Astoria Civic Association Holds Scholarship Dinner-Dance

Photos Dan Miller/DMD Images Former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. (l.) and City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. (r.) stand with past recipients of the Judge Charles J. Vallone Scholarships awarded by the Astoria Civic Association.

The 74-year-old Astoria Civic Association held its annual dinner-dance Saturday night March 31 to benefit the Judge Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Fund. The scholarships reward Queens high school graduates who embody academic excellence and demonstrate extensive involvement with community service. City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr., whose grandfather is the namesake of the scholarship and whose father, former Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., was also in attendance, helped organize the event and made it a success. Some 450 people attended the event, which has raised more than $410,950 to date for the scholarship fund. During the evening, representatives of Commerce Bank presented the Vallones Senior and Junior with a facsimile of a check for $2,000 as their contribution to the Judge Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Fund.

Representatives of Commerce Bank presented a facsimile check in the amount of $2,000 to the Astoria Civic Association for the Judge Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Fund.

The association also honored HANAC Chairperson Evangeline Douris and Major Automotive Co., Inc Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bendell as its Persons of the Year. Both received Proclamations from the City Council and state Assembly. Many former recipients of Judge Charles Vallone Scholarships, including Loren Amor-Radovich, who won her scholarship as a student at Archbishop Molloy H.S.; Kamil Stefanowski, a graduate of Regis H.S.; Julian Scott, an alumnus of Xavier H.S.; Franchette Viloria, a graduate of St. John's Prep; Lanna Leite, an alumna of Long Island City H.S.; Mohammed Ahmed, alumnus of Queens Vocational & Technical H.S.; Jennifer Carino, a graduate of Frank Sinatra H.S. of the Performing Arts; Genesis Celi, a graduate of the Garden School; Dario D. DiBiase, a graduate of St. Francis Prep; Cindy Inga, an alumna of William Cullen Bryant H.S.; Theresa Marino, who graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer H.S.; Nicholas A. Pacura, an alumnus of Monsignor McClancy H.S.; Evangelina Podaras, a graduate of St. Demetrios H.S.; Yousif Saroya, an alumnus of La Salle Academy; Nestor Seranno, a graduate of Townsend Harris H.S.; Samantha Signoella, an alumna of Dominican Academy; Laura A. Torres, a graduate of John Bowne H.S., and Jia J. Zheng, who graduated from the Baccalaureate School For Global Education, attended as well. Scholarship Committee Member Mary O'Hara listed their accomplishments.

Photo Dan Luhman Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. rocks with the band Risky Business at the Astoria Civic Association dinnerdance.

Attendees enjoyed cocktails, dinner and swinging music by Risky Business at Riccardo's By the Bridge, 21st Street and 24th Avenue, Astoria. Vallone Jr. even grabbed a guitar and played a Paul McCartney song with the band.

Queens County Clerk and Astoria Civic Association board member Gloria D'Amico stands with award presented to Bendell and Douris.

 

City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. (r), joined by his father, Peter Vallone Sr. (l.), members of the Astoria Civic Association and former Borough President Claire Shulman (third from r.), stand with Persons of the Year Bruce Bendell (c.) and Evangeline Douris (second from r.).