Category Archives: Nassau County

Wantagh Warriors Baseball & Miss Wantagh Pageant, July 4th

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
July 5, 2016

SKIPPER the Jack Russell terrier was one of many celebrators dressed in patriotic red, white and blue when awards were handed out, and the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony was held, following the Wantagh Independence Day Parade yesterday morning.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Skipper the Jack Russell terrier is wearing patriotic red white and blue stars bandana at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2016. Skipper the Jack Russell terrier is wearing patriotic bandana at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony on Long Island. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

I wore sunglasses, but the harsh midday sun made me wish I’d also brought my From Long Island cap.

Wantagh WARRIORS Baseball Team 2016

The crowd cheered loud and long when members of the winning Wantagh WARRIORS baseball team lined up to receive certificates issued by the Nassau County Supervisor.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. High school Wantagh Warriors baseball team members receive Certificates issued by Nassau County Supervisor at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. The Wantagh Warriors baseball team won another county championship, its third Long Island Championship and its second New York State Class A championship. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Wantagh Warriors baseball team members receive Certificates issued by Nassau County Supervisor at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

During 2016, the Warriors baseball team won yet another county championship, its 3rd Long Island Championship, and its 2nd New York State Class A championship.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Teams members of the high school Wantagh Warriors baseball team receive Certificates issued by Nassau County Supervisor at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. The Wantagh Warriors baseball team won another county championship, its third Long Island Championship and its second New York State Class A championship. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Teams members of the high school Wantagh Warriors baseball team receive Certificates issued by Nassau County Supervisor at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

MISS WANTAGH 2016

During this special 60th anniversary, quite a few former Miss Wantaghs  – both from recent years and decades ago – participated, wearing their banners and crowns.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. EMMA CAREY, newly crowned Miss Wantagh 2016 (front row 3rd from right) and other present and past contestants pose for group photo at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. Since 1956, the Miss Wantagh Pageant, which is not a beauty pageant, crowns an area high school student based mainly on academic excellence and community service. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. EMMA CAREY, newly crowned Miss Wantagh 2016 (front row 3rd from right) and other present and past contestants pose for group photo. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

LYNN CLAYTON-LUONGO, Miss Wantagh 1956 – the first Miss Wantagh – travelled from Everett, Massachusetts, for this special anniversary event.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. LYNN CLAYTON LUONGO, Miss Wantagh 1956, 76 years old, the first Miss Wantagh ever, participated in the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. Clayton was the 1st Runner Up and Miss Congeniality in the 1958 New York State Miss Ameria Pageant. Since 1956, the Miss Wantagh Pageant, which is not a beauty pageant, crowns an area high school student based mainly on academic excellence and community service. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2016. LYNN CLAYTON-LUONGO, Miss Wantagh 1956, the first Miss Wantagh ever, participated in the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant crowning ceremony. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

In 1958, when Clayton was 18, she was Miss Congeniality and First Runner Up in the New York State pageant of Miss America. But Miss Wantagh isn’t a beauty pageant. It crowns a Wantagh resident in high school based mainly on academic excellence and community service.

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Standing L-R, EMMA CAREY; BRIANNA COLTELLINO; KERI BALNIS, Miss Wantagh 2015; STEVE RHOADS, Nassau County Legislator District 19; MAUREEN O'CONNELL, Nassau County Clerk; and ELLA STEVENS, Miss Wantagh Pageant coordinator; at the 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Pageant, an Independence Day tradition on Long Island. O'Connell is opening envelop to find who Miss Wantagh 2016 is - Emma or Brianna. Since 1956, the Miss Wantagh Pageant, which is not a beauty pageant, crowns an area high school student based mainly on academic excellence and community service. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. July 4, 2016. Standing L-R, EMMA CAREY; BRIANNA COLTELLINO; KERI BALNIS, Miss Wantagh 2015; STEVE RHOADS, Nassau County Legislator; ERIN KING-SWEENEY, Town Councilwoman; and ELLA STEVENS, Pageant Coordinator; at 60th Annual Miss Wantagh Crowning. King-Sweeney is opening results envelope, so she can announce Miss Wantagh 2016 – Emma or Brianna. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Results of this year’s pageant:

  • EMMA CAREY – Miss Wantagh 2016
  • BRIANNA COLTELLINO  –  1st Runner Up
  • GRACE ANNE McKENNA  –  2nd Runner Up
  • COURTNEY CARDONA  –  3rd Runner Up
  • ISABELLA SANTERAMO & KAYLA SCHMIDT – Ambassadors

Officials included Hon. CHRISTOPHER QUINN, Supervising Judge of Nassau County Court; ERIN KING-SWEENEY, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman; STEVE RHOADS, Nassau County Legislator, District 19; and ELLA STEVENS, the Miss Wantagh Pageant Coordinator.

Wantagh WARRIORS Baseball Team:  GALLERY

CONTACT ME

Antique Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens 2016

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 14, 2016

I literally & frequently had to hold on to my hat Sunday afternoon, since it was such a breezy spring day at the Antique & Collectible Auto Show – with hundreds of vintage, classic, and collectible vehicles – at Old Westbury Gardens.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. Flying Lady hood ornament with clear plastic insert in wings on 1940 red Chevrolet Super Deluxe sedan is on view at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. Flying Lady hood ornament on 1940 red Chevrolet Super Deluxe sedan is on view at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After getting a cold soda at the refreshment table, I spotted Pastor Green and Miska – a Service Dog who helps Marine veterans – near the Free Hugs booth of Marine Corps League, North Shore Queens Detachment #240. Both the pastor and his Husky and German Shepherd mix partner were so patient as I captured photos of Miska with her arresting ice-blue eyes and white fur.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MISKA, an NYPD (New York Police Department) Service Dog trained to help American veterans, attends the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island. Miska is part Husky and part German Shepherd, and has light blue eyes and white fur, and was with Pastor Green, of U.S. Marines, from Queens. The car show was sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MISKA, a Service Dog trained to help Veterans, attends the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Especially because this was the rain date for the event, some participants had other commitments to go to, so the trophy ceremony began early, explained officers from the Antique Automobile Club of America’s Greater New York Region chapter, which sponsored this 50th Annual Spring Meet.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. A yellow 1948 Bantam Roadster, owned by Wade Jacobs of Mineola, has reflection of man walking by nearby vintage black car on its hubcap, at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. A yellow 1948 Bantam Roadster, owned by Wade Jacobs of Mineola, has reflection on hubcap of man at vintage black car, at  Antique and Collectible Auto Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After winners got their good news and gleaming trophies, a few cars and then a few more and more began a slow procession through lush green grounds to the west gate of the Gold Coast mansion estate.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MARK OFFENBERG, of Valley Stream, drives his silver 1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100 Italian luxury classic roadster while his passenger holds 3rd Place Trophy the car won in the foreign car category at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Car is the 46th of only 50 Intermeccanica's coachbuilt in Turin, Italy. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars and trucks. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MARK OFFENBERG, of Valley Stream, drives his 1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100 roadster while passenger holds trophy M.O. won at Antique & Collectible Auto Show, Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Postscript:

Driving home in Bob’s faithful 2000 Honda later that day, we passed a local business with a large American flag flying at half mast, likely in sympathy for the victims of the horrific mass shootings early that morning at the Orlando nightclub.

“Hold on tight because this is going to hurt like hell.” – John A Passara

2016 Car Show at OWG:   GALLERY

CONTACT ME

Port Washington, New York, USA. 11th April 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, has a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. S. Israel, and with activists who lost family members due to shootings. © 2016 Ann Parry, annparry.com

Hillary Clinton Panel on Gun Violence Prevention, Port Washington

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
April 13, 2016

This Monday, HILLARY CLINTON and moderator Rep. STEVE ISRAEL held a discussion on gun violence prevention, to a full house at the Landmark Theater in Port Washington. The panel included five women who each lost a relative to gun violence.

Port Washington, New York, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, has a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. STEVE ISRAEL and activists who lost family members due to shootings: (L-R) RITA KESTENBAUM who lost her daughter Carol at Arizona State University; MARIE DELUS who lost her nephew Pierre-Paul Jean-Paul in Queens; ERICA LAFFERTY SMEGIELSKI who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand the Sandy Hook Elementary School Principal in Newtown CT; NATASHA CHRISTOPHER who lost her 15-year-old son Akeal in Brooklyn; and SANDY PHILLIPS who lost her daughter Jessica Ghawi in Aurora, Colorado theater shooting. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, and Rep. STEVE ISRAEL have panel discussion with 5 activists on gun violence prevention. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

One by one, the five activists shared – relived – their stories of loss and how they became gun control activists.

Port Washington, New York, USA. April 11, 2016. ERICA LAFFERTY SMEGIELSKI, who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, has serious expression as she shares her personal story of loss of a loved one due to gun violence, during a discussion with Hillary Clinton and other activists on gun violence prevention. HILLARY CLINTON, the leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, called for stricter gun control legislation. Clinton had several Long Island events scheduled this day, and the New York presidential primary is April 19. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. ERICA SMEGIELSKI, who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, is a panelist on gun violence prevention discussion. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

RITA KESTENBAUM lost her daughter Carol shot at Arizona State University.

MARIE DELUS lost her nephew Pierre-Paul Jean-Paul shot in Queens, NY. 

ERICA SMEGIELSKI  lost her mother, Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, CT.

NATASHA CHRISTOPHER, lost her son Akeal, 15, shot in Brooklyn, NY.

SANDY PHILLIPS lost her daughter Jessica Ghawi, 24, killed in theater shooting in Aurora, CO.

Port Washington, New York, USA. 11th April 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, purses her lips during a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. S. Israel, and with activists who lost family members due to shootings. The activists shared their stories of personal loss, and Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from New York, called for stronger gun legislation and vowed to take on the gun lobby NRA National Rifle Association. Clinton had several Long Island events scheduled this day, and New York presidential primary is April 19. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, listens during a discussion on gun violence prevention. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann Parry.com)

The panelists supported Clinton’s call for tougher gun control legislation and vow to take on the gun lobby – NRA National Rifle Association.

And the security screening I and other Press went through was even stricter than it was for Hillary Clinton’s Book Signing two summers ago. Monday it involved a police dog, a variety of scanning equipment, police and agents checking people and their equipment multiple times and places – and more.


  • UPDATE April 8, 2021 – President Biden announces new executive actions on gun control CNN Politics

Hillary Clinton in Port Washington:  my PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME


Related posts:

    • 2018/08: Gov. Cuomo Endorses Liuba Grechen Shirley for Congress
    • 2018/04: Steve Israel Brings Out His BIG GUNS on Long Island
    • 2018/03: Bellmore-Merrick Students Walkout to Protest Gun Violence: Déjà Vu