Village Connection Magazine January 2015

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Long Island’s Lifestyle, Music &villageconnentionmagazine.com Arts Magazine •1

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From the Publisher village staff Associate Publisher Jeanne Murphy

Creative Director Nicole Savalli

Director of Marketing/Promotions Scott “Scotto” Savitt

Public Relations

Rick Eberle Steve Marcuccio

It’s hard to believe the holiday’s have come and gone.

They seem to have passed in the blink of an eye. Now that the New Year is under way, we are settling into our new office space at 376 New York Avenue, right in the heart of Huntington Village. This is an exciting move for me because I have serviced this village for the past 25 years and this move will put me right in the middle of everything going on. We have a lot of big plans for our new home. Aside from our day to day work on the magazine, we will be working on a new internet TV network which will feature local talk shows, musicians, artist and more. Leading the way will be the return of my own show, In The Village Live with Jim Savalli, where I will be interviewing the writers, business owners, artists, musicians and other talents in the pages of Village Connection/Live Magazine. So, welcome to a new year and if you’re in the Village, stop by to say Hi!

I’ll see you in the Village JimSavalli 631.988.5465

Social Media

j. murphy creative marketing

Photography

Len Marks Photography

Contributing Writers

Cherie Via Rexer, Rich Rivkin, Adriana Vater, Lisa Teich-Savoy, George Wallace, Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, Kathy Eaton, Gail King, Alan Stableford, Charles H. Gamarekian, John Blenn, Scotto Savitt, Bonnie Spady, Tom Ryan, Lou Toscano

Contact Information

631-988-5465 villageconnection@live.com

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Village Connection Magazine, Inc. 376 New York Ave Huntington NY, 11743 villageconnectionmagazine.com

All artwork, design & layout by Village Connection Magazine, Inc. is sole property of the publisher and may not be reproduced in whole or part. The publisher will not be responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, and such responsibility, if any, shall be limited only to the first use of advertising in the case of repeated use. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising at its sole discretion. Position requests can not be guaranteed. The advertiser shall represent that all artwork and copy provided by the advertiser is owned by the advertiser and it has the right to utilize such in this publication. ©2015 Village Connection Magazine, Inc.

4 • village connection • january 2015

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Contents January 2015

08 COVER ARTIST 16 The Huntington Shuffle 20 Art Galleries & Museums 26 Fitness 30 Looking to Make a Difference 32 Kerrianns Corner 34 Community Events 36 Outdoor Living 6 • village connection • january 2015

38 LIVE at the Paramount 39 LIVE Events 42 Feature: Jack Licitra 46 Feature: Mike D’Agostino 48 Traveling with Scotto 49 Good Eats 50 Feature: MHZ 52 The Other Top 40

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Cover Artist

Phetus Phetus is a New York artist with roots in the graffiti and street art movement. Originally from South Huntington, he is now based in Manhattan.

Phetus has been creating artwork under his infamous “Phat Phace” icon, his distinctive mark and signature symbol, since 1988.

Growing up on Long Island in the 1980s, during the golden era of the hip-hop scene, Phetus gained the attention of artists like Public Enemy. When Flavor Flav opened a barber shop in Freeport, he recruited Phetus to do airbrushing on shirts, jackets and other apparel. Flavor Flav wore an airbrushed piece by Phetus on The Arsenio Hall Show in an episode about the controversy of Public Enemy. Phetus went on to paint the backdrop for Public Enemy’s performance with U2 at the “Stop Sellafield” concert.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he continued to create custom clothing pieces for hiphop artists such as LL Cool J, Ludacris and Game.

In 2002 Phetus opened up Concrete Vibes on Long Island. Following the path of stores in New York like The Scrapyard, the store was the first

8 • village connection • january 2015

on Long Island to sell graffiti supplies like aerosol paint and markers, independent designer clothing, designer toys and other lifestyle products. In 2005 he relocated his studio and worked with graffiti artist Richie SEEN. He set up shop in the back of “Tattoo SEEN” in the Throgs Neck section in the Bronx.

While working alongside SEEN, Phetus designed the packaging for Planet6, SEEN’s designer toy brand, along with the character development for the Phony Baloney designer toy line.

Phetus created a comic series called Concrete Immortalz, and has been featured at the MercedesBenz Fashion Week creating custom artwork for the Calvin Klein showroom. He was the founding member of the creative multimedia studio Elite Gudz. As the inventor and creator, Phetus along with the Elite Gudz staff, released the “Graffiti Spraycan” application on iTunes, with a success rate of over 11 million downloads.

On May 24, 2011 Phetus released “We Bomb,” a hip-hop single with a graffiti centric theme. The track featured Poe Rilla and was produced by Beat Butcha. The video for “We Bomb” was produced

by Picture Perfect and features well known graffiti locations throughout New York City. The term “bomb” in the graffiti community commonly refers to the graffiti practice of marking up a series of surfaces in one area.

In June 2013, RIPE Art Gallery hosted a Solo show for Phetus, titled “Stripped.” After a Spring residency, back on the hometown field at Rexer’s Crossroads Farm on Park Avenue in Huntington, Phetus mounted this Solo gallery exhibition, featuring his signature, yet evolving style, using Car hoods and doors, and street signs as his canvas. This show showed the certification of the growth of an artist and his style from the ground to the gallery. Contact RIPE Art Gallery to see an exclusive collection of his work.

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The Huntington Shuffle Best Bets in Regional Art, Culture and Performance

By George Wallace

Poets, Gone but Not Forgotten Entering its third decade as a leading force in Long Island regional poetry, the 'Poetry Barn' reading series at the Huntington Historical Society Conklin Barn inaugurates what organizers hope will be an annual 'Gone But Not Forgotten' tribute reading of work by colleagues who have made an impression on the contemporary scene but are now gone. It's the latest innovation for the Poetry Barn and its backers, who have been a solid reason for the development of the regional poetry scene on Long Island being hailed as 'pound for pound the rival of any region in America' for verse. Hey, with Walt Whitman, Jack Kerouac, Frank O'Hara and the author of Home Sweet Home in your corner, that's a great start. Featured performers will be reading the work of former poetry mainstays such as Alan Planz, Dan Murray, Aaron Kramer, Anna Ruth Ediger Baehr, William Fahey and Jennie Hair. The regular open mic portion will be an opportunity for audience members to read the work of other 'gone but not forgotten' LI poets, too. Jan 16 Huntington Poets Cafe, Conklin Barn, 2 High Street Huntington.

Kings Park: The Movie Get set for a searing documentary about the old mental health facilities down the road when the Harvard Club of Long Island and the Cinema Arts Centre present a viewing of "Kings Park: Stories From An American Mental Institution." It starts with bagels and is followed by a panel discussion, but sandwiched in the middle of the gathering is a must-see. The film was created by a woman named Lucy Winer, who was committed to the female violent ward of Kings Park State Hospital following a series of failed suicide attempts back in 1967.

Over 30 years later, she's a veteran documentary filmmaker, and Lucy's journey back to face her past -- the first time since her discharge -- makes for a remarkable personal quest and memorable viewing.

"Her meetings with other former patients, their 16 • village 2015the painful families, andconnection the hospital• january staff reveal

legacy of our state hospital system and the crisis left by its demise." Do you doubt it? 1030 a.m. Jan 18 Cinema Arts Centre 423 Park Avenue, Huntington Maggie Taylor Cloud sisters. 2001.

Pushing Photographic Boundaries For those who have forgotten that once upon a time there were no selfies, an exhibition of 20th & 21st century photographers who 'pushed the boundaries' of photography as an art form will be serve as a reminder of the 'high end' potential the technology once had. The show's called Modern Alchemy: Experiments in Photography, it's at the Heckscher Museum in Huntington, runs through March, and features the work of at least one artist whose name will be familiar to the reasonably well schooled in the subject -- Man Ray, to be precise.

Others perhaps less so, but a walk through the catalog will quickly demonstrate the extent to which the artists succeeded through experimentation with multiple exposures, combination printing, tonal contrast, unusual perspectives, cropping, and chemical processing, to name a few. This is one case when seeing is believing -- check it out yourself.

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Art Galleries ALFRED VAN LOEN GALLERY South Huntington Public Library 145 Pidgeon Hill Rd., Huntington Station www.shpl.info/about_gallery.asp 631-549-4411 January 10 through February 4 Artists Reception Saturday, January 10 Linda Louis, “The Universe from My Window,” a solo exhibit.

Inspired by the artists series of wax and pigment miniatures.

Museums

COLD SPRING HARBOR WHALING MUSEUM 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor www.cshwhalingmuseum.org 631-367-3418 Through 2015 “Sea Ink” explores the connection between the American sailor and the history of tattoos and will feature the artwork of local tattoo artists, Sailor Jerry Flash Art, tattooing tools and exploration stations for visitors.

ART LEAGUE OF LONG ISLAND 107 East Deer Park Rd., Melville www.artleagueli.org 631-462-5400

CONKLIN FARMHOUSE 2 High Street, Huntington www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org 631-427-7045

January 10-25 Floral and Landscape Paintings

by Ruth Baderian

FOTOFOTO GALLERY 14 West Carver St., Huntington www.fotofotogallery.org 631-549-0448

B.J. SPOKE GALLERY 299 Main St., Huntington www.bjspokegallery.com 631-549-5106

Through January 24 Reception on Saturday, January 10, 5-7 pm Italy Photography Workshop Exhibition. Also showing photography from The Knox School and gallery artists.

Through January Opening Reception on Saturday, January 10, 2-5 pm The Winter Harvest - A nonjuried exhibition opportunity for local artists to expand their exposure throughout Long Island’s community of artists.

COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM 1660 Rt. 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 631-692-6768 www.cshfha.org

GALLERY NORTH 90 N. Country Road, East Setauket www.gallerynorth.org 631-751-2676 Through January 23 Winners’ Circle: The 49th Annual Outdoor Art Show Winners

20 • village connection • january 2015

Blown Glass Aperture Vase By Justin Cavagnaro at Gallery North

GREENLAWN – CENTERPORT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION MUSEUM Harborfields Public Library 31 Broadway, Greenlawn www.gcha.info 631-754-1180 HECKSCHER MUSEUM OF ART 2 Prime Ave., Huntington 631-351-3250 www.heckscher.org Through March 15 Modern Alchemy: Experiments in Photography focuses on 20th and 21st century artists who have pushed the boundaries of photography in myriad ways., creating images that have a complex relationship to objective reality.

Through April 12 Ferdinand Richardt’s Niagara: A Study in Landscape Painting

ISLIP ARTS MUSEUM 50 Irish Hall, East Islip www.islipartmuseum.org 631-224-5402 631-224-5402

featured exhibits & art events

Remembering Things Past

Through March 29 Remembering Things Past/ Alexander Percy: The Texture of Color

JANUARY 18 THROUGH MARCH 29 RECEPTION ON FEBRUARY 8, 1-4 PM ISLIP ART MUSEUM

LONG ISLAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, HISTORY & CARRIAGES 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook www.longislandmuseum.org 631-751-0066

Remembering Things Past features foreign-born artists working in America. The artists in this exhibition all came to America at different stages in their lives and incorporate past interests, memories, and experiences of their home country into their artwork. The variety of their forms and subject matter reflect the uniqueness of their experiences. Remembering Things Past is an expansion of an exhibition perviously on display at the Patchogue Arts Gallery.

Through February 1 LIMarts: Here and Now MAIN STREET PETITE ART GALLERY 213 Main St., Huntington 631-271-8423 www.huntingtonarts.org Through February 9 Making an Impression III - a Juried Printmaking Exhibiton with Juror Chuck von Schmidt NORTHPORT HISTORICAL MUSEUM 215 Main St., Northport 631-757-9859 www.northporthistorical.org RIPE ART GALLERY 1028 Park Avenue, Huntington 631-239-1805 www.ripeartgal.com Through January 17 “What Is A Portrait?” Juried Photography Show VANDERBILT MUSEUM 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport 631-854-5579 www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 21

featured exhibits & art events

Wielding the Knife

FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH MARCH 8 ART LEAGUE OF LONG ISLAND Curated by Long Island master printmaker Dan Welden, an exhibition of large-scale woodcuts

by Li Kang, one of China’s most celebrated printmakers, will be seen for the first time in the United States at the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery of the Art League of Long Island from February 1 to March 8, 2015. A reception for the artist, who is coming to Long Island for the occasion, will be held on February 8, from 3 – 5 pm.

Li Kang, born in 1975, is a deputy secretary of the Print Arts Committee of the Chinese Artists Association, as well as Deputy Director of the Guanlan Original Printmaking Base and Director of The China Print Museum. The Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, a government facility, is a workspace for experienced printmakers who are established artists and have a project in mind.

Participation is by invitation only, and master printmakers from all over the world come for a specified time, typically one or two months to work with their technicians.

The facility is equipped with presses of all sizes for lithography, intaglio, silkscreen and relief

22 • village connection • january 2015

printing. Mr. Li’s woodcuts of nature imagery produced either by hand rubbing or on a large etching press, measure upwards of four feet square and are stunningly detailed. His work has won awards throughout China as well as at the Taiwan International Print and Drawing Biennial.

His prints are in the collections of the National Museum of China, numerous regional museums in China, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, the South Korea Print Museum, and the British Woodcut Foundation.

Dan Welden, from Sag Harbor, has been honored three times and has represented North America at Guanlan annually since 2011 where he has been honored three times. While working at the Guanlan Original Printing Base, Welden got to know and witness Li Kang’s work. Welden will discuss his exciting residency and experiences at Guanlan in a lecture scheduled to take place in the gallery on February 17 at 7:00pm.

The Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery is open free of charge Monday through Thursday 9am – 9pm, Friday 9am – 4pm and weekends from 11am – 4pm. The Art League is located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills. For more information call (631) 462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.

featured exhibits & art events

Bill Brady Food Art FEBRUARY 7 THROUGH MARCH 4 THE ALFRED VAN LOEN GALLERY RIPE ART GALLERY The Alfred Van Loen Gallery is presents Photographer Bill Brady’s, solo exhibit of Food Art. The artist reception will be held on Saturday February 7, 2-4 pm, the exhibit runs to March 4.

Brady merges his two greatest passions, food and photography. His strong Jackson Pollock influence invites him to playfully transform candies into his series he calls “mash-ups”. In one work a blob of chocolate appears like a water mass and coastline where floating cherry lips and strawberry logs are inhabiting as cheerful jumble.

He further explores African art with Gummy Bears. Early African or primitive art typically depicted abundance using abstract interpretations and designs of animals, plants and humans. A Gummy Bear Man is reminiscent of the bold patterns found in African textiles.

work is confined to his client’s needs. He works with clients ranging from family owned restaurants to fortune 100 companies. Chances are you are familiar with his work. As an artist Brady is free to explore, push and destroy the boundaries that constrain him from his commercial work. Still using his camera and food a perishable medium, Brady can then create a permanent work of art.

Brady is one of the leading commercial food photographers in the country. He began his love for photography at the young age of 8. He graduated from photography school and received his BA in the Visual Arts. As a commercial photographer his

GALLERY HOURS: Always open during library hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9am9pm, Wednesday: 10am-9pm, Saturday: 9am-5pm, Sunday): 1pm-5pm. For more information, call 631 549 4411.

High School Advanced Placement Art Student Exhibition Opportunity at the Art League of Long Island Now in its Eighth year, the Art League of Long Island’s “Go APE” exhibit celebrates the exceptional artwork, as selected by their teachers, of AP art students in Long Island High Schools.

This is an opportunity for what may be the first of many times these promising young art students will show their work in a professional gallery setting.

The exhibit will be on view in the League’s Jeanie

Tengelsen Gallery March 15 through March 29, 2015. Winners in various categories will be chosen by guest juror, owner and curator of Ripe Gallery of Huntington, Cherie Via Rexer. Deadline to register students is Tuesday, February 10, 2015.

For prospectus and supporting documents call (631) 462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 23

featured exhibits & art events

Making an Impression III - Juried Printmaking

Solar Energy by Kathy Cunningham

JANUARY 9 THROUGH FEBRUARY 9 RECEPTION ON JANUARY 9 FROM 6-8PM THE MAIN STREET GALLERY The Huntington Arts Council presents “Making an Impression III” Juried Printmaking Exhibit with Juror Chuck von Schmidt.

Congratulations to the artists whose work will be featured in the show: Beth Atkinson, Mary Brodersen, Monika Camillucci, Kathy Cunningham, Dawn Daisley, Elizabeth Ehrlichman, Grace Jara, Kate Kelly, Barbara Jo Kingsley, Julia Lang-Shapiro, Jess Mann, Margaret Minardi, Annie Shaver-Crandell, Susan Tango, Constance Sloggatt Wolf, Rebecca Zablocki “The breadth of artistic expression is exemplified by the prints in this exhibit. Not only is there great diversity in imagery, but the range of different techniques further demonstrates why this medium attracts artists of every discipline. Printmaking encourages experimentation, and this exhibition confirms that.” Chuck von Schmidt Printmaking as described by the Juror: Traditionally, from painters and sculptors to playwrights, composers and poets, printmaking provides a vehicle for all artists to add layers of expression to their ideas. This encourages diversity and experimentation in prints, both from the dedicated printmakers to the artists of other disciplines who

24 • village connection • january 2015

Leves Autem Gurgite

by Dawn Daisley

Melissa by Margaret Minardi

are attracted to the medium, and is what makes a print show exciting and wondrous.

About the Juror Chuck von Schmidt: Perhaps best known for his crystal sculpture, “The Ideals of Aaron”, presented to Pope John Paul II, in 2005, von Schmidt’s work has also been included in exhibitions in the Anchorage Art Museum, the Islip Art Museum, the Nassau County Art Museum, and the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art. The artist, who has won numerous awards and honors, has work featured in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum and the Neuberger Museum at SUNY Purchase among others.

A graduate of The Cooper Union (BFA, 1973), and Brooklyn College (MFA, 1977), von Schmidt was on Staff and Faculty of both institutions after receiving his degrees. In 1977 he was a visiting lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design, in conjunction with a solo show of his prints/sculptures. He is presently an Adjunct Professor in the Art Department at New Jersey City University.

The Main Street Gallery located at 213 Main Street, Huntington. All are welcome to attend. The exhibit is on display from the opening until February 9, 2015. Hours are Monday - Friday from 9am-6pm and Saturday 12pm-4pm. For additional information on the exhibit and other Huntington Arts Council events please visit www.huntingtonarts.org or contact HAC at 631-271-8423

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fitness • kathy eaton

Macronutrients If your New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, then I want you to know that the best way to lose weight is to combine exercise and healthy eating.

You can not out-train a bad diet! You must make changes in your nutrition if you are going to succeed at losing weight and keeping it off! Now, if you have changed your eating habits and have cleaned up your food choices and you are still struggling you may need to focus less on calories and more on your MACRONUTRIENTS. Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These three macronutrients are the back bone of your nutrition. The problem is that many people have no idea how much they should be getting and no idea of how much they are actually getting.

The recommended amounts vary but the general guidelines are 50-60% from Carbohydrates, 20-30% from proteins and 20% from fats. You have to see how your body feels and reacts to the percentages.

My body gets leaner when my carbohydrates are a little higher at around 60%. Some people’s body reacts better to 50 or 55%. These are numbers you want to know.

How do you figure them out? First you need to know approximately how many calories your body needs to eat daily. This is based on your weight, body fat percentage, level of exercise etc. You can find calorie calculators online; just be careful because some tend to calculate too low and you will be cutting calories and slowing down your metabolism.

Let’s take the number I recommend as a minimum amount of calories for a woman to eat daily which is

26 • village connection • january 2015

1500. I’ll use my macronutrient percentages of 60% carbs, 20% protein and 20% fat.

1500 X .20 is 300 calories, so 300 calories should come from protein. Divide 300 by 4 calories (protein has 4 calories per gram) and you get 75 grams of protein. So this person would need 75 grams of protein daily.

1500 X .20 is 300 calories, so 300 calories should come from fats. Divide 300 by 9 calories ( fats have 9 calories per gram) and you get 33 grams of fat.

So this person would needs 33 grams of fat daily.

You want to get your fat intake from healthy fats like avocados and nuts.

1500 X .60 is 900 calories, so 900 calories should come from carbohydrates. Divide 900 by 4 calories (carbs have 4 calories per gram) and you get 225 grams of carbohydrates. So this person needs 225 grams of carbs daily.

You can also calculate other ways like using your lean body mass to determine your protein needs. So now I challenge you to calculate your macronutrients and focus on getting them all each day. Of course you need to make them healthy clean macros!!

Kathleen Eaton PT, MS, CSCS, is the owner of Fit Body Bootcamp in Huntington Village and Hauppauge - www. fitbodybootcampli.com - LIKE us on facebook: Huntington Fit Body Bootcamp and Hauppauge Fit Body Bootcamp

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She Rolls With the Punches

“Do not Back down. Life will throw you some punches. Do not quit on your dreams, yourself or your family. Stay focused and ignore those who do not believe in you and your ability to achieve your dream.”

At age forty nine, Joanne Commisso Duchnowski trained for a few months and won her first bout.

This accountant, president of House of Details Motorcycle Detail Service, was hooked. Believing that there is nothing she can’t do if she is passionate enough, Joanne is grateful for being in one of the most challenging sports ever. Fully supported by her husband and her son, she explains why boxing has been so beneficial for her in so many ways. With extensive daily training, she is in the best physical shape ever. No longer suffering from migraines, Joanne has benefitted by becoming more focused, disciplined, confident, energized and grateful in her everyday life.

When not training, working at her job, riding her motorcycle or cooking, this dedicated athlete feels strongly about giving back to others as a role model.

30 • village connection • january 2015

LooKING to make a Difference, the Covergirl of Full Throttle Magazine is actively involved in many charities including: Moms Who Kick, Fighters for Life, Gleason’s Give a Kid a Dream Foundation.

Thrilled to be participating as a second year volunteer for “Fight for Charity,” Joanne shared her reasons for getting involved.

“There are plenty of people who are hurting out there in our Long Island communities who need us to fight for them.” Fight for Charity” has raised $850,000 to help Community Chest, the Genesis School and the National Foundation for Human Potential.

Joanne speaks for her husband Gary and son John when she states: “We are a family that strives on setting goals and living our dreams. We believe that of all the forces that make for a better world, nothing is more powerful than hope. With hope, one can think, one can work, one can dream. If you have hope, you have everything.”

Gail King, Host of LooKING to make a Difference with GAIL can be seen Thursday Evenings Channel 115, 10 P.M. and Channel 20, 2:30 P.M.

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kerriann’s corner • kerriann flanagan brosky

The Ghostly World of Charles Dickens

C

harles Dickens was one of the most popular and successful authors in British history. Born in Portsmouth, England in February of 1812, Dickens wrote over fifteen novels, some of his most memorable being, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and of course, one of the most famous of all, A Christmas Carol, which he wrote in 1843.

Dickens was known for his memorable characters and rich storytelling. In A Christmas Carol we are introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge and three infamous ghosts: the Ghost of Old Marley, the Ghost of Christmas Past, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Why did Charles Dickens write about ghosts? What many people may not know, is that Charles Dickens had a fascination with ghosts. He chose to use them as subjects in many of his lesser known works, both in his novels and short stories. The Signal-Man, Pickwick Papers, The Haunted Man and The Haunted House are several examples where Dickens used ghosts as subjects. He was absolutely fascinated with them, and he simply loved a well-told ghost tale.

In 1862, The Ghost Club was officially founded in London, and Charles Dickens was one of its earliest members. Its roots go back to Trinity College in 1855, when discussions of ghosts and psychic phenomena were prevalent. It was made up of a select group of gentleman who wanted to accomplish two things: to unmask fraudulent mediums, and to learn about psychic phenomena.

Membership in The Ghost Club was eternal, for life, and attendance at meetings was mandatory.

There were 85 members in 1936, and until then the club was made up of men only. It wasn't customary for women to join such organizations at the time.

For whatever reason, the club died down between 1936 and 1938.

Although Charles Dickens was interested in ghosts and he visited some of England's ghostly hot spots, he surprisingly wanted nothing to do with Spiritualism which was at the height during the latter

32 • village connection • january 2015

part of Dickens career. Some believed that Dickens was quite the skeptic and did not truly believe in the paranormal and communicating with the deceased.

Today, The Ghost Club remains to be one of the oldest paranormal organizations in the world associated with psychical research. Its primary focus is on "debating, exploring and investigating" ghosts and hauntings, and its membership spans the world.

In the 1870's, following the death of Dickens, The Ghost Club dissolved, but was re-launched in 1882.

Six-time, award winning author Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, best known for her Ghosts of Long Island books, has been featured in a number of publications, and has appeared on radio and television. She is the co-host of the blogtalk radio show, “The Kerriann & Joe Show – Spirit Connection.” Her debut novel, The Medal, a work of inspirational fiction is her latest book.

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community events JANUARY

14

Free Class: Organize Your Photos

The most common problem that people have today when it comes to digital photography, is organizing their images. Many people have multiple files in multiple locations that are taking up tons of space. Additionally, images need to be properly protected so that they are not lost. In this FREE course, learn the basics of organizing your digital files and how to archive them properly. This course is being offered for free as a one-time special and all future sessions will be offered at $60 per person. Registration is required as class size is limited. E-mail Classinfo@ berger-bros.com or contact educational coordinator, Ashlee, at 516-762-3056.

24

/25 Paradise at Planting Fields

Enjoy a touch of paradise at Paradise at Planting Fields featuring live steel drum music, and other programs and events throughout the weekend. The greenhouse will be warm, bright and beautiful. There will be a ventriloquist performance, sand art and mask-making for children. A short talk on “The History of Winter Gardens,” by Henry B. Joyce, will take place at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Call Jennifer at (516) 922-8678 for more information.

Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 10 am – 4 pm (rain or shine) Coe Hall at Planting Fields Arboretum 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay (516) 922-8678

25

hard to find, the truly special, along with old favorites to bring. Paintings to porcelain, Deco to Depression, Compacts to cookie jars, Silver to Steif, Furniture to Frames, Bronze to Books, Elias Pekale Shows offers this high energy antique event, this special concept. A fabulous show in a fabulous setting! $8, free for children Sunday, Januray 25 10 am - 4:30 pm Huntington Hilton 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville (516) 868-2751

27

Meet the Media

Antiques Marketplace

Wednesday, january 14 An Antique Marketplace with 6:30 - 8 pm a difference! Eighty exhibitors Berger Bros Camera - Center for Photographic Art scour their stock for the Clinton Avenue, • january 2015 unusual, the different, the 34 •22village connection Huntington (516)762-3056

Join Long Island’s most influential professionals at the Huntington Chamber’s Annual “Meet The Media” Networking Breakfast at Harbor Club at Prime. Admission is $45 for Huntington Chamber of Commerce members and $60 for non-members.

Tuesday, January 27, 7:3010 am at Harbor Club at Prime, 95 New York Avenue, Huntington (631) 423-6100

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Exit Exit 49N 49N (1 (1 mile mile North North of of LIE) LIE) OPEN: M-F 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-12pm villageconnentionmagazine.com • 35 OPEN: M-F 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-12pm

outdoor living • charles h gamarekian

Home and Garden Shows are the Gateway to a Great Outdoor Lifestyle With the 2014 Holiday hullabaloo behind us, many families turn toward planning a relaxing getaway to a far-off paradise to dream away the winter doldrums, while others see opportunities to find paradise a whole lot closer — in their own backyards.

January, February and March are the months when we see spring home, flower and garden shows popping-up throughout the area. The shows provide a Mecca of local resources for everything from plantings to patios, all shown in provocative displays.

And homeowners can find early bird discounts and special promotions on most everything on their spring to-do-list.

Exhibitors spend a great deal of money and

36 • village connection • january 2015

time presenting products and services in the best possible light. You’ll find their displays are amazingly realistic-looking and idea provoking. For a backyard makeover, you’ll catch the latest tends in pavement products such as interlocking concrete paver systems as well as landscape walls, spas and poolside areas and outdoor living rooms. Contractors with a bent for creativity will enjoy showing you samples of how their company’s hardscape products and installation ideas will address the outdoor lifestyle interests of each and every family member. For instance, outdoor cooking aficionados may be interested in replacing that ancient barbecue grill on wheels with an outdoor grill island or fully functional kitchen.

An outdoor pizza oven will allow the cook in the family to bake authentic pizza pies as well as make homemade breads and roasted vegetables while a built-in smoker grill rounds out the menu options to include wood pelletsmoked meats and regional American foods.

Gardeners will appreciate how hardscape materials are used to create tree rings, edging on garden beds and various types of single height and tiered landscape walls. Chances are the information will be all there for the taking.

For “couch potatoes,” sitting around an outdoor fireplace with optional, lighted waterfall extensions may be a dream-cometrue. There are gas and wood-burning fire pits, illuminated water features, a fire table and ideas for paver colors and pattern styles as well as casual seating options made of wallstones and much more to consider and learn about. Leading manufacturers offer these conveniences and more.

Upon entering an exhibit area, usually at large convention halls or arenas, don’t be surprised to find displays and booths from an array of vendors selling the same products and services. Many exhibitors will coax you

with very aggressive sale pitches. You may recognize names from media endorsements in articles that you have read and television commercials and print advertising that you have seen. However some of the best confidence-builders can come from their exposure on popular social media and consumer blogs. Do some “searching” before you head off to a show. Also, you may get the best recommendations from friends, neighbors and relatives who have had similar services performed around their homes.

Additional online information gathering often points to manufacturer websites. The better ones are very robust with easy-to-navigate content ranging from photo galleries and relevant articles to discernable product information and step-by-step installation details. Some offer design software that will allow you to preview a completed project in minutes using professional-quality, digital renderings.

The Cambridge DesignScape Visualizer™ software is just one online resource at cambridgepavers.com.

Do-it-Yourself If you are ready to jump right in to a do-ityourself project, look for announcements from local masonry suppliers who are hosting workshops

along with hardscape manufacturers like Cambridge.

Topics include hands-on demonstrations for building a patio, walkway, driveway, retaining wall and other very doable initiatives. Hands-on demonstrations and instructional videos provided by hardscape manufacturers followed by question and answer sessions are commonplace. You can also visit an Authorized Cambridge Distributor where displays and product samples are always available.

Charles H. Gamarekian is the Chairman/CEO of Cambridge Pavers Inc. He is one of the founders and a current board member of the Interlocking Pavement Institute. Organized in 1993, ICPI is the North American trade association representing the interlocking concrete paver industry and considered by peer associations around the world as the leader in development and dissemination of technical information for design professionals and contractors.

Mr. Gamarekian is recognized worldwide as an expert in his field and is a frequent speaker on the proper installation of pavingstones, wallstones and many outdoor living products.

northports home of rock and roll 61 Larkfield Rd, East Northport, NY 11731 www.thecrookedrail.com • (631) 239-6082

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 37

live at the paramount • adam ellis

TAKING BACK SUNDAY ANNOUNCES SPRING 2015 TOUR DATES For influential Long Island band Taking Back Sunday, happiness Is being able to tour with your friends and perform for thousands of diehard fans night-after-night.

That sentiment is what keeps the band going and has helped fuel their rewarding and lengthy career.

It’s also what drives them to create memorable records like their recent, critically heralded effort Happiness Is, which they’ve spent most of this year supporting on a global tour.

Now, Taking Back Sunday is happy to announce the journey will continue in 2015 with a North American tour that will feature direct support from letlive. and The Menzingers. “Touring is probably the most rewarding thing we do as a band. Being able to look people in the eye and see what these songs means to them as you are playing them is an experience that is hard to describe. We’ve done a lot of festival and co-headlining dates since HAPPINESS IS was released, but we are really looking forward to our upcoming headlining dates where we can play a little bit longer and dive into the album and our catalogue a bit more. We also have a few extra tracks from the HAPPINESS IS recording which should be making an appearance around that time,” says lead vocalist Adam Lazzara.

2014 proved to be a monumental year for the cherished band. Happiness Is, has received rave reviews and debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, with their classic lineup made up of Adam Lazzara (vocals), John Nolan (guitar/vocals), Eddie Reyes (guitar), Shaun Cooper (bass) and Mark O’Connell (drums). They also toured heavily with shows in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia that included stops at all three Riot Fests in Toronto, Chicago and Denver, Extreme Thing in Las Vegas, Summer Ends Festival in Phoenix and a headlining on the Great• january South Bay Music Festival 38 • villageslot connection 2015

in Patchogue, all while sharing the stages and bills with notable acts like The Cure, Weezer, The Replacements, The Used and The Descendents among others along the way.

With the original lineup in tow for their second consecutive release, Taking Back Sunday has established a firm footing in the next chapter of their long celebrated career with soaring rock anthems and heartfelt ballads as heard on tracks like “Flicker, Fade,” “Stood A Chance” and “Better Homes and Gardens.”

What lies next for the band only time will tell, but for now they’re doing what they love the most; leaving it all on stage for fans night-after-night.

Follow the band at www.TakingBackSunday.com for additional updates.

For More Information: http://www.takingbacksunday.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TakingBackSunday https://twitter.com/tbsofficial http://instagram.com/takingbacksunday Adam Ellis has spent over 15 years in the marketing field of the sports & entertainment industries. He is currently Marketing Director of The Paramount in Huntington, and was Marketing Director of Nassau Coliseum for 6 1/2 years. He spent 3 seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football Team, 2 years as Marketing Manager for Global Spectrum as well as 4 years with Feld Entertainment; producers of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney On Ice. Adam enjoys sports, concerts, writing and making The Paramount the 23rd Hottest Music Club in 2014!

76 Main Street Westhampton www.whbpac.org 631-288-1500

February 6 Scars on 45 February 10 Red Firecrackers - The Legend of the Chinese New Year February 15 Jay and The Americans February 28 Colin Quinn

TIILES CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 720 Northern Blvd Brookville tillescenter.org 516-299-3100

January 10 Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It January 25 Mummenschanz January 26 Mummenschanz (school time performance) January 31 Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Youth Band, Honor Band and Alumni Concert

February 1 State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico February 8 and 9 Jim Henson’s Sid the Science Kid Live!

February 14 Tango Buenos Aires February 15 Million Dollar Quartet

NUTTY IRISHMAN

323 Main St. Farmingdale thenuttyirishman.com 516-293-9700 JANUARY 13 Big Hix

January 16 Billboard Live, Good Man Fiske January 17 Stanton Anderson, Man Down January 20 Dakota Rose January 23 45 RPM, 12X January 24 That 70’s Band, Peat Moss January 27 Southbound January 30 Legendary Murphys, Nine Deez Nite January 31 Full House, Wild Ones February 6 O El Amor, Drop Dead Sexy February 7 Strecker February 10 Southbound February 13 The Touch, Ready in 10

SUFFOLK THEATER January 16 Theater for Murder - Murder Mystery Dinner and Show January 23 Nick DiPaolo Comedy 18+ January 24 Ani Difranco January 30 Melanie January 30 That 70’s Band - Studio 54 Night February 6 Winterfest Live on the Vine February 7 Edgar Winter February 13 Valentine’s Burlesque February 14 Elayne Boosler - Valentine’s Day Laught, Dine and Dance 118 E. Main Street, Riverhead 631-727-4343 www.suffolktheater.com

Mummenschanz at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

WESTHAMPTON BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 39

NUTTY IRISHMAN

60 E. Main St. Bayshore thenuttyirishman.com 631-969-9700 January 14 Rattlesnake Dawn January 16 Full House, DJ Danja January 17 Completely Unchained, Peat Moss January 21 Whiskey Road January 22 Chris Kenny, Hosted by Frankie Vega January 23 Tradewinds, DJ Trife January 24 Bad Medicine, Ready in 10 January 30 Uppercut, DJ Sparky January 31 45 RPM February 4 Southbound February 6 Undercover Band, DJ Sparky February 11 Whiskey Road February 12 Chris Kenny, Hosted by Frankie Vega February 13 DJ Sparky February 14 That 70’s Band, Peat Moss

YMCA BOULTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS January 9 James Maddock with Special Guest Seth Glier January 10 Rockapella January 16 Marshall Crenshaw January 23 Amanda Seales in “It’s Complicated” January 29 Judy Collins January 30 Gene Cornish & Friends Stories and Music from Beyond January 31 The Led Zeppelin Experiencs, Hammer of the Gods

Febryary 5 Amy Helm February 6 Robin Zander Band 37 West Main St Bayshore NY boultoncenter.org • 631-969-1101

MULCAHY’S OF WANTAGH

3232 Railroad Avenue Wantagh www.muls.com 516-783-7600 January 15 Southbound January 17 Big Shot January 23 Southbound

January 30 Jason Aldean Tribute Band January 31 Bobby Mcgrath & The Brothers February 6 45 RPM & Decadia

HUDSON’S ON THE MILE

340 Woodcleft Avenue Freeport hudsonsonthemile.net 516-442-5569 January 9 Pep Soul Explosion January 10 Alive n Kickin January 16 Uppercut January 17 Mystic January 23 Streetfighter January 24 Alive n Kickin January 30 Pep Soul Explosion January 31 Uppercut

40 • village connection • january 2015

DIX HLLS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

at Five Towns College 305 North Service Road Dix Hills www.dhpac.org 631-656-2148

THE SPACE AT WESTBURY

January 16 The Best of Broadway & More Benefit Show January 17 The Wild Women of Comedy January 18 The Magic of Thaddeus January 24 Badlands Tribute to Bruce Springsteen January 25 A Big Band Tribute to “King of Swing” Benny Goodman with Felix & the Cats January 30 Captain Jack Tribute to Billy Joel with Chris Macchio January 31 “Goldrush” Tribute to Neil Young Fabruary 7 Almost Queen Tribute to Queen February 8 Just 60s: The Stories..The Songs February 13 Dr. K’s Motown Revue

January 24 Extreme - Pornograffitti Live 25th Anniversary January 30 The B-52s January 26 Hannibal Buress February 14 DigiTour February 19 Leon Russel with Riley Ethridge Jr. February 20 The Pink Floyd Experience 250 Post Avenue Westbury thespaceatwestbury.com • 516-283-5566

GREY HORSE TAVERN 291 Bayport Avenue Bayport greyhorsetavern.com 631-472-1868

January 9 JellyBand January 10 The Growlers January 11 Dave Grube January 16 The Toasted Lagers January 17 Easy Chief January 18 Skip Bement

January 23 The Lone Sharks January 24 ChickenTown January 25 Tom Falco & Kevin Griffin January 28 The Irish Sessions 8 January 30 The Famous Dr. Scanlon Band January 31 Tall Heights February 1 Dave March February 6 Rorie Kelly February 7 Robert Bruey February 8 Melanie Morin

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 41

Jack Licitra

Jack Licitra, also known as Jack Waterfall, is what appears to be just another talented Long Island musician, until you actually see him perform. I was totally captivated by the way he uses each of the many instruments he masters , to express and give of his soul and love in his heart. He has the ability to reach out and touch the audience with a tight hold of emotions. You actually feel enlightened with a spirituality no matter what religion. The mood in the room is uplifting, no matter if you appear happy and real sad inside, healthy and fighting a life debilitating disease or just lonely but, you feel a sense of belonging with him. It’s not about performing for the benefit of being famous, it is about giving the gift to others.

I admire what seems to be his life mission. He has enough passion to spread infinitive of time and miles of what most will never have the gift of actually possessing. He runs a program in Sayville where, if you are lucky enough to have a young adult or child, they can get the best instruction as he shares of his life’s work and knowledge of music.

42 • village connection • january 2015

Jack also has a website, www.Artspharmacy.com, where he you can purchase his music and contact him for his performance dates and hire. I recommend also viewing a video I captured of a song he made for his beautiful Mother. He had shared with all of us live on Mother’s Day. https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=paGA-zfagnKs&list=UUHex6n9_6I_17h8GNNqHFBA He is Long Island N.Y. Talents favorite Artist pick of 2014 and will be the very first member earning a Gods Earth Angel Corp membership for the year 2015 .

Spades is what they call her she is owner of www. longislandnytalent.com who represents some of the most talented original local musicians, photographers, and promotes the very best establishments. She will share the very best for hire or place to be at and a column on her choice with Live magazine readers.

BLACK & BLUE STEAKHOUSE

January 10 Grand Blvd January 14 Mark Phillips January 15 Keyth Hart January 16 Stir Crazy January 17 27 East January 21 Mark Phillips January 22 Keyth Hart January 23 Monkey’s With Guns January 24 Slightly Damaged Goods January 28 Mark Phillips February 29 Keyth Hart February 3 Campfire AllStars February 2 Yellow Fly February 3 Campfire Allstars February 7 Mark Phillips February 8 Keyth Hart

GRASSO’S

134 Main Street Cold Spring Harbor grassosrestaurant.com 631-367-6060 January 13 Kathleen Gerold Singers Night January 14 Wayne Sabella Featuring Wendy Kimball January 15 Frank O’Brien & Tim Givins Duo January 16 Joanna Durante Trio January 17 Ayako Shirasaki & Noriko Ueda

Frank O’Brien at Grasso’s

66 Wall Street Huntington blackandbluehuntington. com 631-385-9255

January 18 Joe Carter Duo January 18 Gail Storm January 21 Wayne Sabella featuring Lisa Gary January 22 Frank O’Brien and Tim Givens January 23 John Colianni & Friends January 24 Holli Ross Trio January 25 Joe Carter & Guest January 25 Alan Eicher & Mario Rodriguez January 28 Wayne Sabella January 29 Frank O’Brien & Tim Givins Duo January 30 Danny Mixon and Friends January 31 Ayako Shirasaki & Noriko Ueda February 1 Frank O’Brien February 11 Wayne Sabella Trio February 13 Alexis Cole & Friends February 14 Ayako Shirasaki & Noriko Ueda

89 NORTH MUSIC VENUE

89 N. Ocean Avenue Patchogue 89NorthMusicVenue.com 631-730-899

January 17 45 RPM & That 70’s Band January 23 Satisfaction The International Rolling Stones Show January 24 Rael- The Music of Genesis, The American Pink Floyd Experience January 30 The Slackers January 31 An Ultimate Rush Tribute, Soul Cages (Police Tribute) February 4 Open Mic and Jam with Steve Interrante February 6 Bryan Gallo, Butchers Blind, Quarter Horse, Chris Connolly February 7 Live After Death (Iron Maiden Tribute), Exciter (Judas Priest Tribute) villageconnentionmagazine.com • 43

MR. BEERY’S

4019 Hempstead Tpke.

Bethpage www.mrbeerys.com 516-579-7049

January 23 Playing Dead, Buying Time, HABITS, Too Many Voices, Radio Daze January 24 Steve Beery’s Birthday Bonanza with Kerry Kearney and friends January 28 Aquarius Party with Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe (New Orleans Music) January 30 Jam Band Nite with The Hill Dwellers and more tba January 31 WLIR DANCE PARTY 2015 KICK OFF! Featuring DJs Rob Krush & Andre, along with Hahn Bartending. WLIR ticket giveaways. P.O.P. open bar with wristbands from 10pm - 1 am. Discount bar after 1 am.

K.J. FARRELL’S 242 Pettit Ave Bellmore kjfarrells.com 516-804-9925

January 12 Open Mic & Jam January 13 L.I. Rock: Unplugged January 15 Sir Duke, Live Band Karaoke January 16 XSession, Wonderous Stories January 17 Liverpool

Shuffle, Decadia January 18 90’s Alt-Rock & Grunge January 19 Open Mic & Jam January 20 Songwriters Roundtable January 21 Wonderous Stories January 23 Clapton Chronicles, G. Townsend January 24 45RPM, Trainwreck January 26 Open Mic & Jam January 27 Original Music Showcase January 28 Wonderous Stories January 29 Equinox, Live Band Karaoke January 30 The Mystic January 31 Drive, Halfstep

Crooked Rail

61 Larkfield Road Northport thecrookedrail.com 631-239-6082 January 3 Cave Mollies January 9 Tony Barca Bucket List January 10 Mr Nasty and Grimm Jack January 16 Valarie Rose January 17 Fresh Squeezed Lemonade / Evelyn Birthday Bash January 23 Nurse Beatle January 24 The Hit Men January 30 Tractor Bear a Tribute to Disco Biscut January 3 1 Beyond the Flames and special guests

44 • village connection • january 2015

A Valentines Day Gala Hey Now I Think I’m in Love

Join us for a night of love songs with Tito Batista and the Black Rose Orchestra Doors Open: 7:00pm February 9, 2015 at Honu 363 New York Ave. Huntington, NY 8:00-10:00pm Sponsored by Village Connection/LIVE Magazine

Bring your Valentine

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john blenn

Mark D’Agostino: The Here And The Now Mark D’Agostino was the soundman at Heckle & Jeckle’s in the early 80’s, during that Massapequa live music club’s heyday when people like Tommy Byrnes of Bill Joel played there every week with the BMT’s and Brian Setzer dropped in for guest spots. He was fresh out of Hofstra University where he was the Chief Engineer for Hofstra’s radio station, WVHC, later rechristened as WRHU, 88.7FM. He went on own his own recording studio, CMA, which followed a mobile recording van he had before the studio. He was also the soundman for Right Track Inn for awhile, not to mention hundreds of gigs with various sound companies, The Dix Hills Performing Arts Center, The Theater at the Valley Stream Courthouse and the list goes ever on.

Few people over 30 in the arts on Long Island didn’t run into him at some point, work with him on some level, share a smile for a fleeting moment. He’s one of those guys you immediately want watching your back in a crisis.

Not quite as many people knew the other side of Mark, accomplished actor with almost 40 stage roles, working with Middle Class American Productions and making people laugh with roles as diverse as a sleazy entertainment attorney, a befuddled Southern Football Coach, a frustrated caretaking 40-something son of a cranky widower father, an overmatched motivational speaker and one of the world’s worst crossdressers. His Blenn & D'Agostino 1982

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sensitive nature was often clouded by the fact that most of his life he carried the visage of a badass biker. Yeah, there’s a Harley in the garage, but he’s everything appears to be and none of those things at the same time.

Call it depth. He’s even done a little film work here and there; you can freeze frame the dance scene in GrownUps II and find him near Adam Sandler and Kevin James and he’s also appeared in Music And Lyrics and Thicker Than Water. He has a major role coming up in the forthcoming slice-of-life comedy, George Bailey.

First, though, he has a little wrestling match to conclude with advanced lung cancer. If there is any justice in the universe, it won’t take long to beat it and he’ll be stronger than ever for that’s what he deserves. If there’s any justice.

We write these kind of things in the wake of tragedy, in the brioken-hearted daze of “What I should’ve said” and “Why didn’t I tell them how I felt.” I don’t make that mistake, I’ve been a journalist for 37 years and I’ve watched too many people suffer that oversight time and time again. Mark is here, right now, fighting the fight of his life. He is my brother, in every sense of the word, my blood without being born of the same parents, the love of my life (with apologies to the wife as she holds the identical place in heart) as as great and true a friend, as loyal a man as anyone could ever ask for in a lifetime. A couple of months ago, there’s an odd little lump. A couple of weeks and a dozen tests later and it’s advanced cancer standing where “I have so much to look forward to” used to reside.

Doing more movies becomes hanging on for dear life. “I’ve finally found the right girl” gives way to “I don’t know how I could get through the day without you.” It’s not supposed to be like that if there’s any justice.

Mark is 52, twice divorced (the first one passed a few years ago far too early as well) and bearing no grudges.

He postponed a lot of dreams

over the years to run a family business that was not artistic but left with no one else to keep it going, he put family life first before his own creative callings. He finally cleared a path to do the arts all the time and just as soon as he did, life, as John Lennon stated, happened while he was making other plans. Cancer, in the role of Apollo Creed, has been putting a whooping on my pal, the technical wizard to all my artistic endeavors over the years, but like Rocky, Mark is far from done. A little rallying is in order. My mind drifts back to a January 35 years ago, when after causing some unhip engineer’s brain sizzle on my debut radio show at Hofstra, D’Agostino walked in to en- Blenn & D’Agostino 2008 gineer what would become the “Blenn And Blade” show for 3 years on 88.7FM. Yeah, I nicknamed him Vinny The Blade, a nickname that still ago it was suspended.

People write these kind of things in eulogies, but sticks in some quadrants these days, I even convinced I figured I’d write one during a brief pause in a war some of my more naïve college comrades that he was that will somehow be won by someone who doesn’t putting himself through school as a biker hitman (He deserve a moment of it. Cancer is a fierce opponent, looked the part, didn’t take much coaxing). From but Mark D’ A gostino has spent his years on the planet there, it was one boneheaded charge into the unknown absorbing life’s unfair little gifts and he’s still standing. after another, his Robin to my Batman, his Clark to my He’s a badass when it comes to letting things knock him Lewis, his Clarice to my Lechter…well, something like down.

You often hear that age old question at parties, that. He never questioned my instincts, my judgments “if you could have dinner with any famous person, livor reasons, he just gave me what I needed like all great ing or dead, who would it be?”

My answer is always the friends do. We remember we had one fight through the same…I’ve had that dinner, usually a slice of pizza or years though neither one of us can honestly remember a cheap burger on the fly awaiting a show more times where, when or why. That, boys and girls, is what true than I can count with that guy…his name is Mark.

He friendship is all about. We did 60 plus plays together, is famous to a lot of people in his small corner of the movies, Long Island Music Festivals, Entertainment Newspapers, worked in venues together and this year universe and greater fame…well, what exactly does we do George Bailey together where he really steps out that mean anyway? In the grand scheme of the uniand shows the world the enormous talent he’s always verse, all these things we chase in the world of the arts don’t mean a god damned thing, only the people do. possessed. If there’s any justice.

With a fundraiser just completed to help him out on And what people give to each other.

Mark D’Agostino doesn’t have any trophies in the the crushing financial burdens of getting well and more case, no Grammys, no Oscars, no Tonys…at least, NOT to come, a Long Island arts community sends a mesYET. He has something far more important, a place in sage to a man who has always been there for so many of everybody’s heart that he’s helped along the way, been its legions. I marveled as he would patiently record and kind to, been a flawless friend to. I just wanted to make re-record bands in studios, never running out of smiles sure that not only did you know that, that HE knew of encouragement for so many creative types trying that.

Here in the here in now. There will be a lot more to find their way. I have been amazed at his patience, of him adding to that legacy, if there’s any justice. watching him listen to people who needed a shoulder to cry on or a vote of approval and selflessly giving of himself to so many. I’ve watched him giddy over little things, heartbroken over things that should’ve worked John Blenn is a SAG actor/screenwriter/playwright out better, I’ve watched him love, lose, reach, succeed, who has been an active entertainment journalist for fail, rebuild, recover, laugh, cry and live with passion. 35 years. He is the former publisher of Long Island Entertainment and has written for Newsday, Island I’ve felt it all like a big brother does, some years clos- Ear and Network among dozens of magazine credits. er than others, but always with a deep connection that He is also a Professor of Music Business and English family never questions, knowing that the sentence will at Five Towns College. be picked up where it was left off no matter how long

villageconnentionmagazine.com • 47

traveling with scotto • scotto savitt

THE CROOKED RAIL WILL ROCK 2015 Pictured here is Michael Kreischer, the owner of one of Long Island’s hottest venues “The Crooked Rail,” along with Rockstar Publisher Jim Savalli, Me (as always having way too much fun) and the “Rails” Rock and Roll Concierge Lenny Pyros: at Jim’s very cool packed “Holiday Bash.” LIVE MAGAZINE hosted this royal party at Honu in Huntington Village where the publications brilliant “In House” Celebrity DJ Tommy Bruno worked the crowd of Long Island elite into a frenzy! The greatly-attended, wicked after-party was thrown by Mr. Kreischer (as part of his famous SUNDAY NIGHT JAM ) at his club just a few miles away in East Northport. (Photo by Len Marks Photography) LIVE MAGAZINE sponsors Mike’s SUNDAY NIGHT JAM at The Crooked Rail where myself, along with many others, make sure that we are on the scene every week. This extremely entertaining event starts at 8 PM and is always action packed. The super star jam is hosted by The Paper Bag’s Guru Mike Guido, and 3 absolutely phenomenal musicians: Mike Nugent, Mark Mancini and Ian Petillo. Attendees are welcome to “hang, party and/or jam” and man they do! “THE” top musicians from our region come and perform to one of the hippest crowds out there. The musicianship is fierce along with world-class vocal renderings that you do not want to miss. The iconic NYERMA organization (which is comprised of a fantastic eclectic group of very seasoned musicians) has made the jam it’s official “SUNDAY SOCIAL CLUB” note:The club provides a PA and full back line for the jam and complimentary admission for all!

In the coming year, The Sunday Night Jam will be just the beginning of how The Crooked Rail will wheel it’s magic! ~ Mondays will continue to feature a very creative “Open-Mic” night hosted by the clubs beloved soundman Jerry Ramone. Wednesdays in 2015, the legendary ANITA (Queen of Karaoke) is back and will have everyone singing like birds! For Thursdays plans are underway to continue an outrageous Ladies 48 • january 2015 lighting Nite• village that willconnection present several DJs, amazing

and is noted for having the best EDM Music on the East Coast. Friday and Saturday will keep the tradition of presenting an extremely wide selection of top level bands that would satisfy even the most finicky music enthusiast.

You will find it’s real Rock and Roll hospitality from the time you arrive at The Crooked Rail and are graciously greeted by Lenny at the door, to when one leaves after a night of never ending libations, fun and frolic! Owner Michael Kreischer is certainly one of the best operators in the “Biz!” He is very hands on and has put together a number of important factors here, that makes for a truly dynamic musical environment! He is at the club most nights and sometimes can be found behind the board of the clubs highly regarded sound system and even sometimes will sling some drinks when the crowd gets extra thirsty!

If your lucky ya might meet Mike’s “Rock and Roll” wife Lisa! Lisa and her posse ran in the circles of some of the most famous bands in the world! There are also 7 other reasons to check out this fortress of music: Geri (the mistress of mayhem), Tracy the wrangler) Evelyn, Joy, Joe, Maria and this year the return of Fire Ball Charlie -- these are The Crooked Rail’s carefully “hand picked” rockin’ bartending staff and one of it’s starring attractions - Note: none of these folks have any lack of personality or swagger! Oh yes Kat, the “Rails” building facilitator, often times shows everybody how it’s really done on the dance floor and she takes no prisoners quite a place with quite a crew!

It’s important to mention that once again The Crooked Rail will sponsor my legendary stage at the enormously attended Long Island Fall Festival and numerous other major outdoor events and venues throughout the year. This combined with all of the events for 2015 at the club, will certainly create significant in-roads towards helping to make the thriving music scene on Long Island even more vital.

TheCrookedRail.com - (631) 239-6082 61 Larkfield Rd. East Northport N.Y.

GOOD EATS A Taste of the Good Life

La Villini

La Villini Family Style Italian Restaurant welcomes you and your family to an enjoyable meal of regional Italian Cuisine.

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Clubhouse

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Storyville Staying true to Huntington's diverse food choices, Storyville American Table offers plenty of what is considered standard New Orleans food, such as jambalaya, barbecue shrimp and veal grillades.

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Tomo

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Samurai

Samurai features the classic hibachi cooking tables with private party rooms. Their skilled hibachi chefs freshly prepare your meal right before your eyes. Samurai is dedicated to serve you with the utmost freshness and an entertaining Japanese hibachi experience.

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Nisen 110 At Nisen Sushi, diners enjoy a unique epicurean adventure and a modern menu that highlights the bold flavors of Asia and features only the highest quality ingredients. Whether seated in the stunning dining room or relaxing at the contemporary and cozy bar, we know you’ll relish your experience.

1197 Walt Whitman Rd Melville • 631-421-8000 villageconnentionmagazine.com • 49

john blenn

Mhz: The Frequency Is Loud And Clear Performed At: Mr. Beery’s

For 18 years, Mr. Beery’s has been a stronghold for original rock and the Long Island underdog. Proprietor Steve Beery, one of the true legends of the local music scene still tends bar at a lot of shows because it’s in his blood to be there, 22 years after the doors opened and almost as many since he made the commitment to area music. On the last Saturday of 2014, it was business as usual…four bands, a house full of rockers and a reminder that rock and roll will never die, no matter what the flavor-of-the-month club tries to sell you.

Mhz (pronounce that “Megahurtz”) is no gang of Johnny-come-latelys. There’s no matching suits or Beatles haircuts, no deluxe smoke and lasers gimmicks, no trendy causes and no special messages being pedaled here. It’s five Long Island guys playing for the love of the sport, mixing a few covers they love with the original music that hammer out around all the other responsibilities of life. This isn’t some music mogul lab experiment or pre-packaged marketing brainstorm, no, Mhz couldn’t be farther away from any of that if they tried. They just rear back and let it fly and judging by the yelps of approval and applause, they share a taste for rock that the room seemed to share.

Fronted by vocalist Rob Cardone, the latest addition to the group back in April 2014, the hard-hitting quintet of Mhz is led by lead guitarist Brent Hertz and guitarist/ vocalist Vinny Greco. Their powerhouse rhythm section is comprised of the complex stylings of drummer Ralph Pesco and the intricate runs of bassist Chris Yee. The latter pair form a highly-effective pocket, but they’re also quite active driving the songs with creative runs and dynamic flourishes throughout the set.

Drawing on influences ranging from Seattle Grunge to Woodstock royalty, Mhz plowed through a fairly heavy 12 song set, long on crunching rhythms and peppered with some fine riffing by Hertz. Cardone handled all but one of the lead vocals (Greco stepped up for the original “Running In The Rain” while also adding acoustic guitar seasoning to the mix), adeptly showing off a fine mix of biting angst and ominously

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dark singing. Tracks such as “Trouble Child,” “Blakk Rayne” and “Shades” are not aiming for pop immortality but they are highly –effective, brooding adventures in punch and counterpunch. Tossing in covers as diverse as Lou Reed’s classic “Swet Jane” and Alice In Chain’s “Rooster,” Mhz had an uncanny sense of justright changes of pace for the night. Also of note was a band original dedicated to the troops that defend our country, “This Is Home,” which was tucked in between those two covers.

By the time they brought the set to an exclamation point with a medley of “The Protest Song” and Ten Year After’s “I Want To Change The World,” Mhz had steamed through an impressive night of two-fisted rock full of shadows and ominous overtones. That doesn’t mean that it’s all bleak, hardly, as they open up a lot of what they do into the type of jams that are all too rare in these days of jangly pop, short songs and minimal-to-no solo breaks. These guys like to play and they play quite well off of each other. Mhz are the type of unsung heroes that hacve always made Long island a fertile ground for great rock and the deliver an hour of no frills hard rock that keeps pumping from start of set to finish.

Mhz isn’t trying to look like your typical rocks stars (okay, their lead singer does have a passing resemblance to Colin Farrell) or sell any particular message with their music, but the message is clear at the end of the day: playing for the love of the sport is still okay.

Dark but not depressing, heavy but still melodic, playing some classics, but still staying original, Mhz does it with a passion. It’s a frequency you may want to tap into in the near future.

John Blenn is a SAG actor/screenwriter/playwright who has been an active entertainment journalist for 35 years. He is the former publisher of Long Island Entertainment and has written for Newsday, Island Ear and Network among dozens of magazine credits.

He is also a Professor of Music Business and English at Five Towns College.

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The Who – Sings My Generation Billboard – did not chart It’s funny how we can collectively fool ourselves into false memories of our own culture. Most people my age feel very familiar with the Who, and when we talk about the band, we talk as though we remember them from the beginning, hearing “My Generation” when it was released, but that is simply untrue. As a single, “My Generation” peaked at #74 on the singles charts, which means most markets never touched it. More incredibly, the band’s debut album never charted at all! In the middle of the British Invasion, the Who’s presence in America was negligible until “I Can See for Miles” hit #9 on the pop charts in 1967. It remains their only top 10 hit.

Essentially, that means that most of America missed all of the band’s earlier hits, which are now rock and roll classics; “I Can’t Explain,” “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere”, Substitute,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “I’m a Boy,” Happy Jack” and “Pictures of Lily” all flew beneath the radar in America – we may think we remember hearing these songs in their time (1965-1966) but that’s simply a delusion. Other than “My Generation” and “The Kids Are Alright”, the balance of these tracks never saw release on an American album until 1971’s hit collection, “Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy”. The Who were a distinctly English phenomenon and remained a virtually unknown entity in the U.S. until the Monterey Pop Festival.

Searching my own memory, I don’t think I ever held a Who album in my hands until 1970, when I saw “Tommy” in a friend’s collection. Like everybody else, I had a lot of catching up to do and

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over the years, I eventually found my way back to the earlier stuff. What a revelation to recognize that something as good as this debut album had been around for years. Like most British bands of this era, their interpretations of American blues/R&B is a bit spotty – singer Roger Daltry sounds lamentable as he strains to imitate James Brown not once, but twice on this album (“I Don’t Mind”, “Please, Please, Please”), so you can ignore the ‘cover’ tunes. It’s hard to imagine why the band even bothered with them, especially since they could focus so much power and energy into their own material. Pete Townshend supplied stunningly articulate youth anthems and the rhythm section of John Entwhistle (“The Ox”) and Keith Moon tore through them with frighteningly exciting intensity. “A Legal Matter” and “It’s Not True” convey attitude and humor simultaneously, which is no easy feat, judging by the competition. Who else was writing songs that so accurately represented the varying moods of ‘My (his) Generation”? Townshend’s songs are so evocative that even Americans remember them as a part of our collective youth, even though it’s only self-deception.

Tom Ryan has written several books, including “American Hit Radio” and ”The Jimmy Buffett Trivia Book.” He hosts a pair of Radio Shows (“American Hit Radio” (again) and “How Music Changed”), and is a founder and principal of the New York Roots Music Association (aka NYRMA). He also plays drums with the Last Hombres and runs a Long Island manufacturing firm.

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