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Sure, we’re getting older, but, as they say in The year was eventful, to say the least, from Good news materialized for the local community when new City Councilman Lew Fidler, along with Assemblyman Frank Seddio, Senator John Sampson and other community leaders, got together with a couple of dozen interested citizens, including the Avenue L Merchants Association, to form a task force to revitalize the Avenue L shopping section. They were to identify problems and, hopefully, come to some solutions that would enhance and rebuild the section. A boon for common sense appeared on our pages when we told you about Canarsie High School re-attaining its nickname "Chiefs." Six months earlier, the Board of Education had ordered the school and others who had been using references to Native Americans as team symbols to refrain from doing so because it was supposedly offensive. Realizing the absurdity of the dictum, they recanted, with the stipulation that no unflattering icons or symbols could be used in reference to "Chiefs." History buffs were encouraged in early February when it was noted that the illustrious early years of the community would become an open book, so to speak, with the establishment of a Canarsie History Museum. According to Ramon Martinez, who headed a group that had acquired a five-year provisional charter, funding and a location were being sought, as was general support from the community. Martinez originally got the backing of the Canarsie Historical Society and others, but support is waning, even as he continues campaigning for the project.
The worst of crimes became the main topic here as the owner of a deli on Avenue N was horribly murdered in early February during what appeared to be a robbery attempt. The case took on deeper substance when it appeared that the murderer killed another store owner in Queens about two hours The "Cease & Desist Zone" topic came about again, as Department of State representatives came to our area to hold a hearing, accepting complaints that unscrupulous real estate so-called agents were invading Mill Basin, Canarsie, Bergen Beach and other sections. Agency investigators said they’d look into it and, lo and behold, the following May, the order was reinforced, although complainers would have to put their names on a non-solicitation request all over again. It was late in March when the first regional school meeting took place, with Region 6 (that’s Canarsie and the surrounding areas) being headed by Superintendent Gloria Buckery. The meeting was attended by hundreds, who heard Buckery tell them that "student and parents have as much responsibility as teachers" in the child’s education. The region plan was set up by Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and will do away with past school boards within the next few months. Gene Madeam, a Canarsie relative of Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson, who was among the first to be captured, along with Jessica Lynch, during the war against Iraq, said he had to rely on reports he heard in the media about her condition. She was later rescued, along with Lynch and others and is okay.
Deputy Inspector Robert Johnsen, commander of the 69th Precinct, along with his executive officer, Captain Brian White, was honored not only by local authorities, but by Police Commissioner Kelly after they disarmed an emotionally disturbed person at the Foster Avenue stationhouse. The man had allegedly held a knife to the throat of a hostage, who eluded him, and Johnsen and White grabbed the weapon, capturing the suspect. A sad note came in early May when Jack Zimmer passed away at the age of 79. For 40 years he had been the linchpin of the Canarsie district school board and, as far back as the ’60s, was responsible for securing school construction funding here. He served on the board until his death. Councilman Fidler came through for us near the end of May when he secured funding to help rehabilitate Canarsie Beach Park (that’s Seaview Park, to us old-timers). The funding would include re-doing the area where the compost site used to be (Ha! The site is still there. After years of controversy, it was closed, but never prettified). Memorial Day came and went — wetly. It rained on our parade and officials canceled the march. That was the first time the parade — no matter how sparsely attended — had been canceled in 46 years.
When news came that City Councilman James E. Davis was assassinated in the Council chambers last July, Canarsiens turned their memories (and issues of the Canarsie Courier) to the days not too far back when he was a Youth Officer with the NYPD and his territory was right here. There were many occasions when he and P.O. Jim Johnson would, as a team, steer kids in the right direction together. Canarsie and the surrounding communities were praised highly for the way they handled things during the "Great Blackout of ’03," which took place on August 14 and lasted for more than 24 hours. Local regular police, as well as Auxiliary officers and other emergency service personnel did their professional thing and, generally, things went smoothly. "Togetherness" was the watchword of school for the 2003-04 school year and heralded the first day ever of a brand new shining star: P.S. 66. Located on Foster Avenue at Rockaway Parkway, the new structure features state-of-the-art everything, including top-notch teachers. An official opening took place a few weeks later, with Principal Joel Rubenfeld doing the ribbon-cutting. The same month brought news about a man being killed during the West Indian American Day Parade. Turned out he was an innocent Canarsien who got in the line of fire. A suspect was arrested for the killing a month later. The saddest of stories took place on East 93 Street on October 12 when two children, one nine years old and the other 17 months, were killed in a tragic fire in their home. Firefighters from Engine Co. 257 and Ladder Co. 170 said they found the bodies and that the fire was "suspicious." Despite reports that the children set the fire, authorities finally came to the conclusion that it was deliberately set by someone else. The investigation continues and there is now a reward totalling at least $12,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set the fire. Early December brought a Nor’easter up the coast and with it lots and lots of snow, but, undaunted, hearty Canarsiens merely shrugged it off and trudged their way to work or play or whatever.
We’ll be glad to look back on 2003 and say it wasn’t too bad. Like the octogenarian, however, we’ll take a closer look in a mirror and, with high hopes, tell ourselves that next year we’ll be older, true, but we’ll be even better. Happy New Year!
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