Happy Mother’s Day

A day filled with hugs and kisses, laughter and love…that is my wish for all mothers.  That it should be like that every day is my other wish! 

Most of us have heard of Anna Jarvis, who is credited as the driving force behind the official establishment of Mother’s Day.  She began in 1907 by distributing 500 white carnations to each of the mothers at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia.  The white carnation was symbolic of the purity of a mother’s love.

What I didn’t know was that the author of the poem that would become the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” also campaigned for a Mother’s Day of sorts.  Julia Ward Howe envisioned A “Mother’s Day for Peace,” to be celebrated on June 2nd, honoring peace, motherhood and womanhood.

What I do know is that Carolann is truly a gift from God.  It’s an honor and a privilege to be her mom, so for me, every day is Mother’s Day.

Now I have to clean where the cat threw up. 

Happy Mother’s Day and, as always, thanks for listening

A step in time

Have you ever wondered about the symphony of horns and drums resounding from the American Legion Post on Friday nights on Halstead Avenue in Harrison? It’s the Westchester Brassmen. I found a bit of Brassmen history -from Drum Corps World:

Westchester Brassmen approach 20 years of parade corps success
by David Lepore, DCW staff

Beneath the Carle-Anderson Memorial building in Harrison, NY, lies what many would describe as a private club.  Sure, it’s part of the local American Legion Post 559, but with walls decorated with trophies and plaques, one can see that this place is the hang out for a drum and bugle corps. September 7, 1984, they were formed as a parade corps and have been able to continue 19 years of a winning tradition and are approaching their 20th anniversary. “Since 1931, a drum corps has been in the building,” began Westchester Brassmen Director and founding member Joe Mazzullo. “Up until 1957 it was a junior corps, but in 1957 it became a senior corps, the Carle-Anderson Drum and Bugle Corps.”

1993 Westchester Brassmen (Harrison, NY) Photo by David Schwartz Due to lack of interest the corps disbanded in 1969. However in 1984, the American Legion 559 gave Mazzullo a loan for $10,000 to get a corps back.“I took the money and bought used drums from the Garfield Cadets, Hawthorne (Caballeros) and the Sunrisers. Then I would buy used horns here and there and we had our first meeting on September 7 of 1984 with the first official rehearsal the following week,” Mazzullo explained. Thus the Westchester Brassmen were born.     Throughout the majority of the late 1980s and 1990s, the Brassmen would win just about every judged parade they competed in. Boasting more than 60 horns at one point and having a total membership of more than 130, the Brassmen took on halftime shows for the New York Jets, marched in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade and were selected to march in the Operation Welcome Home Parade commemorating the return home of U.S. soldiers from Desert Storm.

Since that article was published in 2003, the Westchester Brassmen have increased their ranks and continue to impress and awe thousands as they march and compete at parades and exhibitions around the county and Tri-State area.  Last year, the Westchester Brassmen performed in Valhalla at the opening ceremonies for the New York State Empire Games. Carolann, who was a banner carrier last season, is now on cymbals and there’s a WFAS’er in the horn section. If you double click the images, you might just see the top of his head.  I bet you’ll never guess who he is!

Many thanks to Sharon M. Keck for all the Westchester Brassmen photos except for the 1993 photo credited to David Schwartz in Drum Corps World, above.

Thanks for listening

Got stress?

Start popping!  Thanks to Lovey (aka my cousin Tina) for sending this along but watch out, it’s almost as addictive as the real thing:

http://www.therightfoot.net/mystuff/whatever/swf/bubblewrap.swf 

Happy birthday Joanne, I love you!

Thanks for listening

 

Fashion shows, workshops, and smart cars

It has been a busy Spring so far - let me share some of the exciting things going on. From the
John A. Coleman School in White Plains:

John A. Coleman School

Fashion Show Fundraiser

Wednesday, May 7^th, 2008

Westchester Hills Golf Club, White Plains

On Wednesday, May 7^th, 2008 at 6:30 pm the John A. Coleman School, along with Co-Chairpersons, Carol Mastoloni and Bunny Mastronardi, will host a Fashion Show Fundraiser with fashions featured by Talbots in The Westchester, at Westchester Hills Golf Club, White Plains. All net proceeds will benefit the programs of the John A. Coleman School.

The Mastoloni and Mastronardi Families have been long time supporters of the John A. Coleman School and Children’s Rehabilitation Center, sponsoring our Music and Literacy Project, our Art Therapy Program and most recently our inclusion preschool, Children’s Place, a preschool for children with and without disabilities.

The evening will be filled with a dinner buffet, fashion, shopping, raffles, silent auction items and lots of fun. This year’s event sponsors include North Street Community, LLC and The Lavine Family Charitable Gift Fund.

As of July 2006 the John A. Coleman School, formerly known as the education program at the CRC, has been under the Sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity of New York. We continue to look forward to a bright new vision for the CRC under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity and the leadership of their Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center. Both organizations are guided by the strong belief that all children have the right to achieve their greatest potential regardless of the severity of their disabilities.

The John A. Coleman School and Children’s Rehabilitation Center offer a full spectrum of cutting-edge medical, therapeutic and educational services on an outpatient basis year-round to children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, chromosomal syndromes, orthopedic impairments and other complex medical diagnoses. For over 35 years the Center has been using a unique model of medical, therapeutic and educational services, to treat children from birth through age 21 with a fundamental focus on empowering each child to learn to work to his or her greatest potential.

Contact: Kirstin McArthur

Phone: 914.597.4021

Fax: 914.597.4053

Email: kirstin.mcarthur@setonpediatric.org

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The Hope Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC has announced their Spring Workshop series schedule:

Practical Strategies and Home Supports

Spring Series 2008

Sponsored by:

The Hope Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC

19 Ludlow Road, Suite 202,

Westport, CT 06880

The Hope Center is announcing a workshop series for parents of young children on topics of importance to families. Practical strategies and tips will be offered along with multiple examples and time for application questions. Sessions will be held at The Hope Center from 9:15 to 11:45

Dates and Topics

 

May 7	Facilitating Successful Toilet Training
May 14	How to Increase Independence in Daily Activities
May 21	Motivating Your Child to Learn
May 28	Building Social Skills through Structured Play Dates
June 4	(No Session)
June 11	Addressing Sensory Needs
June 18	Beyond the “Bed-time Story”: Components of Effective Sleep Programs
June 25	Remembering the “I” in IEP: Bridging with Educators

 

In an effort to facilitate discussions and address questions, enrollment will be very limited. To register or for more information, please call the Hope Center at 203-227-3383.

~~~

Carolann and I saw the most interesting looking little vehicle on I95 in Rye the other evening. It was a “smart” . It looks like a toy car but don’t let that fool you. The car can move. The one we saw zipping around the highway had no problem out-maneuvering an annoyed driver of a BMW 325i - and let me tell you, that Beemer wanted to catch up to the smart in the worst way! The smart fortwo is VERY reasonably priced, and the website describes it as a car that has been perfectly designed for your everyday life that offers maximum comfort, agility, safety, ecology and driving fun.  Bravo!

Thanks for listening

 

Happy Spring!

Finally, the days will get longer and warmer…here’s a fun link to get you in the Springtime state of mind. When you get to the page, simply click or drag your mouse over the black area and see what happens. Thanks to Marie and Steve at Wheels of Time Auto Spa in Tuckahoe.

Thanks for listening