Hello Everyone! 
Seems another year has sped by and we are at the last issue of the Juniper Berry for 2012. Amazing how time flies as we get older.

On October 14th Our Lady of Hope School launched a yearlong celebration of its 50th Anniversary with Mass celebrated by Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, Vicar General-Auxiliary Bishop.   Mass was followed by a reception in the auditorium.  Former principals and priests who had served the parish were in attendance. Events planned throughout the year include class reunions and a dinner dance.

Speaking of OLH, below is the graduating class of 1976.
That class also has a milestone this year, they all turn 50 this year!
Christina Lambros and Angelo Kostaris were married on November 3, 2012 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Jamaica, New York. Christina is the daughter of Harry and Harriet Lambros of Harry’s Paint & Hardware on Eliot Avenue in Middle Village.  Angelo comes from Elmhurst and for several years he worked at Harry’s but is currently employed by the Department of Sanitation. Their wedding reception was held at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, New York. Since the wedding date was November 3rd there were still many obstacles created by Hurricane Sandy but through it all, the reception was held and everyone had a great time. A honeymoon is planned in Aruba in December. We wish Christina and Angelo the best of luck in their marriage and since they purchased a house in Middle Village we will be seeing them around town.  

Here’s a trip down memory lane. Do you remember these places in Middle Village – Bohack Super Market, the Tudor Tavern, and the bartender & gang at the Tudor in 1958? (see photo, above)

It’s great having Dunkin’ Donuts on 80th Street.  Love to get those cream donuts with a cup of coffee while on route for the morning newspapers. The Grand Opening was Friday, November 16th. 

Congratulations to Bob Holden, President of the JPCA celebrated a birthday on October 12th at Ponticello’s Restaurant in Astoria. Officers of the JPCA and their spouses helped celebrate and all had a great time.  
Councilman Eric Ulrich and his wife, Yadira, on the arrival of their daughter Lily, born on October 31st.

DOT has informed us that a traffic light will be installed by the end of the year at 72nd Street and Eliot Avenue in Middle Village.

During the recent gasoline crisis a great effort was made by Gunther and Ralph at Gunral Service Station. They kept the gas lines moving and they kept order in a trying time. Thanks guys! Also, it’s good to see Ralph up and about after his
accident.

There was a 40th Anniversary celebration for the Middle Village Volunteer Ambulance Corps recently at Connolly’s restaurant in Maspeth. MVVAC Vice President Joe Magnus and his volunteers spoke of their dedication to our community since the beginning in 1972. They said that they look forward to many more years of service to the Middle Village Community. The JPCA was represented at the event by Bob & Amy Holden, John & Lorraine Sciulli, John & Betty Killcommons and Tony & Dolores Nunziato. Tony was also the MC for the event.

The following information came to us by way of an email and pertains to the bus lanes in New York City. The new MTA buses are now equipped with a camera linked to the Parking Violations Bureau. If a bus pulls into a bus stop and there is a car there, the bus camera takes a picture of the license plate and the registered owner of the plate will be sent a parking ticket in the mail. It uses the same system as the red light cameras at many of the intersections. Save yourself the headache and the money by never pulling into a bus stop.  The city has found a way to raise more money. The ticket can cost as much as $165.

On October 3, 2012 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing the Department of Motor Vehicles to place a distinguishing mark on a driver’s license, or non-driver ID, to indicate its holder is a veteran.  Under this law, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces may request to have this veteran status mark from the DMV. Many local businesses across the state currently provide discounts to veterans. This law will make it easier and convenient for veterans to show and verify their status as veterans. The law takes effect in one year.

Barbara Mugavero Linder, who now lives in Indiana, wrote us a note saying how much she enjoys reading the Juniper Berry and sent a picture taken in 1941 at a Juniper Civic Christmas party. Barbara’s dad, Jim who was active in the JPCA, was Santa Claus.  Barbara identified those in the picture as Virginia Klein Havriliak, Tom Mugavero, Jim Mugavero, Eddie Bertha, Freddy Schaudel and Bobby Sherman. All were living on 79th Street in Middle Village.   

Now here is the joke of the month:

An old man is driving on the highway going only 22 miles an hour. Finally a cop catches up to him and asks why he's only driving 22 MPH on a highway. The old guy responds that since he's on route 22 he figured that was the speed limit. The cop then looks at the old lady sitting next to the old guy and asks why she's so frightened and terrified, hair all messed up and the old guy says, “well that's because we just got off Route 180!”