Valentine's Day celebrations are normally between two people, but today several local Bronx elected officials brought Valentine's Day greetings to some people who may not have enjoyed the Day of Joy.
At the Veteran's Hospital on Kingsbridge Road State Senator Jeff Klein held his 23rd Annual Valentines for Veterans Celebration. Senator Klein brought with him Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Miss Teen New York Asia Hickman, Miss Bronx Li Ling Rivera, former NY Knick Charles Smith, the Step Dancers from Icahn Charter School 2, the PS 105 Children's Choir, and the PS 83 Children's Rock Band. There was singing, dancing, and high stepping from the school children, and gift bags for the veterans with letters of hope from students of several other schools.
Above - Senator Klein and guests stand behind many of the gifts and Valentines for the Veterans at the VA Hospital.
Below The singing of the National Anthem.
Above - Miss Teen New York, and Miss Bronx were on hand.
Below - Assemblyman Benedetto mentioned the thought of wearing his red boots, but he had the feeling someone else might be wearing red boots. See photo above.
A little later at Villa Barone Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the 11th Annual Sweethearts Luncheon. This was for Bronx couples who have been married for fifty years or more. The PS 72 Ballroom Dancers provided the warm up dances for married sweethearts, and then the couples themselves took to the dance floor to celebrate their own longevity of being married. Vinnie Barretta and his wife Josie were the longest married couple spanning seventy years of blissful marriage. When asked by Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. how they met, Mrs. Barretta said they were at a drug store where she was going to weigh herself on the scale in the store. When they met she was seventeen and Vinnie was nineteen. Before she could put her penny into the scale her soon to be husband guessed her weight, and the rest is history. Mr. George Hulse of sponsor Healthfirst provided a humorous joke as he said between his four marriages and his present wife's three marriages they must have close to one-hundred years of marriage between the both of them.
Above - The PS 72 Ballroom Dancers warmed up the crowd so much that,
Below - Many of the couples took to the dance floor themselves.
Above - This was an event for Bronx couples who were married for more than fifty years, and Bronx Borough President called up Vinnie and Josie Barretta who have been married for seventy years for a special recognition.
Below - BP Diaz also recognized Health First as being the sponsor of the event. Mr. George Hulse of Health First said that between his four marriages, and his wife's three that they have almost one hundred years of marriage between them.
After wards there was a Valentine's Day event held in Coop-City by Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and Councilman Andy King. Unfortunately Congressman Engel had to fly back to Washington to do his job, but Senator Bailey and Councilman King were able to entertain the roomful of people from the Coop-City area. Councilman King did most of the talking, but we saw a new side of Senator Bailey as he began his future career as a rapper. While State Senator Bailey has on his staff the former Dancing District Leader of the 80th A.D., the senator will now be known as Senator Jamaal “The Rapper” Bailey.
Above - Councilman Andy King was the host of this event. Here he welcomes State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and asks the senator to do his thing.
Below - He looked like a natural when he began rapping, as you can see by Councilman King getting down to the beat. He may have the Former Dancing District Leader, but Senator Jamaal Bailey will now be known as the 'Rapping Senator'.
