BROAD CHANNEL CIVIC ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
A Publication of the Broad Channel Civic Association
December 2015
Vol. 28 No. 12
CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING
***** VFW Hall – Shad Creek Road – 7:00 PM *****
*****December 3, 2015*****
This issue of the Newsletter is sponsored by
Allstate Insurance Company, John F. Lepore.
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President’s Message
This month's Civic meeting will be held on Thursday, December 3rd at 7 PM at the VFW Hall. Come down and
get caught up on what is going on in your neighborhood!
Elections for the Civic Board for the upcoming year will be held at the December meeting. The Election
Committee has submitted a slate of officers and any and all nominations from the floor will be accepted.
Build it Back Executive Director Rudy Giuliani will be present to give updates on the program and take
questions. At this time the Tishman Construction Management Company has been brought on and is currently
working with residents in Broad Channel to design and elevate homes. Some of these projects are getting ready
to commence and we are attempting to get the word out that the City is paying rental assistance for those who
must elevate and will be out of their homes. If any landlords would like to rent their properties to these individuals,
we ask that they reach out to the Civic and let us know if there are available properties.
Last Civic Meeting saw a presentation by Brendan Pillar from the Department of City Planning, discussing zoning
changes for Broad Channel. Unlike many areas of the city, where there is an effort to increase density, the
approach in Broad Channel was to reflect current uses, make changes to the zoning that would make it easier to
elevate homes (through changes in current restrictive side and front yard setbacks) and to decrease density to
reflect the current neighborhood use that exists i.e.: one family detached homes. There was a discussion that
ensued regarding the ability to be able to build two family homes going forward. The Zoning change would only
allow this if the applicant sought an appeal through the Board of Standards and Appeals. Some present were
concerned that this would prohibit the ability to build a two family if the owner of the property wanted to do so,
while others were inclined to support this concept in an attempt to avoid two family homes which could lead to
rental problems and parking issues. The discussion was tabled with the intent of putting out a notice that this will
be a topic of discussion to allow others who may want to weigh in on this matter. This topic will be discussed at
the Civic meeting on December 3rd with the intent of coming to a consensus of where the community stands on
this so as to advise the City Department of Planning on our support or opposition to this proposal.
On October 26th the Transco Williams Pipeline Company completed the installation of sixteen new artificial
reef locations off the coast of Rockaway in the current designated Artificial Reef Zone. This was a direct result
of a plan that was first formulated and put forth by the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers as an "offset" for their new
pipeline that was installed last summer. The project, which cost 1.6 million dollars, is the first new reef material
placed at the artificial reef zone in decades. The area is an extremely productive marine habitat but was in need
of additional material to supplant older sections that had decayed over time. This will be a great ecological
addition to the waters off Rockaway as well as a recreational one, as the area is one of the most sought after
fishing locations around. Obtaining this agreement was a difficult and complicated process in which the
Ecowatchers became "intervenors" with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-(FERC) in order to submit
briefs and influence the process. The assistance of Assemblyman Goldfeder and Senator Schumer was critical to
achieve this goal.
I want to thank Councilman Ulrich for his assistance in getting the weeds on the center mall that runs through
the wildlife refuge cut and trimmed last week. This area is difficult to get addressed as there is no defined
agency that maintains the mall. It is the entranceway to our town and it makes a huge difference on the
impression that visitors have when it is cut and maintained. It looks much better now!!.
Quote of the Month -“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”--- Thomas Jefferson
Respectfully submitted,
Dan Mundy Jr.
This issue of the Newsletter is sponsored by
Breezy Point Lumber Co.
ST. CAMILLUS – ST. VIRGILIUS CHURCH
THANKSGIVING DAY (November 26th) Mass will be
celebrated at 9 a.m. in St. Virgilius Church and at 10
a.m. in St. Camillus Church.
Feast of St. Virgilius: Friday, November 27th. If you wish
to order the 100th Anniversary Video, please call 718634-8229 or email [email protected]. Donation: $5.00
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: There will be a Children's
pageant at the 4 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve,
December 24th. Practice will take place in St. Virgilius
Church after the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass. Practices will
begin on Sunday, November 29th. Please speak with
Sabrina Gross.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR: An adult choir is practicing on
Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in St. Virgilius Church to
sing for Christmas. Please speak with Doris Dady.
NEW ALTAR SERVERS: Installation of NEW ALTAR
SERVERS will take place on Sunday, November 29th
during the 10 a.m. Mass in St. Virgilius Church.
Congratulations to the new servers and thank you to
Patrick McGovern who is in charge of the Altar Servers.
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION (December 8th) -Immaculate Conception: Masses will be celebrated in
St. Virgilius on Monday (December 7th) at 7:30 p.m. and
Tuesday (December 8th) at 10 a.m.
At St. Camillus Church, Masses will be celebrated at 9
a.m. and 12 Noon on December 8th.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL MASS for Father
James Dunne: Friday, December 18th at
7 p.m. in St. Camillus Church.
ST. VIRGILIUS GOLDEN AGE CLUB meets every
Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in the American Legion Hall.
ST. VIRGILIUS ALTAR-ROSARY SOCIETY meets on
the THIRD MONDAY of each month at
12:30 p.m. in the American Legion Hall.
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
St. Virgilius Church: Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. and
Christmas Day at 10 a.m.
St. Camillus Church: Christmas Eve at 5:30 p.m. and
Christmas Day at 8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
NEW YEAR'S Holy Day (Solemnity of Mary) Mass
Schedule:
St. Virgilius Church: New Year's Eve (Dec. 31st) at 4
p.m. and New Year's Day at 10 a.m.
St. Camillus Church: New Year's Eve (Dec. 31st) at 5:30
p.m. and New Year's Day at 11:30 a.m.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: Parents are
reminded to please check the calendar for class
schedules around the holidays. The calendar can be
found at the website: www.stcstv.com. Parents can also
check the website every week on Thursdays to see if
their student has any homework assignments from
Wednesday's class. Go to www.stcstv.com to check.
St. Camillus Catholic Academy: Please call the Office
(718-834-5260) for registration information for
September, 2016. Kindergarten registration will begin in
December, 2015. Registration for Grades 1-8 will begin
in January, 2016.
SCCA Christmas Boutique will take place in Springman
Hall (180 Beach 100th Street) on Saturday, December
12th and Sunday, December 13th.
2016 Broad Channel Historical Calendar will be
available in the All American Deli and the Rock
and Roll Deli. They make great Christmas
gifts!!!!
The Flag will fly in December for
William Wiese,
US Army, WWII
The Flag will fly in January for
Buddy Miccio,
US Navy, WWII
The Broad Channel Crafters and the American
Legion Auxiliary presents the 27th Annual Craft and
Christmas Gift Sale on Friday, December 4th from 6 PM
to 9 PM and Saturday, December 5th from 9 AM to 7 Pm
at the American Legion Hall, 209 Crossbay Blvd. There
will be jewelry, ornaments, baked goods, raffles,
seasonal decorations and more!!! The kitchen will be
open for lunch and refreshments. All proceeds benefit
the Wounded Warriors Project.
BROAD CHANNEL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The BCVFD had an extremely busy, emotional
and time consuming roller coaster month.
Big thanks to the town for coming out in droves,
even though it was during the World Series, for the
return of the Haunted Firehouse. The 4 night event was
a great success combined with our annual Halloween
parade that had record attendance as well.
There were also 3 house fires in a 2 week span.
Our Annual Turkey Karaoke event also did great
as well as our pie sales and Thanksgiving Feast raffle.
But with the highs comes the lows. The BCVFD
lost 3 members of its family this month. Greg Kost, who
lived here and was a junior member in the 90s, our dear
friend and former President Dawn McIntyre, and then
just this past week, our 41 year dispatcher, Eileen
Smith.
All these events put a halt on our attempts to do
our Fund Drive call backs for the end of the year. So if
you have yours, please mail it in or call and we will come
pick it up.
Coming up in Dec, we will once again be
assisting Kris Kringle this Christmas Eve deliver gifts to
our kids. Reservations will begin to be accepted
weeknights between 8-11 PM after December 1st.
The Dept. will also be holding its Annual
elections this month. A big thanks to outgoing Chief of
the department Robert Leonard for a hard working year,
and a big welcome back to Chief Dan McIntyre who will
be taking the reigns again this year.
Also much good news came from FEMA this
month. It looks as if it is a very real possibility that the
new firehouse project could go out to competitive bid as
early as January of next year. The BCVFD will be
relaunching its Brick Campaign once that does happen.
Thank you to all for your continued support this
year and we are always in need of new members in all
aspects of the dept.
Have a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Holiday
Season, from our family to yours!!
6 Hour Defensive Driving Class Point & Insurance
Reduction Program. Wednesday, December 2nd, 7 to
10 Pm at St. Camillus Auditorium and Wednesday
December 9th, 7 to 10 Pm at 185 Beach 99th Street in
Rockaway Park. Fee is $45. Payment guarantees a
seat. For attending BOTH NIGHTS, you will receive a
10% discount off liability, collision and no fault insurance
for 3 years and up to a 4 point reduction off your driver’s
license. NO test will be given. Call Helen at 917-5532409 or Don at 917-553-2408. Refreshments will be
served. Proceeds help benefit St. Camillus Catholic
Academy.
Material to be printed in the next Newsletter is due by January 10th
Broad Channel Civic Association
Broad Channel, NY 11693
President -----------------------Dan Mundy Jr.
Vice President-------------------James Harper
Treasurer------------------------Tracey Harper
Recording Secretary---------- Kathleen Lawless
Corresponding Secretary----- Kat Lawless
Sergeant at Arms---------------John Wagner
Trustees--------------------------Dan Mundy Sr.,
John McCambridge Jr., Dan McIntyre
Editor: Natalie Grant ([email protected])