Newly-elected Congressmember Daniel Donovan has tapped longtime civic leader and Conservative Party Vice Chair Fran Vella-Marrone as director of his Brooklyn district office.
This is basically the same area of responsibility she had under former Congressmember Michael Grimm. However, this time she will be reporting to Donovan’s new District Director Brendan Lantry who is also at the helm of his main congressional office on Staten Island. Dyker Heights resident Vella-Marrone for more than two decades has been the president of the Dyker Heights Civic Association.
With bright sunny weather for most of the day, the Fifth Avenue Festival, which stretched from 85th Street to 69th Street, was a resounding success. Among the highlights of the festival were the annual pizza-eating contest at Rocco’s Pizzeria, and Leila, a belly dancer performing in front of the Le Sajj Mediterranean Restaurant.
Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue BID President Jim Clark and his fellow BID officers were happy the heavy rains held off until near the end of the festival, and especially pleased with the terrific crowds the event drew.
Our hearty congratulations to Bay Ridge attorney Arthur Aidala, a former Brooklyn assistant
district attorney and widely respected defense lawyer, who will be installed shortly as the 100th president of the Brooklyn Bar Association. The association dates back to 1872, when Brooklyn was an independent city.
Aidala, who is a past candidate for the City Council, is frequently seen on Fox News as one of its on-air legal contributors. His law firm is Aidala, Bertuna and Kamins.
George Broadhead, the new president of the Society of Old Brooklynites, has announced former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, now the vice president for borough engagement for NYC and Company, the city’s official tourist organization, will be the keynote speaker at the society’s 135th anniversary luncheon celebration on June 28 at the Bay Ridge Manor. The SOB’ers are hoping he will bring along Taylor Swift, the group’s New York City welcome ambassador, but that’s not likely!
On the Avenue: Annual Kiwanis karaoke event raises funds for ailing children 
On the Avenue: Bay Ridge’s parade season in full swing