“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes!”
The change in the weather is not perfect. It’s been rainy and chilly and ice flows are still breaking up on the bay. But given that it was 45 degrees when I left for work this week, and it was 5 degrees last week, we’ll take it!
There is no doubt you were at the Jane Fuller Brunch at the American Legion last Sunday. The place was packed, with tables laid out from end to end, and all of Broad Channelwas there!
If you need to be reminded of what a ‘small town’ the Channel is, come out to a brunch. It was a wonderful turnout of all generations of families and friends. And everybody knows everybody. I myself had the good fortune to enjoy the company of the sisters Sweet. We had a great time!
A special shout out to 100th Precinct Community Affairs Officer Brian McCabe, who was also there. Nice to see Brian relaxing. He and fellow officer Maurice Moore are usually constantly on the go.
All proceeds from Sunday will go to cancer care in Jane Fuller’s name. She was a member of the hardworking Ladies Auxiliary at the Legion. The next brunch will be on Palm Sunday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A most happy birthday our own Hazel Lewis on 18th Road, who turns 101 this Friday, March 13!
Don’t miss the Broad Channel Relay For Life Team’s Bingo Fundraiser the Legion Hall, 209 Cross Bay Blvd., this Saturday, March 14, starting at 5 p.m. There will be great prizes and raffles will be available, including a jackpot of $150.
Adult beverages will be sold. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society, The Relay for Life ofBroad Channel, Breezy Point and the Rockaways. Contact Heidi by phone/ text 347-993-4904 or emailMonahan@agilitylogistics.com or contact Julie at 718-207-1410 or Juka693@aol.com now to save your table.
Coming on Saturday, March 21, VFW Prince-Wynn Post 260 is hosting Walker and the Brotherhood of the Grape, The Poor House, Ethoscope and special guests starting at 8 p.m. All are great local musicians and they are playing for a good cause. Veteran and musician Trevis “B.M.W.A.” Gilbert, who usually sings with Walker’s band, was shot during a random robbery last month. In fact it happened just before he was due to play a benefit for leukemia at Grassy’s.
All proceeds from the VFW benefit will go to Trevis to help with his recovery, medical bills and loss of work. VFW is located at 705 Shad Creek Road. You don’t have to be from Broad Channel to come and enjoy.
The post will also be doing a VFW Sunday Bingo on March 22 to support all the great programs they do for our vets. I happen to know they are gearing up to host an expected 70 vets for a special St. Patrick’s Day dinner and show this Saturday. Doors open for bingo at 12 noon. There will be door prize, raffles, 50/50s and coffee and cake will be served.
Meanwhile on Saturday, March 28, Brian’s Buddies are sponsoring a Penny Social Relay For Life Benefit at Christ Presbyterian By The Sea Church, 104 Noel Road. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Expect to come and enjoy great dj music, 50/50s, raffles and more. BYOB.
Look carefully through the gigantic memorabilia collection at Grassy’s Bar and Grill and see if you can spot my two favorites: the windup RCA (?) gramophone and the genuine Edison cylinder player.
The Broad Channel Volies took home the prize, First Place Fire Department, at this year’s Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade! The BCVFD made a fine showing along the march. My favorite BC engine, which has the best blaring music, was not in this year, but wait till next year! There’ll have to be two shiny prizes for the fire company.
Some things just didn’t work out, so I was at the parade but not marching with my bodhrán Irish drum. I expect I’ll be back to banging it next parade. But for those along the way who asked “Where’s the drum?” well, thanks for asking.
The Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Disaster Case Managers program, which is helping disaster-affected individuals and families with recovery issues, has upped its hours. They will be at the Broad Channel library the first and third Thursday of every month now from 2 to 5 p.m.
Mary LaPorta let me know that her nephew Lewis Oldenbuttel was born and bred in Broad Channel just like his father and grandmother. Lewis is facing a kidney transplant, which will put a financial strain on his mom, Mary’s sister, and his dad.
Mary has set up The Lewis & Louie Fund at dm.gofund.me/nic7mw to help. If you want to learn more and help this Broad Channel friend in need, check it out now.
Do you still have Sandy rebuilding to do? The Friends of Rockaway may be able to help with volunteer labor and low cost work. And yes, they cover BC. Call them at 347-625-7419.
My former neighbor on Noel Road, Alan Andrus, is working on building up the Howard Beach Motor Boat Club. Interested? Call him at 610-909-0000. Sounds like fun!
Finally, is it “Rockaway, or the Rockaways? They’re both right,” the blogger known as Narrowback Slacker writes. She also adds, “There is a separate discussion to be had about whether the term ‘The Rockaways’ includes Broad Channel. I’m really not sure. BC readers, chime in!”
I often think that if we were vowels, Broad Channel would be the “sometimes Y” of Rockaway. Sometimes we’re part of it, and sometimes we are own thing entirely.
Got Broad Channel news, event info, organization updates or things everyone should know about? Send it to me at workingstories@aol.com.
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