I’m going to share a secret about my family. . .We are diehard fans of Fleet Week! From childhood, before it was called “Fleet Week”, ships would dock on Staten Island and Dad would strengthen our weak little legs enough (with hard work around the house! Lol!) to climb up and down those ladders and through the ship without tripping, slipping or complaining. It was an exciting experience for us, and every year, without a miss, we would wait on lines to tour the ships. Since then, our family would venture to Ft. Wadsworth and wait for the Parade of Ships. Usually, it  would take a couple or more hours before the first one would come under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The kiddies would run around playing with the other kiddies as photographers would take…

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How many of you actually know the meaning of Memorial Day? It is a federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national and local cemeteries.

When I was a child, Memorial Day meant attending the parade on Forest Ave. and having a BBQ in…

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The Grand Opening Event at the Empire Outlets NYC took place on Wednesday evening. Crowds of people lined up for an evening of entertainment, dancing, giveaways, food trucks, shopping and a camaraderie that I haven’t seen in a long time. The waterfront views of Manhattan were spectacular. The open spaces invite one to sit and enjoy the music, the sights and sounds, people watching and chatting. You can take a bus or the S.I.R.T. to the ferry to easily check out the new shopping venue or park in the nearby enclosed garages at the ferry, the Outlets site or on St. Mark’s Pl. at the Courthouse. Following are some photos from the opening night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Elissa, my gentle reader, for…

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What a beautiful week! That is, until the rain came, barely stopped and then began again Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc.…. I want to congratulate my handsome, smart, funny, creative, first Grandchild, Gerard Nils Coogan, on his First Holy Communion which took place on a warm sunny Saturday morning at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Tottenville. He is an excellent student in 2nd grade at P.S. 3 and in his CCD class. All the children were taught well, knew their prayers and sang the beautiful songs during the Mass. I pray that Gerard will be blessed today and throughout his life. Check out the banner he designed and made for his Communion ceremony and the nod to a certain favorite creature. Hint: He is a dinosaur aficionado.

 

 

 

 

I…

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Did you catch the performance by the Yankee Rebels Bluegrass Band at Everything Goes Cafe, take the Richard Buegler 10-Mile Spring Walk, attend Stop ‘N’ Swap at CSI, shop the Open Garden and Plant Sale at the home of Sage Reynolds? Below are some photos from Sage’s wonderful garden of unusual plants and flowers and happy shoppers.

Did you shop for Mother’s Day at the Craft Fair at the Art on the Terrace Gallery and view their art exhibit: “Good Earth” or at the Spring Fair at Stapleton UAME Church? Did you attend the Staten Island Giving Circle’s Basket Bash on Tuesday? For more information or to volunteer your services, visit statenislandgivingcircle.org

The Walking Tour of Livingston's Bard Avenue neighborhood took place on Saturday…

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