A Horrific Holden Halloween Story

Imagine unknowingly stumbling into Bob Holden's basement. You are terrified because right away you notice it was illegally converted. The walls are plastered with Juniper Berry pictures old and new. The pictures of the elected officials and city agency representatives who were attacked mercilessly by the Juniper Park Civic Association have their eyes cut out and mustaches drawn across their faces. A dummy that closely resembles Dennis Gallagher has hundreds of hat pins sticking into its body and hangs by a noose from the overhead pipes. You wonder to yourself if a certified plumber has signed off on those pipes.

You trip causing you to fall back against the wall and you notice Tony Avella wrapped in black latex from head to toe, chained to the wall with a red rubber ball stuffed in his mouth. He shakes violently trying to free himself because he is extremely late for a rally he has organized in Staten Island.

You run for your life for the first door you see and crash through but Ed Kamperman is sitting there dressed like Britney Spears and biting the heads off of barn swallows. You are too horrified to scream. You run blindly through the next door.

Oh my! Christina Wilkinson has a live cow dressed like the Wendy's restaurant mascot and is eating the bovine alive! Oh the humanity! You desperately search for a way out. You notice another door and are certain that this must be the way out.

You open the door slowly but Bob is blocking your escape. He laughs maniacally at your desperation. A vicious dog barks wildly behind Bob in the dark. You tremble in fear but are somewhat comforted that Holden has the hidden dog on a leash and is holding the leather handle tightly. The dog begins to step into the dim light. The dim light suddenly illuminates your deepest darkest depraved fear. It's Tony Nunziato on all fours wearing nothing but a diaper. He snarls and spits like a rabid hound. Bob laughs more loudly. You fear that you soon will be chained next to Avella and have Tony urinate on your leg for an eternity.

You run as fast as you can without looking when all of a sudden you bump into another figure. "No Dog off leash" it yells. You look up and it is a life like Bob Holden dummy. You punch the dummy in the stomach. "Save St Saviours" The dummy sounds just like Holden. What sick SOB would make a dummy of Bob? You smack the dummy in the head. "Donate to the Midville Dodgers". "Avella for Mayor" "I am god" You place your hands over your ears because you can no longer stand the sound of its voice.

The real Bob Holden walks up to you still laughing, or is it the real Holden? Bob reaches behind his head and removes the skin from his face. No, no…it can't be…Oh MY GOD!!!!!!! You're not Bob, your…your…your his aunt, Lorraine Sciulli.

You soil yourself and die from shock.


Disclaimer: Any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. ;)

Halloween Cocktails

The Patriots have done some snooping around the Internet and came across a site that has all your favorite Halloween libations. ( Remember to be 21 and over here people)

Here is our favorite;

The FREDDY KRUEGER

Ingredient & Amount
Jägermeister- 1 part
Sambuca- 1 part
Vodka- 1 part

Glass to Use
Shot glass

Mixing Instructions: Mix equal parts of everything in a chilled shot glass.

This drink is so potent, you'll be sure to have a nightmarish hangover in the morning!!

For more Halloween Cocktails visit Drink Nation

Haunted and Scary Places in Queens

In honor of Halloween, the Patriots have decided to provide you with the scariest places or people in Queens.

There have been reports that there are supernatural happenings occurring at the American Museum of the Moving Image. According to eyewitness reports, there are times when people have heard voices when there was no one else in the building. In addition, people have reported hearing footsteps following them, however, when they turned around to see who it was, no one was there. Finally, there have been frequent sightings of an image of a black woman in a white dress sitting behind the security desk late at night. Spooky.



Fort Totten is another place in Queens that has experienced it share of haunting sounds and images. The 150 year old military base is said to be built upon an old Indian burial ground (under the existing soccer field). Many areas on the Fort are reported to be haunted. Sometime in mid May of 2000, one guard was dozing off in his car when all of a sudden he was awaken by a loud knock on his car window. He saw two men, one standing by each side of the car that were pointing and laughing at the guard. The scary thing was that the guard could see right through the ghostly forms! This wasn't the first time this has occurred and the guard was warned on numerous occasions that that specific location was haunted. Guards patrolling the grounds still refuse to wander into that area. Freaky.


Imagine being Tony Nunziato's bathroom mirror. Try to envision the horror of that ugly face peering into you each morning. The agony of listening to his delusions of how he single-handedly saved Maspeth from communist oppression! Now that is one scary place to be!

Residents Beware of DEP Imposters

BE CAREFUL!!!!

According to our sources two men posing as DEP representatives robbed the home of an elderly woman. The men were professionally dressed and told the woman that they were inspecting various homes in the area because of the recent flooding problems plaguing Middle Village. The woman allowed the two men inside her home at which time she was robbed.

We do not have any additional information on whether a gun was used or if the woman was injured.

Please check the identification of anyone who claims to be a representative of a city agency. Furthermore, if you still feel uneasy ask for the number of the agency to confirm the legitimacy of the individual.

We hope that the 104th Precinct finds these bastards and they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Please spread the word.

KFC, We do chicken wrong!

Ok, this is totally off the beaten path but bare with me.

I was browsing the internet this morning and came across something very disturbing. Now I vaguely recalled that KFC was under fire for their treatment of the chickens they grow to use however, I never realized the extent of cruelty behind it.

Now I totally understand that chickens along with other animals are born to die in order to feed us.

Unfortunately, what i witnessed here is something plain wrong.

Please take a look at this website and see for yourself.

Councilmen Interlopers?

It looks like Robert Holden and the Juniper Park Civic Association are inviting outsiders into our beloved Middle Village.

The interlopers are Tony Avella, David Weprin and Joe Addabbo.

The Patriots can try to understand why the three are coming to perform their stump speeches during the next JPCA gaggle:

Tony Avella has delusions of grandeur that he will be our next mayor. However, the word on the street is that Tony has as much of chance as being mayor as an unleashed three legged dog winning a horse race. Moreover, Bob loves Tony because they are both as appealing as having festering boils on your ass while riding cross country in the back of an old pick up truck.

David Weprin wants to be the next city comptroller however, unfortunately for David, his hair piece has more charisma that he does. In addition, Mr. Weprin is a media whore who loves to have his picture taken. David would pose with Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire if he thought it would get him one vote.

It has been rumored that Joe Addabbo wants to run for Senator Maltese’s seat in the upcoming New York senatorial election. Therefore, it’s possible that Bob made some empty promise that he could deliver a few votes to Addabbo. Too bad for Joe that Holden couldn’t even deliver a pizza and a can of pepsi to his campaign headquarters.

In closing, we wonder how Senator Maltese feels about Holden and the JPCA providing a forum to a possible challenger to his seat.

Unfortunately, you have to be careful when feeding a vicious dog, you might get bit on the hand.

Rudy Red Sox Ruse

Rudy Giuliani did the ultimate flip-flop making John Kerry look like a man with irreproachable convictions!

In a stunning admission, Rudy has stated that he will be rooting for the evil Boston Red Sox. I don't think there is a Yankee fan on this planet that will be hoping that the Red Sux beat the Colorado Rockies in the fall classic.

This is voter pandering that would make Tony Avella blush!!

What a Drag!!

Famous Queens Resident Series, Part XX

DeWitt Clinton - The governor who spear-headed construction of the Erie Canal lived in Maspeth.

DeWitt Clinton (March 2, 1769 Napanoch, New York – February 11, 1828 Albany, New York) was an early American politician who served as United States Senator and Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal.

He was the second son born to James Clinton and his wife Mary DeWitt, daughter of an old Dutch family, and was educated at what is now Columbia University. He became the secretary to his uncle, George Clinton, who was then governor of New York. Soon after he became a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1798 and of the New York State Senate from the Southern District from 1798 to 1802, and from 1806 to 1811. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1801. He was a member of the Council of Appointments in 1801-1802 and 1806-1807. He won the by-election to the United States Senate after the resignation of John Armstrong, Jr. and served from February 9, 1802, to November 4, 1803. He resigned, unhappy with living conditions in newly built Washington, DC, to become the Mayor of New York. He served as Mayor in 1803-1807, 1808-1810 and 1811-1815. While serving as Mayor, he organized the Historical Society of New York in 1804 and was its president. He also organized the Academy of Fine Arts in 1808. He was Regent of the University of New York from 1808 to 1825.

Clinton was married twice, first on February 13, 1796, to Maria Franklin, daughter of the prominent New York Quaker merchant, Walter Franklin, by whom he had ten children, four sons and three daughters surviving at the time of her death in 1818. On May 8, 1819, he married Catharine Jones, daughter of a New York physician, Thomas Jones, who survived him.

In 1811, defeating the Federalist Nicholas Fish and the Tammany Hall candidate Marinus Willett, he won a special election for Lieutenant Governor of New York - to fill the vacancy left by the death of Lt. Gov. Broome - and served under Daniel D. Tompkins until the end of the term in June 1813. In 1812 Clinton ran for President of the United States as candidate of the Federalists and anti-war Democratic-Republicans, but was defeated by President Madison, Clinton received 89 electoral votes, Madison 128. After the resignation of Governor Tompkins who had been elected Vice President, he won a special gubernatorial election against Peter Buell Porter - Clinton received 43,310 votes, Porter only 1,479. On July 1, 1817, Clinton became the governor of New York. He was re-elected in 1820, defeating the sitting Vice President Tompkins - DeWitt Clinton 47,447 votes, Tompkins 45.900 - and served until December 31, 1822. During his second term, the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821 shortened the gubernatorial term to two years, and moved the beginning of the term from July 1 to January 1, actually cutting off the last 6 months of the 3-year-term he had been elected to. Also the gubernatorial election was moved from April to November, but Clinton was not renominated by his party to run for reelection in November 1822. In 1824 he was re-elected governor, and served another two terms until his sudden death in office. He was originally buried at the Clinton Cemetery in Little Britain, New York, later he was re-interred at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Clinton was able to accomplish many things as a leader in civic and state affairs, such as improving the New York public school system, encouraging steam navigation, and modifying the laws governing criminals and debtors. The 1831 DeWitt Clinton (locomotive) was named in his honor.

While governor he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. He imagined a Canal from Buffalo, New York on the Eastern Shore of Lake Erie to Albany, New York on the upper Hudson River, a distance of almost 400 miles. So, in 1817 he persuaded the state lawmakers to provide 7 million dollars for the construction of a canal 363 miles long, 40 feet wide, and four feet deep. In 1825, when the Erie Canal was finished, Governor Clinton opened it, sailing in the packet boat Seneca Chief along the Canal into Buffalo. After sailing from the mouth of Lake Erie to New York City he emptied two casks of water from Lake Erie into New York Harbor, celebrating the first connection of waters from East to West. Although railroads did compete with the canal, the advent of railroads did not cause the canal to become defunct. As late as 1852, the canal carried thirteen times more freight tonnage than all the railroads in New York state combined; it continued to compete well with the railroads through 1882, when tolls were abolished. The canal made an immense contribution to the wealth and importance of both New York City and New York State, making boomtowns out of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica and Schenectady. Nevertheless, its impact went much further, as it increased trade throughout the nation by opening eastern markets to Midwest farm products and encouraged western immigration.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Joe Torre Leaves with Pride of the Yankees

If you are a Yankee fan or not, you must admit that Joe Torre is a class act. He was extremely successful by any professional sport standards. During his twelve year tenure as Yankee skipper he brought 10 division titles and 4 World Series trophies to New York City. More importantly, Joe Torre did it with professionalism, decency and dignity. I am glad that Joe Torre did not let the goons of the front office take those rare attributes away from him.

Mike Lupica: Joe Torre: The first manager to fire George Steinbrenner

NY Post: TORRE STORY REACHES END JOBLESS JOE JUMPS SHIP, REJECTS PAYCUT

The NY Slimes Ignores Military Hero

Once again the NY Times has shown its true anti-American ultra-liberal colors by refusing to cover the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Honor to Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy.

During a battle with Taliban fighters, Lt. Murphy bravely stepped out into the line of fire to make a satellite call for help. A survivor recalled that Murphy “took two rounds to the back and dropped down on a rock and sat back up, picked the phone back up and started talking again.” His actions reportedly save the lives of his fellow comrades in arms.

The NY Times holds this type of heroic actions in contempt because it epitomizes the greatness of our military and the strength of the American spirit.

But do you know WHO the NY Times thinks deserves front page coverage and their meaningless accolades? You guessed it. Two great American patriots named President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Mahmoud Ahmadinjad of Iran both of who are well known for their hatred of America. The NY Slimes regards these two anti-American thugs as the seekers of peace, the dynamic duo of diplomacy and the voices against violence.

This is a disgrace even for a publication that has proven time and time again that they are an embarrassment to the media.

No veteran or true American should ever read the NY Times.

Thank God we have heroes like Lt. Michael Murphy who through their bravery and selfless service to this great nation cause Americans to beam with pride.

God Bless America!

To hell with the Times!

Spitzer Hood: Taking from the Poor and Giving to the Illegals

In his latest temper tantrum and vindictive vengeance, Governor Spitzer is taking away money that would fund important programs for legal American citizens in attempt to crush opponents of his plan to license illegal aliens. According to the NY Post article "Spiteful Spitzer KOs health $$ in ID spat" , Spitzer is trying to punish Assembly Minority leader James Tedisco, a vocal opponent of the governor’s ridiculous plan to provide identification to individuals living in America illegally. Actually, Spitzer is so blinded by his vengeance that he doesn’t realize he is punishing American citizens in need of state funding for programs they rely upon.

By canceling the $300,000 a shameful Spitzer will be denying free health care to those desperately in need, hundreds of school children will be less secure because funding for video surveillance equipment will not be available, upgrades to playgrounds will not be completed and kids who enjoy football will not have the equipment required to enjoy and play the sport safely.

It is mind boggling that Spitzer is more concerned about the rights and privileges of illegal aliens than the well-being of American citizens living in New York.

Frank Rich implies, “Americans = Good Germans = Nazis?

In a recent article, “The Good German Among Us”, NY Times slime ball, Frank Rich compares Americans to Nazi murderers. Mr. Rich wants you to believe that Americans who support the war, honor our soldiers and do not believe that our government is evil are no better than Nazis who killed millions.

Even though the NY Times has absolutely no resemblance to an objective, non-political or honorable newspaper, they still should be ashamed of themselves for allowing that comparison to be printed.

There is an apparent and obvious distinction between Americans who believe that enemies of our country should be dealt with using the full might of our military and the Nazis that targeted for death those they deemed as culturally, racially or physically inferior to themselves. But then again, Mr. Rich is morally deficient and doesn’t really care about the truth. The only thing Rich cares about is spreading illogical spurious arguments to effectuate the far left agenda. To compare the conditions at Abu Ghraib to the murders, horrors and violence inflicted by Nazis in German concentration camps is unconscionable.

Let’s take Mr. Rich put him in a simulated WWII concentration camp, then place him in Abu Grahib and let’s see what he writes!

Disagree with the administration

Disagree with the war

But do not denigrate the American people.

Famous Queens Resident Series, Part XIX

Eddie Arcaro - The Triple Crown-winning jockey lived at the Homestead Hotel, a home for jockeys near the Kew Gardens railroad station. The building is now used as a nursing home. Eddie Arcaro (February 19, 1916 - November 4, 1997) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American Classic Races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice. He is widely regarded as the greatest jockey in the history of American Thoroughbred horse racing.

George Edward Arcaro was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of an impoverished taxi driver. Eventually nicknamed "Banana Nose" by his confreres, Arcaro won his first race in 1932 at the Agua Caliente racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico.

Eddie Arcaro won his first Kentucky Derby in 1938 aboard Lawrin. He is tied with Bill Hartack for most Derby wins at five, and has the most wins in the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes with six. He won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1941 on Whirlaway and again in 1948 on Citation.

Arcaro also won the Grade I Suburban Handicap eight times, the Wood Memorial Stakes nine times and the Jockey Club Gold Cup on ten occasions. In international competitions, at Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Arcaro won the 1953 Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious race and the oldest race in North America, and at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland, the 1954 Washington, D.C. International against the best from Europe.

In 1953 Eddie Arcaro was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, and in 1958 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Active in jockey affairs, Arcaro was a driving force behind the creation of the Jockeys' Guild. He retired in 1962 because of severe bursitis in his arm. He ended his career having competed in 24,092 races and having won 4,779 with record setting earnings of $30,039,543. For a time he worked as a television commentator on racing and then as a public relations officer for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, before retiring to a home in Miami, Florida.

Eddie Arcaro died in 1997. His body was cremated and his ashes were inurned in the columbarium at Miami's Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery.

Today, he is one of the most well known jockeys in history of horse racing.

Wikipedia Bio

Flood Meeting 10/16/2007

We just received an e-mail from the Middle Village Maspeth Civic Association alerting us of their next meeting. More importantly, it appears that the MVMCA was able to get the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to address the community.

It looks like this new civic association can get individuals to their meeting who can help our community!

Great job!

DATE: Tuesday, October 16^th 2007

TIME: 7:30pm

LOCATION: Our Lady of Hope auditorium

61-21 71^st Street

Local Group Calling for Middle Village Maspeth Tea Party?

We received another letter (reprinted below) from the Sons and Daughters of Middle Village and Maspeth. They are calling on local businesses to stop advertising in certain publications or they will start throwing the tea overboard.

THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MIDDLE VILLAGE AND MASPETH

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The below listed companies or individuals are being asked to stop advertising in the Juniper Berry and the Forum West. We know that respectable businesses would refrain from advertising in publications that promote hatred, divisiveness and dissent within our communities. If the below businesses continue to advertise in the Juniper Berry and the Forum West we ask that our neighbors stop using their services or patronizing their establishments. It is our constitutional right to call for a boycott of businesses that refuse to stop advertising with these publications.

Implant & Cosmetic Dental Care, PLLC, RCN Telecom Services, Starship Valero, London Lennies, Connolly’s Corner, State Bank of Long Island, Cross County Federal Savings Bank, Artistic Carper, Pioneer Supermarkets, C-Spa, Michaels Funeral Home, Christ the King, Maspeth Dry Cleaners, Artis Drugs, Dom Scala Baseball Camps, Curves, Moves & Motion, State Farm Insurance Companies, Deluxe Windows Inc., Jalco, Silver Barn Farms, Dr. Barry Mensch D.D.S P.C, Met FoodMarkets, Columbia Bros. Collision Repair, Bauer’s Bake Shop, Hillebrand Funeral Homes, Foxy Florals & Foxy Lady, Four Ones Taxi, Andy’s Deli, Andrew’s Pizza, Ace Wine and Liquors, Acupuncture Health Services, Anthony Como esq., Commerce Bank, Sharp Vision, Eliot Hill Barber Shop, Enchanted Florist, Zum Stammtisch, Rashachy Salon & Spa, Pace Tire and Diagnostic Gemini Automotive Care, Noel’s Air Conditioning, Bayview Restaurant and Catering Hall, Eddie’s Appliance Repair, IDA Contracting, Magic Carpet, Preferred Carpet Cleaning, P.C.S Carpet Cleaning, L & B Sanyo Cement, Thousand Island Spa, Best Body Work, Super Clean Home Maintenance, Pellegrino Computer Repair, Moon Shine Construction Co., Papocono Builders, Mike’s Roofing, Ajax Roofing, Nick “The Tile Man”, Allstate Tree and Stub.

Local businesses should spend their advertising dollars with reputable, respectable and honorable publications. Please help our community put an end to the constant turmoil and strife being caused by the Juniper Berry and the Forum West.


Sincerely,

The Sons and Daughters of Middle Village Maspeth

Keep Curtis and Kuby and Send Imus to the Isthmus of Obscurity

Don Imus may return to the airwaves in early December. Remarkably, this comes less than a year after the ancient shock jock was fired from WFAN for making racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

It is rumored that Imus will be taking over WABC's morning drive time slot currently occupied by Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby. The deal is likely to be announced by the end of the week.

Curtis and Kuby offer a balanced program with Curtis on the right and Kuby on the left. Giving back Imus his own radio show will mean that New Yorkers will be subjected to his stale and mundane rhetoric. Curtis and Kuby have energy, great chemistry and offer something to those on both sides of the political spectrum.


Say Yes to Curtis and Kuby and let’s send Imus back to the ranch!

Just our opinion

Famous Queens Resident Series, Part XVIII

Cyrus Vance - From Flushing, he was Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter.

Cyrus Vance was Secretary of State under U.S. president Jimmy Carter, holding the office from 1977 until he resigned in 1980. Vance resigned his post because he disagreed with a military plan to rescue U.S. citizens being held hostage in Tehran, Iran (the plan was carried out and failed). A lawyer, Vance had also been a long-time official in the Department of Defense, a veteran of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations (1960-68).

After leaving Carter's cabinet, Vance returned to his law practice, but in the early 1990s he again participated in diplomatic missions in Croatia and Bosnia.

Before his death he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease.

Wikipedia: Cyrus Vance

The Noose, “The Ugly Symbol of Bigotry”

First it was President Robert Holden of the Juniper Park Civic Association who felt that it was “ok” and their First Amendment right to use a noose to convey a message at a recent rally. Now Columbia University is under attack by racists.

A hangman’s noose was left hanging on the door of a black professor’s office at Columbia University Teachers College which has prompted a hate-crime investigation and drawing parallels to the “Jenna Six” controversy.

Here are some of the quotes printed in the Daily News story from people concerned about the use of the noose:

“The ugly symbol of bigotry targeted Dr. Madonna Constantine”

“This is a cowardly, despicable act”

“…the noose-emblematic of lynchings of blacks in the Old South”

“….a hateful act”

“I’m upset, but I am not surprised. I think it’s just a reflection of what’s going on in America”

“It’s disturbing, it’s not the type of thing you’d ever think would happen here or should happen anywhere”

On October 3^rd, the Patriots posted an article,
“The Noose Conjures Feelings of Hate Violence and Racism”

In the article the Patriots asked that the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall use her authority to remove individuals from community boards who condone the use of intimidation, hate and fear.

We respect the job that Borough President Marshall has done for Queens and we hope that she stands up to the bullies and hate mongers in our community!

Councilman Oddo Shows the Norwegians the F&*^% Door!

Congratulations to Councilman Jimmy Oddo for seeing through the stupid Norwegian pranksters and throwing them the f*&^ out of his office.

It is about time that a politician shows some ba77s and puts these anti-American a$$holes in their place.

No wonder it is a huge You Tube hit. Americans are clamoring for some elected official to tell these anti-American morons to f*&^ off!

Traffic Nightmare in Middle Village

The city’s plan to reconstruct a portion of Eliot Avenue is creating a traffic nightmare for local residents. The four-month project, to widen the avenue and add a 5-foot sidewalk on its north side between Mount Olivet Crescent and 67th Street was being conducted between the hours of 9pm and 6am but starting on Oct 6th the roadway has been closed around the clock.

Residents are screaming that the closure of the road is causing massive delays and intense aggravation. The Patriots have received numerous e-mails complaining about the closure of the avenue. Parents driving their children to school today reported 20 minute delays in getting their children to school (PS 49, PS 58, IS 73, PS 87, PS 128, PS 153, Our Lady of Hope and St. Stans have all reported problems getting to school)

In addition, commuters who take local buses to get to work experienced extensive delays trying to get to their destination. One individual stated that he will have to leave 40 minutes early tomorrow in order to get to work on time.

There were many uniformed traffic officers directing cars at various locations throughout Middle Village. However, many feel that more officers are needed to assist in moving traffic more quickly during the closure of Eliot Avenue between the two cemeteries. Our sources state that the roadway will be closed around the clock until the 15^th so be prepared for the nightmare.

A wonderful Message...

This was printed in this week's Queens Times (and worthy of reprinting) and we feel that reading the message below will you give you a chance to reflect on what is really important in life.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.


We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space.


We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.


These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.


Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.


Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.


Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.



We hope you enjoyed this as much as we have and hope you have a wonderful weekend!!


See you on Monday!



~P. Henry

Spitzer is Spitting on Security

Governor Spitzer wants to give illegal immigrants legal identity documentations which would reward their criminal act. The driver’s license has become THE form of identity not only in New York but throughout the country. Moreover, a valid drivers license is the avenue for obtaining other important government, business and private documents.

Allowing ILLEGAL aliens to obtain a driver’s license spitz in the face of reason in this post 9/11 world!

Governor Spitzer wants to make accommodations to criminals who have violated our immigrations laws and penalized those who are American citizens. No longer will out drivers license mean anything. We will be forced to get additional forms of identification to prove our legal status. We might be forced to carry around a passport or get a bar code imprinted on our foreheads or get implanted with computer chips!

Hey Eliot, please remember that 18 of the 19 terrorists who were responsible for 9/11 had valid driver's licenses before hijacking the planes that crashed and killed thousands of Americans. I know Governor Spitzer wants to lower auto insurance and feels giving illegal immigrants valid driver's licenses is the way to do it, however, I think more Americans would like to lower the chances for another terrorist attack.

The Noose Conjures Feelings of Hate, Violence and Racism

Unfortunately, a few local residents (Bob Holden, Bob Doocey, Jerry Rotundi and JPCA Execs) feel that the display of the noose is a perfectly acceptable way to get your point across and should be protected under the First Amendment.

However, the majority of intelligent people feel that the noose conjures up feelings of hate, violence and racism. Recently, in Nassau County, Law enforcement officials from Nassau County and the U.S. Department of Justice have launched a joint task force to investigate an incident in which a hangman's noose was left in the locker room of the Hempstead Police Department. --Newsday Article: Feds join Hempstead noose investigation

In addition, Grambling State University is investigating whether the faculty at the University’s elementary lab school went too far in a teaching lesson about racism when a teacher placed a noose around a female kindergartener’s neck.
--GSU president: Noose investigation should end Wednesday (Shreveport Times).

In another story, Army officials are trying to determine who tied a noose to a utility pole in the industrial area of the Anniston Army Depot.
--Noose found on utility pole at Army Depot. (Journal Gazette)

According to an article in the Black Star, Jena Six DA’s Odious Op-Ed the author feels that the display of the noose in August of 2006 had a contributing factor to the racial violence that occurred creating the Jena Six tragedy - Walters totally misses the point the woman and other critics have been trying to convey—that had the justice system, including DA Walters, intervened in a timely and forceful manner with the school system after the noose-hanging incident of August 2006, the beating of Justin Barker in December might never have occurred. For readers who are unfamiliar with the noose incident: it happened after Black students at Jena High School had sat underneath a tree that had been used by whites—provoking the criticism that the school had tolerated the existence of a “whites only” tree.

Rather than reflecting on what the marcher might have meant, Walters writes lamely, and unconvincingly, after the fact, “I cannot overemphasize how abhorrent and stupid I find the placing of the nooses on the schoolyard tree in late August 2006. If those who committed that act considered it a prank, their sense of humor is seriously distorted. It was mean-spirited and deserves the condemnation of all decent people.”

These are all recent stories condemning the use of a noose to get a point across. However, Robert Holden, Bob Doocey, Jerry Rotundi and JPCA executive board want you to believe that it is a perfectly acceptable form of free speech. We at the Patriots feel that the display of the noose is a vile symbol of hate and racism.

I wonder what would have happened if the poster that Holden allowed to be displayed at his rally called for the lynching of prominent African American officials? Would Robert Holden still be allowed to sit on community board 5 and reside over the JPCA?




Things that make
you go hmmmmmmmm....

Celebrity Look-a-Likes...

The Forum West(crap) does a feature called Celebrity look-a-likes, so we thought we'd do our own version.

Enjoy the remarkable similarities!

Liberace and Avella have a lot in common, besides the resemblance, like Liberace, Tony travels from town to different districts entertaining us all with his outlandish antics.

I scream for Ice Cream!

Like every evil minded maniac (or florist), each needs a mini-me.

A face only a mother could love and we prefer to see the mutt on the right on a shorter leash

Gallagher Refuses Plea Bargain Deal

According to a New York Post Article, Councilman Gallagher has turned down a plea deal that would keep him out of jail. Under the rejected offer, Gallagher would have admitted to felony assault, but not to a sex crime.

This recent offer could mean that the weak evidence against Gallagher will not give prosecutors the ability to persuade a jury to convict. Moreover, the refusal of the plea bargain to keep Gallagher out of jail is a clear indication that the councilman is confident that he will be vindicated.

The Patriots admire both his courage and his resolve in proving his innocence.

Sad Day At Shea

The Mets have the dubious honor of being the all time Amazin Choke Team in Major League history by blowing a 7 game division lead with 17 games left to play. There is really not much more to write than what the papers have printed.

All we want to say is that the Mets once again broke their fans' hearts and the 2007 team has provided the most devastating disappointment the Shea faithful have experienced in decades.


In the off season:

1. Randolph either gets replaced or learns how to motivate players
2. Develop some character, energy and fight attitude in the clubhouse
3. Minaya gets rid of the dead weight and old guys
4. Send Glavine back to Atlanta because he never really left the south
5. Rebuild the bullpen
6. Make Wagner the new equipment manager
7. Hope that the young guys mature and become better ballplayers
8. Reyes learns that while in a batting slump and beating a team 9-0, you refrain from doing stupid hand shakes on the field.
9. Teach the players the difference between to, too and two
10. When in doubt run it out
11. Send Ricky Henderson packing
12. Wally Backman becomes new manager?
    

What do you think the Mets need to do in the off season??

Famous Queens Resident Series, Part XVII

Tom Seaver - The famous Mets pitcher once lived on 215th Street in Bayside and on 60th Ave. in Flushing.

Rookie of the Year
Seaver spent one season with the Jacksonville Suns of the International League, then joined New York in 1967. He won 16 games for the last-place Mets, with 18 complete games, 170 strikeouts, and a 2.76 E.R.A., all Mets records to that point, and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the 1967 All-Star Game, and got the save by pitching a scoreless 15th inning. In 1968 he won 16 games again, and recorded over 200 strikeouts for the first of nine consecutive seasons; but the Mets moved up only one spot in the standings, to ninth.

The "Miracle Mets" season
In 1969, Seaver and the Mets completed a remarkable season, coming from the depths of the National League to win their first World Series championship. Seaver won a league-high 25 games and his first National League Cy Young Award.

On July 9, before a crowd of over 59,000 at New York's Shea Stadium, Seaver threw 8 1/3 perfect innings against the division-leading Chicago Cubs . Then, rookie backup outfielder Jimmy Qualls lined a clean single to left field, breaking up Seaver's perfect game. The next batter hit into a double play, ending the game. In the first-ever NLCS game, Seaver outlasted Atlanta's Phil Niekro for a sloppy 9-5 victory. Seaver was also the starter for the Mets' first World Series game, but lost a 4-1 decision to the Baltimore Orioles' Mike Cuellar. Seaver then pitched a complete-game, 10-inning win in Game Four to put the Mets on the brink of their first championship.

At year's end, Seaver was presented with both the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year, and Sports Illustrated magazine's " Sportsman of the Year" award.

Continued excellence
On April 22, 1970, Seaver set a modern major league record by striking out the final 10 San Diego Padres batters of the game. In addition to his 10 consecutive strikeouts, Seaver finished the game with 19 strikeouts, tying Steve Carlton 's major league record for a nine-inning game.[5] (The record was later eclipsed by 20-strikeout games by Kerry Wood, Randy Johnson, and twice by Roger Clemens.) Just four days earlier, Nolan Ryan had tied the former Mets record for K's in one game, which had been 15.

Seaver had three more twenty-win seasons (20 in 1971, 21 in 1972, and 22 in 1975) and two more Cy Young Awards ( 1973 and 1975) with the Mets. He was the runner-up for the award in 1971. 1971 was arguably his best year, when he led the league in ERA ( 1.76) and strikeouts (289 in 286 innings) while going 20-10. However, the sportswriters voted Ferguson Jenkins of the Chicago Cubs the Cy Young Award, due to his league-leading 24 wins, 325 innings pitched, and exceptional control numbers. Seaver himself states 1971 was his best season. [citation needed]

Between 1970 and 1976, Seaver led the National League in strikeouts six of the seven seasons, finishing third in 1975. Seaver also won three ERA titles as a Met. A famous quote about Seaver is attributed to Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson : "Blind men come to the park just to hear him pitch."

Bye-bye, Big Apple
By 1977, the free agency period had begun and contract negotiations between Mets ownership and Seaver were not going well. Longtime New York Daily News columnist Dick Young regularly wrote negative columns about Seaver's "greedy" demands. When Young wrote an unattributed story claiming that Seaver was being goaded by his wife to ask for more money because she was jealous of Nolan Ryan 's wife, Seaver had had enough and demanded a trade away from New York.

In what New York's sports reporters dubbed "the Midnight Massacre", Mets General Manager M. Donald Grant sent Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977 for Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn, and Dan Norman. He finished the 1977 season with 21 wins by going 14-3 with Cincinnati, including an emotional 5-1 win over the Mets in his return to Shea Stadium. Seaver struck out 11 in the return, and also hit a double. Seaver also received a lengthy ovation at the 1977 All-Star Game, which was held in New York's Yankee Stadium .

His departure from New York sparked a massive fan revolt. Attendance plummeted, and Shea Stadium earned the nickname "Grant's Tomb."

After having thrown five one-hitters for New York, including three no-hitters that were broken up in the 9th inning, Seaver finally recorded a 4-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 16, 1978 at Riverfront Stadium. It was the only no-hitter of his professional career.

Seaver was 75-46 during his time in Cincinnati. He was a close runner-up for the 1981 Cy Young Award, and was voted 3rd and 4th in two other seasons.

Return to New York
After the 1982 season on December 16, 1982, Seaver was traded back to the Mets, for Charlie Puleo, Lloyd McClendon, and Jason Felice. On April 5, 1983, he tied Walter Johnson's major league record of 14 Opening Day starts, shutting out the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0. (He made two more such starts with the Chicago White Sox in 1985 and 1986 for a record total of 16 opening day assignments.) There wouldn't be many more highlights for Seaver that year, though he pitched better for the 1983 Mets than his 9-14 record indicated. [citation needed]

300 wins
Seaver and the Mets were stunned on January 20, 1984 when he was claimed in a free-agent compensation draft by the Chicago White Sox. The team (especially GM Frank Cashen) had incorrectly assumed that no one would pursue a high-salaried, 39-year-old starting pitcher, and left him off the protected list. Faced with either reporting to the White Sox or retiring, Seaver chose the former.

Seaver pitched two and a half seasons in Chicago, crafting his last shutout on July 19, 1985 against the visiting Indians. In an anomaly, Seaver won two games on May 9, 1984. Seaver pitched the 25th and final inning of a game suspended the day before, picking up the win in relief, before starting and winning the day's regular-scheduled game. This unexpected win set up one of Seaver's most memorable moments.

On August 4, 1985, Seaver won his 300th victory at New York against the Yankees, throwing a complete game. (Coincidentally, it was Phil Rizzuto Day — Seaver would later become Rizzuto's broadcast partner for Yankee games.) After Seaver's 298th win, a reporter had pointed out to White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk that following his upcoming start in Boston, Seaver's next scheduled start would be in New York, and that the possibility existed that he might achieve the mark there. Fisk emphatically stated that Seaver would win in Boston, and then would win his 300th-- which is just what came to pass.

Seaver almost returned to the Mets down the stretch, as Frank Cashen was poised to make a trade, but manager Davey Johnson vetoed the idea. He ended his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1986, traded at mid-season for Steve Lyons. Red Sox pitcher and future star Roger Clemens has claimed he learned more about pitching from Seaver's brief stint with the Red Sox than he did from any pitching coach in his career, and attributes his change from a "thrower" to a "pitcher" to Seaver. [citation needed] Seaver's 311th and last win came on August 18 , 1986 against the Minnesota Twins . At the time of his retirement Seaver was third on the all-time strikeout list (3,640), trailing only Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton. His lifetime ERA of 2.86 was third among starting pitchers in the "live-ball" era, behind only Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax. ( Pedro Martinez has since recorded a lower ERA.)

A knee injury prevented him from appearing against the Mets in the World Series but Seaver received among the loudest ovations during player introductions prior to Game One. The Red Sox released him following the 1986 season. Seaver briefly tried to make a comeback with the Mets in 1987 while their pitching staff was decimated by injuries, but retired after being shelled in an exhibition start against the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Tidewater Tides , saying, "I've used up all the competitive pitches in my arm!" The Mets retired his uniform number 41 in 1988. As of 2007, Seaver remains the only Met player to have his uniform number retired. Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges had their numbers retired as Met managers, and Jackie Robinson (never affiliated with the Mets) had his number retired by all teams. Their numbers-- 14 (Hodges), 37 (Stengel), 41 (Seaver), and 42 (Jackie Robinson)-- are posted in large numerals on the outfield fence at Shea Stadium.

Hall of Fame
Tom Seaver's number 41 was retired by the New York Mets in 1988

Seaver was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1992. He received the highest-ever percentage of votes with 425 of 430 ballots ( 98.84%), surpassing Ty Cobb 's 98.23%, and falling just five votes short of an unanimous selection. Seaver is the only player enshrined in the Hall of Fame with a Mets cap on his plaque.

Seaver was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1992, the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 1999, Seaver ranked 16th on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, the only player to have spent a majority of his career with the Mets to make the list. That year, he was also a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Baseball purists often compare him to Christy Matthewson for his combination of raw power, pinpoint control, and, perhaps most of all, an intense scrutiny of his own performance, as well as that of his opponents. An excellent hitting pitcher, Seaver hit 35 home runs during his career.

Hank Aaron stated that Seaver was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. Ironically, Seaver approached Aaron before his first All-Star Game in 1967 and asked Aaron for his autograph. Seaver felt the need to introduce himself to Aaron, as he was certain "Hammerin' Hank" would not know who he was. Aaron replied to Seaver, "Kid, I know who you are, and before your career is over, I guarantee you everyone in this stadium will, too."

In an ESPN poll among his peers, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Jim Palmer, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Bert Blyleven, and Don Sutton all agreed Seaver was "the best" of their generation of pitchers.

On September 28, 2006, Seaver was chosen as the "Hometown Hero" for the Mets franchise by ESPN.

Courtesy of www.wikipedia.com