Mayor signs off on “Charles Ahl Way”

Late community leader Charles Ahl will continue to be remembered as a portion of 80th Street at Fifth Avenue will be renamed “Charles Ahl Way.”

“Charles Ahl truly represents that unshakable foundation of volunteer spirit that makes Bay Ridge what it is,” Councilmember Vincent Gentile stated.

Ahl, a veteran who served his country in World War II, later served his community as the first chair of Community Board 10 in 1977. He implemented the procedures and professionalism that the board continues to follow to this day, 36 years later.

Ahl also held other positions in the community, such as president of the Dyker Heights Civic Association and the Edmund Seergy Republican Club. As part of the Entertainers, Ahl helped raise money for local non-profit organizations by putting on musical shows. He also volunteered as a scoutmaster at St. Ephrem’s Church for 35 years.

“Ahl really set the standard for what it meant to be an active and dedicated member of your community,” Gentile stressed.

By example, the elder Ahl also instilled his community activism in his son Greg, who as a young boy was unaware of just how involved his dad actually was. Greg now serves on CB 10 and pushed for the street renaming.

“We (the family) chose this street because it is where we grew up and most of us remember it as kids,” he said.

The bill was introduced earlier this year by Gentile and was signed into law by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Monday July 1. The street naming ceremony will take place later in the year.

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