BOOK SIGNING HELD FOR VINNY PARCO
AT PASQUALE’S RIGOLETTO
Vinny Parco Photo Laura Stone
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 16 ULY 16-22, 2021 BTR
BLESSING OF THE FLEET TRADITION
CONTINUES ON CITY ISLAND
LOCAL GROUP HELPS CLEANUP
BLIGHTED AREA
Bryan Wigfall, Dion Powell and Sami Disu came together to organize a community cleanup
event on July 10, at 169th Street and Webster Avenue. Their goal was to address the neglect
of the steps and surrounding environment by the private property owners who share responsibility
for their care with local city officials. Wigfall and Powell serve the community as
a county committeeman for the 79th Assembly District within the Bronx Democratic Party.
Disu is a community activist who focuses his efforts across the Bronx. They were joined in
this effort by Ryngin Garcia, a community activist who services communities all over New
York City.
This year the Bronx Design & Construction
Academy had its graduation in-person on
June 23. Local 3 IBEW, Bronx Acorn and the
Santiago Iglesias Educational Society have
been part of the schools’ graduations for
more than 25 years and are proud to report
that we have another 3 graduates entering
our Apprenticeship Training program from
the Construction Skills program. Upon successful
completion of the Construction
Skills program the three graduates receive
a full set of tools donated by EJ electric and
Comstock Railworks.
From left, Business Representative Benny Arana, Jerome Ford, Electrical shop teacher Scott
Pagan, Yosue Rodriguez, Jhon Vasquez and Shop Steward Donald Brathwaite. Brathwaite
was a former graduate of Construction Skills, Class of 1998, and continues to be an active
member of Local 3. Contributed photo
The Blessing of the Fleet for 35 boaters took place on June 27 in City Island’s Long Island
Sound. Photo courtesy Barbara Mandarano
The Blessing of the Fleet is a traditional invocation of good fortune for boaters. Boating
season has officially set sail with the annual Blessing of the Fleet on City Island on Sunday,
June 27, in the Long Island Sound off the Barron’s Boatyard dock. City Island Sail and Power
Squadron and the Leonard Hawkins American Legion Post 156 hosted the multi-denominational
ceremony where locals traveled to have their watercraft blessed. Clergy members/
representatives from St. Mary Star of the Sea, Temple Beth-El, Grace Episcopal Church and
Trinity United Methodist Church helped bless 35 boats of all shapes and sizes to ensure a
safe voyage. The ceremony included a wreath which was blessed and tossed into the water
to remember lost shipmates. A water display was provided by NYFD Marine division fireboat
“Bravest.”
Bryan Wigfall, Sami Disu and Ryngin Garcia starting to divide the cleaning supplies during a
community cleanup event on July 10. Photo courtesy Bryan Wigfall
BRONX DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
ACADEMY GRADUATES CLASS