We stopped in at "Long Island's Premier Blues and Jazz Club" Treme in Islip because we appreciate fellow Coltrane volunteer Leonardo the Fabulous and wanted to support his Art Opening. We ended up reworking our schedule to stay all night because the work is incredible, the musicians were meaningful, and the company well worth spending the time with.

Get down there before December 1st to see for yourself! There are images of Muhammed Ali drawn with white gel pen on a black board because, "Usually, when people draw, it's all about putting in the shadows, I wanted to add the light." Leonardo pays homage to Long Island, John Coltrane, the Beatles, and thus Heinz Edelmann and Ron Campbell, including a yellow submarine, the first version of which now belongs to Ringo Starr!

The process for many of Leonardo's pieces is fascinating -- he will do the drawing, and then have it laser-etched on glass. Often, as with the submarine, he then paints with vibrant color. Our own favorite piece mounts the glass a few inches from a white board then trains a light, revealing a perfect portrait of Audrey Hepburn in the shadow that plays beneath. A compelling image of Coltrane artfully combines the two methods for a deep and pleasing result.

"This is my own unique process. The possibilities are endless," he says, "I love exploring them."

There's an insightful interview with Leonardo in the PopImpressKA Journal: One bit of wisdom there is this:

Blacky's Ice Breaking Theory
"Perhaps the most significant thing I learned from my father was what I call, 'Blacky’s ice breaking theory.' ('Blacky' was my father’s childhood nickname.) As a teen, on a cold winter’s day I was tasked with breaking up a newly-formed ice sheet on the walkway in our back yard.

The ice was thick and spread wide. I complained that 'it would take forever.' 'There’s so much ice.' I said. My father told me to not look at the entire ice sheet, but instead just focus on the section directly where my shovel met the ice and to concentrate my efforts there. 'Just do one little section at a time, don’t even think about the rest of it…and before you know it, you’ll be done.'...

The kid with the shovel, the actor on stage, the fighter and all of us need to live in and deal with the Now, as it's all we have. Pay attention to where your shovel is striking, not the ice twenty feet away. Understanding this concept helped me through the worst and most challenging parts of my life."

We love Cindy Mardenfeld and her endeavor to advance a Long Island kindness movement. She offers her thanks to anyone who participates in her Kindness Challenge -- Committing to do a kindness every day and possibly report on it using the hashtags #kindnessambassadors,  30-day #KindnessChallenge, spread the love, #InspireChange & make kindness the new norm with 😀#payitforward

Now, Cindy is not going to discourage remarkable giving, but she shares our belief that the small things also matter tremendously. A cup of coffee, a friendly smile, a held door...these all count!!! Please also consider checking in on folks who may be alone for Thanksgiving, and helping make sure our neighbors don't go cold and hungry for the holidays.

Here are some great, charitable resources that welcome donations of goods and time to help the less fortunate on Long Island:

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network): "addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing food, shelter, long-term housing, and supportive services in a dignified and respectful manner for those who seek our help. We are a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization with a dedicated staff, a broad base of community support and a commitment to educate the public about these issues."

Island Harvest: "Providing food and services for people who are hungry, and a voice for people who are in need. Island Harvest is the largest hunger relief organization on Long Island. By relying on volunteers, in-kind services, and donated food, we devote more than 95 cents of every dollar contributed directly to our programs."

LI Cares: "Founded by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and, to the best of our ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of our community. Our goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency, and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Our vision is “A Hunger Free Long Island”."

We had a great time at The Great Cow Harbor Day Weekend, talking to artists and others marketing their wares in Northport. What struck us this year was the number of rescue groups who had booths, the individual strengths these groups bring, and the passion of those who serve them.

Almost Home rescues and re-homes unwanted and abandoned animals. They are also committed to assisting families to prevent unnecessary surrenders through their Training Wheels® program.

Said Volunteer and Board Member Deborah DuRussel, "Almost Home, like other rescue organizations, helps animals in need through rescue and adoption, but most notably, the work we do in the community truly sets us apart from the others. Our outreach program brings hope to many underprivileged, neglected or abused animals, as well as relief to good families who struggle each day with providing proper care for their pet."

The League for Animal Protection of Huntington is dedicated to the rescue, care and rehabilitation of stray, abandoned and abused animals in the Town of Huntington. In 1982, they built the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter, which is a refuge without cages for kittens and cats. Volunteers also assist the Town dog placement program, providing much needed services including volunteers' love and attention.

Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center is Suffolk County's oldest Humane Society; a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter nestled on six wooded acres in Huntington. Founded by Anna Hunninghouse in 1927, they have been dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats, and placing them into loving forever homes ever since. They take pride in being a model for shelters nationwide. Age, physical condition, and socialization issues are never criteria for rescuing a dog or cat whose life is in jeopardy. They also run the Little Shelter Sanctuary for animals who cannot be adopted, the Sheltervale Pet Cemetery and the Town of Huntington Cat Shelter

The Northport Cat Rescue Association is a 100% volunteer operated organization that has found homes for over 70 cats this year, and is currently housing another 50, some of whom are too young to adopt and others of whom require some socialization. You can check out their Facebook page to learn more, including about an upcoming fundraiser!
We then got to talking with our friend Alicia Berwind, who is deeply passionate about animal rescue. She added these folks to the list:

Last Hope Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, started in 1981, helps Long Island cats and dogs. They take in kittens and, when they can, stray cats so they may be adopted to only the best homes. Last Hope's most impressive aspect may be their dedication to helping feral cats, providing education and an extraordinary TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program that offers low cost vouchers and weekend clinics. Each year, they spay and neuter over 1,000 feral cats. Their main location in Wantagh offers cat and dog adoption, as do satellite kitten and cat adoption centers in Wantagh, Huntington Station, Syosset and Bellmore. Volunteers and donations are always needed! Visit lasthopeanimalrescue.org to learn more and check out their precious dogs, cats, and kittens. Maybe you will find your newest family member. Adopt don’t Shop!

Tender Loving Cats in North Babylon rescues cats and kittens all over Long Island. They will work with independent trappers and always ensure when taking outside kittens that the mom cat is fixed. President Rebecca Caro will only adopt out cats that have been vetted and fixed ensuring a purrrfect match! They place over 300 cats a year and just added a new location in West Babylon. Volunteers are desperately needed in 2 hour shifts!!! Please visit tenderlovingcats.org to offer a few hours, donate, or find a new snuggle buddy!

LION - Long Island Orchestrating for Nature rescues nontraditional pets. In addition, they help wildlife across Long Island and keep pets like chickens and tame ducks from freezing to death because they were abandoned. Many who get chicks for Easter or hatch domesticated ducks in schools don't realize they will not survive without proper nutrition and shelter. They offer education on this and many other humane programs in addition to helping over 100 animals per year. President John Di Leonardo is an anthrozoologist who leads many successful animal rights campaigns. Visit humanelongisland.org for more on that.

Nobody Starves Long Island, located in Middle Island, is dedicated to the idea that if we work together, it is possible to save them all. With a motto, "We can feed them all," their food pantry serves more animals than all of Long Island's major animal shelters combined, helping those who cannot afford to feed their pets. In special circumstances they have also offered additional assistance. They take donations for animal care as well as food donations.
Together, We can Save Them All!

To be clear, Dr. Kate M. Creasey Krainer is not here to help others. The word help, in fact, makes her cringe. Instead, she endeavors to do her job and empower others to use science to grow, thrive and heal. There is no time to waste.
 
Currently, people are starving and suffering from malnutrition, with over 800 million lacking sufficient food to maintain a decent quality of life. The causes are complex and interrelated, ranging from poor farming practices and waste to political instability, corruption and wars to environmental destruction. As our global population grows and climate change increases the impacts of hurricanes, floods and drought, world hunger only promises to rise.
 
It doesn’t have to be this way. As Kate puts it, “We can enable others to grow more, and encourage a dialogue about overcoming food insecurity, climate change and famine.”
 
Kate seems as much an elegant permaculturalist, dedicated to environmental health and sustainability, as she is a highly trained and published plant geneticist. She believes that science is only as good as the integrity of the science communication with those of us who aren’t experts.
 
Committed to improving farming yields and to advancing high quality dialogue on what improving yields really involves, Kate is tired of people being manipulated by narrow interests who are often misinformed themselves. She is concerned about those who are suffering with food insecurity, and troubled by the volumes of toxins pouring into our lands and waters from agriculture. In 2017, she founded Grow More Foundation, bringing people together to make a change.

Grow More’s mission is to enable scientists and farmers in the developing world, especially women, to address food insecurity and to adapt to our changing climate through the responsible use of science in agriculture. They aim to promote transparency regarding bioengineering in agriculture, raise awareness, and provide education and resources enabling those in the developing world to harness the full potential of agricultural research for the betterment of their communities.
 
One key component of Grow More’s Awareness program is an elegant means of increasing crop yield as well as spreading awareness of the issues growers face. It’s a  marriage of art and science resulting in beautiful, ingenious jewelry that serves both farmers and those who would speak for them.

Enter the Artist
Long Island artisan and founder of The Firefly Artists, Kate Sydney, recalls how she came to be involved in PlantingSeed. “Dr. Kate reached out to me by email from somewhere in the world! At first it seemed far reaching to imagine our lives of plant science and silver-smithing working together.  She told me she needed a jeweler – preferably a woman-founded small business owner on Long Island, who could craft wearable tools that could enable indigenous women to grow more food and promote businesses of their own! I was inspired by her enthusiasm and her knowledge and valued the tremendous opportunity to create as well as to serve people.”

PlantingSeed jewelry became possible with the skilled collaboration of Long Island jewelry-smith Kate Sydney and measurements provided by Grow More’s many prominent scientists and growers. The design of each piece incorporates mathematical dimensions, calculated through scientific research, for the ideal depth and spacing of seed planting, helping growers to grow more in the space available.
 
In the developing world, women are the often-overlooked core of the agricultural workforce. The impacts of our changing world on agriculture will have massive consequences for women’s livelihoods. PlantingSeed designs are a visual guide for maximizing harvests, sharing the latest in agricultural research with those who need it the most.

PlantingSeed Lariat Necklaces
Corn, Creasey Krainer explains, is one of the most common crops in a farmer’s portfolio, grown on every continent except Antarctica. It is not difficult to realize why - corn provides necessary calories for healthy metabolism, is high in fiber and a rich source of vitamin A, B and E, as well as many minerals and antioxidants.
 
She then shows us Grow More’s PlantingSeed Corn lariat - a beautiful necklace, featuring hand-selected watermelon tourmalines and custom sterling silver bezels. “This can enable growers to maximize their crop yields by providing the optimal space for each seedling to grow. It is that simple.”
 
Just a few inches can make a huge difference when planting seeds, especially by hand. The length of the necklace shows the ideal planting distance between rows of corn, while the distance between the beads indicates just how far apart to plant seeds to avoid crowding. It’s all about making the most efficient use of space.

Drought Earrings
Drought and climate change considerations are important priorities in agricultural research. The PlantingSeed project aims to share findings from research with the growers who need it most.
 
“Water is essential and is much of the crisis,” says Creasey Krainer, “In water-hungry places, seeds need to be planted at least twice as deep so that the roots can reach whatever water is available. We’ve designed earrings that not only let women know the precise depth for planting in Ghana, but that also enable philanthropists to explain it.”
 
Honoring Cultural History and Desires for the Future
Whether we’re talking about the semiprecious stones dangling from Kate’s ear that were lovingly handcrafted on Long Island by Kate Sydney, or the “durables” that PlantingSeed designs empower women-owned businesses in sub-Saharan Africa to create, it’s beautiful and deeply practical. The whole idea is elegant and effective.
 
Creasey Krainer is also mindful that jewelry can carry important cultural significance. She pulls handfuls of traditional necklaces out of her bag, talking briefly about their origin and significance. There are upcycled Ghanaian glass and painted clay beads, Ugandan paper beads, Kenyan batiked bone beads.
 
With these carefully chosen materials, the “durables” thus become as much works of art as the jewelry intended simply to be worn and talked about. “It’s a wearable tool that reflects both cultural history and desires for the future,” says Creasey, “It helps farmers maximize yields, promotes small business at home and abroad, and also advances the dialogue in the developed world. “

Building Support
“Our conversations launched a major project,” remembers Sydney, “I somehow found time to craft four sets of earrings and two necklaces in the middle of the holiday season. We sold out instantly. We’ve since made 100 pieces, and I’m working to make more. But really, we need more jewelers to get involved!”
 
Dr. Creasey Krainer reflects on the many who have contributed in one way or another. “We are fortunate to be members of Pro Bono Partnerships, which provide legal services to non-profits in the Tri-State area. They are particularly thankful to Cooley LLP for enabling them to submit their patent application for PlantingSeed jewelry.
 
Creasey Krainer is also deeply grateful for their “PlantingSeed Ambassador,” Dr. Joanne Chory. An internationally renowned HHMI Investigator and Breakthrough Prize Laureate,  Professor Chory is perhaps best known for her research into ways that plant genetics may assist in mitigating Climate Change. She was recently awarded funds through the Audacious Project, a collaborative experiment to put bold ideas for social change into action.. 
 
“Dr. Chory introduced our drought earrings at the 2019 Breakthrough Prize Award ceremony,” says Creasey Krainer, “I’m grateful to say she’s a tremendous advocate for our work.”
 
Creasey Krainer ardently networks with scientists, influencers and passionate people all over the world. She hopes to engage as many women as possible, seeking partners and volunteers from all walks of life and building connections with anyone interested in global food security and sustainability.
 

You can be a part of this solution!
One simple way to get involved is to buy a deeply meaningful, beautiful gift, and talk about it! 100% of the proceeds from the sale of PlantingSeed jewelry feed back into making the program 100% sustainable. With each purchase, a similar but more hardwearing piece is given away.
 
PlantingSeed jewelry offers great conversation pieces that help promote a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by growers all over the world. Proceeds are also used to supply women in impoverished countries with tools to build a business and better feed their families. The jewelry is thus a wearable story and a powerful tool; a thoughtful marriage of art and science that makes the best use of what we’ve learned to serve each other and the planet we share.

By Justine Miller.
This was originally published on Facebook on October 29, 2013. We think it bears repeating. While Superstorm Sandy was awesome in its power to wreak havoc, especially on our South Shore, it was the incredible power of our communities that most deeply impressed us. We were among those who offered a hand here and there, alongside incredible neighbors like these and others who came from miles away on service missions of their own. One of those literal missionaries, lovingly dubbed a "Mucking Morman" by the folks working with him, told us he'd been to many disaster zones but had never seen anything like what he witnessed on Long Island -- So many people from so many communities, coming together to clean up the mess and tend to each other. Honestly, we hadn't realized just how incredible these folks were, either. Now, we will never forget. Seven years in, folks like the Friends of Freeport are still taking volunteers. Want to get involved? Email us!

It's been a year now since Hurricane Sandy literally destroyed my hometown of Freeport, NY. The news said it was going to be one of the largest storms ever to hit Long Island, a "perfect storm" if you may. The conditions were set up with a tide coming in, full moon and the winds bearing down. Then, it hit! The tidal surge engulfed Freeport. People were trapped in their homes while 8 and 10 feet of water broke down their doors and pushed in their windows. They helplessly retreated to their upstairs and attic crawl spaces, not knowing if the water was going to keep on rising up and up some more. Homes burned to the ground, Part of our gem of Freeport, the Nautical Mile, burned to the ground. The fire department was unable to respond due to the flooding and the fires had to burn themselves out.

Finally the waters receded. People came down from their refuges in their own homes. They went outside and bore witness to the devastation that Sandy wrought.

It was surreal, like an explosion went off and tossed my village around. There were boats everywhere! Because Freeport had so many marinas and just about everyone that lived on the water had a boat, it was complete chaos. Boats in the middle of roads, on lawns, half in and half out of the water and leaning on power lines. Cars floated down yards and streets. It was like someone took the south end of Freeport and threw it in the air and let everything hit the ground. One of the things that hit me most in the coming days was looking around and seeing the high tide line, in a lot of cases higher then the top of my head.

The electric was off. The National Guard came in to assist because there were looters out there. Can you imagine that? Looters in Freeport! Never in my wildest nightmares would I believe that MY TOWN would have looters come in like cockroaches to take even more from my people. Then the gas shortages happened. People waited on line for hours. The police had to regulate the crowds and fights broke out among my desperate community because they didn't have gas for their cars or their generators. They didn't have food, or kitchens to even make food, no fresh water, nothing.

The day after the storm a few people came together immediately, calling friends, relatives and neighbors to check on them. There was a desperate need for help, a need for just the basic necessities. Forget TV. The cold weather came in. These people needed blankets (if they even were able to return to their homes), They didn't need their luxuries, they needed the basic items for survival.

Well these few people (and I'm so proud to be one of them) began what would eventually become Friends of Freeport; a small group that would eventually evolve into an established, real, amazing group that has helped HUNDREDS of people return to normalcy.

It started small. We made magnets to sell as fundraisers with 100% of the profits going back to our people to get started on the work that was needed to help. We also formed a secret group, you might have heard of them, the Nite Sprites, that wanted to boost morale and give a little brightness to the ravaged community. We put ribbons of every color all over Freeport, lining Atlantic avenue and Woodcleft, on hundreds of houses, in front of schools. A germ of hope and community spirit started back up again.

Let me also commend ALL of the Village of Freeport employees! Tirelessly they worked, trying to protect the village, 24-7 they worked to right what they could in the village. The Freeport Police, the Freeport Fire department, public works, electric department, EVERY single department pulled together and worked so hard to return at least a little visible normalcy to the village.

There was also the Freeport Recreation Center set up to provide food, showers, clothing and information to the people. There were the Freeport Food Angels going around bringing hot meals to people who couldn't get to the Rec, providing more hope.

It was starting, The Hope was starting. It was AMAZING to watch it bloom. The community pulled together! We were going to survive Sandy and pull together as one! People started to believe again. They saw the needs of the community and people started checking on their neighbors, They started to care about those around them, started to want to help each other. Amazing!

So, back to this group, Friends of Freeport. This little group started calling for volunteers. The work that we are still called to do needed to get started. The volunteers came in like gangbusters. Regardless of the situations in their own homes, in the middle of winter, they came like a tide of miracles.

The coordination began. The groups started forming within FOF. The ripouts began. We had the sidewalkers to go door to door, telling people of the help that was out there and collecting lists of people that needed food (thank you Food Angels). We passed out as much information as possible to get help to people, and to inform them of what assistance was out there.

It grew! Bigger and bigger it grew! FOF kept going! Fundraisers, the website, the shirts, the magnets, the donations. All of it kept going, and still grows.

The volunteers... There will be a special FOF section in heaven for our volunteers. To this day, they keep going. As the ripouts slowed down the rebuilding began. We were accomplishing our mission! We were helping people get home. Not to a "house" that was destroyed, but back Home.

I am soooo proud of our group. My heart swells when I think of all that has been done. It truly is amazing and miraculous and it gave me faith in the human spirit again that there are people who do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. I believe in the goodness of people again. I know that I've seen miracles.

In ending, I want to say thank you to all involved, the board.members, the donors, and most of all the volunteers. Without you these miracles wouldn't have happened. And thank you to that Bitch of a storm called Sandy for providing hope and faith again.