BCAC Says ‘Thank You’

By Dan Guarino

The Broad Channel Athletic Club said ‘thank you’ in a big way to all the individuals and groups who helped the BCAC and the community over the past year.As Broad Channel Athletic Club President Jim Mangan said, “Broad Channel is a very special place. It’s a very special town we all live in.”

“All of us together,” he said, “make up this community.” The occasion was the BCAC’s “New Year” thank you party held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the American Legion Hall in Broad Channel.

The large room was filled with green and white balloons, the colors of the BCAC’s Shamrocks teams, and good spirits as they recognized and celebrated many of the organizations and individuals who helped the BCAC and the community over the past year.

Singled out for special recognition were longtime dedicated coach, Gene Guittieri and Dawn McIntyre, who has served vice president, treasurer and commissioner. Each received an award noting there special service. “I do this for the kids,” Guittieri noted, “not for myself.” The capacity crowd enjoyed an evening of music, good food and drink, dancing and laughter, including many Broad Channel in-jokes, which ran past midnight. The first such gathering, held last year, was organized by the BCAC to celebrate Broad Channel and thank all those who had helped in its recovery and rebuilding after the storm.

Assemblyman Phillip GoldfederAbout the close knit quality of this island community, Mangan said, “Sometimes it takes something like Sandy to really bring that out.”

Also speaking at the event were parish priest Father Richard Ahlemeyer, who blessed the gathering, and Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder.

Goldfeder observed in his remarks, “Through the best of times, and through the worst of times, I have never seen a community that finds so many ways to come together, be together, and have a good time.”

Gene Guittieri and his wife. Guittieri and Dawn McIntyre were recognized for their service to the BCAC.
A capacity crowd enjoyed good food, good fun, good music and good company all night long.
BCAC President Jim Mangan led off the evening with a few words at ‘New Year’ party held at theAmerican Legion Hall in Broad Channel.
St. Virgilius-St. Camillus pastor Father Richard Ahlemeyer shared Broad Channel anecdotes and blessed the gathering.