Category Archives: Merrick

Photo Illustration: Cammanns Pond in Merrick, New York, USA, © Ann Parry, FromLongIsland.com

Cammanns Pond: Or, New Year’s Eve in Space

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
December 31, 2018

Cammanns Pond

Tonight, ten days after the shortest day of the year, and hours before the stormy last hurrah of 2018 would become the dawn of 2019, I stopped at Cammanns Pond on my way home.

Struggling through the downpour, the light from the street lamp behind me surrendered before reaching water’s edge.

Merrick, NY, USA. Dec. 31, 2018. A raft of ducks sleeps hidden at Cammanns Pond during rainy New Year's Eve. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Dec. 31, 2018. A raft of ducks sleeps hidden at Cammanns Pond during rainy New Year’s Eve. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Rain coated the windshield seconds after each sweep of wipers, and dashboard lights bounced on the glass and water, so my bullseye view was light from distant buildings slashing an abyss.

But, after countless visits, I knew waterfowl must be near. Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I covered the instrument lights with an infinity scarf, I saw hints of a silent, nearly still raft of ducks midway between shores.

Aiming my iPhone from the space between steering wheel and windshield, I captured rain smeared photos of two bare trees standing sentinel in front of the pond.

Going outside, I stood behind one tree trunk then the other, to avoid throwing a shadow, and leaned out to take photos of the ducks, pond, shores and beyond.

Shores & beyond

Then I sat silent and still in my car as ducks slept at the Merrick pond, on the deluged south shore of Long Island…

on the northeast coast of the United States on Earth as it orbited the Sun, in a spiral arm of the Milky Way, in the Virgo Supercluster…

as we made our way in the universe this New Year’s Eve…

forty years after the world understood global warming and still had a chance to avoid the extreme, destructive weather Earth’s now experiencing due to the climate crisis.

No home is an island.

• NASA: Global Climate Change Resources
• Bloomberg: Climate Changed
• NYTimes: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change

fyi fLI
In 1890 Hermann Cammann bought the Carmen farm house property on the north side of Merrick Road and rebuilt a larger version of the house, across from where Cammanns Park is now.

Cammanns Pond:  PHOTO GALLERY

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Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein poses with one of many appreciation trophies she's received from AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park.

AIDS Walk NY: Francine Goldstein’s 600K Marathon

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
May 4, 2018

A very caring, very determined FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN needs your help reaching her goal of $600,000 in total donations over the 30 years – yes, 30 years – she’s walked the walk for AIDS WALK NEW YORK.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of participating in AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park on May 20, 2018. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN embraces the challenge of having a successful 30th year of fundraising for AIDS WALK NEW YORK. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

AIDS WALK NY 2018: Francine’s Donation Page

Thirty years ago, Francine’s closest friend was diagnosed with AIDS and lived about only 30 months longer. As Francine and her husband visited her during those painful months, they saw how GMHC – Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization – was the one source of help. She promised her friend to do everything possible, so no one else would have to suffer that way, and ever since then Francine’s kept her promise. 

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of participating in AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park on May 20, 2018. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of walking in AIDS WALK NEW YORK. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

AIDS WALK NEW YORK is famously the world’s biggest single-day fundraiser for AIDS, and over the years our family has known Francine, I’ve seen first hand it’s always the right month, the right day, the right time and place for her to ask someone to sponsor her. She’s seriously dedicated to raise funds to help – through GMHC’s prevention, care and advocacy programs –  thousands of people affected by the disease in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A quarter century ago, AIDS touched my family. Touched? It slammed, smashed and destroyed someone I grew up with and loved and wordlessly expected would be around – would BE – for so many more days and decades. It’s a big reason I’ve joined countless others cheering Francine on.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN holds special poster AIDS WALK NEW YORK created for her. At top of poster is photo of Sen. JOHN E. BROOKS presenting her with NYS Senate Liberty Award. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018.Francine Goldstein holds special poster AIDS WALK NEW YORK created for her. At top of poster is photo of Sen. JOHN E. BROOKS presenting her with NYS Senate Liberty Award. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

May 20th, the day of the walk, is a couple of weeks away, and Francine’s about $15,000 away from raising $600,000. For 30 years and counting, she’s been running a marathon, and her white and red race shirt says: “AIDS WALK NEW YORK • GMHC END AIDS. LIVE LIFE.”

UPDATE: May 13, 2018:  Francine’s about $9,600 away from her goal, and AIDS WALK 2018 is a week away.

AIDS WALK NY 2018: Francine Goldstein’s Donation Page

Francine Goldstein:  my PHOTO GALLERY

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North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN flings her arms up high after cutting the yellow tape to start the Egg Hunt at the Annual Eggstravaganza, held at Fraser Park and hosted by North and Central Merrick Civic Association (NCMCA) and Merrick's American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282. Young children rush to collect eggs in their Easter baskets. (© 2018 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt at Fraser Park

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 3, 2018

Like jelly beans spilling out of cellophane bags, children rushed onto Fraser Park field to hunt for 1,600 eggs during the 16th Annual Eggstravaganza, held Saturday in North Merrick. Though snow was (correctly) predicted for that night, it was sunny, spring-jacket weather the morning of the Egg Hunt.

North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Young children eagerly wait behind yellow tape for start of Easter Egg Hunt at the Annual Eggstravaganza, held at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Young children eagerly wait behind yellow tape for start of Easter Egg Hunt at the Annual Eggstravaganza, held at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN officially started the Egg Hunt, and visitors also had the chance to meet and chat with Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN and Hempstead Town Clerk SYLVIA CABANA.

The Eggstravaganza co-hosts were North and Central Merrick Civic Association – which had its new co-presidents SUE MOLLER and LOU CICCONE keeping the event running smoothly – and American Legion Auxiliary 1282, which had President FLORENCE HOFFMAN and many other members manning the Entrance and art activity tables & more.

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. At right, Town of Hempstead Supervisor LAURA GILLEN chucks 8-month-old EMMA HALPERN under the chin, while Emma is held by her mom KELLY HALPERN, as dad MATT HALPERN looks on, at the Annual Eggstravaganza. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. At right, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen chucks 8-month-old Emma Halpern under the chin, while Emma is held by her mom Kelly Halpern, as dad Matt Halpern looks on, at the Annual Eggstravaganza. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. At center, Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN (in pink coat) and Hempstead Town Clerk SYLVIA CABANA (in brown jacket), pose with members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282, which was a co-host of event: L-R, SUE MOLLER, FLORENCE HOFFMAN, MATTIA SARACENI, SHARON WILLIAMS, FAY AMBROSINO, and BARBARA BYRNE, at Eggstravaganza held at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. At center, Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen (in pink coat) and Hempstead Town Clerk SYLVIA CABANA (in brown jacket), pose with members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282, a co-host of event: L-R, Sue Moller, Florence Hoffman, Mattia Saraceni, Sharon Williams, Fay Ambrosino, and Barbara Byrne at Eggstravaganza held at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Other community leaders at the event included WENDY GARGIULO, President of the North Merrick Board of Education; and ALISON FRANKEL, President of South Bellmore Civic Association (SBCA).

North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Sitting at table, LUCY MURPHY, member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 1282 and (right of her) SUE MOLLER, co-Pres. of NCMCA, and others are at Entrance table to Eggstravaganza at Fraser Park. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Sitting at table, Lucy Murphy, member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 1282 and (right of her) Sue Moller, co-Pres. of NCMCA, and others are at Entrance table to Eggstravaganza at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Brittany the Balloon Lady, of Balloons by Brittany, was a big hit – including with my grandson and granddaughter who were there with their mom and dad.

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. Back Row, L-R, Hempstead Town Clerk SYLVIA CABANA; BETTY TUCKER (clown) a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282; Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN; and SUE MOLLER, Co-President of North and Central Merrick Civic Association; pose with Easter Bunny and children at the Annual Eggstravaganza at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, NY, USA. March 31, 2018. Back Row, L-R, Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana; Betty Tucker (clown) a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282; Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen; and Sue Moller, Co-Pres. of North & Central Merrick Civic Assoc.; pose with Easter Bunny and children at Eggstravaganza at Fraser Park. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

And the Easter Bunny – the furriest special guest at the Eggstravaganza – looked very hoppy to sit on a park bench with children as their parents took photos.

FEATURE PHOTO (at top): North Merrick, New York, USA. March 31, 2018. Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN flings her arms up high after cutting the yellow tape to start the Egg Hunt at the Annual Eggstravaganza, held at Fraser Park and hosted by North and Central Merrick Civic Association (NCMCA) and Merrick’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1282. 

Eggstravaganza North Merrick 2018:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Facebook:  North and Central Merrick Civic Association

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