Periodicals Paid at Bronx, N.Y. USPS 114-590 Volume 46 Number 4 May 2017 One Dollar He then introduced the 2016 CILL board members: Vice President Arturo Mazzeo, BLUstery BASEBALL WITH Treasurer George Spencer, Player Agent Edward Esposito, Safety Officer Maria Piri, SUNNY SMILES Concession Stand Managers James and Sue By KAREN NANI Goonan, and Equipment Manager Lou Lo- monaco. Several of these board members have served multiple terms on the board. As the weather warms up and the winds die down, head down to Ambrosini Field next to P.S. 175 and catch some of the excit- ing games between the following teams: Minor League Teams and Coaches Seafood City: Dom Esposito and Arturo Mazzeo Jacks Bait & Tackle: Robert Riordan and Corley Schaller Local 79 Laborers: Brian Kenny, Greg Penny and Brian Moynihan “Sponsor funds are used to keep league Major League Teams and Coaches fees manageable for our parents and give us American Legion Post 156: James the means to purchase top of the line equip- Goonan and Paul Mazzella ment and new uniforms,” Mr. Esposito ex- Sammy’s Fish Box: John Burton and plained. In addition, he thanked City Island Brian Kenny Insurance for funding the CILL clubhouse Gilder Scholarship: Anthony Piri and improvements. Continued on page 5 CI COMMUNITY VS. DON COQUI By BARBARA DOLENSEK One of the most popular restaurants on continued into 2016, and the management City Island is Don Coqui, which opened did not say that outdoor parties will cease. with great fanfare in early 2014. But some Between May 1 and October 31, 2016, of its practices, especially loud noise after there were 84 complaints to 311, most of midnight and traffic congestion caused by which related to noise and illegal parking. valet parking, have annoyed, even angered, The police department responded to 19 of a large number of residents. Don Coqui’s li- the 311 calls regarding noise (39 total). quor license is up for renewal this spring, and Unrelated to these issues, both Don Co- the executive board of the City Island Civic qui and Portofino were closed for a week in Association, on behalf of its members, has April due to a gas main leak on City Island asked Community Board 10 to refuse to ap- Avenue that took Con Edison a few days to prove the renewal unless changes are made at repair. the restaurant. On Jan. 20 of this year, the Civic Asso- Don Coqui is located at 565 City Island ciation notified Community Board 10 that Avenue, where Anna’s Harbor stood for years Don Coqui was advertising dancing on the until it was replaced by the Lighthouse, a sit- Internet, although dancing is not allowed Photos by KAREN NANI down restaurant that had a short-lived run in in establishments that do not have a caba- The baseball tradition dating back to 1900 continued on City Island with Little League 2013. When the Lighthouse closed, its man- ret license. The post was changed within a opening day on April 8. League president, Dom Esposito (second photo), showed off the agement carried over to Don Coqui, which month. renovated clubhouse and presented a trophy to coach James Goonan (photo above, continued to operate on the old establish- When the Community Board held a right), whose 10-year-old boys were runners-up in the Bronx Invitational Tournament in ment’s liquor license, thus avoiding a new meeting of its Economic Development Com- 2016. New York State Senator Jeff Klein joined other political representatives and the hearing/review process by the City Island mittee to discuss a number of liquor license American Legion color guard (top photo) for the season opener. community or Bronx Community Board 10. renewals, about 20 Island residents were in It also added an outdoor space for customers, attendance to protest the Don Coqui renewal It was a windy start to the 2017 City Is- for boys 10 years of age and younger. Anoth- where loud music was frequently heard well unless changes were made. These changes land Little League (CILL) season on April er group of City Island 12-year-old boys then into the morning hours. include a restriction on outdoor parties, the 8, but the boys and girls of summer turned went undefeated in the fall season, adding to Much to the surprise of City Island return to a closing time of 1 a.m. every day out to meet their new coaches and teammates the success of CILL’s traveling teams. residents, John Marano, then chair of the and a plan to rectify traffic conditions caused with enthusiasm. In his second year as presi- The president then introduced the spe- Community Board, wrote to the New York by the inadequate parking in the lot, which dent, Dom Esposito welcomed the players, cial guests in attendance on opening day, State Liquor Authority approving the re- is shared with Portofino. Nearly all City Is- coaches and special guests who gathered on including New York State Senator Jeff Klein newal of Don Coqui’s liquor license in May land restaurants close at midnight or 1 a.m., Ambrosini Field to usher in the new season and representatives from Mayor Bill Di Bla- 2014 without conferring with the rest of the so this is not seen as an unreasonable request. and recognize some recent triumphs. sio and Congressman Joseph Crowley’s of- board or anyone on City Island. In that re- As of press time, the restaurant’s website He led the players in the Little League fices. He thanked the Leonard H. Hawkins newal, the name of the restaurant was offi- lists the closing hours as 12 midnight Sunday pledge to begin the ceremony: “I trust in Post 156 flag bearers Mike Jawski, Bob cially changed to Don Coqui, the use of a DJ through Thursday and 4 a.m. for Friday and God, I love my country and will respect its Salerno, Peter Del Debbio and Joe Goonan was approved, and the hours were extended Saturday and offers outdoor dining. laws. I will play fair and strive to win, but for providing the color guard for the fes- from midnight to 1 a.m. Sunday night, 2 a.m. For unexplained reasons, Thomas Ac- win or lose, I will always do my best.” tivities. Mr. Esposito acknowledged the all- Monday through Wednesday, and 3:30 a.m. comando, chair of the committee, ignored Mr. Esposito then made a special presen- important sponsors and asked that Islanders Thursday through Saturday. their complaints and prepared to ask the full tation like those when a professional baseball show their appreciation by patronizing these On Sept. 2, 2015, after several noise Community Board for approval on Thursday, team hoists a pennant or World Series flag on establishments and causes: JP’s Restaurant, complaints were conveyed to the City Island April 20. However, further pressure from the opening day of the following season. He pre- Sammy’s Fish Box, American Legion Post Civic Association and posted on social me- City Island Civic Association and various in- sented the runner’s-up trophy to the traveling 156, the Gilder Scholarship Fund, Seafood dia, the Civic held a special meeting between dividuals, plus the fact that the restaurant’s team coach, James Goonan, for the team’s City, Jacks Bait & Tackle, Local 79 Labor- the then-management and 25 Island resi- certificates of occupancy had expired some success in the Bronx Invitational Tourna- ers, Crab Shanty, Seashore Restaurant, Dug- dents, who aired their grievances about out- years ago, resulted in a delay to a future ment last summer. The team came in second out Sporting Goods, Amanda Bear Party door parties and excessive noise. Although meeting pending the receipt of additional in- place in the highly competitive tournament Rentals, and the City Island Theater Group. some changes were promised, the complaints formation from the Department of Buildings and the NYS Liquor Authority. Page Two The Island Current May 2017 BRIEFLY... Traffic Plan a No Go Correction In Judy Rauh’s article about Charles will take place on Tuesday, May The traffic plan initiated on Easter BRONX MASONS BLOOD DRIVE August Buhl that ran in the April issue, 9, from 3:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 113 Bay Street. Almost Sunday, the latest in a series of strate- please note that he had four daughters, anyone between the ages of 17 and 75, weighing a minimum of 110 pounds and in good gies, met with considerable protests by not five: Vera, Florence, Marian and Dor- general health, can be a blood donor. Photo or signature ID and Social Security Number are Island residents who found that it took a othy. apologizes for the er- required at the time of donation. Refreshments, including pizza, will be provided. Please very long time to get home. Cars coming The Current ror. come and give the gift of life. from the Orchard Beach Road were not allowed to enter the circle but had to go BRONX MASONS CLOTHING DRIVE will be held on Saturday, June back to Shore Road and enter the circle 3, at 241 City Island Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If possible, please put men’s, women’s after passing by Turtle Cove. After re- VHF-Ch 16 Capt. Dan and children’s donations into separate bags for easy distribution. All donations will be ceiving many complaints, police officers 718-885-3420 going to POTS (Part of the Solution) on Webster Avenue. The Masons will also have a yard were instructed to let drivers through if sale on June 3 and 4.