Bay Democrats Club hosts Marlboro Houses Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 27, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Margarita Kagan (left), Ari Kagan (center) and Oleg Zinkovetsky pose with kids from the Marlboro Houses. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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The Bay Democrats club hosted its annual Marlboro Houses Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Lights of Baku Restaurant in Gravesend on Friday.

Democratic District Leaders Ari Kagan and Margarita Kagan from the 45th Assembly District (Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Midwood) joined Marlboro Resident Association President Betty James, District 47 City Councilmember Mark Treyger (Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend and Sea Gate) and District Leader Nancy Tong.

“We had a great time at the luncheon with more than 80 people, including 15 children,” Ari Kagan said. “The food was really tasty, and the musical performances by Anna Malkina and Alex Rodionov were also great. It was a warm and friendly celebration of the Bay Democrats club. It was a fun and cool event.”

The restaurant provided a fully cooked turkey for each table along with all the trimmings. Club volunteers included Arthur Melnick, Xiu Yan Li, Nonna Petrova and Felix Akselrod who helped organize the event and decorate the restaurant. Kagan credited the club volunteers for helping to make the event a success.

Civic leader Oleg Zinkovetsky co-sponsored the event with Kagan, and provided gifts for every child who attended.

Also attending the event were slain Detective Wenjian Liu’s parents, Wei Tang Liu and Pei Xia Chen. Liu was the 32-year-old NYPD officer who was gunned down in his squad car along with his partner Officer Rafael Ramos on Dec. 20, 2015. Kagan called Liu and Chen “our adoptive parents in this community.”

The Bay Democrats club represents residents of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Midwood, Gravesend and Marlboro.

The highlight of the day, Kagan said, was the toy distribution. “Nothing quite matches the surprised look on the faces of the kids as they receive their gifts,” Ari Kagan said. “That’s really what it’s all about.”