BRONX TIMES R 20 EPORTER, APRIL 24-30, 2020 BTR
Masks, check. Gloves,
check. Alcohol to clean with,
check. Alcohol to drink, check.
TP, check.
So let’s all do our part and
follow the guidelines until
this settles, maybe forever?
Love ya, but we don’t need to
shake hands. Maybe a thumbs
up? “Middle fi nger” is not a
good idea!
Not looking good for any
large gatherings or Legion
activities any time soon. And
then the usual fl u season begins
again! My wife and I are
in contact with many members
and those contacted are
OK so far. Remember boot
camp? Hurricane Sandy? We
can get through this too.
One important point from
the last regular post meeting
is that we voted unanimously
for PC Mike to support an additional
student for Department
of NY Boys State, a stellar
American Legion youth
program!
Until next time. USN Seals
have a good psychological approach
to adversity: Made it to
breakfast ok, made it to lunch
ok, made it to night time.
Join The American Legion
Family – Service since
1919.
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
A Walk Back in Time
The Spencer Estate neighborhood
went through dramatic
changes in the latter parts of
the 1950’s through the middle
1960’s. During this period of development,
unsightly lots gave
way to modest one and two family
homes. Layers of blacktop
would soon blanket rugged dirt
roads. In the midst of considerable
neighborhood transformations
an invaluable constant
prevailed. Neighborhood support
for small businesses along
the commercial corridor of Ampere
Avenue has survived the
test of time.
Turn the clock back to a summer
day circa 1960 and take a leisurely
stroll along our intimate
commercial corridor. A breeze
off the Long Island Sound provides
comfort as we stride across
Bayview
Avenue. Distant sounds
of laughter combine with the
squeaks and creaks of a rusthinged
wooden door as a group
of sweet-toothed children, small
paper bags in hand, happily depart
Mr. Piccolos’ candy store
(current day Alpha Air Conditioning).
A leftward glance puts a disgruntled
teenager in sight. The
youngster hurriedly left Ampere
Grocery (now, K and L Mediterranean
Market) with a capped
bottle of soda pop. No twist-off
caps in those days; his return to
the store is imminent. We lazily
stride toward Research Avenue
and hear the hustle and bustle
of shoppers coming from Rudy’s
Market (current day Barino’s).
Rudy’s was the neighborhoods’
source for fresh meat and produce.
Diagonally across from Rudy’s
are the graffi ti-laden walls
of local employer the North
American Printing Press Company
(current day Knights of
Columbus). We proceed downhill
and through small storefront
windows; Jimmy the Barber
and Tony the Shoemaker are
seen hard at work.
We arrive at the bottom of
the hill, past Mr. Lobalbo’s store
(formerly LoParrino’s, currentday
Westfi eld Market) as we approach
Ohm Avenue. An afternoon
visit to Mr. Lobalbo’s
could bring a unique experience.
The store was a social
setting for the neighborhood’s
older Italian men. A customer
interrupting their friendly but
intense afternoon card games
may not be warmly received.
Farther down Ampere between
Robertson Place and
Dwight place was Alberti’s Grocery
(current day Nonna’s). Mr.
Alberti stocked jump ropes,
chalk, rubber balls and broom
handle
bats; all the essentials for a
fun day of summertime play.
A commonality shared by
many small businesses of that
era is their properties served as
both places of business and family
residences. The cost-effi cient
Mom and Pop business model of
the past has disappeared from
our communities. Today, it is
typical to see rental spaces above
or buttressing many small businesses
whose owners also rent.
The small businesses along
our intimate Ampere avenue
commercial corridor continue
to be the lifeblood of our neighborhood.
Let us do our parts to
save this, valuable yet vulnerable,
piece of neighborhood tradition
from extinction. They
continue to serve us well during
this very atypical time of unpleasant
uncertainty. We send
heartfelt thanks to all of them
for being there for
our community during this
trying time.
CIVIC CENTER
American Legion
Post 253
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate
Civic Association
SIRECI
Family Dental
Your Neighborhood Dentist Since 1983
GENERAL DENTISTRY
SPECIALTY CARE
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