Pres. Keating Goes To Bat For Cyclones Baseball

 

This 2008 game, between the Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones, was a sellout at KeySpan Park.

 

ARLENE KEATING, president of the Bay Ridge Community Council, is intent on scoring big with baseball fans as she approaches the end of her successful one-year  tenure: the BRCC is lending major league assistance to “Bay Ridge Night” at the Brooklyn Cyclones.

 THE scoreboard at Coney Island will light up for Bay Ridge the evening of July 8 starting at 7 p.m., when the Cyclones face the Aberdeen Ironbirds. 

 PRESIDENT KEATING will have completed  her very effective leadership service  by then when she is feted at  the Council’s big dinner dance, a must-attend fete for Bay Ridge leaders over the past half  century.

Photo Copyright The New York Times Company 2008 

 

Jay Sessa’s “The Guy” For BRCC Civic Award

Will Jay Sessa, seen at the recent BRCC Presidents Luncheon with former Fort Hamilton High School Principal Alice Farkouh, receive the BRCC's highest honor?

 

“JAY’S THE GUY!” headlined a recent email I sent to a colleague, who quickly replied in agreement, “Jay’s The Guy!”

 

JAY, in this case, is the suave civic and business leader Jay Sessa, who, in this writer’s view, would be eminently qualified to receive the Bay Ridge Community Council’s Civic Award which, for 57 years, has been the most visible civic honor in Greater Bay Ridge.

 

I ADMIT a personal bias here. Some decades ago when I served as Executive Editor of The Home Reporter & Sunset News I ran a story and photo about a youthful golfing phenom by the name of “Joseph Sessa.”

 

I’VE FOLLOWED his career ever since, as he’s married the lovely daughter of a late revered colleague, Jack Anderson, and became active in our community, where thousands know him as Jay Sessa, proprietor with daughter Courtney of McLaughlin & Sons Funeral Home, and as a man who gives freely of his time and resources for vital local causes.

 

JAY SESSA is not the kind of guy who asks for public accolades for his civic work, but over the years, I’ve noted many of them here, such as his former vice presidency of the Bay Ridge Community Council, his current service as a vice president of the Merchants of Third Avenue, a trustee of the St. Nicholas Home and a board member of the Guild for Exceptional Children.

 

FOR MORE than a decade, he has overseen the M.T.A.’s costly, complex and vital Holiday Lights program which brings warmth to thousands over the chilly celebratory season.

 

THE M.T.A has honored him as a Pioneer, an award which is given for “extraordinary service to Third Avenue and the entire community of Bay Ridge.” And he has also received the Ragamuffin Parade “Man of the Year” award. What’s next for Jay?

 

A Promise Kept

AS PROMISED, we will now disclose vital historical news of the Council’s first meeting, which, we can now reveal, was published in the December 21, 1951, edition of the Brooklyn Spectator with the headline, “Fourteen B.R. Groups Discuss Forming a Community Council.”

 

 ACCORDING to the story, re-published under “The Good Old Days” section of the Brooklyn Spectator, “The initial meeting of this group was called by the Father Stedman Post of the Catholic War Veterans where the idea of a Bay Ridge Community Council originated.” 

“THE Council will act in an advisory capacity in order to keep all local organizations alert to the moral, economic and social needs of the people of Bay Ridge,” the un-bylined article continued. “It will also function as a coordinating agency in promoting civic activities that will aid in the growth in the growth and development of the community.”

“THE meeting designated Vincent F. Kassenbrock, Vice Commander of the Father Stedman Post to invite all community organizations to the next meeting of his group which will be held on January 29, at 8 p.m. at the clubhouse of the Bay Ridge Post, Jewish War Veterans, 8721 Fourth Ave.”

WHO were the 14 original organizations? What was the main motivational factor which galvanized the community of Bay Ridge–which included, and still does, the other local neighborhoods of Fort Hamilton and Dyker Heights?  Space dictates that we present this revealing information in a later communique. . .

–To be continued-

 

Again, We Name Names From Presidents Luncheon

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Shakespeare once asked. Quite a bit. So, as we do here annually, we will now name at least some of those invitees we had a chance to chat with at the Bay Ridge Community Council’s Annual Presidents Luncheon, starting appropriately with the other BRCC officers: First Vice President Andrew Windsor; Second Vice President Janet Gounis; Treasurer Eleanor Sabbagh; Recording Sec. Linda Orlando; Parliamentarian Barbara Vellucci; Historian Eileen Potter, and Corr. Secretary Kevin Carroll.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

 

BOROUGH PRES. Marty Markowitz didn’t make it but his representative–Chief of Staff Carlo Scissura–was very well received, as were: Mike Long, State Conservative Party leader; Gerard Kassar, Kings Conservative leader; Democratic district leaders Dilia Schack and Ralph Perfetto; Kings GOP Leader Craig Eaton: Eeva-Lisa Von Ancken, Bay Ridge Senior Center; Hinsch’s John Logue, 2007 Civic Award winner; Hon.K. Lai, president of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Assn; Home Reporter/Spectator staffers Jim Griffin, Rick Buttacavoli and Paula Katinas; Dist. 10 Mgr. Josephine Beckmann; Lutheran Medical’s Howard Smith and Marie Quinones; Dist. 20 C.E.C. President Laurie Windsor; Lucretia Regina-Potter, St. Ephrem’s Home School Assn.; Mary Ranieri, Bay Ridge Real Estate Board; COM. Bd.10 Chair Dean Rasinya; Dyker Heights Civic Pres. Fran Vella-Marrone, the BRCC 2004 Civic Award winner; June Johnson, American Cancer Society; NYPD Deputy Inspector Eric Rodriguez; Alice Farkouh, former Ft. Ham. High principal; and Peter Scarpa, Bay Ridge Historical Society. 

DELIVERING much-appreciated spiritual messages were the Rev. Khader El-Kateem, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church; Pastor Robert Emerick, Bay Ridge United Methodist Church; and Msgr. Guy Massie, St. Andrew’s R.C. Church.

GRANTED, other very important people were there but time, space and memory are limited, though I’ll be happy to make additions or amendments to the record in future columns!

WE ALSO spent time with major BRCC stalwarts from over the years including Jane Kelly; Louise Hidar; Mary Ann Walsh, who also heads the Kassenbrock Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund; Jay Sessa, a former vice president, currently vice president of the member Merchants of Third Avenue (who many agree would be a worthy recipient of the BRCC’s prized 2009 Civic Award); Bob Kassenbrock, former BRCC president; journalist Ted General, former Civic Award winner and BRCC web administrator; David Whitebook; Eileen Tynion; Maimonides spokeswoman Ilene Sacco, former BRCC president and currently head of the 68th Pct. Community Council; Greg Ahl, past president and 2006 Civic Awardee; Tom Greene, a past president whose incredible campaign led to the building of the Fort Hamilton H.S. swimming pool; Ed Moderacki; Alex Conti; Irene Hanvey; Club GJOA; Maureen Stramka; Peter and Pat Killen, past presidents; and Mafalda DiMango, educator and 1978 Civic Award winner. 

 

Arlene’s Tale of B.R.C.C. Highlights Presidents Luncheon

 ARLENE’S Big Bash–highlighted here last week–lived up to expectations, when the revered Bay Ridge Community Council, established way back in 1951, held its prestigious annual Presidents Luncheon Saturday at the Bay Ridge Manor, properly presided over by President Arlene Keating and Executive Secretary Gloria Melnick.

BRCC President Arlene Keating

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER showed up, minus his bike, but with reassuring words to this writer and others of his continuing support of the much-needed Verrazano Lifeway, which will allow the rest of us (non-drivers!) to use the mighty span.  Also there were Sen. Marty Golden, Kings County District Atty. Joe Hynes, Cong. Mike McMahon (with Jon Yedin, his own aspiring  “Bob Capano”), Councilman Vinnie Gentile,  Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer, Assemblymen Alec Brook-Krasny, Felix Ortiz, and respected assembly veteran Peter Abbate, mentioned last because we again reminded him of his early days in the reform Bay Ridge Independent Democrats, which he good-naturedly still denies.

IMPORTANT to note here is that Sen. Golden, Councilman Gentile, Assemblyman Abbate and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have expressed strong backing of the Verrazano Lifeway, which would daily permit thousands to walk, bike, job or wheelchair back and forth from Bay Ridge to Staten Island. (We admit the Lifeway is a pet Focus/COsBR cause as well.)

PRESIDENT Keating’s speech (despite the fact she graciously spoke only after orating office-holders had drained most of the oxygen out of the room) was one of the best ever given by a BRCC chief executive.  Her remarks were thoughtful and respectful of the Council’s history and its current vital role. She is working hard to bring in new members such as The Arab American Association, BrooklynONETheater and the Commodore Barry Club, represented respectively by Dr. Ahmed Jaber, Tom Kane and Mary Nolan.

AS co-founder Walter Kassenbrock once remarked to Jim Sempepos at a Presidents Luncheon in the late 1970’s, “Everybody who’s anybody in Bay Ridge is here today.” Walter’s comment was symbolic but essentially still worth noting.  And even though not “everyone who is anybody in Bay Ridge” was at the packed, invitation-only event Saturday, the roster was still quite impressive and relevant.

 

Photo courtesy Home Reporter & Sunset News

 

Reporting From The BRCC Presidents Luncheon

COsBR reporting from the BRCC Presidents Luncheon, held yesterday at the Bay Ridge Manor. A more detailed report on President Keating’s “outstanding” speech will follow, as well as answers to exact time, place and organizational participation in BRCC’s first meeting.

Ilene Sacco, president of 68th Pct. Community Council, CFO, past president of BRCC, and Arlene Keating, president of the BRCC, at Saturday's Presidents Luncheon.

Jay Sessa, former vice president of the BRCC, at the Presidents Luncheon with former Fort Hamilton High School Principal Alice Farkouh and Rev. Khader Al-Yateem, pastor of Salam Arabic Lutheran Church.

JAY IS being prominently mentioned as a worthy potential recipient of the BRCC’s coveted Civic Award to be awarded at its annual June dinner dance.  He is an active supporter of the Ragamuffin Parade and serves as vice president of the Merchants of Third Avenue, both members of the BRCC.  He is president of the McLaughlin Funeral Home.

 

How Did BRCC Start? Who Was There In. . .?

PARTING SHOT: Who knows when the first pre-organizational meeting of the then aborning Bay Ridge Community Council was held?  Where?  Who were the founders?  Who were the original members?   Is the BRCC the longest-standing, most successful community organization in the city?

 

I ASKED the foregoing questions of attendees today when the luncheon was underway at the Manor.  The answers, which Bob Kassenbrock already knows, were published recently in a local newspaper. Hint: Its name is similar to that of a popular ladies shoe style.  (Chuck-le).

 

Arlene’s Big BRCC Party Salutes Local Presidents

BAY RIDGE’s most prestigious event will take place this Saturday, January 31, when the Bay Ridge Community Council, under the very capable leadership of President Arlene Keating, holds its 57th Annual Presidents Luncheon.

BRCC President Arlene Keating

ATTENDANCE is by invitation only, because this is the Council’s way of recognizing its over 100 constituent member organizations by hosting the presidents and leaders of each at a splendid luncheon also attended by elected officials of all parties. (Don’t be surprised if Mayor Mike Bloomberg shows up!)

PART OF what makes the event special is that it is for presidents and designated officials only. As Gloria, Arlene or other dedicated officers—First Vice. Pres. Andrew Windsor, Second Vice Pres. Janet Gounis, Treasurer Eleanor Sabbagh, Recording Secretary Linda Orlando, Corr. Secretary Kevin Carroll, Parliamentarian Barbara Vellucci and Historian Eileen Potter–will tell anyone who asks to “buy” a ticket: “Sorry, this event is by invitation only in honor of our presidents!”

HANDLING the challenging job of arrangements for the big bash is BRCC Executive Secretary Gloria Melnick. What’s so challenging about Gloria’s assignment? As a past BRCC president, I’m not betraying any confidence what I say that since this Presidents Luncheon fetes more of the Bay Ridge elite than any other event, there are always those people–admittedly important–who are not invited.

 

 

PHOTO: Courtesy Georgine Benvenuto/MTA