WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 3
Glendale Kiwanis honors fi rst responders, essential workers
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The Glendale Kiwanis group held its annual
community event in honor of essential workers
and fi rst responders on Saturday, Sept. 18,
at the Shops at Atlas Park.
The group is a local branch of the national organization
that seeks to serve the needs of children.
Glendale Kiwanis has about 85 members, most of
which are local businesses and business owners.
Bob Kueber has been organizing this event since
he joined the group 15 years ago.Originally, the event
started as a cookout 40 years ago, but in recent years
moved to Atlas Park to honor local fi refi ghters and
police offi cers.
Kueber said that the tradition to honor local
fi refi ghters started in 2017, aft er William Tolley,
from Ladder 135, died on duty aft er falling from the
roof of a fi ve-story building. From there, the group
dedicated the event to other essential organizations,
like the NYPD, and local veterans.
Aft er the height of the pandemic, Kueber said
those who were on the front lines of the fi ght against
COVID-19 should be recognized.
“The nurses, the hospitals, everyone that was fi ghting
the pandemic, they should be honored,” Kueber
said.
This year, the group honored Wyckoff Heights
Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian for their
work during the pandemic. Representatives from
each hospital were given plaques from Glendale
Kiwanis.
The day consisted of games for kids, giveaways,
(From l. to r.) Kevin Smiley from Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, former Lt. Gov. Bob Kueber,
President-Elect of Glendale Kiwanis Teresa Donahue, President Steven Hansen and Joe Aiello from
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Queens. Courtesy of Glendale Kiwanis
music from the NYPD band and food off ered from
Kiwanis and local vendors. There were diff erent
educational activities for kids, including a distracted
driving simulator and anti-bullying booth. The event
was open to everybody and free of charge.
Keuber said it was great to see so many members
of the community come together since the COVID-19
pandemic kept so many people closed off from one
another.
“It shows that the community is united,” Kueber
said. “Getting together and realizing we are a community
and that we all work together for the common
good. People see that there’s people out in the
community that care.”
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