[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 IN HONOR OF THE WESTERN QUEENS GAZETTE

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 1997

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues the valuable contributions the Western 
Queens Gazette has made to the city of New York. Today, the Gazette 
celebrates its 15th anniversary of serving as an essential voice for 
the community.
  The Gazette was inaugurated in 1982 by a group of enthusiastic 
community activists, few of whom had any previous journalism 
experience. This group, which included the paper's original 
publishers--George Stamatiades, Roger LaGhezza, and Judy Jackson--
developed the first newspaper in a makeshift office erected in one of 
their basements. Just 19 days after they had the initial idea to 
publish a newspaper in the Queens community, the first issue of the 
paper went to press. Since that time, the Gazette has been published 
regularly. At a time when the print media has been consolidating, the 
Western Queens Gazette has found a home in a community that is hungry 
for news.
  In 1983, John Toscano and Buster Celestino purchased the paper; they 
continued to publish it until 1990 when Tony Barsamian, the Gazette's 
current publisher, took over. Under Mr. Barsamian's leadership, the 
Gazette has increasingly become the leading source of local news and 
information for the community.
  For 15 years, the Western Queens Gazette has served as an outstanding 
journalistic vehicle through which the Queens community can express 
itself. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute 
to the Western Queens Gazette on the occasion of its 15th anniversary.

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