FEATURES Times Newsweekly Community Profiles • Local History • Nightlife • Food Reviews • Neighborhood Events And Memories 19 • TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014 Tapping Into His Family Roots Maspeth Beermaker To Launch Microbrewery In Ridgewood High-climbing cat Dorothy Gale (above) is looking for a loving family to adopt her. If You See Breaking News On Your Block... Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 • Email info@timesnewsweekly.com story and photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Maspeth native and Bridge and Tunnel Brewery founder Rich Castagna has found a permanent, brick-and-mortar home for his successful family owned and operated microbrewery in the heart of Ridgewood. Over the past two years, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery has cultivated a very loyal local following. The brewery’s uniquely named, handcrafted beer has garnered critical acclaim and was recently named one of the top 12 best microbreweries in New York City by the website Untapped Cities. The small batch brews have been featured on tap at bars, pubs and growler filling shops throughout Western Queens, Bushwick, Williamsburg and the Lower East Side. Building on this groundswell of success, the brewery’s founder, Rich Castagna, is currently in the process of expanding his operation to a large, 300-gallon facility in Ridgewood. The new Decatur Street location, slated to open later this year, will house the brewery as well as a part time taproom that will be to the public for beer tastings, gatherings and special events. On a recent private tour of the soon-to-be brewery, Castagna was hard at work crafting long, farmhouse style tables for the future taproom from reclaimed wooden beams he salvaged from an old home in Brooklyn. “I’ve really just been following this desire to do this on a bigger scale and just seeing where it lands,” he explained. This larger space is a big departure from the current 50- gallon brewing system Castagna has operated out of his childhood home in Maspeth since 2012. Humble beginnings Bridge and Tunnel Brewery is a true small batch, family operated small business. The brewery is a “one man operation” run by Castagna with help from his wife, Lisa. Rich Castagna first took up brewing as a hobby nearly 12 years ago. He began by creating two to four gallon batches in the kitchen of the couple’s first studio apartment in Long Island City. As their family grew to include three young daughters, the Castagnas would often entertain at home instead of going out on the town. They would often serve the unique homebrews to friends and coworkers. -SEE BREWERY ON PG. 53- Rescued Cat Needs Home Pulled From Tree In Elmhurst Last Month by Anthony Giudice After being stuck in a tree three-stories high, a cat was rescued on Dec. 20, 2014 outside of Newtown High School in Elmhurst. The one-year-old cat, now named Dorothy Gale was noticed by animal activists on Dec. 17. Annet Artani, singer/songwriter and founder of Miney’s Rescue of Love which she runs out of her home in Flushing, was contacted about the cat being stuck in a tree for a day. Artani decided to take action to get the high climbing kitten down. After getting in touch with more animal rights activists a ladder was brought to the tree, but “the ladder was too small, it was impossible. Something must have spooked her to go so high up in the tree,” Artani said. When attempts to reach police and fire departments failed a member of the Elmhurst community reached out to Council Member Daniel Dromm for help. “Recently, we received a call from a constituent in Elmhurst stating that a cat had been stuck in a tree for three days. I am an animal rights activist and knew we had to help,” Dromm said. “We immediately started making calls to bring Dorothy Gale to safety. I'm glad we helped.” After three days of sitting in the tree Dorothy Gale was finally brought down by Fire Department Battalion 46. Since being rescued from the tree the kitten was brought to a veterinarian office where she was given her shots and deemed healthy. Efforts to find out if Dorothy Gale had previous owners has gone nowhere. Signs were placed and the story has gained “plenty of media attention, someone would have noticed,” Artani said. Dorothy Gale has been living with Artani since the rescue. “No body was prepared to bring her anywhere. So I brought her back with me,” Artani said. The animal rights activist thanked Dromm for his support in rescuing the cat when others might not have. “I feel like he is one of the good guys,” Artani said. “He wanted to send support, it shows how in touch he is with the community. We want people like that in the city council.” When asked where the cat got her name Artani said “I named her. I like to give my animals names with personality. Dorothy Gale was found at the top of the highest tree so she is overdramatic. So I gave her a dramatic name.” She is named after Dorothy from the classic film “Wizard of Oz.” Artani is still looking for someone to adopt the frisky feline. “She’s a friendly little thing,” Artani said of Dorothy Gale. Dromm also wants to see the kitten go to a nice home, saying, “now, we hope someone can give her a nice, warm, permanent home.” Anyone interested in adopting Dorothy Gale can contact Artani at 1-347-924- 5707 or fonoula28@aol.com. Bridge and Tunnel Brewery’s Rich Castagna is shown with his wife Lisa and their three daughters Sammy, Hailey and Mia Castagna.
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