FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
St. Mary’s to celebrate 150 years with virtual gala
Il Bacco restaurant owner votes in person after tragic plane crash
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Joe Oppedisano, the owner of Il Bacco
Ristorante restaurant in Little Neck, made
sure he left the hospital where he was
being treated for injuries he sustained in a
tragic plane crash in order to cast his vote
in person on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
“I’m very patriotic, very American,” said
Oppedisano, who immigrated to the U.S.
from Calabria, Italy, when he was 13
years old. “I told the doctors to please get
me out in time to vote. I believe in the
American dream. And I made it.”
Th e 61-year-old was the pilot on the
seaplane that crashed on Flushing Bay on
Oct. 4, killing one “dear friend” and injuring
himself as well as two other friends.
“While I was landing, a boat came
right in front of me, and I tried to land
… I landed there about 3,000 times and
that was the fi rst time that happened,”
said Oppedisano, who fl ies his plane as a
hobby and passion.
For the past month, Oppedisano underwent
10 surgeries.
“I’m making the best of it. It could have
been worse,” he said. “But I made it. God
didn’t want me yet.”
Oppedisano and his family cast their
votes at P.S. 193 in Whitestone. Th ey said
there was no line at their polling location,
and voting only took a few minutes.
Oppedisano’s daughter, Tina, sees her
father as the “epitome of the American
dream.”
“He came to this country not knowing
English or a person and worked to create
this foundation and our family. I mean, he
even changed his name from Giuseppe to
Joseph,” said Tina. “We almost lost him,
and that was very scary and traumatic.
But he left the hospital and said, ‘Where
are my pants? Let’s go.’ I’m happy to have
him home and happy he voted.”
Tina and her father sued Gov. Andrew
Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the
attorney general over the state’s refusal
to allow indoor dining to restart back in
September. Shortly aft er their $2 billion
lawsuit made headlines, Cuomo released
guidelines for indoor dining to resume
with 25 percent capacity.
However, as the weather gets colder and
there are no signs of the administration
increasing capacity limits for indoor dining,
Tina said they still have a ways to go
as a family-owned small business.
“Everything got kind of held up. Cuomo
said he’d touch base on the capacity on
Nov. 1, but that hasn’t happened. No word
on opening or increasing capacity,” said
Tina. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Tina said they’re in a particular disadvantage,
as they’re right on the board
of Long Island, where restaurants were
allowed to have indoor dining at 50 percent
capacity since June.
“We’re looking at about four months
and a week that we’re behind,” she said.
“It’s only getting colder.”
Tina said they’re pushing for an increase
in indoor dining capacity. But, she fears
damage has already been done for restaurants.
“So much time has passed, and I said it
from beginning — we’re creatures of adaptation.
If you require us to do something
long enough, we’re going to adapt to it.
Telling us to wear masks and families not
to gather for Th anksgiving. You’re taking
the morals off of human beings. I understand
safety precautions, but psychologically
this is causing a bigger strain.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th is year, St. Mary’s Healthcare System
is inviting the public to attend their annual
gala virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 18,
from the comfort of their homes.
Th e Big Night In for St. Mary’s Kids will
be hosted by television veteran Howie
Mandel, and will be a celebration of the
hospital’s 150 years of service to New
York City’s most critically ill and injured
children.
“For New York’s most critically ill and
injured children, this is truly a haven
unlike any other,” Mandel said. “Th e ability
of St. Mary’s to continue providing
innovative therapies and specialized rehabilitation
programs depend on support
from the community and we are grateful
for everyone who is helping to fund this
essential work.”
Th e St. Mary’s celebration is free to
attend and guests can look forward to
plenty of surprises with inspiring speeches
from some of the kids of St. Mary’s, parents
of patients, and President and CEO
Dr. Edwin Simpser.
Special performances will include St.
Mary’s music therapist and kids, the band
from Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” a special
performance by Paul Anka and, of course,
the hosting magic of Mandel.
More than 90 percent of the patients at
St. Mary’s need a level of care that exceeds
what their families can aff ord and what
Medicaid is able to cover. Th at’s what
makes fundraisers like Th e Big Night
In for St. Mary’s Kids so important —
all funds raised during the livestreamed
event will go directly toward supporting
programs and treatment for patients.
“Th is year’s gala will be diff erent in
many ways, but the most important thing
has stayed the same: the funds we raise
will directly support the essential and lifechanging
services we have provided for
150 years,” Simpser said. “While the pandemic
keeps us apart, we can join together
in spirit to celebrate all of the children,
families and staff members who are at the
heart of St. Mary’s.”
Attendees who donate over $250 have
the opportunity to win big: they will be
entered in a raffl e for a seven-night stay
at a four-bedroom/four-bathroom waterview
villa in Bermuda for eight guests.
Th e prize includes accommodations and
is exclusive of fl ights and food.
Th e Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids is
being sponsored by Debbie & Stuart Acker;
Cindy & Tod Johnson; Nancy Karch;
Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Simpser; Anthony
and Tara Coniglio; New York Electrical
Contractors; Technico Construction
Services; Briarwood Organization; DJ
Ambulette Service; Nussbaum Berg
Klein & Wolpow Foundation; Bloomberg
Philanthropies; M&T Bank; and Area
Builders.
Additional information on tickets and
sponsorship opportunities is available at
www.stmaryskids.org/event/virtual-gala.
Photo courtesy of Tina Oppedisano
Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children
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