AOL has filed me. Not only AOL, but Optimum OnLine too. For the past four days I haven’t been able to get on line. For you, the older generation, that refuses to catch up with the future – muttering under your breath, “I hate computers.” “Online” means that I can’t get on the internet to use the vast highway of knowledge, facts and lies available.
But most importantly I am unable to send or receive e-mails. Which means all the work I do at home is seriously affected. And that’s why this column has to be short and sweet. I thank my award-winning colleague Joanna DelBuono for coming to my rescue and retyping this column for publication that I faxed her. Normally sent in by e-mail, the two culprits mentioned earlier failed me and I had to resort to Joanna’s kindness.
What’s confusing is that my two laptops can’t get on line, but my daughter who lives in Long Island who has access to my e-mail can. So let me say what’s needed to be said.
First of all, congratulations to Danny Wing who a couple of Saturdays ago was inducted as an Eagle Scout to Troop 90, the oldest Boy Scout Troop in America. Danny was always helping this Santa Clause at their “Annual Breakfast with Santa,” held at the New Utrecht Reformed Church’s Parish House on 18th Avenue and 84th Street. Two years ago, I warned Danny that Santa next year would need a cane to walk in to greet the kids. Danny made me a Candy Cane for the occasion. He has helped me every year that I’ve been their Troops’ Santa, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to make his induction ceremony and dinner that followed. Congratulations Danny.
The Bensonhurst West End Community Council (BWECC), wrote a letter to DOT Deputy Commissioner Palmieri questioning the useless Right Turn Signal on Cropsey Avnue to the entrance of the Belt Parkway, eastbound. After dedicating the right lane to the turn onto the parkway, someone at DOT put a needless traffic right arrow light there. You should hear all the complaints we got. The Commissioner sent his rep to the BWECC Open Community meeting at the UPDC, 29 Bay 25th Street on Monday night, May 19, you’ll get a report in a future column.
Speaking of BWECC, the council lost a long time executive board member last week; Julio Sampugnaro succumbed to a heart attack after undergoing several cancer related operations. We mourn with his wife Bessie, the loss of this great gentle man who served his country and was buried with full military honors. Bessie also a long time Executive Board member was the lady who you signed in with at the BWECC meetings every month. There was quite a large entourage of family and friends at the Most Precious Blood Church (MPB) that followed Julie to the Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island. Monsignor Rosa, MPB Pastor gave a beautiful eulogy to Julio, noticing that the casket was draped with the American flag, he mentioned that he too was a veteran. At this point let me mention that Rosemary Baez was the vocalist and her husband the organ player, who also harmonized with her during the services. No one can sing Schubert’s Ave Maria like Rosemary does. It’s as though God has angels singing through her voice, there is never a dry eye when Rosemary sings. She makes any solemn occasion beautiful. Julie is survived by his devoted wife Bessie, son Victor and wife Marie, daughter Laurie and Russell her husband and the two beautiful granddaughters they bore him and Bessie, Crystal and Kacie. We all will miss you Julie.
Screech at you next week.
