By Dee Richard
This week was more non-stop holiday party running around. “Ho! Ho! Ho!” is beginning to wear a little thin. I think the week between Christmas and New Year’s I will go to bed and hibernate for the whole week.
Fat chance that will ever happen — sure as God made little green apples, some events are sure to pop up! What’s a chronicler of the Queens passing parade to do? Why, cover the events for posterity — what else? While I am tired now and in a complaining mood, consider the alternative.
Dec. 13 was a killer day. It started out at 8 a.m. with a political seminar at Fordham University’ Columbus Circle facility. At 11:30 a.m., I cut out early for lunch and drove to Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach to cover Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s annual Christmas luncheon.
The emcee was Maurice DuBois, newscaster from Channel 2 and a super nice guy, very apropos for a bishop’s luncheon. The honorees were Clarissa Elgarten, Martin J. Cottingham and Joseph Ferrara. Representing the Diocese of Brooklyn was Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello. A great luncheon. Sorry I didn’t have time to stay, but I had to drive back to Manhattan for the afternoon session of the Fordham seminar. Three of its more interesting speakers were Hank Scheinkopf, Roger Stone and Daily News blogger Celeste Katz.
That event was over at 5 p.m., which gave me enough time to drive to Riccardo’s by the Bridge in Astoria for the Queens County Republican Party’s holiday party and reception. It was an interesting and fun event.
Some of the luminaries were Ed Cox, the state Republican Party chairman. The keynote speaker was Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review. The special guest was Andrew Wilkow, host of the “Wilkow Majority” on Sirius XM Radio. There was a guest appearance by Miss New York Kaitlin Monte.
Do you get the picture of what one of my killer days is like? My husband says that even though I complain loud and long, I must love it or I wouldn’t do it.
Democrat Issac Sasson was a guest at the GOP party. From what I remember a few years back, he was considering becoming a Republican. Could that be his game plan in trying to beat Toby Stavisky for her Senate seat? As long as he and fellow Democrat John Messer run against each other as Democrats, the result is they cancel each other out and insure a win for Toby. If that’s his game plan, maybe he will have better luck running as a Republican. What fun political speculations are, but of course everyone has to wait to see what the redistricting will look like.
On Dec. 14, the Stevenson Democratic Club held its 45th annual dinner-dance honoring Steve Sadofsky and Nettie Mayersohn. I am glad that they honored Nettie. She has been one of my favorite female electeds and during her 29-year tenure as state assemblywoman for the 27th District, she was admired for the passage of the landmark Baby Aids Bill and the Partner Notification Law and as the prime sponsor of the Victim Impact Bill. Not too shabby a record, my dears. It was a lovely party and held at the Douglaston Manor.
Last Thursday evening, U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman held his annual holiday party at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, L.I. It was packed with everyone from the lowest to the highest in attendance.
One of the more interesting guests was Ilan Grapel, who was there with his parents Irene and Daniel Grapel. He was the young man held in solitary confinement in Egypt and accused of being a spy. Ackerman was instrumental in obtaining his release. The words describing what a great party it was would only be redundant.
At the end of the evening, after Gary thanked everyone for their support, he gave a thought-provoking speech. After Gary’s party, it was off to the Douglaston Manor again to cover the Queens Bar Association’s annual holiday celebration. More details about that party next week.
A last minute entry: U.S. Rep. Bob Turner of the 9th District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of his new office on Eliot Avenue in Middle Village. It is a street-level store front, which is better for constituents to be serviced.
I look forward to your voice mails at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
