Farmingdale High School alumna Heather Parisi has made it her mission to positively impact the lives of children who live in the East African country of Uganda. The graduate of the Class of 1987 developed the not-for-profit organization Fitness for Africa and established the Pearl of Hope Nursery and Primary School in order to fulfill her mission.
When Parisi visited a village in Northern Uganda, an area which is recovering from more than 20 years of war, while she was on a vacation in 2011, she felt compelled to make a difference in the lives of the villagers.
While sponsoring 26 students at Victory Nursery and Primary School in March 2011, the idea of the organization Fitness for Africa was established and tested by Parisi. It was officially chartered as a not-for-profit organization in May 2011.
Parisi created the board game Flip2BFit in order to educate the children about healthy living. “It teaches them yoga, cardio, stretching and strength as well as nutrition facts,” said Parisi. “I had consulted with nutritionists as well as done research myself to assure that everything in the game is based on facts.”
Parisi developed the Pearl of Hope Nursery and Primary School in a village in Northern Uganda in February 2013. Currently, there are 54 students registered. “I chose to name the school Pearl of Hope because Uganda is the pearl of Africa, and I want to give the people of Uganda hope,” Parisi said.
Parisi purchases a lot of the food and supplies that are needed for the school. Parisi left her corporate job approximately two years ago and has reduced her living expenses so she can fulfill her mission.
The pen pal project, a letter writing-program that connects students from schools in Uganda to children and women in other parts of the world, was also developed as a part of Parisi’s organization.
Source:
Maidhof, Colleen. “Farmingdale's Parisi Brings Hope to Uganda.” Farmingdale Observer, 10 Aug. 2016, farmingdale-observer.com/2016/08/10/farmingdales-parisi-brings-hope-to-uganda
Eric Patterson was the Farm Superintendent and Association Professor at the State University of Farmingdale. He graduated from the college in 1920.
After he graduated, he farmed briefly before working at Rutgers University Agricultural Experimental Station.
Patterson joined Farmingdale State College as a member of the staff in 1925. He also served as President of the Alumni Association starting in 1931.
Patterson died in 1970.
Sources:
Early Faculty Members, www.farmingdale.edu/library/college-archives/early_faculty/index.shtml.
"ERIC PATTERSON, 69, UNIVERSITY FARMER." New York Times (1923-Current file), Aug 21, 1970, pp. 32. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/117982152?accountid=3788
Ezra Pearsall enlisted on August 12, 1862. He was 30 years old. He mustered in on September 8, 1862 with the 127th Regiment, Company E of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in action on November 30, 1864. He mustered out on August 21, 1865.
Pearsall was born around 1832. On March 17, 1895, he married Martha Pilkington. Martha had been previously married to soldier William Murphy until his death in 1881. He worked as a shoemaker. Ezra Pearsall died February 12, 1920.
Sources:
Ancestry
New York Military Museum
Harry Lowerre Post was born in 1881.
He started H. L. Post, Sash, Blinds, & Doors in 1901 on Main Street. In 1911, he rebuilt a 2,500 square foot building on the Northeast Corner of Main Street and Oakview. This building would later become Max Staller's Grocery & J. Leopold & Sons, Inc.
In 1918, H. L. Post began producing the wooden bodies used for Fulton Motor truck Company.
In 1925, he founded Bell & Post Motors Corporation with James L. bell. It was dissolved in 1937.
Post died in 1956
Source:
“Vanderbilt Cup Races.” Vanderbilt Cup Races - Blog - New Series Long Island Auto Manufacturers & Body Builders #1:Bell & Post Motors of Farmingdale, www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_long_island_automobiles_and_custom_bodybuilders_1_bell_post_of_f
Andrew Powell enlisted on August 21, 1862. He was 17 years old. He mustered in on September 11, 1862 with the 145th Infantry, Company K of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He transferred to Company K on October 9, 1962. He was promoted to Corporal on April 2, 1863. He transferred to the 107th Infantry, Company I on December 9, 1863. He mustered out June 5, 1865 in Washington, D. C.
Powell was born July 14, 1845, He worked first as a farmer. In 1880, he was working as a conductor on the railroad. At his death, he was a retired school janitor.
He was married to Phebe Seaman Powell. She died in 1886. They had six children. The family moved to New Jersey in the early 1880s. He married Margaret French in 1887. They had one child. Margaret died in 1911. He moved back to Farmingdale and married Caroline Weeks Smith in 1912. He died January 18, 1926. He is buried at the Plainedge Cemetery in Bethpage.
Sources:
Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society
Find a Grave
National Archives
New York State Military Museum
Charles Powell enlisted in 1861. He was 40 years old. He mustered in on November 28, 1861 in the 90th Regiment, Company I of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred to Company D on February 1, 1862. He was discharged in Key West for disability on March 5, 1862.
Powell was born around 1821.
Source:
New York State Military Museum
John Powell enlisted on August 14, 1862. He was 18 years old. He mustered in on September 11, 1862 with the 145th Regiment, Company K of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred to Company K on October 9, 1862 and to the 107th Regiment, Company I on December 9, 1863. Died August 31, 1864 in Indiana of illness.
Source:
New York Military Museum
Prelude Bookshop was located on Main Street. It opened January 1, 1984 and was owned by Gary Nargi.
Customers were able to request any book in print and obtain it within a week at 15% less of its published price. It carried used books to collector's items. When it opened, it held 10,000 titles.
The bookstore had collections of the main genres as well as books written in foreign languages. It also offered Farmingdale residents a chance to sell some of their books.
Source:
Amster, Sara-Ellen. "Inside Look at Prelude." Farmingdale Observer. March 22, 1884
Gregory Purnhagen Gomez was born in Manhattan and raised in Massapequa Park on Long Island. Since studying vocal performance at NYU and Mannes College of Music, Greg’s eclectic career has included international touring in several productions with Philip Glass; performances in pieces created by such avant-garde luminaries as Meredith Monk and Anthony Braxton; Off-Broadway shows: Chez Garbo, Night Vision, The Marilyn Project; cast recordings including Of Thee I Sing, Allegro, and Mr. Glass’s Monsters of Grace and Hydrogen Jukebox.
During the 1990s, he was a BMG recording artist as a member of Toby Twining Music, touring extensively and making numerous appearances on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. Along the way he has pursued his passion for cabaret, creating several well-received shows and appearing in revues such as Rendezvous (2008 MAC nominee) at Feinstein’s in New York City.
BABALU-CY! The Art of Desi Arnaz debuted at Metropolitan Room in 2007, won a Backstage Bistro Award in 2008, and went on to an Off-Broadway run at the Actor’s Temple in New York’s Theater District. A presentation of the show at Hofstra University’s Monroe Center Theater in 2010 brought him to the attention of Bob Kasha and Ada Cavallo, the husband and wife team that took over the Xavier Cugat Orchestra after Cugat retired. One thing led to another and before he knew it, he went from portraying the great Cuban American bandleader who, incidentally, received his first big break from Cugat, to leading the New Xavier Cugat Orchestra, becoming an actual bandleader himself, adopting his birth father’s family name in the process. (That’s another story.) Among his many commercial recordings, which include his first solo effort, Desiderio, he is especially proud to have contributed guest vocals on Bjork’s CD, Medulla.
Source:
Welcome, www.gregpurnhagen.com/Gregory_Purnhagen_Gomez/Welcome.html