[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E659-E660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   JULIAN AND ELISE WAGER HONORED FOR ENTIRE FAMILY'S COMMITMENT TO 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 22, 1995
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues two of my constituents who exemplify what it means to be 
concerned, community activists--Julian and Elise Wager.
  Mr. Speaker, contrary to some people's belief, great neighborhoods 
don't just happen. They are created through the hard work of hundreds 
and thousands of community members joining together in common cause.
  Astoria, Queens, is just such a neighborhood, and Julian and Elise 
Wager are two of the most dedicated, most caring members of the 
community. My field Julie, as he is known to his legion of friends, is 
currently the extremely capable chief of staff at the Western Queens 
Gazette--without a doubt one of New York's finest newspapers.
  But Julie's contributions to the community don't end at the 
workplace. Julie has also been president of the Steinway Street 
Merchants Association since 1976 and president of the Central Astoria 
Local Development Coalition since 1984. Under his able leadership, 
these two organizations have supported local Astoria businesses, 
preserved local jobs, and helped make Astoria the vibrant, wonderful 
community it is today.
  Elise Wager also has a remarkable record of community involvement. In 
fact, until just recently, Elise was the executive director of Queens 
Overall Economic Development, a capacity in which she served for almost 
15 years. She has now returned to Adelphi University where she is 
pursuing her masters in social work. I know that Queens Overall 
Economic Development was sad to lose her leadership, but Adelphi has 
truly gained a special person. [[Page E660]] 
  Of course Julie and Elise's greatest contributions to the world came 
in the form of their two lovely daughters Adrian and Stacey. Both 
Adrian and Stacey are now married and have moved away from Astoria, but 
I know they have brought their parents' commitment to community 
betterment to their respective homes in Arlington, VA, and Hannacroix, 
NY.
  In fact, I am particularly pleased to announce that the Wager family 
has recently grown by two members. Adrian Wager-Zito and her husband 
Michael Zito, are the new parents of a baby girl, Francesca Barrett 
Zito; Stacey Wager-Pacuk and her husband Edward Pacuk, are also the 
parents of a baby girl, Rebecca Grace Pacuk.
  Therefore, it seems appropriate to me, as the Wager family has 
embarked upon a new generation, to request that my colleagues take a 
moment to salute two members of my community who have given so much of 
themselves for the betterment of others: Julie and Elise Wager--
community activists, caring professionals, committed citizens, and, of 
course, proud grandparents.


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