By Dee Richard
There were so many players and supporters for both teams it would be impossible to list them all. We will try to list a few for each side.The Jeffersons had Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin; Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza and her baby, Maura; Jim and Jim Jr. Wrynne; John Frank; Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn; Ron and Lee Mayersohn; Jerry Iannece; Corey Bearak; Matt Lopoli; Joe Bechtold; and Phyllis Shafran.The GOPs had state Sen. Frank Padavan; Peter Lane; Peter Boudouvas; Herb Stupp; Phil Ragusa; Joe Papillio; Dennis Saffran; Roy and Barbara Tabita and their puppy; John Bello; Joan Vogt and her granddaughter; Larry Warshaw; Janet Malone; and Stephen Graves.The Dems' cheerleaders were Carrozza, Maura Wrynne and Mayersohn. The GOPs' cheerleaders were Mary Anderson, Marie Warhola and Virginia Payne. I would like to give a big special thank you to Shafran for her invaluable help. As I'm sure you know, Brian, you are lucky to have her on board.For those not mentioned in connection with either team, you and your efforts were much-appreciated and everyone is looking forward to a return game next year as a sort of annual event.Newsflash from Saffran: He says he just received a challenge from Mayersohn's Stevenson Club to play a softball game in August. Dennis is trying to line up that game for a date convenient to everyone. August is a rather tough time to try and schedule a mutually convenient date as it's vacation time. Could this be the start of the Queens Political World Series Softball?On July 18 Judge Peter O'Donoghue married his charming bride, Denise, in the Sacred Heart Church in Bayside. It was a small, intimate wedding for family and close friends. The only guests I recognized were Maura and Jim Wrynne, Judge and Mrs. Clabby and Carrozza and her husband, Bill Duke. It was a lovely day, and both families seemed very happy with the marriage. Well wishes and a lifetime of happiness to the newlyweds.According to the Board of Elections, all of the candidates filed their designating petitions on time. Some of the candidates have also filed challenges. Now the board has to verify the petition signatures. If the signatures are valid, the candidates will either run on primary day, or on the general election day, depending on their status. It should be an interesting election process. Whatever party you belong to or whoever is the candidate of your choice, be sure you go out and vote. It's important.Last Thursday the Queens Zoo held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce its thick-billed parrot sanctuary.The birds are from the pine forests in the beautiful Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Some of the birds speak Spanish.Among the guests at the ribbon-cutting were Deputy Commissioner of Parks Robert Garafola, Queens Parks Commissioner Richard Murphy, Assistant Queens Parks Commissioner Estelle Cooper, Queens Zoo Director Robin Dalton and New York City Council members David Weprin, Jim Gennaro and Hiram Monserrate, in addition to several representatives from Mexico.Queens Borough President Helen Marshall also was there. It was through the generosity of her office that the thick-billed parrot exhibit was made possible. Everyone in Queens wishes to thank you, Borough President Helen.Bill Martin of Verizon was also there and presented Cooper with a check to help defray the zoo expenses. They also had some lovely black T-shirts for sale with beautiful blue-green parrots silk-screened on them. Of course, I had to buy one. It looks great.Cooper and her driver drove me to view the new Gertrude Ederlee pavilion on the former site of the Aquacade. There will be a ribbon-cutting for that location sometime next week. It looks like a peaceful place to sit in the park and enjoy a soft drink and pass the time on a lazy summer afternoon. For your convenience, there also will be a concession.Of course, we had to drive by “Eddie's Garden” to admire all the lovely flowers in bloom. Ed was Cooper's husband, and when he died a few years ago this beautiful garden was planted in his memory. It faces the Unisphere. It is a very charming and personal way to be remembered.As with most summers, this summer is rather slow, so this is it for now. Call me at 718-767-6484, fax me and 718-746-0066 or e-mail me at deerrichard@aol.com.Don't forget to check the photos on the Focus on Queens Page.Till next week,Dee
