Richmond Hill South Civic installs board, honors local family, hears initiatives

The Richmond Hill South Civic Association Board was fired and then rehired no more than a minute later on Thursday, May 31.
Senator Serphin Maltese’s staff member Mitch Udowoich fired the board that Councilmember Joseph Addabbo swiftly swore back in with the words “It’s not broke, don’t fix it,” during the Officer Installation Ceremony, which took place at the United Methodist Church in Richmond Hill.
The board includes chairs Rose Guida and Rosemarie Ferrara; treasurer Terry Haflich; financial secretary Lee Condra; coordinating secretary Angela Morgan; vice presidents Terri Saporita and Phyllis Saraceno; and president Margaret Finnerty, who have served together for “about 14 years,” according to Finnerty, herself in her 14th year as president.
The women, who have known each other for “a long time,” began their work on “parent association boards,” Finnerty said, and they joined the Association’s board to carry on its 40-year tradition of community work.
“We’ve all been residents of this community for a long time,” said Finnerty about those involved in the organization. The Association is “very involved in what happens in the community,” and does a lot of work with elected officials, community groups and schools. “Every project I do,” Finnerty concluded, “I try to help someone.”
That same evening, the Verdino family was honored as an “Outstanding Merchant in Our Community” for the work they do through their store, Verdino Garden Center and Florist, located in Ozone Park.
The family-owned-and-managed business began as a part-time mom and pop store in 1949 and has since expanded into one of larger garden centers. In the community, their efforts range from fundraising and beautification projects, to their work with the South Queens Boys & Girls Club, and even handing out flags and red, white and blue flowers to passers-by on 9/11.
The Verdinos are “very outstanding and humble merchants” that the Association is happy to recognize, said Finnerty.
The family — siblings Edith, Angela, Rick, and Carmine, and mother Josephine — were honored not only by the Association, but by the borough, city, and state.
“The family never stops giving,” said Addabbo, and Matt Gorton, the Queens borough director for the Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit, agreed, saying that the “service you give to the community [is] above and beyond.”
Also on hand that evening was newly-appointed Commanding Officer of the 106th Precinct, Captain Joseph Courtesis, who said that he was glad to be back “to work with the community.”
An idea he spoke about to improve the quality of life in Richmond Hill was an extensive anti-graffiti operation, which will not only try to remove graffiti as soon as it is called in, but also try to catch the vandals.
Another was a noise complaint campaign that will match complaints from last year to this year in order to find repeat offenders and punish them more harshly.