Brentwood Stories

April 27th Author and friend of this podcast Robert Ottone posted a reading, Q&A, and book signing with J.T. Blatty at the Bay Shore Barnes and Noble.  Blatty read from her book Snapshots Sent Home, an extraordinary look into her work covering the conflict in the Ukraine. An especially topical subject giving recent world events. J.T. Blatty is a photographer, artist, veteran, and author.

"As a boy, Jeff Michael found his passion for life and music while living in Brentwood. It was here that he also discovered The Flying Nun - a discovery that would further ignite Jeff's creativity. Join us as we hear about Jeff's story, including how he became the founder and president of the Flying Nun Fan Club and how he is still working to keep the memory of this 1960's show and its surprising Brentwood roots alive today."

Join us as we recap the episodes we put out this year and go over some changes to the library and the podcast going forward.

Listen in to a special episode of 'Brentwood Stories.' Meet the horror authors of this special event and dive into the genre they base their work on.

This episode we take a look at the famous Red Owl Legend, a classic story by Charles A. Codman, it appears in the Appendix of “A Century of Brentwood” by Verne Dyson. In this episode we do a dramatic reading of the story.

This month we interviewed Margarita Espada and learned about her history of activism and theater. Listen and learn more about this amazing woman and Teatro Yerbabruja.

Join DJ and Sam as they interview Mrs. Celia Vollmer. Celia is well known around the Brentwood community and Long Island for the amazing volunteer work she participates in and organizes. Learn a little bit of her story and reach out to the Brentwood Public Library for resources on how to get involved in the community!

Check out our latest episode interviewing Brentwood's mini celeb, Tevin! Find out more on our website : brentwoodnylibrary.org Follow us on social media: @brenlibny Watch us on tik tok! (Sam's tik tok idea!!): https://www.tiktok.com/@brenlibny/video/7256778985454046507?_r=1&_t=8e7mqlnY7KQ  

This month we sat down with Jessikah and Jenn from "Turn the Page," the official  Podcast of the Syosset Public Library. In this episode we discuss our different methods of podcasting and really get to the heart of what our podcasts provide for our communities. Check out the Turn the Page Podcast here!: http://turnthepage.blubrry.net/ Here!: https://twitter.com/SPLTurnThePage And Here!: https://www.syossetlibrary.org/services/163-general/1193-we-re-podcasting

This month we sat down with Rosa, one of the original organizers of the Brentwood Public Library's Seed Library! Rosa discusses the how the idea of a seed library was birthed and how it has transformed over the years. Check out the Seed Library Page!: https://www.brentwoodnylibrary.org/services/welcome-seed-library Sign-up for the Seed Library E-newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/GWED1bt  

We sat down with the Executive Director of the Heckscher Museum of Art. Use one of our museum passes and visit today! Museum Website: https://www.heckscher.org/ Museum Passes: https://brentwoodnylibrary.org/services/museum-passes  

Take a step into the Cradle of Aviation Museum during this podcast episode. Why was a space museum built here on Long Island? What does the museum do now? Museum Website: https://www.cradleofaviation.org/ Brentwood Library Museum Pass Program: https://brentwoodnylibrary.org/services/museum-passes 80's Karaoke Night!: https://www.cradleofaviation.org/plan_your_visit/arcade-age-exhibit/event/2023/03/25/80s-arcade-karaoke-night/415367  

Join us as we sat down with the Raynham Hall Museum. The Raynham Hall Museum is a participant in our library museum pass program. To reserve a museum pass online, visit us at https://www.brentwoodnylibrary.org/services/museum-passes or call the library to reserve a pass at 631-273-7883. To learn more about the Raynham Hall Museum and their upcoming programs, visit https://raynhamhallmuseum.org/  

This month we sat down with former American Boxer Champion, Buddy McGirt. McGirt reflects on his time growing up in Brentwood, and the highs and lows of his career. Music: Chill Relaxing Lo-Fi Hip Hop | BornbyAlex-Productions  https://freemusicarchive.org/music/alex-productions/single/chill-relaxing-lo-fi-hip-hop-born/  

Are you interested in music? Learn the ins and outs of music and its potential benefits with licensed Music Therapist Dan Sullivan.

Meet Sean Raynor! He's a local photographer who went to the Brentwood school district. Raynor's talent is evident through his work. To check out Raynor's work, and for business inquiries, check out his page on instagram @internal.vision Shoot him a DM! Concert photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CW926Xogzz-/ Young Fox: https://www.instagram.com/p/CezoVzfDYoB/ Older Fox: https://www.instagram.com/p/CG50BmPgC6b/ Camp Hero: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5WbtDoA1FB/ Long Island City: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhadzS1AuWx/ Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfvBDFgDGk-/  

Do you know the spooky stories that haunt Long Island? Join DJ and Sam while they explore the ghost, ghoul, and strange stories of the island. DISCLAIMER: The opinions and information expressed in this podcast are for entertainment purposes only. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the Brentwood Public Library or its employees. References: https://brentwoodpubliclibrary-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/suebel_brentwoodnylibrary_org/EY9DR8zOPLtDphdRXX0mOrUBUdsf30IQewFtpKwhQQ90FA?e=CLXXh8 Links to Music Used in the Episode: Bludgeon (Side A) by Bound Unto Root: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/bound-unto-root/the-golden-pith/bludgeon-side-a-1/ The Vampire's Coffin by Haunted Corpse: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Haunted_Corpse/Dirges_for_the_Undead/Haunted_Corpse_-_Dirges_for_the_Undead_-_08_The_Vampires_Coffin_1263/ An Ocean in Outer Space by HoliznaCC0: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/stranger-than-fiction-halloween-sci-fi/an-ocean-in-outer-space/

Gary Brown spends his days trying to give back to his community and inspire the youth of today to dream big. How did Gary Brown become an inspiration and a mentor to many? Listen to Brown speak about his life and the events in it, that made him the man he is today. Find Gary's book here! Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Champion-Gary-Lee-Brown/dp/1662478569/ref=asc_df_1662478569/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=598233672180&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12598861813074722910&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004488&hvtargid=pla-1722690692864&psc=1

Longtime 'Brentwood Stories' host Peter Carmona says goodbye as he moves on to other projects in the library. Welcome new podcast hosts DJ and Sam!   Music Provided by the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dee_Yan-Key/one-tune-twelve-pieces/big-band-1/

It has been a busy time at the Brentwood Public Library with many new and exciting additions coming for you to enjoy. Unfortunately that means that the Brentwood stories podcast has to take a break for the month of July. We will be back in August! Music: Two Little Wooden Shoes Fox Trot by Club Royal Orchestra 

Mirtha Colon has been a library patron for over ten years. In 2021, she attended our citizenship courses and earned her US citizenship! In this episode, I speak with Mirtha as she shares a little about her life and family in Brentwood.

Hello and welcome back to Brentwood stories. In today's episode Celia and I speak with Eric D'arce. Eric worked as a page for the Brentwood library during his high school years, then later served our country as a member of the marines and now works for a solar energy company and also works with his wife in her newly founded business!

Hello and welcome back to Brentwood stories. In our latest episode, Celia and I welcome two of Brentwood public library's internet stars: Kofi and Andres. Listeners might remember Andres from our Episode featuring library pages Joshua and Juan, or from his work on our library's other podcast: Average Brentwood Teens. Kofi works begins the scene in our tech services department, but you might be familiar with him from his time on our Library's twitch channel. Kofi and Andres talk about working at the library, esports, and viral videos all in this new episode.

In today's episode, Celia and I catch up with former page Jessica Ferrara. Jessica shares her memories from working at Brentwood library and tells us about her journey to becoming a veterinary doctor.

In today's installment, me and Celia speak with a woman of many talents. Khadija Hines spent over 11 years as a member of the Brentwood public library staff, and has since moved on to become a business owner, performer and mother. Khadijah takes us through the inspiring journey of her life in the next episode of Brentwood stories. 

In today's episode of Brentwood bios, we sit down with Rafael Rodriguez. Rafael lived in Brentwood in his youth, and worked as a page for the Brentwood public library. Later on Rafael would move on to the accounting profession, which ultimately led him to return to the library as a volunteer tax preparer. Me and Celia speak with Rafael about this and his other passions on this episode of Brentwood stories.

Our next guest for our Brentwood BIOS series is home grown artist Diego Garcia. Diego's art had been featured in exhibitions across long island, New York City and more, and in today's episode I was blessed with the privilege of learning more about Diego's art, his roots in Brentwood and his early influences and inspirations.   Follow Diego on Instagram @diegoagc

Today is the first episode of the new Brentwood bios miniseries where we feature a memorable member of the Brentwood community. Some individuals have grown up here and even more have found themselves an inseparable part of the Brentwood community through their lives and actions  For today's interview me and past Brentwood stories guest Celia Vollmer check in with Robert Kannert, a former page and library clerk currently working for the Brentwood school district. Me and Celia, Roberts' former supervisor, catch up with him as he shares some of his memories of Brentwood. 

In today's episode of Brentwood stories, I sit down with Joshua Castellanos and Juan Delgado. If you have ever listened to the Brentwood library's other podcast, Average Brentwood Teens, then Joshua and Juan may already familiar to you thanks to their regular appearances. The two friends have also been recently featured in Newsday for their STEM research in conjunction with Stony Brook University and The BioBus, a traveling research laboratory that provides science research opportunities to students across New York. Joshua and Juan discuss their work on average Brentwood teens, their friendship and their lives and futures in Brentwood and beyond.

On today's episode, me and Peter welcome back one of our first guests to the podcast, Dr. Zebulon Miletsky, professor of Africana studies at Stony Brook University. Me and Peter had the privilege of listening in on a fascinating and comprehensive conversation featuring Zebulon and a panel of his graduate students entitled “The Black Family & The American Dream”.   Notes: Africa Unite - Bob Marley https://open.spotify.com/album/09Df7mUZBQwbDYgvE0t30r?highlight=spotify:track:2qmHhaOmlcKDeGfipGhF1j The Autobiography of Malcolm X / With The Assistance of Alex Haley ; foreword by Attallah Shabazz ; introduction by M. S. Handler ; epilogue by Alex Haley ; afterword by Ossie Davis https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb4992530__SThe%20Autobiography%20of%20Malcolm%20X__Ff%3Afacetcollections%3A5%3A5%3ABrentwood%3A%3A__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=cobalthttps://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb4992530__SThe%20Autobiography%20of%20Malcolm%20X__Ff%3Afacetcollections%3A5%3A5%3ABrentwood%3A%3A__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=cobalt The Sword and the Shield : The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. / Peniel E. Joseph https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb5477791__SThe%20Sword%20and%20the%20Shield__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=cobalt Waiting 'Til The Midnight Hour : A Narrative History of Black Power in America / Peniel E. Joseph https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3815333__SWaiting%20%27Til%20the%20Midnight%20Hour%3A%20A%20Narrative%20History%20of%20Black%20Power%20in%20America__Orightresult__X4?lang=eng&suite=cobalt "Malcolm X: The Theoretician We Never Knew", Prof. Bill Strickland, 2011 Malcolm X Festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-trIwEm7tY Malcolm X : A Life of Reinvention / Manning Marable https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb4293654__SMalcolm%20X%3A%20A%20Life%20of%20Reinvention__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&suite=cobalt Set The World On Fire : Black Nationalist Women And The Global Struggle For Freedom / Keisha N. Blain https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb5223699__SSet%20the%20World%20on%20Fire%3A%20Black%20Nationalist%20Women%20and%20the%20Global%20Struggle%20for%20Freedom__Orightresult__X4?lang=eng&suite=cobalt Black Power ; The Politics of Liberation in America / [by] Stokely Carmichael & Charles V. Hamilton https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3006337__SBlack%20Power%3A%20The%20Politics%20of%20Liberation__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&suite=cobalt Notes on Negro American Influences on the Emergence of African Nationalism / George Shepperson https://www.jstor.org/stable/180247?seq=1 COINTELPRO - https://vault.fbi.gov/cointel-pro From #BlackLivesMatter to Black liberation / Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor https://discover.livebrary.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb5555608__SFrom%20%23Blacklivesmatter%20to%20Black%20Liberation__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=cobalt

For our final episode of our Quarantine Conversations series, me and Peter are joined by Robert Ottone. Robert is a Long Island writer and teacher with strong ties to Brentwood. While he may be best known for his horror writing, including “Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares”. Peter and I discover that Robert is a man of many talents. Robert, Peter and I discuss horror, journalism, radio, ramen, and Cthulu in no particular order on this episode of Quarantine Conversations.   Show Notes: Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares - Robert P. Ottone Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Only Good Indians: A Novel - Stephen Graham Jones Plunge - Joe Hill H. P. Lovecraft's Dagon 

In an interesting turn of fate, the next guest for our Quarantine conversations series was suggested to us by a guest from the first episode. Edras Hidalgo is a Red Cross volunteer who works alongside Celia Vollmer in providing outreach to the Brentwood Community. He shares his unique perspective on providing outreach during the Covid 19 quarantine, and a little about what inspired him to become a volunteer.

For todays episode of quarantine conversations, me and Peter check in with Dawn, another long time Brentwood resident and library patron. Dawn shares how she has kept busy during the quarantine by attending library programs and staying in touch with her friends and family. Also joining our podcast is special guest from our listening audience.

In today's episode we catch up with long time Brentwood Library patron Tuty. Tuty speaks about her experiences during quarantine, and how the library's seed program helped her cultivate her garden during the Summer.

Claudia has been a patron of the Brentwood library for several years, and today me and Peter get to catch up with her to see how she has been keeping busy during quarantine. We discuss her work at the UN, as well as what audio books she has been enjoying.

In today's episode, me and Peter pay a virtual visit to our friends at the Brentwood public library Career and business development center. Our colleagues Vicki, Olivia, and Kaven share their memories and thoughts on how working at the career center has evolved during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Peter and Peter catch up with librarians and fellow podcasters Christoher Kretz and Christopher DeCristofaro. They discuss the quarantine, podcasting and even squeeze in some tech talk. You may find Christopher Kretz's podcast, The Long Island history Project, at http://www.longislandhistoryproject.org/, or here on Blubrry at https://blubrry.com/the_long_island_history/. Christopher DeCristofaro's podcast, the Library Pros, may be found at https://www.thelibrarypros.com/, or here on Blubrry at https://blubrry.com/thelibrarypros/.

In this special Brentwood Stories miniseries, my cohost Peter and I check in with members of the Brentwood Library family to document their experiences during quarantine. Today's episode features Ellen Edelstein, President of the Brentwood Historical Society and Celia Vollmer, long time Brentwood Library Employee and Red Cross Volunteer.

On February 27th, 2020, the Brentwood Public Library hosted Dr. Zebulon Miletsky for a conference on African Americans and the right to vote. Zebulon was joined by panelists Mia Brett, Willie Mack and William Johnson, Jr.. As they discusses an array of voters rights topics.

Peter Ward relates the tales of a fascinating epoch in Brentwood's history: Brentwood in the Pines.

Long time Entenmann's employees Bruce and Horace share stories about the chocolate room, cake theft, and the debacle that was fat free all butter loaf.