8 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 26, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Obituary George Onorato, former Queens state senator, dies BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 Lifelong Queens resident and former state Senator George Onorato, who served the 12th Senate District in western Queens for over two decades, died on Feb. 21. He was 86. Onorato began serving the district, which encompasses Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and parts of Woodside and Maspeth, in 1983 until he announced his retirement in 2010. He was succeeded by state Senator Michael Gianaris, who currently holds the position. “George Onorato will always be part of the fabric of western Queens,” Gianaris said. “He dedicated his long and happy life to serving others and making the communities he represented better places to live. George Onorato served our country, our state and our neighborhoods in a way that made a positive difference in people’s lives. I will miss him. My thoughts are with his family at this diffi cult time. May his memory be eternal.” Onorato graduated from Long Island City High School and served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952. Former state Senator Serphin Maltese, who served with Onorato in the state Senate for many years, remembered him as a “true man of the people.” “He gave a special view on things,” Maltese said. “I’m sorry to lose him.” Onorato was married to Athena Georgakakos and had three children, Joanne, George and Janice. A funeral mass is scheduled to be held on Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church at 22-17 45th St., followed by burial at St. Michael’s Cemetery at 72-02 Astoria Blvd. in East Elmhurst. With additional reporting by Robert Pozarycki New literary series in LIC to bring writing community together Images courtesy of Catherine LaSota BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected]/@aaltamirano28 One Long Island City writer is setting the stage for fellow lovers of the art to share their work and a cold drink. Catherine LaSota, who moved into the western Queens neighborhood a year ago, has started a new monthly series called the LIC Reading Series. Set to premiere on April 14 at 8 p.m., the series will take place in the carriage house located behind LIC Bar at 45-58 Vernon Blvd. On the second Tuesday of every month, the series will host three writers reading their pieces. LaSota, who will be the host during each event, said that the plan is for at least one of the writers to live in or write about Queens or have some other relationship to the borough. “There is such great writing happening in Queens and I wanted to add to the thriving community that is already here,” LaSota said. “There is a big community of awesome writers here in Queens.” For the fi rst two months, every writer who will take the stage is either originally from Queens and now lives somewhere else, or currently resides in the borough. The premiere night in April will feature readings by Audrey Dimola (author of “TRAVERSALS”), Bill Cheng (author of ” Southern Cross the Dog”) and Joseph Salvatore ( author of “To Assume a Pleasing Shape”). The goal of the series is to showcase works from poets, fi ction writers and, in the future, some memoir and non-fi ction writers. LaSota has also partnered with the Astoria Bookshop, located at 31-29 31st St., to have books for sale at the events, including those of the readers for each night. “I’ve found that the community of writers and people who are interested in writing is one of the most supportive communities I’ve come across,” LaSota added. “I hope to foster a supportive community for readers in all stages of their careers.” The LIC Reading Series is free to the public, although LaSota said she encourages those who attend to support the LIC Bar, which was chosen because of its accessibility and being known as a location where writers like to go during the summer to read and enjoy a beer. “I’m really excited because everyone I’ve approached about this is really excited and saying ‘Yes, I’d love to read,’” LaSota said. “I think there is a real interest in this and I think we’re going to have a good crowd.” For more up-to-date information visit, www.facebook. com/LICReadingSeries.
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