At 92, Betty Livingston has earned a new name for herself - that of Art Angel. She is being called that because of her $1 million lead gift to jump start "Art League 2000," a $3,000,000 capital campaign for expansion of the Art League of Long Island.

Bernadette Castro, commissioner of the NYS Office of Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation spoke at a press breakfast on April 29 at the Huntington Town Hall, where the announcement of the gift was made. "I just want to be 92 and do the things Mrs. Livingston is doing: the way she looks and talks.

"Mrs. Livingston you are fabulous."

And, she is. When the name Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot was mentioned, she said, "When we came to Oyster Bay in 1939, we took a subscription to the Enterprise Pilot. It was the big newspaper at that time," said Elisabeth Pratt Livingston.

When asked if she was one of the Pratts of Glen Cove fame, she said "No. I used to ask people, what's Standard Oil." It was a question she was often asked growing up. "My grandfather Pratt was a doctor," she said.

Mrs. Livingston has been a student of watercolor at the art league for 20 years. The group has been in existence for 43 years and was formerly known as the Huntington Township Art League when it was founded in 1955. Today, the not-for-profit school serves 25,000 Long Islanders in 155 towns each year with 50 professional artists teaching 70 classes per semester - seven days a week with classes morning, noon and night, said Edward McEvoy, board of directors chair.

The present building on Cuba Hill Road has "sporadic" heat and air conditioning, he said, as he told of the gift that would "make our dreams become a reality." He said the new building would be called the Elizabeth S. and John H. Livingston building.

Jeanie Tengelsen, executive director of ALLI said "We are ecstatic."

"She has made the most dramatic changes in our park system since Robert Moses created the park system in 1920," said Carol Swiggart, as she introduced Commissioner Bernadette Castro. Her passion is parks, she said. "For the 52 parks, 35 sites and 15 heritage areas in the state." She characterized Ms. Castro through quotes from George Bernard Shaw saying in part: "I want to be thoroughly used up before I die." "Life is no brief candle but a splendid torch."

"Bernadette has a hundred colors on her palette and she uses them all," said Ms. Swiggart.

Ms. Castro for her part appreciated the work of the ALLI. Carol Swiggart and Cathy Jensen, her neighbors in Lloyd Harbor are working on the Caumsett Committee with her.

She also mentioned Dr. Robert MacKay. "The state never had a Long Islander on the board, until he became the chairman of the NYS Board of Historic Preservation."

His sister-in-law, Lisa MacKay, is on the board of directors of ALLI. Her watercolors are currently on display at the Cold Spring Harbor Library, where she also teaches.

Ms. Castro also pointed out Elizabeth Watson, the author of a book on historic architecture who is vice president and treasurer of the Planting Fields Foundation.

There is something very special about the arts, she said. Dr. James Watson told her when she was on the Nature Conservancy Board, that it is very important to take care of the "viewsheds" that it is very important to let people drink in the world around them, that it is good for the soul. His commitment to that is evidenced by the amenities at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. It is a beautiful place both architecturally and botanically.

"Art is a way we convert information of our past, present culture and the future."

She said to the ALLI, "I respect the work you are doing and the numbers of people you serve."

Commissioner Castro spoke of her father, a furniture designer who passed his talent on to her son Nathan, an architectural student. She said her dad's dear friend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale didn't make it to his 100th birthday that they wanted to celebrate.

She said to Mrs. Livingston, "You are a great role model. I wish you many years of good health. Let's celebrate your 100th birthday in the new house!"

Attending the press breakfast was Mrs. Richard Storrs. Frinny, a great friend of youth at age 85, sat next to Betty Livingston as Huntington Supervisor Frank Vetrone extolled the work of the art league that serves the young people of the Island.

John Marshall Perkins of Laurel Hollow is the chairman of Campaign 2000. (Mrs. Livingston is the honorary chair.) He and his wife attended too, as did Mort and Debbie Kunstler. Mr. Kunstler is also helping the campaign, fresh from his successful show at the Nassau County Museum of Fine Art where his exhibit topped previous visitation numbers.

Frederic Ingraham of Laurel Hollow, the village judge, is also on the ALLI board of directors. He said they have not found a site for the new building as yet.

Other Nassau County residents on the board are: Edward McEvoy of Freeport; Charles L. Schlapp of Hicksville, treasurer; Roslyn D. Goldmacher of Plainview; John R. Savarese of Jericho. Advisory Council members include Harry Davies of Port Washington. The building advisory Committee includes William Greiner of Woodbury.