It’s that time of year again — time for the annual Bensonhurst West End Community Council gala!
Critically acclaimed Courier Life columnist Carmine “Big Screecher” Santa Maria threw his 35th annual party for his 53-year-old civic group at El Caribe in Mill Basin on March 19 — and honored some very special neighborhood leaders in front of a crowd of 355.
“We had some so many fine people and awards we were giving out,” said Brooklyn’s favorite editorializer.
Carmine — with the help of his loyal gala committee Randy Garay, Linda Dalton, Heather Fiorica, Erica Kushkin, Maria Digraziano, Mary Montemorano, Milisa Donahue, Sid Schatzman, Eddie Gary, Jr. — gave out a range of citations.
Longtime BWECC!-ites Steve and Mary Placanica won the “Couple of the Year” trophy, while IS 228 assistant principal Scott Herman took home the “Man of the Year” award. The group issued two “Parent of the Year” awards, one to the two co-presidents of the PS 177 Parent-Teacher Association, Luisa DeSilvio and Ann Polizzi.
Deborah Delluomo, assistant principal at PS 212, won “Woman of the Year,” while Ann Marie Lettier Baker of the Children First Network got the “Educator of the Year” award.
But, as with most things involving Carmine, much of the excitement was dedicated to the cuisine.
“The food was tremendously excellent. It’s the one thing that draws everybody to my event,” Santa Maria said.
Carmine said he stuffed himself with El Caribe’s beloved prime rib, as well as filet of sole, mussels, veal caprese, and chicken sorrentino. The Big Screecher topped it all off with cookies from Berto’s bakery.
“It was great. People had a really good time,” ol’ Carmine said.
