SCHOOL EVENTS
Senate President Malcolm A. Smith was joined by the new city Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, Assemblymember Rory Lancman and Councilmember James F. Gennaro for a tour of Hillcrest High School on Monday December 13. They toured several classrooms and met with students and teachers. Smaller classroom sizes, after school programs and increased community involvement when redesigning a failing school were discussed.
CIVIC CONGRESS EVENT
Comptroller John C. Liu swore in officers of the Queens Civic Congress (QCC) at their annual legislative reception on Saturday, December 4 at the historic Douglaston Club. Liu administered the oath of office to QCC officers before more than 130 leaders of major Queens civic organizations and elected officials including Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Councilmember Karen Koslowitz, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Assemblymembers Rory Lancman, Barbara Clark and William Scarborough.
HONORS & AWARDS
Allstate Insurance Company has recognized Allstate exclusive agency owner Frank Scordo for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitable business growth, earning him an invitation to attend Allstate’s President’s Conference 2010. Scordo’s agency is located at 217-14 Northern Boulevard in Bayside.
Frank Scordo
Allstate agency owners Milton Espinoza and Milton Espinoza, Jr. , whose office is located at 95-20 63rd Road in Rego Park, were recently named Agent Heroes by Allstate Insurance Company’s New York Region, and awarded $500 grants each for a local youth program. The Espinozas both donated their grants to Blau Weiss Gottschee soccer club of Glendale, to support youth soccer in Queens.
CHARITY DONATIONS
The Queens Library Foundation was the appreciative recipient of $5,001 from BAPS Charities on November 17. It will be used to purchase library materials and programs for Queens Library at Jackson Heights. The funds were a portion of the proceeds of the New York chapter’s September Walkathon in which more than 600 people participated. BAPS is an international charity organization committed to sincerely serving the world by caring for individuals, families and communities. Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante and Queens Library Foundation executive director Diana Chapin accepted the donation from Nilesh J. Desai, Walkathon Project Lead; Chandrakant Dhanak, Walkathon team member and Mita Desai, Community Outreach – Women’s Wing.
Diana Chapin, executive director, Queens Library Foundation; Thomas W. Galante, CEO, Queens Library and Nilesh J. Desai, BAPS Charities at the donation ceremony.
Accepting the donation were Nilesh J. Desai (BAPS Charities), Diana Chapin (Queens Library Foundation), Mita Desai and Chandrakant Dhanak (BAPS Charities).
To the delight of one and all, musicians from three Holy Cross bands performed at the annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 16 in the school auditorium. The Freshman, Intermediate and Concert bands played variations of traditional Christmas selections including “The Polar Express,” “Celtic Bell Carol” and “We Wish You a Calypso Christmas.” In addition, the Jazz band and percussion ensemble also performed for parents and friends of the community. While admission was free, guests were asked to contribute a new, unwrapped toy for boys or girls to be donated to St. John’s Bread and Life Program in Brooklyn and the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation.
Members of the Holy Cross Jazz Band prepare for their December 16 Christmas Concert. (Seated left to right) Justin Skeivys, Marvin Banzon, Joel Rivera; (Standing left to right) Luis Aviles, Julian Jackson, Preston Peck.
Councilmember Mark S. Weprin relinquished his role as legislator for one day to a student who won his annual Councilmember for a Day essay contest. Contest winner Waresa Islam, a fifth grader from Public School 191Q, the Mayflower School in Floral Park, was Councilmember for a day. Waresa visited Lower Manhattan with her parents and brother. She attended a Stated Council Meeting as well as a meeting of the Land Use Committee. Waresa was thrilled to meet Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and to participate in the Speaker’s press conference and a ceremonial promoting organ donation. She even saw Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Councilmember Mark Weprin introduces Councilmember Waresa Islam.
PROMOTIONS
Major General Patrick A. Murphy, The Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capabilities for additional responsibility and leadership.
Yanet Perez from Flushing – Private; Jin Chun from Flushing – Private 1st Class; Cameo Flores from College Point – Specialist; Alexis Diaz from Jackson Heights – Private; Kristian Diaz from Jackson Heights – Private 1st Class; Carlos Cuellar from Jackson Heights – Specialist; Juan Mejia from Jackson Heights – Specialist; Pasang Sherpa from Woodside – Private; Steve Henriquez from Middle Village – Staff Sergeant; Ryan Bhoorasingh from Jamaica – Sergeant 1st Class; Christopher Marshall from Jamaica – Staff Sergeant; Sean Durst from Richmond Hill – Specialist; Dexter Miles from Rosedale – Staff Sergeant; Karenna Mendoza from Rosedale – Specialist; Maryam Karriem from Rosedale – Private; Christina Schloss from Queens Village – Private 1st Class; Vishaul Persaud from Queens Village – Private 1st Class; Francis Maneja from Jamaica – Specialist; Leroy Poole from Jamaica –Private 1st Class; Patricia Powell from Jamaica – Specialist; Anna Hepburn from Jamaica – Private; Patricia Fuller from Jamaica – Private; Mumin Thomas from Jamaica, – Private 1st Class; Symmone Hendrix from South Jamaica – Private 1st Class and Pedro Martinez from Rockaway Park – Sergeant.
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
The second annual “All Aboard Winter Festival Train Show” at the Queens Garden Nursery – benefiting Toys for Tots and the Make-a-Wish Foundation – buttoned up their weeklong celebration with a tree-lighting on Saturday, December 18. Surrounded by neighborhood families and friends, the 15-foot tree lit up the night, but the highlight of the evening was inside a heated tent with Santa Claus and a spectacular train display. Queens Garden Nursery owner Louis Zuccarello was proud of the many donations received during the weeklong Winter Festival and may have some surprises for 2011. “We are going to go bigger next year,” said Zuccarello. Queens Garden Nursery is located at 154-10 Cross Island Parkway in Whitestone. Call them at 718-640-9100.
A good time was had by all as Brooklyn-Queens Borough B.P.O. Elks Lodge 878 hosted 75 guests on Sunday, December 19 at the annual Children’s Holiday Party. This good cheer translated into great fundraising, as those attending contributed $275 towards Lodge charitable causes, including United Cerebral Palsy and Elks National Foundation. A matching donation was pledged by Maspeth Federal Savings, bringing the total to $550. The youngsters attending were treated to a host of games, rides and entertainment by Santa’s elves including face painting, gingerbread man decorating and balloon animals. All took pictures with Frosty the Snowman and other characters. Along with the donations made at the event, Elks Lodge 878 collected four huge boxes of toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.
