On Saturday, April 17, the Gerritsen Beach Little League held their 58th Opening Season Ceremony for the 2010 Season. It is the oldest Little League in all of Brooklyn.
The parade kicked off at 10:00 am at the Resurrection Church Parking lot. Each of the teams, along with Resurrection Sports marched from Whitney Avenue to Larry Veiling Field (Cryus Avenue).
An opening prayer was given by Father Farrell followed by the National Anthem, by the Gerritsen Beach Marching Band.
During the ceremony, President Sal Mattaliano said “We are really trying to incorporate the Baseball and the Softball this year even though we are separate organizations. We are all one big family down here.”
The first pitch was thrown out by Tom Chandler, 85, who was with the little league since its inception. Tom started out as a umpire and moved to coach the senior division for many years.
Dan Cavanagh, District 25 Little League Administrator, said “Not only was he a great coach but he was an inspiration to all of us both on and off the field.”
Here are some of the Teams this year with their respective sponsors.
Tigers – New Dutch Farms
Sabers – Cort Club
Chiefs – Doreen Greenwood Real Estate
Mets – Victorias Pizza
Knights – Matthews Council 5989
[Whole Ceremony 13 Minutes]
For those of you not able to attend here is a video, enjoy! Here is a friendly reminder for some you of : “you can’t have it both ways”.
With the future extension of Seba Avenue Park with Phase II (Comfort Station) and what GerritsenBeach.net will call Phase III (sprinklers) the Larry Veling scoreboard based at the Little League Field will be forced to be moved.
Moved where is the question the Little League and the Parks Department will have to hash out (hopefully with a signed letter). The GB Little League needs to make sure that complete removal is not an option, otherwise we at GerritsenBeach.net predict everyone in GB will declare Jihad on the parks department.
After contacting Councilman Lew Fidlers office who is a driving force behind Seba Avenue Park. They say removal of the scoreboard is not an option just moved to a location away from the construction. Adding that their office will work with parks to make sure everything goes smoothly.
After speaking with members of the Little League (nameless for FEAR of retaliation from another GB group) relocating the scoreboard in right field is the general consensus right now -Â of course – after construction begins.
The Annual Timmy “Tub†Girardot Pagans /Women’s Softball Game is a neighborhood tradition in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn for good reason. The game raises money for the American Cancer Society. Each year the proceeds are brought to the Prospect Park Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk by a group of Gerritsen Beach residents registered as Team Hope. Team Hope is the only non-commercial group on the American Cancer Society’s list of top ten Brooklyn fundraisers. The success is an example of how one small Brooklyn Community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
This years event was held on Saturday October 3rd and although the day threatened rain a good crowd showed up. Team Hope honored Julia Dash, who is a 10 year breast cancer survivor. Team Hope presented her with 10 roses and a 10 year survivor sweatshirt.
She gave a touching speech. (Apologies for dropping the camera)
Although the event was eventually rained out, im sure everyone had fun.
Its been 8 years since these memorials started and we always have a great turn out. Amazingly, around 300 people attended the memorial to honor the victims and survivors of September 11th.
The weathers timing couldn’t have been better; the rain had stopped a while before the memorial started.
The event consisted of a few small speeches, some songs, a beautiful poem by Nicole D’Agosta, and prayer (apologies no video this year).
GerritsenBeach.net was even mentioned and credited in a speech from our coverage of last year, with our opinion that kids under 13 (in 2007) really have no understanding of that day. James Giorgio, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, extended our observation that these memorials need to be a lesson for kids. His point was that, parents and neighbors need to explain what that day meant to everyone and how they felt. The idea is that everyone can understand the event and that it wont be forgotten.
We here at GerritsenBeach.net love this event and think its wonderful and needed. However, we feel that the songs need to be toned down at this event. Four songs is too much, 300 people attended an event to remember the day, not to hear a song. Even though they sing very well and it’s appropriate, we feel that more poems, more stories, more people speaking would be a great way to have kids remember that day. On a side note, It wouldn’t hurt to position the crowd for better picture taking. (Hint, Hint: Move stuff around)
Gerritsen Beach Little League registration continues this Monday February 16th, at the Cort Club from 7pm to 9pm. Here are the registration dates, which have already been added to the calendar.
Registration is open to anyone between the ages of 5-15 years old. Anyone that reaches his/her 16″” birthday before July 31, 2008 will be too old. Anyone that does not reach his/her 5″” birthday before July 31, 2008 will be too young.
REGISTRATION FEES FOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL ARE:
Clinic: (5 & 6 YEARS OLD) $65.00
Minors: (7-9 YEARS OLD) $125.00
Majors (10-12 YEARS OLD) $125.00
13-15 Year Old Division $200.00
Inquire about Girl’s Softball FEES at the registration
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO COACH & UMPIRE (Inquire at Registration)
Already? It can’t be. Gerritsen Beach Little League registration will begin this Monday February 9th, at the Cort Club from 7pm to 9pm. Here are the registration dates, which have already been added to the calendar:
SATURDAY, October 25, 2008
Starting 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Rain date: November 1, 2008 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
in the GB Little League area of Larry Veling Field (Gerritsen Avenue off Cyrus Avenue)
Pumpkin Painting, Pony Rides, Haunted Walk, Face Painting, Bounce Houses, Find a Needle in a Hay Stack Contest, Hot Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Spooky Music, Hot dogs, Soda and tricks or treats !!
Sunday, October 5th, 2008 the Gerritsen Beach community gathered at Larry Veiling Field on Gerritsen Avenue for a softball game to raise money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the American Cancer Society’s annual walk. The Annual Timmy “Tub†Girardot Pagans /Women’s Softball Game is an example of how one small Brooklyn community can make a big difference in the fight against breast cancer
The Annual Timmy “Tub†Girardot Pagans /Women’s Softball Game is a neighborhood tradition in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn for good reason. The game, now in its fourth year, has raised a total of $15,000 for the American Cancer Society. Each year the proceeds are brought to the Prospect Park Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk by a group of Gerritsen Beach residents registered as Team Hope. Last year’s game raised $8,000, making Team Hope the only non-commercial group on the American Cancer Society’s list of top ten Brooklyn fundraisers. The success is an example of how one small Brooklyn Community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
On Saturday, September 27, 2008 the Gerritsen Beach community will gather at Larry Veiling Field on Gerritsen Avenue to enjoy the game and festivities. The event is free of charge and funds are raised by selling raffles, chances, food and beverages. You can expect to find hotdogs, hamburgers, barbecued chicken and hot or sweet Italian sausages for a suggested donation of $1-2. Local vendors like the Knights of Columbus and the Cort Club donate food and supplies, and everyone takes turns flipping burgers behind the grill.
When breast cancer survivor Jinny LeDonne Hanson mentioned the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk to her softball coach, Ernie Blundell, the idea for a fundraiser was born. The Annual Timmy “Tub†Girardot Pagans/Women’s Softball Game, named in remembrance of a beloved friend, would feature the local men’s team, The Pagans, playing against the Women’s Softball league. Last year’s game drew a huge crowd including representatives from the American Cancer Society and local assemblyman Alan Meisel. This year’s game will be more successful and – if possible – more fun.
Team Hope leader Jinny Hanson was recognized by the American Cancer Society for the fundraising efforts of the Gerritsen Beach community and was awarded a proclamation from the New York City Council in a ceremony at City Hall in 2006.
For more information about Team Hope and the Annual Timmy “Tub†Girardot Pagans/ Women’s Softball Game please contact Ginger Hanson at 917-363-3058 or e-mail hanson.ginger@gmail.com
The Knights of Columbus held their annual memorial service for the lives that were lost on September 11th 2001.
There was memorial songs, poems read, prayers from Resurrection and St. James.
I have video I will upload it later. Check back.
The younger than 13 crowd that was there I guess don’t realize what happened that day or don’t know how it effected everyone older than them because they were a bit noisy and playful when they shouldn’t have been. It might be because they have absolutely no memory of that day at all; the smell, the crystal clear sky, the smoke cloud over us, the papers flying around, the buildings collapsing, jet fighters.
