HALF HOLLOW HILLS Copyright © 2014 Long Islander Newspapers, LLC
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N E W S P A P E R
VOLUME SIXTEEN, ISSUE 12
The Paramount Spotlight
20 PAGES
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014 DIX HILLS
Singing For St. Jude’s Children Hills East senior will donate profits from her iTunes song By Alessandra Malito info@longislandernews.com
Blackmore’s Night, with Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night, bring the Renaissance era to The Paramount, May 22. Come in costume.
Wear Garb For Blackmore’s Night Show
By Peter Sloggatt
psloggatt@longislandernews.com
Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore cemented his place in rock’s Pantheon as author of one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in music history – the four-note guitar tab that drives the Deep Purple hit “Smoke on the Water.” As guitarist for the British metal band, considered to be the pioneers of heavy metal, Blackmore found fame and traveled the world. These days Blackmore all but runs away from the limelight, spending time at his home on Long Island’s north shore, picking out tunes on his mandola amid his collection of medieval and renaissance-era musical instruments. With his wife and musical collaborator, Candice Night, Blackmore pursues his interest in Renais(Continued on page A16)
Lisa Diasparra is using her talent as a singer to help sick children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Lisa Diasparra always sang – she just kept it to herself when she was younger. But when she was 6 years old singing “Oops I Did It Again” in front of her house, she saw her mom listening and smiling by the window. When she was told how good she was, she decided to pursue it. She’s been rocking the music scene ever since. Now Diasparra, 18, who is graduating from Half Hollow Hills High School East this year, has her first song, “Once in Your Life,” on iTunes, and she’s sending all proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Money means nothing when I’m doing something I enjoy and when I’m giving back,” Diasparra said. “That’s the money to me. That’s the gold. That’s the prize.” She said she wanted to give back to an organization that does so much for young children. “I feel like I’m a kid myself, and I couldn’t imagine going through what these kids go through,” Diasparra said. “They’re so strong.” (Continued on page A16)
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Heartland ‘Mini-City’ Has A Pulse Town takes notice as nearby housing concept shows signs of life By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com
The long-stalled, massive Heartland Town Square Project, a $4-billion “minicity” proposed to be built on the former 450-acre home of the Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood, has a pulse again, and that’s getting the attention of local civic activists. The Islip Town Board voted to accept a final generic environmental impact statement on the land, which borders Dix Hills and Commack. Developer Gerald Wolkoff bought it from the state in 2002. The project would combine 9,130 residential units with more than 1 million square feet of retail space and 4 million square feet of office space built in phases over 15 years. When completed, the developer said, it would bring in 26,000 new jobs. Islip Town officials said the town mus(Continued on page A16)
An artist’s rendering of the Heartland project, which again has created buzz in Dix Hills and Commack as the Town of Islip moves the plans along.
IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
It’s Tulip Time! A11
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