Between the Bridges in Broad Channel
Peter Mahon
September 4, 2014
“TRUTH IN ADVERTISING"
My youngest daughter, Vickie, has wanted to get a tattoo since she was 13 years old. The rule was “no ink until you turn 18!” Vicki promised to abide by the rule as long as I promised to get a tattoo when she got hers after she turned 18 and, God forgive me, I agreed. That was 5 years ago. Vickie, now 18, sports Peter Pan’s visage on her leg and reminds me every day “C’mon Dad, you always said a promise made is a promise kept!” I told her I need some time to think about a tattoo that won’t cause the staff at Hillerbrand’s Broad ChannelFuneral Home to suffer laughing fits when they host the final appearance of my farewell tour of life. After much thought, I am leaning toward a simple script on my arm which says…”If found, drop in any mailbox.”
Speaking of our local funeral home, when my father passed away in 2003, my mother, who was in her 80’s at the time, had him waked out of Hillerbrand’s. While visiting her grandchildren in Broad Channel she was always intrigued with the funeral home’s corner building on E14th with the big “Dead End” sign on the corner. Every time she passed it she would remark, “Now that’s truth in advertising!”
Thus far this season, 3 named tropical storms (Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal) have all strengthened to Category 1 hurricanes while moving up the east coast but, thankfully, they all tracked far enough offshore to avoid any significant impact to our Broad Channel area. Keep in mind that the 2014 hurricane season doesn’t officially end until November 30th. Of course, then, on December 1st, we can all start looking forward to winter nor’easters!
Broad Channel Proud - Congratulations to Kyle Steinhoff, 17, of Shad Creek Road in Broad Channel and recent graduate of N.Y.C. Harbor High School on Governor's Island. Kyle just completed his New Cadet Indoctrination Program at SUNY Maritime where he is majoring in Marine Transportation leading to a license (and future employment) aboard unlimited tonnage vessels. The demanding “INDOC” training prepares the new recruit for life in the Maritime Regiment and aboard the school’s training Ship for those in the license program.
Welcome home to Sophia DeVirgilio and her daughter Louise of W12thRd. The Broad Channel mother-daughter team just returned from visiting family in Greece. Sophia said she spent many a happy afternoon visiting the myriad Greek caféneons on the Islands of Crete and Lesbos imbibing ouzo and noshing on mezedes. Personally I think there was more imbibing than noshing as Sophia is still raving about the one afternoon she met and spent the afternoon with the famous Greek actor and star of Zorba the Greek, Anthony Quinn. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Quinn, born in Mexico in 1915 to parents of Mexican/Irish descent became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1947 and passed away back in 2001.
Dr. Kathleen “Kit” Uvino, PhD, one of Broad Channel’s own, who recently finished up her summer scientific research work at her base camp in Churchill, Canada has been awarded a professorship at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota where she is teaching biology. Kit still maintains her primary summer residence here in Broad Channel and I think she will need it after wintering over the school year in North Dakota where the average winter temperatures range from a high of 19 degrees (F) to a low of 0 degrees (F).
Remember New York Schools are now open….Drive carefully!
Broad Channel – Why would anyone want to live anywhere else? See y’all next week.
Contact info: email: rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com or call or text: 374-226-1293
Zorba was very much alive I tell you!
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