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JOHN J. HOGAN

Dan on April 12, 2022

John J. Hogan passed away on Monday, April 4, 2022 at the age of 87. Beloved Father of John (Anne) Hogan and Mary Ellen (Anibal Martinez) Hogan.  Loving Grandfather of Jack, Charlie, Thomas, Ben and Will.  Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends.  Mr. Hogan was a United States Army Veteran. Mass of Chrisitan Burial offered at St. Adalbert’s Church on Thursday, April 7, 2022 9:30 AM. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

Striving for success on the court and in the classroom

Dan on April 6, 2022

Martin Luther School Senior reaches 1,000 points, reflects on success during his 5-years as a student-athlete

Adam Kirouani, a senior from Astoria, Queens, netted his 1,000th point this season. As captain of the Martin Luther Varsity Basketball team, the 5’7 point guard led the Cougars to a successful season; finishing above .500 and making their 7th playoff appearance in a row. The team eventually fell to western rivals, Avenues, but not before Kirouani reached the 1,000 point mark in his high-school career.

“Honored and grateful,” were two words Kirouani used to describe what reaching the milestone means to him. “To know that my hard work is recognized amongst other high-achieving student-athletes that graduated from Martin Luther is an honor, and I am grateful for the opportunity that the Boys and Girls Club gave me to attend this school that I love,” Kirouani said.

Kirouani is referring to the Student-Athlete Sponsorship that the Variety Boys and Girls Club granted him in 2016. The sponsorship fund, established by Peter Vallone Sr. decades ago, was meant to help high potential Variety Boys & Girls Club Members (Club Kids) who were under-performing at their current school, find a school where they would excel academically and athletically. Between 2016 and 2022, 15 Club Kids have been sponsored to attend Martin Luther School.

Kirouani was one of the 15 selected by former Head Varsity Basketball Coach, John Sanchez, together with Variety Boys & Girls Club Athletic Director and CM3 AAU Basketball Organizer, Charles Melone.

“Although he was always the smallest player on the court, his voice was always the loudest,” John Sanchez said. “His confidence, grit, and strong voice indicated that he would be a good leader and a team player,” Sanchez added.

“Besides his skill on the court, his positive attitude and strong work ethic have always been contagious to those around him,” Charles Melone, a mentor and coach of Kirouani’s for the last several years, said.

Kirouani was the only eighth-grader selected, and in his first year at Martin Luther, stepped into a big role on the JV team, led by Coach Jon Kablack.

Kablack was assistant coach for one year in 2016 before becoming JV coach in 2017. He coached Kirouani throughout his entire five-year high school basketball career.

“He’s a special kid,” Coach Kablack said when asked to describe Kirouani on and off the court. “He deploys kind candor when communicating, leading to feelings of respect and admiration from his teammates,” Kablack added.

To his teachers, Kirouani was a bright light around school; always smiling and engaging with others. Through his hard work and commitment to seeking extra help with subjects he struggled with, Kirouani was able to maintain a 3.0 average during his time at Martin Luther.

“It’s been a true pleasure watching him mature from middle school to high school,” said Assistant Principal, Ann Boyle. “The growth he was able to demonstrate, both in the classroom and on the court, has been impressive,” Boyle added.

Kirouani is eyeing a few D2 and D3 basketball schools, but is undecided as to where he would most like to attend college. “Knowing that Martin Luther and The Variety Boys and Girls Club are in my corner means the world to me,” Kirouani said. “I couldn’t have dreamt of a better high school experience, and I am thankful to God, my family, friends, and of course MLS & The Club for making my high school career an unforgettable one,” Kirouani added.

With the 2022 Baseball season upon us, will both NY teams be October bound?

Dan on April 6, 2022

At the end of spring training, hope springs eternal for a whole lot of baseball fans itching to see their favorite team in action.

It’s terrific knowing that the expectations for both NY Baseball teams should be pretty darn high going into this year.

The Mets did a fabulous job of winning the backpages this winter.

They acquired the best pitcher on the market, Max Scherzer. They acquired one of the most exciting outfielders in the game, Starling Marte. Oh and they hired one of baseball’s best managers, Buck Showalter.

On paper, the Mets could not have drawn up their offseason any better.

However, you don’t win division titles on paper.

The Mets already have a major headache on their hands with their ace Jacob deGrom.

The same ace that missed the entire second half of last season is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. So much for Jake being in the best shape of his life!

The Mets can survive deGrom’s absence for the first two months of the season, but if they want to win a championship, they need him.

It would be nice to see the 300 million dollar man Francisco Lindor step up in a big way in his second full season in Queens.

Lindor is a star player, but last year for a good majority of the season, he didn’t play like one.

If the Mets are going to win the NL East, they will need a bounceback season out of Mr Smile.

For the Yankees, they didn’t win the back pages of this offseason the way the Mets did.

It by no means was a sexy offseason for a team that is coming off back to back disappointing seasons.

However, the Yankees are a better team going into 2022 than they were going into last season.

For starters, defensively they should look much better behind the plate and at shortstop.

Offensively, a full season of Anthony Rizzo and the addition of Josh Donaldson should provide an element of toughness that was lacking for most of last year.

GM Brian Cashman mentioned after the Donaldson trade that the Yankees were lacking an edge, I hope Donaldson helps provide one.

The Yankees will be better offensively, because in addition to Donaldson and Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu can’t be any worse than what they were last season.

In a loaded American League East, the Yankees can’t have lackluster campaigns from Torres and LeMahieu.

They also need to answer a pretty simple question. Who will be the #2 starter behind Gerrit Cole?

Luis Severino has the stuff to do it. He’s been an All-Star before. However, he has not started a full season of games in 4 years.

If the Yankees win the AL East, we will be talking about a Baby Bomber resurgence for both Torres and Severino.

It’s an exciting time to be a NY Baseball fan. Both teams are interesting and expect to win.

If we are not talking about two playoff teams at the end of September, something went horribly, horribly wrong across the board.

For now, let the games begin…

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

You can also watch me nightly at 11 PM on Geico Sportsnight on SNY.

Pol Position: It’s not about the Bills, it’s about billionaires

Dan on April 6, 2022

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul supports bankrolling $850 million, the largest sum in N.F.L history, in taxpayer funds to cover 60% of the construction costs for a new Buffalo Bills stadium owned by Terrence Pegula – an oil and gas tycoon worth $5.8 billion. Assemblyman Ron Kim and Senator Jabari Brisport introduced a bill to make sure New York gets a cut of the action.

The legislation would ensure that if the empire state foots more than half of the cost for a facility that New York should own a majority stake in the team. While Senator Brisport would rather see the multimillions be invested back into other budget items, he says that this is the only measure to ensure taxpayers don’t have to accept terms under threat of leaving for some more tax advantageous deal somewhere else.

“The only way to truly keep the Bills in New York State at this point, now that we can no longer trust the owners, is to say that New York State should own more than half of them and have the ability to keep them in New York, if we wish,” Senator Brisport said in an interview.

A 2021 study commissioned by Empire State Development and produced by infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, found that the Bills generate more than 25 million in tax revenue for New York yearly. While Governor Hochul has touted the 10,000 union construction jobs the stadium would bring, tax breaks for professional stadiums hardly generate enough economic activity to cover the investment.

Even if the economic potential of a new stadium isn’t comparable to the cost – New York should follow suit with Kim and Brisport’s legislation and make sure that the New York Bills are truly a New York team.

The Bills Mafia are one of the most notorious and beloved known fanbases in all of professional sports. Through thick and thin they have stuck through for their sports team. New York should take the step to make sure that the team is there for them.

Overall, the sports fandom for professional sports can be lackluster to the vigor of a college football team. Every team has their superfans and own culture; but on the whole, they lack the history and authenticity to their communities with the looming threat of pulling out arises when a new stadium needs to be built.

When the dodgers vacated Brooklyn, Walter O’Malley became the most hated man in the borough. It ripped a generation of a place to congregate, where working-class families could get bleacher seats,bring their own lunch in a brown bag and enjoy a ball game. It’s hard to imagine what the city would lose if the Yankees moved to Florida. Or if the Knicks packed their bags for Texas. Just try to imagine what the early days of the pandemic would be like if sports weren’t being televised.

Sports are a crucial part of our social order. We fund and operate cultural institutions such as museums because we recognize them as a public good but lack the apparatus to make the same true of sports. Kim and Brisport’s legislation would give the state the ability to do so.

Sports stadiums have long been subsidized and funded under the traditional guise of “public-private partnerships”. But if New York taxpayers are footing more than half of the cost, wouldn’t a true partnership be a majority stake in the team?

There’s no reason that $850 million – money that could be urgently spent on street safety, homes for the homeless, or single-payer healthcare – needs to be spent to cover the construction costs of a new stadium owned by a man worth billions of dollars. If we have to do it, we should make sure that we get the terms and benefits are in the best interest of the state rather than being cornered into giving a handout.

Oiwo Louie

Dan on April 5, 2022

Oiwo Louie passed away on Monday, March 28, 2022 at the age of 91. Beloved Wife of the late Harry Louie. Loving Mother of Donald (Marjorie) Louie, Benson Louie, Mabel (Dennis) Wong, and Eric (Dahlia) Louie. Cherished Grandmother of David, Daniel, Michael, Eric, Krystal, Christina, Jennifer and Jason and Great-Grandmother of Riley, Claire, Anna, Isabella, Arianna and Grace.  Funeral Service held at Papavero Funeral Home on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 9:00-10:30 AM. Interment followed at The Evergreens Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

Piotr Zebrowski

Dan on April 5, 2022

Piotr Zebrowski passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the age of 25. Beloved Son of Barbara & Dariusz Zebrowski. Loving Brother of Przemek Zebrowski and brother-in-law of Mirela. Dear Uncle and Godfather of Derek. Cherished Grandson of Jan Zebrowski. Also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Holy Cross Church on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10 AM. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

Matthew J. Najecki

Dan on April 5, 2022

Matthew J. Najecki passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at the age of 101. Beloved Husband of the late Agnes Najecki. Loving Father of Stephen Najecki, Gail Najecki and the late Gary Najecki. Cherished Grandfather of Laura, Christie, Daniel and Michelle and Great Grandfather of Addison, Avery, Emily, Louis and Noelle. Mr. Najecki was a United State Army Veteran who served during WWII. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Our Lady of Hope Church on Thursday, April 7, 2022 9:45 AM. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

Gunvant R. Shah

Dan on April 5, 2022

Gunvant R. Shah passed away on Monday, March 28, 2022 at the age of 92. Beloved Husband of the late Nirmala G. Shah. Loving Father of Pankaj, Paresh, Chhaya and A. Kumar. Cherished Grandfather of Sumukh, Priya, Ami, Tina, Harita, Anita, Jay, Sumit and Parth and Great-Grandfather of Jhanvi, Arjun, Leon and Sydney.  Funeral Services held at Papavero Funeral Home on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 10 AM – 12:30 PM.  Cremation followed at Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

Oakland Gardens pols, community responds to shooting

Dan on March 30, 2022

Community leaders and elected officials in Oakland Gardens rallied on Monday after a 16-year-old student was shot last week at the intersection of Springfield Boulevard and the Horace Harding Expressway, calling for a coordinated response to address public safety concerns.

Shots were fired just two blocks away from the Benjamin N. Cardozo High School on Friday afternoon. According to The New York Post, reports of the incident prompted a school lockdown as the teenager was transported to a local hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.

“The last thing any parent wants to hear is that there was a shooting down the street from their kids’ school. My kids’ school is just down the road, and we do most of our shopping right here,” New York City Councilwoman Linda Lee said in a release. “ What happened on Friday is as tragic as it is frightening because if any student thinks it’s necessary to use a gun on someone else, we’ve failed them as a City. We’re here today to call for a coordinated response between parents, teachers, community leaders, school, police, and elected officials to get guns off the street, keep kids in school and out of trouble, and invest in their futures so they know there are alternatives to violence out there.”

Lee was joined by Congresswoman Grace Meng, Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School PTA members and parents, and local business owners to call for an increase in the number of school safety agents, school counselors, and social workers at Cardozo High School, more officers for the 111th Precinct, and closer coordination between the school, precinct, and local business owners.

“It saddens me as a mother, life-long Queens resident, and as the Member of Congress representing this area to see yet another shooting in our Queens community, and this most recent incident being so close to one of our schools,” U.S. Rep. Meng said. “Cardozo High School is one of the pillars of education in our community and to hear about one of the students getting injured due to gun violence just blocks away from the school breaks my heart. We have to stand up, as parents, students, teachers, and everyday citizens to coordinate an end to this epidemic plaguing our community.”

Councilwoman Paladino called the shocking incident a “wake-up call to our community.”

“The fact is our district is not immune to the dramatic increase in violent crime our city is facing. Unfortunately, this is a direct result of years of bad policy decisions which have rewarded and excused criminal behavior,” Paladino said in a release. “My office is committed to reversing these policies and working closely with police, prosecutors, and the local community to restore public safety.”

State elected officials, who could not attend due to being in Albany, also sent statements of support to the school and the local community.

“Last Friday’s shooting sent shockwaves throughout Oakland Gardens and has alarmed our entire community,” Assemblywoman Nily Rozic said. “While the investigation continues, I join my colleagues in urging for proactive solutions to address the alarming rise of gun violence across New York and increased investments and support services at schools.”

New York State Senator John Liu said that the shooting was the second to take place in the community in less than a week, and emphasized the importance of addressing these “despicable acts.”

“Gun violence is unacceptable in any neighborhood but is especially egregious when it occurs so close to home, in our streets, and so close to our schools,” Liu said in a statement. “Bayside is not the Wild West! We must get these guns off the streets and out of the hands of our youth.”

 

SUSAN DORAN

Dan on March 30, 2022

Susan Catherine Doran, 57, of Briarwood and Queen of Peace parish passed away unexpectedly in the early morning hours of March 17, 2022. Born on November 7, 1964, Susan, the first child of Anne (Boyle) Doran and the late John Doran, Sr., was the best older sister to Stephanie Finocchio and John Doran, Jr. and their spouses, Chris Finocchio, Jr. and Amanda Doran. She was the favorite aunt of Chris James Finocchio III, Nicole Finocchio, David Finocchio, Veronica Finocchio, Sara Doran, and Johnny Doran, beloved niece of the late Mary Graham and cousin of Maureen Palumbo, Catherine Graham Robinson, the late John Graham, and Regina Raicovi.

Unofficially, Susan was the adored daughter of the late William and Margaret Morris, sister of Bernadette, Gwendolyn, Margaret, James, and Edmund, and aunt of JJ, Chippy, Matthew, John, Declan, Samantha, Conor, Bridget, Edmund Jr., Audrey, and Andrew.

Raised in Ridgewood, Queens, Susan graduated from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Grammar School, Christ the King High School, and Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She excelled in her career of children’s book production; a connoisseur of end papers, bindings, boards, and fonts. She worked for several publishing houses, most recently at MacMillan. Susan had the same job for more than 30 years, but as her colleagues in the publishing industry can relate, her companies kept getting bought and sold.

A fantastic chef, “Sue Babe” admired Martha Stewart (even after prison). Her family and friends will miss her elaborate and delicious Martha-inspired holiday dishes, most especially her famous guacamole! She was an adventurous world traveler, having visited nearly every continent. Some of her exciting destinations were the Great Pyramids of Giza and six of the Seven Wonders of the World: The Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, Petra, and Chichen Itza. Sue Babe was a fan of Princess Diana and the British Monarchy. She was unsure of how she felt about Camilla as Queen, but was willing to give her a chance.

Her faith was the foundation of her life and she lectored for more than 30 years at both Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Queen of Peace parishes.

Susan will be waked on Tuesday, March 22 from 2p to 5p and 7p to 9p at Hess Miller Funeral Home, 64-19 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, NY 11379.

Susan’s Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 23 at 1030a at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 62-81 60th Place, Ridgewood, NY, 11385.

In lieu of flowers – just kidding, Sue Babe loved flowers and understood an essential part of any Irish wake was the judging of the flowers, so please feel free to send to Hess-Miller Funeral Home.

Words cannot express the hole left in our hearts by the loss of Susan – a genuinely kind, extraordinarily selfless, and truly generous person.

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