By Barbara Morris
We were put in a good mood for what was to come at the very beginning of the month. State Sen. Malcolm Smith had a fund-raiser at Antun's attended by many friends and other important people. Antun's is always an elegant venue, but when Smith and his family enter the banquet hall, those beautiful chandeliers are challenged because the smiles of that family have a way of lighting up any room all by themselves.Smith's popularity, both with the community and other elected officials, was certainly evident. Every time we turned around some other legislator entered the room. We first had a chance to chat with City Councilman James Sanders Jr., whose beautiful bride-to-be, Andrea Duncan, has had to deal not only with wedding preparations, but with her mother's serious health problems and her daughter's accident. We hope everything will go smoothly from here and forevermore for that very community-minded family.There followed a long list of speakers, some of whom may be missing from this column due to the fact that I was kept busy jumping up and down taking pictures, talking to folks I hadn't seen in a long time and enjoying the delicious food that was there on the buffet table. U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks was there and spoke. Incidentally, it was Meeks who, with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, was instrumental in wanting the U.S. Postal Service to rename the St. Albans Post Office to honor longtime former City Councilman Archie Spigner.During his 27 years in the City Council and after, Spigner mentored many southeast Queens political leaders. As district leader and executive member of the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club, he was instrumental in electing the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Assembly member, state senator and Congress member in the borough of Queens. We are happy that both Spigner and his wife are expected to be present for the dedication of the post office at 195-04 Linden Blvd. in Jamaica on May 6 at 11 a.m.Now, back to Sen. Smith's party. All of a sudden there was a rush to the entrance door, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg was entering. He and Smith embraced each other warmly and then Bloomberg told us he is grateful to Senator Smith for his wonderful work and especially his help in supporting the proposed West Side stadium project.Smith in return praised Bloomberg as well. It was refreshing to me to see both political party representatives acknowledging good qualities in the other. The Rev. Floyd H. Flake (former congressman and now senior pastor of Allen A.M.E. Cathedral), who has been friend and mentor to Smith for many years, was also one of the speakers, along with assemblywomen Audrey Pheffer, Vivian Cook, state Sen. Ada Smith, Borough President Helen Marshall.Husband/wife teams who were honored included Assemblyman William Scarborough and his wife; Assemblywoman Michelle Titus and her husband; City Councilman Leroy Comrie and his wife; Councilman Joseph Addabbo and his wife; and, of course, Sen. Smith and his wife.Democratic mayoral candidate Freddie Ferrer, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, City Comptroller William Thompson, Democratic District Leaders Elmer Blackburne and Jackie Boyce were all there as well.The Mahogany Sisters, Extreme Visions and KECDE (the Kerri Edge Children's Dance Ensemble) who performed for us superbly, also were recipients of awards.I was happy to be reunited with friends Frederick J. Kress and Joseph Locoteta, president and vice president, respectively, of both the Cornucopia Society and Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces, Millie Rivas from Comrie's office and the Jamaica Postal Advisory Council; and Donna Clopton and Woodrow Washington, both from the 103rd Precinct Community Council and the Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association.Everyone had a very good time listening to the speeches and noting that Mrs. Malcolm Smith can hold her own as speaker and laugh maker.
