Category Archives: museums

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. Unveiling ceremony of mural by painter Michael White, of close-up of a Nunley's Carousel horse, is held at historic Nunley's Carousel in its Pavilion on Museum Row on Long Island. © 2019 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com

Nunley’s Carousel Mural: Next Stop, Baldwin!

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
March 15, 2019

  • Photo Video with carousel music captures historic Nunley’s Carousel Mural Unveiling in Garden City, on Saturday night, March 9th: 


It’s not surprising that well over a hundred children and adults flocked to Nunley’s Carousel Pavilion for the Mural Unveiling Ceremony, and the free refreshments and carousel rides.

My parents brought my brothers and me to Nunley’s to ride the carousel, play miniature golf, and have pizza during the late 1950’s to 1960’s.

My daughters’ dad and I brought them to Nunley’s during its last ten years in Baldwin.

My grandson and granddaughter have each had a birthday party at Nunley’s Carousel in Museum Row in Garden City.

And that’s just a glimpse of how Nunley’s Carousel touched one multi-generational Long Island family.

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. L-R, CAYLA KEMPF and her mom COLETTE KEMPF, from Maspeth, Queens, are riding carousel horses during Unveiling Ceremony of Nunley's Carousel mural. The Kempf family is related to a silent partner of the carousel's original owners, of Murphy's Carousel Company.

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. L-R, CAYLA KEMPF and her mom COLETTE KEMPF, from Maspeth, Queens, are riding carousel horses during Unveiling Ceremony of Nunley’s Carousel mural. The Kempf family is related to a silent partner of the carousel’s original owners, of Murphy’s Carousel Company. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Michael White

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. Artist MICHAEL WHITE stands in front of Nunley's Carousel during Unveiling Ceremony of his mural. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. Artist MICHAEL WHITE stands in front of Nunley’s Carousel during Unveiling Ceremony of his mural. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Artist Michael White, a Baldwinite, shared memories of Nunley’s and explained he chose to paint a closeup of the carousel’s lead horse – which wears a striking red, white and blue banner on its shoulder, and red roses in its mane – because the acrylic mural is 7 feet tall and about 5 feet wide, so including a vast scene such as the whole carousel wouldn’t make sense.

In Fit Shape

The mural has an uncommon shape – at first glance it looks like a rectangle, but it isn’t.

The mural’s base is wider than its top, and they’re parallel.

Its sides aren’t parallel, but are equal in length, and have equal angles where they reach the bottom.

In short, with the help of two long words, the mural is an isosceles trapezoid

White’s acrylic equine needs to be that shape to fit the permanent home it’s heading to soon.

Baldwin Bound

This spring, the mural is scheduled for an outdoor installation on a trestle pillar of the Baldwin LIRR Train Station, only a 1/3 mile from the location of Nunley’s Carousel & Amusement Park in Baldwin from 1940-1995.

If my brothers and I, or if my daughters, had headed northwest after a visit to Nunley’s Carousel in Baldwin, we could have walked to the Baldwin Station in the time it takes to play the above video twice.

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. LAURA CURRAN, the Nassau County Executive, rides Nunley's Carousel carved wood lion during mural unveiling ceremony of Nunley's Carousel horse.(© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. March 9, 2019. LAURA CURRAN, the Nassau County Executive, rides Nunley’s Carousel carved wood lion during mural unveiling ceremony of Nunley’s Carousel horse.(© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

On the Carousel of Time

County, town, and state elected officials; Baldwin non-profit organization officers and members, and LIRR rep attending the mural unveiling included:

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran
Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen
NYS Assemblywoman Judy Griffin

Baldwin Civic Association (BCA) reps included:
President Darien Ward
Corresponding Secretary Susan Cools
Beautification Committee Chair Rita Cavanagh

Baldwin Historical Society President Gary Farkash

LIRR Community Relations Representative Vanessa Lockel

During the mural unveiling ceremony, many of the above shared their memories, from those decades ago to recently, of Nunley’s Carousel.

  • Some people in Video at beginning of post (click name to see a photo):
Joanne Adams  Judy Griffin Cayla Kempf
Rita Cavanagh     Kelley Hochheiser Colette Kempf
John Cools     Maureen Lennon Andrew Obergh
Susan Cools    Vanessa Lockel Beth Obergh
Jean Smyth-Crocetto  Liam McGuire Bob Stuhmer
Laura Curran    Karen Montalbano Darien Ward
Gary Farkash  Gary Monti Michael White
Laura Gillen Debra Mulé

Feature Photo at top of post: Garden City, NY, USA. March 9, 2019. Rita Cavanagh (Baldwin Civic Assoc. Beautification Committee Chair) and Darien Ward (BCA President) look at mural that Ward and artist Michael White just uncovered at Unveiling Ceremony, at Nunley’s Carousel Pavilion.


Nunley’s Carousel Mural photos:  PHOTO GALLERY

my video:  Nunley’s Carousel Mural

Sites:

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Garden City, NY, USA. Nov. 24, 2018. Peppa Pig walks in atrium of Long Island Festival of Trees holiday event, an annual family fun at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. All proceeds raised benefit the non-profit charity Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc.

Long Island Festival of Trees 2018

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 28, 2018

When did Long Island’s winter holiday season arrive this year, at least for me? 

Garden City, New York, USA. November 24, 2018. The Festival of Trees, an annual family fun holiday event at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, has a free ice skating rink in the atrium. All proceeds raised - including from sale of donated decorated Christmas trees - benefit the non-profit charity Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc., of Long Island.(© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. November 24, 2018. The Long Island Festival of Trees, an annual holiday event at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, has a free ice skating rink in the atrium.(© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Not in October when witch costumes and candy canes debuted in tandem at stores. Not weeks ago when we had our first snow. It was last weekend, when the annual Long Island Festival of Trees opened at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

The atrium had a two-story high, candy-themed Christmas tree, an elf taking visitors’ pictures with Santa, and a free ice skating rink, complete with free skates.

All proceeds raised — including from the sale of uniquely decorated Christmas trees, and Department 56 village porcelain pieces, all donated — benefited the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc.

While admiring a tree decked out as an elegant peacock near the skating rink, I saw Peppa Pig stroll into view. Peppa certainly had a long walk ahead of her through the vast museum if she planned to see all the vendors, events, and decorations… though, alas, no muddy puddles Snort 

Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County site: CP Nassau

Long Island Festival of Trees 2018:  my PHOTO GALLERY

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Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino gives free lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at Cradle of Aviation Museum.

Astronaut Mike Massimino: From Long Island to Space

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
June 24, 2018

Mike Massimino at Cradle of Aviation Museum

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. L-R, JOSHUA STOFF, Curator of Cradle of Aviation Museum; astronaut MICHAEL MASSIMINO; ANDREW PARTON, Executive Director of CAM; and GREG SANTI, Human Resources Manager at Curtiss Wright, pose at 10th Annual Luncheon. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. L-R, JOSH STOFF, Curator of Cradle of Aviation Museum; astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO; ANDY PARTON, Exec. Director of CAM; and GREG SANTI, HR Manager at Curtiss-Wright, pose with illustration of Massimino. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

NASA space shuttle astronaut MICHAEL J. MASSIMINO – Franklin Square’s inspiring and fun space ambassador – captivated three audiences this Wednesday, June 21, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum: during its 10th Annual Luncheon, a small group Meet & Greet, and a free lecture at the JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium.

  • VIDEO of Massimino’s 8-minute acceptance speech:

Air & Space Hall of Fame Induction for Class of 2018

Mike Massimino, aviation pioneers LOUIS and CONNIE MANCUSO, and aviator and Newsday founder ALICIA PATTERSON were the inductees for the Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2018 honored during the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Annual Luncheon, presented by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. L-R, Astronaut Mike Massimino, Deborah Henley, and Louis Mancuso Jr. pose at Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. L-R, Astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO, DEBORIAH HENLEY, and LOUIS MANCUSO JR. pose at Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

A highlight of Massimino’s acceptance speech was when he poetically described his reaction to seeing the curve of our planet fill his field of vision during his second space walk: 

“The beauty of our planet was kinda overwhelming…. This must be the view from heaven…. That’s not quite right…. This is what heaven must look like….

“What made that possible, those memories possible…. all come back here to Long Island….  the mentors I met along the way, this museum being here at the right time in my life to set me on that journey that ended up 350 miles above our planet to work on Hubble.”

The other inductees were honored posthumously: LOUIS MANCUSO JR. accepted on behalf of his parents, and DEBORAH HENLEY, Vice President and Executive Editor of Newsday, accepted on behalf of Alicia Patterson.

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 spacesuit costume. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Meet & Greet

During the Meet & Greet, a few dozen lucky museum members and STEM students (Science Technology Engineering Math) sat around a conference table and asked Massimino questions.

When asked about space food, Massimino said it was good, and then explained how everything gets recycled, including urine, so, “Yesterday’s coffee is tomorrow’s coffee,” as Expedition 39 commander Koichi Wakata memorably observed in 2014 about recycling on the ISS (International Space Station).

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. In the JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium, Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massimino displays photo of him sending email to Johnson Space Center for his twitt-r feed. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Evening with Mike Massimino Lecture

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

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. Astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO gives lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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 a key role when he was growing up.

FYI from FLI: In the late 1980’s, my daughter Sue went to Space Camp at the Cradle of Aviation, then in an unrestored hangar. I’m still searching for the name of the CAM photographer who captured this photo of 10-yr-old Sue wearing a genuine spacesuit that summer.

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO gives lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Volunteer puppy raiser FLORENCE SCARINCI is seated next to dog she's training from Canine Companions for Independence, a Medford non-profit. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Massmino gives lecture in JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Volunteer puppy raiser Florence Scarinci is seated next to dog she’s training from Canine Companions for Independence, a Medford non-profit. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

NASA rejected Massimino when he applied to be an astronaut – the first, second and third times. Persevering, he applied a fourth time – and the rest is Hubble Space Telescope repairs and recurring role of playing himself on The Big Bang Theory history.  

In one of the photos Massimino displayed on the dome, he was in the space shuttle writing the first tweet ever from space. Here’s that message he sent to Johnson Space Center, so they could post it on his @Astro_Mike feed:

“From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!”

Laughing, he said his tweet didn’t compare well to Neil Armstrong’s 1969 historic first spoken words ever coming from the moon:

“The Eagle has landed. That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. Former NASA astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO is inducted into Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2018 at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2018. NASA astronaut MIKE MASSIMINO is inducted into Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2018 at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Astronauts

I first saw Mike Massimino in 2010, during Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Legends in Air & Space Lecture series. Seeing him in action throughout Thursday reinforced how he’s an upbeat, self-reflective, cool-nerd sort of guy “everyone would like to be or have as a friend.”  

In fact, many astronauts I’ve crossed orbits with also exuded a personable, centered quality – not surprisingly, since it’s an essential quality for working well in space. 

‘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 (“Luigi”), a physics teacher at Durham Academy, NC, and fellow aerospace and astronomy buff.


Mike Massimino Lecture: my PHOTO GALLERY

Air & Space Hall of Fame 2018:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Site:  MikeMassimino.com

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