Press epaper 011014 by Queens Press

Volume 15 Issue No. 2 Jan. 10-16, 2014

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

HIGH TIMES?

Local officials discuss Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push for medicinal marijuana in New York State. By Natalia Kozikowska … Page 5

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

News Briefs Legal Rights Workshop Scheduled

The Jamaica Branch of the NAACP has scheduled a workshop for individuals who have previously been incarcerated or are on parole on how to re-enter society. The workshop will cover topics including parole revocation, employment rights, voter registration and child support and visitation. The workshop is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at the Resurrection Celebration Church, 106-56 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica. Refreshments will be served. For information, call the NAACP at (718) 723-3653.

Taylor Named Aide To Mayor de Blasio

Gilbert Taylor, who teaches legal research and legal writing classes at York College, has been named Commissioner of Homeless Services, charged with finding ways to reduce the homeless population in the City. Taylor also previously served as executive deputy commissioner at the Administration for Children’s Services.

Casino Buffet Closes

A struggling eatery inside Resorts World Casino had its doors shuttered this week, leaving about 175 workers without a job. On Monday, the Casino officially shut down the Aqueduct Buffet restaurant, which was located near the food court on the first floor. Officials said it was not a popular destination for people who visit the Casino to try their luck at winning money. “It has been losing money since it opened. It never did well,” said John Turchiano, a spokesman for the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, which is the union that represents workers at casinos such as Resorts World. The Casino sent out a statement on Monday confirming that the buffet had been shut down. “We have made the difficult decision to close the Aqueduct Buffet, which never caught on with our customers and has consistently lost money. We sincerely regret the impact this closure has on the buffet’s employees and are working closely with the Hotel Trades Council to ease this transition,” said Ed Farrell, Resorts World Casino’s president, in a statement. Turchiano said the laid-off workers will get a one to five week severance package, depending on their experience, and 120 days of full family medical coverage.

He said the workers will also be meeting with the Council’s job placement office to find new employment for the out-of-work employees.

10th Jump And Ball Announced

State Sen. Malcolm Smith this week announced the date for the 10th annual Jump and Ball basketball tournament, co-sponsored by rapper, actor and Southeast Queens native LL Cool J. The tournament will be held Saturdays and Sundays in August, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Daniel O’Connell Park in Hollis. Tournament organizers are looking for anyone willing to assist, including coaches, volunteers, youth counselors and community businesses. For information, call (718) 4540162 or (718) 978-5896.

Crime Spike In 106th

Despite a recent rise in crime in the 106th Precinct, the commanding officer says better days are ahead. Deputy Inspector Jeffery Schiff stopped by the sparsely-attended Community Board 10 meeting last week to give a detailed update on recent crime numbers and trends happening within his command. Schiff said the 106th finished 2013 up in crime overall. Sixty-three more crimes took place in the command compared to last year, a four percent increase. The 106th covers several neighborhoods in Southern Queens, including Howard Beach, Lindenwood, South Ozone Park and parts of Ozone Park. Robberies, in particular, were notable for its increase in the past calendar year. There were 328 robberies compared to 312 in 2012. The reason for that spike, according to Schiff, is the number of robberies related to electronic devices like iPhones and Beats by Dre headphones. “I read a lot of these reports and it’s the individual walking down the street, unaware of their surroundings and then all of a sudden they’re surprised,” Schiff said. Schiff also discussed recent demands by Howard Beach residents for an increased police presence in that neighborhood following two recent carjackings. He said that while he has deployed some plain clothes units and auxiliary officers in the area, he needs to send his manpower to where crimes are occurring more often. Howard Beach only had 12 robberies in 2013, according to Schiff.

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Presstime

Mark-viverito named new Speaker Bill de Blasio stated a preference for City Council Speaker from the beginning, and on Wednesday, the new Mayor got his wish. While de Blasio was in Albany on Wednesday for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address, the City Council unanimously supported Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan/the Bronx) as she was elected the first Latina Council Speaker. Mark-Viverito declared victory in the race weeks before the Council came together to vote, based on the Mayor’s support. While supporters of her chief rival, Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan), continued to back him in the days leading up to the reorganization meeting, Garodnick announced his support for Mark-Viverito before the Council was called to order. Garodnick publicly conceded as the Council was asked for nominations. “In the spirit of strengthening the Council, I want to formally concede my support to Melissa Mark-Viverito,” he said. “I look forward to working with Speaker Mark-Viverito… to bring a respectful and strong counter-balance to the Mayor.” With Garodnick throwing his support behind his opponent, no other name was nominated. While some have voiced concern over whether Mark-Viverito would be independent from the Mayor, she stressed that she would stand with her colleagues to ensure de Blasio

Photo courtesy of Mark-viverito’s Facebook

By Steven J. Ferrari

Bill de Blasio campaigns with Melissa Mark-viverito at an event last year. the Mayor was clear in his support of the new Speaker as soon as he was elected. did what was best for the City. “We will unite to hold the administration and the Mayor accountable,” she said. “This is our vision for this City Council.” Mark-Viverito also praised Garodnick as she accepted the position. She also briefly referenced the potential divide between her supporters and those who backed her opponent, including County Leadership from the Bronx and Queens.

“I’m proud to say Councilmember Garodnick and I conducted the most transparent speaker’s race in history,” she said. “We will work together, because that is what New Yorkers expect and that is what New Yorkers deserve.” While the Queens County Democratic organization had been backing Garodnick up until the day of the vote, a number of Queens Council members, who associated with the

Progressive Caucus, publicly threw their support behind Mark-Viverito. Among them were Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) and Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside). “She is a profile in courage, she is a fighter for our immigrant communities,” Dromm said during the Council hearing. “Now is the time for us to unite to get busy with the business of government.” Ferreras spoke about the significance of electing the first Latina Council Speaker, stressing that beyond her ethnicity, Mark-Viverito is also a highly-qualified individual, more than capable to handle the position. “We owe it to the people to elect a strong, independent and principled woman to lead us,” she said. Councilman Mark Weprin (DOakland Gardens), who was also a candidate for the position, said he was looking forward to deliberations in the coming year, adding that he was proud to be a member of the City Council. He did note, however, that while the Council unanimously backed Mark-Viverito on Wednesday, the members should not be afraid of speaking their minds in opposition to someone else’s opinion. “We shouldn’t be afraid of dissent, of discussion,” he said. “There’s never anything wrong with that.” Reach Editor-in-Chief Steven J. Ferrari at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122, at sferrari@queenstribune.com or @stevenferrari.

Former G-Unit rapper Gunned Down By nataLia KOZiKOWSKa Last week, former G-Unit rapper Jamal Green, 42, more famously known as Mazaradi Fox, was gunned down by a ski-masked shooter in Springfield Gardens. The Jan. 3 incident, which police believe to be gang-related, left another 22-year-old man in critical condition and two others injured. Green, who had been shot in the torso, was pronounced dead at the scene by police at 4:11 p.m. Five years ago, the rapper was arrested for pumping two .25-caliber bullets into Queens gangbanger Rashawn Carter. Carter survived the shooting and Green was convicted of attempted assault. Green had just been released from jail on Dec. 20 – just two weeks

after serving more than two years for the assault charge. In an ironic twist, this time, Green, a long-time friend of Jamaica’s very own 50 Cent, found himself at the wrong of the gun. Though no suspect has been named and the gunman is still at large, media outlets have speculated that Green’s death is related to the 2009 incident – even though Carter died just one year later in yet another, unrelated street shooting. According to reports, Green was riding shotgun alongside his girlfriend when the masked shooter rolled up to his white Nissan SUV and began spraying bullets. His girlfriend, who was driving, suffered a graze wound to the neck and was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition.

Another passenger, 21, still remains in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital after being shot in the neck and shoulder. The fourth victim, a 22-year-old man was wounded in his leg and taken to North Shore- Long Island Jewish Hospital and is listed in stable condition. Reports indicate the shooter fled in a black Hyundai Sonata. Like 50 Cent, Green grew up in South Jamaica. He was signed to 50 Cent’s G-Unit record label in 2007, where he earned his nickname after the Masarati sports car. He appeared in a number of G-Unit tracks but never put out his own album and was eventually let go by the label in 2008. The news of Mazaradi Fox’s death has gotten attention from a number of well-known rappers in the music

industry, including his friend, 50 Cent, who took to Twitter to express his condolences. “Saddened by the news of Mazaradi’s tragic passing my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends,” he tweeted. “RIP MAZARADI FOX,” another G-Unit rapper, Lloyd Banks, tweeted. Green’s ex-record label, G-Unit, also put out a statement in the wake of his death. “We’re sorry to hear about the tragic news,” the statement read. “Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.” Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

Local Student Wows Audience At Inauguration On Jan. 1, St. John’s University freshman and Queens native Ramya Ramana captivated New Yorkers at Mayor Bill de Blasio’s inauguration, where she recited her original poem, “New York City.” Though only 18-years-old, Ramana has been very successful as a poet, even earning a full scholarship to St. John’s after winning the New York Knicks Poetry Slam competition this past spring. Ramana said poetry has always been a big part of her life, but she did not become very serious about it until she was a sophomore in high school. It was her experiences with bullying and peer pressure, she said, that led her to become more passionate about the art. “When I was younger, I just always needed poetry. I didn’t even always need to write it – sometimes I just needed to live it. I found the poetry in things. It was the only thing that understood me,” she said. “I didn’t choose poetry. It’s what I needed. I needed poetry to live.” Her passion for poetry was further nurtured upon joining Urban Word NYC, a literary arts education program that helped give her the platforms she needed to get her work out there. But even with all her success, Ramana said she was surprised to learn that she was selected as the 2014 Youth Poet Laureate and was asked to participate in such an important event in the City’s history – especially since she finds poetry to be a dying art form. “I was shocked because poetry is not necessarily a commercial art where it’s appreciated a lot in the mainstream media, so it was shocking to me that they wanted a poet,” she said. “I was really happy [and] I was really excited because I didn’t think poetry could get so far in the mainstream media – it’s often neglected.” At the swearing-in ceremony, Ramana read her poem, “New York City,” which she dedicated to de Blasio. The poem seeks to shed light on some of the harsh realities that still exist in the City, with a heavy focus on social injustices in communities of color. “I think what is interesting about art is that it has the ability to build a community and to bring people together. Since it was a new mayor, a new change and a new progression, I really wanted to highlight that,” she said. “I also wanted to highlight

Photo by Ira Cohen

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

Ramya Ramana sat behind the de Blasio family at the Inauguration. that there are still people that are oppressed within New York City, this country and this world. Me, being a woman of color, I fall under that category, so I wanted to give voice to the people that are often misrepresented or underrepresented.” Although Ramana said she was really nervous before going up on stage, she realized that the message she wanted to convey to New Yorkers far exceeded her fear. “I was just afraid I would mess up a word or do something wrong but when I went up there, I realized this is not about my nervousness, this is about the people,” she said. “When I reflected on my own words, I realized that this was about the people and about how I feel and the change in society that needs to happen so when I went up there, I let go.” “The most memorable moment was looking at the people’s faces and realizing that this is not about me. This is what I want to do,” she added. “Sometimes, when you get so caught up in the logistics part of art, you forget the truth of it and you get disconnected – so when I went up there and felt connected, I understood that this is my passion.” Ramana is currently studying government, philosophy and politics at St. John’s. She hopes to pursue a career as a community organizer where she can marry her two passions – community activism and poetry. “I really want to be a community organizer and full-time artist, so if there is some way I can use my art for social justice, I think that’s where my heart would be at,” she said. Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @nkozikowska.

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Electeds Respond To Medical Marijuana Push BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA This week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would pursue an executive action to allow the limited use of medical marijuana in New York. His pilot program will allow 20 hospitals across the State to prescribe marijuana to people suffering from debilitating diseases like cancer and glaucoma. The news comes as a stark contrast to Cuomo’s previous stance. During his first three years in office, the governor vehemently resisted the legalization of medical marijuana. His shift comes after a number of states have taken increasingly liberal positions on it, most notably Colorado, where cannabis became legal for recreational use on Jan. 1. Although it is too soon to tell when the drug will be available to patients, a number of politicians are weighing in on the news, many of which seem to be in support of the governor’s pilot program. Former City Comptroller John Liu, who sat on the health committee while serving as a Queens Councilman, has long been in favor of legalizing marijuana. During his mayoral campaign Liu even put out a concrete proposal to legalize and tax marijuana

for recreational use, so it comes as no surprise he has thrown his full support behind the plan. “This is great news for the estimated 100,000 plus New Yorkers suffering in pain whose doctors will finally be able to prescribe marijuana, much the same way doctors in 20 other states already do,” Liu said. Others, like State Sen. Jose Peralta, who sits on the New York State Health Committee, took a more cautious approach. “This is potentially welcome news for the many New Yorkers suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer and glaucoma, but I’m going to withhold comment on the order until the details are spelled out,” he said. Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), who sponsored legislation to restrict the use of e-cigarettes inside establishments last month, also came out in favor of Cuomo’s plan to legalize marijuana. “Some people don’t necessarily like to take medication and marijuana plays a role in soothing some of the pain. For those legitimate people who really do have medical issues and want to utilize it for that reason, I see it as a plus for them,” Richards said. “I had an aunt who passed away about three years ago from cancer. It

spread so immensely and she was in so much pain,” he added. “Her body did not take to the medication well and I’m sure that could have aided her. We want to give people avenues that will help those suffering stay around a little longer and ease the discomfort.” Though Richards said he believes Cuomo’s plan is a worthy pilot, he does have some reservations. “One of the things we have to see is how that reverts down to the local communities. Do the big hospitals just get it? Will smaller community hospitals benefit from this program? I don’t think the community hospitals

should be left out if they are doing legitimate work and working with cancer patients as well,” he said. Richards also expressed concerns that the pilot program might give New Yorkers the wrong perception of medical marijuana. “Especially when it comes to drugs, you want to make sure that first we understand how it works,” he said. “Of course, we don’t want to promote that if you burn your finger on a stove, you need medical marijuana.” Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska.

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED APARTMENTS FOR RENT Rufus King Court Apartments is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 46 affordable housing rental apartments now under construction at 148-19 90th Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens. This building is being constructed through the Low Income Housing Credit Program (LIHC) and the NYS Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) and the Inclusionary Housing Program of New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The size, rent and targeted income distribution for the 46 apartments are as follows: # Apts. Available

Apartment Size

Household Size*

Monthly Rent**

Total Annual Income Range*** Minimum - Maximum

Studio

$659

$24,515 - $30,100

1 Bedroom

1 2

$709

$26,298 - $30,100 $26,298 - $34,400

Studio

$802

$29,418 - $36,120

1 Bedroom

1 2

$863

$31,578 - $36,120 $31,578 - $41,280

2 Bedrooms

3 Bedrooms

2 3 4 3 4 5 6

$1,044

$1,199

$37,852 $37,852 $37,852 $43,749 $43,749 $43,749 $43,749

$41,280 $46,440 $51,540 $46,440 $51,540 $55,680 $59,820

* Subject to occupancy criteria ** Includes gas for cooking *** Income guidelines subject to change Qualified Applicants will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria. Households may elect to submit an application by one of two methods: EITHER online OR by mail. To submit your application online now, please visit NYC Housing Connect at www.nyc.gov/housingconnect and select “Apply for Housing.” All online applications must be submitted by March 6, 2014. To request an application by mail, please mail a self-addressed envelope to: Rufus King Court Apartments, P.O. Box 390, Floral Park, New York 11002. All mailed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express, overnight or oversized mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed on the application, and must be postmarked by March 6, 2014. Applications will be selected by lottery; applicants who submit more than one application will be disqualified. Disqualified applications will not be accepted. A general preference will be given to New York City residents. Eligible households that include persons with mobility impairments will receive preference for 5% of the units; eligible persons that include persons with visual and/or hearing impairments will receive preference for 2% of the units. Current and eligible residents of Queens Community Board 12 will receive preference for 50% of the units. Eligible City of New York Municipal Employees will receive a 5% preference of the units.

THIS IS A 100% SMOKE FREE BUILDING No Broker’s Fee. No Application Fee. ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor BILL DE BLASIO, Mayor The City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development RUTHANNE VISNAUSKAS, Commissioner New York State Homes and Community Renewal DARRYL C. TOWNS, Commissioner/CEO www.nyc.gov/housingconnect

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 (voice) (718) 357-7400 fax (718) 357-9417 email news@queenspress.com The PRESS of Southeast Queens Editor-in-Chief:

Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Natalia Kozikowska Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Trisha Sakhuja

Art Dept:

Rhonda Leefoon Lianne Procanyn Barbara Townsend Maureen Coppola Advertising Director Alan Goldsher Director of Marketing Advertising Executives Merlene Carnegie Shari Strongin Brenda Jones

Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller

Editorial We Need A Balance The City Council came together yesterday after a sharp divide over the last few weeks to throw its support behind Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, making her the first Latina Speaker in the City’s history. We look forward to what she has planned as the legislative body’s new leader, and we hope she stands firm in the promise she made on Wednesday to ensure that the City Council holds Mayor Bill de Blasio accountable to the City of New York. It has been no secret that Mayor de Blasio wanted MarkViverito as City Council Speaker, and there is something to be said for having an ally when it comes to passing legislation. After all, de Blasio won with a commanding percentage of the vote in November, which means that voters are comfortable with his vision of the City’s future. But the Council needs to have an agenda separate from the Mayor’s as well. A number of officials chastised former Speaker Christine Quinn for being too close to Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s agenda, and it likely cost her support last year when she ran for Mayor, not to mention some resentment with her colleagues in the Council. Those potential problems are still off in the distance. If she keeps her promises, Mark-Viverito can avoid the appearance of being Bill de Blasio’s attack dog. We look forward to what the new Speaker will bring to the table with this Council.

Letters Harmful, Not Helpful

To The Editor: On Christmas Eve, I read in your paper how wonderful Mr. Bloomberg has been (“Bloomberg’s Legacy,” Dec. 19-25, 2013). Your article did not mention the illegal Stop and Frisk policy he and Commissioner Kelly instituted. Also, Mr. Bloomberg spent around a million dollars trying to make a smaller soda bottle. That money could have been spent clothing, feeding and sheltering the homeless babies in this City. His illegal third term was harmful, not helpful. John Duffy, Whitestone

Say No To Pre-K

To The Editor: In regard to de Blasio’s ideological Liberal egalitarianism vis-a-vis state-funded pre-Kindergarten programs, it should be pointed out that the existing research studies on the performance outcomes thereof are scientif ically flawed on technical grounds. Inferences of positive results of pre-K programs were

made based upon studies of children in such programs, or in other Head Start, centerbased child care or home care programs. However, positive outcome “inferences can be made only if rigorous quasi-experiments or randomized experimental designs are used to rule out other factors that are also known to affect children’s school readiness and school achievement and that may cause children from different early childhood settings to perform differently in school” (State-Funded PreKindergarten: What the Evidence Shows, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, December 2003). Further, the selection of measures was either without evidence of technical soundness or appropriateness for the studies, such as classroombased assessments, which are technically ill-suited to “track the progress of large groups of children or to make group comparisons” (ibid.). Without sufficient empirical evidence that statefunded pre-K programs are statistically significant in reducing or eliminating achievement gaps than other

Letters early childhood programs (or none), such a universal pre-K program is simply a crackpot idea in tune with a liberal ideology which a priori attributes individual and racial minority group failures to the social environment and White racism, and proposes to solve the problem through governmental collectivist initiatives. For de Blasio to automatically want to tax the “rich” for a plan which is not even scientifically proven betrays his lack of fiscal conservatism and a Marxist ideology which blames class conflict rather than other individual and cultural factors in society. Albany must rightly and emphatically say no to his agenda. Joseph Manago, Briarwood

Abuse Assistance Needed

To The Editor: Hello and Happy New Year. This message is for Ms. Comrie. I read your recent personal perspective (“New Mayor’s Family Need Privacy Too,” Jan. 3-9) and agree with your thoughts regarding the new Mayoral family. I hope that our Mayor will see this as an opportunity to provide assistance to the hundreds of youths who deal with substance/alcohol abuse quietly and negatively. Rather than provide time on Rikers Island, services should be provided in communities. I have had the opportunity to work with youths and families who are going through these issues and seen the positive effects of consistent behavior modeling for the client and families. Increased mentoring and positive educational/afterschool programs would also benefit all. I know that you cannot respond to this email, Ms. Comrie. Please take the time to care for yourself and I will be awaiting your return. Tamara Fils-Aime, Cambria Heights Editor’s Note: Marcia Moxam Comrie is recovering from carpel tunnel surgery. Her column will return when she receives a green light from her doctors.

Information Necessary

To The Editor: The Freedom of Information Law is an instrument of democracy and sometimes, therefore, a pain in the ass. And that’s the way it should be. Whether or not it is exercised in a particular situation depends on whose ass may be gored by public disclosure. The Department of Education availed itself of the Law to get its admittedly error-riddled data about teachers released, proclaiming the public interest, but really for the undeclared reason of damaging their reputation and popularizing its campaign of bullying them. Much as they reveled in ripping off the mask of teachers’ privacy because it suited them, the Agency hid and continues to hide behind a veil of secrecy to avoid incriminating themselves. The expired Bloomberg administration has broadcast to the world its fantasy of fabulous success as a fixer of public education. It has itemized a list of triumphant “reforms” and revolutionary improvements in many areas. Now a professional organization of educators, the UFT, has filed a FOIL request for the release of DOE data that was used to justify some very controversial policies. Yes, that organization is the teachers union, but don’t let your skepticism be activated. After all, the data that is being sought will speak for itself and be accessible to experts from all quarters. Last year they kicked and screamed when a FOIL request, after the Agency threw monkey-wrenches and land mines in its way, led ultimately to the disclosure of some rather absurd e-mails pertaining to the ex-mayor’s hand-picked prize of magazine exemplar Cathie Black to be skipper of the system’s 1,700 public schools. Maybe they misread the Act to read the “Freedom From Information Law.” If the DOE is really proud of its legacy under the departed administration, it should welcome and not feel threatened by the public’s consciousness of its sordid mode of operation. Ron Isaac, Fresh Meadows

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

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Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

snowstorm Mayor’s First Challenge

Queens residents and City workers did their best to dig themselves out of the storm on Friday.

Sanitation do their job to clear the streets,” de Blasio said. Keeping young children out of freezing temperatures and inside their warm homes was the main reason de Blasio said he decided to close public schools on Friday. The safety of the children was paramount when making that decision, he said. A lighter moment occurred towards the end of the press conference. After a reporter asked de Blasio how many layers he was wearing to keep warm during the cold weather, the mayor zipped down his fleece, indicating he had two layers on.

“Do you want me to go farther?” he said, jokingly asking to strip tease in front of reporters and other sanitation workers. “I have an undershirt also.” He was also asked if his son, Dante, petitioned him to shut all City schools down due to the inclement weather. “If Dante was not lobbying me, there would be something wrong with him,” he said. “Of course, he’s 16.” Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda.

Photo by Luis Gronda

Mayor Bill de Blasio got a stern test of managing the City on his third day after a strong snowstorm hit New York City last week. The storm, called snowstorm Hercules, brought about 10 inches to the City, bringing Gotham to almost a standstill, as schools and many businesses closed on Friday. De Blasio was forced to get to work quickly, devising a plan with Dept. of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and other members of his cabinet to clean the City’s streets while temperatures dipped below 20 degrees. He was also seen shoveling snow outside of his Park Slope home after the storm passed. The new mayor held a press conference last week in Woodside to update the media on the snow cleanup. Both he and Doherty, a holdover from the Michael Bloomberg administration, warned residents not to go outside unless it was absolutely necessary due to the low temperature and icy roads. “I want to say to my fellow New Yorkers, if you want safe, clear streets, stay home and let these good folks at

Photos by ira Cohen

By Luis Gronda

Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed reporters at a press conference in Woodside Friday morning, to discuss the response to the snowstorm that dumped up to 10 inches of snow on the City.

ozone Park Votes on area improvements By Luis Gronda Ozone Park residents got their say to decide how discretionary funding should be spent in their neighborhood. The first of Councilman Eric Ulrich’s (R-Ozone Park) participatory budgeting meetings took place Tuesday evening at the Christ Lutheran Church right off of 101st Ave. The initiative allows residents to vote on potential projects in their community. Ulrich held the project last year in Far Rockaway and has expanded it to the northern part of

his district, including Ozone Park, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill. The small group of Ozone Park residents in attendance split up into two groups and brainstormed what they felt needs improvement in their area. Among the ideas residents voted on were installing new streetlights along Liberty Avenue from 78th Street to Cross Bay Boulevard, building elevators for the A train stops on 88th and 80th streets, the J train stop on Woodhaven Boulevard; and renovating the 106th and 102nd Precinct headquarters.

Ultimately among the projects that won the vote for each group were; the new street lights, the elevators and a complete renovation for Christ Lutheran Church. Janice O’Neil, who has lived in Ozone Park for 61 years, said she voted for the improvements to the subway stations because they are needed for residents, including the elderly population, that use public transportation. “The elevators are good for young people and seniors too. This is a neighborhood that has a lot of seniors and the elevators would be a

huge help at the subway station,” she said. William Ruiz, also an Ozone Park resident, said he voted for building renovations because it is not an area that is reaching its full potential and that could change with some of this money. “This building is not being utilized the way it should be,” he said, adding he hopes to see after-school programs at the church or see it converted into a senior center. Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda.

Longtime CB10 Member ruffin Passes away By Luis Gronda A 32-year member of Community Board 10 passed away at the end of last month. Robert Ruffin Sr., a South Ozone Park resident and long-time member of CB10, died on Dec. 28. He was 94 years old. Ruffin was heavily involved in the community and matters involving the board, according to Betty Braton, Chairwoman of CB10.

He was the 2nd Vice Chairman of the board and head of its transportation committee. Ruffin was also active in veterans affairs, according to Braton. He served in the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged from the military in 1945. Braton described him as a very nice person and whose presence will be missed on CB10. “He was very sweet, he always had a chuckily laugh,” she said.

Ruffin was born in Fort Chairman to replace Ruffin Worth, Texas and had six as the bylaws call for a vote. siblings, four brothers and She said they would have two sisters. He graduated done that at their January from high school in Texas. meeting but they did not Ruffin went back to have a quorum. A replacecollege, after 31 years as a ment for head of the transpost-office worker, graduportation committee will ating with a Bachelor’s robert ruffin sr. also be named in the future, degree of Political Science according to Braton. from York College. Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) Braton said the board will vote at 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@queenstritheir next meeting for a new 2nd Vice bune.com, or @luisgronda.

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

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Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

Photos by Ira Cohen

pix

Queens Comes Out For New Mayor

Swearing In

Thousands of New Yorkers came out on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day to witness the inauguration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was joined by his family, wife Chirlane McCray and children Chiara and Dante, as former President Bill Clinton administered the Oath of Office to the new Mayor.

Photos by Luis Gronda

Pictured above is former Comptroller John Liu, with his wife Jenny and son Joey, on hand for the event. Pictured below is Deputy Borough President Leroy Comrie.

Mayor de Blasio came back to Queens on Thursday to swear in 648 police academy graduates at Queens College. He was joined by new Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Police Blotter 102nd Precinct Collision Fatality At 3:39 p.m. on Jan. 3, police responded to a report of a vehicle collision at 118th Street and 95th Avenue. EMS responded to the location ahead of police and removed a motorist, identified as Ved Wadha, 56, of Kew Gardens, to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation revealed that the motorist was operating a yellow taxi traveling south on 118th Street when he veered to the left, striking a parked vehicle, and then to the right, striking another parked vehicle. There were no other occupants in the taxi. The investigation is ongoing.

105th Precinct Homicide At 10:50 p.m. on Jan. 8, police responded to a call of a male shot at 212-20 Jamaica Ave. Upon arrival, police observed the victim, a 30-yearold male with a gunshot wound to the back of the head and the torso. EMS responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.

106th Precinct Robbery Arrest On Jan. 3, police arrested Gen-

ero Placenia, 18, of Brooklyn and charged him with first-degree robbery, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest in regards to an incident that took place within the confines of the 106th Precinct. According to a police report, Placenia allegedly robbed a 19-yearold victim after he aided the victim in freeing his car from a snow bank and then received a ride from the victim to 75th Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn, within the confines of the 75th Precinct. The suspect was caught after a canvass by officers from the 106th and 75th Precincts.

107th Precinct City Employee Arrested At 4:55 p.m. on Jan. 5, Kenneth Avila, 42, an off-duty NYPD officer, was arrested on a charge of criminal obstruction of breathing.

Collision Investigation At 9:09 p.m. on Jan. 5, police responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian struck at the intersection of 169th Street and Highland Avenue. Upon arrival, officers observed a 38-year-old female, identified as Mosa Khatun of Jamaica, lying on the roadway, with head trauma. EMS

also responded to the locavictims were listed in stable tion and removed Khatun to condition. There have been a local hospital, where she no arrests made yet and the was pronounced dead. investigation is ongoing. Further investigation revealed that a 2004 Nissan Homicide Pathfinder Armada, operHomicide – The New ated by a 20-year-old female, York Police Department was traveling westbound on is asking the public’s assisHighland Avenue and at- Sheldon Smith is tance in locating Sheldon tempted to make a left turn wanted in connec- Smith, wanted in conneconto 169th Street, when tion to a homicide tion with a homicide on the vehicle struck the pe- on Jan. 1, within Jan. 1 within the confines destrian. At the time of the the confines of the of the 113th Precinct. incident, the pedestrian was 113th Precinct. According to police reattempting to cross 169th ports, the NYPD responded Street from west to east in the vicin- to a 911 call of a male stabbed at 1:14 ity of a marked crosswalk. a.m. Upon arrival, police observed There have been no arrest and the the victim, identified as Julio Mora, investigation is ongoing. 22, of Jamaica, with stab wounds to the chest. EMS responded and 113th Precinct pronounced the victim dead at the Homicide scene. At 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 3, police Smith is described as a 26-year-old responded to a report of multiple Black male, 6-foot-tall, 160 lbs., with people shot in the vicinity of 134th brown eyes and black hair. Avenue and Farmers Boulevard. Anyone with information should Upon arrival, officers discovered call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577four victims with gunshot wounds. 8477, visit www.nypdcrimestopThe first victim, identified as Jamal pers.com or texting tips to 274637 Green, 42, of Jamaica, was discov- (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. ered with a gunshot wound to his torso. EMS declared Green dead at Got info? the scene. Call Crimestoppers at The other three victims were 1-800-577-tiPS (8477) transported to area hospitals. The or text tips to CRiMES (274637) second victim was listed in critical then enter TIPS577 condition, while the third and fourth

Borough Beat

Queens’ Crime Rates Dropped In 2013 BY JOE MARVILLI Queens’ felony rates fell even further in 2013, continuing a 20-year trend away from crime. On Monday, the New York Police Department released its statistics for Dec. 23 to Dec. 29, the last full week of 2013. In that chart was a category for year-to-date crimes, compiling the entirety of crimes for the year up to that point. It also included the stats for the year-to-date crimes of 2012, for the purpose of comparison. The numbers showed that many major felonies were down in the Borough, with only a couple of categories ticking upward. In Queens this year, there were a total of 23,900 felonies. Out of those crimes, only 59 were murders. There were 311 rapes, 3,962 robberies,

3,947 felony assaults, 4,808 burglaries, 8,421 grand larcenies and 2,392 grand larceny autos. The 112th precinct, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, continued its streak of being murder-free for the second year, an achievement not shared by any other Queens precinct. “A lot of it has to do with the command, particularly with the captain, Thomas Conforti. The guys and gals who work there are really on the ball,” Frank Gulluscio, district manager for Community Board 6, said. “We’re very impressed and we’re proud of them.” The 111th precinct also got through 2013 without a murder in its borders. The 100th and 111th tied for the lowest amount of rapes, with three each. The 100th also

had the lowest amount of robberies (61), burglaries (151), grand larcenies (172) and grand larceny autos (20). The 112th had 58 felony assaults, the lowest in Queens. Overall, the 100th precinct had the lowest crime total during the course of 2013. Compared to 2012, the number of felonies in Queens has mostly decreased. There were 24,428 major crimes in that year, a two percent drop. In 2012, 83 murders, 334 rapes, 4,126 robberies, 3,885 felony assaults, 5,262 burglaries, 8,059 grand larcenies and 2,679 grand larceny autos were committed. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown noted in a recent interview with the Queens Tribune that while violent crimes are down, the economic climate in the country has led

to a spike in economic crimes, like identity theft. His statement is reflected in the crime stats, as the only increases from 2012 to 2013 were in the categories of felony assaults, an almost two percent bump, and grand larcenies, a four percent jump. The 109th precinct had the highest crime rate in the Borough, with 2,130 incidents occurring in the past 12 months. This is mostly attributed to its high grand larceny and burglary rates, which made up nearly half of the crimes committed. When put alongside the statistics at the end of 2001, the number of Citywide felonies went from 162,064 to about 110,338, a 30 percent drop. Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, jmarvilli@ queenstribune.com, or @Joey788.

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

A&E

New artist space in Long island City By Trisha sakhuja A new artist-run gallery is here to stay in Long Island City. After building 15 years of experience in the art world, three Bangladeshi-American artists launched an art gallery in early December with the hopes of helping and encouraging other artists. The trio, Bishwajit Chawdhury, Alam Tipu and Kaiser Kamal, have worked in different art galleries and participated in various art shows throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and around the world. Kamal said since the trio has been “living on art for a while now,” they understand the needs artists have, especially the ones initially starting their careers in art.

“I can feel being an artist, the need and the necessity of other artists, so we really want to try to help them,” he said. The ArtistRun Gallery, located at 36-21 22nd St. in LIC, is different from the others lining the neighborhood. “The name says it all, it’s run and owned by artists,” Kamal said. “We started a gallery to create opportunities for other artists,” he said. “When we approach other galleries, the management of the gallery owner is not an artist and they have more of a business perspective.” The art gallery’s first official show took place on Dec. 6, where Kamal said he saw a very “lively crowd.” Even though there was heavy downpour the night of the show, Ka-

Five Boroughs Music Festival Comes To Queens By jOE MarViLLi This month, a chamber music celebration will return to Queens, as part of a Citywide showcase. The Five Boroughs Music Festival will feature chamber music performances in Queens during January and March. The festival is meant to bring affordable, worldclass chamber music to every borough in the City, rather than sticking to Manhattan, where those types of performances are more widespread. Five Boroughs Music Festival is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to showing performances of traditional and contemporary chamber music in the hopes of cultivating a new audience for the genre. Artistic director Jesse Blumberg founded the group in 2007, and it has put on more than 30 shows since then. “The impetus was to break away from the Manhattan-centric attitude of classical music,” executive director Donna Breitzer said. “The mission is to encourage New Yorkers to explore their own City and to bring this music to underserved neighborhoods that don’t have as many cultural resources as Manhattan.” The first featured artist for the festival this year will be Trio Cavatina, which will perform at Flushing Town Hall on Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. Pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute, violinist Harumi

Rhodes and cellist Priscilla Lee will perform pieces by Beethoven and Brahms, along with a New York premiere by Douglas Boyce. Two months later, French baroque group Les Délices will perform in Jamaica, at King Manor Museum. The band will make its Five Boroughs Music Festival debut and will use the opportunity to play a new program, “Conversations galantes,” in New York City for the first time. That concert takes place on March 14 at 6:30 p.m. “From the beginning, we were interested in exploring chamber music of all varieties,” Breitzer said. “It really comes down to the quality of the musicians, the artists and the music and the interest-aspect of the programming.” Besides recruiting a variety of artists, Five Boroughs Music Festival likes to book their shows in many different venues that best showcase the music and the surrounding community. The festival has been at Flushing Town Hall a few times before, but the Jamaica show will be the first at King Manor Museum. “They’re just fantastic, fantastic ensembles. We hope they enjoy meeting these artists,” Breitzer said. “We hope people explore new neighborhoods they haven’t seen before.” Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, jmarvilli@ queenstribune.com, or @Joey788.

mal said, “we were lucky enough to have 100-plus guests. It was a very nice, decent and diverse crowd on opening night.” Along with their regular art gallery activities, the founders run a printing shop to help cover maintenance costs. They will also organize many programs aimed at helping young artists. The Artist Development program will assist young artists with resume building, their photography portfolios, bios and much more. “The services and initiatives that we have can be helpful and can encourage artists in different ways,” Kamal said. “I also want art collectors who think paintings are too expensive to buy, to buy affordable high-quality art work here.”

Being stationed in LIC is also very important to the gallery owners because it makes their newly renovated gallery “very accessible,” Kamal said. On Jan. 24, the curators have planned to put on an informal art show to present their personal artwork and they will celebrate graduating the 2013 Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, sponsored by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, with their peers. Starting on Feb. 2, the art gallery will host a 10-day contemporary art show. For more information, visit www. artistrungallery.com. Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@ queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

independent Films Celebrated in March By Trisha sakhuja The Queens World Film Festival is back for its fourth year and will return in March. The five-day film festival, spanning from March 4-9, will host 130 screenings in thematic blocks at venues in Jackson Heights, Long Island City and Sunnyside. Festival director Katha and her husband, film maker Don Cato, cultivated their own film festival to celebrate the independent filmmaking spirit by encouraging the novice and the student filmmaker. “There is an incredible renaissance going on in Queens,” Katha said. “We think the Borough can support a world-class film festival.” The husband-wife team feature filmmakers who take chances to bring challenging stories by providing them with a platform to screen their films that otherwise may be overlooked, Katha said. The films will play on the big screen according to thematic blocks, which the couple said maximizes each film’s audience potential. Every screening will be treated as its own mini event with its own event page on Facebook, Katha said. “We are bringing films made from all over the world,” Katha said. “Some of these filmmakers live in countries where it is very difficult to

express yourself and they have a very limited budget.” The filmmakers come from Iran, India, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia and 12 of the films are made by Queens-based filmmakers. The films come with hardcore themes that make you want to think, Katha said. One of the many thematic blocks Don spoke in great detail about was an “O.M.G.” block that consists of films made “outside the realm of reality or reach.” Some of the other blocks he mentioned were, “All About the Music,” “Transmigration,” “Very Moving Images,” “La Familia” and many more. Don said watching independent films is very different from watching a big-box office movie with famous actors. “If I just let myself go and just try to watch it as just an experience, let it wash over me, I can then enjoy it for what it is,” he said. Katha is undergoing her last radiation session to combat cancer and expects to be in good health for the opening night of the Queens World Film Festival on March 4 at the Museum of Moving Image. For more information about the festival, visit www.queensworldfilmfestival.com. Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@ queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

QUEENS TODAY

FRIDAY 1/10

DAVID HAZELTINE TRIO

Flushing Town Hall will present a performance by pianist David Hazeltine at 8 p.m. Known as a “musician’s musician,” Hazeltine will display his distinctive style on the keys, accompanied by bassist Peter Washington and drummer Louis Hayes. The concert costs $15 for the general audience and $10 for students and members. Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. For more information, call (718) 463-7700.

A FULLISH DECK

Join the Queen’s Secret Improv Club as it curates a roster of house-formed and veteran indie improv teams from all over the subway map. The show consists of six improv comedy sets featuring two shows every hour between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for the whole night, one show or all six! The Secret Theatre is located at 44-02 23rd St, LIC. For more information, visit www. web.ovationtix.com/trs/ pe.c/9861448.

DATE NIGHT TERRARIUM

Soft music, wine and nibbles will be served while you and your date create a one of a kind living world. The class will supply one large terrarium, soil, plants, sand, moss, crystals/pebbles/rocks, instructions, care cards and a gift box. You will supply your imagination. The class will take place at Luludi Living Frames, located at 23-07 24th Ave., Astoria, from 6:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. The class is $80 per couple and it is limited to eight people. To make a reservation, visit www.luludi.net or call 1-888-9luludi.

SATURDAY 1/11 CHINESE SHADOW PLAYS

This Chinese shadow play

at Flushing Library is the story of a wise old rabbit telling her granddaughter about some of the adventures of her eventful life, including her hair-raising encounters with Tiger, the reigning King of the Jungle. The event will run from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The library is located at 4117 Main St.

HOLOCENTER VAULT GALLERY

The Vault Gallery and Archive at the Clock Tower in Long Island City offers visitors a chance to view holographic artworks. Currently on display is a selection of works from the exhibition, Interference: Coexistence. The Holocenter is located at 29-27 41st Ave., LIC. The gallery is open from 2 p.m. till 6 p.m. For more information, visit www. Holocenter.org/vaultgallery

PATRICIA SPEARS JONES

Patricia Spears Jones will appear at the Queens Museum as part of its Poets in the Galleries series. Taking place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the event will start in the museum café and then head to the galleries as Jones selects pieces to highlight, reads works along the way and strikes up a discussion with attendees. Jones’ most recent book is called “Painkiller.” For more information, call (718) 592-9700.

SUNDAY 1/12

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY 1/11 MULCHFEST

Bring your holiday tree to Astoria Park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the City! Join the Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the Dept. of Sanitation, and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree. More than 26,000 trees were recycled last year. The mulching will take place from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Please remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site. Priscilla Lee will play pieces by Beethoven and Brahms, as well as a New York City premiere by Douglas Boyce. The concert costs $25 for the general audience, $20 for Queens residents and members and $15 for students. Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. For more information, call (718) 463-7700.

and literature featured on the project’s website, awwproject.org. A few of the authors from Afghanistan will read to the audience as well. A question and answer session will follow the readings. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. The library is located at 118-14 Hillside Ave. in Richmond Hill.

at the Museum, helping in the garden, getting word out about programs, participating in educational programs, working on research and offering a welcome at festivals and concerts. The open house runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (718) 359-6227 or email info@ vomuseum.org.

CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION

TUESDAY 1/14

TEACHER WORMSHOP

The Bayside Historical Society will celebrate the arts with its annual contemporary art exhibition. The opening reception takes place at 2 p.m. and costs $8 for general admission. The event is free for Bayside Historical Society members. It is supported in part by public funds from the City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The society is located at 208 Totten Avenue, Bayside. For more information, call (718) 3521548.

NEW YEAR’S CONCERT

The Forest Hills Library will host a concert called “Celebrate New Year 2014 with a Concert of Music from Around the World.” The show will include songs in Russian, Italian, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese and English. Soprano Liora Michelle and friends will be accompanied by Inna Leytush on piano. The concert runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 1/15

MONDAY 1/13 THINK POSITIVE

The Central Queens Y will host a think positive workshop, aiming at giving adults 10 tips to overcome negative thoughts and reduce their stress. The event is free and open to the public. It will begin at 1:30 p.m. The Central Queens Y is located at 67-09 108th Street in Forest Hills.

TRIO CAVATINA

Trio Cavatina will perform at Flushing Town Hall at 3 p.m. as part of the Five Boroughs Music Festival. Pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute, violinist Harumi Rhodes and cellist

WRITING PROJECT

Readings from the Afghan Women’s Writing Project will be featured at the Richmond Hill Library. Masha Hamilton, founder of the project, will read a number of poems

Queens Botanical Garden will present a teacher workshop on the benefits of composting with a worm bin in a classroom. Running from 6 to 8 p.m., attendees will learn about earthworms, how to set up a worm bin and how to maintain the system effectively. Registration is required. Email compost@ queensbotanical.org or call (718) 539-5296. Queens Botanical Garden is located at 43-50 Main St., Flushing.

MEATLOAF TRIBUTE

A Meatloaf tribute band, called All Revved Up, will play Resorts World Casino beginning at 8 p.m. The band will perform classics such as “‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “Bat Out of Hell,” and “I’m Gonna Love Her For Both of Us.” The casino is located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. in South Ozone Park.

GOT EVENTS? VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE The Voelker Orth Museum will hold an open house for attendees to learn about volunteer opportunities while enjoying a cup of tea. Volunteers play an important role

Send all information to editor@queenstribune.com or mail to: Queens Tribune 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

Queens Today Section editor: reGinA VoGeL

Send announcements for your club or organization’s events at least tWo weeks in advance to “Queens today” editor, Queens tribune, 150-50 14 road, Whitestone nY 11357. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o regina or email to queenstoday@ queenstribune.com Yearly schedules and advanced notices welcome!

COMPUTERS INTRO COMPUTER Friday, January 10 Hillcrest library. register. INTER. POWERPT. Fridays, Januar y 10, 24 central library. register. BEGIN COMPUTERS Fridays, January 10, 17, 24, 31 Auburndale library. register. BEGIN WORD Saturday, January 11 central library. register. BEGIN EXCEL Saturday, January 11 central library. register. INTER. WORD Sunday, January 12 central library. register. INTRO INTERNET Monday, January 13 central library. register. E-READER Monday, January 13 digital Media and e-reader classes at the Lefferts library at 6. MAC BASICS Monday, January 13 central library. register. OPEN LAB Mondays 1-5 at the central library. INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesday, January 14 Flushing library. register. INTRO POWERPT. Tuesday, January 14 Steinway library. register. TECHNOLOGIST IS IN Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 personal instruction on devices. Pomonok library. register. INTRO WORD Tuesday, January 14 central library. register. BEGINNERS Tuesdays Laurelton and rosedale library. register BUY COMPUTER Thursday, January 16 central library. register. MASTER EXCEL Thursday, January 16 central library. register. BEGIN COMPUTERS Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23, 30 ozone Park library. register. NETWORKING Fridays, Januar y 10, 24 central library. register.

TEENS & KIDS QUEENS LIBRARIES check local libraries for toddler, pre-school, youth and teen programs. TEENS TUTORED Weekdays at the central library. register. HW HELP contact Laurelton, McGoldrick, Bayside and Auburndale libraries. TODDLER STORIES Friday, January 10 north Forest Park at 11:15. PRE-SCHOOL STORY Friday, January 10 north Forest Park librar y at 12:15. THEATER PERFORM Fridays, Januar y 10, 17 east elmhurst library at 4. Ages 7-14. GAME DAY Fridays, Januar y 10, 17 Wo o d h a ve n l i b r a r y a t 4:30. TEEN CHESS Fridays, Januar y 10, 24 Laurelton library at 3. TALENT SHOW Friday, January 10 ridgewood library at 4. CRAFTS Fridays ozone Park library at 3, Briarwood and east Flushing at 4, Pomonok library at 4:30. STORYTIME Fridays Hollis library at 11:15. BOARD/VIDEO GAMES Fridays rochdale Village at 4. Grades 1-6. BOARD GAME Fridays Windsor Park at 4. Ages 5-12. GAME DAY Fridays 5:30 McGoldrick library. KAPLAN TEST Saturday, January 11 central library. register. SCIENCEFAIR HOW-TO Saturday, January 11 central librar y at 11. Ages 6-12. TIGER TALES Saturday, January 11 chinese Shadow Plays at the Flushing library at 1:30. MATH HELP Saturdays, January 11, 18, 25 Flushing library at 10. OPEN MIC Sunday, January 12 central library at 2. FAMILY STORYTIME Mondays, January 13, 27 Woodhaven library at 4:30. Ages 6-12. YOUNG CRAFTS Monday, January 13 Steinway library at 11. FAMILY STORYTIME Mondays, January 13, 27 Auburndale library at 3:30. Pre-K to 2. COMPUTER SKILLS Mondays, January 13, 27 rochdale Village library at 4. Grades 1-6. THE CLUB Mondays, January 13, 27 Woodhaven library at 4:30.

Ages 6-12. GAME DAY M o n d ays , J a n u a r y 1 3 , 27 McGoldrick library at 5:30. CRAFTS Monday, January 13 Steinway library at 6. GAME DAY Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 McGoldrick library at 5:30. TOTS & TOYS Tuesday, January 14 McGoldrick library at 11:15. Ages 2-5 and caregivers. GARDEN PROJECT Tuesdays, January 14, 21 Whitestone library at 4. YOUNG MEN Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 Laurelton library. Ages 14-19. 3:30. DRAMA CLUB Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 central library. Grades 7-12. register. TEENS SMARTPHONES Wednesday, Januar y 15 Flushing library at 4. BOYS YOUTH GROUP Wednesday, Januar y 15 South Hollis library at 4. PLAYGROUP Wednesdays, January 15, 22 Steinway library at 11. FASHION MAVENS Thursdays, January 16, 23, 30 central library.4:30. Ages 13-18. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Thursdays, January 16, 30 Glen oaks library at 1:30. Ages 3-5. ZUMBA FITNESS Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23 Windsor Park library. register. ARTS & CRAFTS Thursdays, January 16, 23, 30 4:30 at the Auburndale library. DRAMA POSSE Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23, 30 Hillcrest library at 4:30. FINANCIAL AID TEENS Thursday, January 16 Lefrak city library at 4:30. ROBOTIC WORKSHOP Thursday, January 16 Poppenhusen library at 4. CLAY ANIMALS Thursday, January 16 McGoldrick library. register. CREATIVE WRITING Thursdays, January 16, 23, 30 Auburndale library at 5. Ages 8-12.

MISCELLANEOUS BOOK SWAP S a t u r d a y, J a n u a r y 1 1 Broadway library at 2. CANNED FOOD DRIVE Through January 16 Hillcrest librar y during hours. THRIFT SHOP Thursdays 10-1 at All Saints church, 214-35 40th Avenue, Bayside.

SENIORS

TALKS

MEETINGS

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Monday, January 13 Hollis library. register. AARP 3334 Monday, Januar y 13 St. Kevin’s Parish in Flushing. 224-0478. AARP 4158 Tuesday, January 14 north Flushing chapter at noon at church on the Hill, 167-07 35th Avenue, Flushing. BASIC COMPUTERS Wednesday, Januar y 15 central library. register.

RICHMOND HILL M o n d ay, J a n u a r y 1 3 Masha Hamilton reads from her works at 6:30. WHITESTONE Tuesday, January 14 “in the Shadow of the Banyan” discussed at 2. HILLCREST Tuesday, January 14 “defending Jacob” at 3. CENTRAL LIBRARY Wednesday, Januar y 15 “Zeitoun” at 11:30. ST. ALBANS T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 6 “Playing the Hand You’re dealt” discussed at 5:30.

CATHOLIC VETS Monday, January 13 American Martyrs catholic Vet Veterans Post 1772 in Bayside. 468-9351. VFW 4787 Monday, January 13 Whitestone VFW communit y Post meets. 746-0540. SE QUEENS CAMERA Tuesday, January 14 roy Wilkins center. 347-7178. FDR DEMOCRATS Thursday, January 16 in Bayside 7:30. 460-8285.

EDUCATION

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT do you provide care to a family member, friend or neighbor? could you use some help yourself? 2685960, ext. 226. DANCE FITNESS Friday, January 10 richmond Hill library at 5:30. CALYPSO CARDIO Fridays, January 10, 17, 24, 31 Laurelton library at 6:30. ZUMBA Saturdays, Januar y 11, 18, 25 ridgewood library at 10:15. GROW YOUR DIET Saturday, January 11 Steinway library at 4. DANCE FITNESS Mondays, January 13, 27 north Forest Park library at 11:30. TAI CHI Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 Bayside library. register. ZUMBA Tuesdays, January 14, 21 north Forest Park library. register. INTRO YOGA Tuesdays, January 14, 21 Poppenhusen library. register. TOTAL WORKOUT Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28 Briarwood library at 5:30 and ridgewood library at 6. ALZHEIMERS Tuesdays, January 14, 28 caregiver support group in Forest Hills. 592-5757, ext. 237. CHAIR YOGA Wednesdays, January 15, 22, 29 Jackson Heights library. register. NATURAL PAIN RELIEF Thursday, January 16 central library at 11:30. C H A N G I N G H E A LT H CARE Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23, 30 McGoldrick library at 1:30. SHAPE UP NYC Fridays, January 17, 24, 31 Briarwood library at 11:30. MEDITATION CLUB Thursday, January 23 Glen oaks library at 5:30.

ENTERTAINMENT ART HISTORY Friday, January 10 Glen oaks library at 2:30. DIVAS OF OUR TIME Friday, January 10 Maspeth library at 2:30. TALENT SHOW Friday, January 10 ridgewood library at 4. RED HOT & FELA S a t u r d a y, J a n u a r y 1 1 ridgewood library at 1. CHINESE SHADOW Saturday, January 11 Flushing library at 1:30. DARIN, DIAMOND Saturday, January 11 Forest Hills library at 2:30. SONGS OF FREEDOM Saturday, January 11 central library at 3. “HIGHWAY” FILM Saturday, January 11 Jackson Heights library at 3. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Sunday, Januar y 12 at 4:30. 551-8244. OPEN MIC Sunday, January 12 central library at 2. INTERNATIONAL FILM Monday, January 13 “Shu Li and the Poet” shown at the Glen oaks library at 2. WARRIORS DON’T CRY Monday, January 13 Baisley Park library at 4. CHARLES, WONDER, GAYE Monday, January 13 Laurelton library at 5:45. OPEN MIC Monday, January 13 Barnes & noble, 176-60 Union turnpike, Fresh Meadows at 7:30. DARIN, DIAMOND, ANKA Tuesday, January 14 east Flushing at 2:30. WORLD MUSIC Tuesday, January 14 Forest Hills library at 5:30. POP CLASSICS T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 6 north Hills library at 1:30. DIVAS OF JAZZ T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 6 Windsor Park library at 2. MOTOWN & DISCO Thursday, January 16 richmond Hill library at 5:30. DOUBLE INDEMNITY Thursday, January 16 movie at noon at the central library.

NETWORKING Fridays, Januar y 10, 24 central library. register. JOB SEARCH Friday, January 10 ridgewood and South Hollis library. register. BARRIER TO JOBS Fridays, January 10, 17, 24, 31 overcoming Barrier to employment at the central library. register. KNIT & CROCHET Fridays Fresh Meadows library at 11. CHESS CLUB Fridays at 3:30 at the Auburndale library and 4 at the Woodside library. QUILTING CLASS Mondays, January 13, 27 St. Albans library. register. BALLROOM DANCING M o n d ay s , J a n u a r y 1 3 , 27 Forest Hills librar y at 6:30 CRAFTS Monday, January 13 Steinway library at 6. ADULT CHESS Mondays and Thursdays Queens Village library at 5:30. CHESS Tuesdays rosedale library at 4. SMALL BUSINESS Tuesdays Small Business Workshop at the central library. register. MOCK INTERVIEWS Wednesdays, January 15, 22, 29 central librar y. register. JOB SKILLS Wednesday, Januar y 15 central library. register. E-BOOK PUBLISHING Wednesday, Januar y 15 central library at 6:30. MOCK INTERVIEWS Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23, 30 central librar y. register. HOLA! Thursdays, Januar y 16, 23, 30 learn Spanish at the central library. register. LEARN CHINESE Thursdays north Forest Park library at 6.

HEALTH

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

Profile

Queens Nonprofit Helps Foster Kids BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

their mentors. This year, Forestdale enrolled 40 children in their mentoring program. On Saturday, Forestdale, a ForChildren ages 9-12, Funn est Hills-based nonprofit commitsaid, are at a very crucial point ted to helping foster care children, in their lives because they are will launch a new mentoring protransitioning into adolescence. gram, “Future Prep: Successfully This is why the program foTransitioning Youth to Adolescuses on helping children who cence,” in Hollis. are in the foster care system. In addition to STYA’s mentor“Our primary focus is ing program, the Hollis location, children in foster care, bewhich opened on Oct. 21, offers cause it’s something Forestfree after-school tutoring for 30 dale wanted to do to help students, ranging from elementary school to college. Although For- A Forest Hills-based nonprofit is opening a new individuals in the Queens community,” he said. “It’s estdale is geared toward helping location in Hollis. already difficult for youth to children who come from foster transition from adolescence homes, the tutoring program was the community and our clients,” he open to neighborhood students that said. “The community is very excited to adulthood who are not in foster were struggling academically. about us being there. I think that the care. But being in care and not being According to Brady Funn, direc- feedback that we are getting was that with your birth parents and dealing tor of youth services at Forestdale, something like this was missing and with that emotional separation is difficult.” the nonprofit strategically chose to we’ve been embraced.” For 10 weeks at a time, STYA offer these types of services for the The year-long program is made up children in Southeast Queens. of four 10-week sessions designed to focuses on building a certain set “We really wanted to do something help children ages 9-12 learn lead- of skills. The first session, Express to give back to that community [and] ership skills all while nurturing a Yourself, aims to expose youth to we wanted to be more committed to positive, family-like relationship with the arts and enhance public speak-

ing skills. The second session, Make Your Mark, helps the children identify community needs and implement a volunteer plan with their mentors. The third session, Sports and Fitness, teaches children the importance of staying healthy and having good sportsmanship. The last session, Do Your Dream, encourages the children to focus on what they want to do for a career and find a path to achieve their goals. “Some of the reasons the children have gone into care is because they were abused or neglected,” he added. “This is why a program like this is even more critical for that youth.” STYA’s Hollis site is located at 20309 Hollis Ave. For more information about Forestdale’s STYA program, call (718) 263-0740 or visit their website at www.forestdaleinc.org. To learn how you can be a mentor, call mentoring coordinator Darrell Bridgens at (718) 263-0740. Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @nkozikowska

People Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2013 semester at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. They include: Ozone Park: Shanaj Hoque. Queens Village: Clifford Guilloteau. Rosedale: Anthony Ferguson. Animal Care and Control of NYC will host an adoption special every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January. Adult cats will be available for a $20 adoption fee, rabbits for $35 and dogs for $40. All adoptions include vaccinations, a microchip, spay/neuter, a free office visit at a participating vet and a free ID tag. AC&C is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily at three locations: 326 E. 110th St., Manhattan; 2336 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn; and 3139 Veterans Road West, Staten Island. For information, visit www.nycacc.org. Queens Botanical Garden will host a NYC Compost Project: Teacher Wormshop, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 15. The program will discuss the benefits of composting with worm bin in the classroom. Fee is $5 per person and registration is required. To register, email compost@queensbotanical. org or call (718) 539-5296.

The Community District Education Council 26 meeting scheduled for Jan. 30 has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 25. The Feb. 25 meeting, to be held in the Martin Van Buren High School auditorium, 230-17 Hillside Ave., Queens Village, will start at 7:30 p.m. On the agenda is Nikki Scott, from the Office of New Schools, who will introduce Hoa Tu, the proposed leader for the New Early College and Career High School coming to the district. The Samuel Field Y and the Central Queens Y have announced that the Business Council’s fourth annual breakfast will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on March 11 at Douglaston Manor, 6320 Commonwealth Blvd., Douglaston. Honorees include: Gus Buitrago, Flushing Bank vice president, 2014 Business Leadership Award. Susan Cohen, Brandywine Senior Living at the Savoy director of community relations, 2014 Community Leadership Award. Ronald Fatoullah, attorney, Ronald Fatoullah and Associates, 2014 Community Leadership Award.

Expanding Family:

National Alliance on Mental Illness and Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York have introduced new Family to Family classes at five Queens locations: Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral of New York, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Queens Hospital Center, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care, and NS-LIJ Zucker Hillside Hospital. Pictured (from left) are Jeannette Wells, Don Capone, executive director, NAMI-NYS; and Majose Carrasco, director, NAMI Multicultural Action Center. For information, call (718) 347-7284 or visit www.namiqn.org. For information on reservations and sponsorship, call Jennifer Colletti-Membreno at (718) 225-6750, Ext. 238, or email jcm@sfy.org.

Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, engagements & honors to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

Faith

Punjabis Celebrate Start Of Spring BY TRISHA SAKHujA On Monday, families, friends and neighbors of Punjabi descent will gather around a bonfire to throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames while singing popular folk songs to ring in the new harvest season. Jan. 13 marks the culmination of winter, also known as Lohri, an important and famous festival for Punjabis that dates back to the time Akbar was the emperor of India. Lohri is the first festival of India in any year, but according to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated in the 10th month, called the Paush month. The people of Punjab are found between the northern parts of India and Pakistan. Besides Punjab, states like Haryana and Himachal also welcome the festival as the start of spring and farewell to the colder months. While most Punjabis practice Sikh and Hinduism, small groups practice Islam and Christianity. Regardless of their religion, for Punjabis, Lohri is

an example of a way of life because it celebrates fertility. In some regions across India, Lohri is referred with different names, such as MakarSankranti in northern India, Pongal in Tamilnadu, Sankranti in Karnataka, Bihu in Assam and Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh. Punjabi farmers are well known for growing wheat as their main crop during the winter, which is sown in the month of October and harvested in March or April. By the beginning of the year, the wheat fields indicate a good harvest, thus, farmers celebrate Lohri during this period before they cut and gather the crop. However, in modern India everyone celebrates Lohri as a day that promises the beginning of the spring time, not just farmers. The festival’s significance also

ties with the sun’s entry into the “Makar Rashi,” or the northern hemisphere, which is a period beginning from Jan. 14 until July 14. During this time, according to the Hindu scripture, the Bhagawad Gita, deems it as a sacred and auspicious time because Lord Krishna manifests himself. The central focus of Lohri is around the bonfire, as it keeps families warm while they sing and dance to folk songs and recount traditional stories that have passed from generation to generation. To start celebrating, people dance on the tunes of bhangra music, a traditional form of music originated in the state of Punjab. The family prays around the fire because it symbolizes a prayer to Agni, the spark of life for abundant

crops and prosperity. A traditional dinner is then prepared with makki ki roti and sarson ka saag. After dinner, prasad is served, which is a dessert comprised of six essential ingredients: til, gazak, gur, moongphali, phuliya and popcorn. Other traditional sweets include kheer, a rice-milk pudding and revadi, which are made of sugarcane juice. Popcorn and peanuts are also a staple dessert on this auspicious day of celebration. Before the bonfine starts, you will see children go door-to-door to collect funds for large community bonfires by singing in the praise of Dullha Batti, an Indian Robin Hood, who used to rob money from the wealthy people and would then distribute it among the poor. The first Lohri of a newlywed bride and a new born child is also considered very auspicious and important.It is also a day to exchange greetings and gifts with friends and family. Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@ queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

Notebook

Reading Partners NY

Reading Partners Helps SEQ Students BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA According to the New York City Dept. of Education, in 2011, 69 percent of fourth grade students from low-income homes failed to meet grade-level standards in reading. That figure captured just a glimpse of the City-wide average, where 71 percent of all fourth graders were not reading grade-level texts. In an effort to ease the City’s literacy crisis, the California-based nonprofit Reading Partners branched out to the East Coast, working with three elementary schools in Queens that have demonstrated a need for such a program. Reading Partners first came to New York City in the fall of 2011, with its first partnership at PS 33 in Queens Village. Two other locations have since opened in the Borough, at PS 48 William Wordsworth and PS 86, both in Jamaica. In conjunction with the DOE, Reading Partners NY selected the

three Southeast Queens schools based on their outreach efforts, determining that they fit within the nonprofit’s key demographics of children grades K-5 whom were reading anywhere from six months to two-and-a-half years below grade level. Reading Partners deploys volunteers to each of their locations, offering free one-on-one tutoring and reading assistance after school. Currently, the nonprofit’s goal is to serve 175 students in Queens – 45 at PS 48, 60 at PS 86 and 70 at PS 33. Students are chosen at the recommendation of teachers. “We’re here to support our parents and teachers,” said Jasmin Rosario, community engagement manager at Reading Partners NY. “We understand that they are doing everything they can with the resources available to them and often and it’s hard to give a student that individualized attention that they really need.” But unlike many similar organiza-

tions across the City, Reading Partners does not require its volunteers to have any experience in education or tutoring. “What Reading Partners is doing is taking the opportunity to find community members that really care about their students [and] really care about their community, but maybe don’t know how they can give back or don’t have a lot of experience at schools,” Rosario said. “We’re recruiting, training and supporting community members to deliver oneon-one instruction to students that are struggling to read.” Rosario finds that Reading Partners not only helps students catch up to their reading levels, it also gives students a role model they can look up to. She uses her own experience volunteering for Reading Partners and working with a first grader as an example. “I’ve had the opportunity to teach him and read with him, but also the opportunity to learn about his

life and to help support him as he is going through school and going through challenges,” she said. “I love the reading aspect, but I really love being able to build that relationship with him.” “We call our community members tutors, we call them Reading Partners and we call them mentors,” she added. “This is not just about increasing the literary skill of our students – that’s just one aspect of our work.” Reading Partners is recruiting volunteers for the 2013-2014 school year at each of its Queens locations. To become a Reading Partner, you must be able to dedicate a minimum of one hour a week and be at least a freshman in high school. For more information about how you can become a volunteer, email volunteerny@readingpartners.org or call (646) 481-3002. Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska

Jan. 10-16, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

What’s Up JAN. 11 Second Annual Haitian Survival Kit Drive

more information, call (718) 5282822 or visit www.queenslibrary.org/ branch/Laurelton.

The Greater Queens Chapter of The Links is pleased to present its Second Annual Haitian Survival Kit Drive. As Haiti marks the third anniversary of the apocalyptic hurricane, the community will together to aid the people who still suffer. They are looking to collect items for kits as well as donations for those still affected. For additional information, call Deborah Maisonet at grvc@ att.net or (347) 743-3737. You may also contact Patrice Thompson at Patrice.thompson@td.com or (646) 338-7847. This event will be held at the Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Citizens Center at 10 a.m. The center is located at 220-01 Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights.

Learn How To Play Chess Every Thursday, the Rochdale Village Library will offer a free program to learn chess for kids and teens. The program is open to beginners, advanced players and everyone else in between. The program is held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Rochdale Village Library is located at 169-09 137th Ave.

Queens Satellite High School And College Mentoring Program

ObamaCare 101 Learn all about the Affordable Care Act and how it will affect you for free. This event will be held at the EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To RSVP to this event, call (646) 4761294. The EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center at 206-20 Linden Blvd.

Relaxing Massage Research shows that massages can reduce stress, ease aches and decrease stiffness. At this event, you can get a free massage by a licensed massage therapist. Massages will be given out from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center. To RSVP to this event, call (646) 476-1294. The EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center at 20620 Linden Blvd.

JAN. 12 Open Mic Night Poet, essayist and translator Claire Van Winkle will host a free open mic night at Queens Central Library at 2 p.m. Van Winkle received her BA from NYU and is currently completing an MFA in poetry writing and literary translation at Queens College, where she also teaches undergraduate writing and literature.

JAN. 13 Sitting Exercise As part of its new health series, the EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center in Cambria Heights will hold a free sitting exercise class. This workout can help you improve your stability and balance. The workshop will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the center located at 206-20 Linden

This month, the nonprofit Reading Partners is looking for volunteers for the 2013-2014 school year at each of its Queens locations. Find out how you can help students in your neighborhood learn how to read. Blvd. For more information, call (866) 539-0999 or visit www.ehnc. com.

JAN. 15 eBook Publishing Workshop Katherine Garrigan, production editor for the Newtown Literary, will discuss eBooks, including new technologies for writers, resources and programs for creating eBooks and information on crafting and publishing your own e-book. This workshop is free and will be held at the Queens Central Library at 6:30 p.m.

Volunteer Open House The Voelker Orth Museum will hold an open house for attendees to learn about volunteer opportunities while enjoying a cup of tea. Volunteers play an important role at the Museum, helping in the garden, getting word out about programs, participating in educational programs, working on research and offering a welcome at festivals and concerts. The open house runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (718) 359-6227 or email info@vomuseum.org.

JAN. 16 Natural Pain-Relief Solutions Rosemarie Cartagine, founder of Cartagine Chiropractic and Wellness in Rockville Centre, will discuss natural approaches to reducing and relieving pain. This free workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library at 11:30 a.m.

Cell Phone Literacy For Adults Cell phones are important communication tools for connecting with your loved ones. At this workshop you will be given a hands-on demonstration that will cover how to understand text messaging language, as well as teach you other important features on your cell phone. This free workshop will be held at the EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To RSVP to this event, call (646) 4761294. The EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center at 206-20 Linden Blvd.

ONGOING: Coat Drive The Greater Fellowship Church will host an ongoing coat drive. The church is now accepting coats for the entire family. It is requested you donate a jacket in new or clean and mint condition. The church is located at 106-01 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica. For more information about the coat drive, call (718) 523-7309 or email the church at gkfocm@gmail. com.

Homework Help The Laurelton Library will provide free homework help for children in grades 1-6. The library offers after school homework assistance in math, writing and other subjects. The program runs every day after school, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays. The library is located at 134-26 225th St., Laurelton. For

Queens Satellite High School is seeking volunteers to provide students with the skills and experiences that will support their personal growth. Key to the institute is the active participation its volunteers in the private sector and community members who wish to provide real world connections for their students through weekly seminars. Mentors can participate in oneday sessions or teach a seven-week seminar on a topic of their choice. Technical assistance for lesson planning will be provided throughout your experience. For additional information, contact Kristy Nguyen at (718) 657-3920 ext. 4031.

Reading Partners In an effort to ease the City’s literacy crisis, the California-based nonprofit Reading Partners branched out to the East Coast, working with three elementary schools in Queens that have demonstrated a need for such a program. Reading Partners deploys volunteers to each of their locations, offering free one-on-one tutoring and reading assistance after school. Currently, the nonprofit’s goal is to serve 175 students in Queens – 45 at PS 48, 60 at PS 86 and 70 at PS 33. Students are chosen at the recommendation of teachers. Reading Partners is recruiting volunteers for the 2013-2014 school year at each of its Queens locations. To become a Reading Partner, you must be able to dedicate a minimum of one hour a week and be at least a freshman in high school. For more information about how you can become a volunteer, email volunteerny@readingpartners.org or call (646) 481-3002. Send your community events to the PRESS for a free listing at 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357. Call (718) 357-7400 or email editor@queenspress.com. All events will be considered for publication, without a fee.

5Pointz Twitter War

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 10-16, 2014

ARTISTS OF QUEENS

Mary Desiree

QConf is edited by: Steven J. Ferrari

The white-washed former graffiti mecca continues to be a point of contention for some, as a Twitter confrontation broke out between the artists and a candy company. Last week, Jolly Rancher, the popular hard candy owned by the Hershey Company, tweeted out a bizarre photo of its candy superimposed over the now white-washed 5Pointz building, with the caption “5 Pointz Untamed” written with it. The pic (as seen above) appeared to be a tribute to the graffiti mural, but people associated with it were none too pleased. In response to the tweet, the 5Pointz Twitter account, @5pointzNYC, expressed confusion and dismay over the picture, saying it was trying to copy a similar tribute Absolut,

the well-known vodka company, did late last year. “Such a disgrace two months after it happened trying to copy a cool absolut tribute wooooaaaaaw so bad ..” read one tweet by 5Pointz. A public relations representative from Hershey responded, saying it meant no disrespect to 5Pointz. The company eventually deleted the tweet. “We apologize for our tweet re: @5PointzNYC. We meant no disrespect to the area or artists. The tweet has been deleted,” it read on Jolly Rancher’s Twitter page. Here at QConf, we don’t see much of a point to the argument, and we certainly don’t understand why the 5Pointz artists are so upset. Much ado about nothing, to be honest.

Breaking News: Dante Shovels It’s as if the world was on hold until Dante de Blasio woke up Friday morning to shovel the snow in front of the family’s Park Slope home. Schools were closed, thanks to his father, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and newly appointed Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, so what does Dante have to do? The Mayor joked at a press conference in Woodside Friday morning that his son was lobbying him to close schools on Friday, but that doesn’t mean it was no work and all play for the City’s First Son. The new Mayor made it clear that his son was to finish what his father started, clearing the snow from the sidewalk in front of their home, and to continue to do so as the snow piled on. His minute-by-minute morning routine was recount-

ed on various news channels, as Dante made his way to the front of his house. Several news outlets even took a break from “real” news to show their idea of “breaking news”- and yes, their breaking news consisted of Dante shoveling the snow live. We here at Qconf believe some of these news channels might need to redefine what they call “Breaking News.”

Contributors: Luis Gronda, Natalia Kozikowska, Joe Marvilli, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Michael Nussbaum, Trisha Sakhuja, Michael Schenkler.

A Good Deed Over the weekend, most of Queens was struggling to dig itself out of the storm that dumped about six inches of snow between Thursday night and Friday morning. While such a snowfall usually creates a problem for senior citizens, a few Whitestone residents had some help from their state senator. State Sen. Tony Avella (DBayside) came by the homes of a few seniors on Saturday afternoon to shovel the snow that had built up on their property. The senator did this as part of his snow removal program to help seniors during the winter months. “I am so thrilled. This man deserves some recognition,” said Esther Picard, one of the seniors whose property was cleared up by the senator and one of his staffers. Avella also gave a helping hand to two other seniors in the area, one of whom is disabled. “I think it was a very good deed,” Maurice Bronstein, another Whitestone resident, said. We here at QConf would like to credit and thank Avella for helping out Queens’ seniors during the storm recovery. Job well done!

Coming from a family where every member has a musical talent, it was clear that Mary Desiree would grow up writing and performing. The 23-year-old Jamaica resident said her decision to pursue a career in music was inevitable. “Music is in my blood and it is my passion. It wasn’t much of a decision to pursue a career in music,” she said. “It’s just one of those things you know you were meant to do.” The singer/guitarist writes numbers that touch on blues, soul and rock music and take full advantage of her passionate, powerful vocals. Many of her songs deal with difficulties she has faced in her life but are also full of hope. When Desiree first started writing, it was in the form of short stories and poetry, rather than songs. It was during her time at Forest Hills High School when she started to lean towards writing music. She took a vocal training course and was given an assignment to write a song using the poetry structure. That moment marked the beginning of her songwriting career. “There are so many things I can’t express to people and can’t find words to explain my feelings, but with songwriting, it all just comes out naturally,” Desiree said. “It’s an escape and a way for

people to see through my eyes and feel the emotion I’m going through at that moment when I wrote that particular song.” One of Desiree’s biggest inspirations is her two-yearold son, Noah. His presence changed her life completely, giving her the drive and focus she needs to keep writing and keep moving forward. “I have gone through so many hardships in life so far, at such a young age, but seeing a smile on my son’s face, it definitely helps me,” she said. “I want to be a role model for Noah so that he can see that he can keep reaching for his dreams, no matter what.” Desiree’s music has also helped her cope with hurtful moment in her past, such as being cyber-bullied in high school. Her experience with this issue led her to become the program director for “Sticks ‘N Stones,” an anti-bullying program from a non-profit called Windows of Opportunity. “I want to be able to help out kids deal with this ridiculous epidemic,” she said. While Desiree mostly plays at bars and venues in the City, she did audition for several television music competitions in the hopes of boosting her career. She tried out for “The Voice,” “X- Factor,” “America’s Got Talent” and “The Glee Project,” the latter of which she reached the top two for online auditions from New York. Although she currently resides in Jamaica, Desiree plans to move to Astoria to be closer to the music scene where she got started. She can often be seen performing in The Shillelagh Tavern’s Open Mic night, with her next show scheduled for Jan. 11. The Shillelagh Tavern is located at 4722 30th Ave.

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