Friday, August 26, 2016
Vol. 77, No. 33
LIVING THE DREAM
Sir Paul McCartney and James Liverani BY GARY SIMEONE August 7th might have been the best day of James Liverani’s life. The 29 year old Oyster Bay resident was at MetLife Stadium when his idol, legendary music star, Paul McCartney, asked him to join him on stage. Liverani never thought it would happen to him. “The guy has been the soundtrack to my whole life,” said Liverani, a music teacher at Friends Academy and musician at Hank Lane Music in Hicksville. “I was born in 1986 and went to my first concert with my parents in 1990 when I was three years old. I eat, breathe and sleep the Beatles. My father has been to all of his American tours.” On Sunday the 7th, Liverani and his father, Tom, were attending a pre-concert soundcheck at MetLife for VIP guests. The pair had decided to bring signs with them in order to catch McCartney’s attention. James’ sign read ‘Music Teacher’ and his father’s sign said ‘You’d Make My Son The Coolest Teacher If He Could Play With His Idol.’ He said that McCartney looked out into the crowd of 300 people and that his gaze fell upon the two signs that James and his father were holding above their
heads. “He called me up on stage and I just lost it,” said Liverani. “My jaw just dropped, my eyes were wide and it was like I was floating up to the stage instead of walking. One of the best feelings of my life.” Liverani ended up playing guitar while Sir Paul played bass and they both sang lyrics to the Beatles famous hit, ‘Get Back.’ After the duet, he said that McCartney asked him his name and he told him his name was James. “He said to me that James was a great name because his dad and grandfather’s name was James and his son is also named James. He was the nicest of people and I every time I talk about or think about the experience it gives me the chills.” Sir Paul also asked Tom to come up on stage with him to sing In the microphone and afterwards gave both father and son a big hug. In a few weeks, Liverani will resume his job as a music teacher at Friends but will always have the life long memory of being able to share the stage with one of his idols.
$1
Levittown School District appoints Special Ed chairperson
The Levittown School District has as assistant principal at Division Avenue appointed Stephanie AddoHigh School. na as special education Ms. Addona holds her chairperson for Division bachelor’s degree in comAvenue High School, effecmunication arts from tive Sept. 1, 2016. Molloy College, a master’s Ms. Addona, a Lynbrook degree in speech language resident, formerly held pathology from St. John’s the positions of certified University and a certifispeech language patholcation in school district administration from Stony ogist and Committees on Brook University. Preschool Special EducaThe Levittown School tion chairperson and coorDistrict wishes Ms. Addodinator for the Lawrence Photo courtesy Levittown School District na much success in her Public School District. Ms. new position at Division Addona replaces Terence Stephanie Addona Avenue High School. Rusch as CPSE chairperson, who currently serves
Benefit held at Milleridge Cottage BY GARY SIMEONE Kaeli Kramer, was only 19 years old when she died in an accident and it was on the same day she started her first semester at Farmingdale State College to become an equine veterinarian. On Thursday, August 11th, a benefit was held in her name at the Milleridge Cottage. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Kaeli Kramer Foundation which helps abused and neglected horses across the country. To honor Kaeli ‘s name, her parents Peter and Linda Kramer started the Kaeli Kramer Foundation in 2009 rescuing neglected animals such as horses, cows, dogs, cats and more. “The Foundation was formed to continue the good work that Kaeli started,” said her mother, Linda, who is Chairperson of the Foundation. “Our supporters make the Kaeli Kramer Foundation a living tribute to the goodness in Kaeli and the goodness in each of us.”
Kaeli loved and cared about animals and aspired to be an equine veterinarian. She was an avid equestrian and volunteered in many therapeutic riding programs. The event at the Milleridge Cottage was attended by hundreds of people including many animal rights activists. This year’s honoree was world renowned equestrian, passionate animal advocate and author, Georgina Bloomberg. “I’m just lucky to be here and I hope we can go out and save as many horses as we possibly can because I know that was her dream,” said Bloomberg. The event also included musical performances by gifted musicians, Glenda Lubin, Jason Bergman and Brian Caltabiano, a dinner, wine tasting and a Chinese auction at the cottage with proceeds going to the Foundation. “I always tell people it’s not like it’s just a horse or just a dog or just some animal,” said Kramer. “They’re really just like us.”
Stars versus Stripes on Field of Dreams PAGE 7 County overdose prevention seminar PAGE 5