NOTE: Two of the alumni hosts, Alana and Tom, do not use their last names on the air. So, I have omitted their last names from this post.
The 2026 Homecoming Weekend block on WCWP/WXBA and at LIU Post ran from noon on Friday, September 18, through midnight on Sunday, September 20 (Monday, September 21). The focal point was the LIU Sharks‘ Homecoming football game against the Villanova Wildcats.
Rather than write a long preamble, let’s get started.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
I arrived at the Abrams Communications Center around 11:15 AM as Project Independence and You celebrated its 15th anniversary. That weekly show was live in studio 3 and I set up for Instrumental Invasion, the first show of WCWP‘s annual Homecoming Weekend, next door in studio 2. For only the second time (but the first at the station itself), I did not use CDs. All music and liners were on a flash drive that I connected to the computer and loaded into Zetta. I learned along the way that the liners were better off on an internal hard drive. So, nearly an hour into my show, I copied those to a folder on a network drive provided by station manager Dan Cox. He then put those into Zetta for me to re-add.
Homecoming Weekend began one minute after noon, following underwriting and a Jim Cutler-voiced legal ID.
Alana was next at 2PM with Rockin’ Retro Radio, a prerecorded show.
Hank Neimark and John LiBretto were next at 4PM with Strictly Jazz. Jeff Kroll ran the board.
Hank Neimark
John LiBretto
Jeff Kroll tells John LiBretto about Saturday’s Homecoming football game at Shark Stadium
Jeff showing Neil Marks how Zetta works
After their show concluded, Hank Neimark and John LiBretto posed for a photo in the Abrams Communications Center lobby.
Here is how the show sounded…
…and how most of it looked:
Yes, I was interviewed at one point.
During Strictly Jazz, I took this photo of John Zoni, Jeannie Moon, and Pat Kroll:
John and Jeannie hosted the LIU Sharks football pregame, halftime, and postgame shows in studio 3 on Saturday. John also had his usual classic rock show at 9PM Friday.
Preceding John at 7PM was The DFK Show with Jay Mirabile.
Jay’s wife Leonora took the photo of me and him. Then, I asked for one of her with Jay.
10 days later, Scarlett Helen Mirabile was born! Congratulations to Jay and Leonora!
Principal prerecording occurred on my Twitch channel during streams on August 27 and 28, combined below into a 58x speed montage, set to “Cinco Cinco Seis” by Four80East.
The Dad Rock Show with Tom ended the prerecorded streak at 7AM.
Live programming resumed at 9AM with David Friedland, seen after his show with John Zoni:
A scope of David’s show (joined in progress):
I arrived back at LIU Post during the Sharks football pregame show, heard here in its entirety:
That’s my cue to head to Shark Stadium for some of the Homecoming game’s first half.
Travis Demers and Jeff Kroll called the game on the room. Neil Marks served as remote producer.
Travis Demers’ view of Bronko Piersall Field at Shark Stadium
The marching band and cheerleaders
North end zone
Midfield
Bronko Pearsall played for the C.W. Post Pioneers and later served in the Hempstead Fire Department and FDNY. He and 342 other firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.
There was a sea of V (Villanova fans) in the stands on the east end of Bronko Pearsall field.
Sharks huddle
Wildcats huddle
I recorded over 15 minutes of video on my Canon EOS R7 as the Sharks had a long drive that resulted in the first points of the game. You’ll see that video later.
The kickoff after the field goal…
Villanova would match the Sharks’ field goal, then take a 10-3 lead. The Sharks got within four points on a second field goal, but the Wildcats answered that. Villanova’s 13-6 lead was wiped out on a pick 6 and extra point for the Sharks. Unfortunately, LIU’s go-ahead field goal was immediately answered with a Villanova touchdown (and extra point). One interception later, the final score was 20-16. It was the third straight Homecoming heartbreaker.
On the way back to WCWP, I took a photo of this sign. 2026 was Long Island University’s (Brooklyn campus) centennial.Preparations were underway for a barbecue outside WCWP after the Homecoming game.
The pregame, halftime, and postgame reports were hosted by John Zoni and Jeannie Moon in studio 3, produced by William. All other programming (aside from play-by-play at Shark Stadium) was in studio 2.
These photos were taken at halftime.
John Zoni
Jeannie Moon
William plays a first half highlight (Villanova’s missed field goal)
The video below combines the Shark Stadium recording from my EOS R7 with studio 3 footage from my Panasonic HC-X1500 camcorders.
I consulted the box score for my on-screen graphic homage to an actual football telecast (if it were the 1980s).
Since this is a radio station, I’ll include separate audio files.
Drive for first field goal (and lead of the season):
Halftime report (plus Jeff Kroll’s cord entanglement):
Thanks to Bernie for providing her hour 1 file to fill the automation gaps at the beginning and end.
The remaining Saturday photos start with this one of KJ Mills and Alana:
KJ hosted an R&B show at 6PM on Sunday. Scroll down for that, and scroll up for Alana’s prerecorded Rockin’ Retro Radio that ran at 2PM Friday.
Thanks to Alana for taking photos of me with KJ Mills…
…and Travis Demers:
Mike Riccio and Bobby G. hosted their top 100 songs of the 1960s show at 6PM following Bernie Bernard’s 4PM prerecord.
Thanks to Mike for passing along a scan of the top 100 chart:
Here are Bobby G. and Mike, joined in progress:
My parents picked me up for home around 6:30 PM.
Just as I didn’t plan on including the Sharks pregame show, I’m throwing in Bernie’s aural thesis on pirate radio. This originally aired in 2022, but found a new audience this year at 9PM Saturday.
The thesis was followed at 10PM by Total Access with another radio diva, Sami Jo Negron.
Sami Jo and her husband-to-be Pete Sacoulas were among Bernie’s students before she retired in 2016. The theme for Sami’s show was songs from 2013 to ’17, her years as a student at LIU Post. Of course, that included two songs from Taylor Swift‘s 2014 pop turn, 1989. Not only did Sami play “Shake It Off,” which I invoked in my Instrumental Invasion prerecord while backselling a Sam Riney song the year 1989, but also “Style.” See what I meant about unintentional foreshadowing?
As a Swiftie of nearly three years, I appreciated the inclusion of those songs. For the sake of non-Swiftie readers, I’ll withhold Taylor Swift news that broke after Homecoming Weekend, but here I am with Sami Jo and Pete in 2021:
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Sunday’s first seven hours were all reruns: Spider Harrison, the Homecoming loss to Villanova, and Instrumental Invasion.
John Commins’s prerecorded show followed at 8AM with nothing but 1970s rock songs.
John Commins in 2017
Billy the Kid (Billy Houst) had Sunday’s first live show at 10AM. Joey C. (Joe Conte) and Little B3 co-hosted Billy’s hard rock show.
At noon, Jamie Mazzo played a mix of rock, ska, punk, and indie.
Any instances of AC hum were filtered out in Adobe Audition. That was an issue late in Jamie’s show and the start of Ted David’s 2PM show.
Here was Ted during his 2024 Homecoming Weekend show (selfie by Ted):
The main focus of Ted’s ’26 show was cover songs, with most covered by Hindley Street Country Club from Adelaide, Australia, and Moscow-based Leonid and Friends. It was enough for me to affectionately dub this “the Hindley Streetonid and Friends cover song showcase.” Listen:
Jeff and Pat Kroll had their turn at 4PM.
The Krolls at the controls in 2025
After their show, Jeff and Pat caught up with WCWP alumnus George Petersen, who hosted Shades of Jazz, the spiritual successor of Strictly Jazz, from 1974 to ’77. 2026 HOF inductee Walter Youngmann served as Shades of Jazz coordinator when he was a student. Alan Seltzer shared fond memories of working with George and regular Shades of Jazz engineer Walter Syzak, and how they were regulars at the weekly staff Monopoly game.
Here is George Petersen with the Krolls after their 2026 show wrapped up:
Thanks to Jeff for the photo. I wish there were more photos from Sunday, but as of publication, this is it.
KJ Mills hosted his aforementioned R&B/hip-hop show at 6PM.
It was nice to hear DJ Eli W. Sen make a cameo.
After Rockin’ History reran at 8PM, one show remained: Rock ‘N’ Soul Gospel with Grandfather Rock Chris MacIntosh. Check it out.
Once Garth Hewitt‘s “Red Hot and Cooking” gave way to underwriting, the 2026 WCWP Homecoming Weekend was over and regular programming resumed.
Post-production began on Monday, September 21, and continued gradually through the morning of Sunday, October 4. Unlike last year, I airchecked every second of original programming myself. I did so with timer recordings in Audacity on my bedroom computer and the guest room computer, and on my laptop at the Abrams Communications Center via a USB phono preamp connected to a radio tuned to 88.1 FM.
I learned ahead of September 18 that Windows considers these preamps microphones and outputs one channel by default. That’s why my FM tuner recordings in previous years had unfavorable sound quality. You have to go into audio settings and switch to two channels. Problem solved!
The FM tuner supplied airchecks of the live Instrumental Invasion, Rockin’ Retro Radio, Strictly Jazz, the football game, the Hall of Fame announcement, and Bernie Bernard’s show. The WCWP website’s stream player stops after five hours, but the TuneIn link runs continuously (unless the page crashes and goes to an error message). After alternating between home computers on Friday and Saturday, I mainly airchecked on both computers on Sunday. The link seldom crashed when using the Edge browser. Thank goodness what happened last year (unknowingly airchecking silence) didn’t happen again.
I’ll stop this tangent before I go too far afield.
Thank you very much for reading all the way to the end. Bonus thanks if you also read my Instrumental Invasion recaps. The experience is a labor of love. It may get tedious and stressful, but the payoff in compliments is well worth the strife.
See you in the spring at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
The prerecorded edition of Instrumental Invasion for WCWP‘s alumni-run Homecoming Weekend programming block aired at 2AM on September 19 and reran at 5AM on September 20.
First, the scoped aircheck:
I used TuneIn’s WCWP page to aircheck shows through Homecoming Weekend, and occasionally dealt with ads crashing the page in whatever browser I used. That happened with 21 minutes to go in the initial September 19 2AM broadcast. So, the last 21 minutes (8 minutes of the above scope) are from the September 20 5AM rerun.
Just like the live show playlist, I wrote the first draft well in advance, on January 13. Revisions were made on January 24, May 27, and June 26. Here is the completed playlist.
Annotations were drafted July 6 and 7 with further tweaks made during pre-production and post-production. The script was drafted August 23 and 25, and later tweaked with the annotations. This the final script.
I recorded one hour per day live on my Twitch channel, August 27 and 28. Pickups were recorded on the evening of August 28 and on September 3. For the first time, I utilized the ERA 6 Mouth De-Clicker plugin in Adobe Audition. (I’d already been using it in OBS for my Twitch streams.) That limited the time needed to listen for mouth clicks in the talk breaks and apply Audition’s own declicker filter. Oh, and this was my first Instrumental Invasion prerecord since acquiring a Shure SM7dB mic and compatible 7b variant of the Kaotica Eyeball noise isolation shield. WCWP uses Shure SM7B mics in its studios, which means I’ll sound the same at home and in the Abrams Communications Center.
My talk breaks were quite verbose in hour 1 and had to be cut back drastically. Hour 2 had the opposite problem: most talk breaks were short. For the last talk break of the show, I had to talk slower to fill the gap between the last song and and last liner. I was still a few seconds short and padded that out with an extra liner.
Here are screenshots of each hour’s multitrack session, direct from OBS:
For the second year in a row, the live edition of Instrumental Invasion kicked off the 2026 edition of WCWP‘s alumni-run Homecoming Weekend programming block at 12PM Friday. The station still simulcasts on WXBA in Brentwood, as reflected in a new show liner I had Homecoming Weekend coordinator Ted David record. (I added Chris Maffei’s signature timpani roll bed in post-production.)
This was also the second year in a row where Strictly Jazz aired at 4PM, but Alana bridged the gap instead. Jeff and Pat Kroll did their show Sunday at 4PM following Ted David’s [mostly] cover songs show at 2PM.
Before I detail how this live Instrumental Invasion was made, and what transpired live, here is the scoped aircheck…
…along with video synced to the scope.
After years of burning two CDs with the show’s songs that I would alternate between on studio 2’s CD players, I opted to put all songs and liners on a flash drive for dragging and dropping into Zetta on the studio computer. Mercifully, the show began promptly at noon without a hitch. (I presumptuously wrote that sentence at 9:05 AM on September 18. I hope I was right.) (It is 3:46 AM on October 4. I was wrong.) As you saw and heard, the transfer from studio 3 to 2 took one minute. My “A” camcorder and show open sound file filled that silent gap. Station manager Dan Cox informed me that the liners were better off on an internal hard drive. So, I copied those to a folder on a network drive. Dan then put those into Zetta for me to re-add. Except for the Bernie Bernard liner, that eliminated the issue where songs had to complete before a liner could play. Otherwise, “Hi, I’m Bern-“
Continuing the 60-year musical journey theme, I made the first playlist draft all the way back on January 12! It was an incomplete draft, starting at 1966 and stopping at 2021. I figured I’d wait until summer before filling out the playlist with 2026 songs. Instead, I added three on March 7. The length of the songs required swapping in shorter songs from prior years. The final revision – not counting one where I added Alana’s name – came on June 9 when one 2026 song was swapped out for two shorter songs and a 2016 song was replaced.
Running the Travis Demers liner ahead of the 2001 set allowed me to reference Travis’s work as Portland Trail Blazers radio play-by-play announcer while backselling “Brazilia” by Wayman Tisdale. The reason is Wayman played for two of the Blazers’ Western Conference rivals. Thus, the callback to Travis and an excuse to run the LIU Sharks Homecoming football game promo. It had to be in one of the videos and airchecks from Friday since Jeff and Pat Kroll weren’t on till Sunday, although Jeff did preview the game on Strictly Jazz. I forgot that the stadium naming rights lapsed last year and it already went by “Shark Stadium.”
Here are photos I took in studio 2 during the show:
Thank you to Dan Cox for taking a photo of me at the board, and subsequently teaching me that -12dB is the optimal level for audio files in the digital age.
Read about this year’s prerecorded two-hour Instrumental Invasion here.
The photos below were taken before, during, and after the ceremony.
Truck Company 1 held up a large American flag with their 217 vehicle.
The ceremony was led by Alma Rocha.
Ex-Chief Kevin Muldowney of Engine Company 1 is saluting in the center of this photo. He is the younger brother of Engine 1 ex-captain Richie Muldowney, a member of FDNY Ladder Company 7. Richie was one of the 343 firefighters lost on September 11, 2001.
Freeport children in attendance were invited by Ms. Rocha to the podium to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Then, Joey Higgins performed a heartwarming rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Joey is a Marine Corps veteran and retired from FDNY Ladder 111. His brother Timmy was a lieutenant in FDNY Squad 252 on 9/11.
Prayers from Rev. Robert Dawley
Reading the names of Freeporters lost on 9/11 or to post-9/11 illnesses
A bell was rung for each name.
Lighting candles of remembrance were placed on the Richard T. Muldowney Jr. Memorial Lighthouse, dedicated as “Little America” in 2011.
A speech from Rev. Dr. Eric C. Mallette, Freeport Fire Department Chaplain and Greater 2nd Baptist Church Pastor
The ceremony closed with “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Ex-Chief Kevin Muldowney and his daughter LaurenLisa Chimeri, Alma Rocha, Janine Martorano
Lisa is my mom. My dad, Truck 1 ex-captain Bill Chimeri, was at the ceremony, but I didn’t see him until later.
Mom and I were invited to Kevin and Mandy Muldowney’s house after the ceremony. Janine was there, as was Kevin’s sister Mary (Mary Mo). I only took one picture at the house, of golden retriever Murray:
Before Mom and I headed home, Janine took a picture of me and Kevin:
Thank you for reading this post and viewing the photos.
The 2026 expo was dedicated to the memory of longtime staff member Terry Taylor, who died much too soon earlier this year. Several staff members donned caps that read “God Bless Terry Taylor.” Indeed. I don’t recall, but I’m sure I interacted with Terry at least once in all my years at LI Retro. He was memorialized in the Terry Taylor Vectrex Corner on the first floor, as seen via this Facebook post:
My three prior recaps were spread out over three posts per year. (This is post 1 from last year.) I feel I was judicious enough in my photography and culling for a singular, self-contained recap post. To help, for the first time, I’ve utilized page jumps (a.k.a. anchor links) at the top and peppered throughout.
I was quick to buy my weekend pass when tickets went on sale in winter, and I gradually built up my biggest budget ever. (I will not divulge the amount.)
In the days and hours leading up to August 8 (I didn’t go on the 7th), I had the usual performance and social anxiety that comes with being on the autism spectrum. I prayed for the strength and coping skills to get through any and all situations. So, you can understand why I needed many deep breaths as my mom drove me to the Cradle of Aviation Museum parking lot.
SPOILER: All that worrying was for nothing. I had a great time without any hitches.
ARRIVING AT THE MUSEUM Mom’s car pulled into the lot at 9:29 AM on Saturday, August 8.
Despite the high heat and humidity, I wanted to arrive as early as possible so I wouldn’t have to wait too long on line outside.
There were two lines: one on the left for those retrieving their badges at the box office via QR code, and one on the right for those who already had badges. Of course, the left line was the longer one and my Saturday destination. I’d be on the right line on Sunday.
The museum doors opened at 10AM and I reached the entrance (and air conditioning) at 10:07.
Once I got my badge, I affixed to a lanyard I saved from a year or two before and began walking around the first floor.
PHOTOS WITH GUESTS AND CANDID PHOTOS OF THEIR TABLES
Audacity Games with David Crane, Dan Kitchen, Garry Kitchen, and John Van Ryzin On the other hand, I overcame last year’s shyness and had a enjoyable interaction with the quartet of game design legends. “We don’t bite,” David Crane reassured me after I introduced myself and gladly bought all four games – new for the Atari VCS/2600 – that each of them developed. David designed Rescue from Poseidon’s Gate, Dan Kitchen’s game was Casey’s Gold, there was Alien Abduction! by John Van Ryzin (the spiritual successor to H.E.R.O.), with Garry Kitchen and David Crane co-designing Circus Convoy. Any or all of the games can be bought online here.
David Crane and Garry Kitchen talk to attendees at the Audacity Games table
You could even try them out on separate Atari 7800+ consoles:
As mentioned earlier, Ryan Burger publishes Old School Gamer, a magazine Tristan Ibarra is now involved in, on top of his author and designer credits. We’ll learn more about them in photos of their Sunday panel.
For now, here are Tristan, Walter, and Ryan:
My Life in Gaming with Coury Carlson and Marc “Try4ce” Duddleson Coury and Try were a late addition to the 2026 LI Retro guest list, and I’m glad they were booked. They were actually the first people I saw outside the museum Saturday morning before I got in line.
Try and Coury meeting an attendee and his son (out of view) who was cosplaying as Minecraft Steve
PANELS I limited myself to two panels each on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s were later and in the Main Theatre; Sunday’s were earlier in Panel Room 2, relocated to the first floor.
…have worked in the video game industry since the late 1970s. While they are known for their iconic game catalog on the Atari 2600 ([H.E.R.O.,] Pitfall!, Donkey Kong, Ghostbusters, Keystone Kapers, Crackpots…), they also bring a boatload of experience on NES, SNES, Gameboy, C64, Xbox, PlayStation, iPhone/iPad, PC/Mac and online gaming. Everybody knows Pitfall! and Donkey Kong, but did you know they also worked on Bart vs. the Space Mutants (NES), A Boy and His Blob (NES), AddictingGames.com (online), Transformers (C64), Shockwave.com (online), Candystand.com (online), and the infamous Desert Bus game from Penn & Teller?
Garry KitchenDan KitchenJohn Van RyzinDavid CraneQ&A…
The last photo perfectly encapsulates the mood of the panel. Garry, Dan, John, and David were full of interesting, engaging, and humorous anecdotes about their time in the gaming industry, working at Activision, and the many games they design and developed. (I especially enjoyed how Garry debunked a myth about Coleco’s Atari 2600 port of Donkey Kong.) They are a winning team.
Now, if only I could find John’s H.E.R.O. at a good price. Otherwise, I’ll play it in an Activision compilation.
8/28 UPDATE: Well, it isn’t a compilation, but the game design quartet’s games are getting re-released. And even though I struggled mightily at the Audacity Games games once I played them (sorry, guys), I’d still like to buy many of the re-releases.
Saturday Panel 2, 1:30-2:30 PM Main Theatre Pat Contri and Ian Ferguson CU Podcast Live!
My initial photos were taken on the right side of the first row as I deferred to an LI Retro staff photographer. Then, I went back to the center.
Among the topics for this episode The CUPodcast (Super Show #34) were:
Ian Ferguson and Pat ContriPat ContriIan FergusonThe Q&A portion of the podcast panel included a question from G Gracin (G to the Next Level).
I did not ask a question this year, and told Pat afterward what I would have asked. Part of my annual Christmas special viewing tradition includes watching Pat the NES Punk Christmas episodes, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Punk. (RIP Billy Chaser.) Will there be a Christmas episode this year? We’ll find out in four months.
I won’t go into detail about G’s panel since they recorded it for a future YouTube video, but I will share it in photo form.
If you’ve watched G’s streams, you’ll recognize the emotes designed by their spouse and fellow streamer Rannchann.
The 2026 Long Island Retro Gaming Expo was where I made my Dreamcast dream a reality. First, I found two controllers and a VMU from one vendor. Then, I found the console by itself (no power adapter or cables) from a second vendor. And from a third, I bought three games, including launch titles NFL 2K (released on launch day) and NBA 2K (two months after launch). You’ll see all of that (and the Sonic fanny pack) in the pickups segment.
As of publication, G’s most recent YouTube video is this one:
…a discussion on preserving and celebrating the history of video games and the community that built it. Walter Day will share stories from his years at Twin Galaxies, the journey behind his books, film appearances, and trading card series, explaining how the cards were created not just to honor champions, but to recognize the passion and achievements of gamers from every corner of the hobby. Ryan Burger will explore growing up during the rise of competitive gaming, the books, television shows, and media that chronicled gaming culture before it became a global phenomenon, and how Old School Gamer Magazine now works with many of those pioneering voices to introduce their stories to a new generation. Tristan Ibarra will discuss his path from Air Force veteran to gamer, collector, author, graphic designer, and magazine layout artist, sharing his passion for documenting the hobby and organizing its scattered history into accessible resources for fans and researchers alike. Together, the panel will reflect on the people, stories, and communities that shaped gaming culture, while celebrating the generations of enthusiasts whose dedication has helped preserve its legacy for the future.
How does that compare to my description written before thinking of citing the expo description?
For one hour, Panel Room 2 was transported to the state of Iowa. Ryan Burger and Tristan Ibarra were our hosts and they set up Walter Day to share stories galore. Ryan promoted Old School Gamer magazine and an upcoming book. Tristan detailed his The Video Game Collector’s Field Guide and his upcoming …Video Game Dictionary for the Total Noob. To that end, there were ten trivia questions with ten terms in Tristan’s dictionary. (I photographed the answers, but for obvious reasons, I’m keeping them to myself.) After Walter asked trivia questions, it was our turn to ask.
Mike Ferrara, a.k.a. HighScorsese, topped the Twin Galaxies rankings five times!One Walter quip made Tristan laugh.This question acknowledged learning of Twin Galaxies through Electronic Gaming Monthly, also founded in the Midwest (Lombard, Illinois).Journey with Patrick expressed hope to appear on one of Walter’s trading cards by attending many U.S. and Canada conventions, per a list he’s kept.
This is where I would have gone to a second post. Instead, in this same post, we begin a photographic tour of as much as I could see on each floor of the Cradle of Aviation Museum. I couldn’t get everything, and some photos were too blurry to include. The photos that remain are here.
Remembering what Norm Caruso said, I tried the Pods myself.
More from the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Pan Am exhibit:
PART THREE
DEPARTING THE MUSEUM The commercial aircraft were the last thing I photographed after coming downstairs from the Arcade Age Exhibit. That’s when I went back to searching vendors for a few more purchases, including that model 2 Sega CD. The last game I bought was Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Then, I went in the museum gift shop for three more plane replicas to go with the Pan Am plane I bought last year. And that was it. I took Lyft home to Wantagh with $44 to spare! It’s the first time I’ve ever left under budget!
Requisite exit photos:
PICKUPS What did Mike get? Well, let’s start with guest merchandise and business cards:
Thank you again, Sean Chiplock.
This is the fanny pack I won from G’s charity stream. Thank you very much, G.
Pixelated Pat [Contri] pin
Old School Gamer Magazine Issue 43, Mike Ferrara and Justin’s cards
Walter Day trading cards and his autobiography
The two bags full of games and signed cards from Audacity Games
This is just what I bought duringLong Island Retro Gaming Expo. I also bought many other things online to supplement some of my purchases. I won’t list them all, but they include VGA and power adapters for the Dreamcast and an Atari 7800+ to play those Audacity Games games. Furthermore, a VMUPro that I preordered months ago arrived Monday as I was wrapping up the first draft. (That process took six hours!)
CONCLUSION I’ve thanked many people throughout this post, but I owe a huge thanks to Ryan Shapiro, Joe Vincent, George Portugal (whom I didn’t get to see), and the rest of the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo staff for your support and accommodation. I am deeply grateful.
I’ll conclude this recap with the front and back of my badge and event program, the latter of which includes a photo of the late Terry Taylor.
In 2004 and 2018, the mode of transportation for Dad and I was LIRR trains. In the latter case, we spent more time traveling to Shinnecock Hills than attending the U.S. Open there. I was too worn out and we were so far away that I just wanted to go home. And I thought we’d be taking trains again in 2026. Instead, Dad drove to one of a few automobile parking lots for shuttle bus service to and from the course. Our destination was the “blue lot” on the former site of Calverton Executive Airpark.
Seconds later, we exited the L.I.E. Five minutes after that, we exited the northbound William Floyd for NY 25 east.
We turned into Calverton Executive Airpark at 10:27 AM.
Five minutes later, we were guided to a parking spot, walked to the checkpoint, and boarded a shuttle bus.
The USGA opted for late tee times on Saturday. The first pairing teed off at 9AM and the last wouldn’t begin their third round until 3:45 PM. This meant a low passenger capacity departed the blue lot at 10:39 with Dad and I seated in seats 5 and 6 (second row left). The east-southeast ride took about 45 minutes and was peaceful except for the music playing in my earbuds via my iPhone 17 Pro, which was the source for all photos in this recap.
I got a great photo of Shinnecock Canal ten minutes from the golf club entrance.
There was also a blurry photo of one of the early holes, but you don’t want to see that.
Dad and I exited the shuttle bus at 11:27 AM and would spend the next five hours within Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The first 2 1/2 hours were spent walking around as much of the course as possible. Let’s get two photos of me out of the way, one taken by my dad and the other a selfie:
The gallery below begins at gate 1 (11:28 AM) and ends at the 1st hole green (1:50 PM).
The first five U.S. Open champions at Shinnecock HillsRaymond Floyd in 1986Corey Pavin in 1995Brooks Koepka in 2018 (repeat; won at Erin Hills in ’17)Bryson DeChambeau at Winged Foot in September 2020What time is it?Far from tee time for those atop the leaderboardThe clubhouseIt was sunny and dry, but windy.One of many NBC Sports cameras throughout the courseThe 8th hole greenBud CauleyBud Cauley’s birdie try at 8Neal Shipley made his birdie!Joaquin Niemann and his caddie departing the 6th holeRussell Henley and 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin JohnsonI forgot whose ball this is.D.J. and his brother/caddie AustinMax Greyserman and Pierceson Coody on the 5th hole greenAt the 6th, Pierceson Coody’s tee shotMax Greyserman’s tee shotJacob Bridgeman’s tee shot at 16…followed by Dylan WuChris Gotterup in the fescue at 15Chris Gotterup and his caddie Brady StocktonChris Gotterup’s playing partner was amateur Eric Lee, seen on the right.Peter Ulhlein’s tee shot at 15…followed by Caleb SurrattNeal Shipley back again on the 12th hole green with his caddie Greg DyneBud Cauley’s tee shot at 13Neal Shipley’s 13th hole tee shotMichael Kim and Laurie Canter on the 13th greenA closer look at the clubhousePhotos at the practice green…So much for watching the remaining pairings start their third round.A distant view of the 1st teeZac Blair and his caddie Nikolas Kroisi walking to the 1st fairwayMax McGreevy’s second shot from the 1st hole fairwayZac Blair on the 1st hole green..and Max McGreevy
There are so many golfers (and caddies) in the photos above and below that I couldn’t possibly link to them all. Instead, I’ll link to this page on the U.S. Open website. Thanks, however, to Google for helping me identify the caddies.
Dad and I decided to set up on the right side of the 2nd hole tee to watch the last 11 pairings. Then, we’d head for home.
These photos were taken between 1:56 and 4:01 PM, and occasionally divert to the 1st hole green.
The first pairing Dad and I saw at the 2nd tee was Niklas Nørgaard and Alex Fitzpatrick.Alex is the brother of 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.I looked back to the 1st green for a photo of course reporter Roger Maltbie.Putting in the previous photo was Brian Harman, seen here at the 2nd tee.Brian’s playing partner was Scottie Scheffler.Brian Harman’s tee shotScottie Scheffler’s tee shotScottie would shoot a 69 and make the final pairing of the final round.2011 U.S. Open champion (and repeat Masters champion) Rory McIlroy was paired with Maverick McNealy.In a touching moment, an Irish father asked if his sons could sit by the ropes to watch Rory tee off. I courteously obliged.Maverick McNealy had the honor.Then, it was Rory’s turn.Back on the 1st green, a long putt from Akshay BhatiaBhatia was paired with Keith Mitchell.Akshay Bhatia’s tee shotRyo Hisatsune and his caddie Taiga TabuchiGary WoodlandGary’s caddie (and my uncle Jim’s fishing buddy) Brennan LittleWaiting for Mitchell and Bhatia to leave the 2nd green…Ryo Hisatsune’s tee shotGary Woodland’s tee shotAmateur Ryder Cowan out of the University of Oklahoma (“Boomer Sooner”)Cowan was paired with William Mouw in the third round.Ryder Cowan’s tee shot (He and Jackson Koivun ended up co-low-scoring amateurs)William Mouw’s tee shotSahith Theegala and Sam Burns would shoot 70 and 71 in the third round…Burns would shoot 67 on Sunday (more on that later), while Theegala regressed to a 73.Sahith Theegala’s tee shotSam Burns conferred with caddie Travis Perkins before his tee shot.Sam’s tee shotJustin Thomas and his caddie Matt “Rev” MinisterHarry Higgs with his brother/caddie AlexHarry Higgs’ tee shotJ.T. advised by RevJ.T.’s tee shotTom Kim and his caddie Joel StockCollin Morikawa and his caddie Mark UrbanekCollin Morikawa’s tee shotTom Kim’s tee shotXander Schauffele and his caddie Austin KaiserOut of view behind caddie Will Dennis is childhood best friend Sam Stevens.My dad and my left arm were seen on NBC after Sam Stevens’ tee shot.Xander Schauffele’s tee shotOnly one pairing left, led by 36-hole leader Wyndham Clark. He pared the 1st hole.Matt Fitzpatrick bogeyed.Then, Matt and Wyndham approached the 2nd tee.Matt’s caddie is Daniel Parratt while Wyndham’s caddie is David Pelekoudas, a.k.a. “Big Wave Dave.”Matt’s tee shot…and Wyndham’s tee shotMy last photo before departing
The walk back to the blue lot shuttle bus took 20 minutes, with a stop for a cookie and Sprite along the way.
The next New York area U.S. Open is at Winged Foot in 2028, the same as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.
The ride back to Calverton Executive Airpark was closer to 30 minutes than 45, but at full capacity. Dad and I sat near the middle of the bus while still on the left side.
It was 5:04 when we got “back to civilization,” as I quipped upon exit.
Thank you, as well, USGA and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Overall, I had a wonderful time.
Little did I know I was part of a mass exodus from the course that thinned the crowds by the time Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark finished their rounds just after 8PM. Well, maybe if the tee times were earlier, we’d have stayed longer. 3:45 for the last pairing? Shinnecock Hills is on Long Island’s East End, not the Monterey Peninsula like Pebble Beach Golf Links, home to next year’s U.S. Open. So what if it was the second-longest day of the year? Also consider that most attendees commuted from Nassau County (like me and Dad) or one of New York City’s five boroughs. Shinnecock isn’t as convenient as Bethpage Black. If everyone stayed for the end, I figure we’d all get home between 10:30 PM and 12:30 AM, depending on where we live. The final tee time on Sunday was 2:30 PM. Much better.
In Saturday’s third round, Wyndham Clark overcame bogeys with birdies, an eagle, and many pars. The result was an even par 70, remaining at -7 for the championship. His partner for the final round on Sunday was Scottie Scheffler.
I was shielded from most of the unruly fans on Saturday, but I heard them loud and clear (and obnoxiously rude!) on Sunday. Sure, it was Scottie Scheffler’s 30th birthday. Sure, he was going for the career grand slam. Sure, you can root for Scottie. What you shouldn’t do is root against someone like Wyndham Clark, and with the same fervor directed at European golfers last September at Bethpage Black during the Ryder Cup. I doubt stems from Wyndham punching his locker after missing the cut at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. This was actively rooting for someone to fail, heckling him right before swinging or putting, haranguing “GET IN THE BUNKER!” on every tee shot, and cheering derisively at every bogey. No wonder Wyndham told Mike Tirico “New York didn’t really like me” during the trophy presentation. Yes, that’s right: Wyndham Clark survived all the aforementioned crap, a charge by Sam Burns that came one birdie short of a tie, and won his second U.S. Open championship. He did so wire-to-wire. Thank goodness that wire didn’t fray.
Wyndham Clark is the third consecutive U.S. Open champion at Shinnecock Hills to win this major for the second time: Retief Goosen in 2001 (Southern Hills) and ’04, Brooks Koepka in ’17 (Erin Hills) and ’18, and now Clark in ’23 (Los Angeles Country Club) and ’26. Congratulations, Wyndham. This New Yorker likes you, and loved the heartwarming moment with your dad after you won. It was a very happy Father’s Day.
Getting back to fan behavior, this is the second time in nine months that the world has witnessed unruly New Yorkers at a major men’s golf tournament. These bad apples, no pun intended, have given the majority of fans (people like me and my dad) an unshakable negative reputation. Yep, we Yanks are all drunk a-holes, aren’t we? (No!) God forbid these fans resurface at Winged Foot in two years; or worse yet, at Bethpage Black for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. If it happens there, I guarantee this region will never host another women’s golf major, and that would be a shame, especially considering changes to the PGA Tour in 2028:
The PGA TOUR has already lined up an initial set of 10 of its expected 15 PGA TOUR Championship Series regular season events for 2028. The remaining events will either be filled by existing events or new markets under consideration, such as Boston, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end. If you’re wondering, Dad and I got home around 6:15 PM and watched the rest of the third round on TV. I searched my DVR in vain to see if we were on TV. Outside of those few seconds after Sam Stevens teed off at the 2nd hole, we went unnoticed by NBC’s Canon 4K cameras.
Saturday, May 2, was night 2 of the 23rd anniversary Smooth Jazz for Scholars, hosted by keyboardist Jay Rowe in his hometown of Milford, Connecticut, benefiting the Milford Public Schools music department.
Much of the day was spent at Hilton Garden Inn, whether hanging out in my room or mingling in the lobby. I’d seen night 1 headliner Steve Oliver when I arrived Friday afternoon. On Saturday, I said quick hellos to Althea René and Steve Cole, who were among the night 2 headliners. I also saw fellow photographer Kat Gilraine, Mark and Phyllis Abrams, Rob and Melanie Hoogenboom, and Billy Okumu. At Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the site of Smooth Jazz for Scholars (within Parsons Complex), I saw Jay Dobbins, Judy Raphael, Steve Lewis, Jay Rowe’s wife Deborah, and his mother Mia DiStasi. I made a new acquaintance after the show, which I’ll get to when the time comes.
I arrived at the same time for a set that began at the same time: promptly at 8PM. That’s when Kevin McCabe of JumpStart Jazz Productions bid us good evening.
The house band accompanying Jay Rowe and the headliners was made up of Steve Scales on percussion:
Trever Somerville on drums:
Andy Abel on guitar:
…and Dave Anderson on bass:
SET LIST 1. The Next Step (Jay Rowe) (also played on night 1) 2026 single Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Andy Abel (guitar)
2. City Groove (Jay Rowe) 2023 single Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Andy Abel (guitar), Steve Scales (percussion)
3. Just Another Love Thing (Jay Rowe) Originally heard on:Groove Reflections (2021) Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Steve Cole (tenor sax)
I love (no pun intended) the “Linus and Lucy” phrases Jay threw into his solos.
4. Attitude (Steve Cole) Originally heard on:Without a Doubt (2023) Featured musician: Steve Cole (tenor sax)
5. Time & Space (Althea René) Originally heard on:18 Karat (2025) Featured musician: Althea René (flute)
6. Life on Mars (Althea René) (Dexter Wansel cover) Originally heard on:Flawsome (2019) Featured musicians: Althea René (flute, “flute talk”), Andy Abel (guitar), Jay Rowe (keyboards), Dave Anderson (bass), Trever Somerville (drums)
7. Daybreak (Special EFX) Originally heard on:Global Village (1992) Featured musicians:Chieli Minucci (acoustic/electric guitars), Althea René (flute), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
8. Mystical Remedies/Mystical (Special EFX) Originally heard on:Modern Manners (1985), Sweet Surrender (2007) Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar), Steve Cole (tenor sax)
10. Night Groove (Alex Bugnon) Originally heard on:Soul Purpose (2001) Featured musician: Alex Bugnon (keyboards) Jay Rowe did not play.
11. Synergy (Althea René) Originally heard on:Conspiracy Theory (2026) Featured musician: Althea René (flute)
12. Mirage (Steve Cole) Originally heard on:Turn It Up (2016) Featured musician: Steve Cole (tenor sax), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
13. Justice (Steve Cole) Originally heard on:Smoke and Mirrors (2021) Featured musicians: Steve Cole (tenor sax), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
50/50 RAFFLE ($965 pot) (won by John)
14. Spellbound (Alex Bugnon) (Joe Sample cover) Featured musician: Alex Bugnon (keyboards) (recycled from 2024 night 2 recap): The story behind Alex’s cover of “Spellbound” involved filling in for an ailing Joe Sample at Yoshi’s in 2013. Spellbound was the first jazz album I ever bought, in the summer of 1998. Jay Rowe did not play.
15. Cool Summer (Special EFX) 2024 single Featured musicians:Chieli Minucci (acoustic guitar), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
16 (Finale).Love and Happiness (Trever Somerville) (Al Green cover) Featured musicians: Trever Somerville (vocals, drums), Everyone
Before I get to the bulk of the photos, I need to thank Jay Rowe for taking the time between – “Mystical Remedies” and “Sweet Sticky Thing” – to praise the work of me and my fellow photographers Kat Gilraine, Ken Combs, and Keith McDonald. Thank you so much, Jay. We’ve known each other 20 years (since May 5, 2006) and I am grateful to have you in my life. I’m equally grateful to everyone I’ve gotten to know and collaborate with at Smooth Jazz for Scholars, the WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony, and Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, just to name a few.
Now, photo galleries of each musician, beginning with Jay:
The house band is up next, starting with Steve Scales:
Trever Somerville:
“Life on Mars” solo…
Andy Abel:
…and Dave Anderson:
Dave’s “Life on Mars” solo…
Medium shots: Chieli Minucci and Althea René on “Daybreak”:
Chieli Minucci and Steve Cole (and Andy Abel) on “Mystical Remedies”:
“Chieli Minucci, y’all!”
Alex Bugnon, Dave Anderson, Trever Somerville on “Night Groove”:
Steve Cole and Jay Rowe on “Justice”:
Wide shots: “The Next Step”:
“Just Another Love Thing”:
“Sweet Sticky Thing”:
End of “Night Groove”:
“Thank you!”
End of “Cool Summer”:
“Thank you. ‘Cool Summer,’ guys. It’s comin’. Here we go.”
When the time came for the 50/50 raffle, with a $965 pot, Jay Rowe pulled out the winning ticket from the bag Kevin McCabe brought to the stage:
The winner was John from Brooklyn:
As you saw in the set list and video, Trever Somerville sang for the grand finale: Al Green‘s “Love and Happiness“:
Here’s how the rest of the finale played out photographically:
The big finish to the grand finale:
Jay Rowe’s closing remarks:
All right! Give it up for Alex Bugnon, Steve Cole, Althea René, Chieli Minucci, Steve Scales, Andy Abel, Trever Somerville, Dave Anderson, [and] I’m Jay Rowe! Thank you all so much! We’ll see you outside [in the lobby]! We’re havin’ our after party at Bistro Mediterranean on Bridgeport Avenue! So, come on down and have a drink with us! Thank you so much. We’re signin’ CDs out there [in the lobby], too.
The meet-and-greet photos begin with Anita Guris of 2 The Bridge Talent and the guitar she won, signed by all the musicians (Jay, headliners, house band):
Anita and Chieli Minucci:
In addition to that Fender Squier Telecaster guitar, Anita won two gift baskets in a raffle. I may not have had any luck in raffles, but I am proud for the lucky ones, and luck was with Anita this year.
Here I am with Steve Cole:
Althea René:
Thanks to Jay Rowe’s wife Deborah, me with Jay and Chieli Minucci:
…and after I’d put my EOS R7 away, an iPhone 17 Pro selfie with Ken Combs:
I said good night to everyone, exited the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and headed back to Hilton Garden Inn.
I checked out of the hotel at 10:30 AM on Sunday, May 3. Even with heavy pockets of traffic in Greenwich, and in one spot each on the Cross Island and Southern State Parkways, the ride home (as a passenger) took an hour and 38 minutes, from 10:38 AM to 12:16 PM.
Cross Island Parkway Exit 25A, Southern State Parkway East:
Southern State Parkway Exit 13N, Linden Boulevard:
That’s the last of the photos and the last of my two-part 2026 Smooth Jazz for Scholars recap. The publication of these posts, and all the videos, is the culmination of a 19-day labor of love; from the moment I entered the Roosevelt School East Room at LIU Post (for the WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony) to the moment yesterday when I clicked “save draft” one last time on the SJFS night 1 and 2 posts. Thank you for following me on this multimedia journey, and thank you to Jay Rowe, the Friday and Saturday headliners, the house band, Kevin McCabe and the JumpStart Jazz Productions crew, and all my fellow smooth jazz fans and photographers.
Like the WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony video, I dedicate this two-part recap to my uncle Scott Stephen, a Milford native, whom I lost on April 23. The bulk of my post-production was done at the computer/desk hutch that he graciously assembled back in June 2023. Uncle Scott was a very handy man, a funny man, and as avid a fisherman as my dad Bill. I will miss him dearly.
Friday, May 1, was the first of two nights of the 23rd anniversary Smooth Jazz for Scholars, hosted by keyboardist Jay Rowe in his hometown of Milford, Connecticut, benefiting the Milford Public Schools music department.
This was another year with minimal anxiety ahead of the ride from Wantagh to Milford, but I did bump into the right edge of my bedroom door before I left the house. (I was walking out to tell my dad something across the hall and my right shoe got caught.) I tended to the resulting cut quickly enough that it never swelled. I didn’t even need ointment or bandages by the time I packed up my gear in the Parsons Complex Veterans Memorial Auditorium that night.
Surprisingly, the Hampton Inn on Plains Road closed down. Thus, the official hotel was Hilton Garden Inn on Old Gate Lane.
After a quick stop at the store for seltzer to stock in my room’s mini fridge, the ride to the hotel took two hours and 16 minutes. It felt longer with multiple heavy pockets of traffic between the Throgs Neck Bridge and I-95 Connecticut exit 23.
Exit 40 led to Hilton Garden Inn:
View from the outside:
…and inside my room (taken Saturday):
I arrived at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at about 7:20. The parking lot by the baseball field was busy with a concert of its own; a rock concert. That was also the case on Saturday.
Yes, I lost with the three 50/50 raffle tickets I bought each night. Next.
Ron Hancox was at a high school reunion this year and Andrew James was also absent. That left a quartet of photographers: Katherine Gilraine, Ken Combs, Keith McDonald, and me. (Happy birthday, Kat, since it’s your birthday while I write this paragraph the day before publication.)
As for the house band, Steve Scales returned on percussion:
Trever Somerville was on drums:
Andy Abel on guitar:
…and Dave Anderson on bass:
SET LIST 1. East Coast West Coast (Jay Rowe) Originally heard on:Red, Hot & Smooth (2006) Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Andy Abel (guitar)
2. The Next Step (Jay Rowe) 2026 single Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Andy Abel (guitar)
3. High Noon (Steve Oliver) Originally heard on:Positive Energy (2002) Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocal sounds), Steve Scales (percussion)
4. Dancing in the Sand (Steve Oliver) 2026 single Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocal sounds)
5. Tropical Rain (Jessy J) Originally heard on:True Love (2009) Featured musician: Jessy J (tenor sax)
6. Tequila Moon (Jessy J) Originally heard on: Tequila Moon (2008) Featured musicians: Jessy J (tenor sax), Andy Abel (guitar), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
9. It Could Happen (Brian Simpson) Originally heard on:It’s All Good (2005) Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboards) Jay Rowe did not play.
10. It’s All Good (Brian Simpson) Originally heard on:It’s All Good (2005) Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboards), Jessy J (tenor sax), Trever Somerville (drums) Jay Rowe did not play.
11. Saturday Cool (Brian Simpson) Originally heard on:It’s All Good (2005) Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboards), Jessy J (tenor sax), Dave Anderson (bass) Jay Rowe did not play.
13. The Lift (Marion Meadows) (started in audience) Originally heard on:Body Rhythm (1995) Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax) The annual game of “Where’s Marion?” commenced in the left center aisle.
14. Treasures (Marion Meadows) Originally heard on:In Deep (2002) Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Andy Abel (guitar), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
15. Suede (Marion Meadows) Originally heard on:Player’s Club (2004) Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
50/50 RAFFLE ($1,130 pot) (won by audience member whose name I did not catch)
16. Beso del Sol (Jessy J) Originally heard on:Terranova (2025) Featured musician: Jessy J (tenor sax), Steve Scales (percussion)
17. Chips and Salsa (Steve Oliver) Originally heard on:3D (2004) Featured musicians: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocals, vocal sounds), Everyone (including the audience)
… Give it up: Brian Simpson, Timmy Maia, Steve Oliver, Marion Meadows, Jessy J, Steve Scales, Andy Abel, Trever Somerville, Dave Anderson! I’m Jay Rowe! We love you! Thank you all so much for a great night! … We’ll see you all at Bistro Mediterranean and see you all tomorrow night. Thank you.
The meeting and greeting began in the front row with Steve Scales:
Picking up on the format from the WCWP-FM 60th anniversary weekend, the 2025 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony was part of a three-day celebration, from April 24 to 26, 2026. This was the format for Hall of Fame Induction Weekend:
Midway through the ceremony, 2026 graduate Avery Cochikas of The Wave, WCWP’s student-run internet station, received the Arthur Beltrone Founders Award. Art helped found WCWP, which signed on as a carrier current station at noon on October 18, 1961. In the role of program director, Art was the first student voice heard at sign-on.
This recap will include photos during and after the ceremony, along with an aircheck of April 24’s The Rock Show, hosted by Dan Reagan, 2022 WCWP Hall of Fame inductee and chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. (I have served on the committee since 2022, two years before Dan’s chairmanship began.)
Before all that, I present the 2025 ceremony video, with a running time of 1:49:37.
After an adventurous Lyft ride, I arrived at the Roosevelt School well before 6PM; at around 4:45. Let’s just say it involved a northbound detour up and thin, private road. A few minutes later, we turned west and found ourselves on campus by the intramural baseball fields. Gold Coast Road soon followed and we turned south (left) for our destination.
It would be another hour before attendees and inductees began filing in.
I took these photos during the wait after unpacking my equipment:
Two photos featuring Ellyn Solis and her posse before the ceremony:
Loni and Rich Frazita introduced the next inductee: Tony Traguardo.
Tony Traguardo’s acceptance speech (after the brief return of his Post Serial character, Swami Origami)
Rich Frazita sneaked in bunny ears over Tony Traguardo’s head as he and Loni posed with the plaque
Dan Cox and Tony Traguardo
Time for the Arthur Beltrone Founders Award, presented to Avery Cochikas. Avery was introduced by his two station managers. First, Pete Bellotti, a 2019 WCWP Hall of Fame inductee.
Pete’s speech was followed by one from Dan Cox.
Avery Cochikas and Pete Bellotti
Avery Cochikas and Dan Cox
Avery Cochikas’ acceptance speech
The last two 2025 inductees each had three presenters. First to present Ellyn Solis was 2022 inductee Kim Dillon.
Ellyn Solis with her plaque and her posse: Cande Roth, Kim Dillon, and Chris Poppe
Ellyn Solis’ acceptance speech
Ellyn Solis and Dan Cox
Kim Dillon returned to present the fourth inductee, Cande Roth.
Ellyn Solis donned her Midnite Progressive t-shirt when she inducted Cande.
Third to present Cande was Phathead, her co-host on their eponymous weekday morning radio show on My Country 96.1 WJVC. Phathead is also WJVC program director.
Cande with her plaque and presenters: Phathead, Kim Dillon, and Ellyn Solis
Cande Roth’s acceptance speech
Cande’s family and friends looked on from their tables
Jeff ran the board during Dan’s edition of The Rock Show the night before the ceremony: Friday, April 24. It was so good that it went beyond the usual two hours (2 hours and 17 minutes). Here is my scope of Dan Cox’s aircheck (thanks to Jeff for forwarding me the unscoped original):
In one of the talk breaks, Dan Reagan noted rain was in the forecast for the day of the ceremony. It did rain, and it poured. That’s why my mom Lisa suggested a pack my tripods and bag of camcorders in a tall suitcase to shield them. Thank you, Mom, for the idea. She and my dad Bill were attending the annual Freeport Fire Department installation dinner, in the vein of WCWP’s Hall of Fame ceremony, which is why took Lyft rides to and from my home.
Quick tangent: Before I packed up and left the East Room, Cosmo Leone, another 2022 inductee, congratulated my dad. I told him he was just attending the dinner as all FFD members do each year. Little did I know Coz had reason to congratulate. Bill Chimeri – ex-captain of Freeport Truck Company One – was honored for 25 years of active service, as shown in this photo:
End of tangent.
Dan and his wife Gina were kind enough to drive me from the Roosevelt School up to the Abrams Communications Center where our fellow alumni and this year’s inductees looked around WCWP’s renovated home. It also allowed for a more convenient Lyft pickup spot. (The ride home was conversational rather than adventurous.)
2019 inductee Lew Scharfberg talking to the Reagans and Lamendolas
Dan Cox shows off Studio 3 to 2022 inductees Cosmo Leone and Kim Dillon, Kim’s husband Craig Ruttle (to her left), and Jeff Kroll
Tony Traguardo and his wife Winifred Boyd (“Winnie”) with Rich and Loni Frazita in the student lounge
Kim Dillon, Lew Scharfberg, Larry Lamendola, and Jeff Kroll look at the Radio Dataroom (transmitter room)
Pete Sacoulas tours the Radio Dataroom with Craig Ruttle looking from the outside; Sami Jo Negron is to Craig’s right
Cosmo Leone with Dan and Gina Reagan
A tour of Studio 2
Outside the new Studio 4, Pete Sacoulas, Sami Jo Negron, and Christina Kay view the Hall of Fame plaque listing all inductees to date
That’s a wrap on the 2025 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony recap. Congratulations again to Chris Maffei, Tony Traguardo, Ellyn Solis, Cande Roth, and Art Beltrone Founders Award recipient Avery Cochikas.
Thank you to Ellyn and to Julian Wilson for identifying who was who in a few of the photos (last names withheld).
Wednesday marked a twice in a lifetime experience for me. I got to see Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass & Other Delights at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, mere steps from the Abrams Communications Center, home to WCWP, on the campus of LIU Post. I was part of a capacity (sell-out) crowd!
Here is the Tilles Center exterior, as seen in December 2025:
Tilles’s north entranceThe Goldsmith AtriumThe south entrance, where my dad and I entered
51 weeks and one day had passed since the first time I saw Herb and his band at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Read the linked recap for more information on the set’s songs and their etymology.
Thanks to Bobby Guthenberg for giving away two tickets for me and my dad Bill. Bobby’s daughter Katie was also with us in row J. I was in seat 134, the aisle seat, with Dad in 133, Katie in 132, and Bobby G. in 131. Lori Downing and her friend Regina sat ahead of us in row H, and Jeff and Pat Kroll were in row G. (Jeff’s the biggest Herb Alpert fan I know.) For Bobby, Lori, the Krolls, this was also a twice in a lifetime experience after seeing the Lincoln Center shows. (Jeff and Pat were at Herb’s 90th birthday show last March 31.)
I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge meeting fellow WCWP and then-C.W. Post alumnus Joe Townley outside the Abrams Communications Center before reaching Tilles’s south entrance. Joe is currently EVP of content, programming, and new business for the production company MyEntertainment.
As for the show, I was much closer to the stage at Tilles Center, and I have a better smartphone: an iPhone 17 Pro. (My Canon EOS R7 wasn’t allowed, meaning a return trip to Dad’s car before going inside.)
Admittedly, some photos required enhancements in Photoshop, and not just color filtering. I think you’ll like what you see, though.
The show began 13 minutes past the scheduled 7:30 start, but it was nonstop action after that.
“Olé!”: Herb and the original Tijuana Brass entered and signed in on What’s My Line?Herb’s grand entrance!
My dad loved Ray’s drumming, and Bill Cantos was delighted when I told him after the show that I knew Jay Rowe. Clasping his hands together, he said “tell him I said hi,” which I did (via text message) as Dad and I exited Tilles Center. I spoke to Jay on the phone back in the fall and mentioned the Herb Alpert concert on my pre-Smooth Jazz for Scholars itinerary. That’s when Jay revealed that Bill is another friend from his days at the New England Conservatory. (I already knew about Nelson Rangell and David Mann.)
The set list was mostly identical to last year’s. In fact, the first 12 songs were the same and in the same order. From there, the set diverged. Herb’s wife Lani Hall couldn’t make it this time, which meant no Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 medley. (Hearing their music on the sound system before the show made up for that.) Otherwise, four songs were new to this set: “Route 101,” “Mae” (partial), “Casino Royale” (partial), and “Up Cherry Street.”
Compare and contrast the set on this night with the one from last year. Some tidbits have been recycled. (The original album and release years are in parentheses.)
Mexican Shuffle (South of the Border, 1964) – If you’re keeping score, that’s four Sol Lake compositions in the set – Used in TV ads for Clark’s Teaberry gum (shown on the monitor), where it was known as “The Teaberry Shuffle”
This Guy’s in Love with You (The Beat of the Brass, 1968) – Herb’s lone vocal song of the set – Contrary to popular belief, the song was later reworked as “This Girl’s in Love with You” for Dionne Warwick and other female singers, not the other way around for Herb
Rise (Rise, 1979) (solo album) – Rap fans may recognize one part from its sampling in “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G. – The performance this year was almost as long as the original thanks to many solos
Encore 1-1: Smile (Midnight Sun, 1992; Catch the Wind, 2021) (solo albums) – Requiem for departed friends, including Sergio Mendes, Karen Carpenter, Burt Bacharach (co-writer [with Hal David] of “This Guy’s in Love with You”), and A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss – “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin is not to be confused with “Sweet, Sweet Smile,” which was introduced and popularized by The Carpenters
Encore 1-3 (True Finale): Up Cherry Street (South of the Border, 1964) – Second composition of the set by Julius Wechter
Now that you’ve seen the set and know the band, it’s photo time.
“The Lonely Bull”:
Bill Cantos, Kerry Marx, Ryan Dragon, Herb Alpert, Ray Brinker, Hussain Jiffry, Kris BerghRyan Dragon, Kerry Marx, Herb Alpert, Ray BrinkerA close-up of Herb Alpert and Ray Brinker (as close as my iPhone would allow)
“Mexican Shuffle” with Clark’s Teaberry Gum commercial clips:
Herb talking to the audience between “Memories of Madrid” and “Whipped Cream”:
He noted that this was his first performance on Long Island since 1984 at Jones Beach Theater. Jim Carrey, then a stand-up comedian, opened for him.
Bill Cantos vocalizing at the piano during “Tangerine”:
Ray Brinker’s drum solo between “Tangerine” and “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”:
Ryan Dragon’s trombone solo during “I’m Getting Sentimental…”:
“Love Potion No. 9”:
The end of Hussain Jiffry’s bass solo, with Kris Bergh resuming the melody on trumpetThe end of Kerry Marx’s electric guitar solo, with Ryan Dragon doing the same as KrisKris Bergh’s trumpet soloOne of many standing ovations! You could say “This capacity crowd is on its feet!”
Despite Lani Hall’s absence, Herb Alpert still spoke of how Sergio Mendes played Cupid and matched him with her.
Sergio Mendes explaining the Brasil [year] origin in Portuguese:
Herb’s “translation” turned out to be the origin of the Tijuana Brass:
Sergio replied in fluent English that isn’t what he said at all.
Perhaps because an audience member requested it, the Sergio segment dovetailed into the origin of “This Guy’s in Love with You.” Prompting the audience to sing along, Herb performed a moving rendition of “This Guy’s…” (in a lower key).
The singing partThe trumpet partYou bet there was a standing O!
And there was another after “Rise”!
“A Taste of Honey”:
What do you think happened afterward?
The last song before the encore was “Zorba’s Dance,” known on !!Going Places!! as “Zorba the Greek.”
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass gathered at center stage and took a bow:
Then, it was back to their posts – no pun intended at LIU Post – for the encore.
Encore song 1 was Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.”
The mood lightened back up for the five-song medley that featured a little bit of “Casino Royale”:
The medley ended with “Tijuana Taxi,” featuring a marimba solo by Bill Cantos:
He also played a horn honk on his synthesizer.
A night to remember ended with “Up Cherry Street”:
The end!
One last ovation!
Herb Alpert has left the building…or at least the stage.
Before departing, I grabbed two selfies. One with Regina and Lori…
…and the other with Katie, Bobby G., and my dad Bill:
April 25, exactly one month after seeing Herb Alpert at Tilles, I’ll be at the Roosevelt School the south end of LIU Post for the WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony Dinner, honoring the Class of 2025 (revealed on Homecoming Weekend last September) and this year’s Arthur Beltrone Service Award recipient. Until I recap that, thank you for reading.
My photos from round 3 of the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills June 24, 2026
Posted by Mike C. in Aviation, Commentary, Golf, Internet, Media, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel, Weather.add a comment
WARNING: I opine on unruly fans at the end of this post.
Nearly nine months after attending day 1 of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, my dad Bill and I were on the opposite end of Long Island at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the third round of the 126th U.S. Open. (As I type this parenthetical, the Wikipedia entry is incomplete.)
Due to COVID-19 postponing the 2020 U.S. Open and excluding fans, this was my first trip to a U.S. Open since 2018, also at Shinnecock and also for the third round. Furthermore, this was my third time at Shinnecock for the U.S. Open, and my dad’s fifth time. He was there in 1986 when Raymond Floyd won and again in 1995 for Corey Pavin‘s victory. My first time was in 2004 when Retief Goosen won his second U.S. Open.
In 2004 and 2018, the mode of transportation for Dad and I was LIRR trains. In the latter case, we spent more time traveling to Shinnecock Hills than attending the U.S. Open there. I was too worn out and we were so far away that I just wanted to go home. And I thought we’d be taking trains again in 2026. Instead, Dad drove to one of a few automobile parking lots for shuttle bus service to and from the course. Our destination was the “blue lot” on the former site of Calverton Executive Airpark.
We left the house shortly after 9:30 AM with a route that eventually found us on the Long Island Expressway (L.I.E.; I-495). Our exit was 68 (William Floyd Parkway). This LED sign was placed ahead of the exit, seen at 10:14 AM:
Seconds later, we exited the L.I.E. Five minutes after that, we exited the northbound William Floyd for NY 25 east.
We turned into Calverton Executive Airpark at 10:27 AM.
Five minutes later, we were guided to a parking spot, walked to the checkpoint, and boarded a shuttle bus.
The USGA opted for late tee times on Saturday. The first pairing teed off at 9AM and the last wouldn’t begin their third round until 3:45 PM. This meant a low passenger capacity departed the blue lot at 10:39 with Dad and I seated in seats 5 and 6 (second row left). The east-southeast ride took about 45 minutes and was peaceful except for the music playing in my earbuds via my iPhone 17 Pro, which was the source for all photos in this recap.
I got a great photo of Shinnecock Canal ten minutes from the golf club entrance.
There was also a blurry photo of one of the early holes, but you don’t want to see that.
Dad and I exited the shuttle bus at 11:27 AM and would spend the next five hours within Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The first 2 1/2 hours were spent walking around as much of the course as possible. Let’s get two photos of me out of the way, one taken by my dad and the other a selfie:
The gallery below begins at gate 1 (11:28 AM) and ends at the 1st hole green (1:50 PM).
There are so many golfers (and caddies) in the photos above and below that I couldn’t possibly link to them all. Instead, I’ll link to this page on the U.S. Open website. Thanks, however, to Google for helping me identify the caddies.
Dad and I decided to set up on the right side of the 2nd hole tee to watch the last 11 pairings. Then, we’d head for home.
These photos were taken between 1:56 and 4:01 PM, and occasionally divert to the 1st hole green.
The walk back to the blue lot shuttle bus took 20 minutes, with a stop for a cookie and Sprite along the way.
The ride back to Calverton Executive Airpark was closer to 30 minutes than 45, but at full capacity. Dad and I sat near the middle of the bus while still on the left side.
It was 5:04 when we got “back to civilization,” as I quipped upon exit.
Thank you, as well, USGA and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Overall, I had a wonderful time.
Little did I know I was part of a mass exodus from the course that thinned the crowds by the time Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark finished their rounds just after 8PM. Well, maybe if the tee times were earlier, we’d have stayed longer. 3:45 for the last pairing? Shinnecock Hills is on Long Island’s East End, not the Monterey Peninsula like Pebble Beach Golf Links, home to next year’s U.S. Open. So what if it was the second-longest day of the year? Also consider that most attendees commuted from Nassau County (like me and Dad) or one of New York City’s five boroughs. Shinnecock isn’t as convenient as Bethpage Black. If everyone stayed for the end, I figure we’d all get home between 10:30 PM and 12:30 AM, depending on where we live. The final tee time on Sunday was 2:30 PM. Much better.
In Saturday’s third round, Wyndham Clark overcame bogeys with birdies, an eagle, and many pars. The result was an even par 70, remaining at -7 for the championship. His partner for the final round on Sunday was Scottie Scheffler.
I was shielded from most of the unruly fans on Saturday, but I heard them loud and clear (and obnoxiously rude!) on Sunday. Sure, it was Scottie Scheffler’s 30th birthday. Sure, he was going for the career grand slam. Sure, you can root for Scottie. What you shouldn’t do is root against someone like Wyndham Clark, and with the same fervor directed at European golfers last September at Bethpage Black during the Ryder Cup. I doubt stems from Wyndham punching his locker after missing the cut at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. This was actively rooting for someone to fail, heckling him right before swinging or putting, haranguing “GET IN THE BUNKER!” on every tee shot, and cheering derisively at every bogey. No wonder Wyndham told Mike Tirico “New York didn’t really like me” during the trophy presentation. Yes, that’s right: Wyndham Clark survived all the aforementioned crap, a charge by Sam Burns that came one birdie short of a tie, and won his second U.S. Open championship. He did so wire-to-wire. Thank goodness that wire didn’t fray.
Wyndham Clark is the third consecutive U.S. Open champion at Shinnecock Hills to win this major for the second time: Retief Goosen in 2001 (Southern Hills) and ’04, Brooks Koepka in ’17 (Erin Hills) and ’18, and now Clark in ’23 (Los Angeles Country Club) and ’26. Congratulations, Wyndham. This New Yorker likes you, and loved the heartwarming moment with your dad after you won. It was a very happy Father’s Day.
Getting back to fan behavior, this is the second time in nine months that the world has witnessed unruly New Yorkers at a major men’s golf tournament. These bad apples, no pun intended, have given the majority of fans (people like me and my dad) an unshakable negative reputation. Yep, we Yanks are all drunk a-holes, aren’t we? (No!) God forbid these fans resurface at Winged Foot in two years; or worse yet, at Bethpage Black for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. If it happens there, I guarantee this region will never host another women’s golf major, and that would be a shame, especially considering changes to the PGA Tour in 2028:
Thank you for reading all the way to the end. If you’re wondering, Dad and I got home around 6:15 PM and watched the rest of the third round on TV. I searched my DVR in vain to see if we were on TV. Outside of those few seconds after Sam Stevens teed off at the 2nd hole, we went unnoticed by NBC’s Canon 4K cameras.
My next blog post will likely be three blog posts recapping this year’s Long Island Retro Gaming Expo. Until then, Knicks in 5– I mean, so long. 😀