By Sabina Cardali
Welcome to the Point. The Point being College Point. The holidays have passed, but we want to wish you a wonderful new year as well as your family and friends.
Condolences to the family of Arthur Nitzburg, a famed Queens political columnist of many years, and to the family of Charles Weidel.
Happy first birthday to Anthony McIntyre.
Community Board 7 held its Christmas party at Napa and Sonoma Steak House in Whitestone. A happy holiday dinner was had by all.
Helen and Fred Mazzarello were thrilled to attend their grandson’s football games and watch their winning ways.
Marlene and Kim Christensen had a wonderful Christmas party and dinner at the Bob Taylor’s Ranch House.
A pancake breakfast was held by the Knights of Columbus St. Jude Council 9102 with Santa. The children just loved the attention and the candy.
Congratulations to Helen Marshall, our new Queens borough president.
Stuck in traffic? In danger of losing your holiday spirit? Think of how much better you would feel if you were listening to holiday music instead of fuming at the driver ahead of you.
A difficult process is currently going on in the planning for the memorial for the World Trade Center. The last standing piece of the Twin Towers was taken down for possible use in a memorial. Right now officials and families are beginning the difficult process of deciding what sort of monument to the dead should be built at the World Trade Center.
Another point of consideration is what special recognition should be given to the rescue workers who raced into the trade center.
Will a memorial share the 16-acre trade center site with newly erected commercial buildings? Who will be in charge of making these decisions?
Jennie Farrell, founder of Give Your Voice, which represents the families of civilian victims, said she and other relatives expect to meet with city officials to discuss the planning process. They have strong feelings as to how and what should be done. The people in charge need to listen to those who lost a loved one.
The trade center site poses unique complexities. The financial district in Lower Manhattan contains some of the most valuable real estate in the world. The developer who holds the lease on the property has already said he wants to incorporate a memorial into a rebuilding plan that would include four-50 story towers.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, in his farewell address to the city, said he would like to see a “soaring monumental” memorial built on the site and would try to keep Ground Zero beyond the reach of economic development.
SABINA SAYS…May each and every one of you enjoy the new year that we have now entered to the fullest and may happiness be with you all.
