Category Archives: Town of Hempstead

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

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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:   my PHOTO GALLERY

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Hempstead, New York, USA. January 1, 2018. L-R, Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN, New York State Lt. Governor KATHY HOCHUL, and Hempstead Town Clerk SYLVIA CABANA pose for photo shortly before Lt. Gov. swears-in Gillen, at Hofstra University.

Inaugurating a New Era for Long Island

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

Sunday, New Year’s Eve, I turned off the TV and headed to bed soon after watching the ball drop in Times Square. But this unusually low-key start to 2018 was necessary, for by lunchtime the next day, I’d covered the Inaugurations of three Democrats – LAURA CURRAN, LAURA GILLEN, and SYLVIA CABANA – replacing three GOP office holders here in Nassau County. 

• SLIDESHOW (with music) 1/1/2018 Town of Hempstead Inaugurations: 

Though it was New Year’s Day morning, close to a packed house at Hofstra University’s Adams Playhouse watched New York Lt. Governor KATHY HOCHUL and Congresswoman KATHLEEN RICE swear-in Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Hon. MICHAELLE SOLAGES swear-in Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana.

Hempstead, New York, USA. January 1, 2018. Center L-R, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor JUDI BOSWORTH and BRIAN MUELLERS, member of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen’s Transition Team and a former Nassau County legislator, discuss program before the Swearing-In ceremony of Gillen and Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana, at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. Center L-R, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor JUDI BOSWORTH and BRIAN MUELLERS, member of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen’s Transition Team and a former Nassau County legislator, talk before Swearing-In ceremony of Gillen and Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana, at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-arry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, Lt. Gov. KATHY HOCHUL congratulates LAURA GILLEN after Hochul and Congresswoman Rice swear her in as Hempstead Town Supervisor, at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, Lt. Gov. KATHY HOCHUL congratulates LAURA GILLEN after Hochul and Congresswoman Rice swear her in as Hempstead Town Supervisor, at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

U.S. Senator CHUCK SCHUMER was a speaker at both the Town of Hempstead and County County Inaugural ceremonies.

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, U.S. Senator CHUCK SCHUMER and Hempstead Town Democratic Leader LAUREN CORCORAN-DOOLIN pose for photo after Schumer spoke at Swearing-In ceremony of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen & Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana at Hofstra University. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, U.S. Senator CHUCK SCHUMER and Hempstead Town Democratic Leader LAUREN CORCORAN-DOOLIN pose for photo after Schumer spoke at Swearing-In ceremony of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen & Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. January 1, 2018. L-R, KEITH CORBETT and LAURA CURRAN are on-stage before start of swearing-In of Laura Gillen and Sylvia Cabana, at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, KEITH CORBETT and Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN are among dignitaries on-stage before swearing-In ceremony of Laura Gillen and Sylvia Cabana at Hofstra University.  © 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. R-L, NYS Senator JOHN E. BROOKS, Nassau County Comptroller JACK SCHNIRMAN, N.C. District Attorney MADELINE SINGAS, and Hempstead Town Councilman BRUCE BLAKEMAN are among dignitaries on stage at Swearing-In of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana at Hofstra University. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. R-L, NYS Senator JOHN E. BROOKS, Nassau County Comptroller JACK SCHNIRMAN, N.C. District Attorney b, and Hempstead Town Councilman BRUCE BLAKEMAN are among dignitaries on stage at Swearing-In of Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana at Hofstra Univ. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

About an hour after that, and even though it was a bone-chilling 14 ℉ / -10 ℃, a thick arc of bundled-up onlookers stood thisclose together in front of the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative & Executive Building to witness Gov. ANDREW CUOMO administer the Oath of Office to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

Mineola, NY, USA. January 1, 2018. Speaking at podium is U.S. Sen. CHUCK SCHUMER, and left of him is Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN, as she's sworn-in as County Executive, in front of Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building. (© 2018 Ann Parry,  Ann-Parry.com)

Mineola, NY, USA. January 1, 2018. Speaking at podium is U.S. Sen. CHUCK SCHUMER, and left of him is Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN, as she’s sworn-in, in front of Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building,. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Mineola, NY, USA. January 1, 2018. L-R, LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, Congressional candidate for District 2 on Long Island, and SUE MOLLER, 2017 candidate for Hempstead Town Council District 6, pose for photo outside Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, after swearing-In  of LAURA CURRAN as Nassau County Executive. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Mineola, NY, USA. January 1, 2018. L-R, LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, Congressional candidate for District 2 on Long Island, and SUE MOLLER, 2017 candidate for Hempstead Town Council District 6, pose for photo outside Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, after swearing-in of Laura Curran as Nassau County Executive. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Mineola, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, Nassau County Legislators DEBRA MULE, 55, (Freeport - 5th Dist. - Democrat) and JOSHUA LAFAZAN, 23, (Syosset - 18th Dist. - Ind.) are in Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building after attending the outdoor swearing-In of Laura Curran as Nassau County Executive. Lafazan is the county's youngest ever legislator. Mule has Curran's former Legislative seat. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Mineola, NY, USA. Jan. 1, 2018. L-R, Nassau County Legislators DEBRA MULE, 55, (Freeport – 5th Dist. – Democrat) and JOSHUA LAFAZAN, 23, (Syosset – 18th Dist. – Ind.) are in Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building after attending the outdoor swearing-In of Laura Curran as Nassau County Executive. Lafazan is the county’s youngest ever legislator. Mule has Curran’s former Legislative seat. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

It was a doubly historic day for Long Island. Before Laura Gillen took office, Town of Hempstead hadn’t had a Democratic Supervisor in over a century; plus, Laura Curran is the very first female Nassau County Executive.

Feature Photo (at top): Hempstead, New York, USA. January 1, 2018. L-R, Hempstead Town Supervisor-Elect LAURA GILLEN, New York State Lt. Governor KATHY HOCHUL, and Hempstead Town Clerk-Elect SYLVIA CABANA pose for photo shortly before Lt. Gov. and Rep. Kathleen Rice swear-in Gillen, at Hofstra University.

Town of Hempstead Inaugurations:  PHOTO GALLERY

Nassau County Executive Inauguration:  PHOTO GALLERY

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Garden City, New York, USA. May 31, 2017. At Democratic Nominating Convention, candidates include LAUREN CURRAN for Nassau County Executive, LAURA GILLEN for Hempstead Town Supervisor, SYLVIA CABANA for Hempstead Town Clerk, and SUE MOLLER for Town of Hempstead Council 6th District.

Town of Hempstead & Nassau County Elections 2017: All Come to Look for America

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
November 22, 2017

The Town of Hempstead and Nassau County 2017 elections permeated the fabric of my life this year, and countless Long Islanders and events were part of the material.

errick, NY, USA. Sept. 9, 2017. L-R, SUE MOLLER, (Dem - Merrick), candidate for Town of Hempstead Council District 6; and ERIN KING SWEENEY, (Rep - Wantagh) Town of Hempstead Councilwoman District 5, pause chatting to pose for photo at Merrick Fall Festival. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 9, 2017. L-R, SUE MOLLER, (D – Merrick), candidate for Hempstead Town Council Dist. 6; and ERIN KING SWEENEY, (R – Wantagh) Hempstead Town Councilwoman Dist. 5, pause chatting together for photo at Merrick Fall Festival. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When I covered the January 15th “Our First Stand Rally” at Westbury supporting the Affordable Care Act, both of my daughters were participants. And when I photographed the January  24th visit to Sen. Schumer’s L.I. office in Melville by the activist group Together We Will Long Island, my older daughter, Sue Moller, was the TWW-LI admin there. These were the first times my daughters happened to be involved with political events I covered.

Merrick, New York, USA. September 9, 2017. L-R, LAURA GILLEN, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor; SYLVIA CABANA, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Clerk; and SUE MOLLER, of Merrick, Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Council District 6, attend the Merrick Fall Festival and Street Fair. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 9, 2017. L-R, Slate mates LAURA GILLEN, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor; SYLVIA CABANA, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Clerk; and SUE MOLLER, of Merrick, Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Council District 6, pose for photo at Merrick Fall Festival. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Protest marches, resistance events were certainly helping raise awareness of protestors’ reactions to the Trump administration’s goals and actions, but advice from Bernie Sanders and some others strongly stuck in my mind: Protesting isn’t enough. “Resistors” need to run for office and to help fellow activists run for office.

Then, after covering two more events – the January 30th Press Conference when Nassau County Democratic Party leaders endorsed LAURA CURRAN for N.C. Executive and JACK SCHNIRMAN for N.C. Comptroller, and the TWW-LI “Politics 101” Event – I heard exciting news: My daughter Sue was running for Hempstead Town Council!

June 21, 2017. Garden City, New York, USA. June 21, 2017, Maria Cucurillo waves to person outside window, at fundraiser for Hempstead Town Council candidate. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

June 21, 2017. Garden City, New York, USA. June 21, 2017, Maria Cucurillo waves to person outside window, at fundraiser for Hempstead Town Council candidate. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

With that candidacy as catalyst, civic engagement and politics ended up being even a bigger part of my 2018 than I could have guessed at the start of the year.

2017 Campaigns:  my PHOTO GALLERIES

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