The Elm Park Time Travelers

About the Book

A merry-go-round sitting on a beached barge in the murky waters of the Kill van Kull is discovered. The story takes place in the post covid-20 era when local and state governments have slashed their budgets. Three men from Elm Park attach a rope to the barge truck and pull it onto the litter-strewn shore. It would be a nice diversion for kids in the neighborhood, where schools are closed and shopping malls shuttered. Freddy and Hank help Gregg chain the merry-go-round to his flatbed truck and haul it to Eggert’s Field in Elm Park on Staten Island’s north shore. The three men repair its gasoline engine and replace a broken horse with a chair. Nancy, a woman in her 30s, helps with the cleanup of the merry-go-round. On the advice of Lora, a clairvoyant, Nancy and Freddy place magnets along the whirligig’s circumference. Immediately, it begins to glow and a high-pitched sound emanates from the amusement ride. Staring into her crystal ball, Lora asserts that the people can take time trips while holding a large horseshoe magnet found in the area. Apparently, there’s a connection between magnetic fields and time travel. The story depicts colorful characters: Nancy, deadly accurate with a gun, Lora, crystal-ball gazer, Freddy, energetic octogenarian, Charlie, a retired detective, Mildred, the prim woman, Rev Staller, soapbox preacher, Billy, side talker to his invisible sidekick, Blanche, ex-gogo dancer, Dr. Emil, alcoholic doctor and his young assistant Alfred. A trio of villains, Darren Trupp, David Bloom, and Lance Landum, appear from time to time – forcing Nancy and her friends to deal with them –ultimately dispatching the trio to a fishing village in the Caribbean.

About the Author

The author grew up on Staten Island – attending CCNY, Johns Hopkins University, and NYU earning BS, MAT, and PhD degrees respectively. He taught physics and mathematics many years in the high school and junior college levels. As a teacher, he tried to make abstract principles concrete by connecting them to everyday life. Ideally, the student should come away with essential information and the ability to solve problems, think rationally, and act ethically. The author has written the following nonfiction books: Apples and Oranges, Mathematical Concepts , and A Brief Guide to Philosophy. His novels include: 1950s-1960s Fable, 1960s-1970s Fable, The Mariners Harbor Messiah, Blue Collar Folks, The Pulaski Prowler, Love in the Days of Covid-20, The Maiden Maverick, and The Elm Park Time Travelers.