FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 12, 2018 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 65
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Whitestone teen collects supplies for
U.S. troops in fi nal Eagle Scout project
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/The Courier
Zirillo stands alongside hundreds of packaged supplies prior to delivery to the U.S. Army.
Forest Hills corner to be co-named
for Steely Dan co-founder
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member
with Queens roots will be posthumously
honored for his contributions to
the music industry during his lifetime.
Walter Becker, a Forest Hills native and
co-founder of the band Steely Dan, will
have his memory honored by co-naming
the corner of 112th Street and 72nd
Avenue, the street where Becker grew up,
as “Walter Becker Way.” Th e unveiling
will take place on Oct. 28.
Becker and his partner, Donald Fagen,
formed the jazz-rock band Steely Dan
in 1971. He released many albums with
Steely Dan and on his own, and performed
with Steely Dan when the band
reformed. Becker died of esophageal
cancer on Sept. 3, 2017, at the age of 67.
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, who
represents Forest Hills, co-sponsored the
“Walter Becker Way” renaming as part
of a bill that passed the City Council on
June 28.
WAXQ-FM radio will host the renaming
ceremony, which will include special
guests, remembrances from Becker’s
friends and colleagues, and giveaways.
Festivities will be planned by Becker’s fans.
“Walter’s fans have decades of experience
holding ‘Danfests’ throughout the
country,” said Delia Becker, Becker’s
widow. “And they always fi nd innovative
and eclectic ways of celebrating. It will
Photo: Wikipedia Commons/Arielinson
undoubtedly be a fun and free gathering
to honor and commemorate Walter as
only they can!”
For additional updates and announcements
about the ceremony, visit walterbeckerway.
com.
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A 15-year-old Whitestone resident will
receive the Boy Scouts’ highest honor
aft er leading a community project that
will impact countless U.S. soldiers stationed
overseas.
Peter Zirillo collected hundreds of supplies
for active duty troops actively serving
in the Middle East. Th e bulk of the
items were various toiletries, as well as
socks, gum and candy and writing supplies.
Th e community service project was
Zirillo’s fi nal requirement to become an
Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts of America’s
highest rank. Since the Eagle Scout award
was established in 1912, just 2.01 percent
of eligible Scouts have earned the honor,
according to Scouting Magazine.
Zirillo, who belongs to local Troop 235,
organized a drive in coordination with St.
Mel Parish and spread the word by posting
fl yers in his community. Th e teen
then collected hundreds of supplies at the
church on 154th Street in June and, with
the help of his family, spent days packing
up the supplies in boxes.
Mom Felicia Zirillo said the teen also
raised about $1,300, which he used to
shop for additional supplies at local
wholesale stores.
“I’m really proud of him,” Felicia Zirillo
said. “He’s a very hard worker and very
organized and he really wanted to do
something to give back.”
On June 29, Zirillo and his family handed
the supplies over to representatives
from the 361st Public Aff airs Operations
Center in Fort Totten. Assemblymen Ed
Braunstein and Ron Kim off ered a helping
hand during the process.
Zirillo, who will be a sophomore at
Archbishop Molloy High School in the
fall, said he started out as a Cub Scout
with the organization at age 8. He said he
will be offi cially instated as an Eagle Scout
by the end of the summer.
“It’s the highest rank in the Boy Scouts,
so basically it’s been my end goal,” Zirillo
said. “To me, that’s what I wanted to do
from a young age. It shows people that
you have leadership skills and that you’re
able to get things done.”
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