Generally Speaking: Monsignor Jamie and Arlene Rutuelo to be hailed at Ragamuffin party

September 12, 2014 Theodore W. General
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Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, director of development for the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese, trustee for Futures in Education, and the pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish will be installed on Sunday, September 21 as grand marshal of the 2014 Children’s Ragamuffin Parade.

He will be joined by Arlene Rutuelo, president of the Guild for Exceptional Children and past general chair of the annual Norwegian-American 17th of May Parade, who is being cited as Ragamuffin Person of the Year.

Both honorees will be presented with plaques commending them for their outstanding community service and the prominent roles they will have at this year’s 48th annual Ragamuffin Parade on Saturday, September 27,  beginning at 1 p.m. The ceremonies are part of the Ragamuffin luncheon celebration to be held at the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street, at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $65 per person and may be obtained by sending a check payable to Ragamuffin, Inc. c/o Colleen Golden, 85 80th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209.  If you have marched in the parade as a child or as a parent or grandparent, please consider attending this important parade fundraiser or by sending a donation. 

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Area residents are in for a special and rare treat if they attend the next meeting of the Bay Ridge Historical Society on Wednesday, September 17, at 7: 30 p.m., at the Shore Hill Neighborhood Center, 91st Street between Colonial Road and Shore Road.  You’ll get to meet in person and hear the trials and tribulations of the man known as The Statue of Liberty’s  “Keeper of the Flame.”

For more than three decades, Marine Corps veteran Charlie DeLeo has made the 151-foot climb to Lady Liberty’s torch more than 2,500 times. DeLeo will have projected photos showing the interior of the famous icon as well as the high-risk work he did at the top of the torch.

The Bay Ridge Historical Society is also leading a petition drive to try and get New York City landmark status for the historic Church of the Generals.  President Andrew Gounardes will have petitions available for signing at this meeting.

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We’re deeply saddened by the loss of Joan Rivers. Her real full name was Joan Alexandra Molinsky. She was born in Brooklyn and raised in Clinton Hill and Bushwick. She was a 1947 graduate of Adelphi Academy long before the campus moved from Lafayette Street to 86th Street and Ridge Boulevard in 1965.

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Fort Hamilton High School’s award-winning marching band marched with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 3 in this past Saturday’s annual Labor Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.  The 2014 grand marshal was Chris Erikson, business manager of the IBEW Local.

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The Bay Ridge Chapter of AARP resumes its season of monthly meetings on Tuesday, September 16, at 2:30 p.m., at the Shore Hill Neighborhood Center, 91st Street between Colonial Road and Shore Road.

The guest speaker will be Jim Santagata, secretary of the Civil War Forum of Metropolitan New York. His topic is “Grant and Sherman:  The Friendship that won the Civil War.” Free admission; refreshments will be available.

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