Hello Everyone! After a serious attack of acute pancreatitis and several weeks in St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn Long Island I’m so glad to be back home with my family and seeing all my friends and of course, writing Killy’s Korner. Whatever you do, try to avoid getting acute pancreatitis because it’s a tough illness and many don’t even survive the attack. I am so grateful that I was one of the lucky ones. I had excellent care at St. Francis Hospital and really great doctors and nurses. I would also like to thank everyone for the many prayers offered in my behalf, which had a great influence in my recovery. I’m ready to go on with my life and writing my Korner column for the Juniper Berry.

Maspeth High School wishes to thank O’Neill’s Restaurant, Russo’s Bakery, Glendale Bakery and Room 55 Restaurant for their generous donations of food, bagels, rolls and salads to the Maspeth High School Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day. These businesses helped make it a huge success. Everyone there remarked how delicious they were. Maspeth High School Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day was a great success.

John Sciulli, husband of JPCA Vice President Lorraine Sciulli, celebrates a milestone birthday surrounded by his four grandsons, Steven, Jason, James & Andrew Jr. Happy Birthday, John. We wish John the best of luck & happiness many years into the future!

Everyone remembers Niederstein’s Restaurant in Middle Village. Christl Schirpke was the day manager there for many years. On her birthday, her grandson Max Robertazzi presented her with a five-foot long mini-figure replica of the restaurant that he painstakingly and lovingly put together with Legos. It includes replicas of several staff members and Christl herself. Beautiful job Max!!!!

A group of Juniors from various High Schools coordinated a forum of readings, witnesses of their faith along with questions and answers as to why they still go to church. They titled the forum “Search for the Church.” Why we believe. The students are: Gaspare Artale, Joseph Barbieri, Frank Ceriullo, Christina Lattanzio, Salvatore Liarda, Ryan Kloeffel, Daniel Marchese, Thomas Moore & Nicole Scaparro. They are all graduates of Our Lady of Hope and attend different Catholic High Schools and accepted Father Carrano’s invitation to be part of this religious event. Proud of you guys!!

Alyssa Goldbach of Middle Village graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine with academic honors. Alyssa will be completing her residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

The grandson of Lorraine & John Sciulli, Andrew Mougis Jr., recently became engaged to Kelly Campion. The couple met when they both worked for a local bank in NJ. They’re planning to be married on September 5, 2015. We wish Andrew & Kelly the best of luck as they embark on their future together.

I’d like to give a huge recommendation to a local business in our neighborhood, Salvatore Construction Company located right here in Middle Village. Their telephone number is (646) 206 9791. The owner, Sal, is a personable and hard working capable guy who is building a new porch for me and he’s done work for our First Vice President, Lorraine Sciulli. We’ve given his name to several of our friends who also have hired him to do construction work for their houses. We highly recommend Salvatore Construction Company.

JPCA Executive Board Member Angelo Raneri along with his wife Josephine and daughter Olivia celebrated the 1st Birthday of younger daughter, Alessia Giulia, on May 7th, 2015.

On Sunday, May 8th, Deacon Robert Lavanco celebrated 25 years as Deacon at Our Lady of Hope. The 12:30 Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Michael Carrano, Fr. Kevin Abels, Fr. Robert Armato, Fr. Cezariusz and Fr. Arthur Candreva. Fr. Carrano thanked Deacon Bob for his outstanding service to the community of Our Lady of Hope. A reception followed in the School Auditorium. Congratulations to Deacon Bob!

Villa Erasmo on Juniper Boulevard South has hired a top chef that is already the talk of the town. Chef Mike Abaza has an impressive resume and is receiving rave reviews for his specials. He has worked in some of the top restaurants in NYC and is in the process of introducing and new menu.

Communions, Confirmations and Graduations are celebrated this time of year and in our family we have one of each I am happy to announce.Congratulations to our youngest grandchild, Sarah, who received her First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 2nd.

Andrea & Tom McGoldrick celebrated their grandson Patrick’s communion pictured here with his family. Congratulations to Patrick.

They teamed up to clean up. This past April 19th, the Green Club of Maspeth High School and the Juniper Juniors cleaned along the Queens Midtown Expressway. The kids picked up trash and painted over graffiti. This was a wonderful effort by some wonderful kids. We offer a special thank you to 104 Pct Commander Captain Wachter for arranging the shutdown of the left lane to keep everyone safe and to our very own Len Santoro, leader of the Juniper Juniors.
Then on the morning of May 2nd, the 104th Precinct conducted a graffiti cleanup in West Maspeth, along Flushing Avenue, Rust Street and Grand Ave. The precinct’s NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers Program and School Unit joined police and auxiliary officers in the painting party. Paint was donated by the COMET civic association. Thank you to those working to keep our neighborhoods clean!

An on-site meeting was held recently to discuss further beautification plans to enchance the landscape of Juniper Valley Park. The goal is to promote building a better, stonger community park to ensure a beautiful environment for all to enjoy and appreciate. Here Juniper’s Pullis Historical Landmark President, Ed Shusterich, center, stands with Park Manager, Nelson Fung, left, and Queens forester, Julie Schondorf.

Marissa & Robert Holden Jr. celebrated their daughter Ashley’s Communion in May. Ashley is the granddaughter of Bob & Amy Holden of the JPCA. The Holden family also celebrated the first birthday of Parker, son of Brian and Allison Holden.

Congratulations to Gail & Dan Austin on their 50th wedding anniversary. The happy couple renewed their vows on May 23 followed by a great reception at Russo’s On The Bay. Dan of course is CEO of All Faiths Cemetery and a regular at JPCA Town Meetings. After 50 years they still are a handsome and loving couple.
Congratulations to Kate Caiafa receiving her First Holy Communion on Sat., May 16th.

An official welcome to Capt. Mark Wachter (2nd from right) new Commanding Officer of the 104th Pct. and Executive Officer, Capt. Gregory Mackie (right). Here they are pictured with Community Affairs officers, Detective Tom Bell (left) and
PO Charlie Sadler.

Francesca DeSantis received First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 16th. Congratulations Francesca!

NYC Park Supervisor Rico Albacarys (right) is back at Juniper Valley Park. Ten years ago Rico managed the park. He also served our country dating back to early 1980’s. He was on active duty in the Airborne Battalion with the Army from 1980-1984. Then he served in the National Guard Reserve for another ten years and has been in the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, known as the Sea-bees. He just retired from active duty last year. Welcome back Rico!

On April 27 at the celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio installed Fr. Peter Purpura as the Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James.
On Sunday, May 31st,

Fr. Michael Carrano
celebrated the 12:30 Mass at Our Lady of Hope on the occasion of his 45th Anniversary of his Ordination. Congratulations Fr. Carrano!

On Sunday, April 26th, Most Reverend Raymond F. Chappetto, Bishop of Brooklyn, visited Our Lady of Hope to confirm eighth graders. Pictured left to right: Julia LaRosa, Alyssa Lynaugh, Hayley Lambert, Kerry Ann Koenig, Nicole Werner and Dana Cerillo. Pictured with the Bishop (below) are Nicole Werner & Laurie Killcommons.

On April 17th, Resurrection Ascension School celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the School at a dinner dance at Roma View, Howard Beach. Pictured are Principal, Joann Heppt and Pastor Father Amato. Also pictured, are members of the school faculty (l-r): Antoinette Scuderi, Cathy Mesa, Debra Waldorf, Susan Wolf & Barbara Arlotta.

Tony & Dolores Nunziato’s son Anthony recently got engaged to Jennifer Traditi. A May 2016 wedding is planned.

Amanda Miller & Alex Rovatsos going to the Dominican Academy Prom on Friday, May 22nd.

Juliana Chiodi and Nick Mennis off to the St. Francis Prep Prom at the Waldorf Astoria on Friday night, May 29th.

We lost our beloved former Pastor of OLH, Msg. Nicholas Sivillo recently.
He was a friendly, compassionate priest, always greeting you with his big smile, ready to talk about anything you had on your mind. Heaven is a happier place now that Msg. Sivillo has made his own personal final journey. Rest in Peace, Msg. Sivillo. God Bless You. We will miss you!