FUNDRAISER FOR VETERANS

VFW Penny Social Draws Hundreds of Dollars by Merle Exit

An evening of local socializing and raffles brought in enough money to refund a VFW Post while being able to provide a Thanksgiving Dinner to military veterans.  

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars held a Penny Social Saturday, October 1, at the American Legion, located at 209 Cross Bay Blvd. in Broad Channel.   Every possible idea was used to raise funds to reimburse the raffle prizes, gain back money for the LAVFW, and give proceeds to providing Thanksgiving Dinner for the disabled veterans at St. Albans.

“Donations are tougher to get each year,” said Historian Kathy Savino. “ We purchased most of the prizes ourselves taking the chance that we would have at least enough money to cover that expense. Due to the support of both residents of Broad Channel and nearby towns, we were able to achieve our intent”. 

Prizes lined the walls and stage area with items ranging from created basket subjects, tickets for ABC audience shows and toys to bicycles, wine sets and even a kayak. It is common for people in the area to go kayaking in Jamaica Bay as they hop from a restaurant in Broad Channel to one in the Rockaways.

A $10 door admission, 50-50 raffle and door prize was just the beginning.  Raffle tickets were purchased of two colors depending upon which group of items you were going for.   Numbered white paper bags were placed in front of each prize.   Attendees went around inspecting the goods and dropped a ticket hoping that theirs would get chosen.  

Doors opened at 6pm and the raffle began at 7pm.  Many arrived early for an early bird ticket discount as well as claiming a table.   James McGinn and Keren McEnearney walked about the prizes with tickets in hand.  Were they looking for anything in particular?  “Not really”, said Keren. “Broad Channel is a tightly knit community. It is a blessing to go out with your friends while supporting the veterans.”

Although refreshments were available for purchase, tables of friends were allowed to bring in their own as well as food.   Most brought simple snacks while others donned their table with enough appetizers to fulfill the dinner hour. 

Many of the supporters were able to walk away with at least one gift while some were lucky enough to haul away enough to place under their Christmas trees or pass them on for the holidays. 

PAINT NITE AT GRASSY POINT BAR AND GRILL

Janine Ramadan

                                              Deveka Leibovitz

Paint Nite Glows in Broad Channel by Merle Exit

There are times when you need to get your creative juices flowing.  Why not take the opportunity to relax and socialize with your friends as well without having to travel much of a distance?   This is one of the reasons that Paint Nite was invented, the opportunity to learn how to paint for the first time or choose a location simply because the previewed paintings is your goal. 

Paint Nite venues are typically located at “bars and grills” rather than being in a studio setting.   One event was secured with the historic Grassy Point Bar and Grill, located at 1802 Cross Bay Blvd in Broad Channel.  Christeen  McCambridge, daughter of owner John McCambridge saw Paint Nite as a chance to gain future customers and business on a day that is considered to be a “slow night”.  

“We are not charged to book the event, although we did have to guarantee about 10 people.   With both Paint Nite having a website and our facebook page, 30 people bought tickets.  My intention is to have this fun evening once a month.  My father will be opening the kitchen on Sundays for some tasty treats.  We also have an in house horseshoe club that meets on Thursday evenings.  They stir up a barbecue and offer hamburgers and hot dogs to our Paint Nite attendees.” 

Janine Ramadan, a Queens high school art teacher, works with #Teamqueens.   Janine had the class take the following oath.   “Creating something doesn’t have to be perfect or pretty.  I promise to relax and have fun, not to throw my art across the room. Not to say, ‘mine sucks’ or ask anyone else to do it for me.  I embrace my artistic side and am proud of what I create.  Cheers!”

Janine brings the advertised painting simply as a goal to work for allowing for your own interpretation.  The paint lessons are taken step by step using the brush strokes to first create the background.   You are given a disposable plate with primary colors of which you blend.   Brown, for instance, uses dark blue, yellow and red.   To make the fall theme easier, Janine provided both red and the secondary color orange.   

One first timer, Deveka Leibovitz, came from Woodhaven.  “I did struggle a bit and Janine was most helpful, “said Deveka.  “I learned that blending colors on the painting is important so that there are no lines going from one color to another such as viewing a sunset over water as the yellow gradually becomes a light orange and the distant blue does not produce an obvious straight line.” 

Most of the attendees were painting for the first time.  “It was a lot of fun”, said Broad Channel resident Joann Bogart who was with her daughter Sarah Defillippo and a few of her local friends.  “At first it was something to do locally.  I enjoy going to Grassy.  This was more like a ‘Girlfriends Night Out’.   I’m no Picasso, but this certainly brought out my creative ability.  We actually chose the painting as the water theme reminded us of Broad Channel without the mountains.”  

A fall foliage painting is planned for October 20 th.  Grassy Point Bar and Grill events are posted on their facebook page. 

TAIWANESE GALA EVENT

Pollution Solution by ChinChih Yang

left to right: Luchia Meihua Lee, Claire Shulman, ChinChih Yang

Left to right: Michael Dadap, Yeou-Cheng Ma