Members of the Kiwanis Club of Bensonhurst & Bay Ridge welcomed two very special guests from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to their Sept. 20 meeting “on the avenue” at Cebu Bar & Bistro. John LaBarbera and Joe Criscitello spoke about the foundation’s ongoing efforts to provide smart homes to veterans who have suffered catastrophic injuries in combat. Each home built through the foundation’s efforts is tailored to that particular veteran’s needs, LaBarbera told the club members.
Tunnel to Towers honors the life of firefighter Stephen Siller, who raced with 60 pounds of equipment on his back through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and gave his life in an effort to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.
As a show of support for the foundation, Ben-Bay Kiwanis President Thomas Aellis was proud to announce that dozens of individual members of the club had each agreed to provide the foundation’s requested $11 per month donation for a full year. Aellis surprised LaBarbera and Criscitello with a giant check totaling $7,000 right then and there.
“This means so much,” LaBarbera said.
In addition to the smart home program, Tunnel to Towers provides help for Gold Star families, the families of fallen first responders and homeless veterans. To find out more, or to donate, visit t2t.org.
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Rain, rain, go away…it’s festival time!
Despite the threat of rainfall on Sunday, Oct. 2, the 49th Annual Third Avenue Festival is still set to welcome tens of thousands of people looking for a fun day out “on the avenue.”
“This is a rain-or-shine event,” Festival Chairman Chip Cafiero reminded this newspaper. “Nothing’s going to stop festival goers from coming out to enjoy the food, music, rides and games that have made the Third Avenue Festival a beloved Bay Ridge tradition for so many years.”
If you’re not sure what exactly to expect on the big day, refer to the official block-by-block festival guide below:
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL GUIDE!
Here’s what to expect on every block at the 49th Annual Third Annual Festival — Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022!
Presented by the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Association, Inc.
in partnership with Councilman Justin Brannan
Premier Sponsor: Maimonides Health
6900 — OUTDOOR DINING AT SOUTH BROOKLYN FOUNDRY; CHILDREN’S RIDES
7000 — CHILDREN’S RIDES AND GAMES; DEMONSTRATIONS AT BAY RIDGE CHAMPIONS TAE KWON DO
7100 — DANCE SHOW AT VICKY SIMEGIATOS PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER; LIVE BAND AT INVESTORS BANK
7200 — DJ MUSIC AT BLUE AGAVE
7300 — MERCHANDISE VENDORS
7400 — BRAVO FIRST AID STATION
7500 — FOOD & MERCHANDISE VENDORS
7600 — DANCE SHOW AT NEW DIMENSIONS IN DANCE STUDIO
7700 — CHILDREN’S RIDES AND GAMES; LIVE MUSIC AT GREENHOUSE CAFÉ
7800 — FOOD & MERCHANDISE VENDORS
7900 — LIVE MUSIC AT THE POUR HOUSE
8000 — DANCE SHOW STAGE AT BEYOND DANCE
8100 — CENTER STAGE AND CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY CENTER SPONSORED BY GATEWAY CITY CHURCH FEATURING LIVE MUSIC, GLITTER TATTOOING, ARTS & CRAFTS, GAME TABLE AND BASKETBALL SHOOTOUT, PLUS FREE GIFTS AND RAFFLES, WATER AND SNACK GIVEAWAYS ALL AFTERNOON!
8200 — VENDOR GAME BOOTHS
8300 — MERCHANDISE, RAFFLES, CRAFTS
8400 — OUTDOOR DINING AND VENDO0RS
8500 — DJ MUSIC AT LOBO LOCO
8600 — FOOD & MERCHANDISE VENDORS; DJ MUSIC AT KETTLE BLACK
8700 — DANCE SHOW AT BROOKLYN DANCE STUDIOS; MAIMONIDES HEALTH SPONSORS BOOTH
8800 — LIVE BANDS AT CHADWICK’S
8900 — MERCHANDISE VENDORS
9000 — DJ SHOW WITH DISCO DANCERS
9100 — CHILDREN’S RIDES & GAMES
9200 — OUTDOOR DINING AND LIVE MUSIC AT DELIA’S LOUNGE
9300 — CHILDREN’S RIDES
* ACTIVITIES & EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
On the Avenue: Visitation Nativity to be lit once more for the community 
On the Avenue: Kids ‘Reaching-Out’ to families in need this Thanksgiving