National comedian PJ Walsh pictured here in the first VFW show in Poughkeepsie October 2nd 2011 with Poughkeepsie resident Joan Blacklock (her husband served in the Army in the Korean War, her brother served in the Navy, & her son served in the Army), Kim Blacklock (Pres. H. G. Fairfield Arts), and Barbara Laird (Kim’s sister, Poughkeepsie resident, & science teacher at Newburgh Free Academy).
Putnam County Historian & veteran Denis Castelli pictured here at the launch in Pawling, NY's Lakeside Park of last year’s "30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues at Home" produced by H. G. Fairfield Arts with national comedian & Navy veteran PJ Walsh, Kim Blacklock (Pres. H. G. Fairfield Arts), and Karl Rohde (Director of Putnam County Office of Veterans Services and former Commander of New York State VFW).
Photo by Maria Morris
Brewster H.S. Grad Returns for 2nd Comedy Tour to Benefit Local Veterans
Oct 1, 2012. Brewster, NY.
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Last year at this time Brewster H.S. Grad PJ Walsh was embarking on an unprecedented comedy marathon in the Mid-Hudson Valley to benefit local veterans & their families; “30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues At Home” went on to be 40 Shows in 30 Days with H. G. Fairfield Arts & PJ Walsh covering 4555 miles in 5 weeks putting on comedy shows in over 16 VFW & American Legion Posts – from Arlington to Ossining on the east side & from Maybrook to New City on the west side of the Hudson River, as well as performing at VA Health Centers, professional clubs, and nursing homes. Over 800 people attended the shows, with thousands of dollars in funds and in-kind professional services being donated to participating Posts, VA Health Centers, & to the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council. Area radio stations jumped in to help last year and it all begins again with WHDD, WPDH, & WDST hosting national comedian & Navy veteran PJ Walsh on air this week just before his comedy nights at 2 local VFWs & 1 American Legion.
“Local, county, state, & federal Veteran Administration & Service officers have asked us to help them get the word out to the general population that anyone who knows veterans or their families should encourage them to step up and see what benefits the VA and other support organizations have that they might be eligible for;” Kim Blacklock, President of H. G. Fairfield Arts explains. “Rules for applying are always changing and many veterans – men & women – simply don’t know what they are eligible for. Outreach budgets are slim, & yet benefits are sitting there for our veterans who’ve served domestically or in foreign theaters;” H. G. Fairfield Founder & Marine Captain Kathie Freston states. “Teaming up with Navy veteran & national powerhouse (& Brewster success story) comedian PJ Walsh is an exciting, efficient, & fun way to attract & direct veterans to sources of local support that they’ve earned;” reveals Blacklock, adding “ Local American Legion & VFW Posts are great places to find friendly faces & valid information. PJ Walsh’s comedy is a great way to say thank you to the veterans and their families, while also gathering friends & communities together raising funds to help.” PJ Walsh’s touring schedule means a shorter time this October with H. G. Fairfield Arts, but having to share him with our overseas troops and the nation is a good thing says Blacklock; “PJ returned this summer from his 20th comedy tour of US troops overseas. This guy is the real deal: a comedian who can make a stadium of 15 – 20,000 roar, while he remembers his beginnings in the service and makes sure our troops and veterans stay forefront in the who & why he does all the funny for. We are thrilled to host his return home to help bring some fun, funds, & crucial information to lives of our veterans, their families, & friends.”
PJ Walsh can be heard on your way to work this week!: Tuesday Oct 2nd on “Wakin’ Up with Coop & Kricket” 7am on WPDH 101.5fm, and Wednesday Oct 3rd with the legendary older brother of George Carlin – Patrick Carlin – on “Mornings with Gattine” 6am on WDST 100.1fm, and on podcast interviews on WHDD 91.9fm. Comedy Shows are scheduled for Fri. Oct.5th7:30pm Mahopac American Legion Post 1080, Sat. Oct 6th 7pm Dover VFW Post 5444, and Mon. Oct. 8th 7pm Washingtonville VFW Post 8691. Tickets are $20 in advance at the Post or at the door; net proceeds benefit the Post’s emergency Relief or Welfare Funds. For more information call H. G. Fairfield Arts at 845-363-1559, email Office@HGFairfieldArts.org, or go to www.HGFairfieldArts.org or www.PJWalsh.com.
PJ Walsh with his parents, Patrick Carlin, H. G. Fairfield Arts President Kim Blacklock, & members of the Wurtsboro, NY Chapter of the US Military Veterans Motorcycle Club, including Pres. Bill Barber, at Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater 28 Dec 2011 after PJ’s performance of “OVER THERE: Comedy Is His Best Weapon”. A portion of the door went to Albany’s Sam Stratton VA Health Center.
Photo by Maria Morris
PJ Walsh with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour: Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Ron White, and Bill Engvall.
PJ Walsh Returns in H. G. Fairfield Arts’ October 2012 Comedy Tour for Veterans & Friends
Sept. 20, 2012 Brewster, NY
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Brewster native PJ Walsh is returning to his home stomping grounds this October to do one of the things he does best – entertain with side-splitting comedy. H. G. Fairfield Arts brought Navy veteran PJ Walsh to the Hudson Valley last October in “30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues At Home,” which raised $5,375 for local veterans and donated thousands of dollars in in-kind professional services. H. G. Fairfield Arts is bringing PJ Walsh back to help continue to raise awareness about veterans and the issues they & their families face, and to raise funds to help. PJ Walsh will be performing comedy shows Friday October 5th, 7:30pm at Mahopac American Legion Post 1080, Saturday October 6th, 7pm at Dover VFW Post 5444, and Monday October 8th, 7pm at Washingtonville VFW Post 8691. Tickets are $20 at the door, or as presales at the Post.
Regarded as one of the hardest working comics, PJ Walsh is known for his quick wit, boundless energy, and his insightful observations on the things he cherishes most: the military, family, and being American. His is the success story of a screwed-up kid who turns it around to become the dental technician for The White House and First and Second Families. As a trained Medic, PJ knows the sacrifices made by U.S. military men and women and he understands how important a laugh can be to troops stationed thousands of miles from home. PJ returned this summer from his 20th tour entertaining US troops abroad at Armed Forces facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, & Bosnia; he has also done comedy shows for our soldiers in Japan, Korea, the Balkans, as well as with the “Comics on Duty” tour throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, which was later featured on CNN. PJ Walsh opened for Larry the Cable Guy’s hugely successful “Tour of America” and “The Right to Bare Arms” tours, and performed in 2007 with Larry at Radio City Music Hall. He opened for years for the Blue Collar Tour comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy, and was the host of the hit show “Wall2Wall Good Stuff” on Blue Collar Radio channel 103 on Sirius Satellite Radio. PJ Walsh is also seen in several DVDs, including “Git-R-Done,” “They Call Me Tater Salad,” and the feature film “Delta Farce.” PJ Walsh currently tours headlining comedy clubs nationwide and with the play he wrote and performs – “OVER THERE: Comedy Is His Best Weapon”, directed by Dion Flynn, and Winner of Best Solo Show of the 2011 Hollywood & San Francisco Fringe Festivals.
H. G. Fairfield Arts’ work with veterans reveals the importance of sticking together as a community and being available to help out where asked and needed. H. G.’s legacy is “See a need; fill it.” The basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and access to medical care are still in the forefront of priorities for veterans and their families. A fun evening of comedy can, through the event & the focus of the press, let our neighbors know that support & resources are out there for veterans and their families. H. G. Fairfield Arts’ mission “to promote the creation, practice, and performance of art, culture, & recreation” means to inspire, to give a voice, to transform a life.
H. G. Fairfield Arts is proud to present a local first generation Irish-American Navy veteran with a blue collar upbringing, PJ Walsh, who is instinctively aware of the power of laughter and its ability to transcend generations, places, and topics. PJ Walsh and H. G. Fairfield Arts are working hard to improve lives, and having a blast while they’re at it.
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For more information please contact Kim Blacklock at 845-363-1559 or emailOffice@HGFairfieldArts.org. Links: http://www.hgfairfieldarts.org/ & www.pjwalsh.com