Williamsburg
Hip, hip, hooray for Dime Community Bank, which donated big bucks to a local non-for-profit to help fund its kids’ summer camp.
Staff at Dime’s Kent Avenue branch presented Williamsburg non-for-profit St. Nicholas Alliance with a jumbo check for $21,000 on March 19 as part of its annual sponorship deal, which gives the bank naming rights for St. Nick’s Dime McCarren 5k run on May 4.
Bank honchos said they’re more than happy to support St. Nicholas’ summer programs, which include Stem classes, physical activities, and literacy and emotional learning for local youth.
“St. Nicks is a great cause, they help all the kids in the community,” said Pat Strong, VP Community Reinvestment Officer at Dime.
— Colin Mixson
Borough wide
Serving his country
Standing O salutes Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Harley, a Brooklyn native and 2008 graduate of Nazareth High School who is assigned to USS Florida, taking on the task to execute one of the Defense Department’s most important mission of strategic deterrence.
Harley is a culinary specialist stationed at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, homeport to the Ohio-class ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines.
“Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is home to all East Coast Ohio-class submarines,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Jablon, commander, Submarine Group 10. “Team Kings Bay ensures our crews are combat ready when called upon, putting our submarine forces on scene, unseen.”
Harley credits continued success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Brooklyn.
“I learned that you have to stay hungry if you want something bad enough,” Harley said. “I can’t quit until I accomplish my goal.”
Guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform, according to Jablon. Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, they are capable of directly supporting combatant commander’s strike and Special Operations Forces requirements.
Harley is part of the boat’s blue crew, one of the two rotating crews, which allow the boat to be deployed on missions more often without taxing one crew too much. A typical crew on this submarine is approximately 150 officers and enlisted sailors.
Because of the demanding environment aboard submarines, personnel are accepted only after rigorous testing, according to Navy officials. Submariners are some of the most highly-trained and skilled people in the Navy. Regardless of their specialty, everyone has to learn how everything on the ship works and how to respond in emergencies to become “qualified in submarines” and earn the right to wear the coveted gold or silver dolphins on their uniform.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, he and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means that I am doing everything I can to keep my family, friends and everyone safe,” Harley said. “I miss them when I go out to sea.”
