[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 24032] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE KIWANIS CLUB OF ASTORIA--LONG ISLAND CITY ______ HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of new york in the house of representatives Friday, October 3, 2008 Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to pay tribute to the Kiwanis of Astoria--Long Island City for its outstanding work in supporting philanthropic and community organizations serving the people of western Queens. This year, the Kiwanis Club named as its Man of the Year Panagiotis Manolas, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens. Born and educated in Greece, Dr. Manolas immigrated to America to complete his studies. Certified by the American Board of Surgery, he has developed a highly successful multi-specialty practice in general, breast and laparoscopic surgery. Named a ``New York Super Doctor'' and one of the ``Best Doctors in New York'', he is devoted to his patients, often providing his services pro bono or on a sliding scale. The Kiwanis Club is naming as its Women of the Year several deserving honorees. These include: Rose Anne Alafogiannis, past president of the Kiwanis Club and member of Queens Community Board #1, the Astoria Civic Association, SHAREing & CAREing, and a Lector for the Immaculate Conception parish; Donna Furey, an Astoria native, Kiwanis Club member, and attorney specializing in elder law who who serves as a member of the board of St. John's University School of Law Alumni Association and the Queens County Women's Bar Association and who has dedicated herself to helping local seniors; Roberta Gualtieri, a life-long Astoria resident who has served countless hours as a volunteer at the Steinway Senior Center, the Kiwanis Club, the 114th Police Precinct, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, St. John's Hospital emergency room, and with literacy programs for underprivileged youth; Laura Jean Hawkins, a longtime community activist and lecturer who served for many years as Chief of Staff to former Assemblyman Denis Butler and advocate for non-profit groups like SHAREing & CAREing, a breast and ovarian cancer support group; Teresa Jarnich, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Astoria--Long Island City and a volunteer with its Christmas Auction and Anti-Crime programs; Christine Lolas, an Athens native who immigrated to the U.S. to launch her career in the banking industry. She is active in the Kiwanis Club, the 30th Avenue Business Association, and serves on the Advisory Board of SHAREing & CAREing; Anna Kril, the founder of SHAREing & CAREing, Inc. She serves on the Board of Directors of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation, on the Executive Board of the Community Advisory Board of Elmhurst Hospital Center, as Chairperson of the Health Committee of Queens Community Board #1 in Queens, and as a member of the Kiwanis Club; Vera Martucci, who, although widowed at an early age, still devoted herself to serving others by volunteering to assist immigrants through the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and at St. John's Hospital's emergency department, the Steinway Senior Center, and P.S. 7 and P.S. 126; Charlene Perno, a Registered Nurse who serves on the Board of SHAREing & CAREing, as coordinator of New York Hospital of Queens' health fair, and who provides health education to local high schools; Linda Ann Vinci-Perno, an Astoria native who has volunteered for the Boy's Club of Queens, Ladies Auxiliary, President of St. Margaret Mary Rosary Society, and the Long Island chapter of Cancer Care; and Eartha Washington, who serves as Chair of the Board of Elmhurst Hospital and is active with the New York City Department for the Aging Advisory Board, SHAREing & CAREing, the Kiwanis Club, and the Astoria Civic Association. I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in paying tribute to these outstanding individuals for their extraordinary commitment to serving others. ____________________