Generally Speaking: Week of January 3

January 3, 2013 Theodore W. General

Photo courtesy of Ted General

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Bay Ridgeite does sold-out Sandy benefit show at Carnegie Hall

When he is not out on tour, our good friend and neighbor around the corner New York tenor Danny RodriguezAndy Cooney and Michael Amante

Billed as the Three New York Tenors,they managed to raise over $1 million to benefit the children affected by Super Storm Sandy and the Sandy educational relief fund administered by the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese.

In his early days at the 68th Precinct, then-Sergeant Eric Rodriguez (no relation and later precinct commander) mentions that when Danny was driving his patrol car, he would often entertain his boss with some operatic arias.

The event at Carnegie Hall was organized by another prominent former Bay Ridgeite, Monsignor Jamie GigantielloTaste of Bay Ridge at St. Patrick’s.

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Congratulations to another good friend Gene Brody

The credit union commemorated its 75th anniversary in 2012. According to Brody, the president and CEO, the new facility will be open for business on January 7. Brody, also president of the Brooklyn Consumer Federation, is a member of the Fort Hamilton Citizens Action Committee.

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Clear Channel Communications recently purchased New York’s oldest radio station, WOR. It subsequently fired some of the on-air personalities including Dr. Joy BrownMike Gallagher and former Governor David Paterson. However, the recent purge has not affected our own Mike Connors who does the program, Ask the Lawyer, every Saturday, at 6 p.m.

This past week, Mike spoke about the serious implications to our taxes and estate planning if we go over the financial cliff. Later in the program, he had Professor William Davis discussing the Civil War and some inside historical notes about General Robert E. Lee. Mike, you should know, is a member and officer of the New York Civil War Roundtable. His rapidly growing legal firm has just added a Staten Island office.

We were a Christmas Eve guest at the Connors’ Bay Ridge residence and were treated to that Southern hospitality and comfort by Mike’s charming wife, Beth. Not very many are aware today that Beth was a lovely soloist on the Fred Waring TV show several seasons ago.

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Last week, we ran photos of the officers and members of Ragamuffin, Inc., the parade group that has been hosting the annual children’s parade in Bay Ridge since 1967.Unfortunately, several worthy members missed the photo opportunity, but none the less are just as important to recognize for their support and efforts. They includeformer Treasurer Joseph ConlyGloria Melnick and Maureen StramkaChuck OteyPatricia KillenJoan Curran,former Grand Marshal Laurie WindsorInna TrinidadMaria Rando and Peter Killen.

This week, we have also added a vintage Ragamuffin photo. It features Nicholas AlbaneseMaryann PetersonSandy Sansevero. Sansevero later went on to become the fire safety director for Rockefeller Center.

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At the past meeting of the Colonial Club of Bay Ridge, Dr. Michael SzczepanskiRuth Berg

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