They were all BIG winners!
Sheepshead Bay’s Bay Improvement Group handed out awards to four hometown heroes for their service and dedication to the community during the Annual BIG Oscar Awards Dinner for Distinguished Community Service at a packed Il Fornetto restaurant on April 20.
Veteran firefighter Gregory Santangelo took home his trophy for saving two people from a burning building last year, and was honored to be recognized — though there’s no better feeling than saving a life, he said.
“It was very generous, a very nice thing that they did,” said Marine Parker Santangelo, from Ladder 153 in Gravesend. “It was rewarding that they were helped, that I was able to help them.”
About 60 people packed the Emmons Avenue eatery for a night of music, dancing, and a delicious four-course meal — and a talented comedic magician even visited from Atlantic City to wow the crowd, said the president of the Bay Improvement Group.
“It was awesome, really great people, good feedback,” said Steve Barrison, who gave a State of the Bay Address about what’s been going on in the nabe. “He was very funny.”
The other recipients included Police Officer Nick Felix, Jr., from the 61st Precinct, Principal Tamika Harding, who accepted the award on behalf of local school PS 052, and the Bay Improvement Group’s own treasurer JoAnn Pino.
