I’m madder than a crazed starlet who gets her close-up when she’s not ready for it over the fact that every time I get on television it happens when I leastest expect it, and I end up looking like the crazy old man that I am.
Look, you all know the ol’Screecher doesn’t shy away from the camera whenever one comes around, but that doesn’t mean I have a hair-and-make-up guy on stand by to make me look even better than I do naturally whenever I get interviewed.
So I guess you weren’t surprised last week when you saw me on more than on television station talking about the horrible state of the parking lot they call a park in Gravesend.
See, I was invited to attend a New York City Parks event where they announced that millions of dollars are being poured into rejuvenating and rehabilitating some downtrodden parks, to make them acceptable to the communities they’re in so they can be utilized for everyone’s benefit.
And waiteing for me when I rolled in was all the big television stations, including the Channel 7 Eyewitness News, News 12, and my favorite, PIX 11 — 11 Alive! — and somehow came over to interview me on camera.
But I didn’t know how bad I looked until later that day, when my dear friends Maddy and John drove over from Staten Island to meet me and my lovely wife Sharon at the Silver Star Chinese restaurant on 18th Avenue and 65th Street. See, Maddy and John can’t find good Chinese food on the Rock — Jade Island notwithstanding — so they cross the Verrazano and meet us at 5:30 when, not surprisingly, Silver Star was packed!
The manager greeted us and Michael, our long time favorite waiter, treated us royally.
At the table Maddy said, “We just saw you on Channel 7,” and mimicked what I responded when the reporter asked “Would you come to this park?” I answered, “For what? What’s here to do?” And as you know, once a television crew sees another crew doing something, it does the same thing.
But not me. I mix it up. So in the second interview I said that Brooklyn is always neglected and Manhattan reaps all the goodies. The administration seems to forget that Brooklyn is part of the city. We’re constantly neglected, and if the mayor wasn’t running for re-election, such supposed worthwhile programs to make our parks habitable wouldn’t be happening!
But enough of this bad news. Let’s get on to the good news!
Anna, my favorite school crossing guard, reminded me of the time my very own Bensonhurt West End Community Council honored all the school crossing guards in District 21 at Seth Low IS 96’s auditorium, presenting each with a citation and award. She said that my group was the only one that showed any appreciation for the work they did. And she remembered the spread of different bagel wheel sandwiches with all the salads, pickles, coleslaw, and drinks to down at the feast.
As a matter of fact, we honored not only those unheralded civil servants, but also the ladies and cooks who feed our kids, many whose survival depends on the daily fare they receive at these schools.
You could tell how much they appreciated what we did for them by the way they always wanted to feed me whenever I was in their kitchens back when I was a member of the Community School Board and later on as president of the School Board.
All this couldn’t have happened without the board members of the Bensonhurst West End Community Council. Seth Low, under the reign of John Mancini with his music programs, color guard, and chorus was in essence, then, the Bensonhurst and Gravesend community band, participating anywhere they were needed from Kingsborough Community College to the Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade. I’m happy to note that many school now have fine music programs.
So I enjoyed reminiscing with Anna about how important it is to feel appreciated, proving how a little thank you goes a long way. Thank you Anna, from we whom depend on, and your wonderful guards, who are indispensable and as important as a cop on every corner. Thank you Anna and all your cohorts that battle the wind, rain, snow, and frigid cold to safeguard not only our kids, but the elderly, too!
Screech at you next week!
