Crowley, Caruana Nearly Tied In Fundraising This Period But Crowley has more than her opponent in war chest
By Anna Gustafson The Democratic incumbents running for the City Council’s 29th and 30th districts did not raise much more than their challengers in the past couple months, but Council members Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) still have more padding in their war chests. According to the most recent filings w ith the city Campaign Finance Board, Crowley landed $7,175 in contributions between May 12 and July 11 - but has raised a total of $187,588 and, after spending, has a little more than $160,000 on hand. Craig Caruana, a Republican from Middle Village who is running against Crowley, raised $7,207 this fundraising period and has received a total of $31,318 during this campaign season. After spending, he has $12,404 on hand in the race for the 30th Council District, which covers Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven. A spokesman for Crowley’s campaign, Eric Yun, said the legislator, first elected to the area in 2008, was not focusing on fundraising.
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Craig Caruana, second from left, is joined at a recent fundraiser by Tom Ognibene, left, mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, Councilman Eric Ulrich, and former U.S. Rep. Bob Turner.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, center, has landed the support of a number of unions in her campaign for re-election.
“Council member Crow ley maxxed out on her spending limit a while ago,” Yun said. “Fundraising isn’t the biggest issue. We’re very proud of all the support we’ve gotten in the city and district-wide, and we’re ready to go.” Yun said Crowley does not plan on holding any fundraisers in the near future. Caruana said he has been pleased with the financial response to his campaign. “I’m grateful for all the support and contributions I’ve received from the people in our district, many of whom have shared their
Crowley lost nearly $300,000 in discretionary funding in the budget passed last June, receiving about $380,000 - a decrease a number of political insiders attributed to the legislator’s run for Congress against now U.S. R ep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), which they said angered Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan). Meanwhile, in the race for the 29th Council District - which covers Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Maspeth, Richmond Hill and Elmhurst - Koslowitz raised $3,750 in the last filing period but has fundraised a total of
concerns,” Caruana said. “Thanks to their support, we should be about evenly matched in the fall. I look forward to listening to more voters and fighting for their needs in City Hall.” A spokesman for Caruana, Kevin Ryan, added that if “Crowley sticks the the [Campaign Finance Board] matching fund spending limits, the campaigns will be evenly matched, and it will be a spirited race. “A growing number of voters are disgusted by how low the district ranks in funding,” Ryan continued. “It’s a disgrace, and the voters are ready for a real advocate.
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$82,724 and has $30,380 on hand. Kew Gardens resident Jon Torodash, who is challenging Koslowitz on the Independence Party line, landed $720 this filing period and has raised a total of $1,915. He has $1,638 on hand. Koslowitz, who was elected in 2009, first served in the Council from 1991 to 2001 and then worked as deputy borough president. Torodash has labeled himself the “Civic Virtue” candidate because of his efforts to restore the statue that was removed from outside Queens Borough Hall in December and brought to a cemetery in Brooklyn.
For Our Lady Of Mercy Monsignor, Life Was Loving His Forest Hills Parish
Photo Courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn
Msgr. Gerald Langelier was remembered at his funeral on Friday as a man who taught others the meaning of love.
By Anna Gustafson Hundreds of people packed the pews of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills for the funeral of Msgr. Gerald “Jerry” Langelier last week, remembering the institution’s pastor of almost 30 years as a man of great heart and integrity who loved nothing more than spending time with worshippers. “Jerry was yoked not only to God and to Christ, but to the parish,” Msgr. Ronald Richardson said at the funeral of his longtime friend with whom he was ordained in 1961. “...Jerry was yoked to you, to this parish for almost 30 years - what a record in this day and age.” Langelier, 78, the pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Mercy, located on Kessel Street, died Friday, July 19. He was found unresponsive at the bottom of his pool at his home in Southold,
Long Island, just before 5 p.m., according to police. Born in Long Island City, Langelier served at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Far Rockaway, Blessed Sacrament in Jackson Heights, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Kensington before being named the pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in 1984. As pastor, he led the church, rectory, convent and school until he retired in 2007. Langelier was remembered at Friday’s funeral as a man who would go to great lengths for those he served - as well as someone who loved tradition, including faithfully watching his beloved Yankees. “I hope and pray..this loyal Yankees fan will be heard to chant, just once, ‘Let’s go Mets,’” Richardson said, drawing laughter from the large crowd. Richardson, whose parents knew Langelier’s mother and father well, garnered chuckles when he remembered his friend’s love for the color blue - an admiration which the Forest Hills parishioners fondly recollected. “One of Jerry’s great loves was the color blue,” Richardson said, smiling. “He had blue Buicks; he bought blue kitchenware; the laptop he bought was blue.” And the reason for all things blue? Laughter rippled throughout the church as Richardson remembered that Langelier’s passion for his favorite color came from being a lifelong fan of the Yankees. As someone who “helped people to know and love our traditions,” Langelier was “an example to those of us - priests and bishops - of how to be yoked to people,” Richardson said.
“From this yoking, you learn how to love,” he said. “...You learn to be a human being.” Many of his former parishioners at Our Lady of Mercy - a church founded in 1927 that now serves about 1,300 families - said they consistently felt loved by Langelier, including Forest Hills resident Pia Parham. “I lost a very good friend,” said Parham, a longtime member of the church who knew Langelier for decades. “I know he’s in a better place, but we are going to miss him here.” Langelier is survived by his brother, RobAnna Gustafson/The Forum Newsgroup ert, of St. Petersburg, Fla. He is buried in Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills was led by Msgr. Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing. Gerald Langelier for nearly three decades.
The 112th Precinct Community Council is fundraising to help support our programs during the year. Donations can be mailed to us at: P.O. Box 750917 Forest Hills, NY 11375
Donations will also be used to pay for our Night Out Against Crime on August 6. We are also accepting donations from businesses for prizes to be raffled off at the event. Please message us if you wish to donate a raffle prize. All donations will be listed in the program and on Facebook. Thank you in advance for considering helping us.
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