Times Square Gossip

Todd Shapiro With Karen & Mike Pence Todd Shapiro of Todd Shapiro Associates Public Relations of Manhattan and Long Island was a special guest at the annual White House Picnic recently.Vice President Mike and Karen Pence posed for photos with Mr. Shapiro. The night was full of fun and entertainment. The White House lawn was transformed into Central Park with a Carousel for Children. President Trump greeted the crowd and Mr. Shapiro called it the biggest event on Capitol Hill in which both Democrats and Republicans can join together over hot dogs and hamburgers. 

**** NEW YORK CITY NIGHTLIFE Story By: James Edstrom **** Congessswoman Carolyn Maloney With James Edstrom PR Guru Todd Shapiro With Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Last night was one wild night on Central Park South, at the home of PR Powerhouse Todd Shapiro. Todd threw a bash to celebrate the summer in New York City and The Hampton's, and it was standing room only. If fact, so many people showed up for this event, we had to form a line outside and wait for people to leave so others could come in. And of course, I helped man the velvet ropes. Master Sushi Chefs prepared the food as stunning servers catered to the every need of the power players of NYC. This was one great dining experience.  But as always, the highlight of our very ultra private after party, was sitting down with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. The last time I saw Carolyn was a few months ago in Washington DC, and we flew back to New York City together on a mutual friends p...

**** THE LONG ISLAND GOSSIP **** Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano At a Nassau County Press Conference with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Bruce Yamali of Dover Caterers, they introduced healthy eating vending machines at Long Island Schools. This seems to be the new wave out in my old stomping grounds Nassau County. MARILYN MONROE IN LONG ISLAND! A Tribute was held on the 50th Anniversary of Marilyn Monroes Death at Maliblue in Lido Beach, Long Island. Marilyn Monroe spent lots of time and summers on Long Island. Butch Yamali, President of the Dover Catering Group attended this event.  A candlelight vigil was held by fans and local residents on the famed beach. A special  screening of "Candle in the Wind" took place to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the death of the movie goddess.  Marilyn Monroe look-a-likes adorned the event. Marilyn had visited Long Island several times and spent many summers by the be...

**** WBAB & WBLI MORNING SHOWS TO HOST 9/11 BLOOD DRIVE **** WBLI'S Dan And Jeffrey Due to the urgent need for blood and to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on America, 102.3 WBAB Rockn’Roll Morning Show hosts Roger & JP and BLI In the Morning’s Dana & Jeffrey, together with Long Island Blood Services, will be hosting a series of Blood Drives beginning Tuesday, September 6th through Saturday, September 10th at locations all over Long Island, including many local Fire Departments. WBAB'S Roger And JP Tropical storm Irene and subsequent power outages have resulted in Long Island’s blood supply to drop below minimum level requirements. Thousands of pints of blood are needed to regain the area’s blood supply to local hospitals and critical emergency services patients. The 9/11 blood drive campaign is called “Giving Life for Lives Lost” with the goal of collecting one unit of blood for every life lost on...

**** TOM LETO NAMED PRESIDENT OF US MEDICAL MARIJUANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE **** Tom Leto Entrepreneur and industry visionary Tom Leto, CEO of leading hydroponic equipment manufacturer Hydroplex , has been appointed President of the US Medical Marijuana Chamber of Commerce it has been announced. The Chamber, one of the fastest-growing national business outreach and advocacy groups in the country, counts 2,000 members representing 340 businesses. Photo By: James Edstrom

**** Nassau County To Have Increased DWI Patrols For Labor Day **** Edward P. Mangano Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was joined by Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, representatives from MADD, DEDICATEDD, and survivors of drunk-driving accidents on Thursday to announce increased DWI patrols this upcoming Labor Day weekend. The Nassau County Police Department will participate in a “STOP-DWI” program that will allocate additional police officers to conduct an extensive DWI enforcement initiative.

Santa Claus Visits Suffolk County Arriving in a wreathed police car with sirens wailing, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association President Jeff Frayler assumed the role of Santa Claus and, with the help of other Suffolk County police officers, distributed toys and other gifts to over 100 children with physical or mental disabilities. The event, called the Bob Krauss Memorial Children's Christmas Party, has been occurring annually for over 20 years and benefits special-needs kids in Suffolk County. After Santa personally delivered gifts to each of the children, the families enjoyed a catered lunch.

John Tsunis With The Deity Girls The Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook held a Holiday Reception and Business Networking Event to celebrate the grand opening of its newest art gallery exhibit. A couple hundred business leaders turned out to have the first look at the exhibit. John Tsunis, the hotel's owner, served as the evening's host. The Holiday Inn Express is the only hotel on Long Island to feature an art gallery in its lobby. The first exhibit opened in October, with over 500 business, community and civic leaders attending the grand unveiling. The new exhibit showcases the work of Smithtown's Ruth Johnson and Centereach's Rita Swanteson. The art, which depicts landscapes and iconic buildings on Long Island, will be viewed and available for purchase by the tens of thousands of guests who visit the hotel each year. The event was sponsored by Emma's Deity, a new brand of certified organic, kosher and decaffeinated tea, with two beautiful Deity Girls on hand for th...

2011 New York City Firefighters Calendar Everyone loves a man in uniform, and tonight the women of NYC will be coming out in droves to meet the hottest ones, as New York City's sexiest firefighters will be strutting their stuff for over 200 fans. The 2011 New York City Firefighters Calendar Unveiling Reception will take place on Wednesday, December 29th from 6-9 PM to benefit the City Burn Center at Spa Martier, located at 1014 Second Avenue (between 53rd and 54th Streets) in Manhattan. New York's hottest and bravest firemen, each representing one month of the year, will be signing copies of the Official 2011 New York City Firefighters Calendar. Martier is a high end boutique, full-service spa and café with two expansive floors. They organized the calendar launch reception to assist in raising funds for the FDNY and City Burn Center. There will be complimentary spa treatments given at the celebration.

**** GIANT MOTORCYCLE RALLY TO TAKE PLACE ON LONG ISLAND ON NEW YEARS DAY THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO BRAVE THE ELEMENTS FOR THE 8TH ANNUAL COLD FINGER RUN **** WBAB New Year’s Day Cold Finger Run Motorcycle enthusiasts, rejoice! On Saturday, January 1, 2011, thousands are expected to take part in the first Motorcycle Run of 2011; the 8th Annual WBAB New Year’s Day Cold Finger Run, led by WBAB Afternoon Host “Fingers”. This unique Long Island event is a benefit for the American Cancer Society’s “Camp Adventure” program. The WBAB New Year’s Day Cold Finger Run takes participants on a 40-mile run from the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City to Mulcahy’s in Centereach, where riders will be treated to food, live music and prizes. Over the past seven years, the WBAB New Year’s Day Cold Finger Run has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Camp Adventure, a free sleep away camp for children undergoing cancer treatment and their siblings. Located on Shelter Island, Camp Adventure affords the oppo...

**** LOCAL BUSINESSMAN GIVES BACK TO DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES ON LONG ISLAND WITH CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE **** Ernie Canadeo And Town Of North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell Ernie Canadeo, the Founder and President of Long Island's largest advertising firm, the EGC Group, celebrated his company's 25th Anniversary in an unusual manner: by treating 50 disadvantaged children and their families to a Christmas Shopping Spree at Toys "R" Us. Buses filled with excited kids pulled up to the mega-store in Carle Place, where Mr. Canadeo and Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne were on hand to greet them. The families tore through the aisles of Toys "R" Us, piling the hottest new toys into their carts. Also present at the event were Legislator Rose Walker (who serves as Chairwoman of the Department of Social Services) and Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell, who presented Mr. Canadeo with a proclamation. An Oyster Bay native, Mr. Canadeo was ...

**** VACATIONS CLOSE TO HOME ARE THE NEW RAGE FOR HOLIDAYS **** Holiday Inn Express Long Island It has recently come to our attention that more and more people in the metropolitan region are opting to have "staycations" this holiday season - that is, vacations during which you stay at a hotel, sleep in, and raid the mini-bar without leaving your hometown. Hotelier John Tsunis of the Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook report that a large percentage of its guests actually live on Long Island. We blame the economy - people still want to cut corners in any way they can - and the new TSA regulations that have everyone hesitant to fly. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels in the New York metro area that offer the comfort and services to make you feel pampered and relaxed without having to travel far. Hotel owners like John Tsunis are smart to offer amenities and host events that not only appeal to tourists but locals as well. For example, the Holiday Inn Express boasts an art galle...

Co-creator Rich Kwiat We know that we have many readers who work in the film and television industry, and we're sure they'll benefit from this incredible new Smartphone app and website. doddle is a free, completely digital guide to film production. It was first created and unveiled as an iPhone app to enormously positive reception and it has now expanded to accommodate BlackBerry and Android users. It's also available as a website at www.doddleme.com . doddle was created by filmmakers for filmmakers and provides users with the most current, continuously updated database of individuals and businesses that help service the film and television industry. By allowing anyone to create listings and to search for vendors, crew, talent, locations, film offices and other filmmaking resources anywhere in the world, doddle is poised to revolutionize the production industry using mobile technology. doddle – slang for “an easy task” – benefits anyone who works in the entertainment in...

**** Queens Family Win $75,000 Renovation **** Melanie Mejia With Gloria Moncayo, Kailer Tova Mejia And Wilfred Moncayo Gloria and Wilfred Moncayo of Fresh Meadows, Queens were the big winners of Four Seasons Sunrooms and Windows' home makeover giveaway, which thousands of Tri-State families entered to transform their residences into glass houses. The Moncayos will receive a $75,000 renovation package, which includes building a fully-finished, state-of-the-art sunroom and installing several windows to their home. Gloria and Wilfred immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1966 and 1968, respectively. The Moncayos have lived in their Fresh Meadows, Queens home since 1976 and raised their two children there. After winning the makeover, they revealed that for years, their dream has been to install a sunroom in their home. Newly retired, the Moncayos plan to use their new glass addition as a multi-use family room for all three generations of their family to enjoy. T...

Christopher Meloni And Jeanine Hill Law and Order SVU Star Christopher Meloni is featured with blond bombshell and Actress Jeanine Hill in the upcoming National Lampoon's Dirty Movie. Ms. Hill has appeared in dozens of films and television programs including The Sopranos series on HBO. Dirty Movie is expected to be a blockbuster hit. Jeanine is native of Long Island and New York City resident. She was recently named as one of the future stars to watch for 2011 by Boulevard Magazine.

**** LOCAL COMPANY CREATES 1000 NEW YORK METRO-BASED JOBS **** Peter Allen With Catina Gadson, Helen Pittman And Gregg Cole Been hit hard by the economy? Rejoice! A Holbrook, Long Island-based company just announced that it's creating almost 1000 new jobs - most of which will be right here in the New York City metropolitan area. Shaun Kennedy, the CEO of Four Seasons Sunrooms and Windows, is committed to expanding his business, opening up new franchises all over the country. And this rapid rate of expansion also means beefing up the corporate headquarters and factory, which are located on Long Island. Another reason for the boost in jobs? An increased demand for the energy-smart windows manufactured exclusively by the company. With all the emphasis lately on "going green" - and with many people wanting to save a buck in any way they can - Four Seasons' eco-friendly windows are the ones people want in their homes. We think this is a positive sign that the economy...

**** Business Leaders Throw Punches For Charity **** Miss Long Island With The Georgi Girls The 8th Annual Fight for Charity was the most successful one yet, drawing a crowd of over 1000 people who came out to watch Long Island's most prominent leaders in business - men and women - throw punches in the name of several not-for-profit organizations. The amateur fighters spent months training for the event and didn't hold back. Each year, the event raises money for a small group of carefully selected charities on the Island. This year, the charities that were honored were: The Genesis School, Long Island Community Chest, National Foundation for Human Potential, and the Long Island chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. All of these organizations provide aid and resources to the individuals and families on Long Island who need it the most, whether they require assistance for a mental of physical disability or are in need of financial help. The event was attended by...

Senator-Elect Lee Zeldin With Marines The United States Marine Corps were recently honored in Islandia, New York for their continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Americans. More than 300 members of the USMC - young and old - and government, community and civic leaders were in attendance at the ceremony. Actress and model Cathy Rankin, who has raised thousands of dollars for the troops, was on hand to sign and give away her 2011 calendar, which features shots of her inspired by legendary pin-up girls like Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable. Awards were distributed to veterans honoring them for their distinguished service. Newly-elected New York State Senator Lee Zeldin and Suffolk County Legislator Dennis Dunne (both veterans themselves) were also recognized, as was David Zere, the founder of the American Patriot Heroes Fund. The evening's host was Joe Perri, President of Gold Coast Bank.

David Wolkoff With Jim Liu And Jerry Wolkoff Jim Liu is positioned to become the next big name in golf. At age fourteen, he became the youngest person ever to win the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur Championship - a record previously held by Tiger Woods. Originally hailing from Smithtown, New York, Liu frequents at Heartland Golf Park in Edgewood and can be seen practicing there several times a week. David and Jerry Wolkoff, Heartland's owners, recently honored Liu's outstanding achievement at the golf park and created a tribute video for him, which can be viewed here . Jim Liu is definitely one to watch as the next big golf talent. To be named a U.S. Junior Amateur Champion is considered a harbinger of success, and Liu shares the title with the world's most famous golfers. For those who want to watch the young prodigy in action, he can often be found at Heartland Golf Park.

Joe Perri In Fox Studios Joe Perri, President of Gold Coast Bank, has become a guest commentator on Fox Business News, making appearances on "America's Nightly Scoreboard" and "Bulls and Bears." Mr. Perri currently resides as President and CEO of Long Island's Gold Coast Bank, which has locations in Islandia and Huntington. He has been frequently been appearing on Fox Business News as a single guest or as part of a panel to relay his experiences operating a small bank, to discuss the challenges that have arisen as a result of the economy, and to offer his ideas for solutions. To watch clips of Mr. Perri's recent appearances on Fox Business News, please visit their website . If you would like to subscribe to the mailing list and receive notifications of his upcoming appearances, please email goldcoastbank@gmail.com . Photo By: James Edstrom