Category Archives: Town of Hempstead

Signs of Support on Long Island during Covid-19 Pandemic

Leave a reply

isFrom LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 7, 2020

Signarama owner Joey Cestare has Signs of Support

 2956 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, NY 11710 • directions  •  site

Merrick, NY, USA. April 5, 2020. JOEY CESTARE, owner of Signarama in Bellmore, holds rainbow HOPE sign he is giving for free to put in windows, during Coronavirus Pandemic, on Long Island. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. April 5, 2020. JOEY CESTARE, owner of Signarama in Bellmore, holds rainbow HOPE sign he is giving for free to put in windows, during Coaronavirus Pandemic, on Long Island. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

When I told my grandchildren their toys that carpeted the living room moved up to the “Tree House,” they quite liked that fanciful new name for the upstairs guest room.

And before long, its entrance sported a cheerful, personalized Tree House sign, thanks to Joey Cestare – the owner of Signarama in Bellmore, and the boyfriend of the Tree House tots’ Aunt Laurie.

And that wasn’t the first or last time I’ve been impressed with Joey’s craftsmanship and thoughtfulness.

Merrick, NY, USA. April 5, 2020. STRONG WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS! sign of hope is from Signarama in Bellmore, during Coronavirus Pandemic, on Long Island. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. April 5, 2020. ‘STRONG WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!’ sign of hope is from Signarama in Bellmore, on front lawn during Coronavirus Pandemic, on Long Island. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

So when the nightmarish Covid-19 Pandemic hit New York, I wasn’t surprised to hear music station Z100’s Erica America announce that community member Joey Cestare was spreading hope – creating yard signs with messages of support for Front Liners, and giving away Hope rainbow window signs…

• VIDEO:  Delivering Signarama Signs of Support:

[vimeo.com/annparry/support]
Using careful social distancing, Joey and Laurie delivered a “Strong – We’ll get through this” sign for my front yard, and a Hope rainbow sign for my front window.

While I told them news I’d been waiting to share for a while, I captured it with my iPhone, using 2X zoom, so I could share the video with the rest of our family. It turns out everyone involved said it was okay to share it here.

We’re all in this together

FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Merrick, NY, U.S. April 5, 2020. JOE CESTARE, owner of Signarama in Bellmore, holds rainbow HOPE sign he is giving for free, while Long Island is hot spot during COVID-19 Pandemic. LAURIE GRAB is in truck.

SIGNARAMA Bellmore is your full service sign center

2956 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, NY 11710   directions

516-783-1075 • Signsbellmore@gmail.com

signarama.com/locations/ny-bellmore/

@signaramabellmore •  @signsbellmore

CONTACT ME

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Parked under the elevated LIRR train tracks are some of the hundreds of classic and custom cars on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of Bellmore station.

Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows 3: Red, White & Blowtorch

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
August 31, 2018

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. At the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, many cars and visitors are under the overhead tracks at the Bellmore LIRR train station. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. At the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, many cars and visitors are under the overhead tracks at the Bellmore LIRR train station. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Whether their cars wore vivid coats of paint or muted ones, the owners I met at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show last week were colorful and happy to talk, especially about the treasures they drove there.

Mr. Blowtorch

Standing next to his sleek black Chevy SS, “Mr. Blowtorch” was handing out small free stickers – each with a beautifully illustrated car scene and “Friday Night • Car Show • Bellmore” on it.

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Hundreds of classic and custom cars are on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. This traditional Long Island event is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. “Mr. Blowtorch” holds stickers he’s giving away for free, in front of his black Chevrolet SS at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

I took two or three stickers as he shared anecdotes, and showed photos on his cell phone, about his former career as a theatrical stage metal worker (NYC’s Local One – IATSE). 

So “Mr. Blowtorch” was the nickname he got at work, which spanned decades and continents, and included making the large flat metal world map, showing several rotated views of Earth, for the set of CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite!

See the USA in Your 1957 Chevrolet

A big fan of the Chevy Tri-Years, 1955-57 (and shiny red things), I headed straight to a red 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air as soon as I spotted it. 

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Hundreds of classic and custom cars are on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. This traditional Long Island event is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. Visitors at left finish taking close look at red 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, and its owner opens driver’s door, to relocate car across lane. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

The twin chrome rockets on its open hood looked ready to blast over the elevated train tracks of the Bellmore LIRR train station. 

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. Closeup of rocket ornaments on open hood of red 1957 Chevy Bel Air that is on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. On open hood of red 1957 Chevy Bel Air, rocket ornament points up toward overhead tracks of LIRR train station, during Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

It turned out I arrived just in time to capture a shot of that, since – though the rockets weren’t leaving the car – the car was about to move to an apparently more desirable spot that had just opened up across the lane. 

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Hundreds of classic and custom cars are on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, N, USA. August 24, 2018. Closeup of front grill and bumper of red 1957 Chevy Bel Air on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

The alert owner quickly – and very carefully – moved his Chevy to the new space, where the dusk light softly lit up the golden front grill and chrome bumper.

Back to the 80’s

And this cruise night certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to creative, fun vanity plates.

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Hundreds of classic and custom cars are on display at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. This traditional Long Island event is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. Owner Frankie D’Amore, of Levittown, is seated, at right, next to  his 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible with fitting license plate number, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

FRANKIE D’AMORE, of Levittown, had “BAC2D80S” license plates on his white with red interior 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible. Small green, white and red “Italia” boxing gloves dangling from the rear view mirror gave an extra personal touch.

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Owner Frankie D'Amore, of Levittown sits next to his 1984 white Cadillac El Dorado Biarritz convertible with a particularly fitting license plate number BAC2D80S, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. At left, owner Frankie D’Amore, of Levittown gives a “thumbs up” as he sits next to his 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Cruise Nighttime

It was well past sunset when I left shortly before 9 PM that late summer night.

Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores members, wearing yellow reflective safety vests, were collecting entrance fees from drivers of the classic, antique and customized cars, who had over an hour of cruise night to enjoy.

For me, like the rest of the hundreds of visitors who walked in, Bellmore Friday Night Car Show was free.

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 24, 2018. Members of Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, wearing yellow reflective safety vests, give drivers a car sticker after they collect $3 entrance fee from each car entering the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show at the Bellmore LIRR Train Station parking lot. Visitors walk in for free. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 24, 2018. Members of Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, wearing yellow reflective safety vests, collect entrance fee from each car entering the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. Visitors walk in for free. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Just the Facts

WHEN:  Weekly meets from first week of May to first week of October: MAY 3 to OCT. 5, 2018, from 6 PM – 10 PM (weather permitting)

WHERE:  Bellmore LIRR parking lot on Sunrise Highway (between Bellmore Ave. & Bedford Ave.)

INFO:  bellmorechamber.com   (516)-679-1875 – The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead host Friday Night Bellmore Car Shows

UPDATE:  2019 Schedule

Weekly Friday meets from MAY 3 to OCT. 4, 2019, from 6 PM -10 PM (weather permitting)

2018 Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows:   PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME