GENERALLY SPEAKING: Week of May 3

Bay Ridge Family Picnic on Sunday, May 6th

This coming Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Bay Ridge Community Council will be hosting its annual family picnic on the Bluff overlooking the Narrows, inside the Fort Hamilton Army Base.

With the array of activities and entertainment scheduled, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser for young and old. The event is open to the public, but you must have a photo ID to enter the base.

One of the highly publicized events will be the political tug of war, pitting local GOP and Dems against one another. The battle cry will be, “pull–pull–pull!” Both sides have already thrown down the gauntlet and will be jockeying for the three-foot-tall Vincent Kassenbrock Trophy, at 1 p.m. So c’mon out and cheer on your favorite elected official!

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Just learned from the Navy that the flotilla of naval war vessels from the U.S., participating in Fleet Week/OPSAIL 2012, commencing on Wednesday morning, May 23, will include the amphibious Assault Ship, USS Wasp (LHD1).

This will also be the ship that returns the cannon salute from the Fort Hamilton garrison as the vessels pass under the Verrazano Bridge. The tall sailing ships from around the world will start entering the Narrows along Shore Parkway, at 8 a.m., followed by the warships starting at 10 a.m. One of the prime viewing spots here will be from the American Veterans Memorial Pier at the foot of 69th Street (Bay Ridge Avenue).

Since, this year, Fleet Week/OPSAIL is commemorating the War of 1812, the 10th U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name Wasp was a historical choice by the Navy. It was the battle-ready sailing sloop Wasp that engaged the British in the early months of that war. While the Wasp was captured, we went on to win the war.

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In celebration of National Volunteer Week, members of CERT1NYC, covering Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, received National Presidential medals and certificates signed by the president that were presented by CERT President Janet General

Among the recipients was State Senator Marty Golden

Along with Golden, Lou TrimboliAnthony FormicaChip CafieroDale MasseyEileen LaRuffaJanet General and Charlie Pomaro received Presidential ‘Call to Service’ Awards.

Gold service awards were presented to Alan StoddartFran MilauskasPat CrawfordSal Delessio and William Vitale. A silver pin was awarded to Grisele Amador

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Finally! The City’s Finance Department has cleaned up its act. Now those bright orange envelopes and parking tickets issued by parking enforcement agents no longer show the Brooklyn Finance Center open for hearings. Both pieces now clearly state, Brooklyn office, “temporarily closed.”

However, as of press time, we were unable to verify whether NYPD officers were issued new summons books with the appropriate change.

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Bill GuarinelloMichael Ganin to the panel. As a fellow committee member, we are glad to add our congratulations and welcome him aboard! Ganin is a local community-minded businessman who strongly supports our troops and wants to help ensure the Fort Hamilton Army Base stays open.

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Our friends at the Bay Ridge Corps of the Salvation Army are holding their annual Spring Flea Market, on Saturday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Corps headquarters building, 252 86th Street.

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The Society of Old Brooklynites, founded in 1880, is holding its 132nd anniversary luncheon dinner on Sunday, June 24, at 12:30 p.m., at the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street.

In commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, the keynoter will be Bud Livingston

In addition to guest speaker and life member Brooklyn Borough President Marty MarkowitzTheresa Rosen

Rosen, who died last June, also served as the executive secretary of the Italian Historical Society of America and was a former vice president of the Bay Ridge Community Council. For luncheon reservations, contact Sherman Silverman at 718-748-3165.

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To reach Ted General via the Internet, his e-mail address is:

General@Journalist.com

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