For much of the 20th century, soda fountains were found in drugstores, candy shops, five-and-dimes, and ice cream parlors. Today, the American staple is rarely seen, but you can still get a milkshake, egg cream, or even a Lime Rickey as if it was yesterday in Forest Hills.
Thanks to the commitment of generations of the Citrano family, Eddie’s Sweet Shop on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills still offers a taste of those bygone days.
Formerly Witt’s, it holds the distinction as the longest continuously operating and most intact soda fountain establishment in the city.
Pharmacist Jacob Baur launched the Liquid Carbonic Company in 1888, making it possible for any aspiring soda jerk to purchase a soda fountain. By the 1920s, it was the norm for drugstores to have a soda fountain.
When Prohibition began in 1919 and bars were shuttered, soda fountains were a go-to place for socializing.
“The soda fountain is the most valuable, most useful, most profitable, and altogether most beneficial business building feature assimilated by the drugstore in a generation,” read an article by John Somerset in a June 1920 edition of “Drug Topics.” “The bar is dead, the fountain lives, and soda is king!”
However, with the widespread availability of ice cream, the popularity of soft drinks, and the rise of fast food, soda fountains dwindled in the 1970s.
Richard Delaney lived near Sutton Hall Pharmacy on Ascan Avenue, a staple of his childhood. He praised its warm and cozy ambiance, and said the soda fountain brought people together
“When I was in grade school at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, we got out at three and would have Cokes or sundaes.” he said. “One of the pharmacists, Mr. Drapkin, was especially a wonderful person. Once you started going, you kept returning, since the environment was so pleasant.”
Lucy Brown Karwoski could often be spotted at Woolworth’s at 63rd Drive and Queens Boulevard. She recalled ice cream cones with two scoops for a dime, and up to five scoops for a quarter.
“You could mix your flavors and get sprinkles on top,” she said. “Can you imagine a kid walking home with that many scoops?”
Justine Mastanduno is currently the manager of Kew Gardens Cinemas. She recalled shopping at Woolworth’s with her mom.
“The counter area had a distinct, sweet aroma to it, and I only smell that again when I open the cabinet at our concessions at the cinema,” she said. “I can close my eyes and breathe it in, and I’m instantly transported back to the red vinyl covered stool next to my mom at the Woolworth’s counter.”
She considers soda fountains part of a bygone era of simpler times.
“We would sit, chat, and giggle with whoever we were with, because we were 100 percent present,” Mastanduno said. “There were no phones or apps to take us out of the sweet moments.”
As a child, Joy Kurtz lived near Schattin’s on 76th Road at Queens Boulevard.
“There was nothing better than walking up the block on a warm summer’s evening to get a vanilla fudge ice cream cone with sprinkles on top.”
She pointed out that shops like Schattin’s also sold “all the important stuff,” including bubble gum and baseball cards, newspapers, comic books, and sandwiches.
“All kinds of magazines were inserted into the wooden slots which lined the wall,” Kurtz said. “I can still see the brown phone booth with a seat and a well-worn directory.”
In the early 1950s, Allan Wachtel and his family moved to the new Howard Apartments on 66th Road. He and his brother Bert often went to Randy’s Luncheonette near the former Trylon Theater.
“Randy knew everyone in the neighborhood,” Wachtel said. “Randy, who looked out for my brother and I, would delight in seeing my eyes bulge when he slid the toasted pound cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in front of me. It was all for 70 cents! At the end of the week, my incredible mom would settle up, as they kept a running total.”
At Croft Drugs, which was not far from Randy’s, Wachtel delivered merchandise and prescriptions to customers. At Sam’s near the 67th Avenue subway, he was a soda jerk.
“Sam taught me the art of the egg cream and making a Lime Rickey,” he said. “The action really started around 5 p.m. at rush hour. With each subway train that arrived, we would be jammed with customers wanting Lucky Strikes, Pall Malls, and Marlboros, which were big sellers at 25 cents a pack.”
Marilyn Shurka Silk recalled Sarah & Paul’s on Austin Street and 63rd Drive.
“I bought my sidewalk chalk, comic books, and Spaulding balls there,” she said. “I brought bottles that we found on the LIRR tracks for deposit money, which we used to buy candy and twin popsicles.”
Silk said it was a simple pleasure to share ice cream with loved ones and friends in Alexander’s and Jahn’s on Queens Boulevard.
“We loved The Kitchen Sink dessert at Jahn’s,” she said. “I wish that life was that simple now.”

Local hockey fans support the Islanders in their quest to take home the NHL Stanley Cup

For the second straight year, the New York Islanders are in the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup semifinals and fans in Queens say they have been waiting patiently for the team to achieve their recent success.

“I’ve been hooked on the Islanders since the early-90’s when my father had an employee with season tickets who took me to games,” said Joe DiGangi, owner of Mario’s Meats & Deli in Middle Village, himself an Isles season ticket holder now. “It’s been mostly downs but now it’s our time to boast.”

Before last season, the “Isles” had not reached the conference finals since 1993. They won four consecutive Stanley Cup titles between 1980 and 1983, then failed to make the playoffs through long stretches. In that time, the Isles’ crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers, won the cup in 1994, and the New Jersey Devils have won three cups since 1995.

Starting in the ‘15-16 season and ending with the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the Isles played some home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The move from the aging Nassau Coliseum on Long Island was panned by critics, who cited obstructed views and an arena unfit for hockey. But the short-lived relocation did bring the Isles closer to fans from Western Queens and Brooklyn. Next season, the team will move to the brand-new UBS Arena opening at Belmont Park.

The Isles started winning after the hiring of Barry Trotz as head coach. Since then the team has made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, rallying their Queens fan base in the process.

Maspeth Federal Savings Bank, headquartered in Queens, has sponsored the Islanders for several seasons. The bank’s logo appears on the boards of the Isles home rink and in advertisements on the team’s website. “We’re so proud to sponsor the Islanders and wish them the very best of luck in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup,” said Thomas Rudzewick, the bank’s President & CEO.

Custom guitar builder Dean Gordon is a lifelong Isles fan. The Astoria resident even created a special “Isles guitar” that was raffled off to benefit the Islanders Children’s Foundation in 2017. “With the new ownership and management, I walk down the street and see Isles gear and fans,” Gordon said, “It’s fun being a part of a team making it’s stamp.”

Rego Park resident Sean McClain, a Zamboni driver, has maintained the Isles’ home ice in Brooklyn and on Long Island since 2016. “Seeing them successful is rewarding for all of us at work who make the ice surface that the pros play on. When the Isles win, it almost feels like we helped,” McClain said.

Katch, a gastropub in Astoria with many TV screens, regularly hosts the Queens chapter of the “Isles Meetup” watch parties. “The atmosphere has been electric,” said Andrew Bilder, who organizes the viewings. “There’s nothing like playoff hockey. I’m excited to watch the team go further alongside some really amazing people in a really awesome place like Katch.”

Ten-year-old Isles fan James Jano of Flushing has made a believer out of his dad, Chris, a Rangers fan for more than 40 years. “This team is showing me something,” the elder Jano, a school bus driver, said. “They have really captivated me to a point where I have actually been cheering for them eagerly. I found it very easy to wear my son’s cap.”

Joe Termine has an Isles flag hanging outside his home in Middle Village. “I’ve been a fan for 42 years and I went to one of the Pittsburgh playoff-games and one against the Bruins,” Termine said. “There are a lot of Islanders fans in Queens–more than most people realize.”

MONOPOLY Brooklyn will replace the perennial board game’s famous Atlantic City squares (from Boardwalk to Park Place) with representations of much-loved Brooklyn cultural sites, historic landmarks, and time-honored businesses. 

From June 2nd through June 23, Brooklynites can share which locations they would like to see featured on the board by emailing the official MONOPOLY Brooklyn team at brooklyn@toptrumps.com 

All submissions will be closely reviewed, tallied and considered throughout the board curation process. The Brooklyn board will also include a customized Community Chest and Chance playing cards, ensuring each detail of the game pays homage to the borough.

“Brooklyn is an unparalleled U.S. city, with an incredible number of seminal establishments and treasured sites,” Benjamin Thompson, representative from Top Trumps USA said. “Since we have just 22 squares for our game, it’s important that we create an accurate portrayal of what this dynamic community loves about their city. That’s why we’re excited for folks to submit their recommendations; we want to know what your favorite place is in exciting Brooklyn.” 

With only 22 squares on the well-known board game, local businesses from shops to restaurants and bars that Brooklynites know and love are taken into consideration. As well as featuring a variety of Brooklyn landmarks such as Prospect Park, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, Barclays Center and more!

 MONOPOLY Brooklyn will launch nationwide in November 2021, and will be available in stores and online at retail partners including Wegmans, CVS, City Chemist, and more.

The race for NYC City Council in District 26 is another crowded one, but in the field of candidates, only a few really stand out. The district is a large one that spans from the Long Island City waterfront to the BQE in Woodside and includes Sunnyside and Astoria. The district has been represented by Jimmy Van Bramer, who entered the race for Queens BP.
There are a handful of talented public leaders running for the seat, but Brent O’Leary stands out as one who not only will help the district, but has a history of helping the local community. He has an extensive track record and a dedication for public service that makes him a great fit for City Council.
A self-proclaimed “FDR-style” and “Meat & Potatoes” Democrat, Brent believes that strong social safety nets like food security, housing, and healthcare will help empower the working class that makes up a bulk of the borough.
in the midst of the devastating COVID pandemic, O’Leary helped organize a handful of beneficial programs, including a food pantry at the Mosaic Church in Sunnyside. The pantry has been a key resource for thousands of families in the area struggling to feed their families or juggle many different costs of living. O’Leary has also spent time with Woodside on the Move, Hour Children, and helped found the Hunters Point Civic Association, where he helped out thousands access housing, services, and tools to thrive.
Unlike many other politicians who brand themselves as “progressive,” O’Leary has been dedicated to the platform for the past decade. He’s the first candidate in the district to refuse all donations from real estate developers and lobbies, and is set on making sure new developments benefit those in the neighborhoods, especially in a district with so many plans and projects.
When it comes to serving the district, Brent O’Leary has been doing the work. He’s made sure to care for the people of Queens and a role in City Council seems like a perfect fit. O’Leary shows a strong desire to protect his constituents and neighborhoods, pass legislation to support the working class, and most importantly be an accessible public leader willing to handle any problem he’s faced with.

To learn more about Brent O’Leary and his campaign, visit www.olearyforcouncil.com.

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities around the world on the first Sunday in June.

The day is a celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outpouring of thanks to the medical community.

This day provides an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer – including America’s more than 16.9 million cancer survivors – to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognize those who have supported them along the way.

It is also a day to draw attention to the staggering number of new cancer cases and deaths projected for this year. In 2021, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 608,570 cancer deaths in the United States.

According to a report by the Cancer Research UK, the survival rate for people with eight of the most common cancers is more than three times higher when the disease is diagnosed early.

More cancer research data suggests that just over 80% of those with cancer survive for at least 10 years when their disease is diagnosed at stage one or two but only a quarter of those diagnosed at stage three or four live for at least a decade more. Ten-year survival is more than 90% for people whose cancer is diagnosed at stage one, compared with 5% for those whose disease is found at stage four.

In an effort to detect breast cancer as early as possible, Dr. Darren Sachs, Director of Breast Surgery at EMU Health, recommends that all women forty and over receive an annual 3D Mammogram.

“Screening mammograms provide the best chance of detecting breast cancers when they are small and treatable. If we detect breast cancers when they are small and early stage, not only are more lives saved from breast cancer death, but women are also able to undergo less extensive surgeries and system therapies,” said Dr. Sachs. 

Dr. Sachs completed medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glen Head, NY, his residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and his SSO Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the prestigious Fox Chase Cancer Center.

He is now a Surgical oncologist at EMU Health and a member of the Surgical Specialists of NY; a multi-specialty practice specializing in general surgery, founded by accomplished surgeon, Panagiotis Manolas.

Besides his work at EMU Health, Manolas is currently the Chief of General Surgery, Ambulatory and Outpatient, at Lenox Hill Hospital, a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and assistant clinical professor at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Many medical centers still offer conventional 2D mammograms, which have a history of producing unclear results, false alarms, or worse – cancer being missed.

EMU Health offers the Genius Exam; advanced 3D Mammogram technology that allows doctors to examine your breast tissue one layer at a time. The imaging system uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers or “slices” for your radiologist to review.

“3D mammography technology provides us with the best breast imaging available, allowing us to detect breast cancer as early as possible. Patient survival outcomes are improved if breast cancer is detected in its early stage,” said Dr. Sachs.

EMU Health doctors also utilize Savi Scout; a new revolutionary method for locating breast tumors. With this machine, EMU Radiologists can precisely identify the tissue that needs to be removed during surgical breast biopsies & lumpectomies.

To schedule your yearly 3D Mammogram appointment with Dr. Sachs at EMU Health, click here and fill out the appointment form, or call 718.850.4368. EMU Health is located on 83-40 Woodhaven Blvd Glendale, NY 11385.

Patients come from near-by areas like Middle Village, Kew gardens, Woodhaven, Ridgewood & Richmond Hill, however, EMU’s award winning facilities and staff are worth a trip from anywhere in Queens, Brooklyn & Manhattan.

City Council District 19, which includes College Point, Whitestone, Malba, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, North Flushing and Auburndale, has been represented by Paul Vallone since 2013. Facing term limits that prevent him from running for office again this year, the district could elect its first Republican official in over a decade.
We know Vickie Paladino would be an outspoken member of the City Council who would fight to represent her district and the values of its constituents. While some locals view her as a polarizing figure, her work in rejuvenating The Whitestone Republican club is a clear testament to her leadership skills and Paladino’s ability to garner grassroots support among conservatives.
While she has an unproven track record in terms of enacting legislation, we view Paladino’s tenacity as one of her greatest assets and something that would command attention among city officials.
John-Alexander Sakelos is a resident of Bayside and the contender to Paladino on the Republican line. While his campaign is more agenda-driven than Paladino’s, our paper didn’t get the impression that he was engaging door-to-door with voters as much as she was.
We see him as an up-and-coming Republican who is young and full of potential, but in this election Paladino’s fighting spirit and her leadership experience make her our choice.