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Friday, December 13, 2013

Broad Channel Bits



By Dan Guarino

As I’ve mentioned, my house faces out onto the Bay. I didn’t realize though how high the tide came up early last week until I had a knock at my door. It was a Canada goose. He asked for a towel.
By now we have had snow, which was washed away by heavy rain and came a few days after a fog the likes of which few people have seen in a long time.
Driving to NYPD Fleet Services in Woodside that day, I can say that fog extended well into Queens and beyond.
I met up with Deputy Inspector Scott Olexa, the former commander of the 100th Precinct, while I was there. If you recall, he was with us here in BC right after the storm. He sends his best and says ‘hello.’
Well, despite or because of the rain, plenty of people turned out for the Broad Channel Crafters /American Legion Auxiliary’s Annual Craft and Christmas Gift Sale last Friday. Saturday went well, too. Overall, the Legion said it was a big success and added much needed dollars to their rebuilding fund.
Hope you enjoyed the BCVFD’s Toys 4 Tots event last Saturday at Ruffle Bar. Don’t miss the one at Grassy’s this Saturday, December 14th. Please bring an unwrapped gift. Somewhere out there, there is a child who will be overjoyed to know that ‘Santa’ didn’t forget them at Christmas.
Get your bagels and BC Historical Calendars at the same time. The Bay Gull Store now has the calendars. At $5 each they make great Christmas gifts, especially with so many people needing that extra touch of home this year.
This year’s calendar covers the Channel of long ago, and also the recent history we have all lived through. And it has the tide times!
You call also pick calendars up at Rock N Roll Bagels, All American Channel Market and other BC stores or from a Historical Committee member.
The American Legion Annual Children’s Christmas Party is this Sunday, December 15th, starting at 1 p.m. The small set, from newborn to 3rd grade, is welcomed in a big way! (Someone please take pictures and send them to me!)
The Legion’s Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 21st. And their New Year’s Eve bash is on for December 31st from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The $55 per person ticket includes a hot buffet, draft beer, wine, a champagne toast at midnight and live music with Wax R Back. Call Carol at 917-930-0546 or Nora at 718-945-5948. A limited amount of tables are being sold. Put down this newspaper and call now to reserve your table.
All events are at the Legion Hall at 209 Cross Bay Boulevard, Broad Channel. All proceeds go to support the Legion and the good works they do.
If you didn’t know it before, Santa makes his stops in Broad Channel on a big BCVFD fire truck! If you have a special child or children who would like a special visit from the Man In Red himself on Christmas Eve, contact the firehouse at 718-474-6888 (evenings are best) or Santa’s helpers at daniel.mcintyre@nyct.com.
The Girl Scouts sang for the seniors at the BC St. Virgilius Golden Age Club on Thursday, December 12th, this week at the American Legion Hall. Bravo, girls!
The club meets at the Legion every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The Rosary- Altar Society will be meeting there on Monday, December 16th and January 20th at 12:30 p.m.
Hopefully you made it to the BC Civic Association meeting this past Thursday, December 12th. Also hopefully you got some answers from the Build It Back NYC representatives who gave a presentation and were available to go over individual claims one on one there.
Through the tremendous efforts of Stefanie Wagner, the Broad Channel Christmas Light Fund was able to raise $10,000 to pay for all the lights, installation and maintenance. (I understand Stefanie was also recently honored by Rockaway WISH.)
The Queens Memory Project will be at the BC Library on Monday, December 16th, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the newly reopened Seaside Branch on Beach 117th Street on December 23rd and 30th, from 10 to 5.
They are ready to record your stories and memories of the Channel and other places, and scan your photos and documents to make it a part of our history.
This weekend the Rockaway Theatre Company is presenting “Inspecting Carol,” a great holiday-themed comedy, with a few specially invited guest performers to each do a surprise part in each show. I did the December 3rd show and had a ball! My thanks to the cast and everyone for being so great.
Take a holiday rush break and enjoy this show. But make plans and catch it this weekend. After that, it’ll be gone like the ghost of Christmas Past.
“Inspecting Carol” is running Friday/ Saturday, December 13th and 14th at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 15th at 3 p.m.
For tickets go to www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org.
Spotted this in the New York Times (12/6): “…more than 30,000 residents of New York and New Jerseywho remain displaced by the storm, mired in a bureaucratic and financial limbo.” Good thing Sandy is/was an emergency situation!
I got a great kick out of the notes and BC clippings I received from Muriel Berry-Stemmann. To the pre-printed Cross Bay Boulevard address label she added “Just across the street!”
Dorothy from BC reminds us that with so many needing to get new cars this time last year, inspections and registrations will be coming up all over the place. Avoid the ticket. Check yours today.
Many thanks to all the great people that drop an e-line and let me know about things going on around town.
Do you have news about upcoming events, fundraisers, programs, good deeds, updates and other things BCpeople should know about? Send it to me at workingstories@aol.com. Let’s let everyone else know about it, too!
Final note: Apparently it is not true that you can light your electronic cigarette from your electric stove.
Thanks for reading!

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