Enjoi Lux Presented 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant in Roosevelt Field

March 23, 2015 by Cognac Wellerlane

LONG ISLAND, NY – Guys and Girls attended the 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant in Roosevelt Field on Saturday March 21, 2015.

Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree is dedicated to raise funds to benefit a community based non-profit, Women of Integrity Inc. (WOI Inc) 5th Annual Prom Dress Drive for young girls in the Nassau County community.

This event included an array of various Horsd’oeuvres, Desserts, Unlimited Red & White Wine networking, raffles and entertainment. Shantay Carter the Founder of Women of Integrity Inc. sat down with me and discussed the purpose behind the organization and Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree.

Womeon Integrity Shantay Shantay Carter Founder of Women of Integrity Inc. with Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant on Saturday March 21, 2015.

Tell my audience why you are the founder of this organization?

Shantay: I am the founder of Women of Integrity Inc. because I found that there was a need in Long Island to help our under serve population of young girls. A lot of things are catered to the boroughs of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. I felt that there was nothing on Long Island. I am also a registered nurse so it was kind of in my nature to want to help people and give back so I found that a lot of our girls are lost. They are struggling.

They are very confused.

Shantay: They are very confused. They don’t have that good support system at home. Luckily I was fortunate to have that and I always wanted to pass that on to someone else and be able to give back to my community and that is why I started Women of Integrity. We can be their resource for these young girls.

Women of Integrity Board Members of Women of Integrty at the 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant on Saturday March 21, 2015.

We do etiquette workshops. We have done healthy living workshops, financial education and we work with Roosevelt High School after school mentoring programs where we go every Monday to Roosevelt High School and we work with the girls by bringing guest speakers. Just to be able to address topics that they want to talk about. It can range from everything and anything. We just did a guys panel, a male panel. We had two male speakers come in to speak to the girls. It was just meant to be able for them to ask questions like, “If I call a boy and he doesn’t call me back, why?” You know what I mean.

Yeah, they don’t understand.

Shantay: Yeah, so he was able to explain to them why. He stressed for them to stay in school.

They think it’s because they are ugly or fat or something.

Shantay: Right and he told them exactly that it is totally not the case. These guys are immature and they are young and they don’t really know what they want. So you have to know what you want as a young girl. You have to know your worth so they won’t treat you like that.

I love the name Women of Integrity.

Shantay: I wanted something that was going to stand out.

It sounds so powerful, Women of Integrity.

Shantay: That is what I wanted. I wanted women to know we all are Women of Integrity.

Shantay Carter also went on to discuss their Prom Dress Giveway Program.

Shantay: Our Prom Dress Giveway event will be next month on April 25th. We will be holding it at Kennedy Park in Hempstead. The kids just have to register online and that is for girls that are in need of a dress and who financially cannot afford it. I think prom is something that every girl deserves to go to. A lot of women have these dresses in the closet for years that they are not using, donate it for a good cause.

I want you to tell my audience where we can go to participate, where we can go to contribute and where we can go to support, what is the website?

Shantay: Our website is http://www.womenofintegrityinc.com

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Shantay Carter founder of About Women Of Integrity Inc. and Deborah Polidore Founder of Enjoi Lux at the 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant in Roosevelt Field.

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah Polidore from Enjoi Lux. Enjoi brings into existence luxurious events while highlighting emerging entrepreneurs and giving back to charity.

Alaina Reid, Shantay Carter and Deborah Polidore from Girls to Pearls at the 2nd Annual Girls to Pearls Cocktail Soiree at Seasons 52 Restaurant on Saturday March 21, 2015.

Introduce yourself to the camera.

Deborah: Hi, I am Deborah the co-founder of Enjoi Lux.

Tell my audience about the organization and why you established it.

Deborah – We established Girls to Pearls because we love young women in our community and we felt that they need to have role models, not role models on television but real women that look like them, real women that attend their schools, real women that play at their parks and to let them know that their dreams are possible.

Women Of Integrity Inc. is an organization of a diverse group of women from all different educational, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds whose aim is to support and empower women of all ages and ethnicity, while fostering the confidence necessary to accomplish their goals, dreams, and aspirations of the future. We extend our support through Volunteer service, Professional mentoring programs, and Community outreach events.

Aid to Developmentally Disabled; 1st Annual Shamrock Shindig, Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Long Island Aquarium

March 23, 2015 by Cognac Wellerlane

LONG ISLAND, NY – It was a Shamrock good time as Lads and Lasses gave their support and attended the 1st Annual Shamrock Shindig on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.

Guests enjoyed an evening of Irish charm with a mix of marine life. The event was planned as Aid to the Developmentally Disabled (ADD). The fundraiser included h’orderves, cocktails, an Irish buffet and private access to the spectacular aquarium. The night was filled with fun and humor as guests were treated to comedy entertainment, as well as witness one ADD Executive or Manager being lowered into the aquariums 120,000-gallon Lost City tank for a nose-to-nose swim with the sharks.

DonRiebFounderADD Don Rieb, Founder of ADD and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane, at the 1st Annual Shamrock Shindig on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.

During the event I had the pleasure of interviewing Founder Don Rieb.

I am talking to the CEO of ADD. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

Don: My name is Don Rieb. I am the founding CEO of the organization ADD. We started the agency in 1983 and we opened up our first residence in 1984 for those with disabilities and several years later we opened up programs for those with services for mental illness. We now have thirty residences in five townships.

And that is what this event is really all about. It’s participating and giving back to this organization.

Don: Yes. It’s actually critical. What’s happening over the past several years is that Albany and the federal government is reducing Medicaid funding for the past several years. Not just ADD but other organizations in New York State. It’s becoming much more difficult. They want us to do more for less.

More for less.

Don: Yet it’s getting harder and harder. So raising events like this is actually critical. Not only that but it get’s the community engaged in what we do.

And to bring awareness. That is the whole point behind this particular event. Obviously we are celebrating St. .Patrick’s Day but in a nice way because we are giving back to this wonderful organization.

Don: That and as you said it becomes an educational process for the community. The East End has been absolutely wonderful to us. It’s a wonderful community and we are happy to be here. We have houses out in East Hampton, Southampton, Greenport, Southold and Brookhaven Town. People are great.

Tell my audience what we’re going to experience at the 1st Annual Shamrock Shindig.

Don: Well this evening, obviously it’s to get the community together to learn something about ADD and to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. One of the things we are going to do is, we have a shark tank contest and the people who contributed will go into the shark tank. We had a program director and our board president, they got the most funding so there going to be going into the tank with the sharks!

Oh my God!

Don: Yeah, that’s what I said. Getting the people here is really about awareness and raising money is extremely important to us. All the money that we raise will go to all the people we serve.

Tell my audience where we can go to participate, support and contribute.

Don: We have a website. It’s http://www.addny.org

I also spoke to President Vincent Barry and why he became a big supporter of ADD.

Tell my audience why you are a big supporter of ADD.

Vinnie: Well I have been with ADD for more than ten years on the board and I really didn’t know too much about ADD when I first joined. I heard about it and the longer I have been with it’s been just a phenomenal organization. Don runs a great organization. It serves a very strong lead out here to save the mentally challenged and disabled. Don started this thirty years ago in 1984 with one home and now it has grown to thirty houses.

TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Founder of http://www.addny.org Donald Rieb and President Vincent Barry at the 1st Annual Shamrock Shindig at the Atlantis Aquarium in Riverhead, NY on March 19, 2015

The purpose at ADD is to provide the optimum level of quality rehabilitative services to all individuals living within their residential program. They provide a healthy, safe, and homelike environment in which individuals may achieve the greatest level of independence possible. ADD strives to surpass all requirements of OMH, OMRDD, federal, state and local authorities.

They are guided by their core of values:

Respect
Choice
Trust
Empathy
Dignity

ADD believes that every individual has value and the potential to learn and achieve goals. ADD does everything to inspire self-esteem, and encourage individuals to help each other and work together whenever possible. They aim to achieve fulfillment for every individual and employee by providing innovative and progressive programming and training. They are consistent in providing competent and compassionate staff who are role models for the people they serve. Standards of excellence are adhered to and monitored, as we work to achieve continuous improvement in all areas. ADD is dedicated to creating an environment where individuals are given the opportunity to be productive members of their community.

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

Junior League of Long Island Hosts Annual Winter Fundraiser in Founder’s Room at The Paramount

March 9, 2015 by Cognac Wellerlane

LONG ISLAND, NY – Guys and Dolls attended The Junior League of Long Island’s Annual Winter Fundraiser at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York on March 7, 2015 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. This event was open to the public and encouraged supporters and new members to enjoy the experience.

Guests were dressed in the best roaring 20’s, flapper and gangster costumes. The event featured live music, an open bar, a silent auction, wine and spirits, a cigar bar, opportunity drawings with fabulous prizes, a photo booth and tasting menus from the exclusive Founder’s Room just perfect for a speakeasy night.

Georgia Tsaforis, Donna Fiore, Cognac Wellerlane and Sierra Mittleman at the Junior League of Long Island’s Annual Winter Fundraiser at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York on March 7, 2015 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m.

I had the pleasure of interviewing President Donna Fiore who explained what the event was all about and enlightened me on the Junior League’s goals for the following year.

Tell my audience what is the Junior League? What is it all about?

Donna: The Junior League of Long Island is an organization of women, all women from various walks of life and we work together to benefit women and children on Long Island but the difference with us is that we actually educate and train our members to be volunteers. It sets us aside from everybody else.

How long has this organization been around?

Donna: We are part of a greater organization called AJAI which was founded in 1901 in New York City but our actual organization started in 1951.

Tell my audience this is a very important fundraiser. Do you have goals that you would like to plan out for the rest of the year for the organization?

Donna: We have one annual fundraiser which is this each year. We use the funds from this event to then be able to do all the things we do for Long Island. Next year we are building another playground for a community on Long Island. We do that every other year. Every year we help women get back on their feet and into the workforce.

These are women that are found homeless or lost a spouse?

Donna: Some of them are teenage girls that were pregnant so they are trying to get back in the work force now. There are women that are from battered women shelters, people who have had hardships in their lives and they are trying to get back on their feet. We also do an event every year called “Kids in the Kitchen.”

“Kids in the Kitchen,” I love it!

Donna: Yea, we teach children on Long Island how to make the right choices, even doing simple things. We teach them how to do Zumba or how to plant their own herb garden, little things they can do to take control of their life and their health.

This event is pretty exciting it’s all about the 1920’s!

Donna: Yes we are really excited. Our committee was fabulous and amazing this year. They went all out. They secured the Founders Room and they decided since this was a speakeasy a 1920’s theme would be perfect.

Tell my audience why you decided to become involved in the Junior League? Why are you so devoted to this organization?

Donna: Well, I joined in 2007 because I wanted to in that point of my life. I started my career and felt I was able to give back to the community. I formed so many friendships that are really supportive of women. It’s a nice sense of community and then when you are there and helping a girl get some clothes to get back in the work force there is no better feeling than that.

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

Donna: Our website is http://www.jlli.org

The Junior League of Long Island strives to be the organization of choice for voluntarism and community partnerships to help improve the health and well-being of women and children on Long Island.

The event at the exclusive Founder’s Room in the Paramount in Huntington, New York featured live music, an open bar, a silent auction, wine and spirits, a cigar bar, opportunity drawings with fabulous prizes, a photo booth and tasting menus from the exclusive Founder’s Room just perfect for a speakeasy night.

National Dental Awareness Event for Underprivileged Draws 1,600+ to Cradle of Aviation in Garden City

February 6, 2015 by Christopher Boyle

LONG ISLAND, NY – On Friday, February 6, Garden City’s Cradle of Aviation Museum was packed to the rafters with a gaggle of children as part of the 12th annual Nassau County Dental Society (NCDS) “Give Kids A Smile” event, which promotes the benefits of dental care for youngsters who otherwise might not have access to it.

Joseph Brofsky Co-Chair of NCDS event, said that “Give Kids A Smile” is a national endeavor aimed at children from disenfranchised areas who may have never seen a dentist at all in their short lifetimes. The event took place on February 6 at venues from coast-to-coast; however, Garden City lays claim to the title of the biggest of them all, Brofsky said.

Nassau County Dental Society and Long Island McDonald Help to Give Kids A Smile On Friday, February 6, Cradle of Aviation in Garden City was packed to the rafters with a gaggle of children as part of the 12th annual Nassau County Dental Society (NCDS) Give Kids A Smile. Kids were thrilled to see Ronald McDonald who left goodie bags including a certificate from McDonald’s for a free Happy Meal.

Nassau County Dental Society and Long Island McDonald Help to Give Kids A Smile On Friday, February 6, 2015, the national dental awareness event Give Kids A Smile drew over 1,600 to Garden City’s Cradle of Aviation Museum.

“There’s about 2,000 events put on by Dental Societies across America today for Give Kids A Smile, and this is the number-one venue in the country. Today we’re expecting a turnout of over 1,600 children,” he said. “Children are bused in from under-privileged areas on Long Island; some of them have never been to a museum or a dentist. We provide them with a tour of the Cradle of Aviation as well as dental checkups and, if needed, follow-up care.”

Over 100 volunteer dentists were set up at stations on the Cradle’s second floor, providing check-ups, cleanings, and fluoride treatments, temporary fillings, and general dental advice to tykes from all over Long Island; in addition, there were 350 student volunteers from high schools such as Long Beach, Lynbrook, Freeport, Farmingdale, and more, each of whom helped chaperone and manage the large throngs of kiddies present.

Nassau County Dental Society and Long Island McDonald Help to Give Kids A Smile On Friday, February 6, Cradle of Aviation in Garden City was packed to the rafters with a gaggle of children as part of the 12th annual Nassau County Dental Society (NCDS) Give Kids A Smile.

However, the NCDS also receives a great deal of help from a variety of other organizations; in addition to receiving donated dental supplies from Henry Schein Dental of New York, mascots and representatives from popular local sports teams such as the NY Islanders and the NY Mets were present to entertain the kids waiting for their checkups; however one certain clown clearly was the star of the show for these youngsters, Brofsky said.

“Ronald McDonald is a big star here with the kids…in fact, he’s the most popular character we have here today. The kids love him,” he said. “And Long Island McDonald’s has been tremendously helpful to us. They’re doing some wonderful work for the children of Long Island.”

Nassau County Dental Society and Long Island McDonald Help to Give Kids A Smile Posing for the camera are (L to R) Joseph Brofsky, Co-Chair of the Nassau County Dental Society’s “Give Kids A Smile” event, and Luciana Montuoro, LI McDonald’s Marketing & Public Relations Director, Friday, February 6, 2015, at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

Luciana Montuoro, LI McDonald’s Marketing & Public Relations Director, said that getting involved in the “Give Kids A Smile” event is just their way of continuing their tradition of giving back to the community; and the success of their involvement has enabled McDonald’s to extend their backing of this important cause to other areas of Long Island as well, she said.

“Long Island McDonald’s has been supporting Give Kids A Smile at this event for five years now, and each year it’s gown and grown,” she said. “They bus in children from all areas of Nassau and Suffolk County to get free checkups. And based on the success of this event, McDonald’s has also begun attending the Give Kids A Smile event held in Stony Brook University’s School of Dentistry and Farmingdale College as well.”

Nassau County Dental Society and Long Island McDonald Help to Give Kids A Smile On Friday, February 6, 2015, children from all areas of Nassau and Suffolk County were bused in for free checkups. Kids were thrilled to see Ronald McDonald who left goodie bags including a certificate from McDonald’s for a free Happy Meal.

Montuoro noted that the inclusion of the one-and-only Ronald McDonald at the Give Kids A Smile events serves two very important purposes.

“First, the kids are thrilled to see Ronald, but he also puts them at ease because they are nervous about getting a checkup,” she said. “And, after their checkup, each kid gets a goodie bag and we include a certificate from McDonald’s for a free Happy Meal.”

The Cradle of Aviation was abuzz with activity that day, with the mammoth lobby transformed into a jubilant waiting room of sorts, complete with chairs, music, snacks, and video screens everywhere you looked. Also, kids got free tours of the museum while they were waiting to have their teeth looked over by one of the many volunteers present.

Seven year-old Devon was indeed a bit apprehensive about going in for his check-up; however, with some encouragement from Ronald McDonald – and the promise of a Happy Meal to come – he soon found the courage to go in for a quick exam.

“The dentist told me I had good teeth,” he said. “I really liked that they gave me a checkup and made sure that I’ve been brushing right. And I really can’t wait to get a cheeseburger Happy Meal when I get home later!”

North Shore Historical Museum Members and Supporters Celebrate 2nd Anniversary

February 2, 2015 by Cognac Wellerlane

LONG ISLAND, NY – North Shore Historical Museum members and supporters joined in for a celebratory cocktail party for the Museum’s 2nd Anniversary in the historic 1907 Justices Court building on Jan 31, 2015.

The event honored Brian Mercadante’s long tenure at the helm as President of the Museum. The event featured food and beverages and a videographic history of the two years since the Museum opened in January of 2013 with highlights of the many exhibits, guest lecturers, authors, theatrical events, historical presentations, and film and musical events hosted by NSHM. Guests also enjoyed meeting ‘faux-mous’ dignitaries, such as J.P. Morgan, Jr. and Teddy Roosevelt,.

At the event I had a moment to chat with Chair Victoria Crosby.

North Shore Historical Museum Board Members Victoria Crosby and Barry Rivadue on Jan 31, 2015.

North Shore Historical Museum Author Monica Randal and Board Member Victoria Crosby on Jan 31, 2015.

I am here with the Chair of the event and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Victoria: I am Victoria Crosby. I am a board member and former vice-president of the North Shore Historical Museum.

Tell my audience about the event this evening.

Victoria: This event is to celebrate the second anniversary since the museum has been opened and also to honor Brian Mercadante who has been the president for our organization for seventeen years. Seventeen years ago he got the idea to turn this building into a museum. It was a court house and it was built in 1907 and there is a jail cell downstairs. You can see there is a court room here. It hadn’t been used for many years. It was empty and decaying and deteriorating quit badly. So once we had the charter to make it into a museum we had to raise the money to restore it to the way it looked in 1907 and that’s we we did.

Over one hundred years old is this building?

Victoria: Over one hundred years old is this building; we restored it to look the way it did then because it had changed over the years and now it has opened as a museum for two years.

It’s beautiful and so fitting to make this government building into a museum. Tell my audience again the year it was established.

Victoria: 1997, but the museum didn’t open until two years ago.

And now this is your 2nd anniversary?

Victoria: This is the second anniversary of the year we opened as a museum. We got a charter first and then we had to raise some money in order to fix the inside and outside of the building.

Lovely. Now why did you get involved in all of this?

Victoria: Well, I have been living in the community for thirty years and very involved in many aspects of Glen Cove and the surrounding area. I am very interested in history particularly the old mansions.

Oh, they are just gorgeous!

Victoria: So when I heard about this, I was very interested in getting involved and I have been involved for at least fifteen years.

The Great Gatsby, that house was in Long Island. Where was that house located?

Victoria: Well, it was fiction.

Of course

Victoria: But it was suppose to be Great Neck.

Oh, it was Great Neck. I see. I wasn’t sure. I thought it might have been Glen Cove.

Victoria: Well it could have been. We still have a lot of wonderful mansions here. It could have been F. Scott Fitzgerald’s mansion, J.P. Morgan’s mansion, The Woolworth mansion, the Pratt mansion. He might of got his inspiration by seeing the wonderful mansions in the area.

You are in character right now?

Victoria: Yes, I am suppose to be Mrs. Vanderbilt.

I love it. I would like you to tell my audience where we can go to get more information about the North Shore Historical Museum.

Victoria: You got to go to www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org that’s our website and you can find out all about us. We have this exhibit on now which is at an end. We will be getting a new exhibit in a few weeks and our exhibits are changing. We have lecture series, we have some wonderful events here. We did “A Few Good Men,” because it is a play set in a court room. I don’t know if you know that the movie “North By Northwest,” was filmed here.

Was it really?

Victoria: Partially here. The court room scenes were right here in the court room and the jail cell downstairs was also part of that movie. Cary Grant was here. We showed the movie last year on the 55th anniversary of its filming.

Wonderful. Tell my audience one more time the website.

Victoria: www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org

I also spoke to Mayor Reginald A. Spinello of Glen Cove who presented the award to President Brian Mercadante for his dedication and hard work.

Mayor Reginald A. Spinello of Glen Cove and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the North Shore Historical Museum on Jan 31, 2015.

This is a very exciting thing for this museum to be a part of the community. Tell my audience how thrilled you are that the museum is celebrating its second anniversary.

Mayor Spinello: This is a wonderful event. Brian Mercadante who had the vision, has restored, I should say a 1907 court house. It’s been embraced by not only the city of Glen Cove but the surrounding communities. They have wonderful events here. They have lecturers, they have exhibits, it is well received. It really is a nice little addition to our great city.

Tell my audience a little more about Glen Cove. Why is it a very significant part of Long Island?

Mayor Spinello: Glen Cove is beautiful. Glen Cove is part of the Gold Coast. We have many mansions in the greenbelt area. It is a waterfront community. We are in the beginnings of a revitalization. We have this year a waterfront project starting, a one billion dollar project that would be 1,000 residential units, restaurants, a marina, commercial retail and we are also redoing our downtown. We have a mixed use development company coming in that will change Glen Cove from a bedroom community to a vibrant happening downtown. Glen Cove has a lot of tradition, lots of history. Most people that you see in Glen Cove have been born and raised and stay here. You go in the morning to have breakfast in the local coffee shop. It’s like a throw back to the olden days and everyone knows everyone and there is a friendly good morning and good cup of coffee. So it’s a great place.

Lastly I had the privilege to talk to the President Brian Mercadante.

North Shore Historical Museum President Brian Mercadante on Jan 31, 2015.

North Shore Historical Museum Board Member Barry Rivadue on Jan 31, 2015.

Tell my audience about the struggle that you have had getting this established into a museum.

Brian: The first thing we had to do was apply to the New York State Department of Education because museums are charted by the New York State Department of Education. We applied for that in 1997 and we became a chartered museum in 1998. At that time we knew we wanted to be a museum. We started to raise money, we started to raise funds. We did small shows in City Hall and at the library and we raised funds to get this court house back and we raised over one million dollars for the museum in that period of time. That’s seventeen years. We restored this building. This building at the time was in terrible shape. It had been used for satellite court house in the town of Oyster Bay. It was built in 1907 when Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States.

Oh my goodness. Over 100 years ago.

Brian: It was a very cool time to be here because the Pratt family was here and Teddy Roosevelt lived in Oyster Bay. There were a lot of wealthy people here. J.P. Morgan lived here. Woolworth lived here. People came out here by steam boat. They came out here at that time for vacations. It was like the Hamptons.

I know. Isn’t that something how history has changed. Now everyone goes to the Hamptons instead of the Gold Coast.

Brian: Well they have cars now or planes and helicopters but back then they did a lot of travel by steam ship because they all didn’t have cars and there were not enough roads. This was started by Oyster Bay. They built the building as a satellite court house as I said and then Glen Cove became the city and broke away from the town of Oyster Bay in 1917. The town of Oyster Bay gave this building to the city of Glen Cove for its first government.

I see you have a lot of exhibits. How many exhibits do you have here as we speak?

Brian: We have some permanent exhibits which are always on disiplay and then we rotate other exhibits. The big rotation is World War I. We are ending that exhibit right now.

Brian Mercadante will be stepping down and the new president, Georgie Connet, will be taking reign on February 1, 2015. The North Shore Historical Museum has been chartered by the New York State Department of Education to collect and exhibit artifacts and archives of Long Island’s North Shore. For more information please visit www.northshorehistoricalmuseum.org

North Shore Historical Museum Board Members on Jan 31, 2015.

Interview: “Dice Man” to Perform at NYCB Theatre in Westbury Long Island, Friday January 30, 2015

January 21, 2015 by Cognac Wellerlane

LONG ISLAND, NY – America’s most controversial and outrageous comic, Andrew Dice Clay, or to many of his adoring fans the ‘Dice Man’ will be performing at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday January 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM.

Last year the Dice Man published “The Filty Truth,” a story of his rise to fame. His story is written by David Ritz. In this unapologetic and uncensored autobiography, Andrew Dice Clay, is roaring to set the record straight. Below is an interview with the irreverent comic:

AndrewDiceClay1 Andrew Dice Clay, will be performing at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday January 30, 2015. Photo Courtesy, ‘Dice’.

Born in Brooklyn, NY what encouraged you to become a comic?

Dice: I never intended to be a comedian. I wanted to be a drummer first – I wanted to be like Buddy Rich. Then I started doing the impressions and next thing you know I am a comedian.

The man that we see on the stage telling jokes, is that the same man at home with his wife and kids?

Dice: I’ve always said that if I did half the things I talk about on stage at home, I’d be looking at 25 years to life. The Dice Man is character – the only thing we have in common is that we are both from Brooklyn.

Your whole act is politically incorrect. Does it ever worry you the consequence of something you might say could cause a law suit?

Dice: F*#K THAT! I am a comic, what are they are going to sue me for? Being F#@king Hilarious and a Little Fithy?

Explain to my audience about this performance that will be at NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Friday, January 30th.What will we see?

Dice: The audience can expect one of the funniest comedy shows that they have ever seen. It’s filthy, vulgar, graphic but first and foremost Funny! And if you’re over 18, you won’t find it offensive at all, because I talk about the same things everybody else does but won’t admit.

I understand you recently had your autobiography THE FILTHY TRUTH published. What inspired you to tell the story of your life?

Dice: I had offers to tell my story years ago, but it never felt right. I had not lived enough life to tell my story if you know what I mean. I think after the Woody Allen resurgence the timing felt just right.

How long did it take for the story the get published start to finish?

Dice: That’s hard to say cause I wrote a lot of the book years ago when offers started to come in. But the finished book I have to say about 2-and-a-half years.

Where can go to find out more information about your tour dates and anything we need to know about the Dice man?

Dice: You can go to www.andrewdiceclayofficial.com or Twitter @TheRealDiceClay.

Tickets to the show on Friday January 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM can be ordered at http://venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com

East End Arts Gallery Holiday Gift Boutique, Riverhead

November 18, 2014 by Cognac Wellerlane

(Long Island, NY) This past weekend I attended the East End Arts Gallery Holiday Gift Boutique located at 133 E. Main Street, Riverhead NY 11901. Long Islanders experienced an array of unique, artful, one-of-a-kind gifts. All the items are handmade by local artists.

Every piece is just perfect for holiday gifts. the gallery showcased hundreds of gorgeous hand-made holiday ornaments, greeting cards, one-of-a-kind jewelry, wearables, ceramics, crafts, and more showcased at the gallery as visitors from all over the Island came to see what was available.

I had a chance to interview Gallery Director Jane Kirkwood.

Tell my audience about this event this afternoon.

Jane: This is our annual gift boutique. It’s just been gaining popularity every year and you can see we are kind of busy. One of our specialties are the ornaments you see around us. All of our artisan are very talented. Besides doing jewelry and scarves they make ornaments. The ornaments range in price from three dollars to about fifty dollars and they are a great way to bring a house gift instead of wine. Nobody throws an ornament away. They take it out and they remember the gratitude and the generosity of the giver.

How many artisans are displaying their work here at the gallery?

Jane: Around forty or forty-one artisans.

Forty-one artisans and these are all handmade?

Yes, these are all handmade and one-of-a-kind items.

How many years have you been doing this?

We have been doing this for nine years. This year we have four hundred one of a kind ornaments. Last year we had half of that. The year before we had one hundred so it has been growing exponentially.

This is such a lovely event. All the items are just beautiful. I encourage everyone to come from all over Long Island, New York City and the Hamptons to to to the East End Arts in Riverhead. Tell my Audience the address.

Jane: We are located at 133 East Main Street in Riverhead, New York.

Tell my audience where they can go for more information. What is the website?

Jane: www.eastendarts.org

I also had the chance to chat with Artist Lula Castillo about her organic jewelry.

eastend Artist Lula Castillo and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the East End Arts Gallery Holiday Gift Boutique in Riverhead.

Explain to my audience what organic jewelry is all about.

Lula: What I do is recycle seeds, beans and I also work with citrus peel, I assemble and I do great pieces of necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

How many pieces are we looking at right now here at the gallery?

Lula: I have about fifteen necklaces, bracelets and fifteen earrings.

Why did you decide to make organic jewelry?

Lula: I am originally from Colombia. I studied industrial design so I had to be in contact with natural materials during my semesters. I started to work with fibers, seed and that is how I got started.

Where can we find your jewelry?

Lula: I do art shows in the Hamptons and my website is www.natural-sur.com

East End Arts Gallery was founded in 1972 as an outgrowth of the successful Woodrow Wilson Humanities Series. East End Arts began as the East End Arts & Humanities Council, Inc, a resource for the local arts community with a commitment of supporting and advocating for the arts community. The history of East End Arts began in a space donated by the Riverhead Central School District in the Pulaski Street School.

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

The 4th Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival

November 12, 2014 by Cognac Wellerlane

(Long Island, NY) The Gold Coast Arts Center, in conjunction with the Town of North Hempstead presented the fourth annual Gold Coast International Film Festival from November 3rd through November 9, 2014. The festival was a special week of films, parties, panels, and glamour.

This year the festival was proud to announce that four-time Academy Award-winning Production and Costume Designer (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!) Catherine Martin who accepted the Gold Coast International Film Festival Artist of Distinction Award at their Opening Night Gala which took place at Leonard’s Palazzo 555 in Great Neck on Monday November 3, 2014. Also being honored was President of the Gold Coast Arts Center, Michael Glickman. Mr. Glickman accepted the Man of the Year Award; and Marie Cecile Flageul and Jonathan Cohen, (known as Meres One) received the Art and Activism Award.

Screenings and events at this year’s festival took place at the Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington and at Bow Tie Cinemas in Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset, Roslyn as well as at other venues including the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck.

goldcoast3 Interview with Creative Director and Founder, Regina Gil, at the fourth annual Gold Coast International Film Festival.

During my interview with Creative Director and Founder, Regina Gil, I inquired:

“How many films premiered here at this year’s festival?”

Well over thirty-five, perhaps more. What happens is we’ll say that we will only have twenty-five films and then opportunities come up and we want to be able to give a platform to some filmmakers who’s work is good, so we don’t say no.

“Do you have a specific idea of the range of films that you would like to be seen here at the festival?’

“We are very diverse. We believe that when you are in a suburb you don’t have access to diversity the same way you do when you are in an urban situation so we invite foreign film, we have quite a number of those, documentaries about serious subjects, documentaries about funny subjects, we had a congressman in that auditorium and we had a comic in this auditorium. We always try to mix it up. We have feature length films; we have short films. We run the gambit.

I also asked Regina where her love of film came from. Her response was,

“I actually love all of the arts. I was raised in New York City and I am a professional artist and sculptor by trade. I founded the arts center which is the only multi-arts center in Nassau County and is about art, music, dance, theater and film; I discovered that for most people film is the most accessible art form.

Afterwards I had a chance to chat with Comic Jeffrey Gurian who discussed his friendship and relationship with the late Joan Rivers after the Q&A of the documentary “A Piece of Work”.

goldcoast2 Comic Jeffrey Gurian discussed his friendship and relationship with the late Joan Rivers after the Q and A of the documentary A Piece of Work.

“Jeffrey, tell my audience about this film,”

I asked. “It was about her life and her struggles because comedy is a very difficult field. She was a superstar. She was the kindest person. I wrote for her. I met her back in 1991. I knew her all these years. Last June 30th she came up to Cirus XM to do an interview with Ron Bennington from The Ron and Fez Show. That’s the show I am on and she was very gracious. She was promoting her new book called ‘Diary of a Mad Diva.’ She worked 24/7 non-stop. The nicest thing about Joan was that she was eighty-one years old but she was hip, she was relevant and other comedians revered her. She was loved by the comedy community,” Jeffrey confessed.

I also asked him if there was a special moment he had with Joan.

“On June 30th when she came up to Cirus and they brought me in to see her, I was asking about her book and she was asking me about my book, I offered to give her a copy. She said absolutely not I want to buy a copy of it and she had Jocelyn her assistant take a picture of the cover so she could order it. She said I want to support you and the book.”

‘A Piece of Work’ is a tribute to the late, great Joan Rivers. The Gold Coast International Film Festival was delighted to bring back this excellent documentary that welcomes viewers into the legendary icon’s comedic process and private dramas as she fights tooth and nail to keep her American dream alive. Followed by a Q&A with comedians and those who knew Joan, celebrating her comedic legacy including Director Ricki Stern and Jeffrey Gurian.

Woody Allen took the challenge of allowing an aspiring young comedy writer to meet with him backstage on Broadway, many years ago, when he was starring in “Play It Again, Sam.” Allen was so impressed with the young writer that he decided to invite him to bring more of his material the next evening and encouraged the young man to pursue his dream of writing comedy. That young man was Jeffrey Gurian.

Allen was the first to instruct Gurian that his comedy was “very visual” and urged him to think about adapting it to film. However it wasn’t until several years later that Emmy award winning writer/producer Alan Zweibel, (Sat. Night Live, Gary Shandling, The Other Shulman), got Gurian involved with writing professionally. Zweibel introduced him to his manager at the time, David Jonas, best known for having catapulted the late Freddie Prinze to stardom in “Chico and The Man.”

Since that time, Gurian has written for many comics including: PHIL HARTMAN, RICHARD BELZER, GILBERT GOTTFRIED, GEORGE WALLACE, ROBIN WILLIAMS, PAULY SHORE, DICE CLAY, MILTON BERLE (who was also his sponsor in The Friars Club), RICH LITTLE, DICK SHAWN, PAT COOPER, JAN MURRAY, FRANK GORSHIN, JIM MORRIS, HENNY YOUNGMAN, JERRY LEWIS…and JOAN RIVERS.

For more information about Jeffrey please visit http://comedymatterstv.com

Over the past several years the festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and it’s easy to see why GCIFF has become the “go to” Festival for film aficionados (it is also the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season).

Located in the Town of North Hempstead, the Gold Coast International Film Festival was established with the purpose of establishing a home on Long Island to showcase the work of exceptional filmmakers and provide the public with an insider’s view of the film industry. Festival events include screenings, workshops, conversations with prominent members of the film community, parties and a gala.

During the seven-day festival, area residents, visitors, members of the business and film communities, public officials, students and academics came together to celebrate the art and influence of cinema in the charming and historic towns and villages of Long Island’s Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the Great Neck Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 1993 and dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach.

For more information about the Gold Coast International Film Festival please visit http://www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org

Interview with David Weintraub of Local Rock, Alternative and Progressive Band “Terra Stigma”

October 20, 2014 by Dana Klosner

(Long Island, NY) Terra Stigma, the name means “A Way of Being on the Earth.” The music is a mixture of hard rock, alternative and progressive with a hint of pop, said drummer, vocalist David Weintraub. They’re influenced by Tool, System of a Down, Pearl Jam and Led Zeppelin.

The name Terra Stigma was chosen to symbolize and define the music by lead singer Justin Aaron and Bass player Shawn Stuart.

“When we write music we write about what we’re going through,” Weintraub said. “It’s not just what we’re going through but what the world is going through as well. It’s how we react to stresses that come up in our lives with self-inflicted outs. Our music shows hope for the next day. The idea is to make people better themselves and better the world we live in. It’s inspirational rock.”

David_Weintraub_867 David Weintraub on Drums and Vocals, Terra Stigma

The band has been together about ten years and has played at places like the Gramercy Theater and CBGB in NYC, and they have headlined at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh.

Weintraub joined the band about a year and a half ago.

“I met the lead singer at one of my gigs,” said Weintraub who plays in about eight bands. “He said he wanted me to play drums for them. I didn’t know who the band was. I kept running into him and he kept asking me to take a CD. About two years later I took a CD and fell in love with the music. I’ve been with the band since my first rehearsal with them. It’s a pleasure playing with them.”

It’s the dynamics of the band, the aggressiveness of the music and the lyrical content that attracted Weintraub to the group.

“If you broke down the vocals and read them for what they are they are deep in meaning, soulful and symbolic at the same time,” Weintraub said.

Justin_Aaron_2 Justin Aaron on Vocals and Rhythm guitar, Terra Stigma

The band is currently writing new music that will supersede some of the old music.

When writing the newer music Weintraub says he guides the band with his drumming and will make suggestions about the guitar music.

“I’m musically educated and have taken classes in advanced music theory. I play guitar myself, I am making [a solo] album. It comes down to what sounds the best and what is for the good of the song. It’s no one person guiding where the song goes. It is four people making the song happen.”

shawn_stuart Shawn Stuart on Bass, Terra Stigma

Weintraub, 27, has been playing the drums since fourth grade.

“My father was a hobbyist drummer,” he said. “When he was a young man in Brooklyn he played with a group of guys in his apartment building. It was an important time in Rock and Roll.”

When he started, David Weintraub was a ten year old who was having trouble in math.

“I needed help counting and my father said, ‘Why not try this?’The first record I heard was Yes. The first song was ‘Southside of the Sky’ from the album ‘Fragile.’ It captivated me. I took out toys and put tape around pencils.

tim_dahle Tim Dahle on Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Terra Stigma

My father took me to Michael’s music in Freeport and bought me a [drum] pad. I went to fourth grade band try-outs. The teacher said, ‘There’s a space between your teeth, you should play trumpet.’ I brought my pad and sticks. He showed us paradiddles. I went home and practiced. I played them full speed and blew past the teacher and the rest of the students. He took me to the middle school and introduced me to the director of orchestra. I played the paradiddles for him; my sticks were flying up real high. He said, ‘Now don’t touch my hand when you use the sticks.’ After I did that he had me sign my first autograph. He said, ‘You are gonna go places one day little guy.’”

Terra Stigma – Vital, Video made by Thatiana Diaz.

Weintraub has loved drumming ever since.

“I get to control the tempo of the room. I get people to get up and dance and rock out and forget about their troubles,” he said.

Terra Stigma is made up of Justin Aaron on Vocals and Rhythm guitar, Shawn Stuart on Bass, Tim Dahle on Lead and Rhythm Guitar and David Weintraub on Drums and Vocals.

You can see Terra Stigma at the Hub Music Hall in Island Park on Friday, Oct. 24th. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10. After that you can see them Friday, December 5th at Revolutions in Amityville and Saturday, January 17th at the Bitter End in NYC.

The 22nd Annual Hamptons International Film Festival; October 9th through October 13, 2014

October 19, 2014 by Cognac Wellerlane

(Long Island, NY) The Hamptons International Film Festival celebrated its 22nd year in the Hamptons from October 9th through October 13, 2014. Each year the festival screens films from around the world. Below are some notable films that I attended red carpet premieres:

ST. VINCENT directed by Theodore Melfi starring Bill Murray was the opening night film at Guild Hall in East Hampton on Thursday, October 9. In ST. VINCENT, Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year-old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. Together with Daka (Naomi Watts), a pregnant stripper, Vincent brings Oliver along on his daily routine: the racetrack, a strip club, and the local dive bar. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair in Theodore Melfi’s charming comedy.

Patricia Clarkson attended the Festival on behalf of the Spotlight film, LEARNING TO DRIVE, which marked its US premiere at The 22nd Hamptons International Film Festival. Actress Patricia Clarkson also took part in “A Conversation With…” on Friday, October 10 at Bay Street in Sag Harbor. No matter the role, Clarkson brings intelligence, dedication, and her unique sense of empathy. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, she worked on Broadway before making the leap to feature films with 1987’s THE UNTOUCHABLES. After successful stints on television, she achieved breakthrough status with 1998’s HIGH ART, where she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female. From there, she earned raves for her terrific turns in THE GREEN MILE, FAR FROM HEAVEN, HBO’S SIX FEET UNDER (two Emmy Awards), DOGVILLE, THE STATION AGENT, ALL THE REAL GIRLS, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, CAIRO TIME, and EASY A. In 2003 she earned an Academy Award® nomination for her work in PIECES OF APRIL. Clarkson joins the previously announced Hilary Swank, Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern and Joel Schumacher who are also participating in “A Conversation With..,” making 2014 the program’s most robust year ever.

The film GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM directed by Shlomi Elkabetz premiered at the festival on October 11, 2014 at the Sag Harbor Cinema.

The film is a final piece of the trilogy by Israeli siblings Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz exploring the unfolding of a marriage under the jurisdiction of a rabbinical court. Under this law, Jewish marriage may only end if the husband presents a “gett”, a divorce document, to his wife. Calling attention to a male-dominated and sometimes decade-long process, and set entirely in the courtroom, this brilliantly written and acted film reveals the slow dissolution of a marriage between Vivane (Ronit Elkabetz) and Elisha (Simon Abkarian). Balancing the seriousness of what’s at stake with an often-humorous tone, GETT offers a deeply moving take on an otherwise painful procedure.

ChristieBrinkleyHamptonsInt Christie Brinkley, Hamptons International Film Festival.

WILDLIKE directed by Frank Hall Green premiered on October 10, 2014 at the Regal East Hampton.

I had a chance to interview the Director and Cast, Ella Purnell and Bruce Greenwood.

The film is a lovely trek into the stunning Alaskan wilderness, WILDLIKE follows fifteen year old Mackenzie on her first destination to the last frontier. When her stay with ‘Uncle’ takes a traumatic twist, Mackenzie must embark on a dangerous journey through the wilds alone. On her way she encounters another lone traveler (Bruce Greenwood, THIRTEEN DAYS) and together they offer one another something that cannot be found on any map: a chance at salvation. Starring Ella Purnell (MALEFICENT), Ann Dowd (TRUE DETECTIVE) and Brian Geraghty (THE HURT LOCKER), WILDLIKE is a thrilling and taut emotional film.

TIME OUT OF MIND produced by Richard Gere and directed by Oren Moverman premiered on October 10, 2014 at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

The film involves George Hammond who wakes up one morning in a random disarray apartment and is evicted by the building manager. He has a weeks-old beard and unexplained scratches on his face. With no where to go and without a dwelling He wanders the streets of New York looking for shelter and food. Filmmaker Oren Moverman (THE MESSENGER) and star Richard Gere, in a moving performance, bring many heartbreaking truths from this initial premise in TIME OUT OF MIND, a blistering and deeply affecting slice of modern day neo-realism.

THE HOMESMAN directed by Tommy Lee Jones starring both Tommy Lee Jones and Hillary Swank premiered on October 12, 2014 at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

THE HOMESMAN is based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize nominee Glendon Swarthout and follows the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) as she travels with three “damaged” women by covered wagon to Iowa across the American frontier. She soon realizes just how daunting the journey will be and employs a feisty low-life drifter, George Biggs (Jones), to accompany her. The unlikely caravan decide to travel east, where a waiting minister and his wife (Meryl Streep) have offered to take the women in. But the group first must traverse the harsh Nebraska Territories, marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threatening conditions.

Hillary Swank and Artistic Director David Nugent at the Hamptons International Film Festival

FOXCATCHER directed by Bennett Miller starring Mark Ruffalo premiered on October 11, 2014 at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

With the Academy Award-nominated features MONEYBALL and CAPOTE, Director Bennett Miller has the capacity of turning real-life tales into powerful dramas. With FOXCATCHER, he delivers his most stunning and unsettling film yet. Based on true events, the film depicts Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and his revered sibling Dave (Mark Ruffalo) as they fall into the orbit of an eccentric multi-millionaire, John du Pont (Steve Carell). Their ambiguous goal is to launch Mark to fame and glory. Nothing quite prepares the audience for FOXCATCHER, as this riveting stranger-than-fiction story turns dark and tragic at the end.

A delightful film WEENIE directed by Dan Roe and starring Claire Lucido premiered on October 11, 2014 at the Regal East Hampton Cinema in East Hampton.

Weenie is a grounded sixteen year old teenager who wants to go a forbidden party. The audience is fascinated with the character and the obstacles she goes through defying her mother’s wishes.

Director Dan Roe is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and teaches the 11th grade Media Studies course at Ross School, an experimental boarding school in East Hampton, New York. He is also a cartoonist.

The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is a year-round 501(c)3 non-profit organization with events, screenings, film workshops, comprehensive summer programs and an annual film festival each October. The Festival is the premiere film event on New York State’s east end, and is an intimate showcase of some of the year’s best offerings in contemporary cinema from around the world. With cash and in-kind prizes handed out totaling more than $190,000, HIFF continues to attract some of the best films of the year. Selections from all of our programs continue to play an important role during awards season. 2013 marked the 5th time in the last 6 years that a film at the Festival has become the eventual Best Picture winner at the Oscars, making HIFF the only Festival on the East Coast with such a distinction. In those 6 years, films screened in the festival have received 150 Oscar nominations.

For more information please visit http://hamptonsfilmfest.org

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