‘As a band with Radio Active, we want to make people smile, dance and feel that nostalgic feeling of hearing the songs that we heard when we were teenagers.’

Cold Spring Harbor

“I joined the band in March of 2019. Before joining, I hadn’t played the keyboard in years because life got in the way. I went to law school and had a family. I hadn’t played in a band since college, but I realized I wanted to play music again.

“I can’t be without music. I went to the audition and became part of the band, which was a Bon Jovi tribute band at the time. It was pretty much a no-brainer because I currently love and grew up loving Bon Jovi. I would always go out to listen to tribute and cover bands on Long Island. I currently play keyboards and backup vocals. I’ve been playing music since I was 9.

We love being able to support each other and our community members.

“I started with the violin, and I’m classically trained on the piano. I played keyboards in a rock band in high school and also in college. I stopped for many years, but I always loved music. As a band with Radio Active, we want to make people smile, dance and feel that nostalgic feeling of hearing the songs that we heard when we were teenagers.

“The fact that people on Long Island know who we are and will come up to us and say they saw us from a previous show is just awesome. I love seeing familiar, happy faces singing along. It brings me so much joy.

“I feel very blessed to be in this band. My bandmates are super talented and genuinely wonderful people. When I came into the band, Michele was sick. As bandmates and friends, we supported her. Local musicians donated their time during a fundraiser, and it shows how much Michele means to the rest of the music community. She is the strongest person I know. I’ve never seen anyone with more energy, even throughout her cancer treatments. She never missed rehearsal.

“As a band, we’ve given back to breast cancer organizations. We’ve done auctions where people bid on us as a band and we then perform for them for their private event. We love being able to support each other and our community members.”

‘Some days I just go with the flow and feel like my business can ride this out, and other days I feel like I experienced the devastation of what a house fire must feel like.’

Cold Spring Harbor

“I’m an artist and I have been designing one-of-a-kind jewelry since 2003. I transitioned to full-time almost six years ago after leaving the corporate world. I sell my work by participating in between 35 to 40 fine juried art shows and other events each year. My pieces are also carried in stores and galleries. As a small business owner, I don’t have set hours, but work from the moment that I get up until it’s time for bed.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has drastically affected my business. I’m one of many small business owners across the United States who are suffering because all art shows and similar events have been cancelled. Several of the stores where my pieces were once carried have closed. Galleries struggle to stay open, sales are dismal, and several show promoters that I have worked with for years have either taken early retirement or claimed bankruptcy. The entire structure of the remaining work force has changed. People aren’t getting dressed up for work, and formal events aren’t taking place. Many people have lost their jobs, and frivolous spending on items like artwork, specifically jewelry, are no longer options.

I’m trying to revitalize my business and myself, and my hope is that things will get better and that people will be interested in my work. That’s all any of us can really do, is hope for a brighter road ahead.

“Some days I just go with the flow and feel like my business can ride this out, and other days I feel like I experienced the devastation of what a house fire must feel like. Everything I have worked so hard for feels like it’s slipping away. I can’t control what is happening. I want to be able to work. I want to be able to engage with people, interact, explain my process, inspiration and creativity. It’s what I’m meant to do, and now all I can do is re-group and try to think of other ways to have some sort of visibility.

“I recently designed a brand-new website, have been more dedicated to my social media presence, and once the weather gets nicer, I plan on going back to the basics and pounding the pavement with brochures and business cards. I’m trying to revitalize my business and myself, and my hope is that things will get better and that people will be interested in my work. That’s all any of us can really do, is hope for a brighter road ahead.”