Metro Parrot Head Newsletter Vol. 15- No. 10
(NY, NJ, CT) October 2007
That’s My Window On The World
Summer Is Over BUT we have a lot to look forward to...
Once again our club will have a tree on display at the “Long Island Festival of Trees” which will be held at the Marriott Long Island Hotel & Conference Center in Uniondale. This event will be held during the Thanksgiving weekend: November 23, 24 & 25.
We will be collecting decorations for our tree at our Long Island Happy Hour at Zoink’s on October 20th...so come to Zoink’s to hear Ed Travers sing & entertain us and drop off an ornament or two...for all of you METROs that can not attend this Happy Hour please feel free to mail or drop off your tree donations to Pete & Marilyn Tufanisco “Our Ambassadors of the Tree” at 28 White Oak Court, Coram, NY 11727 or you can send them to the METRO PHC Oval Office.
Our tree theme this year is “KEY WEST”... remember last year our tree was the first one to be selected and purchased ... Thanks in advance for all of your generous donations.
Our November Happy Hour will be held on Saturday, November 17 at Zoink’s and we will be collecting toys for our “Toys 4 Tots Drive”. We will also be collecting ornaments for our club tree for those of you who could not make the October collection. Over the past three years we have had a tremendous club response to the toy drive. Once again if you can not attend this event please mail or drop them off at our house, 25 Rhode Island Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758.
While I’m on the subject of November let us not forget the “16thAnnual Meeting of the Minds 2007: Barefootin’ Key West” which will be held from November 1 - 4... We now have 45+ members attending the annual convention and since our tree theme is Key West I would really appreciate it if you attending MOTM collect as many coasters from each bar you visit. The coasters will be used as ornaments for our tree!
Summer ‘07 may be gone BUT we have a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year!
Happy Halloween,
Al
PS: It is never too early to start planning for the METRO PHC Annual “Frosted Parrot Head Party” which will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008...The theme for this gala event will be revealed very soon.
Mahalo
Al Straaik
Tomb it may concern: One more candle and a trip around the sun….
October ‘07
Craig Beierlein / 1 / MigrationLorraine Hutnik / 1 / Cheeseburger In Paradise
John Hutnik / 1 / Margaritaville
Jimmy Montgomery / 2 / He Went to Paris
Pat York / 2 / Volcano
Danielle Ward / 3 / Scarlet Begonias
Jack Helmuth / 3 / Love In Library
John Conner / 4 / Back to the Island
Andrea Olsen / 4 / Fruitcakes
Donna Riviero / 5 / ALL!!
Jean Sagendorph / 6 / Cheeseburger In Paradise
Allen Kantorowitz / 7 / A Pirate Looks at 40
Rodney Olsen / 7 / Woman Going Crazy
David Shapiro / 7 / Cheeseburger In Paradise
Greg Walsh / 8 / One Particular Harbor
Cristina Blanchard / 9 / It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere
Denise DeGennaro / 10 / Happily Ever After
Larry Johnson / 10 / Fruitcakes
Cody Kleinman / 10 / It’s My Job
Melanie Dale / 10 / It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere
Angela Shapiro / 11 / Margaritaville
Paul Wernersbach / 12 / Margaritaville
Laura Bongiorno / 15 / Margaritaville
Anda Woodward / 16 / Havana Daydreaming
Carol Hanington / 16 / Fruitcakes
Lisa Farley / 16 / One Particular Harbor
Pat Chapman / 16 / Peanut Butter Conspiracy
Cheryl Davis / 17 / Son of a Son of a Sailor
Kevin Kennedy / 18 / One Particular Harbor
Liz Martiello / 18 / Banana Republic
Murray Rosenthal / 18 / Livingston Sat. Night
Kris Psilopoulos / 19 / Volcano
Greg Stueber / 19 / Volcano
Tina Osborne / 19 / Come Monday
John Zimmerly / 21 / One Particular Harbor
Nancy Funt / 22 / Math Sux
Andy Udalovus / 22 / Varies depending on mood
Tim Gill / 24 / Jolly Mon Sing
Lori Warnokowski / 24 / Back to the Island
Jim Martiello / 26 / Migration
Brian Willett / 26 / Elvis Presley Blues
Sheila Meehan / 27 / Happily Ever After
Tom Sullivan / 27 / One Particular Harbor
Wayne Roehl / 27 /
Anything, Anytime, Anywhere
Dennis Walkup / 28 / MargaritavilleJohn Lozauskas / 28 / Southern Cross
Mark Funt / 29 / Saxophones
Sharon Kennedy / 29 / A Pirate Looks at 40
Glen Yelenovic / 29 / One Particular Harbor
Doug Smith / 30 / Fins
Jerome Varnale / 30 / Son of a Son of a Sailor
Boris Elenbogen / 31 / Cheeseburger in Paradise
Kathleen Jacquette / 31 / It’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere
Christine Bell / 31 / Cheeseburger in Paradise
Happy Halloween!
Welcome New Members!
Patti & Mark Burr
Newly Hatched Keet:
9-2-07
Christian Mark Sanchez
To Parents
Corrie & Mark Sanchez
& Grandparents
Bruce & Nancy Reinhart
Notes from the Oval Office
The time on my watch says NOW:
With almost 50 METRO PHC members heading down to the KEYS the time is now for you to order your MOTM Club T-Shirt!
PLEASE do not delay there is NO time to put it off until tomorrow. Send an e-mail to our club T-shirt Artist/Salesperson Tracey Markland: .
Order your club shirt today BECAUSE time is quickly running out!
16th Annual Meeting of the Minds 2007
BAREFOOTIN' KEY WEST
November 1 - November 4, 2007 (Key West, Florida)
It’s Time to Face-off!!
Breakaway from your winter weekend routine and check in with Matt to save your Islander tickets for Saturday, March 1st @ 2PM. Let’s be at full-strength.
No need to charge at Matt…just do the following: 1) a simple email to reserve tickets,
2) SASE & a check for $29/ticket, and 3) dress the Parrot Head part. That should do the (hat)trick.
Contact Matt Smith at
Trivia Question
A self-proclaimed Parrot Head, his name appears 5 times on the Stanley Cup for his work and dedication to the New York Islanders as their Equipment Manager from 1972-1990.
(Answer on last page)
/ METRO PHC Silent Auction for Breast Cancer"They have tequila for breakfast, tequila for lunch, tequila for dinner and tequila for brunch, in between snacks I've got a hunch they seem to like tequila".
Our Margaritaville Women to BlameBarbie was pouring all different types of tequila drinks all night long on Saturday night, September 15th at the Huntington Hilton.
I'm very happy to report that the 70+ METRO PHC members who attended the auction help raise $3,500.00 to help "Save the Ta Tas"!
Many club members brought items and gift baskets to be raffled off for this wonderful cause. A very special THANK YOU goes out to Larry "The Lizard" Sullivan who brought 15 items ranging from CD collections to giant Halloween and Tropical Baskets. Congratulations to Russell Nomar who won the MargaritavilleTiki Bar this evening.
Thank you to all the wonderful members who took time out of their busy lives to join us. You are the best! I would also like to thank the members who could not attend for sending checks to our Club Treasurer Peter Bosshard.
Al Straiik
“A Man With A Sharpie Is A Man In Control”
That’s what Jimmy Buffett said as he signed my CD cover of the “Far Side of the World”, after performing with Sonny Landreth at Talkhouse Tavern out on the East End. It was a grand end to a wonderful evening, with Sonny delighting the audience with his Cajun-blues style of guitar songs. Dave Ransom who grew up with Sonny played bass, and drummer Mike Burch, completed the band.
Jimmy, Savannah, and their entourage sat in the audience for the entire show. After Sonny played a few songs he called Jimmy up for a rousing version of “USS Zydecoldsmobile.” Jimmy said he’d like to retire from touring and sign with Sonny. He called them “the best 3-piece band in rock and roll.” “Jambalaya” was the second song, which had a “lost verse” added by JB. Something about tequila and the East End ( my-o-my-o). Perhaps a taste of Patron would be inspiration to re-create it.
Spent some time after the show talking with the band. They told stories of previous times coming out to the Talkhouse and the traffic encountered (welcome to the Hamptons). We talked about recording “USS Zydecoldsmobile” at the East Hampton Airport a few years back. Conversation drifted to Katrina victims, and the show at the Brookhaven Laboratory held a few years ago. High level security clearance was required by all.
After the band signed my Far Side of the World” CD cover,( they were great musicians on it) Jimmy pops out of the door and happily signed the CD as well, especially as the aforementioned Sharpie pen was ready. He said he enjoyed the show as it’s not often that he is in the audience. Well, Mr. Jimmy, you’ll just have to do it more often. Indeed it was a wonderful night, a great performance, hanging out with the band and getting autographs. However, the night was more special because of a free ticket. Many thanks to Peter Z. I owe you one.
Lon Ormanian
/ Fall Road Clean-Up By Joe Lombardi /Hello METROs
I’ve returned from my self imposed exile on Elba, (a word of advice, if you are going into exile, choose an island in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tuscany) to invite you all, (I can say with the knowledge that only around 20 of 400 members will show up), to the Fall Road Clean-Up on Saturday, October 20, 2007 (rain date, Sunday, October 21). Three sets of parentheses in one sentence, a new record.
This particular Road Clean up will mark the completion of 14 years of service along Route 114 in East Hampton. While it’s not exactly crazy 8’s but it’ll due.
During that time some 264 METRO’s have volunteered for the road clean up. Thankfully, not all at once. How did I come up with that number you ask? I simply went through the files that I’ve kept, like most governmental agencies, the NYSDOT is very keen on paperwork, and counted release forms that all of them have signed.
For those of you who like numbers, here are some more. Over the past 14 years we’ve held 40 clean-ups (one rain out) and picked up litter from the equivalent of 200 miles of roadway which coincidentally, is equal to the distance from the traffic light by the farm stand (owned by the crazy farmed with a metal plate in his head) on Route 114 to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. At least according to Mapquest and we all know how accurate that can be.
When we first started doing them (and I’m proud to say that the METRO Parrot Head Club was the first parrot head club to adopt a highway) the road clean-ups and the gatherings that followed provided a way for Club members to meet and get to know each other. Many friendships and at least one marriage (a road clean-up served as a “first date” for Paul and Amy Schneller or so the story goes) were forged over pointy sticks and orange plastic bags. Surprisingly enough, despite handling sharp objects, there have been very few injuries.
Over the years we’ve been joined by Parrot Heads from as far away as Illinois and by friends/family members from such countries and Norway and Texas. Texas is another country isn’t it? Or, as Jimmy sings, a whole other world. Well, at least Galveston Bay.
On one occasion, when her car wasn’t running, a club member went so far as to rent a car to make it to a road clean-up and then had to talk her way out of a speeding ticket when she was running late. Didn’t you Lynne?
Jimmy Buffett posed in front of one of our adopt-a-highway signs for a Parrotvision segment and has thanked our club both verbally and in writing for “all the work we’ve done on Route 114”.
More recently, interest in the road clean-ups has waned a bit. Sometimes it’s a chore to round up the 15 to 20 or so volunteers we need to adequately clean the road and have time to socialize afterwards. We’re all busy, traffic is rough and who knew Long Island was that L---O---N---G. We’re at a crossroads, so to speak. Will the clean-ups continue to year 15 and beyond or will we pack up our pointy sticks and call it a day?
The choice is yours….
The Fall Clean-up of our adopted road, NYS Route 114 in East Hampton will take place on Saturday, October 20, we'll be meeting in front of the King Kullen in the Bridgehampton Commons Shopping Center at 10 AM. From there, we'll make our way over to the road to for the clean-up. (The rain date will be Sun., Oct. 21.) We’ll provide hardhats, vests and plastic bags and pointy sticks. We're asking you to provide work gloves and sensible shoes.
As is our custom, following the Clean-up, everyone is invited back to Joe and Marie Lombardi's house for lunch. Please RSVP, so that we can plan lunch, by calling 631-324-9354 or by email:
“Living Life: Jimmy Buffett Style”
/ I have heard it been said before that you can live life through music. Well, this past weekend at the Buffett concert in MA it really came true. We were living some of the songs that ole JB sings. Not in spirit, but in reality.It all started out with my very own pirate, a.k.a Dave, turning forty on the 2nd and the decision to make a road trip with our friends, a.k.a. “the unit”, to see Jimmy play in Boston for the Labor Day weekend show. (Hey, Foxborough is close enough!) Then Dave “blows out his flip flop”…really. Not on a pop top, just a rock, but never less needed “to cruise on back home” to the “camp”. Thank goodness he knew there would be “booze in the blender that soon would render that frozen concoction that’d help him hang on.” (Well, that and the roll of duck tape that he won’t travel without.) If you don’t believe me, I have the pictures and the flip flop to prove it! Hmmmm, might have to just save them for the FPHP.
We had a great time with our New England counterparts. It was miles and miles of cars and crazy Parrotheads partying in our hotel parking lot, down along Rte. 1, at the bars, at the liquor stores, at the Mickey D’s, and finally in the stadium parking lots or ones close by. We were EVERYWHERE! There was even someone who built and actual pirate ship around/on top of his RV. Mast, deck, the whole thing! We could see them partying on their boat deck. Then there was the ice sculpture, resembling a certain piece of male anatomy, designed for tequila shots. There were party games and prizes, Tiki bars and beaches. Parrotheads are one creative breed unto themselves, ones who take their tailgating seriously. A far cry from my younger year when I spent time tailgating at the Navy football games. (But then again I got to meet a lot of cute midshipmen!)
Having so much fun in the parking lot, it was hard to leave…however hearing Buffett live is always a thrill. We even got a special treat: JB sang “Boat Drinks” solo to the crowd of 60,000. But when he wished all the pirates who were turning forty that day a happy birthday, my pirate beamed! I think he actually thought that Jimmy was talking directly to him (must’ve been those margaritas!)
What a great concert and what a “Lovely Cruise”, but then again, it always is! Jimmy Buffett is always a crowd pleaser, one of the greatest (if not the best) performers around. And if I am not mistaken, I thought that it was also said that this was his largest concert ever! WOW!
Now, let’s see what happens at the MSG show…..you never know what could be behind Door Number Three!
Fins up y’all!
~Sue Mantovani
2007 Memory Walk: NYC
Parrot Heads are once again phlocking to the 2007 Memory Walk. This time, it takes place on October 21st in Riverside Park. Terri Amundsen has been good enough to set up a team just for us! Please take the time to walk for a great cause. Go to
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Click on Parrot Heads in Paradise, and then find Terri’s team.
Came to see friends; Walk old streets again…
Those of you who couldn’t make the LI Memory Walk on Sept. 22nd missed out on a great time. Malibu “Helene” Hibshman-Pino did a terrific job organizing the team for the MPHC. Although a few raindrops were felt here & there, the food more than made up for any weather inconvenience. It certainly didn’t deter us from completing the job and having fun! The Metros were well represented by Malibu, Tony Pino, Stephanie Jacobs, Neil Grundfest & Donna Wronski. Let’s not also forget the Keets who got up early and did their part: Jennifer Pino (who at 4 months old, made her official Parakeet debut!), and Brian Willett (who managed to contrive a new pair of sneakers out of us due to a mud issue). Bosco was missed, but “walked” in spirit. (I was kinda looking forward to the music, but hope you are doing better.).
Although the final tallies are still being counted, at press time, the Metros were in 3rd place in the donation rankings. Malibu will have the final results soon! Good job mates!
MUSH MON!
/ “What is it about this island's infatuation with the cold. I missed out on the bobsled years. I don’t intend to miss out of this one. Besides, “I can’t wait to yell “Mush Mon” in support of our team”Jimmy Buffett
“One afternoon Danny and Jimmy Buffett we’re wastin’ away in a Margaritaville inMontego Bay, Jamaica. Between gulps of Margaritas Danny told Jimmy about his Jamaica Dogsled Team.Jimmy started roaring. He thought it was the coolest thing this side of Key West and agreed to have Margaritaville become the official sponsor of the team.”(