I met a remarkable woman while shooting a "12 Making A Difference" segment. Her name is Maria LeMaire of Shirley. When she married her soul mate Bill, she also became step-mother to Christopher. He's autistic. Maria never looked at Christopher as a problem child. She told me he is her "heart and soul." Over the years, Christopher became her inspiration to create programs to make life easier for children with disabilities. Maria noticed there were few recreational programs for children with autism. So she took action. She founded the "Autism Family Fun Swim and Sail" program. It provides free swim and sail lessons for autistic children at the Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point. Something about the water, Maria says, calms the children and gives them a sense of focus and peace. For their parents, it's an opportunity to bond with other families dealing with the daily struggles of raising an autistic child. Maria calls Christopher and her adopted daughter Angelina the "lights of her life." I think Maria is one of those "thousand points of light" who is making life brighter for those who need it most. The difference she's making is inspired by a mother's love.
Looking for a really fun and exciting activity for the holiday weekend? It's as close as the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. They've got a wonderful hangar full of vintage military planes and exhibits. And, if you'd like to go airborne, check this out. You can hitch a ride in a B-17 or B-24 for $425, tax deductible. If you are willing to really splurge, how about a half hour in a P-51 Mustang fighter for $2,220. An hour will cost you $3,300, also tax deductible. Admission to the Airpower Museum is 15 dollars for adults. Seniors and veterans, $10. Children 5 to 13, $5. The museum is open from 9 to 5pm.
I was at the museum on Friday for a story on Dr. Roscoe Brown, who makes his summer home in Sag Harbor. He's 86 years old. And a former Tuskegee Airman. Dr. Brown, a former college president and professor, got to co-pilot a P-51 Mustang fighter, the same kind of plane his famed squadron flew during World War II, as they protected B-17 bombers over Berlin in 1945. Brown flew 86 missions and shot down two German jets. The Tuskegee Airman were groundbreaking black aviators with an outstanding record of never having lost a single bomber they were assigned to. Dr. Brown told me, "by our excellence, we changed the hearts and minds of men. Just the way Martin Luther King Junior did and Barack Obama is doing today."
Last night I was blow drying my daughter's hair. She was going to another Sweet 16 party - and it's something I do for her on those "special occasions." (There are a lot of those Sweet 16s this year - 2008 is when Connor's friends turn 16.)
So I was drying her long blonde hair in front of the television - I had the news on. It was hours before history was going to be made. Barack Obama was going to become the first black American to be nominated to run for the President of the United States. The leader of the free world.
Connor asked if she could change the channel.
What? Are you kidding? History is going to be made tonight kid. Have you missed that? The first ever African American is hours away from being asked to run for the President of the United States. The leader of the free world. He could actually become President. A guy whose father couldn't sit at the same counter as white people in America. You want me to change the channel? You're an honors student. Are you kidding? MTV, VH1 -- and not history as it happens? (Regardless of your politics, Obama's nomination is pretty incredible stuff.)
So I asked, "But Con, I mean, what about the history here?"
She said, "What's the big deal?"
"What's the big deal? Con, he's the first black American to be nominated to run for the President of the United States. The leader of the free world!!!"
"No Mom," she said, "he's just a person. Just a person."
It took me a second to get it. She doesn't care what color or what sex a candidate is. She cares what they think about families, and how kids will afford a college education, and whether families like ours can afford to eat and put gas in the car and heat the house, and then go on a vacation once in a while. She cares about whether people like our neighbor James will have to go back to Iraq again, or whether her 14 year old brother will have to go there some day, and she cares about whether families are safe here at home. But she doesn't care about whether it's a man or woman - black, white, brown or whatever -making the big calls. She just wants the right calls made.
Wow. Maybe we're really doing something right in this country. Maybe we're doing something right in my house. Maybe both. But wow.
The air is getting crisp and the sky is taking on that deeper shade of blue. You have to turn your headlights on a little bit earlier - the stores are filled with fall wardrobes & I have to be totally honest here- I HATE it & I'm not ready!! Okay- maybe not hate- it's too strong a word that I was raised never to use. I dislike it...a LOT! As I've mentioned in prior blogs I'm a summer girl through and through. Sure- Santa is blast and so are friends and family at Christmas- but I prefer being barefoot on the Fourth of the July!! I love the strong summer sun- not good for the complexion I know- it's a flaw I have. I love the ocean and everything about it- it's color it's sound and it's power. I prefer flip flops to snow boots; sundresses to peacoats; baseball to football and - of course- skydiving to skiiing any given day of the week!
This is from a jump I did in June out at Skydive Long Island, in Calverton!
They actually let me do it for WORK! I was thrilled to do it but in hindsight I must wonder why they wanted to PAY me to jump out of a plane?? Is there a subliminal message I should be looking into here?
Back to the subject at hand - it is almost Labor Day- the unofficial end of summer- which means I will once again bid adieu to my many loves for the next few months. This time of year makes me sad for just a moment. It's ok - I go through it every year and I've learned to cope because New York is too amazing of a state to leave!
For more than a century we Americans have been paying tribute to all the workers in this country- the contributions- large and small they make everyday when they walk out the door to punch a clock and not come home until dinner---or dawn the next day as the case may be.
So as I unofficially say g'bye to my beloved season I say hello to another yet another season, another season of work. But I remember how blessed I am to have the opportunity to get up and go to work everyday---more importantly- how thankful I am to the person who decided the best way to celebrate Labor Day is to not have to labor at all:)
It's that time of year we track Tropical Systems and see what impacts they will have on the United States. We are also approaching the 3 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which made landfall on August 29th as of Category 3. Could current tropical system Gustav follow in the same footsteps?
Its still a little too early to tell what path the storm will take, but most computer models are putting the storm into the Gulf of Mexico by Monday afternoon (9-1-08) into Tuesday(9-2-08).
Even though Long Island will not get a direct hit from this storm we are already feeling its impact. Track gas prices and the cost of oil over the next few days. You are going watch it rise anywhere from maybe 5 to 10 dollars a barrel depending on the final track of the storm.
Why you ask. Do you know how many oil platforms are in the Gulf of Mexico? Take a look at this graphic.
If a storm threatens this area, the oil platforms are evacuated which means no oil production. Less oil production and high demand equals prices of crude oil and natural gas going up. Of course, we will see it immediately at our local gas pumps.
Yeah -- Labor Day Weekend is always sad -- summer is over and it's back to school time. And this year, it comes the earliest it possibly could -- this weekend. (Somehow Labor Day weekend where two out of the three days have an August date just doesn't seem fair. BUT, next year, Labor Day comes on the latest possible date, September 7th, so we'll catch a break then.)
My wife and I like to host a lot of parties, but we always stay away from Labor Day Weekend because it seems somewhat depressing. But what we've done several times in the past is attend the Pow-Wow at the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton. I recommend it for anyone -- young or old, with kids or without. We have so many treasures on Long Island and so many roots with our past (such as farms still in existence today, centuries after they began) and one of the most unique to me has always been the presence of a Native American tribe.
The pow-wow draws Native Americans from all across the country. About 100 booths are set up selling everything from native foods (Indian fry bread, corn fritters) to authentic native jewelry.
And the dancers and music are spectacular. It's the 62nd annual gathering -- one of the largest events on Long Island, and something you'll never forget.
Tired of paying high prices for clothes? Have you ever thought of going to a thrift store? College students have been going to them for years to find funky things to wear. But, thrift stores also have on their racks the latest designs you'd find right down the street at the mall at the big retailers. And, now, with those big retailers struggling because of a slumping economy, thrift stores, like Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army are thriving. And crowding the aisles, more middle-class families trying to juggle their checkbooks because of high food and gas prices and wondering how they're going to pay their mortgage.
At the Goodwill store in Centereach, I met Ben. He's got his own masonry business. But he tells me this year has been terrible. So, he's working a second job as a chef to make ends meet. And there's Kathryn. She's 80 years old and on a fixed income. She says she really can't afford to buy clothes anywhere else.
I was in the store on a week day morning. It is sure to be crowded this weekend right before a new school year starts. Goodwill has ridiculously good buys on kid's clothes and back-to-school supplies.
Greg Quibell arrived at Ground Zero in the hours following the 9-11 attacks. He stayed working on the pile through thanksgiving. All the while he was breathing in what his partner claims was a toxic cloud of poisons that she says ultimately led to him getting Leukemia.
I met his partner Theresa Galoppe - at North Shore LIJ Hospital in Manhasset - where Greg will be allowed to go home today. But he is not going home a cured man. He is going home to die. The Leukemia that has ravaged his body has left him frail and weak, his once large frame now a gaunt skeleton lying in a hospital bed. He can no longer speak. His breathing is labored.
Theresa says she knows the leukemia is the direct result of being at Ground Zero. And she says now, seven years after the attacks, another wave of death is about to grip the nation, this time in greater numbers than the first attacks. They are the men and women who rushed there to help and now are under attack from disease themselves.
Quibell was one of four first responders to be featured in a documentary - produced by the Feelgood Foundation - that will be released on Thursday, August 28th at the Bellmore Theater at 7pm. John Feal, the founder of the foundation, says they produced the documentary to get the attention of lawmakers, whom he says have left this group of heros to die alone.
Feal says the documentary is intended to shed light on how first responders are being treated by the government when it comes to getting proper health care. And while he says it may make lawmakers more aware, and convince them to make sure first responders are taken care of, he admits it won't be in time to help Greg Quibell, and many other responders, who are now in the battle of their lives for their lives.
It's dirty- it's dense- it's deadly! It's BROWN TIDE -YUCK- and it came back with a vengeance this summer!
It was first documented off of Long Island's south shores & in Narragansett Bay, Rhode island, back in 1985. Experts say it's never been more dense or widespread than it was this season--spreading all the way from Shinnecock Bay to the waters off Freeport.
What is it? Basically it's a teeny tiny single celled floating plant--called phytoplankton--that grows, or blooms to such an extent that it turns the water it's in brown.
Why is it harmful?
Experts say the dark color keeps light from reaching the bottom of the bay causing the eelgrass, small crabs, and shellfish to suffer, even die.
Fisherman Joe Buczak says he lost $20,000 this summer because his catch was virtually non-existent.
While it's not at all harmful to humans, I don't know many boaters or swimmers who'd want to go wading in the stuff...do you??
Suffolk County officials say they're worried tourists feel the same way and will keep their distance during the brown tide season- which is usually May through August. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy says the county's spent $1.6 million trying to fix the problem over the last 10 years.
What caused it?
Truth be told- no one knows for absolute sure just yet, but many will tell you pollution from storm water run off and the over harvesting of clams in the 1970s are good places to start looking.
Clams act as natural filters
in the water- so the fewer of them there are- the dirtier the water is.
What's being done?
Well, lots of things...
In addition to the work the county is doing there are places like the Nature Conservancy that are trying to replenish the clam population by reseeding them in the Great South Bay.
Folks at SEAGRANT have initiated more than a dozen research projects on the issue as well.{##}
Thanks for some of the feedback to my blog, most recently the one about the upcoming Huntington Lighthouse Musicfest.
Lifetime Huntington Bay resident and avid boater, Kevin, wants me to pass along some important information to those who may not be as familiar with Huntington waters as he is. Before you head out to the Huntington Lighthouse on Saturday, August 30th to listen to some great music, he wants you to check the tides. He warns there's a large rock jetty on the south side of the Lighthouse that is not visible at high tide. It stretches from about 50' south of the light to the beach. Kevin says to keep in mind the channel markers so you don't wind up like many other boats have with twisted props, shafts, and even torn off keels. Thanks for the warning, Kevin. We absolutely don't want any accidents to ruin a fun day.
KM tells me some have dubbed the Huntington light "The Sandcastle." And looking at this picture it's easy to see why. It does look like it's built from sand. I agree, KM, it is an impressive structure. The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society has done an amazing job restoring it. I haven't had the opportunity to see this historic light in person yet, but I plan to take one of the Society's tours to get a first-hand look inside and out.
Mike wants to know what it was like when I first joined News 12 Long Island. He wants to know howit's different from today. That is a great idea for a blog, Mike, but I need to know something first. Your reference to my starting in 1886, was that a typo??? Or have we been around so long now that it seems like forever to you??? Honestly, I don't ever remember wearing a dress like THIS on the air. For the record, News 12 Long Island went on the air in 1986. True, it still wasn't THIS century but it wasn't that long ago. The most I can be guilty of is "big hair."
Finally, an update on my co-anchor Colleen McVey. If you read Colleen's last blog, then you know she recently went in for surgery. She'll be off the air for a little while recuperating. Several of you sent your good wishes and I just wanted to let you know that everything went well and Colleen is back home recovering, no doubt watching News 12 from the comfort of her couch. Get well soon, Col. We miss you.
The Olympics have been great television -- watching athletes from all over
the world with amazing ability. There are many unanswered questions,
however. Question one: In these days when athletes work so hard at building up
their bodies why do the great Olympic swimmers still have normal size arms like
you and me? Question Two: Why is it that Olympic runners appear to have
more upper body development than leg muscles? Does the speed really come from
above? Question Three: China has worked hard to provide crowd roar and fill
empty seats, by bringing in thousands to root for both sides and make noise. Do
these stage extras do this for fun or compensation. Regardless, they help the
show. Question Four: The female gymnasts are very talented, usually small in
stature, but some of the Chinese girls appear to be underdeveloped,
undernourished and under the required age of 16. How closely is the age
requirement checked? And one last question? How does Long Island produce
such excellent announcers. Olympic host Bob Costas, Al Trautwig on gymnastics,
and Mike Breen on basketball -- all Long Islanders -- are terrific. I'm
Bob Wolff and that's my point of view.
Every spring, my family sits down to our family "summer" meeting. We try to make sure we get to our favorite things during summer (all right - that we get to the KIDS' favorite things) Well, the heat was on last week, because we're now near the end of August. So over the weekend we covered one of my kids' two essentials: Splish Splash. (The other is Montauk, where we've already had some great times during the summer of 2008!)
But we did Splish Splash a way I've never done it before. We went "cabana style!"
I know it's an additional expense - maybe for a special party - but I can't tell you what a difference the cabana made. There are several cabana sites around the Splish Splash property. One is in front of the wave pool. We were in the more Caribbean-type huts - above the left side of the wave pool.
Each of those cabanas comes with a little refrigerator, filled with drinks (no, no beer or wine! We don't need to send anyone off on a water ride feeling that kind of happy!) But better yet, you've got shade! There's a roof, a table, lounge chairs, and a little sandy beach! A couple of us tested the lounge chairs for you and are happy to report, they're perfect for a break from all the action and napping!
Oh, and there's waiter service to boot! For your pizza and salad, or burgers and chicken nuggets. James was our waiter - a very pleasant young man. It was a great place for the family to relax from the thrills of the park, or for my husband and I to have a few minutes while the kids went off to another ride without us.
Now, about the park itself. Some of the Splish Splash experts told us Monday through Fridays you're more likely to see some of your LI neighbors. They arrive early - so you'll see some crowds at the start of the day at 9:30. Weekends more out of town visitors come through. And Sunday you don't see the bigger crowds until about noon (is everyone in church?)
Come dressed in your bathing suit. Don't waste time getting changed when you get there. First you've got to try the the Alien Invasion at the back on the park, (it's along the right side the weggie ride - the Cliff Diver - that's the water slide that drops you straight down about 8 stories in 3 seconds. Hence the "weggie" name.) Don't get rundown by the kids dashing for the Alien Invasion when the park opens. The ride takes 4 park-goers at a time (I think they're "victims") on a long boat ride through a twisty, dark tunnel, before shooting them into a huge green and black funnel.That's where your raft swings from port to starboard - as you're hoping the force will hold your boat against the funnel walls. Eventually you settle into the bottom of the funnel and are spit into the pool beyond. Phew!
Dragon's Den is a similar assault on your equilibrium, through the smoky steam of a dragon's breath. (You can see the steam rising on the left here - over the dragon's "neck.") The folks at Splish Splash put it this way: " Your quest for maximum thrills is fulfilled as you catapult through mysterious darkness and plummet into the mist-shrouded abyss of the dragon!" It's worth every assault on your vocal chords as you scream your way through the tunnel into a ramp at the bottom. You can check videos of these rides on the Splish Splash website.
Shotgun Falls is a long ride off a short water slide, which ends in a 5- foot drop into the 10-foot pool below. Refreshing. But don't scream on the way down or you too will swallow more water than you need to. Hollywood Stunt Rider is a totally dark, action packed family ride down to the bottom. My final plea before the Splish Splish workers release our boat at the top is always the same, "Please, my husband LOVES to be the one to ride backwards (through the dark, as we spin in cool waters at break neck speed!)" So far, I've always been convincing.
Splish Splash has been open since 1991 - and it's interesting to see how my family has grown with the park. I haven't been to the wonderful Elephant Slide sprinkler or Monsoon Lagoon kiddie side of the park in years! And as I mentioned, this year our children went off on their own for a while. A fascinating basis of comparison.
You've got through Tuesday, September 2nd, to get a thrill at Splish Splash. And if the weather is extraordinary (warm and all) they may also open up the following Saturday, September 6th. You can get a full schedule and details on the Splish Splash website.
Summer's not gone yet. And you can "stay-cation" here on LI - where thousands flock to vacation. Oh, and don't forget your sunscreen!
Lots of people come up to me and ask me questions about my weekly segment "The Download." I think it's because deep down everyone loves a really cool gadget. But my last one the Meridian F80 audio system got lots of people talking.
Cutting to the chase here, the F80 is basically a $3000 table top radio. Yep.. 3-Grand!
We'll let that settle in for a moment.
OK, so what do you get for all this money. Well, Meridian is one of those companies which makes some pretty high end speakers and audio systems for the home. Audiophiles around the world praise the companies rich sound and attention to detail. But it doesn't come cheap. So why make a table top radio? Well as one of the company reps told me, "This is your first Meridian. It's a welcome to the company." (an expensive welcome -geeze..)
So does it sound good? I hate to say it, but yes. When I got to listen to the F80 in the noisy atrium of the World Financial Center in lower Manhattan it sounded pretty good. I've been to lots of gadget trade shows and typically you can't really get a feel for sound and video quality because you're not in ideal conditions. But in this case, the F80 punched right though the cacophony of the show and really showed its muscle. I can only imagine what it would sound in the home.
But aside from sounding good, it also looked great. The F80 was designed in conjunction with the artisans at Ferrari. The semi-circle curve of the unit is meant to reflect curve of a Ferrari wheel arch. Also the company rep said Ferrari F1 racing engineers helped design the interior chassis which holds the speakers with exotic composite materials and racing grade aluminum. Oh yeah, you get Enzo Ferrari's iconic prancing horse logo on the front - now are you seeing why it's $3000?
I've noticed there is a market nowadays for small high end audio systems (The Bose Wave Radio & etc.) but none that I know of have such a high price tag. If you're looking for a great audio system that looks pretty amazing and you don't mind paying what could be the deposit for a Ferrari (ok maybe a used one) the F80 may be something to consider. Click here for more on the Meridian F80.
The race for open space is in its final stretch on Long Island!
Developers are buying up woodlands, wetlands, farms and pastures at record speed, while environmentalists charge Nassau and Suffolk counties are going too slow even though there are millions of dollars in the counties budgets to make the purchases.
Dick Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society told me today during an interview that Suffolk county executive Steve Levy set a goal of purchasing 35-thousand acres by the year 2015. But to meet that goal, Amper says Levy should be buying up 4,500 acres a year until then. Sadly, Amper says, Levy is lagging way behind, only buying fewer than 2,000 acres a year.
County Executive Levy argues he's spent $275-Million in the past four years to preserve open space, but land costs more now than ever before. Levy says there just aren't those big parcels - 100 to 1,000 acres available any more.
So who will win the race? Will it be the developers or the land preservationists? The land is going fast!
Fortunately just today, Suffolk announced its' latest addition, but it's just 15 acres in St. James. Most taxpayers voted they're willing to continue paying a quarter cent of their sales tax to buy up the land and keep it as parks, farms and woodlands. How do you feel?
I love to win. I love everything about it. The feeling I get, the accomplishment I've achieved and, of course,
the bragging rights! Some people here at the station say I'm a little too competitive though. Because if someone asks a question, I'll be the first to answer. Is debate a sport? I'll go blue in the face before the
other guy proves his point. And you don't even want me to go into the stories of the News 12 basketball court where grown men have been shocked by my actions. I just really love to compete.
And although that might seem annoying and immature, I think it's where my love for the Olympics comes from.
Have you been watching them? To be honest, I wasn't even excited for it all this year because they just seem so far away, and I felt being half way around the world, I'd be so out of touch. But this weekend is the closing ceremony, and I wish they weren't coming to an end.
Michael Phelps is coming home not only the winningest Olympic athlete ever, but the only athlete to win 8 gold medal in one Olympics. The phrase "I wanna be like Mike" could mean something other than being like Michael Jordan. Phelps is now the same league as guys like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer -- athletes who just completely dominate in their sport. I'm sure a lot of little kids are going to be asking for swimming lessons in the near future. And it's all because of one week in Beijing. And although it doesn't take a lot for me to get up off my chair at a bar and start screaming at the TV, watching Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal was fantastic.
How bout the gymnastics? What these ladies do with bodies is just insane. I was glued to the TV during
every event. And they're all so young! It's like watching a little girl accomplish everything she's ever wanted in her entire life before the age of 20. At 20, I was still falling asleep in class dreaming about my sorority dance that
coming weekend. (I did study, and got straight A's, so don't think I'm a complete screw-up.) But watching Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson win all those medals was amazing. And what was more amazing, was hearing that Johnson's parents mortgaged their house twice just to pay the bills of the gym and coach. Then watching them break down after she finally won the gold on the beam. It's stories like that, that make sports more than just "sports."
Sometimes I want to be Misty May-Traenor. Her and Kerri Walsh dominated in Beach Volleyball for the second straight Olympics, taking home the gold medal in an assault of wins. They did not
lose a set all Olympics! And for the second time, May-Traenor sprinkled her late mother's ashes on the court where she achieved the goal her mom always wanted her to.
The Olympic games give people a chance to connect with athletes. A chance to learn their stories and the road they took to get there. It's a chance to show the world how important the Olympics actually are to peoples' lives.
With all this said, I think the best thing about watching the Olympics is seeing the faces of every single American athlete, standing on the pedestal, watching their flag be raised to the rafters. They're not just happy they won a medal -- they're happy they won it for America. And that makes me proud.
So if you're not doing anything tonight, turn on the Olympics. You only have 3 days left.
All week long we've been taking Day Trips around Long Island (Long Beach, the East End, Fire Island, North Shore). Our last stop is Riverhead! If you love animals or underwater adventures-- this is the place for you!
I fell in love with the seals, sea lions, penguins and otters at Atlantis Marine World! You can spend the entire day there. They have a lot of shows (the sea lions crack me up!) and learning sessions. Check their daily events schedule so you don't miss anything! I was surprised at how many interactive activities they have there. You can even go into a salt marsh. For an extra fee, you can do some really cool things like get kissed by a seal and swim with sharks!
If you want to meet more land creatures-- drive to Manorville. That's where you will find the Long Island Game Farm! I have the best childhood memories there! When I was a little girl, they used to have a large chimpanzee named Nanny Poo. Do you remember visiting him in the late 80s? People used to give him cigarettes and he would smoke them-- crazy! He would also chew gum. And oh yes, he spit at people! Once he spit at my sister and she fell back into a puddle of mud! They also used to have crazy goats. One ate my grandmothers coat! My sister and cousins and I thought it was the funniest thing. My Nani didn't think so! These days, things are calmer at the Long Island Game Farm! There's still a ton-- now even more-- to do! Check out their show schedule! Stop by the Nursery and feed the baby goats by bottle! Warning-- do not wear scented leg lotion! I wore some berry scented lotion and they were nibbling me! Also make sure you see "Tigerpalooza" and the "Big Cat Habitat"-- you can get within 4 feet of lions! Last year I got to feed them! The kangaroos, lemurs and kinkajous are also fun to see!
If you'd rather cool off a little, go back to Riverhead and spend the day at Splish Splash! There are rides, slides, action and relaxation. You can even rent a cabana!
If you are into action, how about a demolition derby? You will also find that in Riverhead at the Riverhead Raceway!
If you need some retail therapy, discounts, or back to school shopping, check out the Tanger Outlets. I went by to get some video (I hadn't been there in years) and I was shocked at how many good stores they have! Too bad I was on a deadline and didn't get to go inside my favorite brands and see what kind of deals there are! That's my kind of investigative reporting! The center is so big-- 168 stores--I would suggest checking out a map and making a game plan! Remember, Green is the color for fall-- bring your own bag so you don't waste!
Hope you make the most out of the rest of the summer! Enjoy every moment! Don't forget the sunscreen!
Summer is rapidly (and unfortunately) coming to a close. Labor Day weekend is not far away and if, like many Long Islanders, you're planning to stay close to home because it's too expensive to drive anywhere, here's an event you might want to put on your calendar. And you probably haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it yet because it's only the second time it's being held.
Boaters anchor in front of the lighthouse to watch performers play from the rooftop stage. There are five bands this year playing everything from Caribbean to Rock to Swing to Disco. For the lineup go to the Musicfest website. There's also an air show.
And the boaters enjoying the music can expect a visit from members of Ye Pyrate Brotherhood. Yup, exactly what that sounds like. PIRATES. BUCCANEERS. They'll be going from boat to boat "plundering" donations for ongoing restorations and maintenance of the Huntington Lighthouse. (The kids are gonna love that!) If you don't own a boat and can't hitch a ride with a friend, there are a couple of charters taking reservations. Go to the Musicfest website for that information.
This event is being organized by the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society - the same group that saved this historic beacon, built in 1912, from the wrecking ball back in the 1980s.
They've worked so hard to bring this part of Long Island history back from ruin to the beautiful, proud structure it is today. The Preservation Society offers tours of the lighthouse. The annual Musicfest will help raise funds to make sure this light continues to shine guiding mariners through Huntington and Lloyd Harbors as it has for a century and a half.
Sitting in the weather center surrounded by not one, not two, but seven computers, I started thinking how my profession has changed in the 35 years I've been involved in the at times humbling task of forecasting the weather.
My first job was as a 2nd Lieutenant weather forecaster at Griffiss AFB near Rome NY. We had a state of the art weather operation for the time with clattering teletype machines, like the one in the photo to the left, and weather fax machines. These were diabolical monsters that printed on an eighteen inch wide roll of wet paper. They often jammed and it was not uncommon to get into work only to find 8 hours worth of weather charts crushed into a useless mass of paper. Did I mention there were no computers? The only computers around were the size of a refrigerator and had less computing power then the average cell phone. We did have some very crude satellite images like this one taken by an early TIROS weather satellite. If you look carefully you can see the coast of New England and Nova Scotia.
With this crude equipment we still managed to put together some very good short range forecasts for say the next 24 to 36 hours. Beyond that, it was pretty much a guess. Now of course, we have more information then we can possibly use and the forecasts are much, much better. A lot of people still complain about our accuracy, but we now can give forecasts for fours days with the accuracy of one day forecasts back then. We can even pick up decent patterns up through 7 and 10 days, a forecast that 2nd Lt Korbel could only dream about. Perhaps 30 years from now, our current News12 weather station will seem as quaint as my old Air Force version. No doubt forecasts will be even more reliable. I will however wager that they still won't be perfect and probably never will be.
If you're planning to ride the Long Island Railroad into the city this weekend, listen up!
You could be in for a long long ride and lots of extra time listening to your I-pod or your kids screaming "are we there yet?"
I covered the LIRR President Helena Williams who announced today that a $60-Million dollar upgrade of tracks and signals is planned for the Bellerose, Queens area this weekend. Workers plan to make all the changes in tracks, signals, third rail replacements and computerized sensors in just a 48-hour weekend!
This means there will be NO train service on the main line between Mineola and Jamaica, only bus service will be available. This will affect an estimated 90,000 riders and at least 220 scheduled trains.
The only way to avoid the mess is to use the Port Washington branch on the north shore, or use the south shore's Babylon, Long Beach or Far Rockaway branches that peel away from Jamaica and don't pass over the Bellerose tracks.
Once the work is completed (between Friday Midnight and Monday morning at 12:40 a.m.) trains will again pass over the Bellerose, but the LIRR says they will no longer experience the so-called "Bellerose Bump" and the swaying from side to side. Instead, officials say, the trains won't have to slow down and it will be a quicker ride into and out of Jamaica!
The Central Islip Choir just returned from their trip to Italy.
This is the group I had the privilege and the pleasure of traveling with on assignment to Austria two years ago.
It still brings tears to my eyes when I am remember how beautiful they sounded singing in the Cathedrals and town squares.
I can only imagine how they must of sounded to the Italians--they had to be moved by their angelic voices, their faces filled with awe and wonder!!!
The Italians, I am sure, fell in love with the C.I. kids--they are so joyful, so grateful for the opportunity to experience Italy's fine art, music and the food!!!
Just looking at the photos, I can tell the Choir from Central Islip High School once again made Long Island proud with their beautiful voices and their loving hearts!
They call it the Gold Coast, and there sure are a lot of treasures there! There are a lot of amazing towns and places on the North Shore! In today's Day Trippers, I visited 3 of my favorites!
Huntington Village has some great shops too! The streets really come alive at night. It is one of Long Island's best dining destinations. There is just about every kind of food you can think of on New York Avenue, Main Streets, and don't forget all of the little side streets! There's authentic Mexican, small plates,family style Italian,Japanese, Brazilian, even a chocolate cafe! Or you can head to the harbor if you want dinner or drinks with a water view . After dinner, for the 21+ crowd, there are a number of bars and pubs in walking distance. You can even see live Jazz at the IMAC!
Oyster Bay is full of historic spots to explore! Take a stroll down East Main Street. Pass by Wild Honey, it was once Teddy Roosevelt's summer White House! Get homemade ice cream at Gooseberry Grove or soft serve at Carvel across the street. You can also take a ride up to the waterfront and watch the sailboats and beautiful sunset. If you are into peace and quiet, you have to visit the John P.Humes Japanese Garden (516-676-4486) just a mile north of town. They are open on weekends. I couldn't believe that this amazing place exists here on Long Island! You have to see it! I felt like I was transported to a far away land. Or take a walk through the gardens at Planting Fields Arboretum. If you want more action, drive up to Bayville and check out the attractions at the Bayville Adventure Park!
Where ever you decide to go-- enjoy your Day Trip and don't forget the sunscreen!
Albany lawmakers are coming home from their special session without giving Long Islanders and other New Yorkers property tax relief.
The Republican-led Senate passed a measure to cap yearly spending increases by schools. The state commission on property tax relief says a 4 percent cap last year would have saved Suffolk residents 650 dollars--24 hundred bucks over the past five years. The savings in Nassau even greater. 900 dollars last year. 33-hundred over 5 years.
The Democrat Assembly's version of tax relief took the form of tax credits. They tout the average household would save $734. The average renter--$250. Their plan would be paid for by a personal income tax increase for annual incomes over $1million. And a new tax bracket for those earning more than $5 million.
So, lets say you're fortunate enough to take home a million bucks a year. You'd pay the state $67,706 plus 7.85 percent of the excess over $1million. So, if you made $2million, you'd be writing a check to the state for an extra $78,500. If you raked in more than $5million, you'd pay the state $381,706 plus 8.6% of the excess over $5 million.
Economic analyst Martin Cantor doesn't think much of either tax plan. He says the tax cap is really soft, because voters would be allowed to override the cap and spend more for their schools. And most Long Islanders, two-earner families earning between 125 and 200 thousand dollars, would only get half the average $734 benefit under the Assembly plan.
So, will we get meaningful property tax relief any time soon? Governor Paterson has signaled he'll push aggressively after Labor Day and the political conventions to get lawmakers back to Albany to hammer out a property tax relief package. We shall see.
The Family Service League--is an organization that addresses social problems on Long Island. They help families improve their quality of life and that's exactly what I saw first hand, when I went to visit them giving away free school supplies.
Judging by the many smiling faces, the Family Service League helped out not only children, but their parents as they go through a stressful time. One of the mothers I spoke to called this program "a God send." She told me that her husband lost his job and its been tough even providing food for her 6-year-old daughter. Children there got to choose the color of the supplies they wanted to fulfill that long laundry list of back to school items. To learn on how you can receive a backpack or what other school programs the Family Service League provides log onto http://www.fsl-li.org/ .
The Family Service League isn't the only organization trying to put kids on the fast track to success. The U-J-A Federation of New York is also stepping up to help out. Volunteers young and old gathered in Jericho to help fill all-types of backpacks with supplies for their 7th annual Give Back with a Backpack Program. The entire gym at Solomon Schecter Day School in Nassau was an assembly line. They plan on helping nearly 1,500 children make the grade by distributing those bags to U-J-A beneficiary agencies, school and other organizations.
For more information on how you can get a backpack or if you just want to volunteer visit www.ujafedny.org/longisland.
Her only child gave his life for his country. And now, Dorine Kenney wants to be buried with her son at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn. Army Spc. Jacob Fletcher was killed in Iraq in 2003. He was just 11 days shy of his 29th birthday. News 12 Long Island has done numerous stories about Dorine. To honor her son's memory, she started the Jacob's Light Foundation. Using the American Legion hall in Brentwood as a base, she has shipped nearly 200,000 pounds of supplies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. And then, last Friday, from that same hall, she stood with Congressman Steve Israel of Huntington. He's sponsoring legislation that would enable a parent of a veteran to be buried in a national cemetery with their child if that child had no spouse or children. Israel told me, "Why shouldn't Dorine have piece of mind knowing that when the time comes she will be with him eternally." Under current law, only a soldier's spouse or minor children can be buried with them. Dorine applied for a waiver, but was told no decision would be made before her death.
Another Gold Star mother was at that news conference. Dawn Esposito is the president of the American Gold Star Mothers North Fork Chapter. She's concerned about a diminishing number of burial plots at national cemeteries in the tri-state area. But Congressman Israel says that space has already been reserved. Esposito also says her chapter feels burying parents at national cemeteries would "detract from the honors of what national cemeteries are designed for."
It's certainly a sensitive issue. But Dorine says,"to know that I would be resting with my son, brings me a lot of comfort." We'll keep you posted how this legislation fares in Congress. In the meantime, for more information about the Jacob's Light Foundation, go to http:/www.jacobsprogram.org
If you are looking to spend a day on the beach, or a night on the town-- Fire Island is your place!
Some call it New York's Key West, but Fire Island has a personality all its own! It's made up of 17 communities. Each has something different to offer, but they all have beautiful beaches and dunes. They're all really laid back and casual. You can walk to Fire Island from Robert Moses Beach, but most take the ferry! (631-665-3600)
As soon as the ferry leaves the dock, relax and enjoy the ride! There are no cars allowed on Fire Island, so it's very peaceful. You'll do a lot of walking, so consider bringing or renting a bike or one of those cute red wagons! (Ocean Beach Hardware 631-583-5826) You can wear flip flops and shorts everywhere!
If you are planning your day trip , here are some options!
If you want to visit multiple communities, you can walk (some walks are very, very long), find a friend with a boat, or take a water taxi!
From there, you can actually walk to Kismet, a popular family spot. Check out Kismet's famous restaurants "The Inn" and "The Out".
Visit Sailor's Haven. That's where you can find the Sunken Forest-- one of the few maritime forests left on the eastern seaboard. Spend the day exploring all 40 acres!
Singles and families will love Ocean Beach, the Island's un-official capital. That's where you'll find the most restaurants, bars, and shops. If you want to eat or grab a drink right on the water, check out:
There's a lot to do-- and if you miss the last ferry (1 am on Saturday nights!) you'll have to take a water taxi back (which could be really expensive!). Consider staying the night (click for a list of accomodations). We checked out The Palms (631-583-8870), a new, second location just opened in Ocean Beach. The have massage tables outside on a little beach! Friends here at News 12 found reasonable house rentals on craigslist.com . Or, you can go camping at Watch Hill!
Even if you just go for the day, it really is a mini-vacation. I hope to get back there before the summer is over! Remember to bring cash-- many places don't accept plastic and we had problems with broken ATM machines!
Here's a recent email I got and felt obligated to answer:
As a News 12 watcher,I was wondering what sports or hobbies does Lauren participate in? Also does she ever plan on doing news on a national level in the future? Thanks, Jim Cullen
Jim, thanks for your email. Your curiosity about my "sports or hobbies" is borderline creepy, but your last question made me wonder if you hacked into my email BECAUSE...
This is my last week at News 12 Long Island (sigh).
That's right, as Jim foreshadowed, I'll be moving on to a national cable network (brag!).
So, yes, I DO plan on doing news on a national level in the future and by "future" I mean next month. Right now I can't say which network but in the interest of being "fair & balanced" let's just say it rhymes with Lox.
I'm not great at goodbyes (cyber or otherwise.) I just planned on getting out quietly--before anyone realizes I've made off with a trunk-load of office supplies and Ken Grimball's giant promotional poster. But I realize an abrupt departure, without explanation, could lead to unsubstantiated and exaggerated rumors on websites like where'stheblond.com:
"I heard she got fired because of her blog"
"she said a word for male genitalia instead of C O P S on the air..."
"she showed up to work wearing a NEWSDAY BEWARE t-shirt"
"she disappeared mysteriously after Scott Feldman was denied a solo hour..."
I'm happy to report none of that is true. But as my last week at News 12 ticks down,I cant help but reflect on my humble beginnings here back in July 2005....
I sent a resume tape to some cold, corporate address where I was sure it would be tossed in a pile and forgotten. But somehow the Hiring Gods smiled on me and I got a phone call a couple weeks later from the assistant news director asking me to come in for an interview. Needless to say I managed to 'wow' them with my home-spun Long Island humor and clone-like similarity to Trish Bergin.
I land the job and soon after I'm informed I will be co-anchoring the Evening Edition with seasoned veteran Scott Feldman of LI Challenge fame. Was I nervous? Like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
I met Mr. Feldman on set--he wasn't anything like I expected. For one thing, he was drunk. OK, he wasn't drunk, but wouldn't that have been a great story? My first day on the job and my co-anchor is a 7ft tall belligerent booze hound? It would be just like the Will Farrell classic "Anchorman" only it's not the 70's and nowadays you can actually get fired for saying things like:
"I'm good at three things; fighting, screwing, and reading the news. Now I've already done one of those three today so what's the other one gonna be, huh? " --Veronica Corningstone in ANCHORMAN
Soon Scott and I were fast friends--singing during commercial breaks and heckling poor Bill Korbel when his weather map clicker was on the fritz. Oh, the hilarious hi-jinx!
I have so many great memories of News12 to take with me (not to mention a fistful of free tampons from the girl's room.) Besides my bosses, who have given me the best gig a girl could ask for and an amazing cable package to boot, I've also managed to corner the best fans in the business and the most loyal blog readers this side of The Huffington Post. Thank you all for letting me deliver your news in the evening (even if you had the sound down). To whomever replaces me (I know--impossible!), a word of advice: Feldman likes his Scotch on the rocks! And if you make it a double, you'll be glad you did;)
My time as an on-air anchor here may be over but I'll always be a Long Islander--so look out for a gum-chewing blond with a heavy foot on the LIE!
*A special shout out to Mr. Ray Bertolino who's creative celebrity posts kept this blog on top!
Should the legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18?
It's a question that's causing quite a controversy. You see -- a group called the Amethyst Initiative -- has recruited more than 100 university and college presidents and chancellors -- to sign on to a statement saying that the 21 year old drinking age isn't working.
On one side are young adults who wonder why -- if at 18 years old they can vote and enlist in the military -- they can't they legally drink. Also on their side, adults who say the law isn't enforced and actually encourages binge-drinking.
On the other -- anti drunk driving advocates who say most teens aren't mature enough to drink responsibly and claim the law saves thousands of lives.
Here's what Hofstra University had to say: "A National discussion on how best to combat binge drinking could produce more public awareness on this subject and possibly lead to constructive suggestions. There doesn't now appear to be enough data to conclude that lowering the age would lead to less rather than more drinking. In the meantime, Hofstra will continue to make every effort to educate students about healthy lifestyle choices, personal responsibility, and the use and potential for abuse of alcohol consumption, and to enforce the current law, which bars those under 21 from drinking."
And this is from Adelphi University: "We agree with University of Miami President Donna Shalala, MADD, the American Medical Association, and the National Transportation Safety Board that the current drinking age is sound public policy."
And Nassau Community College told us: "We're not in support of reducing the drinking age. At this point we see no evidence that it would create a decrease in binge drinking on college campuses."
Here's another statement: "Farmingdale State has no plans to change its alcohol use policy or to promote the lowering of the legal drinking age."
The one thing everyone seems to agree on is this: underage drinking and alcohol abuse by college students is a big problem.
What's your take on it? You can log on to news12.com and give us your opinion on our sound off board.
It's also the topic tonight on "Long Island Talks" live at 7pm. You can call in at 516-393-1800 and you can start emailing us right now at [email protected]
Some Long Islanders love the Hamptons, and I know some of you hate it! I've spent many summers in Southampton. I love family BBQs, friends' poolside parties, strolling through town, the beaches, getting cookies at Tate's bake shop and meeting up with friends at polo. I love visiting Montauk. There's so much to do! I've been going to Gosman's Dock since I was a little girl. Surf Lodge is a new nightspot in Montauk this summer. They don't have a door policy, so it's more laid back-- plus, it's nice to be outside on the water.
Polo in Bridgehampton
Surf Lodge
Chef Sam Talbot
Just don't wear heels-- they get stuck in the deck ( I learned the hard way!)! I've heard great things about their restaurant -- Top Chef's Sam Talbot is their kitchen. If you learn the back roads, getting around the Hamptons isn't terrible! If not, it could take a very long time traveling between towns! If you are anti-Hamptons, or want to try something new and take an untraditional trip to the East End, you can see both forks and an island in between in just one Day Trip!
Start off in Sag Harbor-- a place many call the "Un-Hamptons". Unlike the Hamptons towns, you won't find Gucci and big designer shops. You will find a quaint, charming Main Street with small shops like the 5 and 10, boutiques, and art galleries. Pick up a kite at Kites of the Harbor ( 75 Main Street, 631-725-9063 ) Check out the old world charm of the historic American Hotel (25 Main Street, 631-725-3535). My friends often meet there for a glass of wine outside and people watching! If you'd rather watch beautiful yachts, you can eat outdoors at B.Smith (Long Wharf at Bay Street, 631-725-5858) or The Dockhouse (on the Long Wharf, 631-725-7555). Grappa is a new wine bar (62 Main Street, 631-725-0055). La Superica (631-725-3388) is known for it's Mexican dishes. Sen (23 Main Street, 631-725-1774) has amazing sushi-- they don't take reservations, so it's tough to get in on weekends. Try New Paradise Cafe for lunch (126 Main Street, 631-725-6080). If you want to stop for breakfast on the way into town, check out Estia's Little Kitchen (1615 Sag Harbor Bridgehampton Turnpike, 631-725-1045)( I'm a fan of the pancakes!).
If you crave the Hamptons-esque celeb spotting-- well, you could run into some famous faces shopping or lunching in town, on stage or in the audience at the Bay Street Theatre (on the Long Wharf), or stop in Donna Karan's earth friendly (not too pocket friendly) boutique Urban Zen (4 Bay Street, 631-725-6176) or if you want to eat in a zen like atmosphere check out Tutto Il Giorno (owned by Karan's daughter) next door (6 Bay Street, 631-725-7009). It's quite peaceful on the outdoor deck that has a water view.
Next take Route 114 North to the South Ferry-- it's a 3 minute ride to Shelter Island, the island sheltered by and nestled between the North and South Fork. Or consider biking there or going on foot (it's only $1 to travel that way) (631-749-1200)!
If you want to visit a really quiet, serene place-- Shelter Island is it! Locals describe it as more of a New England countryside. Ask for a map at the Ferry. Drive around and see the beautiful homes and quaint little towns. Stop and grab a bite to eat. Locals recommend Pat & Steve's Family Restaurant (63 North Ferry Rd, 631-749-1998) Rent a kayak at Shelter Island Kayak Tours (Route 114 & Duvall, 631-749-1990) and explore the creeks and harbors. If you want a little more of a party atmosphere, go to Crescent Beach and visit Sunset Beach (35 Shore Rd, 631-749-2001). Many people come from the Hamptons for dinner and cocktails. This hotel/bar/restaurant has a beautiful view of Shelter Island Bay.
Next, head to the North Ferry (631-749-0139) and go to Greenport! This time, it's a 10 minute ride! The view as you pull in to the dock is just breathtaking. Park off Main Street. There are adorable cafes and shops. You can dine on the water at historic Claudio's (111 Main Street, 631-477-0627). There are a number of places to get sweets and ice cream! Go for a ride on the carousel (at Mitchell Park at Front Street)! There are motels and bed and breakfasts in the area. If you are driving back west, stop at one of the many vineyards on the Main Rd and Sound Avenue. I don't know much about wine, but I enjoy sitting outside at Raphael! One of my favorite things to do is stop and pick up fresh flowers and veggies at the local farmstands! Half the fun is discovering these little treasures on your own, but if you need some help try Harbes (715 Sound Ave, Mattituck 631-298-080) or Wickham's (Route 25 Cutchogue 631-734-6441).
Take notes-- because you'll want to go back this fall when it's apple and pumpkin picking time!
Think thin thoughts- No really-- make it your mantra-- Being 7 months pregnant it's pretty hard to think thin-- all I can think about is my sizable stomach! But it turns out that thinking you're overweight could actually be worse for you than BEING overweight! There's a study out in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers asked 150 thousand adults about their current weight-- their ideal weight-- and how often they felt unhealthy. And as you can probably tell by my lead line...the less satisfied people were with their size-- the more unhappy they felt, regardless of how much they weigh. The lead author says "if you're depressed or stressed-- it changes things like blood pressure. If the emotions are chronic, that can lead to disease." So if you want to vamp up your well being focus on what you can do. It's all about the power of positive thought! I'm pretty big on that now. There's a lot I can't do these days- my doctor says my heart rate shouldn't go over the 140 mark- so the days of crazy jumping and pushing myself to the limit are on hold for right now. But I try to celebrate my success in health and fitness as much as I can. I still work out at the gym for about 6 hours a week- keeping within the guidlines and trying to improve my form and help build strength I'll need in just a few short months. Sure my kickboxing skills don't look at all like they used to-- but how many pregnant women are boxing this late in the game. I try to kayak and bike ride when I can (and always with my husband-- just in case!) and I think staying active makes it okay if I really want some ice cream :)-- and I don't have to feel bad about it. It just seems we can't get down on ourselves if we don't have the best week-- instead think thin thoughts and have a happy life!
The first thing people ask after a hurricane is, "If a tree falls in your backyard and there’s nobody there to hear it, who’s responsible for getting rid of it?"
On Monday August 19, 1991, the eye of hurricane Bob passed over Montauk with winds of over 100 mph and more than seven inches of rain. On the East End after the storm, downed trees and power lines lay across roads and driveways, "tossed together like so much salad," (quoted from The New York Times of Wednesday August 21, 1991). I drove to East Hampton a few days after the storm and it was a mess. Driving was difficult along Montauk Highway because of the abundance of fallen trees, branches and other debris scattered across the roads. On Western Long Island, most people had no idea of the extent of the damage.
This hurricane has special significance. It’s the only full blown hurricane to strike Long Island covered by News 12. We started broadcasting December 1986. Hurricane Gloria struck us in September 1985 before our inception. Since Bob, there have been numerous near misses, remnants of once powerful tropical storms and hurricanes, but no fully developed storms have hit us.
Sunday night and early on Monday the 19th, before the storm reached us, I was in the news room, doing live up-dates, describing the progress of the storm as it worked its way up the East Coast. Here’s how it worked. Every hour, on-the-hour, I had to fill one minute and 49 seconds of time. I would say something like, "Hurricane Bob is moving up the coast with winds of 120 miles an hour... blah, blah, blah." The next hour I said, "Hurricane Bob is moving up the coast with winds of 120 miles per hour ..yadda, yadda, yadda." I gave the storms intensity, speed and location while a satellite video of the storm played on screen. I did this until 4 A.M. Monday, until I was relieved by meteorologist Joe Cioffi. I was sitting on a chair looking into a camera wearing an ear piece, getting time cues. The only other person in the news room was Kim the assignment editor. About one minute before one of the segments she yelled out, "There’s important news. You have to read this!" She handed me a sheet of paper just off the wire. I proceeded to read, "There’s a coup taking place in the Soviet Union. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was under house arrest while he was vacationing in the Crimea. Tanks and other military vehicles were patrolling the streets of the Capital and martial law was declared"......and by the way, Hurricane Bob is moving up the coast with winds of 120 miles an hour..yakity, yakity, yak". News 12 was probably the first station in the country to provide the breaking news of this event.
Hurricane Bob could have been a lot worse. If the center of the storm hit Long Island about 20 to 50 miles further west it would have been a major disaster. We would likely have had more destruction than the legendary hurricane of 1938.
One more aside--I’ve also worked the nights prior to Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, which impacted Florida and Louisiana respectively. So if you see me on TV during August and September, you’d better duck.
It's 85 degrees outside. But I found a cool way to beat the heat. I attended a wedding on ice at the Dix Hills Ice Rink Sunday. It's the place where ice hockey buffs Dena Pagnotta and Doug Orban met 10 years ago. They're members of Island Ice Hockey League. Friendship turned into love.
Doug popped the question in January. They decided to get hitched on the ice. Dena told me some people thought their idea was little strange. But she and Doug wanted their wedding day to be memorable. And it was. She glided to her groom on bridal skates. Doug's eyes filled with tears. After they exchanged "I dos," Dena and Doug took a celebratory skate around the rink in their "Bride" and "Groom" ice hockey jerseys.
You can watch Dena and Doug's magical ice wedding on an upcoming "Long Island Love Stories" segment. Tune in Tuesday, August 26 for the heart-warming story.
Do you have a cool Long Island Love Story to share? Tell me about it at [email protected].
Can you believe that summer is almost over? If you didn't get a chance to take a vacation, or if you just want a little get-away, tune in to the Morning & Daytime shows all week for our "Day Trippers" series!
My first stop was Long Beach. If you want a day at the beach or a night on the town, you'll want to visit!
Long Beach's 2.2 mile boardwalk has been voted the "Best Boardwalk on Long Island" by News 12 viewers. Go for a walk or grab your bike or rollerblades. I rented a surrey at Buddy's Bikes (907 W. Beech St. 516-431-0804) which was a blast! Just make sure you ask how to stop before you leave the shop!
Long Beach declared August "Beach Tennis Month". Beach tennis is a fairly new sport. It's a combo of tennis and beach volleyball. You can take in a match, or learn to play! Courts are set up on Grand Blvd & Broadway, so just bring a racket and ball! I actually had a lot of fun playing-- and I am not very athletic!
If you ARE athletic, visit the skate park on National Blvd & the Bay. You can also rent a jet ski or kayak down the road a bit in Island Park (Empire Kayak, 516-889-8300). Or rent a fishing boat in Pt. Lookout. Try Ted's Fishing Station (516-431-4193) or Scotty's Fishing Station (516-432-4665). If you need to relax a bit, check out beach yoga (516-431-3890 or 516-431-5533)! Or listen to live music at the beach! Long Beach's summer concert series is free!
In addition to music and the beach, what relaxes me is shopping (even if it's just window shopping!) and eating! You can do both at the Farmers Market! It's every Wednesday at Kennedy Plaza from noon- 7 pm. I was surprised to see so many cute boutiques on Park Avenue & Beech Street. They can be a little pricey, but they have a lot of unique things! Plus-- they have sale racks. I bought a dress that I love for 1/2 price! I Here are some of the boutiques that I visited:
Day in and day out our soldiers continue to fight. They do it for their love of country & what it stands for. It is a time of devastating news headlines even beyond the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan- ie.Casualties Mount as Russia/Georgia Conflict Spreads- ABCNews...Bombing of Bus in Lebanon Kills 15- NYTimes.
They all believe THEIRS is the right cause.
Well, for the past week I've been...ok I'll say it...borderline obsessed with another group of people who are pouring all their energy onto a world stage for THEIR love of country...& sport.
Yes, I'm talking about the amazing athletes of the XXIX Olympiad!!!
Man! Watching Michael Phelps in the water just does not get old.
And how 'bout China's men's gymnastics team? Have you gotten a glimpse of those guys arm--geez!
Aside from all of their amazing strength, skill and talent these men and women are gracious, poised, full of respect. there is always a handshake- in the pool- on the floor- at the medals ceremony...a 'congratulations', a 'good race'. Maybe it's all for the camera. I know there's plenty of trash talk in the ready rooms- but the truth is I'm OK with what I see on TV: extraordinary athletes in good, clean competition.
I will continue to offer my prayers and thoughts to our soldiers overseas- as I do every day. But for the next couple of weeks I will appreciate the luxury & freedom I have to turn the channel from the days disturbing headlines - for a while- and watch those wonderful games that come just once every four years as they fight for THEIR love of country...
"Hey, I watch you all the time!" is the greeting I get from News 12 Long Island viewers nearly every day.
I love to hear that because our news product is on the air 24-hours a day and I spend a lot of my time contributing to that "news wheel." Few people realize how difficult a job it is to keep News 12 going.
At our studios, we get important daily contributions from news administrators, administrative assistants, photographers, writers and producers, assignment desk experts, highly qualified and trained engineers, news programming consultants, and yes, reporters and anchors! It takes a village to turn out this daily newscast!
So when people say "Hey, I watch YOU all the time," I know they probably mean the whole team.
Many News 12 reporters go home with a beeper or blackberry cellphone and are on 24-hour call in case of urgent breaking news. Some of our reporters even go directly to the scene of a news story to save time getting details on the air quickly!
So next time you see me on the street, when you say "Hey I watch you all the time" be sure to think about the 100 or so critically important people behind the scenes who make the several of us who appear on the TV tube look pretty good!
I think it's one of Long Island's most picturesque downtowns. The architecture in Riverhead is beautiful and varied. You sense the history Main Street and can picture it in its heyday when Suffolk's County Center was a bustling community.
Downtown suffered bad times in more recent years and it has bounced back quite a bit. But if you drive along Main Street now, you'll see an awful lot of vacant stores. There are several reasons for this -- one big one is the massive pending project to completely revitalize the downtown area, in part, by turning around the storefronts that now face Main Street (Route 25) so that they'll face the Peconic River behind them. The river is now a nice area for a stroll -- a boardwalk, brickwork and picnic tables. But the area around it is nothing more than a huge parking lot for the BACK of the Main Street stores.
The so-called Apollo project, to completely change the look of the downtown, is dragging on and many stores are going out of business.
There is also a perception that downtown is not "safe." To fight that perception, the town just put a zero-tolerance policy in effect. Essentially, any "quality of life" violation (anything from loitering and playing loud boom boxes to prostitution) will be ticketed immediately. Fines for such violations could be doubled. Local officials say statistically, Riverhead is not an unsafe area but they agree the perception that it is exists. There's a theory that if one broken window is left unfixed or if a group of unemployed people are allowed to hang around a street corner doing nothing, then it gives the impression that "disorder is tolerated," as town supervisor Phil Cardinale put it. These are the things police are now going after.
In the meantime, if you haven't visited Riverhead, you're really missing out on a special place. Atlantis Marine World on East Main Street is a terrific place to visit -- a top-notch aquarium with beautiful architecture and landscaping. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. And they are also sinking a lot of money into an on-site hotel that should also give the downtown area a shot in the arm. On the other end of Main Street is Star Confectionery (or Papa Nick's) as its know. Owned by the third generation of the same family, it is still one of our favorite places to eat on Long Island. It's like you're stepping into a 1930's luncheonette and whether you're simply getting pancakes for breakfast, a tuna sandwich for lunch or their homeade ice cream for dessert, it somehow just tastes better. There are also many hardworking business owners along Main Street who are enthusiastic about the future of their downtown. They're hoping this new zero-tolerance policy will be a big success and will bring even more visitors to their town. Just remember -- leave the boom box at home.
We have seen some amazing storms over the past 10 days. Strong winds, flooding roads, funnel clouds and Water spouts. I can't remember a 10 day period in the tri-state area with so much active weather.
Why the hail? First let's discuss how hail forms. Hail is formed by water droplets going up in a thunderstorm and freezing. A cycle process begins with the hail (ice) going up and down inside the thunderstorm until the hail is too heavy and then it falls to the ground. To have this process even start you need the right meteorological ingredients. You need a strong updraft (thunderstorm) and very cold air above the surface.
We don't see many severe thunderstorms around Long Island that produce hail stones as big as quarters or Half dollars. The reason for this, is you need an incredible amount of energy to move hail that size up and down in a thunderstorms. Those type of thunderstorms are more common in the plains where atmospheric conditions are more favorable.
When severe weather strikes, keep it tuned to News12 for the very latest and local weather information. Away from a TV during the day? Listen to us via mobile phone: 646-273-1212 for News12 to Go.
By now I'm assuming most Long Islanders have been to Riverhead, to shop at the Tanger Outlets, get wet at Splish Splash or explore Atlantis Marine World. But I hope they continue beyond Riverhead, either along the North Fork or South Fork. There, you'll see what sets aside the East End from the rest of Long Island -- farms. Rolling vineyards may have taken the place of most potato farms, but there are still many traditional farms left. On News 12 Long Island, we've documented the enormous pressure facing those farmers -- pressure from land developers who would love to turn those wide open spaces into neighborhoods. And with the high cost of farming on Long Island, it's tempting for all of them to sell. We've reported through the years on various programs to save open space. Some are complicated, some are controversial. But there is one sure-fire way we can all preserve farmland on Long Island and it won't cost us any tax money -- make it profitable for farmers to stand in business. And that's where you and I and all our neighbors come into play. All we need to do is buy local fruits and vegetables whenever we can. To me, a drive out east is a great way to spend a day or a weekend and there are some terrific farmstands you can visit. But you also visit your local supermarket. For years, King Kullen has been a great supporter of local farms, setting up separate areas in their produce department for Long Island goods. Now, more of our larger supermarket chains are doing it as well. (Look for the Grown on Long Island
symbol where you shop.)
There's also a new Farmer's Market you might want to check out. It's located in Holtsville, right off of Exit 62 of the Long Island Expressway. (Exit 62 is Nicoll's Road -- go south, turn onto Furrows Road and you'll see the Farmer's Market on your right.) It is run by J. Kings, Long Island's largest food distributor. The company has about 65 trucks delivering food to stores and restaurants all across Long Island. Owner John King says that every day, his empty, refrigerated trucks are driving back from deliveries in Montauk and Orient, so he decided to bring back produce from East End farms. He then sells it directly from his parking lot in Holtsville. It was kind of experimental and he opened it this summer not knowing what to expect, but it's gotten a big turnout. His goal was to get chefs to come and see what local farms have to offer and to buy their goods to serve in their restaurants. But it's also open to the public and it's proving popular. And East End farmers love having somewhere else to sell their produce -- instead of trucking it themselves into Hunt's Point in the city. For now, the Farmer's Market is open Wednesdays through Saturdays 9-to-4. I've included some links where you can get more information. You can also see it first-hand on my East End Show this weekend (along with a story about a fun and educational boat ride you can take with your family -- and a story about the largest buffalo ranch in the northeast that's located right in Riverhead!) The show times are Saturday at 7 am, 11, 1 and 3 and Sunday 7, 9, 11:30 and 3:30. There are also other Farmer's Markets scattered throughout Long Island that provide produce picked that morning from the field. But for a real treat, pay a visit yourself to an East End farmstand. The quality is excellent, I guarantee it'll be the best corn-on-the-cob you've ever eaten and -- just think -- the money you plunk down to buy your food all goes to preserving the beautiful scenery in front of you.
I got a tour of the Hewlett House, a community resource center run by the "1 in 9 Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition." The building is over 3-hundred years old and sits on E. Rockaway Road. But that's not the amazing part.
What struck me was the moment you set foot inside the old house, you feel at home. It's decorated with soft colors and cozy furniture. It's like your living room. There are weekly support groups, workshops, and classes for anyone diagnosed with cancer. Families are welcome too. There's even a room full of wigs and padded bras for breast cancer patients.
Of course, the truly amazing part is that the home is staffed by volunteers. Social workers, teachers, artists, mental health professionals, and "1 in 9" President Geri Barish. A three time cancer survivor, she is someone you can just talk to.
The Hewlett House is located at 86 East Rockaway Road in Hewlett.
It's open Monday through Thursday - 9 a.m. to 5p.m. and is open -- free of charge -- to all residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as well as the city. Just walk in the door. No appointment necessary.
Call for a class schedule: (516) - 374 - 3190, or visit their website:
Acres of musicians thundering on flashing, strobe-lit drums, a massive video globe that rises from the floor of the stadium, dancers in fluttering costumes that soar hundreds of feet on invisible cables. Synchronized fireworks burst with precision over an entire city.
Welcome to China's coming out party.
It may be the world's most expensive photo op: China's authoritarian government reportedly spent 100 million dollars on the lavish opening day ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Might have been worth it: Four hours of un-edited prime time in front of an estimated worldwide audience of 4 billion people.
And I've got a front row seat. Along with my kids, Tara, 19, and Kevyn, 15, and Danny, my 15-year-old nephew.
Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony
It's the first trip to China for all of us. On the plane heading east from our stopover in Honolulu, we were pumped but a little wary. The guide books are full of caution: Don't talk politics. Don't argue (especially with cab drivers). Don't take pictures of official buildings. Be careful of what you say on your cell phone.
The reality seems less intimidating, at least at first. We waltzed through customs at Beijing International Airport in what almost seemed like a New York minute. No hassles, just polite bows and "enjoy your stay." There's even a set of buttons at the passport checkpoint that allows you to rate your "satisfaction" with the experience. Hey you Homeland Security people, are you listening?
The theme of the Beijing Olympics is "One World, One Dream." In China's dream, the country bursts onto the world stage with a population of a billion eager consumers, a turbocharged economy and full international respect as a modern superpower. And they're sparing no effort--or expense--to make that mammoth dream come true.
Mammoth--along with grandiose--is just what you get when you stroll Beijing's Olympic park: Sprawling plazas are studded with state-of-the-art arenas. The granddad of them all is the 91 thousand seat National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest." The soaring mesh of ribbon-like steel columns that give it the name appear almost weightless. But the stadium itself is so vast it seems unworldly. Looking up from inside, the sky is an oval the size of an asteroid. It has a built-in shopping mall and luxury hotel. China plunked down tens of billions on this and other Olympic mega-projects, such as a pristine new subway line to pump in the crowds. It's all a marvel…though for us, the setup is not without flaws. Note to President Hu Jintao--What's with those mile-long walks from the security gates to the competitions? Why march people in endless loops to get to a subway entrance? And how about selling real hot dogs instead of those mysterious bread and tomato-sauce things.
Also, the smog. Jeesh. Even though the government shut down factories and banned half the city's 3 million cars from the roads, we could barely see the sun's disk through all that grey haze. We felt it, though. Beijing was like the inside of a wok for the first three days of our trip until rain and less steamy air moved in.
Beijing Street Scenes
Not that I'm complaining, really. The Chinese are a gracious, friendly people. In five days we never ran into a scowling face. And they seem almost fanatical about making visitors happy. The manager at our hotel restaurant didn't really understand "American" coffee, but told me with almost dark intensity that he'd brew my pot ten times if necessary to get it right. On the Olympic grounds, fresh-faced young volunteers in blue armbands appeared everywhere, ready to cheerfully answer questions from the densest of us Westerners.
It's all part of Olympic fever China style. But it's a fever with an extreme patriotic edge. The Games are like a national pep rally. Hordes of Chinese from all over the country have jammed the capital to cheer on the country's athletes and indulge in the glory of the moment. Buildings are draped with multi-story Olympic banners. Everywhere you go there are street merchants peddling red bandanas and face stickers with the bright red Chinese flags on them. And the crowds go thunderously nuts whenever a Chinese athlete does anything remotely good.
On opening night, throngs of tourists and locals with no prayer of getting tickets whooped it up in the streets as the lavish show played out on large screen TVs.
But there's a dark undercurrent that spoils the party: China's reputation as a human rights bad boy. And the government, despite promises, hasn't done much to beat that rap. In the run-up to the Games, dissidents were rounded up and imprisoned. An American cyclist had his visa revoked for criticizing Bejing's support of the Sudanese government, which has been accused of conducting genocide in Darfur. That's on top of persecuting churchgoers, busting up protestors in Tibet and the alleged repression of Muslim Uighurs in the country's west.
Chinese authorities have flooded the streets with hot-and-cold running cops and military patrols. Officially, the reason is terrorist threats. (In fact, when we arrived the state media was reporting that 16 officers had been killed in another province by Uighur separatists). But critics wonder if the government is more afraid of peaceful protest than terror attacks.
It all hit home when I persuaded the kids to take a 20 minute stroll from our hotel to Tienanmen square. I wanted them to see the place where in that famous picture, a lone protestor faced down a column of tanks. Along the way, grey-shirted cops in their military-style caps stood stiffly, their eyes flickering over the crowds. As we walked by, a group of a half dozen or so swarmed a man sitting on the curb with a paper grocery bag. When we arrived at the square-it was closed for the second day. Tourists-mostly Chinese-lined the barricades, staring pensively at the columns of cops and soldiers goose-stepping across the empty plaza. While we did the same, a police van pulled up behind us and began squawking at the crowd in a vaguely menacing tone. "We don't even speak Mandarin, let's get out of here," urged Kevyn. We did.
Communist paranoia aside, Beijing is a place of curious contrasts. Signs of new affluence abound: Trendy cafes, luxury hotels, big name boutiques. My daughter, Tara, noticed that many 20-something Beijing women are right on the money with fashion trends you'd see in the States. On the other hand, many of the city's residents still can't afford cars, so the streets are teeming with bikes. Enormous cranes crowd the skyline, erecting modernistic new office and apartment towers at an insane pace. But it's also a place where couples and families stroll through peaceful parks and along picturesque lakes that once were the playground of the imperial court. We saw young parents snapping pictures of their kids in brilliant, elaborate gardens outside drab government buildings.
At the center of town is the Forbidden City, a mammoth, hauntingly beautiful moated palace where Chinese emperors ruled in quiet isolation for thousands of years. Ironically, it's right here that you can get an insight into part of what drives modern China. Outside one of the central throne rooms with its graceful wing-like roof is a large metal urn that is heavily scuffed. British troops scraped off its gold lining with their bayonets after overrunning the palace during the Opium Wars, which were fought to protect England's use of drugs to pay for Chinese goods. Chinese officials chose to keep the defaced urn on display. "To remind us of our shame," our guide explains to us.
China has taken its share of beatings over the last century or so. First the British, then the brutal World War II occupation by the Japanese. They've had enough of being shamed by outsiders. Which could be one reason why they get awfully touchy about human rights criticism from the West.
Hosting the biggest, flashiest Olympics ever - along with attempting to win the most gold medals - is one way to say: "We've arrived." The question is, where does China go now? And will more civil rights for its citizens be a part of the "dream"?
We all hear "reduce- reuse- recycle"-- when it comes to saving the planet! In this week's Go Green with 12-- we show you a way you can -- RECYCLE & get your old glasses REUSED -- by someone who really needs it!
It's called the "Gift of Sight" program. I headed to Holbrook's Lenscrafters to check out how the program works-- and I was surprised by just how many glasses they already have this month. ( That location was working with the Lions Club in their collections & they had hundreds of glasses!! Go Long Island!)
Sunglasses- bifocals- reading glasses-little kids glasses- Red- black- silver- gold- So many styles-
I don't wear prescription glasses but I still have a few pairs of sunglasses sitting in my drawers right now that I really won't wear again. And that's exactly what they need!!
So if you're wondering how the program works-- here's the gist- It started in1 988-- and it's actually a family of charitable programs providing free vision care and eyewear to underprivileged people in North America and in developing countries around the world.
These programs have helped six million people on five continents and in hundreds of communities across North America.
Specifically in the U.S. and Canada program volunteers and optometrists provide free eye exams and new eyewear to more than 340,000 people in need. Since they started they've helped more than 3.5 million people just in North America.
Each year Give the Gift of Sight volunteers and optometrists partner with Lions Club members and hand-deliver recycled eyewear to developing countries around the world. They also provide eye exams too! Each two-week mission is designed to help nearly 20,000 people.
It was a moment that changed Chris Levi's life forever; a moment that he will never forget. Riding in his military vehicle in what's become one of the most dangerous locations in Iraq, a road, an explosion was triggered. In an instant, Levi lost both his legs. Part of his hand was blown off in the split second incident as well. The Army corporal from Holbrook says he didn't even feel any pain and knew right away what happened. Others with him were killed or injured. He remembers calmly telling anyone who would listen that he had lost his legs. Towels and blankets were wrapped quickly around his knees. The next thing he remembers, he woke up in a military hospital in Germany the next day.
This Friday, August 15th, starting in the 8 am hour, we'll bring you "A Soldier's Story" -- an amazing tale of courage, patriotism and optimism. As Chris spends months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center trying to learn to walk all over again -- this time with artificial limbs -- he still smiles and says how he loves his country, always wanted to serve in the military and has no regrets about what happened to him. He'll talk about how proud he is helping the Iraqi people in small villages trying to build a life of freedom. Watching him do his physical therapy makes you sad, makes you proud and makes you feel humbled. We all get stressed at work. We all get angry at unnecessary traffic jams and the high cost of living we have here on Long Island. We get upset when our team loses, angry at our kids when they didn't do like we told them. We get angry at poor service at a restaurant and wonder "why these things always happen to me" when all the close parking spaces are taken at the mall. And then there's people like Chris Levi. Let's hope we all keep him in mind the next time we feel like we have something to complain about. And let's always remember the thousands of our men and women overseas right now -- some of whom won't come home to their families -- others who will return with no physical injuries, but with emotional and psychological scars that will affect them and their families forever.
I hope you can join me for A Soldier's Story airing this Friday. And here is a link you might want to check out. The Holbrook Fire Department and other agencies are trying to raise money for renovations that are needed for Chris' house when he returns to Long Island.
Full disclosure here. I don't own a gun. I almost did once - but decided against it in the end. But suffice to say I am very comfortable around them. As a child I went through the NRA's Light Rifle Sport Shooting Course, achieving the rank of Sharpshooter Bar 9. I have been hunting, and even fired some pretty sophisticated military weapons, including The Mark 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher (here's a interesting video of it in action) with some Long Island Marine Reservists. So I like to think I know a thing or two about guns.
A few weeks ago Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D) Mineola introduced new legislation on Capital Hill to eliminate what she calls is a loophole in gun laws. Did you know that even though a felon can not legally buy a firearm, he/she can work in a gun store? McCarthy says gun store workers don't get any sort of federal background checks. Her legislation HR 6676 will require gun store employees to go through the same background check as someone who is purchasing a handgun.
Not surprisingly some gun store owners feel this is just another gun law that chips away at the Second Amendment. Store owners are required to pass a federal criminal background for their dealer license. But when it comes to their employees, many local municipalities require background checks and report employees lists to the federal government already. Also they add most people who work at gun stores are gun owners themselves and have already gone though background checks.
So what's the point of this bill? McCarthy says in other parts of the country where gun laws are not as strict as in New York, there are lots of people with questionable records that work with or around guns. She just wants those who sell guns, like in big sporting good stores or small "mom & pop" shops, to be checked. She adds the checks shouldn't be an inconvenience, because stores already have to do checks on customers when they purchase a gun. Most places even have machines to do instant checks.
Could a giant rubber snake be the future of renewable energy?
This weeks future files features the "anaconda".
It produces electricity as it is squeezed by passing waves.
The developers say it would produce more energy than existing wave-energy devices and be cheaper to maintain. ( check out the links on the future file page to read more about other wave energy devices)
Just think about the possibilities for us here on Long Island--
The tube is flexible-- and kinda looks like a giant sausage & as it flows along with the water it is almost reminiscent of a wind sock (under the sea).
As each wave passes the rubber gets squeezed.
That produces a bulging pressure wave that travels down the length of the tube.
When the bulge reaches the end it sets turbines spinning to generate electricity.
Right now they're testing mini Anacondas in wave tanks to figure out any glitches to the system.
The creator says those preliminary results are promising.
The full-scale Anaconda should produce 1 megawatt - enough to power around 2,000 houses!!
The creators hope to have a 1/3 scale model for testing in the sea next year and say a full-scale Anaconda could be commercially available in 5 years.
I got to be a big shot the other night! I took Elisa DiStefano's "What's Going On" advice, and went to see the nationally known Billy Joel tribute band "Big Shot" at TR Park in Oyster Bay. Mike DelGuidice and the guys in the band call it the ultimate Billy Joel Experience. And it was.
Mike, the lead singer, started playing in piano bars - in Port Jeff in fact - when he got out of high school. The music that really clicked for him is that of "The Piano Man" himself, Billy Joel. So, 10 years ago, Mike put together "Big Shot" based on Billy's hit song. And since then, these guys have played all over the country. "These guys," by the by, include drummer Sal DeVitto who is the brother of Billy's drummer Liberty DeVitto.
Also in the band - Nick Dimichino, Kenny Cino, John Scarpulla and Mark Alexander.
How good are these guys? So good that Billy Joel himself has been known to show up at some of their shows!
But what made that night in Oyster Bay especially special for me was the appearance of original Billy Joel band sax player Richie Cannata! Richie plays with "Big Shot" as his schedule allows - a couple of times a year. Richie started playing with Billy in the 1970s. That kid from Garden City South, aligned with the kid from Hicksville. Just making good music. Great music. I've always said Richie makes his sax "sing." It sounds like a voice to me.
Richie and I go way back. I mean way back...to the days of Ferns Wine and Cheese place in Roslyn village, just a few doors up from My Fathers Place. I was doing news at WLIR radio at the time, and we did a lot of promotional work at Ferns. Billy used to blow through there and play sometimes. A great treat. And that's where I got to know Richie. "Rico," as Billy shouts out to him in some recorded songs, is as soulful a man as he is a sax player. He's all energy on stage, and in his personal life.
For 20 years Richie's been the proud owner of Cove City Sound Studios - a recording studio in Glen Cove - where he's recorded everyone from Long Island's J-Lo and Marc Anthony, Ashante and Mariah Carey to N'SYnc, Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys and that other LI boy, Billy Joel!
But when he's up there on stage himself, Richie brings true Billy Joel band magic. In fact, I saw an interview recently with one of Billy's producers who said he told Billy early on that his records with other musicians didn't have the same magic as his live shows. The producer credited "the band" that included Richie. Richie has played with the Beach Boys for years.
Now, back to "Big Shot." These guys do it for the fun of it all! They played everything from "Big Shot" (of course), "NY State of Mind" (Rico ripped it!), "Downeaster Alexa," and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (you know it - Christianos in Syosset).
I love that "Big Shot" takes requests, including one of my favs, "Only the Good Die Young."
Come out Virginia, don't let me me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one
Only the good die young
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for that song, because I know Virginia and her family. I grew up with the Callahans in Hicksville. They lived a few houses from Billy Joel. I went to school with MaryAlice. Virginia was the big sister. Her younger brother Mike was a guitar player in my brother's band "Hadrian Decree" for years. Mrs. Callahan was the organist in our church, Holy Family in Hicksville. In fact word is, Billy Joel brought Virginia and her mom "Mrs. Callahan" to a concert years ago - and sang to her! (How many girls can say they turned down Billy Joel, huh Virginia!?!)
As a Catholic School girl myself, I loved "Big Shot's" rendition. And if you like Billy Joel's music, get a little closer by going to see and hear "Big Shot" in person. That's what my buddy Elizabeth Hashagen does for her birthday every year! Big Shot's website has their full concert schedule.
And it wasn't just the music I liked. These guys are just dolls. So nice to the audience. They actually take requests during the show! And lead singer Mike DelGuidice does other work too. In fact, he's got his own website that tells you about the work he does beyond "Big Shot." But I've seen Mike's best productions ever! He brought 2 of his 4 children on stage with him for "We Didn't Start the Fire." Nothing personal, Dad, but these kids really stole the show from you!
I've also got to give photo credit here to my friend Mitch Schlimer who was also there that night. (Mitch's pictures are thebetter ones here. He's got a "big shot" camera compared to my little pocket one. In fact, he's got many beautiful pictures on his own two websites. ) Thanks Mitch, for the "tender moments."
Oh yeah, and about me being a "big shot" for a moment. When I got to the park that night and found out "Rico" Richie Cannata was playing, I went back to say hi. It was great for both of us to catch up with an old friend. Then Richie said, "I've got a great idea. Would you introduce us?" Would I? Ummm... Let me check my schedule. Um. OK! And so I did. And for one, brief shining moment, I was a rock n'roll star - well on stage with some rock stars - for a moment!
I'm all about freedom of speech - heck I work in an industry that exists because of the First Amendment. So when I read the other day that a federal judge slapped a gag order on a bunch of college students giving a presentation I was shocked.
The kids didn't yell fire in a crowded theater or slandering someone's reputation, They wanted to talk about security flaws in the Boston Transit System's fare card system. When did The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's CharlieTicket and CharlieCard (that's similar to the MetroCard for us New Yorkers) become a national secret? Well it became that when a bunch of MIT computer students said they figured out how to hack the card and get unlimited rides on "The T" for free.
The students were featured speakers at the annual DefCon computer hackers convention last week in Las Vegas. But the MBTA slapped then with a federal suit, putting the brakes on their presentation called “The Anatomy of a Subway Hack.”
Say what you will about the idea that someone would reveal a public entity's computer weaknesses, but the fact is these students were giving their presentation in an open forum. Their work is also published now on a public website (Click here to read it), and in the end were not planning on revealing the actual steps to adding money to a card. So why then did a judge slap a gag order on the students? The MTBA said the students speech would cause irreparable harm to the transit system before it could fix the flaws. The gag order was placed on the students until after the DefCon convention was over.
Ironically in the MTBA's court filings, they produced internal documents that show even more security flaws to their computer system. (Click here to read them)
Now lawyers with the Electronic Frontier Foundation are representing the MIT students and legal action I'm sure is pending. But in the end were these students right of free speech squashed? Was their academic research into computer security somehow cut down by the courts? You be the judge, then slide your MetroCard through the turnstile.
We weren't home for the opening ceremonies but DVR'ed it and then the kids and I watched it the next day. I was amazed at the technology and rich cultural background of the performances -- the kids liked the colors, the fireworks and the gymnastics. (Did you see the people that were running around what looked like the earth or the torch bearer who ran around the top of the entire stadium?!)
The Parade of Nations was the best geography lesson EVER! We sat there with a globe and tried to find some of the countries as they walked in.
We saw the athletes from Suriname enter the stadium, so we looked it up on the globe... In case you didn't know, it's on the northern part of South America. Of course we found Spain because they think that's where "Dora the Explorer" is from. Then there's Kai-Lan...another kids show about a Chinese-American girl...so we found China. Of course, we would have found that one anyway so I could point out where Beijing is. They were actually familiar with the Great Wall of China...my parents went to China and the kids had seen it on an episode of "The Little Einsteins." We found France because they've heard of The Eiffel Tower. We checked out Italy...they had seen a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at the credit union.
So far we've watched basketball, soccer, gymnastics, weightlifting, diving, beach volleyball and equestrian dressage. (Beach volleyball was a BIG hit...and they thought it was cool that the president was there.)
I DVR'ed swimming for them because it was on past their bedtime.
And if you're feeling up to a challenge -- let's call it an OLYMPIC CHALLENGE...try making a list of as many dates and locations of previous Olympics dating back to 1896 -- then check your answers against this official list.
And if you're ready for another test of your brain power -- see how many sports you can list that are part of the Olympic games -- then compare yours to this one.
Hey -- don't worry about how many you got wrong -- just count up the correct answers and be proud of yourself...you win a gold medal for trying!
And as a final note...I thought you'd get a kick out of these gems from my kids. You know the saying, out of the mouths of babes?
My 5 year old isn't that impressed with the man that just did a triple flip off the rings..."Mommy I can probably do 10 -- you know that's really hard."
My 7 year old can't quite understand why it's so difficult to get tickets to see the Olympics..."When I'm in the Olympics you'll definitely come watch me, right?"
Hope you're enjoying the games as much as my family!!
On Sunday, August 10th, I read a brilliant story by Michael Winerip in the New York Times about Olympic star Michael Phelps.
The story emphasized that people should be judged by what they can do, not by what they can't.
Michael Phelps, the World's greatest swimmer, had adjusting problems as a tall, gangly, mischievous kid who could never sit still, stayed on the run and was troubled by bullying classmates. When Michael couldn't concentrate on school work, it became apparent that medical assistance was needed. For two years Michael was put on Ritalin, a drug to treat hyperactivity.
Michael's two sisters were excellent swimmers and swimming became Michael's passion. Waiting his turn, Michael would sit still, concentrating on techniques and showed terrific ability in the pool. By age eleven, Michael's swim coach Bob Bowman was predicting Michael would be an Olympian. By age 16, Michael had his first world record. He continues to rewrite history.
I find Michael's story one that holds Olympic significance for us all.
There's no doubt that one of the most exciting moments of our teenage years is getting our driver's license. It means freedom, independence, and really feeling like an adult for the first time.
But, sadly, that thrilling milestone also puts teenagers in the most life-threatening position of their lives. According to the National Safety Council, driving or riding in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous activity a teen can do - with car crashes accounting for 36% of all deaths between the ages of 16 and 24.
Why? Mostly inexperience. They're most at risk in the first 12 to 24 months of driving. And the two most dangerous conditions, because they are so inexperienced, is driving with passengers, and driving at night. Unfortunately, we have seen those two conditions, both alone and together, take young Long Island lives.
The statistics are so grim that a number of organizations are offering programs aimed at making teenage drivers safer drivers. The most important component of every one of them is parental involvement. Parents need to know what situations put their young driver most at risk, everything from what time of day they're driving to what type of car they're driving.
Sit down and talk to your kids about the dangers of driving the same way you sit down and talk to them about anything else that can harm them. There are a lot of sources out there that can help you do that. The National Safety Council puts out A Family Guide to Teen Driver Safety. It also developed the Alive at 25 Parent Program, a 3-hour course for parents that gives them a clear understanding of the risks their young drivers face and how to help them make the right decisions to become safe and responsible drivers. AAA New York offers the Start Smart program.
And some new driving programs are popping up that go way beyond Driver's Ed. They're designed to give teens a "hands-on" driving experience in real world situations. In a one-day course, trained instructors teach your kids in the very same car they'll drive everyday. This way they get to know the vehicle's handling limits and how they can control them. Check out the website for one program called Street Survival for more information. To watch a Street Survival session, click here.
Suffolk Police just wrapped up a similar program here on Long Island. They've offered it for the past three years. They call it a "Crash Course in Crash Avoidance." Last year about 140 kids participated in the program.
Here's some great advice from the National Safety Council:
No one regulation or procedure, Driver Education program, state law, or extended supervised practice can, by itself, make your teen a safer driver. There's no silver bullet. Only a combination of practice, gradual exposure to higher risk situations, and ongoing parental involvement, can reduce a teen's chance of crashing.
I have seen and done lots of exciting things over the years. I watched a space shuttle launch from just 5 miles away. I've seen the Aurora Borealis. I even had a flight on Air Force One. But one thing I have never seen is a tornado. Not that I want to be too near a really big one, but safely distant from even a weak one would be just fine. Well, I was almost able to scratch that one off my to do list (or considering my age, my "bucket list") yesterday afternoon.
Check out this photo taken within a mile of the News 12 studios. It sure looks like a tornado, although in the Photo Shop age, one never really knows. Of course I was inside doing weather updates and never even had a chance to look out.
We did however see a very strong radar image with what might have been the signature of rotation. The arrow points to the area in the photograph.
There was also a waterspout that developed in the Oyster Bay/Center Island area on the north shore. We received a great photo of that one and there is absolutely no doubt what it was. We even showed a video on air. A water spout is essentially a tornado over water, but there are some significant differences. First, they tend to be weaker than tornadoes with most producing winds in the 60 to 90 mph range. They also form differently. Tornadoes develop as rotation in a cloud extends to the surface. Water spouts on the other hand normally develop on the surface of the water and extend upward to the cloud. The rotation becomes visible as water vapor within the funnel condenses.
I interviewed Nelson back in July and he told me all about it. In fact, he divulged--he had just rewritten the ending that day because his publisher didn't like it. I found that funny and fascinating.
I asked him, could he write several endings and let the reader decide--he laughed politely.
The book, which is due out in October (Nelson says-the publishers are either brilliant or idiots on how they decide release dates) is sure to be a page turner!
Here is the synopsis:
"When John Sutter's aristocratic wife killed her Mafia don lover, John left America and set out in his sailboat on a three-year journey around the world, eventually settling in London. Now, ten years later, he has come home to the Gold Coast, that stretch of land on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America, to attend the imminent funeral of an old family servant. Taking up temporary residence in the gatehouse of Stanhope Hall, John finds himself living only a quarter of a mile from Susan who has also returned to Long Island. But Susan isn't the only person from John's past who has reemerged: Though Frank Bellarosa, infamous Mafia don and Susan's ex-lover, is long dead, his son, Anthony, is alive and well, and intent on two missions: Drawing John back into the violent world of the Bellarosa family, and exacting revenge on his father's murderer--Susan Sutter. At the same time, John and Susan's mutual attraction resurfaces and old passions begin to reignite, and John finds himself pulled deeper into a familiar web of seduction and betrayal. In The Gate House, acclaimed author Nelson DeMille brings us back to that fabled spot on the North Shore -- a place where past, present, and future collides with often unexpected results."
Nelson is an interesting guy--witty, personable, and willing to sit down and have a good chat about you name it--politics--movie deals--characters in his books--life here on Long Island.
I find his works not only entertaining but smart--and I like the novels that are located on Long Island. {I also have a crush on his fictional character John Corey.}
While reading Plum Island and especially Night Fall, I got a kick out of the factual aspects that are woven into the fictional stories.
Since I covered TWA for many months for News 12 Long Island, it was fascinating to read Night Fall, which is a fictional account of the horrendous event. (Don't tell me the ending--I am still reading it, along with six other books this summer.)
I am hoping we can get Nelson on the air sometime in October when his book is about to be launched.
Nelson told me about his fabulous launching parties. {I hope he invites the press!} Mary Clark Higgins, her daughter Carol, both fabulous writers--and other glittery literary types along with notable well knowns will toast Nelson DeMille's newest offering.
Nelson is not thrilled with the timing of "The Gate House" release date--right before a national election--but he believes by then the country will have had enough of the presidential race and will want to delve into some escapist reading! Nelson also believes McCain will pick Hillary for a running mate, and Obama will pick Bill. :)
By: Carol Silva
The race for open space is in its final stretch on Long Island!
By Elisa DiStefano
By Shari Einhorn
We have seen some amazing storms over the past 10 days. Strong winds, flooding roads, funnel clouds and Water spouts. I can't remember a 10 day period in the tri-state area with so much active weather.
Also in the band - Nick Dimichino, Kenny Cino, John Scarpulla and Mark Alexander.
Andrew Ehinger
Bill Korbel
Bob Wolff
Carol Silva
Christine Insinga
Colleen McVey
Danielle Campbell
Doug Geed
Drew Scott
Elisa DiStefano
Elizabeth Hashagen
Erin Colton
Jackie Lukas
Jamie Stuart
Jill Wagner
Ken Grimball
Lea Tyrrell
Mary Mucci
Michael Coleman
Norm Dvoskin
Rich Hoffman
Scott Feldman
Shari Einhorn
Virginia Huie
