Page 9 Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Bellmore Life
ENTERTAINING LIFE Raising funds for Nicola Tesla’s lab by Douglas Finlay Bellmore resident Victor Elefante has been on the verge of getting a film about inventor Nicola Tesla finished for several years now, But, like the subject he is chasing – who eluded fame in his lifetime – Mr. Elefante has been coming up just short. Mr. Elefante, a member of the Bellmore Lions Club, a volunteer and president of the Bellmore Fire Department’s West End Engine 3 – as well as member of BFD’s Board of Trustees – and winner of the Town of Hempstead’s Make A Difference Award, had a commitment of $4 million from an investor to make a big production film called “Fragments from Olympus – the Vision of Nicola Testa.” “We had a letter of commitment for $4 million to be able to make the movie,” Mr. Elefante told this newspaper. But the investor fell ill and the revenue is now far from certain. “We are looking for another major investor to produce the film,” he said. He said that had the investor not gotten ill, “we would have shot the film last year.”
Plot thickens The plot thickens when adding the urgency with which Mr. Elefante had hoped to produce the film. “With onequarter of the proceeds we had hoped to keep Nicola Testa’s laboratory, Wardenclyffe, running in Shoreham.” At least $1 million is needed to keep the laboratory open as a nonprofit museum and center for science. Making the movie last year would have provided the needed funds to guarantee the center would remain in the hands of science. Mr. Elefante became involved in the creative entertainment field – and subsequently became the production supervisor of “Fragments from Olympus” – after seeing Sikorski and Calomino’s off-Broadway play “Tower of Babble” in 2001, a play based on Mr. Tesla. Mr. Elefante approached Mr. Sikorski several years later to volunteer to work with Mr. Sikorski. Mr. Sikorski filmed a teaser of his awardwinning play using the actor Leo Rossi (“Analyze This,” “The Accused”), and the trailer won the 2011 International Movie Trailer Festival.
Mr. Sikorski’s screenplay for “Fragments of Olympus” was chosen winner of the International Long Island Film Festival’s (the Suffolk County version) Black Tie Screenwriting Competition. The film, however, is yet to be shot. Which is why Mr. Elefante is searching the corridors of fundraising in the hopes of snagging an investor who can help the film find its home – while keeping the Tesla Center for Science open for the purposes of true science. “Mr. Tesla,” said Mr. Elefante, “never received any monetary rewards for his inventions and discoveries,” Mr. Elefante said. He said that Mr. Tesla “just wasn’t into earning money with his inventions.” Mr. Elefante said that Mr. Tesla tore up a contract he had with George Westinghouse because he didn’t want the money. Yet, Mr. Tesla is credited with helping in such monumental discoveries as the X-ray and wireless communications. “MRIs use a measurement called the Tesla when measuring units while operating the imagery,” he said. For information about how you can contribute to keeping the Tesla Center in
ACTOR Leo Rossi, left, with production super visor and Bellmore resident Vic Elefante. Shoreham open, visit www.frangmentsofolympus.com, visit www.fragmentsofolympus.com/pages/vid_ind.html on Youtube, or visit them on facebook.
Family festival is set to dock at Lido Beach Park Craft and food vendors are invited onboard
Bird walk at Hempstead Lake State Park Hempstead Lake State Park will be the location for the South Shore Audubon Society Bird Walk on Sunday, September 9, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. All are welcome. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts will be happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The bird walk is free of charge, but state park fees apply. The group will meet in Parking Field 3, Exit 18 South, from the Southern State Parkway. Rain will cancel the bird walk. For information, you can log onto www.ssaudubon.org or call Steve Schellenger at 987-8103.
Parks Department at 292-9000, ext. 255. You can also satisfy your “appetite” for excitement by sampling a “taste” of the Clam and Rib Eating Contests on Saturday, September 29, at 1 p.m. The festival’s youthful flavor is highlighted by puppet shows, circus performers, animal acts, pony rides, a petting zoo and science exhibits. This year’s festival will also unveil some of the biggest and bounciest inflatables ever frolicked upon. Guests can also stroll the boardwalk to water’s edge to “dig” the sand castle contest or “race” in Sunday’s Biathlon. KJOY’s popular morning team “Steve
and Leeana” will be on hand Saturday to meet their fans and spin the station’s wheel of prizes. “With our beautiful Lido Beach Park as a picture perfect setting, the Family Festival celebrates our township’s storied nautical heritage,” stated Supervisor Murray. “Considered one of Long Island’s signature late summer attractions, the festival offers an entire weekend of action-packed family fun.” Family Festival sponsors include Swingbelly’s Beachside BBQ of Long Beach and Lynbrook as well as the Landshark Tiki Bar and Grille in Freeport.
Additional support has been provided by Atlantic Nursery of Freeport. Anyone interested in entering the Clam Eating or Rib Eating contests can call 812-3307. The Family Festival runs from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on both Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30. Lido Beach Town Park is at 630 Lido Boulevard in Lido Beach. Admission and parking are free. Up-to-the-minute festival information is available by calling 292-9000, ext. 382 or by visiting the town’s website at TOH.LI.
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Ahoy, mateys! Surf’s up and it’s time to ride a wave of fun and excitement into Hempstead Town Lido Beach Town Park for the Annual Family Festival by the Sea on Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30, from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Supervisor Kate Murray encourages mariners and landlubbers alike to enjoy the concert bands, delicious food, craft and novelty vendors, sand sculptures, eating contests and an exciting lineup of children’s shows. A special Family Festival invitation is extended to Long Island’s food and craft vendors. With large crowds expected to visit Lido Beach on both Saturday and Sunday, vendors are invited to share in the action. Interested vendors are asked to call the Cultural Arts Section of the town