Southeast Queens Press

Volume 12 Issue No. 9 March 4-10, 2011

PAGE 22

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PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

A St. Albans family torn apart by the loss of a job, a home and dignity has found the seeds of a new beginning at a homeless shelter in Jamaica.

By Sasha Austrie…Page 3

Online at www.QueensPress.com

News Briefs Teacher Layoffs Laid Out The Dept. of Education has rolled out potential cuts in teaching staff should they be faced with a combination of budget cuts and no change in the state's Last In, First Out policy.

The release Sunday of the list of more than 4,500 teachers who would potentially lose their jobs provoked a collective gasp from parents across the borough, but according to sources, the figures were most likely released as a ploy to build public opposition against LIFO, the policy that removes the newest hires first when enforcing teacher layoffs.

The policy has been unpopular with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is making a concerted but difficult push to have it reformed on a State level.

"Right now, there is a law on the books that says merit doesn't matter-the last teachers hired are the first to be laid off, period," said DOE Spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz. "This arbitrary standard means that some schools will lose up to half of their teachers, just because they have chosen to hire teachers new to the profession. There is a better way to do this - we can change the law and keep the best teachers for our kids."

An effort to make those changes is underway, but for some it is not the right change. A Senate bill passed on Monday that would negate LIFO, but the replacement structure it sets up is flawed, according to State Sen. Joe Addabbo (DHoward Beach).

The new process would look at teachers' ratings, lateness and even criminal histories in determining who gets laid off.

A companion bill has been sent to the Assembly.

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

Ridgewood Y Lives Again Eight years after the Ridgewood YMCA, languishing on life support, seemed nearly dead, local civic leaders, YMCA staff and the community gathered to cut the ribbon on the brand new Ridgewood branch of the YMCA, telling the neighborhood "we're here for good."

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens), Borough President Helen Marshall, and Councilmembers Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Diana Reyna (DRidgewood) were all on hand for the ceremonial grand opening on Feb. 25.

"There isn't a greater feeling for me than when we get to open a new Y, unlock the doors and turn on the lights," said Jack Lund, president and CEO of New York City YMCA. In 2003, the Ridgewood YMCA, then called the Catalpa Y, announced it would close because of lack of money, but a Save The Catalpa Y campaign led by local elected officials convinced the YMCA to reverse its decision. In 2007, the YMCA announced it would renovate the historic structure at 69-02 64th St. The center officially opened in November. The 22,000square-foot YMCA building at the corner of 64th Street and Catalpa Avenue, directly across the street from the 104th Precinct, was built in 1930 as a Queens County Courthouse. It was sold to the YMCA in 1965.

"There could be a co-op here. There could be a supermarket," said Borough President Helen Marshall, who allocated $1 million for the renovation, "but

instead there's a YMCA." For her role in saving the center, the YMCA named the education center for toddlers and young children in the basement of the building after Marshall. The Helen Marshall Early Children Education Center will serve children ages 3 to 5 when it opens in June. It will have its own private entrance in the back of the building.

Willets Foes Plan Suit In what promises to be a protracted legal battle, attorneys representing the Willets Point Redevelopment project's naysayers will file petitions with the state appellate court, challenging the NYC Economic Development Corp.'s adherence to the Eminent Domain Procedure Law. Their legal challenges, which they plan to file days after the agency responds to public concerns regarding the plan, represent a push into murky and somewhat uncharted legal waters.

Michael Rikon, the lead attorney in the planned case, claimed the City has intentionally subverted or ignored crucial procedures that would have provided oversight of the redevelopment of the Iron Triangle, as well as a fair shake for all landowners.

"Everything [the EDC] has done is wrong and it has made promises it would not go forward," he said. "It's rewriting the book."

The EDC responded with a brief statement: "We will review the lawsuit when it is filed and look forward to resolving it so that we can continue to make progress on this project."

According to Rikon, the City has not met the essential litmus test of public use, saying the condemnation is merely speculative until a defined project and developer are named.

Joining Rikon in the suit is attorney Michael Gerrard, the tandem's environmental guru who is best known for touting the now-ubiquitous "Van Wyck ramps" defense.

His part in the proceedings includes the City's flawed initial Environmental Impact Statement, which was rejected by the St ate Dept. of Transport ation.

Gerrard said the EDC's promise to sort out ramps off the Van Wyck expressway before condemnation proceedings was the lynchpin to a Judge's decision to throw out a previous Article 78 filed against the City.

Phase 1 of the project does not include an area that mandates ramps, the City contends, and therefore does not require a DOT-approved ramp plan.

Gerrard sees the claim as a means to circumvent the court's decision and procedure. And the technical memo does not meet the standard of a revised EIS when major changes to initially proposed plan are made, Gerrard said.

Rikon said the petitions would be filed after the eminent domain hearing runs its procedural course, which is several months away.

Brief Us! Mail your news brief items to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357

Presstime

Looking For An End To Shelter Life

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

a notarized letter from her mother stating that Barnave and her daughter could no longer live in her St. Albans home.

Rock bottom was slowly approaching.

With that rebuke, Barnave was no longer welcome in the shelter. She was told to rent a room and come back to PATH in 10 days. Alone, they rode the subway that night.

"The next day, I finally broke down and called my mother so that [my daughter and I] could shower," she said.

Barnave said she found Haille on all fours in the bathroom vomiting and defecating on herself. She rushed her to the emergency room. Though Haille did not confide in her mother, she told her doctors that she tried to kill herself. It was in that moment, Barnave was at her lowest.

"The bottom was when my daughter tried to kill herself," she said.

Searing doubts about her fitness as a mother broke Barnave.

"She made me feel like I failed," she said. "She made me feel like she quit on me because I failed."

Without an address to go home to, the hospital called the Administration for

Children Services and waited three days before they released Haille. Barnave said hospital staff made a plea to ACS and DHS. When released, Barnave took her daughter to PATH. She said unlike previous occasions, her 14-hour wait was cut in half. They were sent back to the motel.

Even with their most basic necessities met, Barnave's worry has not subsided.

For a time, she would take Haille to school at IS 270 and wait in the cold until school was out.

"I was afraid to be away from her," she said. "I'm terrified to be away from her."

Recently, Barnave and Haille were moved to the Springfield Family Residence. Since then she has relaxed. Instead of following Haille to school, she calls when she gets to the school and then Barnave calls the school to make sure that she arrived safely.

Barnave is hoping that she will be relocated to permanent housing.

"I want out of here," she said. "I want my own place."

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.

Wills Recaps Town Hall Tour

BY SASHA AUSTRIE After a hosting five listening tours, Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) said the district's ills are not new.

"Basically, the things we got from the town hall meeting were things we already knew about," Wills said.

Common complaints in the district are "a lack of access to good jobs" and education.

"A lot of young men are willing to take jobs that they are overqualified for or they wouldn't take in order to feed their children," Wills said.

To remedy the jobless claims in his district, Wills will host a job fair on May 20 at Rochdale's mall. He said participants in the fair will be met by quality employers from the airports to corporations.

In terms of the education Councilman Ruben Wills has gotten a solid reading of his district’s issues after a series of Town Hall issues in the borough, constitu- meetings. ents listed at least 10 schools that needed funding for after school pro- people have an atmosphere to better them- instead of tw. Wills said vehicles are now speeding to inch in front of other cars, grams. Other complaints dealt with school selves." closings within the district. Wills said resiOther issues were the City's handling of leaving children in harm's way. McCarthy dents are worried about PS 40, August the blizzard at the latter end of 2010, pot is currently working to come up with a Martin and Richmond Hill high schools. holes and traffic issues. Wills said he and solution, according to the Councilman.

Wills said some people attended the In terms of additional school funding, Queens Dept. of Transportation CommisWills is hoping to partner with groups able sioner Maura McCarthy toured the pot holes meetings because they couldn't believe to aid district schools, while also looking in the district and also a potential danger- that he kept his campaign promise of to expand education to adults. There are ous traffic issue on Rockaway Boulevard being visible and active even after the many adults that need access to an afford- between 129th and 130th streets. He said election.

"It built confidence in government for able GED program, according to Wills, but recently, DOT established a traffic calming embarrassment and financial hardships measure, which was supposed to slow traf- a lot of people," he said.

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at keep them at bay. fic, but the effects could be damaging to "We are trying to provide it free," he local school children. The roads surround- saustrie@queenspress.com or (718) 357said. "We are going to make sure that ing the streets were shrunk to one lane 7400, Ext. 123.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Danielle Barnave is hoping that her story does not end at the Springfield Family Residence on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard; that the homeless shelter is just a pit stop on the road to success for her family, which includes her daughter Haille, 14.

Barnave is a woman on the edge. The last year and a half has been a series of disappointment and hardships. The 39year-old single mother's life started to unravel when she lost her job in the latter part of 2008.

Yet through injuries, depression and homelessness, she has never lost sight of the importance of protecting her only child.

Fiercely independent, Barnave struggled to make ends meet in Austell, Ga. She burned through her savings in eight months and came home with her bank account nearing empty.

"I went to my mom's house because I had no place else to go," she said.

Barnave had no misgivings of what coming home would mean. The two-bedroom home that Barnave's s little sister shared with her mother and two daughters was in disarray. She describes her mother and sister as hoarders.

Though her living situation was not ideal, Barnave started taking steps to get her life in order, soon that would veer off course. A week before she was supposed to start a new job, bottled water stacked at least 14 crates high fell on Barnave while grocery shopping. The result was three herniated disks and a lack of feeling in her fingertips and legs.

A life that seemed to be looking up came crashing down. Unable to work, Barnave went on public assistance.

"I was so depressed," she said. "The lifestyle I was accustomed to was gone now that I am handicapped."

Life was not done with its cruel blows.

Her 2-year-old niece was diagnosed with cancer in April 2010. Barnave thought of her niece as her second child and feared losing her.

"I thought she was going to die," she said. "She spent 36 days at the hospital."

Her niece underwent chemotherapy treatments and surgery to remove part of her liver, lung and have the underside of her stomach scraped.

Barnave's life would soon endure another turn for the worse. With her depression and the stress of a sick niece, tensions at home were mounting. Haille was not getting along with her grandmother or her aunt. In the summer of 2010, Haille had an scuffle with her aunt, and the house became divided. Almost a month after the altercation, Barnave's mother, Haille's grandmother, asked the struggling mother and daughter to leave. On Aug. 12, 2010, Barnave packed up a few belongings and went to the Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing office of the Dept. of Homeless Sevices.

The almost-three-hour train ride from Queens to the facility in the Bronx was the pair's last semblance of normalcy. "[PATH] is like a nuthouse," she said.

"It is like the Welfare."

Barnave said there was a lot of waiting and shuttling back from room to room.

"This place is supposed to help me and I am sitting here for 14 hours," she said.

At about 11 p.m. that first evening, Barnave was given a room at the Metro Inn Motel on Queens Boulevard. Again, they gathered up their belongings and took the three-hour train ride back to Queens.

With all that had happened in less than two years, Barnave said she had yet to hit bottom. Navigating DHS is not an easy task. Even after she was given temporary shelter at the Metro Inn Motel, she had to make several trips to PATH. Barnave contends that the information they sought was always the same. Barnave needed to present proof of their address in Georgia and her mother's home in St. Albans. She also needed a working number for the landlord.

Barnave said she provided the information within her second call back to PATH. After a four-month stint, Barnave received a notice from DHS stating that she would not be helped because there was other housing available at her mother's house.

She had shown DHS officials pictures and

Independent Redistricting:

Heroes, Enemies Line Up In Fight

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

The push to overhaul the way legislative districts are drawn has led to the creation of a list of "Heroes" and "Enemies" of reform. In Queens, state legislators have 6 heroes to 1 enemy in the Senate, and 10 heroes to 8 enemies in the Assembly.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo submitted a bill last month to overhaul the state's system to redraw legislative districts on the federal and state level, a major issue among reform advocates, and it is getting mixed reviews in the state legislature.

The governor's bill to call for an independent, bipartisan commission has gotten the strong support of Democrats in the State Senate, who are seeking to force a vote on the bill over the objections of the Republican leadership, who have bottled up the legislation in the Rules Committee.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch blamed Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for trying to "derail" independent redistricting. Koch said Skelos wanted to change redistricting through a Constitutional amendment, which would mean reform would have to pass two consecutive legislative sessions and would not be in place until after the 2020 Census.

Koch has led a group called New York Uprising, which has put together "Heroes of Reform" and "Enemies of Reform" lists.

From Queens, the only Senator who has Park), Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica), Michael not pledged from the beginning to support DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights), Jeff independent redistricting is Sen. Malcolm Aubry (D-Corona) and Cathy Nolan (DSmith (D-Jamaica), who remains uncom- Sunnyside).

"I'm anxious to see it mitted for or against. move through the legislaQueens' Assembly deltive process," said State egation has not endorsed Sen. Michael Gianaris (Dthe governor's bill.

Astoria), a longtime supThough Assemblyman Ed porter of independent reBraunstein (D-Bayside) districting. Gianaris said signed a pledge to reform Cuomo's bill is a lot like prior to his election as a the bill he supported as an freshman in November, Assemblyman in the last and earned the "Hero" few sessions. badge, he has not comGianaris noted that the mitted to supporting the bill has strong support on bill. He shares this dual both sides of the aisle, instatus with William cluding from the entire Scarborough (D-JaIndependent redistricting would Queens delegation, and maica).

Assemblywoman Bar- create compact and contiguous blamed the Republican bara Clark (D-Queens Vil- districts rather than the array that leadership for keeping the bill off the floor. lage) did not sign the currently exists.

"It would take all of a pledge prior to the election, but does support independent redis- day to get it done," he said.

Political conventional wisdom is that tricting. In Koch's eyes, that makes her a "Hero." She shares that status - lack of independent redistricting would cost the support prior but in agreement now - with Republicans their slim majority in the State Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) and Nettie Senate because of the state's overwhelmingly Democratic lean. In 2010, even Mayersohn (D-Flushing).

Those who have not supported the though Republicans took a narrow 32-30 pledge and are still undecided on the bill - majority in the State Senate, Democrats "Enemies" - include Marge Markey (D- still won more votes statewide in Senate Maspeth), Michelle Titus (D-South Ozone contests than Republicans.

Independent redistricting could cost Democrats some seats in the State Assembly, especially in the suburbs, where Democrats enjoy a 48-seat majority, albeit their smallest in a decade.

"From what I hear it sounds like a fair proposal," said Braunstein, who said he would possibly support a plan like the governor's. He added that Assembly Democrats would meet as a caucus and hash out all, if any, issues they have with it, such as the power of the executive branch in redistricting. A bill modeled after the governor's bill has been introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn).

"As a caucus, we will meet and go over the proposal," Braunstein said. "We don't want a plan that is overly dominated by the governor."

Gianaris said a bill would have to be passed this legislative session, which ends in June, otherwise there would not be enough time to put a reformed system in place before redistricting is done next year.

He said Cuomo's involvement made him feel more optimistic a reform bill will pass.

"I'm a lot more hopeful after the governor weighed in on it," he said.

If no reform plan is passed, Cuomo has threatened to veto next year's new district lines, forcing redistricting into the courts.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.

Locals Chase Jobs Back To Queens

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

A new study released by the Center for Urban Future outlined massive changes in the way Queens residents commute and suggested improvements and changes in the borough's public transportation system in order to accommodate the new reality.

In the last decade, every borough except for Manhattan saw job growth.

Queens saw a growth of more than 11,500 jobs, with colleges like Queensboro Community and St. John's University, JFK Airport, and industrial companies based in Maspeth and College Point leading the way.

This has led to a significant change in commuting patterns among city residents.

Between 1990 and 2008, the number of Queens residents who commuted to work within the borough increased by 19 percent, nearly double the growth of commuters from Queens to Manhattan. More than 200,000 people who live and work in Queens commute by car, only a fraction of them carpooling; another 120,000 or so commute from Queens to surrounding counties.

Meanwhile, the number of people who commuted to surrounding counties like Brooklyn, Bronx and Nassau increased by 13 percent. Further, the number of Brooklyn and Bronx residents commuting to Queens exploded over that time frame, by 32 and 38 percent respectively. The

report states that 160,000 people now cross the Brooklyn/Queens border every day for work.

Though there are multiple subway and bus lines connecting Brooklyn to Queens, the report indicates that many commuters who move between the boroughs do so by car, adding to the congestion on interborough roads. The report cautions that according to the MTA's own estimates on car commuters and projected population growth, there could be as many as 114,000 new car trips on Queens roads by 2030.

Among the recommendations the report suggested is for state and city officials to first take the MTA out of its financial hole and then explore establishing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines along major thoroughfares connecting major hubs like Flushing, Long Island City and Jamaica with areas with the greatest job growth like Bayside, College Point, Maspeth and JFK Airport.

BRT lines would dedicate a lane in each direction specifically for buses, keeping them free of existing road traffic, allowing them to move more freely. In the study, the Center for Urban Future discovered that New York City buses move slower than buses in other cities. BRT would allow buses to run faster since they would be kept separate from regular road traffic.

Multiple problems exist in implementing a BRT however. One issue is the lack

Growing numbers of Queens residents are commuting within the borough to their jobs, rather than to Manhattan, increasing auto traffic on many borough thoroughfares like Northern Boulevard. of space on area roads. Dedicating one lane to buses along some routes like Main Street or Myrtle Avenue would be a challenge because the streets are already have a narrow right-of-way and are heavily congested. On streets where the BRT could work, like Northern Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, the problem would be taking away parking.

The MTA had planned to implement a BRT along Merrick Boulevard between

Laurelton and Downtown Jamaica, but local merchants and property owners fought the plan after it was revealed it would eliminate metered parking spots along the route.

The NYC Dept. of Transportation had no comment on the report other than to note that it was "reviewing its findings."

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

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 Associate Publisher

In Our Opinion: Arnold Thibou Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Deputy Editor:

Joseph Orovic Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed

The road to recovery for our borough’s artifacts must not stop at the RKO Keith’s in Flushing. The process to bring some portion of the aging relic back to life has stopped and started a handful of times before.

The theater has been the victim of an unscrupulous developer, vandals, squatters and thieves.

While the rest of Flushing has been transformed in a Renaissance of growth and development, the RKO has sat and deteriorated. The palace at the end of the 7 train line will see a slight rebirth – not to the grandeur it once held, and to some, not to the esteem it deserves.

Private development has repurposed this iconic structure that is such a large part of the public domain, but the list of private and public sites in need of aid grows daily. Where is the fix for the crumbling New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows? Why is the Civic Virtue statue, bedeviled in this edition as misogynistic, in such disrepair? Why does St. Saviour’s Church sit in boxes in a warehouse?

We need a commitment to preserve our history, our artifacts, our borough icons. Yes, public funding needs to aid our children – our future, but it also needs to help preserve our past, encourage our arts and spur our aesthetic growth.

We call upon our elected officials to find a solution.

Letters

Queens Today Editor

Wave Of Freedom

Regina Vogel

To The Editor: Like so many Americans, I have been simultaneously amazed at the courage and determination of the Libyan people to recover their freedom and disgusted by the vicious and barbaric efforts by Qaddafi and his allies to preserve their tyranny by waging war against the Libyan people.

The Obama Administration has rightfully come out for Qaddafi's immediate departure from power and has worked ag-

Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Harley Benson Sasha Austrie Domenick Rafter Jessica Ablamsky Editorial Intern: Angy Altamirano Jason Banrey

Art Dept:

Sara Gold Rhonda Leefoon Candice Lolier Barbara Townsend Advertising Director James Mammarella Sr. Account Executive Shelly Cookson Advertising Executives Merlene Carnegie

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

Editorial A Call For Preservation

A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2011 Tribco, LLC

Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher

Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher

gressively with international partners to impose tough financial sanctions, to provide humanitarian relief and to safeguard American citizens who were in Libya. I applaud the steps taken by the Administration and by the UN Security Council to hold Qaddafi and his regime accountable for the utterly inexcusable and criminal acts they have perpetrated against the Libyan people.

A wave of freedom is blowing through the Middle East and the United States must stand with

Letters the people of the region who are demanding nothing more than the political and civil rights we Americans enjoy every day: the right to free speech and assembly, equality before the law and a government accountable to the people who elect it.

We cannot know how this wave of change will reshape the region. All we can do is to embrace the challenge of rapid change, stay true to the timeless values on which our country was founded and reach out with an open hand to people who are throwing off the yoke of autocracy and tyranny.

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, Bayside

He Doesn't Get It To The Editor: With an ongoing recession and a civil war brewing in Libya, it was unbelievable to see my local congressman grandstanding before the press to remove "Triumph of Civic Virtue," the famed but neglected nude sculpture, from the lawn of Borough Hall. If Anthony Weiner had some appreciation of art history, he would understand that the image is an allegory, and not an endorsement of chauvinism. It is shameful enough to live in a borough where history is paved over by development and crumbling away in neglect.

Now, we have the forces of political correctness working to destroy our borough's history. The

fact that the statue was designed

by Frederick MacMonnies, sculpted by the Piccirilli brothers, and funded by a woman named Angelina Crane does not deter Weiner. Neither does the fact that my mother, who happens to be a woman and a voter, finds no offense with the statue, and is more offended by the ongoing recession and rising gas prices.

As an art educator, I tell my students that a monument serves as a physical link to the past, its ideas and its imagery. Even fascist, communist and Confederate monuments have much to teach us about the societies they represented, as opposed to a society that only cares about its own moment in the sun.

Perhaps some elected officials would prefer a rootless Queens, where a Flushing film palace is collapsing, space-age towers from the 1964 World's Fair are rusting, and an allegorical statue that condemns corruption is crumbling. I pray that Queens will be saved for future generations to cherish.

Sergey Kadinsky, Rego Park

WRITE ON: The PRESS of Southeast Queens,

150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357 email news@queenspress.com fax: (718) 357-9417

Ignorance Is Not Bliss, Lying Even Worse A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE Ignorance is an amazing thing.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made an impressive run for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, and yet he does not know the difference between Indonesia and Kenya.

Earlier this week, Huckabee, in a radio interview, asserted that President Barack Obama's world view was shaped by his father and grandfather, "while growing up in Kenya."

Back in 2004, when Obama was running as a Senate candidate from Illinois, I read his book, Dreams of My Father, in which he plainly says his father was not an influence in his life and that he did not visit his father's homeland of Kenya until he was in his 20s. By then, Barack Obama, Sr. had already been dead for some years.

The book mentions a brief visit with Grandpa Obama, who asked his grandson why he did not bring shoes from America. The only grandpa who had any influence on Obama was the one from Kan-

sas, who helped raise him in Hawaii. Not the one from Kenya, who only wanted new shoes from the "land of plenty."

The book, written while Obama was still a student at Harvard Law School, discusses childhood years spent in his birthplace of Hawaii and about four years in Indonesia. Obama's biological father played no meaningful role in his life. In fact, the kid barely knew his father. That story is not news and it came up many times during the presidential campaign three years ago.

It made for intriguing "back story," compared to other candidates', but let's move on already.

It is stale now and should play no role in this election cycle.

How then can a man some believe will get into the 2012 presidential race be so ignorant as to publicly say something so incorrect? Maybe it's not really that he's ignorant of the facts, but is playing to the persistent sentiment that Obama is not American-born. It's redneck rhetoric.

There are enough fringe folks who believe that nonsense and Huckabee could be pandering to

their ignorance. That's too bad. I like Mike and, while I am not planning to support his candidacy should he run, he has always had my goodwill. I have admired the value system of the former Baptist preacher.

And that is why this foolishness is so hard to swallow.

Fair or not, more than anyone else out there, he is expected to be truthful and honest. Because of his background, he is held to a higher moral standard. Someone in his position should neither be ignorant nor lying. His statement is wacky at best.

"One thing that I do know," said Huckabee on The Steve Malzberg Show, "is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example [is] very different than the average American."

He then gave the example of Obama's decision when he first took office in 2009 to remove a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the Oval Office. Well, Obama replaced Churchill with Lincoln. What's wrong with that? And it should also be noted that Sir Churchill's

image was not tossed into the trash can, rather, it was moved to the family quarters of the White House.

FDR and America could not have wished for a better wartime friend than Churchill, but it is more appropriate that a bust of one of our own historical heads of state occupy that spot of honor in the Oval Office.

Some doubt Huckabee will get into the race. His last run impressed enough people that he has been making money handover-fist in media-related jobs. His Baptist preacher's cadence sells well in a TV land of shouters and mean-spirited rhetoric.

Unfortunately, he has now sunken to the mean-spirited rhetoric of other gab-fest hosts such as Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Shame on him!

Anyone who wants to discredit a sitting president should try to do it on policy and substance. Incumbency has its privileges, but there is always going to be enough there to disagree with; there is no need to fictionalize anything.

We're better than this.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

Facebook: Or How We May Get Our News Tomorrow

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER News via Facebook: • Yes, not about budgets, it’s about elections. (Wisconson) • $3.79 a gallon - and its not milk I’m talkin’ bout • And one political consultant asked: “I’m 28. How did I get all this gray?” His friends responded with his boss’s name: “ Dan Halloran. :)” • Listening to Yankee baseball on t he radio and ma n doe s it sound good!

• Taxes!!!! ugh!!!!

• Pizza for lunch and spring training games up next!!!

• Pro-Gadhafi Gangs Open Fire on Protesters in Tripoli, Libya.

• OK, just in case you didn’t get the memo, we have been asked to change our profile pictures to our pets in honor of animal abuse awareness until Mon the 28th. :-) • Needs flash on her Ipad!

• . . .and the Cat in the Hat celebrate NE A’s “Read Across America” and Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

at the NYPL! Residents Oppose Cell Tower The Donald craves media attention • Happy Saturday to me -- all the dashboard lights were on. Get to the corner it stalls, restar t & went around the corner to Danny (my gas station) -- opens the hood -- wires are chewed up. Raccoons!

• A week with the family, precious memories with your children, wish it didn’t have to end....and no homework! Lol • Opening Day - 34 Days for Mets n 33 Days for Yankees • US Will Be the World’s Third Largest Economy: Citi (China overtakes us in 2020; India in 2050) • Just saw a commercial for Bloomingdales Fur Sale... it makes me sick, ashamed, and sad to see people still supporting this insanely barbaric and cruel industry.

• Needs more than one Saturday per week • Hate doesn’t belong on the

• •

air....this is not right wing or left wing..its the wrong wing (about Glen Beck).

•

Basketball Saturday- my son has 2 game s to day — he just turned 10.

• Fine print in red...very difficult to read. Absolutely intentional attempt to mislead the public (LIRR) • Hundreds rallied outside City Hall to show their support for government employee unions in Wisconsin • GA Representative Seeking to

Make Miscarriages “Prenatal Murder” I should have skipped class and gone to the rally (Planned Parenthood) • Government usually is the problem • Que viva la Republica Dominicana • We don’t have the money to pay teachers, invest in green technology, or build high-speed rail systems, but apparently we’re talking about sending troops to Libya • The last of the snow in our backyard melted this morning.

Maybe spring really is almost here.

• I heard an ad on the radio from a public employees’ union protesting a proposed change that would make them have to wait until age 65 to collect their pension. Okay. Except my tax dollars will be paying for that pension; I’m self-employed and never had one with a pension! And I’ll be lucky if I even GET to retire when I’m 65!

• Not a good idea to cut federal

•

budget while unemployment is high and economy weak • Tea Party Patriots Warn Congressional Republicans • I adore beautiful books. Great collections inspire me. I don’t imagine e-books will ever be prized in this way.

• Albany pols’ pals net free taxpayer-funded medical care despite barely working • Sign of the times: I had the NY Times spread out in bed reading when my 3 yr old walked in and said, “Daddy, are you going to paint?”

• For Wayne Barrett, the Digging for Dirt Hasn’t Stopped • Is it just me but hasn’t anyone else noticed that as each day passes, another crisis of the human or natural kind is bringing us closer to a devilish end here on earth—or is it really hell in disguise?

• I think I’ll just go have some pudding.

• Spring I hope!!

MSchenkler@QueensPress.com

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

2013 Mayoral Sweepstakes: Field of Five Is Hot to Trot

By HENRY J. STERN either by the DemoPolit ics is usual ly cratic primar y in Sepmore about the next electember 2013 or in the tion than the last one. So election that follows in it is not surprising that November. Fund raising the Republican candidates is well under way, befor t he pre sidenc y in cause in the absence of 2012 are off and running. actual results, who is The ca ndidate s for the the front runner is deNew York City mayoralty termined by standing in in 2013 are close behind. the polls and the Henry Stern Considering political amount of money that campaigns as conducted on a four- has been raised. year cycle, we are now in the secIt is human nature to want to ond lap of the race to succeed identify with future winners, both Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The win- for financial advantage for individuner will become our 109th mayor als and their businesses, many of (the first, listed in the Green Book, which involve decisions to be made was Thomas Willett, in 1665). To by city officials (on the merits, of go to more recent history, Fiorello course), or for their personal satisHenrico LaGuardia, regarded by faction in identifying themselves some as the city’s greatest mayor, with public officials and believing was the 99th. The interjacent eight themselves to be instrumental in mayors, and the number of years the success of those they have fathe y ser ved, are O’Dw yer-5, vored. Invitations to Gracie ManImpellitteri-3, Wagner-12, Lindsay- sion don’t hurt, either.

8, Beame-4, Koch-12, Dinkins-4 To fi nd prospect ive candiand Giuliani-8. dates, the logical place to begin is The most notable aspect of with other citywide elected officials this list is that, in an overwhelm- and former officials. A brief rundown ingly Democrat ic cit y, where of the current field: Democratic candidates for comp1. Comptroller John Liu holds troller, public advocate, borough the office most often used as a president (except Staten Island), springboard for a mayoral race. Six and the great majority of state leg- out of the last seven comptrollers islators and city councilmembers were defeated when they ran for (currently 46 out of 51) are Demo- mayor (Gerosa, Beame, Procaccino, crats, it is the candidate running Goldin, Hevesi and Thompson). on the Republican Party line who Beame won on h is second try, has won the last FIVE mayoral eight years later. Hevesi was subelections. The five Democratic los- sequently elected State Comptrolers, in chronological order, were ler, but was unable to complete his David Dinkins, Ruth Messinger, second term because of legal issues.

Mark Green, Fernando Ferrer and 2. Public Advocate (formerly Bill Thompson. As you can see, City Council President, and before they represented varied ethnicities that President of t he Boar d of and both genders.

Aldermen) Bill de Blasio will surely The race will be determined be a candidate. Five of his prede-

cessors lost bids for the mayoralty: Newbold Morris, Paul Screvane, Paul O’Dwyer, Carol Bellamy and Andrew Stein (who ran for a year but withdrew before petitioning).

One won, Vincent Impellitteri in 1950, who became Acting Mayor after William O’Dw yer’s sudden departure for Mexico, a country beyond the reach of subpoenas, to which President Truman had suddenly appointed him as U.S. Ambassador. His younger brother, Paul O’Dw yer, was elected Council President eight years after he lost for mayor in 1965.

3. One Council President ran second to Nelson Rockefeller for governor, Frank O’Connor, who had been district at torne y of Queens County. We recall Rule 26S: “Second place is the first loser.”

But there is a bright spot - the man who was handily defeated by O’Connor in the 1965 Democratic primary ended up as a four-term United States Senator from New York: Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

4. Borough Presidents: Two recent mayors have been Manhattan BPs : Wagner and Dinkins.

Three MBPs have lost mayoral races: Stein, Ruth Messinger and Virginia Fields. Crossing the bridges, Bronx BPs Herman Badillo and Fernando Ferrer were both defeated in numerous races for mayor, but Seth Low, former mayor of Brooklyn and president of Columbia Univer sit y, was elected mayor in 1901. He served one twoyear term.

5. Council Speaker: 0 for 2 Peter Vallone lost a mayoral challenge in 2001, and his successor as speaker, Gifford Miller, lost in 2005. Both were impelled to run by term limits, which prohibited

their re-election. Vallone refused to over-ride term limits without a referendum. When the vote was taken in 1996, term limits were upheld.

6. Other elected mayoral springboards: William O’Dwyer was district attorney of Kings County when he was elected mayor in 1945. Ed Koch was a Congressman from Manhattan, and had previously been a City Council member, when he was elected mayor in 1977. John Lindsay was a Congressman from Manhat tan, from the same district that Koch was later to represent, when he was elected mayor in 1965. Lindsay subsequently came in third (behind Liz Holtzman and Bess Myerson) in a Democratic primary for the United States Senate seat in 1980 that was won by Al D’Amato.

Five potential, probably pre-

sumpt ive, candidates who as of today have filed with the campaign finance board for the 2013 election cycle are Public Advocate Bill de Blasio ($346,541), NYC Comptroller John Liu ($513,471), Manhat tan Borough President Scot t Stringer ($1,018,081), Council Speaker Christine Quinn ($3,134,698), and Congressman Anthony Weiner ($4,871,539).

This article deals with the fortunes and misfortunes of previous mayoral candidates, and provides a brief look at their current campaign treasuries. It does not discuss the merits of the candidates.

The point we make is that, whether you know it or not, the race is well under way. And there are only t wo year s a nd se ven months before the primary.

StarQuest@NYCivic.org

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER

102nd Precinct Train Suicide On Monday, Feb. 28, at approximately 3:30 p.m., police and emergency officials responded to the Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike subway station at Queens Boulevard and Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens in response to a call of a man hit by a subway train.

Upon arrival, they discovered a man was struck and killed by a subway train.

Police say the man jumped in front of the train in an apparent suicide attempt.

The name and description of the deceased had not been released as of press time.

112th Precinct Robbers Sought The NYPD is seeking the public's assistance with the identity and whereabouts of the following three individuals wanted in connection with a commercial robbery in Forest Hills.

On Monday, Feb. 21, at approximately 6:25 p.m., two Hispanic men and one black man entered 101-22 Queens Blvd., at which time the black man displayed a knife while one of the other suspects walked behind the counter and removed cash from the register. The third suspect simulated having a gun in his pocket. All three suspects fled the location on foot

in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are kept strictly confidential.

From the DA Bingo Scam Three individuals and a corporation who used a licensed church bingo hall in Queens as a front to steal approximately $830,000 from Greek Orthodox Church charities have pleaded guilty and will make full restitution to the Church.

Spiros Moshopoulos, 62, of 52-21 Brownvale Lane., Little Neck, and his corporation, Spimos Enterprises Inc., of 82-18 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights; Tommy Skiada, 49, of 23-18 35th St., Astoria; and Daniella Radulescu, 46, of 25-27 23rd St., Astoria pleaded guilty to second degree grand larceny on Feb. 28.

The defendants admitted to operating a bingo hall located at 82-18 Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights in the name of various inactive charities under the umbrella of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen, located at 25-27 23rd St. in Astoria, which is under

the direct canonical supervision of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The defendants obtained the licenses illegally and used the charities as a front to siphon monies from the gaming for their own profit. Bingo games were conducted daily at the location by people posing as members of various charities.

In addition to defrauding the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of approximately $830,000, the defendants cheated the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs out of approximately $20,000 in fees. The fraud was caught by investigators from the State Racing and Wagering Board who referred the case to the state police.

DA Richard Brown said Moshopoulos acted as president of Spimos Enterprises Inc., Radulescu was a church officer and Skiada was a security officer of Spimos Enterprises Inc. Sentencing is set for April 6. They face three-year conditional discharges.

As part of the conditions of the plea, Moshopoulos forfeited a total of $1 million ($830,000 to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as restitution for the stolen charitable bingo funds and an additional $170,000 as statutory forfeiture), agreed to a lifetime ban from any licensed bingo activity, and will dissolve his corporation prior to sentencing.

Moshopoulos and the other three defendants - and any entities controlled by or

used by them - will also surrender their bingo licenses.

Any violation of the conditions of the plea could result in the defendants being re-sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Shabazz Charged Slain Civil Rights activist Malcolm X's youngest daughter Malikah Shabazz was charged with defrauding the 70-year-old Queens widow of one of her father's bodyguards between August 2006 and November 2007.

Shabazz, 44, who was apprehended in Mars Hills, N.C., on Feb. 18 on a New York arrest warrant - issued on Oct. 16, 2009 charging her with the crimes of third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree forgery, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree identity theft, first-degree falsifying business records, first-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree unlawful possession of personal identification information.

Shabazz waived extradition and arrived in New York on March 2 to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY TO HELP SOLVE A CRIME.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

Reclaiming The Past:

Process Of Baby Steps, Research To Restore RKO Lobby To Its Glory PRESS Photos by Ira Cohen

BY JOSEPH OROVIC AND DOMENICK RAFTER From the sidewalk on Northern Boulevard, where a historical marker tells the story of the RKO Keith’s Theater, it is hard to believe this was once a jewel of Flushing. Its marquee is long gone and blue wood panes line the theater’s front, attempting to keep away animals and the homeless from calling the site home.

The façade overlooking the busy intersection of Main Street and Northern Boulevard resembles a Roman ruin, but this is far from Flushing’s Colosseum.

Cement blocks fill in the gaps left by large windows. Some sections of the walls are gone, letting only tiny specks of light inside and offering a ledge for pigeons and crows to perch on.

The PRESS of Souteast Queens got an exclusive look behind the exterior, at what is left of a once-mighty jewel. The interior’s lobby, a very small but highly contentious piece of real estate in a neighborhood full of land use ballyhoos, constitutes a major undertaking by developer Patrick Thompson.

If done right – “if” being the key word, given the theater’s long list of ownership disasters – the plans could restore one of the borough’s sorely missed treasures. But that final revelation is potentially years away, and the road there is rife with red tape and still pending approval by the Board of Standards and Appeals and Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

A Look Inside Inside, the treasures are hidden in the dark. Without a flashlight, it is impossible to see an inch in front of you. The cathedral-like ceiling and decorative columns that outline the balcony overlook a mess of damp plywood haphazardly organized into makeshift rooms that break up the grandeur of the historic lobby.

The rooms are piled with crud, a broken television and abandoned office equipment that can almost date how long it has been since the RKO saw its last screening.

Despite this, the colorful treasures of the lobby, reminiscent of eighteenth century opera houses of Southern Europe, remain relatively untouched by time.

The swirling columns along the balcony overlooking the main lobby are intact. The RKO’s famous ceiling, designed like a night sky with twinkling stars, still sparkles when a light shines on it. The lobby’s two grand staircases still stand, almost completely intact, but lead to nowhere.

At the end of the lobby is just a great open space where the theater once was.

Blankets and food scraps hint at squatters that appear to have left, at least on this specific morning. Daylight seeps in around the stage and the muff led sounds of traffic on Northern Boulevard, water dripping, or vermin scurrying can be heard. The scent of mildew, though not overwhelming, is apparent. Before any

work can be done on the building, the cleanup alone will be a Herculean task.

A Delicate Process Construction, by its nature and definition, is a rather simple task. Build something out of disparate parts, creating a greater whole. Restoration shares its conceptual simplicity – fix it until it is like new. But combining the two processes creates all manner of complications, with overlapping timelines but disparate goals.

The difference between achieving new and “like-new” is rather large.

According to project architect Jay Valgora of Studio V, the restoration of the lobby and creation of its mixed-use 17-story counterpart will involve dueling processes.

Given the rather messy business, with potential for all sorts of accidents, the first step in the construction would be to build a new cage or support structures around the lobby, in essence a shell within a building. Once the new supports are up, the old will be stripped away and protective sensors put in place to monitor conditions such as humidity and motion within the lobby.

Valgora’s firm researched the historic lobby’s previous state. By taking a complete photographic survey, alongside original drawings, he was able to create a visual record of the Keith’s varying states.

That level of detail requires a step beyond photos, as the Keith’s lobby was part of the atmospheric theater trend, when indoor spaces were designed to feel like the outdoors (hence the cavernous, starry-night ceiling). That level of detail required a microscopic study of the varying paint layers to determine the precise color of the lobby’s first coat.

“Much of it was similar to the original color,” Valgora said of the findings. “A lot of that work was intricate plaster with layers of special paint on it.”

Missing Pieces & Measuring Tape The state of the lobby only pushes back the process, adding more items to the restorative to-do list.

“The previous neglect has not been helpful,” Valgora said. “It has made our jobs more difficult.”

Among the more difficult aspects will

The ornate treasures of the RKO Keith’s landmarked lobby remain, though hidden away from the world.

be replacing some missing pieces. According to the LPC’s exacting standards, the developer must create the closest attainable version of the original as possible.

In the Keith’s case, that means replacing a fountain that once stood at the lobby’s center, but mysteriously went missing.

According to Valgora, rumors place the fountain in a New Jersey dentist’s office.

The LPC also requires all areas visible from the historic area be “appropriate,” a code word for not wildly deviating from the character of the lobby. The goal is to create areas of transition that lead into the newer parts of the structure.

Agency Oversight Looming large over all the proceedings are LPC, who hold final sway over any changes made to the lobby.

Valgora and company must make very

specific proposals for any move they make, with a full justification for their necessity. This goes beyond the replacement of a fountain, to even a minor touchup.

“Owners of landmark properties must get a permit from the Commission before they start work on a project,” said LPC spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon. “The reason we require a permit is to ensure that proposed work has minimal impact on a landmarked site. It’s a straightforward process.”

Valgora is familiar with the process, and said he is ready to work with the LPC. “We have the same goals in mind; we both want to figure out the most effective way to bring this back.”

Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.

Borough Beat

Pols Decry 'Misogynist' City Relic

BY JOSEPH OROVIC

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

the electeds' claims, criticizing their misinterpretation of an artistic work. More Civic Virtue leads a troubled life in than differing interpretations, some outQueens. lined a notable point: after having laced The ancient Greek principle's 20-foot history books with notorious surnames marble personification, "The Triumph of like Donald Manes, Alan Hevesi, Brian Civic Virtue," languishes McLaughlin, Anthony alongside Borough Hall Seminerio and Hiram under a thick coat of dirt Monserrate, maybe a and soot, its condition sculpted rock is the closdeteriorating from seven est Queens can come to decades of neglect. Now actual civic virtue. two elected officials The work depicts a want to banish the statue cherub-faced, nearly-nafrom the borough altoked man who oddly regether. sembles actor Matt U.S. Rep. Anthony Damon standing victoriWeiner (D-Kew Garous over vice and corrupdens) and Counciltion, as embodied by two woman Julissa Ferreras strange siren/mermaid (D-East Elmhurst) held a hybrids, their faces and tongue-in-cheek press bodies crumpled in visible conference damning the agony. artwork as sexist and in- The statue at the center of the The man represents sensitive to women, call- storm. the ancient Greek coning for its sale via cept of civic virtue, which Craigslist. espoused a life geared towards the im"It's ugly and offensive today and we provement of society, forsaking personal want it out of Queens," Weiner said. "It desires to abide by the law. While few derepresents an eyesore. This statue is nei- cried the statue's inspiration, the sirens' ther civil nor virtuous - and it's time for it gender was the focus of all the negative to go." attention. Why did two negative traits But defenders of the statue lambasted have to be depicted as women? And why,

more importantly, were they so ruthlessly conquered by a man?

"This is an allegory based on sexism," Weiner said.

The statue presents a daunting welcome to many women headed to the Queens Family Justice Center just down the street, according to Ferreras.

"It depicts women as weak and inferior to men - which is far from the truth the statue has no place in a public space," she said. "This should not be the first thing women see when getting out of the subway. I'm sure there's a wonderful estate that would love this statue."

But the statue's defenders said the elected officials are taking their politically correct tendencies too far, pointing to the statue's allegorical meaning.

"This sculpture is totally unique in Queens," said Glenn Urbanas, who interrupted the press conference several times.

The architect and statue buff knows the work better than most.

Designed by Brooklyn-native Frederick MacMonnies, the statue stood in City Hall Park for 19 years. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia grew tired of staring at Civic Virtue's rear end and tasked Robert Moses with finding it a new home, eventually settling on a small park alongside Queens' then-new Borough Hall.

"Civic Virtue" was among

MacMonnies' last major commissions.

The artist was well-respected within his time, and was among the first American sculptors to sell miniature versions of his work to supplement his income.

The statue's dismal condition alone has made it an eyesore for many, including Borough President Helen Marshall, who has vocally stated her dislike for the figure.

"We're looking at the possible closing of more senior centers, firehouses and other proposed reductions that are higher on our priority list than the restoration of this statue, which does not look favorably on the portrayal of women," she said.

The question of restoration brings up a thorny issue: Who exactly is in charge of the statue? Three agencies have roles in the statue's life: the Parks Dept. is charged with the statue's upkeep; it rests on Dept. of Transportation property; and is ultimately overseen by the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services, making it the arbiter of the statue's fate.

DCAS said it was reviewing Weiner's idea to sell. In the time since the press conference, the Congressman's office received several inquiries into the statue's sale, according to spokesman Dave Arnold.

Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.

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Southeast Queens Photos Edited By Harley Benson

Engaging Jamaica Youth The Greater Jamaica Development Corp. met last week to host a panel on Engaging the Young People of Jamaica.

Father Darryl James

Photos by Walter Karling

Dorian Jacobs

Panelists (seated) Dorian Jacobs. a Junior at Hillcrest H.S. (l. to r.); Father Darryl James, Priest-in-Charge at the Parish of Grace; Philip Willis, Executive Director of the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning; (standing) the Rev. Kenneth Richardson of Greater Allen AME Cathedral; Andrew Manshel, Executive VP of the GJDC; Panel Chair Frederica Jeffries, Supervising Assistant DA for Queens; and Cedric Drew, Executive Director of the Jamaica YMCA.

Reverend Kenneth Richardson

GJDC Chairman Lamont Bailey

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

Andrew Manshel

Frederica Jeffries

Attentive audience members.

Cedric Drew

Philip Willis

GJDC President Carlisle Towery

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Profile

Hunt Ends Tenure At JSPOA Helm

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

After almost 22 years at the helm of the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, Carol Hunt is bidding her leadership role adieu. Her uncertainty about her own age and the lack of funds for older adult services has led Hunt to relinquish her Executive Director role.

"I'm getting older and, as I've worked in aging, I don't know how I will age," said the 73-year-old Hunt. "The state of social services and the level of funding that is going on across the country and New York City makes it very difficult to provide services for older adults."

Though Hunt will no longer assume the lead role in the agency, she has no

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

Among those paying tribute to Hunt's two decades of service were Councilman Leroy Comrie (l. to r.), Judge Alton R. Waldon Jr. and Assemblyman William Scarborough.

plans to abandon JSPOA. Hunt will con- said. "They were highly dependable and tinue to work with, and raise funds for, great with kids." the organization.

Hunt saw them as a Being in service population that needed a voice and she was more to older adults was not always her dream, but it than happy to lend hers. became her life's work.

"The greatest experience for me was to be of "I know I wanted to work in social service, but service and make a contribution to people's lives, I didn't know it would be for the elderly," Hunt because I have been insaid. "I loved my work. volved with them or they When you find work that with me," Hunt said. is fulfilling, life is good."

Aside from working as the executive director of In celebration of her years at JSPOA, the board JSPOA, Hunt also worked of directors of the agency Carol Hunt is stepping down as the director of commuand Councilman Leroy from her role as Executive Di- nity programming for Comrie (D-St. Albans) rector at Jamaica Service Pro- JSPOA, and for the Dept. hosted a tribute to Hunt gram for Older Adults. for the Aging and served as the Queens coordinaat the Black Spectrum tor for the Retired Senior Theater on Feb. 25.

"It was incredible," she said. "I can Volunteer Program.

Hunt said she started her work in the honestly say I had my f lowers while I 1960s "when [the government] really could smell them."

Hunt's first foray into elder services was didn't know what they were going to do at First Presbyterian Church. She was ini- with people living this long."

In her years of service, Hunt has tially hired as a Christian tutor, but eventually started working at the church's senior learned how to age gracefully.

"Because you are getting older it program. Since then, Hunt has been hooked.

Adults aged 60 and beyond had so much doesn't mean you grow old," she said.

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at experience and knowledge to offer.

"They were passionate about giving saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 357of their time to people in need," Hunt 7400, Ext. 123.

A&E

Film Festival In Boro This Weekend

BY JESSICA ABLAMSKY

After the long-running Queens International Film Festival went bust due to a money stealing scandal by founder Marie Castaldo, Don and Katha Cato took matters into their own hands.

“Don and I sat down and said, ‘If she could keep this up for seven years and be dishonorable, think what we could do,’” said Katha Cato, co-founder of the first, and what she hopes will become annual, Queens World Film Festival, which runs Thursday, March 3, through Sunday, March 6.

Active volunteers in the defunct International festival, the Catos lost a substantial amount of money paying vendors on Castaldo’s behalf, but never recouped the money because they did not have a contract with her.

“It was a bad deal and it really broke our hearts,” Cato said. “We spent a lot of time letting people know that this is clean.”

To prove their good intentions, the

Queens World Film Festival is being financed 100 percent by the Catos, with hopes of forming a non-profit in the future.

Playing host to the 120-film festival is the beautifully restored Jackson Heights Cinema, and the Renaissance Charter School.

Organized into blocks with similar themes, topics range from the family friendly “Kids Short Stack” to senior-centered “Old Spice.”

Adrenaline junkies should look out for “Vampires, Zombies and Psychos,” which we can only assume will delight fellow lovers of gore.

Burned out after a Valentine’s Day gone wrong? “Love and Other Dangerous Games” might hit the spot.

At $6 per person per block, $3 for adults and the 18-and-under set or $36 for a festival pass, prices cannot be beat.

Not included is opening night, a fundraiser for veterans, for which tickets are $10 per person. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Jackson Heights Cinema, with

announcements and special guests speaking at 7 p.m. Showtime is 7:15 p.m.

The opening night highlight will be “Shepherds of Helmand,” a documentary about a group of 17 volunteers from the Oregon National Guard deployed to Afghanistan, one of the most decorated units in Oregon National Guard History.

“We’re not making a political statement at all,” Cato said. “We were just so moved by this story. The filmmaker and some of those men are going to be there.”

Making his directorial debut is Queens native Bill Sorice with his film “Vinni Vino,” a dark comedy about a trigger happy crime boss.

Thus far, the 10-minute flick has been a success, chosen for 11 festivals around the country and winning awards for Comedy Short at the eighth annual Global Art Film Festival in Sacramento, Calif. and Audience Favorite at the third annual GIAA Film Festival in New York.

Paying homage to the mobster movies we all know and love, and poking gentile fun at Italian American stereotypes,

one of his goals was, “to see how much violence I could possibly condense into 10 minutes, and make it a comedy.”

Festival perks include nightly specials at local restaurants, including 20 percent off at La Pequena Columbia and NOVO. Free panels include “So Your Child Wants To Be A Filmmaker… DON’T PANIC” on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Renaissance Charter School, followed by “Film Finance in the New Market,” at noon.

“If you are an artist, you have to be an artist,” Cato said. “There really is no other way around it. I just want to make sure that families support their kids and understand that they will be okay. They’ll be okay.”

Married to a filmmaker herself, Cato should know.

For more information about the Queens World Film Festival, go to queensworldfilmfestival.com or email kcato@queensworldfilmfestival.com.

Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

Restaurant Review

Red-Headed Orphan Middle Eastern Classic Comes To Bay Terrace Unlike some establishments, the sauces are made from scratch, with huge vats of chickpeas boiling overnight before being ground to a tasty paste, a fact I was glad to learn. There’s no other way to make falafel.

Next up was the Shawarma, which features tender morsels of baby chicken, served with a mango pickle sauce, a culinary concoction that tastes like a spicy pickle.

The Spicy Schnitzel, strips of breaded chicken flecked with a generous amount of red pepper flakes, was not too spicy for my heat loving palate, and we liked it best without any sauce.

Four-piece Moroccan Cigars find a crunchy taquito-like roll stuffed with beef and served with tahini. Yummy with or without the sauce, would that I had no guest I would have finished them on my own. Hmmph. Stupid guest.

Kube, bulgar stuffed with ground beef and also served with tahini, is a fragrant, savory sweet delight.

For the less adventurous, NY Falafel Bar offers up the usual American lunchtime stock, curly fries – which we tried and enjoyed – beef burger and hot pastrami sandwiches, which we did not order and trust them to do right.

Though well-stuffed, I made room for dessert.

Requesting the baklava, I was delighted to discover they offer a variety.

Forgive my ignorance, but I had not realized baklava comes with a choice. Not content with just one kind, I tried them all, a decision I would recommend.

Fresh and dripping with honey, yet not overpoweringly sweet.

With prices that range from $3.95 for an appetizer to $13.95 for a platter, NY Falafel Bar is worth the trip.

—-Jessica Ablamsky

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

You don’t need to hop a train to the Great White Way to catch an enjoyable night of theater. Instead, head over to Bay Terrace during March.

For three March weekends, the community theater group Theater By The Bay in Bay Terrace will put on its performance of the musical about the optimistic redheaded Little Orphan Annie at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center.

Directed by Lawrence Bloom, the performance will star some of the theater company’s most heralded performers: John Canning, a Nassau County lawyer by day, will play the role of “Daddy Warbucks” while Middle Village’s Jean Ann Kump will portray the wretched Ms. Hannigan. Isabel Robin, 11, of Bayside will don a red wig as “Annie.”

Bloom, who has been involved in local productions for decades, said the people involved are what really makes community theater.

“It’s the variety of people who come to give up their time and their energy,” he said. “That’s very gratifying.”

For the show’s young star, an honor student at MS 294 in Bayside, taking the stage is both exciting and nerve-wracking.

The role of “Annie” was so coveted, she said, because it’s one of the few starring roles that require an actress of her age.

“There aren’t a lot of roles for 11-yearolds,” she said.

Robin said balancing schoolwork and rehearsals is difficult, but the production schedule makes it easier on her. Rehearsals began in December and were held every Tuesday and Thursday night until the final week; from that point forward rehearsals are every night. The “coolest thing” about playing “Annie,” she added,

Annie will star Isabel Robin in the title role and Jean Ann Kump as Ms. Hannigan. was that people come to you and call you the name of the character.

Robin said she is learning a lot from her adult castmates. She made her debut with Theater By The Bay in last fall’s performance of “Mame,” which started Kump in the title role. But for Kump, who has worked on a half dozen shows with Bloom, the role of Ms. Hannigan is more difficult because of her callousness.

“You really have to get the kids to hate you,” she said, noting that it’s difficult because of the good relationship she has with them. “That helps them develop their acting skills better.”

Canning, who in his long community theater career has played roles in “42nd Street” and “The Music Man,” said working with children is a pleasure because of their dedication.

Performances will take place on Saturdays March 5, 12, and 26 at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays March 6, 13, 20 and 207 at 3 p.m. at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center, 13-00 209th St., Bay Terrace. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and children. For tickets and information call (718) 428-6363.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

NY FALAFEL BAR 72-32 Austin St., Forest Hills (718) 268-9500 CUISINE: Glatt Kosher Israeli / Middle Eastern HOURS: Sun-Thu 11 am-9 pm, Fri 11 am to 2 hours before Shabbat PARKING: Street DELIVERY: Yes CREDIT CARDS: All Major Situated on Austin Street’s busy commercial strip, NY Falafel Bar is a standard take-out sized space, with bar-style seating, smart brick walls and decidedly nonfalafel music on a recent Friday afternoon.

With Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” blasting, a guest and I perused the menu, a comfortable mix of the familiar and exotic. Favoring paper menus over the neatly printed chalkboard on display above the counter, we settled on a variety of mostly new-to-us treats.

Waiting for our meal, which was quickly placed and served, we noticed that the counter features a dazzling array of sauces and spreads, and overlooks the comfortingly clean kitchen.

A falafel snob, I had to try the restaurant’s namesake, a crisp, bite size affair that was well spiced, with a hint of the cumin and lemon I love. New to what I have long considered a delicacy, my guest quickly finished them off.

Along with our falafel was a plate of dipping sauces: hot sauce, hummus, baba ghanoush and more, all of which we used to top our falafel. The hot sauce was suitably hot. In the words of my guest, “the hot sauce says, ‘Yeah, I’m here.’” The hummus had a subtle flavor that did not overpower the chickpeas.

About the baba ghanoush: creamy, eggplanty goodness that was perfect with the warm, fluffy fresh pita. This must be tried.

Faith

Conference Aid Headed To Haiti

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

Though Haiti is far removed from the glaring eye of the media sphere and has retreated to the shadows for most people, the impoverished nation is still all over the radar of the Baptist Ministers Conference of the Queens Vicinity.

Ministers of the conference donated money and supplies to Harmony Ministries, which is headed by Pastor Luc Deratus of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

"We adopted this ministry, so every month there will be something going to them," said the Rev. Leon Brothers, president of the conference and pastor of United Faith Baptist Church. Instead of the money being caught up in red tape and bureaucracy, the supplies can go where they are most needed.

Last year, the organization donated $5,000 to aide in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, of which $2,500 was given to former President Bill Clinton's

Word “To put it in a few words, the true malice of man appears only in the state and in the church, as institutions of gathering together, of recapitulation, of totalization.”

– Paul Ricoeur

Global Initiative and the other $2,500 to Harmony Ministries.

Dolores Knight, New Covenant Church of Christ's administrative assistant, said her church raised $5,000 for a clinic in Haiti with a congregation of 160.

The money would go towards rebuilding.

"We have been supporting it all these years," she said.

The clinic crumbled after an earthquake registering 7.0 on the Richter Scale assailed Haiti.

"We are trying to get it up and running again," Knight said. "We are not a large church, so we are trying to do what we

can, wherever we can."

The Baptist Ministers Conference is an organization that is more than 50 years old.

The organization meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday at Tiberian Baptist Church, 111-27 Farmers Blvd. at 1 p.m. and then again 6:30 p.m. The conference is open to all Baptist ministers.

Brothers said international aide and tragedy are not the only issues on the agenda. The next meeting, March 8, will focus on the Queens home front.

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 3577400 ext. 123.

Keepin’ The Faith?

Then it’s time to share...The PRESS wants to hear about the special programs in your faith community. Send your thoughts, stories, prayers and photos to: The PRESS at 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357 All stories will be considered. Photos cannot be returned.

Notebook York College

York Dramatist Ready For Spotlight Juggling six classes while serving as the President of York College's drama club is all in a day's work for one ambitious senior.

Stephanie Ogeleza, 21, of Queens Village, has no difficulty managing her hectic course schedule with getting ready for graduation this spring. She has even had enough time to write and direct her first full stage production.

Debuting last Thursday, "Bonafide Women" gives an insightful look into the lives of nine women struggling to come to terms with their own identities while in a women's facility center.

Fighting through various layers of bias and oppression imposed upon them by male counterparts, each feminine character gives a narrative of their situation.

While interweaving the use of comedy and drama, characters conflict with many social issues, including prostitution, discrimination, domestic violence and sexuality enveloped in an eclectic mix of music.

"This play is for every type of woman," said Ogeleza of her ensemble of multicultural characters portrayed in the play. "The audience will definitely connect with at least one of the characters,

walking away touched."

The young director is now looking to take her show on tour and hopes her premiere production will capture the hearts and minds of production companies around the city.

Developed within only three months, Ogeleza dedicated all of her time and energy towards getting "Bonafide Women" materialized.

"The last three months haven't been easy," said Ogeleza with an optimistic and confident smirk. "Even though it may seem like a short period of time, it's more about how much work we've all put into the show."

This is not Ogeleza's first attempt at producing a theatrical performance. As a 19-year-old sophomore, she produced "Real World," a one-woman show.

Infatuated with the effects of a oneperson production, she set out to prove she could get others to fall in love with her theatrical performance and was surprised by the results.

"My first standing ovation was all I needed to continue producing shows," said Ogeleza. "[Real World] provided me with the basis of [Bonafide Women], so I'm excited to see where I'll go from here."

After graduation, the senior looks to

create a non-profit theater organization that will look to draw the interest of youth in the community.

"It's about opening their minds to societal issues," said Ogeleza. "Hopefully my

work can connect the two and benefit the community."

Reach Intern Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 128.

Working Together: Photo by Bob Harris

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

BY JASON BANREY

School officials and members of the Student Council of the Business, Computer Applications & Entrepreneurship HS in the Campus Magnet Complex got to know each other and thought of possible school activities. One activity which was planned was to plant tulips in front of the school. Shown (front, l. to r.): Wesley Jacobs, President Parrish Mitchell and Kathryne Martina, (rear, l. to r.) Principal Dr. Herman Guy, I.A., Jaquan Woolery, Malik Shabazz, Brandon Newel, Khemraj Ramnauth and Assistant Principal Doreen S herman.

What’s Up SATURDAY, MAR. 5 Youth & Tennis The Youth and Tennis group meets every Saturday morning at Roy Wilkins Park Saturday. To learn more, call Bill Briggs at (718) 658-6728.

Geri Allen In the music of Geri Allen, we hear a passionate intensity, rich with the sense of growth and possibility. It is music driven by the desire to honor those who came before; and a disciplined devotion to forging new paths through her playing and writing. Her solos and her compositions inspire a feeling of safety while also expressing the tension of her adventurous spirit.

For additional information, contact Jacqueline Bailey at jbailey@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-3750.

This event will be held at the York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

Know Your Rights The NAACP’s Jamaica Branch will hold a workshop for the formerly incarcerated and/or those on parole. The session will cover various topics, including parole, cleaning a rap sheet, employment rights and child support and visitation rights.

Refreshments will be served.

This free event will held at IS 231, 14500 Springfield Blvd., at 10 a.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6 Isle of Klezbos Based in New York City, this soulful, fun-loving powerhouse klezmer sextet has toured from Vienna to Vancouver. With repertoire from rollicking to ethereal – folk dance and trance, Yiddish swing and tango, plus genre-defying originals – their music is heard on “The L Word,” as well as their acclaimed CD “Greetings from the Isle of Klezbos,” award-winning cameos on Metropolitan Klezmer’s “Mosaic Persuasion,” and the “Klezbonus” track of “Traveling Show.”

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 3 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 7 Adult Chess Club

College-Bound Club Join us for a series of programs for teens on navigating the path to college. Topics include: getting financial aid, taking entrance exams like the SAT, and all the drama of getting into college.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.

Polish Your Resume Bring a copy of your resume on a flash drive; volunteers will guide you through editing and producing a professional quality resume using Cyber Center computers.

Participants must have keyboard and mouse experience. Pre-registration is re-

TUESDAY, MARCH 8 Job Club Every Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jamaica Neighborhood Center offers a free service to assist people from Southeast Queens with job-readiness skill sets in writing a professional resume and cover letter; interviewing practices and techniques; applying on-line procedures; elevator pitch and Microsoft Suite 2007.

For additional information, contact Lenin Gross, Job Coach, at (718) 739-2060, Ext. 18 or lgrossjnc@yahoo.com.

This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center - 161-06 89th Ave.

Camera Club The Southeast Queens Camera Club welcomes photographers, beginners to advanced. Meetings are held the second, third and fourth Tuesday every month at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Family Life Center, 177-01 Baisley Blvd.

Intro to MS Word In this two-session workshop, customers will learn how to save files; cut, copy and paste text; use different toolbars; create tables, and much more. Preregistration required in person at Cyber Center Desk.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 Lunch In Church Join us for lunch and get refueled, renewed and refilled. This free event is held every Wednesday at noon at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, 89-60 164th St. For more information, call (718) 526-4775, Ext. 10. Come just as you are.

Intro to the Internet In this single session workshop, customers will learn the basics of searching and browsing the Web. Pre-registration is required in person at Cyber Center Desk.

Participants must possess basic mouse and keyboarding skills.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 10 a.m.

Teen Games Spend the afternoon playing games at the library! We offer PlayStation 2, Wii, and various board games for kids in grades 7-12.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 Adult Chess Club Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings.

The event is held at 6 p.m. every Thursday at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.

Freedom to Change Come to learn and share life experiences!

Topics include: The Power of Attitude in Job Transition; Assessing Where I Am; Reflect-

ing on Your Future and Constructing Life Goals: Living Up to Your Potential.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 1:30 p.m.

Computer Classes En Espanol Three computer classes in Spanish. Preregistration is required in person at Cyber Center Reference Desk. The March 10 class will be Intro to Computers.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 Senior Theatre Acting Repertory Calling all older adults: Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people while brightening your life.

Rehearsals are held at 10:30 a.m. Fridays at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.

ONGOING CPR Training The FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit will hold regularly scheduled free CPR classes in all five boroughs. The first Tuesday through the fourth Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of every month there will be Borough CPR training sessions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens.

Training is free to anyone over the age of 14. The goal of this program is increase the number of people in New York City trained in bystander CPR Each class lasts 1 hour and participants in the class learn basic CPR skills from a member of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service.

Volunteers for the class follow along using the CPR Anytime Personal Learning Kit, which features an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin. All participants are able take home the kit at the end of class and asked to pledge to use the kit to show five of their family members and friends how to perform CPR. This class teaches basic CPR technique and is not a certification course.

In Queens, the classes will be held the fourth Thursday of every month at EMS Station 54, 222-15 Merrick Blvd. In addition, please visit www.nyc.gov/cprtogo for New York Sports Club locations offering free CPR classes starting in January.

Please visit www.fdnyfoundation.org or call (718) 999-2413 for more information.

Group Sessions Clergy United for Community Empowerment, Inc. Group Sessions are located at 8931 161st St., 10th Floor, Jamaica, for the community on various topics such as Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Substance Abuse intervention, Decision Making, Condom Use, High Risk Behaviors leading to HIV, and self – esteem awareness. All group sessions offer light snacks and beverages.

Group sessions are open to the public.

Round-Trip Metro Card reimbursement is available at the end of each completed session. For further information call (718) 297-0720. All services are free. Please call for next group date.

Infant Mortality Clergy United for Community

Empowerment’s Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative program provides the following services free of charge: case management services, parent skills building, crib care, breast feeding education, health education, nutritional information/education, referral for HIV testing, confidential one-on-one counseling, workshops, and women support groups. IMRI provides referrals for Food stamps, GED, GYN, Emergency Baby Formula (qualifications required) and more. Call (718) 297-0720.

Located at 89-31 161 St., 10th floor, Jamaica. Services are available Tue.-Thurs.

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

HIV Awareness Clergy United for Community Empowerment provides intervention and curriculum-based prevention education sessions on HIV/AIDS, to reduce risk behaviors that lead to HIV transmission. Services are located at 89-31 161st St., Jamaica. Call (718) 297-0720 ask about our presentation to adolescents and men/women of color. Services are available Tue.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Laurelton Flea Market A flea market has opened at 221-02 Merrick Blvd. On sale are a wide range of items, including household items, jewelry and clothing.

The market is open every Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CPR Class Learn to protect yourself and others at Heron Care with a CPR class that includes a certification from the American Heart Association. Please call (718) 291-8788 for more details. Heron is located at 16830 89th Ave., Jamaica.

PAL Volunteers The Police Athletic League (PAL) is looking for volunteers to continue its mission of serving New York City’s young people by donating their time and talents to help serve Queens youngsters at PAL’s Redfern Cornerstone and Far Rockaway Beacon in Arverne-Far Rockaway, PAL’s Edward Byrne Center in South Jamaica and PS 214 in Flushing.

PAL Centers in Queens offer a wide range of opportunities for volunteers of all talents. PAL’s Redfern Cornerstone and Far Rockaway Beacon are looking for people to participate in a center clean-up day. Volunteers are needed to tutor and mentor young people during the After School Program’s daily homework help sessions. In addition, individuals can also donate their time assisting the many special events held at PAL’s Centers throughout the year. PAL is also seeking professionals to give career advice and talk about their own careers to young people, as well as guest speakers who can share information on a specific hobby of interest to the youngsters.

To become a volunteer with the Police Athletic League or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit palnyc.org. Volunteers will go through an application process that includes an interview, screening and an orientation.

For more information, please contact PAL’s Volunteer Coordinator, Alexandria Sumpter-Delves, at (212) 477-9450, Ext. 390 or volunteer@palnyc.org.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings.

The event is held at 6 p.m. every Monday at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.

quired in the Job Information Center.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6:30 p.m.

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina.

IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

SINGLES SINGLES SOCIAL & DANCE Sundays, March 13, March 27, April 10, June 12 singles social and dance from 2-6. $10. Over 45. Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens B lv d., Rego Park.

459-1000.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

SENIORS TAI CHI CLASSES Mondays at 9 Pomonok Senior Center, 67-09 Kissena Blvd, Flushing. 591-3377.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Monday, March 7 Rockaway Blvd. Senior Center.

657-6752.

TAX HELP Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 f o r l o w - i n c o m e o l d e r adults at 1 at the Sunnyside library.

AARP 4158 Tuesdays, March 8, April 12 AARP Chapter 4158 at Church on the Hill, 167-07 3 5 th A v e n u e , F l u s h i n g a t noon.

TAX HELP Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at 1 at the Bayside lib ra r y. A l s o o n Tu e s d a y s , March 8, 15, 22 at the Hollis library at 1.

STAY WELL Wednesdays at 10:15 at the East Elmhurst library for exercise and other health related programs.

WOMANSPACE Wednesdays 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue.

AARP 3698 Wednesdays, March 9, April 13 AARP Chapter 3698 meets at the Zion Episcopal Church, 243-01 Northern Blvd., Douglaston. Social hour at noon, meeting at 1, program at 2.

TAX HELP Wednesdays, March 9, 23, 30 for low and middle incomes at the Broad Channel library at 1.

TAX HELP Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24, 31 for low-income older adults at 1 Fresh Meadows library.

AARP 29 Thursday, March 10 AARP Chapter 29 meets at Grace House, 155-02 90 th Avenue, Jamaica at noon.

STARS Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 at 10:30 at the Queens Village library. Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets.

YOUTH

TEENS FUTURE WRITERS Saturdays, March 5, 12, 26 book club LIC library at 11.

CHESS CLUB Saturdays Flushing library at 2.

TEEN TUTORING Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 Bayside library at 10.

TEEN TUTORING Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Bayside library at 3:30.

COLLEGE BOUND Monday, March 7 College Bound Club for Teens at 4 at the Central library.

DO IT YOURSELF PROM Monday, March 7 at the Flushing library at 4.

LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 at the Hollis library at 4.

THE RIGHT HS COURSES Monday, March 7 Selecting the Right High School Courses at 5 Pomonok library.

TEEN CHESS Mondays, March 7, 14, 28 at the Bayside library at 6.

CHESS CLUB Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Lefferts library at 6.

KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4.

SKILLS OF STAGE Tuesday, March 8 learn dramatic moves at 3:30 at the Bay Terrace library.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 Hillcrest library at 3:30.

BEADING Tuesday, March 8 learn how to make earrings and more Briarwood library at 4.

LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Hollis library at 4.

MINI TABLE TENNIS Tuesdays, March 8, 22 come play table tennis at 4 at the LIC library.

TEEN GAME DAY Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Rochdale Village library at 4.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Baisley Park librar y. Register.

MARDI GRAS MASK Tuesday, March 8 at t he Flushing library at 4:30.

CHESS & CHECKERS Wednesdays, March 9, 15, 22, 29 Woodside library at 3.

CROCHET Wednesday, March 9 at the Astoria library at 4.

CROCHETING Wednesday, March 9 at the Bayside library at 4 for those through age 16.

TEEN GAMES Wednesdays, March 9, 15, 22, 29 Central library at 4.

LEARN MAGIC Wednesday, March 9 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Wednesdays, March 9, 15, 22, 29 Hollis library at 4.

COMING ATTRACTIONS Wednesdays, March 9, 15 book club/movie making class for those through 15.

Register Woodhaven library.

CHESS Wednesdays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library.

DRAMA POSSE Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 at the Hillcrest library at 3.

MANGA CLUB

Thursday, March 10 at the Flushing library at 4.

LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24, 31 Hollis library at 4.

SHSAT PRACTICE Thursday, March 10 practice test with Kaplan at the Lefferts library at 4.

GAME DAY Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

TEEN BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Briarwood library at 3.

GAME CHALLENGE Friday, March 11 at the East Elmhurst library at 3.

TEEN HAPPY HOUR Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1 Flushing library at 3.

CHESS CLUB Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Auburndale library at 3:30.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 at the Bayside library at 4.

TEEN ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays, March 11, 18,2 5 Briarwood library at 4.

MAKE OWN TREND Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Make Your Own Trend fashion design workshop for those through 14 at the Corona library. Register.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 11, 18,2 5 Fresh Meadows library at 4.

INTERGEN. PLANT Friday, March 11 plants, memories and writing at the Hollis librar y. Register.

HORROR & FANTASY Saturday, March 12 author readings and short films, dinosaur expo and a meeting with the staff of “Blood Moon Rising Horror Magazine” at noon at the Flushing library.

SHSAT PRACTICE Saturday, March 12 at the Fresh Meadows library at 3.

TALKS RELIGIOUS SITES Sunday, March 6 History of Religious Sites in Flushing lecture 2:30-4:30 at the Queens Historical Societ y. $8, $5 members. 939-0647.

WINDSOR PARK Monday, March 7 “Shanghai Girls” Windsor Park library.

HILLCREST Tuesday, March 8 “Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian” at 2 Hillcrest library.

FRESH MEADOWS Wednesday, March 9 “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows library.

FREEDOM TO CHANGE Thursday, March 10 learn and share life experiences.

1:30 at the Central library.

LIFE COACHING Thursday, March 10 Discover the Life You Want: A Life-Coaching Seminar for Adults at 6:30 at the Auburndale library.

GLENDALE Thursday, March 10 “Gone With The Wind” at 6:30 at the Glendale library.

WINDSOR PARK Thursday, March 10 “Remarkable Creatures”at 6:30 at the Windsor Park library.

QUEENS LIBRARIES Many branches of the Queensborough Library offer toddler and pre-school programs. Contact your local branch for dates.

KIDS’ THEATER Through Saturday, April 9 LaMicro Children’s Theater Workshop Sunnyside library.

S TORY T I M E Saturday, March 5 at the Flushing library at 11.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY Saturday, March 5 starts a two week workshop for those 6-11 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 2294000 to register.

S TORY T I M E Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2 at the Ridgewood library at 11.

ART FOR FAMIIES Saturdays, March 5, April 23 for families with children 5-11 at the Noguchi Museum. 204-7088 to register.

TEEN TUTORING Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 Bayside library at 10.

MATH HELP Saturdays Flushing library at 10.

SCIENCE LAB Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2 Central library at 11.

CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

S TORY TIMES Saturdays at 11 and Tuesdays at 10:30 weekly story times at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.

FAMILY DANCE Sunday, March 6 Make a Family Dance at the Noguchi Museum. 204-7088.

KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck lib ra r y. B r i n g n e e d l e s a n d yarn.

AFTERSCHOOL TIME Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Arverne library at 3.

CRAFT KIDS Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Flushing library at 3.

HOMEWORK HELP Mondays, March 7, 14, 21 with BOOST LIC library at 3.

TEEN TUTORING Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Bayside library at 3:30.

CUDDLE-UP TIME Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Russian Cuddle-Up Story Time Forest Hills library at 3:30.

ORIGAMI Monday, March 7 at the Ridgewood library at 4.

CHESS CLUB Mondays, March 7, 21, 28 at the Lefferts library at 6.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Tuesdays, March 8, 22, 29 Glen Oaks library at 11.

HOMEWORK HELP Tuesdays, March 8, 22 with BOOST LIC library at 3.

ST. PAT’S CRAFT Tu e s d a y, M a r c h 8 Fre s h Meadows library at 3:30.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 Hillcrest library at 3:30.

BEADING Tuesday, March 8 learn how to make earrings and more Briarwood library at 4.

CUDDLE-UP TIME

Tuesday, March 8 Por tuguese Cuddle-Up Time at the Forest Hills library at 4.

WATERCOLOR PORTR AIT Tuesday, March 8 at t he Rosedale library. Register.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Baisley Park library. Register.

NUTRITION WORKSHOP Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22 a t t h e R i d gewo o d l i b ra r y.

Register.

READING CLUB Tuesdays, March 8, 29 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5.

CHESS Wednesdays at the Queens Village library at 3:30.

STORIES & CRAFTS Wednesday, March 9 for toddlers at the Bay Terrace library at 10:30.

FAMILY STORY TIME Wednesdays, March 9, 23, 30 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11.

CRAFTS Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Steinway library at 11. First come, first served.

MORNING STORY TIMES Wednesday, March 9 Kew Gardens Hills library at 11:15.

FAMILY COLORING Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11:15.

S TORY T I M E Wednesdays, March 9, 23 at t h e E a st E l m h u r st l i b r a r y.

Register.

BABY CRAWL Wednesdays, March 9, 23, 30 Forest Hills library at 1:30.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Wednesday, March 9 at the Maspeth library at 1:30.

ELA PREP Wednesdays, March 9, 30 6 th Grade ELA preparation workshop at the Cambria Heights library. Register.

HOMEWORK HELP Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23 with BOOST LIC library at 3.

CHESS & CHECKERS Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Woodside library at 3.

FUN READING Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Bay Terrace library at 3:30.

MINI BACKPACK Wednesday, March 9 design a mini backpack at the C a m b r i a H e i g h t s l i b ra r y.

Register.

CROCHETING Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Bayside library.

Register.

POT OF GOLD CRAFT Wednesday, March 9 East Flushing library. Register.

CHESS CLUB Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 Ridgewood library at 4.

COMING ATTRACTIONS Wednesday, March 9 book club/movie making class at the Woodhaven library. Register.

MATH ACTIVITY Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 30 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5.

AFTERNOON STORY

Thursday, March 10 Kew Gardens Hills library at 2.

AFTERSCHOOL TIME Thursdays, March 10, 24, 31 at the Arverne library at 3.

HOMEWORK HELP Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 with BOOST LIC library at 3.

ARTS & CRAFTS Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 Auburndale library at 4.

KIDS CLUB Thursday, March 10 at the Hillcrest library at 4:30.

DISCOVER SCIENCE Thursdays, March 10, 24, 31 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5.

CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Poppenhusen library at 3:30.

GAME DAY Fridays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library.

GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays Hillcrest library at 4.

GAME TIME Fridays at the Windsor Park library at 4.

CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library. Register.

ACTIVITY TIME Fridays at the Briarwood library at 3:30.

RAISING READERS Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Peninsula library at 10:30.

FAMILY STORY TIME Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1 at the Seaside library at 11.

PRESCHOOL CRAFTS Fridays, March 11, 25 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

GAME DAYS Fridays, March 11, 25, April 1 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

READ TO ME Fridays, March 11, 25 at the Briarwood library at 3.

HOMEWORK HELP Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 with BOOST LIC library at 3.

BRACE GIRLS Friday, March 11 Queensboro Hill library. Register.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 at the Bayside library at 4.

ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Briarwood library at 4.

ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 at the East Flushing library.

Register.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Fresh Meadows library at 4.

PLANT PROJECT Friday, March 11 Intergenerational Plant Project at the Hollis library.

Register.

CRAFTERNOONS Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1 at the Ridgewood library. Register.

WATERCOLOR PORTR AIT Friday, March 11 Paint Your Watercolor Portrait at the St. Albans librar y. Register.

ST. PAT’S CRAFT Friday, March 11 at the McGoldrick library. Register.

ANIMAL HOMES Saturdays, March 12, 19 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

ART FOR FAMILIES Sundays, March 13, 20 for families with children 5-11 at the Noguchi Museum.

204-7088.

Queens Today EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS Maspeth library at 1.

INTRODUCTION WORD Tuesday, March 8 at t he Central library. Register.

GET YOUR YARNS OUT! Tuesdays after evening Minyan at 8, knitters, crocheters, needlepointers, and others meet at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 263-7000, ext. 200.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE Wednesdays 10:30-3:00 at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. $12 session, includes light lunch. 261-2900.

WATERCOLOR CL ASS Wednesdays at 9:30 at NAL. Traditional and contemporary, all levels. 969-1128.

INDOOR SOCCER – DADS Wednesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

263-7000.

INTRO INTERNET Wednesday, March 9 at the Central library at 10.

COMPUTER BASICS Wednesday, March 9 at the Windsor Park library. Register.

SCRABBLE Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 at the Forest Hills library at 2.

QUILTING CLASSES Thursdays 10-2 at the Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454 or 917817-8653 to register.

CHESS CLUB Thursdays at the East Flushing library. Register.

COMPUTER CLASS Thursdays Queensboro Hill library. Register.

KNIT & CROCHET Thursdays at the Fresh Meadows library at 6.

SKETCHING Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 The Essentials of Sketch at the Flushing library at 7.

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP Thursdays, March 10, 24 at the Bayside library. Register.

US CITIZENSHIP Thursday, March 10 at the Flushing library at 6.

KNITTING CLUB Fridays Maspeth library at 10.

KNIT & CROCHET Fridays at the Fresh Meadows library at 10:30.

ESL CLUB Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Lefrak Cit y library at 10:30.

SCRABBLE Fridays Bananagrams and Scrabble at the Windsor Park library at 2:30.

GAME DAY Fridays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1 chess, checkers and other board games at 2:30 at the Bay Terrace library.

CHESS CLUB Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 Auburndale library at 3:30.

PLANT PROJECT Friday, March 11 Intergenerational Plant Project at the Hollis librar y. Register.

COMPUTER CLASS Fridays, March 11, 25 Middle Village library. Register.

FM POETS Saturdays, March 12, 26 Fresh Meadows Poets meet to discuss and critique their work at 10 Forest Hills library.

RESUME WORKSHOP Saturday, March 12 at the LIC library at 10:30.

COUNTRY WESTERN Saturday, March 12 St. Patrick’s Dance. The NY Metropolitan Country Music Association. $12. Glendale Memorial Building, 72-02 Myrtle Avenue at 7:30. 7634328.

ISRAELI FOLK Mondays 7:30-10:00 at Hillcrest Jewish Center, 18202 Union Turnpike. $10 session. 380-4145.

LINE DANCING Mondays 6:30-9:30 at Kowalinski Post 4, 61-57 Maspeth Avenue. $7. Cake and coffee. 565-2259.

HEALTH ZUMBA Saturday, March 5 at the LIC library at 4:30.

ZUMBA Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19 at the Langston Hughes librar y. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Mondays, March 7, 14, 21 at the Rosedale library. Register.

CANCER SUPPORT Mondays, March 7, April 4 Franklin Hospital’s Cancer Support Group meets 2-4 in the cafeteria. 516-256-6478.

ALZHEIMERS Tu e s d ay s , M a r c h 8 , 2 2 s : Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 592-5757, ext.

237.

CHAIR YOGA Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Woodhaven librar y. Register.

ZUMBA Wednesdays the Sisterhood of Bay Terrace Jewish Cent e r , 1 3 - 0 0 2 0 9 th S t r e e t , Bayside, will hold Zumba Fitness classes from 7:30-8:30. $8 members, $10 others.

428-6363.

YOGA Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 6701695. $10 class.

SECOND HAND SMOKE Wednesday, March 9 at the Flushing library at 2.

WELL SPOUSES Wednesday, March 9 Well Spouses or Partners of the Chronically Ill and Disabled meet at 7 at St. Charles Rehab Center, 201 IU Willets Road, Albertson. Donation.

516-829-8740.

OA Thursdays at the Howard Beach library at 10:30.

ZUMBA Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 at the Corona library. Register.

CANCER 101 Thursday, March 10 at the Peninsula Hospital Executive Cafeteria, 51-15 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway at 6.

HATHA YOGA Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24, 31 Queensboro Hill library at 6. Bring mat and wear comfortable clothing.

CHAIR YOGA Thursdays, March 10, 17, 24 at the Howard Beach library.

Register.

ZUMBA Fridays, March 11, 18, 25 at the Astoria library. Register.

ENTERTAINMENT WOMEN IN SONG Saturday, March 5 at 3 at the Fresh Meadows library.

Changing face of women in popular music from blues, Tin Pan Alley songs to rock and roll.

CLASSIC BALLET Saturday, March 5 St. Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0064.

TRIBUTE TO SINATRA… Saturday, March 5 tribute to Sinatra, Manilow, Sedaka and more at 3 at the Jackson Heights library.

GERI ALLEN Saturday, March 5 at York College at 7. $20, $10 students and seniors. 262-3750.

4 HAND PIANO Saturday, March 5 The magic of Four-Hand Piano at 2 at the Flushing library.

ISLE OF KLEZBOS Sunday, March 6 klezmer sextet performs at 3 at the Central library.

ORGAN PLUS Sunday, March 6 at the C o m m u n i t y C h u rc h o f Douglaston. 229-2169.

INCREDIBLE ACROBATS Saturday, March 6 Incredible Acrobats of China perform at the Kupferberg Center at Queens College. $18, $12 children 12 and under.

793-8080.

QSO Sunday, March 6 local talent performs at 4 at the Taiwan Center, 137-44 Northern Blvd., Flushing.

MOVIE & TALK Mondays the Friends of Pomonok present a movie and discussion. Bring lunch.

1 at the Pomonok library.

KLEZMER CONCERT Monday, March 7 at 1:30 at the Friends of the Kew Gardens Hills library.

INTERNATIONAL FILM Monday, March 7 “Bomber” will be shown at the Fresh Meadows library at 2.

BINGO Tuesdays at 7:15 at American Mart yrs Church, church basement, 216-01 Union Tu r n p i k e , B a y s i d e . 4 6 4 4 5 8 2 . Tu e s d ay s at 7:15 (doors open 6) at the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 459-1000.$3 admission includes 12 games.

DINO ROSI Thursday, March 10 Dino Rosi, the Voice of Napoli, performs at 6 at the Ridgewood library.

LOVE SONGS Thursday, March 10 Immortal Love Songs at 1:30 at the North Hills library.

BLUES Thursday, March 10 Swingin’ Side of the Blues with Eddie Lee Isaacs at 6 at the Hollis library.

CONCERT Thursday, March 10 a kaleidoscope of music featuring Carl “The Music Man” and Te r i - A n n a t 6 : 3 0 a t t h e Cambria Heights library.

CHAMBER MUSIC Friday, March 11 Orion String Quartet. LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College at 10. Free parking. $95 series. 997-3802.

LIVE JAZZ Fridays through December 13 at 180-25 Linden Blvd.., St. Albans. 347-262-1169 ticket information.

KIDS’ THEATER Saturday, March 12 Jemina Puddle-Duck will be performed at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0064.

EDER AND WOPAT Saturday, March 12 Linda Eder and Tom Wopat appear at Colden Center. 793-8080.

HORROR & FANTASY Saturday, March 12 author readings and short films, dinosaur expo and a meeting with the staff of “Blood Moon Rising Horror Magazine” at the Flushing library at noon.

BELLE’S PLAYERS Saturday, March 12 new production of scenes and monologues at 2 at the Forest Hills library.

DANCE INTO SPRING Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 at the Poppenhusen Institute.

463-0434 information.

SYMPHONY CONCERT Sunday, March 13 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. $5 adults, $3 seniors and students. 347-1627.

VIOLIN CONCERT Sunday, March 13 Leila Josefowicz performs at Queens College. 793-8080.

DINNER DEMOCRATIC CLUB Saturday, March 12 the Democratic Club of Flushing will sponsor a Communit y Breakfast at the Palace Diner in Flushing. $25. 463-4480.

SO. BOYS & GIRLS Monday, March 21 Eight Annual Global Cuisine at R u s s o ’ s o n t h e Ba y. 4 4 1 6050. $75.

LUNCH & BRIDGE April 11 luncheon and bridge with the National Council of Jewish Women.

343-9029.

RELIGIOUS SHABBAT AMERICA Friday, March 4 Shabbat Across America will be observed at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills with a dinner and service. 261-2900. Also, the Rego Park Jewish Center will hold a dinner and service. 459-1000.

LUTHERAN REDEEMER Wednesday, March 9 Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30pm.

Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 Midweek Lenten Service at 7:30. Sundays regular worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30. Sunday School, Adult Bible Class and Friendship Hour at 9:30.

Yo u t h G r o u p a t 1 2 : 3 0 .

Wednesday prayer group and Bible Study at 7.

Lutheran Church of the Red e e m e r , 1 5 7 - 1 6 6 5 th A v enue, Flushing. 358-2744.

PURIM PARTY Tuesday, March 22 Park Hills Hadassah Chapter will hold a Hadassah Purim Part y at the Rego Park Jewish Center. 275-0636.

FLEA MARKETS THRIFT SALE Saturday, March 5 10-2 at St. Mark’s, 34 th Avenue and 82nd Street, Jackson Heights.

THRIFT SHOPS Saturdays 11-4 at Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop, Queens Baptist Church, 9323 217 th Street, Queens Village.465-2504.

MISCELLANEOUS FREE TAX PREP Saturdays, March 5, 12 at the Langston Hughes library at 11. 651-1100.

ORATORIO SOCIETY Mondays through April the Oratorio Society of Queens rehearses at the North Presbyterian Church. 279-3006.

MEETINGS FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets.

917-612-3463.

SISTERHOOD Tuesday, March 8 Sisterhood of Bay Terrace Jewish Center meets at 7:30. 4286363.

COMM. BD. 9 Tu e s d a y, M a r c h 8 at Marjestic Marquee, 88-03 101st Avenue, Ozone Park.

LIONS CLUB Tuesday, March 8 the Lions Club of Ravenswood meets at 6:30 at Riccardo’s by the Bridge, 21-01 21 st Avenue, Astoria.

TELE. PIONEERS Tuesdays, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14 Telephone Pioneer of America meet in College Point. 463-4535.

COMM. BD 6 Wednesdays, March 9, April 13, May 11, Thursday, June 16 at 80-02 Kew Gardens Road at 7:45.

WOMANSPACE Wednesdays Womanspace, a discussion group devoted to issues concerning women, meets 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue. New members welcome.

UNITED 40S Thursdays, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9 United Forties Civic Association Inc. meets at St. Teresa Parish Center, 50-22 45 th S t r e e t , Woodside. 535-0516.

JEFFERSON DEMS Thursdays, March 10, April 14 the Jefferson Democratic Club meets at the Clearview Golf Course Clubhouse at 7:30. 202-12 Willets Point Blvd., Bayside.

QUEENS CENTRAL ROTARY Thursdays 6:30-8:30 Come learn if Rotary is for you.

465-2914.

ILION BLOCK Fridays, March 11, April 8 Ilion Area Block Association, Inc. will hold a general membership meeting at the African Center for Communit y Empowerment, 111-92A Farmers Blvd., St. Albans at 7:30.

WOMAN’S GROUP Fridays the Woman’s Group of Jamaica Estates meets at noon. Call 461-3193 for information.

March 4-10, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

BECOME A CITIZEN Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26 at the LIC library.

CRAFT CLASSES Saturdays 11-3 at Maria Rose International Doll Museum in St. Albans. 2763454.

SCRABBLE CLUB Saturdays at 10 at Count Basie Jr. HS, 132 nd Street and Guy R. Brewer Blvd. 8865236.

PET OWNERS Sundays (not on holidays) from 1-4 free workshops on pet behavior at Crocheron Park in Bayside (weather permitting). 454-5800.

KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4.

DRAWING CLASS Mondays at the National Art League in Douglaston. 3610628.

ADULT CHESS Mondays and Thursdays Queens Village library at 5:30.

BEGIN ENGLISH Mondays and Wednesdays free Beginners English Classes 10-11:30 at the Pomonok Senior Center, 6709 Kissena Blvd., Flushing.

591-3377.

RESME WRITING Monday, March 7 at the Flushing library at 6.

BALLROOM DANCE Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Ballroom Dancing with Jing Chen at the Forest Hills library at 6:30.

POETRY WRITING Monday, March 7 poetry writing workshops Woodhaven library. Register.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 at the LeFrak Cit y library at 10:30.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Monday, March 7 intro to Microsoft Excel Langston Hughes library at 11.

CHESS CLUB Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Lefferts library at 6.

POLISH RESUME Monday, March 7 polish your resume at the Central library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Astoria, LIC and Glendale libraries. Register.

INTRO WORD Tuesday, March 8 at the Central library. Register.

COMPUTER CLASS Tuesdays at the Sunnyside library. Register.

KNIT & CROCHET Tuesdays at the Windsor Park library at 2.

SCRABBLE CLUB Tuesdays at the East Flushing library at 3:30.

COMPUTER CLASS Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 Arverne library at 10.

INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 at the Peninsula library.

Register.

INTERNET & EMAIL Tuesday, March 8 at t he McGoldrick library. Register.

ADVANCED COMPUTERS Tuesday, March 8 Microsoft Office at the Steinway librar y. Register.

INTRO MICROSOFT Tuesday, March 8 at t he

DANCE

People munity College of the Air Force.

He is the son of Faith Simms of Far Rockaway.

Air Force Airman Jamila Branch graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

She is the daughter of Joseph Branch of Cambria Heights. Branch graduated in 2009 from Thomas A. Edison High School, Jamaica.

Air Force Airman Fabian D. Simms Air Force Airman Fabian D. Simms graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Com-

Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew M. Newsome graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Newsome earned distinction as an honor graduate.

He is the son of Brenda Newsome of Jamaica, and grandson of Everett Newsome Sr. of Albans. The airman graduated in 2008 from Newtown High School, East Elmhurst.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

She is the daughter of Colleen Ellis of Springfield Gardens.

Air Force Airman Ayesha S. Kelly graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Army Pvt. Gozie D. Aneka has graduated from the Basic Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

The course is designed to train servicemembers to maintain, prepare and load ammunition for firing; operate and perform operator maintenance on prime movers, self-propelled Howitzers, and ammunition vehicles; store, maintain, and distribute ammunition to using units as a member of battery or battalion ammunition section; perform crew maintenance and participate in organizational maintenance of weapons and related equipment; and establish and maintain radio and wire communications.

He is the son of Norbert O. and Mary Rose K. Aneka of Cambria Heights.

Aneka graduated in 2005 from Medgar Evers College Preparatory School, Brooklyn.

Tell The PRESS

Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, engagements and honors to: PRESS of Southeast Queens,150-50 14th Rd.,Whittestone, NY 111357 All announcements will be considered for publication without fee.

Air Force Airman Ayesha S. Kelly

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Wanted To Buy

Material Girl Like it or not, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of Ozzy Osbourne progeny Kelly Osbourne. Chosen as the face of Material Girl— the clothing line designed by one-time Queens girl Madonna and daughter Lourdes. Recently unveiled ads feature an unmistakably bombshell blonde Kelly sporting the edgy couture that’s keeping the 80s alive.

“Kelly represents a true Material Girl,” Madge told Us Magazine. “She is edgy, cool and has a unique sense of style that Lola and I love.”

Intrigued? The young, or young at heart, can get Kelly Osbourne for Madonna's clothing line. the goods at Macy’s.

Is She?

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 4-10, 2011

License To…

Kew Gardens Age: 23 Height: 5’ 9"

Out Of Place Somebody made a wrong turn at Al-

Not Great Odds We’re not sure how to feel about this one.

For the last 10 years an American Indian tribe had been working to jump through all the hoops necessary to get a full-fledged casino in the Catskill Mountains, somewhere in Sullivan County. During that same time, the State of New York had been working to get a video lottery terminal facility set up at Aqueduct – similar in concept only that both would be legal gambling. The tribe would run table games and keep considerably a larger percent of the money.

Last year, both plans got approval.

We’ve always thought that the competition from the tribe would end up forcing the state’s hand, bringing a full-fledged casino to Aqueduct (or somewhere nearby), but recently the feds nixed the tribe’s land deal, effectively putting the kibosh on the casino – leaving Aqueduct the only horse in this race.

So where does this leave us? We’ll still be able to get our fix for video slots close to home

Victoria Martini

Models Of Queens

The rumor mill is swirling and churning out gossip that Lakers star Queens kid, Lamar Odom and his wife, Khloe Kardashian, are expecting a bundle of joy. “In Touch Weekly” reported that Kardashian dropped $16,000 on a new crib, breast pump and nursery furnishings.

Though the Queens native and his wife never said they were not pregnant, Kardashian denied the purchases via Twitter.

It’s time to fess up, Lamar. Don’t make us send Ron Artest to beat it out of you.

This pic (right) from Celebridoodle.com highlights the alleged baby bump, though maybe it’s just the lighting.

Victoria

Born and raised in Germany, Victoria moved to the U.S. at age 18, settling in Manhattan but eventually moving to Kew Gardens.

“Coming to New York City was my dream since I was a little girl,” she said.

“When I was 18, I went ahead to pursue my dreams.”

In her homeland, Victoria got bitten by the performing bug when she appeared on a show called “Pop Stars,” a German equivalent to “American Idol.” She has developed into a pop and R&B singer who also works on films and as a print model.

Victoria is earning a living at her craft and is now trying to branch out into acting and music. “I will perform at showcases all over New York City next month, and I’m also going to be shooting a short movie that I wrote.”

“Kew Gardens reminds me of Germany, with the nice, quiet streets, the park is right here; it has a really European feel. Manhattan can get a little crazy sometimes.”

When she misses her homeland, Victoria goes to Glendale’s Zum Stammtisch, which she labeled entire authentic.

In her downtime, Victoria enjoys going to the park or beach, working out, and reading. She also hangs out singing karaoke at Austin Ale House.

Making the transition to the U.S., Victoria would love to have the chance to sing our National Anthem at a local sporting event, and was thrilled to hear that the Mets tend to hold open auditions for singers. “That would be a dream come true,” she said.

“When you really work hard and have the drive and are determined, you can make any dream come true,” she said.

buquerque.

While walking through Ozone Park after a recent ice storm, we found a state license plate on an SUV that left us scratching our head.

In front of the SUV was a Hawaii license plate which read: ALOHA. We’re still trying to figure out how a car could have come from an island chain thousands of miles from anywhere.

And while we’re at it, why would whoever was driving that would rather be on icy Queens streets the middle of winter than a beach in Oahu?

Confidentially, New York . . .

Don’t expect this kind of action near us any time soon.

– beats driving to Empire City in Yonkers – but we may have to wait a while before we can slap down a chunk of change on a craps table near the hood.

On the other hand, we do need to find some extra revenue in the state if we want to pay for all those teachers, right?

Mistakes can happen, but I guess in this day and age, you want to be careful,” he told This time of year could be a the New York Post. fiscal boon for most accounThe GSA has reportedly tants. But Queens numberdeveloped a knack for cruncher Antonio Guadagnino mislabeling packages full of hit a different kind of jackpot when the federal General Ser- More than 30 official federal licese plates “official” plates. They’re lucky Guadagnino had the decency were mistakenly sent to an honest vices Administration sent him hand them over. Others are Queens accountant. nearly three dozen official govnot so noble, and we… errr, ernment license plates. access to all sorts of secure locaMarked “U.S. Government – tions – and essentially free reign they… eagerly hope to be on the receiving end of the next GSA For Official Use Only,” the plates to park anywhere. would have given Guadagnino “I don’t know how it happened. goof.