66 The Queens Courier • buzz • september 26, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Send us your announcements & pictures to: The Queens Courier c/o making a buzz: 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 • editorial@queenscourier.com subject: making a buzz s people making a buzz COMPILED BY TONIA N. CIMINO HONORS & AWARDS In conjunction with Grandparents Day, more than 100 family members from across Long Island recently rolled out the royal care for their beloved seniors during the Fourth Annual “Savvy Senior Day.” Presented by Long Island senior advocacy and resource group, Association of Generational Experts for Seniors (AGES), the celebratory event crowned 81-year-old Frank Zizzo of Levittown and 90-yearold Rose Laccone of Whitestone as 2013 Savvy Senior King and Queen, who donned royal crowns and robes while receiving gift certificates toward professional studio portraits, complements of Bradford Renaissance Portraits. Zizzo and Laccone were among a total of 26 senior nominees recognized during the event, each of whom were awarded certificates of appreciation. “It is so wonderful to be able to celebrate so many exceptional seniors living within our communities,” said AGES Chairperson Rita Medaglio-Barrera. “Each year, we are amazed over the many wonderful seniors who are living among us and their tremendous accomplishments. We are so glad that Savvy Senior Day has become a well received forum in which these remarkable seniors can be celebrated among families and friends and share in a special day in which they can deservingly shine!” Proving you can “teach an old dog new tricks,” Laccone mastered the art of acting and singing after turning 65 and, through her drive and talent, has inspired other seniors to not let age interfere with pursuing new talents and interests. Laccone earned this year’s Savvy Senior Queen title for serving as a positive role model among seniors and enriching the community through her passion for entertainment. Her vast accomplishments include starring in six one-woman Off-Broadway musical shows and a designation as 1989’s Ms. Senior New York in the National Ms. Senior America competition, in which she also earned the Ms. Senior Talent Award. In 1976, she accepted an invitation to attend Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace and was given a copy of the Magna Carta from the Prime Minister. At the age of 88, she appeared on Fox Network’s “The X Factor” where she auditioned with the song, “Quando Quando,” and was interviewed by Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. In addition to regularly performing, Laccone is a motivational speaker who has appeared before such organizations as the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and Holy Trinity Church, as well hospitals and nursing homes. “I always tell my audience after every show that everyone has a talent, no matter how big or small, and if you really put your heart and mind to it, you can achieve anything,” she said. “I am delighted to be named this year’s Savvy Senior Queen and to be an example of what today’s seniors can accomplish. I hope other seniors will be inspired by my message, ‘that nothing is impossible.’” Rose Laccone of Whitestone was crowned 2013 Savvy Senior Queen and Frank Zizzo was named 2013 Savvy Senior King during the Association of Generational Experts for Seniors’ (AGES) Fourth Annual Savvy Senior Day. Rose Laccone with AGES chair Rita Medaglio- Barrera HONORS & AWARDS The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Democratic Club hosted its 30th anniversary dinner dance, celebrating three decades of activism in northeast Queens. The event was held at the Douglaston Manor. Three awards were presented: Educator of the Year to Ernest Logan, president of the Council of School Superintendents and Administrators; Business Leader of the Year to Liu Tee Shu, president of the Flushing Chinese Business Association; and Labor Leader of the Year to Raymond Melville, Senior Assistant Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3. The FDR club, led by District Leaders Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Evan Stavisky and Club President and State Committeewoman Judith Abbot, covers the communities of Whitestone, Beachhurst, Bay Terrace, Clearview and Mitchell-Linden. It was founded in 1983, by then-Senator Leonard Price Stavisky. APPOINTMENTS Daniel J. Leone, executive director of Queens Public Television, has been appointed president and CEO of Queens Public Communications Corporation. We think all babies are beautiful, so send in photos of your child, age newborn to 12 months, to The Queens Courier. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and godparents are invited to send in pictures of their pride and joys too. Photos can be emailed to editorial@queenscourier. com or mailed to 38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 (no faxes please). If you are emailing a photo, please send it as a JPEG of at least 300 DPI or better and mark “Beautiful Baby” in the message field. All pictures are property of The Queens Courier and cannot be returned. Please include your mailing address, baby’s name, birthday, parents’ names and a contact telephone number. You’ve got the Babyface Cutest Little Jeannie Doherty-Benckwit and Fred Benchwit welcomed new addition Gavin George Benckwit on August 25. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. A Murder is Announced in Bayside Bullets fly. Lights flash. A murder has been predicted and committed in Bayside! Onstage that is. It’s Theatre Time Productions’ opening night performance of Dame Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced.” Director/Producer Kevin C. Vincent and his co-producer Judy Vincent have selected a versatile group of performers. They’ve decided to ease away from high suspense to focus on the humorous aspects of the script. The decision was a good one. The funniest scene stealer is undoubtedly Anna McGinty as Mitzi. Her unbridled opinions, powerful voice, deliberately overwhelming stage presence and unrelentingly mischievous smile are an absolute delight. Absent minded Bunny (Lori Ann Santopetro) is also a wonderfully comical character. Her stockings are rolled to her knees and her matronly attire is just too funny. More seriously, Annette Daiell as Ms. Blacklock articulates her role with a disconcerting edge. Could she be more than she seems? Nili Resnick does a fine job as Julia, a gold digging cousin. What about Patrick (Sergio Fuenzalida)? His connection to his cousin Julia is uncomfortable to say the least. Clearly, there is a very dysfunctional family residing at Chipping Cleghorn in England. Of course, the daunting mountain of mysterious events will be conquered by legendary Miss Marple (Marilyn Welsher). She is eagerly partnered with Inspector Craddock (Armand Catenaro) and Sgt. Mellors (Marty Edelstein). They set numerous traps and unmask hidden identities. They misdirect the many suspects until the fiendish crime is solved. As expected though, there are a few more callous culprits. Or will they be victims? Phillipa (Erica Lee Hammond) is suddenly offered a large inheritance. Can we trust her suitor Edmund (Jonathan Zaccarini) or his mother Mrs. Swettenham (Sharon Levine)? Lights (John Palmieri) and set design (Kevin C. Vincent) offer the obligatory Victorian drawing room to remind us we are not in America anymore! Overall, the production is well orchestrated to provide tongue in cheek humor with just the right amount of suspense and mystery. Kudos to the entire cast and crew for a fine ensemble presentation. For information, surf to www.TheatreTime.org or call (347) 358-8102. Check Spotlightonstage.com for information on many community productions. As always, save me a seat on the aisle. A VIEW FROM THE CLIFF BY CLIFF KASDEN
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