On Wednesday, May 30, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined President of Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) Scot Medbury and Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation Robert B. Catell at this year’s Celebrity Path induction ceremony. Three distinguished Brooklynites were awarded bronze leaf stones, which will be placed in the beautiful Celebrity Path walkway near the Alfred T. White memorial in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden at BBG.

Mad Magazine founder and mastermind William (“Bill”) Maxwell Gaines, of blessed memory, Calypso songwriting legend Irving Burgie, and surprise honoree of the evening, Robert B. Catell, joined the 157 other Brooklynites who have been honored at the Celebrity path since 1985.

“So many Brooklynites have gone on to national and international acclaim in every field — from art, to medicine, film to sports, music to science and law, theater and literature to government and poetry — the list goes on and on,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Brooklyn will always be the place where legends are made and dreams come true. It is indeed the big stage.”

Bill Gaines, born in Brooklyn in 1922, was the publisher and co-editor of EC Comics and the founding publisher of Mad—a magazine whose trademark parodies of pop culture, politics and American life have inspired generations of readers to question authority and generations of comedy writers to find their satiric voice—for over 50 years. He is being inducted posthumously for his commitment to making people laugh and championing the individual perspective, all the while demonstrating real Brooklyn chutzpah.

Irving Burgie is the man behind the music and lyrics of the internationally acclaimed “Day O” and most of the other songs on Harry Belafonte’s groundbreaking album “Calypso.” The album was the first in the United States to sell one million copies, and was number one on the Billboard charts for 32 consecutive weeks. In the 50 years since he became a pioneer in the music industry and the father of modern calypso, Burgie has also distinguished himself as a dedicated humanitarian and civic activist.

Robert B. Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation, is also board co-chair of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Chairman of the Long Island Association, as well as a noted author and an active member of numerous industry, business, and community organizations. Catell is one of the founders of the Celebrity Path but was unaware of his own induction until last night’s ceremony.

The celebration of Brooklynites and Brooklyn institutions continues this weekend, as BrooklynBest 2007, a destination Brooklyn event which officially launches Brooklyn’s summer season each year, takes to Grand Army Plaza and Heart of Brooklyn institutions. Check out www.visitbrooklyn.org for details.

For more information on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Celebrity Path, including a list of past honorees, visit http://www.bbg.org/exp/stroll/celebritypath.html.