Ronnie Polaneczky: We wrote, and they were helped

IT CAN BE hard to admit that you've made a mistake. And harder still to right it.

That's why Philly police Capt. Branville Bard Jr., of the 22nd District, gets my "Public Servant of the Day" award in today's update of three recent columns that raised readers' ire.

Thanks to Bard, Mark-Donovan Hagins won't have to pay more than $300 for parking in a legitimate spot that the 22nd District officer who ticketed him mistakenly believed was reserved for handicapped drivers.

Bard read my Sept. 1 column about Hagins, who was told to pay the violation despite presenting ample photographic and video proof to the Parking Bureau of Administrative Adjudication that the ticket had been written in error.

Bard contacted the bureau on Hagins' behalf and - voila! -the ticket was dismissed, the way it would've been if someone at the bureau had given a damn about Hagins' case in the first place.

"I'm glad you brought this to our attention," Capt. Bard told me. "The photo and video are as clear as day. That no one took the time to look at them is disappointing."

Speaking of being disappointed, Tim Horan, subject of a column in April, remains bummed that he has yet to receive permission to rent Philadelphia School District athletic facilities in exchange for substantial cash.

Horan co-owns the Philadelphia Sport and Social Club, a for-profit Manayunk company that organizes fun activities for adults. Last year he spent $250,000 to rent gyms and athletic fields around the Delaware Valley so that his co-ed members could play football, soccer, volleyball and other sweaty games.

He wanted to rent from the district courts and fields that mostly sit empty after hours. But the district won't rent to for-profit outfits like his, a policy that seems awfully stupid, given the district's financial destitution.

After my column ran, Horan had a hopeful meeting with district officials. It led nowhere. But he has since strengthened his association with a more enthusiastic partner: the city's Parks and Recreation department.

Horan's company, which rents space at the city-owned Lee Cultural Center, at 43rd Street and Haverford Avenue, is paying $5,000 to fix the lighting and to install surveillance cameras at the center. The company is also paying for landscaping of the center's overgrown ball field and the sprucing-up of playground equipment.

"Generally, our partners are nonprofit-oriented," says Leo Dignam, deputy Parks and Rec commissioner. "But this is a company willing to give back in a way that will benefit everyone in the community."

Says Horan, "It's a win for us, the city and local residents. The school district obviously just doesn't get this concept."

Finally, there's happy news about Alix Genter, the bride-to-be who had been dissed by a Somers Point, N.J., bridal-shop owner who refused to sell Genter a gown because she is a lesbian. Not only did tons of readers offer moral support to Genter, but scads of generous business owners offered her, gratis, everything from designer wedding gowns and bridal flowers to wedding receptions and honeymoon vacations.

"We're sorting through everything, but we don't even know if we'll take anyone up on their offers," says Genter, who has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. "I don't want anyone to think I went public for any reason except to raise awareness about discrimination [against] gays."

Then she'll be happy that her story touched the hearts of producers at ABC's "What Would You Do?" which uses actors and hidden cameras to stage ethical dilemmas and record real-people responses to the scenarios.

Inspired by Genter's story, the show staged a scenario at Bella Sposa Bridal Boutique, in Denville, N.J., in which a phony salon consultant refuses service to a phony lesbian bride.

"We were very moved by Alix's story," says show producer Mary Beth Lavender.

Even the phony version was "very emotional," says salon owner Renee Vollmar, who watched the staged scenarios unfold via a remote monitor.

"One mother and daughter were so upset at how the 'bride' was being treated, they were crying, Vollmar says. "Another bride left without saying a word. When the cameras caught up with her, she said she'd never shop in the store again. It was encouraging to see the support, because every bridal-salon owner I know was appalled by Alix's story."

At least, thanks to Daily News readers, it had a happy ending.