Central Astoria LDC Presents Independence Day Gala

A spectacular fireworks display created by the Grucci Family concluded the 2009 Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (CALDC) Independence Day celebration June 29. With flags waving, a crowd of more than 20,000 people gathered on the lawn at Astoria Park on Monday night, June 29 to share the spirit of American independence at the 27th annual Independence Day celebration sponsored by the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (CALDC).

Crowds packed the park by 7 p.m. to take in the "big band" moves and music of Joe Battaglia & The N.Y. Big Band, dubbed the "Big Band of Generation X". The music brought the crowd to its feet with a combination of the best swing of the 1930s and '40s, along with today's best pop and rock

Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and Astoria Assemblymember Michael Gianaris greeted the crowd, welcoming them to Astoria Park and the annual Central Astoria Independence Day celebration. Central Astoria President Julian Wager thanked state Senator George Onorato, who was unable to attend, for his support of the Waterfront Concerts this year and Gianaris for his support of Central Astoria's Movies on the Waterfront.

(L. to r.): Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, CALDC President Julian Wager and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney. One of the evening's high points arrived when Astoria City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., took the stage to welcome the crowd. Vallone, who, each year provides essential funding for the events, was presented with a landscape of the view of Astoria Park with fireworks exploding over the New York City skyline and the RFK Bridge hand painted by Tanya Torniali, lifelong Astoria resident and Queens librarian, as a special "thank you" tribute in appreciation of his dedicated support of the Central Astoria Independence Day celebration.

Darkness fell, and in a flash, the skies over the Astoria Park waterfront broke out in an explosion of color as the Grucci family presented another fireworks spectacular in tribute to American independence. The band presented patriotic tunes as FDNY fireboats sprayed a cascade of red, white and blue over the East River - a celebration that met with applause from the energized audience.

(L. to r.): City Councilmember John Liu, CALDC President Julian Wager and CALDC Executive Vice President George Stamatiades. The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition 2009 Astoria Park Independence Day celebration is made possible through funding provided by state Senator George Onorato, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., in part, by public funds from the city Department of Cultural Affairs and the following corporate sponsors: NRG, the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, Atlantic Bank, Astoria Federal Savings Bank, Time Warner Cable, CapitalOne Bank, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Ponce de Leon Bank and the Thomas M. Quinn & Sons Funeral Home.

For more information on the CALDC Independence Day celebration, the CALDC Summer 2009 Waterfront Concert Series or other programs sponsored by CALDC, call 718-728-7820 or visit www.centralastoria.org.

(L. to r.): City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., CALDC President Julian Wager, CALDC Executive Director Marie Torniali and CALDC Executive Vice President George Stamatiades with a framed landscape depicting fireworks over the East River as seen from Astoria Park painted by Tanya Torniali and presented to Vallone as a token of appreciation for his many years of support of the CALDC Independence Day Celebration.