New Year's Eve Notes

by Sandy Frazier

Some of the Comen Roundtablers got a kick out of New Year's Eve when meeting at O'Lunney's, they shared in the revelry in Times Square like no other New Year's past.

Sandy recalls: Lining up at the barricades, Howie, his lovely wife Michelle, and I were scanned with metal detectors and frisked... when Howie told the cops, "She's with NewsMax!" (pointing at me) and the cops replied, "Oh, you mean Carl Limbacher's NewsMax?" We laughed as they let us through and we snapped photos of the proud and brave NYPD.

Everyone warned me not to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve. But for me, it was a dream come true - to be in Times Square on New Year's Eve - and I wasn't about to let the terrorists get the best of me. I'd waited a lifetime for that experience... something I'll never forget. And we were so proud to be Americans. The million who came, the throngs of revelers were so well behaved, in spite of no facilities... not one incident, other than a claustrophobic few in the mosh pit. There were vets crying when we sang, "I'm proud to be in America where at least I know I'm free..." We danced and sang the night away. It was America/New York City at her finest hour. We were so proud of the cops, the military, our president.

From Howie: Our 2003-2004 holiday experiences began with the December 21 wedding of Comen Int'l's C.O.O. Richard Wellington and Comen Int'l's wonder girl Jana Barry. Eight of us spent Christmas Eve at Manhattan's Times Square Trinity listening to a powerful sermon at midnight mass as the Reverend thanked all for returning to Manhattan to celebrate the birth of Christ. He was genuinely excited to see his church filled to capacity. His enthusiasm was contagious. After the services concluded I thanked the Reverend, shook his hand, and told him we Jews had decided to join the Christian Manhattanites to celebrate this day. His smile grew enormous. "No kidding?" he said.

We are truly honored. It is so important to return to Manhattan, an area so close to Ground Zero. I told him Richie Wellington and his friend Barry had started the tradition a few years ago and we were continuing it. It was heart warming realizing how important our adventurous journey on Christmas Eve was to him.

New Year's Eve day was spent in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was there that the Comen International News Service/Radio Show concept was introduced live on Phil Paleologos' Diner Show. We want to wish Phil the best as his last day on air was the 2nd.

Keeping with this theme of rebirth of Mannhattan and giving the terrorists a sign of our own, we New Year's Eved in Times Square ourselves at the first annual O'Lunney's/Comen International Roundtable New Year's Eve Bash. Comen and Boxing Champ Roberto Duran surrounded by Sandy, his wife Michelle, Richie, Jana, Barry, and a few others... not to mention, boxing champ Roberto Duran and some of his friends sent a special New Year's Eve message to terrorists everywhere.

The energy and enthusiasm experienced at Trinity Church on Christmas Eve Midnight services was multiplied a thousand fold as we ushered out 2003 and toasted in 2004. It was truly a new dawn for New York, Comen International, the Country and the world.

Boxer Roberto Duran joined us at the O'Lunney's/Comen International Roundtable New Year's Bash. Duran and I took a picture together pointing a fist at the terrorists, kind of our personal message from Times Square NY. 

Howie Comen and Boxing Champ Roberto Duran send a message to terrorists
from Times Square New Years Eve.

The Comen International Roundtable will meet the third Monday of every month. For more info on the Roundtable, contact Howard Comen at 843-571-2667, www.comeninternational.com or Sandy Frazier at 516-735-5468, sandy@mystic-art.com