Hello everyone! Time flies is a term I’ve heard over and over and until now I didn’t realize how true this adage really is. And the older you become, the faster time goes by.

It’s been fifty years since the ‘64-’65 Worlds Fair and I can remember it well. I was a NYC Fireman at that time and worked at the Fair part time as a gate supervisor I worked the night shift. The day shift supervisor (see photo above, right) was the former baseball New York Giants, Dusty Rhodes and I enjoyed many conversations with him about baseball. Dusty was famous for I was able to meet and greet famous sports figures, movie stars, and politicians. But the most memorable was being there when St. Paul VI became the first Pope to visit the U.S and came through the VIP Celebrity gate to view the Vatican exhibit at the NY Worlds Fair.

One night it was raining so hard that you couldn’t see out the windows of the booth. Someone was knocking on the window. As I opened the door, I saw Joe DiMaggio. He came into the booth and asked me to call a cab. I was able to get his autograph for my son.

The 50th Anniversary of the ‘64-’65 World’s Fair was held at Flushing Meadow Park on Sunday, May 17th. It was a beautiful day so the wife and I went over to take part in some of the festivities. There was a tremendous showing fot the event. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Assemblywoman Marge Markey, Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and Queens Patrol Borough North Commander, Deputy Inspector Diane Pizzuti were on hand for the ceremony.

I met a few people that were intrigued with the battery story in the last issue of the Juniper Berry and this is another helpful hint you may want to cut and store in your wallet. Here are four things you might not have known about your cell phone:
First, did you know that in an emergency you can dial 112 if out of the coverage area of your mobile network and it will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if your keypad is locked.
Second, imagine your cell battery was very low. To activate press keys *3370# Your phone will restart with this reserve and will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
Third, (how to disable a stolen cell phone) To check your mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06# A fifteen digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, you can call your service provider and give them this code. Your stolen phone will be totally useless.
Fourth, free directory service for cell phones if you dial 1 800 FREE 411. This information was sponsored by McDonalds.

Recently, there was a huge pot hole on Eliot Avenue at 77th Place. It was reported to 311 numerous times without result. At one point a police car was stationed there to make sure the warning cones remained. And I personally visited the office of our local politicians and reported it to staff members. Nothing was done. When I attended the Community Board 5 Meeting in May and told District Manager Gary Giordano about my efforts to get this dangerous pot hole fixed. Well, the crew was there the very next day and it was taken care of. Your Community Board in action. Thanks Gary!

Carol & Jack Verracoechea celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party hosted by their children on Saturday, April 12th at the New Hyde Park Inn. Just two weeks before the event, the couple welcomed their 13th grandchild, Lorenzo, born on March 31st. Proud parents are Jimmy and Jackie Poute and big sister is Juliette. Congratulations to all!

Estelle Szyjka held a 90th Birthday party for her husband George at La Bella Cucina on Saturday, March 15th. Estelle and George met at Niedersteins’s Restaurant where she was Hostess /Manager. Many of the former bus-boys (who were Christ the King students at the time) waiters and waitresses were there to celebrate George’s birthday. Even the former owner, Reinert was in attendance. Happy 90th George.

Frank and Marilyn Muzio celebrated their 50th anniversary on Saturday, May 24th at the New Hyde Park Inn with their family and friends. Congratulations Frank and Marilyn!

Congratulations to Teresa Ornas, OFS, MA of Maspeth who was appointed Lay Ecclesiastical Minister for Pastoral Care of the Sick of Holy Cross Church Pastoral Council. Miss Ornas is also a Secular Franciscan of St. Adalbert Church. She can be contacted at 718 476 9421.

Congratulations to Father Kevin Abels, a graduate of Our Lady of Hope School who was appointed Pastor at Saint Sebastians in Woodside. Father Abel’s parents are Larry and Linda Abels, Larry is the director of music at Our Lady of Hope.

Bob and Amy Holden welcomed a grandson born on May 16th. Parker Edward Holden weighed 7lbs 5oz. and was 21 inches long. The proud parents are Brian and Allison.
Congratulations to all!

Juniper Park Civic Association board member, Angelo Raneri, his wife Josephine and big sister Olivia welcomed a baby girl, Alessia Giulia, born May 7, 2014 at 2:18pm. Alessia weighed in at 9.4 lbs and was 21 1/2 inches long. Congratulations to the Raneri family.

Our Lady of Hope’s Parochial Vicar, Father Arthur A. Candreva is retiring and all parishioners and friends are invited to a Mass & Reception in his honor on Sunday, June 15th at 12:30pm.

Christ the King Campus celebrated 2014 Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 by planting vegetable and flower gardens. The celebration involved all members of the CK Campus, which includes the High School, CK Daycare and Pre K, as well as Middle Village Preparatory Charter Middle School.
To kick off the celebration of Earth Day, students from Middle Village Prep visited the Daycare and PreK classes, where they taught a lesson on the growth of plants. They all proceeded outdoors to help plant throughout the campus.
The gardens will be tended by all members of the CK community, thus creating a cross curriculum which will engage all students, teachers, school administrators, parents and community members in creating a more green and healthy environment.
“This year’s Earth Day celebration is a collaboration amongst all the members of the CK Campus,” said Christ the King Campus President Michael Michel. “We are excited to continue to provide cross campus events that will bring together the different groups within the Campus, thus creating a close community environment for all.” The event was sponsored by Maspeth Press, Home Depot, JC Landscaping and Design, and Forest Hills Garden Center.
Congratulations to longtime Ridgewood civic leader Paul Kerzner who was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Queens Civic Congress at their annual luncheon in April. For over 35 years Paul has piloted the renaissance of Ridgewood and for many years served as president of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Assn. Senator Chuck Schumer & Borough President Melinda Katz presented Paul with the distinguished award. Congratulations Paul on a well deserved and long overdue award.
La Bella Cucina Restaurant located at 69-61 Juniper Boulevard South served our community well for over 5 years and now ownership has been passed to Mauricio and Vito Troia. The new name, Villa Erasmo honors their father. Villa Erasmo has hired a well-respected chef and has already had rave reviews. The restaurant has been busy working on new dishes and will officially have their grand opening sometime in June. The Troia family has been known for the exceptional Rosa’s Pizzeria Restaurants throughout our community and city.
Sogno di Sposa located at 61-12 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale announced its new ownership as of April 1, 2014. Long time Middle Village residents Rosaria Troia, Angelina Sferlazza, Angela Troia and Laura Troia are the new faces of Sogno di Sposa and will continue to serve the community as it has for the past 32 years. The girls bring with them experience from The Wedding Company in Manhasset, Long Island. They now offer a wide variety of customized invitations, menus, seating cards, programs, centerpieces, rentals and gifts. Stop in to plan your next event and make it a memorable experience.

And finally, I’d like to pass on this exercise for people over 50:
• Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
• With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.
• Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.
• Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.