Supporters Attended the 52nd Annual Long Island Heart Ball At the Museum of American Armor in Bethpage

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LONG ISLAND,  NY – Supporters attended the 52nd Annual Long Island Heart Ball at the Museum of American Armor in Bethpage, New York on Friday May 8, 2015. Life is Why is the brand of the American Heart Association.

The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. they fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives. Their nationwide organization includes 156 local offices and more than 3,000 employees. The American Heart Associated moved their national headquarters from New York to Dallas in 1975 to be more centrally located. The American Stroke Association was created as a division in 1997 to bring together the organization’s stroke-related activities.

Dr. Scott Schubach, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Winthrop University Hospital and Cognac Wellerlane at the 52nd Annual Long Island Heart Ball on Friday May 8, 2015.

This year the American Heart Association was pleased to honor Dr. Scott Schubach, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Winthrop University Hospital, as recipient of this year’s Cardiovascular Science Award and Joseph Ficalora, President and CEO of New York Community Ban Corp., Inc., as recipient of this year’s Corporate Leadership award.

During the evening I sat down with Dr. Scott Schuback and discussed the event and the goals of the American Heart Association.

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here at the American Heart Association in Long Island. It’s the 52nd Annual Heart Ball Gala. Tell my audience your story. Why are you being honored and what does this means to you. first of all introduce yourself to the camera.

Scott: It’s a pleasure to be here. My name is Scorr Schubach and I am actually the Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at Winthrop Hospital. So I am intimately involved with heart disease and I have been with Winthrop for the past twenty-five years since 1991, twenty-four years. I am a heart surgeon and I have been a member of the Heart Association on the board for the last four years and now I am Vice-President of the board. I guess I am being honored for the work that I have put in all these years and my association with heart disease. I know your LongIslandExchange.com would like to know that I am a Long Island boy. I grew up in Long Beach, Long Island.

That’s where I am from.

Scott: Long Beach High School and then I really went all over the country to the finest places to do my training and surgery, education… but I couldn’t think of a better place to come back to then Long Island and I stumbled upon Winthrop which use to be Nassau Hospital…not thinking it would be a long lasting association and here we are twenty-four years later.

Isn’t it remarkable.

Scott: Remarkable! First of all American Heart is a wonderful institution providing education, support, science to not only physicians and scientist but for the community and it is something that I am very proud to be part of, very proud!

I am very proud to be here tonight. Ir’s a wonderful organization and I have been coming for the past few years and you guys have done so much and have accomplished so much. What do you think will be the next thing on the horizon for the American Heart Association? What is the next goal that you guys are trying to achieve?

Scott: I don’t think there is a goal. I think the message is the depth and breath of the impact of American Heart. We have great new technologies for heart valves. We can take care of people in their ninety’s that we could never think about taking care of even five ten years ago. That’s the dramatic things but it really also is getting into the community and you know here in the United States smoking, obesity, lifestyle, it’s about education and you think that it is an amount that cannot be crossed but that is not true. The American Heart Association is first putting all their efforts…it’s not just about the items that create the press which is the technology. It’s getting out to the communities and preventing the problems so they don’t need this technology and I think that is the next tier. It’s not the new gadget, it’s getting out, teaching people what is right and wrong about their health.

Absolutely. I totally agree. I want you to tell my audience where we can go to find out more information what is the website?

Scott: The American Heart Association. If you just google American Heart or AHA.org…..

I think its heart.org

Scott: Heart.org too and it will take you everywhere you need to be and for where I am is Winthrop.org. We provide the latest in cardiovascular care and I think between Winthrop which is a major sponsor tonight and me and American Heart it is an unbelievable relationship that we have.

Board Certified in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery with added qualifications in critical care, Dr. Schubach is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Cardiology and American College of Chest Physicians. He trained in cardiac surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was involved in active cardiac transplant and the artificial heart program. His post-graduate training also includes a residency in general surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the teaching hospital of Dartmouth University School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Schubach has published widely in professional journals and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at the SUNY School of Medicine at Stony Brook.

photo1Heart Survivor Meryl Kravietz and her daughter Samantha who also suffers from heart disease with Cognac Wellerlane at the 52nd Annual Long Island Heart Ball on Friday May 8, 2015.

I also spoke to Heart Survivor Meryl Kravietz and her daughter Samantha who also suffers from heart disease. During my interview with Meryl, I inquired “What are the symptons of a heart attack for women,” Meryl answered “The symptoms are very different. It’s really not typical chest pains. You know the first think you think of is typical chest pain. Is it indigestion? For a women it’s… you can get pain in your jaw, your neck, you can get nauseated and feel like you are going to vomit. You feel dizzy as if you are going to faint and all of that.”

The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of suffering a heart attack. By understanding your risks, you can identify ways to improve your chances for living a healthy life—free of cardiovascular disease.

For more information please visit http://www.heart.org

AND THE WINNERS ARE; NYCIFF Closed It’s 2015 Film Festival with The Screening of “Winter” by Heidi Greensmith

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NEW YORK, NY – On Thursday, May 7th, NYCIFF closed it’s 2015 Film Festival with a screening of “Winter” a film by Heidi Greensmith, staring Tommy Flanagan. Greensmith, just completed her first feature”Winter” and is in development for her second feature, a comedy noir “Bloody Mary”. She is married to musician and composer Dominic Greensmith and they have four children.

Mr. Flanagan is the star of the the popular TV series ” Sons of Anarchy” and the movie “Braveheart”. He attended the screening, and accepted the NYCIFF award for best actor.

“Winter” depicts a forty something, foul-mouthed and aggressive, with an unquenchable thirst for booze and fags the character Woods Weston who appears to be a hopeless case. Gradually as the narrative unfolds the story reveals a once successful and charismatic man capable of great sensitivity, an accomplished artist, a loving husband and a committed father.

Roberto-Rizzo-Malan-Breton Roberto Rizzo, Malan Breton and Bonnie Bien at the NYCIFF

NYCIFF-Cast-of-Phantom-Halo NYCIFF Cast of Phantom Halo

Actor Tommy Flanagan who portrays “Woods” is consumed by grief and must come to terms with an emotional breakdown in order to save his relationship with his two young sons, 19 year-old Tom (Tom Payne) and 14 year-old Max (Bill Milner), “Winter” is a poignant exploration of love, loss and family bonds. Nineteen year old Tom (Tom Payne) and his younger brother Max 14 years old (Bill Milner) were happy, had everything going for them. A wonderful art gallery, mother and a successful, artist father “Woods” (Tommy Flanagan). This happy family is turned upside down when their mother, Marie is killed in a random act of violence. “Woods” beloved wife has been suddenly taken away and his heart has broken. He spirals into a mental and emotional break down. His daily life becomes a series of drinking binges and psychotic episodes in a bid to forget. He now frequents only the darkest of places. His bright and popular son Tom who, has gained a place at Columbia University due to his exceptional grades and hard work, is now his sole caretaker.

1 Winter Film Premiere Founder Roberto Rizzo and Cognac Wellerlane

Winter-Film-Premiere-116-To Winter Film Premiere 116 Tommy Flanagan and Heidi Greensmith

Before the screening I had the opportunity to talk to the Director Heidi Greensmith:

Hello darlings, welcome back. I am here with Ms. Greensmith, the director of this important film. Tell my audience the name of the film.

Heidi: The film is called “Winter.”

You worked on this with your husband. Your husband of course is a very well known actor, Mr. Flanagan?

Heidi: Oh no actually he is not my husband. He is my lead actor. My husband is the composer of the film.

Oh I see, he is the composer of the film. Was this an effort you wanted to work together on? Tell my audience how this all came about.

Heidi: Well I had an amazing casting director and he suggested Tommy for the role of “Woods” and I met him. He came from LA to the UK and within five minutes he was “Woods”

He was the right person.

Heidi: He was the one.

He was the one you wanted to play the part.

Heidi: Actually no one could have done it better. He was amazing!

Tell my audience about this film. What is the synopsis of this film?

Heidi: It’s a love story, actually, but it’s quite a tragic love story.

If we want to find out more information about the film is there a website? Where can we learn more about it?

Heidi: The website is http://www.winterthefilm.com

On the red carpet I also had the chance to interview Actor Tommy Flanagan who revealed his character, “Woodsy, he is this heart breaking beautiful broken man who was madly in love…and he is just a broken man. The film was beautifully directed and written by Heidi and I had the priviledge to walk in those shoes and be that character.”

3 Winter Film Premiere Fashion Designer and Filmmaker Malan Breton poses for a photo-op with Actress Elisa Meri

After the red carpet, filmmakers, actors and members of the press enjoyed the screening of “Winter” and the closing night award ceremony.

Congratulations to all Winners of the 2015 NYCIFF Awards:

THE WINNERS ARE

    • BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: THE SINKING OF SOZOPOL – BULGARIA
    • BEST USA FEATURE FILM: PHANTOM HALO
    • BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: TOMMY FLANAGAN FOR WINTER – UK
    • BEST DRAMA FILM: WINTER – UK
    • BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR: HEIDI GREENSMITH
    • BEST USA DIRECTOR: ANTONIA BOGDANOVICH
    • BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM: IT’S ME – LEBANON
    • BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: ASSIL AND JAD By BANE FAKIH – LEBANON
    • BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM – USA: FAMILY ON BOARD
    • BEST DIRECTOR IN A NARRATIVE SHORT: GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD
    • BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT NARRATIVE FILM: GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD
    • BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM: WALLIS MURPHY-MUNN – SANDBOY – USA / IRELAND
    • BEST USA ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM: ELISABETH JAMISON – FALLING TO PIECES – USA
    • BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: A JOURNEY TO TAIWAN – USA/TAIWAN by MALAN BRETON
    • BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT: MYRIAM OBIN – ÉLOÏSE, LITTLE DREAMER – QUEBEC / CANADA
    • BEST USA ANIMATED SHORT: YVONNE GRZENKOWICZ – ARCHAEOLOGY – USA
    • BEST TV PILOT: TOPSY MCGEE – USA
    • BEST MUSICAL VIDEO: STELLA – UK

For more information about the New York International Film Festival please visit http://www.nyciff.com

“A Journey To Taiwan” Directed by Fashion Designer Malan Breton Premieres at The Director’s Guild Theater in NYC

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LONG ISLAND, NY – On April 30, 2015 filmmakers, actors models and members of the press attended a very special screening of “A Journey To Taiwan” directed by Fashion Designer Malan Breton at the Director’s Guild Theater in New York City at the New York City International Film Festival.

Filmmaker and Fashion Designer Malan Breton takes us on a journey to Taiwan, to find inspiration, to revisit his childhood, to honor his grandmother, and to create the most pivotal collection of fashion he has ever shown at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.

The film was produced by Bonnie Bien and cast included Kiera Chaplin and Angel Pai.

I have followed Malan throughout his career attending every fashion show he has created during New York Fashion Week and I was thrilled to view this special screening and to talk to him about this unique film.

Life-Coach-Susan-Korwin-andLife Coach Susan Korwin and Malan Breton screening of A Journey To Taiwan directed by Fashion Designer Malan Breton at the Director’s Guild Theater in New York City at the New York City International Film Festival, April 30, 2015.

Welcome back darlings I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here with Malan Breton for the screening of his latest film “A Journey To Taiwan.” Tell my audience about the film and why did you make it.

Malan: This film was a very personal, this is my first interview so thank you. I have been so nervous about talking about it because its so personal. I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and its a story about my life, my loves, my inspirations that you have seen through all my collections. No matter if I have gone to France or I have gone to India or if I have go to you know all these other places there has always been an element of Taiwan and you are going to see a personal story about my grandmother, about fashion about the beauty of this beautiful country. I hope it inspires all of you.

 I can’t wait to see it. I understand that it is fifteen minutes long.

Malan: It’s twenty-three minutes.

Twenty-three almost as long as my TV show, ha ha ha

Malan: Ha ha ha, and I directed it is my first directorial debut

My show is actually twenty-eight minutes long and I am very happy to be here tonight! I cannot wait to see the film.

Malan: I am so happy you came.

 I wouldn’t miss it!. I wanted to come to your bridal collection but I was in Atlantic City.

Malan: Did you win lots of money?

No but I did see the Beach Boys and that was just as thrilling!

Malan: I love them so much.

Tell my audience where can we go to find out more about the film. Is there a website?

Malan: Yes. If you go to the New York City International Film Festival http://www.nyciff.com there is information about the film. My website MalanBreton.com will be updated with information about it tomorrow because we are going to put a trailer about it on. We didn’t want to give to much information and then there is a couple of surprises that I can’t say but there is some major, major surprises that are actually happening. The film is nominated for an award.

Oh my God! How wonderful!

Malan: It is my directorial debut and I am already nominated, it’s just so crazy!

You are destined for this. I always said you are like a movie star;

Malan: I know you always did say that.

I love you and as we say in show biz break a leg!

Malan: Thank you

A-Journey-to-Taiwan.jpg-AngA Journey to Taiwan, Angel Pai, at the Director’s Guild Theater in New York City at the New York City International Film Festival, April 30, 2015.

New York City International Film Festival has a well-earned reputation, nationally and internationally, as one of the most respected events of the film festival year. The organization is committed to bringing the best of the world’s cinematography to New York City and to provide a platform for established and upcoming talented domestic and international filmmakers to showcase their work. New York City International Film Festival is unlike any other film festivals; NCIFF reveals “We are not a film festival of Film festivals”, They demand a NY Premiere to show a film at their festival, which makes them more serious, exclusive and puts them in another level of competition.

For more information please visit http://www.nyciff.com

National Meningitis Association GIVE KIDS A SHOT! Gala at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan on April 27, 2015

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Supporters attended the National Meningitis Association GIVE KIDS A SHOT! Gala at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan on April 27, 2015. I had the opportunity to interview Chair Gary Springer from Springer Associates PR. Mr. Springer’s son was stricken with meningococcal disease at the age of fourteen. Luckily he did survive but all his limbs were amputated. His public relation firm Springer Associates PR has and continues to manage a wide and diverse clientele ranging from theatre and film to personalities and events.

Under John Springer, SPRINGER ASSOCIATES represented many theatre, film and television personalities including Al Pacino, Mia Farrow, Ed Harris, Myrna Loy, Shelley Winters, Sally Kirkland, Dustin Hoffman, Lauren Bacall, Jamie Sheridan, Maureen Stapleton, Harry Belafonte, Carrie Fisher, Robert Merrill, Janet Leigh, Maureen O’Sullivan, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Fonda, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Robert Preston, Bette Davis, Warren Beatty, Julie Christy, Joan Crawford and many, many others. I was fortunate to talk to Gary and to learn more about meningococcal disease. Below is our interview:

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and we are here at the Pierre Hotel for the National Meningitis Gala, “Give the Kids a Shot,” and I am here with Chair Gary Springer. He has many stories that he can tell us right now, right here at this gala. Tell my audience how many galas have we gone through so for now?

Gary: This is our seventh and we just have been growing every year. I mean its just a wonderful organization, This is an annual linch-pin that propels us for the following year. It’s always been successful. It’s always been successful. It’s always been fun and its always been poignant.

Tell my audience for those that are unaware what is this event really all about.

Gary: Well Meningitis is a heinous disease. It attacks the bloodstream and chokes the organs while at the same time the bacteria is choking the organs, its dying and it’s causing the blood vessels to clot inside out. Many people who get this are dead within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. My son got it when he was fourteen years old when he was at camp.

I know.

Gary: He happens to be one of the lucky ones because he survived but he also had amputations of all four limbs.

Oh my God, I know I interviewed your son a couple of years ago and he is such a brave soul.

Gary: You know it’s also attitude. You have to believe life is good and that you are going to go on. There are also so many who don’t. There was a young girl seventeen years old last week that got it in Virginia, beautiful, blond, vivacious, she was dead within twenty-four hours.

Oh my God!

Gary: The disease can hit anyone but what we try to do at NMA is try to educate doctors, parents, schools, camps that there is a vaccine that potentially can prevent this. I am not going to say it is going to definitely prevent it but it very well potentially can prevent this and now there is a new vaccine.

Tell my audience about that.

Gary: Well, you know if you recall last year at Princeton University there were I think ten people that came down with Meningitis but it was the B strain which didn’t have a vaccine legalized in the U.S. Now there is a legalized B vaccine. There are five strains of Meningitis and we cover four of them now I believe.

So it is so important to get that vaccination!

Gary: It’s very important and its very important to get it when you are young because this is a disease that happens when you’re with people at camps, at boarding schools because people come from….

Germs..

Gary: Yeah, but people come from different areas and they all have different bacterias. I mean you and I are friends we have the same bacteria but she and I don’t and you know you can get it drinking a glass of water by sharing a water bottle which is how we think my son got it.

And students do that all the time.

Gary: All the time, they share cigarettes, drinks…

What about makeup? Can they get from makeup? I know girls like to share mascara, eye shadow…

Gary: I don’t know about that. I honestly don’t know but yeah if they share lipstick for instance.

Oh my God!

Gary: And they are putting on their lips and they are sharing with somebody else, because a large percentage of the other population has this bacteria in their sinus cavities which is kind of your posterior for bacteria. When it becomes active that particular persons body starts fighting it off but there are a lot of other people who don’t have this bacteria and if they get that before their bodies starts fighting it off which is what happened to my son they are going to come down with this disease. It’s awful.

Well that is why I am here to bring awareness. To let people know out there that there is other options that they need to know about. Vaccination and other literature that they need to know.

Gary: Let me also say that there is a big hoopla about vaccination. This vaccination is synthetic. It isn’t like your getting a little bit of dead tissue or a live tissue of a particular disease which people get very crazy about. There are minimal side effects. I am not sure if there are any because of the vaccination is synthetic but the preventive possibilities are so important because how would you like to look at your fourteen year old son with no arms or legs.

It must break you heart everyday! Does it break your heart?

Gary: My son is alive; there are so many other sons and daughters that aren’t!

Will there be any celebrities and notable individuals coming to give their support tonight?

Gary: Richard Thomas will be here tonight. He has been our MC in past years. Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr. is one of our honorary chair people. There are a lot of good people that support and come every year. I spoke to Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress. She is also one of our honorary chair people and she couldn’t come; she is in Florida but she called me this morning to wish us well and that she is thinking of us tonight.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out information, what is the website?

Gary: The best site is NMAUS.org National Meningitis Association U.S. and they can give you information about the vaccine, all the various vaccines, the laws in each state because there are different laws when you must get vaccinated.

I also spoke to Co-chair Sara Herbert Galloway who expressed, “This will be my seventh year co-chairing with Gary Springer and Gary is a dear friend and I learned about this organization from Gary and Errol Rappaport. Once I met Gary’s wife Nancy who has sadly passed away now and I met Nick I just wanted to be involved. I took this under my wing and my heart because the people I have met at this organization have so much courage, so much strength.”

NMA began in 2002 as a handful of parents whose families experienced the devastating impact of meningococcal disease. It was only after their experiences that they learned the disease is vaccine-preventable. Over the years, this small group grew into a national organization that advocates for meningococcal disease awareness and prevention. When NMA was founded, there was little public knowledge about meningococcal disease. Also, at that time, vaccination was not recommended, and an organized support structure for affected families did not exist.

Much has changed since NMA was founded:

Vaccination is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for all preteens and teens as well as those of other ages with risk factors for the disease. Many states now require vaccination for adolescents; others require that families and college students be educated about prevention. Vaccination rates have climbed steadily in recent years while disease incidence has declined. Research and development are in progress to improve prevention options. NMA is proud to have played a role in increasing meningococcal disease awareness and vaccination rates.

The National Meningitis Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more information please visit http://www.nmaus.org

Patchogue Theatre 2015 Annual Gala Featured Celebrated Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan, Saturday, April 25

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LONG ISLAND, NY – A full night was planned for a group of ticket holders at the Gala level, which included sound check in the balcony, a cocktail party backstage and a dessert reception in the lobby with a chance to mingle with Celebrity Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan at the Annual Fundraiser Gala for the Patchogue Theatre in Patchogue NY on Saturday April 25, 2015.

Irish tenor, recording artist, physician and champion disabled athlete Ronan Tynan moves audiences like few others can. His stirring performances and personal story of triumph have brought him international fame. The New York Times called him “the closest thing this country has to an official Meistersinger.”

Patchogue Theatre Gala Orlando Pena, Cognac and Bernie Fabig at the Patchogue Theatre Gala, Saturday April 25, 2015.

Celebrity Irish Tenor Dr. Ronan Tynan and Singer Rebecca Farley at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts Gala in Patchogue, Long Island.

Tynan has performed at historic events including Ronald Reagan’s funeral and the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral. His memorable renditions of “God Bless America” have been heard at the World Series, The Belmont Stakes and other momentous events. Dr. Ronan Tynan returned to Patchogue Theatre for the performing arts venue’s annual gala fundraiser event. All proceeds directly benefit programming at Patchogue Theatre.

I had the special opportunity before his performance to interview Dr. Tynan. Below is our interview:

Welcome back darlings. I am here at the Patchogue Theatre Gala with Celebrity Irish Tenor Dr. Ronan Tynan.

Ronan: How are you?

What a pleasure to be here with you!

Ronan: Yes and with you. You look tremendous!

Yes. Tell my audience darling about his event tonight. This evening what can we expect and what is it really all about?

Ronan: Well this is the gala that Patchogue Theatre puts on every year and Clara this year asked me would I do the gala and I normally sing in February for them which for me I have a great troupe of fans that come out every February and she asked me if I would do the gala and I said “Sure.” So she said “Can we put in different types of music,” and I said “Yea, we can do that.” and in the process of thinking about it, I decided maybe we should do something a little different. We should put in some Broadway, some stuff I would kind of encourage that is different. Naturally I would want to sing some Irish but it’s not all Irish by any matter of means. We will sing the big Irish numbers but I want to do some Broadway, some opera and contemporary.

 You sing so beautifully. Really!! How many years have you been singing?

Ronan: Since I was thirty-three. I started my life as a medical doctor.

Really? I noticed that. I read you were a doctor but I wasn’t sure you were a doctor because you studied.

Ronan: Music? No, no

So, you really are a medical doctor. What kind of medicine do you practice?

Ronan: I specialize in orthopedic sports injuries.

Oh my goodness, which brings me to my next question. You were born with a disability?

Ronan: That’s right.

Tell my audience what that disability is.

Ronan: Well I was born with a disability called phocomelia which basically means failure of the lower limbs to develop properly and both feet were split but I was very blessed. I had two amazing parents who kind of directed me in the sense of not self pity and striving for what I could achieve. I had a mother that was forfeit, so driven that I sometimes think there are no adjectives that could describe her. I had a father that adored mo to death!

She didn’t want you to feel sorry for yourself.

Ronan: Absolutely not, but I mean she loved the idea, the fact that I became a doctor. She wasn’t so sure about the singing. She believed singing was a no vocation not a vocation.

I came from a very strict old fashion Italian family and they didn’t believe in show business. It was like get married, have babies and forget about this.

Ronan: You know I think parents invest in their children. They want the fruit of the work or the education to show and their son decides “OK, I am going singing,” that is a bit of a shock but my father loved the idea. Mom , I am not so sure.

Tell my audience out of all your performances, did you have a specific performance that you found was the most challenging?

Ronan: I think one of the biggest challenges I have ever had was to sing at the Reagan Funeral.

Really?

Ronan: I was the only soloist there. We had been in the cathedral from 5:30 in the morning and I didn’t sing until 11:00 so I didn’t even have a chance to warm up. It was fairly challenging.

Really, but you toured all over the world….

Ronan: I have but I mean, I don’t think your ready for something as big as that with an audience of forty-nine million.

Forty-nine million! Oh my God!

Ronan: Thirty-nine presidents and top people from all over the world attended this man’s funeral so it was a big deal.

I am sure it was. You are going on to do more things. Can you tell my audience where your next tour is going to be.

Ronan: Well I kind of are in the middle of a lot of stuff. I also teach in the University in Kentucky at two semesters every year. I am getting ready to do two more albums. I am kind of in the middle of tour at the moment in the sense of eight dates in the next three weeks and I suppose that’s really a tour in itself.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information about you. What is your website?

Ronan: My website is http://ronantynan.net It’s filled up with every old performances plus extra stuff. So anyone that want to contact me can contact me through the website, there is no problem.

Dr. Tynan also treated the audience to a surprise performance of one of his students singing, Rebecca Farley. The talented Ms. Farley really stole the show and captivated the audience with many songs including her rendition of “The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music.”

During my interview with Ms. Farley, she revealed “About five years ago I had my first lesson with him and he really encouraged me to let me realize my own potential and we stayed connected through the years. I am very happy to share this performance with him tonight.”

PatchogueTheatreGala12 Robert Loscalzo and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ponteri at the Patchogue Theatre Gala, Saturday April 25, 2015.

PatchogueTheatreGala123 Patchogue Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce David Kennedy and Cognac at the Patchogue Theatre Gala, Saturday April 25, 2015.

PatchogueTheatreGala1234 Mayor Paul Ponteri of the Village of Patchogue and Cognac at the Patchogue Theatre Gala, Saturday April 25, 2015.

The Patchogue Theatre Gala is an annual fundraiser event to benefit future programming at Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA). Also known as The Patchogue Village Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts has been organized under and by virtue of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in order to manage Patchogue Theatre in the public interest. Patchogue Theatre is the largest theatre in Suffolk County, N.Y. with 1,162 seats.

Sponsor for the event included: TRITEC Real Estate Company, JVC Broadcasting, Clare Rose / Stella Artois, BBS Architects & Engineers and Tires Inc.

For more information please visit http://www.patchoguetheatre.org

New Yorkers Gather for Mitzi Perdue Book Signing; Late Husband, Frank Perdue “Tough Man, Tender Chicken”

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NEW YORK, NY – Lorraine Cancro Silvetz, Sara Herbert-Galloway and Daniela Zahradnikova hosted a special evening of cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres to celebrate the book signing of Mitzi Perdue’s “Tough Man, Tender Chicken.”

All proceeds went to ICAMI’s Global Stress Initiative and the J. Luce Foundation. Guests gathered at SPACE SIXTEEN SOHO, 311 West Broadway between 6pm and 8pm on Monday April 20th for the event.

Mitzi Perdue, wife of the late Frank Perdue, earned degrees from Harvard University and George Washington University. As a former rice grower, and syndicated columnist, television and radio host, she frequently gives inspirational talks, encouraging people (particularly young people) to be all they can be.

Mitzi Perdue  Mitzi Perdue, wife of the late Frank Perdue, and Cognac at SPACE SIXTEEN SOHO, 311 West Broadway on Monday April 20th.

During the event we sat down and talked about her amazing life with her late husband Frank, Perdue.

Welcome back darlings, I am here with the fabulous author, Mitzi Perdue and she wrote a fascinating book about her husband Frank Perdue “Tough Man, Tender Chicken.” Tell my audience what inspired you to write this very provocative book?

Mitzi: Thank you so much. What really got me to write it was it occurred to me looking back on Frank’s life that what he really was, was a teacher. He built a company when it started with him and 2,000 people. By the time of his passing nineteen thousand people worked for Perdue Farms and how do you get that many people to work together and that well. I think that he was a teacher and I decided to write the book because I thought there was so much wisdom in how he went about growing that company.

He was a tough man wasn’t he, not with you though I bet he treated you like a princess, I am sure!

Mitzi: Well you know the funny thing is people would always tell me, “You must be a tough cookie to stand up to Frank Perdue.” But in fact he just treated me like with kid gloves. He was always kind to me. I think he had a great ability to adjust how he treated people according to who they are. I don’t have any backbone at all so we worked just great.

I grew up with your husband. I use to watch television. I was glued to the TV set. I would always watch all my major prime time programs on TV and I would always see your husband’s commercial about Perdue Chicken. How it was the best chicken. Of course we ate Perdue. Your chicken is the best chicken for the world to eat.

Mitzi: Your my kind of woman! I love you dearly!

The company is still under your name. Are you on the top of all this?

Mitzi: The family is. It’s a family owned business. Yes the family runs it.

That’s wonderful. That’s truly truly wonderful that you kept it in the family. Are you running it or do you have a son or daughter running it?

Mitzi: Jim Perdue is the one who runs it now. I think it’s five members of the fourth generation working in the company. Jim is third generation.

Third generation. I see.

Mitzi: The third generation Jim Perdue and there is four of the fourth generation running it and that’s kind of exciting because how many companies go four generations.

Not that many. People somehow mess it all up. The children and the siblings they’re always fighting, no one can agree but I am happy to hear that the company still is going on in the fourth generation and it’s prosperous. It still is the best chicken out there.

Mitzi: You wouldn’t believe how hard we work to make it the best. In fact allow me to boast. We are all friends right?

Absolutely!

Mitzi: One of the advantages of being a family owned company is that we don’t have to worry about each quarter and what the stockholders are going to say. So we were able to invest for twelve years in something that wasn’t a payoff deal until it was a payoff. We have learned how to produce chickens without antibiotics. Our chickens are antibiotic free.

That’s wonderful!

Mitzi: But it took twelve years to get it there.

I can imagine.

Mitzi: Well because the fact is anybody can grow chicken without antibiotics the only trouble is they die. So it took a lot of learning how to produce really healthy chickens without antibiotic and we did it. Yay!!!

So you are the pioneers of organic really. You are the pioneers of organic food. Organic chicken, fresh healthy without chemicals, without any kid of antibiotic and that is probably why people from that generation lived so long. My grandmother lived to be in the ninety’s because she at Perdue Chicken.

Mitzi: Yay!!!!

Tell my audience what your life was like with Frank Perdue. Was it a glamorous life? I probably have to read the book to find out.

Mitzi: I am going to agree with you. It was amazingly glamorous.

I am sure. You must have got into every restaurant, every night club, was able to see every celebrity you could imagine. Am I right about that?

Mitzi: Well A your right. There is a PS to it. Frank really, really enjoyed living in his community being close to the charities he cared about. So he was a mixed person. He was very good with celebrities. He was also good with his close friends and he was a very unassuming man. It surprises people to know that a company that large, Frank Perdue would travel economy class. we would use the subways regularly.

How funny!

Mitzi: So there was plenty of glamor, I loved it! But there was plenty of being down to earth.

Mitzi went on to say how much she still misses her late husband, Frank Perdue and that Johnny Carson was a good friend of his. Mitzi also revealed, “There was nobody like him, he had it all. He was a successful businessman, he had a loving family and he was close to his community so how many people have it all like that.”

MitziPerdue1 Sara Herbert Galloway, Cognac Wellerlane and Co-Creater of Space Sixteen Daniela Zahradnikova at SPACE SIXTEEN SOHO, 311 West Broadway on Monday April 20th.

MitziPerdue2 Jim Luce, Cognac Wellerlane and Actress Kelly Le Brock at SPACE SIXTEEN SOHO, 311 West Broadway on Monday April 20th.

MitziPerdue3 Co-Creater of Space Sixteen Daniela Zahradnikova, author Mitzi Perdue, Sara Herbert Galloway and Lorraine Cancro-Silvetz at SPACE SIXTEEN SOHO, 311 West Broadway on Monday April 20th.

Frank Perdue was the quintessential entrepreneur, marketer, and businessman, a man whose life lessons are applicable to anyone searching for inspiration and encouragement. To write this book, Perdue’s wife Mitzi interviewed nearly 140 people, seeking to understand every aspect of the man behind the tremendously successful corporation.

For more information how you can obtain “Touch Man, Tender Chicken” please visit http://frankperduebook.com

“New York Tent” Presents Concert and Cocktails; 2015: Event-Season’s Biggest Kickoff Spectacular

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LONG ISLAND, NY – New York Tent and IDEKO Productions Presented “Concert and Cocktails” 2015, Event Season’s Biggest Kickoff Spectacular on April 14, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm. Guests walked through the red carpet into New York Tent’s newly designed location to experience the ultimate party destination. This VIP only event featured a private concert by the famed Blues Traveler and The Movin Out Band with cocktails and h’orderves provided by Sterling Affair Caterers. While on the ground of New York tent’s finest location, guests mixed, mingled, and enjoyed the opportunity to network with Long Island’s most elite.

Sponsors included “Please B. Seated” providing all of New York Tent’s rental needs. The event brought together New York City and Long Island’s top businesses, event planners, producers, designers, caterers and elite to enjoy this fabulous event. Each tenting concept is a unique vision, carefully planned and assembled. At New York Tent, they understand the complexities of organizing and producing spectacular events. Attention to detail, technical know-how, skilled assemblers, and quality materials allow the company to achieve, and exceed their clients’ expectations each and every time.

Untitled-1 David Tannenbaum, CEO of New York Tent at Concert and Cocktails; 2015: Event-Season’s Biggest Kickoff Spectacular with Cognac Wellerlane April 14, 2015

New York Tent has been producing sensational tented affairs since 1994, operating out of a 60,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. From world class sporting events such as the NYC Marathon and large music festivals, to corporate galas, weddings and intimate parties, New York Tent services customers’ needs with hands-on planning and a sophisticated design sense that is key to executing every event with flawless precision.

Each tenting concept is a unique vision, carefully planned and assembled out of a 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, which boasts a world-class washroom including a tent washing machine, water softening system and a 4th of its kind tent dryer. Led by CEO David Tannenbaum, who recently can on board, New York Tent has experienced explosive growth over the last two years garnering some of the largest investment in inventory the company has ever seen.

At the event I had the pleasure to talk to David Tannenbaum. CEO at New York Tent. Below is our interview.

Cognac interviews David Tannenbaum. CEO and Publicist Michael Mazzella from www.wunderlichinc.com at the New York Tent’s customer appreciation event season kickoff spectacular in Long Island on the 14th. The event will include over 600 of Long Island’s top event producers, investors, entrepreneurs, and editors from all the weeklies and top luxury glossy publications in New York City. They will enjoy a private VIP concert by the famed 90s Blues Traveler Band and the Movin’ Out Band.

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the new CEO of NY Tent. Introduce yourself to the camera.

David: I am David Tannenbaum with NY Tent and we are having a fun-filled night here under some new tents that we brought in for the upcoming season and just happy to have our clients here to see what we can offer.

Tell my audience a little bit more about this event that is taking place right now. You are having two special bands that will be performing.

David: Sure. We have the Movin’ Out Band. Billy Joel Tribute was on Broadway playing a show “Movin Out” for quite a while and the headliner is Blues Traveler who just dropped a new album on Tuesday. We are excited to have them here and give our guests a good time.

This is an amazing thing that you guys are doing. You have this every year. Now you are new on the board. When did you start with the company?

David: I started and was brought in to give some new life into the company, bring in some new inventory, reach out to a new market and this is a great way to intro that and show that we have been around for twenty years. We are reinventing ourselves and everything we have to offer.

You have a lot of interesting people here tonight. A lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of business people. How many people are actually attending this event tonight? Do you know?

David: In the end about seven hundred people.

Seven hundred people, Wow! And you do this every year?

David: Yea, we were doing it every other year for a while. From the success of what it looks like we are having this year, this most certainly will become a yearly event.

Wow! I am sure you have a lot of great ideas that you want to see take place here for NY Tent. Can you tell my audience some of the things you might be planning in the future for this company.

David: Sure, we have some great new inventory. The tent that we are having this event is called the Arcum. It’s something nobody else in our area has. It’s in other parts of the country in other areas. We have a lot of new chairs and a lot of new liners and a lot new kinds of elements to existing tents that really separate us from the competition. We show people it’s not just a plain old white tent anymore. There is more you can do with it!

Do you have any significant clients, any celebrity clients that my audience should know about?

David: We do. Most of the time we sign non-disclosure agreements to protect their identities and what we do for them. That is why I can’t name drop but we do a tremendous amount of work in the Hamptons and in the city and surrounding areas doing a lot of celebrity wedding, anniversary parties.

Charity parties.

David: Charity as well. Tremendous amount of charity, you know and special events for raising money. We are always happy to be a part of those events. It is a good cause, we get to be involved and do what we do.

Terrific! If we want to find out more information about NY Tent where can we go? What is the website?

David: Sure, the website is http://www.nytent.com. You can also call us anytime and we are here to help.

NYTentPublicistMichaelMazze Publicist Michael Mazzella from Wunderlich Inc. PR who invited me to the event. In our interview Michael revealed ‘Why rent a location when you can build one anywhere.’

I also had the opportunity to interview Publicist Michael Mazzella from Wunderlich Inc. PR who invited me to the event. In our interview Michael revealed “The importance is about events. The event we are having tonight is about event season kickoff! You know in the Summer there is a lot of events in New York and the Hamptons. It’s all about event season. As you can see the tent that we are under is quadruple the size of my apartment at least! It’s enormous. They have curve tents, they have metal tents, the one that we are sitting in now can hold up to tens of thousands of people and you know in New York and the Hamptons it’s all about the outdoor Summer Party and NY Tent is the perfect place to have your venue. Why rent a location when you can build it anywhere.

Cloud Nine Exotics Showcases Their Unique Driving Experience at the New York International Auto Show

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NEW YORK, NY – Each year the New York International Auto Show test the limits of modern technology with some of the most innovative cars, trucks and luxury vehicles. This year the show was held at the Jacob Javits Center from April 3rd through April 12, 2015.

During the event I had the opportunity to interview Director of Operations Mike Pytlar from Cloud Nine Exotics. Cloud Nine Exotics is a driving experience company in the Northeast. They do events on race tracks, parking lots and public roads.

LAMBORGINICloud Nine Exotics showcases their unique driving experience company in the Northeast at the New York International Auto Show.

Gigi Neil Michael PytlarModel Gigi Neil, Director of Operations Michael Pytlar from Cloud Nine Exotics and Cognac Wellerlane at the New York International Auto Show.

Below is our interview:

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the New York International Auto Show and I am here in this fabulous booth. It’s all about Cloud Nine Exotics. All the beautiful exotic cars that we are seeing. I am standing in front of a beautiful bright yellow Lamborghini and on the far right is a beautiful Ferrari. I am here with Mike and he is going to introduce himself to the camera.

Mike: How is going folks. I am Mike Pytlar, Director of Operations here at Cloud Nine Exotics.

Tell my audience about this whole line of exotic cars that you are featuring here at the New York International Auto Show.

Mike: We do different types of driving experiences whether you are testing driving in a parking lot, race track, on public roads that is what we are here to do, to provide the average gentleman here to have an opportunity to drive one of these beautiful cars.

Really, tell me my audience how that works.

Mike: It could be as cheap as $99 bucks. Our experiences go up to $749.00

$749.00!

Mike: You get behind the wheel of all five of these cars

And how long can you drive the vehicles?

Mike: For something like $749.00 you would get to do what is called the Paradise Cruise. You would come out to our facility in Farmingdale, New York and we would leave and go out to the Hamptons.

Oh nice!

Mike: Basically, me and you would go out together, we would drive the Lamborghini for twenty miles and then we would swap with the other four random couples that would be with us and then we get in the Porsche and we go do twenty miles in the Porsche. Then we go to the next pit stop with the GTR, the Bentley and the Ferrari. We would do a total of one hundred miles of driving on the Paradise Cruise.

So that is the ultimate deal. The Paradise Cruise?

Mike: That’s it yes and then we can do the $99.00 thing. We do it at Nassau Coliseum and we do it at the Pennysaver Amputheater both of which are located out on the Island.

Now why do people want to do this? What is so special about driving a Lamborghini or a Ferrari?

Mike: You tell me

Well I don’t know about me driving this car. I know I look good in front of the car.

Mike: So if you don’t want to drive it a professional like myself or like Josh in the back, one us can drive you and those are same prices obviously because actually we put more wear and tear on the vehicles.

I would be afraid to drive this car honestly. I would prefer a gentleman like you to drive me around.

Mike: I can certainly do that. I can give you the ride of your life!

Let me ask you something, would you drive a millionaire couple in a car like this to an event, there are so many red carpet events in the Hamptons.

Mike: We do all sorts of VIP connoisseur services. We do bachelor parties, we do all that type of stuff. What we say “We can do anything that you put your mind on to except drive in outer space.”

That’s next.

Mike: That’s next!

How long have you been working for Cloud Nine Exotics and why did you get involved in this?

Mike: I have been in the exotic car business my whole professional career. I am a young guy. This company was started about three months ago. It’s a relatively new company. I personally serviced about 80,000 people doing the same experiences.

FERRARI A guest, Michael Wellbrock, gets a taste of the Cloud Nine Exotics Ferrari at the New York International Auto Show.

MichaelPytlarDirector of Operations Michael Pytlar from Cloud Nine Exotics and Cognac Wellerlane at the New York International Auto Show.

PORCHECloud Nine Exotics showcases their unique driving experience company in the Northeast at the New York International Auto Show.

Mike discussed more about the amenities of each of the cars and he revealed that the Porsche Turbo S was his favorite vehicle in the booth and the fastest! During our interview Mike indicated, “The responses are overwhelming. During the week we have collected close to 10,000 emails so far here at the auto show. That’s great because obviously these are all of our potential clients. We want to get them behind the wheel and have everyone experience a smile on their face. It is a great event something that you have to try once and once you try it once you are going to keep coming back and we want to provide that expectation obviously with these cars. People expect a certain level at these events and that is what we are here to do set the benchmark in this industry.”

To find out more information please visit http://cloud9exotics.com

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Model Gigi Neil and Director of Operations Michael Pytlar of Cloud Nine Exotics at the New York Auto Show.

Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception Hosted by Jean Shafiroff at Madame Paulette

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NEW YORK, NY – It was an evening of fashion and cocktails at the cleaners, this could only happen on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan.  Philanthropist and Socialite Jean Shafiroff hosted the elegant fashion event at Madame Paulette located at 1255 Second Avenue to members of the press, celebrities and socialites for an exclusive showing of Fashion Designer Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 collection.

Fashion Designer Victor de Souza was born into a Portuguese family in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was first introduced to fashion through his grandmother’s closet, which was filled with an elegant collection by designers such as Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel and Schiaparelli. Seduced by the tapered silhouettes, brilliant hues and rich fabrics, de Souza knew at an early age that design was in his future.

Victor de Souza Victor de Souza, Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Fashion Designer Victor de Souza, Socialite Joy Marks and Owner of Madame Paulette’s John Mahdessian at the Cocktail Reception for Victor de Souza Fall 2015 Collection at Madame Paulette’s

I spoke to Victor about his collection, Madame Paulette and of course, fashion. Here is what he had to say:

We are here at Madame Paulette located at 1255 Second Avenue and I am here with the fabulous Designer Victor de Souza and he is going to tell us what the inspiration is for his Fall 2015 Collection.

Victor: My idea for the collection was a little piece from every part of the world but in a very smart way. I wanted it to be very wearable and very interesting. For me lately the challenge is how to make something that doesn’t look like somebody else because everybody copies each other.

Yes, I know I was at Fashion Week and everyone had the same design, the same color scheme, it was just getting out of hand. Now your showing this collection and it was not at Fashion Week. Did you do that deliberately?

Victor: I bought an apartment, ha, ha, ha, ……

I can understand that. So tell my audience how many pieces are in this collection?

Victor: Twenty-five pieces.

How many pieces are we seeing here tonight?

Victor: Tonight we have nineteen mannequins, nineteen outfits.

Nineteen outfits, nineteen ensembles!

Victor: The total collection is twenty-five.

How fabulous! Tell my audience why did you decide to have Jean Shafiroff host this event tonight at Madame Paulette? What was it about Madame Paulette that you wanted to do it here?

Victor: Well first I think Madame Paulette is an institution. So many of my gowns are stored at Madame Paulette. We always have had a connection. We have been planning this for years. We use to say ,”One day we should do a cocktail, we should do the windows.” We have been planning this forever. It happened that this was the evening.

This place is absolutely beautiful. Do you know the history behind Madame Paulette?

Victor: I think it’s about fifty years old. They specialize in high end couture. They do tailoring, They do storage. They are great. I love John the owner.

Yes, Is he going to be here tonight?

Victor: Yes he will be here.

Tell my audience where they are located.

Victor: 1255 Second Avenue.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is your website darling?

Victor: www.victordesouzany.com

I also had the chance to speak to the Owner John Mahdessian

We are here at Madame Paulette located at 1255 Second Avenue and I am here with the owner. Introduce yourself to the camera.

John: Hi, my name is John Mahdessian and I am the owner of Madame Paulette.

Tell my audience a little bit about the history of Madame Paulette.

John: Madame Paulette is a third generation, fifty-five year old family business. We are true leaders and pioneers in the field of cleaning and restoring all types of couture designer apparel, museum collectibles and home interior furnishings.

Now this establishment has been around for many, many years. Is your family the original owners?

John: Yes, the story is my dad’s uncle’s wife, her name was Madame Paulette

She was French…

John: Yes, she was French. She was a couturier.

And a launderer. I would think because back in the day they called them launderers.

John: Exactly and for her personal needs on the upper east side, my uncle said “Honey I am going to open up a cleaning establishment so we can take care of your beautiful collection so you don’t have to bring it back to Paris.” Then my dad opened up the business with his uncle and then his uncle unfortunately got sick and passed away and he took over the business for Madame Paulette and then she eventually went back to Paris and then that is how it came into the family.

Now laundering garments goes back to the times of Marie Antoinette?

John: Oh sure. Yeah, they figured out dry cleaning when there was an accident. Kerosene fell on a dirty piece of silk and when the kerosene was on the silk it got cleaner. Basically the kerosene removed the dirt particles and the stains. That is how they invented the dry cleaning process.

Oh my goodness, how fascinating; a piece of information I know my audience is going to love, a little bit of history. Tell my audience why did you decide to host this party?

John: Victor is an amazing designer. We love him. We love his collection. We have been maintaining his collection for many years and what a better venue then to have it here where we have an audience of the biggest fashionistas of the world.

Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

John: www.madamepaulette.com

During the event while interviewing Socialite Joy Marks, Joy revealed, “For the last four years I am wearing Victor de Souza almost exclusively. I love him, I love his clothes. His clothing, I call them my jewels, my gems!”

Jean Shafiroff Jean Shafiroff at Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

Jane Pontarelli Adele Nino LeeF Jane Pontarelli, Adele Nino, Lee Fryd at Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

The world of fashion, past present and future, will always consist of sophisticated tailoring that include fine and delicate fabrics, intricate beading, appliqués, embroidery, and other fragile hand craftsmanship that requires expert care and handling. This is why Madame Paulette is the custom couture cleaner of choice around the world.

Katlean DeMonchy Joy Marks Luci Katlean De Monchy, Joy Marks, Lucia Hwong Gordon at Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

John Mahdessian RitaCosby Bill John Mahdessian, Rita Cosby, Bill Lee Lanndis, Cognac Wellerlane and Lucia Hwong Gordon at Victor de Souza’s Fall 2015 Collection Cocktail Reception on the trendy upper east side of Manhattan, Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

There is simply no other resource that can boast the wealth of knowledge that Madame Paulette has. Whether for evening, business or casual attire, or something as special as your wedding gown, Madame Paulette will always be the most trusted name to rely upon when faced with any garment question that may be causing you uncertainty. This is precisely why the most reputable designers and retail establishments around the world choose to recommend Madame Paulette to their own valued clientele.

Their dedication to their clients and John Mahdessian’s own personal vision for the company has developed Madame Paulette’s client roster into a “Who’s Who” of the fashion, bridal, and entertainment worlds. Apparel houses such as Hermes, Carolina Herrera, and Vera Wang; corporations including Bergdorf Goodman and Trump International Hotel and Tower; and high profile clients including Anna Wintour, Kelly Ripa, Barbara Walters, and Sting, all depend on Madame Paulette for superb care of their garments and Interior home textiles.

19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party At Martha Washington Hotel in New York City

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HAMPTONS, NY – Sponsors and honorees gathered at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015 at the Martha Washington Hotel Ballroom in New York City celebrating the June 13th, 2015 event which will be held on the grounds of the Hayground School in Bridgehampton.

During the event I spoke to several supporters and sponsors including John Tortorella, Kathleen de Monchy, Jane Pontarelli and Regional Vice President of Long Island Kathy Munsch of the American Heart Association. My interview with Kathy Munsch was educational and very informative.

Kathy Munsch began her tenure at the American Heart Association in 2000 as a Senior Regional Director and was later promoted to Regional Vice President. She manages the Long Island office, the Long Island Board of Directors, a development staff and is responsible for the integration of her development staff with other departments in the Founder Affiliate such as Communications, Quality Improvement Initiatives and Professional Education. Before joining the American Heart Association, she was Executive Director for a grass roots breast cancer organization raising funds for education and awareness for Long Island women.

Kathy Munsch Hamptons Heart Ball Kathy Munsch Regional Vice President of the American Heart Association Long Island at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

Hamptons7

She began her career with not-for-profits working for ten years at the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence starting as their Supervising Paralegal and then becoming their Events Manager.

Through her leadership, more than 2,000 companies on Long Island have participated in National Wear Red Day, a component of the Go Red For Women Movement, which educates women of all ages by raising their awareness of cardiovascular disease.

Hamptons2 Hamptons Heart Ball Kathy Munsch, Regional Vice President of the American Heart Association Long Island and Cognac at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews John Tortorella, Katlean de Monchy and Regional Vice President of Long Island Kathy Munsch of the American Heart Association at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Cocktail Soiree at the Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan.

Hamptons3 Hamptons Ball Real Estate Agent Jane Pontarelli and Cognac at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Real Estate Agent Jane Pontarelli at 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Cocktail Soiree at the Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan.

I am here at the Martha Washington Hotel for the 19th Annual Heart of The Hamptons Ball Kick-Off Cocktail Party and I am here with this young lady and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Kathy: Hi, I am Kathy Munsch Regional Vice-President for the American Heart Association of Long Island.

This is the first time I have ever come to your actual kick-off party which is a preempt to the actual Heart of the Hamptons Ball.

Kathy: Yes and every year there is a kick-off. It is really to introduce our honorees, our chairs, our committee members, our sponsors and it is a chance for everybody to get together.

And to mingle and network.

Kathy: Yes.

Tell my audience what we can expect for this particular evening, at this event.

Kathy: Well, The Heart Ball is really to celebrate our achievements throughout the year and our mission is to make our communities healthier. We will have our honorees and we will have a survivor talk. A young woman will talk who is fourteen years old. When you hear her story and you see how inspiring she is you will say wow.

Will she be here tonight?

Kathy: She will be at the gala and you will hear her story.

How wonderful is that. You are doing such a wonderful job with the Heart Association. This is such a wonderful organization and it helps people of all ages that are suffering from heart disease.

Kathy: Yes it is and you know we are trying to make everybody more aware of prevention Eighty percent of heart disease can be prevented. We have made some great strides especially with women. Letting everyone know that heart disease is not an old man’s disease that many women are effected. It’s the number one killer for them. So really educating everyone on different ways that you can help prevent heart disease.

Yes, I know, I remember when Star Jones told me she was one of honorees a couple of years ago.

Kathy: Yes, she is a survivor.

She did not only talk here at the Heart of the Hamptons Ball but she also spoke at Fashion Week, I got a clip of her talking about that.

Kathy: She is a great speaker and very good for the American Heart Association and tells a story where you know she knew the signs and the symptoms but she didn’t think it was happening to her and she ended up with open heart surgery. She is here today because of modern technology which comes from all the research dollars with all the money we raise.

Thank God!

Kathy: Making a difference in everybody’s lives.

Absolutely. Tell my audience where we can find out more information about the Heart Association and how we can support it.

Kathy: You can go to www.heart.org and you can pull up Hamptons Heart Ball or you can find everything, anything you want to know about heart disease you can find on our website. There is a tremendous amount of information that is really important for everybody to understand.

Hamptons4 Hamptons Ball Michael Wellbrock, Cognac Wellerlane, Joy Marks, Alan Marks at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

Hamptons5 Hamptons Ball Lucia Hwong Gordon at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

The American Heart Association is this countries oldest, largest voluntary organization devoted to battling cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The organization was founded by six cardiologists in 1924. The American Heart Association now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters working tirelessly to eliminate these diseases. They fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to save and improve lives.

Hamptons6 Hamptons Ball Joy Marks at the 19th Annual Hamptons Heart Ball Kick-off Cocktail Party on Tuesday March 24, 2015.

Their nationwide organization includes 144 local offices and nearly 2,700 employees. They transported their national headquarters from New York to Dallas in 1975 to be more centrally located. The American Stroke Association was created as a division in 1997 to bring together the organization’s stroke-related activities. Their mission is building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

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