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.

Requiem for Booker T. Gibson

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
March 18, 2016

Instead of writing this right now, I’d be at Booker T. Gibson’s funeral at Union Baptist Church in Hempstead, if I’d learned about his March 10th death sooner, rather than a few minutes ago when I read his moving obituary by Herald reporter Scott Brinton.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 27, 2013. Veteran Booker T. Gibson at Annual Memorial Day Parade 2013, hosted by American Legion Merrick Post No. 1282, with ceremony at Merrick Veteran Memorial Park. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 27, 2013. Veteran Booker T. Gibson at Annual Memorial Day Parade 2013, hosted by American Legion Merrick Post No. 1282. (© 2013 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Booker was an active member of the American Legion Merrick Post 1282, and I’m a member of its Auxiliary. We first met on December 10, 2011, at the Northport VA Medical Center, where he played piano to accompany our AL Post members singing Christmas carols to patients. Which was more mesmerizing and expressive: Booker’s big bright eyes, his hands as they played, or his warm personality? I can’t decide.

Close-up of Booker T Gibson's hands as he plays piano at Northport VA medical Center, on Dec. 19, 2011. Light vignette. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Northport, New York, USA. December 19, 2011. Close-up of Booker T Gibson’s hands as he plays piano at Northport VA medical Center to accompany American Legion Merrick Post 1282 singers. (© 2011 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Years ago, filmmaker André Joseph contacted me to license editorial photos for EPYX Productions’ 2013 documentary film on Booker T. Gibson. When we spoke, Joseph’s deep respect for Gibson was clear, as it was later in his 2013 documentary:

AJ EPYX Documentary film:  Book T. Gibson: A Teacher’s Journey

Writing this visual requiem, I feel both sad (quite sad) and profoundly grateful to have known and photographed fellow Merrokean, fellow teacher, fellow lover of music, Booker T. Gibson.

American Legionnaires, Booker T. Gibson at right, riding in classic car in Merrick Memorial Day Parade on May 28, 2012, on Long Island, New York, USA. America's war heroes are honored on this National Holiday. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 28, 2012. American Legionnaires, Booker T. Gibson at right, riding in classic car in Merrick Memorial Day Parade. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Booker T. Gibson playing piano:  GALLERY

Scott Brinton/Herald Life:  Booker T Gibson Obituary

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Kitten Bowl III Party at Last Hope Animal Rescue

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
February 23, 2016

On Super Bowl 50 Sunday, furball fans at Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh enjoyed food, face painting, and cheering on the Last Hope Lions, their home team of kitties playing in the Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl III.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 7, 2016. Volunteer MIKE DAY, 13, of Wantagh, looks as if he's giving coaching advice to the gray kitten player with the red collar on TV in Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III. At Last Hope Animal Rescue's Open House, the guests cheer on their team, the Last Hope Lions, which the tiny tabby szs a member of. Over 100 adoptable kittens from Last Hope Inc and North Shore Animal League of America participated in the pretaped games, and the Home and Family Felines won the 2016 championship, which first aired the day of Super Bowl 50. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. Feb. 7, 2016. Volunteer MIKE DAY, 13, of Merrick, looks as if he’s giving coaching advice to the tabby team member on TV in Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III, at Last Hope Animal Rescue’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The Open House guests were thrilled when host BETH STERN, an animal activist and spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America, introduced tabby cat ALEXANDER, the Mayor of Last Hope. Ms. Stern explained Alex is available for adoption and then kissed him, which he accepted like a purr-fect gentleman.

Wantagh, New York, USA. 7th February 2016. Volunteer LAURA LANG holds Tabby cat ALEXANDER, the Mayor of Last Hope Rescue, wearing a glittery gold hat during Last Hope Animal Rescue's Open House during Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III television special. Alexander appeared on the TV show with its host B. Stern, who announced Alex is available for adoption. People at the center watched the game and cheered on their team, the Last Hope Lions. Over 100 adoptable kittens from Last Hope Inc and North Shore Animal League America participated in the taped games, and the Home and Family Felines won the 2016 championship, which first aired the day of Super Bowl 50. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. Feb. 7, 2016. Volunteer LAURA LANG holds ALEXANDER, the Mayor of Last Hope Rescue, at the center’s Open House during Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl III. Alex appeared on the show with host Beth Stern. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 7, 2016. Tabby cat ALEXANDER, the Mayor of Last Hope Rescue, is available for adoption during Last Hope Animal Rescue's Open House during Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III. Alexander appeared on the TV show with its host B. Stern. The adoption center's volunteers and visitors watched the game on TV and cheered on their team, the Last Hope Lions. Over 100 adoptable kittens from Last Hope Inc and North Shore Animal League America participated in the taped games, and the Home and Family Felines won the 2016 championship, which first aired the day of Super Bowl 50. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. Feb. 7, 2016. ALEXANDER, the Mayor of Last Hope Rescue, in Wantagh, is available for adoption.  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Another exciting highlight was when Tiger – one of the tiny tabby players in Kitten Bowl III – visited the party with his new family, Charlie Brown and Melanie Benedetto. The now 7-month-old celebrity sported a fur-ociously cute harness with skull and crossbones, and after graciously allowing his fans to see him up close, jumped on top of a nearby tall cage.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 7, 2016. Tiger the tabby cat, one of the team players in the Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III, is with his new family, CHARLIE BROWN, who's holding the star whose new name is Yogi, and MELANIE BENEDETTO, of Massapequa, at Last Hope Animal Rescue's Open House, where the adoption center's volunteers and visitors watch the game on TV and cheer on their team, the Last Hope Lions. Over 100 adoptable kittens from Last Hope Inc and North Shore Animal League America participated in the taped games, and the Home and Family Felines won the 2016 championship, which first aired the day of Super Bowl 50. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. Feb. 7, 2016. Player Tiger in Hallmark Channel Kitten Bowl III is with his new family, L-R, MELANIE BENEDETTO and CHARLIE BROWN, at Last Hope Animal Rescue’s Open House, where guests  watched the taped game on TV. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Though Kitten Bowl victory escaped the grasp of Last Hope Lions’ tiny paws, the cute catheletes feel like winners, since they and all 100+ kittens in the game have been adopted.

Adoptable (as of 2/23/16) cats & dogs in my Last Hope Open House gallery:

  • ALEXANDER the Mayor of Last Hope
  • WOODBURY the calm, sociable tabby
  • HALLIE the affectionate white & orange beagle
  • FORD the friendly gray pit mix

Official site of Last Hope Animal Rescue

  • My photos of Last Hope’s Open House:   Gallery

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Interested in ADOPTING a cat or dog on Long Island, or learning ways you can help ones without furr-ever homes?  Visit:  LastHopeAnimal Rescue.org

Winter Storm of 2016 Hits Long Island

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
January 26, 2016

Travel was strictly for the birds last weekend, when Winter Storm Jonas brought so much gusting snow that Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency and later banned travel.

Merrick, New York, USA. January 23, 2016. Travel is strictly for the birds, when Blizzard Jonas brings dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island, and Governor Cuomo bans travel, shutting down L.I.'s roads and railroads, due to hazardous conditions. A red male cardinal and several wrens eat seeds from a variety of hanging bird feeders in a suburban backyard, as the winter Storm of 2016 already dropped over a foot of snow on the south shore town of Merrick, with much more snow expected throughout Saturday and early Sunday. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 23, 2016. As Winter Storm Jonas brings dangerous snow and winds to Long Island, a red male cardinal and several wrens eat seeds from bird feeders. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

As the storm was at its strongest mid-Saturday, I captured photos of wrens, robin red crests, cardinals, and pigeons at our bird feeders. Since I was aiming my Nikon through our open dining room window, I first put our two cats safely behind a shut door of another room.

Merrick, New York, USA. 24rd January 2016. Two Town of Hempstead snowplows, a small one plowing out a cul de sac, dead end side street, and a large plow on the bigger road leading to it, are clearing roads while Blizzard Jonas continues to bring dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island. Governor Cuomo banned travel, shutting down L.I.'s roads and railroads, due to hazardous conditions, and the winter Storm of 2016 has already dropped about two feet of snow on the south shore town. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January  24, 2016. Two Town of Hempstead snowplows are clearing roads early Sunday morning, while Blizzard Jonas continues to bring dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island.  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Town of Hempstead Highway Department crews were working around the clock that weekend, and their long hard work showed. In fact, I saw a cul de sac near Park Avenue School cleared of snow before breakfast time Sunday.

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2016. After Nor'easter drops more than two feet of snow on south shore of Nassau County, Long Island, many Town of Hempstead Highway Department employees work long hours operating snow ploys to plows to remove about 25 inches of snow blanketing downtown streets and public parking lots. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2016. Town of Hempstead Highway Dept. employees work long hours plowing 25 inches of snow blanketing downtown streets and parking lots. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Sunday afternoon, I took my all-wheel drive for a quick visit to downtown Merrick, where Town of Hempstead crews were plowing over two feet of snow from the parking lots for the Merrick Long Island Rail Road Station and Merrick United States Post Office.

And I was absolutely thrilled that I charged extra batteries and picked up extra bottles of water on Friday for nothing, since we didn’t lose electricity.

Winter Storm 2016:  GALLERY

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