Fort Hamilton Senior Center hosts financial safety meeting

The NYC Parks Fort Hamilton Senior Recreation Center, 9941 Fort Hamilton Parkway, held a financial safety presentation on Monday, Oct. 19, at 11:30 a.m. It was open to Center members and the public.

This event was jointly conducted by  Apple Bank branch manager Joann Loddo and NYPD crime prevention officer Daniel Boyle of the 68th Precinct. Topics included online banking security, financial scams, mail theft, check washing plus other common fraud concerns affecting the community.

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Each year, Oct. 9 is celebrated as Leif Erikson Day. While not a federal holiday, it is heralded by proclamations from the past presidents and currently by President Trump. Historical records indicate the Norse Viking explorer was born in Iceland in 970. In the year 1000 A.D., he became the first recorded European to lead an expedition to reach the North American continent and he named the area where they landed Vineland. 

On Saturday, Oct. 10, the Leif Erikson Society of Bay Ridge held their annual commentative luncheon in the ceremonial room at the Bridgeview Dinner. Society member Shirley Olsen discussed customs and traditions of the Viking era. The Society was founded in Bay Ridge in 1971 by attorney and historian John Carlson.

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Coming up on Wednesday, Nov. 11 is the 106th New York City Veterans Day Parade on Fifth Avenue from 26th Street to 48th Street, starting at 12:30 p.m. It is sponsored by the United War Veterans Council (UWVC). One of the three designated grand marshals is U.S. Navy Capt. Sunita (Suni) Williams (Ret.), who gained international recognition as a NASA astronaut. One of the Brooklyn units participating in the parade will be the United Military Veterans of Kings County, which is home-based in Bay Ridge. 

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Bay Ridge historian Henry Stewart conducted a recent tour at Green-Wood Cemetery  covering the grave sites of prominent residents of Yellow Hook, which was later renamed Bay Ridge. Among the monuments we saw were those of James Weir (it was his suggestion at a town meeting that the village be called Bay Ridge); Ovington, Gelston, Bliss, Staunton and Henry C. Murphy.

Stewart is the author of books about Bay Ridge and is the first vice president of the Bay Ridge Historical Society. He also manages the Society’s website, Bay Ridge History.com.