Archive for the ‘Non-Profit’ Category

Former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter Promotes Offshore Wind Power on LI

Mike Richter

Mike Richter Promotes Offshore Wind Power on Long Island

 

The Sierra Club launched new radio ads on major stations across Long Island featuring the former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter calling on Governor Cuomo and LIPA to lead the way with a commitment to offshore wind power. The ads will run for two weeks ahead of LIPA’s December 17th Board meeting where they’re expected to announce the winners of new renewable energy contracts. If they choose offshore wind, it will bring hundreds of new jobs and millions in economic growth to Long Island.

“This issue is important to me because New York has an opportunity to be a national leader. Governor Cuomo and LIPA could make a commitment this month to build one of the nation’s first-ever offshore wind projects off the coast of Long Island. We can’t afford to miss this shot at a healthier, more prosperous future for New York with offshore wind power,” said Richter.

“Whether you’re an environmentalist or not, most people think that it’s about the trees and the birds and the fish, but it’s about humans. It’s about our health, our quality of life.”

In 2010, Richter launched Athletes for a Healthy Planet (A4HP), which aims to promote “better understanding of the relationship between the health of the planet and our health, economy, jobs, national security, social justice, and quality of life.”

Sierra Club Radio Ad for Long Island Offshore Wind Power

The A4HP TEAM

Mike Richter, former NHL goalie, who helped lead the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup and the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to a silver medal, is a founder of A4HP. Climate change hit home for Mike when he realized the frozen hockey ponds of his childhood had disappeared. Sports born in the outdoors now are played indoors. “No one has a greater stake in a cleaner, healthier planet than athletes,” says Mike. Our team now includes tennis greats Billie Jean King and John McEnroe, Olympic medalists Connie Carpenter and Angela Ruggiero, NHL icon Mark Messier, Professional Race Car Drive Leilani Münter, and more.

Former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter

Former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter promotes Offshore Wind Power on Long Island

New York Sports Heroes

The GREAT Mike Richter former New York Rangers Goalie #35, is one of my all-time sports heroes. He played goalie like an offensive position instead of the typical defensive mind set. He brought a poise and intensity to the position and game. As for myself when I played Varsity Soccer I was chosen and forced to play defense “not by my choosing,” but because I played defense like an offensive position and shutdown the opponents best strikers. As a Full-back (LB, FB) & Center-back/center-half/central defender (CB) you must be strong, fearless, and good at timing tackles and having an advantage to win the ball in the air, an essential skill in corner kick situations. With that said I always admired Richter’s offensive/defensive play.

Two other New York sport legends on the Athletes for a Healthy Planet team is tennis great and bad-ass John McEnroe and NHL icon Mark Messier, whom I both met at the 1994 MTV Video Music Award – After Party in Bryant Park. Mind you this was right after the New York Rangers had just won the glorious Stanley Cup back in 1994. So their these two guys were somewhat unrecognizable in their nice casual clothes because McEnroe was not wearing his old-school sweatband and Messier was not in a Rangers jersey. Their they were right in front of me and I was quite stunned to see them hanging together, and I was like “thanks Mark” and McEnroe was like “for what” and I said “come on.” I shook both their hands and said “it was an honor and a pleasure to meet you guys” and thanks for being such kick-ass athletes.

So with that said it is super cool to see these great New York Sports Heroes stepping it up with fellow athletes dedicated to finding breakthroughs for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Drummers Casey Gobbi and Gregg Bissonette hanging loose

On Saturday, February 4, 2012, I got to meet, hear and hang out with Gregg Bissonette, one of my drumming heroes. The experience totally kicked ass!!! Gregg showcased his drum clinic for the Day of Percussion 2012 held at the Sayville High School in Sayville, NY, by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) and co-sponsored by The Original Long Island Drum Center.

Gregg rocked out his drumming styles for the intimate crowd. The kids totally dug it, and so did I as he explained his drumming techniques, the music business and how to earn a living with drumsticks. He mentioned that his father was a drummer as well. Gregg is a technically trained drummer and can play from his heart and soul, which I personally prefer. He reads and composes music for movie scores and television as well as playing with bands. He really enjoys making a living at playing the drums, and why wouldn’t you? What is super cool is that he still has and plays his old Pearl large drum kit in jet black finish with white hardware from the 80s. Gregg is an all-around great drummer and most importantly he is an all-around great guy. Thanks Gregg, you ROCK, literally!

Gregg played drums with one of the best front men in Rock ‘n’ Roll, David Lee Roth and the amazing guitarists Steve Vai, and is currently playing drums for Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band.

Casey Gobbi hanging with Gregg Bissonette

Drummers Casey Gobbi and Gregg Bissonette hanging loose

 

I have seen and most importantly heard all of my childhood favorite drummers and deejays play live and am very lucky to be able to say that. I am still waiting to see Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Rick Allen (aka ‘The Thunder God’) of Def Leppard, Rikki Rockett of Poison and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran play live. I was also fortunate enough to personally meet my drumming heros, Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, along with Charles Benetti of Anthrax, Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction and Infectious Grooves, Omar Hakim of Sting and now the great Gregg Bissonette, and even Jam Master Jay of Run of Run-DMC; how cool is that kids!

Gregg Bissonette: Game-Changing Moment

The Big Beat 2010 Rocked ‘N’ Rolled!

www.YouTube.com | The Big Beat hits LI by Newsday – New York Hard Rock Drummer Casey Gobbi interviewed

 

Well The Big Beat was a total success! The event took place at SUNY Farmingdale Campus (Roosevelt Hall), Farmingdale, NY on Sunday, November 7, 2010 and was held by The Original Long Island Drum Center in Plainview, NY. I have to personally thank Dennis Ricci, Andrew and crew of the Original Long Island Drum Center on organizing such a killer event and for accommodating me, so thanks guys!

New York and Long Island drummers of all skill levels and experience participated with ages ranging from 8 to 67-years young. It was the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled across North America to celebrate the joy of drumming and to raise money for Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and local charities, and to break a Guinness World Record of 6,000 drummers simultaneous keeping a beat, and we did!

What a bunch of cool guys and galls that participated in the rocking event. Just to see over 100+ super cool vintage kits mixed with modern drum kits of all sizes and colors with all that glistening chrome hardware was totally spectacular. The bands were great; the synchronized Soul-O-Drums – Bill Donnell’s 3-piece percussion ensemble was cool, Frank Bellucci with his super fast hands, and the funky Brooklyn, NY Approaching Storm Marching Band was wicked. There was a fastest hands and fastest feet competition that took place, and their were lots of goodies given away via raffle. The camaraderie was amazing but that is typical of drummers, and everyone was awesome; we shared fist bumps, high fives, and hugs after the marathon event. I will never forget it. I am so glad I participated in it, and that my Uncle, my drumming hero, was there to share it with me made it even better.

They held The Big Beat event in two New York locations one on Long Island in Farmingdale, NY and the other upstate in Buffalo, NY but not in Manhattan yet. I really hope they continue this on Long Island, if not ever year but maybe every other year or so would be cool and to have it grow with more participants and even more synchronized playing time.

Check out another The Big Beat 2010 – Long Island video on YouTube.

The Big Beat 2010 . Long Island

The Big Beat | Seattle, WA: Drummers

The Big Beat | Seattle, WA: Drummers

 

Drummers Giving Back for Charity!

Twenty of the top percussion companies in the industry have donated merchandise totaling more than $235,000 in retail value for the Five-Star The Big Beat that will occur in 15 cities in North America on Sunday, November 7, 2010. Each participating store will be giving away more than $15,000 worth of drum gear to participants in this exciting charity event that will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and in some cities, the addition of a local charity as well. Plus, one lucky winner in one of the 15 cities will get a special Dream Theater “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” replica tour bass drum head autographed especially for this occasion by drummer Mike Portnoy and the entire band!

The Big Beat will bring together the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled across North America to celebrate the joy of drumming and to raise money for worthwhile causes. Not only will each location try to break the individual city record for the most drummers playing the same beat at one time, but the participants will also try to shatter the record the Big Beat set last year for drummers playing the same beat in multiple cities at the same time! This marks the third year that the Five-Star Drum Shops group has organized this event, with the hope of expanding each year, until drummers across the globe are locked in on one worldwide groove.

Drummers of all skill levels and experience are encouraged to get involved and contact their local participating Five-Star member for details:

Plainview, NY: The Original Long Island Drum Center, www.lidrum.com
• Date: Sunday, November 7, 2010
• Location: SUNY Farmingdale Campus (Roosevelt Hall), Farmingdale, NY

Liberty Schooner Haiti Relief Voyage

A Partnership with Haiti Aid

My friends at the Liberty Schooner and their crew have combined forces with Haiti Aid to provide transport of medical supplies to Haiti. Schooner Liberty has contacted the U.S. State Department and the USCG and they have received clearance for their voyage, as well as getting the support from the Center for Haitian Studies here in Miami, which includes an armed escort while in Haitian waters. Because this is a primarily wind-powered ship, there are minimal fuel costs and continuous runs between Miami, FL. The boat has a capacity for 10,000-15,000 pounds of cargo and can sleep several people for transport of medical and distribution volunteers. Several aid organizations have contacted them, and have requested that we take some supplies to their people on the ground in Haiti, and several media outlets have expressed interest in reporting about their trip.

If you would still like to make a donation to cover their costs, you can do so by going directly to Haiti Aid Network and click on the “Donate Now” button. On PayPal, designate your donation to Schooner Liberty Relief voyage. You can follow their voyage on www.libertyschooner.com.

UPDATE: They have departed from Miami, Florida already and are currently on their voyage to Haiti.