By Sabina Cardali
Welcome to the Point. The Point being College Point. The Memorial Day Parade took place Sunday, May 25, in College Point. Although the sky was cloudy, the marchers were happy to make the parade everything it should be.
Speakers included Mayor Mike Bloomberg, state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and Guardian Angel President Curtis Sliwa. The parade’s grand marshal was Penny Herrel, and the poppy queen was Lia Estrada.
The U.S. Marine Band led the parade and was followed by 15 other bands placed in the six divisions. Wreaths were placed at all churches, monuments, VFW and American Legion halls, public libraries, the Poppenhusen Monument and the firehouse.
At MacNeil Park, ceremonies took place including crosses for the College Point war dead. The parade started at 26th Avenue and College Point Boulevard and passed three nursing homes for the residents there to enjoy, and then it proceeded to MacNeil Park.
The First Reformed Church, at 118-17 14th Ave., will have a flea market on June 7 and June 8. Pentecost and Children’s Day celebration will be Wednesday nights in July and August. July 16 will be a chicken barbecue, July 30 is movie day and Aug. 6 is an ice-cream social and a dog show.
Congratulations to Patty McCarthy, who bowled 206 at Whitestone Lanes.
Remember that the College Point Ambulance Corps is actively seeking dedicated 18-year-olds to train as New York state emergency medical technicians. Training is provided free of charge to all volunteers.
Boy Scout Troop 20 from the First Reformed Church will have a fund-raiser car wash at the Greenpoint Bank parking lot on 14th Avenue and 123rd Street on Sunday, June 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Life Scout John Mulvey will be performing his Eagle Scout project, graffiti removal for several College Point non-profit organizations.
“Keep Them Safe America” Just Cause Inc. will be at Greenpoint Bank, and free fingerprinting for children will be offered while we help to educate the public about child safety. The dates and times are: Thursday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 718-392-8501.
The following is a schedule of events at the Poppenhusen Institute: Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. will be the College Point Historic Walking Tour. It is approximately two hours and costs $6. This fee includes cookies and lemonade at end of the tour. Preregistration is required.
Saturday, June 21, will be the 140th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg concert for $3, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Americana Brass Band Sextet will perform Civil War music free from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with a lecture by Professor Gordon Shay. Tickets for the concert and lecture must be obtained in advance.
Saturday, June 28, at 2 p.m. will be a free event – a history of the New York City Police Department from the colonial period forward, with speaker James L. Coll.
Sunday, July 6, at 6 p.m. will be a free concert at MacNeil Park, featuring The American Concert Band with Dr. Kirby Jolly. A 30-piece band will perform show tunes, big band and Civil War music.
Sunday, July 13, at 6 p.m. will be a free concert at MacNeil Park – Stout-Sea Shan ties, Songs of the Tall Ships, Civil War and other 19th century music.
Sabina says… Congratulations to Grand Marshal Herrel, Poppy Queen Estrada and Brittani Catapano, the essay contest winner of PS 129, Class 5-411, teacher Mrs. Notowitz, on “Proud to be an American.”
