Brooklyn Columbus Parade on 18th Avenue
This past Saturday, Brooklyn celebrated the 519th anniversary of the discovery of America by the famous explorer and son of Italy, Christopher Columbus.The Brooklyn Federation of Italian-American Organizations sponsored the 31st annual Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade along 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst.
Lead musical unit for the colorful parade was the Mother Cabrini all-girls marching band from Manhattan.Among the local bands participating were the Dyker Heights Junior High School Band and Fort Hamilton High School Marching Band.The parade also featured hundreds of schoolchildren, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and youngsters dressed in native costumes.
The 2012 Grand Marshals were Isabel DiMolaWilliam GuarinelloNicholas MiragliaCarlo Scissura. Scissura was recently tapped to head the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
The team offederation officers that work closely each year to present this magnificentColumbus Day celebration include Chair Jack SpatolaFrank NaccaratoSalvatore FronterreCarlo LauricellaBarbara Pascarella and Executive DirectorNancy Sottile.
We also add our hearty congratulations to Jack Spatola not only for another successful Brooklyn Columbus Day parade, but for continuing to make education headlines as the principal of one of the highest ranking public elementary schools in the city. Jack is at the helm of Public School 172 on Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park. Among the many accolades he has received, was recently being hailed by this paper as a ‘Star of Brooklyn.’
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The Bay Ridge Council on Aging presents a major candidates forum on Wednesday, October 17, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Fort Hamilton Senior Center, 9941 Fort Hamilton Parkway. Participating candidates are Congressmember Michael Grimm (R-C), Mark Murphy (D), State Senator Marty Golden (R-C), Andrew Gounardes (D), Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis (R-C), John Mancuso (D), Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny (D) and Thomas McCarthy (R-C). The forum will be moderated by Peter Killen
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Vietnam Army veteran Connie Ranocchia was installed as post commander of the Bay Ridge’s Amity Post # 791 of the American Legion, at the Bay Ridge Manor this past Saturday.Ranocchia, as an Army electrician, repaired combat and rescue helicopters.She is also serving as the second vice president of the United Military Veterans of Kings County, sponsors of the annual Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade.
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At the next monthly meeting of the Bay Ridge Historical Society, on October 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Shore Hill Community Room, 91st Street and Shore Road, Eric Landau
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Colleagues, friends and relatives of the late Colonel Eileen Bonner gathered in the famed Jackson Room of Fort Hamilton’s Community Club to remember and reminisce about Bonner’s remarkable career with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, and as a chief nurse and nursing administrator at several area city hospitals.
In a program bio, Bonner is referred to a genius with an IQ hovering around 160. She graduated in 1944 from Fort Hamilton High School at age 15! At the memorial tribute, we saw a photo of her meeting President Ronald Reagan in the White House. The reception and program was organized by five of her close friends, Colonel Audrey Hinds (Ret.), Diana GazzaLizette Colon and retired Lieutenant Colonels Irmalinda Bernard and Glennie Millard.
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To reach Ted General via the Internet, his e-mail address is:
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