Part of my job entails digging through the Wave’s online archives to put together the Looking Back section and research other articles. Occasionally, I come across a classic like this one from the Sept. 9, 2005 issue of The Wave.
“Hit And Run Sparks Broad Channel Chase: A Connecticut woman who police said was drinking at aRockaway relative’s party on Tuesday night blew a red light and struck another auto on Cross Bay Boulevard and then took off with two volunteer firefighters on her tail.
Chris Kalisak, a relative of the woman driving the car that was hit, heard the accident and saw the woman drive away. Kalisak, a local volunteer firefighter, turned on his blue lights and chased her at high speed over the North Channel Bridge. Kalisak told The Wave that the driver was weaving from lane to lane and finally hit a traffic sign in front of a motel just over the bridge. Kalisak reportedly blocked her car in and observed her trying to rip the car’s registration sticker from the front window. When he challenged her, she told him that she was never in the car. She then began running with Kalisak close behind.
They radioed their colleagues at the scene of the accident with their location, which was relayed to police. Officers from the 100th Precinct arrived and promptly arrested the driver, who was promptly charged with driving while under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and running the red light.
You might think this is one of those “Only In Broad Channel” things that only happens once in a while. But just last month I heard another story from several neighbors. (How else do you get the full story about anything in BC?)
One evening, a man was walking through the Channel bashing people’s sideview mirrors. A neighbor looked out her window, and called up her cousin, who is a police officer. Then she got in her car, swung around and picked up her cousin and together the two women started after this guy.
The man, who was reportedly higher than Skylab, continued breaking things and eventually kicked over a motorcycle. More neighbors came out and together were eventually able to bring him down and the officer was able to make the arrest.
A word to the wise and not so wise with criminal intent: stay out of Broad Channel. All the neighbors have eyes and every house has windows.
By the way, there is a meeting of the 100th Precinct Community Council on Monday, Sept. 21. It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 333 Beach 90th St. in Rockaway. This would be a good time to make sure that Broad Channel voices are heard.
The VFW is holding a Flea Market. That will be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27 from 10 to 4. There will be clothing, Disney items, beauty items, handcrafted wares and plenty more. The VFW is located at713 Shad Creek Road, just off Cross Bay.
Sign up now for the 6-Hour Defensive Driving Class that will be held at St. Camillus’ Springman Hall, 185 Beach 99th St. It will be given over Tuesday Oct. 6 and 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. Completing the class gives you a three year 10 percent discount on your car insurance and up to 4 points off your license.
Call Helen now at 917-553-2409 or 718-945-4648. Your $45 payment reserves your seat. There is no test and refreshments will be served. Proceeds help fund the St. Camillus-St. Virgilius CDC program.
Does anyone know anything about the Packard Club, AC? “All we know is that it was at 917 Shad Creek Road,” says Barbara Toborg, head of the BC Historical, “and that it probably went into the bay during Hurricane Donna in 1960. Any information on the club would be appreciated.” You can send it to me at the email at the end of this column.
Finally, I found this item while perusing back articles from 2011 on Pete Mahon’s great West 12th Road Blog.
“Recently I was asked who is/was ‘Chris Galas’ that our local school P.S. 47 is named for. The only information I could come up with is that the school was renamed back in May of 1983 by the Department of Education. I have contacted the Department of Education’s Office of Public Affairs and requested that they provide me with a copy of any press release that may have been published at the time of the 1983 name dedication. I will also try to stop by P.S. 47 …to ascertain if school staff has any information that may shed some light on this individual.
“If anyone out there has any information regarding “Chris Galas” I would greatly appreciate if you could…let me know.
These replies came back: “Chris lived on West 9th Road. She was Chris Andrianno, sister of Frank the “Oil Man.” She was very active in P.S. 47 P.T.A. and also volunteered at the school daily. Her son, George was killed in a boating accident when he was about 22 or so. She was a Channelite her whole life and went into the hospital for routine kidney surgery and died of a heart attack.”
Someone else wrote “She lived on the corner of 9th and Power Road.” Another person asked if anyone had a picture of Chris.
Later, I found this in The Wave archives from Nov. 23, 2002. “LOOKING BACKWARD What The Wave Said 20 Years Ago This Week: A memorial was established last week at Beach Channel High School to the memory of Chris Galas, who passed away last month. Galas was the vice president of the school’s Parent’s Association. The memorial entails the awarding of a bond to the graduating student who performs the most community service each year.”
Thank you, Chris Galas, for being a part our BC history, and thanks to everyone else for bringing her memory back to us.
Got BC news? Send it to workingstories@aol.com.
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