Community barbecue in White Plains spreads positivity, honors late residents

The hours-long event also honored people from the area who have died due to medical illness, mental health, gun and domestic violence.

Diane Caruso

Jul 21, 2024, 1:20 AM

Updated 145 days ago

Share:

Hundreds of people attended the Big Boyz Ferris Avenue Reunion BBQ at Gardella Park in White Plains Saturday.
The cookout had free food, music, and more.
"We just want to give back and enjoy life," said Ramsease Potillo, one of the organizers. "The importance is of everyone getting together and enjoying life because we're not promised. We're not promised to be here."
The hours-long event also honored people from the area who have died due to medical illness, mental health, gun and domestic violence.
One tribute was for Rosezella Munroe. The 56-year-old woman known as "peaches" was shot and killed in Hillcrest earlier this year by her ex-boyfriend who died by suicide later that same day.
"She's a very special person," said Noelia Camacho-Kelly, of White Plains. She was Munroe's lifelong friend. "We all miss her, she's deeply in our hearts and she's just family. We've had some very good times. And that's what we remember most from her."
There were also resources to help those who are dealing with domestic violence.
"A woman lost her life, but we can prevent other people from losing their lives if we talk about this 'thing' that no one wants to talk about. So I'm glad to be here," said Kim McNair with My Sisters' Place .
The family and friends of Munroe awarded four local students nearly $2,000 in scholarships in honor of the Rockland woman's legacy.