Linda Louis’ luminous solo show The expressive artistry of Linda Louis’ other-worldly paintings shines in her colorful solo show ‘A Summer’s Day’ at the Hewlett-Woodmere Library, from September 2 thru October 2, 2022.
• my Photo Gallery – Linda Louis: A Summer’s Day
(Plus, click each photo below to see larger one.)
From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com) October 2, 2021
VIDEO – Click bottom right corner for Full Screen – Bellmore Family Street Festival, Sept. 25, 2021:
The first Saturday in autumn, August 25th, Bob and I visited the 34th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival. The food, the smells, the crafts… were tantalizing, and the people were the highlight of the afternoon.
As we walked to the carnival rides at the opposite end of the festival, I ate grilled corn on the cob, chatted at various political booths, and browsed at countless crafts booths, including one where I bought a solar powered blue bird for my front garden.
Bellmore, NY, U.S. Sept. 25, 2021. At center, JASON ABELOVE, the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor, visits the South Shore Women’s Caucus booth at the 34th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.
We were about to leave when we ran into my daughter Sue’s family, so the five of us headed off together towards the carnival rides and ices.
Bellmore, NY, U.S. Sept. 25, 2021. NYS LegislatorSTEVE RHOADS (R-19th District) speaks with a visitor at the 34th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.
After the bonus hour or so of family fun at the festival, Bob and I decided, once again, to leave.
Just before we turned off Bedford Ave to head to the car, DAN YNGSTROM — wearing his bright pink Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores VOLUNTEER shirt (as seen early in above video) — said a cheery hi.
Bellmore, N.Y., U.S. Sept. 25, 2021. Musician at theNew York Musician’s Center (NYMC, 701 Bedford Ave) sings, while accompanying himself on electric guitar, during the 34th Annual Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.
FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post): Bellmore, NY, U.S. Sept. 25, 2021. L-R, NYS Senator JOHN BROOKS and visitor BOB STUHMER, wearing a face mask because of COVID-19, chat at the senator’s booth at the 34th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.
From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com) February 26, 2021
• VIDEO: 3 Cheers for COVID-19 Vaccination – Bob Stuhmer gets his 2nd Covid-19 Vaccination, 2/20/2021, Nassau County, New York:
Last weekend, Bob and I had our second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shots at a vaccination site in Nassau County.
Late January, when one of my daughters magically landed on an online vaccination sign-up page that listed available appointments and worked, she scheduled appointments for Bob and me.
There was no blood on Bob’s arm after the shot, so the medical student who administered the Pfizer vaccination said he didn’t need a bandage unless he wanted one. (He didn’t.)
• SIDE EFFECTS for Bob? He didn’t have any side effects after the first dose on January 30th, and didn’t have any after the second dose three weeks later.
• SIDE EFFECTS for me? Barely worth mentioning. For about a day after each vaccination, my arm felt a bit sore when I touched it. After the second shot, I felt slightly light-headed for a few minutes, which I suspect is because I didn’t eat anything between breakfast and my early afternoon appointment.
Long Island, New York, USA. February 20, 2021. Nurse from Stony Brook University prepares to administer 1st shot of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination to ANN PARRY, at Nassau County.
Months ago, I ordered a box of 20 disposable N-95 masks. By the time they arrived, not long ago, many local first responders were short on Personal Protective Equipment and could use the masks more than I did.
After reading L.I. Herald reporter Andrew Garcia’s article on the Bellmore-Merrick EMS and how it needed PPE, I put on my makeshift face mask, grabbed the unopened box of N-95s, and drove to the not-for-profit’s nearby Bellmore HQ.
While dropping off the masks outside the EMS entrance door, I asked EMT ALEX DOOLEY what protective equipment donations the first responders particularly needed, other than masks, and she immediately said “gowns.”
Since dusk wasn’t far off when I left, I decided to capture Earth Day photos at a nearby South Shore park.
Normally I’d head west to Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve in Merrick, but it was closed because its sprawling trails and secluded areas weren’t social-distancing-friendly and Long Island was a major hot spot for the Covid-19 pandemic. So I instead headed east to Mill Pond Park in Wantagh.
The park borders Merrick Road, where I parked, joining two or three other cars already there, and adjusted my face mask after getting out of the car.
• [digitally colored] Panorama of Mill Pond Park at dusk:
My iPhone 11 Pro was the best and only camera I had with me. Its 2X optical zoom helped make it possible to capture photos I otherwise couldn’t have while Governor Cuomo’s executive order “New York State on PAUSE” is in effect, currently from March 22 to May 15, 2020.
New York State on PAUSE “NY State remains on PAUSE through May 15. All non-essential workers are directed to work from home, and everyone is required to wear a face covering and maintain a 6-foot distance from others in public”
FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Two fishermen wearing waders fish at Mill Pond Park on Earth Day as dusk approaches.
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.
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…
[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.
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
FEATURE PHOTO at top of post [NOTE: digital isolation of photos] Huntington, NY, U.S. Feb. 29, 2020. Photographs in the fotofoto gallery ‘Your Best Shot’ Open Photography exhibition are attached to walls with push-pins. Below are Facebook links of photographers, when possible:
Photographs, clockwise, starting upper left: VICTORIA JORGLEWICH@Victoria6868 (wet beach boardwalk) • DEBORAH KITTNER@DeborahKittnerPhotography (hot air balloons) • DEBORAH KITTNER (tulip) • ART LEIBOWITZ (mother child diamond wall) • LINDA LOUISLindaLouisArt.com (granddaughter) • ART LEIBOWITZ (hazy beach fencing) • ART LEIBOWITZ (Extremely Loud Incredibly Close, NYC) • DEBORAH KITTNER (sunflowers butterfly) • VICTORIA JORGLEWICH (train tracks sunbeams)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Town Hall at Hofstra University last night, Oct. 5th, landed at the start of the Columbus Day holiday weekend. But midterm elections were only 31 days away, and the Student Center Theater was packed.
After Dean Meena Bose, the moderator, introduced Gillibrand, the senator spoke to the largely supportive audience.
Anyone who wanted to ask Senator Gillibrand a question had taken a red raffle ticket, and put half of it in a glass bowl before the Town Hall began. Tickets were drawn at random for the Q&A.
Judge Kavanaugh:
Not surprisingly, an early question was about the highly controversial Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh – which the Senate was voting on the next day.
Gillibrand said she planned to vote against his confirmation because she thinks he’d put Roe VS Wade in danger, and “Judge Kavanaugh, he doesn’t value women, does not respect women, or listen to them.”
Young Voters:
To a politically active but frustrated young voter, Gillibrand stressed the importance of being heard, voting, fighting for our country and values, and not giving up hope.
Excerpts from Gillibrand’s response:
“Don’t lose hope. Truth is, our Democracy never works unless regular people stand up and demand action….
“And, if we can really be heard and talk about our values and our priorities and how disappointing it is to have someone like Brett Kavanaugh serve on the Supreme Court, if we articulate that by voting, and organizing our communities, and even running if you think we must –
” – You’re gonna transform government, you’re gonna flip the house, and you’re gonna flip the senate, and that will create enormous oversight and accountability over the Trump administration, and give us a chance of unwinding some of the horrible things this president has already done, so do not lose hope.
“And most successful movements in this country have been student lead movements. So when young people care deeply, their parents care deeply, and so do their communities.“
Opioid Crisis:
When a Hofstra alumnus asked what actual approaches were going to be taken to effectively deal with the opioid crisis, Senator Gillibrand said, “Children are dying all across this country,” and discussed how more, and more effective, Prevention, Intervention and Response were needed.
Trump 2020: An audience member asked, “For those of use who are on the ground, and are working hard everyday, and are gonna keep on working, what can we do so we can make sure we don’t end up with another Trump or somebody worse in 2020, outside from asking people like you to run in 2020, in all sincerity?”
“I believe we will win,in both ’18 and ’20 because I think America believes in a set of values that President Trump doesn’t believe in…. We believe in the Golden Rule…. Making sure everyone has a chance at the American Dream.
“So whether you believe that health care is a right, not a privilege – clean water is a right – every kid should have access to a good education – that people shouldn’t be with laden with debt after college – that people should have the training to get a good job to earn their way to middle class, those four values will be on the ballot 2020.
“Those are American values I believe New Yorkers and people across the county will vote for, and that will be very different leadership than today.”
Immigration:
The last question was a long, multi-part one about immigration, and the audience softly booed when the questioner said the parents of Dreamers should never get citizenship.
When Senator Gillibrand’s response started with “I disagree,” the audience cheered. She then added, “That was a heartfelt question, so let me tell you why I disagree,” and responded energetically. [Video starts during audience member’s question]
Gillibrand concluded with a rousing message about diversity:
“Fundamentally, do not be afraid of people who need our help. We are rich. We are powerful. We can create a growing economy.
“And the things that create a growing economy is diversity – is ingenuity – is entrepreneurism – is innovation, and that comes from the beautiful panoply of America.”
Q&A topics also included:
Support of Senate bills protecting wildlife whose numbers are dangerously low.
Support of Peace legislation: Senate Bill S.2047, Preventing Preemptive War with North Korea Act of 2017, which has 13 out of 100 senators currently backing it.
Fighting hunger, including through food stamps – whose main recipients are children, seniors, and veterans – and through non-profit programs such as Island Harvest – Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization – which, as Gillibrand explained, “marshals food and supplies from people who have offered it to those who need it most.”
The audience applauded enthusiastically at the end of the Q&A.
Gillibrand promised to stay as long as it took for everyone who wanted a selfie with her to get one. (Well, they were sort-of selfies, since an aide took them, using audience members’ cell phones.)
The line for photos stretched from the stage to halfway across the back of the theater.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Making a surprise appearance, Governor Cuomo endorsed Liuba Grechen Shirley, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, during her Joint Campaign Office Opening with NY Senator John Brooks on Sunday, August 5th.
Grechen Shirley, a community organizer and activist, business and non-profit leader, and mother of two toddlers, is the first female candidate to get FEC permission to use campaign funds for childcare.
Despite it being a muggy, 91°f summer day, more supporters attended the campaign event than could fit in the office during speeches by the governor, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Liuba Grechen Shirley, and Sen. Brooks.
VIDEO: Speeches by Gov. Cuomo, Liuba Grechen Shirley, & Sen. John Brooks:
The series of four speeches started and ended with a joke about the sweltering weather.
• Nassau County Executive Laura Curran
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran went to the podium in the packed office, and the crowd laughed when she smiled and said clothes wouldn’t be coming off despite the heat.
When the County Executive endorsed Liuba Grechen Shirley, the reasons Curran gave to vote for her, and other Democrats, included how Republicans are anti-New York State – by passing the tax reform provision removing state and local tax deductions – and are anti-gun control, pro NRA.
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Curran introduced Governor Andrew Cuomo, an unannounced special guest.
The governor seconded the importance of getting reasonable gun controls, despite NRA’s influence.
Cuomo said how Republicans have a different fundamental view of America as a nation, including being anti-immigrant and abandoning Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He added how New York sued the federal government for family separation.
“And Laura Curran’s point is very important. They [Republican Congress members] are anti New York State, what they did in their tax reform last year. They passed a provision that removed the deductibility of state & local taxes….
Why? Because they want to hurt New York. This federal provision raises property taxes by 30% like that, overnight. We have to get Washington to reverse it….
“I am tired of the Republican Congress people fromNew York saying — when I said, ‘Why would you pass a bill that hurts your own people?’ That’s what the SALT bill did. It hurt this state. It hurt their constituents ‘Why would you do it?’ — they say, ‘Well, we’re powerless. We’re powerless.’
You know what?That’s baloney. They have been enablers for this president….
“And I’ll tell you how we stop Congress from doing bad acts to New York. We elect Democratic Congress people who will stand up and protect New York.
“We elect Liuba Grechen Shirley. We let Liuba tell them the truth, and stand up for women’s rights, and immigrant rights, and for gun safety, and for New Yorkers….
“We let Liuba stand up in Washington and explain how Progressive policies made this state the greatest state in the United States of America….
“We elect Liuba, and then we elect John Brooks, and Lou D’Amaro, and Monica Martinez, and Jim Gaughran, and we take over the State Senate.”
Liuba Grechen Shirley, a first-time candidate, thanked Cuomo for endorsing her and for New York having the strongest Paid Family Leave policy in America, and said she was excited at the prospect of working with him, Lou D’Amaro, and Sen. John Brooks.
“…It’s critical we take back the [NY] Senate, and flip the House. What is so exciting about our campaign is that it’s completely grass roots, We out raised Peter King this quarter, and we did it without any corporate PAC money….”
“This seat has been held for 25 years by a Republican, by Peter King, who refuses to even meet with his constituents. He actually told me that holding a Town Meeting would diminish democracy….
“He does not represent the values of our district, and we need a representative who will actually listen to everyone in this district. Who will fight in Washington to make sure that we actually have a government is taking care of working families in this district, not their corporate donors….
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. This is about values. Who is going to stand up for our values.”
Senator Brooks first thanked Governor Cuomo for the outstanding job he is doing in Albany.
“…Our governor was the one that stood up first and recognized what the federal tax changes would do to New York State…. [SALT Bill] an 18-billion-dollar tax increase for New Yorkers….
“We hear the president say he wants to make America great again… All we have to do is act like Americans…..
“Lou and I are going to go to the Senate to stand up for Long Island and deliver the products and services that we need in terms of good government….
“Thanks everybody for being here, and remember it’s supposed to snow later this afternoon.”
Loyal-Tees
Several Long Islanders well below voting age came with their parents, including three sisters and their brother wearing red, white and blue campaign shirts with “Joanne Curran Perrucci – for Court Judge / 4th District” on the front, and “Vote For My Mom!” on the back.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com) December 23, 2017
Last Sunday, while entering the snowy grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with my friend Bob, I thought back to 2007, when I visited the Gold Coast estate during a biting, heavy snowfall.
PAST – 2007
That day 10 Decembers ago, I stayed outside capturing photos until I absolutely had to go to Westbury House, beg mercy from volunteers in the Entrance Hall, take off my gloves and boots, and stand toasty close to the fireplace.
Slowly defrosting in the impressively elegant wood and marble hall, I imagined myself back outside the mansion, but during the Great Blizzard of 1947, when the John and Margarita Phipps family lived there….
FANTASY 1947
I was a trespasser with a noble mission – wielding my Kodak in the snowstorm to capture ghostlike images of trees – and, alas, flirting with hypothermia.
Without warning, a tall stranger swept me off my numb feet and whisked me to the mansion. As we took off our coats, I noticed he, too, had a camera strapped around his neck.
We sat in front a fireplace surrounded by books, and he put his hand to his chest. “Victor, Victor Hasselblad – a… a husgäst of Phipps,” he said softly and with a melodic accent. “And you, lilla frusen lövsångare?”
“Oh my,” I said, “You’re THE Victor Hasselblad!”
The genius nodded.
“You’ve just GOT to develop a Hasselblad camera for civilians!” I said, and then started to tell him why….
Now I’m, at times, better about coming in from the cold before losing feeling in my extremities.
But I always do my best to protect my camera. So last weekend when Bob and I arrived at Old Westbury Gardens and stepped out of the car on to slippery icy snow-covered grounds, we headed straight to Westbury House.
Once inside, we heard what sounded like live music coming from the Ballroom just ahead. We were right, for in a far corner of the vast room, pianist ANGELINA FUSCO was playing traditional Christmas music on a Steinway grand piano, backlit by large windows. Capturing the atmospheric scene was a fun challenge.
The Main Hall was a must see, especially for families with children, since that’s where Santa sat surrounded by a Christmas tree, fireplace that was a great setting for holiday photos, and stairway strewn with stuffed animals looking as if they’d spilled out of Santa’s bag as he made his way up to the Children’s Quarters on the Third floor.
Bob lingered longest in the bedroom with a large-scale model train traveling around the room, disappearing for a while each lap as it followed tracks under the bed.
Visitors of all ages also enjoyed the charming scene in Mrs. Phipps’s bathroom, where deer and penguins watched a fawn take a bubble bath in the green and white bathtub.
As closing time neared, we visited the Porch facing West, with its three walls of windows, and enjoyed hot cider and the panoramic, ungilded dusk view.
From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com) August 17, 2017
Last Friday, my friend Bob and I walked out of International Delight Cafe where we had dinner, and plunged into the tide of cars, motorcycles and fellow walkers heading to the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show at the Bellmore LIRR Station parking lot.
UPDATE: see 2019 Schedule for Friday Night Car Shows at end of post
“Bugsy” is embroidered on FRANK MARTOCCI‘s green cap, which matches the color of the 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door sedan he fondly calls his “Bugmobile.”
What first drew my attention to Martocci’s classic Oldsmobile were the colorful plastic cheeseburger, ketchup and mustard bottles on the food tray suspended from the passenger window partly rolled down – but it just as easily could have been the colorful plastic bugs strewn on the car’s exterior and top of the cheeseburger.
The Bugsmobile is the first and only car Martocci has ever had. He used it for his driver’s license Road Test, and by next month, September 2017, he’ll have had it for 40 years.
MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, is the artistic owner of the 1967 Volkswagen Wunderbug Woody Wagon that drew lots of appreciative attention from visitors.
Woodys, with their golden warm panels, are innately handsome vehicles, and Radomski customized his with flare.
The wooden roof luggage rack carries three surfboards with natural wood finish. He told how a man so loved this look during an earlier car show that he asked if Radomski would bring the wagon to the man’s beach party.
Radomski covered the Wunderbug hood in colorful floral fabric of earthy red yellow and greens. And I was fascinated by the trumpeting angel hood ornament he handmade from three silver forks, a 10-penny nail and a washer!
And, yes, the Woody Wagon got to go to the beach party :)
Going & Coming
Around 8:30 pm, we left to head back to IDC for some homemade gelato, and passed the ever-alert volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Nassau Auxiliary police guiding the steady stream of cars into the parking lot.
We each had the fun challenge of choosing one of the 80 or so flavors of gelato. For me, chatting with new and old friends while eating a scoop of chocolate chip gelato on a gluten-free waffle was a great way to end that summer night in Bellmore.
![[Photo Composite Illustration] Massapequa, New York, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R, LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, Democrat running for Congress for New York 2nd District, and Governor ANDREW CUOMO, at campaign event after Cuomo endorsed Grechen Shirley.](https://fromlongisland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20180805b_258J4-1K-blbowh-Liuba-Cuomo_annParry-624x182.jpg)
