Between The Bridges
If last Sunday’s spectacular spring weather was any indication, it looks as though Old Man Winter has finally packed up his cold and snow and left town for good. It was great to see dozens of young children and their parents enjoying the warm sunshine at the Gene Gray Playground on 9th Road. For those of you who may not be aware, this playground is named in honor of Broad Channel community activist Eugene Gray (1927-1973). Gray was born on March 14, 1927 in Park Slope, Brooklyn and later moved to Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. After attending college, Gray married Lorraine Baker (1929-1977) with whom he had three children: Michael, Gary and Gregory. Gray later moved to Broad Channel and became involved in various neighborhood youth programs, including the Broad Channel Athletic Club, an organization for which he served as president. A community football coach for more than 20 years, Gray also helped to shape and maintain the Broad Channel football league and assisted in the creation of the local Teen Club, which provided safe recreational activities for the area’s youth.
Speaking of the Gene Gray Playground, last week I noticed some very crude graffiti spray-painted on one of the columns of the long unfinished building located at 818 Cross Bay Boulevard directly across from the playground used by our children. Graffiti is not something to be ignored or taken for granted. All of us should be keenly aware that graffiti affects property values, quality of life, and serves to diminish the viability of our community. When graffiti is allowed to remain, it invites more graffiti and can lead to an increase in vandalism and other criminal activity. It must never be tolerated. That said, many thanks to whoever it was that quickly addressed this issue by painting over the crude and offensive graffiti.
This past Sunday’s brunch up at the Broad Channel VFW Post 260 was a great success thanks to the men and women of the post who were busy scurrying around the packed hall taking orders, cooking meals, and delivering them to the many hungry residents who attended the event. The complimentary Bloody Marys were also out of this world! A special shout out to Billy Bowden whose “garbage omelets” put Bobby Flay to shame! If you happened to miss Sunday’s brunch, worry not. Things went so well that the VFW is doing it again with another brunch presently scheduled for Sunday, May 17th.
Sadly, two of our neighbors and VFW auxiliary members were unable to attend the brunch. Lauren and Bob Prokopowicz both suffered tremendous personal losses this past week. Lauren lost her mother after a long illness while her husband Rob had to deal with the unexpected passing of his sister. Words cannot express the sadness we feel for their losses but the collective thoughts of their friends and neighbors in Broad Channel are with them in this time of sorrow in the hope that they may both find comfort in the loving memories of their lost family members.
As you are strolling about town this week, keep an eye out for the brand new Rockaway Timesnews rack on the sidewalk outside of the Broad Channel All American Channel Market.
As always, the St. Virgilius Golden Age Club meets every Thursday at the American Legion Hall in Broad Channel at 12:30 pm.
Broad Channel, why would anyone want to live anywhere else?
Contact Information: Email – rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com
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