{"id":15928,"date":"2020-07-29T17:04:28","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T21:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15928"},"modified":"2020-07-29T17:04:28","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T21:04:28","slug":"outabout-82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15928","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n

I am so happy for a friend of mine who is also a feature correspondent for this paper on a regular basis from Ireland. Again, I am excited that one of his novels has finally got exposed to the public called \u201cThe Spy-Catcher\u2019s Wife\u201d<\/strong> and hopefully here in the United States of America as he is a brilliant writer. His name is James McKeon<\/strong> and he has been writing for a very long time with books, plays and film scripts and it looks like it is all happening for him and he is at last getting the recognition he deserves. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Cork City, Joe and Stephanie\u00a0Kavanagh<\/strong> welcomed James to City Hall on July 17 for a reception to launch his book. James (Jim) McKeown was a legendary football (soccer) player back in the 60s and 70s playing for Cork Hibernians and he can sing a song or two as well. While he was working in the Post office he developed a love of theatre and became an actor and writer. <\/p>\n

Jim talks about the writing process, his love for the work of Frank O\u2019Connor and his writing a biography of him. In the Post office you could secretly do other activities like writing in his spare time huh… He also loves Youghal County Cork that is on the border of Waterford as a holiday destination for almost everybody with families big and small who came from all over the Munster area. That was, and still is the Mecca of the south of Ireland and still is today, that is where James done all his sunbathing and swimming. You will be hearing a lot about James McKeown very soon and yes you can get his book on Amazon. <\/p>\n

\"\"Working from home has some advantages and last Wednesday I streamed The Irish Repertory Theatre<\/strong> with their on-screen performance of Conor McPherson\u2019s \u201cThe Weir\u201d<\/strong> that was set in a small country pub. I am not a critic but I do know what is good and what is not. Here we go it was just fabulous and heart warming that I wish I was a part of cast as I would fit right in. Ciar\u00e1n has done it again with his directing and a great cast and it was very well produced, good yea.<\/p>\n

Their digital programming has been so successful that they now another great follow up, continuing their season with an all-new digital production of\u00a0\u201cLove, No\u00ebl: The Songs and Letters of No\u00ebl Coward\u201d<\/strong>. In these troubled times, they hope you\u2019ll find joy in the music and words of one of the greatest entertainers of the last century, No\u00ebl Coward, as performed by Steve Ross<\/strong> and KT Sullivan<\/strong> and directed by Charlotte Moore<\/strong> and filmed at the iconic home of The Players on Gramercy Park<\/strong>.\u00a0Love, No\u00ebl\u00a0runs from August 11-15 as the final Performance on Screen in their Online Summer Season. You just have to tune is as you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re missing so get on board now. This event is free to attend, but advance reservations are required.\u00a0The event link will be emailed to registered attendees two hours before the performance begins.\u00a0If you are in a position to support them, they ask that you please consider a donation of $25 per viewer. For more information contact their Box Office at (212) 727-2737 or visit irishrep.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Daniel Dromm<\/strong>, the New York Council Member sent me in this note to publicize the new open streets; play program coming to Jackson Heights in Queens. He has given me this upcoming information that he wanted to make you aware of. This new program will be implemented on the following streets from July 30 to September 4.\u00a0Open Streets: Play is a temporary full street closure on an existing Open Street to facilitate safe, structured, activities for young people. Essential, it is the Play Street concept worked into the Open Streets Program on\u00a034th Avenue between 72nd and 74th Streets, 34th Avenue between 79th and 80th Streets and 34th Avenue between 92nd and 94th Streets.<\/p>\n

The Fresh Air Fund Summer Spaces<\/strong>\u00a0program will operate at these locations from 10 am to 4 pm \u2013 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.\u00a0Two locations, 34th Ave stretching from 72nd to 74th streets will be open\u00a0July 30 and 31 and then follow a Monday – Thursday schedule beginning August 3.\u00a0The remaining locations will open on Wednesday, August 5 and follow a Monday – Thursday schedule.\u00a0The Program\u00a0will serve children ages 5 – 13. Children will participate in a variety of activities that are fun and safe, taking COVID-19 guidelines into consideration.<\/p>\n

The structure will engage them in learning and developing positive relationships with adults and youth (ages 18-24) mentors who will be staffing the Summer Spaces. The program is structured as three\u00a0two-hour time slots, each serving 30 children and totaling 90 children per day. Vehicles are not permitted to enter the streets during the hours of the full street closure. <\/p>\n

Well as I am still not out and about I am here to get you as much gossip as possible no matter what it is. This also came in from the Queens Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> now as you can see people are taken notice of my Out&About and I am so happy to be of service during these tough times. As a diverse community of givers, and one of the most hard hit areas of our City and State, Queens is in recovery and rebuild mode. The Queens Chamber is being asked to support small and medium size businesses, not for profits and other organizations struggling with the ongoing issues related to the COVID 19 pandemic. Their mission is even more important today than when they were founded in 1911: Educate, Advocate and Network. In order to make certain that they can help as many organizations as possible, they have decided to ask for volunteers from a wide array of talents and expertise to join the effort. <\/p>\n

They will match volunteers with the needs of our business community. A number of kind people have already reached out offering to help so they now want to do this in an organized professional manner. If you are ready, willing and able to rollup your sleeves and help out, they would be grateful as would the thousands of businesses and organizations in Queens affected by the COVID 19. If you have any questions or need additional information, please email the project coordinator for this effort, their Manager of Member Committees, Jeff Gross<\/strong> at\u00a0jgross@queenschamber.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That what I have for you this week and I will see you all again WHEN I am Out&About…<\/p>\n

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