Karen's Castle

  Over a million votes cast helped determine the 73 winning schools with grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000   On December 15 the winners of the “GLEE Give a Note” campaign were announced.   Of the 73 winning schools, only three were awarded the grand-prize of $50,000, one of which was NYC’s own PS 48 Joseph Drake in the Bronx, an Education Through Music (ETM) partner school. ETM, a New York City non-profit, makes music education a reality for thousands of at-risk children who would otherwise have limited or no exposure to the arts. Due to the struggling economy, even with the help of ETM, PS 48 has felt the impact of drastic budget cuts and has been barely maintaining their music program. Watch the video that won PS 48 the title of grand prize winner here: http://bit.ly/uNPO6R Thousands of schools nationwide submitted a video for their chance to receive a grant ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to help save struggling music programs. In October, eligible entries ...

Pleased to announce a new client to my roster - the multi-talented Actor-Director/Producer, Paul Borghese..Paul has made numerous television appearances and has notable film credits...including the role of legendary New York Yankee Yogi Berra in Billy Crystal's smash HBO original film  "61*"

Singer Steven Maglio honored his favorite singer Frank Sinatra by singing tunes made famous by the one and only Chairman of the Board, at Mr. Sinatra's well known hangout and favorite restaurant, Patsy's. Celebrating which would have been Mr. Sinatra's 96th birthday yesterday, Patsy's Chef Sal Scognamillo served up a delicious meal (and many of Frank's favorite foods), and a great show (broadcast live via WOR Radio), to a packed house of Sinatra fans and celebrities. During the luncheon Mr. Maglio entertained the crowd with a variety of Sinatra's favorites songs. "Being invited to sing at Patsy's to celebrate Frank Sinatra's birthday, honor his legacy and his songs, is a dream come true. It's my favorite day of the year!" said Mr. Maglio. WOR Radio's Joan Hamburg interviewed a few stars who shared their personal stories about Sinatra, including Tony Danza, Robert Davi, and Judy Collins. After hearing Steven Maglio sin...

Broadcast Journalist and WWRL Talk Show Host Mark Riley will participate in the Seventh Annual Domestic Violence Radio Row presented by TALKERS magazine and set for December 8 th , 2011. According to TALKERS magazine “It’s Time to Talk Day” is produced in association with it’s sister firm,  Talk Radio News Service , and the corporate sponsorship of  Liz Claiborne, Inc .  The event brings together more than 20 talk media hosts from around the country who broadcast their shows live or record interviews for delayed broadcast speaking with a non-stop parade of experts, victims, celebrities and public officials from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on the insidious societal problems of domestic violence and teenage dating abuse.  This year’s participants include Mark Riley of WWRL, Alan Colmes  of Fox News Radio;  Dr. Joy Browne  of WOR Radio Network; New York;  Curtis Sliwa  of WNYM (The Apple), New York;  Roberta Facinelli ...

New York veteran radio talk show host Kacey Morabito will interview the head of Oprah Winfrey’s Network (OWN) Harpo Studio’s President, Sheri Salata, on her radio talk show  Kacey On The Radio  www.kaceyontheradio.com airing on 100.7 WHUD and www.whud.com  at 6:30am Sunday morning, November 27, 2011. The topic of discussion focuses on Oprah's television future and the exquisite new book  The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy . Kacey On The Radio  is a 30 minute health and happiness show that airs every Sunday at 6:30am on 100.7 WHUD and www.whud.com . It also airs Friday at 9:30am on 1420 WLNA in Peekskill, 1250 WBNR in Beacon, 960 WGHQ in Kinston. and at www.hvradionet.com . Podcasts are available at www.kaceyontheradio.com Past guests on  Kacey On The Radio  include many high profile newsmakers/experts in their field such as Journalist Lisa Ling of Our America, Author Peter Walsh ...

  New York’s morning drive host is in demand for his opinions and expertise New York City, NY – November 17, 2011 Mark Riley, veteran talk radio host and political pundit, is available for interviews and panel discussions about Occupy Wall Street (OWS). Since the beginning of the OWS movement, Mark has shared his insights with a wide variety of OWS guests on his WWRL (1600AM) prime time Morning show, as well as in conversations via live broadcasts from the OWS encampment at Zuccotti Park.   Mr. Riley’s expertise as a seasoned fair-minded journalist has led him to participate as a frequent pundit on the New York 1 Reporter’s Roundtable, discussing the complexities of the OWS movement and other noted newsworthy topics. He is in demand for his opinions and knowledge about OWS as one of his morning radio callers shared, “It’s really wonderful to be able to wake up in the morning and tune in to your show for updates on OWS.” Riley has been steadfastly supportive of Occup...

November 17, 2011 (New York, NY) Critically acclaimed singer and performer Steven Maglio is pleased to announce the international release of “Songs for Sinatra Lovers!” to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the original recording.   The project will now be available outside of the United States via iTunes and CD Baby in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland), Japan, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Mexico. In addition, iTunes introduced 12 new European territories, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. To highlight the anniversary of the recording and celebrate the expanded availability, Mr. Maglio is writing a series of guest blog posts for Limelight, an online mechanical licensing clearance service ( www.songclearance.com ) powered by RightsFlow, a leading licensing and royalty ser...

  http://prlog.org/11665836 Steven Maglio Sings for the Cause  click link above!

MEDIA ALERT July 19, 2011 Contact :             Angie Morrissey (212) 972-4788, Cell: 718-710-7878 “EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC’S END OF SUMMER CHARITY PLAYOFF. SWING STRIKE OR SERVE WITH ETM!” TAKING PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 13 AT PELHAM GOLF CLUB TO RAISE $$$ FOR MUSIC EDUCATION FOR THOUSANDS OF AT-RISK CHILDREN WHERE:                Pelham Country Club, 940 Wynnewood Road, Pelham, NY 10803 WHEN:                Tuesday, September 13                         9:00 AM- Full Buffet Breakfast                         10:30 AM – Shotgun Start        ...

Author/historian Jay Wertz will be appearing at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, 750 9th Street Northwest, Washington D.C., 20001 on Wednesday July 20th at Noon. Mr. Wertz will sign copies of his book,  THE NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE . Native Americans have fascinated the world ever since European explorers discovered the Western Hemisphere.  The Native American Experience tells their story from migration during the Ice Age to the influence of Native American culture today, examining early Native American tribal history and the turbulent relationship between Native Americans and Western settlers.   The Native American Experience is based in part on interviews with notable Native Americans-including Adam Fortunate Eagle, Johnny Bear Contreas, and Waneek Horn-Miller- and featuring removable facsimiles of rare documents from U.S. archives and private collections, this is a powerful you-are-there account of American history as seen through the ey...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRLog (Press Release) – May 09, 2011 – Author/historian Jay Wertz will be appearing at Barnes & Noble, Rainbow Promenade, 2191 N Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89108, on Saturday, June 11th, from 1pm to 4pm. Mr. Wertz will sign copies of his books, THE CIVIL WAR EXPERIENCE: 1861-1865, and THE NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. The Civil War ­­­shaped the development of the United States of America like no other event in the country’s history, resulting in the building of one of the world’s greatest democracies. The Civil War Experience: 1861-1865 provides a unique glimpse into the world of the 1860s—the military, political, and social events of the war are explored, and the heroes, from great leaders and generals to common soldiers and civilians, are identified. The Civil War Experience offers the reader the chance to relive this defining moment in history through some two hundred illustrations, including specially commissioned maps and thirty fa...

Nice blurb from Tom Brokaw praising Jay's book, "The Pacific"...

  March 15, 2011  Los Angeles, CA Author/historian Jay Wertz on Veterans Radio Author/historian Jay Wertz will be a guest on Veterans Radio on Saturday March 19th, 9am-10am EST.  Mr. Wertz will be interviewed by Host and Founder of Veterans Radio, Dale Throneberry. Listen live on 990 AM WDEO, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1440AM WMAX Saginaw, MI and 98.5FM in Naples, Florida or via website http://www.veteransradio.net/programs.cfm  . THE PACIFIC---Volume One-- Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal, is the latest book from Mr. Wertz.  This first volume premieres a ten part book series: War Stories: World War II Firsthand, which offers a unique approach to World War II by weaving stories of combat veterans of all forces into an event by event history of the war. The series includes hundreds of first person interviews and oral histories of the soldiers on the ground, the sailors on the high seas, and airmen in the sky. THE PACIFIC---Volume One-- Pearl Harbor to...

6 servings Ingredients 12 slices sourdough bread 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 12 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced 1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips 1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves Directions Preheat the panini grill. Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Grill the bread slices until they begin to turn golden, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the panini grill and place 2 ounces of cheese on 1 slice of bread (the bottom half), top the cheese with 1/3 cup chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of basil . Top with another slice of bread. Continue with the remaining sandwiches. Return the sandwiches to the panini grill until the chocolate begins to melt , about another 2 minutes. Cut the sandwiches into 2-inch wide rectangles or small triangles and transfer to a serving platter .

Coconut Raspberry Chocolate Muffins  (found on endlesssimmer.com) Preparation: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom muffin pan with papers. Ingredients: • ¾ cup sour cream • ¾ teaspoon baking soda • ¾ cups coconut cream • 1 ¾ cups cake flour • ¼ cup cocoa powder, Dutch Processed • 2 teaspoons baking powder • ¾ cup unsalted butter • 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon salt • 2 eggs , plus one egg yolk • 1 tablespoon vanilla • 1tablespoon vegetable oil • ½ cup sweetened coconut shreds • 1 1/4 cup raspberries Instructions: 1. Mix baking soda into sour cream; set aside. Sift cake flour, cocoa powder and baking soda; set aside. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until combined. Add in oil, beat to combine. 2. Turn off mixer. Fold coconut cream into sour cream mixture. Using a sturdy spatula or a wooden spoon, fold in dry ingredient...

Pineapple Coconut Muffins presented by Art and Orchids Bed and Breakfast    (in Keeau, Hawaii)  1 1/3 cups sweetened flaked coconut 1/2 cup milk 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup pineapple juice 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup oil 1 Tbsp baking powder 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained well Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle the coconut on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, melt butter in microwave. Add to it milk, oil, butter, pineapple juice, eggs, and vanilla. Stir into flour mixture just until moistened; do not over mix. Fold in the toasted coconut and pineapple. Fill 12 non-stick muffin pans two-thirds full. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until they test done. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Serves 8 Top this chili with chopped yellow onions, sour cream or shredded cheddar cheese. This is spicy, rich, and super-beefy, so be ready! Ingredients Phase One 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 1/2 pounds beef sirloin tip, cut into chunks 1 small yellow onion, chopped 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 cups chicken broth 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles 1 fresh jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste Phase Two 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1/4 cup chili powder 1/2 to 1 teaspoon African Bird pepper or cayenne 2 tablespoons ground cumin 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 (12-ounce) bottle ale 1 tablespoon Tabasco 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar Method For phase one, heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Working in batches, brown meat all over. Add onions, garlic, broth, tomato sauce, cumin, mustard, oregano, c...

1967 Winner of International Chili Society in Terlingua, Texas. This is H. Allen Smith's recipe which actually tied for first place back at the first annual World Championship Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua, Texas with Wick Fowler's chili recipe . According to the ICS it was a shoot-out between Wick Fowler and H. Allen Smith. There were three judges; Hallie Stilwell, Floyd Schneider and Dave Witts. Hallie voted for H. Allen, Floyd voted for Wick. Dave Witts, the self- proclaimed mayor of Terlingua and third judge, spat out both samples and declared his taste buds were ruined! He called it a draw and declared a moratorium for one year. 1st Annual World's Championship Chili 4 pounds coarse-ground sirloin or tenderloin Olive oil or butter 1 to 2 (6-ounces each) cans tomato paste, diluted with equal amounts of water or more depending on desired consistency 3 to 4 medium onions , chopped, about 3 cups 1 green bell pepper, chopped, about 3/4 cup 2 to 10 cloves of...

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter  3 squares (3 ounces) unsweetened chocolate  1 cup sugar 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup fresh blueberries 2 squares (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate, melted Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium-size saucepan, melt the butter and unsweetened chocolate over medium heat until smooth. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in the sugar, egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine the flour and baking soda. Gently mix with the liquid ingredients. Fold in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into well-greased muffin cups, filling to the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool. Drizzle the cooled muffins with the semisweet chocolate.

"from gimme some oven blog." Ingredients For the cupcakes  - makes 20 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup butter 1 1/2 cups white sugar 3/4 cup champagne ( the sweeter the better â even strawberry would be great!!) 6 egg whites For the frosting 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar 1 cup butter, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons champagne, at room temperature Directions To Make The Cupcakes:. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a cupcake pan with liners. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then blend into creamed mixture alternately with champagne. In another large clean bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining egg whites. Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or un...

Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce Ingredients 2   (5 to 6 ounces each) filet mignons (about 1 1/2 inches thick) Coarse salt and very coarsely ground pepper 2   teaspoon(s) olive oil Red Wine Sauce (optional): 1   cup(s) red wine 2   tablespoon(s) cold butter, cut up Coarse salt Directions Season filets very generously on both sides with salt and pepper (especially pepper), patting in firmly. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Cook filets until desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes per side (depending on thickness) for medium-rare. Remove strings from filets, and serve with Red Wine Sauce, if desired. To make Red Wine Sauce: Place wine in a small saucepan; boil until reduced to 1/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; add cut-up butter, and swirl pan until butter is melted and sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Season with coarse salt. DESSERT..BROWNIE HEARTS   1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for c...