By Dee Richard
For those of you who like to check out yournabe.com for the readers’ comments on stories and columns in the TimesLedger Newspapers, I’d like to respond to one mentioning me by name last week.
It was a comment about an online news story on the indictment of Queens Republican John Haggerty, who has been accused of misusing Maypr Bloomberg’s election campaign funds. The comment from a sender known as “Elliot” was: “Dee Richard has been praising Mr. Haggerty for the past year, where is Dee now? Time for Dishing with Dee to start writing some recipes.”
For your information, I on occasion write recipes in my column. They would best be described as “cooking your goose” recipes, but I guess those subtleties have escaped your notice. As for your remarks that I have been praising Haggerty for the past year and questioning where I am now, indictments aren’t convictions and it would seem more prudent to wait for additional facts. Remember, it’s not over until the fat lady sings and the song is not over.
The weeks are rushing by so rapidly I don’t have any time for myself or my issues, as I am too busy running non-stop to cover all the Queens events and happenings. Besides, it’s fun and what else would I do that I enjoy nearly as much?
Tuesday evening was the annual Holy Smoke cigar dinner fund-raiser held at Giando’s on the Water on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was a beautiful summer evening and the view from the waterfront terrace was spectacular. The benefactors of the event were the Revs. David Cassato and Jamie Gigangillo to help keep their schools — Saint Athanasius and Mary Queen of Heaven — open. Both schools are in Brooklyn. Checking out the guests, it seems as if half of were from Queens — and northeast Queens at that. Be sure to add next year’s Holy Smoke dinner as a must-go-to event.
On Wednesday evening there was a springtime bash fund-raiser for City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley at the Woodhaven House in Woodhaven. The place was packed. Good luck, Crowley. I sat at a table with Mileady and Jeff Rosenstock, who said that within the next few weeks they would start production on their “Legislative Review.” That is always one of my favorite venues and what a wealth of material to draw from this year. I can’t wait!
The second Wednesday night event was Paul Vallone’s monthly meeting of the Clinton Democratic Club, held in his law offices on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Whitestone. He manages to pack them in and is doing a great job of building up that club. Way to go, Paul! Incidentally, this June meeting was a meet the candidates night and they seem to have produced some interesting candidates.
The last Wednesday night event was the Queens Botanical Gardens’ 15th-annual Rose Ball. The honoree was Christopher Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. It was also a lovely summer evening and I especially enjoyed the miniature rose bushes they presented you with as you departed. This year I received a lavender one and last year’s yellow one is still blooming. Thank you, Susan Lacerte, and the rest of your board.
Thursday evening was the most fun of all. It was the grand opening of the new headquarters of both Garden Works and the LandServ Environmental Group in Long Island City. Speaking of Garden Works, I owe Sal Bacarella an apology, as last week I credited LandServ with the Queens Museum of Art floral decoration. It should have been credited to Garden Works. Sorry about that, Sal.
The partners in LandServ are environmentalist Dr. James Cervino, attorney Vito Palmieri, Gary Bonelli of Construction Services and landscaper extraordinaire Sal. The partners have done a fabulous renovation on their new headquarters and turned an ordinary rooftop in the rear of their offices into a beautiful green space roof garden. It became a unique conversion of what ordinarily would have been wasted space.
There must have been between 150 and 200 guests stopping by to wish the partners well. They had a DJ for entertainment, gourmet food and bars to satisfy whatever you required and desired. Best wishes for a successful venture. You all seem to have the right formula for success.
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to hearing from you with information on people, parties and politics or gossip.
I like receiving your voice mails at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
Don’t forget to check out the Focus on Queens page.
Till next week, Dee.
