The Lesson I Learned From My Father When I Didn’t Know I Was Being Taught a Lesson

I’m the fifth child and only girl in my family. The bond I shared with my father was unique.

While I was an adult, my Dad lived in Long Island. One morning when he was walking our dog, Max, another dog ran out of his house and attacked Max. As my Dad to stop the attacking dog, he got bit too. Max and my father had cuts, but they were okay.

Weeks after the incident my mother told me that my father decided to press charges. He didn’t mention it to me.

I remember not understanding how a dog lover like my Dad would press charges against the owner of a dog who made a mistake. Yes, there were medical bills, but my Dad didn’t need the money.

My Mother said, “He’s not doing it for money. Your Father wants to make sure there is a paper trail so that if the dog hurts someone else, the county can take action, so children don’t get hurt.”

Years later, I spoke to my Father about it. He said if you know something is wrong, then you have to do something.

I wish many people felt the same way as my Father did.

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3 Years

I woke up early and went out back to sit on the deck and drink coffee. As I looked over at your tree, I noticed that it just started to bloom today. And I realized it had been three years. 

RIP  ECM.    

Gone, but not forgotten.  

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Things to do on the Anniversary of Someone’s Death

The last couple of years have brought a lot of deaths and often people wonder what they should do on the anniversary of someone’s death:

– Go to the cemetery and leave some flowers or pennies on the grave. 

– Release  a group of helium balloons or just one. I always buy one on the anniversary of someone’s death and send it off to him. Something about releasing it and watching it sail to the sky is cathartic.

– Go to the last home where that person lived and look around at their old place.

– Plant a tree or bush in memory of someone.

– My neighbor liked a particular flower so I planted them in my yard in memory of her.

– Let’s say your brother liked to eat Twinkies, go buy some twinkies and have one in memory of him. 

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Mother’s Day Brunch in Bay Ridge 2013

Mother’s Day is coming and Mother’s Day is a great day to go out  for brunch in Bay Ridge. The best restaurants for brunch in Bay Ridge are:

• Red Oak – 83rd and 5th Avenue has the best brunch in Bay Ridge
• Cafe Remy – 7110 – 3rd Avenue
• Chadwicks
• Kettle Black
• Beebo 8513 – 5th Avenue
• Cebu – 88th and 3rd
• Greenhouse Cafe   (2 seatings – 11am or 12pm)  77th and 3rd Ave  $25 a person
• Hom – 88th and 3rd Avenue – trendy, relaxed place
• Skinflints – 79th and 5th Avenue
• Casa Pepe – Bunch from 12-4 and then dinner from 4 on
• The Pearl Room – 82nd and 3rd Avenue 

* Make sure to call ahead for reservations as everyone loves to go out on Mother’s Day!

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New Baby and Busy, Busy, Busy

Our friends just had their third child. This week, we were watching their other two children. One is two and the other is four. Our house was crazy, but we had so much fun. It was nice to get back to our own routine and slow things down a bit. I had been yawning like crazy because there has just been so much to do. Even on nights when I was exhausted, I laid in bed and thought how blessed we are.

Welcome baby – Lauren Amelia (such a pretty name).

Another friend told me a top secret last night and their news makes me so happy. I can’t share it on here yet because not everyone knows yet.

I am just catching up with all the hype of the Boston bomber, conspiracy theories and debunking the conspiracy theories of the Boston bombers!

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Verrazano Narrows Bridge Jumpers

Updated: December 2023

I hate hearing on the news that someone has jumped from our bridge, the Verrazano. How did these people get so far in their thinking that they thought no one cared if they jumped? People care.  Call The Samaritans  212-673-3000  *There are six telephones on the bridge*

My bedroom faces the Verrazzano, so people committing suicide in my backyard isn’t good. We need to get them help, so I made this list to show how much time and money the city is wasting, when we could put up fencing or a net and start saving lives.

December 31, 2023 – This year we didn’t hear of anyone jumping from the Verrazzano Bridge. A Staten Island Councilman named Steven Matteo pushed for fencing around the bridge and it appears to have stopped the jumpers. (Info)

December 31, 2022: A man fell from the upper level to the lower level on New Year’s Eve around 5:30 pm. (Info)

June 2022 Update: Fencing has been installed on the Verrazzano Bridge and the number of suicides is significantly less – thank God!

November 2022 – A man jumped from the Verrazzano Bridge and his body was recovered. RIP. (Info here)

May 13, 2022 – A 38-year-old Rikers correction officer jumped from the Verrazzano. RIP Edward Roman (Info)

March 29, 2022 – A woman in her 20’s stopped her car on the Brooklyn side of the lower bridge.Video on the bridge captured her climbing over and jumping. See here (God rest her soul)

December 10, 2021 – A 27-year-old Staten Island man jumped from the lower level of the Verrazzano Bridge and died. They found his car on the bridge. (Info)

July 20, 2021 – A 58-year-old man left his Rav 4 on the bridge and jumped from the lower level of the Verrazzano. He was seen on video. The man’s body has not been reported found yet. (Info)

June 2020 – A 36-year-old man jumped from the Verrazzano Bridge today, He left his grey Toyota Camry with TLC plates on the bridge. His body was found. (Info)

April 30,  2020 – A male jumped from the Verrazzano Bridge today. As of 5/2, his body has not been found.

April 25, 2020 – Kristy Shi, a 19-year-old woman from Sunset Park, Brooklyn  jumped in the evening from the lower level.  See here  

April 17, 2020 – Marc Lamparello, 38 jumped from the Verrazzano. He was released from Rikers and even though he had schizophrenia, mental health support was not given. See here  (He was the third male to leap from this bridge this month) Story here

January 4, 2020 – A 42-year-old man stopped his car on the bridge. He got out and thought about jumping. But the police saved him.Thank God. See here

December 20, 2019 – A 34-year-old man jumped from the top Verrazzano Bridge in the afternoon. He died at the hospital.  See here

December 7, 2019 – A 50-year-old man (friends called him Big E) jumped from the Verrazzano Bridge. See here   

December 6, 2019 – A 44-year-old man jumped from the Bridge. See here

October 2019 – NYC was supposed to take action. But they haven’t even made a plan that can be voted on yet.  See here

September 26, 2019 – A 50 year old man jumped off of the Verrazzano today at 11:38 am. See here

June 1, 2019 – A man jumped from the lower bridge this evening. His body was recovered in the water below the bridge. See here

May 21, 2019 – Simona E. Aguilar, a 37-year old woman died today after jumping from the Verrazzano Bridge – See here

May 10,2019 – A 35 year old man  jumped from the bridge and died. See here

April 2019 – A 79 year old man was saved by a state trooper and a good samaritan – thank God!  See story

March 2019 – A man named Issac tried to jump from the bridge. Anthony was able to stop him. Thank God!

December 2018 – Verrazano Bridge incident which was stopped by good Samaritans -person saved.

September 29, 2018 – A woman was about to jump from the Verrazzano Bridge, but was saved by a MTA bridge and tunnel worker who was able to talk to the woman.  We found out about this on June 1, 2019 – story here

June 5, 2018 – A person attempted to jump from the lower bridge, but was saved. 

April 17, 2018 – A 30-something year old man was hanging from the side of the bridge. Emergency response team saved him. Thank God.

March 30, 2018 – Szymon Hasiak, age: 22 jumped off the lower level of the bridge. Body not found (car left on the bridge).  Info

March 1, 2018 – A  man was on the bridge and thinking about jumping, but the police were able to help him down.

November 26, 2017 – A man got out of his car and was on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge today after 5 pm. He was seen hanging from the bridge before 6 pm.  Around 8:40 pm, the NYPD rescued him

November 13, 2017 – David Mahoney, a 63 year old Staten Island resident jumped from the bridge. RIP.

October 9, 2017 – A 36 year old man attempted to jump from the Verrazano Bridge. He spoke with the police and was then taken to Maimonides Hospital. Thank God he is alive. 

September 20, 2017 – There were reports of someone being up on the bridge late at night, but the police didn’t find anyone. 

September 14, 2017 – Man attempted to jump, but rescued by the NYPD – thank God.

August 2, 2017 – A man has been on the Verrazano Bridge for over five hours. Finally, they were able to get him back inside. He abandoned his car on the bridge at 845 am.  He hasn’t decided if he wants to live so he is hanging outside of the lower part of the bridge.  Story and pictures here

July 2017 – Two people attempted to jump from the Verrazano, but were both saved. See story here

May 7, 2017 – Jason Dickinson, a 37 year old veteran with NJ plates and a Connecticut license jumped.

August 30, 2016 – 37 year old male jumped from the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano and died. 

August 22, 2016 – A 17 year old from Brooklyn phoned police and told him that he was going to jump from the Upper Level of the bridge. Police went and picked him up. On October 5, 2016, the same teen, Daniel Lomtevas committed suicide and jumped from the George Washington Bridge.

August 4, 2016 -Joshua Milinazzo, 27 year old Staten Island man jumped from the bridge.  Police were not able to locate his body until 4 days later. They found his car with the note on the bridge and towed it.  Milinazzo was the father of two beautiful children.

June 2016 -A man attempted to jump, but was talked down by some good people and this EMT worker.  

May 2016 – Two officers are able to save a 27 year old man from jumping. I’m glad he was saved because he is young and has a lot of living to do still.  Thank God.

April 23, 2016 – A man used the phone on the Verrazano Bridge because he needed help. Crisis averted. Thank God.  On the same day, 31 year old, Jeff Hardy jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge and survived. 

July 2015 –  Two men stopped a man from jumping. Thank God – I am always glad to write that!

April 2015 – Man went to jump from the Brooklyn side of the bridge, but was stopped. Thank God. 

February 2015 – Man saved from jumping.

January 22, 2015 – Laura Fasano, 37 of Staten Island jumped and survived, but died later in the hospital. More here and here

January 2014 – Ellen McGuire Payne, 45 from New Jersey. Her story here. Obituary here. Very sad – mother of three.  More here

November 2013 – Cops save a man who was going to jump. Thank God.

September 2013 – Michael Caiazzo, 29, electrician from South Beach, Staten Island  jumped, survived, but later died in the hospital. (See here) The next day, a 62 year old man also made an attempt at jumping, but police were able to stop him (more info here)

May 31, 2013 – Reported on June 3, 2013 – A man’s suicide was diverted – see here

April 2013 – Helicopters swooned in and covered the area. I couldn’t figure out what they were looking for as they were  just a few blocks from my home. Susan Toth of  Bay Ridge  jumped from the bridge. They just found her body on the Staten Island side of the Bridge. Ms. Toth was 52 years old.  RIP.

3/28/13 –  Angelo Biondo 58 years old and an owner of a Park Slope dog training business jumped

1/2/13  – 24 year old Canarsie man  jumped. The car was left on the bridge and people saw him jump. (more here)

10/14/12 – Long Island Attorney, Lawrence Youshah – 43 years old and SURVIVED the jump

July 2012 – Asian man talked down from the bridge  (see rescue video here) Another video here

6/28/12 – a 33-year-old man died hours after he leaped from the bridge. He left a 6-page suicide note behind.

6/8/12 – Benny Guzman, 46 years old and a Brooklyn resident jumped from the bridge

5/27/12  Joseph Battista, 54-year-old Sanitation worker from Todt Hill (Staten Island)  jumped  from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  

4/2012  Alexsandr Skor, 51 year old Staten Island resident attempted to jump from the bridge, but police saved him. Thank God for this miracle.

4/4/12 Police stop a 41 year old man from jumping off the bridge.

In February 2012,  statistics showed: “On average, the Verrazano sees about two suicides a year, and between four and six attempts foiled by officers patrolling the bridge. (source) 

1/25/12 – Andre Carrasco, a 27 year old  father of 6  jumped on the Brooklyn side. His niece wants fences installed on the bridge to stop people from being able to stop on the Bridge. His niece, Jessica Suero petitions for a fence around the bridge.

12/27/11 – Eric Suarez – 44 years old jumped from the SI side 

The web wasn’t used for news as much as it is now, so I don’t think we have all the stories here:

10/2008 – Daniel Mills, 67 years old was the owner of Farrell’s Bar. He jumped from the bridge as he was terminally ill.

9/22/08 – Arkady Adler, 33 years old from Brooklyn  jumped from the upper level shortly before 10 p.m.

11/14/07 – George Siozos, 27 jumped from the upper-level of the Verrazano Bridge

9/9/05 – A 41 year old  Staten Island man, John Hoke jumped off the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at 4:20 a.m.

8/3/04 – Gerard Tarter, a 44 year old Staten Island man jumped from the bridge.

6/8/01 – A 42 year old  Brooklyn man, Raymond Ramos  jumped around 7 a.m.

1/1995 – Twenty-nine year old, Connie Mercure jumped from the bridge after she and her boyfriend broke up before the holidays. Mercure survived the jump. She had a broken leg and hypothermia.

1/2/89 – Maria Lynn Bertolini – 22 years old – jumped and survived the jump. 

* Only four people have survived after jumping from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge  –  Maria Lynn Bertolini (22 years old in 1989- info here),  a college student in 1975 (source) and Lawrence Youshah – in October 2012 survived the jump

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Does Your Political Party Stop You From Receiving Help You Need?

Ten months ago, I contacted State Senator’s office with a small problem which neighbors believed he could help with. A staff member of Golden’s office said he would handle it. I received hardly any assistance even though I contacted the office repeatedly over the next seven months. (You can read about it here). Every time we tell the story to another friend here in Bay Ridge, they ask me if I am Republican like the Senator.

I’m  not – I’m a registered Democrat. Why? Because it allows me to vote in the Democratic primaries. There are hardly any Republican primaries here in NYC. Everyone can vote in the regular elections, but this allows me to vote in the primaries as well. If I was in Hampton Bays, Long Island, I would be  a registered Republican because they have more Republicans there and primaries for Republican candidates. I don’t vote for parties – I vote for people who I hope want the job for the right reason.  I have most everything I need, but I am a teacher of over 4oo students each year and I vote in favor of things for my students and their families. Last election, I voted for Golden.

I didn’t realize that your political party can be seen by different offices. Did my political party registration stop me from receiving the help we needed?

This weekend, a friend of mine told me about their friend Gerry Kassar, Marty Golden’s Chief of Staff.  I was surprised to find him on Twitter. He follows John Quaglione on Twitter and he probably saw our exchange. If Gerry Kassar saw the poor communication I received, why didn’t he contact me? The only way Mr. Kassar didn’t see the exchange was if someone else operates his account. Would he really allow someone else to post their thoughts on his page? I don’t think so because he also has a blog. I’ll update this, if and when he responds.

Many people are not receiving help from local officials; others hear about stories like ours and they become discouraged in asking for help when it’s needed. Who do people go to when their local officials are not assisting them?

When 311 didn’t work, I went to Marty Golden’s office. When Marty Golden’s office failed to assist me, I went to the Public Advocate. Who can I go to if the Public Advocate doesn’t follow through? I’ll update this when I hear.

Does someone who is buying a home in the area need to change their party to Independent so they can get the assistance they need from local politicians?

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Gorgeous Bun – Watch the Video & Enter the Contest!

Watch the whole video and enter the contest!
Sweeps rules:

http://www.blogher.com/hair-sweepstakes-official-rules-week-3

Prizes & Promotions page on Blogher.com:

https://www.blogher.com/blogher-tv-weekly-hair-style-sweepstakes

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Happy Easter

We had a great Easter starting with brunch and a egg hunt in the morning. Log in to see kids pics!

The items here continue to change places because all the kids (even the ones who are too small to reach it) change things around.

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Good Intensions

One evening while returning home this week, the wind was strong and I pulled up my jacket’s fur hood up and forward to cover my face from the harsh wind.  A man’s voice said, “Are you cold?” I answered that I as freezing and he said, “Do you want some wine? That’ll warm you up.”  I laughed because I thought the guy was joking with me. I turned and saw it was a man down on his luck offering me his bottle of wine. I thanked him and as I walked the rest of the way home, I thought about what good intentions he had in wanting to share probably one of the few items he actually owned. 

Good intentions. 

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Best Coin Ever Spent

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Race Against Autism in Bay Ridge April 28, 2013

On Sunday, April 28, 2013 the Race Against Autism will take place in Bay Ridge, NY. The course is through the Fort Hamilton Army Base and finishes back in front of Harbor Fitness.

On site registration is from 9 – 10:15 am at 9215 4th avenue Harbor Fitness Bay Ridge.

The Pee Wee run for children under 12 is at 10 am. The adult 5k run is at 10:30 am
Registration is $25, army personnel pay $20, kids pay $5.  The first 150 people to register get a t-shirt

Click for more info about the event 

Post Race Party for all participants including raffle drawings, refreshements and awards.

All proceeds benefit The HeartShare School for children with Autism.

April is Autism Awareness Month.

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