FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD

A new explanation for Andrew Cuomo's big lead in polls for the State Attorney General's race may have emerged from a different poll last week: city voters seem to have decided he was a prophet before his time.

Mr. Cuomo, you may recall, during his aborted run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2002 took a drubbing in the media and among the public for deriding incumbent George Pataki as Rudy Giuliani's coat-holder rather than being a real leader in the wake of 9/11.

But the Daily News reported June 18 that a poll it commissioned by Blum and Weprin Associates of 502 New York City registered voters showed Mr. Pataki getting just 4 percent support for his bid for President. This not only placed him well behind Sen. Hillary Clinton (43 percent), ex-Mayor Giuliani (29 percent) and Mayor Bloomberg (14 percent), but left the Governor trailing the "not sure" and "none of the above" categories.

Maybe the problem for Mr. Pataki is he's been spending too much time in Iowa trying to use ethanol to gas up his slim hopes for the Republican nomination for President in 2008. Or perhaps city residents have finally bought into Mr. Cuomo's claim four years ago that the Governor - who won office by beating his father, Mario, in 1994 - isn't that inspiring.

* * *

A fundraiser to benefit a charity created in memory of two of the firefighters who perished during the World Trade Center rescue efforts will be held Saturday, July 15 at Belmont Racetrack.

The Arce/Boyle Memorial Fund, launched by the families of David Arce and Michael Boyle, childhood friends who worked at Engine Co. 33 in Manhattan, since its inception has distributed almost $100,000 to needy families. Mr. Boyle was the son of former Uniformed Firefighters' Association President Jimmy Boyle, who started the fund with his wife, Barbara, and their longtime friend and neighbor, Marge Arce.

This year's event will be held in an air-conditioned tent containing betting windows and more than 20 TV monitors on which to watch the races. There will be a 50-50 raffle and other prizes. It will begin at 12:30 p.m., a half-hour before the first race, and continue until 5:30. A donation of $100 will cover all you can eat and drink, admission to the track and a betting program, with children admitted free.

Checks should be written to the Arce/Boyle Memorial Fund and mailed to Marge Arce, 4 School St., East Williston, N.Y. 11596.

* * *

Queens City Councilman Eric Gioia June 17 remembered slain Private First Class Hernando Rios by renaming the southwest corner of 49th St. and Queens Boulevard in his honor.

Mr. Rios, who was a junior high school classmate of Mr. Gioia's at I.S. 125 in Woodside, was killed in Iraq on Aug. 7, 2005. He joined the U.S. National Guard after losing his job as a maintenance supervisor in the World Trade Center after Sept. 11, 2001.

At the weekend gathering, his family and friends remembered him as loyal, honest, and full of energy. He is survived by his wife, Liliana, and three daughters, Marlene, Alyssa, and Gabriella.

* * *

Mayor Bloomberg June 14 appointed Paul J. Cosgrave, former Chief Information Officer at the Internal Revenue Service, as Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. Mr. Cosgrave most recently served as Executive Vice President for Crown Consulting, Inc. He previously held the titles of Chairman, CEO and President for Claremont Technology Group, a start-up IT company.

"Mayor Bloomberg, more than most chief executives, understands and appreciates the transforming power that technology can have on communities and sectors," Mr. Cosgrave said.

* * *

Bronx Community College is offering a multitude of cooking, crafts and drawing classes as part of its Summer Arts Workshops.

The arts and culture program features classes at all levels, some of them open to children as well as adults, for a variety of media.

Topics being studied include weaving, ceramics, drawing and painting, photography, writing, dance and performance, and the art of French cooking. To register call 718-289-5170.