52 The Manhasset Times, Friday, May 18, 2018
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Israel has gun debate in his sights for book BY LU K E TOR R A N C E Satires focusing on United States politics are hardly uncommon, but in the new book “Big Guns” that satire comes from a source inside the Beltway. Former Congressman Steve Israel recently published his second book and first since retiring from the U.S. House of Representatives early last year. “In the!15 years I served in the House of Representatives, there were 52 mass shootings,” said Israel, who represented the 3rd Congressional District now occupied by Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). “The most prevalent question I faced after each one was, when will Congress do something?!The purpose of ‘Big Guns’ is to answer that question in the best way I know, through satire and snark, and from the inside.” The novel tells the story of an effort to ban guns in every American city, town and village, a campaign led by Chicago Mayor Michael Rodriguez. He is opposed by Otis Cogsworth, the chairman and CEO of Cogsworth International Arms, who convinces an Arkansas congressman to introduce legislation that every American must own a firearm.
Former Congressman Steve Israel When the mayor of a small Long Island village attempts to ban guns, Cogsworth orchestrates a recall election against her, pitting her against action movie actor Jack Steele in an election that features consultants, super-PACs and celebrities. Israel said that writing served as an escape from the pressures of Congress, and said it was something he had wanted to do growing up. “When I grew up in Levittown, I had
three dreams:! I wanted to be in Congress, I wanted to write novels, and I wanted to play centerfield for the New York Mets,” he said. “Since I didn’t excel at baseball, I focused on the first two dreams.” Israel’s first book was “The Global War on Morris,” which was published in 2015 while he was still in Congress. The novel tells the story of a mild-mannered Long Island man who mistakenly becomes the federal government’s public enemy No. 1. “I found myself attending meetings with President [George W.] Bush and Vice President [Dick] Cheney and was an eyewitness to the decisions that were being made at the highest level,” he said. “I became concerned that some of those decisions could be excessive and could hurt innocent Americans. So instead of writing a dry policy book expressing my concerns, I wrote a satire.” Israel said that his writing style is inspired primarily by American political satirist Christopher Buckley, along with Nelson DeMille, Mark Twain and “Catch-22” author Joseph Heller. On several occasions, he has spoken with Buckley, who has helped the former congressman break
Manhasset Library quite far before their harmful effects are fully recognized. This presentation will include an overview of climate science and an examination of observed and expected effects of climate change, with a focus on New York’s birds and other natural resources. The speaker will then describe several New York State programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to our changing climate.
Located at 30 Onderdonk Ave. in Manhasset. For more information about these and other events, go to www. manhassetlibrary.org. THE SONGS OF PETER, PAUL & MARY WITH THE GATHERING TIME BAND Sunday, May 20, 2 p.m. Enjoy acoustic folk-rock in rich harmony. Singalong to stirring songs like Blowing in the Wind, This Land is Your Land, Puff the Magic Dragon, If I Had a Hammer, Michael Row the Boat Ashore, Lemon Tree, Blowin’ in the Wind, Times They are a Changin’, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright, Turn! Turn! Turn, and more. “Gathering Time is like a high-energy Peter, Paul & Mary...with harmonies that can charm the birds out of the trees,” The Long Island Press FILM: “PHANTOM THREAD” Monday, May 21, 1 p.m. A tailor finds his meticulous professional life upended after he falls for a working-class woman. Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Camilla Rutherford, Gina McKee (Rated R - 130 minutes) SENIOR SCAM PEVENTION Tuesday, May 22, 2 to 4 p.m. Hosted by Senator Elaine Phillips NORTH SHORE AUDUBON PRESENTS: PREPARING FOR CLIMATE
SENIOR SCAM PEVENTION: Tuesday, May 22, 2 to 4 p.m. CHANGE Tuesday, May 22, 7 p.m. Our changing climate is affecting both human-built environments and ecological communities. Tropical storms make headlines, but other climate-related risks are also on the increase. Signals of climate change include alternating fierce droughts and intense rains, unprecedented heat waves, earlier springs and later onset of frost, and the arrival of heat-tolerant species and subtle decline of those less heat-tolerant. These less dramatic changes might proceed
LEONARDO DA VINCI, BY WALTER ISAACSON WITH THOMAS GERMANO Wednesday, May 23, 2 p.m. Professor Thomas Germano will present a visual lecture on Leonardo da Vinci, contextualizing the 2017, New York Times bestselling book by Walter Isaacson. Isaacson has written about Renaissance men, polymaths and visionaries including Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs and has finally written about The Renaissance era in his latest book on the artist da Vinci, who was capable of making connections between the sciences and the humanities. The New Yorker described Isaacson’s Leonardo da Vinci as “A powerful story of an exhilarating mind and life...a study in creativity: how to define it, how to achieve it.” Germano will highlight the Salvator Mundi painting, which recently sold for $450.3 million and Isaacson supported its authenticity for reasons related to the drawing changes in the hand.
through writer’s block and encouraged Israel’s writing. “I got an email from him once, which was better than getting a letter from the president of the United States,” Israel said. “The Washington Post compared my writing style to his, which is the deepest flattery I ever received.” Reviews from his congressional colleagues have been more mixed. “Some, predictably, love it, and others who disagree with me on the issue don’t love it,” he said. “But I can tell you this: they all read it looking for their names.” Israel recently returned from California, where he had already sold the movie rights for “Big Guns.” He said he hopes to see the work adapted for the big or small screen, but Israel himself is focused on the written word. “I’m contemplating another satire, but there’s a debate going on in literary circles that in the current presidential administration, satire is hard to write because satire is a daily reality in Washington,” he said. “I’m going to wait and see how ‘Big Guns’ performs and then make some decisions with the next project.”
NuBest celebrates 45th year Continued from Page 3 “I would love to thank the Manhasset community for their loyalty for 45 years and hopefully we continue for another 45 years,” Cascio, senior creative director, said. The salon, which was featured in the 1985 film “Desperately Seeking Susan,” has also been seen in Elle and Glamour magazines during its run. The salon and spa has also been a stomping ground for celebrities such as! Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Adrienne Bailon, Renee Graziano, Paula Garces, Kym Johnson, and Tonynominated couple Orfeh and Andy Karla. In 2004, the salon was completely renovated, Cascio said, removing the dated ’70s feel and modernizing it. During the renovation, departments were also reorganized for a more consistent flow and a dedicated, confined spa section was added, Roth said. Though a large and often crowded salon, friendly staff members are stationed throughout it, constantly concerned about the needs of the clients. “Our staff is friendly and nice, and we groom them that way,” Cascio said. “They come here as babies, and they work there way up, starting at the sink, then assisting us before getting their own chair. It takes a couple of years.”