Once Again Knights Turn Garden City Into "Andy Cooney Country!"

By Dan Burns

Chairman "Jay" Lynch opens concert with warm welcome to major turnout and high praise for concert committee and on-site workers. Friday evening, December 7, the 66th anniversary of "Pearl Harbor Day," was a time for rejoicing and reminiscing for "Msgr. John's Knights" of St. Anne's parish and more than 560 attendees on hand to see and hear singer/composer/ entertainer Andy Cooney and his fast-moving 2007 version of "A Classic Irish Christmas" turn Garden City into "Andy Cooney Country" once again.

It was the third successive year here for the latest Christmas concert format for Cooney who had made his debut in McCloskey Auditorium in the mid-'80's as a late-teenage performer (piano keyboard soloist) with the famed Paddy Noonan band.

The night was opened by Concert Chairman "Jay" Lynch with words of thanks for Msgr. "Father" John Gilmartin, Pastor, Mary Lou Engrassia and the St. Anne's staff for their cooperation. He added words of high praise for the hard-working Knights on his planning committee: Deputy Chairman Bob Guida, Dan Burns, Joe Hayes, Don DePol, Denis Collins and Brendan Galligan. And, he recognized the invaluable on-site concert preparation work of Eileen and Bob McAuliffe

Fresh from Burns/Fagan Country: l. to r. Clare Burns, Greg & Theresa Fagan with children Evan and Marie. Therese & Greg. from South Orange, NJ, donated Ken Burns' "The War" CD set and guide to lucky WWII Knight vet. A long-time Council friend, Nassau Chapter's Jim Rhatigan (left) from Floral Park hailed, in his tradmark boom-ing voice, Grand Knight Basil Bliss and Past Grand Knight Bob Guida (Concert Deputy Chairman) with "Star Council" awards respectively from Supreme and New York State K/C headquarters. He noted that only 5% of Councils orderwide are honored annually with the prestigious national award. This past June,'06-July, '07 Council year marked the third time our Knights had won the award.

Basil then presented "Father John" with a check for $1,000 in advance of an eventual one-quarter of the evening's profits to be used for helping in the completion of the St. Therese Chapel memorialzing Msgr. William F. Costello. The award was part of the Knights annual charity efforts which include scholarship grants to Catholic high schools for select graduates of St. Anne's School and the parish Faith Formation group.

Concert Chairman "Jay" Lynch, son "Mike" and Lector/ Defensive Driving Chairman Jim Dougherty. Cooney was in rare singing form from an audience "wave" opening of "Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," to a closing, resounding rendition of the spiritual "Jerusalem." Sandwiched in between with others were a perennial Cooney audience rocker, "When the Boys Come Rolling Home" and the gentler "Irish Wedding Song," (Andy's favorite among his own 150 song creations) composed while he was associated with Paddy Noonan. Andy's toughest challenge of the evening seemed to be his keeping in step with the high-flying Darr Carr school dancers of New York City.

Two newcomers to the local audience were comedian George Casey ("The New King of Blarney") and an international favorite, soprano Odette Woods. Both drew roars of approval from the large audience.Casey (originally from County Clare)with his self-deprecating humor focused on his everyday adventures in the music-loving town of Branson, Missouri. And Odette with her seasonal spiritual duet with Andy. His endearing nomination of her for a future role in the Metropolitan Opera drew approving cheers.

Dan Burns' wife Adele, John Parks' mother, Adelaine and Peg Irwin. Cooney interrupted his performance in midstream to honor Hofstra University FM station WHRU's Tony Jackson with a specially inscribed silver plate from the Cooney performers for his consistent promotion of Irish songs and Irish performers in the Long Island area.

Taking note of Pearl Harbor Day, at stage-side after the show, Bob Guida drew from a collection of 23 names of WWII vets of Nassau's 17th District that of John Davanzo from Corpus Christi Council in Mineola. He was the winner of a a set of six CD's containing all the episodes from historian Ken Burns popular PBS-TV series on World War II titled, "The War" and its companion 450-page hard-cover WWII guide.

The prize was donated by Greg and Theresa Fagan from South Orange, NJ, friends of the Council. The promotion was announced in the Knights-produced Playbill-like program and on giant posters in the McCloskey Auditorium lower "lobby".

GK Basil Bliss, Council Chaplain Fr. Rudy Pesongco, and PGK Bob McGowan waiting for show to get underway. Joe Hayes, Don DePol, Denis Collins, Mike Lynch and Doug Gaeta manned the highly active 50/50 selling tables which produced a top winner of $450 by Alicia Wilson. Total sales were $1,700.

We're indebted to Knight John McAuliffe and Margaret Parks (Knight John Park's wife) for a collection of excellent photos from a most entertainng evening in Garden City's "Cooney Country!" As usual, JohnParks ("Spirit Day" Co-chair) served nobly as the Host of the Cooney half-time food re-fuel with free A-rated Irish soda bread and a new item: freshly-perked coffee variations of your choice at a reasonable price.

"Msgr. John's Knights" represent Msgr. John C. Seidenschwang Council Knights of Columbus 35 Dartmouth St., Garden City, NY 11530.

George Casey, "The New King of Blarney" explains jokes at fuel-up half-time.

Joe Hayes (left) and DonDePol sell first attendees "lucky" 50/50 tickets. Bob and Eileen McAuliffee relax after hectic pre-show set-up chores. John Parks, heading up half-time food re-fueling section, awaits the mad rush. Msgr. "Father John" Gilmartin thanks GK Bliss (left) and Knights for check supporting St. Therese Chapel memorializing Msgr. Willim F. Costello. Doug Gaeta (left) and Denis Collins keep up hectic 50/50 ticket-selling pace. Anxious audience awaits opening of show. Joe and Kay Hayes (center right) sitting next to eventual 50/50 first prize winner, Alicia Wilson (right). Jim Rhatigan (left) congratulates Past Grand Knight Bob Guida (holding N.Y. State "Star Council" trophy) with new Grand Knight Basil Bliss (center) holding national "Star Council" plaque. Top Irish and American musicians in super Cooney band led by Brian "Bugs" Moran, left. Half-time also brought out shoppers looking for Cooney and his crew's latest CD's. County Clare's George Casey, the new "King of Blarney," made outstanding debut before a St. Anne's audience. WHRU-FM's Tony Jackson accepts inscribed silver plate award from Andy Cooney and associates. Irish dancers from N.Y. City Carr Darr Dance School acknowledge plaudits. Brilliant Irish soprano, Odette Woods takes a bow to loud cheers. Perky coffee-fans line up for new concert special: choice of regular or decaf at a reasonable price.