Broad Channel Bits

By Dan Guarino

Last Sunday I finished my new book, Broad Channel Through Time, and uploaded it to the publisher. It’s a week later and I am still doing my happy dance. I will let you know when we start discussing release dates.

The BCVFD’s Children’s Halloween Parade was a smash last week. Picture hundreds and hundreds of kids and adults in imaginative colorful costumes marching along Cross Bay Boulevard together, stretching out across several blocks. I am pretty sure there were even more people than last year. There is a small sample of photos from the parade elsewhere in the paper. I will gladly make a disc with all the rest for anybody that asks.

It was a bright, sunny and even warm day. So directly after treats at the firehouse, many kids went trick or treating. It was quite amazing to see neighbors waiting in front of their houses, holding bowls of candy. Some households put out baskets or bowls of goodies on the honor system, with little notes that said “Take one.”

The Volies did a great job organizing the parade and with the ‘haunted insane asylum’ maze they built inside the firehouse.

Friday night, Nov. 6, is the night for Pre-K in BC. Need tickets? Call Ruth Nocerino at 917-862-1576.

By the way, you can stop in at Christ Presbyterian any week. There is a lovely service every Sunday at 9 a.m. You will be welcomed.

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8, St. St. Camillus Catholic Academy is hosting a Paint Night on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Call 718-634-5260 for info.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, the hard working folks at the VFW will be serving a great day out and a great Thanksgiving dinner to disabled vets from the St. Albans medical center. If you have supported a VFW event this year, you too have helped make this day, and many like it, happen. Thank you, VFW, for all that you do.

Clear you schedule for next Sunday,

Nov. 15. The American Legion Auxiliary is hosting a Brunch and Sweepstakes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds go the Legion’s annual Children’s Christmas Party, which will be held on Dec. 13.

Don’t be shy. The St.

Pete Mahon and I got a lovely letter from Andrew Baumann, president and CEO of the NYFAC Foundation. He thanked both of us for the promotion and coverage of their successful inaugural chili cook-off at the VFW. It was our pleasure.

Note: The young woman who came to the Legion Halloween party dressed as The Mask is the most energetic dancer I have ever seen in my life. My dear, you really rock a yellow suit!

Dan Maher posted an Oct. 29 photo of a flooded BC street with this comment, “6th Road had a Moon Tide today to honor the memory of the third anniversary of Sandy... They get that every month anyway...LOL.”

Alison Kase notes that “20 bucks makes Thanksgiving happen for struggling families. As many of you know, (Family-To-Family) is the organization I work for, but more importantly it was very generous to many of us post-Sandy, please help other families in need if you can. Join Family-to-Family’s Annual Turkey Drive (by going to) www.familytofamily.org/hands-on-givi…/turkeydrive/.

Just after Sandy Stephanie Wagner got her laptop going to do something nice to lift Broad Channel’s spirits. Through her tireless efforts and many donations, every year since then she has made sure that holiday lights are shining bright over Cross Bay Boulevard.

This year you can help. For one thing you can buy tickets for the 4th Annual Broad Channel Christmas Lights $5000 Giveaway. The big drawing will be held at the Bungalow Bar on Friday, Nov. 20. The party starts 7:30 p.m.

Don’t wait. Go to www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-broad-channel-christmas-lights-5000-give... and make sure you get a winning ticket.

You can also make the holidays brighter for any number of children and their families. Debbie Spanburgh O’Connor and her girls are gathering up donations of new, unwrapped toys for Christmas.

“Last year we donated 725 holiday gifts to the Hematology / Oncology Department at Cohen Children’s Medical Center,” she said. “This year I was asked if we would divide the toys with the Ronald McDonald House. It is a place that is making children happier and healthier by keeping families together when dealing with a sick child.

“I will be collecting new in the box toys from Nov. 1 –Dec. 11 for a boy or girl of any age. And I will be able to collect new stuffed animals…I can send to the Ronald McDonald House this year!” After speaking with Cindi Ciappetta, Eileen O’Hare and Cindy Colleran, Debbie says they will be planning fundraising nights at Ruffle Bar, Grassy’s and the

Want more information? Go to “3rd Annual Holiday Toy Drive Benefits Children Fighting Cancer” on Facebook or Debbie’s FB page.

It has been noted more than once that people in the Channel and in Rockaway are some of the biggest hearted people you will ever meet. This seems to go way back. Since the storm I have seen so many people do extraordinary things, not for themselves, but to help someone else in need. It has been my honor to know them. Even when we were battered, we reached out to help others, and deeply appreciated the help that was given to us. If anything, that inclination has grown even bigger.

It really shows what the world and people are capable of being

Thanks for reading
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