Sen Golden’s ‘Senior’ Post Good For Bay Ridge

Republican-Conservative Sen. Marty Golden, now a member of the powerful majority in the upper Albany body, is not only the new chair(again) of the Senate Aging Committee, he is now one of the most influential law-makers in the state.

Why? Two main reasons: One: True power rests in the majority of any legislature. And: Two: Incumbency–Having won his fifth term, the Bay Ridge senator’s re-election to a sixth term is virtually assured.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo as well as Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver know that the 2012 district lines will be ‘cut’ to favor Republicans. To keep his ‘safe’ Democratic majority the speaker negotiate thoughtfully and let the GOP have its way with senate reapportionment.

This ‘redistricting’– in which all the states’ elective boundaries are re-drawn every ten years to reflect the latest U.S. Census– remains a mystery to 95 per cent of the citizenry.

Another reason Republicans in right-leaning Southwest Brooklyn (and even more right Staten Island,) will do well in 2012 is a strong top-of-the-ticket, headed by anybody but Sarah Palin. If Republicans do not nominate the controversial Ms. Palin their presidential nominee will have very long elective coat-tails here.

Fundamental to the cop-turned caterer–turned civic leader–turned councilman–now senator’s success is that he has consistently had strong community roots in Greater Bay Ridge. That’s why he was able to defeat then Democratic incumbent Sen. Vinnie Gentile.

The GOP senator maintains these ‘roots’ spending as much time with his as possible, socializing and even shopping along Third Avenue–for wife Colleen, president of the vital Ragamuffin Parade Committee, a loveable, down-to-earth lady who still makes him take out the trash!

His top Bay Ridge aide, John Quaglione, and Chief of Staff Gerry Kassar, keep their Fifth Avenue office a hot-bed of local activity dealing with constituents and helping scores of vital community-oriented organizations. The only office-holder to ever win the coveted Civic Award of the Bay Ridge Community Council, Sen. Golden is keenly aware of the special ‘volunteer’ nature of his home community.

Adding icing on the elective cake is his constant Bay Ridge ally over the years, the already-legendary State Conservative Mike Long, The Long party did so well in the November elections that his Conservatives now occupy the third electoral ballot “line” which means thousands of additional Golden votes should he ever face a close race.

It’s little wonder that Democrats wisely avoided putting up a serious opponent against him in the last three elections; in fact he was actually unopposed in 2006 and 2008. And, of course, he’s sure to be on hand –barring an Albany emergency– at noon on January 29, when Executive Secretary Arlene Keating, Pres. Alex Conti and other BRCC officers welcome hundreds of leaders to the Annual Presidents Luncheon at the Bay Ridge Manor. 

 

Planning Ahead For Ragamuffin, 3rd Ave. Festival & Pioneers Reception In October

IT’S ‘fall ahead’ time on Third Avenue!

PUTTING a twist on the old time change expression ‘spring ahead, fall back’ the leadership of the Merchants of Third Avenue  is already laying groundwork to help all its members survive and even prosper despite current challenging economic times.  And this means a very busy fall season.

SO when the local M.T.A. members gathered last June at Café Remy there was a lot of ‘news’ made. How will the M.T.A. help the traditional Ragamuffin Parade set for October 3?  What will be the themes for the 36th Annual Third Avenue Festival on Oct. 4?

AND, who will be the honorees when the M.T.A. holds its Sixteenth Annual Pioneer Reception Oct. 26 at the very same Café Remy?

EACH year the Pioneer Reception singles out a small number of leading Bay Ridgeites who have made significant contributions on the avenue and throughout the broader community.  And,  this week, after consultation with the Pioneer Chair–who just happens to be your correspondent – and other officers such as Pres. Bob Howe, Vice Presidents Jay Sessa and Wade Jabour, Treasurer Cathy DiTirro,   Secretary Lloyd Berg, Recording Secretary Kelli Kilbride and Corr. Secretary Rhea McCone, it’s our privilege to announce the 2009 slate:

Civic Award Honorees

Tom Edwards, Lutheran Medical Board Chair

and

Northfield Bank executive Joan Dalton.

PIONEERS, Class of 2009

Tommy Casatelli of the Kettleblack Restaurant;

Accountant Peter Amsterdam of the long-standing Third Ave.firm of  Amsterdam and Coscia

and

Manny Saviolakis, who with his dad, Steve, operates the very popular Anapoli Restaurant.

A SPECIAL service award will go to John Keegan and Bob Daquara of the Greenhouse Restaurant who have hosted the Pioneer Reception a number of times in recent years and whose contributions have already earned them Pioneer status.

EDDIE Batiz, whose trendy and chic Café Remy has spurred new life onto much of Third Avenue in the 70’s, and his charming manager, Julie Gonzalez, will serve as hosts for the event, which features “A Taste of Third Avenue”.  Since this  is Third Avenue ’s biggest fund-raiser–after the Festival–this  means that twenty other restaurants on the Brooklyn’s ‘Restaurant Row’ will be providing items from their popular menus to be served that night.

THIRD AVENUE, like Bay Ridge, has become unique for its sense of tradition which is a point made by Pres. Howe and other officers every year through the Pioneer Reception–all Pioneers, since the reception started back in 1993–have been M.T.A. members of long standing.   First-time charter honorees, for instance, included clothier Sam Hage, late legendary lawyer Harry English and inimitable entrepreneur Al Nahas, whose boldly conceived Night Falls Restaurant made headlines across the city when it opened with a guest list headlined by name artists like Andy Warhol.

 

Quest For Classic Burger Continues in Bay Ridge

What has happened to the classic burger of yore?