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VOL. 1, NO. 17 — THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
TAKE THE LOCAL — IT'S FREE
A DAY TO HONOR AND REMEMBER
MEMORIAL DAY
Loose Cannon | Nugent Views | Petty Cache | Things to Do
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Brighton Beach Memoirs In SI By Dan Guarino
For one night only, get ready for a different theatrical experience. On Tuesday, June 13, the Richmond County Repertory Company is presenting a fullcast stage reading of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. At 7 p.m. the Jewish Community Center at 1466 Manor Road will provide the stage as a group of talented actors brings Simon’s semi-autobiographical play to life. In the play, Eugene, a young teenage Jewish boy, recalls his adolescence living in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn in 1937 with his parents, brother, aunt, and two cousins. It was the first of Simon's three coming-of-age plays following Eugene. Brighton Beach Memoirs was famously followed by Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound SI actor/director Fred Grieco, who plays the character Jack, noted “JCC has been asking me
to put on a "theatrical" performance for months. This show came to mind immediately since I did it with the Rockaway Theatre Company in 2012. The original cast, except one, from that production will reprise their roles. “The show was done just before Hurricane Sandy hit. Our final performance was done with evacuation sirens going off!” This performance is directed by Susan Corning and stars Frank Caiati, Lynda Browing, Caroline Rohde, Danny Velez and Grieco. Since this is a one night only event, and with rehearsals limited, it will be presented as a "staged reading" - no sets, or costumes, actors acting from scripts with minimal stage movement. But guaranteed, you’ll laugh, and sometimes cry, just as hard. For info/tickets call 718-4755262.
The North Shore Local
MEMORIAL DAY 2017
By Dan Guarino
Thousands will once again salute those who have fallen in service to the United States, as the 99th annual Staten Island Memorial Day Parade steps off on Monday, May 29. About 3,000 people are expected to line the parade route. Starting at 12 noon, it will proceed on Forest Avenue from Hart Boulevard to Jewett Avenue. Hundreds of veterans, veterans’ groups, community organizations, marching bands, neighborhood, faith and school groups, businesses and other contingents are expected to proudly participate. Those marching will be assembling at Hart Boulevard between Castleton Avenue and Forest Avenue, on Elwood Place between Walbrooke and Randall Avenues, along Delafield Avenue between Walbrooke and Randall and at Gregg Place between Walbrooke and Randall.
Other events will include a Memorial Day Mass at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Pity on Richmond Avenue, with refreshments afterwards. The Elks Lodge on Richmond Avenue will host a Memorial Day BBQ following parade. VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) members marching are welcome as free guests. Others are $10 per person. Memorial Day originally started as Decoration Day after the Civil War, when citizens and fellow soldiers came out to decorate and honor the graves of the 620,000 lost in that conflict. In the midst of WWI, Moina Michael summed up that tradition of remembrance best when she wrote: “We cherish too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.”
DIDN’T GET THE LOCAL DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR? Don’t fret, you can pick one up at any of the following locations MANOR/CLOVE ROAD The Roadhouse – 1400 Clove Road Manor Restaurant – 917 Manor Road A & C Superette - 884 Manor Road C-Town - 778 Manor Road VICTORY BLVD NEWSRACK – 1785 Victory Blvd. Little Victory Theater - 4089 Victory Blvd. Mobile Gas - 2525 Victory Blvd. Victory Blvd Bagels and Buns - 2491 Victory Blvd. Joseph Ashley Salon- 2451 Victory Blvd. GTS Auto Parts - 956 Jewett Avenue Citibank - 1910 Victory Blvd. Staten Island Diner 1877 Victory Blvd Castleton Corners Pub - 1815 Victory Blvd. Met Food - 1795 Victory Blvd. Northfield Bank - 1731 Victory Blvd. The Veranda Cafe at Silver Lake Golf Course - 915 Victory Blvd. FOREST AVE NEWSRACK- 1226 Forest Ave. Planet Fitness - 2040 Forest Ave. BCB Bank - 1500 Forest Ave .
Santander - 1460 Forest Ave. Northfield Bank - 1481 Forest Ave . Richmond County Savings Bank - 1351 Forest Ave. Stop & Shop- 1351 Forest Ave Forest Ave. NEWSRACK - 1226 Forest Ave. Investors Bank- 1200 Forest Ave. Eggers Ice Cream Parlor- 1194 Forest Ave. Brighton Car Wash - 823 Forest Ave. YMCA - 651 Broadway Santander - 800 Forest Ave. Pastosa - 764 Forest Ave. Victory State Bank - 755 Forest Ave. NEWSRACK - 650 FOREST AVE Northfield Bank - 519 Forest Ave. Kings Arms Diner - 500 Forest Ave. Starbucks - 480 Forest Ave. Santander - 475 Forest Ave. NEWSRACK - 450 Forest Ave. Citibank- 445 Forest Ave. Beans & Leaves - 422 Forest Ave. HO’BRAH - 412 Forest Ave. Capital One - 386 Forest Ave.
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Liberty Tavern - 382 Forest Ave. Jody’s - 372 Forest Ave. BROADWAY Johnny’s Auto Body-267 Broadway YMCA- 651 Broadway HENDERSON AVE Vinny’s Deli-500 Henderson Ave. Union Hall - 502 Henderson Ave. CASTLETON AVE Wicked Stitches- 840 Castleton Ave. Dick’s Deli- 857 Castleton Ave. ST. GEORGE NEWSRACK- Ferry Passenger Drop-Off Court House – 23 Central Ave. St. George Theater – 35 Hyatt Street St. George Library – 5 Central Ave. Ruddy and Deans - 44 Richmond Terrace RICHMOND TERRACE Staten Island Children’s Museum- 1000 Richmond Terrace
The North Shore Local
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Page 3
Spiritual Journey
Rabbi Sam Kastel by Rabbi Sam Kastel
Throughout their history, Jews have been divided about the right way to serve G-d. Is the Torah (Bible) a literal document or must we consider or obey rabbinical interpretation. If the Rabbis have a seat at the table, which rabbi or movement should we heed. Should we follow Hillel (First Century Rabbi known for Liberal and Universalist interpretations) or
Shamai (Hillel’s rival known for more stringent rulings)? Chassidic mysticism or Lithuanian (Litvak) Yeshiva Legalism? Lubavitch (Chabad) or Satmar? Ultra or Modern Orthodox? Conservative, Reform or Reconstruction Judaism? I am the Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (CBJ), Staten Island’s oldest Jewish Congregation. CBJ is affiliated with Judaism’s Conservative movement which has nothing to do with political ideology, as Liberals, Conservatives and moderates all attend our services. Conservative Judaism aims for the middle ground between fidelity to tradition, custom and ancient interpretation and adapting to an ever changing and drastically different world than that of ancient Israel or 18th century Europe. My spiritual journey differs considerably from that of other Rabbis that preside over Conservative Synagogues. I grew up Lubavitch in Crown Heights
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and was ordained at a Chabad Seminary in Brazil. I became disenchanted with Chassidism and ultra-Orthodoxy and “went off the derech” (off the path), a euphemism in Orthodox circles for ending strict personal religious observance. Growing up in a Chabad home, life seemed simple. The manual was basically the Torah through the lens of the Chabad rebbes. Any other view of Judaism, even within the Orthodox community, was wrong, it was just a question of degree of wrongness. My non-Hassidic but still very Orthodox cousins were perceived as well meaning, but misguided because they didn’t follow Lubavitch doctrine. This line of thinking didn’t work for me. The idea that our little shtetl in Crown Heights had all the answers (answers direct from Moses on Sinai) and everybody else was wrong seemed more like pride and egotism than genuinely G-d’s
will. Unlike the guys I grew up with (if they were questioning things they didn’t talk about it), I lacked the comfort of just going along with the program. My rejection of the dogma I was indoctrinated with since youth sent me exploring Judaism’s different streams, eventually finding a spiritual home in Conservative Judaism. You need to ask questions to determine which religious manual to follow and ultimately your spiritual home’s destination. I don’t pretend to have all the answers and I’m not arrogant enough to think I ever will. But I continue to ask questions. This exploration process motivates me to continue to learn and grow in my religious/spiritual practice. If you ask questions you will grow spiritually as well. Sam Kastel is the Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun 275 Martling Avenue next to the Armory. He can be reached at samkastel@gmail.com
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Staten Island Academy Senior Named National Merit Scholar Wesley Dai, a senior at Staten Island Academy has been selected as a 2017 National Merit Scholarship recipient. Wesley’s classmate, Daniel (Trip) L. Master, was a semifinalist in the prestigious competition. Wesley and Trip, two of the 41 members of the Staten Island Academy Class of 2017, will graduate June 9. Wesley will be attending Yale University in the fall while Trip will make his way to the West Coast to attend Stanford University. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT) and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements. Students whose scores put them in the top 99th percentile in their state become National Merit Semifinalists. Being recognized is a huge achievement. From the group of 50,000 semifinalists, approximately15,000 advance to finalist standing. Ultimately, 7,500 recipients are chosen. All winners are chosen based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. The student’s academic record, their school’s curricula and grading system, test scores, the written
recommendation of a school official, the student's activities and leadership experience and the finalist's own essay are all considered in determining the scholarship winners. Earlier this year, Wesley was also the recipient of The Honorable Francis H. and Dianne M. Powers Award for Excellence in the Sciences and Community Service. This award is given to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the sciences or technology by strong academic achievement throughout Grade 11 science or technology courses, and a demonstrated and significant commitment to community. He also was a recipient, with fellow Academy students Cassandra Clifford ’17 and Ryan Arazi ’17, of the 2017 Scholarship for Academic Excellence awarded by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). And, last week, Wesley was awarded the prestigious Michael J. Petrides Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.
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The North Shore Local
RUMC’S MESSINA ELECTED TO REGIONAL BOARD
Richmond University Medical Center, affiliate of Mount Sinai Health Network, announced its President and CEO Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE has been elected to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), a trade association representing more than 160 member hospitals and health systems in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and
Rhode Island. The election took place at the association’s annual meeting on May 23, at the Jacob Javits Center. “It is truly an honor to be selected by my peers in health care who have recognized the remarkable expansion and developments underway at Richmond University,” Messina said. “This is a time of intense change and transformation in health care. I appreciate the opportunity to lend my experience, but also represent the interests of the Staten Island community. On the Board of Governors, Dr. Messina will serve a 3-year term beginning immediately and will be eligible for re-appointment in 2020. The Board of Governors helps shape health care policy at the local, state, regional and federal levels. Dr. Messina is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience and a life-long Staten Island resident.
Contact The Elected Congressman Dan Donovan 265 New Dorp Lane, 2nd Floor Staten Island, NY 10306 Phone: 718-351-1062 Fax: 718-980-0768 Borough President James Oddo 10 Richmond Terrace Borough Hall, Room 120 Staten Island, New York 10301 718-816-2000 Assemblyman Matthew Titone 853 Forest Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310 718-442-9932 Assemblyman Michael Cusick 1911 Richmond Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 718-370-1384 State Senator Diane Savino 36 Richmond Terr., Suite 112 Staten Island, NY 10301 718-727-9406 State Senator Andrew Lanza 3845 Richmond Ave., Suite 2A Staten Island, NY 10312 718-984-4073 City Councilwoman Debi Rose 130 Stuyvesant Place 6th Floor, Room 602 Staten Island, New York 10301 718-556-7370 District Attorney Michael E. McMahon 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY, 10301 718-876-6300
Grace Acquafredda Co-Publisher Kevin Boyle Co-Publisher Dan Guarino Editor Mark Cannon Columnist/Sales Fred Marino Sales The North Shore Local 212 Cromwell Avenue Staten Island, NY 10305 718-979-6700
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StatenLocal.com Email: News@StatenLocal.com, mail@StatenLocal.com THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL is published every Thursday by North Shore Local LLC, 212 Cromwell Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305. Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of publication. Editorial submission must be made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. All letters to THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL should be brief and are subject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home / office telephone number. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without permission of THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL. The publisher will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL within three days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE NORTH SHORE LOCAL and its employees harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. © 2017 The North Shore Local LLC.
The North Shore Local
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Petty Cache ***** The New York State Senate recently passed legislation sponsored by Senator Diane Savino that paves the way for major property tax savings for more senior and disabled homeowners. This year, members of the Independent Democratic Conference pushed to increase the income eligibility for the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) and the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE), programs which provide major property tax exemptions to residents living on fixed incomes. The legislation would raise the income cap for SCHE/DHE to $50,000 for a full 50% property tax exemption and to $58,400 for a partial exemption, which will provide much-needed relief to New York City homeowners. The eligibility levels have not been raised since 2006. ***** Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all New York City chain food retailers offering prepared foods, or restaurant-type foods, will be required to post calorie counts on menu boards. In addition, chain restaurants and retailers will be required to have full nutritional information, not just calories, for standard menu items and they will have to post a statement about the daily recommended caloric intake of 2,000 calories. This rule applies to all chain restaurants with 15 locations or more nationwide, affecting approximately 3,000 restaurants and about 1,500 food retailer chains. ***** Here’s a way to burn off those calories. Let them ride bikes. Mayor de Blasio may have deprived us of a new means to get off Staten Island by omitting us from his Citywide Ferry Service, but soon we may have a new way to get around Staten Island. Citi Bike's operator, Motivate, said last week that it may add docks to Staten Island and the Bronx for the first time under a new proposal being considered by the city. Elected officials and advocates previously called on the city and the company to bring the system to the entire city, with Bor-
ough President James Oddo writing a letter to Motivate in 2015 to build docks at the St. George Ferry terminal, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and in front of the URBY development. ***** Thank you to the entire EMS community for your lifesaving work! On Monday, BP Oddo recognized the important and heroic works of the Emergency Medical Services community with a special ceremony in their honor during National EMS Week at the Excelsior Grand. The 25th Annual Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony honored several EMTs, paramedics, instructors and students in the emergency services community. ***** Christopher Henderson of Manhattan was arrested for stealing a wallet and a box containing money from behind the counter of Kennedy Fried Chicken, 230 Broadway on May 4. Police believe Henderson had an accomplice, who has not yet been apprehended. ***** Congratulations to the Staten Island Academy Coed Golf team for winning the NYCAL Championship last week in Moshulu. Teammates Trip Master, Vin Barone, Eddie Lee and Kaleigh McDonald all shot season bests. ***** Save the date! On Friday night, July 28th, the annual Senior Baseball Game for Autism will be played at 7 p.m. at the College of Staten Island. In the past, the game between high school seniors from the PSAL and CHSAA has been played at the Ballpark in St. George, but this year CSI baseball coach Mike Mauro is bringing the event to the CSI campus to save on costs and raise even more money for worthy families affected by autism. Great raffle prizes and great baseball make for a good night for the entire family. ***** Drivers can now pay for parking around Brooklyn and Staten Island with their cellphones. The Department of Transportation’s mobile app called ParkNYC allows drivers to enter the number printed on the parking spots' meters into the app to pay for parking. If time runs out and you haven't reached the maximum time for the space, you can add money to the meter remotely.
***** One more Day. Staten Island Arts is accepting submissions of single-channel, non-narrative videos from individual artists, groups or organizations working in experimental video interested in participating in LUMEN8 until midnight (EST) Friday, May 26. This exhibit will run from June 15 to September 10, 2017 at ArtSpace @ Staten Island Arts. The exhibit is co-curated by Monica Valenzuela and Raul Barquet and will feature video, sound art, performance art, and ephemera from past festival participants and honor the artistic genres that the festival highlights. ***** Do not miss a superb program and the opportunity to chat with fine musicians. On Sunday, June 4 at 3:00 P.M., Serenade will present the Omni Piano Quartet (Piano, violin, viola, cello). The concert will take place at Christ Church, New Brighton, 76 Franklin Avenue. Admission is free to the public (donations accepted). A meet-the-artists reception will follow the concert. Members of the Omni Quartet are: Suzanne Ornstein, violin, Ronald Carbone, viola, David Heiss, cello and Thomas Schmidt, piano. Their program will include three masterpieces: Franz Schubert’s Adagio and Rondo Concertante in F Major, Joaquín Turina’s Piano Quartet in A Minor, Op. 67, and Johannes Brahms’ Quartet in C Minor, Opus 60. ***** Join the Staten Island Creative Community and celebrate Staten Island and its waterfront with artists, musicians, craftspeople, and writers sharing their unique talents at the 10th Annual, ART BY THE FERRY FESTIVAL, Saturday, June 3, 12 noon – 6 pm at the Flagship Brewery, 40 Minthorne Street, SI,
Page 5 NY 10301. Enjoy the food, and treat yourself to a brew from the Flagship Brewery beer truck! There will be free shuttle service from the ferry to the festival. ***** Beware of ticks. 2016 saw the largest number of new cases of Lyme Disease in Staten Island since we began collecting data in 2001. In 2015 and 2016, 19% - 25% of the black-legged ticks collected on Staten Island tested positive for the Lyme bacterium. To find out more about ticks, including how to check for them and how to remove them, visit the city Health Department website. ***** Stapleton resident Tom Shcherbenko has been chosen by the Democractic Party to run against Borough President James Oddo in November. Mr. Scherbenko is a retired teacher and was a Bernie Sanders delegate. ***** Watch your six, Dan. There seems to be quite a line forming to capture Dan Donovan’s congressional seat. Six candidates planning to run next year include: Retired boxer and Army reserve soldier Boyd Nelson, Westerleigh resident and teacher Michael DeVito, Jr., Brooklyn attorney Mike Decillis, North Shore resident and Brightpoint Health executive Max Rose, Staten Islander Radhakrisna Mohan and bond trader Zach Emig. ***** Congratulations to Fran Messina, Tony Whalen, Hammer Bodiford, Kathy Motolo, Patty Brennan, Josephine Ferrandino and Frank Ragucci for correctly guessing that Chuck was at the Manor Restaurant, which just happens to have the best Tortellini Alfredo. Go to page 19 and see if you know where Chuck is this week.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
The North Shore Local
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The North Shore Local
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Page 7
Loose Cannon WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS
We checked into the Mandarin Oriental in Paris. TC has exquisite taste, in everything but travel partners. Wow, what a hotel! Google top shelf digs and I’m pretty sure this will be there. However, while checking in, I did notice something strange. The female staff all looked exactly alike. Gorgeous French women, with their dark hair drawn tightly back behind their heads — I felt like I was in the middle of a Robert Palmer video. Five stunningly beautiful wom-
en, who looked alike, dressed alike, and spoke alike, walking around the lobby catering to our every whim. It was like the French version of The Stepford Wives. I shared my thoughts with TC who gave me a look that seemed to say, “Am I actually stuck with this maniac for eight days?” After settling in we went out and did touristy stuff. What struck me immediately was the incredible beauty of Paris. I know that sounds naive, but I honestly had no idea. When it comes to architecture, I’m no Frank Lloyd Wright or even Mike Brady, but even a rube like myself could appreciate the magnificent detail of the buildings. Block after block of beautiful structures, each one a singular artistic achievement. Tellingly, I didn’t see a single skyscraper. The Parisians know what they have, and they don’t want to ruin it. We walked up the Champs - Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, and then went directly to the Eif-
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fel Tower. We took the elevator to the top, which of course scared the hell out of me. It’s very high and you are out in the open — two things I loathe. But, an amazing structure nevertheless. TC has been there a few times before, so she didn’t hang out with me much during the day. She was more interested in shopping at Louis Vuitton, whom she considers a minor deity. A quick word on TC: she is very attractive, and quite a bit younger than your humble correspondent. This led to some envious, and even disapproving looks from some people we encountered. Envious, from men around my age who were clearly thinking, “What’s she doing with him? He must be loaded.” Disapproving, from women in my age group, who were undoubtedly musing. “Hmm, he can’t have money dressed like that, what’s she doing with him?” Either way— # winning! Suffice to say, the platonic nature of our relationship, was not something I was quick to reveal. My dislike for the French was never rooted in anything personal. I had wracked my brain and couldn’t recall ever meeting a French person prior to taking this trip. I had vague recollections of their former President Mitterrand, not permitting us to fly over French airspace, when we were bombing Libya, in retaliation for downing our commercial airline. And more recently of course, the whole Freedom Fries kerfuffle. I also remembered laughing uproariously when Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons, deemed the French, “Cheese eating surrender monkeys.” But personal experiences with an actual Frenchman? I never had any, so why the hard feelings? I certainly wasn’t always this way — as a kid reading history, I loved the Marquis De Lafayette and the French. They had after all, pulled our fat from the fire, while helping us kick British butt during the Revolution. Yet for some unknown reason, my admiration had turned to disdain. After this trip and being enlightened, I am happy to report
that I’m now a veritable Francophile! The French people that I met were warm, helpful, and very patient with a guy who doesn’t speak French and struggles with English. From the waiters, to the museum staff, to the people on the street — I never met the aloof, snobby, beret wearing, chain smoking Frenchman, that I had
Loose Cannon look-alike
conjured in my mind. One cab driver joyfully insisted that I was the spitting image of the French National soccer coach. I had never heard of the guy, but he must be one good looking dude. Back to the sights! I spent many hours in The Louvre, which is simply amazing. The buildings that comprise the site are as beautiful as anything you will find inside. You can spend a week looking at all the incredible works of art. The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, the Egyptian relics — the list goes on and on. The size and scope of the art in this museum is astounding. Although much of it was pearls before swine with me, I still had the best time I have ever had in a museum. Notre Dame is breathtaking and full of history. If you haven’t been, try to go. The food in Paris is everything you’ve heard and more. I don’t know why that is, it just is. TC says that everything is organic, and that they don’t pasteurize the milk or cheese. I found this ironic, since Pasteur was French, but c’est la vie! Everything just tastes better, and the cheese is simply outrageous! TC guided us to the best “off the beaten path” restaurants, and we were never disappointed. The only fly in the ointment was that whenever the check came, TC would do her impersonation of Venus De Milo, while gently reminding me of the first class flight upgrade.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
The North Shore Local
SI Then: A LITTLE STATEN The Liberty Theatre ISLAND TRIVIA
It’s been quite a while since the sound of music was heard from the former Liberty Theatre in Stapleton, opened in 1918. The grandly appointed show place was the first built by Charles H. Moses, noted as “Staten Island's premier theater builder and film exhibitor,” and his brothers Elias and Lewis. The Moses brothers grew up on Staten Island. It has been called the first modern theatre on Staten Island. Standing prominently on Beach Street, it featured plays
and vaudeville shows with star performers like Fred Allen, Victor Moore, George Raft, Sophie Tucker, Georgie Jessel and Ben Bernie. It ordered not one but three console theater organs in 1926. They began to add short films of motion picture news events to their Sunday shows. As vaudeville began to die out in the late ‘20’s, the 1,500-seat Liberty became a movie house. The Liberty was overshadowed when the same company opened the 2,800-seat St. George Theatre movie and vaudeville house in 1929. Fading over time, the Liberty later became a bowling alley, and later still a church. At last report, in 2012, it was finally shuttered and has remained so. It remains a reminder of Staten Island’s pioneering theater history.
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1 – What year did the Staten Island mall have its grand opening? 2 – What was the first bowling alley in Staten Island? 3 – Which famous bank robber called Staten Island home at one point? 4 – How many communities does Richmond Road pass through? 5 – What Jack Black movie was filmed partly on Staten Island? 6 – What Academy Award winning film was shot on Staten Island? (Shot is a hint!) 7 – How long and wide is Staten Island?
1 – 1973 2 – Wiegands Bowling on Clove Road. 3 – Willie Sutton. 4 – Six: Concord, Dongan Hills, Grant City, New Dorp, Egbertville, and Richmond. 5 – School of Rock (St. George Theater, and Wagner College). 6 – The Godfather. 7 – Staten Island is 13.9 miles long and 7.3 miles wide These little tidbits were found in Staten Island Trivia by John Louis Sublett
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The North Shore Local
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Page 9
An Interview With Chris Williams, Local Businessman By Richie Nix
I can see clearly now…. Staten Island’s North Shore is home to many interesting residents and business owners. Native Staten Islander and lifelong North Shore resident Chris Williams opened his business, Williams Eye Works, in the very neighborhood he used to roam in as a kid. Chris' storefront has been at its present location, 1184 Victory Boulevard, for over 20 years. Williams Eye Works offers the best selection of eyeglasses on Staten Island. It has an on-premises lab, with award winning, state of the art equipment. The Local's Richie Nix recently sat down with Chris for a little chat. So, you lived your whole life on the North Shore? “Yes, I grew up in West Brighton, and attended P.S. 19, I.S. 61 and Susan Wagner High School. In fact, my mother’s family roots can be traced back
to West Brighton from 1900.” “When I started my business, I wanted to open a store on the North Shore, and live close by, so here I am, living and working in the neighborhood.” How did you get started in the eyeglass business? “I worked sweeping the floors and cleaning up at Cohen’s Optical in the Staten Island Mall when I was 14 years old. I met a master shopman, Mario, who came to work at the store. He was only there temporarily from Manhattan. I formed a friendship with him and he offered to teach me the trade at his Manhattan office. Any chance I had I would
travel to 5th Avenue and watch Mario make glasses. I practiced what I learned back in Staten Island, and after a year of full time work, I realized that to expand my horizons I needed to formalize his expertise.” “I received my New York State Optician’s License, also got married in 1988.” So, then what? “After the birth of my oldest son, I started working for a small professional practice. After my daughter was born, I realized that the only way to continue to expand my career and income was to open my own store. In 1995, I rented space from a local doctor and Williams Eye Works was born” So, when did you move to your current location? Chris William, right and his son Ryan, in front of their store at 1884 Victory Boulevard.
Continued on page 13
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Page 10
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM SALUTES SERVICE MEMBERS The Staten Island Children’s Museum will provide free admission to military personnel and their families from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. On Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, they will be kicking off their participation in Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across the United States to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their community, especially after a military move. A list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Over Memorial Day weekend, the Children’s Museum invites families to join in making a red, white and blue tie-dye flower as a salute to U.S. soldiers and vet-
erans in their weekend art studio. The museum will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, in honor of the men and women who have died in military service for the U.S. “We are very grateful to the military personnel who protect our country and its interests overseas and at home,” Dina Rosenthal, Executive Director said. “They and their families make great sacrifices on behalf of our country and we want them to know how much that means to us.” The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members.
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Writing West Brighton’s Story She said, “Most of the photos for both books came from former and current West Brighton families. We were fortunate they made them available to us.” For the text, in addition to the SIHS, they culled information the Staten Island Museum and the research library at the St. George Library. Cecelia N. Brunner, Jim Harkins, and “Some of the best stories Debbie Harkins came from West Brighton By Dan Guarino families talking about deceased The way Cecelia N. Brunner relatives or their family business,” and Jim Harkins saw it, if anyone Harkins said. “Those memories was going to write the first pub- made some great captions for the lished books about West Bright- books.” on, it should be them. “We’d be sitting at their kitchen The mother and son author table and taking notes,” Harkins team both share the traits of being said. “Often, they’d say, ‘I never born, raised in and deeply rooted wrote a caption.’ I’d say, ‘Yeah, here. That certainly helped them but you can tell your story better produce Images of America: West than I can. Just tell it to us.” Brighton and Images of Modern They didn’t have the advantage America: West Brighton, from Ar- of Facebook when they did the cadia Publishing. first book. But often their subject The first tells the early history of would ring up a cousin or old West Brighton, while the second neighbor and add even more to brings the story up to date from the story. the 1950’s. “The success of the first book, “These are the first,” Harkins Images of America: West Brighttold The Local. “We wanted to on, which is in second print, almake sure we got it right.” lowed us to do the follow up book, Now retired from NYNEX, Images of Modern America: West Brunner traces her family back to Brighton, in the new color format. the 1850s, when they arrived from With both books, we were able to Ireland and settled in West Bright- tell the complete story of the best on. Over the last twenty years neighborhood on Staten Island, Harkins has written everything West Brighton.” from newspaper articles to short Harkins added, “We were very and feature length screenplays, fortunate that so many former and has produced and created and current West Brighton resiseveral films. dents came through with vintage “We saw several Staten Island photographs and great stories.” books from Arcadia,” Harkins “What we enjoyed the most was said, and they noticed the lack of how much these West Brighton a volume on West Brighton. “We memories meant to people.” contacted the publisher to see “There was also so much I how we could do one.” learned about my own neighborAfter submitting a short pro- hood,” Harkins said. posal and twenty sample photos, Brunner recalls asking two they were quickly approved to younger relatives if they were start production. “We completed taught Staten Island history in the first book in four months.” school. No, they said. Brunner and Harkins point to a “We need to fix that,” she told wealth of historical sources. them. “For the photographs, we obImages of America: West Brighttained them from the Staten Island on and New Images of America: Sports Hall of Fame, NYC Munici- West Brighton are available at pal Archives and the Staten Island local shops and on Amazon.com Historical Society,” he said. and other sites.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 Art Studio
Thursday, May 25 Tree Tots and Peepers
9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue. Nature inspired programs for toddlers. For info call: 718351-3450. Every Thursday. Tot's Time Plus
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace Pre-schoolers create artwork, sing along and listen to stories. For info call: 718-273-2060. Every Thursday. The Story Museum
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Avenue Stories, crafts, music, dancing and singing. For info call: 718351-1611. Every Thursday. Paint Day
1:30–4:30 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace Experiment with paints and other media! For info call: 718273-2060. Every Thursday. Primate Portraits by Robin Schwartz- Last Weekend
The Alice Austen House, 2 Hylan Boulevard. Through Sunday, May 28. For info call: 718-816-4506. The History of Staten Island
7-9 p.m. Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building D. Lecture series with Patricia M. Salmon. This week: Historic Staten Island Calamities. For info call: 718-447-6490. Friday, May 26 Tours of the Conference House
1-4 p.m. Conference House, 298 Satterlee Street Historic Revolutionary War meeting house. Free. For info call: 718-984-6046. Every Friday. Saturday, May 27 Meditation Class
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 338 Lighthouse Avenue. For info call: 718-987-3500. Every Saturday.
1-4 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace. For info call: 718-273-2060. Every Saturday/ Sunday. Tai Chi
3:30– 5 p.m. The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 338 Lighthouse Avenue. For info call: 718-987-3500. Every Saturday. Botany and Beauty Exhibition
4–6 p.m. Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building G. Curated by Mary Bullock, various artists interpret plants and gardens of Snug Harbor. Through June 25. PASS Poetry: Ramya Ramana, The Color of Crucifixion
5–8 p.m. Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building C & G. Performance, with artist Q+A immediately following. For info/tickets call: 718-425-3560. Sunday, May 28
Of Human Feelings: Portraits by Warren Lyons
Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place. Larger than life portraits of Billie Holiday, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, more. Sundays through Saturdays. Through June 18. For info call: 718-727-1135. Monday, May 29 Memorial Day! Al-Anon Meeting
1p.m. St. Paul's Church, 140 Clinton Avenue. For info contact: 718 447-6362. Tuesday, May 30 Tot Time Tuesdays
10–11:30 a.m. Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center, 2351 Veteran’s Road West. Learn about a new plant or animal every week by making crafts, playing games and socializing with other toddlers! Parent or caregiver required to stay. Ages 1-4 (Flexible). For info call 718605-3970. Tot's Time Plus
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000
Page 11 Richmond Terrace Pre-schoolers create artwork, sing along and listen to stories. For info call: 718-273-2060. Every Tuesday. Open Run: Silver Lake Park
7-8 p.m. Silver Lake Park Road. Community walk/run free and open to all -strollers and children, all welcome. Every Tuesday year-round. Wednesday, May 31 Bird and Nature Walk
10 a.m.–12 p.m. Wolfe's Pond Park, 420 Cornelia Avenue. Meet at Parks Department building parking lot. Clay Day
1:30–4:30 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace Satisfy a "knead". Work with air-dry clay. For info call: 718273-2060. Evening Group Hike or Trail Run
6–8 p.m. Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. For info call 718-351-3450. Every Wednesday.
Open Run: Conference House Park
9-10 a.m. Conference House Park, 298 Satterlee Street Community walk/run free and open to all -strollers and children, all welcome. Every Sunday year-round. The DNA of Water: Art Exhibition
10-5 p.m. Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Main Hall- Building C. Water as a border, passageway, gateway and path to present, past and future. Gallery hours Wednesday-Sunday. Through September 3. For info call 718425-3504. Art Studio
1-4 p.m. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace. For info call: 718-273-2060. Every Sunday. Tours of the Conference House
1-4 p.m. Conference House, 298 Satterlee Street Historic Revolutionary War house. Free. For info call: 718984-6046. Every Friday, Sunday.
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Page 12
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
On Hemoglobin
Ask The Doc
By Peter Galvin, MD
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a common and practical measure of average glucose (blood sugar) levels during the preceding 3 to 4 months. It is used both to diagnose diabetes and to measure diabetic control. Hemoglobin A comprises 97 percent of the hemoglobin found in normal red blood cells. HbA1c is a subtype of Hemoglobin A to which glucose binds permanently. The higher the amount of glucose in the blood the higher the level of HbA1c will be. The average lifespan of a normal red blood cell is 90 to 120 days which is why HbA1c will measure glucose levels over that period of time. Diseases that affect Hemoglobin and/or red blood cells may affect the measurement
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of HbA1c. Take, for example, sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait (SCT). Both are genetic diseases that cause Hemoglobin A to be replaced by Hemoglobin S in red blood cells. SCD requires two abnormal, or altered, genes while SCT requires one abnormal gene. A child born of parents who both have SCT has a high likelihood of having SCD. SCT is fairly common, affecting 8 to 10 percent of black people but less than 1 percent of white people. The red blood cells in individuals with SCT contain 60 to 70 percent hemoglobin A and 30 to 40 percent Hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin S causes red blood cells to be deformed. It also causes these red blood cells to be removed from circulation by the spleen earlier than the 90 to 120 days that
normal red blood cells live. Therefore it has been postulated that because SCT causes red blood cells to contain less Hemoglobin A and the cells to last a shorter time in circulation, levels of HbA1c in those with SCT may be artificially lower than they really are. A recent study done at Brown University set out to prove this theory. While other smaller studies have shown no correlation between SCT and levels of HbA1c, the Brown study was a large study that had an unusually high percentage of participants with SCT (28 percent). They measured not just HbA1c levels but did 2 hour glucose tolerance tests on the study volunteers. What they found was that there was indeed a connection between SCT and artificially lower levels of HbA1c. The authors suggested that HbA1c may systematically underestimate elevated glucose levels and rates of diabetes in black people with SCT.
The findings of this study may partly explain why the prevalence of diabetes in the black community is higher than the population in general. It may also explain why the rates of diabetic complications are higher in black people. Of course more research is needed but perhaps if black patients do not know whether or not they have SCT they should be routinely tested for it and, if positive, other ways of testing for and monitoring diabetes should be considered. For more information go to www.ngsp.org/factors.asp or www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/traits.html. Please direct questions and comments to Mail@statenlocal.com
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THE FLEET IS IN THIS WEEK By Dan Guarino
Welcome aboard! Nearly 5,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will be coming ashore and welcoming the public aboard their vessels this week as part of 2017 Fleet
Week New York which runs through May 30. “Fleet Week New York, now in its 29th year, is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services,” says Militarynews. com. “It is an unparalleled op-
portunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tristate area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.”
USCGC Katherine Walker (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)
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Fleet Week will include naval and aerial demonstrations, ceremonies, performances, special events, and the chance to visit a variety of U.S. vessels docked in Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey and Staten Island. The week coincides with Memorial Day on which Americans honor those lost in service to their country. On Wednesday, May 24, the Parade of Ships into New York Harbor officially started Fleet Week with vessels from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy. The National Park Service was also scheduled to host a Fleet Week and National Park Centennial Celebration at Fort Wadsworth that morning. Among the many events taking place all over the city, two are scheduled for Staten Island this weekend.
Continued on page 16
The North Shore Local
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
This Week in History May 25 Kate Helbock Madigan was born. Meredith Wawzycki was born. Carmel Scollan was born. 1925 - John Scopes was indicted for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. 1969 -Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to win a Best Picture Oscar, was released.
1957 - Baseball owners voted to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to move to Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively.
May 29 1790 - Rhode Island became the 13th state in the United States, the last of the original colonies to ratify the Constitution. 1953 - Edmund Hillary and TenMay 26 zing Norgay became the first to 1959 - Pittsburgh Pirates’ Harvey reach the summit of Mount EverHaddix pitched 12 perfect innings est. against the Milwaukee Braves before losing, 1–0, in the 13th. May 30 1977 - George Willig, "the human fly," scaled the World Trade Meghan Affatigato was born. Center. It took Willig three and a 1431 - Joan of Arc was burned at half hours to make the climb. the stake as a heretic. 1911 - The first Indianapolis 500 May 27 was won by Ray Harroun. Casey Nugent was born. Melissa Mary was born. May 31 1937 - Golden Gate Bridge in San Jill Gnerre was born. Amy Pepe was born. Francisco opened. May 28 Kevin Griffin was born. Kerri Carmelengo was born.
WIILIAMS STORY Continued from Page 9 “That was in 1998, right after the birth of my second son.” To what do you attribute your success? “Service, service and service! Staying focused on that and it’s that simple. My son Ryan works here and he understands that this is key to our success.” What’s your favorite book? “How to Win Friends & Influence People. Also, I love Freakonomics” What’s your favorite vacation, or get away spot? “Oxbow Lake, upstate New York, in the Adirondack region. We rent a cabin there every year and have been doing so for the past 23 years.” Do you have a hobby? “Riding my motorcycle. It’s fantastic” Who would be the one person you would like to dine with, living or deceased? “My dad” What’s the best compliment your ever received about your business? “So many customers tell me
1962 - Former Gestapo official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel.
that they try to refer me new business from their friends and family, but it seems everyone they know is already a client. That’s really nice feeling.” We all know what makes the North Shore of Staten Island unique is its residents and their stories. Is there a funny, or classic story that comes to mind? “There are a few, but here’s one. I had a client whose neighbor came in saying he liked his friends frames so much that he wanted the same pair. Well, weeks later, these two neighbors were at the same party. Their prescriptions were similar, and the glasses got mixed up during the party. They both came into the shop the next day asking if I could let them know for sure if they had the correct pair. It must have been some party!” Finally, is it true that you went to the White House and met President Obama? “Yes, that was in 2014 and it was a thrill! My son and I went there as part of a group representing U.S. small businesses.”
Page 13
Facts You Probably Don’t Need Not a single engineer made it off the Titanic: they stayed and kept the power on so others could escape. The Navajo code is the only spoken military code never to have been deciphered. During WWII, since only 30 non-Navajo people could understand Navajo, the US used Navajos as code talkers. The could encode, transmit, and decode a three-line message in 20 seconds, versus 30 minutes for machines. Kentucky counties that banned alcohol now have twice as much meth use. A US cargo plane crashed while moving children from Vietnam. When American businessman Robert Macauley heard that it would take over a week to evacuate the survivors, he chartered a Boeing 747 and arranged for 300 orphaned children to leave the country, paying for the trip by mortgaging his house. Winston Churchill received a prescription for alcohol when he visited the United States during Prohibition, his Doctor writing, "The
quantity [prescribed] is naturally indefinite." In 2011, Joao found a penguin (Dindim) covered with oil and nearly dead. He worked feverishly to save its life. Every year since, Dindim swims 8,000 km to meet and live with Joao in Brazil. Sailors considered black cats good luck and would use them as "ship's cats" in hopes of a safe voyage. Wives of fisherman would also keep a black cat at home as it was believed that the cat would allow their husbands to return safely. Jennifer Bricker, born with no legs, was left at the hospital. From early age she wanted to be a gymist and idolized American Olympian Dominique Moceanu. At age 16, she discovered they were actually sisters. While Paul Revere had a famous 15 mile ride to alert the colonists of the British invasion, Israel Bissel rode 345 miles starting that same night warning every town from Boston to New York to Philadelphia that the war had begun.
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Page 14
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
The North Shore Local
Council Corner:
NEWS YOU MIGHT USE FROM COUNCILWOMAN DEBI ROSE federal representatives and ask them to call on the Department of Homeland Security to extend TPS. ***** Your chance to speak out on school seats! The City Council has formed a working group to address issues of school planning, siting and more. Please share your thoughts on the school planning and siting process in this form. This can include problems you see in the current projection of seat need, challenges in the siting process, or recommendations for improving the planning and siting process in general. We are also interested in hearing about your experience with school planning, siting, and/or overcrowding in your neighborhood. ***** Thanks to all who turned out Wednesday and Thursday nights for the St. George/ New Brighton and Fox Hills/ Rose-
REACH OUT,
bank/ Clifton/ Tompkinsville neighborhood safety meetings with Neighborhood Coordination Officers of the 120 Precinct. These meetings offer residents an opportunity to interact one-on-one with the officers who patrol their neighborhoods daily. The next Safety Summit meeting will be held on Monday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at 71 Jersey Street. A detailed flyer will be in my next e-newsletter. ***** I attended a beautiful ceremony to honor the work of William A. Morris Jr, who founded and coached the Morris Softball League for 16 years at PS 19. His hard work, dedication and commitment are an inspiration to all of us. In attendance were not only students, faculty and staff, but a few dozen of the 900 men and women who played in the Morris League. By naming the playground after Mr. Morris, the faculty and staff of PS 19 ensure that his legacy
Photo for illustrative purposes only. Persons appearing are models.
Councilwoman Debi Rose frequently updates her constituents through Facebook and newsletters. Here is a recent post. ***** As of this week, more than 5,000 people in this country are in danger of being plucked from their communities and sent to countries suffering from a rise in non-Ebola illnesses and deaths. Their infrastructures have been decimated, and extreme health, economic, and societal conditions will continue to exist for years. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is scheduled to end on May 21. Last week I introduced a City Council resolution, which passed unanimously, calling on the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend and reauthorize TPS. They need your help, too. I am asking you to contact your
BEFORE YOU’RE FORCED OUT OF YOUR HOME.
will be remembered for generations. ***** At a joint hearing of the Parks and Finance Committees, I called on Commissioner Mitchell Silver to fully fund the Cromwell Center and the final purchase of Goodhue Park from the Children's Aid Society. A new Cromwell Center is needed now, and should not be dependent on a rezoning of the Bay Street Corridor! It's time to go from conversation to realization! ***** Transportation updates: Earlier this week, in a joint oversight hearing of the Finance and Transportation Committees, I asked Commissioner Polly Trottenberg about new street lighting for the North Shore, our exclusion from the "citywide" ferry plan, the need for better markings on our new pedestrian-friendly curbs, the use of speed cameras and more.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Page 15
Cars For Kids It was divine intervention. I’d dropped out of college, then traveled cross country with a buddy on Amtrak. We got to Los Angeles and the weather was nice. A TV weatherman seemed to have the easiest job in town. He said it was sunny and 75 today -- as it has been for a thousand years. Of course, the only thing warmer than the weather were the girls. We soon realized the key to enjoying this paradise was securing a car. We bought a Dodge Dart with 139,000 miles on it (which was a crazy number in those days) for $350 dollars. I think we paid part of it in traveler’s checks. A pale green Dodge Dart was going to make us irresistible to the Hollywood babes. Neither one of us knew you had to get auto insurance. We thought it was optional, I guess – like, you only had to get insurance if the car was decent. We drove to Motor
Vehicles to get California drivers’ licenses and register the car. That’s when we learned about needing insurance. We left with new licenses and our still-unregistered car. We spent all that dough on the new ride and now we were facing the insurance expense. To save cash, we slept in the car that night in some beachfront parking lot. The next day we were driving to check out a place to live near Hollywood which sounded cool but was no less seedy than Times Square back then. We never made it. The Dodge Dart died. The piece of crap just stopped, spewing steam into air, causing a traffic jam on Wilshire Boulevard, one of the main streets of Beverly Hills. My friend, TH, and I stood there like Jed Clampett and Jethro Bodine with our steaming pile of junk as cars more in character with Beverly Hills inched past us. A Maserati passed, then a Porshe, then a Bentley.
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We blended like Cousin Vinny. Divine intervention occurred when two commercials played on the car radio – the only thing still working on the otherwise dead Dodge Dart. The first was a “we buy junk cars” and the second was “fly one way to San Francisco” for $19.” We pushed the Dodge Dart to the curb and found a payphone nearby – ha, imagine that, a payphone. We called the junkyard and a guy came and paid us $75 for the car. We took that cash and headed for the airport. Why San Francisco? We heard it had good public transportation. The memory of that Dodge Dart came back when I was considering if I was gonna invest in a used car for the son who will remain nameless. Things are different now. So different. In the old days, you couldn’t wait to get your license. Now? Kids prefer Uber, what do they need a license for? In the old days, you’d kill to have your own clunker. Now? Kids won’t lower
themselves to drive anything but the newest model (fat chance that’s happening with my kid). We learned how to fix flat tires, jump dead batteries, and didn’t mind seeing the road pass under our feet in somebody’s car that didn’t have floorboards. Some cars wouldn’t start unless three or four guys pushed the thing for 50 feet until the engine turned over. I had a car in which the passenger door didn’t open and another with windshield wipers that would only work if the car was going 50 mph or more. You’d have to throw the thing into neutral and gun the engine to get the wipers going in slower traffic. You learned. Often the hard way. Now? You have to decide if letting the kid start with a piece of junk will be good for him. He’ll learn, like you did. But nah, he’s already learned what to do. When the car breaks down he’ll just call you. Then what? It’s your clunker. Maybe that newer car for the kid isn’t such a bad idea…
Driving Donations To RUMC The fundraising campaign to build Richmond University Hospital’s new state of the art emergency medical center sped forward with a new top gear donation. Josh Aaronson of SI’s Island Auto Group, RUMC President and CEO Daniel J. Messina, and Subaru of America’s Marcello Sciarrino jointly announced that Subaru has donated $32,248.69 towards the construction campaign. It was made as part of Subaru's "Share the Love" campaign, which each year donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to a select charity or non-profit organization of the customer’s choice. In the past four years Share The Love has raised nearly $20 million for charitable causes. The RUMC donation will go to the new $62 million Emer-
gency Department in West Brighton. "We are tremendously grateful for the support of outstanding corporate citizens like Subaru," Dr. Messina said. Their “support makes a tangible difference in the community's healthcare and in the emergency care at Richmond University Medical Center." "Subaru is delighted to support this much-needed health resource for Staten Island's North Shore and proud to support the passion and dedication of so many who will make it a reality," Sciarrino and Aaronson added.
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Page 16 THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 THE FLEET IS IN THIS WEEK Midnight Choir, Radio Flyerz Continued from Page 12 On Saturday, May 27, the Coast Guard will conduct a search and rescue demonstration from noon to 12:30 p.m. The demonstration takes place in the waters off Homeport Pier for visitors and nearby boats to see. A USCG rescue crew will drop a mannequin into the water to simulate a person in distress. A rescue swimmer will then jump into the water to secure the mannequin. Both will then be lifted securely back into a helicopter. Homeport Pier is located at Front Street and Wave Street. The event is free and open to the public. On Sunday May 28, the Flagship Brewery at 40 Minthorne Street is presenting the Fleet Week New York Community Music Festival. This family-friendly music event honoring active duty servicemen and women is also free and open to all. From noon to 8 p.m. they’ll be featuring music from Joan Caddell and the
and six other top bands. Two ships will be docked at the USS The Sullivans Homeport Pier in Stapleton and ready to welcome visitors aboard. Sharing a berth at the former U.S. Naval station will be the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen and the Keeper-class cutter USCGC Katherine Walker. The Katherine Walker has a special connection to Staten Island, as it is named after the legendary longtime Robbins Reef Lighthouse keeper. Like all Fleet Week ships, they will be open for tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. Find more events and info at www.fleetweeknewyork.com. Staten Islanders will get one more chance to see these magnificent ships as they depart on Tuesday May 30. Departure times were not yet available as The Local went to press. But as they say, it will certainly be a sight to see!
The North Shore Local
Wine Glass Caddy
By Artie Wallace
What better way to set up for a nice evening for two than a nice bottle of wine. And what better way to serve it than with the wine glass caddy that you made. This little delight is one of the easier DIYer projects. Here is how to make it: 1 - You will need a piece of wood 12 inch long by 6 inch wide.
I recommend using a soft pine, it’s easy to work with and will last when sealed properly. 2 - Round the ends (if desired) using jig saw or a coping saw. 3 - Sand the edges to a slight curve using sandpaper or a sanding sponge. 4 - Cut a 2 inch hole in the center and 2 - 1 inch holes about 1 inch in from each end using hole saw (attaches to a drill or drill press). 5 - Using your jig/coping saw, cut a ½ inch groove from the outer edge to the 1 inch hole on each end. You can slightly round the edges to give it a more finished look. 6 - Stain your wine glass caddy using a stain color of your liking. It is best to use a stain that has a sealer in it. 7 - Apply 2 coats of clear coat (spray on or brush on). Be sure to allow it to dry thoroughly between coats.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
The North Shore Local
LOCAL COLOR: READERS SEND IN THEIR PIX We know the North Shore has some wonderfully talented photographers (and a good number of people who get lucky with a great shot once in a while!). Here are some shots that readers shared with us this week. Send your photos (limit 2 per week) to mail@statenlocal.com and we’ll do our best to print them, space permitting. Snap away!
Alana Gilkeson
Nancy Maceda
Sean Sweeney
JoAnn McAvoy-Delahunt
Sean Peterson
Fran Messina
Lakota Hunter
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
WHERE’S CHUCK?
THE LOCAL WORD SEARCH STATEN ISLAND FLEET WEEK O R T S G Z E D K K A D C C Z Q H R E I
T G E J N Q E G M A N R U W C U H U N C
F A A M S Y Z D P U S O N S W F U O R H
L I J R R E K G N I C L P C N L I V E T
U S C G C K A T H E R I N E W A L K E R
X Z G L E O A B I G G A S N Z G V P L O
H A X P A R A D E O F S H I P S D Y E W
D U H E W V B P C E A A S Z J H N B O S
K Y J C J T B U B L S H U N A I C Z F D
X P C V N V X F S C K T C S D P Q B J A
FLAGSHIP BREWING CO. FORT WADSWORTH NEW YORK HARBOR PARADE OF SHIPS SEABEES SELFIE WITH A SAILOR USCGC KATHERINE WALKER
P S E E V O K S I Z R I K H S B R I R W
K E H Q L G U M N S I W D E F R Q N Q T
R O B R A H K R O Y W E N F V E X Q P R
Z R H E Z M O Y X H E I K R P W Y F V O
H X U N O Y Y B U M R F S A X I W X P F
Q Y T M B R I N C A T L P L R N Z B G U
F N R Y S S B K M N K E R Q G G F K V C
F D R A U G T S A O C S U X C C A U A Q
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Y T A U N T U W O L J N M Y D O W S R D
P Q L E I M Y G T H Y I S W D T K H G B
US COAST GUARD US MARINES US NAVY USS LASSEN
Chuck is gathering some flags to bring to the Staten Island Memorial Day Parade, where he will wave them proudly in honor of all our fallen heroes who served in the armed forces. Chuck is seen here in front of a house belonging to another group of very special
heroes. Where on the North Shore was this photo taken of Chuck? Submit your answer to mail@statenlocal.com and we will mention your name in our Petty Cache column! Or better yet, take a selfie in this exact location and send it to mail@ statenlocal.com.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Idea Mash
By Rick Horan
More nutty ideas to mull over. Or bad jokes that can be disguised as ideas! • Powdered Water • Make it a crime to pass laws that don't rhyme. • Take the Great Pyramid of Giza apart, and rebuild it again, two feet to the left. • A dating website without pictures, just your most recently played songs on Spotify or Apple Music from the last 30 days. • One music video for an entire album, like a short film, that tells a whole story across the different songs. • Sort of like Russian roulette but with candy: lace one M&M in a bag with extra strong laxatives. • Raise money for police departments by live streaming all of their cameras and turn-
ing it into a live TV show. • Have horse races, but make it like Monty Python with a guy pretending he's on a horse and a guy following him banging two coconut halves together. • Create a service called "Car Swap". A third party evaluates the worth of your car and matches you up with other's cars of similar value who are interested in yours. Once a match is established, no money is exchanged, aside from a fee for using the service. Heard any great ideas? Send them to us at mail@statenlocal.com
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
In Memoriam Death Notices Bernice Katherine Carter
May 18, 2017 Arrangements under the direction of Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, NY 10310 /718-442-5056 Antonio Durazzo
May 18, 2017 Arrangements under the direction of Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, NY 10310 /718-442-5056 Thomas J Burke
Arrangements under the direction of Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, NY 10310 /718-442-5056 James J. Grace
May 16, 2017 Arrangements under the di-
a
May 14, 2017 Arrangements under the direction of Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, NY 10310 /718-442-5056 Salvina C. Vella
May 14, 2017 Arrangements under the direction of Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, NY 10310 /718-442-5056 The North Shore Local can only accept obituary information sent through a funeral home or cemetery. It cannot assume responsibility for any incorrect information provided to it or printed here.
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By Sharon Feldman
Serves: 4 Ingredients: One 4 to 5 pound brisket 1 packet onion soup mix 1 can jellied cranberries 1 to 1 1/2 cups beef broth 1/8 cup water, if needed 2 Tablespoons brown sugar (this is optional, we like things on the sweeter side) 5 to 6 carrots, peeled and kept whole 1 small onion sliced (optional) Gravy Thickener: 1/8 cup cold water 2 Tablespoons cornstarch Directions: 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees 2. Rinse the brisket in cold water, place in pan along with the
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Page 21
Delish Brisket
carrots. (I use the large, deep aluminum pans. I just throw them away when I’m done) 3. In a glass bowl, mix the soup mix, cranberries, and beef broth. You can taste and see if you want to add the sugar. 4. Pour mixture over the brisket, lay the carrots on both sides and onion if using and cover tightly with tin foil and bake for about 2 hours. 5. Take out and mix the sauce around and over the brisket. If the liquid is not thick like a gravy, take a measuring cup add the cold water and whisk in the cornstarch. Pour around the liquid in the pan and kind of whisk it in so you don’t see white from the corn-
starch. 6. Place back in the oven for another 15 minutes until the liquid boils. 7. Take out of the oven, uncover and let the brisket sit about 10 minutes. It should look like it’s going to fall apart. That’s how you know you have a
perfect brisket with delicious gravy. Slice up and serve with potatoes or rice. Notes: I would suggest, not to get a larger one for more people, make another brisket about the same size in another pan and double the ingredients.
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Page 22
GOLF NOTES By Tom Flannagan
The New York City Amateur golf championship, which was born here on Staten Island in 1988, will celebrate its 30th year beginning Saturday at the only home it has ever known, LaTourette Golf Course. Sure, this event has undergone many changes in the past three decades with the most important being the loss of its founder Steven Zuntag in 2014. Most of the original committee has left the scene for many reasons. Some have moved onto different states while others have made the big move to the other side of the grass. But that hasn’t stopped this popular event from welcoming players of all ages and locations from participating. Greg Falk and this writer are the remains of the 1988 committee. However, Matthew Zuntag has taken over the reins for his dad and formed a new and qualified committee to carry on. Of course, the entire Zuntag family has always played some supporting role in the event and will continue. Michelle, matriarch of the Zuntag clan, will be manning the score tables at the course, while daughter Jennifer will be helping out via social media from her home in Arizona. Okay, the grass has been cut and the course is in fine condition. Joe and Mike Clemente of the UTZ refreshment company continue to sponsor in their fine fashion and Vic and Annie Stora will be at their usual spot of providing plenty of food and refreshment throughout the weekend. The stage is set for another great tournament with a field of 144 players in three divisions. Defending champions, David Prowler, senior champ, and Steve Boyd will return to defend his super senior title. The Open Championship is up for grabs since last year’s winner Ryan Snousser has turned professional.
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
by Tom Flannagan Fantastic Finish We had the pleasure of covering the CHSSA Girls golf championship between Notre Dame Academy and St. Joseph’s by-thSea at LaTourette Golf Course and still remain impressed by that 9-hole contest. While high school golf team competition includes five matches where points are counted, we elected to observe the top four players since they may be the best four players ever to compete in girl’s golf in the local CHSSA. The two teams teed up with similar season records. The number one match pitted Sarah Perine of Sea against Kristine Masseria of NDA. Perine, perhaps the winningest player ever in high school girl’s golf on Staten Island appeared unbeatable based on past performance. However, Kristine Masseria got started a bit later in the game than her sister Angela, who was also a standout from Tottenville H.S. and now playing at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. The number two match featured Kelli Andersen (Sea) a solid player who has built a strong record and continues to improve while playing in the second spot. She does hold a tournament win by defeating her teammate. Meghan Driscoll (NDA) has been constantly improving her game as well as her record, and fills out the foursome by taking on Andersen. Mind you, all four players are in their senior year and enjoying being undefeated for the season. Masseria was off to a flying start when Perine fought off swing problems and held a lead throughout. Perine fought back in the closing holes, but was unable to handle Masseria’s birdies at the seventh and ninth holes to win by 2-up. Andersen had held onto her lead in the early part of the round, but Driscoll showed some staying power by managing to win the final hole and give the title to Notre Dame by 4-1.
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Chip Shots
Victoria Gardner (NDA) defeated Morgan Cassel 3 and 1; Allison O’Connell stopped Brianne Oliva 4 and 2. Glenna Miceli (Sea) earned the only point for the Sea team by winning over Kayla Ferris 3 and 2. Someone always has to win, but there were no losers here. The top four girls are graduating on a high note with a fine record and a goal to work on for a career. Perine is the only player with professional golf as her target and she will accept a scholarship to (Division 1) Towson University. Both Kelli Andersen (going to Alabama) and Meghan Driscoll (Binghamton University) are setting their sights on nursing. Kristine Masseria will attend Drew University with an academic award and will set her sights on becoming a surgeon. Ed Gardner has been coaching the NDA team for six years and won four championships. “This was the best team I ever had. We set goals early in the season and they all worked together to achieve them,” said the coach. “Been a coach in many sports for many years,” said Gardner. “In coaching boys you can yell. Girls you must nurture.” Just to prove their dedication to the game, three players from the Sea team along with Coach Rick Perine, travelled to the New York State CHSSA championship at the Links at Ivy Ridge G.C. in Akron, N.Y. on May 21. Kelli Andersen fired 82 and finished second in a 3-way playoff. Teammate Sarah Perine finished fourth and Ava Graziano placed 15th in a very strong field. Players from the Notre Dame team had to pass due to prior commitments. Outings: The Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame will stage its 7th Annual Golf Outing Reunion on
Thursday, June 29th at South Shore Golf Course followed by dinner at LiGreci’s Staaten. The Bobby Thomson Ambassador Award is presented annually at the golf outing dinner and will go to renowned sports writer and book author Jay Price. He is one of the founding Board members of the SISHoF and was a 2013 inductee. The second award will go to Fred Ragucci an outstanding defensive end at Monsignor Farrell H.S. and Penn State. He was a three-time S.I. Advance All-Star and two-time All City player who played in four bowl games including the 1979 Sugar Bowl against Alabama. He is a 2008 inductee into the S.I.Sports Hall of Fame. Golf action will begin at the Huguenot course at 11:00 a.m. with registration, lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 1: p.m. Dinner will take place at 6 p.m. Ticket prices for golf and dinner are $175 and dinner only is $75. For reservations contact John Woodman at jwoodman1@si.rr.com or call 718-816-7249, cell is 347-6121379. Deadline for reservations is June 15. HURRY to Enter: * Still time to enter the Curtis High School Alumni golf outing at Silver Lake on June 6th. Breakfast & registration at 7 a.m., shotgun start at 8 a.m. and dinner under the Veranda tent to follow. Golf and dinner tix at $175 and dinner only $75. Call George Scarpelli at 347731-5768 for details. * Have a Heart Foundation is also at the Silver Lake Course on June 9th and is still taking late entries and you can share a great day by calling Ed Mandrik at 718-761-0685, Vin Mornardo at 917- 982-0806 or Fred Limeri at 718-227-0808.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
FIRST IN THE POOL By Joe Nugent
True sports dynasties are few and far between. Professionally, the New York Yankees have had their share as have the Boston Celtics, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Bulls, New York Islanders and most recently the New England Patriots. In college, we have seen dynasties by UCLA in men's basketball, UConn in women's basketball and a pretty good run by Alabama in football. Locally, it's been nearly impossible to beat Tottenville HS in either baseball or softball, and for the longest time the St. Peter's HS girls had a hammerlock on the CHSAA basketball crown. But if you want to know the school that has the longest, and most dominant dynasty of all over the past 20 plus years, look no further than the Blessed Sacrament School swim team which this past Sunday at the College of Staten Island captured its 21st Staten Island championship in the past 22 years. The Staten Island Grammar School swimming competition began in 1995. Since then, Blessed Sacrament's only non-championship season came in 2008 when St. Joseph's Hill beat BSS in the finals, and that loss has a story behind it. "It was a busy May Sunday and we were missing 11 of our top swimmers," former coach Keith Van Tassel recalled. "There were communions and other sporting events and I as a first-year coach really didn't put any pressure on
kids to make sure they showed up. I think we lost by about 10 points and there is no doubt we would have won with just two or three of those swimmers making it that day." The loss to Hill ended a 14year championship run by BSS and made headlines in the Staten Island Advance. But coach Van Tassel learned from that one defeat and went on to lead the team to six consecutive titles before handing over the reins to Deirdre Tirotta two years ago. And Van Tassel was on the deck this Sunday assisting the squad as Tirotta and co-coach John Bruen kept the dynasty alive with a win over a very strong Notre Dame Academy team. "Dave Caputo was the coach from 1995 until I took over in 2008," Van Tessel recalled. "Dave did a tremendous job, and now Dierdre and John are doing the same.� The last of my four children (Thomas) is in the eighth grade, so I'll be stepping away now, but it has been a great run." I asked Keith how it was possible for a single parish like Blessed Sacrament to dominate a sport for so long using only swimmers from the parish area. Quickly, Van Tessel answered, "Hillside. Many of our swimmers came from that swim club and they loved to swim and were used to winning." When asked to name a few
of the greatest swimmers he coached at BSS, Van Tessel rattled off the names of Kristin Gullickson (currently a standout at St. Joseph's Hill HS), Megan Feminella, Gregory Tam and Robert Helbock. "Those kids stood out, but the real secret was our depth," Van Tessel said. "Our numbers were always high because BSS kids wanted to be a part of a successful program." The championship team of 2017 followed that formula. Hailey Nyquist (8th grade), Aiden Rikic and Brooke Manning (7th grade) and Kelly Bruen (6th grade) were dominant swimmers in every meet, but there was also valuable contributions from lower grade swimmers like Joe Ciurcina, Ryan Leonard, DJ Pecorale, Nicolette Pecorale and Grace Esposito. Think about it. 21 championships in 22 years. One parish and the swimmers aren't being recruited from outside the parish community. A pure dynasty and one that the North Shore of Staten Island should celebrate with pride. Nugent Nuggets: **Are you a Staten Island sports fan who fits this description? You root for the Mets, Jets and Knicks and voted for Hillary in November. This ain't 1969 my friends. NHL playoffs get a A+ again and the NBA playoffs get an F again. The only thing that can
Page 23 save the NBA is a seven-game final. And speaking of the NBA, exactly who are the morons who decided LeBron isn't an MVP finalist and Steph Curry isn't an NBA first teamer! **If there is a God, he will find a way to get Mike Trout into the uniform of a real baseball team. **Don't you love it when Keith Hernandez openly expresses his disdain for how the Mets play the game. And how about those extra-inning games when he tells how hungry he's getting. **I wanted A-Rod to just go away. Now it looks like Fox Sports thinks he's a broadcasting superstar. **Chase Headley is back to being himself, which teeters between bad and awful. And please Greg Bird, get healthy. Can't watch Chris Carter anymore. **Shawn Kelly from West Brighton playing in an PGA event isn't a big deal, its a MAJOR deal. Congrats to Shawn and the entire Kelly family. **As the list of MLB players going on the 10-day DL grows by leaps and bounds (and they never come back in 10 days), I have come to this conclusion. Golfers are tougher than baseball players. And that includes the LPGA! **Be honest. Can you tell me what NYCFC stands for? Can you name ONE player on the NYCFC or Red Bulls roster? Didn't think so. **Sunday morning's "Talking Baseball" with Ed Randall on WFAN is better than 95% of the babble you hear on other sports-talk shows. **Preakness pick Classic Empire nailed in the final jump and there went a few surf and turf dinners. ** King Henry played great and won the World Cup for Sweden with a 2-1 shootout win over Canada. For Rangers fans, way too little and way too late Hank!
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