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Tanaquil Le Clercq, backstage at City Center, ca. 1954, © Anton Alterman/Harold Roth Photography

The Friends of the Northport/East Northport Public Library invite the public to an Author’s Talk and Book signing at Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport on Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. Miller Place author Orel Protopopescu will discuss her book, Dancing Past the Light: The Life of Tanaquil Le Clercq, wife of Balanchine and Ballerina

Author Orel Protopopescu

Tanaquil “Tanny” Le Clercq, George Balanchine’s muse, ballerina, last wife, and teacher was a unique fusion of comical wit and dramatic allure. She never lost her sense of fun, even after she contracted polio in her 20s, when she could only dance with her hands and voice, while seated in a wheelchair, to demonstrate steps for her students at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Protopopescu will share extracts from films and photos, some never before published, as well as passages from her intimate biography of Le Clercq. This biography also contains fascinating stories about the world of ballet, dancers, musicians and choreographers.

Choreographer George Balanchine once lived in Fort Salonga before he was married to Le Clercq.

Orel Protopopescu, poet, author, educator and translator, has written prize-winning works for children and adults. A Thousand Peaks, Poems from China (with Siyu Liu) was selected for the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, 2003 list.  Orel won the Oberon poetry prize in 2010 and 2020.

The event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available to purchase (cash or check only). For reservations, please contact the Northport Public Library  at 631-261-6930 or online at www.nenpl.org,

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Spring planting in the Vanderbilt Museum's Sensory Garden Photo courtesy of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian

Four years ago, Kimm Schmidt and Lauren Ferris of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in Islandia, working with young adults with disabilities, created the Sensory Garden near the entrance to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium in Centerport. They return each spring to replant, and this year their work was made possible by a generous gift from a private donor.

On a bright, recent spring morning, Schmidt and Ferris worked to revive the garden with a half-dozen adults with special needs in their twenties and thirties.

“We plant things that awaken the senses,” Schmidt said. The garden has more than two dozen herbs, including sage, mint, rosemary, basil, anise hyssop, chamomile, yarrow, citronella, rainbow Swiss chard, chives, lemon balm, strawberries, and five-leaf akebia, a vine with chocolate-scented flowers. 

In 2018, Operations Supervisor Jim Munson invited a small group of local gardeners and landscape designers to refresh various gardens around the Vanderbilt Mansion. Schmidt and Ferris responded.

J-STEP team members from Pal-O-Mine in front of the replanted sensory garden at the entrance to the Vanderbilt Planetarium.

“The idea of the Sensory Garden came to mind immediately,” Ferris said. “It is a place that not only looks beautiful, but also has benefits the public can use and learn from.” Ferris, who had recently earned a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy from the New York Botanical Garden, said she thought a sensory garden would be an excellent feature for visitors of all abilities.

“Plants that awaken the senses are a wonderful tool to use in so many ways,” Schmidt said. “They spark conversations, jog people’s memories, and can be very calming.”

“I loved the concept and wanted it to have a prime spot with lots of traffic,” Munson said. “I just knew the front of the Planetarium was the perfect location, accessible to all.”

Lisa Gatti, who founded Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, liked the idea immediately. Pal-O-Mine decided to make the design and installation of the garden part of its J-STEP (Job Security Through Equine Partnership) program. Each week, Pal-O-Mine serves 350 people, in their various programs ranging in age from 3 and up. Schmidt and Ferris are J-STEP job coaches.

“We use horticulture skills at J-STEP to teach vocational skills necessary to secure and maintain a job,” Ferris said. “Some students go on to work at nurseries, and others have jobs at local retail stores.

Caring for the garden teaches proper work habits, personal and domestic maintenance, as well as interpersonal communication and social skills. 

The J-STEP Team also maintains the gardens at Pal-O-Mine’s 13 acres in Islandia, Long Island. “Each student has a personal garden and decides which vegetables they want to plant,” “They keep records and research planting times and the needs of each plant.” The students maintain other gardens on the site, including pollinator and cutting gardens, and a medieval knot garden, a formal design planted with herbs and aromatic plants. J-STEP offers other programs including photography, cooking, and crafting.

J-STEP students who installed this year’s Vanderbilt plantings talked about the experience. 

Meredith said, “Being part of the of the planning and planting for the garden calms me down. I see with my hands, and it feels bumpy and smells good.” Rebecca said, “It feels great to plant the Sensory Garden for people to enjoy.” Tim added, “I love working in the garden and I love the view.”

The group will return throughout the growing season to prune and clean the garden and do a clean-up in the fall.

For Schmidt, who recently joined the Vanderbilt as a museum educator, the attraction of designing and maintaining gardens is captured in a favorite quote from naturalist John Muir: “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium is located at 180 Little Neck Road in Centerport. Visit vanderbiltmuseum.org for more information.

 

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Stock photo

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident during which an unresponsive child was pulled from a pool at a Centereach home.

Sixth Precinct officers responded to 2 Barbara Drive on June 14 at approximately 6:25 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a 2-year-old boy was found unresponsive in the home’s pool.

The boy, who is a relative of the home’s occupants, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital in serious condition.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

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http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=13316132

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney released a statement on June 13 announcing the indictment of a then 16-year-old defendant John Mann IV of Centereach for Murder in the Second Degree for allegedly fatally beating 16-year-old Henry Hernandez whose skeletal remains were recovered in March 2020 in Centereach.

“This was a horrific and brutal crime committed for no rational reason but what is just as disturbing is that the defendant was 16 years-old when he allegedly committed this callous act,” said Tierney. “We will make sure that the victim gets justice and that this defendant gets to account for his alleged actions.”

Mann, now 19, was arraigned on the indictment today before the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis who ordered him held without bail.

According to court documents, on March 15, 2020, skeletal remains were discovered in a plastic tub on the property located on Jay Road in Centereach. The remains were wrapped in two separate plastic bags. When the skeletal remains were further examined, it was discovered that the hands and feet were bound with duct tape, and the head and mouth were also wrapped in duct tape.

Subsequent DNA tests established that the skeletal remains were of 16-year-old Henry Hernandez.

The investigation established that the defendant and Hernandez were hospitalized together in Brunswick Hospital Center in Amityville in March of 2019. When Hernandez was released, he went to the defendant’s home located on Jay Road and stole the defendant’s father’s truck. Sometime around June 2, 2019, the defendant lured Hernandez to a location nicknamed the “Sand Pit,” where he duct taped the victim and struck him repeatedly about the body with a blunt object. The defendant placed the body in a hole and covered it with debris.

At some point the body, now just skeletal remains, was moved and placed in the plastic tub on the defendant’s next door neighbor’s property where it was ultimately recovered on March 15, 2020.

Mann is due back in court on July 13. He is being represented by Matt Rosenblum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Francis X. Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau.

 

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Rocky Point Beach. File photo by Kevin Redding

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services released the following press release on June 14:

Steers Beach and Asharoken Beach, both in Northport, and Tides Beach in Rocky Point are closed to bathing due to the finding of bacterial at levels in excess of acceptable criteria.

According to Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gregson Pigott, bathing in bacteria-contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

Beaches will reopen when further testing reveals that the bacteria have subsided to acceptable levels.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 631-852-5822 or contact the Department’s Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours.

Program information –

http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices/EnvironmentalQuality/Ecology/BeachMonitoringProgram.aspx

Interactive map of beach closures/advisories- https://ny.healthinspections.us/ny_beaches/

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Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will be appearing on Saturday, July 2, as part of the Jazz Loft’s 2nd Annual Douglas Elliman Summer Music Series.

Three Exciting Concerts – Sponsored by Douglas Elliman’s Tom Postilio & Mickey Conlon – will Bring Musical Talents Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, John Pizzarelli and Peter Cincotti to Stony Brook Village

The Jazz Loft, the acclaimed museum and music venue that put Stony Brook Village on the map as a destination for Jazz education, performance and preservation, has announced that the 2022 Douglas Elliman Summer Music Series is back for the second year, featuring world renowned musicians Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, John Pizzarelli and Peter Cincotti. Sponsored by prominent North Shore arts patrons and Douglas Elliman real estate agents Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon, the series provides a cultural focal point for the upcoming season on Long Island.

“Mark your calendars for all three dates because you won’t want to miss any one of these incredible performances,” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “We are beyond thrilled to announce that Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, John Pizzarelli and Peter Cincotti will enliven the stage at The Jazz Loft this summer.”

Kicking off July 2nd, the highly anticipated series includes three monthly performances at The Jazz Loft, located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook. Tickets can be purchased for individual performances or for the entire series.

On Saturday, July 2, vintage-style musical group Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will deliver a powerful performance. The Grammy-winner, New York native and multi-instrumentalist has performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the 92nd Street Y. Giordano has also appeared in films including The Cotton Club, The Aviator, Finding Forrester, Revolutionary Road and Cafe Society, in addition to the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire.

On Saturday, August 13, acclaimed Jazz Guitarist and Singer John Pizzarelli will perform a tribute to his late father Bucky Pizzarelli, the legendary jazz guitarist who inspired his career. John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” The Toronto Star calls him “the genial genius of the guitar” and, according to the Seattle Times, he is “a rare entertainer of the old school.” This concert also aligns with the annual three-day John Monteleone: Art of the Guitar Festival.

On Saturday, September 24, celebrated singer-songwriter Peter Cincotti will enliven the Jazz Loft’s Great Lawn for a free concert that also coincides with the Seventh Annual Harbor Jazz Festival. Cincotti has performed at the world’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and L’Olympia in Paris, has collaborated with artists ranging from Andrea Bocelli to David Guetta, and has also been featured in blockbuster films like Spiderman 2 and Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea.

The Summer Music Series is presented in partnership with Postilio and Conlon,  real estate agents at Douglas Elliman Real Estate who have deep roots in entertainment as featured cast members on the hit HGTV show Selling New York, and celebrity real estate brokers to talents including Liza Minnelli, Barry Manilow, Marilyn Horne, Michael Feinstein and David Sanborn. Passionate about American music history, they are deeply committed to supporting the arts and culture scene on the North Shore of Long Island, where they have a home in the Village of Nissequogue.

The duo came up with the event concept in 2021 as a way to bring their community together following the pandemic. Grammy-nominated artist and American “musical treasure” Marilyn Maye headlined the first event and delivered a performance so unforgettable that music lovers asked for more. Postilio, Conlon and The Jazz Loft are responding to that request with this exciting announcement: the series is returning in 2022 with yet another spectacular line-up.

“Music brings people together and makes the world a better place. We are excited to collaborate with the Jazz Loft to bring another amazing concert series to the Long Island community,” said Postilio. “We look forward to meeting new friends and neighbors at The Jazz Loft this summer.”

Added Conlon, “The Jazz Loft is an institution that makes an invaluable contribution to the arts on Long Island. The culture here is what originally attracted us to the area, and we are proud to become a part of that tradition with The Summer Music Series.”

Tickets are now available for purchase on The Jazz Loft’s website at www.thejazzloft.org. You can also call the box office at (631) 751-1895. Stay informed by following @thejazzloft.tjl and @tomandmickey on Instagram.

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'Sublime', Anne Frank Garden Memorial by Thea Lanzisero
Ceremony to Feature Second Generation Survivor, Holocaust Education Advocate Gail Sheryn Kastenholz 

Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth will host the Town of Huntington’s 11th Annual Anne Frank Memorial Garden Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the Anne Frank Memorial Garden at Arboretum Park on Wilmington Drive (between Threepence Drive and Roundtree Drive) in Melville.

The Anne Frank Memorial Garden symbolically captures the journey of Anne Frank’s life.  It features a circular pathway that surrounds a garden, which leads to the sculpture of a young girl’s dress.  The Memorial Garden serves as tribute to Anne’s legacy of wisdom and genuine belief in the goodness of mankind and human nature, despite the ugliness of war and discrimination.   

 Program participants include Rabbi Beth Klafter of Temple Beth David in Commack, Rabbi Yakov Saacks of The Chai Center in Dix Hills, musical selections by Hazzan (Cantor) Steven Walvick of the East Northport Jewish Center; and remarks from guest speaker Gail Sheryn Kastenholz, a Huntington Station resident, Second Generation Survivor and Holocaust education advocate.  

Attendees of the Anne Frank Memorial Garden anniversary celebration may take a walk through the garden following the program and will be offered light refreshments, donated by Suffolk County Legislator Manuel Esteban.

For more information, 631-351-3000.

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Pixabay photo

Are you seeking help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or close friend? St. James Lutheran Church, 230 2nd. Ave., St. James  will provide GriefShare – a 13-session program – at 7p.m. on Thursdays from September 1 through December 1 in the church library.

GriefShare is a weekly support group that will be hosted by Bonnie Spiegel a long-time Care Givers at St. James Lutheran Church.  Each session will include an encouraging, information-packed video featuring leading grief recovery experts, a group discussion about the video content, and a workbook for journaling and personal study exercises that reinforce the weekly session topics.

GriefShare is offered free of charge to all members of the community seeking bereavement support – a warm and caring group “oasis” during their long journeys through grief.  It is offered without cost, completely underwritten by a generous grant from St. James Funeral Home, owned and operated with love by the Maher family.

Please contact the church office – (631) 584-5212 – for reservations.  Complete program information is available online at www.griefshare.org.

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Photo from Town of Brookhaven

On May 27, the Town of Brookhaven hosted the 2022 Eid al-Fitr celebration with members of the Muslim community at Town Hall. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. The celebration comes after a month of abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. 

During the event, which included guest speakers, presentations, traditional music and refreshments, the Town honored college and high school students with Certificates of Congratulations for their academic excellence and community service. 

The student honorees (pictured from left) are Zayd Tirmizi; Tasnim Moawad; Ramazan Abir Rahman; Farihah Chowdhury; Rehnuma Khan; Areeba Ashraf; Moe Jeh Khan; Safiy Khan; Amr Ali and Mohammed Sharif Bin Iqbal Hussin.

Pictured with the student honorees are (back row, from left) Suffolk County Legislator Sam Gonzalez; Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg; Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine; Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilman Kevin LaValle; and Nayyar Imam, Leader of the Muslim Alliance of Long Island, Muslim Chaplain for the Suffolk County Police Department and one of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains.

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Photos from Long Island Music Hall of Fame

The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) recently announced the winners of its 2022 Music Scholarships. This year, four Distinction in Music Award Scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors who plan to study music in college and pursue a career in this endeavor.

This year’s winners are Gioianna DiGiorgio and Andrew Arloro, both from Half Hollow Hills High School; Emily Wei from Great Neck North High School; and Stephanie Massimo from Syosset High School. Every year, students from Brooklyn, Nassau, Queens, Suffolk, and Brooklyn are encouraged toapply for the scholarships. This program one of several education acknowledgements that are sponsored by LIMHoF, which include the Music Educator of Note and the High School Recognition Awards.

LIMHoF is honored to celebrate each recipient’s dedication to music in addition to supporting his or her college plans. LIMHoF is able to provide these annual scholarships thanks to the support of the Long Island music community.

“The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is honored to have the opportunity to support and acknowledge accomplished high school seniors who are pursuing a future in music,” said Tom Needham, LIMHoF Education Chairman. “The talent that exists on Long Island is something we at LIMHoF want to celebrate. In addition to following their own dreams, we believe these students will encourage and inspire others.”

2022 LIHMOF Scholarship Winners:

Gioianna DiGiorgio from Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills High School West)

When she was only a few months old, Gioianna would stroll around her home in her walker singing tunes she made up. Gioianna believes that music is a connection to nature and other people and a beautiful way to tell a story and to express yourself and your emotions.

“As soon as I was old enough to understand the concept of theater, I was enamored with the idea of being on stage, and wanted to be a part of that world,” said Gioianna in her application essay. “My life-long passion for theater inspires me to push through the challenges so that I can pursue my passion.”

Since age 7, Gioianna has performed in local community theater productions and has developed her singing talents as a soprano singer and is interested in a career in musical theater.

“I am extremely grateful to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for this prestigious scholarship!” said Gioianna. “I am excited to receive this scholarship, as music has always been such an important part ofmy life.”

Gioianna’s career aspiration is to become a performer for the stage and screen.

“I hope to entertain audiences in a variety of venues from regional theater, national tours, cruise ships to film, TV and Broadway,” Gioianna said. “More importantly, I want to tell stories to elicit emotions and perhaps even change perspectives. While some may see performing arts as a frivolous pursuit, during the pandemic, I believe the world finally understood how important the performing arts are to our lives.”

Gioianna DiGiorgio will be attending Baldwin Wallace University, where she will major in its BFA Acting program and also minor in Music at its prestigious music conservatory.

“I am excited to learn music theory and continue to study voice at such a prestigious music school,” Gioianna said. “I am also really looking forward to learning all that I can to build a strong skillset to aid me in my professional life after college. I can’t wait to go to get started on my BFA!

Andrew Arloro from Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills High School East)

 Andrew Arloro is a 17-year-old musician who lives on Long Island, New York. He is a recent graduate of Juilliard Pre-College and a current student atHalf Hollow Hills High School East.

He has studied the French Horn under Jen Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Jeff Lang, Associate Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; and other renowned musicians from top ensembles. Likewise, he currently studies with Erik Ralske, Principal Horn of the Metropolitan Opera; and Brad Gemeinhardt, Acting Principal Horn of the Metropolitan Opera.

Last year, Andrew won the Discovery Competition for Children’s Orchestra Society. He has performed solos at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center over adozen times.

Andrew has had the honor of musically touring China, Spain, and Italy. He has been awarded the title of Principal Horn in various ensembles, including Juilliard Pre-College, All-State, SCMEA, Children’s Orchestra Society, Gemini Youth Orchestras’ Festival Winds and Symphony, and Cross Campus Wind Ensemble.

Next year, he will continue his studies with Erik Ralske at The Juilliard School, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance on the French Horn.

“I would like to thank the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for the amazing opportunity to work with them, create with them, and share with the world the Joy of Music,” Andrew said.

Tiantian “Emily” Wei from Manhasset (Great Neck North High School)

 Tiantian “Emily” Wei is a graduating Senior at Great Neck North High School. She has been playing both the piano and violin from age 5.

Starting in elementary school, Emily has won numerous awards for her music talents and has participated in a wide range of performances with various music organizations, including the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra, NYSSMA, All County and All State Symphony Orchestras and more. Emily plans to attend Mannes School of Music in the fall.

“As the German poet E.T.A. Hoffmann said: ‘Where the language stops, the music begins.’ Emily said. “Music has no boundaries. It has unlimited possibilities and tremendous potential to be created and performed to express one’s unique understanding of music and sentiments, and to be shared with other people who may relate and empathize. I think that is the soul, and one of the missions of music is that it inspires and attracts people. It is an honor to be a LIMHoF recipient, I appreciate the recognition from Long Island Music Hall of Fame.”

In 2021 she went to the Fete De L’ Alto LaSalle Summer Festival (France) and had master classes with Christophe Giovaninetti. In 2022, she performed as the Concertmaster with Great Neck North High School Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and also played a lot of violin recitals atOprea America Music Hall and Episcopal Church. She also played chamber music of Vivaldi Concerto at Salmagundi Club for two nights and has volunteered to perform in local hospitals, nursing homes and retirement homes. She has also served as a NYSSMA monitor every year when Great Neck hosted the NYSSMA Piano Festival and helped at the annual Faculty Recital.

“This experience also promoted a clearer vision of my future music career,” Emily said in her application essay. “I envision myself entering the New York Symphony Orchestra or forming my own chamber music group, performing in concert halls all over the world to show the beauty of music andexpressing my unique understanding of music. I am full of passion for music, all this experience makes me more sure of my goals to continue my music career. If I am honored to receive this scholarship, it will be the greatest recognition and encouragement to my four years of high school and my music career. I will cherish all the time spent with music and keep being passionate about music.”

Stephanie Massimo from Woodbury (Syosset High School)

Stephanie Massimo is a graduating senior at Syosset High School. She started playing the Trombone in second grade. She also plays the bass trombone and baritone horn. Throughout the years, she’s participated in ensembles in Syosset, Nassau Suffolk, All-County, All-State, All National, and various summer camps.

“I genuinely loved performing with these groups and meeting new people,” Stephanie said in her application essay. “Music has always been an important part of my life. It wasn’t until recently, though, that I decided to study music in college.”

In the fall, Stephanie plans to attend the University of Tampa (UT) as a Music major in the Trombone, pursing a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Her eventual goal to return to NY and possibly get a job with a Broadway pit orchestra. Allowing her to use everything I learn in college while enjoying the music she likes best.

“I am extremely honored to have received this scholarship from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame,” Stephanie said. “I hope to further advance my skills in both music and performance. I plan to participate in many of the bands/ensembles that UT has to offer.”

About LIMHOF

Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music in all its forms. To date, the organization has inducted more than 100 musicians and music industry executives, and also offers education programs and scholarships to Long Island students, sponsors the Long Island Sound Award, and features traveling educational exhibits, including a state-of-the-art mobile museum. Visit their website at http://www.limusichalloffame.org/.

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