ELSASSER ONE PITCH TOURNAMENTThe Elsasser One Pitch Tournament, hosted by Engine 221 / Ladder 104, will be held Friday, October 4, 2019, in Cunningham Park, Queens (73rd Ave between Clearview Expwy and Francis Lewis Blvd). The tournament begins at 9:30 AM. Registration is $350 per team. The tournament is limited, so register your team ASAP. There will be no registration the day of the tournament. Food, soda, water and Gatorade will be served. All proceeds go to families of deceased N.Y.C. Firefighters and Fire Officers who died non-line of duty. Send checks via post office only, payable to Engine 221/Ladder 104 One-Pitch Fund, to 161 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, C/O Ken Butler/Chris Amengual. Any questions, call (718) 965-8221. MEMORIAL MASS On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at 0900 hours, a Memorial Mass will be held honoring the memory of Firefighter Michael J. Gorumba, E-163, who made the supreme sacrifice on August 28, 2001. The mass will take place at Holy Family Church located at 366 Watchogue Road, Staten Island, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform. FDNY/WTC FISHING TOURNAMENTThe 18th annual FDNY/WTC Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held on September 16, 2019, leaving from Montauk Harbor at 6:00 AM and returning at 2:00 PM. Contact Jerry O’Mara for charter information at 631-872-6313. There are prizes, raffles, and a lunch to follow. Participants must be in attendance at FDNY Memorial Luncheon at the Montauk Firehouse to receive awards and prizes. For questions, email fdnywtcfishingtournament@gmail.com. STEUBEN ASSOCIATION BOAT RIDEOn Sunday, August 18, 2019, the Annual Steuben Association Boat Ride will be on the Art Cabana Yacht leaving from the Skyport Marina at 2430 FDR Drive Service Road East, (23rd St & FDR) Manhattan. Boarding begins at 5:30 PM (rain or shine); the cruise is from 6-10 PM. Tickets are $30 in advance, or $40 at the door if there are any still available. It is recommended that tickets are purchased in advance – this is a limited ticket event. The boat ride includes music by DJ Emjay, complimentary appetizers, and a cash/credit card bar. Visit www.fdnysteuben.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
DUP efforts at outreach now look like cosmetic exercise
John Manley. Irish News. Belfast.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
FOR years the so-called Derry Model has been an example of how negotiation and compromise can help resolve contentious parades without either side appearing to lose face.
But the trust and respect that has been built over nearly two decades was almost wiped out overnight by the ill-conceived actions of the Clyde Valley Flute Band from Larne.
Wearing the Paras’ [ British Parachute Regiment, one of the most elite in the world] insignia on their band uniforms was not only insensitive and offensive but provocative too.
Yards from where Saturday’s parade passed, 13 civilians were shot dead [by the Paras] on Bloody Sunday.
Nearly five decades on, the pain in the city remains raw and is accentuated by the prosecution of Soldier F and public displays of support for the former Paratrooper.
Given the context and the potential for trouble, the police action on Saturday was measured and justified.
This should have been acknowledged immediately but instead there was dithering and equivocation that only inflamed the situation.
Somewhat belatedly, the Apprentice Boys said it recognised that the band’s behavior “may have caused upset” but declined to apologize, while Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann appeared to seek to defuse the situation by voicing support for the police.
He perhaps should have gone further by at least acknowledging that the band’s actions were ill-judged and dangerous but
Mr. Swann too often lacks the courage and decisiveness that characterise a strong leader.
However, when compared to the behavior of the DUP, his words were positively conciliatory.
Emerging from Tuesday’s meeting with the PSNI to discuss Saturday’s operation in Derry, Arlene Foster remained belligerent.
Flanked by Sammy Wilson and Gregory Campbell, the DUP leader noted that the band’s Para insignias were not illegal and “did not tangibly threaten a breach of the peace”.
It was a detached [unfeeling, without empathy] interpretation of the band’s actions that completely failed to take account of how the people of Derry, and in particular the families of the Bloody Sunday victims, would view such a provocative gesture.
She contrasted the police’s action against the band to its response to “events orchestrated by dissident republicans” in Derry on the same day and a recent Sinn Féin Hunger Strike commemoration in Strabane which she claimed was “glorifying terrorism”.
Mrs Foster knows there’s every likelihood of an election in the coming months and with such whataboutery appears set on casting herself as the uncompromising leader of unionism, her efforts at outreach now looking like a cosmetic exercise.
In broadcast interviews yesterday, Mr Wilson remained unapologetic, again claiming the insignia was “not offensive”.
What began as DUP criticism of police tactics has since seen the party double down in an attempt to justify the crass [conduct]..
Yet again the party is in danger of blinkardly painting itself into a corner that could provide justification for the actions of more extreme elements.
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K Run In Memoriam Banner Holders
The annual Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K Run will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2019.
As participants exit the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, the Foundation is planning to display banners in honor of the 343 fallen FDNY members that made the supreme sacrifice on 9/11/01, as well as the thousands of military members who have given their lives for our country since 9/11/01. In order for this to be possible, the help of volunteers is needed on the morning of the 5K.
Any FDNY member (does NOT have to be a military member) that would like to volunteer for participation in the fallen 343 FDNY display should contact Rob Vogt at 917-359-4252 or vogt4403@gmail.com.
Any active military members or veterans (does NOT have to be FDNY) that are interested in volunteering for participation in the 7,000+ fallen U.S. military display should contact Gavin Naples at gavin.naples@tunnel2towers.org or 718-987-1931.
“In Memoriam Banner Holders” Itinerary Volunteers should report in Class A uniforms
Rallying Point Location: Esplanade Plaza, New York, NY 10281 (exact location TBD)
Report Time: 6:45 – 7:00 A.M. Line-Up: 8:00 – 8:20 A.M. First Wave of Runners Exiting Battery Tunnel: 8:30 A.M. Final Wave of Runners Finish: 11:00 – 11:30 A.M.
Available Positions for FDNY Retireesat Quality Fire Protection Consultants Quality Fire Protection Consultants Inc. is looking to hire FDNY Retirees for conducting drills for both Fire and Non-Fire Emergencies in commercial office buildings and hotels. The company is made up of retired FDNY Officers, Firefighters and NYPD Officers and Police Officers. Quality Fire Protection Consultants is located at 14 Penn Plaza (34th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues) New York, NY. For more information about the company, please visit www.qfpcinc.com. If interested, please contact their office at (212) 695-0890 to set up an interview.
