By Katy Gagnon
Members of the Knights of Pythias at the Queensview Lodge, a fraternal group with members from Bayside and Whitestone, brought accordion music, a clown, two illustrators and a bundle of gifts to the children in celebration of all the children who had birthdays in March.”We're here so we can enjoy and have some fun,” said retired dentist and Knights of Pythias member Daniel Epstein at the start of the night's festivities.A group of some 25 kids cheered as two world-renowned children's book illustrators took the stage and began to draw silly pictures and portraits of the young patients in the audience.The children are very engaged and energetic, said illustrator Betsy Lewin, who performed at the event with her husband Ted. Betsy Lewin is best known for her work in the award-winning “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.” Ted Lewin wrote the best seller “Market!” Four children celebrated birthdays in March, but only a couple were able to attend the event. One patient, Sammy, who just turned 2, was carried to the party and laughed as an accordion player played and the group sang “Happy Birthday.”Every child at the hospital was invited to the event and received gifts regardless of his or her birthday. The group, however, will make time to celebrate all the year's birthdays with plans to hold a celebration the last Friday of every month from now on.Among the many gifts given, the Knights of Pythias donated a DVD player to the hospital and brought each child a copy of an age-appropriate DVD, including kid favorites “Casper,” “Shrek the Third” and “Hannah Montana,” said Knights of Pythias member Harold Kahn.The children also had the support of two elected officials. State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) and City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) showed up for the event.Avella, who has been a Knights of Pythias member for nearly a year, said the event was a chance for him to support “people who get together for the things that I do as an elected official.”After rounds of accordion music, animated drawings and frosted cupcakes, the children presented the organization with a plaque decorated with a pair of kid's handprints and the words “Thank you for being our champion.”The event made at least one Knights of Pythias member more grateful for his family and own children.”There's nothing more noble than helping a child,” said Paul Krolick, chancellor commander of the Queens chapter. “If you can't do anything for a child, especially an inflicted child, you can't do anything for anybody.” Reach reporter Katy Gagnon by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 174.
