Category Archives: Nassau County

Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012

Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry  (ann-parry.com)
July 5, 2012

The Miss Wantagh Pageant has been a tradition here on Long Island, New York, since 1956.

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2012. KELLY GARLAND, Miss Wantagh 2010, attends Miss Wantagh Pageant ceremony, a long-time Independence Day tradition on Long Island. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2012. KELLY GARLAND, Miss Wantagh 2010, attends Miss Wantagh Pageant ceremony, a long-time Independence Day tradition on Long Island. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Soon after yesterday’s Wantagh July 4th Parade, a large crowd gathered on the front lawn of the Wantagh Elementary School on Beech Street for the Miss Wantagh Pageant winner announcement and Crowning Ceremony.

Miss Wantagh 2011, KARA ARENA, sang two patriotic songs in such a lovely voice it was easy to mistakenly assume artistic talent is one of the qualities contestants are judged on. In fact, the Miss Wantagh Pageant, which is not a beauty pageant, crowns a high school student based mainly on her academic excellence and community service.

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2012. Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012 winner Hailey Orgass receives trophy from Eden Held Miss Wantagh 2009 at crowning ceremony. 1st runner up was Alyssa Kelly, 2nd runner up was Paulina Renda, & 3rd runner up was Alyson Hopkins. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, NY, USA. July 4, 2012. Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012 winner HAILEY ORGASS receives trophy from EDEN HELD Miss Wantagh 2009 at crowning ceremony. 1st runner up was ALYSSA KELLY, 2nd runner up was PAULINA RENDA, & 3rd runner up was ALYSON HOPKINS. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The new Miss Wantagh:

Wantagh, New York, U.S. July 4, 2012. HAILEY ORGASS, Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012, holds trophy at crowning ceremony, a long-time Independence Day tradition on Long Island. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, U.S. July 4, 2012. HAILEY ORGASS, Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012, holds trophy at crowning ceremony, a long-time Independence Day tradition on Long Island. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Other participants in the ceremony included former Miss Wantaghs KELLY GARLAND (2010) and EDEN HELD (2009); ELLA STEVENS, the Coordinator of Miss Wantagh Pageant; Nassau County Legislator DAVE DENENBERG, who announced the 1st Runner Up; and Nassau County Clerk MAUREEN O’CONNELL, who announced Miss Wantagh 2012.

Miss Wantagh Pageant 2012: PHOTO GALLERY 

CONTACT ME

2012 Nunley's Carousel Turns 100

Nunley’s Carousel Turns 100

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 11, 2012

Nunley’s Carousel Centennial Celebration

Nunley’s Amusement Park was a real treat for my daughters when they were young. After riding the carousel and a couple of outdoor rides, we’d have ice cream and play Skee-ball, winning red tickets to exchange for prizes.

So when Nunley’s closed in 1995, our whole family was sad to lose that Freeport-Baldwin landmark.

Garden City, New York, USA. June 9, 2012. Nunley's Carousel during 100th Anniversary festivities. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. June 9, 2012. Nunley’s Carousel during 100th Anniversary festivities. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Happily, by 2009 the carousel was beautifully restored and moved to its new home in Museum Row, Garden City.

Nunley’s Carousel Centennial Celebration held this past weekend, June 9th – 10th, gave visitors the chance to play croquet in front of Nunley’s Carousel Pavilion and have other old-fashioned fun.

Festivities also included a campaign visit from ex-President Theodore Roosevelt – portrayed by actor JAMES FOOTE. In 1912, the year Nunley’s Carousel debuted, Teddy Roosevelt ran again for President in 1912 – unsuccessfully, as Bull Moose Party candidate.

Jack Neary hopes to grab a brass ring while riding historic Nunley's Carousel during its Centennial Celebration on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at Museum Row, Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA. Though most rings are steel, a carousel rider who grabs a brass ring wins a free ride. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. June 9, 2012. JACK NEARY hopes to grab a brass ring while riding historic Nunley’s Carousel during its Centennial Celebration. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And your admission fee included a ride on historic Nunley’s Carousel, where lucky and athletic riders had a chance to grab a brass ring to win a free ride.

Nunley’s Carousel Centennial 2012:  my Photo Gallery

CONTACT ME

2012 Nigerian Dwarf Goats Walk in Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Nigerian Dwarf Goats Walk in Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 5, 2012

Though I first met the Nigerian Dwarf Goats that live at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve about 3 years ago, this week was the first time I saw them as they walked through the grounds with a park ranger.

May 1, 2012 - Merrick, New York, USA - Nigerian Dwarf Goats walk with Park Ranger during sunny spring day at Levy Park and Preserve, marshland on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Due to unusually warm weather, this was the first day of the year the park stayed open until 19:30 (7:30 PM), which usually doesn't happen until later in season. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

May 1, 2012 – Merrick, New York, USA – Nigerian Dwarf Goats walk with PARK RANGER SUE during sunny spring day at Levy Park and Preserve, marshland on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Due to unusually warm weather, this was the first day of the year the park stayed open until 19:30 (7:30 PM), which usually doesn’t happen until later in season. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Entering the parking lot, I saw a sign announcing the goats were out walking, so I asked someone at the Park Station exactly where they were. He called Park Ranger Susan, who had them up by the hilltop ponds and was about to take them back on the trail near the golf course.

Merrick, NY, USA. May 1, 2012. Nigerian Dwarf Goats graze during walk at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve. (© 2012 Ann Parry/ann-parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. May 1, 2012. Nigerian Dwarf Goats graze during walk at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

This delightful, working goat herd eats weeds as it walks through the park – each day, early morning and early afternoon – using a variety of routes. It’s one of many ways the park maintains itself in a green, ecologically friendly way for Long Island’s marshland environment.

  • UPDATE: The book Extraordinary Goats by Janet Hurst, 2014, includes one of my photos of Nigerian Dwarf Goats walking with Park Ranger Susan at Levy Park.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats & Birds, Levy Park & Preserve:  PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME