Generally Speaking: Bay Ridge resident named Brooklyn surrogate, Memorial Day Parade-ers honored

Kings County has two Brooklyn Surrogate Court judges Diana Johnson and Margarita Lopez Torres. Since Judge Johnson has been granted a leave of absence, New York State Supreme Court Justice John Ingram, a former Court of Claims judge and a long-time Bay Ridge resident, has just been appointed acting Brooklyn surrogate by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks until Judge Johnson returns to the bench. Judge Ingram is also a retired New York State Naval Militia Admiral.

The New York City Council recently passed a bill that was signed by the mayor co-naming the corner of 78th Street and Third Avenue as “Howie Dunn Way,” in commemoration of his military service and many years of service as a civic and veterans leader.

Dunn was a past Kings County American Legion commander, a former grand marshal of Brooklyn’s annual Kings County Memorial Day Parade, and chairperson of the Bay Ridge Community Council’s Veterans Committee.

He is perhaps best known for the many years he had been encouraging residents and merchants to fly the American flag and was often seen on Third, Fourth and Fifth Avenues drilling holes in the sidewalk so that small American flag poles could be placed.

On Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m., City Councilmember Vinnie Gentile will preside over ceremonies unveiling the new street sign.

On Thursday, May 11, at 6 p.m., in the Rotunda at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Court and Joralemon Streets, the United Military Veterans of Kings County will present three patriot awards to Command Master Sergeant Juan Cadez,USA (Ret.), Fort Hamilton Public Affairs Officer Cathy Santopietro and Cary Spickler.

Cadez now works as head of the Public Works Dept. at Fort Hamilton. Spickler is the ceremony coordinator for the UMVKC.

The Kings County Memorial Day Parade Committee held an appreciation dinner at the Bay Ridge Manor where they invited key supporters of past parades and those working on the coming 150th annual parade on Monday, May 29. Top awards went to Frankie Marra, Peter Clavin, Gentile, Teddy and Peter Mauromihalis and Colonel Peter Sicoli.