In our edition 433 of March 8, 2014 we dedicated our editorial to the Canal Street Gym for the work, with great sacrifice, coach Jose Bugzy Martinez and his team perform with a group of youngsters who daily go to the gym to exercise, mainly the sport of boxing.
We visited the gym and were very impressed with the prevailing discipline in place that brought to mind the days when gyms in several schools were opened under the direction of Frank Benjamin, better known as Mr. B by the armies of children of all ages gathered every evening until late at night to enjoy a good time, playing sports, especially basketball, while receiving much-needed discipline these days.
The program was sponsored by the Police Athletic League of Lawrence and grants from the Department of Justice and HUD’s CDBG program which sadly was eliminated for lack of funds.
The Lodge of the Sons of Italy vividly remembers preparing classic spaghetti dinners to raise funds for the youth of the Lawrence Police Athletic League of which Mr. B and his son Bill were directors, is organizing a tribute to Frank Benjamin on March 31st to honor him for those years of service to the city and especially the children of Lawrence.
We tied the Canal Street Gym with Mr. B’s program for the similarity in the objectives of both: the welfare of the children. Mr. B said, and the Sons of Italy agree that all proceeds from this tribute are delivered to the Canal Street Gym.
We agree with both sides and we congratulate Mr. B for his generous proposal. There is no doubt that through the Canal Street Gym, he continues to think of Lawrence children.
