There is the formal postal service in Broad Channel, and there is the informal one. If there is no postal delivery on a given day, BC people check their mailboxes anyway. The neighbors may have dropped something off in the box for you.
Last chance for the six-hour defensive driving course being given on Tuesday, June 3 and June 10. Don’t miss out. Make sure there is a seat for you. Your $45 payment will secure it. Call Helen now at 917-553-2409 or 718-945-4648.
The course takes 10 percent off your car insurance for the next three years and knocks up to four points off your license. There is no test and refreshments will be served. The class will be held at the St. Camillus Auditorium, 185 Beach 99th Street; Rockaway Park. Proceeds go to the St. Camillus-St Virgilius’ religious instruction program (CCD).
Get ready for the Shad Creek Association’s 2014 Golf Outing, on for Friday, June 13. Shotgun start at 3 p.m. It’s $75 per golfer, which includes beer, soda and water at the course, along with tshirts and koozies. It also includes a great awards party and dinner at the Shad Creek’s clubhouse. Not golfing? You can still enjoy the party for $30 per person. There will be raffles and 50-50 raffles. Contact Mike Kelly with your foursomes ASAP at 917-868-4453 or email michael_ p_
kelly@yahoo.com to register.
Ready for a little mystery, mirth and mayhem? The PS 47 Parents Association, along with Knock ‘Em Dead Comedy, is presenting “The Whacked Family Reunion - A Lethal Luau.” It’s an interactive, comedy-murder mystery that goes thump in the night on Friday, June 6. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show goes off like a shot at 8 p.m. sharp.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Lisa Sacco at
LMCR523@aol.com or call 718-634- 1861. They are $30 per person, which includes a fist full of raffle tickets valued at $13. There will be lots of raffle prizes, door prizes, 50-50 raffles, grand prizes and more. Sounds like fun.
This week Broad Channel says goodbye to John Hanning. He will be missed by his family, neighbors and friends.
Good news. According to Dan McIntyre, who’s been working with the project for years, approvals for the new firehouse plans may be soon by in hand. It’s a multi-part process which has further to go, but this is a major step.
Speaking of which, the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department’s fundraising goal is $40,000 this year. So far the total collected is just above $15,000. The Vollies are doing Mardi Gras this year and it sounds like they are going to have some fun events coming up. Get out, enjoy and support, but also take a minute to make a donation. Let’s help push that bar up for the men and women who have been there for our community for over 100 years.
There is a new “Caution-Children Playing” picture sign at Noel and Walton roads. I have a feeling it was homemade. Along Channel Road there were paper flyers asking people not to park on one side of the road on Friday and Saturday. The North Channel Yacht Club needed space enough for a wide load truck to come and remove the large metal construction container there. And people respectfully made room and parked their cars elsewhere. Only in Broad Channel.
Despite the heavy rain last week, VFW’s “Rocking N’ Rolling for a Soldier and His Dog” event on Friday, May 23 was a big success. The storm chased everyone off the back lawn, but people cheerfully packed into the VFW Hall to hear Symptom 7 and Walker belt it out great music.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting Walker Hornung, he is not only a great musician but also always ready to help with a good cause.
Josette of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary let me know that the event raised enough money to train a dog to assist a New York veteran in need. Even now the VFW is meeting with officials to review servicemen and women currently on a waiting list. If possible, they’d like to find someone as close to home as possible.
May 25 was truly a day of remembrance in Broad Channel. In observance of Memorial Day, services were held first at Christ Presbyterian by the Sea Church at 9 on Sunday morning. Reverend Manas gave a heartfelt sermon which acknowledged those veterans who were there and those who were no longer with us. Later the names of each service member Broad Channel has lost was read. Each road they lived on was noted. As each name on this honored roll was called, the poignant reply came. “Absent.”
After services, the group moved over to St. Virgilius, where a special Mass was said. Father Ahlmeyer gave a fitting homily. Here, too, the names were read. As the colors of the VFW and American legion processed out, those of us in the pews stood and applauded our veterans as they went by.
Directly after a service was held across the street at the BCVFD firehouse. Here the fire bell was rung for every member of the Vollies and Ladies Auxiliary who has passed away. Some names were recent, others are long since gone. Every name was read with reverence. Of that century long list, I believe only one was lost in the line of duty.
About 1:30 p.m. the BC Memorial Day parade started off. There were two ceremonies, one at the flag pole at 17th Road Park and at the memorial area named after George Reikers just off Cross Bay.
Later, with the sun shining down and a peaceful view of the bay, there was a very nice barbecue at the VFW.
The words spoken in the Channel this Memorial Day were particularly moving.
But I think the ones that said the most were “Thank you.”
Thanks for reading!
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