Category: Com 204

Willowbrook Park Carousel Opens for 2016 Season

Opening draws families to park to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities

The first Saturday in May means the Kentucky Derby for most but for Staten Islanders it means the Carousel in Willowbrook Park is open.

“It’s good for the children to get outdoors and enjoy the carousel” said Fred Schaseizer, SR Manager.  “I can tell by their smiles, they only cry when they don’t want to get off”

The island themed carousel was built in 1999.  The carousel has 51 hand carved wooden animals to ride along with Noah’s Ark and and a handicapped seat.  The carousel includes depictions of 21 Staten Island landmarks including the historic Richmondtown Courthouse, Great Kills harbor and the Staten Island Ferry.  The St. Bernard is an exact replica of from the long lost south beach carousel.

With two bells, flashing lights and the optimistic I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas playing the Carousel opened the season with Sevin Dogmus 4 aboard.

Video: Take a ride on the Carousel

“I am from Brooklyn and rode the merry-go-round at Nellie Bly” said Milay Dogmus Sevin’s mother.  “I want my daughter to have those memories too”

There were plenty of other activities for toddlers to enjoy.  The squeal of pigs and the crow of a rooster drew the children to a petting zoo and a finely dressed singing cat held youngsters memorized at the Puss in Boots puppet show.  Both provided by the NYC Parks Department.

The park was added to the Greenbelt in 1984.  The Greenbelt is a system of woodland parks with trails that cross Staten Island.  Willowbrook Park includes tennis courts, baseball fields and a 5 acre man-made lake.

“We talked about bringing them to see the ducks” said Marcia Herrera, mother of Asher, 4 and Avery, 2.   “Do you want to go for a carousel ride”

“It’s a Merry-go-round Mommy”, Asher said.  “I want to ride a tiger”

 

Top Ten Political Satire Tweets

Social media is critical to the candidates running for President in 2016.  All of the candidates have a presence online and on the major social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.  They use these social media platforms to reach both supporters and undecided voters in hopes of getting out the vote and winning votes.

Social media is also a risk for candidates. For each attempt to rally the base or win an undecided voter there is potential for a satirical counterpoint.  It is unclear if this form of political satire sways public opinion but it is entertaining.  Here are retired2995’s favorite Top Ten Political Satire Tweets so far this election season.

10.  SNL is the James Bond of Political Satire-Nobody does it better and nobody is safe.

9.  Political cartoons- an american tradition.  Her are some from the Miami Herald cartoonist Jim Morin.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

8.  Late 1970’s Friday night TV, Can we do a Love Boat with Bernie and Hillary or Trump and Fiorina?

7.  If you think hard enough Bernie, you can come up with a few democrats and independents as well.  Healthcare for all means for all.

6. Where is Kasich?

 

5. I know how you feel Abe.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cc6-yqYW4AAI1A3.jpg:large

4.  Unconfirmed reports Gov. Christie has retained Daniel Webster in this matter.

3.  Anyone else thinking Titanic?

 

2.  Are they related?

  1.  It’s me Bernie…..

 

Do you really want to cover a modern Presidential election?

Laura Hazard Owen’s interview of The Boston Globe’s 2016 Election election reporter James Pindell is an eye-opener.   The Q & A with Pindell highlights the workload, the changing face of print journalism and the growing extent social media is used as a tool to deliver the Globe’s reporting to the consumer.

Pindell discusses the benefits of platforms he used including Twitter, email, Facebook and Periscope and Facebook live.

“Obviously Twitter is where the conversation is happening on the campaign trail: Pindell relates to Owen.  A quick check of the major candidate’s twitter feeds confirms this: Hillary Clinton 4.2K tweets/ 5.43M followers, Bernie Sanders 13.7K Tweets/1.47 M followers, Donald Trump 30.9K Tweets/6.24 M followers, Ted Cruz 3.9K tweets/697K followers.  Many candidates have multiple feeds relating to their respective campaigns.

Pindell used a Facebook live broadcast to provide real time coverage and analysis of the Primary.  This expands the Globe’s traditional print media footprint to include real-time news coverage delivered direct to their consumers.

The change in traditional print journalism is summed up in Pindell’s observation, “I’m digital first at the Globe”.

 

The complete article is available at:

James Pindell is trying to bring The Boston Globe’s election coverage to everyone by being everywhere By LAURA HAZARD OWEN