Broad Channel Bits

By Dan Guarino

Happy Easter, Broad Channel. Or happy Passover (Chag Pesach Sameach!), which starts on Friday, April 3. Or whatever you are celebrating, or not, at this time of year.

The celebration of renewal and of hope after hard and uncertain times at this time of year is probably built into our DNA. More than many perhaps, here I believe we can also appreciate the celebration of better things to come.

Christ Presbyterian By The Sea Church is hosting Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Enjoy fresh cooked eggs, bacon, omelets, sausage, home fries, coffee, juice, tea, cake and more. There will also be a visit from a certain long-eared guest, which will no doubt delight the kids. They can even get their pictures taken with him. It’s this Sunday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission for adults is $10; kids are $6. If you haven’t already, take a moment to meet Reverend Deborah Mahaney, who is the ‘new’ pastor at Christ Presbyterian.

If you haven’t yet seen the church hall at Christ Presbyterian, it is a miracle. I remember, months after the hurricane, standing in it with the congregation. It was freezing cold and the once lively hall had been stripped down to bare boards and walls. Every time I enter it now, I am very quietly deeply moved by its transformation. The beauty goes beyond the walls. The marvel is in this congregation that didn’t give up, and in the hands of this community and others that rebuilt this place. It is a miracle.

Over at St. Virgilius on Good Friday, April 3, the Lord’s Passion will be at noon. The Stations of the Cross will be at 7 p.m.

The Holy Saturday Easter Vigil will be at St. Camillus at 8 p.m. Note: There will be no 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday at St. Virgilius. Easter Sunday Masses at St. V. 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

If you hear some harmonizing voices coming from the choir loft, one of them would be the talented organist, Dianne James. And one of them might be me.

In a sure sign of spring, the VFW will be doing their first brunch of the season on Sunday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Men’s Auxiliary puts up a terrific spread of pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, juice, coffee, rolls, drinks and more. All proceeds go to support the amazing programs the VFW does for our vets. Go and enjoy.

Nice to see so many people at the Legion’s Palm Sunday brunch last week. Nice also to see so many people from out of the Channel coming in.

Keep your calendar open for Sunday, April 19. From 12 to 4 the Relay For Life Teams will be holding a great big yard sale at the BCAC Field. Everything the teams raise goes to the American Cancer Society.

Don’t blow any stop signs, but do sign up for the 6-Hour Defensive Driving Class. Held over two Tuesday nights, April 21 and 28, from 7 to 10 p.m., at St. Camillus’ Springman Hall, it will give you a three year 10 percent discount on your auto insurance and up to a four point reduction on your license.

There is no test and refreshments will be served. Your $45 payment now guarantees your seat. Call Helen 917- 553-2409 or 718-945-4648.

Proceeds help benefit the St. Camillus religious instructions program (CCD).

Many thanks to all the Broad Channel folks who came out to the Rockaway Artists Alliance Irish music show last Sunday. We’re very glad everyone enjoyed it so much.

Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for an Earth Day shoreline clean up on Sunday, April 26, from 11 to 2 p.m. Bring gloves and wear boots. Call 718-474-0896 for more information. RSVP: jamaicabayearthday. eventbrite.com.

The list of community based proposals seeking funding under the Participatory Budget process is now out. As Dan Mundy Jr. notes, “In the past, even though Broad Channel has a lower population then some of our surrounding neighborhood communities, we have had a very good turnout and have seen some great projects funded for our neighborhood.”

“Voting will take place at the library,” Dan notes, “and we will publish the date and time as soon as it is finalized, on both the Broad Channel Facebook page as well as our town website — broadchannelcivic.org.”

BC civic leaders are also working with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz on the hurricane rebuilding and “in specific the problems and issues arising in the Build it Back Program, the street raising project and on the issue of changing the zoning issues that are hampering those who are trying to elevate their homes.”

As I have said before, I would be happy to never again have to write “This week Broad Channel says goodbye to…” Last week Hillebrand’s saw two wakes. One for Alicerose Curreri on Thursday, and one for Arlene Nix on Friday.

When we lived on East 8th Road, Liz and I saw Alicerose often. She loved animals and the green big yard around her house on East 9th at the edge of the bay always had ducks and geese happily wandering around it.

At the wake someone told me that the swans had been away for some time because of the extreme winter cold. Apparently Alicerose had been in the hospital awhile, but on the day that she came back two big, white swans came out of the bay as if in greeting, and walked across the lawn. I remember Arlene Nix enthusiastically tying bright balloons to trees and poles along the median on several BC beautification days.

The photos at her wake showed many smiles over the years, and moments shared with many children. As I looked I heard some young ladies behind me noting on a happy photo and saying, “Yes, that was her signature laugh!” 

Arlene and Alicerose will be greatly missed by their Broad Channel community.

Got BC news? Send it to workingstories@aol.com.

Thanks for reading!