Our 85th anniversary celebration took place Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church. We received proclamations from State Senator Joseph Addabbo, State Assembly Member Steven Raga, Congress Member Grace Meng and our 25-year past president, Council Member Robert Holden. Mr. Holden introduced our keynote speaker, First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer, a Middle Village native who still lives in the community and was the first FDNY chief at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001. Pfeifer reflected on growing up in the neighborhood, raising his family here and thanked the civic for being the voice of the neighborhood. He also provided background on our first honoree, FDNY Squad 288/HazMat1, which has been charged with responding to every lithium ion battery fire in the city. The second honoree was Mark Weidler, publisher of the Queens Chronicle, who has been publishing the newspaper for 45 years and expressed his admiration for JPCA. The final honoree was NYPD Deputy Inspector Kevin Coleman who has taken the 104th Precinct to new heights under his command. The entertainment for the evening was the Carl Bartlett, Jr. Quartet, the food was catered by Barosa Restaurant and the cake was made by Continental Pastry.

Cheers to 85 years!