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Generally Speaking: Bay Ridge Community Council names Hidden Treasures

February 17, 2014 Theodore W. General

Photos courtesy of Ted General

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Alex Conti who co-chairs the Civic Affairs Committee for the Bay Ridge Community Council with Peter Scarpa, announced the choices for the 2014 community civic awards more commonly known as the Hidden Treasures.

The award nominees who won approval by the full committee include Georgette MaioneJoseph SbarraMary Frances PazareckiAnna DowdLinda CarltonBrian DeluryJoseph FavataMaria ManninoAmanda OlinskyLenise Salas and Edward VoytickyArlene JablonskiJeanie DeLuca CondonThe nominees will receive their awards when the Bay Ridge Community Council holds its monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m., in the community room at the Shore Hill Neighborhood Center.

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Highly regarded theatre historian Cezar Del Valle was the guest presenter at the February monthly meeting of The Society of Old Brooklynites held at Borough Hall. Del Valle talked about the old vaudeville and burlesque houses which were part of the Brooklyn landscape in the early 1900s.

Later during their meeting, members were greeted by the new Borough President Eric Adams and his new Chief of Staff Sylvia Hamer. Brooklyn Borough historian Ron Schweiger is the current Society president.

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The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn, which was founded in 1900, held its 114^th Anniversary Dinner on February 6 in the West Side Ballroom of the elegant New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square.

The keynote speaker was Reverend Timothy ScullyLouis MiloIn attendance was quite an array of A-list VIPs that included Robert AstorinoPatricia DiMangoAlso present were State Senator Marty Golden; Representative Mike Grimm; City Councilmember Vinnie Gentile; Judge John Ingram of the New York State Court of Claims; Conservative Party leaders Mike LongJerry Kassar and Fran Vella-Marrone; Democratic District Leader Joe BovaCraig Eaton ***

Our hearty congratulations to Bay Ridgeite and fellow Fort Hamilton High School alum Andrew Gounardes, who has just been appointed general counsel to Brooklyn Beep Adams.

Contrary to what you may have heard or read elsewhere, Gounardes — who ran for the State Senate two years ago — is not running for the New York State Senate again! He continues to be a community activist, and is also serving as the president of the Bay Ridge Historical Society.

So who is? Former GOP stalwart and attorney John Gangemi ***

City Councilmember Gentile was the guest speaker at past luncheon meeting of the Colonial Club of Bay Ridge. Even though he is now the most senior member (in service, not age) of the City Council, he discussed his new roles under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

He recently was tapped to head the Councils Committee on Oversight and Investigations, is a deputy majority leader and will also have the ceremonial role of deputy speaker protempore.

This means when the citys public advocate is not sitting in the large red chair facing the Council body to facilitate the Councils proceedings, this function will be fulfilled by Gentile. Coincidentally, both Gentile and Public Advocate Letitia James are graduates of Fort Hamilton High School.