September 11th

The tragic event is etched in my my mind as it is with too many people in NY, around the country and around the world. The horror of it won't go away but what I choose to remember is the love, courage, and compassion. I was a young Sgt. in the  NYPD that responded to the first attack in 1993 and then as a volunteer recovering the remains of the victims after the second attack.  The number of men and women that responded to help was overwhelming. It goes without saying what the first responders did was heroic but they were not alone in their efforts. There were sanitation workers, Red Cross volunteers, ironworkers, volunteer ministers from the Church of Scientology, tow truck drivers, office workers, and store owners, and average men and women all there doing what they could, from clearing wreckage to applying first aid to feeding and comforting the first responders. Civilians helping people escape ground zero, helping them find there way back home without public transportation, or just giving their fellow Americans a shoulder to cry on. This went on for months and all the unsung heroes( I was reminded of all this from this article in PMQ magazine about Goodfellas feeding the police officers who were sifting through the rubble for human remains day after day for months.) People from all walks of life were there just doing what they could to help from there own ability is recognized and appreciated. From the young lady handing out water to the elderly veteran that donated work gloves to the responders. The school kids from all over the world that sent letters of support, the men and women that fought to make sure the ill were taken care of and their families cared for after their loss. The priests and doctors that had to administer to the survivors still and the list goes on and even on down to the smallest act of kindness that was displayed - like waving and smiling or letting a vehicle go without contest or traffic dispute. A simple bow of the head to those working "the pile" meant a lot.  I want to acknowledge all of you that rose to the occasion and showed the best of humanity and represented mankind for what it truly is. Thank you all, my admiration and respect are yours, you earned it.  Marc Cosentino

Hurricane Sandy One Year Later- Still Staten Island Proud

It's hard to believe it's been a year since Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, especially hard hit was my home town of Staten Island New York. After bailing several feet of water from Goodfella's basement and seeing first hand what really happened, the only thing we could do was give it everything we had to help our friends and long time neighbors who were left with nothing. Working out of a donated tractor trailer box in our parking lot we coordinated with such amazing volunteers from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds that it made me damn proud to be an American. We worked with motorcycle gangs, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Navy, Reserves, National Guard, the Pentecostal, Jews, Catholics, Baptists, Scientologists, Born Again, Jehovah' Witness,Liquid Church and American Legion, Marine Corp League, VFW Posts, NYPD, NYFD, Tunnel to Towers, teahers, moms and dads, elderly, Veterans from across the country, Occupy Wall Street, every race, color and creed in a unified effort to feed and shelter our fellow human beings in dire need. Just thinking about it is very emotional for me because I am so humbled and proud to have met and worked with these fine people who sacrificed a tremendous amount of time, effort and material possessions to do what was not only needed but was the right thing to do. Some valiant people risked their very lives to save total strangers. Others left their homes and traveled far to help finding only hard floors and sleeping bags or autos to sleep in. Some opened their doors to total stranger to provide shelter. Some cooked all day and night while others walked door to door through the dark and cold to deliver food and supplies. Some coordinated the efforts of others. Some provided succor. Some helped dig and shovel. Some gathered supplies. Some Gathered money. Some protected life and property. Some prayed. Some gave a much needed shoulder to cry on. Some cried while doing all of the above. This was humanity at it's finest as is evident in many desperate moments. I am  so grateful to all of you and so honored to have participated with my family and many great people.
If I learned one thing from this and 911 it's that all of you matter more than you know and you all have value and it is appreciated. God bless America and God Bless You.   Marc Cosentino

OMG! Apple Pie Pizza.

Yes the stuffed Apple Pie Pizza and the strawberry banana pie are are favorites at the original Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza on Hylan Blvd. in Staten Island NY, along with the Vodka pie and Smokin Goodfella winner of the World's Best Pizza Contest. For over 20 years these guys have been serving up award winning pizzas made by hand with the freshest ingredients available and cooked in a revolving wood fired brick oven for the people of NY. Along with world class pizza there is a full service Italian restaurant and bar featuring flat screen televisions to catch the all the sports action while you dine. The staff is always happy to serve you and are used to visitors from all over the world so next time you are near Staten Island NY be sure to try the original and say hi to Andy and Scot.

Fugettaboutit! Suport the troops that support you.

Perhaps being a USAF veteran and having a father that was a US Marine have influenced me a bit but I am always humbled and honored when I meet a United States soldier.

 Taking the oath of enlistment: "I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." is a big deal. 

 Enlisting, moving far away from your home and family with the distinct possibility of becoming a prisoner, mamed or killed in action in as even bigger deal. On occasion we at Goodfella's get to take care of these fine people that are sacrificing for our freedom and we consider it an honor to cook  pizza in our brick oven for them and do what little we can to make their lives a little more comfortable or enjoyable while letting them that we care and respect them. 

When we received this photo from the Commander telling us he " got our backs" it was very touching and is one of those great moments. God bless America and all it stands for. 

Happy 4th of July! From Goodfella's Pizza Staten Island New York.

Thank you to our forefathers. Independence was a courageous idea at the time considering the overwhelming power and suppressive nature of the British Empire. A recent visit to Boston gave me perspective on it. I realized the incredible entrepreneurial spirit of men like Paul Revere, who had a printing press and was a silversmith, engraver, dentist, goldsmith and courier. He had a lot to loose when he went out to participate in the Boston Tea Party. All these brave men knew it was all or nothing and freedom to pursue their own destiny drove them to victory against impossible odds. My kind of guys. Without them I never would have had the chance to become a pizza man in this great country and pursue my own dreams. God Bless America and thank you to all who in front and behind the lines that continue to fight to keep it free. www.brickovensforsale.com www.goodfellas.com
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