Second Class Permit Paid at Bronx, N.Y. USPS 114-590

Volume 38 Number 3 April 2009 One Dollar

Clam Digger Attempts to Filming on City Island: Survive ‘Alaska Experiment’ Nice or Not? By KAREN NANI By BARBARA DOLENSEK

Photos by KAREN NANI and courtesy of DISCOV- ERY CHANNEL City Island became a film set on Monday and Tuesday, March 9 and 10, 2009, for the John Ulmer Jr. participated in a Discov- final episode of the television program “Life on Mars.” For two days, no parking was ery Channel adventure called “Out of allowed from Ditmars to Centre Street, and streets were blocked, including Bridge the Wild: The Alaska Experiment.” The Street on Monday and City Island Avenue on Tuesday. ABC-TV would not allow the first episode of the eight-week survival stars to be filmed or interviewed, but Jason O’Mara, the show’s star, was kind enough show is scheduled to air on April 14 at 9 to have his photograph taken with resident Emily Leni. p.m. on the Discovery Channel. Shown above are (back row, right) John and the City Island has been a popular location visited City Island on Friday morning and had other participants, and back home with for making movies for nearly a century (foot- signs removed from Centre to Horton. his parents, Linda and John, and sisters, age for the oldest existing feature film, “Rich- It was not until Friday afternoon that Com- John Ulmer Jr., who was raised on Ear- Kristin and Debra (left photo). ard III,” was made here in 1912 by Harry Car- munity Board 10 was informed of the shoot, ley Street, enjoys watching shows about the ey), and television programs from “Car 54, which was within the 48-hour period required rugged outdoors and surviving in the wild. Where Are You?” to “Law and Order” have by the permit. However, in spite of the fact that Their occupations and experiences var- been routine for decades. But the most recent Kenneth Kearns, district manager of the board, So last September, he answered a call for ied greatly, including a police officer from shoot, for the television series “Life on Mars,” quickly e-mailed the Civic Association and the applications to participate in a new Discov- New Jersey, a personal trainer from Califor- caused unusual frustration for Island residents Chamber, the entire community could not be ery Channel show called “Out of the Wild: nia, a customer service rep from Illinois, a and businesses when much of City Island Av- informed except by e-mail before the event. The Alaska Experiment.” landlord from Kentucky and a horse trainer enue was taken over for two days, on March 9 Although the parking signs were in place John was one of thousands of appli- from Maryland. John is the Assistant Direc- and 10, 2009. Sunday night along City Island Avenue indi- cants, but the producers liked what they saw tor of Housing for Rockefeller University in The director of “Life of Mars” decided cating that there could be no parking all day in his video introduction and his City Island Manhattan. that for the final episode (the series was re- Monday, filming activity actually took place experiences, including Boy Scouts, camp- cently canceled) he wanted to clear City Is- on Bridge Street, which was closed to traffic So why did an administrator like John, for much of the day. ing and fishing. So they flew him to Los land Avenue of all cars so that he could make who manages five residential buildings on it look like 1973, an important feature of the Because of the disruption caused by the Angeles in July 2008 for an audition, and the East Side for faculty and researchers, show. He also planned to stop traffic altogeth- filming, Ken Kearns of Community Board 10 in September he was selected as one of 11 think he can survive in the wild? “I stay in er during the filming of a 360-degree view of and Barbara Dolensek of the Civic Association participants to try to survive in the Alaskan shape by running, hiking and rock climbing. the Avenue at some point on Tuesday. called for a meeting with the Office of Film on wilderness. I’ve also completed some small triathlons,” Signs were put up on Thursday, March 5, Tuesday, March 24. They learned that because The first episode of the eight-week show he explained. from Ditmars to Horton Street calling for no film companies often do not submit permit re- is scheduled to air on April 14 at 9 p.m. on John needed all his strength and training parking along City Island Avenue from 7 a.m. quests until the last minute, the office has little the Discovery Channel (cable channel 27, to 9 p.m. on the following Monday and Tues- time to inform community boards of their pre- for the adventure, described by the produc- cise plans. The city requires that notices about but check your provider’s listing for chan- day, and many Islanders were upset enough to ers as follows: “nine amateur hikers, camp- call both the location manager for the show no parking be put in place at least 24 hours nel and times). John agreed to an interview ers and outdoor enthusiasts are flown into and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and before shooting is schedule. with The Current and provided a preview of the rugged Alaska interior, given part of a Broadcasting to complain. As a result of these Deputy Commissioner Battista noted that the show’s first episode. map and some basic tools and told to hike to calls, Deputy Commissioner John Battista Continued on page 12 The show is uniquely different from civilization—ideally before harsh and poten- other survivor shows in that no one is vot- tially deadly winter weather sets in.” ed off, nor is there a winner. According to They started out from Lake Tsusena, March Gladness! the show’s press release: “The participants 100 miles from the nearest town, with a map signed on, not for a million-dollar prize and a large pile of gear. They were literally (there isn’t one), but simply for the chance stripped of all their own possessions, includ- of a lifetime to challenge themselves in ing cell phones, camera, money, food, toilet- tough yet breathtakingly beautiful terrain.” ries, clothes, lighters and so on, and each one “I never regretted my decision to join was given weatherproof clothing, boots and the experiment,” John told The Current, de- a backpack. They were allowed to keep one spite the fact that for six weeks he was cold, personal keepsake, so John carried a photo of wet, tired and hungry. He was so hungry, in his nieces and nephews, Emma, John, Luke, fact, that he lost 45 pounds during his at- Allison and Cameron. (John is single but has tempt at the 60-mile journey, to the shock three sisters, Debra, Kristin and Karen). of his parents, Islanders Linda and John Ul- First, they had to decide which gear from mer. the original pile to take and how to pack it The group experiment began with a into individual backpacks. Then the journey flight to Anchorage, Alaska, for John and began with a five-mile hike to the first shelter 10 other candidates from around the United on the map and the first night in the wilder- States. The group took a three-day survival ness. The “shelter” was an open air lean-to training course called “Learn to Return” that had to be covered to protect them from given by former U.S. Army Rangers and Photo by CONCEPTION PHOTOGRAPHY the elements. The first morning, they awoke It was an exciting season for the St. Mary, Star of the Sea 2008–2009 basketball pro- Coast Guard members. The course included to a 32-degree rainy day. gram, especially for the Girls Varsity Team, who were the Bronx-Manhattan A Divi- navigation training and other tests so severe For the next six weeks, the group was sion champions. The girls were only the second team in the organization’s history to that at the end of the three days, two people followed by a camera crew, who filmed them compete in the City championship round. Shown above are the champs and their very were eliminated, leaving a group of nine for but did not provide any assistance or support proud coaches (top row, l. to r.): Coach Carlo Volpe, Vittoria Volpe, Jennifer Branley, the actual experiment—five men and four in their efforts to survive (the crew actually Paige O’Donnell, Kylie Negron, Victoria Strazzera and coach Frank Strazzera; bottom women. row: Birla Storm Gonzalez, Nicole Dammacco, Gabrielle Vitiello, Brianna Saunders Continued on page 7 and Amber Tudor. For more St. Mary’s basketball results, see article on page 5. Page Two The Island Current April 2009

vestigating an assault by four unknown males briefly... 45 BLOTTER who attacked another off-Island male and caused visible swelling. Bartow-Pell Annual Spring Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 4, Complaints reported from City Island to the 3/7 – Police arrested a suspect at 421 Min- is one day when it is okay to put all your eggs in one basket. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., let your 45th Precinct during February and March neford Avenue as the result of a fight inside the children discover the joy of a spring egg hunt in the elegant formal garden at the Bartow-Pell 2009. Unfounded complaints are not included location in which an Island male was stabbed Mansion Museum on Shore Road. Then let them get creative with a variety of arts and crafts: in the list nor are complaints for crime occur- with a knife. egg painting, decorating and planting flowerpots to take home, and more. They will even meet ring on the mainland. 3/13 – In front of 721 King Avenue, an the Spring Bunny hopping around and can have their pictures taken with him. Light refresh- unknown person committed criminal mischief February and March ments will be served. Please bring your own basket. The fee is $15 per child ($10 for members); by damaging the back door of a parked vehi- 4 – CRIMINAL MISCHIEF adults and children over 13 are free. Appropriate for ages 2 to 12. Registration is requested; call cle. 1 – ASSAULT 718-885-1461 or e-mail [email protected]. 3/15 – A witness observed a perpetrator 1 – PETIT LARCENY smashing the windows of a vehicle with a CLOTHING DRIVE held by the Bronx Masons will take place on Saturday, April baseball bat opposite 373 City Island Avenue. 25, 2009, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the City Island Masonic Temple, 241 City Island Avenue. All clothes donations received will go to St. Athanasius Church in the South Police report the following incidents for Bronx. Please, if possible, for quicker distribution, separate clothes into individual bags labeled the months of February and March 2009: “Men’s,” “Women’s” and “Children.” These clothes will go to needy recipients. This is a one- 2/14 – At 1 Centre Street, four tires were Correction: The e-mail address given in the day event. slashed on a vehicle inside a garage. No arrest was made. letter from Ruth Cronk in the March issue of The Current was wrong; the 2009 CITY ISLAND HEALTH FAIR FOR SENIORS, sponsored by 2/25 – In front of 246 City Island Avenue, correct e-mail address is FayJ1@aol. the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Council Member James Vacca, Congressman Joseph an unknown person shattered a front window com. Crowley and Presbyterian Senior Services, will visit City Island on Wednesday, April 29, from and fled the scene. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 116 City Island Avenue at Pilot Street. 3/4 - Police from the 45th Precinct are in- Doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists and social workers will be on hand to do health screenings and to answer your health-related questions. 134 Years and 4 Generations of Community Service

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THE ISLAND CURRENT Editorial Office: 718-885-0760 P.O. Box 6 Display Advertising: 718-885-1636 City Island, N.Y. 10464 or: [email protected] Subscriptions: 718-885-9268 www.theislandcurrent.com EDITOR: Karen Rauhauser Nani CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Sara S. McPherson DISTRIBUTION: Emily Leni COPY EDITOR/WRITER: Barbara Dolensek SUBSCRIPTION: Rose Kolb ART EDITOR: Marguerite Chadwick-Juner ADVERTISING MANAGERS: Joan Ramftl, Margaret Lenz BUSINESS MANAGER: Judith Rauh STAFF: Bill Clancy, Maria Swieciki, Carol Koschak, Ed Heben, Marsha Treiber, Jane Protzman, Bill Stuttig, Tom Smith, Virginia Dannegger, Monica Glick, Maria Sutherland, John Sheridan, Miriam Kleinberg, Paula Huffell and Teresa Teto. PHOTOGRAPHY: Rick DeWitt. CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Russell Schaller Sr., Stephanie Ribaudo, Marge McNulty, Lorraine Nicoletti. Masthead and special artwork by the late Theodore J. Mazaika.

Typeset by Marguerite Chadwick-Juner, Witworks Studio Graphic Design, 33 Earley Street, City Island, N.Y. 10464 Printed by Hi-Speed Printing Co., 560 South Third Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 The Island Current (USPS 114-590) is published monthly except for January and August by the Island Current Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Subscription rate, $10.00 per year. Single copies, $1.00. All subscriptions, editorial, advertis- ing and other correspondence must be mailed to: The Island Current, P.O. Box 6, City Island, Bronx, NY 10464. Display advertising deadline is the 10th of the month preceding publication, call 885-0984 or 885-0760. Copyright 2009 by The Island Current, Inc., 724 King Ave., City Island, Bronx, NY 10464. All rights reserved. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BRONX, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Island Current, P.O. Box 6, City Island, NY 10464. April 2009 The Island Current Page Three CITY ISLAND SURVEY Thoughts on a Main Street You can fill out the survey below online at: http://tinyurl.com/an726z or you can drop it off at the By QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE FOR CITY ISLAND City Island Diner, On Board Laundromat, the Island Cafe, the Starving Artist Gallery, or Dunkin’ Donuts. Thank you for taking the time to help improve City Island. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete.

1. How long have you lived on City Island? 2. How old are you? [ ] Less than 1 year [ ] Under 18 [ ] 1-5 years [ ] 18-32 [ ] 5-10 years [ ] 32-49 [ ] 10+ years [ ] 50-65 [ ] I do not live here [ ] 65+

3. How many children live with you? None 1 2+ Under 2 years old [ ] [ ] 3-6 years old [ ] [ ] 7-12 years old [ ] [ ] 13-18 years old [ ] [ ]

4. How often do you eat out in the following places? Once or more 1-2 times 1-2 times every never a week a month six months City Island [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] In these tough economic times, we need Nice. st Bronx [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] to try especially hard to be grateful for all Westchester [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] that we have. It is too easy to take things for Manhattan [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] granted. However, in addition to the obvious Other [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] gifts in our lives—our health, family, and friends—let us not forget about our commu- nity. 5. How would you best describe your dining out experience? City Island is a unique place to live and [ ] I usually eat alone or with my significant other offers its residents many benefits. People are [ ] I usually eat with friends or a group of friends drawn here for several reasons. We have two [ ] We usually eat as a family [ ] None of the above

Additional comments:

6. Please select the TWO promotions below that are most valuable to you. [ ] 10% - 20% off [ ] Buy one, get one free [ ] Family Day/Night [ ] Free gift/item with purchase [ ] Midweek specials [ ] Weekend specials

7. What would persuade you to shop more on City Island than you do now?

Not so nice. st 8. What businesses and services would you like to see on City Island that we don’t currently (though not all) owners get more money in have? Select up to FIVE. tax write-offs than they could ever charge in [ ] Boat/Kayak Rentals [ ] Book store [ ] Boat Tours [ ] Jewerly Store rent, and this discourages them from renting [ ] Yoga/Stretching/Tai Chi [ ] Butcher [ ] Card Store at reasonable, fair-market value. So the stores [ ] Sporting Goods [ ] Clothing Store [ ] More Organic Food remain empty. It is disheartening and unfair to [ ] Dancing/Club [ Electronics/Computer/Phone [ ] More Cafe’s the rest of us who truly care. That said, we can do our part to keep from creating even more [ ] Art Supply [ ] Bike Shop [ ] Bakery [ ] More Gift Stores vacancies. We have to support our local busi- [ ] More Antiques [ ] Gym [ ] Shoe Store nesses as best we can. It is tempting and often more convenient Please tell us more about your answer or add other options. to go to CVS or Stop & Shop or any number of other businesses and services in Westchester wonderful elementary schools. We are 20 and elsewhere in the Bronx. Those large minutes from mid-town Manhattan. We are stores have parking lots and large-volume surrounded by water and beautiful views. discounts, and we are all tightening our belts. Most of all, we have great neighbors. We are, But we can try a little harder. Many of our lo- for the most part, a safe, caring community, cal merchants are offering discounts, specials and none of this has changed with the roller and even free entertainment. In order to un- 9. What do you like most about living on City Island? coaster of the financial markets, at least not derstand just what it is that Island residents yet. But bad news is happening all around and visitors want from City Island, we have us, and we must take real action to protect prepared a survey (see at left). You can find and preserve what we have worked so hard to it online at http://tinyurl.com/an726z or visit achieve. www.cityislandave.com. You can fill it out and Every town has a Main Street on which submit it online or you can print it out, fill it visitors, possible home buyers and renters in and drop it off at five Island shops: the City base their first impressions. Our Main Street Island Diner, the IGA, the On Board Laundro- 10. Would you be willing to participate in a “City Island Day,” in which Islanders will join is City Island Avenue. We have some lovely mat (323 City Island Avenue), the Island Café together to clean up their homes and the “main street” area, gathering trash and eliminat- shops and restaurants, Hawkins Park, and and the Starving Artist Studio and Gallery ing graffiti and generally making things look better? The day would end with a party in the occasional community parades. The Garden (249 City Island Avenue). neighborhood. Club has been tireless in its efforts to add col- We have all seen some truly great small [ ] Yes or and beauty, and the kids at Lickety Split businesses come and, sadly, go for lack of make everyone smile. substantial support. If the Avenue looks deso- [ ] No But we really have to do more. We all late, so does the neighborhood, and that is det- [ ] Maybe must do our part to help City Island Avenue rimental to all of our property values. It also thrive. negatively affects tourism and reduces income Additional Comments Business owners need to keep their from potential renters. storefronts and sidewalks neat and clean. Let’s come together as the great commu- Residents need to help pick up trash and put nity we are and not take City Island for grant- it where it belongs. We are happy to hear that ed. Let’s realize that we are fortunate enough some residents are planning to get flower to be a part of such a place. If we all have pride boxes for the storefronts and to enhance the in our own property and take the time to keep empty windows of our vacant shops by ex- it up and to appreciate our beautiful island and hibiting art work by local artists. support the local businesses and services, then The sight of so many vacant shops is we can thrive as a community and protect the a real problem, as everyone knows. Many value of our homes in doing so. Page Four The Island Current April 2009

Editorial Every editorial these days seems to start with the words “In these difficult financial times…” and, unfortunately, The Island Current offers no exception. We are staffed by a hard-working group of volunteers and supported by our wonderful advertisers and loyal readers, and for now we are able to absorb the extra costs of printing and paper. The postal costs, however, are making it impossible for us to stay within our budget for subscriptions, and so, very reluctantly, we are forced to raise our subscription rate from $10 a year to $12, the first increase in nearly 10 years. We hope that our subscribers will understand and will continue to remain an integral part of the Island Current community. end of a LaGuardia air strip and that con- tracts will be awarded within the next two to three months. This should never have been allowed to happen. Where is everyone’s common sense? Haven’t any lessons been learned from the near-tragedy of US Air 1549? Residents of City Island have had the experience of living near a dump and we know how many birds will be attracted to We welcome letters and opinions. Letters longer than this potential site and all the ramifications 250 words will be edited, with every effort made to that could lead to a possible airplane disas- preserve their substance. We reserve the right not to print letters that are copies, libelous, inaccurate or in ter in the area! Such a dump will attract an bad taste, or those that cannot be verified. Include your insurmountable number of birds. A marine phone number. Anonymous letters will not be printed, but names will be withheld upon request. transfer station handling over 5,000 tons of Thanks garbage a day will most definitely interfere with the flights leaving that area at LaGuar- To the Editor: dia and have the possible consequences of I would like to thank those who sup- sucking birds into their engines. ported me during the recent passing of It sounds as if the Federal Aviation Ad- my father, Vincent Raymond Hecker Jr. ministration isn’t doing their job in allow- Those who really touched me include Mr. ing this marine transfer station to be built! and Mrs. Pat Kelly, the Robert Carmody Please do everything in your power to put a family, Ms. Marie Savarese, Mr. and Mrs. stop to this lunacy! Thank you very much. Jay Doyle, the Pirraglia family, Jack Gro- Margaret B. McNulty gan, the Schaller family, Pat Dolphin, Joe Editor’s Note: Mrs. McNulty received a re- Thompson, Jack Hartigan, the O’Sullivan sponse from the Department of Sanitation as- family and my dad’s friends from the suring her that at no time would garbage at American Legion. the site be exposed to the outdoors. Vincent Raymond Hecker III

Stop the Insanity! City Island Deli A copy of the following letter was received & Pizza by The Current. Catering For All Occasions To: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Up to 8 Foot Heroes I read in the New York Post paper that Try Our Full Line of Pizza, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Environmental Con- Calzones & Take Out Dinners servation have granted permits to allow the WE DELIVER! city’s Department of Sanitation to build a 520 City Island Avenue garbage transfer station right next to the 718-885-1083 April 2009 The Island Current Page Five A Championship Season for St. Mary’s Basketball By KAREN NANI

The Girls Junior Varsity Team. Top row (l. to r.): Kaylin Fitzpatrick, Brianna Reilly, Ashley Howell, Coach Robert Whelan, Catherine Graves, Erin Schlottman, Ashley Goldman and Nia Drew; bottom row: Francesca Strazzera, Chelsea Negron, Briana Whelan, Lily Kolb and Alexis Candelaria. Not pictured: Anastasia Lacina, Jordan DeSantis and Katie Moore. Photos by CONCEPTION PHOTOGRAPHY Boys Varsity. Top row (l. to r.): Cian Byrne, Sean Dilla, Brenton Howell, William Ortega, Dylan Cullen, coach Mark Amos; bottom row (l. to r.): Michael Candelaria, Desmond Albright and Devin Navarro. Not pictured: Ty Mankiewicz, Amir Smith, Evan Spencer and Malik Barnes. It was an exciting year for St. Mary, for the City championship. The girls were Star of the Sea basketball under the direc- the second team in the organization’s his- tion of Annamarie and Bob Whelan. In all, tory to compete in the City championship four teams made it to the championship round. Even though the outcome was not in playoffs and two were winners. The Girls their favor, the girls’ hard work and dedica- Varsity won the Bronx–Manhattan A Divi- tion were commendable. Congratulations to sion championship, and St. Mary’s Girls Ju- Carlo Volpe and Frank Strazzera for leading nior Varsity won the title for the B Division the girls to a magnificent season. championship. This season also included another team In the third year under the direction of championship. The Girls Junior Varsity, the Whelans, about 100 children partici- coached by Bob Whelan, won the Bronx pated in the 2008–2009 basketball program. B Division Championship. The girls over- They entered seven teams into competitive came an 11-point deficit with three minutes play in the Bronx Catholic Youth Organiza- remaining in the fourth quarter to defeat a tion (CYO), and four of the teams played tough Santa Maria team. in their division championship games. The Trophy Day was held in St. Mary’s The Boys Junior Varsity Team. Top row (l. to r.): coach Barry Rowser, Isaac Rowser, organizers couldn’t be more proud of the ac- gym on Sunday, March 22, and more than Walter Brennan Jr., Anthony Gonzalez, Brandon Rosenblatt, Jonathan Nagy, Alex- complishments of all the coaches and play- 200 children, players, parents and grandpar- eij Xhokaxhiu and coach Tommy Orzo; bottom row: Scott Cruz, Nicholas LaBriola, ers. ents attended. The Whelans recognized the Michael LaBriola, Emmett Shanley, Michael Pirraglia and Dominik Comerico. Not Mrs. Whelan told The Current that it helping hands of Cynde and Armando Can- pictured: Jean Luis Gonzales. was a great season. The Girls Varsity, af- delaria, Maria Pirraglia, Joe and Lynn Gold- in particular for making the season wrap-up Gabrielle Vitiello, Birla Storm Gonzalez ter winning the Bronx County champion- man, Elle McGuire, Jami Reilly, George and so special. The Whelans also expressed their and Brianna Saunders. The Most Improved ship, earned a spot to play in Staten Island Moira Spencer, Vicky Vitiello and Rose Kolb gratitude to Josslyn and Chris Rice for all of Player award went to Kylie Negron. The their help with the uniforms, sweatshirts and Outstanding Offensive Player award went water bottles. to Amber Tudor, and Outstanding Defensive A summary of each team’s season fol- Player award went to Paige O’Donnell. Last- lows. ly, Vittoria Volpe received the MVP trophy. Boys Varsity The girls and parents would like to thank coaches Volpe and Strazzera for all their It was another sensational year of bas- hard work. It wasn’t easy, but they both did a ketball for the 2008–2009 St. Mary’s Boys fantastic job. The coaches in turn, would like Varsity team. It was a roller coaster of a sea- to thank the girls and the parents for this in- son, but the boys pulled it all together when credible journey. Six years have never gone it counted. The final outcome was a 15 and by so fast, and they thank them for the time 10 record, with a chance at the CYO Divi- of their lives! sion B Championship. Although, the team came up short against St. Theresa’s, the boys Boys Junior Varsity were invited to Cardinal Hayes High School St. Mary’s A Tyro Boys team had a very to participate in the Tom Murray Basket- exciting and fun-filled season. ball Classic. There they came up victorious The team started the season slowly with against St. Brendan’s! a 5 win and 8 loss mark after 13 games. The Coach Amos extended his deepest ap- boys continued to work hard to improve Betty Lavelle-Esola & Sue Kawczynski, preciation to all of the team members: Amir while coming together as a team. In the sec- Smith, Jerome Smith, Sean Dilla, Brenton ond half of the season, the team avenged Howell, Devon Navarro, William Ortega, many of their early season losses on their Michael Candelaria, Ty Mankiewicz, Cian way to a 12 and 10 final record. The boys Byrne and Desmond Albright. Each team were victorious in their first three playoff member brought something uniquely special games and earned a spot in the B division to the game and made it a fantastic season. championship game. May they continue to shine on in their future Although they fell one point short in endeavors! Their coach wishes them all the this epic battle, they finished the season as best of life and basketball always. champions in the eyes of their proud coach, Girls Varsity Tommy Orzo. The Boys B team also had a great season A well-deserved congratulations to the and played hard. They lost in the playoffs by St. Mary’s Girls Varsity basketball team on only three points to St. Claire’s. Coach Larry becoming the Bronx–Manhattan County Saulnier thanked all the parents, assistant Champions. They finished their season in coaches and volunteers for their support. first place with a 19 and 1 record. Entering the A Division playoffs, they needed three Girls Junior Varsity more wins to capture the championship. And The Girls Junior Varsity had an electrify- win they did! Down by one with 12 seconds ing season. The girls posted a regular season on the clock, Paige O’Donnell hit the game record of 11 wins and 7 losses. They prac- winning shot. It was a perfect way to end the ticed extremely hard throughout the season CYO careers of all of the eighth-graders. All and it paid off in the playoffs. The JV team of their hard work for the past six years paid played their first two playoff games unchal- off in incredible fashion. Playing together lenged, posting victories with a 20 point dif- since the third grade under the supervision ference in both games. The girls then played of coaches Carlo Volpe and Frank Strazzera, a tough Santa Maria School team for the these girls have grown into superb ball play- Bronx B division Championship. The game ers. was played at Villa Maria Academy, and St. Participation trophies were awarded Mary’s trailed for the first three and a half to Jennifer Branley and Nicole Damacco. Coaches Awards went to Victoria Strazzera, Continued on page 14 Page Six The Island Current April 2009

Children’s Activities Baby Story Time: Thursday, April 9, at 1 p.m. Picture Book Program: Every Thurs- day at 3:30 p.m. Easter Arts and Crafts for Valen- tine’s Day: Tuesday, April 7, at 3:30 p.m. If you have a new business, or if your old business is offering a new service, write to The Current, P.O. Box 6, Ages 5 to 8. City Island, NY 10464 by the 10th of the month. Adult Programs Preschool Program: Coming in May April at Starving Artist Cafe & Gal- Basic Computer Instruction: Tuesday for ages 3 to 5. lery (249 City Island Avenue, 718-885- mornings at 10:30 a.m. Given in English, Spanish and Albanian. Young Adult Activities 3779) offers the following lineup: Friday, Book Groups: The public is invited Yu-Gi-Oh: Every Wednesday from April 3, 8 p.m., John Guth; Saturday, April to join our book discussion group. The 3:30 to 5 p.m. 4, 8 p.m., Project Mercury; Sunday, April book for the month of April is “The Camel Teen Time: Starting April 2, Street 5, 3 p.m., Freddy “Golden Voice” Lando; Bookmobile,” a novel by Masha Hamilton. Fighter Tournament, Thursday from 3:30 to Friday, April 10, 8 p.m., Laura Berman; Wednesday, April 29, at 2:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 4 to 6 p.m., the Art of Wii Bowling for adults and seniors: We are located at 320 City Island Ave- Lindsey Morano (opening reception); Sat- Friday, April 3 and 24, at 1 p.m. nue at Bay Street. For information about urday, April 11, 8 p.m., Two Guitars (Gus Parent Internet Workshop: Wednes- any of the programs above, call the City Wieland and Brian Conigliaro); Friday, day, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. Island branch at 718-885-1703. April 17, 8 p.m., Josh Jedwab; Saturday, April 18, 8 p.m., Bennett Harris’s Satur- day Night Blues Party; Sunday, April 19, 4 p.m., City Island Jazz Quartet (led by BRUCKNER PET LAND Roger Scala and featuring Lou Volpe on guitar); Friday, April 24, 8 p.m., “Take We carry a large variety of pet products the Stage” Open Mike Night (songwriters/ comics/poets/actors—all are welcome!); for all your pet needs. Saturday, April 25, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., FREE HOME DELIVERY Rubber Soul, a Beatles tribute band (sold Please call John out); Sunday, April 26, 3 p.m., Peter C. North. For more information—and to have 718-597-7120 a listen—visit www.starvingartistonline. com. Calling All Young Artists Ages 18 and younger for the Focal Point Gallery’s 19th Young Artist Exhibition. The art- work can be drawings, paintings, sculpture or photography. Just bring in the work, and Focal Point will mat, frame and hang the art in an exhibition. Young artists’ work can be dropped off at any time but the deadline for all art is May 19, 2009. For further information, call 718-885-1403. This event is made possible with the public funds from the Bronx Council on the Arts through the 2008–2009 JP Morgan Chase Program Management Support. April 2009 The Island Current Page Seven Closure of Ladder Company 53 Threatened for July 1, 2009 By BARBARA DOLENSEK Because of budget cuts, Mayor been in previous years. Bloomberg and his administration have Mr. Vacca’s first question to Mr. Scop- proposed numerous drastic cuts to the city petta was about City Island: he thanked the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, commissioner for having visited City Island 2009. One of the cuts scheduled from the earlier in the week and asked whether he had Fire Department is complete closure of City decided to reconsider the ladder company Island’s ladder company; 15 other fire hous- closure in light of City Island’s obvious vul- es in the city are also scheduled for closure. nerability. Mr. Vacca pointed out that since On Jan. 16, Ladder 53 was to have been the beginning of December, there had been non-operational between the hours of 6 p.m. a drowning rescue by the ladder company and 9 a.m. every day; however, because the and a serious fire, both occurring at night. Fire Department has been overstaffed, the Mr. Scoppetta responded by claiming, inac- company has remained open for all but four curately, that the engine company had effect- days, as of the time The Current went to ed the rescue and that the fire on Schofield press. Should the Fire Department lose this Street burned all buildings to the ground in extra staff because of attrition before July 1, spite of the ladder company’s having been the ladder will close down at night but re- on the scene. He did not seem to believe that main operational during the day. the ladder company was essential to City Is- However, unless the Fire Department land’s safety since the island is not a “high comes up with other ways of saving money, rise” community. or the Mayor has a change of heart about In their questions to the commissioner, City Island, which is unusually vulnerable other members of the committee also indi- since it is so isolated, the ladder company cated that fire company closures were not ac- will close down around the clock in July. ceptable, and they wondered why the Com- Council Member James Vacca, who has missioner wanted to risk losing the gains that been outspoken in his efforts to keep City the Fire Department had made in recent years. Island’s fire house intact, recently became They indicated that risking life and limb was chair of the City Council’s Committee on far more serious an issue than any number of Photo by Bob Berent Fire and Criminal Justice Services. He held other city services that would be fully funded A canned-food drive to benefit the Food Bank of the JCC of Pelham Parkway, which a public hearing on Friday, March 20, to in this budget crisis. Council Member Alan helps 1,000 families a month with emergency food, was conducted by Temple Beth-El discuss the budget with Fire Commissioner Jay Gerson spoke for most members of the of City Island. Sponsored by the 75th anniversary events committee headed by Nicholas Scoppetta and other officials, and committee when he proposed that when the Michael Eiron, the drive was considered successful in enabling members and friends several City Island residents were in atten- full budget comes for a vote to the commit- of the temple to follow the custom of sending gifts to the poor (mishloah manot). dance. tee and the full City Council, they place an Shown in the photograph are Cheryl Yehudit Berent and Michael Eiron with one of In his testimony, Mr. Scoppetta told objection to any fire department closings. the many cartfuls of food collected, observed by Marc Kaplan as Queen Esther. Paul the Council committee that while he regrets After the hearing, an Island resident Klein and the staff of Exotiqa International Arts were a great help serving as a drop- closing any fire houses, the budget for his managed to speak directly with Mr. Scop- off location when the temple was closed. department is 90 percent operations, so he petta and corrected his errors, which he said has no choice but to cut essential services. had been the result of not “remembering He said that with the closing of 11 fire com- every detail exactly.” She asked whether he Election for New panies in July and 5 more in January 2010, had been up and down all the side streets, projected savings would be nearly $17 mil- which he said he had, and he acknowledged lion in fiscal year 2010. that City Island had a lot of wooden houses Borough President He pointed out that the Mayor has of- close together. She pointed out again that By FRED RAMFTL JR. there were many buildings that could not be fered a reduction in fire company staffing so ers can get onto the ballot for borough pres- accessed by an engine alone and that there When City Island resident Bronx Bor- that 60 of the 198 engine companies in the ough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. resigned ident, and this creates a level playing field department that operate with five firefighters were 34 restaurants and many boatyards in for all candidates. All registered voters are residential areas. He was very polite but of last month to take a position in the Obama would operate with four, like all of the other administration, Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly encouraged to come out and vote. engine companies. It would be necessary course remained noncommittal. Those who need absentee ballots may call Members of the City Island commu- was required to call a special election for for the fire unions to accept that reduction, a new borough president to take place 45 the Bronx Board of Elections at 718-299- which would not involve loss of personnel, nity who have written to the Mayor have 9017. expressed anger in receiving form letters days later. only reassignment. However, he indicated The election will be held on Tuesday, At the time The Current went to press, that the unions were not likely to view this from the Commissioner (not the Mayor) in no cut-off date for postmarking ballots, but which he speaks of the department’s suc- April 21, 2009. Polls will be open from 6 alternative favorably. An Island firefighter a.m. to 9 p.m., and voting will take place votes should allow at least a week for the told The Current that the union position was cess in reducing response time but fails to ballot to be delivered. acknowledge that the response time for the at the usual polling place, the gymnasium understandable, as it would give the Fire of P.S. 175, which is located at 200 City The last day to register to vote by mail Department cause to lay off firefighters. ladder company of City Island has, in fact, for this election was on March 27, but those doubled. Island Avenue. Mr. Scoppetta described the various cri- Unlike a usual election, a special elec- who wish to register in person at the Board teria he and his staff used for deciding which The City Island Civic Association is of Elections, on the 5th floor at 1780 Grand preparing to approach communities off City tion for any New York City office is non- companies to close; these included number partisan. The usual party labels are forbid- Concourse, have until April 11 to do so. of structural fires worked by the companies, Island as well as some of the restaurants on As of press time, the two candidates the Island in an effort to gather support in den, and there are no primary elections. All total runs, medical emergencies and the im- candidates, therefore, have to create their known to be running for borough president pact of the company closing on the commu- persuading the Mayor to intervene in this are Anthony J. Ribustello (People First) and issue. Those who are interested in helping own party line. Any candidate who obtains nities they serve. He proudly announced that at least 4,000 signatures from borough vot- Ruben Diaz, Jr. (Bronx Unity Party). response times and deaths caused by fire in with this effort are asked to e-mail civicci@ New York City were far lower than they had yahoo.com. ‘Alaska Experiment’ civilization and out of the experiment. Continued from page 1 According to the first episode, things went downhill very quickly for the group. camped one mile away each day at a fully Despite the hunters and fishermen among stocked facility). But there was a failsafe them, they failed to catch anything but a few button for those who couldn’t “survive.” rodents to eat during the first three days of Each member of the group carried a GPS the journey. “It was like cave man days. We signal, which could be pressed at any time, had to catch our own food and start our own Easter Cookie Baskets sending for a helicopter to take them back to fires. Eight of us shared a roasted mouse on the third day,” John said. So hunger set in quickly, and they had to survive on mostly berries. When asked what he began to crave most, John laughed and said, “chocolate, beer and steak.” Things didn’t get any easier as the group began to dwindle in size and grew hungrier “Pride in Our Community” and more desperate over the next six weeks. It was always raining and cold; they encoun- ATLANTIC EMERITUS REALTY, INC. tered dangerous wildlife; and the demanding Licensed Real Estate Broker Sales - Rental - Residential - Commercial terrain took its toll. So did City Island’s “survivor” make it Robert T. Carmody - Licensed Real Estate Broker to the end of the journey? You will have to Associates Maria Swieciki • Candy Mancuso • Debra Saulnier watch Discovery Channel starting April 14 and find out. This reporter has been sworn to Pre-qualified buyers waiting! secrecy, but judging by the spectacular scen- 300 City Island Avenue Robert J. Leavy 718-885-0088 phone 718-885-1426 fax Engineer ery in the first episode and John’s engaging Visit our website at: www.aerhomes.com or www.cityislandhomes.com NYS Licensed personality, it will be worth staying tuned. Page Eight The Island Current April 2009 April 2009 The Island Current Page Nine

that served as a typhoid quarantine center for in 1893 but who retained ownership until Rat Island: about 40 infected people, but this is probably at least 1897, when the island’s block and not true. For one thing, Rat Island isn’t large lot number were recorded on the Bronx tax enough for such a structure, and the origina- maps. It is possible that Horton, who lived in Legend and History tor of the legend may have confused it with Sag Harbor before moving to Pelham, New By BRENDA PROHASKA North Brother Island, which lies in the East York, put up a summer cottage on the island, River southwest of Hunts Point, and was the and it is probably his house that was photo- site of such a hospital from 1885 until World graphed in the 1890s. War II. In 1908, the island was bought for back Another legend is that Rat Island was taxes by Dr. H.A. Parmentier, a dentist, who used as a “Pelham pesthouse” during the yel- leased it in 1931 to the Mount Vernon Club, low fever scares that occurred relatively fre- of which he was a member. Again according quently in the New York area during the 19th to Bill Twomey, the island became “a haven century. A pest house is an old term for a hos- for artists and writers, and one name associ- pital used to quarantine patients with com- ated with it was Chester Beecroft, a writer municable diseases, and it was common for and film producer” who lived in Pelham and islands to be used to isolate them. Since Rat was an active member of the New York Ath- Island was technically part of the town of Pel- letic Club. Islander Barbara Hoffman, who ham until 1888, when New York City began grew up on King Avenue, remembers seeing acquiring land to form Pelham Bay Park, it is a building there during her childhood in the possible that Pelham had earlier used it as a 1940s, and this may have been a cottage built quarantine station. Bill Twomey proposes that by Parmentier and used by the club. New York City planned to use Rat Island for The present owner of Rat Island is long- a similar purpose but this is unlikely, as the time Islander and dockbuilder Edmund (Red) Photo courtesy of City Island Nautical Museum city had already set up a yellow fever quaran- Brennen, who purchased a tax lien in 1971 Rat Island, circa 1890. The house is long gone but the island is there, awaiting a tine hospital at the south end of Hart Island in for what he was told consisted of 33 city lots, new owner. 1870 soon after it had purchased Hart Island several of them underwater, from a Manhat- from the Hunter family in 1868. tan real estate lawyer named Elliot Zites. He A few hundred yards off the east end of day and feeding along the shores of City Is- The remains of cobblestone walls and has never been able to find any legal descrip- Beach Street on City Island is a tiny island land in the early morning and in the evening. a foundation are still on Rat Island, but it is tion of the property, although he holds the about 2.4 acres in size (at high tide) locat- Swans and Canada geese have also been tran- not known who built the original structure or deed, and the island is listed by the city as ed between City Island and Hart Island in sient inhabitants, along with sea gulls, and for what purpose it was used, although one one lot. City Island Harbor. Along with the Blauzes bird feces have turned the island white. can assume that it was abandoned because The history of Rat Island may be cloaked and Chimney Sweeps, Rat Island is one of So far, all of this information is sup- of flooding and storm damage. According in mystery, but it is by no means over, as the the Pelham Islands that were purchased by ported by historical documents, navigational to Bill Twomey, the island was owned by a island is once again for sale. Artists’ and writ- Thomas Pell from the Siwanoy Indians in charts and eyewitnesses. But there are plenty man named Gilbert Horton (1821–93), whose ers’ colony, anyone? 1654. of legends connected with this tiny island, all house there is said to have been demolished The island is uninhabited and has little of them interesting and most of them inaccu- vegetation, since it is made up of Manhat- rate. tan schist bedrock, although at least one and First of all, the name. No one claims to perhaps two small structures once stood on have ever seen rats on the island, so the ori- the property. The island is irregular in shape gin of the name is lost in the mist of time. Dr. Doane Honored and has a double-humped appearance, since According to historian Bill Twomey, author City Island-born geneticist Winifred you got your degree back then they didn’t a shallow channel known as Devil’s Path of “The Bronx: In Bits and Pieces,” Ed Dros, Doane, professor emerita of Arizona State expect women to do anything with it except cuts into the bedrock on the southern side who worked at a prison on nearby Hart Is- University and a respected researcher and to teach in a small liberal arts college.” She of the island. At high tide, therefore, Rat land during the 1950s, thought the island was educator, was one of eight Fellows honored was at the forefront of her field in 1977, probably named for the “rats,” or escaped Island looks like two separate rocks, but at on Feb. 15, 2009, for “commitment to the when she (and her fly mutants) came to low tide one can see that the channel is filled prisoners swimming to City Island. However, achievement of equity for women in sci- ASU’s Department of Zoology in the Col- with mussel shells. A purple-blue “beach” of Tom Nye, curator of the City Island Histori- cal Society, found the name Rat Island on a ence, technology, engineering and math- lege of Liberal Arts and Sciences. mussel shells lies on the west side of the is- “Politics at Yale stifled. The attitude land, and there are patches of reeds growing chart drawn in 1851, and the name is prob- ematics” by the Association for Women in the rocks. ably much older than that. Islander Russell in Science (AWIS), in conjunction with there was that ‘one out of six professors Local legend Bryce Kirk reports that the Schaller, whose father worked as a warden on the annual American Association for the will make tenure.’ It was always a matter water on the east side of the island runs about Hart Island, remembers that prisoners did try Advancement in Science (AAAS) meeting of knocking you down, particularly if you 60 feet deep, whereas the west side is rocky to escape by swimming ashore (under card- held in Chicago. were a woman,” Dr. Doane notes. “Here board boxes so they could not be seen) and and shallow, about 4 to 6 feet deep, toward The Women in Science honorees, at ASU, the focus was on helping faculty, the area known as Green Flats. During warm likely stopped at Rat Island to rest. male and female, succeed.” Some Internet sources claim that in the which included a chemist, a physicist, a weather, birdwatchers have observed a pair She estimates that, during her 21 years of great blue herons sleeping there during the 1800s Rat Island was the location of a hospital psychologist, three biologists and two sci- ence educators, will join a network of 142 at ASU, she taught genetics to more than other fellows, chosen from 50 chapters 2,500 undergraduate students, advised 280 across the United States. undergraduate students, and served as re- Island Doctor Awarded Dr. Doane received her official certifi- search advisor and mentor for 44 undergrad- cate and a pin in an informal ceremony on uate and graduate students and postdoctoral $10 Million Grant Feb. 26 on the steps of ASU’s Old Main, trainees. She was also the founder and first Dr. Ana Maria Cuervo, a City Island officiated by Susanne Neuer, associate pro- president of the Central Arizona Chapter resident and faculty member at Albert Ein- fessor in the School of Life Sciences and of the Association for Women in Science, stein College of Medicine, is one of four sci- president of the local chapter of AWIS that and a founding council member of the ASU entists at Einstein who were recently award- Dr. Doane founded in 1996. Dr. Neuer was Emeritus College, which was established in ed a five-year grant of $10 million from the also selected to serve on the AWIS national 2004. Doane is an AAAS Fellow and has National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study board in 2008. published more than 120 research papers autophagy, a fundamental cell process that Dr. Neuer said: “Winifred belongs to and book articles related to her work. She may hold the key to aging. currently serves as the editor of the “Emeri- Autophagy, which literally means that generation of women who have had to “self-eating,” refers to several surveillance overcome obstacles of gender discrimina- tus College Newsletter” and was a panelist systems that all cells rely on to find, digest tion which we today can hardly imagine. for a podcast titled “Emeritus College: Re- and recycle molecules within them that have Becoming an AWIS Fellow is a well-de- flecting on 50 Years of ASU as a Univer- become damaged. This cellular recycling served recognition of Winifred’s role as a sity,” which recently aired on ASUtv. both cleans up the cell and provides it with trailblazer and inspiration to today’s gen- Although she officially retired in 1998, energy, since digested products can be used Ana Maria Cuervo. eration of women scientists.” Dr. Doane has left an indelible mark on the as fuel. Many studies have documented that Dr. Doane, who grew up on Pilot science community in Arizona and ASU, autophagy becomes less efficient with age, occur with age contribute to the aging of the as well as nationally and internationally, allowing protein and other cellular compo- Street, the daughter of Harold Vandervoort entire organism, to the gradual deterioration through her students and contributions to nents to gradually accumulate inside cells Walsh, received her doctorate in zoology/ of cognitive function, to the failure with age and, almost certainly, to interfere with nor- genetics from Yale in 1960, in a climate the field which she studied for more than of two essential immune functions (antigen mal cell function. that was just starting to open up to women half a century. She continues to maintain processing and presentation, and T helper The research consortium is led by Dr. the fruit flies that carry her “skinny gene” cell activation and tolerance), and to abnor- in science careers. Her research, which em- Cuervo, an associate professor of develop- (adipose), now the subject of intensive re- malities in lipid metabolism. ployed cutting-edge technology, led to the mental and molecular biology, anatomy and “These studies will involve the coopera- discovery of a number of genes in the fruit search in laboratories throughout the Unit- structural biology, and medicine at Einstein tion of all four of us on the Einstein faculty fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Key among ed States. “It’s most gratifying to have my and one of the world’s leading experts on who have jointly received this NIH grant,” favorite gene finally recognized for what it autophagy. With the help of the NIH grant, her discoveries were the control genes Dr. Cuervo says. “We are hopeful that this might offer,” she notes. Dr. Cuervo and her colleagues will test their for tissue-specific expression of the Amy research project will lead to fundamental in- “Despite progress, there is still high at- hypothesis, that impaired autophagy may genes (amylase) and adipose, the first obe- sights that will help us understand, treat or explain the decline in organ function, weak- sity gene found in fruit flies. These stud- trition of female scientists following gradu- even prevent the metabolic alterations and ened immunity and other functional losses ies transported her onto the Genetics Study ate school,” Dr. Neuer says. “Winifred has decline in cognitive and immune function associated with aging. embodied the mission of both ASU and that affect us as we age. Strategies that can Section review panel for the National Insti- More specifically, the researchers will AWIS, pursuing cutting-edge, collaborative keep the autophagic pathways of our cells tutes of Health, which strengthened her ca- look at the role of two different types of operating efficiently as we get older could reer, and translated into significant federal and cross disciplinary research, while serv- autophagy in liver and brain function as help us to enjoy healthier lives well into old funding during her years at Yale and later at ing as a role model for success. . . . Stories well as immunity, under normal and stress- age.” like Winifred’s serve to raise the awareness ful conditions. They will analyze how these ASU. The Einstein researchers have set up a of future generations and offer the insight to two types of autophagy change as the liver, She remembers that, “Although Yale Web site, www.aecom.vu.edu/cuervo/_pri- brain and immune system age in order to was the first graduate school in the U.S. overcome the remaining obstacles to gender vate/defaultPPG.htm, which describes their determine how changes in autophagy that to accept female graduate students, when equity in science.” research effort in more detail. Page Ten The Island Current April 2009

Organization News News on this page concerning organizations, and events listed in, are submitted by representatives of those organiza- tions. A limit of 150 words is requested for all news items submitted. In most cases news will be edited and every effort will be made to preserve the substance of longer items. News and calendar events must be received by no later than the 20th of each month except December and July. If the 20th falls on a holiday or Sunday, the deadline is the 19th. Mail submissions to P.O. Box 6, City Island, NY 10464. YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER MUST BE INCLUDED. face and singable Hebrew. Current Calendar Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance APRIL Day, is a day set aside for all of us to Thurs., April 2, 9, 16, 23, P.S. 175 Kin- remember and learn about the horrors of dergarten Registration for City Island the Holocaust. Rabbinic intern Molly Karp residents only, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 200 City will guide us through the program on Sun- Island Avenue. day evening, April 19. (Check our Web site or call Mort and Violet Ellis at 718-885- Sat., April 4, Clean-up Day at Ambro- 2820 for the time.) sini Field, 10 a.m., sponsored by the City Finally, the 75th anniversary events com- Island Little League. mittee thanks everyone who contributed to Thurs., Fri, and Sat., April 9, 10, 11, Boy our canned food drive. The food pantry of Scout Easter Flower Sale, in front of JCC of Pelham Parkway was most appre- Trinity Methodist Church, Bay Street and ciative. We also thank the staff at Exotiqa Photo by PATRICIA GRONDAHL City Island Avenue. International Arts, 280 City Island Avenue Islander Tracy Tomsen teaches Yoga Stretch on Thursdays at 10 a.m. as part of the at Hawkins Street, for their assistance as a Healthy Senior Exercise program at Grace Church. Thurs., April 16, Community Board 10 drop-off point. meets, 7:30 p.m., Villa Barone Restaurant Visit our Web site: www.yourshulbythe- Sunday, April 5, will begin the holiest turnout. Anthony is opposed to the cutbacks 3289 Westchester Avenue (at Pelham Bay sea.org. week of the church year as we prepare to at our firehouse along with any other fire- Station). house. He is directly affected by the Ladder Bob Berent commemorate the sacred mysteries of the 53 cuts since he resides across Eastchester Sat., April 18, Little League Opening passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord. We will begin on Palm Sunday with Bay in Country Club. In addition, he faces Ceremony, 10 a.m. Ambrosini Field, City Trinity United Methodist Church many of the same issues that we do on City the blessing and distribution of palms at all Island Avenue near Winters Street. Island. Our worship service and Sunday the Masses. On Thursday, Friday, and Sat- Sat., April 25, POTS Program, St. Mary’s I am also happy to report that county school begin at 10 a.m. Bring your children urday mornings at 8 a.m. we will have the School Yard, Minneford Avenue and Kil- headquarters is screening several candi- for Sunday school to further their knowl- service of tenebrae consisting of psalms, roe Street, drop-off between 4:30 and dates for mayor. We are also looking at edge of the teachings of Jesus Christ. We readings and the chanting of the Lamenta- 5 p.m. Menu: cooked ham sliced with running people for comptroller and public often have a coffee hour after the service. tions of Jeremiah. The solemn commemo- advocate. potatoes. Please come and join us for worship and ration of the Lord’s Supper will take place The spring gala held on March 19, 2009, Tues., April 28, City Island Civic Asso- fellowship. on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. followed was a big hit. Almost 300 people attended ciation meets, 7:30 p.m., Community The Budget Shop will be open April 4, by adoration until 10 p.m. On Good Friday, this great event, and everyone had a ball. Center, 190 Fordham Street. 14, 18 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please we will have the Stations of the Cross at 12 The City Island Republicans would like call Jay Howard at 718-885-2191 to volun- noon. The solemn commemoration of the to congratulate the honorees of the event— Brooklyn Senator Marty Golden, John teer. passion and death of Jesus will take place at Grace Episcopal Church A plea to all City Islanders: we need a Catsimatidis, Marion MacQueen and Bob 4 p.m. After a day of silence and waiting on Williams. volunteer to lead the Budget Shop behind Grace Church celebrates Holy Com- Saturday, the solemn Easter vigil will take Again, remember to vote for Anthony on munion, the Eucharist, every Sunday at 10 the scenes. You do not need to be a mem- place at 8 p.m. that evening and our joyful April 21. a.m., and you are warmly welcome to join ber of Trinity. The Budget Shop is our main alleluias will continue on Easter Sunday at Fred Ramftl, Jr., President us. Church School is offered approximately fund-raiser, and we really need help and all our Masses: 8 and 10 a.m. and 12 noon. three times a month, beginning at 10 a.m. some new ideas. Please call Myra Martin at We wish a blessed Easter to all! Please call Church School director Harlan 718-885-1049 or Ellie Hebard at 718-518- Because of the celebration of Holy Week 7241 to review the responsibilities of the Sexton at 718-885-9749 for dates and more and Easter Week, there will be no religious Nautical Museum News information. behind-the-scenes leader. A working crew education classes on April 8 or April 15. Please join us for our Holy Week and has already been established but we need a Our monthly Hospitality Hour will be After its reopening in December 2008, the Easter Services this year. For more infor- leader. held on Sunday, April 19, after the 10 City Island Nautical Museum has launched mation, you may contact Mother Patty Al- April 5: Palm Sunday begins our Holy o’clock Mass. All are invited to join us for itself into a lively program of activities, exander at 718-885-1080 or RevPPA@aol. Week schedule. coffee and light refreshments. thanks to the contributions of numerous com. April 9: Holy Thursday; Trinity ser- His Excellency, Bishop Dominick Lag- volunteers and to city agencies that have Palm Sunday, April 5: The Liturgy of vice is at 8 p.m. onegro, will be here at St. Mary’s on Tues- provided grant money, and to the museum’s the Palms and the Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. April 10: Good Friday; we worship to- day afternoon, April 28, to administer the new docent, Christopher McGowan. Maundy (Holy) Thursday, April 9: The gether at Grace Episcopal at 7:30 p.m. sacrament of confirmation to our eighth- Now that the museum is open from 1 to 5 Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar, April 11: Saturday; Tenebrae, 8 graders in our religious education program p.m. on Saturdays as well as Sundays, more 7:30 p.m. a.m. service at St. Mary, Star of the Sea and in St. Mary’s School. The ceremony visitors are enjoying the new exhibits and Good Friday, April 10: Ecumenical Church. will begin at 4 p.m. We congratulate our the refurbished interior spaces. Behind the Service with Trinity Methodist Church (at April 12: Easter Sunday Sunrise Ser- young people on this special event in their scenes, several volunteers, including Jane Grace), 7:30 p.m. vice. An informal ecumenical gathering for lives. Protzman, Ellen Murphy, Evyonne Baker, Easter Sunday, April 12: Festival Holy the annual outdoor Easter Resurrection cel- The April meeting of the Parish Council Boo Dennis and Jeanne Pezone, are busy Eucharist, 10 a.m. ebration will meet at 6:30 a.m. inside Pel- will take place on Monday, April 27, at 7 cataloguing the collection and the books, Sunday, April 26: “Bring a Friend to ham Cemetery. This celebration will consist p.m. in the rectory. scanning rare photographs, mastering the Church Sunday,” 10 a.m. All Grace pa- of prayer, praise and singing, with scripture Sr. Bernadette, osu new computer and tending the museum’s rishioners are asked to invite a friend to readings by members of the community Web site (www.cityislandmuseum.org). join them for worship today, so that oth- and a meditation entitled “Resurrection, A AARP Chapter #318 Barbara Healy Hoffman—who launched ers may experience the love of Christ first- Living Hope” by George Cavalieri. If the the museum’s new model minesweeper on hand through the liturgy and people of the weather is severely inclement, the service Chapter #318 will hold its April meetings Sunday, March 29, in the footsteps of her Episcopal Church. This is also a perfect will be held at Trinity in Fellowship Hall, on April 1 and 15 at the Trinity Methodist mother, who had launched two City Island- Church Hall at 1 p.m. All are welcome to time for interested visitors to come and see 113 Bay Street. Continued on page 12 Grace Church. All are welcome. April 12: Easter Sunday Service at 10 attend. Rev. Patricia Alexander a.m. at Trinity. Our June luncheon is tentatively sched- We wish everyone a happy Easter and uled for June 17 at the Lobster House. Regular Meetings Temple Beth-El a happy Passover. Further details will be discussed at the next A reminder: Please keep Saturday, May meeting. Weekly Twelve-Step Meetings Temple Beth-El of City Island celebrated 2, open to attend our Spring Fair from 11 It is with deep regrets that I report the on City Island our 75th year with a gala anniversary dinner a.m. to 3 p.m. We will have plenty of home- death of two of our dedicated members: Narcotics Anonymous: dance at the Lido Restaurant on Saturday, made goodies for sale at our bake table and Robert McLaughlin and Florence Quinn. Sundays at 2 p.m., St. Mary, Star of the March 28. It was the event of the year, lovely items at our church table. Luncheon Carmelia A. Ramftl Sea Church, City Island Avenue near as we honored the three churches of City will also be available. Please come to enjoy the Bridge. Island and our American Legion post, the our fair, celebrate spring and help support City Island Republicans very organizations that assisted our birth and Thursdays at 8 p.m., Trinity United our annual spring fund-raiser. If anyone is development. We thank all our friends and Methodist Church hall, 113 Bay Street. interested in helping out at the fair, please Our next meeting will be held on Tues- members for their attendance and support. call Ellie Hebard 718-518-7241. day, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Legion Alcoholics Anonymous: Temple Beth-El, an all-inclusive egalitar- Ellen G. Hebard Post, 550 City Island Avenue. Mondays at 8 p.m., Trinity United Meth- ian, multiethnic, Jewish congregation for all For the first time since 1977, we have a odist Church hall. ages is located at 480 City Island Avenue, candidate actively campaigning for Bronx Tuesdays at 8 p.m., St. Mary Star of the between Beach and Bowne Streets, and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Borough president. Our candidate, Anthony Sea Church. conducts Sabbath services each Friday night Our monthly Holy Hour, with exposition J. Ribustello, will appear on the ballot as at 7:30 p.m. Our doors are open to all. We of the Blessed Sacrament, will be held on the People First candidate. We actually have Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Grace Episco- follow the Rabbi Marcia Prager prayer book, Friday, April 3, from 4 to 5 p.m. All are wel- a chance to elect him as our next borough pal Church hall, 116 City Island Avenue president on April 21, since every vote could primarily in English, with easy-to-read type- come to attend this special period of prayer. (at Pilot Street). make a difference, due to an extremely low April 2009 The Island Current Page Eleven

FAMILY PROGRAM & MIXED AGE GROUPS Vilma’s Music Together: Music and movement for children ages birth through 5 and adults that love them! Saturdays 10 to 10:45 a.m.. For more information, call 718- 882-2223, visit www.funtimemusictogether. com or e-mail [email protected]. For additional information about the Community Cen- ter, or if you are interested in conducting classes here Chess Club: Monday evenings from 7 to please call 718-885-1145. 11 p.m. For ages 13 and up. No need to regis- Open Monthly Meetings of the Board are ter, just show up! Call Bill at 718-541-3995 for held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 more information. p.m. in the Community Center Main Room at Amy Gottlieb 190 Fordham Street. All members are encour- Holiday Services aged to attend. For up to date information visit Grace Episcopal Church www.cityislandcommunitycenter.com. City Island Avenue at Pilot Street Weekly Schedule April 5, Palm Sunday: The Reading of YOUTH PROGRAM the Passion and Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. Irish Dance: The Deirdre O’Mara School April 9, Maundy Thursday: Holy Eucha- of Irish Dance teaches step dancing in a fun, rist and Stripping of the Altar, 7:30 p.m. competitive environment for all ages. A con- April 10, Good Friday: Ecumenical Ser- fidence-building and cultural experience for vice with Trinity Methodist at Grace Church, all who participate. Wednesdays after school. 7:30 p.m. Call Deirdre at 201-679-1450 or visit www. April 12, Easter Sunday: Festival Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. deirdreomara.com. Tae Kwon Do: Traditional classes to ben- Trinity United Methodist Church efit you physically, mentally and spiritually. 113 Bay Street Some benefits include improved cardiovas- April 5: Palm Sunday, 10 a.m. cular health, better focus and concentration, April 9: Holy Thursday, 8 p.m. increased flexibility and lean body mass. Chil- April 10: Good Friday Ecumenical ser- dren will learn courtesy, integrity, perseverance, vice at Grace Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m. self-control and indomitable spirit. Tuesdays April 11: Tenebrae Service at St. Mary, 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. $10 per class, Star of the Sea, 8 a.m. Photos by ANGELO BELLOCCHIO Pictured in the top photo are Cub Scout recipients of medals and their supporters twice weekly. Call 718-885-3702. April 12: Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, on March 15 were: (front row, l. to r.): Aiden Saulnier, Sally’s Playground: Ages birth to 5 years. at Pelham Cemetery on King Avenue, 6:30 James McGaughn, Brandon McGaughn, Angelo Nieves, Paul Mazzella, Jadon Torado, Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. a.m. Easter Worship at Trinity Church, 10 Joseph Zayas; (back row): Joseph Leni, Joseph Gvonaj, Joseph Kramer, Michael $7 per child, $4 for siblings. Buy a five-visit a.m. Bellocchio, Nicholas Gvonaj, Jack Green, David Verghese, Nicholas Cablo, John card and get one visit free. Call Sally at 718- St. Mary Star of the Sea Church Tomsen. The photo below shows the scouts on their great overnight adventure at the 885-0349 for more information. City Island Avenue near the bridge Norwalk Maritime Aquarium on the weekend of Feb. 27. Drama Club: Thursdays 7 to 8 p.m. $1 April 4, Saturday: Confessions, 4:30 to 5 dues per week. Ages 8 through 14. Commu- p.m. Vigil Mass at 5:15 p.m. Plaudits to Comrade Treat, who keeps having met this benevolent German. More nity Center membership is required for these April 5, Palm Sunday: Masses at 8, 10 the membership ball rolling when many than 40 years later, Charlie Brown was classes. Call Laury Hopkins at 718-885-3202 to a.m. and noon. Blessing of Palms at all local posts are foundering or throwing in able to locate Franz and found that for 50 sign up or for more information. Leave a mes- masses. the towel. years they had lived only 200 miles apart, sage! April 9, 10 and 11, Thursday, Friday Comrade Ed Shipp reports that things Franz in Canada and Charlie in Seattle. Youth Center: Saturday evenings 7:30 to and Saturday: Tenebrae, 8 a.m., psalms and are all shipshape, but he tells me that he They would meet at a 279th group postwar 10 p.m. Please call Jay Howard at 718-885- readings. No morning mass. could always use a few good men and reunion with 25 other people who are alive 2192 or Deana Weyhrauch at 917-418-1377 for April 9, Holy Thursday: Solemn Com- women to help place flags on the Avenue today because Franz never fired his guns. more information. We are looking for volun- memoration of the Lord’s Supper, 7:30 p.m. and at the cemetery. Contact Ed at the Post Meetings for the month of April are as teers to staff the nights. If you are interested in Procession to the Repository; adoration to if you can help. You don’t have to be a follows; regular meetings Monday, April 6 helping out, PLEASE CALL! 10 p.m. member to volunteer. and 20; executive board meeting Monday, Progress continues to be made in the ADULT PROGRAM April 10, Good Friday: Stations of the April 13. myriad Post projects. Stop by and see the Salsa Dance: Dance your stress away to Cross, 12 noon, Commemoration of the Pas- Russ Schaller, Sgt. Emeritus new restrooms. the basic beats of salsa. No partner necessary. sion and Death of Jesus, 4 p.m. Confessions, Keep this date in mind: Monday, April $50 per month or $15 per class. Friday nights, 5 to 6 p.m. 20, will be Membership Recognition Night, April 11, Holy Saturday: Confessions, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call Nilsa at 917-838-6501. when we pay homage to those with years of 9 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Solemn Easter Healthy Senior Exercise Program Belly Dancing: Shimmy by the Sea. The- continuing service. resa Mahon (a.k.a. Salacia) teaches the oldest Vigil, 8 p.m. There was some confusion with regard The exercise classes at Grace Church documented dance in the history of mankind— April 12, Easter Sunday: Masses at 8, 10 to the demise of Earl Rickard Jr. He was Hall, 116 City Island Avenue, at Pilot Egyptian belly dancing. It is a low-impact way a.m. and noon. a contemporary of mine; his son, not a Street, remain the same. Monday: Sittercise to get in shape and tone your body while having junior, would be approximately 60 years of with Patty Grondahl; Tuesday: Cardio- lots of fun. Terry has been a professional belly Legion News age. Earl Jr. was also known to his peers as fitness with Mary Immediato; Thursday: dancer for 23 years and a teacher of the art Another month has come and gone. Spider. Yoga Stretch with Tracy Tomsen, and Fri- for 15 years. Classes are held every Monday Spring arrived March 20 with an early Sick call: Comrades Joseph DeLuca and day: Arthritis Foundation Exercise with evening at 7:30 pm. The fee for each one-hour morning snowfall, which was short-lived. Buddy Pontecorvo are both in rehab, Joe in Patty. All classes begin at 10 a.m. class is $15. Call 845-358-0260. the Schaffer Nursing Home at Sound Shore An azure blue sky soon replaced low, fast- The Wednesday Orchard Beach walks TNT (Thursday Night Tap): Adult Jazz/ and Buddy at Dumont Masonic Home in moving gray clouds. will resume in April. The van leaves Pilot Tap Classes. Thursdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Call By the time this issue of The Current goes New Rochelle. Corinne Grondahl at 718-309-8041. Thomas Diehl sent me an interesting Street at 9:30 a.m. Call Tony at 347-834- to press, our annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner 6466 for transportation to and from the Aerobics with Mary: Monday, Wednes- will be history. You may recall last year’s article, vintage the Big Deuce. Charlie beach. day, Friday: Half-hour low impact at 8:30 a.m. problems. Early arrivals for the first seating Brown was a B-17 flying fortress pilot It is not too late to join the Diabetes Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 to devoured a lion’s share of the corned beef, with the 379th Bomber Group, Kimbol- 10 a.m. Call Mary Immediato at 718-885-0793. leaving the second seating a tad short on the ton, England. He was limping home after Self-Management Workshops. The sessions New class added: Saturday 9 a.m. beef. The chefs, realizing that the corned a bombing mission over Germany. His provided by North General Hospital will Yoga: A beginner to intermediate class beef would not be enough to satisfy the insa- plane was badly damaged, one motor gone, run for six Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 that includes Hatha and Namaste yoga with tiable appetites of Post chow hounds, added the compass knocked out. The nose was p.m., March 31 through May 5. some Saroope (restorative yoga). Also tai-chi, more cabbage and potatoes to the menu. smashed, holes were everywhere, and the There will be a health fair at Grace which will help balance the immune system Even cutting the corned beef razor thin did tail and rear sections were all but shot off. Church on Wednesday, April 29, from 11 and reduce pain. Please contact Marc Kaplan not resolve the problem. A hue and cry could As he passed over a German airfield, Franz a.m. to 1 p.m., sponsored by the Visiting for inquiries at [email protected] or call 718- be heard from the memorial at the bridge to Steigler was dispatched to intercept and Nurse Service, Council Member Jimmy shoot him down. When the German pilot 885-2445. Belden Point and would not be soon forgot- Vacca, Congressman Joseph Crowley and Steigler drew abreast of the B-17, he could Weight Loss Program: If you would like ten. An in-depth investigation by a commit- Presbyterian Senior Services. Health-care to join a weekly weight-loss group, one will be tee selected by the commander determined not believe his eyes. Franz flew alongside the side of the B-17, close enough to see a professionals, including nurses, doctors, starting soon at the Community Center, tenta- that shrinkage was the prime problem. This social workers and physical therapists, will tively scheduled for Thursday evenings. Call year the commander decided to employ the scared Charlie Brown struggling to control be on hand for resources and services such Deana Weyrauch at 917-418-1377 culinary expertise of the World of Foods. It his damaged and blood-drenched plane. as blood-pressure screening and Medicare Bosu Balance Training: Every Tuesday was an excellent choice, buffet style, all you Lacking workable navigation equipment, counseling. Join your neighbors to learn how and Thursday at 9 a.m. for an hour. $15 per could eat for $20; wine, beer and soda and Brown was heading east rather than west. Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees to better take care of your health and enjoy class. One-on-one personal training is also Irish coffee provided the necessary libation. and escorted the bomber to the North Sea available. Call Janet at 646-544-4292 for more There were no complaints, only praise for a healthy refreshments. Giveways galore and and England. When Franz landed, he told information or to make your reservation! job well done. much more. As usual, I made a faux pas in the last his C.O. that the B-17 was shot down. For more information on any of the above, Legion newsletter. Randy Peterson was a reg- Back in England, Brown and his crew were call Patty Grondahl at 914-882-9578. ular member and not an associate member. told never to mention their good fortune in Pat Grondahl Page Twelve The Island Current April 2009

who are still living in China, constantly New items available pressure him to get married because they at the City Island want grandchildren. To get his parents to Nautical Museum’s stop hassling him, he decides to marry gift shop, open Wei-Wei (May Chin), a struggling artist every Saturday and who has no green card and wants to stay in Sunday from 1 to 5 America. When his parents decide to come p.m. to New York for the wedding, they turn his life upside down. This film is special which will be held because of the genuine warmth of all the on Thursday, April 9, My Favorite Wedding Films characters. 2009, at 8 p.m. at the Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) Post. We are looking My son Dan married the beautiful is a delightful British comedy starring for some good ambi- Reina Mia Brill on March 22, and in their Hugh Grant as Charles, always a wedding tious men to help honor I am writing reviews of my favorite guest, never a groom, who is besotted by operate our squadron. wedding movies. We begin with a classic, an American, Carrie (Andie MacDowell), Next month we will let you know how The Philadelphia Story (1940), in which when he serves as best man at a wed- Organization News socialite Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) ding they are both attending. On hand are Continued from page 10 our state commander enjoyed his visit to the Bronx. prepares to marry George Kittredge (John Charles’s best friend, Tom (John Fleet); built minesweepers in 1943 and 1953—has During the month of June, we are look- Howard), much to the consternation of her Tom’s sister, Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas); taken charge of the museum’s gift shop, ing into holding a car wash to raise funds ex-husband, C. K. Dexter Haven (Cary their gay friend Gareth (the vivacious which now offers visitors a wonderful array Grant). When tabloid reporter Macauley Simon Callow) and his partner, Matthew of new products, including t-shirts, mugs, for the squadron. Details will follow in the Connor (Best Supporting Actor Oscar- (John Hannah); Charles’s roommate Scar- leather bookmarks and pens (see photo), upcoming months. winner James Stewart) and his photog- lett (Charlotte Coleman), and sweet David along with copies of books about the his- We would like to remind all members rapher, Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) Bower as Charles’s deaf brother. The most tory of City Island. that dues are now past due. Dues are $30 enter the exclusive Lord–Kittridge wed- hilarious scene is with Rowan Atkinson as A well-attended event took place on and can be mailed to or dropped off at the ding, there are riotous results. This is one a very nervous, newly ordained clergyman. Saturday, March 14, when Islander Dick post. of director George Cukor’s finest screw- If you want to see a host of happy endings, Sadler gave an inspiring presentation about Any male who is a descendent of a ball comedies. (This film was remade in be sure to stay for the photo display at the his experiences on the crew of the City veteran who served during the American 1956 as the musical High Society, with very end. Island-built 12-meter sloop Courageous Legion’s stated time periods set by Congress Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sina- From India comes the incredibly joyful when she successfully defended the Amer- is eligible to join the squadron. Anyone ica’s Cup, skippered by Ted Turner, in tra as the leads, and was equally enjoy- Monsoon Wedding (2002). The Verna interested may call Fred Ramftl at 347- 680- 1977. able.) family of Delhi has arranged a marriage 7695 or Scott Murphy at 646-314-1000 for The Lerner and Loewe musical Briga- for their daughter Aditi (Vasundhara Das) The museum was very pleased to have a full spread of photographs appear in the more details. doon (1954) stars Gene Kelly as Tommy to Hemant (Parvin Dabas), a computer Fred Ramftl, Jr., and Van Johnson as Jeff, two New York programmer from Houston. The meeting, New York Daily News on Tuesday, March 24, and we hope it attracts a good deal of Vice Commander, Membership City business tycoons on vacation in the engagement and wedding all take place attention throughout the city. Scottish Highlands. They discover a tiny within a few days, but there are compli- During the month of April, the museum town where a wedding is about to take cations as Aditi is in love with a mar- looks forward to welcoming this year’s Cub Scout News place, and they are captivated by the joy ried man. There is a delightful romantic fourth grade at P.S. 175, along with last Our fine young scouts have been very and simplicity of the lives led by the subplot with P.K. Dube (Vijay Raaz), the year’s fourth grade, which raised funds that busy lately. The Webelos are working hard inhabitants, who have kept their inno- wedding planner, who is smitten with the enabled the museum to renovate its School on their Boy Scout requirements and are cence because when they go to sleep each family maid, Alice (Tilotama Shome). Room exhibits. doing an outstanding job. On Feb. 28, the night, they awaken 100 years later. When There is also a very serious undercurrent These events and renovations have been Webelos were invited on a very interesting Tommy falls in love with Fiona Campbell with Aditi’s cousin Ria (Shefali Shetty) made possible by generous grants from trip with the Boy Scouts of Troop 211 to the (Cyd Charisse), only a miracle can keep and her aversion to an old family friend. New York City’s Department of Cultural Intrepid Museum in Manhattan, where they them together. Another film featuring Indian nuptials, Affairs, through the office of Council Mem- learned about the history of the ship and Steel Magnolias (1989) is the story this time set in England, is Bend It Like ber James Vacca, and by the Bronx Council enjoyed the simulator. of a group of women friends who meet Beckham (2003), another film not to be on the Arts. The pack continues to grow with a new regularly at the local beauty salon owned missed. Landscaping work has also begun on the recruit and welcomes Angelo Nieves to the by Truvy (Dolly Parton), who is assisted My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) front yard of 190 Fordham Street, thanks to rank of Tiger. Angelo quickly earned his by Annelle (Daryl Hannah). The movie was written by Nia Vardalos who stars the generosity of the Garden Club of City Bobcat merit badge in record time. Good begins as M’Lynn (Sally Field) pre- as Toula, a rather frumpy, unattractive Island. job, Ang. pares for the wedding of her daughter, 30-year-old woman who works in the fam- For information about the museum and On Feb. 27–28, the entire pack and Shelby (Julia Roberts), to Jackson (Dylan ily business. Being single at 30 is a source its programs, visit the Web site or call 718- their families enjoyed sleeping at Norwalk McDermott). Shelby’s father (Tom Sker- of great concern to her parents. According 885-0507. Maritime Aquarium for a night of fun-filled ritt) is busy shooting blanks at birds in the to her father, the funny Michael Constan- Barbara Dolensek educational experiences. On Sunday, March trees so they won’t “crap” on the wedding tine, Greek women were put on this earth 15, 10 scouts were awarded their Individual guests, much to the extreme distress of to marry Greek men, have Greek children Religious Medals at the 10 o’clock Mass at the crotchety neighbor Ouiser (Shirley and feed everyone. When she meets the Sons of the American Legion St. Mary’s by Father Mike, an outstanding historical record for the pack. MacLaine), who “has been in a bad mood spectacularly non-Greek Ian Miller (John Squadron #156 That same day the scouts and their fami- for 40 years.” Other important characters Corbett), she falls head over heels in love. At our March 12, 2009, meeting, a report lies enjoyed their annual trip to Medieval are Clairee (Olympia Dukakis), a rich Ian is a kind-hearted vegetarian who finds was given on the bathrooms, and we are Times, where the scouts showed off their widow who frequents Truvy’s and Spud the genuine and unpretentious Toula much happy to say that they are almost completed. custom painted swords and outfits. They all (Sam Shepard), Truvy’s husband. This more to his liking than all the two-dimen- defended their maidens, who came along for moving film skillfully combines sadness sional women he has previously met. It is The toilets will be ready for their first flush by Memorial Day. the trip. with humor and love. lovely to watch her bloom into a desirable A reminder that registration is always The pigs’ knuckle party was a huge suc- The Wedding Banquet (1993) is the woman, and how Toula and Ian work out open for any young boy who might be inter- story of a gay Chinese male, Wai-Tung the problems of a mixed marriage is often cess, as usual. We raised money for the State ested. Our meetings are held every Tuesday (Winston Chao), who is happily ensconced hilarious. This is a feel-good movie of the Commander’s Emergency Relief Fund. evening at Trinity Methodist Church Hall at in New York with his lover, Simon (Mitch- best sort. We will be taking nominations for the dif- 113 Bay Street. ell Lichtenstein). Wai-Tung’s parents, And until next time, happy viewing. . . ferent squadron offices at our April meeting, Angelo Bellocchio

Island looked like in 1973, be sure to watch Filming on CI the last episode of “Life on Mars,” which is Continued from page 1 scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, April 8, because of City Island’s geography, with one 2009, at 10 p.m. main street and a fire lane, at least 50 percent of filming requests for the Island are, in fact, turned down. In this case, they required the film company to hire traffic agents to monitor the traffic on Tuesday because of the director’s need to close the Avenue for the filming. Mr. Battista also said that the police are not au- thorized to ticket or tow cars parked in a film company’s no-parking zone; ticketing and towing are only authorized when the signs are put in place by the Department of Transporta- tion. Mr. Battista urged residents with com- plaints in the future to call both the location manager of the film crew and the Mayor’s Of- fice of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. In the meantime, he encourages local restaurants and other vendors to offer discounts to film crews through his office in order to increase their “Flowers” own business during the filming. For more in- Oil on canvas by Linda Martin formation, visit www.nyc.gov/.film. West Virginia folk artist For those who are eager to see what City April 2009 The Island Current Page Thirteen

the event was a tremendous success! We are very pleased that funds raised from the event will enable the PTA to continue to assist us in providing exciting and enrich- ing experiences and opportunities for our students. Many thanks to the businesses in our community that supported the party! The eighth-grade graduation committee has been busy planning for all of the end- of-year events that will be taking place. Public School 175 Parent meetings are being held in prepa- ration for graduation and senior activi- There was a lot going on at P.S. 175 ties. We look forward to seeing all of the in March! Students in Grades 3 through 8 eighth-grade parents at these meetings. finished taking their New York State math- Upcoming April events include: first- ematics assessments and are continuing grade trips to FDNY-Fire Zone and Green their academic studies. Meadows Farm; third-grade trip to the Students in all grades worked diligently Bronx Zoo to study animal adaptations; on their Science Fair projects, which were fifth-grade trip to see “Wicked” on Broad- displayed during Parent-Teacher confer- way; sixth-grade trip to Greenkill. ences on March 19. Lower-grade students Please keep these important dates in worked on group projects, and the upper- mind: on-going kindergarten registration grade students worked on their projects for City Island residents ONLY will take individually and in pairs. Students did a place on Thursday mornings, beginning beautiful job preparing their displays, and April 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Seventh- it was evident that a lot of hard work went graders will be going to Boston on May into the presentations and that much learn- 1. Eighth-grade graduation will take place ing had taken place. on Wednesday, June 24, at 9:30 a.m. The Our students attended several excit- graduation dance is the same evening ing trips this month. Second- and third- from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Seashore Restau- graders visited the New York Botanical rant. The eighth-grade trip to Washington, Garden, where they studied the history D.C., will take place from May 27 to 28. of chocolate and vanilla, the plants from The kindergarten moving-up ceremony which they come and the products they will take place on Tuesday, June 23, at produce. Kindergarten and first-grade stu- Photos by BRENDA PROHASKA 10 a.m. and will be followed by a family P.S. 175 held a “Goes Green” card party on Friday, March 20, 2009, at the Lido Restaurant. dents attended a performance of “The celebration in the gym, complete with a Hosted by chairperson Brenda Prohaska and principal Amy Lipson, the fund-raiser was Wizard of Oz” at Lehman Center for the DJ and Sunny the Clown! supported by many local City Island businesses, as well as Assemblyman Michael Bene- Performing Arts, and kindergarten and The Citizens-of-the-Month for March detto, who donated a 32-inch flat screen TV, and Senator Jeff Klein, who donated $300. Grade 2 attended a performance of “Seus- are: Jaden Perreira and Kaltrina Rugova PTA board members Lou Lomanoco, Jen sical.” Etzel, Lisa Fine, Michael Shanley and Phyllis (kindergarten), Brandon McGaughan and Gitter-Russell were supported by the many Seventh-graders went on a class trip Amanda Campbell (first grade), Samantha to Philadelphia, where they enjoyed a volunteers, including Susan Rosendahl, Negron and Bakara Hope-Felix (second Maryann Albertelli, Roberta Gonaj, Michelle guided tour of many of the historical sites grade), Erik Lomonaco and Michael Val- Branley, Maria Valenti, Violet Smith, Rose and visited the Franklin Institute Science enti (third grade), Megan Ploch and Esther Edward D. Heben Kolb, Christine Williams, Leslie Hanley, Kim Museum, where they explored the won- Kramer (fourth grade), Ameer Baksh and CPA/ABV, CVA, AEP Moran, Pat Branley, Eddie Esposito, Celeste ders of science through many hands-on Michael LaBriola (fifth grade), Stepha- Partner Zayas, Nancy Henriquez, Donna Manasseri exhibits. , Amy Gottlieb-Elroy and Candy Mancuso. nie Morrissey and Samantha Pryor (sixth 709 Westchester Avenue Shown above are the student volunteers: Our phenomenal PTA held its annual White Plains, NY 10604 grade), Gregory Garcia and Jade Riley Abbie Adams, Jennifer Branley, Dylan Cruz, 914-949-2990 • Fax: 914-949-2910 Card Party at the Lido Caterers. Thanks (seventh grade), Nancy Navarro and Abi- Shaun Moran, Anna Rothschild, Nicolas to the hard work of our dedicated parents, www.citrincooperman.com gail Adams (eighth grade). [email protected] Santiago, Kevin Saulnier, Shaylin Scott and Gabrielle Vitiello. Page Fourteen The Island Current April 2009

Boys Bantams. Top row (l. to r.): Dr. Richard Cordaro, Deion Rodriguez, Jonathan Martinez, Diajee Horner, Michael Valentine, John Manna and coach Mike Whelan; Intramurals. Top row (l. to r.): Coach Mark Amos, Joseph Leni, Steven Rice, John bottom row: Daniel Johnson, Matthew Valentine, Damien Thorne, Joseph Cordaro Wilson, Nicholas Badillo and coach Jack Grogan; bottom row: Michael Amos, Robert and Andrew Whelan. Not pictured: Justin Munafo and assistant coach John Manna. Henriquez and Joseph Cruz.

eight first-time players (including four sec- tax return without sufficient detail for the Basketball ond-graders). However, through hard work IRS to determine the correct amount of tax Continued from page 5 and determination, the season was quite suc- you owe or, if you take a frivolous position quarters until their triumphant run kicked in. cessful, starting off with a third place finish on something (such as a really silly deduc- Down 10 points with time running out, the in the St. Francis Xavier pre-season tourna- tion), you could get hit with a $500 penalty girls’ tenacious defense forced seven turn- ment. The regular season followed, high- overs which gave the girls the victory. lighted by winning streaks of three and four on top of any additional tax, interest and Outstanding performances were brought games each. They finished with a record of other penalties you might owe. forth by Erin Schlottman, Briana Reilly, Bri- 9 and 9, which landed them the number-one Inaccurate filing. If the IRS deter- ana Whelan, Kaylin Fitzpatrick and Frances- seed in the B Division playoffs. Unfortunate- mines that you were negligent or ignored ca Strazzera. All of the girls on the JV team ly, the girls ran into a hot St. Barnabas par- tax regulations to such an extent that there should be commended on a job well done. ish team in the first round and lost by three was a large difference between what you See you next September. points. said you owed and what you really owed (a Boys Bantams Coaches George Spencer and Larry substantial understatement), you could be Saulnier want to thank the girls for all their Are You A Tax Cheat? The Boys Bantams began the season a hit with a 20 percent penalty on the amount hard work in making this a successful sea- Tax avoidance is not a crime, but tax bit slowly but built chemistry with one an- son. owed. Check your work and make sure that other during practice and games. Midway evasion is. What happens when you cheat there are no mathematical or other errors though the season, when their record was 3 Intramurals on your taxes? Well, you could lose out on on your tax return. and 5, they came up against an undefeated Although the Intramural roster for this a cabinet position, and you might even end Late payment of employment taxes. opponent. The boys faced the challenge head season was half the size of last year’s, the up in jail. Alternatively, you could get hit The IRS really gets serious when an em- on and handed the team their first defeat. It team still had a great season of drills, learn- with additional tax, interest and penalties. ployer withholds money from an employ- was the turning point of the season: the boys ing and playing games. The young players From minor offenses to major tax fraud, finished the remaining eight games of the developed a good team attitude and aggres- ee’s paycheck but fails to send the money here is a list of some tax machinations that season with a record of 6 and 2. It was a great siveness. Coaches Jack and Mark have them in right away. There is a 10 percent penalty accomplishment! Good luck to the fourth- well prepared to play on the Boys Bantam could get you in a world of trouble and on the total amount due once the deposit is graders as they move up to Junior Varsity. team next season. Steven Rice shot 5 for 6 some examples of what could happen to 16 days late. The coaches look forward to working with in the foul shooting contest, and Joseph Leni you if you cross the line when filing your Trust fund recovery. To discourage the players once again next season. shot 3 for 15 for second place. Intramural taxes. employers from going for long periods of Girls Gidgets Coach Jack Grogan has been with the St. Late payment of taxes. This will re- time without remitting withholding and Mary, Star of the Sea basketball program for sult in the assessment of interest charges other employment taxes, there can be a The 2008–2009 Gidgets had a tough act over 15 years. The organizers would like to to follow, considering the fact that last year’s on what you owe. The IRS currently uses penalty of 100 percent imposed on what is say thank you for his many years of dedica- an annual rate of 5 percent, and you might St. Mary’s Girls Gidgets were the B Division tion. He will truly be missed. owed, plus interest. This penalty is on top champions. This task was even more daunt- also be assessed a penalty, which would re- of the regular penalties for the late payment ing since there were no returning starters and sult in additional monies owed. That pen- of employment taxes previously noted. alty could be 0.5 percent a month on what Trust fund penalties are typically reserved you owe, up to a maximum of 25 percent. for employers who are notoriously delin- No Social Security number. If you quent. This penalty literally doubles the file a tax return with no Social Security amount an employer owes to the IRS. number specified, you could get hit with Tax preparer fraud. Your tax pre- $50 penalty for each missing Social Se- parer can also be on the hook for penalties curity number. If you or someone in your related to your tax return at both the federal family do not have a Social Security num- and state levels. In general, these penal- ber, you will need to apply for one or get an ties are meant to discourage tax preparers Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from preparing fraudulent returns, pro- via the Social Security Administration. moting abusive tax shelters or, engage in Late filings and refunds due. If you reckless behavior when preparing a tax re- are entitled to an overpayment refund, you turn. These penalties can easily be $1,000, must file your tax return within three years $5,000 or more, depending on the severity of the original due date or you lose the re- of the facts and circumstances. fund. That’s right! The IRS will keep it and Criminal tax fraud. If the IRS thinks deny you the right to collect. You are still you have engaged in tax fraud, which is obligated to file your tax return, but the IRS much worse than a mistake or a simple will keep any money that was supposed to failure to report income, you can really be refunded and no amount of pleading or get in trouble with this one, especially if begging will help. the IRS can prove intent. Fraud and false Girls Gidgets.Top row (l. to r.): coaches George Spencer and Larry Saulnier; middle Late filings and taxes due. If you file statements could get you up to three years row: Christine Rice, Deirdre Spencer, Alicia Jones, Ashley Livingston, Destiny White- your taxes late and owe money, you can get in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. An Foster, Sydney Saulnier, Shannon Saulnier; bottom row: Dava Lee Candelaria, Chris- into a little more trouble. Your penalty will attempt to evade taxes or a conspiracy to tine Whelan, Samantha Negron, Samantha Volpe and Krystal Mensah-Stone. be 5 percent per month, up to a maximum defraud the United States could get you up of 25 percent on the tax due on your re- to five years in prison and a fine of up to turn. The minimum penalty is the smaller $250,000. These penalties could be appli- of $135 or 100 percent of your unpaid tax. cable to each and every instance of fraud Filing a frivolous return. If you file a conviction. April 2009 The Island Current Page Fifteen

brought some sandpaper from Nevins and erations of boys, and cleared it off to play Adventures of a Storyteller: showed me how to use it. He would stop by softball and football. People gave them used to make sure I was doing it right. Later, when leather football helmets and leather shoulder the sanding was done, he said, ‘Okay. You pads. I think young people miss out a bit to- Frank Hoffman wait and tonight I’ll bring you some paint.’ day,” Frank says. “We used to listen to radio, By BRUCE A. WEIS He brought me a little container of paint and to ‘Captain Midnight’ and ‘Jack Armstrong’ That’s all he talked about, never much about a used brush.” and ‘I Love a Mystery’ and ‘The Lone Rang- the war.” Frank found a book titled “The 29th “That was what City Island was all er.’ We used our imaginations to picture the Division” and discovered his father’s name about. These men, they built the boats and Lone Ranger with his horse and a silver bul- and serial number in the index; lo and behold, they loved boats, whether it was a rowboat or let. I guess with television you don’t have to in the book was a picture of that parade!” a millionaire’s yacht. They loved their work imagine anything.” Frank’s mother, Kathleen Bohan, was and they loved to see kids enjoying boats. If Frank remembers the Great Depression born in Ireland and sailed to the United you go to the City Island Nautical Museum, before World War II. “City Island was very States in 1915 aboard the White Star liner you’ll see a picture of Nils Halvorsen when hard hit during the Depression, very hard Arabic. “She was from a large family. There he was a very old man, probably more than hit. Boat-building ceased, and sailmakers were six children, and there was just nothing legally blind, where he lofted the Constella- got very slow. They did pick up a bit of work in Ireland,” he says. “My mother told me that tion.” from the 1937 America’s Cup, but not much. as the Arabic was going along the southern At one time, the Robert Jacobs Shipyard Things were pretty slow on City Island. Then coast of Ireland, they saw the Lusitania pass was where Consolidated is now. The Min- the Coast Guard came. They ran a fence on them at about noontime. That very afternoon, neford Yacht Yard was located where Minn- the south side of Belden Street, from where sailors informed the passengers that the Lus- efords is now but in the old days they built Johnny’s Reef parking lot is now, all the way itania had been torpedoed and had sunk. yachts where now they are simply marinas. to the water, then over to the Morris Yacht Frank couldn’t find a connection be- From the public school to the laundromat Club property, then down behind to where Photo by RICK DeWITT tween his mother’s ship and the Lusitania un- stood a large L-shaped structure that was Tony’s restaurant is. Frank Hoffman. til a few years ago, when a newly published the famous Henry B. Nevins yard, where The Coast Guard put in a gate and their Frank Hoffman is a clam digger in the book described the German submarine that Halvorsen worked. At the foot of east Car- own barracks. They had dozens of picket strictest sense of the term; he was born not in sank the Lusitania on May 1, 1915. Appar- roll Street, where the Boatyard Condomini- boats, with which they patrolled Long Island some mainland hospital to parents who hap- ently it had first tried to torpedo a passenger ums are now located, was Victor Anderson’s Sound for a certain distance east and the East pened to live on City Island, but physically ship that disappeared into a fog bank. The dock, which was the first marina In the Unit- River for a certain distance down into Man- on the Island. He arrived on New Year’s Day German captain identified that ship as theAr - ed States. “If you walked down that dock, it hattan. The sailors lived on City Island and 1932 in the front bedroom of the third house abic. “Thanks to the power of the Internet,” was like looking at Mrs. Astor’s 400. It was a used Duryea’s Restaurant (now the Lobster on the north side of Winter Street, behind Frank says, “I got a picture of the captain of beautiful dock.” Box) as a mess hall.” what is now Carman’s service station. Doc- the submarine and the submarine itself that “Before World War II, what remained of He went to St Mary, Star of the Sea tor Martin officiated. nearly sank my mother.” the big steam yachts were anchored off City School and graduated in 1945. “The war in A retired electrical engineer, Frank still Frank’s parents were part of the crowd Island. They were 100 feet or more in length, Europe was just about over, and the war in lives on City Island, with his wife, Barbara, of beachgoers that flooded City Island in the and they were mostly anchored on the east Japan was still going on when I graduated in in a large house on King Avenue that com- 1920s. They saw opportunity in a sign an- side of the island, in what they called City June of 1945.” Frank remembers his mother mands a panoramic view of City Island nouncing a land auction of lots on the prop- Island Harbor. The waterboats that serviced sitting in the convent one day a week, tak- Harbor. A past commodore of the City Is- erty that extended from Winter Street to Pell the yachts were close to 50 feet long, with ing turns with the other mothers while school land Yacht Club, Frank and Barbara sail ex- Place, Earley Street and Reynolds Street, so wooden tanks on them to carry water out to was in session, in case of an air raid. “Schools tensively, and each serves as a City Island they bought two lots on Winter Street and the yachts. The yachts were all steam driven would have been notified, but no one was in community leader. Frank’s journey from began building a house. When construction in those days and they didn’t have the where- the convent to answer the phone because the that front bedroom to 2009 is an interesting finished in 1927, John and Kathleen were withal to desalinize sea water.” nuns were teaching. So they always kept story, or rather a series of interesting stories. married at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Frank remembers looking out on East- a woman sitting there. My mother did that As he says, everything in life is a story. Manhattan and held a reception in their new chester Bay and seeing the remnants of the for the whole war.” He remembers support- Frank’s father, John Hoffman, was born City Island home. Prohibition was in force at oyster farms. “They actually had these things ing the troops: “The Sunday News sold for 5 in Jersey City and worked first for the Penn- the time, but, fortunately for those celebrat- partitioned off into sections controlled by cents. For my war effort, I used to get a stack sylvania Railroad and then the Edison Com- ing the marriage, City Island was a beehive different oystermen. There were big piles of of the papers for a nickel apiece and sell them pany (as his son later would). John served in of bootleggers and liquor flowed at their re- shells where Jack’s Bait is now. The oyster- to the sailors for a dime. I was probably a war France during World War I with the United ception. According to family legend, one of men used to bring the oysters in to the dock gouger.” States Army, having followed his younger the guests, a federal agent and a friend of there and shuck them. Many people used the When Frank was a student at St. Mary’s, brother into the service via the New Jersey the young couple, asked if he could have a broken oyster shells for driveways, like grav- the new school hadn’t been built yet. The National Guard in order to bypass an age re- couple of bottles to take home! el.” convent now located on Kilroe Street actu- striction. During Frank’s childhood, City Island Frank also remembers the hurricane of ally faced on Minneford Avenue. When the “My father went down to enlist,” Frank was much different from what it is today. “By 1938: “I was six years old. My mother told new school was built, the convent was jacked told The Current, “and at 27 years old, in the time I was five or six,” he says, “I could me there had been a big storm the night be- up and swung around on its lot. The present 1917, he was too old. They wanted their re- walk from Winter Street all the way to Belden fore and that there were boats up on the beach gymnasium, slightly expanded, is the actual cruits younger, although by the time the war Point without going through anybody’s yard down at the end of Winter Street. Men were building where he attended school. “The was over, they would take them up to the age and without walking on City Island Avenue, taking some boats off the street in carts.” He gymnasium and the classes were so small that of 45.” In order to join the Army, John Hoff- because there were so many vacant lots.” also recalls the WPA projects on City Island. there were two classes in one room. First and man first enlisted in the National Guard and Frank has a warm memory of a man “They put the sewer system in over the winter second grade together, third and fourth, and ended up serving with the 29th division. named Nils Halvorsen, who “lived on Ear- of 1938 and ‘39. And if I recall correctly, the fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth. One When the soldiers in the division re- ley Street and worked for Nevins boatyard. firehouse on City Island was part of a WPA sister would be teaching assignments to one turned from France, their colonel, who had I had gotten a rowboat from a boatyard, and project.” (Ironically, our firehouse, birthed in class, and then she would have to switch back some dealings with an Atlantic City hotel, it needed to be painted. I kept it in a vacant the Great Depression, is tentatively sched- and forth,” he laughs. “Some of us made it, asked the men to march in Atlantic City, lot across the street from where I lived, and uled to be cut back with the current economic some of us didn’t.” along the boardwalk. “They got their uni- I was using scraps of sandpaper on it one calamity, but that’s a different discussion). Frank Hoffman graduated from Evander forms cleaned and they were bused from day as Mr. Halvorsen was walking through “We played a lot of sports,” he Childs High School in 1949. He remembers Camp Dix. They had a wonderful parade the lot. I didn’t know him, but he came over recalls.”There were a lot of vacant lots. The the United States economy as a disaster. “In and a big party in the convention center. to me, looked at what I was doing, and said vacant lot down at the end of Winter Street Europe, the Marshall Plan had started, but ‘Stop, I’ll bring you some sandpaper.’ He was especially big.” Boys got together, gen- Europe wasn’t moving. Japan was . . . for- get about it. There wasn’t much going on.” He went directly from high school to a job at Wheelers Shipyard in Clauson Point in the Bronx and after a year on to Con Edison. “I worked about a year with Con Edison, but I was in the naval reserve at Fort Schuyler and Korea was cooking.” So Frank went to the West Coast and points west, and when he got out, he went to City College at night on the G.I. bill. “It paid off,” he says. Frank went back to work at Con Ed, where he got involved in electrical design. “I was a draftsman at first; then I got to be a supervisor and then I got to be a manager. Over the course of the years, I met an awful lot of really interesting people, a very diverse group. People in industry and real-estate de- velopers from Manhattan who were building something and who wanted to build some- thing on top of that. I worked for Con Edison for 42 years.” Frank received a copy of the system map of the Con Ed high-voltage system when he went to work there in 1951. “It got folded up and stuck in a desk drawer. I was in the same office, always on the 15th floor and always at the Third Avenue–14th Street corner. When it came time to move from one desk to another, I’d just pick everything up and move it. When I retired in 1993, I found the 1951 map. So I called and asked for a copy of the current map. I compared the two and found that only Continued on page 16 Page Sixteen The Island Current April 2009

Frank’s wife, née Barbara Healy, is also A Current Review Frank Hoffman active in the community, president of the City Continued from page 15 Island Garden Club, corresponding secretary “The Rainmaker” Shines! two circuits on the old map appear on the of the Civic Association and a trustee of the By PAUL NANI and RACHEL LANNICCI new one, the towers along the Sprain Brook Nautical Museum. “She’s a high-energy per- Parkway. Everything else is brand new.” son, like myself,” Frank says. Frank’s first Frank Hoffman is informed but unen- wife, with whom he raised three children, thusiastic about the pending City Island sus- died in 1983. His daughter, Kathleen Green, pension bridge. ”I personally think that the lives on City Island with her husband Peter design of the bridge is not the proper design and two sons. Frank’s son, John, is married for a community like City Island,” he says. “I and lives in Simsbury, Connecticut northwest think that a causeway bridge would be more of Hartford with his wife Ann and a son and appropriate for our island.” Frank favors a two daughters. His youngest child, Mary, pre-cast concrete design. “I can understand died tragically in 2004, leaving a child and a what they’re trying to achieve. They are husband Tony Shaw “a very, very good guy,” trying not to have any structures in water, says Frank, “They came up for Thanksgiving because of long-term maintenance require- and we saw them at Christmas, too.” ments. The foundations for the concrete span Frank is enthusiastic about the future. can go where they intend to put the land “I’ve been retired 16 years now, and I spend a foundations for this suspension bridge. The lot of time at the yacht club. We are going to pre-cast concrete span sections are cast off- continue boating, and Barbara and I do a lot site and are trucked to the construction site of traveling. We’ve made three trips to Eng- and put in place with cranes. On-site con- land and Ireland; we’ve been to France, to It- struction time would be greatly reduced and aly, and there are a few other places we’d like be cost affective. I think it would be more to go. We always plan that. I keep busy.” Photo by MARY McINTYRE attractive. They could put a stone façade on, Clearly there will be plenty more stories This scene from “The Rainmaker,” presented by the City Island Theater Group, similar to what they do on the parkways. for Frank to tell as he goes. features (from left to right): Scott Griffith, Torrey Rodriguez, Matt Regney, Elizabeth When they put stone on, it’s very durable and Paldino and John Garcia. it’s maintenance free. You don’t have to paint it. Look at the Triborough Bridge; they have The opening night of the City Island Lizzie more than he realizes. to paint it every couple of years. Same with Theater Group’s performance of “The The cast was well supported by the ever- the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges. Rainmaker” by N. Richard Nash was ac- talented and ever-dedicated people behind Maintenance on those bridges is a continu- companied by bad weather, but as usual the scenes. The set, built by Con Grondahl ing effort. Concrete would be a fraction of even rain did not dampen the size or the and John Byrne and designed by Dorothy the cost.” enthusiasm of the crowd on Friday night, Muccio, created a realistic farmhouse on Feb. 27, at the Grace Church Parish Hall. stage with a sheriff’s office and a tack room Indeed, the audience became so engrossed tucked cleverly into stage left and right. in the play that the arrival of rain on stage The hardworking production stage manager was welcomed with applause as the final was Maria Provenzano, who was supported curtain came down. by costume designers Carol McCabe (also Not to keep you in suspense, this show production manager) and Norma Kerner, was absolutely wonderful and we loved it. prop-mistress Barbara Dolensek, and light- What better way to kick off the 10th an- ing technician Susan Velchek. Susan Rauh niversary season of this staple of City Is- produced the attractive program. land culture than with a classic play and “The Rainmaker” was the first produc- a wonderful cast. Under the direction of tion of the season for the City Island Theater Nick Sala, the veteran players—John Gar- Group, which celebrates its 10th birthday cia, Elizabeth Paldino and Matthieu Reg- this year. The entire community owes an ney—and newcomers Scott Griffith, Torrey enormous debt of gratitude to this group for Rodriguez, Christopher Meindl and John the wonderful productions it has brought to Schwam—were at their best, bringing the City Island since it was formed in 1998 by hopes and trials of a 1930s drought-strick- Island residents Joe and Miriam Nixon. Pre- en ranch family to vibrant life. sentations have ranged from original one- “The Rainmaker,” which was effec- act plays to musicals, from Kiddy Kabarets tively directed by Nick Sala, tells the story to the first off Broadway production of John of the Curry family’s struggle not only with Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” and from fund- a persistent drought but with their concern raisers for P.S. 175 to Christmas caroling on about the future of daughter Lizzie, who is the City Island Seaside Trolley. approaching the age when women are sup- Staffed entirely by volunteers and posed to wed. We have to hand it to Eliza- funded by generous donations and grants beth Paldino, the only woman on stage. A from the community, the City Island The- veteran of seven CITG productions, she ater Group has entertained audiences with takes on each role with a passion and skill a wide range of superb theatrical perfor- that are heartwarming to watch. She bril- mances. And “The Rainmaker” was no liantly brought Lizzie Curry to life, trans- exception. We can hardly wait for the next forming a self-effacing plain Jane on the production, which will be Neil Simon’s verge of becoming a spinster into a pretty, “Rumors,” coming in May. Happy birthday, CITG, and many hap- confident woman capable of love. (914) 760-1106 But let’s not overlook the enthusiasm py returns! of the rest of the cast. Rumor has it that little brother Jimmy (the very talented Tor- rey Rodriguez) rushed off the stage in one scene and crashed into a wall, making a sizeable hole. Talk about throwing oneself into a part! Jimmy’s father, H.C. (beautifully played by Scott Griffith), was the epitome of a sympathetic father caring for three adult children each heading in a different direction—Jimmy into a possibly foolish love affair, Noah (played very expressively by Matt Regney) into a cranky middle age, and Lizzie into spinsterhood. H.C. is a man weathered by life but still possessing the ability to dream. Just when all hope seems lost for the family, into their lives comes a dashing con man named Starbuck, a traveling dreamer who promises the family that he can make it rain if they will pay him $100. John Gar- cia played Starbuck with great style, burst- ing onto the stage with his star-studded belt buckle gleaming at the audience and promising not only rain but also the hope of love for the skeptical Lizzie. However, he too must confront his own dreams and decide whether or not he really believes in them. Moments of drama and humor and on-stage fisticuffs were provided by the sheriff (a gruff but likeable John Schwam) and his deputy, File (sensitively played by Christopher Meindl), who is attracted to April 2009 The Island Current Page Seventeen

By JOHN SHERIDAN and MARIA SUTHERLAND

Do You Speak Butterfly? The way up the mountain of the Mon- arch butterfly reserve known as Cerro Pel- Imagine there was a place you could lon in the Mexican state of Michoacan is go where you could feel color, taste music crude. A healthy man or woman can hike or touch an aroma in the air. Would you go? it in roughly three hours. By horse, it is Our trip to see the Monarch butterflies was approximately one hour and 45 minutes, that kind of magical experience. the last 15 minutes of which must be done Actually, this was a trip that began a on foot. As you begin your journey up the few years ago, in our own backyard. As mountainside, there is not one butterfly in we have written previously in “Sights and sight. Upon reaching the 9,000-foot eleva- Sounds,” the Monarch butterflies that we tion point, the scenery drastically changes. see on City Island in late summer and early The rewards of your arduous climb, as you fall are mostly migrants. They are on their will quickly see, are well worth the effort. way south, to their age-old mating grounds First, there are the sheer numbers of in the mountains of Mexico. What we have butterflies—millions upon millions of them also noted in this column is that the indi- in the air, on the ground, in the trees. It is a vidual butterflies we see passing through staggering sight that strains credulity. The are as many as four generations removed colors you see could easily be mistaken from the last individuals that left the same for a spectacular display of fall foliage but mountaintops the previous spring. How they are actually Monarchs on trees. The they know their way back to the same trees branches themselves droop—and in many on the same mountains is a mystery that cases break—from the weight of so many has tantalized scientists for decades. butterflies in one place. And when the sun- light comes around the mountaintop and hits the branches of the fir trees, there is a rush of sound, a whoosh, as thousands of butterflies fly off the branch into the sun- TowBOAT/U.S. light. It is indeed a pure spectacle of sight City Island and sound. COTTAM For us, this fluttering sound of millions of butterfly wings was what was most im- pressive about Cerro Pellon. It was as if the butterflies were communicating in some way: with each other, with us. It was hum- bling to be there surrounded by this wonder of nature. We cannot imagine readers of this column not feeling the same. As always, we can be contacted at [email protected], or write us care of The RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • ALTERATIONS • EXTENTIONS Island Current, P.O. Box 6, City Island, NY 10464.

Richard B. Chernaik, M.D. An Alternative to Supermarket Medicine

Board Certified Internist Associate Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Active in teaching medical students at Montefiore Medical Center ]] I don’t belong to any HMO. I don’t believe medicine can be practiced on TH PAINTING SPECIAL: EXPIRES JUNE 30 , 2009 the run. Good care requires a compre- hensive history, a complete physical examination and, above all, meticulous attention to detail. RICHARD B. CHERNAIK, M.D. ]] MEDICARE ACCEPTED 100 Elgar Place, Building 35 Telephone (718) 320-2188 Page Eighteen The Island Current April 2009

Earl E. Rickard Jr. Hotel. He is survived by his son, Earl Rickard Former Islander Earl “Spider” Rick- III of Reno, Nevada; his daughter, Marianne ard passed away on Dec. 7, 2008, in Lake McGlynn, and son-in-law, William McG- Worth, Florida. He was 87. The Current will print obituaries free of charge upon noti- lynn of Lantana, Florida; and sister-in-law, fication by a member of the deceased’s immediate family. Earl was born in the Bronx on June 19, Ruth Tremamunno of the Bronx; and three Call 718-885-0760 or write to P.O. Box 6, City Island, NY 1921. His father, Earl Sr., was a professional nieces. 10464, including your telephone number. singer-comedian; his mother Vera was a reg- istered nurse. Young Earl often traveled the Claire Gray vaudeville circuit with his parents. He also spent many summers on City Island, finally Claire Meany Gray, a longtime resident settling down on the Island with his mother of City Island, died peacefully on March in the early 1930s. 16, 2009. After graduating from P.S. 17, Earl at- Claire was born in the Bronx on April tended Evander Childs High School, where 3, 1930, to the late Margaret Jones and Jo- Vinnie Hecker. he lettered with the swim team. He loved seph Meany. Raised on City Island, Claire 13, 2009, at the James J. Peters VA Medical sports and played football for the City Island graduated from St. Mary, Star of the Sea Minnefords and Americans. Earl played on Center. School, Villa Maria Academy and the Col- St. Mary’s CYO basketball teams in the late lege of New Rochelle. Vinnie, a true clam digger, was born on 1930s and early 1940s, a time when the She married Hugh Roger Gray on May City Island on April 23, 1942, and gradu- nickname “Spider” took hold. He was so ated from P.S. 17 in 1955. He served as a well known by that name that he once told 30, 1953. They raised three children on U.S. Marine from 1959 to 1963 and was a someone to send him a postcard addressed City Island and were active participants in member of the American Legion Leonard to Spider, City Island, and he got it. the community. After retiring to Cape Cod, Hawkins Post 156. Earl married Vera Toelberg in St. Mary, Claire, who was an avid golfer, was a mem- He loved fishing and telling jokes and Star of the Sea Church on June 24, 1945; ber of the Lady Niners Golf Club, and she funny stories. He worked at the Club as a their marriage lasted 58 years until Vera’s also enjoyed playing bridge and traveling. bartender for many years and later at the passing in 2003. Claire is survived by her husband; her William McDaniel holding an award he American Legion. During his years of ser- Earl served in the U.S. Army during three children, Patricia Gray (married to World War II and joined the Leonard H. received from the ASPCA. vice he held many titles and offices. Thomas Martin) of Closter, New Jersey, Hawkins Post 156 of the American Legion and Peter Gray (married to Mary Aiello) William McDaniel Vinnie is survived by his only child, in 1945. He was elected commander in Vincent Raymond Hecker III, and his of New Rochelle; and eight grandchildren: William Dana McDaniel, a lifelong 1948, the same year the Post’s current home daughter-in-law, Sharon Hecker, and his Ryan and Lindsay Fallon, Stan and Keith City Island resident, passed away at his went up for sale. Earl was instrumental in stepgrandchildren. purchasing the building in 1949. Even after Martin, and Zachary, Dylan, Jared and Jor- home on Feb. 26, 2009, after a long and dan Gray. She is survived by her sisters, courageous battle with cancer. moving to Florida, Earl retained his mem- bership in the Post for 63 continuous years. Margaret Fennel of City Island, Mary Ann Growing up on Marine Street, Bill was In 1999, the Post awarded him a life mem- Clayton of South Yarmouth, and Noreen a third-generation clam digger and spent his bership. Malone of Greensboro, North Carolina. summers as a young man on Long Island In the late 1940s, Earl began a 50-year She was predeceased by her older brother, Sound, assisting his grandfather on his wa- career in the liquor and restaurant business. William Meany. ter boat, The Arbus. As a teen, Bill worked As a salesman for Key Liquors in the 1950s, Claire was loved by all who knew her alongside his father at the Minneford Yacht he had many restaurant accounts in Man- and will be remembered for her kindness, hattan and Westchester County, including Yard, where he had the opportunity to wit- strength, humanity and a gentle, generous Toots Shor’s. During the 1960s, Earl ran the ness the golden age of boat building and spirit. yachting on City Island. His ever-present bar and restaurant operation of the Morris Yacht and Beach Club on City Island. He At the family’s request, donations may love of the sea continued through adven- be made in Claire’s memory to the Alumni tures on The Gaspe, which took him all found time during those years to coach St. Mary’s basketball teams, first in the late Fund of the College of New Rochelle, care over the New England coast as he crewed 1940s and again from 1962 to 1964. of the Advancement Office, 29 Castle Place, for his father on many family trips. Earl moved his family to Lake Worth, New Rochelle, NY 10805. Bill found his calling with the New Florida, in 1969 and became the dining York City Fire Department in 1968. His room manager at the Palm Beach Ocean dedication led to multiple citations for Randall Peterson. bravery and heroism in Ladder Company 38 and Engine 88 in the Bronx. On one oc- Randall Peterson casion, after he pulled a woman from a fire and passed her on to one of his firefighter Randall Peder Peterson, a longtime Is- colleagues, she screamed for her dog. Be- land resident and accomplished New York ing an animal lover himself, Bill went back City dock builder, died on Feb. 14, 2009, into the blaze and rescued her beloved pet. at Calvary Hospital. He was 65. From then on he was known as “the Woof,” Although he began his career with a nickname that he enjoyed and was hon- a private firm, Randall proudly became a ored to be called. member of dock builders’ Local Union Bill became a piper in the FDNY Em- #1456 and worked his way up to foreman. erald Society, which enabled him to ex- Much of his work still stands in the waters plore his beloved Scottish heritage. He was that surround New York City, including the promoted to lieutenant in 1988 and retired dock on the east end of Fordham Street. from Ladder Company 3, Battalion 6, in A clam digger in the truest sense, Ran- 1996. His career was spent doing what he dall was one of the few people actually loved most, being with his brother firefight- born on City Island—in a car, on the way to ers and serving the public for a rewarding the hospital, on March 19, 1943. After his 27 years. childhood and subsequent graduation from Bill’s greatest joys in life, however, Columbus High School, Randall joined the were his family and friends. He met his Marines. He served for four years and was wife, Netta, at the Airways on Fordham deployed around the world, most notably in Street, and they were married in 1969. Okinawa. They moved into a house on City Island, In 1965, after returning home, Ran- where they raised two children, Billy and dall married Alana Jean Penny, who pre- Janet, who survive him. Bill is also sur- deceased him by five years, nearly to the ANTHONY J. vived by his brother, Russell, of Old Say- day. brook, Connecticut, his sister, Kim Latour, As a retired man and devoted father, of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and his grand- grandfather, uncle, brother and son, Randall daughter, Sabrina Joy Thomas, of Ewing, donated much of his time in later years to RIBUSTELLO New Jersey. his loved ones. He took care of his mother FOR Many Islanders will remember seeing and spent much of his time helping friends. Bill faithfully walking his loyal companion He took an active role in the West Fordham BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT Street Beach Club and lent his expertise to Sandy, whom he rescued after the dog was “Striving to make the Bronx a beautiful place abandoned on City Island. the construction of its dock. He also spent His life was celebrated at St. Mary, over 20 years as a City Island Little League to live, work and raise a family” Star of the Sea on March 4, 2009, and he umpire. • Protecting our children from violent predators was laid to rest at Pelham Cemetery. Pipers Randall is survived by his mother, played as friends gathered to honor a won- Nelly; his children, Nancy, Pattie, Debbie • Improving the quality of life for our Seniors derful man who will be greatly missed. and Randy; his grandchildren, Kyle, Alana, Chloe, Eric, and Lilly; his sister, Linda, and • Fighting to keep our firehouses open for our community Vincent Hecker his brother, Ronald. Tuesday, April 21, 2009, Polls open from 6 am to 9 pm Funeral services were held on Feb. Vincent Raymond Hecker Jr., a life- 18, 2009, at the Trinity United Methodist PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF ANTHONY J. RIBUSTELLO long Island resident, passed away on Feb. Church on City Island. April 2009 The Island Current Page Nineteen

your attention. Saturday, April 4, starting at 10 a.m., is the clean-up day down at the field and in the clubhouse. If you can man- age to volunteer for a couple of hours, that would be very helpful. Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m., is the opening day ceremony for all Right off the bat, we are off to a great the players and their families. Hot dogs and ______start! Registration is now complete. In ad- sports drinks will be enjoyed by all, cour- FINE ART PORTRAITS: Studio on City Island. TOYS, GAMES, PUZZLES, PUPPETS, craft kits dition to our faithful Little Leaguers, many More than 30 years of photographic experience. & more! Now at Exotiqa 718-885-3090 or shop tesy of the City Island Little League. ______Call Ron Terner at 718-885-1403. ______online at www.themagicofgifts.com. new players have enrolled in this year’s 2009 This season we are placing an empha- MOVERS! No job too big or small! Van or Truck. PASSPORT PHOTOS taken at Focal Point Gal- City Island Little League. T-ball is available sis on getting more parents involved in the Free Estimates. Call Rich, the Mover: 718-650- lery 321 City Island Avenue. Call Ron at 718- to our youngest players, who will learn the 885-1403. program. If you want to step up to the plate, ______7515. ______fundamentals of swinging a bat and fielding 34 Ft. SLIP FOR RENT AT NORTH MINNEFORD PORTRAIT PARTY FAVORS: Make your next there are four committees you can join that YACHT CLUB: Reasonable: 305-215-0057 or event memorable for your guests. Add a portrait a ball. There will be lots of healthy com- will focus on the opening day ceremony, ______718 885-1935. station to your next special events. Every guest petition among our minor and major league field maintenance, the concession stand and BELTOP PAVING INC: Asphalt paving, drive- will go home with a framed full color portrait of teams. Our seasoned City Island players are ways, parking areas, sidewalks. Fully licensed & themselves. Our professionally prepared and pre- trophy day. If you would like to participate ______insured. Call Nick 718 994-9533. sented color portraits are party favors that will be on a travel team, the Juniors, which will or simply want more information, please RESUMES WRITTEN, EDITED, LAID OUT: From cherished for years. Call 718-885-1403 or stop be managed by Charlie Kreig and coached contact Sally Connolly at sallypconnolly@ actors to lawyers. Concise, professional, supe- ______by Focal Point Gallery, 321 City Island Avenue. by his son, Keith Kreig, who plays varsity Jewelry designed & repaired: Gold, silver, aol.com. rior. Get to the next level. Call Katie 718-885- baseball for Mercy College. ______2929. ______pearl & bead re-stringing. Exotiqa 718-885-3090. Sally Page Connolly EUROPEAN WOMAN CLEANS ON CITY FOR SALE: New Construction 2 family 76A & I want to bring two important dates to ISLAND: Thorough work, excellent references. 76B Winter Street, City Island with detached 2 ______Call 347-603-2834. ­­______car garages. Call for details. 718 994-9533. NOT JUST SMALL JOBS: Carpentry-Remodel- FANTASTIC ONLINE PROFILES WRITTEN: ing-Repairs. Doors, windows, furniture repair, Reveal your best self and head towards that ______painting, locks, etc. Michael 718-885-1580. special love connection you deserve. Call Katie PIANO LESSONS: Lifetime experience teaching ______­718 855-2929. children and adults. My home on a Steinway LEARN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Photoshop Grand Piano. Flexible hours. Call Diana 718- 7 or black and white photography, developing ______885-2091. film, printing, camera techniques. Call Ron 718- 718-885-3400 AVON REPRESENTATIVE: Avon is not just ­­______885-1403. cosmetics. Jewelry, clothes, vitamins, videos, VOICE LESSONS: Ages middle school through complete line of children’s gifts, toys and more. adult. My home studio. Suffering from sleep ______Ask for catalogue. Call Emily 718-885-2430. apnea? Singing strengthens your throat mus- WEBSITES CREATED: Effective, great-looking cles, which helps eliminate the effects of apnea. websites from scratch or your old website fixed ______­Flexible hours. Call Diana 718-885-2091. Catering for All Occasions up. Easy, affordable, quick. Call Katie 718-885- TAX PREP/ACCOUNTING: Personal/Business/ ______2929. Extensions: All States and Federal. By City WE DELIVER RAT ISLAND FOR SALE: $300,000. Call Red Island renter. 18 years experience. Home ser- ______Brennen 561-747-7733. vice, delivery. Reasonable rates. Senior dis- THERE’S A COMPUTER GURU right in your counts. E-mail [email protected] or call neighborhood. City Island resident with over ______­(646)213-7576. 25 years of computer experience can repair CITY ISLAND SOUVENIRS: T Shirts, Sweat- any software or hardware problem. Instruc- shirts, mugs, life rings & postcards. Exotiqa 718 tion available for all new PC owners. I even ______885-3090. make house calls. References available. Call BOAT SUPPLIES: BURCK’S 526 City Island ______“Joe, the Computer Guy” 718-885-9366. Avenue Bronx, New York 718 885-1559. Cus- MASSAGE THERAPY in the privacy of your ______tomer parking. Mastercard/Visa. home. Gift certificates, references avail- HOUSE FOR SALE ON CITY ISLAND: New con- ______able. John Raimondi, L.M.T. 718-885-0619. struction. Duplex with 3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths, KEYBOARD PLAYER AVAILABLE: I play smooth living room, dining room, full basement, wood and gentle music for special events. References floors, central air/gas heat, granite countertops, ______available. Call Diana at 718-885-2091. mahogany deck, center of town, beach access. PHOTO RESTORATION: Take old photographs ­­______Call 347-920-1567. and have them restored like new. Copies made from negatives or prints. Framing available as YOUR AD COULD BE HERE ______well. Call Ron 718-885-1403.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1973

CALL FOR OPEN HOUSE & REGISTRATION2007 FOR 2009/2010

HARDWARE HOUSEHOLD GOODS MARINE GOODS PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES SPRING CLEAN-UP SUPPLIES Page Twenty The Island Current April 2009

celebrating his 16th birthday on April 30 with Happy April 25 birthday to our Tale- friends and family. Congratulations! bearer, Maria Swieciki, with lots of love from Birthday greetings on April 19 to Eileen your family. Scott, with best wishes from your friends and Speedy recovery to Horton Street’s Arthur family. Rauhauser, who had heart valve surgery in Happy birthday on April 25 to Chase March at New York Hospital with follow-up Bank’s Brenda Winston, with best wishes cardiac rehab at Burke in White Plains. Get from the Chase staff and your many City well soon, Ducky! Island friends and customers. Maria Swieciki Information for the Talebearer must be received in writing no later than the 15th of the month except July and December. Mail to The Island Current, P.O. Box 6, City Island, NY 10464; include your name and telephone number.

Finn Beckett Schweter with his parents, Zach and Elizabeth, and brother Jack.

Mary Dannegger

Birthday hugs and kisses to our “Aunt Sunday, April 19th - 1 to 4 P.M. Judy” Iovieno on April 23, with love from Maria and Bob, Stephen, Bobby and li’l Maria. Happy birthday on April 14 to Mari Doyle, with love from your family. Congratulations to Mary Dannegger, who recently placed ninth in the first round of competition of the NCAA Fencing Champi- onships held at MIT. Mary, who just started fencing when she began attending Sacred Heart University four years ago, was also Dan Treiber and Reina Brill at their wed- FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED named to the 2nd Team All Northeast Con- ding on March 22, 2009 S B ference. EN RO Birthday wishes go out to Anne McIntyre W S on April 22 and also to her mom, Peggy . Eberhart, who will celebrate her big day on O Tr e e Se r v i c e April 26. It’s a boy! Welcome to the newest resident * Tree Removal Family Owned of Fordham Street, Finn Beckett Schweter, & Operated For son of Zachary and Elizabeth Schweter and • Trimming brother of Jack. Finn arrived on Feb. 7. • Stump Grinding Over 50 Years Happy birthday to Jack Strnad, who turns Bronx Located 14 on April 28, with love and best wishes from your family. Marine Street’s David Butterworth will be www.owensbrostreeservice.com 718-885-0914 DR. STEVE’S APPLIANCE SERVICE “We offer free pickup and 1 Year guarantee on parts. delivery” 25 Years of Experience on All Brands

Ow n e d a n d Op e r a t e d 718-671-0700 b y a Ci t y Is l a n d Re s i d e n t

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN TO: MOVING? ISLAND CURRENT, P.O. BOX 6, CITY ISLAND, NY 10464 NAME______OLD ADDRESS______APT. #______CITY______STATE______ZIP______NEW ADDRESS______APT. #______CITY______STATE______ZIP______PLEASE ALLOW 6-8 WEEKS FOR CHANGE TO TAKE EFFECT.

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