand: Save Health Care Rally in Westbury, hundreds of protestors gathered – many with signs and banners, political buttons and shirts – to make their healthcare coverage positions and worries clear.

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. LI Activists group members bring a large banner and signs, and one wears

Westbury, NY, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. LI Activists group members bring a large banner and signs, and one wears “FEEL THE BERN” T-shirt to the “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Representatives KATHLEEN RICE (D-NY4) and TOM SUOZZI (D-NY3) hosted the rally, which was held at the Yes We Can Community Center. It was one of several dozen Our First Stand rallies inspired by Senator Bernie Sanders throughout our country.

Westbury, New York, USA. January 15, 2017. Sitting in wheelchair, PEARL BERGER, 97, of Amityville, who has breast cancer and Parkinson's Disease, has an "I STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD" pink shirt draped on her chest, at the "Our First Stand" Rally against Republicans repealing the Affordable Care Act, ACA, taking millions of people off health insurance, making massive cuts to Medicaid, and defunding Planned Parenthood. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, NY, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. Sitting in wheelchair, PEARL BERGER, 97, of Amityville, who has breast cancer and Parkinson’s Disease, has an “I STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD” pink shirt draped on her chest, at the “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Speakers included officials from Nurses Association and Planned Parenthood, a young woman who underwent life & death cancer treatments, and a father whose young son needs continuing expensive medical care.

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. BRIDGIT SQUITIRE, of West Islip, holds a sign that asks:

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. BRIDGIT SQUITIRE, of West Islip, holds a sign that asks: “HEY DONALD, ARE YOU GONNA PAY FOR MY CHEMO-THERAPY?” at the “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The audience frequently clapped and shouted in support as each speaker shared how current health care benefits helped, and what the anticipated consequences were of repealing the Affordable Care Act, taking millions off health insurance, making massive cuts to Medicaid, or defunding Planned Parenthood.

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. L-R, KARLA BRADLEY, of Hempstead, and NIA ADAMS, of Hempstead, are wearing pink

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. L-R, KARLA BRADLEY, of Hempstead, and NIA ADAMS, of Hempstead, are wearing pink “I Stand with Planned Parenthood” T-shirts, and Adams holds sign “We want Care not CHAOS” at the “Our First Stand” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. ABAGAEL FAGAN, of Garden City, holds a sign

Westbury, NY, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. ABAGAEL FAGAN, of Garden City, holds a sign “Even VOLDEMORT Didn’t Defund St. Mungo’s” – referring to the main villain wizard and Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries in the Harry Potter series – at the “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. January 15, 2017. L-R, Rabbi JUDITH COHEN-ROSENBERG, of Westbury; and KASSANDRA POLANCO of Massapequa, and CHERYL SCHRUEFER, of Hicksville, wear pink shirts and/or buttons and hold pink

Westbury, NY, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. L-R, Rabbi JUDITH COHEN-ROSENBERG, of Westbury; and KASSANDRA POLANCO of Massapequa, and CHERYL SCHRUEFER, of Hicksville, wear pink shirts and/or buttons and hold “I STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD” signs at the “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” Rally. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. L-R, RON MOTTA and his son ROBBY MOTTA, 11, who has major health care needs, of Huntington; Rep. KATHLEEN RICE; Rep. THOMAS SUOZZI; brunette cancer survivor; JUDI BOSWORTH, Supervisor Town of North Hempstead; and other speakers on stage wave to audience at end of

Westbury, NY, USA. Jan. 15, 2017. L-R, RON MOTTA and his son ROBBY MOTTA, 11, who has major health care needs, of Huntington; Rep. KATHLEEN RICE; Rep. THOMAS SUOZZI; brunette cancer survivor; JUDI BOSWORTH, Supervisor Town of North Hempstead; and other speakers on stage wave to audience at end of “Our First Stand Save Health Care” Rally. (© 20217 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Our First Rally: Save Health Care:  GALLERY

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U.S. Presidential Inauguration Parade 2017

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
December 31, 2016

Yesterday, I read the exciting news that Long Island’s own Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums will participate in the U.S. Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017.

Originally known as “Fir Na Tine” (Gaelic: Men of Fire), it’s America’s first Volunteer Firefighter Pipe Band, and has performed widely, including at St. Patrick’s Day parades, at halftime shows for NY Jets, and band members were the 11 Pipers Piping in a Christmas commercial.

[NOTE: background tent digitally altered blue]

East Meadow, NY, USA. March 31, 2012. [NOTE: background tent digitally altered blue ]Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums band performs at firefighter Ray Pfeifer Benefit. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Also, Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums has been an inspiring, stirring part of many memorials and benefits. In spring 2012, I covered the band when it played at the Ray Pfeifer Benefit at the East Meadow Firefighters Benevolent Hall. Retired FDNY firefighter and Hicksville resident Ray Pfeifer is a true profile in courage, perseverance, and brotherhood.

FYI From Long Island: After the 9/11/2001 Twin Towers terrorist attacks, Ray Pfeifer helped recovery efforts at Ground Zero, and by 2008 was battling cancer. Pfeifer – along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Representatives Peter King and Carolyn Maloney, and others – helped make sure the 2010 James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act was eventually extended to 2090, establishing the “World Trade Center Health Program.”

Fund raiser for firefighter Ray Pfeifer on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at East Meadow Firefighters Benevolent Hall, New York, USA. The Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums band performed. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

East Meadow, New York, USA. March 31, 2012. The Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums band performing at Ray Pfeifer Benefit. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band participates in the Inauguration Parade in a few weeks, it will be continuing its mission of proudly representing the Nassau County Fire Service.

To help the band reach its $10,000 goal to cover transportation & lodging costs for its 40+ members, the band manager created and runs a gofundme fundraiser: “Presidential Inauguration Parade” for the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums.

  • Photo Video of Ray Pfeifer Fundraiser, with Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums music:

And I send sincere thanks to Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums, esp. Band Manager Alan Jacoby, for permission to use their music in above photo video of 2012 Firefighter Ray Pfeifer Benefit.

  • UPDATE 1/18/2107:  $17K+ of revised $20K goal has been raised by band’s gofundme campaign.  [NOTE: This post’s link to band’s gofundme page removed after end of 2017.]

Band’s official site: Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums

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TMB Model Train Club’s O-mazing Open House

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 30, 2016

Where can you see a three-ring circus, NYC subway line, and real prop used in a mob hit scene on The Sopranos?  At the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club HQ in Long Island!

Last Saturday, during the long Thanksgiving Weekend, I spent a couple of hours that sped by all too quickly at TMB’s Open House, which was free and open to the public, as all their Open Houses are.

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotivee Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoyed a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. Watching O Scale model trains traveling on tracks through various elaborate scenes was family fun, free and open to the public, during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. TMB club member BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotive Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

BAKE TURNER, a TMB Model Train Club Board Member, told me how the club – which is a Lionel Ambassador for 2016-17 – moved from Lindenhurst to their Farmingdale location four years ago, and they’re still expanding the elaborate O-Scale layouts, including developing one vertically up a wall!

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. Tiny high wire aerialist model figure, about two inches tall, is part of the circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoy a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. The free and open to public event was family fun during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. Tiny tightrope walker model figure, about two inches tall, is in circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Young children perched on parents’ shoulders; adults bent down to inspect the subway line; and lots of arms, short and long, pointed to trains whizzing around the 19 scale miles of track winding through fantastically detailed landscapes, towns, tall cityscapes….

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Train Masters of Babylong Model Train Club's Open House, visitors look at actual train display - complete with blood stains - seen in 'The Blue Comet' episode of 'The Sopranos'. Photo above layout is scene with character Bobby Baccalieri at L.I. model train store. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Model Train Club’s Open House, visitors look at actual train display seen in ‘The Blue Comet’ episode of HBO’s ‘The Sopranos.’  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And then there’s the club’s star attraction: the actual train layout featured in “The Blue Comet” episode of The Sopranos HBO television series. It wasn’t until shortly after my visit I realized the layout was complete with “blood stains” from Bobby Bacala’s execution, so I want to return to the scene of that crime during a future Open House.

UPDATE:  January 2019

In the Jan. 2019 issue of Model Rail, the UK model train magazine, editor Richard Foster writes that The Blue Comet episode of HBO’s The Sopranos is his favorite TV episode featuring a model train.

Along with info about the episode and TMB Model Train Club, Foster’s “Backscene” article (page 146) includes one of my news photos of the actual TV prop on display during TMB’s Open House.

The Model Rail  January 2019 digital back issue is currently available for purchase at the PocketMags site (which I have NO relationship with).

TMB Open House:  PHOTO GALLERY 

Train Masters of Babylon: TMB site  |  2016-17 Lionel Ambassadors

Feb. 28, 2018 blog post: “TMB Model Train Club: Big Room with Big (& Small) Views“

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