Generally Speaking: Gentile looking for a new job!

According to a recent page 2 news item in the New York Post, City Council Deputy Majority Leader Vincent Gentile, also the Council’s longest serving member, has begun lobbying Mayor Bill de Blasio for a judgeship or a post in the de Blasio administration. Gentile and his fellow councilmembers recently voted themselves a raise to $148,500. Ideally, I’m sure he would prefer a judiciary appointment which would put him on the bench as either a Criminal Court ($159,000) or Family Court ($174,000) judge. Both unelected posts are set by the mayor and come with 10 year terms!

The news that he is looking for an early departure from the Council has only fueled the efforts by Democrats Andrew Gounardes, Justin Brannan, Kevin Peter Carroll, Linda Sarsour and possibly Dilia Schack and Assemblymember Peter Abbate to run for his Council seat. Interested Republicans include Bob Capano, John Quaglione and possibly Tom McCarthy and Lucretia Regina-Potter.

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The Fort Hamilton High School Alumni Association held its 2016 Hall of Fame installation and dinner at the El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin. The new inductees included civic leader and businessperson J. Peter Clavin, ‘71 and New York Jets safety (No. 37) Jaiquawn Jarrett, ‘07; and posthumously FDNY Firefighter Joseph Graffagnino, ‘91 and star student athlete Kristi Beth Kvalheim ’95.

The program was emceed by New York City Councilmember Vincent Gentile, ’77, also a FHHS graduate and Hall of Famer. Kristi Kvalheim’s family members accepted on her behalf, and Joseph Graffagnino’s father Joseph accepted on his behalf. Outgoing President David Whitebook chaired the event and announced the new alumni president will be Valerie Hodgson, Class of 1973.

While FHHS Principal Kaye Houlihan was attending a wedding on the West Coast, Assistant Principal Jeff Brassard extended her congratulations and remarks. Also extending his kudos for the occasion was was State Senator Marty Golden.

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Maggie Weber, the educational director of the Old Stone House Museum, originally known as the Vechte-Cortelyou House, was the guest speaker at the February monthly meeting of the Society of Old Brooklynites. The OSH Museum is located on Third Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. Also in attendance was Kimberly Maier, the long-time executive director of the Old Stone House.

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Congratulations to Justin Brannan, deputy director of intergovernmental operations for the New York City Department of Education, president of the Bay Ridge Democrats club and founder of Bay Ridge Cares, who was presented with the P.S. 104 PTA’s 2016 International Brotherhood Tea Award, by PTA Co-Presidents Sophia Koutouzis and Jade Roots La Croix. Marie DiBella is the principal and Mary Ann Maginnis is the parent coordinator.