34 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARCH 28, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS brought to you by SCOTT BARON ASSOCICATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 star OF queens PAUL DI BENEDETTO PRESIDENT BAYSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT: As president of the Bayside Historical Society, Paul Di Benedetto heads the board of directors and helps to defi ne its mission. The group, formed in 1964, works to archive and preserve Bayside’s history by maintaining those properties that have already been landmarked, as well as working to landmark other sites in Bayside. Di Benedetto said the group was originally formed to save Fort Totten and the Lawrence Cemetery. The two sites are now a NYC landmark and since then the society has been working to provide maintenance for both. The society also works to educate people about Bayside’s history. Di Benedetto has been president of the society for a year. He is also a member of Community Board 11. BACKGROUND: Di Benedetto has been living in Bayside since 1995. He said he originally moved there because of its proximity to Manhattan, where he was working at the time, and fell in love with the historical houses in the area. FAVORITE MEMORY: Di Benedetto says his favorite memory in working with the society is seeing the look of joy in children, and even adults, as they learn of the area’s history. “It’s great to see how they take history up too and how it relates to them.” INSPIRATION: Di Benedetto said he didn’t like the fact that land developers would come in and destroy many of the homes in the area. “I didn’t like the fact that developers and short-sighted people were coming and buying the houses,” he said. “They’d clear the properties and put all this asbestos in the air.” In working with the society, Di Benedetto hopes to halt, if not completely stop, this kind of development. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “It’s a lack of understanding,” Di Benedetto said about trying to get sites landmarked. “People are afraid for some reason.” Di Benedetto said he tries to get people to understand that by landmarking a site, their house or property is “locked in time.” BY ANTHONY O’REILLY Weddings at the Historic Riverside Church Come to our Annual Wedding Open House on Saturday, April 6, 2013, Noon to 2pm RSVP to [email protected] or Call 212.870.6802 Tour the Church and see our Wedding and Reception Facilities. Meet our Catering Staff and Wedding Coordinator. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and champagne, and enter a drawing to win a free wedding ceremony in the Nave!!! The RiveRside ChuRCh 490 Riverside Drive • New York, NY • 10027 www.theriversidechurchny.org photo by Matthew Siegelbaum open-house_Gay-City-ad.indd 1 3/14/13 1:07 PM You Vote. They Win! of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITES IN Home & Garden, Services March 15th - April 5th, 2013 Who’s the best in town? The Queens Courier is asking you to tell us! We are thrilled to announce the next round of our Best of the Boro Competition: Home & Garden, Services. You pick which local businesses are worthy of competing by submitting nominations according to category online on QueensCourier.com NOMINATION PROCESS: • WHEN: 12 am March 15, 2013 - April 5, 2013 • WHERE: Go to QueensCourier.com, click on the Best of the Boro logo, and fi ll out nomination form. • HOW: You may nominate your favorite business or your own business in Queens in multiple categories (as long as they apply). • WHO: By the end of the nomination process all those nominated will move on to the voting round as long as they qualify for the category. follow us on twitter @BestOfTheBoro like us on facebook Facebook.com/BestoftheBoro Visit www.QueensCourier.com to nominate
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