I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT AN AWESOME “FAMILY DAY” EVENT THAT WE HAD IN LONG BEACH ON JULY 13TH, 2008. KOMANOFF @ LONG BEACH MEMORIAL HOPSITAL, EVERY YEAR IN JULY, HOSTS A “FAMILY DAY” FOR THE RESIDENTS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND IT IS OPENED TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS PAST SUNDAY 900-1000 PEOPLE GATHERED ON THE PATIO OF THE NURSING HOME TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER YEAR @ KOMANOFF. THE THEME WAS “NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FESTIVAL.” ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT WAS PROVIDED BY HARMONY ENTERTAINMENT INC. OF FARMINGDALE, NY. THE HARMONY BAND WAS A 5 PIECE BAND – THEY WERE EXCEPTIONAL! BLUES, JAZZ, SOME ROCK & ROLL, R&B, FUNK, MOTOWN, AND SOME ISLAND MUSIC TOO, AND THEY WERE FANTASTIC! HARMONY ALSO HAD A WONDERFULLY TALENTED CARICATURIST, WHO DREW THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL CARTOON PICTURES OF THE RESIDENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, AND HE WAS CLEARLY ABLE TO CAPTURE THEIR PERSONALITY. THERE WAS A FACE PAINTER ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHE NOT ONLY PAINTED FACES BUT DREW REALLY BEAUTIFULLY ARTISTIC BUTTERFLIES, FLOWERS ETC., WITH GLITTER, AND ELABORATE PAINTS. THE OLDER WOMEN ENJOYED HER IMMENSELY. THE CHILDREN GOT TO BE LIONS, TIGERS, AND STAR WARS HEROES TOO. THERE WAS A CLOWN WHO MADE THE MOST UNUSUAL BALLOON ANIMALS. SNAKES WITH PAINTED FACES, HEARTS IN A WAND, PUPPY POODLES, AND THE USUAL SWORDS, ETC., JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE POPCORN MACHINE IS ALWAYS A HIT AND A NEW SNO KONE MACHINE WAS ADDED THIS YEAR. THE ICE NEVER STOPPED FLOWING AND THOSE SNO KONES WERE A DELICIOUS TREAT FOR ALL. IT WAS THE BIG HIT THIS YEAR. THE NURSING HOME PROVIDED HOT DOGS, SODA, WATER, HAMBUGERS, ICE CREAM, & CAKE, JUST TO NAME SOME OF THE DELICIOUS FOODS. THERE WAS A PETTING ZOO FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE YOUNGSTERS REALLY ENJOYED THE ANIMALS. AT ONE POINT THE RECREATION DIRECTOR SAID TO ME, “WE STOPPED COUNTING AT 800.” THE DAY COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT. THE WEATHER WAS HOT BUT NOT TOO STIFLING, THE WATERWAY IN FRONT OF EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A COOLING EFFECT ON ALL. THE MUSIC WAS HARMONIOUS AND THE TALENT OF THE BAND SHONE THROUGH. A GLORIOUS AFTERNOON WAS HAD BY ALL! WISH YOU WERE THERE.