SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Source: Dank Depot via Flickr

In the 1980s, New York was one of the first states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana, running the program for nearly a decade before it was shut down. State Senator Diane Savino, of Staten Island and Coney Island, plans to introduce a bill to make medical marijuana accessible again for glaucoma and cancer patients, according to a report by Medical Jane.

Sensing a shift in the national mood towards relaxing marijuana laws (its basically been decriminalized in Washington and Colorado) Savino hopes to introduce the bill next week. It’s at least the third year in a row that she has proposed such legislation, as you can see here and here.

Its passage relies on the Governor Cuomo’s willingness to buck traditional convention:

In order for this bill to get passed, it will take the convincing of New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. The Governor has announced that while he does not favor the idea of a medical marijuana program, he is open to the idea of it. The legal director for the New York branch of NORML said that Cuomo’s disinclination has nothing to do with the science behind medicinal marijuana. “This is purely political… Nobody wants to be the drug governor,” he goes on to say.

Dan Foster, the cancer survivor and Gerritsen Beach resident who organizes the neighborhood’s annual “Fun Run” to raise money for cancer research, will kick off this year’s event tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. All the details are in the flier above, and Dan also sent us the following:

I realize how lucky I am so I’m trying to give something back. After being diagnosed in 1996 at 47 years old ( young), in 1999 I started the Walk Of Hope in which I walked from the Montauk Point Lighthouse to St Patricks Cathedral – a 7 day trek and approx. 150 miles in Memory of those succumbed to Cancer but more importantly to give others Hope. I was blessed by the late John Cardinal O’Connor.

In 1999 my Cancer spread to both lungs but I didn’t give up. Life after Cancer really changed I threw out the first pitch to Mike Piazza at Shea Stadium, Gift of Life where at Christmas I rented a horse and carriage and dressed up as Santa and gave people in the Gerritsen Beach community a free ride as my wife made hot chocolate, cookies and gave out candy canes and stuffed toys, Candle Light Vigil for Cancer in the community gardens.

I now belong to many different Cancer organizations. Each year Dan’s Fun Run is in memory of someone from the community and the families decide where the money will go, Since this is the 10th annual I decided that the money would go to Beth Israel Medical Center . The funds raised this year will benefit the Dan Foster Colorectal Cancer Research Fund which supports- state-of-the art patient care, education and research by the Division of Colorectal Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center where I had my surgery. For further information please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

If Neil Friedman had his druthers, “cancer sticks” would go the way of the Dodo bird. Source: SuperFantastic / Flickr

BETWEEN THE LINES:

The place: Times Square, New York City.

The time: High Noon, the present.

The scene: Two men slowly walk towards each other. A few passersby anticipate a showdown and seek nearby cover.

The players: The Villain and The Hero.

The Villain, clad in basic black from head to toe, advances from the left. The Hero, dressed in stylish off-white, approaches from the right.

As they get close — at the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street — the villain strikes a match and lights the unfiltered Camel dangling from his lips, then rudely exhales the smoke into the Hero’s face.

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"Tanorexic" New Jersey mom, Patricia Krentcil. Source: Julio Cortez / AP Photo

BETWEEN THE LINES: Some rules are made to be broken, particularly when they lack common sense.

Such is the argument with rules that don’t allow students to use sunscreen when participating in outdoor school activities. All things considered, this one’s a no-brainer.

In the just ended Albany session, lawmakers enacted legislation to protect children from bullies. Now, they need to protect children from sunburn. One state senator from Queens has proposed changing New York’s guidelines for students’ sunscreen use — without a doctor’s note — when engaged in outdoor school activities.

Several weeks ago, two elementary school students in Washington came home with serious sunburns after a five hour outing because their school didn’t allow them to use sunscreen.

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“Pretty in Purple,” the Relay for Life team that Jessica Rosen — one of our friends (and supporters) from Big Apple Sewer — belongs to just kicked off a new fundraiser that they are dubbing, “Cell Phones for a Cure.”

The concept is simple. According to Rosen, “We are collecting old cell phones then donating them and getting cash in exchange.” The cash collected from the cell phones and batteries will go toward “Pretty in Purple,” which has thus far raised $1,338.92 in support of cancer research.

“Pretty in Purple” will be participating in the “2012 Relay For Life of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst & Dyker Heights” from 2:00 to 11:00 p.m., June 23 at Fort Hamilton Athletic Field, bounded by 83rd Street to 85th Street, Narrows Avenue and Colonial Road in Bay Ridge.

The event begins at 12:00 p.m., but the opening ceremony is at 2:00 p.m. “Pretty in Purple” will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

To learn more about Relay for Life, “Pretty in Purple,” and to contribute, go to their team page by clicking here or call (718) 360-9200.

A statue of Brooklyn's own Joe "JoePa" Paterno in front of Beaver Stadium, home to the Penn State Nittany Lions. Source: Wikipedia

College football fans all over the country mourned the passing of the Brooklyn-born Penn State titan, Joe “JoePa” Paterno, who succumbed to complications lung cancer this past week at 85.

Approximately 12,000 mourners attended a final tribute yesterday to the Penn State Nittany Lions’ beloved long-time leader, who was born in Flatbush, grew up in Marine Park, attended Good Shepherd Roman Catholic School and church (1950 Batchelder Street), and was credited with being the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history.

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Tina Gray's hat and list

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time for celebrating, protecting and informing about those beloved bosoms. So we caught up with Tina Gray, a resident already well-known for organizing the Brooklyn/Bedford Park 9/11 Memorial (and video here), and an ardent fundraiser in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

The Making Strides walk will be on October 17 at Prospect Park. Click here for event details.

Gray has raised thousands for the cause over the past six years, and is known for her iconic hat adorned with pink ribbons and pins representing friends and family who’ve battled breast cancer. Gray took time to answer some questions via e-mail about why she cares so deeply for this cause, and about the challenges of fundraising in hard economic times.

The Q&A is followed by a list of names of people – many from the neighborhood – represented by the pins and ribbons on her hat.

We hope after reading the interview, you’ll consider helping Gray meet her fundraising goals this year. Click here to donate.

Read our Q&A with Tina Gray, local advocate for breast cancer research.

(Photo courtesy of FDNYTrucks.com)

There will be a party cruise leaving Pier 2 in Sheepshead Bay this Saturday, October 3, 2009, to benefit New York City Firefighter Richie Manetta and his family.There will be a DJ affiliated with the Golden Sunshine catamaran operators onboard providing music, as well as the live bands Underwhelmed with Mike Russo and The Square Rooters. Even if you can’t make it to the party cruise (tickets are selling out fast), you can still get raffle tickets. Each one costs $100, but you have an excellent chance of winning. Contact anyone at the numbers listed below for information about the cruise, raffle tickets, or to make a donation.

Here are the details from the 911 Families website.

Engine 276/Ladder 156 “The  Highway” Present
A Cruise for Richie
Saturday October 3, 2009
Boarding 6:00pm; boat leaves at 7:00pm sharp
Brooklyn, NY
Richie Manetta, age 44, is a 13-year veteran of the New York City Fire
Department. He is a beloved member of  “The Highway” Engine 276/
Ladder 156/Battalion 33 and also rotated  through E-224, E-8 and L-2.
Richie spent many days working at the World Trade Center site.

In September 2008, Richie was  diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer
which has yet to be properly  diagnosed. Richie is now in a fight for his life.
His firehouse is putting  together a fundraiser and reaching out to the entire
FDNY brotherhood and their  friends to help relieve the financial burden that
he and his family are dealing  with.

Join them and board the Golden Sunshine charter  boat at the corner of
Bedford and Emmons Avenues in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn.

Tickets are $100.00 per person.  Reserve your spot as soon as you can,
for seating is limited. Any donations would be gratefully accepted. All
proceeds will go directly to Richie and his wife Maria and their two-year-old
son Christian.

Please make your check payable  to: Ladder156 Manetta Fund.
Please send your contribution to:
Ladder 156 Manetta Fund
1635  East 14th Street
Brooklyn NY 11229

There will be 3 raffles to be  drawn on the night of the cruise.

RAFFLE 1: Win a blue 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. 350, 4 speed,
mag wheels, V8

RAFFLE 2: Win a gold 1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88. All original, V8 automatic
power steering and brakes

RAFFLE 3: A chance to win $10,000.

Only 200 tickets will be sold for  each car, and 400 tickets will be sold
for the $10,000 raffle.

For additional information, contact Kevin Lunny at 646-338-2951,
Mike Cassidy at 917-363-1405, or Brian Williams at 347-234-2915.