An invitation to experience my acclaimed presentation on rail transportation in Italy

October 28, 2015 -

An invitation to cover/experience my acclaimed presentation on rail transportation in Italy.

Media Advisory:

Presentation of Rail Transportation In Italy By Joseph M. Calisi

Revised Date/Time:
                              October 28, 2015, show begins about 6 pm
                              meeting begins at 5 pm

Location           : Farmingdale State College

                              2350 Broad Hollow Rd.

                              Lupton Hall Room T101-make a left out of the 'T'

                              Farmingdale, NY 11735

Directions        : See below

Contact            : Joseph M. Calisi JMCalisi@Yahoo.com

Join us for entertainment to be provided by the National Railway Historical Society's New York Chapter Historian and Director, Joseph M. Calisi. The program is a photographic recap of the Electric Railroaders Association European extravaganza this past May, 2012. The group chased after trams, trolleys, funiculars, ropeways and Italian high speed Frecciarossa trains all over Northern and Central Italy. The presentation includes an update on Italian rail transportation since 2012.

Don't miss this excellent show!

Known as the International Transportation Photojournalist since 1993, I’ve contributed to the information world in print (magazines and newspapers) and electronic media (TV reporter and interviewee, radio and websites) for over 20 years.

Congratulations also go to Joseph who has added to his impressive portfolio of published work, the cover photograph of a national publication - the February, 2013 Trains Magazine – an interior shot of Grand Central Terminal in connection with the 100th anniversary of New York’s emblematic rail terminal. This is in addition to the magazine covers of Railway Age magazine - the #1 rail industry publication of the Americas over the years. Visit his website at: http://josephmcalisiphotography.com and transportation blog at: http://railientrails.blogspot.com/

An added feature is that an 11-minute documentary will be shown on the last days of mainline steam railroading in Inner Mongolia, China. This presentation garnered me a Telly Award in 2003.

Come and enjoy the show!

Directions:
Meeting is in Lupton Hall Room T101 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE).

Directions are:

NOTE: NON-REGISTERED VISITORS NEED TO REQUEST A PERMIT TO PARK ON CAMPUS. SEND AN EMAIL TO THIS ADDRESS

BY OCTOBER 15TH SO THERE WILL BE ENOUGH TIME TO PROCESS YOUR REQUEST.

When coming onto the campus, go to the police or guard headquarters to get a parking permit and a campus map to find Lupton Room 101. However, an alternative is to come to the meeting and we will provide parking permits which you will then have to place on the dashboard of your car. But when you first park only park in student parking or else you will get a ticket if you are in faculty or charging stations parking.
 

Directions to the Campus

From the Metropolitan Area

Campus Map

By Car
Northern State Parkway - to Exit 40 (Route 110). Travel south on Route 110 for approximately 3 miles. On the right hand side you will see the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park. Turn right into the campus at the College sign.

Southern State Parkway - to Exit 32 - (Route 110). Travel north on Route 110, approximately 3 miles. Turn left at the College sign onto the Melville Road. Proceed approximately 1/4 mile to College entrance. Turn right into the College.

Long Island Expressway - to Exit 49 South (Route 110). Travel south on Route 110, approximately 2 miles. On the right hand side you will see the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park. Turn right into the campus at the College sign.

By Train
Long Island Railroad - Pennsylvania Station. Take the Ronkonkoma line to Farmingdale. Check with the Conductor for any necessary changes. Take a taxi from the Farmingdale Station to the College.

By Bus
The campus bus stop serves both the Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) and the Suffolk Transit System from the same bus stop located on the east side of parking lot 4 B.

Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) Bus Map and Schedules

Suffolk County Transportation Bus Map and Schedules

Shuttle Service:
Checkers Cab (516-777-1111) and Yellow Cab (516-849-6666)
Cost is $4 per person.

Monday through Friday
Farmingdale LIRR to Farmingdale State College (Laffin Hall): 7:00 AM, 8:35 AM, 9:10 AM

Farmingdale State College (Departs from Laffin Hall) to Farmingdale LIRR: 12:25 PM, 1:25 PM, 2:25 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:25 PM, and 5:00 PM

Trenitalia’s High Speed Frecciarossa Now Serves Bari, Italy

Italy, September, 2015 –

The network of Italy’s premier high speed train, the Frecciarossa, is now serving Bari, Italy. The infrastructure upgrade to handle 200 kilometer/hour speeds with the ETR 500 tilting train between Bologna and Foggia has been completed and service has begun.

The daily 869km round trip between Milan and Bari has been reduced by over an hour from 7 hours 43 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes.

High speed rail is nothing new in Italy as the Italian government has been gradually upgrading the right of way and equipment since the 1970s.

The service change was made after the deployment of the new Frecciarossa1000 trains on Milan to Rome services this past June, 2015. The ETR 500 equipment was then made available on the Venice – Rome – Naples – Salerno route, and now the Milan – Bari line.

A 125 mph Frecciabianca northbound run originating was swapped out for the redeployed ETR 500 Frecciarossa equipment.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured is the Frecciarossa ETR 500 in the famous trainshed in Milan, Italy.

POSTCARDS OF THE MEZZOGIORNO: A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY OF SOUTHERN ITALY IN THE BARI AREA

A photo essay by Joseph M. Calisi, The International Transportation Photojournalist

Friday, December 13, 2013, 6:30 p.m. at the Italian American Museum in Little Italy (NYC)

On December 13, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., the Italian American Museum at 155 Mulberry Street (corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets) in Manhattan will host “Postcards of the Mezzogiorno: A Photographic Essay of Southern Italy in the Bari Area.” Joseph M. Calisi, The International Transportation Photojournalist, retraced places visited in his youth to capture the sun-splashed beauty of a region rarely seen by tourists. This photographic essay of Puglia, features the beauty of Southern Italy that extends beyond the cathedrals of Rome and the gondolas of Venice. Commentary will accompany the presentation as he explores how the subtle overlay of technology has been interwoven with the classic architecture that endures.

“Mezzogiorno” translated literally means ‘mid-day or noon’, and it is also used as to reference the Southern Italian region. Photographs of Bari, Mola di Bari, Alberobello, Cozze, Conversano, San Vito and Polignano in this presentation captures the magic of the towns including the traditional of the feast of St. Nicholas, held close in the hearts of the Baresi. In surrounding towns, century old homes and streets intermingle with modern palazzi, offering an insider’s perspective of the region.  Traditional ways of life such as area farms, old buildings and open markets are juxtaposed with modern electrical equipment such as solar cells. Historical landmarks meet modern amenities in a curious mix where the populous absorbs the benefits of modern lifestyle but retains older values. 

“Visiting Italy, retracing the steps of my youth, I still marvel at the architecture of the region, how many of the buildings and stores remained the same, yet technology appeared where I least expected it. A visit to the fish market for example showed one vendor using a scale with counterweights and another using an electronic scale. I looked to reconcile the memories I had of the streets, towns and markets and marveled at although much had changed; so much had stayed the same. I also enjoyed hearing the old dialect as I walked through the town. It was music to my ears,” says Joseph M. Calisi.

Joseph M. Calisi has been an International Transportation Photojournalist since 1993. He has contributed to the information world in print magazines and newspapers and electronic media TV reporter, radio broadcaster and as an expert in transportation systems around the world. 

To sample additional works you may visit his website at www.josephmcalisiphotography.com.

“Postcards of the Mezzogiorno: A Photographic Essay of Southern Italy in the Bari Area” will be presented on December 13, 2013 at the Italian American Museum, corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets in Manhattan. The suggested donation is $10. To RSVP for this event, please call (212) 695-9000 or email the ItalianAmericanMuseum@gmail.com.

85th Annual San Gennaro Feast Begins In 'La Piccola Italia'

Manhattan, Little Italy, September 15, 2011 - Despite protests by Yuppie shop keepers on Mulberry Street, the 85th annual San Gennaro feast began on Mulberry Street as always. Like all feasts that have their origins 'in the old country', the patron saint of the local city or town is honored by the populous for a little over a week in the streets. This year, it begins on Thursday, September 15th and ends 11 days later on the 26th which spans from Canal Street to Houston Street. It is a feast that has many ethnic groups as  participants that seems to grow every year, evidence by the swelling crowds. This year, it begins on Thursday, September 15th and ends 11 days later on the 26th which spans from Canal Street in Chinatown to NoLIta's Houston Street. It is a feast that has many ethnic groups as  participants that seems to grow every year, evidence by the swelling crowds.

According to a handout by the Most Precious Blood Church at 109 Mulberry Street, San Gennaro was executed under orders by Emperor Diocletian because he was a Christian sympathizer and gave comfort to other Roman prisoners. When San Gennaro was beheaded, someone saved his head and body and a good woman used a sponge to save his blood and filled a phial with it. The blood liquefies twice a year and is called 'the miracle of the blood'. San Gennaro's body is preserved in a church in Naples, Italy and is the patron saint of that city.

The feast is a popular celebration of San Gennaro by the masses complete with food, music and many Italian symbols. One symbol of Italians in America is the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street whose mission is to tell the story of Italian Americans with their emmigration from Italy to America. It is the only museum with this mission. This week, the Museum is showing a video of the San Gennaro story in its main viewing room and features photos from a book of Italian American feasts. These are two of the many great topical subjects that are tackled by the IAM and it is worth the effort to visit it. Artifacts such as old passports, ship board passes and other vintage materials can be found in the old Banca Stabile building which still has its original vault and teller cages.

Attending and participating in this feast and you never know what you'll see. It could be the man walking around with his cat sitting on his head, a parade or a procession, cannoli-eating contest or maybe a human-sized tomato.

It is a great feast - stop by and maybe I'll see you there!!!