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

Texas Disaster Response by Veteran of USAF and NYPD

Back from Texas response

Thank you to all the incredible People who came together in Rockport Texas to help. As a USAF veteran and former sergeant of the NYPD I was asked to come to Texas and help lead a group of volunteers from around the USA, Canada, and Mexico. We worked side by side with Los Topos Search and rescue team that is called "the moles" because they specialize in climbing into earthquake damaged structures to recover victims and had many US veterans and an Army Ranger who was strong as a bull with us.  We did whatever had to be done from distributing food and water, searches, tree removal and securing roofs.  Rockport is the small town at ground zero of the storm for 35 minutes and it did not get much media attention or initial help since it so remote. Since so many came to NY to help us on 911 and during Hurricane Sandy it was great to show up on the ground in Texas as a volunteer and see the tears of joy on the faces of these proud Texans that are so used to taking care of themselves. Thank you to all that participated and donated their time, effort and $$$ because you made a difference. One other thing I would like to suggest is that if you wish to donate or show up to help, the main people to see on the ground or call are the local police, fire dept, and churches as they are the responders and know the lay of the land. Churches are usually busy proving shelter and the basics right after the initial threat is over so they are a natural meeting place n the community and a good place to donate to or show up to help.  Lastly, it looks like Florida is the next place to help. God Bless America!

Opening Bid on de Blasio Fork: $1000 by New York Brick Oven Company

Scot Cosentino, Frank  Siller, Marc Cosentino, Andrew Scudera

The New York Brick Oven Company Makes $1000 bid on fork from Forkgate Scandal. "It was only a natural since one of our ovens was responsible for cooking the infamous slice of pizza" said Marc Cosentino." It's all for a great cause" added lead instructor of the Pizza School of New York Andrew Scudera  a partner of the Original Goodfella's S.I.N.Y.

• The fork that made headlines around the world after Mayor Bill de Blasio used it to eat pizza can now be part of your kitchen.
  The Staten Island based nonprofit Tunnel to Towers Foundation began its charity auction Thursday of the infamous fork on its website. Marc Costentino, the co-owner of Goodfella's Pizzeria in Staten Island where de Blasio was caught on tape famously eating pizza with a fork, handed over the utensil to the organization Thursday. The starting bid was $1,000.
  John Hodge, the director of operations for Tunnel to Towers, expects that it will sell for much higher when the bidding ends on Feb. 21.
  "This fork is now a piece of New York history," he said. "Decades from now people will talk about this moment because it is one of those quintessential New York moments."
  All proceeds will help fund Tunnel to Towers programs, such as its annual race to Ground Zero, Superstorm Sandy relief and veterans home renovation initiative. Hodge said it has been in talks with the mayor's office and they fully support the auction.
  "We're having a lot of fun about this and Mayor de Blasio is being a big sport about this," he said.
  Log onto tunnel2towers.org to participate in the auction.

  Related

  Urbanite Jon Stewart doesn't approve of de Blasio's pizza-eating method
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Hosts of Forensic Experts Converge on de Blasio's Forkgate Evidence at Crime Scene

Mayor de Blasio before the "Crime"

Fork vouchered as evidence by Marc Cosentino of Goodfella's Pizza

Ed Wallace Director of the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner  Director of Forensic Training with Scores of forensic experts converge at Goodfella's pizza to examine forkgate evidence.

Making the trip to the Forgotten Borough to examine and taste the evidence surrounding Mayor De Blasio's forkgate incident were scores of forensic experts from around the country representing medical examiner's offices from as far away as Tampa, Texas, Boston and Wyoming. They looked over the fork in question, the New York Brick Oven Company's revolving brick oven that was used to cook the Smoking Goodfella pizza of international repute and most of all to taste the evidence. All were pleasantly surprised and agreed there was a solid case for great pizza regardless of it's consumption with or without a fork.  " Being part of a fun crime scene for change is a treat" commented one hardened examiner from the Midwest. Another added "I will gladly volunteer for any future expert testimony involving this incident". A good time was had by all and they were happy to learn of the $1000 opening bid  on the fork made by the New York Brick Oven Company to start the fund raising with the Tunnel 2 Tower Foundation which is instrumental in helping the recovery of local residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Even Primo from The Diamond Collar Knows: You Don't Eat Pizza with a Fork Mr. de Blasio

Trixie the Goodfella's Wonder Dog after a wash and cut at The Diamond Collar

James Guiliani his dog Primo and Marc Cosentino enjoying some fork-free Goodfella's Pizza at The Diamond Collar 

Diamond Collar's stars James Guiliani and Primo decidedly weighed in with the decision  of skipping the fork at their place in Bay Ridge Brooklyn with Goodfella's Marc Cosentino. "It was pretty obvious after the first bite that Primo the Mastiff had no intention of using a fork  after watching his master reach for a slice with his hand" said Cosentino, " and who would try to stop a dog that size anyway". Marc stopped by with his dog Trixe for grooming and a slice the other day after meeting James during a spot on Fox's Good Day Cafe' with Greg Kelly featuring the infamous "fork" from Mayor de Blasio' forkgate incident.

Andrew Scudera and  Marc Cosentino of Goodfella's Pizza with James Guiliani and Primo of The Diamond Collar

The fork is now up for auction at Goodfell'as with proceeds to go to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts with the Tunnel 2 Towers foundation on Staten Island. The first bid of $1000 was made by the New York Brick Oven Company of Staten Island. You can see the fork on display at 1718 Hylan Boulevard at the original Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza and make your bid for a good cause.

Staten Island DA Visits Goodfella's to Investigate Evidence at Mayor de Blasio's Forkgate Crime Scene

Marc and Scot Cosentino with DA Donovan

evidence bag with infamous fork 

The international scandal over the allegations that Mayor de Blasio used a fork to eat his pizza  is raising all kinds of support. Both pro-fork and anti-fork camps have been weighing in on the matter with vocal groups such as the  "Mother's for Good Manners Coalition and the Freedom to Eat with your Hands Party coming to the table. In a recent turn of events Staten Island District Attorney Daniel M. Donavon, Jr. paid an unannounced visit to Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza on Hylan Boulevard in Staten to inspect the "fork" in question and look over the still active crime scene known as Forkgate. The DA said" this could be enough to prosecute and I will utilize all available manpower to guarantee the chain of evidence is preserved and we do our part to ensure it helps raise as much money as possible for Staten Island Charities". A very concerned Scot Cosentino( Co-founder of Goodfellas) said "I'm glad we have the right man on the job to ensure justice in our community is carried out". The DA acknowledged Marc Cosentino(author of Routine Patrol the Forgotten Borough) for his quick thinking and  training as a New York City Police Sergeant, for taking the correct action with safeguarding the key link in the case. "We have already reached out to Christies Auction house and the guys at Pawn Stars for some help evaluating this one of a kind artifact" said Andy Scudera. He added "Regardless of the outcome it's all in good fun and for a worthy cause, If only all our new Mayor's political scandals could be of this caliber".

Pizza fresh from New York Brick Oven Co. Revolving Brick Oven

Major Crisis Enveloping the Mayor of New York City

Mayor deBlasio has only been on the job a few days and has already gotten himself caught in an international scandal. While visiting the Staten Island favorite Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza to show his support and commitment to what has been previously known as the "Forgotten Borough" he made a pizza eating error of magnitude. The Mayor inadvertently reached for a fork, yes I said "fork". To those of you not from New York this is somthing on the order of putting ketchup on a hot dog or mayonnaise on on pastrami sandwich. To give the mayor respect he did switch over to the hand eating method once it was brought to his attention. Marc Cosentino of the New York Brick Oven Company company was on hand for the pizza making along with his brother Scot who were proud to use their Inferno revolving deck brick oven to prepare the pies being made by Andrew Scudera who won the 2012 International pizza title. Cosentino a former sergeant of the NYPD put his experience to use and realized the fork in question may be evidence of the crime so he prepared an evidence bag and secured the crime scene.

Marc Cosentino Arresting Leonardo Di Caprio in the Wolf Of Wall Street.

"I try to keep up with training even if it's only on TV or in the Movies" said Cosentino. The fork is currently enjoying it's own celebrity on display to the public at the Original Goodfella's on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island for safe keeping till the new police commissioner Bill  Bratton  has had the opportunity to inspect it. From there it will most likely be auctioned off for a local Staten Island charity. Happy pizza. 

Pizzagate at Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza Staten Island NY with Mayor De Blasio and the New York Brick Oven Co.

Having Mayor De Blasio enjoy a fresh pizza with his favorite smoked mozzarella right out of the the Revolving Deck Brick Oven at the world famous Goodfella's Pizza was a lot of fun. He now joins the tradition started 20 years ago with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his "pepperoni connection" with Borough President and former US congressman Guy Molinari who was threatening the secession of Staten Island(The Forgotten Borough) from new York City at the time. Rudy even brought his staff to Goodfella's on the day he was  re-elected because he liked Goodfella's so much.

"While we won't say pizza was the reason for the peace, it sure makes hungry Italians much more agreeable" said Scot Cosentino.
 

Then mayor Bloomberg began to follow suit, knowing that the predominately Italian borough of Staten Island enjoyed this community oriented fast casual eatery. Through three terms he could be seen eating and having his Goodfella's delivered, so it was no surprise when Mayor De Blasio made the pilgrimage after just 10 days in office to try one of their award winning pizzas. "Having had twenty years of successive New York City mayors enjoy pizza from The revolving  deck brick oven is priceless, and if we have to add New York Style pizza eating to our pizza school to avoid another scandal with the mayor using a fork-so be it" said Andrew Scudera the three time International Champion Pizza maker from Goodfella's.

Lady Ga Ga pizza

From the NY Yankee Good luck pizza and the World Famous Vodka Pie to  the lady Ga Ga Pizza, the boys at the Original Goodfella's  Brick Oven Pizza on Hylan Blvd. in Staten Island NY are always having  fun making delicious and sometimes entertaining pizzas like the Lin Sanity pie.  The incredible smell of the revolving wood burning brick oven and the fresh homade ingredients take you away to mom's kitchen and memories of the first time you smelled a genuine fireplace as a kid. An always genuinely happy to see you staff that values people and has given back to community in so may ways over the past decades makes you feel right at home so come on down and taste some of NY's Finest(one of the founders is a former New York City Police Officer). Happy pizza to you!