Closer Every Day: Jazz Luminaries Light Path to Coltrane Home

Coltrane Home volunteers pose with legendary drummer Roy Haynes outside the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills

The opening of the John and Alice Coltrane home is getting closer and closer – it’s so exciting!!!
 
Now, they are offering programming with jazz luminaries who are lighting the way toward a cultural center that truly transcends the walls of the historic home. The legacy being upheld is musical, and also deeply spiritual.
 

A prime intention of its occupants was “to be a force for good.” Musician and spiritual leader Alice Coltrane composed three albums while raising her children in the home: “A Monastic Trio,” “Huntington Ashram Monastery”  and “Ptah the El Daoud.”  This place is also where John penned what is considered not only his own, but a masterwork of Jazz itself, “A Love Supreme.”

The experience of restoring this National Treasure has been filled with great musicians and ordinary people alike who resonate with that energy. Above are dear volunteers who came together to do a little yard work and were surprised by a visit from the legendary drummer Roy Haynes.
 
Tapping out a rhythm every moment of his life, Haynes is one of the last living men to have played with John Coltrane. He is an icon in his own right. A good time was had by all!
 

Coltrane Home Events at the Half Hollow Hills Library

What’s happening now is a series of events at the Half Hollow Hills Library featuring living luminaries of Jazz. Last November, it was Michelle Coltrane and harpist Brandee Younger (who has a new album – catch her interview on NPR’s “All Of It” here). Together they offered an oral, lyrical, melodical history of Alice Coltrane. It was at once cosmic and deeply down to earth.

A few weeks ago it was Camille Thurman offering a beautiful tribute “For the Love of Coltrane.” The performance showcased Thurman’s gift for dynamic control both vocally and on saxophone, the playful relationship with her drummer husband, and the gifted bassist who weaves it all together. Next up, it’s the great David Liebman.
What: David Liebman, John Coltrane, A Musical Journey
When: April 22, 2023 at 2PM
Where: Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Dix Hills
RSVP is required as space is limited – info@thecoltranehome.org
Suggested Donation: While the event is free, donations are deeply appreciated and generally range from $5-20
These programs are an AMAZING way to learn about and help advance this local legacy of universal impact.
 

Joyous Spring!

 

“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.” – John Muir

 

….and just like that, the sun comes out and faint tints of spring explode into cotton candy blossoms. How sweet it is!

We told ourselves we’d sent the last email in this format…that we wouldn’t send another until we launched…

…but then life kept interrupting and things kept taking longer than anticipated and then, yesterday, we got word from Andrea that Manor Plains Park is being renamed for Joy Squires THIS WEEK…and there are a few other things going on that we’re really excited to share…

…so…here we are!

Exciting things are coming! We can’t wait to unveil them! First, tho, we’d love to see you at the park on Thursday.

‘Til soon…

 


Katie and Trudy

If you’d like to support the Synchronicity Network Newsletter, you may do so here. This publication serves and celebrates folks who care for art, science and the common good on LI and beyond, aiming to increase the quantity and quality of community engagement. As always, we love to hear from you, and welcome your submissions and feedback.

Freedom’s Cost

When all is lost

Something is found

The final cost

Is the broken bond

Freedoms unraveling

Of what we trust

Brings a fearful thing

All that is known is turned to dust

When all is lost

Something is found

And freedoms cost

Merely fears unbound

A singing song

A caged bird free to fly

Its voice clear and strong

Alone in an empty sky

Spring Cleaning at the Coltrane Home

Friends of the Coltrane Home

We continue to maintain that there is no deeper, more fulfilling fun than working on something bigger than ourselves with others who care, too.

One of our favorite bands of volunteers is the folks involved in transforming the John & Alice Coltrane Home in Dix Hills into a multi-faceted museum and education center that advances these incredible musical and spiritual legacies, and fulfills John & Alice’s vision of good-will and connection.

It was sooooo much fun to come together with a few of the volunteers to help spring clean the home, catch up with each other, and learn a little bit about the deeply thoughtful, community-sensitive, and legacy mindful plans they’ve been working on.

We hope to get to see more of these folks soon!!!

Follow them on Facebook and check our our own page where we’ll be sharing more images from that day soon!

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian: Save the Dates

Pal O Mine Events Flyer

You can read all about Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in this article we wrote. Basically, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, the abused or neglected, the impoverished and the military.


June 4 — The Pal-O-Mine Stakes at Pal-O-Mine

June 28 — Par Fore the Horse at Southward Ho Country Club, Bay Shore

July 11-17 — Ride for Pal-O-Mine at Pal-O-Mine

September 12 — Fall Festival and Concert at Pal-O-Mine

For More Information: Visit www.pal-o-mine.org or call 631-348-1389

 

Firefly Lights: Kindred Spirits

Side by side images of a woodcut print and painting by retired High School Art Teacher Beth Atkinson and her former Student, Drigo Morin

Come to our community-oriented gallery created by and for local artists at 162 Main St, Northport. We’re open Tues-Thurs 11am-6pm, Fri and Sat 11am-8pm and Sun 11am-5pm. There is ALWAYS something new on the wall, and often being created on site! Send Katie an email if you’d like to meet up down there!

We are soooo thrilled to have found ourselves actually GROWING over the past year, creating new space where we can host full-scale special exhibitions, classes and events!

Now on View in our *New* Darcy Center for the Arts: “Kindred Spirits” This exhibition of the NYS Art Teachers’ Association (NYSATA) will run April 11-April 25

The show is beautiful…and if you know anything about the Firefly you know that even though it’s technically not “our” show, the exponential impact of our dear Queen of Education is one of the primary things on display here. Beth Atkinson will quickly tell you how it’s not about her, and how much she loves and is inspired by her students and the amazing things they do…it’s really cool…

Given Beth’s propensity for helping people learn to be more themselves, we bet you can’t guess who her students are! Except of course, fellow Managing Partner Drigo Morin, whom she’s partnered with as her own “Kindred Spirit”…tho you can still see they’re very different artists! We love them….

Next up: “Honey I Shrunk the Art!” We’re filling the gallery with mini masterpieces! Running from May 1- May 30, we’ll have an Open House Reception May 8th!

Kindred Spirits Flyer Exhibition Dates 4/11 - 4/25, 2021 at The Firefly Artists, Northport, NY

Vision Long Island Highlights Local Leaders

These in-depth interviews hosted by Eric Alexander featuring a broad range of Local Leaders on Vimeo are fantastic.

Check ’em out.

FOR MORE: Follow the Vision Long Island Facebook Page and the Long Island Main Street Alliance for news and information, much of which is particularly aimed at helping Long Island’s small businesses.

They’ve also got great stuff on YouTube covering and exceptionally broad range of local issues. Check it out.

FMC Folio Awards THIS FRIDAY!!!

FMC Folio Awards

The Fair Media Council works to advance quality journalism and to help people like us better recognize and appreciate it, as well as to better understand the media landscape as a whole.

We’re honored to call them a friend and a sponsor, and to have served this year as jurors for their 2021 Folio Awards, which recognizes quality news on the hyperlocal Long Island, New York City regional and National levels.

It’s an informative, inclusive process (Kate did it with her kids!) that helps create discerning news consumers while providing important feedback to news creators. It really did just that! Join us in honoring the winners!

Fair Media Council Folio Awards

When: Friday, April 23rd from 11am-12:30pm

Where: Live Online!

To Register: Visit the FMC Website

Enjoy a behind-the-headlines chat with Newsday’s investigative team that brought to life the stunning Decades of Deceit multimedia report. Ask Jeff Basinger, Paul LaRocco and David Schwartz questions via the Q&A box!

They’ll salute the Folio Awards judges & celebrate the awards presentation with you – use the chat box to congratulate the winners!

Hosted by news personalities Sukanya Krishnan and Scott Stanford of the Suki & Scott Show, with Lynda Lopez, WCBS Newsradio 880 news anchor, taking part in the festivities.

This program is dedicated to two longtime Fair Media Council Board members, James Kinney and Terry Lynam, who have retired after many years of volunteering their time, resources and support to turn FMC into the organization it is today.

Become a Member Benefits abound.

Subscribe to the Podcast It’s information you can use.

 

A Park for Joy!!!

Here’s the story we wrote about Joy Squires, Huntington’s Environmental Sage in 2016. She’s been chair of the Huntington Conservation Board since 1979, and also long-led the NYS Conservation Commission, where she continually endeavors to help others better steward their own open spaces and to encourage new generations to be actively engaged in environmentalism.

If you know her, you have probably been informed about parks in your area and opportunities to serve as their steward. We are delighted to hear that Manor Plains Park will now be renamed in honor of her!

When: Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 12:30pm

Where: Manor Plains Nature Park, 91-93 Manor Road, Huntington

Welcome Sponsor! UNI Communications!

We have stories to tell about the wonderful experience we’re having with this organization’s founder, Brandon Palanker. For now, let’s just say we are grateful for his support!!!

UNI (You & I) provides businesses of all shapes and sizes – from start-ups and small businesses to established firms seeking a new direction and enhanced growth – the same quality web design and strategic marketing services previously available only to much larger organizations.

UNI taps its founder’s 20+ years marketing experience with expertise across a full array of industries and business typologies including real estate, municipal governance, technology, small business, restaurant and hospitality, and not-for-profit.

Utilizing a customer-centric, personal approach, UNI matches technology and graphic design capabilities with full service agency experience and professionalism. This grants clients access to industry knowledge and insights rarely available to start-ups, small, and mid-sized businesses. The result is the highest quality web design, branding, and marketing services, all within a budget you can afford. Simply put, websites and branding good enough for the Fortune 500, at a budget you can afford!

Ready to tell YOUR STORY? UNI : Let’s do this together! 

(Let them know we sent you!!!)