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To The Point: College Point meeting was week’s big event

By Sabina Cardali

Welcome to the Point. The Point being College Point. It was nice to get that extra day of Leap Year but it has been so busy that I could have used many extra Leap Year days.

My College Point Civic/Taxpayers Association held a meeting at St. Fidelis, which was very well-attended. It was a long meeting but many very important issues had to be discussed and there were many questions from the audience.

Deputy Inspector James Waters, Detective Steve Pohalski and Officer Joseph Cippolo attended and after his talk, Deputy Inspector Waters took questions from the audience. Congressman Joseph Crowley spoke and also took questions from the audience, as did state Senator Frank Padavan. Dr. Frank Miller from the Health Department took many questions with regard to the West Nile virus and the use of malathion last year during the outbreak. Activist Joyce Shepherd had a very detailed and factual report she gave, along with reports from Lauri Evans and Tina Williams on their personal problems during this outbreak. Steve Greenspan, a licensed pest control applicator, was also present. A very-well deserved plaque was presented to Leo Nicholas for outstanding service to College Point in all his untiring efforts in combating and painting over graffiti.

Condolences to Bill Coffey and family on the death of his father.

A speedy recovery to Mary Costello.

Loving people came to partake of a wonderful pasta for lovers at the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus had some great hosts: Grand Knight Rocco Cardali, Phil LaFurno, Brian O'Keefe, Robert Graziano and Jason Lombardo.

Happy birthday to Ken Trautwig.

Attend a Murder Mystery on Sat., April 1, 8 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Council, $35 per person: hot meal, beer, wine soda BYOB. DJ dancing and the Murder Mystery written exclusively for St. Ambrose Council. Reservations must be made in advance. Call Bruce Johnson 358-6873 or Melissa and Karen at 762-0506.

Poppenhusen Institute: Country Line Dancing on Mondays: Beginners go at 6:45-7:45 p.m. and pay $5. Intermediates dance from 7:45-9:45 p.m. for $6.

Group keyboard lessons for children ages 6-12 at 5-6 p.m., $60 for 10 sessions. The instructor is Sing Ing Ho.

The Association for the Advancement of Blind and Retarded, Inc. & New York Child Learning Institute, will be holding the 44th Anniversary Dinner Dance on Fri., March 24, at Terrace on the Park, Grand Ballroom, Flushing Meadow Park, 7:30 p.m. for cocktails. Dinner starts at 8:30 p.m. The Humanitarian Award recipient is George Shebitz, Esq., the Freedom Award recipient is Nicholas A. Catinella. Two of their programs are run in College Point: a Thrift Shop at 15-08 College Point Blvd., run for and by the people it serves, and a school for children with autism at 123-14 14th Ave. Tickets are $125 each. A special section of the dinner dance journal has been designated for College Point friends and neighbors. Quarter-page ads are available for $125. For information call (718) 321-3800.

The First Reformed Church of College Point, Women's Fellowship, had its luncheon at the Five Corners Restaurant and Rev. William Cameron gave a very interesting talk on “Then and Now,” and this was his life prior to his 20 years in College Point and, of course, his last 20 years. Rev. Cameron will be a very hard person to replace when he retires on March 31. He is very people-oriented and special to everyone who knows him and everyone who meets him. We hope that his retirement will be fruitful and hope that he will remember us, as we will remember him with love and gratitude.

The Annual Pancake Breakfast: Help the Knights of Columbus support the Youth Programs of College Point, Sun., March 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Council Chambers, 22-38 College Point Blvd., $4 per person – children under 6, no charge. The chefs are: Vinny Zaino and son and Phil LaFurno. Vinny said he wants to top last year's record of 1,002. How about it folks? With your help we will continue to support the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League and other youth groups of College Point said Grand Knight Rocco Cardali. For more information, call Chairman John Tie at 718-886-2297 or Grand Knight Rocco Cardali 718-886-0938.

The College Point Citizens' Memorial Day Parade Committee is in full swing and its next meeting will be on Thurs., March 16, 7 p.m. at the VFW Post. We certainly can use more people to help in this endeavor. As you know, this parade has gotten bigger.

There will be a Carnival Cruise Line Presentation, Wed., April 5, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 22-38 College Point Blvd. Representatives from Carnival will give a presentation on cruises leaving from New York and other places. All are invited. Coffee and cake will be served.

And a stone's throw … in Whitestone … Knights of Columbus winter bowlers at Whitestone Lanes on Friday morning are warming up, or is it the weather?

Cathy Tuttle bowled 207 and 201 and Maryann Fanelli bowled 212. These girls are the Knights' role models in bowling.

A great big thank you to Mark Tuttle for helping me distribute the many notices at the bowling alley, both mine and the Police Department's.

Very happy that Ann Callahan was not injured seriously in her recent auto mishap.

The 22nd Annual Queens Half-Marathon (13.1) miles and the 10th Annual Skaggs-Walsh 5K road race are scheduled for Sat., April 15, This year's Queens Half-Marathon has been selected as part of the New York Roadrunners Team Championship series where points are earned for the top men and women finishers.

Holy Trinity School will be having an Alumni Reunion on Oct. 28. Mrs. Menna and Mrs. Kawka stated that Holy Trinity School will have had 30 graduations as of June 2001. The school opened in September 1967. Pass the word. Spread the news – dinner, dancing, DJ school tour and all former teachers will be invited.

I cannot repeat the basic facts about the census enough. The census is a count that adds up everyone living in the U.S., citizens and non-citizens alike. The information from the census survey is confidential. The law prohibits the disclosure and sharing of information with any other government agency. The census is taken every 10 years. The next census will be taken on April 1, 2000. The information taken from the census determines the number of representatives from your community who will represent you in Congress. The census data helps to determine the distribution of federal dollars in your community for everything from planning schools and building roads to providing recreational opportunities and managing health care services. Every year, the federal government distributes more than 180 million dollars to different communities based on census information. If the census questionnaire is not filled out, you, your family and the community may lose valuable public benefits and services.

More on Malba … A speedy recovery to Dr. Vincent Lodico.

Condolences to the family of Judge William G. Giaccio.

Sabina Says: I will always treasure the beautiful framed picture that Laraine Memola gave me of her and Waggles, her favorite dog. Waggles was special in every way, not only at home as a pet but for all his wonderful work at the nursing homes where he made all the seniors so happy to see him and his appearances at the College Point Memorial Day Parade, honoring the war dogs, and the Dog Shows at the First Reformed Church, to the delight of children and adults.