By Barbara Morris
In spite of the multitude of financial and other problems facing us at every turn, I hope you realize that our communities are fortunate. We have a very large number of people here who are willing to work, and to work very hard — often without obvious recognition — to improve the general conditions and to lift the spirits of those around us.
On May 8, City Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton) chose the Beach Club in Far Rockaway as the site for Senior Recognition Day. His honoree was a woman many have admired and wondered about how she accomplished all that she has, no matter what the obstacles.
As the wife of a former civic president, she could have been content to do nothing special on her own, but she is very much a people person who sees into the hearts of others and wants to bring them together in an improved state of mind and body. I can think of no one more deserving of a very special award, especially just before Mother’s Day, than Ann English.
When her husband, Jim, became president of the Rosedale Civic Association, English had more community work added to her schedule. Now that her husband is past president of the civic association, Ann English’s expertise in handling troubleshooter problems on the phone and in person is still being used because she does such an excellent job.
She has been a longtime member of the Rosedale Civilian Patrol, monitoring the base radio, as well as the American Association of Retired Persons, running fabulous parties and trips.
She and Jim are a devoted couple, certainly setting a good example for young and old alike. They support youth groups; veterans’ groups, especially the Lion’s Club’s Guide Dog program; and a variety of religious organizations.
These religious organizations include the Rosedale Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ, which is being refurbished this month for its 90th anniversary. The church also is celebrating Pastor Aubrey Bougher’s 35th anniversary as an ordained minister and Pastor and Mrs. Bougher’s wedding anniversary.
The actual anniversary of Bougher’s ordination is Memorial Day, May 26, at 4:30 p.m. at the church, 248th Street and Francis Lewis Boulevard in Rosedale. Church members as well as new and old friends who care to celebrate together will find the experience inspirational and enjoyable.
Although we can’t always attend every activity together, whenever we do, it’s like a family reunion where everyone has an opportunity to contribute in work and deed.
Ann and Jim English, like Christ Lutheran’s Mader family, and Fred Kress, who is president of the Rosedale Civic Association, Queens Coalition for Parks and the Cornucopia Society, always find interesting things for us to do.
Ann helps out in a big way with the distribution of donated food and clothing to deserving families. So, to all the good people who worked so hard to celebrate with and to recognize the good work of others, we say, “Thank you.”
Sanders started the celebrity ball rolling with his wonderful choice of Ann English as senior honoree. At that important and successful event, he announced an additional terrific honor to be awarded to another woman, Bess DeBetham, who has been active for a long time as a board member of the Federation of Laurelton Block Associations.
She also served 10 years as office manager of constituent services when Juanita Watkins was our city councilwoman. DeBetham now wears three additional hats.
She has been reinstated as a member of Community Board 13 after a temporary absence while working for Watkins; she is chairwoman of the Local Development Corporation of Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens; and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall has appointed her delegate to the Queens General Assembly, which DeBetham said is similar to the United Nations.
There are 48 members from different nations, all of whom are trying to learn as much about each other as possible. The purpose is, through cultural events, to foster better understanding and bring out the fact that although groups may differ in beliefs and traditions, there are many common grounds that could and should be the basis for peaceful co-existence.
DeBetham, who is a member of that organization’s anti-bias committee, was nominated by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans) to receive the congressional Unsung Hero Award for community work. The presentation is to be June 15 and 16 at the Congressional Black and Latino Caucus in Washington, D.C. Congratulations! We hope to hear more later.
