Staten Island Memories Program Launches at Cabaret Night with Mike Azzara

Every neighborhood has a history. Every civic association and family has a history and memories worth capturing before it's too late. While he was at the Staten Island Advance, Mike Azzara brought to readers for over a decade letters and photos that brought this history alive. On January 9th, from 1-4 PM at a cabaret at the Hilton Garden Inn Lobby Lounge, Azzara will help launch a project that over the next 12 months invites all Staten Islanders to share their memories. The cabaret will also celebrate the beginning of Staten Island's 350th Anniversary year (2011). Monthly calendars with historic and contemporary images of significant sites on the Island will be distributed to all guests.

Highlighting the cabaret is vocalist AJ Tyndale, a Staten Island native best known on the New Jersey cabaret circuit. She studied voice at Carnegie Hall, sang for serviceman through the USO, and has appeared in many nightclubs and cabarets, including Odette's (alongside cabaret legend Margaret Whiting), the Stockton Inn, and the Cosmopolitan Club. AJ released her new CD, Live at the Stockton Inn, in January 2010. She will be accompanied by pianist Bob Egan and vocalist Jack McDade. Tickets are $40 per person. For reservations, please call 718-351-1611, ext. 236. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Funds raised at the cabaret will help to support the "SI Memories" series, a 12-part program at each of the branches of the New York Public Library on Staten Island. These will be held Saturdays in 2011, from Great Kills (Feb. 5) and Port Richmond (March 12) to Todt Hill-Westerleigh (March 26), New Dorp (April 16), Dongan Hills (April 23) and Huguenot Park (June 4) in the winter and spring. Summer and fall programs will be held at the Richmondtown branch (June 25), Tottenville (July 30), South Beach (August 27), and West New Brighton (Sept. 10). All NYPL programs are free of charge. Each program will have a moderator. If you would like to volunteer to moderate a program, please contact info@si350.org. The programs will be recorded and archived at the Staten Island Museum as part of the SI350 collection.

In addition to Mike Azzara, the event will honor three others who have contributed to building memories on Staten Island. Bea Victor, Staten Island Advance columnist, will be honored for her service to the seniors on Staten Island who will be sharing their memories. Aurelia Curtis, principal of Curtis High School, and Msgr. Whalen of Monsignor Farrell High School will be honored to recognize their work as well as the contributions of the alumni of those schools. Alumni groups throughout the Island are encouraged to participate in the Staten Island Memories project or to contact SI350, Inc. to schedule a session for their group. Mike Azzara will be sharing his favorite columns of all time and other honorees will each share a favorite memory of Staten Island. If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute an ad to the journal showcasing Mike Azzara's best Memories columns, please contact info@si350.org.

The Staten Island Memories project is the brainchild of Dorothy Myhre-Donahue, a native Staten Islander and member of the Sons of Norway, the Richmond County Yacht Club, and the Port Richmond Alumni Association, who participated in the 300th anniversary of Staten Island in 1961. "Recently, at many family and school reunions, it has been great fun to reminisce about life in our old neighborhoods. I can't wait to revisit those special times at gatherings at our local libraries," Dotty said. Ann Merlino, former Chair of the Biology Department at the College of Staten Island and active in many local civic groups, whose father established Merlino Photography Studios in Port Richmond, will co-chair the event.

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