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For those of you who do not know, I serve on the Board of Directors of The Friends of Vietnam Veterans Plaza.  About a year ago, because of my design/build experience, I was asked to chair a committee to look into certain restoration, renovation and design  issues facing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM), the Walk of Honor (WOH) and the entire Plaza at 55 Water Street.

The 25-year old Memorial is showing its age – the stone, grout and other materials need to be cleaned and repaired.  While general issues of lighting, identity and accessibility to all areas of the Plaza also need to be resolved.  To address these needs we assembled a team of consultants including William Fellow of PKSB Architects, Joan Berkowitz of Superstructures, Wesley Depp of Depp Glass and Suzan Tilliston of Tilliston Lighting Associates.  William Fellows was the original architect/designer of the Memorial and is thoroughly familiar with its construction and history over the years.   Joan Berkowitz is the Conservator for the Memorial.   Our goal was to study the current conditions, identify the problems, make recommendations for the needed remedial work and submit our design recommendations for lighting, signage and accessibility.

After many months of hard work which included mock ups of various lighting, signage and protective coatings, the final report is now complete.  On November 15, 2011, we will be making our presentation to the Municipal Arts Society [MAS] to obtain initial approval for the nearly one million dollars of funding required for the project.  These funds have already been allocated for this project.  It’s just a matter of getting MAS’s final approve on our design. After that, we be presenting to the Art Commission and the Parks Department for approval to proceed with the work.

Our report includes recommendations and cost estimates for the following:

• Repair, Cleaning & Coating of the glass block surfaces of the Memorial
• A “state of the art” LED lighting system to uniformly backlight the glass block [The cleaning, coating and lighting will greatly enhance the legibility of the inscriptions on the block].
• Removal the horizontal map of Vietnam and incorporating images of a map into new signage at the Water Street entrance to the WOH.
• Change the method of lighting the individual plaques in the WOH from up lighting to down lighting.  The new lights will shine down on the pavers and serve to define a clear, lit path to the Memorial.

• The new signage will consist of [2] low profile glass panel signs bracketing the entrance to the WOH on Water St.   The translucent glass panels will be capable of projecting ever changing images and/or light shows.  They could also run continuous loop type videos that would depict the theme of the day i.e. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day etc.
• We are also recommending modernizing the lighting throughout the entire plaza so that it’s consistent in color and intensity and lights the ground surfaces better the present without offensive glare

When all work is complete we have beautiful animated signage bracketing and defining the Water St. entrance to the WOH.  The pavers of the WOH will be lit up to highlight a clear path to the Memorial and the Memorial will be completely refurbished and lit with a continuous blanket of LED lighting.

Friends of Vietnam Veterans Plaza – Board Members

Harry Bridgwood, Chairman
James M. Barnes
John J. Campbell
Richard S. Colt
Dennis J. Conroy
Bob Del Grosso
Robert C. DiChiara
Vincent McGowan
Michael Miglino
William F. Milcarek
Bill Nelson
Michael O’Connor
Robert D. Santos
Gabriel Stefania
Ronald L. Winchester
Richard Wood

Website: http://www.vietnamveteransplaza.com/

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New York (July 30, 2010): Hirschl & Adler Galleries and Hirschl & Adler Modern will open their new and expanded galleries at 730 Fifth Avenue, New York, in the late fall. The announcement has been made by Stuart P. Feld and his daughter Elizabeth Feld.

“After 33 wonderful years in a historic townhouse located at 21 East 70th Street, in the same block as The Frick Collection,” Mr. Feld said, “Hirschl & Adler Galleries will move to larger quarters in the landmark Crown Building.” Having operated on seven floors of a townhouse during their 33 years on East 70th Street, Hirschl & Adler will now be housed on a single floor that will provide the gallery with about 25 percent additional space. Mr. Feld elaborates, “I am excited about the more efficient operation that lies ahead, with the public galleries, private showrooms, offices, library, and business office all housed within an arm’s reach of one another. This will replace the beautiful, if less efficient, domestic quarters that the firm will leave behind.”

Elizabeth Feld, who has devoted much of her time to the field of 19th-century American Decorative Arts, in which the firm has dealt since 1984, welcomes the opportunities presented by a custom-designed space. Specifically, the new layout incorporates a suite of rooms that will be exclusively devoted to the gallery’s unparalleled collection of American furniture, silver, lighting, glass, and ceramics, which will be displayed together with the gallery’s holdings in American and European fine arts of the period. “I have long felt that providing a viewing experience that offers variety—that is, seeing works in both a museum-like setting and a more multi-media “domestic” installation, paralleling the kind of environment that could be recreated in someone’s home—is the most meaningful for our clients. Our new space will allow us to mount exhibitions in both formats simultaneously.”

Hirschl & Adler Galleries is renowned for its important collections of American and European paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sculpture, including masterpieces by John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, George Caleb Bingham, Hiram Powers, Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson; and European masterworks by William Adolphe Bouguereau, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, and Claude Monet. The new galleries at the Crown Building will showcase works of this magnitude in a program of special exhibitions and through private viewing appointments.

The gallery’s new quarters will also be home to Hirschl & Adler Modern, where a succession of monographic and group shows by twenty of the leading American representational artists of our time will be presented alongside the finest secondary market works from 1913 to the present. Its contemporary program finds a neat context within its inventory of American Modernism, which includes works by, among others, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Gaston Lachaise, and Charles Demuth. Hirschl & Adler Modern has also represented the Estate of Fairfield Porter since the artist’s death in 1975.

Stuart Feld recalls that when the gallery moved to 21 East 70th Street in 1977, it was at the center of a whole group of major galleries dealing in American and European art of the last 200 years. “That has all changed,” observes Elizabeth, “with many of these firms having closed, moved, downsized, or just changed the way they operate.” Again much of the art business has shifted to an earlier outpost of the New York art world, in the corridor of 57th Street from Fifth to Madison Avenues. “We are ecstatic to be joining an amazing group of galleries at this internationally renowned crossroads.”

For further information, or to speak to Elizabeth Feld, please call 212 535-8810 or email ElizabethF@HirschlAndAdler.com.

http://www.pointclickhome.com/decoration_inspiration/articles/updating_georgian_revival_home

WHERE: Press conference at the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, 20 West 44th Street, 4th floor. New York City, NY

WHEN: 12noon, Friday, February 13^th. Be there to lend your support and greetings at the press conference, and then cheer the caravan on immediately afterwards.

SPEAKERS:

Don Buzney – MC

Alan Gerson, City Councilman of the 1st District – where 911 took place – friend to the Veterans community

Gabriel Stefania – Corporate leader and Board of Directors of  Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 126, NYC,  “Never Again will one generation of veterans abandon another” theme.

Luigi Masu, President of Vietnam veterans of Brooklyn, with a gift to the Fisher House

Alyse Zwick, Miss New York  whose platform is support for our veterans,

WHY: Veterans from all eras and boroughs, non-veterans, and corporations alike, all coming together to show support and love for our proud military men and women injured in combat, and the equally brave family members, on Valentines Day, Saturday February 14^th, at the Walter Reed Army Hospital, the major recovery hospital for our military, in Washington DC.

Our Goodwill Valentines Day Caravan” , departing on Friday, February 13^th, will consist of U-Haul trucks with their patriotic graphics on the sides, loaded with thousands of Valentines Day cards from their employees and the general public of all ages, and heartfelt gifts for both men and women. As an added treat, we will be premiering the 2009 Thank You For Serving video, filled with warm greetings and messages from Broadway casts, TV personalities, and grateful New Yorkers such as you. Thousands have also written, on giant Thank You For Serving boards, their own special messages and warm wishes to our troops.

Also slated on Valentines Day, befitting Valentines Heart wreathes will be placed at each military monument (WW I, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans Wall, Women’s Memorial etc.) with a special message to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Proud contributors: U-Haul, HBO, Estee Lauder, MTA Veterans Association, Modell’s, Never Forget Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapters of Manhattan and Brooklyn, Samaritan Village Veterans Program, Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, H-Hour Productions, Fountain House, Atco Construction Company, the incredible volunteers of the United War Veterans Council, and the many, many New Yorkers of all ages who send their love by way of a Valentines Day greeting.

Gabe worked with Pat Gualtieri, the Executive Director of the United War Veterans Council NYC (”UWVC”) (producers of the annual NYC Veterans Day Parade) and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Vietnan Veterans of America, Angel Alemeda Chapter 126 Manhattan

MTA Transit Veterans Association, with their own stellar NYC MTA Pipe & Drum Corps Samaritan Village Veteran Programs of Manhattan

Ed Thompson Facility of Queens

Nam Knights Brooklyn Chapter

Vietnam Veterans of America – Brooklyn Chapter 72,

Never Forget Foundation

UHaul International

HBO

Estee Lauder

Coach USA

Greater NY Chamber of Commerce; City Council, 1^st District.

__________________________________________________________________________

The following article is by Pat Gualtieri.  It was reprinted in several Veteran’s publilications.

2/15/09

A packed room of civic and corporate leaders, elected officials and caravan participants attended this noon time press conference and luncheon at the Greater New York Chamber of

Commerce – ‘Blue Room’ and hosted by Mark S. Jaffe, President & CEO.

Speakers included Miss USA, Long Island, Alyse Zwick; Silver Star Vietnam veteran Gabe Stefania, B of D of VVA 126 and VP, Atco Properties and Management, carrying the Vietnam Veterans of America motto of “Never Again Will One Generation Of Veterans Abandon Another”; Master of Ceremonies, Don Buzney, and a former Captain USMC Vietnam, Dwight Webster, MTA; City Council Member Alan G. Gerson, 1st District (included the World Trade Center) – himself a veteran, all spoke from the heart with NYC best wishes and the true meaning of the “Serving the men and women of the US Armed Forces in the NYC metro area” Manhattan Views. caravan. Councilman Gerson intends to have NYC make this an annual event with the city’s full support. Our numerous ‘Thank You for Serving’ giant poster boards with well wishes to our troops were proudly displayed – Atco’s artwork and creativity were particularly prominent – before loading these on our bus and trucks for transport to DC. Immediately following the spirited Press conference, our volunteers boarded the 50+ seater Coach USA bus as our driver began our 5 hour journey to DC. Many thanks go to Tom Lewis, President of Coach USA and fellow Vietnam veteran, who generously donated this spectacular bus, and super competent and courteous bus driver, Joe Kim. We were to find out that the NYC Coach USA dispatcher was born and raised in Vietnam, and told of his respect and thanks to all Vietnam veterans. Our caravan also included U-Haul trucks, graciously donated by Joanne Fried, Director of Media and PR of U-Haul International, and U-Haul President NYC Jeff Sonberg (also a veteran). U-Haul trucks displaying their wonderful patriotic graphics on their sides helped us transport materials and corporate gifts from various sponsors for our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

For our journey, John Cinosky from Atco, arranged delicious boxed breakfasts and lunches graciously provided by Sodexo.  Mologne House (on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Hospital and the next step after intensive hospital care of those injured and their family members before leaving to go home). Our tally of 40+ New Yorkers all converged on the Mologne House in the morning and were warmly greeted and accommodated by the great staff of Peter Anderson, General Manager of the *Mologne House. Our UWVC Mologne House Team Captain, Marleen (”Molly”) Levi and Deputy’s Susan DeVito of the Samaritan Village ‘Ed Thompson’ Veterans Program, and Army veteran Ericka Gallego, presently attending Columbia University, deployed their band of volunteers into various stations and activities including decoration set up in Valentine Day theme. Throughout the day, they met with wounded warriors and their family members – giving love and gifts from grateful NYers of all ages The proud members of the MTA Transit Veterans Association and those veterans and patriotic people who support the veterans’ community, brought hundreds of Valentines Day cards from NY 5-10 year olds. Their ‘Kids to Kids’ Valentines Day cards (many with same-age children with their mom or dad during recovery), and Kids to Wounded Warriors Valentines Cards brought joy and smiles from everyone. Gift items from the Chairman & CEO of HBO, Bill Nelson, a Vietnam veteran, and dear friend at HBO, Ellen Burgos; HBO provided us with many HBO products (DVD sets of HBO series shows, Sex and the City T-shirts, Soprano baseball caps, etc.). As imagined, this was very well received with requests for more! Lovely and plentiful baskets (with red, white, blue decor) contained individually gift wrapped candy, from the great team of at U-Haul International in Phoenix.

In addition, U-Haul goodies such as patriotic wristlets, dog tags, and Valentines Day cards were embraced times over by soldier and family alike who couldn’t get enough of these! Thank You For Serving giant poster boards of warm messages from grateful New Yorkers filled the lobby and accompanying rooms in the Mologne House.

Boxes upon boxes of men and women’s toiletries from Estee Lauder (many thanks to Joe Loperfido, MTA) and items from History (formerly the History Channel) were also a smash hit! The 2009 ‘Thank You for Serving’ video with warm wishes from TV and Broadway cast personalities, veterans and the general public, was introduced by its Director, Ryan Hegg, and then premiered. The 25 minute video was run continually

throughout the day and engaged all to the huge monitor – hearing and seeing the likes of jazz icon BB King, world class magician David Blaine, Sopranos cast, beauty pageant contestants and others, all giving their warm wishes and support. Wounded warriors requested copies, giving us their units serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere; asking us to also send copies to them.

(The Thank You for Serving video and accompanying booklet will be released to them in the next few weeks.).

The Director of Communication for the Veterans Administration in DC wanted a ‘for TV version copy’ of the video to show for their own TV station with promises to circulate nationally, throughout the VA system. (This special copy will be released within 1-2 weeks.)

U-Haul staffs from DC and Maryland under the direction of their respective presidents; DC President U-Haul, DC, Pat Goodwin and MD President U-Haul Mike Lowe, brought their token of love of thousands of Valentine Cards written from UHaul employees throughout the USA. The gung ho and super helpful U-Haul staff gave these cards to those injured and their family members, with a batch of cards delivered to the active duty serving on the Walter Reed Army Base. The U-Haul Presidents attending then dispatched their drivers to take Veterans

Valentines Day cards to each VA hospital in their respective locations. All gifts and cards were given to all in the way they were received – with respect, love and patriotism. This was received in such total and complete apreciation for our efforts, knowing full well by us – and relayed to them, that THEY gave, and continue to give us – the gift of freedom.  Prt of our NYC team was Luigi Masu, the President of VVA 72 Brooklyn, who presented a $2,000.00 check to the Fisher House. This was in honor of one of their members (now deceased) who was treated from injuries in Vietnam and never forgot the care he received at Walter Reed Army Hospital years ago.

A team of 10 led by VVA member, Gabe Stefania and Miss New York vsited with those severely injured and hospitalized.  The Walter Reed Hospital Team was terrific and deserves recognition. Miss USA Long Island was a smash hit with all injured, asking for a pix with her (not for distribution per rules and regs of Walter Reed which we abide by). All gifts and cards were very well received. Many thanks to Walter Reed Hospital ‘Ambassador” Howard Drake for facilitating this visit with warm greetings and thanking our team.

At day’s closing (we didn’t want it to end)… all converged back to the Mologne House where we wound down our day… all gifts had by then been distributed – with special reserve saved and given to the night manager for those wounded warriors unable to make it to our hosting room. We left many of our Thank You for Serving poster boards and I recall seeing wounded warriors and family members sign with their special greeting.

Returning home, everyone had a heart filled with special memories and love… the steadfast theme of the day. From our wonderful bus driver Joe Kim, himself raised in South Korea, who thanked us for saving his country, to those many proud wounded warriors, men and women both, who trusted us in the telling of their stories, and hopes for tomorrow, to their children who saluted us, and parents who hugged us… we’re proud to have had the chance to honor our wounded soldiers on this most special day, and every day in our way(s).

We wish all our soldiers a speedy recovery and extend a resounding THANK YOU for all you’ve done and for who you are – a proud American! With love, honor, respect, pride and patriotism from a grateful New York,

we salute you!

God Bless America!

Patrick Gualtieri

Executive Director

United War Veterans Council, NYC 346 Broadway, Suite

807

NYC, NY 10013, T) 212-693-1476, F) 212-693-1475

Email: Patuwvc@aol.com

Myth 1: Green consumers’ top concern is the environment.
When asked to identify their top concern, the economy, by far, is No. 1 (with 59% calling it their top concern) and the environment falls far behind (8%).

Myth 2: Green consumers’ main motivation when reducing their energy use is to save the planet.
When asked the most important reason to reduce energy consumption, 73% chose “to reduce my bills/control costs” and only 26% chose “to lessen my impact on the environment.”

Myth 3: Green consumers are all-knowledgeable about environmental issues.
For example, the survey asked, “From what you have read or heard about CO2 (carbon dioxide), please place a check beside any of the following statements you think are true.”  Almost half (49%) chose the incorrect answer, “It depletes the ozone layer.”

Myth 4: Green consumers fall into a simple demographic profile.
While the study detected some demographic tendencies, it found that green consumers aren’t easily defined by their age, income, or ethnicity.

Myth 5: Children play a big part in influencing their parents to be green.
Only 20% of respondents with children said their kids encouraged them to be greener by, for example, promoting recycling and turning off lights.

Myth 6:  If buyers just knew the facts they’d make greener choices.
The study showed that knowledge does not always lead to eco-conscious behavior. Individuals who answered all of the science-related questions correctly did report participating in a significantly higher average number of green activities, such as driving a fuel-efficient car or lowering their thermostat during the winter; however, the 25- to 34-year-old age group consistently answered the questions correctly, yet, on average, this group’s green activity levels were lower than those of older respondents.

“Because green consumers are being stereotyped, and these myths we tested are embraced by marketers as facts, many green messages are falling on deaf ears,” Shelton says. “If these messages were better targeted, more people would be buying green products, conserving electricity, and doing more to save the planet.”