By Dee Richard
As promised last week it’s time for some political updating. We had a telephone interview this week with William Horowitz, the young man challenging Councilman David Weprin for the 23rd District councilmatic seat.
He graduated from St. John’s University in 2002 with a degree in journalism. While there, he worked on “The Torch,” St. John’s student newspaper. He also interned for WABC radio talk show host Steve Malzberg. Prior to that he was in the Junior ROTC program at Francis Lewis High School.
He says that he comes from a family that was always interested in politics. Most recently, last year, he worked on Stacy Villa KapIan’s unsuccessful campaign against Assemblyman Mark Weprin for the New York State Assembly. He is out of the Queens Village Republican Club and says that Phil Sica, the club president and the rest of the club members will support him.
From this handicapper’s point of view, he doesn’t seem to be a serious threat to the incumbent David Weprin of the Weprin dynasty; however, it will be a marvelous opportunity for him to get his feet wet as well as experience first-hand the entire political process, which will make him a more viable candidate next time out. Good luck, William.
Next we come to Jun Policarpio Jr., who has his sights set on U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman’s seat. He is a resident of Douglaston Manor, he immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1973. He works for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and expects to retire in June of this year.
Policarpio feels it is time for an Asian American to get elected in northeast Queens to reflect the rather large influx of Asians in that area in recent years. He is supposed to have a kickoff later this month to announce his candidacy. Perhaps we shall have more detailed information for you then.
The Eastern Queens Democratic Club had its annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 12, at Terrace on the Park. The honorees were Thomas R. Suozzi, Nassau County executive and former mayor of the city of Glen Cove. He received the Democratic Star of the Year award. Moustfa Elshiekh of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. received the Humanitarian of the Year award.
Arthur Cheliotes, president of Local 1180 Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO received the Labor Activists of the Year award. Shefali Dastidar is a senior project manager for the New York City Department of Design and Construction. She is also a co-founder of the Probini Foundation. She received the Female Community Leader award. Mujib Ur Rahinan, president of the Bangladesh Society, which has more than 10,000 registered members, was the recipient of the Male Community Leader award.
Next was Barbara Quigley Barba and her husband, Ralph Barba, who each received an Achievement award. The Barbas are members of the Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization. They are also members of the Sons of Italy of America, St. Anastasia’s Parish, the Flag Committee of Queens, the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Douglaston Civic Association. In addition, Ralph has his own electrical contracting business, Ral-Bar Electric, that he founded in 1978.
Both Chet Szarejko and Lois Marbach were pleased with the turnout for the annual event. Among the many guests were Mark Green, former public advocate, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Judge Bernice Siegel, state Sen. Frank Padavan, Mark Weprin, Assemblyman William Scarborough, David Weprin, Dr. John Farrell, Jim Rodgers and Greg Murphy along with approximately 250 other guests.
Enough with the politics, let’s have some fun by going to the Queens Botanical Garden’s Annual “Rose Ball.” This year’s honoree was Russell C. Albanese, president of Albanese Organization, a real estate development and management services firm for more than 50 years. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall presented his award to him. Frank Mirovsky of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was the master of ceremonies. He is also the chair of the Queens Botanical Garden Board of Trustees.
Stephanie F. Handsman, Suzanne Lacerte and Silvia Weprin Feinstein were the three ladies that successfully put it all together. Frank Macchio was in charge of the silent auction and a raffle drawing. Among the partygoers out for an evening of fun as well as supporting a worthwhile cause were Claire Schulman, Archie and Christine Spigner, Martha and Bob Taylor, Estelle Cooper, Linda DaSabado, Carol Conslato, Richard Murphy, David and Mark Weprin, Margret Ann Tockarshewsky, Jimmy Meng, Chun Soo Puyn, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Martin, Gene Kelty, Chuck Wade, Tony Avella, Myra Hersh, Marilyn Bitterman, Don Marshall, Wellington Chen, Eva Tan and John Liu.
From the good news department, Richie Murphy told me that Santa Claus would be bringing him and his lovely wife a brand-new baby for Christmas.
Congratulations, Richie.
Let me leave you with laughter: How many wasps does it take to change a lightbulb? Two. One to mix the martinis and one to call the electrician.
If you have anything you would care to share call me at 718-767-6484 or fax me at 718 746 0066.
Till next week,
Dee
