The Queens Chronicle won one of the most prestigious journalism awards bestowed by the New York Press Association last weekend, during the organization’s annual conference in upstate Saratoga Springs.

The paper also took home five other awards, in all areas: news, advertising and design.

Dear Editor:

(An open letter to just-retired Queens Chronicle Corporate Sales Director David Abramowitz)

I read of your retirement after 29 years with The Paper and the Chronicle (“Queens Chronicle sales guru reflects,” March 7).

It brought back memories to me of your good counsel in the formulation of our Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and then our Woodhaven Business Improvement District advertisements during those many years. At that time, the paper’s owners, Susan and Stanley Merzon, also were of great assistance to our organizations and to me personally. It’s amazing David — where did the 29 years go?

I know that Mark Weidler, your publisher, and the Chronicle staff will miss you. I join them, for I will also miss you and fondly recall the 29 years of our excellent, warm working relationship. I wish you a wonderful retirement. Enjoy!

When David Abramowitz started his first day with The Paper, the Queens Chronicle’s predecessor, in January 1984, the publication’s reach was far more limited. At that time, The Paper was solely focused on South Queens and Abramowitz was hired as a sales manager assigned to Jamaica and 101st avenues.

Now, nearly 30 years, eight editions and one award-winning website later, “Dave” — as he is known around the office — has retired, ending his time at the Queens Chronicle last Thursday while reflecting on the past three decades. He also has a message to both sales representatives and businesses. It comes from the words of automobile magnate Henry Ford and was written on a Post-it note Dave kept on his desk;

Wow! The Queens Chronicle’s 18th Annual Holiday Toy Drive sure was a success. Literally hundreds of children — infants, teenagers and everyone in between — got toys, clothes and other gifts for Christmas, thanks to our readers.

Our reception area became an obstacle course as the donations piled up. The conference room looked like a miniature Toys “R” Us warehouse. Santa’s little helpers at the front desk — office manager Lisa LiCausi, our main toy drive coordinator, administrator Stela Barbu and new accounting staffer Giselle Faura — were kept more than busy receiving contributions, packing them up and ensuring they would go to the right recipients. Of course Publisher Mark Weidler got involved directly, as always, loading the gifts into his SUV and, with LiCausi, personally delivering them to many of the recipients.

Community newspapers in areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy suffered as much as any other business, with their offices flooded, computers ruined, files and mementos lost to the storm.

The Queens Chronicle, located in Rego Park, got off lucky, and was even able to open its doors to two other area papers so they could keep publishing after the storm.

The crisis brought on by Hurricane Sandy may just make this year’s Queens Chronicle Holiday Toy Drive the most important ever.

This is the 18th year the paper has sponsored a toy and gift drive for needy children in Queens, and we need your help more than ever to bring them holiday cheer. Each year hundreds of children in homeless shelters benefit from our readers’ largesse, but as everyone knows, there are hundreds of newly homeless families whose dwellings were lost to the storm.

The Queens Chronicle will cohost a debate between incumbent state Senator Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and his opponent Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18 at Our Lady of Grace Church, at 100-05 159 Ave. in Howard Beach.

The Forum newspaper and good government group Citizens Union join the Chronicle as cohosts of the debate, which will be held less than three weeks before voters go to the polls in what could be the tightest state legislative race in New York State.

The Queens Chronicle will co-host a debate between incumbent state Senator Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and his opponent Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18 at Our Lady of Grace Church, at 100-05 159 Ave. in Howard Beach.

The big day arrived last Saturday for City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), above center, and Dan Hendrick, spokesman for the New York League of Conservation Voters and a former Queens Chronicle editor-in-chief. After more than 13 years together, the couple was married at Studio Square in Long Island City.

The ceremony was performed by County Clerk Audrey Pheffer. Among the approximately 200 people in attendance was Chronicle Publisher Mark Weidler and his wife, Kim, friends of both men and strong supporters of same-sex marriage.

The big day arrived on Saturday for City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and Dan Hendrick, spokesman for the New York League of Conservation Voters and a former Queens Chronicle editor-in-chief. After more than 13 years together, the couple was married at Studio Square in Long Island City.

I am truly excited to be attending my first same-sex wedding this Saturday, when our former Editor-in-Chief Dan Hendrick marries Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. I have known both of them for about 10 years and wish them all the best in their future together.

Dear Editor:

I would like to offer kudos to the Queens Chronicle for their free ad campaign targeting employment for U.S. veterans (“Chronicle seeking to match vets with work” and “Veterans: Let us help you find work,” Editorial, June 21). By offering our veterans the chance to participate at no cost, the Chronicle sets an example for everyone in a position to help out with much needed resources.

Many publications brand themselves as community newspapers; however, that title is earned not by selling ads; it’s earned by publications that put their best foot forward in trying to improve the quality of life for their readers.

The Forum recognizes and commends the Queens Chronicle for this very important contribution they have made. As the publisher of The Forum, I know the effort and the cost that goes into organizing projects such as these. Your readers should know that their loyalty to your publication is rewarded with your best attempt to give back to the community at large.

Very few publications merit the congratulations of their peers, but I am pleased to say that the Chronicle is worthy of such congratulations, and I am proud to call its publisher, Mark Weidler, my colleague.

Editor’s note: See another article and promotional ad on the veterans’ employment initiative in this week’s edition.

Once every June for the better part of the last century, hundreds of seniors have crowded the front lawn of John Adams High School, dressed in gowns with mortarboards atop their heads. Each one left grasping a diploma — the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication.

This year, however, graduation had a much different tone. Never again would students sit on the lawn in blue and white gowns and receive diplomas from John Adams High School. When the class of 2012 walked out onto Rockaway Boulevard on Tuesday morning, the 75-year-old high school vanished into history.

The Queens Chronicle this week launched a new program designed to match veterans returning from the conflicts in the Middle East with area employers.

The initiative is called “SitWant” — military-style speak for Situation Wanted, the kind of ad a potential employee takes out, as opposed to a Help Wanted ad from an employer. In the new Chronicle initiative, the SitWant ads are being offered free to servicemen and women returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over the past few weeks, the Queens Chronicle has written an editorial, blog post and three articles about the Queens Tribune running “adult services” ads and the hiring of Multi-Media, its political consulting affiliate, by Grace Meng for Congress.

Yesterday Assemblywoman Grace Meng skirted the issue of financially supporting a political consulting firm whose close affiliate both profits from and promotes the world's oldest profession.