At the first pool party this year in Brooklyn I met Borough President Marty Markowitz. He was there to chat with the Jelly NYC people putting on the event and to see the thousands of sun drenched youngsters rocking out to Superchunk. He mentioned I should contact the Ice Cream Lady, Maria Campanella, of Brooklyn. Her family has been in the ice cream truck biz for decades and, as Marty said that she was a great example of a true Brooklynite.
I searched around trying to find a contact for Maria but couldn’t find one so I emailed Marty for some help. I also mentioned that I’d be around for a couple weeks and that I’d be interested in giving away ice cream if there were any fun events going on. The following day I got an email from the Director of Public Events, Carolyn Greer, about a get together that was happening the following week for kids who were going away to their first summer camp. I jumped at the opportunity and drove Bessie to Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn to take part.
When I was younger summer camp was one of my favorite things to do all year long. So much so that once, when I failed English and had to take summer school one summer, I made sure I went to every single day of class so that I could miss the maximum five days to use them all to go to Forest Home summer camp. It was only tough because one day on the way to school I tried to bunny-hop a chain into the parking lot and didn’t quite make it. The drum corps were practicing and I did a faceplant on the asphalt. I was so determined to go to summer camp that I still went to school the whole day so I could save up my five days for camp.
Unexpectedly, I was called to the podium to speak to everyone in attendance who were lining the steps of Borough Hall. I was hoping to tell them my bunny-hop/faceplant story about how much camp meant to me but wisely decided against it. Once Marty Markowitz spoke and thanked local Brooklynites, the Verizon Foundation, and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for making the summer camp possible for the kids, I headed back to Bessie to get ready for the final sendoff. Everyone lined up nice and orderly and each camp attendee and accompanying parent were treated to free ice cream.
Thanks to everyone at Borough Hall (Marty, Carolyn, Kathryn, Alexandra) and to the Verizon Foundation, Brooklyn Children’s Hospital, Levi’s, and all the folks in Brooklyn who pitched in to make Camp Brooklyn, and free ice cream possible
