Deer Park homeowner sets up Dolly Parton light show

Dolly Parton died earlier this week, but one Long Island homeowner is making sure her glitzy memory lives on. James Hentschel, who has lived on Namleps Lane in Deer Park for 11 years, put up thousands of pink and purple LED lights displaying images of Parton outside his home Wednesday night. He has been doing tribute light shows like these for two years.

"We decorate for all the holidays," said Hentschel, 48. "I’ve done tributes for Ozzy Osbourne, I’ve done one for Hulk Hogan and coming up in September I’ll do one for 9/11."

He also did a lighting setup when the Knicks won the NBA championship, he added.

"I’ve always liked lights," he said. "I hooked up my first car with all lights and it just gradually got better or worse."

Hentschel was home when he heard about the beloved singer's death on Tuesday. He spent about 15 hours setting up around 10,000 LED bead lights on the house, windows and bushes and then took a couple more hours changing the images that will be displayed, which include lyrics from Parton’s famous song "9 to 5," as well as images of Parton synchronized to a playlist of her greatest hits. 

"She's an icon," he said. "I grew up listening to all her songs so it felt like a good way to celebrate her life."

The lights are on from sunset to sunrise and he plans to keep them on through Sunday, but "if people want to see it, I’ll keep it up longer," he said.

'We rely on each other'

Long Islanders driving to their 9 to 5's got a taste of Parton on Thursday morning thanks to state Department of Transportation signage honoring her music.

"JOLENE, JOLENE, JOLENE, JOLENE," one sign read on the Long Island Expressway. "PLEASE DON’T SPEED."

Another sign paid homage to Parton’s "Islands in the Stream" featuring Kenny Rogers: "PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY WE RELY ON EACH OTHER."

The DOT posted photos of the signage in a social media post Thursday afternoon.

"Her songs are timeless. Her voice is iconic. Her legacy will live forever," the post said. "Honoring the great Dolly Parton with messages of safety. Even if you're working 9-to-5 you'll be able to see them."

Buildings across New York were also set to be lit up Thursday night, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Seventeen landmarks across the state, including One World Trade Center, Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Kosciuszko Bridge, Empire State Plaza, Grand Central Terminal — Pershing Square Viaduct, MTA LIRR — East End Gateway at Penn Station, Moynihan Train Hall and Roosevelt Island Lighthouse in New York City were set to shine pink Thursday night in honor of the country music star. 

"New York is honored to return the love Dolly Parton has always shown us," Hochul said in an emailed statement. "A voice that warmed the soul and a beacon of hope to millions across the globe, Dolly will forever be remembered for her extreme generosity and humanitarianism. She spent a lifetime giving back to communities in need and her legendary career made the world a more hopeful place — we will miss Dolly and commemorate her love and light as New York illuminates pink in her honor."