We received the following note from the Daily News, via Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association (MMH):
BUCKLEY — James J. On July 16, 2010. Proprietor of Buckley’s restaurant & Caterers of Brooklyn and Kennedy’s Restaurant of Breezy Point. Devoted son of the late Martin & Kathleen (nee Leonard). Beloved husband of Kathleen (nee Casey). Loving father of Christine Strehle (John), James (Margaret) and Kathy Ann Murray (Martin). Dear brother of Mary Williams, Kathleen Greenlay, Elizabeth Black, Margaret Baldinger, Martin, Helen Smith, Anne and Joanie. Cherished grandfather of 16. Funeral Tuesday, 9 A.M. from the MARINE PARK FUNERAL HOME, 3024 Quentin Road, Bklyn. Funeral Mass 10 A.M. at Good Shepherd R.C. Church. Interment St. Charles Cemetery. Visiting Sun. & Mon., 2-5 & 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Heartshare Human Services, 12 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
MMH added the following sentiments:
On behalf of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, I would like to offer sincere condolences to the Buckley family on the passing of Jim. “Buckley’s” has been a tremendous presence and very successful restaurant, catering venue and tavern in this neighborhood, since Jim and his wife, Kathleen, established it over 30 years ago. He was someone who cared about and supported many community organizations and activities. He will be greatly missed. We pray for the family in this time of grief, and wish his children all the best in continuing the success and traditions of their parents’ business.
Please share your memories of Mr. Buckley and the restaurant in the comments section.
Left to right: Ed Jaworski, Joe Dorinson, Lew Fidler
Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association – our rabble-rousing neighbors to the north – finally won an appointment to Community Board 15, with the group’s executive vice president, Joe Dorinson, to sit during the upcoming term.
Community Board members are appointed by Borough President Marty Markowitz on the recommendation of the area’s City Councilmembers. Councilman Lew Fidler recommended Dorinson, a Long Island University history professor.
“He’s been a community guy for as long as I’ve been around the neighborhood,” said Fidler. “He’s a smart guy that understands government … I was happy to have the chance to recommend him.”
Members of MMH Civic, though, are saying the appointment is a victory after a long, hard-fought battle to get members of the group appointed to the board. MMH is known for taking adversarial roles on development issues in the neighborhood, battling out-of-character home enlargements, zoning variances and condominiums.
Continue Reading »
Courtesy of schools.nyc.gov
Julianna Reynolds became the first recipient of the Mary Powell Award for Community Service during Marine Park Junior High School’s annual awards ceremony this past Wednesday.
Reynolds is a Gerritsen Beach resident who works with Gerritsen Beach Cares, an organization that helps clean up the beach and its environs. She also volunteers to train younger students at her local dance studio, and is part of Marine Park J.H.S.’s drama club, where she recently played Anne Sullivan in a production of the Miracle Worker. Reynolds will attend Edward R. Murrow High School this fall in the Vocal Music Program.
The Mary Powell Award is a $250 gift sponsored by the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association in honor of Mary Powell, the group’s late president. Powell passed away in February, leaving behind a legacy of community service. Members of the group conceived of the award to inspire future generations to be involved in their community.
For the inaugural awarding, Powell’s son Michael traveled from Connecticut to present the award to Reynolds.
To raise funds for the award, MMH organized a community yard sale on Saturday, June 12. For $25 each, residents of the area reserved 18 tables at The Kings Chapel on Quentin Road and East 27th Street. Revenues from the table reservations will be used to replenish the fund for future years, and Pastor Ron Weinbaum said many left asking when the organization will do another sale.
“We had a great time being a part of this community,” Weinbaum said at last night’s MMH Civic meeting. “It was visible, there was presence, and, more than that, there was a great spirit among the people.”
(l. to r.): Mary Powell, Pastor Ron Weinbaum of the King's Chapel, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Ed Jaworski at MMHCA's 2009 Holiday Party
Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association (MMH) is creating an award for civic-minded students of Marine Park Junior High School in memory of their long-time president Mary Powell, who passed away in February.
The Mary Powell Award is a $250 cash gift to an eighth grade student of the school that demonstrates a commitment to civic duty through volunteering in the school or community.
“After the passing of Mary we wanted some kind of fitting living memorial to her,” said Anthony Giacobbe, a board member of MMH that is coordinating with the school. “Not only do we want to be a watchdog, but we’re also trying to get involved in community activities … We thought that by honoring one of our local eighth graders at Marine Park Junior High School it would be fitting.”
The organization is planning to make the award an annual occurrence, taking place this year at the school’s end-of-year awards ceremony on June 16. This year, members of Powell’s family will present the award. The student will be picked by a committee at the junior high school. The school is contributing a plaque that with the recipient’s name, to hang in the hallways to inspire future generations.
Keep reading to learn about Mary Powell and how you can help support the award
From the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association:
The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association’s next meeting is set for Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., at the King’s Chapel (Quentin Road and East 27 Street). The program includes reports from the Park’s Department on the condition of Marine Park following the recent devastating storm, progress of construction of a new senior center, and activities at the Salt Marsh Nature Center. Local elected officials and a 61st precinct officer also are scheduled. Dues of $10 per household or business for 2010 may be paid at the meeting. For more information, phone 718-375-9158.
(l. to r.): Mary Powell, Pastor Ron Weinbaum of the King's Chapel, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Ed Jaworski at MMHCA's 2009 Holiday Party
Mary Powell, the long-time president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, passed away on February 12 at Beth Israel Hospital/Kings Highway Division as a result of a stroke suffered on February 9.
Born September 17, 1918 , Brooklyn native Mary Quinn Powell set an example of dignity and dogged determination that was inspirational to all who knew her throughout her 91 years.
Early suffering did little to temper Powell’s spirit. As a child, she survived a bout with tuberculosis and being in a coma after getting hit by a car. At 11 years old, she lost her beloved oldest brother to blood poisoning after a strep infection. Still, she graduated from Manual Training High School (now John Jay) and went on to attend community college while she began working in New York. When her family moved upstate, she stayed in Brooklyn to work and carve out a life of her own, despite family protests of a young woman living alone. She was not alone for long, as she married within the next few years and began to raise a family while continuing to work at companies like Lederle Labs.
Continue Reading »
Mary Powell, the longtime president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, suffered a severe stroke yesterday morning. The 91-year-old activist is now on a respirator in Beth Israel Hospital/King’s Highway Division. Powell is a staple of local community organizing and an advocate for integrity at all levels of government. Our thoughts are with her and her family.
We will have more information on this situation as it becomes available.
The first meeting of the 2009-2010 season for the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting kicks off at the King’s Chapel on Quentin Road and East 27th Street. Representatives of city agencies and elected officials have been invited, and you can bet the organization will discuss their ongoing fight against negligent developers. For further information, call (718) 934-8214.
A Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association boardmember is fuming over proposed legislation that may give real estate developers a free pass on their neighborhood obligations.
Ed Jaworski, Executive VP of MMH Civic, is a well-known figure in the local development scene. He’s frequently seen at Community Board 15 meetings burdened by a stack of files. Within the folder: a veritable catalog of blighted land. Developers who have lost financing, who fail to maintain safety standards, who skirt laws – developers who are just outright abusive.
His latest outrage comes as the City Council is considering a law to extend building permits for two years, in order to accomodate developers who have lost financing in the down economy. According to a New York Times article on the issue, permit extensions will require property owners to maintain their properties and reduce safety and quality-of-life issues in the areas surrounding the sites.
According to Jaworski, the plan goes to far in favoring developers, and allows their recklessness to go unpunished. Here’s a letter he wrote to NY Times’ editors in response to the article: Continue Reading »
There’s a lot of voter outrage towards the mayor these days. The term limits fiasco, challenges to the mayoral control of schools policy, increased taxes and a crumbling of the political infrastructure statewide (okay, not sure if we can blame him for that one) – the challengers have a lot of ammo. Bloomberg, though, has even more bucks, and that means the other mayoral candidates will be kicking their campaigns old school: meet and greets.
“There is a Choice in the 2009 NYC Mayoral Election” is the main topic for the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association’s meeting on Thursday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the King’s Chapel, Quentin Road and East 27 Street. Announced Democratic Party candidates Comptroller William Thompson and Councilmember Tony Avella have been invited to make statements and take questions. So bring your questions about their community and citywide initiatives, especially about important local issues like mayoral control, development and economic recovery.
This is Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic’s final general meeting of the season. Also in attendance will be representatives for the 61st Police Precinct, the Department of Buildings, and elected officials.
When: June 18th at 7:30 p.m.
Where: King’s Chapel, Quentin Road and East 27th Street
