By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

In the middle of a hectic, crazy-paced effort to put together the Tribune’s “Best of Queens 2002” special glossy edition, I sat down to try to contribute something a little different.

I’d like to throw out the rules and the standard book and just let forth with a stream of consciousness of my best — old and new — of my borough Queens.

Order doesn’t matter. Omissions should not be viewed as slights. The list is not complete. Herein is a snapshot in time — July 4th, 2002 — of my thoughts of the moment of some of the “Best of Queens 2002.”

THE BEST OF THE FUTURE

So they’re groundbreaking in Arverne this week. A massive residential-plus development we’ve been hearing about for decades is about to become a reality. Vacant land will become home to thousands of people. Waterfront property shall no longer remain barren but offer backyard and neighborhood vistas to many Queens residents – old and new. I don’t know the details of the project — the Tribune is sure to share the development of the development with you. But to Benjamin Development, the visionaries and the builders who are beginning to make this dream a reality: you are embarking on the best of what is to come in Queens. We welcome your efforts. We anticipate your success. We share in your dream.  

QUEENS’ BEST NEW PUBLICISTS

He’s an old friend. He’s a skilled people person. He’s part politician, part fundraiser, part networker and the consummate image-maker. Great Neck’s Robert Zimmerman and his partner Ron Edelson have spun their successes from the East End of Long Island all the way to Washington, D.C.

Robert was Al Gore’s New York chair during the Presidential election. Zimmerman Edelson, their 21-person Great Neck based PR, Marketing and Advertising Agency, has represented clients from Benjamin Development to Lockheed Martin, from LIPA to school districts and villages across Long Island. However, in my long relationship with the guys from Great Neck Plaza, I’ve never known them to be handling clients in Queens.

Edelson

Not so anymore. In addition to a new medical facility they are representing in Astoria, Zimmerman and Edelson is the PR firm of the developers of Arverne. Overnight, they have become cutting-edge Queens.

They are the best small firm image-makers I’ve ever seen. Robert, Ron and Co. welcome to Queens.

THE BEST ROLE MODEL

Thomson & Schenkler

Terri Thomson is my friend and a role model for all NYC children. She served selflessly as the Queens member of the Board of Education. She was the major reason that this city recognized that Queens had far too few seats for our school children. The Citicorp Government Relations Veep threw herself into her “part time” Board of Ed. job. Spending fulltime hours learning, sharing, growing, advocating and building a network to champion the cause of Queens and New York school children, Terri exemplified the pure principle of public service. Often she was the swing vote on the Board. More often she was the consensus builder. Terri Thomson is not running for public office. She had nothing personal to gain other than the satisfaction of doing a job the best she could.

As the newly-structured Board of Education under Mayoral control replaces the old Board, we salute Terri for being the best role model for the kids of Queens.

BEST NEW ELECTED OFFICIAL

This one isn’t easy... there are many. But with the impressive class of new talent in the City Council, Leroy Comrie has risen to the top. His hard work, his quiet and thoughtful demeanor, his accessibility and his great big heart have made him the chosen leader of the Queens delegation as well as a key part of Council leadership. He is admired by his constituents, his colleagues, his party and just about everyone else who comes in contact with him. The future looks real bright for Leroy. Keep your eye on him.

BEST COLLEGE

This is not a competition. My alma mater, Queens College, gave me a first rate education for free. It is no longer free — hasn’t been for a while. However, for what is a pittance compared to schools of equivalent quality, Queens continues to offer – or maybe it is offering again – a first-rate college experience. It is indeed the jewel of CUNY and does our borough proud.

My memories of student politics and newspapers, of AEPi (if you were a brother in the mid 60s, email me) and friends perhaps are even more vivid than the thinking and learning skills I acquired there.

This borough is rich with quality educational institutions, including first rate St John’s U and other CUNY institutions — York, LaGuardia and Queensboro, as well as a myriad of other higher ed. programs that offer wonderful nourishment for the mind.

THE BEST NEW DESSERT

It’s not brand new but new to a batch of Queens neighborhoods. We lived on it last summer. Ralph’s Ice’s, the only true delicacy originating – from Staten Island – has come to Queens. With stores on 41st right off Bell, on Austin Street and on Union Turnpike in Glen Oaks it’s worth a try. Now take it from someone who has sampled every chocolate-related flavor, the Chocolate Cookies and Cream is by far the best new summer desert since  ice cream. If you stop by the Bayside store off Bell, ask for Sandy and tell him Mike sent you.

BEST PLACE FOR A BAT MITZVAH

If you’re a regular reader of my column, you already know that two weeks ago my daughter celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at a glorious party at Caffé on the Green. Joe Franco’s restaurant has long been a favorite lunch spot of mine, as well as of many of the movers and shakers of our borough. The restaurant service, ambiance and food compliment the beautiful setting on the Clearview Golf Course on Willets Point Boulevard at the foot of the Throgs Neck Bridge.

Now, I’ve been to affairs in their upstairs catering facility and have always found it impressive. However, this time it was mine. Lil and I shared all the worries that hosts have. The beautiful affair began with an elegant outdoor cocktail party and things got better as the day went on. Helen, the catering manager; Tracey, the party planner; Keith, the maitre ‘d; and especially Louise, our waitress, went that extra step.

With the food, the service, and the extra touches: you can’t go wrong.

BEST NEW BANK IN QUEENS

If setting the standard for customer service still means anything, State Bank of Long Island Chairman Tom Goldrick’s has raised the bar several notches. New Hyde Park houses the corporate headquarters of the small bank with lots of style. However, although their name has always said Long Island, they excluded us folks on the western part – in Queens.

Not anymore. Last year, Tom made his move and has quickly opened three small branches that have catered to business customers in a small town style that has been missing too long from our big City borough.

State Bank recognized Queens as a vibrant and vital market place.

Welcome to Queens.

MEMORIES: BEST PLACE FOR FUN

Adventurer’s Inn was the best place in the world for a teenager in Queens. The rides, the arcade, the fun are long gone, replaced by a movieplex which is part of the College Point development offering the people of Queens anything their collective hearts could desire. Anything that is, except an amusement park. There are no amusement parks left in our borough which was once home to Kiddy City, Fairyland and Adventurer’s Inn. Even distant Freedomland gave way to Co-op City. Alas, modern economy seems to dictate more profitable uses for our real estate so they’ve taken the meccas of joy we knew as kids and turned them into commercially viable establishments.

But they can’t take away the memories. We’ll hold fast to the great times at Adventurer’s.

MEMORIES: BEST EXPERIENCE

The ’64 World’s Fair was an amusement park, an educational institution, a feeding frenzy, and Disneyworld (before Disneyworld existed) right in our backyard. It was a milestone for Queens. It caused the modernization of our roads and airports. It brought with it Shea Stadium and the Mets; it put Queens and Flushing Meadows back on the map; and it changed the face of our park and our borough.

To us it offered days and nights of delight.

Amazement, wonderment and awe were just a bus or train ride from any Queens kid’s home.

There is no single event that has had a greater impact on our borough. And there are no greater memories of  Queens experiences than those we had at the ’64 World’s Fair.

MEMORIES: BEST QUEENS TEAM

1969 Mets! Perhaps the best team anywhere, ever.  I’m a dreamer!

MEMORIES: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
P.S. 165, EDITH BERGTRAUM SCHOOL

We moved to Queens when I was in the fourth grade. It was PS 165 that introduced me to all those things that one learned as a Queens school kid in the formative years. Education was also made real by Mrs. Goldberg — if you remember her, email me.

My special memories became even more special a year later, when School District 25 renamed P.S. 165, the Edith Bergtraum School in honor of my aunt who spent years championing the cause of education for our borough’s kids.

THE BEST NEWSPAPER TEAM

No, I’m not going to name them all. However, some of the folks that were instrumental in putting together this issue and every weekly issue truly represent the most talented people our borough has to offer. Most of the staff hails from Queens.

The editorial department is gifted, inquisitive and a group of honest hard-working journalists led by Tamara Hartman, our chief with ink in her veins and Queens in her heart. Stephen McGuire, Angela Montefinise and a group of new upcoming stars will offer the people of this borough a mirror to reflect on their Queens experience and an occasional nudge to help you think about its meaning.

The advertising department is as talented as any I’ve worked with in my 23 years doing this newspaper stuff.

The guys and gals in classifieds have been with me forever. They are the backbone of this publication.

The art department is terrific and talented. Mom Lianne is on leave caring for the newest Tribbie, Alyssa Rose. Shiek Mohamed has filled in without missing a beat. He’s directed and spearheaded a team of gifted, hard-working folks.

Mike Nussbaum, my occasional crutch, conscience, back-up and always my friend, has been doing this with me for 13 years. Figure he’ll get it right sooner or later.

The rest of the crew makes us complete. I’m grateful to them all.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

We promise some exciting new announcement very shortly. We promise to be here weekly offering you the best and worst of Queens. We promise to exercise our first amendment rights with utmost responsibility and to be committed to providing the news to the people of our borough, Queens.

Queens: “The Best Place on earth.” Its people are the real “Best of Queens.”

We salute you.