You are reading

Many Local Lions Receive Recognition

Elizabeth Montenegro, State Sen. Mike Gianaris, Ona Whitman, Norberto Saldana (president), Francis Schmidt, Marie Konecko & Maura Wilson

Jan. 3, 2011 By Christian Murray

Several members of the Sunnyside Woodside Lions Club received awards from Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan’s office last Wednesday for a “life time of good citizenship,” when the group held its holiday party at Queen of Angels Church on 44th Street.

There were about 50 attendees at the Sunnyside Woodside Lions Club annual dinner, which was comprised mostly of its 30 earthy members. The members, mainly seniors, are involved in a number of civic activities–from raising funds for local food pantries, visiting the elderly at senior centers, cleaning up parks and getting toys for poor children.

With Assemblywoman Nolan not in attendance, Sunnyside’s new state senator Mike Gianaris was in charge of the award ceremony. One other notable absence was Luke Adams, a long-time champion of the neighborhood.

There were five Lions’ members, one of which was Adams, that were awarded the citation for a life time of good citizenship. They were Maura Wilson, who has lived in Sunnyside for the past 40 years and volunteers five days a week at a local senior center; Ona Whitman, a fundraiser and member of the St. Teresa and St. Raphael’s food pantries; Francis Schmidt, a park volunteer and volunteer at the Museum of the Moving Image; and Marie Konecko, a long-time volunteer.

“It’s a crying shame that Luke [Adams] is not here,” said Don McCallian, who represented Assemblywoman Nolan that night. “No one has done more for Sunnyside and Woodside that Luke Adams.”

The club is seeking new members, both young and old. Last week, it recruited two new members: Brent O’Leary, a board member on the Sunnyside Woodside Boys & Girls Club and previous Democratic contender for the Sunnyside council district seat; and Janet Viana, a Sunnyside resident.

Mark Wilensky, a long-time member, said “It’s good that people give at Christmas time, but it is even better when people give all year.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 
sunnysider

The Lions Club does such great community service work for our town. It is a shame more people are not member of this organizaiton. the more active our community is civicly the better it is for all serviceing our needs as volunteers in helping each other.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Brooklyn man charged in viral Belt Parkway crash scheme captured on victim’s dashcam: DA

A Brooklyn man was criminally charged with staging a car crash on the Belt Parkway in Rosedale last month that was captured on the dashboard camera in the victim’s car and went viral on social media after it was posted on TikTok, where it was viewed by millions worldwide.

Maikel Martinez, 28, of 14th Avenue in Dyker Heights, was apprehended by law enforcement Thursday at JFK Airport after arriving back in Queens on a flight from Ecuador, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday.

Bishop Brennan leads All Souls Day Mass at Flushing’s Mount St. Mary Cemetery

Nov. 7, 2024 By QNS News Team

Bishop Robert Brennan, head of the Diocese of Brooklyn, led All Souls Day Mass on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, drawing a congregation of 450 to honor their deceased loved ones. The event, organized by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Cemeteries office, brought together members of the community in prayerful remembrance.