A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette.

To Our Friends:

The Astoria/Long Island City Kiwanis wishes to thank you for your continued support of our annual Christmas auction. This year we are proud to say that we surpassed our expectations and are able to help a few more concerned groups in our community. Again we thank you, and we hope to see you again next year.

Sincerely,

The Officers, Board of Directors and members of the Astoria/Long Island City Kiwanis

Gazette Anniversary

To The Editor:

May I take this opportunity to wish the Gazette and all of its editorial staff, reporters and all concerned the heartiest of congratulations as this wonderful borough newspaper has completed its 20th anniversary.

I cannot imagine or believe that 20 years have elapsed since the first issue of the Gazette went to press, but time flies so fast, so quickly, indeed and so much has transpired during these 20 years. The Gazette has been our eyes, our eyes, our windows on this world and has presented excellent journalistic reporting, inspiring, insightful, informative and educational pieces, articles, editorials and columns that have enhanced our lives.

Your paper has shared times of joy with us, helping us rejoice in triumph. Your pages also have comforted during times of sorrow and misfortune.

I really appreciate the Letters Column, which gives us readers the opportunity to express our most cherished right of freedom of expression, which never cannot be taken from us, despite terrorists’ attempts.

Again, I applaud the Gazette on 20 years of excellent presentation of the facts and enlightening us on the life of our community.

We wish you another 20 years of continued successful work in making our borough of Queens very fortunate in having a local paper like yours.

Cynthia Groopman

Long Island City

Budget Cut Solution

To The Editor:

The response of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed budget cuts [for her office] was telling. I think the mayor can go one step further–eliminate the useless office of Public Advocate. Then Ms. Gotbaum will not have to worry about making staff reductions and the city will save a bundle.

Scott Lewis

Astoria

via e-mail

Greater Heights

To The Editor:

As we look back on 2001 we remember it as the very best of times and the very worst of times. It was also a time to hail our fallen heroes of the September 11 terrorist attacks they were Firefighters, Police Officers, Emergency Medical Service workers but also they were common men and women such as secretaries, dishwashers, cooks and porters, they are also remembered.

It was a time that ignited our hidden strengths, for when things were at their very worst we were at our very best.

Using an analogy of the mythological story of the Phoenix bird that after a life of five centuries burns itself to death and rises from the ashes, we also shall overcome this tragedy and rise up to even greater heights.

For as history will judge us as a nation that through our diversity of many cultures we found a oneness of purpose and were reborn with a renewed sense of spirituality and national pride.

So as we have already made our New Year’s resolution let us add another, remember to be excellent to one another and continue to help and care about our fellow man, for we should not care only in times of adversity but all the time.

And remember this also, a nation is not measured on the few but by the sum total of the many that care about their fellow man.

Sincerely yours,

Frederick R. Bedell, Jr.

Little Neck

Thanks For Call Setup

To The Editor:

Bus loads of seniors were bused from the five boroughs on Christmas Day to 717 Fifth Avenue where Merrill Lynch for the past 12 years has made available from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. unlimited phone calls to anywhere in the world. Four floors were set aside especially for this event. Others came by cars and other means of transportation. My husband and I have attended this exciting occasion for the past eight years.

At 10:30 I had no trouble contacting my cousins in Croatia about 6,000 miles away. It was 4:30 p.m. their time. I had spoken to them last year and they were just as thrilled hearing from me again. In between sobs, they told me how things were going in their town, and we promised to keep in touch by mail. The reception was so great it seemed as if we were talking in the same room.

Then I called my dear friends in California and Leetonia, Minnesota where I was born 75 years ago. Leetonia is a small iron-ore mining town where my father worked in the underground mines for 30 years and retired in fairly good shape.

Not only did Merrill Lynch furnish us with volunteers who were extremely cordial and helpful but delicious foods, drinks and desserts, for which we are deeply grateful.

Sincerely,

Mary Favicchio

Flushing

Hails Leffler

A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette.

Dear Councilman (Sheldon) Leffler:

The councilmanic record that you have accrued in twenty-four years of service deserves far more than congratulations. The thousands of constituents who have been served by you will always be grateful for the outstanding council work that you have done while in office.

Your work has involved far-reaching areas, from environment to safety from recycling to commerce, improving quality of life in so many ways.

Your personal qualities of honesty determination, hardwork and civic mindeness have immeasurably contributed to the council’s effectiveness, and maintained its high estimation in the public’s perception of the council

Councilman Leffler, I know that we speak for thousands of people when we say thank you for a job well done.

We wish you success and happiness in whatever activities (after a well-deserved vacation) you choose to follow.

Most Sincerely,

Stanley and Lee Cogan

Stanley Cogan is Queens

Borough Historian

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