A FRIEND IN NEED…

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John-John Hernandez

I received word today via Facebook that  John-John Hernandez is battling cancer of the throat.

They are having a fundraiser for him. Here’s the details that were sent…

A Friend  in Need: Saturday night Oct. 30, 2010 7PM.   There will be a fundraiser held in Shepherd’s Hall at Holy Name for John Hernandez “AKA” John-John who is battling throat cancer.  There will be music, food, open bar and raffles (50/50)

Cost is $65.00 per person. (Pay at the door)

Please come and help support John & his family –

All proceeds will go to them. For those who cannot come please keep John-John in your prayers. Hope to see you there…

Donations can be sent to: 437 16th St. Apt 1R, Brooklyn NY 11215

John-John and I grew up together; he lived on 16th street between 8th and 9th.   He was one of the best dude’s around.  John-John was a good friend when we were going through our teenage years.

I recall hanging out with him one morning when I cut school.  I met him real early and hopped on the ‘Grady Special’.  That was the bus that went along Coney Island Avenue and picked up only William E. Grady students (John-John was a student there). We spent many nights in Prospect Park along with hanging out all over the neighborhood.

The last time I saw him was in the Fall of 2008.  He was telling me so much about his son who was playing baseball at the time.  He was so proud of him; especially when he pulled out the baseball card of his son from his wallet…

Please keep John-John in your thoughts and prayers.  Let’s hope he can fight this and get back to good health.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

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Holy Name Foundation

I received a phone call two weeks ago informing me I was going to be one of four people being honored by the Holy Name Foundation on the night of October 29th.

For the first time in a long time, I was speechless.

What a great honor!

I am humbled and grateful to be chosen from a neighborhood/school filled with wonderful people who have made tremendous contributions over the years.

What: Holy Name Foundation 6th Annual Dinner Dance

When: Friday October 29, 2010 (Cocktails 6:30PM) Dinner and Dancing to follow.

Where: Gargiulo”s Restaurant 2911 West 15th street.  Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York 11224

I also need to mention that John McGee (Class of 1969) will also be honored along with William Kahaly (Class of 1969) and Sister Joan Hackett, Past Principle (1970-1977). William and Sister Joan will accept the award for Outstanding Community Service.

For ticket information please call  (718) 369-0848.

I’VE GOT GOOD NEWS…AND GREAT NEWS!

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Good news

Details coming…

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

WHAT I MISS…

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Schoolyard

Some of the readers of the blog still live in the neighborhood.  Some do not.  Today I was thinking of some of the things I miss doing or things I miss about the neighborhood.

If you can go back to your teenage days, what is the one thing you’d like to do right now?

Is there a place you’d like to go?

A person you’d like to hang out with?

Think back, let’s hear what you have to say about your memory of growing up in the neighborhood.

Me?

I’d like to be in the boys schoolyard on Howard Place, playing basketball on a summer afternoon.  The yard would be crowded.  Games everywhere.  Taps, Around the World, 3 on 3 and even someone trying to squeeze in a stickball game. Remember where the pitching mound stood?

How about the sign they put up on the church wall that displayed the operating hours? Doing dribbling drills for Holy Name we would have to keep our head up and recite the hours.

Don’t forget about the handball court.  There was always a ton of energy in that part of the yard.

-Steve

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

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Great Irish Fair

Big weekend ahead down at Coney Island!

Over 20,000 people are expected to attend a great cultural event.

One of New York City’s most highly anticipated cultural festivals of the year.  The 29^th Annual Great Irish Fair (GIF) is a two-day festival (Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18th and 19th) celebrating Irish-American culture at MCU Park in Coney Island.

For more information, check out http://www.gifnyc.com/.

Over 50 vendors and neighborhood pubs will recreate their venue for two days on the fairgrounds, providing entertainment, great Irish fare, and fun for the entire family.  Guests will enjoy traditional and contemporary Irish music from local Irish bands/ performers, including pop/ folk band Celtic Cross; recording artist and performer Andy Cooney; U2 cover band Unforgettable Fire; Derek Warfield and the Young Wolftones; The Buckley Irish Step Dancers; and many more.

A separate area within the field grounds has been set aside for children’s rides and attractions, including magic shows, face painting, balloonists, and inflatable rides.

Every year, honorees are awarded at the Great Irish Fair for their various, dedicated work within the Irish American community.  This year’s honorees include St. Francis College President Brendan Dugan; NYC Police Dept. Lieutenant Kevin Lyons; NYC Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Joseph Downey; Motion Picture & Television Production’s Dan Mahoney; Reverend Kevin Sweeney; Wingate, Kearney & Cullen’s Kevin Kearney; NYC Dept. of Records & Information Services Commissioner Brian G. Andersson; Emerald Guild Society’s Founding Member Mike Leahy; and Xaverian High School Principal Kevin McCormick; Siobhan McGirl; and Robert Murphy.

All net proceeds of the fair are donated to a charitable fund for the benefit of Brooklyn Diocesan Catholic Elementary Schools. The cost of the donation is $12 per person/per day for attendees 12 years of age and older. The cost of a family donation is $30 which includes admission for 2 adults and their children (children under the age of 12 are admitted free).

Come on out and join the fun!

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Our 11-year-old daughter started the 6th grade last week.

My wife went out and picked out some new school clothes (a big thank you to my father in-law, her Grandfather Marty)

She also picked up some school supplies.  Unreal!

Last night she showed me everything she picked up; all packed in her backpack.

Backpack

Colored pencils (optional)

Post it notes

Index cards

Ruler

Folder

Binder

Pencil-case

Pencils

Pens

Highlighter

Scissors

Glue

Eraser

Composition notebook

Sharpener

Sharpie

It’s safe to say that she utilizes all of the above…

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

MORE IRISH FAIR…

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Danny Mahoney, Great Irish Fair

I received an e-mail informing me that Danny Mahoney will be honored September 18th and 19th at the 29th Annual Great Irish Fair of New York. Mahoney was named Irishman of the Year’. What a great honor!

Danny, better known as ‘Chief’ was one of the best big men that played in the summer league. He rebounded and blocked shots with the best of them. On a professional note, Mahoney is Assistant Division Director, Motion Picture & Television Production. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

He’s big time baby!

For all that don’t know, the fair raises critical funds in support of Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens and is also a great time !

Many folks from the  neighborhood are the backbone of the event and Martin Cottingham does a tremendous job putting it all together.

Hopefully you can get out there this weekend…and congrats to Danny!

Click here to visit their website for more information.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

ERIN GO BRAGH…

Don’t forget about the  29th Annual Great Irish Fair of New York taking place Saturday and Sunday September 18th and 19th at MCU Park, formerly Keyspan Park.

Start time is 10AM and they will go until 7:30 PM.

Click here for the link to their website for more information.

In 1982, the Brooklyn Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (”AOH”) founded the Great Irish Fair of New York (”GIF”) as an annual family friendly event celebrating Irish culture and heritage in this, the greatest city in the world! Following its immediate success, the AOH continued to sponsor and organize the event for well over the next two decades. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people, both young and old, have attended the GIF. Indeed, to this day, the GIF is one of the best attended annual cultural festivals in New York City.

So that many future generations of Irish Americans can enjoy the proud tradition of the GIF, for the first time in its history beginning in 2007 the event was sponsored and organized by the Irish American Building Society Charities, Inc. (”IABSC”), a duly licensed and registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to carry on the great Irish American tradition of giving.

In keeping with our charitable tradition, please know that 100% of all net proceeds derived from the 2010 GIF will be donated to a charitable fund for the benefit of Brooklyn Diocesan Catholic Elementary Schools.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

3 ON 3

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3 on 3, Basketball, Henry's Deli, Iced Tea, Schoolyard

Fantasy Football seems to be very popular at this time of year; Sorry, I have no use for it; Give me Strat-o-Matic any day of the week!

This morning I was thinking about 3 on 3 basketball in the schoolyard.

I’d love to see this trio play together: Jimmy Rauthier, Charlie Alberti, and Gerard Trapp.

Would anyone from the neighborhood beat them? Could anyone from the neighborhood beat them?

In my estimation, they’d stay on the court all day long. I’d even run and get the Iced Tea’s from Henry’s for them after each game.

Jimmy would be their scorer. Gerard would do it all and Charlie would be a horse in the paint.

Give me 3 guys you think could beat them.

Who’s the best 3 you can come up with for a game of 3 on 3 in the yard?

Who’s got next?

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com