2009 Kings Park Jazz Festival

The 3rd Annual Kings Park Jazz Festival was held on March 13, 2009 at the RJO Auditorium to a near standing room only crowd. Performing was the Rick King Combo (pictured above), Miss Emily, Glen Baldwinn's Friends of Jazz, Paul Zunno and Ranny Reeve Quartet. The Kings Park Heritage Museum holds this cultural event each year to celebrate African American History Month, usually held in February, this year's Jazz Festival was moved to a later date due to a scheduling conflict.

Pictured above is this year's honoree for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz is Percy Brice. Born on March 25, 1923, this legendary octogenarian has played with such jazz greats as Miles Davis, Harry Belafonte, Sarah Vaughan and was on the cutting edge of the NYC Jazz scene for close to 60 years. Mr. Brice is a quiet man of few words who prefers using the drums to express wherever possible. Percy is also a regular and the Mills Pond Jam Sessions mentoring the upcoming young jazz musicians in the subtleties of the jazz language. It is for these reasons that the Kings Park Heritage Museum has chosen Mr. Percy Brice for the 2009 Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Honor.

Pictured above, the sound crew on loan from the Kings Park High School, Derek and Melissa Troxler and Technical Department Coordinator Rick Holmes who was recently honored by the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce this year for his efforts in mentoring the students of the school district. The Kings Park Heritage Museum would like to thank Rick Holmes and the entire student technical crew for their selfless service to the museum as well as the Kings Park School District. When asked about the details of the complicated computerized sound system Melissa proudly said, "You don't have to be concerned with that. You supply the great musicians and I will make sure that they sound that way." ... and that she did.

Pictured above, the Heritage Youth Corps lead by Lois Vulpis, trustee of the Kings Park Heritage Museum. "This event give us an opportunity to mentor our children with the examples of truly great jazz musicians. You just never know how far the students will take this experience.", explains Mrs. Vulpis, "Its all for the children".

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2009 Jazz Festival Video:
 

Rick King Combo

Glen Baldwinn's Friends of Jazz

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2009 Jazz Festival Picture Gallery

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St Johnland - A Forgotten Utopia
Reading with the Smithtown Book Club

Brad Harris, King Pedlar and Steve Weber visited the Smithtown Ladies Book Club for a reading and book signing of the "Forgotten Utopia - The St Johnland Home" which is published by the Kings Park Heritage Museum and written by Smithtown Historic Society President Brad Harris and Kings Park Historian King Pedlar.

"The St Johnland Home for children was truly a Utopia" explains Bradley Harris the current Smithtown Historic Society's President and Co-Author of this latest book from the Kings Park Heritage Museum.

"This book was originally conceived by Leo Polaski. At the time of his death, Leo was working with King Pedlar to bring this book to life. I became involved in this project at the request of the Kings Park Heritage Museum's Director Leo Ostebo." Mr Harris went on to explain that he used the materials collected by Leo Polaski to write the narrative and describes  former resident of the St Johnland Home, King Pedlar as a "Walking Encyclopedia".

Pictured above Co-Author and Kings Park Historian King Pedlar answers question from members of the Smithtown Ladies Book Club at the Smithtown Mills Pond House.

The Smithtown Book Club was organized in 1937 to encourage interest in the discussion of good literature, and at the same time promote good will and more contacts between the faculty and citizens of the community.

"He was my bus driver when I was a growing up in Kings Park" Reports Marcia Randall, pictured above with King as he cuts the patriotic cake which was coincidentally baked by the ever talented Ms. Randall.

"St Johnland - A Forgotten Utopia is first in a four part series of book on the four philanthropic intuitions of  Kings Park which include the Jewish Agricultural Society, Howard Colored Home for Children, Kings Park State Hospital and The St Johnland Home", reports Kings Park Heritage Museum's Media Director Steve Weber.

"This book is an ongoing effort to pool resources at both the Kings Park Heritage Museum and the Smithtown Historical Society to preserve and promote the history of the area."

"Knowing and learning from great historians and humanitarians like Bradley Harris, Noel Gish, Leo Ostebo and King Pedlar is truly an awe-inspiring experience."

St Johnland, A Forgotten Utopia
 is available via mail order - Send $12 donation to:

Kings Park Heritage Museum
101 Church Street
Kings Park, NY 11754

for more information email:
info@kingsparkmuseum.com

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First Annual Slavic Heritage Night

The Kings Park Heritage Museum began a tradition 13 years ago with the "Heritage Night at the Museum" Series. The purpose of these celebrations was to gather the people of Kings Park together to watch singing and dancing and enjoy the traditional folk art of the many ethic heritages which make up Kings Park.

The First being "Irish Heritage Night", which is hosted by Myra Fontana, then came "Italian Heritage Night"  hosted by Gail Hessel and now the Kings Park Heritage Museum celebrates the first annual "Slavic Heritage Night" which was hosted by 2008 Arts and Letters Hall of Fame Honoree Lori Pravado.

Performing on December 5, 2009 were the Hejnal Polish American Dancers, The Ukrainian Folk Dancers and Charlie Fontana's KP Trio. Close to 200 people attended this first of a kind event.

"I remember my grandmother singing these songs to me when I was just a young girl. I never knew what the songs meant, but I sang along too. Its been years and years since she has been gone and I miss her so much and I am so grateful to all the performers for helping me to remember her."

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Kings Park Heritage Museum Trustee Myra Fontana and the entire Kings Park Community Celebrated Irish Heritage Night at the Historic RJO Auditorium on September 26, 2009.

 “I’m not even Irish!” explained one member of the audience who went on to say, “…but, if you grew up in Kings Park, there is a bit of the Irish in us all!

 Close to 400 people attended this annual heritage event including Smithtown Town Supervisor Pat Vecchio, Smithtown Town Council Members Bob Creighton and Tom McCarthy, Smithtown Highway Superintendent Dan Ryan and New York State Assembly Member Mike Fitzpatrick.

Singing and Dancing for all! But as in shows past, the young step dancers stole the show. “We need encourage our youth to participate in these type of activities”, explained Smithtown Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio who went on to say. “The children must have practiced for hours and hours…and it shows”.

Organized by Myra Fontana in association with the Kings Park Heritage Museum, the first ever Kings Park Psychiatric Center Employee Reunion was celebrated last week at the Landing Avenue Golf Club.  “I was surprised at the turnout”, explained Kings Park Heritage Museum Trustee Myra Fontana, “We were sold out months ago, next time we may need a large venue.”

 Old friends and co-workers spent the evening laughing and crying together reminiscing about old times and catching up on recent events. “These are my people, we stood side by side in good times and bad, mostly good.  I wouldn’t never forget them.”, explains former attendant Kings Pedlar whose recollection of names and dates is uncanny. “We were a family, we worked hard and played hard. To see so many of my friends back in Kings Park after all these years is heartwarming.”

“I worked in the community store, it was my favorite job ever.”, explains former employee Steve Weber. “To this day I can crack a dozen eggs in about 10 seconds without breaking a yolk. We served both patients and staff. Our favorite game was guessing who is staff and who is a patient…..I was wrong 50% of the time!”

In addition to organizing this Kings Park Psychiatric Center Reunion,  Myra is the producer of Irish American Heritage Night at the Kings Park Heritage Museum and is working on the second addition of her highly successful book “Irish Immigrants in Kings Park”