Third Annual Creative Empowerment Scholarship and Fundraising Gala at The Club House at Merrick Golf Club

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Honorees, members and supported joined together at The Club House at Merrick Golf Club for the Third Annual Creative Empowerment, Inc. Scholarship and Fundraising Gala to benefit Creative Empowerment. Inc.

Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. is your contribution towards a much needed solution to the challenges of life and pitfalls of the 21st century. Creative Empowerment Inc. believes that the task at hand calls for solutions that are not ordinarily thought of as viable and effective by others outside the area of the arts.

Honoree-Gail-KingHonoree-Gail-King with Cognac Wellerlane at the The Club House at Merrick Golf Club for the Third Annual Creative Empowerment, Inc. Scholarship and Fundraising Gala to benefit Creative Empowerment. Inc.

As artists, they are forever taking on challenges as they create something out of nothing, as they seize upon opportunities to create the tangible and aesthetic which even though not, preconceived, takes its rightful place in this world. Creative Empowerment neither entertains nor tolerates the term ‘obstacle’ in their lexicon of life.

Creative Empowerment believes in and values the idea of working collaboratively with teaching artists and other professionals and experts to provide arts-centered solutions to life’s problems. They believe that assisting youth and parents in practicing creative ways of identifying, developing, and creating self-help solutions to relevant issues that affect them will result in improvement in the areas of personal development, multicultural and social acceptance/tolerance.

Before the event got underway I was happy to talk to the organizations founder, Ms. Madona Cole-Lacy.

Hello darlings, welcome back I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the Creative Empowerment, Inc. Scholarship and Fundraising Gala and I am here with the coordinator of tonight’s event Ms. Madona Cole Lacy. Madona tell my audience about this event tonight. What is it really all about?

Madona: Actually this event is being held for Creative Empowerment which is an organization that caters to Long Island youth and family. We use arts, fashion and culture as a way to empower our youth. That is what we are all about. Tonight we have our yearly and only one fundraising event which is to embrace all those who have been helping us over the years. Everyone of our honorees have had something to do with creating Creative Empowerment.

How many honorees are here tonight?

Madona: We have fourteen honorees here tonight.

My Goodness

Madona: It seems like a whole lot of people but it was very easy thing to do because every now and then we need to say “Thank you,” to those who do what they can for youth. I feel so happy tonight because I look at the list of honorees and I have a story to tell about each of them and they all serve their own way and like I say again we need to say “Thank you,” in a grand way

How long has this organization been established?

Madona: This is the third year

The third year…so this organization has been around for three years.

Madona: Three years and the concept has been around for much longer because I use to divide services to my non profit organization called “My Time Has Come.” I would do all kinds of programs and get the community involved. It was a natural thing for me to go on and do a dedicated organization to serve the youth.

You work very hard a this. Why did you start this?

Madona: Well I tell you the truth is when My son was entering his Junior year at Hofstra University at the time his sister was entering Wellesley College and I said that I have done all that I could for this child to give her a foundation so that when she leaves her home and goes to college she will be able to adapt and I am here for her if she needs any help so I decided there other parents who may not have the know how, who may not have the means, who are just not connected in that way with their children….why don’t I just do something.

You made it easy for them.

Madona: Yes, I made it easy for them and my husband happens to be a psycho therapist.

He is very handsome.

Madona: Thank you so much. I consulted with him to see how viable this could be. So we decided to use mental health strategies and a lot of different strategies to work with our youth and we put creative arts into it too. Everybody has something that empowers them. Some tool that they can use to empower themselves and all we really do is awaken that.

MadonaMadona Cole-Lacy with Cognac Wellerlane at the The Club House at Merrick Golf Club for the Third Annual Creative Empowerment, Inc. Scholarship and Fundraising Gala to benefit Creative Empowerment. Inc.

Visual Artist, Mrs. Cole-Lacy is passionate about creating custom art that particularly addresses the needs of others. With over 30 years of experience as a designer of wearable art and custom home accessories, Madona Cole-Lacy focuses on creating one-of-a kind garments and accessories. She is also passionate about creating wearable art for people who are not able to easily find solutions to meet their aesthetic, special and medical needs. Madona Cole Originals, functional and fashionable, Dignity Headwear for women and girls experiencing hair loss is the vehicle through which she does this. More information can be found at www.madonacoleoriginals.com

As an Educator and a Long Island Teaching Artist, Mrs. Cole-Lacy is passionate about the teaching and learning process. This speaks to her desire to maximize the potential of all children, adolescents and youth for success within the social, educational and cultural sphere. Her professional experience as a New York City Public School teacher and facilitator of art-related workshops for students and teachers; which combine art, fashion, the awareness of cultural diversity and personal development; illustrates this well www.mytimehascome.org

Madona Cole-Lacy is a motivator whose engagement in community service initiatives; such as workshops for college-bound students, workshop for seniors citizens, community-wide creative conversation and artistic expressions; triggered what she refers to as a ‘Eureka Moment’. This led her to create a tool that would encompass her professional skills and the lessons learned from her experience as a mother, an adult care-giver to parents in their nineties, and a one-time divorcee and single mother.

For more information please visit http://www.yourtime4liny.org

Art Exhibit and Documentary Screening of Artist George Schulman at Beth Sholom in Roslyn, New York

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Art experts and special guests came to a very special screening of a film documentary about Artist George Schulman on November 17, 2015. Presently over 80 paintings of Mr. George Schulman’s work are being exhibited at the Judaica Museum in the Temple Beth Sholom complex.

The exhibit is curated by Bat-Shiva Slavin at 401 Roslyn Road in Roslyn Heights, NY and will run until November 27, 2015 and represents what Schulman calls “Mapping,” the style that took him decades to achieve.


Before the event I sat down with Curator Bat Shaba Slavin.

Welcome back darlings, I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at Beth Sholom. This wonderful art museum….It’s a gallery…it’s a temple and I am here with the art curator and she is going to introduce herself to the camera.

Bat-Shaba: Good evening everyone I am Bat-Shaba Slavin and I have been curating the museum for over twenty-five years.

That long. Wow…and it has been a museum for how many years?

Bat-Shaba: For some forty years.

Tell my audience why you love art so much.

Bat-Shaba: Art is the expression of beautifying what we have. When you have a story to tell you can put it on a canvas. When you have something to leave, you leave your history and I love all of it.

You love every single thing about it….from the artist’s vision to his expression to the canvas and also to the sculptures that you see everyday in this museum. Tell my audience about this particular event this evening that we are all viewing. Explain it to my audience.

Bat-Shaba: This is an expression of art on canvas by Mr. George Schulman. He layers and maps his art on large canvases mostly. We have sculptures as well by Larry Schloss. He is a fine sculptor who uses wood and stone and together it really breaks you heart to see how much work goes into it.

I know I took pictures and video of everything. I was really compelled and inspired and overwhelmed by everything that I did see right here at the museum. It’s really quite spectacular what these two gentlemen have done, what they have created. I am sure that is the reason why you chose them to be part this exhibit. Tell my audience how you found George Shulman?

Bat-Shaba: Through other artists in the community. When I search for a fine artist I go through the community. We exhibit for times a year. We use objects from our collections. We use artists from Israel, from Europe and from the rest of the country.

So all over the world really…not just in the United Sates, all over the world?

Bat-Shaba: Yes, not just from Long Island.

How many pieces are we viewing today?

Bat-Shaba: More than eight paintings…

By George Schulman.

Bat-Shaba: By George Schulman and twenty sculptures by Larry Schloss.

Interesting, fascinating and we are also going to get to see a film, am I right about that?

Bat-Shaba: Yes, the film tells the story about George Schulman’s work. How he came to be…who he is today.

That’s terrific. I am so excited to be here and to interview you and to learn more about this wonderful museum. We should all come and view and I understand that these painting are also for sale.

Bat-Shaba: The are paintings are for sale. The sculptures are also for sale. They will be here until after Thanksgiving. Time is running short on this particular exhibit. Everyone is welcome

Tell my audiences the hours you are opened.

Bat-Shaba: The facility is opened Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It is opened on Friday until 2:00 PM. It’s opened on Sundays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

If we want to learn more information where can we go? What is the website?

Bat Shaba: www.bethsholom.com

Beth Sholom in Rosyln, New York is a warm and dynamic conservative, egalitarian congregation committed to exploring and expressing their Jewish identities through spiritual, educational, and social moments of communal connection. A house of prayer, a house of learning, and a house of community, Temple Beth Sholom nurtures personal development and social responsibility while promoting greater knowledge of their Jewish history and culture. For over sixty years, TBS has been caring for and engaging our congregants and community. Through their services, programs and activities they create sacred communal Jewish moments worthy of the Divine. Their team of clergy, educators and lay leaders are committed to making TBS a place where each and every member of their family can learn, grow, gather and celebrate together.

I also spoke to Artist George Shulman who conveyed his inspirations and enthusiasm in creating his art pieces and paintings.

Artist George Schulman and CognacArtist George Schulman and Cognac at Temple Beth Sholom, 401 Roslyn Road in Roslyn Heights, NY.

How many years did it take you put all this art together? To create all of this art?

George: I have painting since I am a child so in reality it took a lifetime to do what I now do and know. You initially take your life skills and your experiences as a person and they resonate in the studio and all that becomes part of the texture of your creative alphabet. It’s not only about the paintings but it’s about finding materials to use discovering your sense of color. What’s interesting to me is that the paintings are really about nature and about life. What occurs as you develop as an artist, you develop visual acuity and you are constantly working and seeing …using your hands and your body where it becomes a oneness with the process. It’s like a dance and a dancer becoming a performer. The key to the thing is to not only know yourself and be a risk taker but get out of your way and really enjoy the process. When the process is going right the work tells you what to do and you are just the facilitator of the process…and it becomes not only exciting but really exhilarating. What also occurs is that I am constantly trying to do and that is walk in a new direction that is unfamiliar to me.

Well that is your challenge.

Painting since the age of four, classically trained Schulman can paint in any style. Touted with an eye for color and form, yet not satisfied with his early success, Schulman pushed to find his own voice different from all the rest. A spiritual man with Jewish roots. Schulman is also a gifted historian and consummate storyteller. Schulman’s paintings and collages share his, and the Jewish Peoples’, drive to slay dragons. His use of white has been inspired by the light he saw, as well as his grandmother’s voice, telling him it was not his time before being revived from heart failure.

George Schulman WorksSchulman’s Works, being exhibited at the Judaica Museum in the Temple Beth Sholom until November 27, 2015, are colorful, kinetic and at times visually tense.

Using a Classical Grid to format his Works, Schulman looks for the dominant shape found in his favorite Master Artists’ Paintings. Schulman’s Works are colorful, kinetic and at times visually tense. His viewers are drawn in and out of the picture plane. Schulman’s uses special oils and acrylics in his massive paintings. He makes his own stretchers and uses only the finest linen and canvas. Hand sewn paper collages are made out of fast food containers collected over a 2 year period.

To learn more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/georgeschulmanartist

12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala To Support Neuroendrocine Cancer, Bethpage, Long Island

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LONG ISLAND, NY – On November 14, 2015 physicians, caregivers, pharmaceutical company owners and Neuroendocrine Cancer patients attended the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala at Sterling Caterers in Bethpage, Long Island for the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) and research.

During the event I had the chance to chat with founder Maryann Wahmann.

Welcome back darlings. I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala and it’s all for a very wonderful cause. I am here with the founder Ms. Maryann Wahmann and she is going to tell us what this event is really all about. Introduce yourself to the camera darling.

Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness NetworkNeuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) Founder Manyann Wahmann with Cognac Wellerlane at the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala in Bethpage, Long Island, November 14, 2015 at 6:30pm to 11:30pm.

Maryann: Hi I am Maryann Wahmann and we started this foundation about 2003 incorporated in 2004 for Neuroendocrine Cancer which I was diagnosed in 2009 and there was a real need out there. Unfortunately 90% of the people are are misdiagnosed with this disease for five to seven years.

My God.

Maryann: After seven years searching I was finally diagnosed and I realized that there was not much education out there..there wasn’t money for research so we started this foundation. This is our 12th year having the gala. It is called the Celebration of Life and we do if for patients so that they can come and celebrate another year of life and we raise funds for educational programs also for research.

I would think also to cure this disease.

Maryann: Yes. In hopes someday we will find a cure. A lot of people don’t realize that Steve Jobs actually really died of Neuroendocrine Cancer. Everybody believes that he died from Pancreatic Cancer and yes he did have it in his pancreas but it was not normal Pancreatic Cancer it was actually Neuroendocrine Cancer.

Could you tell my audience exactly what is this disease? What are the symptoms? Explain it to us. A lot of us are totally unaware. Some of us have never even heard of this type of cancer.

Maryann: Actually Neuroendocrine Cancer is an umbrella name for many different types of Pancreatic Cancer, Neuroendocrine….Carcinoid which is the most common. It could be found anywhere in the body. It is found in hormone producing cells. Most common place is the appendix or the ileocecal valve or it can be found in the lungs also in the pancreas, It could be found anywhere else in the body as well. Some of the symptoms are severe diarrhea.

Oh my God.

Maryann: Flushing, abdominal pain, heart palpations, gaining weight, losing weight, blood pressure fluctuation. Sometimes people have a thing called carcinoid crisis where their blood pressure just drops and we lose the patient. so there are medications out there to help control it. There is no cure for this disease. Yes you could have surgery and it can hold you off but a lot of times it comes back. It may not come back right away but maybe ten, fifteen years down the line. So it is kind of treated like a chronic disease kind of like diabetes. You have to make sure that you follow up. You have to have CAT scans every six months. You have to have blood work every six months.

So you can live with it even though there is no cure. If you catch it in time if you know what it is you can actually live with this disease?

NeuroendocrineCancer3Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) Executive Director Bob Wahmann with Cognac Wellerlane at the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala in Bethpage, Long Island, November 14, 2015 at 6:30pm to 11:30pm.

Maryann: Correct and if you get the proper diagnosis you can get the proper treatment and if you find a doctor that knows about it. Unfortunately too many doctors’ don’t know enough about it.

I never even heard of it.

Maryann: A lot of oncologists have only treated one or two patients in their lifetime so it’s very difficult for us patients because we have to find someone that knows something about it and we are actually honoring Dr. Hal Gerstein who was my oncologist.

I would like to interview him later when he does get here.

Maryann: Yes he is my oncologist and he had few carcinoid patients before me but he has now become really active in the Long Island community and has taken on a lot of carcinoid patients and Neuroendocrine patients and he consults with a lot of big doctors around the country. When I was diagnosed there was one and a million chances of getting it and now more than twelve thousand are diagnosed each year. We have over one hundred twenty five thousand people diagnosed living in the US right now. We started this Net Cancer Awareness Month back in 2007 in New York State. Since then we have it every year. In 2009 and 2010 we put together a coalition and we started Worldwide Net Cancer Day which was on November 10th. There is a lot more awareness out there but there but there still is a lot more to go.

Thank God you founded this organization. Tell my audience…we are all curious. We want to hear your story about how yuu got this illness. What motivated you to create this organization? I want to hear your story. What actually happened to you?

Maryann: OK. Well back in 1994 I had lupus as well. In 1994 I had started really having severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. I was actually bleeding from the rectum and I needed to have transfusions and all the doctors kept on telling me that it was Crones Disease….it was Ulcerated Colitis maybe due to your Lupus and I kept saying “There has to be something more to this.” I went to seven different doctors. I had seven different doctors do colonoscopies and endoscopies and finally after the seveth year the last doctor I went to I cried hysterical “I have been told I am crazy…I have been told I need a marriage counselor…I was told I need more fiber in the diet…nothing is working..I need to know what this is. Go in there and don’t come out until you find it,” and the doctor looked at me and he said “Has anybody ever looked at you and said let’s try paediatric scope…it’s longer and more flexible.” I looked at the man and said “I am thirty something years old what are you talking about,” and he said “I can get up into the ileum let me take a look.” I said “OK fine,” and sure enough he came out and he said “I found it. It was hiding in the ileum the whole time.”

The ileum. How do you spell that?

Maryann: It’s ILEUM. It’s right between your small and large intestine. There is a little valve there and that is where it was hiding.

You become like a doctor now you learn all their medical terms and phrases.

Maryann: What happens when you have an endoscope and you have a colonoscopy there is that little section where they can’t reach and that is most of the time where the tumor is hiding.

Oh my God!

Maryann: Also one out of every hundred autopsies it is found in the appendix and a lot of times is not functioning so people don’t realize that it is actually happening and they have this cancer in there. They found it and I had surgery in 2001. They took part of my small intestine, my large intestine, they took out my appendix and then six months later I had to have my gall bladder removed. When I was diagnosed with this there was no real treatment there was only symptoms controls.

NeuroendocrineCancer1Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) Honoree Dr. Hal Gerstein with Cognac Wellerlane at the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala in Bethpage, Long Island, November 14, 2015 at 6:30pm to 11:30pm

Neuroendocrine tumors are a highly diverse group of tumors formed by neuroendocrine cells. Because these cells are found throughout the body, neuroendocrine tumors can arise in a variety of organs, including those of the gastrointestinal system, lungs, thymus, and skin. Another type of tumor that arises in the adrenal glands — called pheochromocytoma — is sometimes classified as a neuroendocrine tumor. Carcinoid tumors are by far the most common type of neuroendocrine tumor found in the gastrointestinal system. Other, more rare types of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors include small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, which arise in the islet cells of the pancreas. Doctors may diagnose and treat neuroendocrine tumors according to the types of cells involved, the appearance of the tumor cells under the microscope, and their location in the body.

NeuroendocrineCancer4Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) Sponsor Elyse Spatz Caplan, Founder Maryann Wahmann and Cognac Wellerlane at the 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala in Bethpage, Long Island, November 14, 2015 at 6:30pm to 11:30pm

At this years 12th Annual Celebration of Life Gala. Oncologist, Dr. Hal Gerstein was honored. Dr. Hal Gerstein is a medical oncologist in Great Neck, New York and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College and has been in practice for 37 years. He is one of 16 doctors at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and one of 13 at North Shore University Hospital who specialize in Medical Oncology.

For more information on how you can learn more information please visit http://netcancerawareness.org

Residents Gather for Grand Opening of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery in Greenvale, New York

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LONG ISLAND, NY – North Shore residents gathered at the Grand Opening of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery in Greenvale, New York on November 12, 2015. The glamorous event was hosted by 25A Magazine and affluent guests enjoyed fabulous cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres catered by Elegant Affairs.

During the event I Interviewed District and Business Group Manager David Finkel.

Introduce Yourself darling.

David: My name is David Finkel. I am District Manager for Ferguson in the North East and we are opening our showroom in Greenvale, Long Island. We have nine thousand square feet of plumbing appliances and lighting. Ferguson is the largest plumbing distributor here in the United States and relatively new to the New York area but we are here and we are looking forward to a success with Long Island.

Well it looks like it is going to be a spectacular event tonight and I understand that 25A Magazine is hosting the event. How did this all come about?

25AMagazineDavidFinkel David Finkel Business Group Manager of Ferguson in Greenvale, NY and Cognac Wellerlane at the Grand Opening of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, November 12, 2015.

David: We have a great relationship with the folks at 25A. They are joining us for the event tonight. We have a great caterer coming. We are looking forward to a wonderful evening just to introduce ourselves to the community.

And you are a very upscale lighting, kitchen…everything….am I correct in saying that?

David: We certainly strive to be. I think that we fit the neighborhood very well. It is a very upscale neighborhood and we are very excited about it. I think folks will really appreciate the products that we offer and we really are looking forward to a lot of success here.

How many Fergusons are there in the Long Island area?

David: Currently we have two showrooms on Long Island. We also have wholesale locations. Ferguson is also in the wholesale and plumbing business but hopefully we will have more time for growth and more locations to come.

That’s fabulous. I am sure you have showrooms located all over the county. Am I right about that?

David: Yes. Ferguson is all over the country. We have showrooms in New York City, Westchester….they are all over New Jersey…for this area we do have many showrooms.

Well I am sure this is going to be a groundbreaking event tonight. Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website.

David: Ferguson.com and we are at 9 Northern Blvd. in Greenvale, New York.

25AMagazinePublishe 25A Magazine Publisher Chase Backer and Cognac Wellerlane at the Grand Opening of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, November 12, 2015.

Ferguson raises the bar for industry standards as the top-rated wholesale supplier of commercial and residential plumbing supplies. The company’s expertise goes way beyond plumbing. Ferguson is a diverse distributor that spans multiple businesses including HVAC/R, waterworks and industrial. In the past sixty three years they have grown from a local distributor to an $11 billion dollar company with more than 1,400 locations and over 20,000 associates nationwide. Ferguson prides themselves on delivering world-class service and their clients and customers know that “Nobody expects more from us than we do” is more than just a tagline to Ferguson associates. It’s a cultural belief that is demonstrated every day through exceptional customer service, product selection and industry knowledge.

25AMagazineAndreaCorrealeElegant Affairs Caterer Andrea Correale and 25A Magazine Publisher Chase Backer at the Grand Opening of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, November 12, 2015.

Ferguson is the largest distributor of commercial and residential plumbing supplies, and pipe, valves, and fittings (PVF) in the United States. It’s more than a slogan about how Ferguson does business. Expecting a lot from themselves is how they make a positive impact to strengthen the communities where they are located throughout the country.. It’s a challenge they share with more than 20,000 associates who help Ferguson fulfill its mission by lending a hand where it’s needed. Supporting communities, families, the military and education is not that different from what they do every day – providing what it takes to keep a wide range of good things going, making everyone’s lives better.

Bailey Arboretum Hosts “Come Fly With Me” Sinatra and Mad Men Themed Annual Autumn Cocktail Party

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Come Fly With Me was the theme for the Sinatra and Mad Men Annual Autumn Cocktail Party as guests, friends and supporters gathered to support The Bailey Arboretum on November 7, 2015. Bailey Arboretum is a scenic grand forty-two acre property situated on the North Shore of Long Island in Lattingtown, New York, located on the estate of renowned horticulturist and philanthropist Frank Bailey. Bailey Arboretum is the only accredited arboretum on Long Island and in the New York Metropolitan area.

Bailey Arboretum is open to the public seven days a week, year round. Community and educational programs are offered throughout the year. Bailey Arboretum provides visitors well marked trails, gardens and the freedom to stroll the beautiful grounds. The arboretum does not charge admission or parking fees to the community of Long Islanders and supporters.


Cognac Wellerlane interviews President Margaret Stacey at “Come Fly With Me” Sinatra and Mad Men Themed Annual Autumn Cocktail Party on the North Shore of Long Island in Lattingtown, New York, November 7, 2015.

madamPresident Margaret Stacey explains the history of The Bailey Arboretum

During the cocktail reception I sat down with President Margaret Stacey who explained the history of The Bailey Arboretum.

Hello darlings. Welcome back I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with the President Margaret Stacey and she is going to tell us all about the history this fabulous place.

Margaret: Well an arboretum is a collection of exotic trees not everyday trees and Frank Bailey came from upstate New York. He was penniless when he came to Brooklyn after getting his degree in college and he started working at Guaranteed Trust Company as a clerk and he eventually became president of Guaranteed Trust Company and a multi multi millionaire. Sadly his first two wives passed away….his third wife said “I am getting out of Brooklyn,” so they came and they bought an estate and he really just wanted to make it a beautiful place. He wasn’t interested in building a castle or an “Oheka” or anything like that.

Yes there is so many of that here on the North Shore.

Margaret: He just wanted a nice family country home. He did double the size of the place but then he began to work on the gardens. He had succeeded in his career so now he was looking around for something to do. He wasn’t that interested in art or anything else…..no it was the trees. He had gotten involved with Homestead in Brooklyn in planting the parks in Brooklyn and so he used all those contacts to get trees here. He became so famous that when the Smithsonian got a tree from China or the Morton or Harvard or one of those places… he got one too.

Unbelievable.

Margaret: We have the largest Redwood tree in the world.

The largest? How tall is it?

Margaret: I am not quite sure.

But it is the largest?

Margaret: Yes we have girl scouts come. It takes twenty of them to make a circle around it. So it’s quite large. We have hundreds and hundreds of exotic trees….very famous trees.

From all over the world?

Margaret: Yes, from all over the world and they are still here. He came here in 1911 and he was still planting in the 50’s when he passed away and then it was given to Nassau County by the family and then the family kept a little bit in touch….more and more they handed it over to the county to run. The county said “Well you know let’s get a Friends Group going here, let’s get more volunteers.” In 1975 we started the Friends Group and that is where we are now. We have been self-supporting running this forty-two acres ourselves the whole time. The money we get here tonight will go towards it. We have a lot of education programs. We have trails in the woods. We have stroll gardens. We have a children’s habitat.

Yes I saw that.

Margaret: It’s very interactive for the little ones from pre-school mainly. We have a wonderful survivor program. The only one in the country. Rubbing the two sticks together thing….that you and I would never do….they think it’s great fun. It’s quite an amazing place all the things that go on. We just started an heirloom rose garden.

That must be beautiful in May and June when all the flowers are in bloom.

Margaret: We are working on a number of other gardens….a wild flower garden in the wooded areas. We are doing a native garden getting people to grow native Long Island things…even most of the things here are not. We continue to identify the trees here because they are so different and exotic that we have to bring in specialist from all over the country to tell us what to do do.

To keep them alive I would think.

Margaret: We lost a hundred trees during Sandy which compared to other places was not bad.

Yes that’s not really that bad since you have so many here.

Margaret: One of the things we are looking at is why were Frank Bailey’s trees were able to survive that storm?

Because you are lucky darling.

Margaret: Maybe that was it.

You have the luck of the Irish as they say and I think Mr. Bailey was Irish himself wasn’t he?

Margaret: I guess he was.

With a name like that…

Margaret: He had to have been.

Yes you got the luck of the Irish.

Margaret: His family came down to see Bailey Arboretun this year. They came up and down. There in Palm Beach and up in Connecticut. They came back for a little reunion. They hadn’t been here in thirty years.

President Margaret Stacey talked more about the history of Bailey Arboretum and later revealed why she became involved. “My field has nothing to do with this. I happen to be a Professor of International Communications but I have always loved the outer doors. I was a great girl scout and my mother was a naturalist. I just love the outer doors so I learned all about it. When we moved here from Sands Point I immediately came to Bailey and starting poking around and when you volunteer the next thing you know they make you president. So that is how I got involved. I was just intrigued by the fact…and we were just another park and we looked into the history and said ‘there is something special here. We got to have a brand and we have to have something that makes us unique.’ We started looking into the trees and we had two professors from Cornell study them. They were absolutely astounded. We really didn’t know what we had. That was only four years ago that we uncovered this.”

HONOREES Honorees Sue and Peter MacKinnon of Bailey Arboretum at “Come Fly With Me” Sinatra and Mad Men Themed Annual Autumn Cocktail Party on the North Shore of Long Island in Lattingtown, New York, November 7, 2015.

During the event Sue and Peter P. MacKinnon were honored for their generous donation time, expertise and talent to the continuation and enhancement of Bailey Arboretun.

Sue and Peter are exemplary friends in every way. Their generosity of time, expertise and talent reverberates in the Long Island community. Their passion for horticulture is legendary. Peter, being the son and nephew of Scottish estate superintendents has detailed familiarity with maintaining grand properties which has applied to his own gardens along with Sue’s meticulous direction. Their often toured gardens are soon to be part of the Smithsonian Archives.

To learn more information please visit http://www.baileyarboretum.org

Filmmakers, 500 Attendees at First Annual Nordic International Film Festival, Scandinavia House, NYC

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NEW YORK, NY – On October 31 and November 1 the First Annual Nordic International Film Festival hosted screenings of the twenty two official selected films with over five hundred attendees and twenty plus filmmakers. The event took place at the renowned Scandinavia House in the Victor Borge Theater. At the festival there were seven world premieres including a number of North American premiers. Film makers, representatives, producers, directors and actors were in attendance from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Denmark, England and the US. All flew in to be a part of the very first Film Festival.

An award ceremony hosted by Jacob A. Ware from the hit TV Show “Boardwalk Empire” was the highlight of the evening. He prepared original comical material to keep the evening lively interspersed with the prestigious awards that were given out to the honored filmmakers.

Nordic Film Festival Linnea Larsdotter Creative Director of the Nordic International Film Festival poses for a photo- op with Cognac Wellerlane at the Nordic Film Festival.

Nordic International Film Festival is based in New York City at the renowned Scandinavia House on Park Avenue also called the Nordic Center. NIFF celebrates Nordic and International films and they strive to encounter and search for new and upcoming independent films as well as honoring great works from already established filmmakers. The First Annual Nordic International Film Festival screened nominated films in the official selection at a grand theatre inside the Nordic Center for members of the press, distribution, filmmakers and general admitted audiences.

Their focus is on finding diverse independent films with strong characters and storylines and encourage all filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of ethnicity, religion or worldview. One part of their program highlights Nordic classic themes found in old Nordic productions. They welcome and judge all films equally and with great respect and consideration. Organizers of the event included Johan Matton – Festival Director/Founder/President and Linnea Larsdotter – Creative Director/Head of Programming.

Nordic Film Festival Actors Jim McCaffrey from Rescue Me and Revenge and his wife Rochelle Bistro pose for a photo-op with Cognac.

Multi award winning actor, screenwriter and producer Johan Matton graduated from three major theatre schools; the renowned Circle in The Square Theatre School on Broadway, New York Film Academy and Calle Flygare’s Theatre School of Sweden. Johan’s productions and films have been screened at more than 40 top festivals in the world. His films range from award winning short films to critically acclaimed indie films in Sweden, Asia and the US. Johan has produced featured films and a feature documentary. Johan is the founder and president of the indie production company “Changing Film” and has both produced and distributed feature films and has facilitated two very successful festival runs where his films have won Best Picture. Johan’s mission is to utilize his great network and connections in the industry to assist emerging filmmakers in finding distribution companies and maintaining press all over the world.

Nordic Film Festival Johan Matton Foumder of the Nordic International Film Festival

Linnea Larsdotter is a native of Sweden and is used to work both behind and in front of the camera. She has performed in twelve countries and over three continents. Her production work includes script consulting for “Jane Street,” “Festival de Cannes,” co-producer on the feature film “Till We Meet Again,” graphic design for the feature film “Kushuthara” and much more. Linnea is currently producing the feature documentary “Lives of Bernard Herrmann” with talents such as Alec Baldwin and Larry Cohen. She has won several awards for films she produced and participated in. Her knowledge and taste for films and the industry makes her one of the festival’s strongest assets at Niff. The festival is proud to have Linnea as their creative director and head of programming.

Nordic Film Festival Actor JACOB A. WARE – BOARDWALK EMPIRE

At their Red Carpet Gala both Linnea and Johan spoke about how and why they became involved with the Nordic International Film Festival.

Welcome back darlings I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here with these two interesting filmmakers who created this festival and they are the founders, am I correct?

Johan: That is correct Linnea Larsdotter and I created this festival. This is the first year of the film festival.

You are also the Creative Director of the Film Festival?

Linnea: Yes I am. I am also the head of programming, So I am overseeing the programming process for the festival.

Tell my audience what inspired you to create this festival?

Johan: Well we really wanted to showcase independent film in New York City and it has been done and we know we can do it even more so by have the collaboration between Nordic countries and America coming together. We have been seeing a lot of Nordic films being shot over here with collaboration using the Scandinavian beautiful scenery. We wanted to help filmmakers get seen out there.with some articles and press. Indie films need to heard and seen to make it out there and it is still needed. We have seen many smaller festivals too. We wanted to make it different so we made it free, no tickets. It was all free. All the screenings have been free.

I wish you much continued success with this. Tell my audience where we can go to find out more information. What is the website?

Johan: The website is http://www.nordicfilmfest.org

How many films were shown at the Nordic International Film Festival?

Linnea: We screened twenty-two films and we had thirty-five in our official selection and over two hundred submissions.

How many awards will be given out tonight?

Johan: We have about ten awards plus five honorable mentions.

Who is the host for tonight’s event?

Joham: Jacob A. Ware from the hit TV Show “Boardwalk Empire”

One more time, What is the website?

Johan: http://www.nordicfilmfest.org

Celebrities in attendance at the awards ceremony included:

  • Ryan Caraway – Director – By Jingo
  • Charlotte Munck – Silent Sea
  • Katarina Gellin – Of Her I Dream
  • Frida Kempff- Director – Winter Buoy
  • WINNER OF 2010 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for Short Film Micky Bader
  • Ben Cura – Director Actor – Creditors (The Royals)
  • Ciaran Flynn – Prison Door
  • Colin Broderick – Emerald City
  • Michael Neeson – son of Liam Neeson
  • The cast from the new feature film – Emerald City

The Winners of Nordic International Film Festival 2015 included:

  • Best Cinematography: Klaus Harnisch, Sebastian Janke, Silent Sea
  • Best Actor: Ryan Caraway, By Jingo
  • Best Actress: Charlotte Munck, Silent Sea
  • Best Director: Jochem de Vries, Cornea
  • Best Documentary Short: The Simple Gift of Walnut Grove
  • Best Nordic Short: The Moment That Passed
  • Best Narrative Short: One Last Sigh Before Nightfall
  • Best Documentary Feature: Vinterboj / Winter Buoy
  • Best Nordic Feature: Det borde finnas regler / There should be rules
  • Best Narrative Feature: Wildlike

Honorable Mentions

  • Falling Angels
  • Days That Follow Each Other (chapters)
  • Nile Leander
  • Creditors

Long Island Residents, Supporters Celebrate 8th Annual Little Shelter Masquerade Ball at Watermill Caterers

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Long Island residents dressed as ghosts, witches, goblins and zombies gathered to celebrate the Little Shelter Animal Rescue’s 8th Annual Masquerade Ball and Charity Event at the Watermill Caterers in Smithown, Long Island. The event took place on Thursday, October 29, 2015 from 6-9PM and featured a cocktail reception, dinner, open bar, live and silent auctions and live entertainment.

Jacque Reid and Sara Gore from NBC TV was this year’s recipient of the 2015 Media Excellence Award for their outstanding contributions to promoting The Little Shelter Animal Rescue.

Sara Gore Cognac Sara Gore from NBC TV and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the Little Shelter Animal Rescue’s 8th Annual Masquerade Ball and Charity Event, Thursday, October 29, 2015.

Jacque Reid is an Emmy winning co-host of New York Live, NBC 4 New York’s lifestyle show, airing weekdays at 12:30PM. Together with co-host Sara Gore, New York Live’s dynamic duo serves audiences a daily dose of the very best New York has to offer from the latest fashion trends to celebrity news, top food and restaurant choices, and entertainment.

Prior to joining NBC 4 New York, Reid was a regular guest co-host on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show The View as well as a correspondent for the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show where she presented her segment, Inside Her Story, a feature focused on women’s issues. Presently, Jacque continues as a correspondent with the Joyner show as well as a co-host of the AR Bernard Show on Sirius radio. Jacque is also creator and editor in chief of, SingleandLivingFAB.com, a lifestyle website that encourages single women to live their best lives

Sara Gore is co-host of New York Live, NBC 4 New York’s lifestyle show, airing weekdays at 12:30 p.m.

Together with co-host Jacque Reid, New York Live’s dynamic duo serves audiences a daily dose of the very best New York has to offer from the latest fashion trends to celebrity news, top food and restaurant choices, and entertainment.

Little Shelter PresidentLittle Shelter President Maryann Chernovsky and David Ceely Present Award to Dr Frank Liguori.

Sara Gore is also host of LX.TV’s Open House, a weekly show on NBC and nationally syndicated across the country. Each week, Open House opens its doors to the country’s most lavish homes, giving viewers advice and inspiration from the industry’s best designers and home improvement experts.

Early in her career, Gore pursued her passion for food by working as a caterer and personal chef, and worked as a line cook for famed chef Jean-Georges. She has demonstrated her cooking skills on both The Today Show and The Steve Harvey Show.

At the event I had the pleasure of talking to NBC Broadcaster Sara Gore:

Hello darlings I am Cognac Wellerlane and I am here at the 8th Annual Little Shelter Halloween Bash and I am here with a big supporter of tonight’s event. Ms. Sara Gore from NBC. She loves Little Shelter and she works diligently to help promote this wonderful organization each year. Sara tell my audience and everyone out there why Little Shelter is so important and why we should adopt these poor unfortunate animals.

Sara: Well you should always adopt instead of buy. I think the misconception is that you can’t get purebred animals at a shelter. You should go buy them. That is absolutely not true. We have the most beautiful dogs that come through Little Shelter and they are always very clearly cared for and loved. It has been such a great partnership with them.

How did you find out about Little Shelter?

Sara: Through the Mayors Alliance of New York City Animals. For the last six years we do dog adoptions on our show. Since the first year we started the show and it is so traditional we continue to do it every Thursday and it not going anywhere anytime soon. Everyone loves Thursdays. It is my favorite day of the week because of the dog adoptions.

The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, is the sole umbrella organization for animal welfare in NYC. Since 2003, we have been working with our coalition of 150+ rescue groups and shelters to find homes for thousands of New York City’s dogs and cats. Our goal is to transform New York City into a no-kill community by 2015, where no dogs or cats of reasonable health or temperament are killed simply because they do not have homes.

David CeelyExecutive Director David Ceely and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane at the Little Shelter Animal Rescue’s 8th Annual Masquerade Ball and Charity Event, Thursday, October 29, 2015.

Veterinarian and Medical Director for twenty five years Dr. Frank Liguori was also honored. Dr. Liguori is this year’s recipient of the President Award of Medical Excellence. Sponsors for the event included: Petco Foundation, 1-800 Flowers, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Ferrari-Maserati of LI, Newport Creative, Carol Duffy, Contour Concepts and Counter-Tech Industries.

Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter nestled on six wooded acres in Huntington, Long Island. Little Shelter has been dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats and placing them into loving homes since 1927. Age, physical condition, and socialization issues are never criteria for rescuing a dog or cat whose life is in jeopardy. Through rescue from kill facilities, rehabilitation of sick and un-socialized pets, and a 100% spay/neuter program, Little Shelter hopes to end pet overpopulation and place all dogs and cats in loving homes. All Little Shelter pets receive the highest quality medical care and are spayed /neutered before adoption. Every potential adopter is interviewed and thoroughly screened to ensure the best quality homes. Included on the grounds is Sheltervale Pet Cemetery, which has been the final resting place for companion animals for more than 80 years. Little Shelter Animal Rescue has won Best of Long Island 6 straight years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) for Best Animal Shelter/Rescue. Little Shelter is also a part of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals. Little Shelter is the only shelter not located in New York city to be included in the alliance.

For more information please visit http://littleshelter.com

Long Islanders Attend First Annual Long Island Beauty Ball at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Beauty experts, professional cancer care experts, politicians and cancer survivors attended Mondays at Racine Long Island Beauty Ball on Monday October 26, 2015 at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

For over ten years, the staff of Racine has looked for a way to provide support and comfort to people receiving treatment for cancer. In 2003, they created the Mondays at Racine cancer care program, which provides complimentary services and supportive therapies every third Monday of the month.

At a time when few were addressing the mental and emotional impact of being diagnosed with cancer, Racine set out to attempt to offset its ravaging side effects and provide solace, integrity and support to it’s community members stricken with this disease. In that time, the program has grown to become a safe haven for patient’s emotional well being, as well as an important supportive resource center within our community. It has also helped hundreds of women deal with their affliction in a gentle and proactive way.


Cognac Wellerlane interviews at the First Annual Long Island Beauty Ball At the Crest Hollow Country Club

Co-Founder Rachel Demolfetto knew that the beauty industry was her chosen career. At the age of 26 in 1989, Rachel purchased an aesthetic salon in East Islip where she began establishing her spa career. In September 1994, she opened Racine Salon de Beaute & Spa in Islip, NY with her sister Cynthia Sansone. What began as a small operation has now grown to be a hugely successful community-driven full Spa & Salon and landmark in the town of Islip. Keeping benevolence and philanthropy close to their hearts, for the last ten years Rachel, Cynthia, and team Racine began a program to provide support and beauty services for people going through treatment for cancer. The Mondays at Racine Cancer Care Program has garnered many accolades, citations and awards. As well as the subject of an HBO Oscar nominated short documentary.

Racine Co-Founder RachelMonday At Racine Co-Founder Rachel DeMolfetto and Cognac

Mondays at Racine services include:

  • Massage; Organic massage creams unscented, hypoallergenic, and parabens free.
  • Lymphatic drainage; Improves circulation and decreases inflammation and swelling.
  • Therapeutic Neuromuscular; Helps to balance the nervous system and relieve tension in the muscles.
  • Aromatherapy; HelpS with pain relief and symptoms of hormone loss.
  • Reflexology; Trained specialists work the hands and feet; pain or illness strengthened.
  • Fortifying scalp treatment; Essential oil scalp massage; Customized Hair cut/shave;Hair cut and gentle blow out; Ammonia free hair color for sensitive scalp; Wig wash and/or blow; Customized wig cut; Waxing services; Antibacterial safe facial hair removal using organic wax for sensitive skin; Cosmetic Services; Facials; Nail services; Manicure; Pedicure; Polish; Meditation; Yoga; Reiki energy no touch therapy.

I had the chance to talk to Co-Founder Rachel Demolfetto.

Hello darlings, welcome back. I am here with Rachel from Mondays at Racine and she is going to talk about what this event is really all about.

Rachel: This event is commutations of a 3 1/2 year non for profit that began with the light of HBO, a short documentary that went to the Academy Awards based upon what we do at the Salon every Monday which is to take care of anybody in treatment men and women for any cancer. So this non-profit now is expanding hopefully to become a household word in terms of having other salons in ether zip codes doing the same program. We have the tutorial and the staff to support these salons. It is our duty in the industry to do such work.

Well you are doing a terrific job. You really help so many people that were stricken with Cancer. I had Breast Cancer and I would love to tell my story about what happened to me.

Rachel: Absolutely, everybody has their own story but the only thing we can do is the damage control on the medications which is necessary don’t get me wrong but coupled with wellness and feeling good the battle gets a little better.

Why did you get involved in this obviously for good purposes but what got the ball rolling?

Rachel: The woman on the swing on our logo is Cynthia my mother who had Cancer in the 1980’s when Aids was broken out. She was treated like a piranha of society. She had lost her hair. She had went to a salon. Her hair was falling out and nobody knew what to do. Years later….Racine has been opened 21 years….we decided that Monday is the usual day we are closed let’s get our staff together and do such a program.

That’s terrific. If we want to find out more information of what you are doing and all the benefits about how people can learn all about this where can we go on the Internet? Do you have a website?

Rachael: Definately, http://mondaysatracine.org

Steve Flotteron Mondays at Racine, Councilman Steve Flotteron and Cognac

James Altadonna Monday At Racine, County Clerk James Altadonna and Cognac

Mondays at Racine’s mission is to encourage a self-empowering, mind-body approach to treatment, in concert with traditional medicine, to ensure wellness and vitality. By attending to the whole person and not just the disease, Mondays at Racine offers people suffering with cancer the opportunity to face the challenge of healing…beautifully.

Art Enthusiasts Attend New York Contemporary Arts Symposium, October 24, 2015 at Art Space, Patchogue

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PATCHOGUE, NY – This past Saturday October 24, 2015 art enthusiasts attended the New York Contemporary Arts Symposium (NYCAS). NYCAS is a program of the Islip Art Museum and is conducted in collaboration with D. Fleiss East West Artists.

NYCAS brings artists and art professionals from around the world together to form new networks, foster international connections, develop cross-cultural understanding and cultivate cooperation. The 2015 symposium provides nine international and three national artists with housing, studio space, all meals, trips to cultural centers and selected artist supplies at no cost. Lifting these financial burdens frees the artists to explore their creativity with themselves and the surrounding community through a series of public events arranged by the Islip Art Museum in East Islip and the Patchogue Arts Council in Patchogue.

I had the chance to talk to many artists including Dave Rogers who displays his art periodically at Art Space located at 20 Terry Street in Patchogue.

DaveRogersArtist Dave Rogers chats with Cognac Wellerlane at the New York Contemporary Arts Symposium Saturday October 24, 2015.

Rogers is a 14 year veteran of the US Army and served in Iraq (1990-91), Bosnia (1997). He was a first responder at the World Trade Center (2001) and homeland security in New York (2002-2004). Mr. Rogers is a New York based Neo-POP sculptor, painter, installation artist and independent curator. He has shown his work nationally in such areas as NY, Miami, NJ and CT. He has traveled the world and has internationally shown in such countries as China, Korea, Germany, England, France, Mongolia, Switzerland and Spain. His works are in several private and public collections, as well as having been displayed in Museums, National Libraries, Universities and Cultural Centers.

Mr. Rogers art work has also been displayed in several art fairs including Miami Basel, Toronto Love Art Fair and the Korea and Hong Kong Affordable Art Fairs. Rogers belongs to The Guild of American paper cutters, the Art and Oil Painting Associations of Jiangmen China, The Huntington and Patchogue Arts Councils, and Studio Montclair, NJ. His work has been featured in Long Island, Miami, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Dominican Republic newspapers and magazines as well as on News 12 and Fios1 Long Island, Miami TV, and Guangdong Television in China.


Artist Dave Rogers recently painted a portrait of me and we discussed his new projects as well.

I know the painting was inspired by me but could you tell me a little more about the colors and the graphic art that you incorporated into the painting.

Dave: Well for the new series that I am doing…..I am doing mostly well known but not like super famous people…

Which is me..

Dave: I know some very well known people who have inspired me, who have been very supportive of me and my art. So they inspire me also and so in doing my new work with these pieces. It’s a combination of my older style which is a Neo-POP site and a lit bit add to my impressionist period that I did many years ago and then the symbolism which is basically a mixture of Chinese, Egyptian and Aztec kind of writing that I put together. So in the paintings I am telling a story.

So there is a real language that you incorporated onto my image?

Dave: Yes. So it is a story that I am telling but it is an unreadable story. It is for the viewer to find the story for themselves through the motion of the symbols and the color. You will notice on the painting part of it is filled in completely and part of it is not filled in completely. I like that unfinished feel. I picked it up while living in Asia. They like to leave the canvas kind of unfinished, undone so then again the viewer has to fill in their own concept of how it would look if it was full.

Does the writing, symbolism mean anything?

Dave: It means something to me.

What does it mean?

Dave: No, no…that the secret to my pieces. I don’t want to give away the secret. I want each viewer to look at it and find their own feeling, their own meaning into the piece.

Rogers spent seven years as a professor of art and visiting lecturer in art and design through China before returning to New York. He worked as an instructor at two different art organizations on Long Island, as an art advisor and lecturer for emerging artists and young collectors. Rogers has won awards for his work several veteran organizations, and from several art organizations on Long Island and with the Disabled Peoples Union of China, the Art Association of Jiangmen, China and the Chinese Government. Rogers has done several artist in residence in China and New York to include St. Josephs College in Patchogue, He is also the winner of the O’Malley Grant in Fine Art from Long Island University. He received his BA in Visual Arts with Honors from SUNY Old Westbury. Mr. Rogers attended the Academy of Art University and received an MFA in Sculpture from Long Island University.

Since a resident of Artspace Patchogue, Rogers was gallery manager for July 2013-Aug 2014. Along with other artists he has created a mural in the Village Roe Alleyway that represents the growth of the Village of Patchogue and the best of Arts in the community with funding from Suffolk County, the Village of Patchogue and several local businesses. He has created a public sculpture for the Village of Patchogue Park with Funding from the Garden Club. Recently Rogers’ design was chosen for a designer crosswalk on Main St in the village of Patchogue (The first designer crosswalk of it’s kind on Long Island). Rogers belongs to the Patchogue Chamber as a Art Consultant, and is a Board Member of the Hecksher Museum of Art. Rogers is a regular fixture in the arts around Patchogue and Long Island, either exhibiting work, or curating exhibits which help emerging artists find opportunities to exhibit their works. He has not only curated exhibits at Artspace Patchogue, but has created exchange exhibits and opportunities with Long Island University, Art Studio in Sea Cliff, Artspace Connecticut, fotofoto Gallery, and Sparkboom.. When not working on his art, Rogers mentors emerging artists and often creates chances for artists to join him in events and meetings supporting the arts.

For more information about Artist Dave Rogers please visit http://davesartstudio.co

I also interviewed Artist Patricia Kelly who uniquely uses watercolors in her painting giving her art an almost storybook concept.

President John CinoCurator and President John Cino of the Patchogue Arts Council (left) and Artist Christine Kertz stand with Cognac Wellerlane at the New York Contemporary Arts Symposium Saturday October 24, 2015.

At the the New York Contemporary Arts Symposium (NYCAS) at Art Space I also talked to Curator and President John Cino of the Patchogue Arts Council. When a few folks met around a kitchen table to talk about how to cultivate the art scene in Patchogue, little did they know that they were to about to play an integral role in the cultural renaissance of their community.

The Patchogue Arts Council (PAC) provides artists of all mediums with opportunities to share their work, network with other creatives, and participate in arts advocacy initiatives. In addition to supporting a variety of artists and art forms, The Patchogue Arts Council also works to engage a diverse audience from all walks of life. By presenting a broad range of programs. Their mission is to hope to ignite the creative spirit of the Great South Bay.

For more informatiom about the Patchogue Arts Council please visit https://patchoguearts.org

23rd Hamptons International Film Festival; Intimate Showcase of Year’s Best Offerings in Cinema

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LONG ISLAND, NY – Members of the press, Movie Stars, Filmmakers and Hamptonites gathered to attend the 23rd Hamptons International Film Festival on October 8th through October 12th. The Hamptons International Film Festival is traditionally held each year over the Columbus Day weekend.

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. 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 $165,000, 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. 2014 marked the 6th time in the last 7 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.

This year I was happy to attend some red carpet events and screenings that were significant during the festival. The 23rd Annual Hamptons International Film Festival kicked off on opening night with the film “TRUTH,” Director James Vanderbilt’s searing look into the CBS News controversy that ended Dan Rather’s career as the network’s anchorman.


Cognac Interviews Producer Brad Fischer, Dennis Quaid and American Journalist Dan Rather at the 23rd Hamptons International Film Festival

Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford star in James Vanderbilt’s sharp and insightful take on the controversial CBS 60 Minutes investigation of George W. Bush’s military record that ended Dan Rather’s career as the network’s anchorman. Adapted from producer Mary Mapes’ (Blanchett) account in her book “Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power,” and featuring exceptional performances by a stellar cast, including Elisabeth Moss, Dennis Quaid, and Topher Grace, TRUTH is a polished and absorbing dramatization of the ever-changing relationship between journalism and politics in today’s media.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Producer and Screenwriter Brad Fischer, about the Film.

Tell my audience about this film and why you decided to undertake this project

Brad Fischer: This is the story of the 60 minute piece when Dan Rather was forced to resign after the story was aired about George Busch’s questionable service to the Texas International Guard. It’s a fascinating story about journalism and the intersection of politics and big business. It’s a really interesting story and my partner James Vanderbilt directed the film. I think is a great story that people will enjoy.

I also attended CONVERSATIONS WITH DAN RATHER.

With a famed and storied career that has spanned more than six decades, Dan Rather has been one of the world’s best-known journalists for much of the last half century. He has interviewed every president since Eisenhower and personally covered almost every important dateline of the last 60 years.

Rather joined CBS News in 1962. He quickly rose through the ranks and in 1981 he assumed the position of anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News—a post he held for 24 years. His reporting across the network helped to turn 60 Minutes into an institution, launched 48 Hours as an innovative news magazine program, and shaped countless specials and documentaries. Upon leaving CBS, Rather returned to the in-depth reporting he always loved, creating the Emmy Award-winning Dan Rather Reports on HDNet. Mr. Rather continues to bring us controversial news and is now president and CEO of News and Guts, an independent production company he founded that specializes in high-quality nonfiction content across a range of traditional and digital distribution channels as he revealed during our interview.

Tell my audience what we can expect with Conversations with you and Alec Baldwin? What do you think is going to take place?

Dan Rather: Well I hope we will have a meaningful conversation about the importance of truly independent investigation which runs through the thread of the film TRUTH and I am hopeful that we will have an intelligent conversation about that

Tell us about your new production company, “News and Guts” What is that all about?

Dan Rather: Well when I left CBS News I wanted to stay active. I wanted to work full time…I love reporting and so the bridge to get to that after I left CBS News was to form my own production company and my daughter Robin who is my eldest came up with “New and Guts.”

SPOTLIGHT was the Saturday Centerpiece Film that premiered at Guild Hall in East Hampton.


Cognac Wellerlane interviews Actor John Slattery at the 23rd Hamptons International Film Festival

Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James, John Slattery and Stanley Tucci, Academy Award nominee Tom McCarthy’s SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delve into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. The Saturday Centerpiece screening will be sponsored by Blundstone Boots. Open Road Films will release the title in select theaters on November 6, 2015. SPOTLIGHT will be in theaters nationwide by Thanksgiving.

“It is an honor to be screening these films for our Centerpieces this year,” said HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent. “McCarthy and Haynes are two of America’s most talented filmmakers and they are working at the top of their game.”

“SPOTLIGHT and CAROL have garnered high praises and are highly anticipated for the awards circuit this year,” said HIFF Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “Both films truly demonstrate the high caliber of films that we continue to pursue and program at our festival.”

I had the chance to chat with Directors Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson about their film ANOMALISA.

The synopsis of the film tells us about Michael Stone who is a man crippled by the mundanely of his life. On a business trip to Cincinnati, he checks into the Fregoli Hotel, where he is amazed to discover a possible escape from his desperation in the form of an unassuming Akron baked goods sales rep who may or may not be the love of his life. A beautifully tender and absurdly humorous dreamscape from the brilliant minds of Charlie Kaufman (SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK) and Duke Johnson (“Community”), this is a darkly comedic and surreal journey. ANOMALISA confirms Charlie Kaufman’s place amongst the most important of American filmmakers, and announces Duke Johnson as a major creative force.


Cognac Wellerlane interviews Actor, Narrator and Executive Producer Morgan Freeman at the 23rd International Film Festival

In the documentary Category, THE C WORD (USA) premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival. The film was directed by Meghan O’Hara. Executive Producer and Narrator Morgan Freeman spoke to me about how important this film is in preventing and dealing with the disease.

Filmmaker and cancer survivor Meghan O’Hara (producer of FAHRENHEIT 9/11, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE) wants to change the way we think about cancer. In this daring and intimate film, she investigates the connection between the current cancer epidemic and our western lifestyle, including medical professionals’ tendency to treat only the symptoms and not the underlying causes. Backed by personal experiences and the scientific validation of Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, O’Hara asks us to reconsider the way we currently treat cancer, and advocate instead for society-wide lifestyle changes. Narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, THE C WORD challenges us to step up and take control of our health.

At the Chairman’s Reception I had the opportunity to talk to Actress Olivia Wilde and Director Reed Morando about their film MEADOWLAND

In her dreamy directorial debut, celebrated cinematographer Reed Morano (KILL YOUR DARLINGS) examines the visceral and isolating experience of grief, and the distortion of reality that occurs following the loss of a child. MEADOWLAND follows distraught parents Sarah (Olivia Wilde) and Phil (Luke Wilson) a year after their 8-year-old son mysteriously disappeared from a gas station bathroom. In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, they each struggle in their own way to heal. Phil attempts to ease his suffering with the help of a support group, while Sarah seeks a more destructive path. Wilde and Wilson, who give raw, emotional performances as the unraveling couple, are backed by an impressive cast of supporting actors, including Elisabeth Moss, John Leguizamo, Giovanni Ribisi, and Kevin Corrigan.

What made you decide to do this film?

Reed Morando: I shot a lot of films for a lot of directors and I saw what they had to go through in their first film and I just felt like If I am going to make something and put myself out there….really vulnerable…I am going to go all the way and I am not just going to make anything. I am going to take the biggest risk possible. I just want to make people feel something event if it hurts.

Olivia tell my audience what your character is really all about.

Olivia: My character is an incredibly strong woman who is dealing with unimaginable grief and pain and she has a very specific way she goes about it. I don’t want to give anything away but I was honored to play someone so strong and so unexpected. I haven’t seen a character like this in a film before so I was really lucky to get the role and I am excited for people to see it.

Emily Blunt

I also attended CONVERSATIONS WITH EMILY BLUNT.

Golden Globe-winning actress Emily Blunt’s transformational ability and versatile performances make her one of the most in-demand actresses of today. Blunt rose to international prominence with her outstanding performances in films such as MY SUMMER OF LOVE and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

Most recently, Blunt earned a Golden Globe nomination and critical praise as “The Baker’s Wife” in Rob Marshall’s film adaptation of the musical INTO THE WOODS. Blunt starred alongside Tom Cruise in Doug Liman’s EDGE OF TOMORROW, which was included by many critics on their list of the best films of 2014 and for which Blunt won a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and recently appeared as the female lead in the time-travel thriller LOOPER. Blunt previously appeared alongside Ewan McGregor in Lasse Hallstrom’s SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN as well as in THE YOUNG VICTORIA, both of which earned her Golden Globe nominations.

Other notable films include MY SISTER’S SISTER, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, SUNSHINE CLEANING and THE WOLFMAN.

The festival closed with BRIDGE OF SPIES. Starring Tom Hanks, Alan Alda, Mark Rylance and Amy Ryan, Steven Spielberg’s BRIDGE OF SPIES is a dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events. Spielberg captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

On October 12, 2015 The Hamptons International Film Festival had an Awards Dinner and announced their award winners at a ceremony in East Hampton.

HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONGRATULATES THE 2015 WINNERS:

HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature sponsored by The Wall Street Journal

  • Rams, directed by Grimur Hákonarson

Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature

  • Embrace of the Serpent, directed by Ciro Guerra

HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature sponsored by ID Films

  • Missing People, directed by David Shapiro

Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature

  • Chuck Norris Vs. Communism, directed by Ilinca Calugareanu

HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Short Film sponsored by The Wall Street Journal

  • Over, directed by Jörn Threlfall

Honorable Mention for Narrative Short Film

  • Patriot, directed by Eva Riley

HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Film sponsored by ID Films

  • Last Day of Freedom, directed by Dee Hibbert-Jones, Nomi Talisman

Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice

  • The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel

Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award

  • Suffragette, directed by Sarah Gavron

Suffolk County Film Commission Next Exposure Grant

  • When I Live My Life Over Again, directed by Robert Edwards

And as previously announced:

The 2015 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution

  • The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel

The Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award: Dedicated to Those Who Suffer in Silence

  • The Champions, directed by Darcy Dennett

HIFF Documentary Feature Jury

  • Marshall Fine, Chair of the New York Critics Circle
  • Bobby Flay, Chef
  • Sarah Lash, Consultant, Conde Nast Entertainment

HIF Narrative Feature Jury

  • Josh Charles, Actor
  • Dan Guando, US head of Acquisitions, Production, and Development at The Weinstein Company
  • Michael H. Heber, Screenwriter and Producer

2015 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH

  • Christopher Abbott, James White
  • Emory Cohen, Brooklyn
  • Thomas Mann, The Preppie Connection
  • Bel Powley, A Royal Night Out
  • Rebecca Ferguson, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
  • Jason Mitchell, Straight Outta Compton
  • Maika Monroe, It Follows
  • Keith Stanfield, Straight Outta Compton
  • Tessa Thompson, Selma
  • Jessie T. Usher, Independence Day: Resurgence

Celebrities in attendance included: Christopher Abbott, Alan Alda​​, Emily Blunt, ​Bobby Flay, Morgan Freeman​, ​Todd Haynes, Brian D’arcy James, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson​, Thomas Mann, Tom McCarthy, Michael Moore, Reed Morano, Bel Powley, Dennis Quaid​, Dan Rather​, Josh Singer​,​ John Slattery, Keith Stanfield, Jacob Tremblay​, Jessie T. Usher, James Vanderbilt, Olivia Wilde​

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

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