Equity First Foundation Announces “Open-Invitation” to Special Evening Supporting “Dancing for a Cure”

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(Huntington, NY) On Wednesday October 25th 2017 Rhonda Klch, founder of Equity First Foundation invites local residents and executives to join her as she hosts an incredible evening with Social Life’s own Christine Montanti.

Christine Montanti. Photo Credit: Equity First Foundation.

Equity First Foundation works with families facing economic challenges.  During the season of breast cancer awareness, Rhonda and Christine have paired to support families that have fallen victim to cancer and assist in lending aide to their medical bills.  This event is offered as a grant by the foundation.

The evening will include selected wine and cheese platters graciously provided by Elegant Affairs, food from PortoFino and entertainment from World Professional Ballroom Dancers Marina Palacios and DimitriySaykovskyy.  Performances will include a “special guest” and local breast cancer survivor in honor of her recovery.

Special thanks to all sponsors and supporters.

For more information or to be placed on a special press list please call (631) 714-4822 or (516) 984-4889.

Keep Safe This Halloween Season With These Tips from Local Personal Injury Law Firm Cohen & Jaffe

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by Christopher Boyle

LONG ISLAND, NY – Halloween has always represented one of the most fun-filled times of the year for many youth, but unfortunately, it also represents a period of both danger and avoidable injuries when the time-honored traditions of trick-or-treating and costumes are not approached with a degree of caution and care as well. There are a great number of issues that can rear their ugly heads during Halloween, and it only takes a split-second error or distraction to result in unfortunate circumstances and serious injury for a child simply out to have fun.

There are a number of time-worn safety tips to adhere to come Halloween, courtesy of law firm Cohen and Jaffe and their years of experience in the realm of personal injury lawsuits. While parents want to keep in mind that Halloween is meant to be a fun and frightening experience for youngsters, taking heed of these simple guidelines will drastically reduce the chances of bumps, bruises, or worse while infringing on the excitement as little as possible.

Halloween Season TipsTrick-or-treating can make for a great time, but it also can expose children to a number of properties, homes, and individuals they are unfamiliar with; with unknown can come danger if caution is not taken. Photo credit: Pixabay.

Trick-or-Treat with an Adult: Encounters with strangers can be a major issue when engaging in Halloween festivities, so children ages 12 and under should never go out alone on Halloween for trick-or-treating; they should always have a responsible adult walking with them at all times, especially if they venture into a neighborhood that is unfamiliar. Children older than 12 that are allowed to trick-or-treat should nonetheless adhere to common sense safety practices, including remaining in neighborhoods that they know, staying in a group, and sticking to well-lit areas.

The hazards posed by strangers cannot be overstated; older children and some adults are known to be pranksters on Halloween, and there are numerous reports of frightened children suffering an injury while fleeing from a particularly bad scare, even one made in simple jest. In addition, the Halloween season also gives rise to the number of incidents involving both bullies and predators, many of whom prey upon the younger set, so remaining with a responsible adult at all times (or a group of friends or guardians if an order child) is a must for kids when it comes to playing it safe on Halloween.

Exercise Traffic Safety: With the excitement that comes with Halloween may also come a moment of neglect or carelessness; when this happens in an area with a high concentration of automobiles, that’s a recipe for disaster. Always cross streets at corners while using traffic signals ad crosswalks, and make sure to look left, right, and left again before crossing. Cell phones and other electronic devices should be put away so as to not distract attention and eyesight elsewhere when crossing any roadway, and making eye contact with stopped drivers before venturing out into the street is highly recommended. Always remain on sidewalks and pathways, and remain vigilant for cars that may be backing up out of driveways.

Make Sure Costumes are Both Creative and Safe: Be it a store-bought costume or something home-made, costumes are a major staple of the Halloween season. However, care should be put into making sure that they do not represent a danger to your children by interfering with their vision or mobility when they head out for an evening of Trick-or-Treating with friends or family members. If possible, decorate costumes or treat bags – which should be light in color, if possible – with reflective decals or tape so that they stand out to approaching motorists; in addition, glow sticks are helpful as well. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, making it hard for them to see vehicles and other potential threats; face paint makes a festive and safer alternative. And finally, sizing when it comes to costumes is vital; one that is too big can present a tripping or falling hazard, and one that is too small can restrict mobility when it’s needed most.

Distracted Driving: Now more than ever, drivers are faced with a plethora of distractions while driving; cell phone calls, texting, and GPS use are among the many every-day things that may pry concentration away from the roadway and are to be avoided at all costs. However, add in the additional issues that driving during the Halloween season may present – including elaborately decorated homes, front-yard parties, and groups of people sporting eye-catching costumes – the odds of a potential accident are increased exponentially. It is the responsibility of drivers to remain cognizant of the road and everything in it at all times while not engaging in unlawful distractions such as cell phone use; likewise, it is the responsibility of parents to make sure that their children are properly supervised and exercise good traffic safety sense.

Drivers should drive slowly in residential neighborhoods come Halloween time, as kids can often move with unpredictability; also take extra time stopping at stop signs and intersections, as well as when entering and exiting driveways and alleys. Popular trick-or-treating hours are typically between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Animal Encounters: Last but not least, trick-or-treating can make for a great time, but it also can expose children to a number of properties, homes, and individuals that they are unfamiliar with; and with the unknown can come danger if caution is not taken. While most homeowners are well-meaning, the frequency that doors open and close while tending to young trick-or-treaters can result in a family pet – such as a dog, who may react negatively to a perceived trespasser – if getting loose, the results could be a painful animal bite or worse, so children and their parents or guardians should always be wary about approaching an unknown house, and they should never go near or pet a dog or other animal that they do not personally know. According to reports, over 800,000 people every year – nearly half of that number being children – suffer from animal bites that result in a trip to the doctor at Halloween time.

Hurt During Halloween? Contact Our Team of Personal Injury Attorneys: Above all else, Halloween should be a source of family-friendly excitement and wonder for kids and adults of all ages, and by adhering to our aforementioned common sense safety tips, you should keep your risk of any issues at a minimum. However, should you become hurt or injured through no fault of your own – or the neglect, indifference, or willful act of another – while out enjoying the Halloween holiday, call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP at 1-866-878-6774 now or fill out our simple form for a free consultation.

Museum of American Armor Announces Lawrence Trivigno of Bethpage Federal Credit Union Appointed to Board

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(Long Island, NY) President and founder of the Museum of American Armor, Lawrence Kadish, has announced that Lawrence Trivigno, Assistant Vice President of Business Development for Bethpage Federal Credit Union, has been appointed to serve on the museum’s board. He joins former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Ed Blumenfeld of BDG, Ltd., Michael Polimeni of Polimeni International, Frederick Daum of PSEG Long Island, Michael Sapraicone of Squad Security, Steve Napolitano of Amtrust Title Insurance Company, Rev. Calvin Butts, president of SUNY at Old Westbury, and Reese Dameron, Esq., an attorney with the New York law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

Lawrence Trivigno. Photo Credit: Jim Lennon.

Lawrence is a graduate of SUNY Farmingdale with a degree in Computer Programming & Information Systems and is currently pursuing an additional degree in communications. A Deer Park resident, he is active in a broad range of volunteer organizations that underscore his personal commitment to worthy causes and the support his employer, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, offers to organizations across the region.

Museum trustee Michael Sapraicone stated, “Lawrence and Bethpage Federal Credit Union (BFCU) represent the powerful corporate commitment our region has to honoring the courage and valor of our veterans. We are delighted to welcome him to the board so that we may be assured of continuing to expand our role as a destination for families to learn more about their own citizen soldiers and to serve as an educational center for our thousands of annual visitors.”

Mr. Trivigno said, “I am deeply honored to be associated with a museum that has breathed life into our American military heritage and the family history of so many New Yorkers. I believe we have a responsibility to keep their individual stories alive and this institution has effectively harnessed armor vehicles for the purpose of achieving that goal. Having participated in one of its programs I know firsthand just how effective it is in fulfilling its mission, and I look forward to building on that success.”

The Museum of American Armor at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, is a living tribute to every American who has worn the uniform and those who continue to defend our nation today. Its collection includes World War II tanks, artillery, armored cars and weapons that broke the back of the Axis powers over seventy years ago.

It is open Wednesday through Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults; $8 for children 5 – 12 (under 5 admitted free); and $8 for seniors, volunteer firefighters and veterans. Admission provides visitors with access to both the armor museum and the adjacent Old Bethpage Village Restoration. More information can be found at www.museumofamericanarmor.org and on Facebook.

Decorative Hats Abound at the SSMAC 7th Annual Kentucky Derby Brunch

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Ladies and Gents in their finest attire, hats and bow ties, gathered at the SSMAC’s 7th Annual Kentucky Derby Brunch to support The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club.

The Junior Committee of the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard & Airmen’s Club (SSMAC) cordially invited all to attend its Annual Kentucky Derby Brunch and Viewing Party with the addition of the celebration of the America’s Cup races at their headquarters location on Lexington Avenue.


Devin Markowitz with Cognac

Each year the event includes: catered brunch and tasty desserts, open bar featuring Mint Juleps, brunch cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages and of course a viewing of the day’s America’s Cup and Kentucky Derby races.

Guest arrived wearing seersucker suits, yachting blazers, sundresses, silk cravats, bold bow ties, fascinators, sun hats and their nautical best. Supporters also enjoyed a Kentucky Derby Hat and Bow-Tie Parade for a chance to win best bow-tie (gentleman) or best hat (ladies). The horse race raffle and silent auction were equally fun!


Guests wearing their finest Hats and Fascinators

During the event I had a chance to chat with Maruschka D. Valentin, SSMAC Junior Committee Vice-President.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the SSMAC 7th Annual Kentucky Derby Brunch and I am here with Maruschka Valentin who invited me to this event as she always does every year. This is tremendous, what an event.

Maruschka: Thank you so much Cognac. It’s so wonderful to have you here again at The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club for our 7th Annual Kentucky Derby Brunch. We are so excited with the turnout. We are expecting 150 people here at this afternoon’s event and everyone seems to be having a great time.

Well it’s a beautiful event. The hats are gorgeous, the women are beautiful, the men are adorable in their bow-ties.

Maruschka: Everyone really brings it. It just makes the event that much more because everyone puts so much effort to their clothing, hair, bow-tie choices so it really is a fun afternoon. I look forward to it every year.

Tell my audience how many years you have been supporting this event?

Maruschka: I am one of the vice presidents of the Junior Committee which is a group of young professionals and I have been involved probably about six years now with the club. We hold different events throughout the year but the Kentucky Derby is our main fundraising event. All of the proceeds goes right back to the club so they can pay for their utilities and also keep the cost low for the men and women who are staying here at the club.


Marushka Valentin with Cognac

This is for the Marines and anyone that is in the armed forces?

Maruschka: Yes, It’s for active duty, off duty, retired military also NYPD and NFDY and the club has been in operation since 1919.

Wow, that’s a long time. Now you have these other events here as well.

Maruschka: Yes

Tell my audience….in the winter time you have a Marine Ball, don’t you do that as well?

Maruschka: In October the main fundraiser for the organization is the Military Ball and each year they honor a different branch of the armed forces. So last year was an army year so I am looking forward to see who we are going to honor this year. As the Junior Committee we do other events throughout the year. We usually have a care package event about twice a year where we team up a branch that is serving overseas. We select different items, toiletries, magazines, gum, different things that they may need and we send several care packages over to them with handwritten notes by some of our members and often times we do parties with the New York Young Republicans Club as well for that event. It’s also one of my favorites and in the past we have had a Halloween party and smaller networking Happy Hours throughout the city. So we do what we can to support. The mission of the club is to serve those that serve our country.


One of our Military Service Men, Nick Youmker

You do a terrific job. You really do. I want you to tell my audience where we can go to support, participate and contribute, what is the website.

Maruschka: The website is ssmaclub.org

In 1919, Mrs. Cornelia Barnes Rogers and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. with General John J. Pershing founded The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Club. In war and peace, without any U.S. Government funding and supported solely by donations of patriotic Citizens, it has ever since been a “Home Away From Home” for over 2,500,00 men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. We have existed now for over ninety years with our warm, friendly, and safe environment providing hospitality and accommodations for 15,000 Armed Forces personnel annually.


Paul Ervin – Winner of the Bow-Tie Contest

The mission of SSMAC is “To promote the general welfare of men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States and its Allies, and their families, by maintaining and offering club and lodging rooms.”

Singer Amber Ferrari Performs At The Patchogue Theatre For Her Material Girl Concert

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(Patchogue, NY) Singer, songwriter Amber Ferrari dazzled the audience and lit up the stage like a cosmic star performing her special rendition of Madonna’s Material Girl at the newly renovated Patchogue Theatre this past Saturday, April 30, 2016.

Long Island native Amber Ferrari is a recording artist, musician and actress who takes the stage by storm and her performances astound even the most energized entertainer. Amber electrifies the crowd and dance floors wherever she performs! Ferrari packs an exhilarating and emotional punch into every live performance with covers of Melissa Etheridge, Heart, Janis Joplin and more, as well as her own phenomenal original songs. Her many fans delight knowing that no two shows are ever the same!

Renowned for her distinguished Show “Joplin’s Pearl”, Amber continues to electrify the stage. During the first half of her show she performs the music of some of her favorite artists like Melissa Etheridge, Heart, Pat Benatar, Jefferson Airplane and others (as well as her original music)! The second half of her show is dedicated to the greatest rocker of them all, the legendary Janis Joplin. When she steps out on stage dressed as Janis herself and begins to sing you will feel as if you stepped back in time. With complete command of their styles and with authenticity of the music, even the original artists would find Amber Ferrari and her powerful band a “must-see!”

Amber Ferrari’s new show “Material Girl” which premiered this past Saturday, April 30th, was Exhilarating! During the 1st half of the show, by popular demand, Amber performed some of her favorites, as well as her original music. The second part of the show brought audiences back to the 80’s with the Icon Madonna and the hits that got ya’ dancin’ like “Vogue” and “Holiday.”

Before her performance I sat down backstage with Amber Ferrari as she conveyed her excitement about the show and the release of her new CD “Where Your Wishes Fly.”

Cognac: Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with Amber Ferrari and she is going to be in concert with the Material Girl and today is releasing a fabulous new CD. Amazing how exciting for you to be opening up right here at the Patchogue Theatre.

Amber: It’s very exciting.

Tell my audience… you started out doing this with Janis Joplin and Melissa Ethridge and now the Material Girl… now you are doing it with Madonna. Tell my audience what inspired you to do a whole show about the Material Girl?

Amber: Well it is actually the second half of the show that is dedicated to Madonna and growing up I used to listen to Madonna all the time in the 80’s… I love her music so I thought it would be a really be a really fun show to put together, and I did and we are doing it at the Patchogue Theatre, and I am very excited!

We are sitting here amongst all these fabulous costumes. How many costumes changes are you going to be doing this evening?

Amber: In set we are going to do a mixture of Journey, Pat Benatar, Heart, Adele, The Who, Aerosmith, The Eurythmics and a few of my originals from the new CD that was released today. I have five costumes and for the Madonna set I believe I have a total of seven costumes.

Actress Helen Proimos, Singer Amber Ferrari, and Cognac.

Seven costumes, oh my God. Can you tell us a little bit about the costumes.

Amber: Well for the first half of the show the costumes… I basically selected something that I envisioned that fits the style of music that I am performing. Some of them I had made from a design that I had in my head. Others I found in stores and altered them to my liking. For the Madonna set I had a few things made that matched her, especially The Material Girl Gown that she wore in the video from Material Girl.

Oh my God that is amazing. Now tell my audience what inspired you to be an entertainer, a performance artist?

Amber: My parents told me I was singing before I could talk and I have always loved music. I also played violin through school and high school. I just love music so I think it was something I was born with and it is in my blood. My father is a drummer and my father is performing with me tonight. My mom use to play the clarinet and sang. She did all the school musicals. It is in my blood.

What was it about Janis Joplin that you wanted to emulate?

Amber: Well Janice… do a Janis show came up… I was asked to be in a show called “Woodstock Mania,” Woodstock Theater in Theater 3 years back. I believe it was in 2006, 2005 even and I didn’t think I could sing Janis Joplin’s music–not a rock and roll voice–I didn’t think I was. I was trained classically as a teenager for a year and a half and I was assured by the musical director of Theater 3 who was also a vocal coach of mine she thought I could do it. So I said “Alright if I can do it I will do it but if I sound terrible I want you to pull me from the show,” and I did it and I ended up getting two show stopping standing ovations after “Piece of My Heart,” and I said I have to do something with this. The show “Joplin’s Pearl” was born from that. My next “Joplin’s Pearl” will be here at the Patchogue Theatre on October 8th.

Yes, I heard how exciting and now you are doing Madonna, the Material Girl.

Amber: Two totally different genres.

Did you ever… of course you could never meet Janis Joplin unfortunately she passed away so many years ago but did you ever meet Madonna personally?

Amber: No I haven’t. I have seen her in concert.

But you have never met her.

Amber: No, never met her.

Wow, well we have to make that happen, don’t we.

Amber: That would be… I have no words… that would be amazing.

You know you look a little bit like her. Do people tell you that?

Amber: No actually they haven’t but that is a huge honor because she is a beautiful woman so thank you.

She certainly is. She is very beautiful and how exciting about this particular CD. Tell my audience about this CD what are we going to be hearing.

Singer Amber Ferrari and Cognac Singer Amber Ferrari and Cognac.

Amber: The CD is entitled “Where Your Wishes Fly,” which is the second track on the CD, it is a ballad. It’s a song–I wrote everything with my husband who is my guitarist, Chris Ferrari–it’s a song about people just getting through everyday life and you know sometimes wanting to leave their 9 to 5 jobs and just dreaming. It’s about people living in other people’s dreams and being where other people’s wishes fly. The lead off track on the CD is called “My Name is (Karma)” and it talks about karma. If you give good karma you get back good karma. If you give bad karma then bad karma is coming back.

That is true, I tell people that all the time. If you put something negative out in the universe something negative is going to come back to you.

Amber: Absolutely that is what that song is about. The third song on the track is called “Dreamin’,” that’s great. It’s a rock-dance tune. “Karma” is a heavy rock song. After that there is a song entitled “Long Way” that’s mid tempo rock tune followed by “Can’t Explain” which is a punk rock song and then we put a bonus track on there which is a single that we released last year… gee… it’s like, I don’t know how to describe it–Latin dance rock tune. It’s called “Plastic Passes.”

Well I can’t wait to listen to this music. I want you to tell my audience now that I am talking to you at the Patchogue Theatre… you must have a favorite tune… you must have something favorite that you have sung… some Madonna classic that you really love the most?

Amber: I would have to say my favorite is “Vogue.”

Really, what is it about “Vogue?”

Amber: It is really 1990 but I get away with it because it is so close. I don’t know I just like everything about it. There are so many different parts to it.

We are going to hear that tonight?

Amber: Absolutely.

Where can we go to find out more information about your sexy self?

Amber: You can go to my website AmberFerrari.com and on the website are all my links… Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. etc. Thank you so much, Cognac. You’re wonderful for being here tonight.

I also had a chance to chat with Comedian Ike Avellli who opened the concert and introduced Amber.

Comic Ike Avelli, Publicist Bernie Fabig, and Cognac.

Ike Avelli began his career in 2009 as a last minute fill-in at a Christmas Party doing Stand Up comedy. The sound of laughter sealed the deal, and he would continue to write and perform his own material.
To find out more info please visit his website at IkeAvelli.net.

Strawberry Fields Performs Their “Beatles Brunch” for Seventeen Years at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill

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In 1964, the first US arrival of four lads from Liverpool changed the course of music history, as well as world history – forever! Their mere presence in a room made adolescent hearts throb and traffic jam for hours in every major city they toured. We are talking about none other than The Beatles, whose contribution to music defined an era. They affected every area of life including fashion, hairstyles, politics, protests, war, religion, and yes, peace and love.

Most of us never got to see the Beatles in-person because we either couldn’t afford to buy tickets, or were just too young to stay out past 8 PM, but we were able to cling to an old album cover or photograph, hoping one day to catch a real glimpse of the Fab Four. Well, today, “Strawberry Fields” is here, a look-alike, sound-alike Beatles tribute, dedicated to bringing you, the audience, as close to a real Beatles concert as you can get. The band features true look-alike performers, handpicked from hundreds of auditionees, who speak in Liverpudlian accents and play on the vintage musical instruments that Beatles fans have come to recognize.

Strawberry Fields at B.B. King’s.

“Strawberry Fields” will take you on a Magical Mystery Tour through the 1960s beginning with the year 1964 – complete with mop top hair, black suits and thin ties – and through the first four albums of great songs. The next stop is 1967, featuring the psychedelic era of the “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album – with all of the costumes and jackets featured on the album cover, and singing all of your groovy favorites. Their last musical visit is to a place where their hair got longer and their music more politically involved, featuring music from the “White Album,” “Abbey Road,” and “Let It Be.”

“Strawberry Fields” has been performing to audiences of all ages for over a decade and in the past has shared the stage with featured guests from the Broadway cast of “Beatlemania;” Steve Holly, drummer for Paul McCartney who was featured on his second solo album, “Back To The Egg;” Billy J. Kramer (one of Brian Epstein’s original British Invasion stars); Tony Sheridan, who recorded an entire album with The Beatles, themselves; and Pete Best, who (in case you’ve been living under a rock for all these years) was, early in their careers, the drummer of The Beatles! We have enjoyed many press reviews from several acclaimed journals and raves from fans everywhere. We’ve most recently performed an exclusive engagement for “EMI” at “Ruby Foo’s” in NYC, not to mention our 2005, one-time-only 40th anniversary recreation of The Beatles’ historic 1965 concert at Shea Stadium… Shea Stadium! Wow!!!

Every Saturday for the past seventeen years “Strawberry Fields” performs live at B.B. Kings in Times Square for a very special Beatles Brunch. I had the chance to interview Band Leader Tony Garofalo about the history behind the music.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here at the fabulous at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill right here in Times Square, New York and I am here with the Band Leader Tony Garofalo. It’s all about Strawberry Fields. It’s all about a Beatles tribute band.

Tony: All you need is love.

All you need is love darlings. All you need is love. So tell my audience the history behind the music.

Tony: Well first of all the Beatles is my opinion and the bands’ opinion is the greatest music ever written and to be able to perform the Beatles music and do a show with a look alike sound and a look alike routine is just amazing thing and I have been doing it for over thirty years.

Wow.

Tony: I started Strawberry Fields in 1991 and I wanted a group of players all alumni from Beatlemania and Co, the original touring show on Broadway. We wanted a show that we could show the same type of guys. The four core members of the band and get together and do a Beatle show in full costume. We give people a chance to see the Beatles that never got to see the Beatles either they were too young or couldn’t afford tickets or it was too late to see them.

So you are here to bring that memorabilia back that nostalgia back.

Tony: Beatles music is iconic as well as the four individual Beatles themselves. We have been doing it here at B.B. Kings for this show seventeen years already.

Seventeen years. Now I understand that some of the band members are from the original Beatlemania on Broadway, am I correct?

Tony: You are correct. Our Paul McCartney is Billy J. Ray. He was in the original show that ran at the Winter Garden Theater, La Fontaine and the Palace Theater and he is still with us and doing the show and our drummer Michael Bellusci from the touring co. Our guitarist (George Harrison), John Korba… he has been on tour with Hall and Oats, Phoebe Snow and Roseanne Cash. He is from the Broadway Show “Rain and Let it Be” and the touring company “Beatlemania.” so we have a long, long history of Beatles.

Band Leader and Founder Tony Garafolo with Cognac Wellerlane.

Another question I want to ask were you ever able to meet Paul McCartney?

Tony: I actually met Paul McCartney two years ago. I went to his show in Brooklyn a The Barclay Center and I was on his guest list for the VIP party after the concert and went backstage and essentially hung out with him for about a half an hour.

Oh my God that must have been the thrill of your life.

Tony: It was a thrill. We played at Shea Stadium as the Beatles in 2005 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles at Shea and Paul McCartney and Ringo Star actually did the announcing on the diamond vision screen. They announced us before we came on. Paul McCartney knows all about Strawberry Fields. He has a house on Long Island.

Yes, he lives in the Hamptons where I frequent in the Summer. That is coming up I will be in the Hamptons every weekend. Maybe I will run into Mr. McCartney.

Tony: He is in Amagansett where I will have an ice cream. Yes this is a great thrill for us and like I said this is the longest running Beatles Show on Broadway.

Unbelievable. Now let me ask you, you must have a favorite tune?

Tony: You know, I love the early mop top music.

I love it too.

Tony: The Ed Sullivan Show… all that stuff and I loved the first five albums but I also love “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” I mean there is no limit to my taste as far as what I like in the Beatles. Because the music sort of evolved, it changed… they used orchestration later on and to me each song is totally different. For an artist to write a song and each song totally different and for it to become a hit it just amazes me. It is just as popular now as it was back in the sixties.

Now there is also going to be costume changes today as well. How many costume changes will we see?

Tony: We are going to do three: the mop top–the early Beatles–then we are going to change into “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” and then we are going to do “Abbey Road,” and “Let It Be.”

 I can’t wait. I am all excited. Also you have a very famous car which I was very happy to interview your fiancé and she talked about your car at length… the exact replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car from the film. When am I going to see that car again?

Tony: You will get to see it again. We are going to be at Summer Walks in Wyandanch in Long Island. We will be doing a walk for Cancer and we are expecting a very large crowd. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be live. It will be on display and we will be driving it ’round. It was a great movie. Those of you who love the movie you will definitely want to watch the movie again after you see the car.

I can’t wait to hear the music today. I want you to tell my audience where we can go to find out more information about Strawberry Fields.

Tony: You can go to StrawberryFieldsTheTribute.com and you will see the whole story.

Strawberry Fields at B.B. King’s.

Tony was born into a musical family, with a mother who was a professional dancer and teacher, and a father who is both a 25-year guitar teacher and professional Carnegie Hall alumnus with the New York Mandolin Orchestra. Tony has been playing guitar since 1969, and is also trained in the fine art of classical guitar, mastering pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Sor, Julian Bream, and Andrew Segovia. He has also served as a veteran NYPD police officer for 20 years, and has risen to the ranks of both Detective and Sergeant in his career, with over 700 arrests to his credit and has worked in the central robbery unit, narcotics division, detective division, and internal affairs bureau. He was very well known by colleagues and police brass as the “real” Sergeant Pepper. Tony was also a key contributor in the September 11th rescue and recovery effort both at Ground Zero and the Staten Island Fresh Kill location.

Tony has continuously perfected the role as John Lennon throughout the 80’s and 90’s, performing with countless incarnations of Beatlemania, and has been grateful to have had the opportunity to perform with many Broadway Beatlemania alumni such as: Billy Ray, Mark Vacaccio, Don Linares, Alan Lebouff, Glen Bertnik, and Peter Santoro, to name just a few. In 1991, Strawberry Fields was created by Tony in an effort to bring forth a complete Beatles performance package that was accessible to every type of audience and to every type of budget. This unique formula has proven successful over the years, opening the doors for Strawberry Fields to perform at almost any type of musical situation: amphitheaters, stadiums, theaters, car dealerships, weddings, bar mitzvahs, high school reunions, birthday parties, outdoor festivals… the list goes on and on.

Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site Presents Democratic Vistas: Favorite Poem Project

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On Sunday April 17, 2016 the community of Huntington gathered at the Walt Whitman Birthplace for a presentation of Democratic Vistas, Multicultural Voices for the Favorite Poem Project. The Favorite Poem Project was founded by Robert Pinsky after the Library of Congress appointed him US Poet Laureate in 1997. Pinsky put out a nationwide call for Americans to send in their favorite poems. He believed that, contrary to stereotype, Americans from all walks of life do read poetry and particular poems have profound, personal meanings for individuals.

Pinksy’s project ignited a fire that spread the country with communities holding their own Favorite Poem readings. The Library of Congress videotaped for their archives 50 individuals reading their favorite poems. Walt Whitman Birthplace Association was very excited to offer their very own Favorite Poem Project. Robert Pinsky is serving as their 2016 Poet in Residence appearing at the Walt Whitman Birthplace on June 4, 2016.

The Favorite Poem Project – Multicultural Voices is part of the Walt Whitman’s Birthplace Associations 2016 program series. Democratic Vistas: Voices of Democracy is sponsored by the NY Council for the Humanities.

Entertainment Journalist and Emcee Elisa DiStefano with Cognac Wellerlane.

Entertainment Journalist Elisa DiStefano served as Emcee for the event. Elisa DiStefano is versatile host and seasoned award winning featured reporter. With over a decade of experience in live and breaking news, Elisa reports regularly on the red carpet and at celebrity events featuring A-list talent. She covers the Hamptons Summer scene extensively with access to exclusive events. Elisa was voted Best Local TV reporter by the Long Island Press several years running. She has been honored for her work on her weekly animal adoption segment and was also named Humanitarian of the Year by the American Cancer Society. Elisa enjoys volunteering her time to help a variety of causes and hosts many charity events including her own Sneakers and Sandals Beach Ball benefiting local organizations. Ms. DiStefano is a graduate of Boston University College of Communications and Delta Gamma alumni.

Not only did I interview Elisa Di Stefano but I also talked to Executive Director Cynthia Shor of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association about the meaning and importance of Poetry.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the Walt Whitman Birthplace a very historical place right here in Huntington, Long Island and I am here with this lovely lady who coordinated this wonderful event today. It’s all about poems. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

Cynthia: Hi, I am Cynthia Shor, Executive Director of Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and we operate the site for New York State.

Tell my audience about this event this afternoon. What is it really all about?

Cynthia: It’s really all about individuals and everyone has a favorite poem. They may not be poetry lovers but they have just one poem in their heart. This is an example of an event to get those people to share that poetry.

Now I love poetry and I know many wonderful poems but there are a lot of people out there that really do not understand what a poem is. Most people think poems are writings that rhyme but there are some poems that do not rhyme. Can you tell my audience what distinguishes a piece of writing that does not rhyme that becomes a poem.

Cynthia: Well, it’s all about the language. So the language… if it doesn’t rhyme then it has to have other beauty and the beauty can be in the rhythm, it can be in the repetition of the sounds, the repetition of the initial letter and that is what adds the beauty to it. Sometimes there are internal rhymes. So there might be two words next to each other but they don’t rhyme at the end of the line, and so that is the technical skillful part of poetry, and then the other part of poetry like any art is inspiration. So the writer or poet must take the inspiration and channel it through the words using the skills that they can and leave it up to the community of readers to see if it is poetry or not but it doesn’t have to rhyme.

Absolutely and that is why I wanted to speak to you because many people are confused about what a poem should be. Tell my audience briefly about the history behind the Walt Whitman Birthplace.

Cognac Stands next to a portrait of Poet Walt Whitman.

Cynthia: Walt Whitman was born here in this house on this site. The house was built by his father and he was born in 1819 and he lived here until he was four. Being a builder, the elder Whitman–his name was also Walter Whitman–moved the family to Brooklyn where there were new houses going up and he went to Brooklyn and he flipped houses. He was one of the original flippers and Walter grew up in Brooklyn until age eleven and then he went to school–that was the age of compulsory education–and then he went to work. He went to work for a journalist where he furthered his education and the journalist bought him a library card because at that time they weren’t free. It was a public library. So with the library card, called a subscription, like you would join a country club you had to join the library system; he became self educated much like Abraham Lincoln.

How fascinating.

Cynthia: He grew up then and worked for the newspaper and he also went to work for a law firm and being a scribe as an office boy he learned language, he learned law, he learned about ethics, he learned about history and this was at the tender age of eleven, twelve and thirteen. By fourteen and fifteen he was back on Long Island and he became a teacher. He would live in the homes of Long Island and worked as a teacher. He started the newspaper “The Long Islander” which is still in print today and then he began writing a political track. He was actually a journalist before he was a poet.

That’s wonderful thank you so much for telling my audience some of the history of this remarkable place. Can you tell my audience where we can go to learn more information. what is the website?

Cynthia: Come to our website WaltWhitman.org; it’s very easy to remember.

Regina Hunt – Trustee South Country School Board & Library.

In 1819, Walt Whitman was born in a farmhouse in West Hills built by his father circa 1810. The Birthplace was restored in 2001 and it is a fine example of native Long Island craftsmanship. The Birthplace is the only NYS Historic Site on Long Island listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1998, the White House Millennium Council named it an “American Treasure.” In 2007, the Walt Whitman Trail, which begins at the Birthplace, was designated a National Recreational Trail by the US Dept. of the Interior.

Whitman’s collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, stands among the masterpieces of world literature. Scholars have name Whitman the “Poet of Democracy” and “America’s Shakespeare.”

A Benefit Performance of Eve Ensler’s Award Winning Play “The Vagina Monologues” Premieres in West Islip

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Divine Rhythms Dance Studio, in conjunction with The Traveling Vaginas Theater Group and EAC Network, presented a benefit performance of author and activist Eve Ensler’s award-winning theatrical production, “The Vagina Monologues,” on April 9, 2016 in West Islip, New York.

Based on dozens of interviews Ensler conducted with women, the play addresses women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse, creating a new conversation about and with women.

In 1994, a theatrical production entitled “The Vagina Monologues” was written by playwright and activist Eve Ensler which caused controversy and offered to the world a piece of art like nothing it had seen before. “The Vagina Monologue” ran Off-Broadway for five years in New York and then toured the United States. After every performance, Ensler found women waiting to share their own stories of survival, leading her to see that “The Vagina Monologues” could be more than a moving work of art on violence. She divined that the performances could be a mechanism for moving people to act to end violence.

castCognac with the cast of The Vagina Monologues.

On Valentine’s Day, 1998, Eve, with a group of women in New York City, established V-Day. Setup a 501 (c) (3) and originally staffed by volunteers, the organization’s seed money came from a star-studded, sold-out benefit performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. This special presentation raised $250,000 in a single evening.

V-Day’s mission is simple. It demands that violence against women and girls must end. To do this, once a year, in February, March and April Eve allows groups around the world to produce a performance of the play, as well as other works created by V-Day and use the proceeds for local individual projects and programs that work to end violence against women and girls.

What began as one event in New York City in 1998 today includes over 5,800 V-Day events annually.

V-Day has received numerous acknowledgements and awards and is, one of the Top-Rated organizations on both Charity Navigator and Guidestar. In 2001, V-Day was named one of Worth Magazine’s “100 Best Charities,” in 2006 one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities, and in 2010 was named as one of the Top-Rated organizations on Great Nonprofits. In eighteen years, the V-Day movement has raised over $100 million.

The ‘V’ in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

V-Day mission statement includes:

  • V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.
  • V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.
  • V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.
  • V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.
  • V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.
  • V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.
  • V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine’s Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.
  • V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community. Join us!

According to the United Nations, one of every three women on the planet will by physically or sexually abused in her lifetime. The truth is shocking. Although sources of violence may seem diverse, women’s responses sound tragically similar. Besides the pain and strength this productions reveals their survival stories, the themes that resound across cultures and geographies are of the indifference of authorities, the familial instinct of denial and the lack of public outrage about the violence that millions of women experience every day.

V-Day dreams of a world in which women and girls will be free to thrive rather than merely survive. With the help of all this is a very real possibility.

During the event I sat down with Cast Member and Events Coordinator of the EAC Network, Cassandra Huneke.

Cognac: Tell my audience how you got involved in this play.

Cassandra: Sure, our program director of our EAC Network Safe Harbor Program which protects and treats youths who have been effected by child exploitation or sexual exploitation and human trafficking where the Director Laura Ruhl actually worked as a social worker and was so moved by Shannon Speed’s talk about what she does and how she treats children and the problems that are right here in our community in Suffolk County that she was inspired to bring the show to us. She contacted us and I am deeply in love with this organization who I work for. “The Vagina Monologue” is such a powerful play that I identify with myself. I had to get involved and I auditioned and coordinated the event and I was cast in it.

Tell my audience where we can go to learn more info.

Cassandra: You can go to eacinc.org.

Cassandra is also a published poet and is currently earning Master’s in Media Studies from the New School. She joined the Vagina Monologues to continue her passion for theatre, fuel the fight against misogyny and help individuals in the community to realize that we can all assist child victims of human trafficking by being informed and supporting crucial programs like Safe Harbour.

I also sat down with the director of the play, Laura Ruhl.

Cognac: Welcome back darling, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here a “The Vagina Monologues” in West Islip about this beautifully written play written by Eve Ensler and I am here with the director and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Laura: Hi, I am Laura Ruhl

What a pleasure and what a delight to come and see this play. It was on Off Broadway for so many years and then it was on Broadway and now it is here in West Islip. Tell my audience why you became involved and why did you want to direct this play?

Laura: This play speaks to so many women. It resonates deeply especially with women who have experienced violence in their lives and the plays message is all about eradicating violence globally. It speaks to women…it speaks to girls… it speaks to men. It just such a wonderful message there was no way not to get involved.

Please share with my audience where they can go to find out more information

Laura: The best place to go is Vday.org

Laura also said “I have been directing this wonderful group of women for over a decade and I could not be more proud of the work we have done as “professional vaginas!” This show and these women mean more to me than I can put into words. It is an honor to share the stage with them and to speak for those whose voices have been silenced for too long. I dedicate this show to my mother who never felt she could use her voice and to my four sons who have grown up with this play being rehearsed in their living room. Nothing is more important to me than ensuring that my sons become men who wall always value and respect women, so I made sure they were there in the room and will remember.”

Cognac with Laura Ruhl. Cognac with Laura Ruhl.

A select number of VIP tickets were available featuring preferred seating and a post-performance reception with gourmet organic hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, raffles and 50/50, and a meet and greet with the Cast of the 2016 Vagina Monologues.

All proceeds benefitted EAC Network’s Safe Harbour program, which protects and cares for children who are victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Suffolk County, Long Island. For more information please visit eacinc.org.

Village of Patchogue Unveils Newly Renovated 1923 Patchogue Theatre on March 30, 2016

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On Wednesday, March 30, the village of Patchogue unveiled the renewed 1923 Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) venue to the media.

The occasion was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. followed by media tours given by PTPA Board Member Christopher Capobianco. Suffolk County elected officials as well as recently reelected Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri, Deputy Mayor Jack Krieger, the Patchogue Village Board of Trustees and the Theatre Board of Directors were also present to greet the media and special guests.

I had the opportunity to chat with Bernie Fabig Public Relations & Marketing Director of the theatre.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the publicist of the Patchogue Theatre who helped make this wonderful event take place. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

Bernie: Hi, I am Bernie Fabig and I started working for the Patchogue Theatre about a year ago.

Yes, we met about a year ago.

Bernie: Yes and it was love at first sight.

It was love at first sight. I came to a fantastic event here… very famous opera singer…

Bernie: Yes, Ronan Tynan

Ronan Tynan… he did a spectacular job and since then you have renovated the theatre even more.

David Kennedy, Executive Director of Patchogue Chamber of CommerceDavid Kennedy, Executive Director of Patchogue Chamber of Commerce

Bernie: Yes we gave the theatre a total facelift. It was little over one million dollars–brand new seats, wider more spacious comfortable seating. We also repaired the floors and sixty percent of the ceiling was replaced.

Wow.

Bernie: We added modern upgrades. We added LED bulbs for the lighting to save money because we are a non-profit that manages the theatre. So it was really a great undertaking. It was three months from January to March.

Oh my God. Did you close down the theatre completely?

Bernie: Yes the theatre was closed down for the whole three months so it felt like forever but it really wasn’t that much time for all the work they did. They worked day and night to get this theatre ready.

Now you are all prepared to have the best shows on Long Island.

Bernie: Yes we are the largest theatre in Suffolk County and so we try to have a wide variety of programming and our first show is April 2nd featuring the Chapin Family so we are very excited about that show.

You are also going to have this wonderful Amber Ferrari, I can’t wait to see that show. She invited me to see her show.

Bernie: Yes, Amber will be singing “The Material Girl,” Madonna, so it’s going to be great, plus her own original music and she is such a talent. She really is.

Singer Songwriter Amber Ferrari and Cognac

Sure is. I can’t wait for that. What’s happening in the Summer… more events… more shows?

Bernie: In the Summer what happens Gateway comes in and they bring their Broadway caliber productions to Long Island so they will be doing their shows. They will be doing “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.”

Here at the theatre? Wow

Bernie: Here at the theatre and they will be doing “Dancing with the Movies,” which are famous dance scenes from the movies like “Singing in the Rain.”

What a delight right here on Long Island, the best place in the whole world. Where can we go to find out more information?

Bernie: People can go to PatchogueTheatre.org.

During the champagne reception I spoke to Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri about the significance of the Patchogue Theatre.

Cognac: Can you tell my audience how important this theatre is to the community.

Mayor Paul Pontieri: This theatre will attract 150,000 people. It will do 150 to 160 performances. Those 160 days and nights there will be an extra 1,000 people in the village on Main Street. It gives us notoriety and it brings culture to the village. Government does for the people what people can’t do for themselves and the arts is one of those things. We provide the arts. We provide music. We provide entertainment and we provide commerce on Main Street. It is tremendously important.

Mayor Paul Pontieri with Cognac.

The Patchogue Village Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., has been organized under and by virtue of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York in order to manage The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts in the public interest.

Scott Allan, Director of Development and Public Relations of the Gateway Playhouse

The Center’s mission is to have The Patchogue Theatre serve as a cultural center for Long Island. The Center expects to achieve its mission by showcasing a broad spectrum of performing arts for the benefit of a wide-ranging audience at affordable prices. The Center will utilize The Patchogue Theatre as a full-time mixed-use venue, offering a variety of events including live performances, films, educational presentations, commercial productions, community forums, and other appropriate events.

THE ETV CAR AND EXACT REPLICA OF CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG CAR ON EXHIBIT AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

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It was ten days of non-stop excitement, unmatched entertainment with over one thousand unbelievable cars as visitors from around the globe visited the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center from March 25th through April 3, 2016.

The 2016 New York International Auto Show showcased an incredible collection of cutting-edge car designs and extraordinary innovation. More than four floors of displays from the world’s automakers featured the newest vehicles and latest futuristic concept cars. Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks were on display at North America’s first and largest-attended auto show, which dates back to 1900.

I had the pleasure of interviewing two fascinating individuals about their unique cars. One was Dave DiEugenio from the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey about the extraordinary ETV Car and Entertainment Attorney Deborah A. Sable about an exact replica of The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings. I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here at the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center and I am here with this interesting gentleman. He is from the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey and he is going to introduce himself to the camera.

David: Good morning Cognac. My name is Dave DiEugenio and I am the Executive Director of the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey.

How fascinating.

David: We are so pleased to be here at the New York International Auto Show. We are proud of our antique cars and so flattered that you asked us for an interview.

Yes, I was taken aback by this amazing machine. This is the car of the future. Explain to my audience what we are looking at right here.

David: This car is called the ETV that stands for Extra Terrestrial Vehicle and it was handmade in Florida by a gentleman there from a frame of a Chevrolet Aveo. It is a four cylinder gasoline engine and this gentleman drives it around.

I can’t believe he drives this car around.

David: Let me explain he turns the key on it has air shocks that rises a foot above the ground and you can see the tires and wheels and it drives down the street like any other car.

Does it fly too?

David: It does not. Everybody ask me “Does it hover here in the museum.”

With all that is said The ETV is a stunning coupe in person.

The ETV Car.

Members of the Vintage Automobile Club of Ocean County are working to establish New Jersey’s first antique automobile museum. Although there are museums and attractions throughout New Jersey that have a number of antique cars, there isn’t one true antique car museum in the entire state. The Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey’s goal is to provide a facility that will display, preserve and educate the public about the automobile and how it shaped the growth of this country. In the interim, the members of the organization have a “museum on wheels” that visits schools, health care facilities and public functions to provide these opportunities.

For more information please visit their website.

Another remarkable automobile was an exact replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car that was seen in the 1960’s Film starring Dick Van Dyke. Entertainment Attorney and Activist Deborah A. Sable revealed the story behind why the owner, Mr. Garofolo, hand built this car.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car.

Cognac: Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the New York International Auto Show and I am here with Deborah an she is going to talk about this marvelous vehicle. It is an an exact replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car that we saw in the movie.

Deborah: That’s right. It is an exact handmade replica. It was made by a gentleman by the name of Tony Garofolo, a retired NYPD detective sergeant 9/11 first responder and this was a labor of love for him. It was something he always wanted to do. It was just completed in June of 2015 and this is only the second time that the public has been able to see this car.

That is amazing. Now he is also a very famous musician as well. He plays with a band call Strawberry Fields. Is that correct?

Deborah: That is correct. He is John Lennon in Strawberry Fields. They play every Saturday at BB Kings right here in Times Square in New York City and you can catch him on Long Island at various fairs and festivals throughout the year.

Tell my audience about this car. How long did it actually take him to actually manufacture this car?

Deborah: It was a five year project. He started in 2010 and completed it last year.

This is really something. He saw this car many, many years ago. Explain to my audience the history of why he wanted to do this.

Deborah: Tony first saw this car when he saw the movie at its premiere at Radio City Musical Hall right here in New York City. His mother took him to the premiere and he was four years old.

Now how was he able to do that… go to a movie premiere at such a young age?

Deborah: His uncle worked for United Artist which is the production company that made the movie.

That is incredible. How lucky was he?

Deborah: You can imagine how magical it was for this little boy to see this car float and fly and rescue the family in the movie. His mother was recently divorced so it was just the two of them at the time and he told her that he was going to build this car and he actually did and it is magnificent.

I read somewhere that unfortunately she did not live long enough to see him complete the car.

Deborah: Yeah, tragically she passed away in 2005 which was the same year that Tony retired from the police force but I am certain that she knew her son well enough to know that one day he was going to complete that dream.

Deborah A. Sable and Cognac.

And sure enough Mr. Garofolo did complete the car which was exhibited at the 2016 New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. The car was completed on June 30, 2015. The project took over 5 years to complete at a cost of over $100,000. The last finishing touch was installing retractable wings that fold out from under the car using two 12-volt actuators, just like in the film. Tony is continually asked; “does the car fly?” Now he says, “Yes! Ha!!”

For more information about this unique car please click here and for more information about the New York International Auto Show please visit their website.

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