Dilberian Smart Home Fund Gets A Cash Infusion

By on September 4, 2012  News
Sep 042012
 

Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, where Bryan Dilberian was wounded (Image source: isafmedia via Flick).

The fundraising effort to build a new “smart home,” or automated housing unit, for a disabled Afghanistan veteran who was born and raised in Brooklyn, and attended high school at Fort Hamilton H.S., recently came $3,255 closer to accomplishing its mission, thanks to a donation made by three IHG Army Hotels properties and the Lend Lease Community Fund, writes Melisa Stumpf for Home Reporter. Continue reading »

2012 Ragamuffin Parade Honorees

By on August 21, 2012  Events
Aug 212012
 

Bay Ridge’s annual Ragamuffin Parade, which is now in its 46th year, will march along 3rd Avenue from 76th Street to 92nd Street on September 29, 2012 – beginning at 1 p.m.

Arlene Figaro, Headmistress of Bay Ridge’s Visitation Academy [8902 Ridge Boulevard], will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal, while John Abi-Habib, President and CEO of MSI Computers – a Bay Ridge-based computer services firm, has been named as the parade group’s 2012 Man of the Year.

On Sunday, September 16, at 2:00 p.m. Figaro and Abi-Habib will be honored at the Ragamuffin Luncheon Celebration in the grand ballroom of the Bay Ridge Manor [476 76th Street].

According to Ragamuffin President Colleen Golden, tickets to the event – which is a major fund-raiser for the annual parade, are $65 per person. They may be purchased by forwarding a check made payable to Ragamuffin, Inc. to 85 80th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209.

For more details, please contact Ted General at (718) 833-4928, click onto the group’s Facebook page, or email RagamuffinParade@USA.com.

Don’t get left out in the dark. You can learn about more awesome Bay Ridge events like this by checking out the Bay Ridge Odyssey Events Calender.

Local Wounded Warrior Bryan Dilberian Shares Experiences With Visitation Academy Students

By on May 18, 2012  Sections
May 182012
 

Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan

On the morning of Monday, May 14, Bryan Dilberian, a triple amputee military veteran and Fort Hamilton High School alumnus, met with students and faculty at Visitation Academy [8902 Ridge Blvd].

This past February, on Valentine’s – a day normally reserved for sweethearts – the Catholic all-girls prep school’s students held a bake sale in order to raise funds for Dilberian to one day build his dream home – one that will make daily life easier for the Afghanistan vet.

The price tag for the so-called “smart home” – which comes complete with an elevator and a custom-built, handicapped-accessible kitchen – is around $1 million, writes Heather J. Chin for the Home Reporter.

Visitation Academy’s students have raised around $4,000 so far. A humble beginning to a noble goal.

“He risked his life for this country and came back to thank us for something small that we did,” said Kristen, one of the students present.

“It’s very inspiring and exciting to meet him. He’s a hero,” called out Samantha, an eighth grader.

Dilberian, age 26, told Home Reporter that, despite his wounds, he doesn’t regret his choice to enlist.

He does make sure to mention his best friend James Waters, who was killed in action in Afghanistan’s Arghandab Valley – a name that may at first seem exotic in its unfamiliarity yet – depending on how it’s pronounced, can also sound very plain and domestic. Less fluid-sounding than the name James Waters, but perhaps more fitting for such an arid place.

Bryan Dilberian will always remember those two names – words that will share an oddly intertwined connection in the minds of friends, family, and after last Monday – the students of Visitation Academy.