Broad Channel Bits (The WAVE)

By Dan Guarino

More cars than I have ever seen were pitched up on the boulevard last Monday as the bay crept up the side streets in the morning.

I didn’t, as someone suggested, have to swim home. But I did just make it to my deck steps without having to take off my shoes and slosh through.

So what’s happening in the Channel?I could say also that it was suddenly fall overnight. But then, just as suddenly, it will be 90 degrees by next week.

Well, Ruffle Bar is having its second annual “1/2 Way To St. Patrick’s Day Party” on Thursday, September 18. DJ K Tunes will be playing Irish music, oldies and requests. There will be corned beef and cabbage and Happy Hour prices will be on from 2 to 7 p.m. From 7 p.m. to midnight it will be $2 domestic beers and $3 imports. Come out and enjoy the fun, the music and food and wear your green.

Get out your knife and fork! Brunch is back! The BC American Legion Auxiliary will have their first brunch of the season on Sunday, October 5, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Come out and enjoy some good company and great food again.

VFW Post 260, at 705 Shad Creek Road, will be having a Flea Market on Saturday and Sunday, October 4/5 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; anyone who is interested in a table can call Liz at 646-744-9230. It’s $10 per table per day.

Also the Legion Auxiliary is gearing up for their second annual Halloween Party on Saturday, November 1. As they say, “Start planning your costume!” We’ll share more info as it comes in. But keep in mind last year’s party was a sellout. So plan on getting your table early!

All Legion and VFW proceeds go to keeping their buildings and their veterans’ programs going strong.

Good News: The Social Hall at Christ Presbyterian by the Sea Church is reopened! Everything is brand new and it can now be rented out for social events, showers, birthday parties, weddings and more.

Contact Joyce Adamiszyn, 718-479- 3580. Leave a message and get your dates in now. Don’t wait!

Broad Channel Scout Troop 282 starts meeting again this Monday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. The Cub Scouts meet at the Legion Hall, 209 Cross Bay Boulevard. More details? Call Joe Panetta at 917-238-1507 or Fred Ciappetta 718-877-3467. The Boy Scouts meet at the Shad Creek Association at 529 Cross Bay Boulevard. Call Fred Ciappetta at 718-877-3467 or Jon Paul Rasinya 718-440-0565 for more information. There is open registration every Monday.

Anyone check out the new Key Food grand opening just over the bridge in Howard Beach yet?

Just over the bridge in Rockaway, NYC Parks has a special treat for the little ones. They’ll be showingFrozen on Saturday, Sept 13, at the Beach 108th Street Hockey Rink. The show starts around 8 p.m., at sunset.

Starting this weekend, the St Camillus-St Virgilius CYO Boys Swim Team registration will be Saturday, Sept 13 and Sept 19, at 4 p.m. at the Far Rockaway High School pool. The cost is $175 per child. Please be sure to wear a swimsuit– there will be practice! Call 917-435-9094 for more details.

Okay, your child should wear a swimsuit for practice. But you can wear one too if it makes you feel good!

The St. Virgilius Senior Citizens Club meets at the BC Legion Hall on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. and the St. Camillus Golden Age Club on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 12:30 p.m. in Springman Hall in Rockaway.

This weekend Broad Channel’s own Matt Smilardi hits the stage in the starring role in the RockawayTheatre Company’s Godspell. The production runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 12 to 28. Saturday and Sunday shows are at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Friday, September 26 will be a benefit performance. All proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Matt sings, dances and acts, creates costumes and helps in every other way possible. Don’t miss a chance to catch another great RTC production.

Get tickets at www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org or call 718-374-6400.

Years ago when we were on Noel Road, Liz was having trouble navigating our new computer system. Her fights with the computer were legendary in our household.

One day I sagely said, “You want to figure out any piece of technology? Get yourself a 9-year-old. They know this stuff inside out.”

Sure enough, she was shortly up the street, asking Kathy Smilardi, “Can I borrow Matt?” He was terrific. He came, got everything sorted out, showed Liz how to work the system, including all the shortcuts and made sure she was comfortable working with “that darn machine.”

The 2015 BC Historical Society Calendar is coming together. There will be some pretty interesting, surprising photos inside. The society has also received a lot of amazing photos for the collection.

Last week I mentioned there does seem to be some progress regarding people getting going with their houses here in the Channel. Whether that stems directly from Build It Back or people are finally able to do what they need to do, it is a welcome sight.

As for my own situation, well, I was cautiously optimistic when NYC’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) contacted me. Yes, they called me.

Then things moved along pretty quickly. The HPD staff was very professional, very on top of things. In short order I had forwarded to them everything needed.

I cleared the preliminary approval process. Next I was told I would be contacted about the next step of the process.

How long ago was that? I can check my files, but I am sure it was at least two, two and a half months. Since then? Nothing. Not a word.

Disappointed? Yes. Surprised? Not really.

Like we’ve all said, there are other people who got hit harder, lost far more. I can only imagine how they are hanging on after nearly two whole years.

What, if anything, happens next? We’ll see.

But I could still use the help.

Thanks for reading
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