Generally Speaking: 108th Independence Day march on 13th Avenue

June 27, 2013 Theodore W. General
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Brooklyn’s 108th annual Independence Day Parade will turn 13th Avenue into a sea of red, white and blue this coming Saturday (June 29) in commemoration of the 237th anniversary of the birth of America.

The patriotic march, sponsored by the Long Island Assembly of the Knights of Columbus in cooperation with the Thirteen Avenue Merchants Association, kicks off at 12 noon, from 71st Street and steps up 13th Avenue to 86th Street.

The lead musical unit for the annual parade, which is the oldest Independence Day parade in the city, will be the Italian Brass Band that performs each yearat the feast parade where they raise the two-story Giglio statue and parade it through the streets of Williamsburg.

In addition to saluting our nation’s Armed Forces, this year’s parade honorees include Monsignor Jamie GigantielloServing as 2013 grand marshal is U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 4th Degree Knight and formermaritime government official Rick Kenney.Also being cited for community service awardsare the BRAVO volunteer ambulance serviceunder the leadership ofGeneAndersen and Dr. Michael Tepedino,and CERT1NYC, the Community Emergency Response Team covering Community Boards 10 and 11, headed by Janet General.

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Retired NYPD Lieutenant and former Police Academy instructor Jack LaTorre stepped down as president of the Bay Ridge Historical Society, paving the way for a new election at the society’s June meeting.

Local attorney and native Bay Ridgeite Andrew GounardesThe positionof first vice presidentwas contested between Community Board 10 member Larry Stelter and attorney Jerry Hoffman. Stelter had served in the post for several years. Hoffman, a longtime member of the BRHS, a former history teacher at Adelphi Academy, and author of the famed Bay Ridge Chronicles won the number two spot.

Matthew ScarpaLongtime former BRHS President Peter Scarpa, who has penned books on local history and poetry, was elected treasurer.

Society Recording Secretary Linda OrlandoCharles CaloiaThe Voyager.

After the elections, Dr. Christian Zaino * * *

The Society of Old Brooklynites held its 133rd anniversary celebration luncheon in the newly renovated grand ballroom of the Bay Ridge Manor. Keynote speaker for the occasion was Daniella RomanoThe guest speaker was Brooklyn Borough President Marty MarkowitzRon Schweiger.

Then, the society officers and directors flipped the tables on Markowitz! Since this was one of his last appearances as borough president,they presented him with an inscribed glass decanter in appreciation of his long membership with the society and his dedicated service first as a state senator, and then his three terms as BP. Part of the inscription read, You’re the Greatest!”

It turned out to be quite a memorableevent, with performances by youthful ballet dancers Elizabeth Fields (12)and Emily Ronan (13) from Young Dancers in Repertory headed by Executive Director Craig Gabrian. Elizabeth performed the White Swan and Emily, a piece fromDon Quixote.Both Elizabeth and Emily will be attending summer classes at the famed Joffrey Ballet School in Manhattan.

Next on the program were performances by Opera vocalists Alex Boyd and Dixie RobertsDimitry GlivinskyDaniel Cardona doing the introductions.

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Congratulations to Liam McCabeMichael Grimm, who recently won the Brooklyn Barbecue Contest sponsored by the New York Daily News. Liam, at your next house BBQ, grill one for me medium to well!

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Along with former City Comptroller Bill ThompsonSara Gonzalez picked up the coveted endorsement of the United Federation of Teachers. Both Thompson and Gonzalez took part in the recent Bring Back the B37 Third Avenue Bus rallyin Sunset Park.

If re-elected, Gonzalez — like fellow Fort Hamilton High School graduate and neighboring Council member Vinnie Gentile — will have the most seniority in the new Council.

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To reach Ted General via the Internet, his e-mail address is:

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