To hear of the pain of the senseless loss of life in Las Vegas last week was overwhelming. I feel shellshocked by this event and all the recent losses with which we’re still trying to cope: the hurricane hell in Houston and Florida, and even more devastation on Puerto Rico and the other Caribbean islands. The tourist industry that they depend on is destroyed. So many lives have been forever upended.
It touched me when I saw an interview on my favorite TV show, “Sunday Morning” on CBS. They spoke with a beautiful young woman who was in a “shootout” five years ago. It struck me how she shared that her physical wounds had healed but the memory of the incident still haunts her every day, and it probably always will.
These incidents may be beyond our control but reaching out to help in some small way can make a difference.
Donate what you can to charities serving hurricane victims. Also, write a letter to our political leaders — our members of Congress, state officials and Senators Schumer or Gillibrand. They need to keep hearing our voices.
Reason must rule! We must raise our voices for change in our gun laws and Intelligent people on both sides of the issue must sit in a room and come out with a compromise now! Our future depends on it.
On a Lighter Note
The stunning campus of Long Island University in Old Brookville was the site of the Global institutes’ second event — a sold-out opportunity to hear former President Bill Clinton speak.
The institute is the brainchild of former Representative Steve Israel who spent 16 years in the House of Representatives after decades in local politics. He resigned from his post to further his writing career (he’s on his third novel) and to pursue his passion for world understanding. He’s even a columnist in the rebooted Long Island Press.
Israel founded the Global Institute to “serve as the premier regional platform for understanding a world that has been described…as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.”
It’s great for our region that Steve is bringing his know-how and relationships to us.
He looks like a very happy man in his new role and it looks like he’s having the time of his life! Congratulations.
Human First gala
The same evening as President Clinton spoke, I was the MC of Human First’s annual gala at Engineers Country Club in Roslyn.
It was my pleasure to help them raise money and celebrate Donna Limiti, Assemblymember David Weprin, Donna Delia and Ron Gold, whom the organization honored for their years of commitment to people with disabilities. Human First Executive Director Cheryelle Cruickshank has devoted her life to making a difference.
The program was focused on supporting Human First’s group homes and day programs, as well as the services they provide to those in need.
