74 The QUEE NS Courier • JANUARY 29, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com victoria’s secrets VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com tweet me @vschneps Great people gather Grandkids playing in the snow Photo by Allen Ngai Dynamic $1000 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 The auditorium at the Kupferberg center at Colden was overflowing with the power people of our city to hear our borough president deliver her first State of the Borough message. She knocked it out of the ballpark! I was happy to see the brilliant Brooklyn BP Eric Adams cheering her on. And with comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Manhattan BP Scott Stringer doing the same, I’m sure Melinda felt the positive energy coming from the first few rows filled with many of our Queens elected officials and VIPs. But it didn’t stop there. It was so good to see DA Brown in his first row seat and Letitia James, our public advocate, by his side. Our “first family,” the Vallones, were there, too. As was the “Queen Mother of Queens,” Claire Shulman, who Melinda recognized from the podium. Claire works every day even though in February she will be celebrating her 89th birthday! I think it keeps her young, and are we all blessed to have her knowledge, experience and unique talents. She has been our most effective public servant in elected office! With Shelley Silver all over the pages of every daily paper, Claire’s star shines brighter than ever. She served our borough and gave her all — getting only satisfaction in creating more projects than any other BP in the history of the city. Melinda worked for her for several years, and we all hope she will be as successful as Claire in creating and implementing her goals. I was particularity pleased that she has made it a priority to restore the NYS Pavilion next to the Queens Theatre and on the same “campus” (Flushing Meadows Corona Park) as the Queens Museum and the US Tennis Stadium. The tall structure is as iconic a symbol for Queens as the parachute jump is for Coney Island. People passing the pavilion on the Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway see a decrepit tower peeking out above the tree line of our great park. We deserve better. Go, Melinda, go! Community leaders lost Tony Mazzarella The Waterfront Crab House on Borden Avenue has been an institution in Long Island City for decades and way before the neighborhood became red hot. Its creator and passionate owner Tony Mazzarella passed away Jan. 24 after a long illness. His generous heart, giving endlessly through his Patty’s fund helping children with cancer and his hallmark collection of boxing memorabilia and presence supporting boxers added his special flavor to the landmark restaurant. My sincerest sympathy to his daughter, Kris, their family and the staff who all felt like a part of Tony’s extended family. Stuart Sears Sadly we lost Stuart Sears, who had been an integral part of his mom’s team when Helen Sears was the councilwoman in their beloved Jackson Heights area. He lost his battle against cancer on Jan. 25 and will be sorely missed by all he touched and loved. My deepest condolences to Helen and his two daughters and the Sears family. Let it snow let it snow let it snow As I tensely crawled along at 20 miles per hour or 0 on Northern Boulevard at 3:30 Monday afternoon, I was enormously grateful to finally pull into my driveway and then bring down my garage door. Once I was safely home, I made an audible sigh of relief as I walked into the house to hear the sweet voice and open armed 3-year-old Addy welcoming me home. As night came and the steady flow of snow falling, I knew I’d be hunkered down for the night and the next day. We closed the office and I lapped up the time with my daughter, while watching my grandchildren frolic in the snow. What fun to watch from the window as they fearlessly jumped into the snow banks. I remember when my kids made an igloo from the snow piled up from the snow plows. The white glistening snow laying gracefully on the tree limbs and on the ground was so tranquil, so stunning to behold. So I say, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Melinda Katz with her brothers, Michael Katz on the left and Mathew Katz on the right
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