Generally Speaking: Ragamuffin Committee sets 2017 parade date

With a new president at the helm, the Ragamuffin Parade Committee has set Saturday, October 14 as the date for the 51st annual edition of the colorful kiddie parade along Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.

New York State Court of Claims Justice Matt D’Emic, a past member of the parade organization, swore in the new officers of the governing committee which includes President Arlene Keating, Vice President Laurie Windsor, Secretary Rose Gangi and Treasurer Ilene Sacco.

Other committee members are Colleen Golden (past president), Marie Lane, David Ryan, Dilia Schack (past president), Leigh Brannan, Ted General, Peter and Patricia Killen, Chuck Otey, Lynda O’Neill and Kevin Peter Carroll.

Associate members are Liz Amato, Gene Brody, Tressa Kabbez, Shirley Behlen, Gloria Melnick (past president), Joe Conly, Joan Curran, Maria Rando, Inna Trinidad and Donna Guarinello.

On Sunday, October 1, the Ragamuffin organizers will be holding their annual luncheon celebration where they will be honoring and installing Monsignor Kevin Noone, pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church, as the 2017 parade grand marshal and Ray Aalbue, chairperson of the Brooklyn’s Kings County Memorial Day Parade, as Man of the Year.

The festive fundraiser in support of the parade will be held at the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street, at noon. Tickets are $65 apiece. Checks made payable to Ragamuffin, Inc. may be sent to 9728 Third Avenue, Suite 504, Brooklyn, NY 11209. For info, please call 718-833-4928.

On a sad note, it is with profound sorrow I mention here the recent death of Ragamuffin’s 2003 Grand Marshal Tom Edwards, the former president and CEO of  Helen Keller Services for the Blind, 1996 grand marshal of the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade, former secretary of the Fort Hamilton Citizens Action Committee and a fellow Bay Ridgeite.

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Our good friend Henry Stewart, a local historian, the first vice president of the Bay Ridge Historical Society and a magazine writer, will be conducting a walking tour of Owl’s Head Park, tracing its roots to when the sprawling grounds were owned by Henry Murphy and then sold to Eliphalet W. Bliss.

The tour starts at noon from the sprinkler plaza at 67th Street and Colonial Road, inside the park, on Saturday, September 9. A  donation of $5 is suggested.

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