Southeast Press Epaper

Volume 12 Issue No. 16 April 22-28, 2011

PAGE 22

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PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

The phase out of PS 30 in Jamaica, delayed for the last few months, will come to a vote April 28. Parents and the community are making a ďŹ nal push to keep their school intact.

By Sasha Austrie...Page 3

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Presstime

Phase Out Again?

Another School Faces Uncertainty

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

The scene in PS 30’s auditorium last Thursday evening has played out in numerous schools across the City throughout Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s tenure. The issue at hand was the proposed phase out of the school.

Though PS 30 has yet to learn its fate, Jamaica and Beach Channel high schools, along with IS 231, are three Queens schools slated for phase out. The Panel for Education Policy will vote on the proposal on April 28.

If approved, PS 30 will no longer admit kindergarten and first grade students beginning in the fall. A new school, PS 354, would open in September and students ranging from kindergarten to first grade would be guaranteed a seat.

“PS 354 can bring a different culture into the building,” said Marc Sternberg, deputy chancellor of Portfolio Planning.

United Federation of Teachers Chapter Leader Ellen Klinger was confused by Sternberg’s notion that a new school would bring a different culture into the building. She dubbed the proposal a done deal, with no input from any of the school’s stakeholders.

“We are having a hard time trusting

what you people are saying,” said Klinger, referring to the Dept. of Education. “My staff will be fine. They are not losing their jobs; they are losing their home.”

Teachers in the audience pointed to the principal selected for the new school as proof the DOE already has its plan in place.

Sternberg said the new principal is just a precaution, in case the proposal goes through.

Sternberg, a former principal, said he understands the effects a phase out can have on a community. For five years, he was the principal of Bronx Lab, which is one of six schools to replace Evander Childs High School.

“I know this is a trying time for the community,” Sternberg said. “I also know the promise that a new school can bring to a community.”

Sternberg continued that though the proposal to phase out PS 30 was not an easy decision, a comprehensive review led to the probable action.

According to DOE data, 27 percent of students were on grade level in English Language Arts and only 31 percent in Math last year. The statistics paint a picture of one of the lowest-performing schools in the City.

“The department believes in a drastic intervention, […] gradual phase out and eventual closure of the school,” he said, adding PS 30’s scores have declined since 2009 and it is the lowest performing school in District 28.

Tareeka Kelly, PS 30’s Parent-Teacher Association President, said there were concerns at the school for years. During the fall of 2010, when DOE officials asked the school community what it needed, Kelly said they thought their prayers were finally answered.

“We thought, ‘Finally, the DOE is listening to us,’” she said. “We didn’t think our words would be used against us.”

Though the school was rife with longrunning concerns; teachers contend support from the DOE was fickle at best.

Sternberg pointed to a DOE fact sheet, which listed a litany of DOE support.

Teachers in the audience yelled out, “Not true. No.” Another concern was the children left at PS 30 once the phase out begins.

Jane Martin, a grandmother of a PS 30 student, said children in kindergarten through second grade would receive all the resources.

“If you feel PS 30 is failing, why not take over the whole school?” Kelly asked.

“If they are not going to do well you need to be servicing the whole school.”

Many audience members questioned the “singling out” of PS 30 when other schools in the district and across the City were performing worse than PS 30. Attendees offered up PS 40 as an example of a school that was removed from the DOE’s initial list of schools that could be phased out.

A DOE spokesman said on the initial list there were about 55 schools slated for phase out and it was whittled down to a little more than 20 when the DOE took another look. Though PS 40 was on the original list, the DOE decided that closing the school would not be in its best interest.

Instead, PS 40 was truncated from a kindergarten to sixth grade institution to a kindergarten to fifth.

Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) said though the DOE has a plan, he hoped Sternberg would take audience members’ comments to heart.

“Even God has told you not to close this school,” Wills said, referring to a blizzard, which caused DOE officials to reschedule the meeting.

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

Queens Family Mourns War’s Cost

BY JASON BANREY

Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo Pietri and Carol Nunez of Corona on their wedding day.

Excited that a temporary leave was approved for May, Pietri sent the last email he would ever write to his wife, ensuring her he was safe and that he would soon be returning home to Queens.

The next day, Nunez received a knock on the front door of their new apartment.

That knock would forever change her world and the life she and her husband planned on sharing.

"As soon as I saw them I just knew," Nunez said of the two Casualty Assistance Contact Officers who showed up that Sunday afternoon. "They didn't have to tell

Rico - it would be the last time they would embrace him.

When Pietri's mother found out her son passed, she told Nunez about the last moment she shared with her son.

"After [Pietri] hugged his mother, she said she had a strange feeling it would be the last time they would see each other," Nunez said. "It was true. It was the last time she would hold her son."

According to friends, Pietri's dedication to the military was an honor he carried with pride.

Timothy Cook was stationed in Alaska with Pietri. Cook recalled Pietri's kindhearted nature and the caring quality he showed to everyone who had the pleasure of making his acquaintance.

"I just broke down and started crying when I found out," Cook said, after being notified about his longtime friend's death.

"To find out your best friend has just been killed in action is devastating."

Although Cook never served with Pietri in the Middle East, he was sure his dedication to the armed forces was one he held dearly while serving on the field of duty.

"He was a dedicated soldier," Cook said. "I have no doubt he served his country with pride until the end."

Pietri's funeral was held on Wednesday in Puerto Rico. In honor of nearly 15 years of dedicated service, he was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

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

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Stepping onboard a plane for Puerto Rico last Sunday, Carol Nunez of Corona prepared to meet her in-laws for the first time.

She had always looked forward to meeting her husband's parents, imagining the joyous occasion. The reality of the meeting, however, was filled with sorrow and loss - an experience she would have to endure without the companionship of her husband.

On April 10, Nunez's husband, Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo Pietri, 32, died in the Badghis Province in Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Since last Sunday, my life has changed 100 percent," Nunez said last Thursday, looking beyond the window pane in search of answers. Candlelight flickered through a light breeze reflecting off the first photo the couple took after getting married in 2008. "Now that my angel is gone, I have no clue what to do."

The young couple moved to Corona in January with the hopes of finally settling down and beginning their lives together in Queens, though Pietri never set foot in the borough.

Nunez planned to enroll in Plaza College for an Associates degree in Medical Assisting while Pietri finished his last tour in Afghanistan, returning home within the year. The couple would then have children.

me anything; I just knew he was gone."

Pietri was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico before enlisting in the United States Army after finishing college. While enlisted, he was given the opportunity to travel to more than 24 countries before being stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he met his wife in 2007. "[Pietri] loved what he did," Nunez said of her husband's 14 years of military service. "It gave him opportunities he had only dreamed of as a child. He was proud to be serving his country."

In 2008, he spent a year in Iraq. After safely returning back to base in Alaska, Pietri was compelled by the call of duty and decided to enlist for another tour; this time, he hinted to Nunez, the stakes would be much higher.

"After he came back safely from Iraq, he told me he was going to enlist for another tour," Nunez said. "Only this time he told me it would be more dangerous.

This time it would be in Afghanistan. I wasn't surprised."

During his two months in Afghanistan, Pietri was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Although Nunez always knew there was a possibility her husband would be put in the line of fire, it was a fear she always believed would never hit this close to home.

Last December, while on temporary leave, Pietri visited his parents in Puerto

Scarborough Explains His ‘Enemy’ Label

BY DOMENICK RAFTER When Ed Koch released his list of “enemies of reform” list last week, state legislators whom he claimed have reneged on their support of New York Uprising’s pledge to support independent redistricting and ethics reform were called out – including one from Queens.

Assemblyman William Scarborough (DJamaica), the only Queens legislator – and

only Democrat – on his list, took the branding in stride.

“We are going to hold accountable those people who signed pledges that they would support legislation that would provide for an independent commission to do the redistricting,” Koch said upon releasing the names.

But Scarborough denied he has reneged. Instead, he said his name ended up on the list because he was “offended by the process” in which New York Uprising

Drivers Get Ready For EZPass Switch

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

The battery in your E-ZPass may be at the end of its life, but don’t worry, the MTA is on it.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels announced that it will replace close to 1.2 million E-ZPass tags in 2011 as their batteries are approaching the end of their lifespan. The batteries cannot be removed; the entire tag must be replaced.

Account holders will first receive a letter from Bridges and Tunnels with the number of the tag that needs to be replaced. Not every tag on an account may need to be changed since they may have been added at different times. The aver-

age lifespan of an E-ZPass battery is 10 years, and most of those that will be replaced were issued during the beginning of the last decade.

Approximately two weeks after receiving the letter, account holders will receive a new tag and a postage-paid envelope to send back the old one, which the MTA said will be disposed of in an environmentally-responsible way.

There will be no added cost for the new tag, but the old tag must be returned or the account will be charged a $23 lost tag fee.

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

lobbied legislators to support the independent redistricting bill.

“Somebody calls my office on a Thursday, leaves a message with my staff, and says if I don’t sign on to a bill by Friday, I’ll be an ‘enemy of reform.’” Scarborough said. “I just thought it was offensive. You would think someone would have the decency to at least talk to me. I am very much in support of [independent redistricting], which is why I

signed [the New York Uprising pledge] despite not having a race,” he said As for the redistricting bill currently being debated in Albany, Scarborough said he supports it and would probably vote for it – and he still supports all the other issues listed in New York Uprising’s pledge.

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

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

It was Villarreal’s first trip to Haiti and he was stunned.

“It was exciting, a totally different site,” he said “I expected more organization and more control over things, but there was none. There is a bunch of people helping out, but it is not enough.”

Though the disaster was beyond what Villarreal could imagine, the experience is one he will never forget.

Grant had access to electricity two of the five days they were in the rural community. They performed dentistry without customary tools that became a luxury in Haiti – sterile saline, dental chairs, running water and power tools. It resulted in a lot of improvisation.

Grant saw at least 150 patients and even assisted in a gun shot wound.

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

Doc Helps Haiti Again With Haiti retreating from national headlines, many have forgotten the plight of the island nation. But the desperation and crumbled lives remain with Dr. Kevin Grant.

“It is the same situation,” he said. “Nothing really has changed.”

After a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the island in January 2010, Grant visited to render his services as a dentist. In March, he went back for a week-long stint.

Just as he did in his initial visit, Grant brought a bevy of supplies and instruments, but this time he brought along assistant Darwin Villarreal, who works in his practice. They operated under the auspices of the Cap Haitien Dental Institute, which operates in the poverty stricken village of Cap Haitien. Though the village was untouched by the earthquake, the upheaval is more than jarring.

Listings Up In Boro Buyers’ Market

BY JASON BANREY The results are in. According to a home sales report released by Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, which analyzes the quarterly survey of residential sales in Queens, the borough's real estate market seems to be preparing for a boom for buyers.

Price indicators were mixed. The median sales price of a property in Queens in the first quarter was $350,000, up 1.4 percent while the average sales price slipped slightly to $387,725 from $391,444 in the same period last year.

Although there were not any major shifts in the results, Adriano Hultmann, associate broker for Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, said the report shows that the market is not fully stable yet.

These changes have become a concern for individuals who have been thinking of selling their residential properties in the past couple of years.

"To someone that is thinking of selling, there is a lot of competition out there," Hultmann added. "So [they] have to carefully plan how their house will stand out in this market."

Overall, sales dropped 16.5 percent below the same quarter last year, with a drop from 3,113 to 2,598.

"The major factor contributing to this result seems to be that the Queens buyers are not sure if the economy has stabilized yet," Hultmann said. "Although there are a lot of buyers looking and willing to

purchase, they are waiting for a bit more stability to settle in the market."

Additional factors, such as the harsh long winter that kept buyers home, a lack of new construction throughout the borough and buyers holding out for the right product have also contributed to this decrease, Hultmann said.

On the rise were active listings, which rose 11.8 percent to 13,609 despite the decline in the number of sales, leading to a growing disparity between inventory

and sales. Hultmann said this is normal for the end of the first annual quarter.

"In April the selling season starts, because it is the time when [properties] are put into the market," Hultmann said. "Typically the new products are resale [properties] and not new constructions. Sellers that need to sell but have been waiting to sell for the last two years have decided that now is the time."

Despite mixed results and minor changes within residential sales and prices,

Hultmann says the report proves there will be plenty openings within Queens for buyers ready to make an investment.

"Although there are more properties in the market today than there were a couple of months ago," Hultmann said, "there is a lot of opportunity out there for buyers. If you are serious about buying, get ready."

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

Hevesi Jailed For Corruption

BY JOSEPH OROVIC Alan Hevesi was sentenced to one-tofour years in prison on Friday for his role in a pay-to-play corruption scheme that ran rampant during his tenure as State Comptroller.

Hevesi pleaded guilty to a felony count of official misconduct on Oct. 7, 2010. A four-year investigation by then-Attorney General and current Gov. Andrew Cuomo netted numerous Hevesi cohorts with charges of wheeling and dealing financial and political favors in exchange for access to the state’s $141 billion pension fund.

Hevesi could spend less than a year in prison, given good behavior.

“I am truly sorry for my illegal conduct,” Hevesi reportedly said before being sen-

Hevesi said in his allocution tenced. “First and foremost I before the court. want to apologize to the Cuomo welcomed the verpeople of New York State dict, but said it must serve as who put their faith and confia lesson for a continuing fight dence in me to serve them against corruption. honorably. I violated their trust.”

“It is important to bear in mind the heavy toll of public In his plea, Hevesi admitintegrity offenses,” he said. ted to reaping nearly $1 mil“Just as you cannot put a price lion in benefits after doling out $250 million in state pen- Disgraced Comptroller on public integrity, you cansion fund investment to Alan Hevesi’s prison in- not quantify the harm done to the bond between the governMarkstone Capital Partners, take photo. ment and the People when which was managed by Hevesi fundraiser and pal Elliott Broidy. public integrity is compromised. […] We “In exercising my discretion as Comp- must continue to root out corruption whertroller to approve these deals, I gave pref- ever it may be found.”

Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at erential treatment to Markstone and Broidy, who was a friend of mine and po- jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357litical fundraiser for my campaign,” 7400, Ext. 127.

Best Wishes For A Joyous Easter Season

Member of Congress 6th CD NY 153-01 Jamaica Ave. 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432 718-725-6000 Paid for by Meeks for Congress

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

GREGORY W. MEEKS

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: Brenda Jones Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Deputy Editor:

Joseph Orovic Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Editorial He Was One Of Us War, a soldier’s dedication to his country and our borough’s rich immigrant culture blended together in the most unfortunate of circumstances last week.

A U.S. soldier from Puerto Rico and his Dominican bride met in Alaska, wed and started to plan their lives together. Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo Pietri had served a tour in Iraq. Seeing the needs of his brothers in arms, he reenlisted for a second tour, this time headed to Afghanistan.

In the meantime his wife, Carol Nunez, moved to Corona; looking for a place the couple could call home, they chose Queens.

When Sgt. Caraballo Pietri was killed in an attack last week, Nunez needed to make plans to fly to Puerto Rico for her husband’s funeral.

This was to be the first time she had a chance to meet her in-laws.

Though heartbreaking, their tale speaks volumes about our nation, our military and Queens. This young couple was looking for opportunity, striving to be good Americans and planning their future. Their story has played out time and again in our borough, from one generation to the next.

Sgt. Caraballo Pietri may have never set foot in our borough, and the Dept. of Defense may still have listed him as living in Puerto Rico, but Queens was his home.

We mourn the loss of one of our own and ask that our brave men and women serving overseas come home safe – and soon.

Shiek Mohamed

Letters

Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Harley Benson Sasha Austrie Domenick Rafter 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 April 22-28, 2011

A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2011 Tribco, LLC

Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher

Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher

Stay On Task To The Editor: I’d like to share with you my initial reaction to the President’s speech on Wednesday regarding our nation’s long-term fiscal health.

I should state at the beginning that I was fearful of what the President might say. I believe, and have said throughout his presidency, that President Obama has not defended his positions aggressively enough, that he has not stood up to partisan attacks

and smears with nearly enough gumption, and that in negotiation after negotiation, he’s too often lost more than he’s gained.

On the health-care bill, on the extension of the Bush tax cuts for billionaires and most recently on the continuing resolution to keep the government open, I think the President’s willingness to compromise and his determination to play fair has only encouraged his political opponents to demand more and more. And the Ameri-

Letters can people have been stuck with the costs of these errors.

So I feared the worst. I worried that, in yet another effort to seem more than reasonable, in yet another misguided attempt to meet the other side more than half-way, he would give away the most essential elements of decent and progressive government. I dreaded the possibility that he would make a fatal mistake and open the door to unthinkable cuts in the social safety net our nation has established over the course of nearly a century of constant struggle.

He didn’t.

Instead of caving, the President stood up for fundamental fairness and proposed smart reforms that will, if adopted, put our government on a sound financial footing, and preserve the guarantees we make to the elderly, the weak, the sick and the poor. Naturally, those who opposed the creation of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are going howl in protest. Their goal since the New Deal has been to privatize Social Security; their fixed purpose since the Great Society has been to gut Medicare and Medicaid. The Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee has recently introduced a budget plan that would achieve some of these disgraceful objectives. This legislative obscenity was actually put to a vote on Friday.

As the President correctly put it, the question of our nation’s fiscal health is also a question of our nation’s character. We have four

questions. Are we a nation that will condemn the poor and their children to die outside hospitals and clinics because they lack the means to pay for even emergency care?

Are we a nation unwilling to shield our elders from constant fear that just one hospital visit could leave them destitute until the end of their lives? Would we tell our neighbors with disabled children they’re on their own? Are we a nation content to let our middle class strain under ever greater burdens while we ask less and less of the wealthiest citizens among us?

I pray it will never be so.

Yes, we need to put our financial house in order. But there’s a right way and a wrong way and the President has provided an outline of what the right way looks like.

Now, the hard work of protecting that vision through the process of making it law will begin.

Based on past performance, I will remain on guard against any slippage or wobbling as this process goes forward. But I like what I’ve heard so far and I believe it’s foundation from which we can get to work on a painful though necessary task. As long as we remain determined to protect the programs that speak to our moral character as we are to restore our fiscal health, we may yet achieve something worthy of the appreciation and respect of future generations of Americans.

Gary Ackerman, Member of Congress (DBayside)

The ‘Birther’ Issue And The Donald

A Personal Perspective

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

We often think of the wealthiest people as being among the smartest. Well, being smart about building wealth doesn’t necessarily translate to being smart about everything else. Sometimes ”normal” people have hints of savantism they’re really good at one thing and one thing only.

Take Donald Trump. Please.

He’s built an enviable empire in real estate. No one can touch him in that market place. He’s also turned his talent for wealth building into TV gold with beauty pageants and The Apprentice. He just bragged that Forbes Magazine got it wrong when they estimated his wealth at $2.5 billion, implying it is much higher than that.

That’s very lovely. It’s not every day do we see people raised in Queens who are able to work their way into multi-billionaire status.

But it seems “The Donald’s” smartness hit a hiccup. He keeps threatening to run for president, presumably as a Republican, against President Barack Obama.

There is nothing wrong with

that. It is his right as an American living in a democratic society to run. And as someone who has succeeded in business by trying really hard, he may have something to say about our economic woes.

But oddly, that is not his primary platform as of right now.

He’s talking about Obama’s birth certificate. We have collectively dismissed as fringe lunatics “birthers” – those who keep saying Obama was born outside the country and is therefore not legally eligible to be President of the United States.

But the last thing most of us would have expected was to see this non-issue as Donald’s trump card against Obama. It has really discredited him. Even the “Rent Is Too Damn High” guy who ran for governor last year had a more sensible issue. The cost of rent is indeed a real struggle, even if the messenger was seen as a buffoon.

Not that we really expect Trump to run. When it comes to playing the media for cheap publicity, Trump is akin to early Madonna.

He is his own best PR machine. But come on, the birther issue?

His bankruptcy woes of the early

1990s aside, Trump has really been one of New York’s most successful people and is absolutely a smart man. If he wants to toy with people’s emotions about running for president, there is a much better way of doing that than to call for proof of the sitting president’s birth certificate. It really is as ridiculous a strategy as they come.

Trump’s rhetoric is demonstrative of someone who is not ready for political primetime. We believe he’s not serious about running; but even if he’s just playing us for publicity, he can still do so with some degree of gravitas. Every administration has its Achilles heel and every serious candidate will find that heel and try to stick an arrow in it. They don’t have to resort to some silly notion to draw attention to their candidacy.

Someone referred to Trump’s “platform” as buffoonery.

Much as we may hate to admit it as New Yorkers and Queensites, that’s kind of what it is. There is absolutely no reason why such a successful business person should resort to such shallow tactics to make a point.

Here’s a freebie, Mr. Trump: gas prices!

Now doesn’t that matter more than a 49-year-old birth certificate? People are struggling to fill their gas tanks and boilers. Here’s another one: jobs. Most people want to be able to provide for their families again. See, those of us who live in the real world don’t care about other people’s birth certificates.

If the president says he was born within the U.S. then that is good enough for those of us who are concerned about the economy and the litany of other issues haunting us in this era of uncertainty.

He, too, wants to see his children grow up in an America where people are treated with equality respect and opportunity. And speaking of opportunities, doesn’t Trump has another building to erect and provide jobs for more people? That’s what he does best. And if that is all he ever does in life, he will still have made a tremendous contribution to New York and everywhere else where there is a facility with the ubiquitous “Trump” name.

Now let’s get serious about what’s ailing America and stop the pussyfooting.

OF THE T he Press of Southeast Queens and its advertisers take pleasure in once again

presenting our “Mother of the Year Contest.” Our Mother’s Day Issue will feature winning entries plus thoughts of the children of Queens. This is our small way of paying tribute to the moms out there who help make Queens a better place to live.

Mother's Day Prizes Include:

The contest rules are simple.

Just submit 250 (typewritten when possible, otherwise legible) words or less as to why your mom is special. You or your mom must be a Queens resident. Entries must be received by Friday, April 29, 2011. Enclose a photo of mom or mom and her kid(s) where possible (sorry they can't be returned.)

Mail entries to “Mother of the Year” Queens Tribune, 15050 14th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357.

The entries will be judged in three age groups: A) 8 and under; B) 9-12 and C) 13 - adult. Judging will be based on content, creativity and sensitivity.

We are open-minded about this contest and even mother-inlaw entries will be accepted.

Don't Delay: get your entry in today and pay tribute to your special "MOM" (and get Mother's Day Gifts Too!)

Mom's Day Mets Tickets & Over $1,000 In Prizes Prizes Include: Becky’s Nail, Fresh Meadows: ......................... Gift Certificate Ranju’s, Whitestone: ........................................... 2 Gift Certificates Papazzio, Bayside: .............................................. Gift Certificate Arpi’s Spa, Fresh Meadows: ............................. Gift Certificate Three Brothers Butcher, Bayside: ................. Gift Certificate Maggie Moo, Bayside: ......................................... Gift Certificate VI PIZZA, Bayside: ............................................... Gift Certificate Maria’s Greek Fusion, Bayside: ...................... 2 Gift Certificates Crepe & Tearia, Fresh Meadows: .................... 3 Gift Certificates La Bottega, Bayside: ........................................... 3 Gift Certificates Riviera Ristorante, Whitestone: ...................... Gift Certificate

OVER $1,000 IN PRIZES Attach this or a facsimile to your entry

Address Phone Mom's Name Mom's Address Phone Mail to “Mother of the Year” Queens Tribune, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357.

1. Submit 250 words as to why your mom is special.

You or your mom must be a Queens resident.

2. Entries must be received by Friday, April 29, 2011.

3. Give your age (18+ acceptable), address, phone number, plus mom's name and address.

4. Enclose a 4x6 photo of mom or mom and her kid(s) where possible; put full names on back of photo. Sorry, they can't be returned.

5. Mail entries to “Mother of the Year,” Queens Tribune, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357.

6. The entries will be judged in three age groups A) 8 and under; B) 9-12 and C) 13 - adult. Judging will be based on content, creativity and sensitivity.

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

CONTEST RULES

Age

Your Name

Wherefore Art Thou, O Green Book?

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

By HENRY J. STERN Ne w York Cit y’s Green Book, which has been missing in action for three years, will reappear in July, according to the commissioner in charge of preparing, editing and printing it.

The Green Book is Henry an invaluable compendium of federal, state, and city agencies and executives, including addresses, phone numbers, and an outline of responsibilities. It has been published by the cit y, and sold to the public, for the last 12 mayoral administrations. It is an annual directory, just like the telephone book, the World Almanac and other works of reference with periodicially changing data.

“The need of a comprehensive directory of city departments has long been recognized, but has remained for the present administration to issue the first edition,” said Supervisor of the City Record Peter J. Brady in 1918. Note how Brady credits his boss, Mayor John P. Hylan, who had defeated reform Mayor John Purroy Mitchel in 1917.

Mitchel, who had been known as “The Boy Mayor of New York,” died at the age of 38 in July 1918, less than seven months out of office, when he fell out of a singleseater scout plane he was piloting over Lake Charles, Louisiana. He held the rank of major

in the Air Service, which preceded the Army Air Corps, which preceded t he United State s Air Force. As the Times reported, his seat belt was unfastened at the time of the accident.

A handsome monument to Mayor Mitchel is Stern located at 90th Street and Fifth Avenue, near the entrance to Central Park. The area is used by the New York Road Runners Club, and a statue of Fred Lebow is nearby.

From 1918 on, the Green Book was published regularly until the current administration took office. In the nine years of the Bloomberg era, the book appeared annually for four years, culminating in a volume with a saffron cover, which was an hommage to the ar t ist s Christo a nd h is w ife, Jeanne-Claude, whose work, The Gates, was exhibited in the northwest section of Central Park for two weeks in February 2005.

The city then missed two editions in a row for the first time in the book’s history. Since the 200809 edition, a tribute to PlaN YC, another mayoral initiative, the presses have been silent for another two years.

Commissioner Edna Wells Handy, a career public servant, is the new commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, succeeding Martha K.

Hirst, who served over eight years.

Ms. Handy told us today that the next print edition of the Green Book will appear in July 2011, which is just three months off. An on-line edition may appear earlier, which would be of enormous value to the public, par ticularly people who have to deal with city agencies.

The 311 telephone line, launched by Mayor Bloomberg in 2003, was created to handle inquiries from people who did not know what agency could help them. It has fulfilled that function, but often is compelled to refer callers to the agency with jurisdiction, where assistance might or might not be available. At the same time, many agency information numbers were eliminated, so even people who knew who to call were shunted into 311.

The New York Time s described the plight of the Green Book three weeks ago in an article by David W. Chen, AN UPDATE OF NEW YORK’S OUTDATED DIRECTORY? THE WAITING CONTINUES. Mr. Chen wrote: “So why, then, no new Green Book? The a nswer, accor di ng to t he Bloomberg administration, has nothing to do with the current economic malaise. Nor does it have anything to do with any plans to put the Green Book online. And there is certainly no evidence that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ei-

ther wants to delay publication or has made this a lower-than-low priorit y.

“Instead, the official explanation is that there have been too many things to update, first after the 2009 citywide elections, then after the 2010 elections.”

Elections have been held each November since before the Green Book was born in 1918. The high rate of re-election by incumbents in gerrymandered districts makes changes based on election returns relatively modest.

Mayor Bloomberg’s deserved reputation as a skilled manager makes it unlikely but not impossible that such an historic change from the policy of annual publication would escape the notice of someone at City Hall.

Then again, it is possible that Mayor Mitchel was unaware of the fact that seatbelts in an airplane must remain fastened, particularly if the pilot is the sole passenger.

The law of gravity is less forgiving than the laws of politics.

StarQuest@NYCivic.org

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

Sharing Truths About Housing Rights

BY JASON BANREY Marking the anniversaries of the Federal and City Fair Housing Laws, New York City’s Commission on Human Rights joined the Queens Library last Monday to inform borough residents of their rights as tenants and homeowners.

Gathering outside of Queens Library’s Flushing branch, Patricia Gatling, commissioner for the Human Rights Commission, kicked off the Fair Housing education campaign.

“Fair Housing means that New Yorkers have the right to live wherever they choose and be treated that same as everyone else,” Gatling said. “It’s an open city and our law is there to ensure it remains an open city.”

As a significant achievement under the Civil Rights Movement, the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 and gave the federal government enforcement powers to protect citizens from discrimination.

The Commission’s campaign is also celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the City’s passage of the Sharkey-Brown-Isaacs Law, which went into effect 10 years before the federal law. Known as a central achievement of the Civil Rights Movement, the law was the nation’s first Fair Housing Law that extended protection against discrimination within private housing.

The Commission expects to reach a wide audience throughout the city, enlightening uninformed residents that discrimination is against the law and should not be tolerated.

“I am amazed and saddened that 43 years after passing the historic Fair Housing Act, individuals are still denied the right to rent an apartment or purchase a home because of their family status, lawful source of income, disability, [sexual

orientation, gender, creed, color or national origin],” Gatling said.

Reaching out to the many diverse immigrant populations throughout the city, the Human Rights Commission has been working with libraries to spread the message about both Fair Housing Laws as well as other protections granted to them under the Human Rights Law. In an attempt to educate the area’s growing Asian immigrant population about the rights of American citizens, the Flushing Library has incorporated the Human Rights Law and both the Federal and City Fair Housing Laws into its English for Speakers of Other Languages program.

Gary Beharry, manager of the Library Literacy Assistant Center, has witnessed hundreds walk through the library’s entrance seeking to reap the benefits of the library’s ESOL program each year.

The popular program not only teaches participants English, but it also gives them access to citizenship and employment workshops that Beharry said can forever engrain participants into their community.

Donna Ciampa-Lauria, director of the Flushing library branch, has witnessed the expansion of the library’s services.

Since the branch’s facility expanded in 1998, it has become home to the Adult Learning Center and the International Resource Center.

Both centers have provided the branch with the ability to provide Flushing’s immigrant population with the services and educational tools necessary for integration.

For more information about the commission’s campaign and the curriculums offered at the library go to nyc.gov/ cchr.

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

MoveOn Targets Citibank In Queens

BY JOSEPH OROVIC

From

New York State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith District Office 205-19 Linden Blvd., St. Albans, NY 11412 P: 718-528-4290 F: 718-528-4898

Albany Office Room 907 LOB Albany, NY 12247 P: 518-455-2701 F: 518-455-2816

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

David Yale stood in front of Citibank’s Bell Boulevard branch, offering worn scrunchies to passersby.

“Free tax loophole?” he said. “Would you like the one Citibank used to pay zero dollars in taxes?”

Sporting signs that read “Make Deadbeat Corporations Pay,” a group of protestors used Tax Day to decry a system that allowed multi-billion dollar companies to pay nothing in taxes, and in some cases walk away with a refund.

The protesters in Bayside were part of a larger group of staged protests around the country organized by liberal netroots group MoveOn.org. The picketing was aimed at drawing attention to a system they contend has been corrupted by profits, influence peddling and a soft stance on corporate taxation.

Citigroup refused to comment.

“I think that there’s a lot of collusion

between corporations and the politicians,” said Joe Lauria, co-coordinator for the Queens Council of MoveOn.org. “People generally in America are asleep politically.”

Lauria and 50 others banded together at Citigroup’s headquarters in Long Island City to protest the bank’s willingness to accept government bailout money combined with aversion to paying taxes.

Yale’s protest was particularly striking, as it rested in the middle of a district that kept a Republican in the State Senate for 38 years and has an unabashedly Republican Councilman, Dan Halloran (RWhitestone).

Those joining picket line with Yale said awareness needed to be raised over the issue.

“The media doesn’t cover it,” said Michael McGrath, not mentioning the fact that he was saying it to a reporter.

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

Wishing You A Happy Passover & A Blessed Easter

Forest Park’s Future:

Parks Dept. Eyes Expanded Uses At Site Some Prefer Be Left Alone

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

With the first signs of spring showing, the closed section of Forest Park Drive between Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens and Woodhaven Boulevard in Woodhaven begins to crowd with joggers, bicyclists, skaters and other locals just enjoying the first warm sun after a long cold, snowy winter. The trees are still bare and little green shoots are the only sign that winter has passed.

Sitting on top of the glacial moraine that slices Queens in two, Forest Park is the natural boundary that isolates the South Queens neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Woodhaven and Howard Beach from the more centrally-located Forest Hills, Glendale and Ridgewood. It is home to The Overlook, the Parks Dept.’s Queens Headquarters, an 18-hole golf course and Oak Ridge, the former clubhouse that now houses the headquarters of Queens Council on the Arts and a reception hall that boasts extraordinary views of South Queens right down the beaches in Rockaway and the runways at JFK Airport.

Forest Park doesn’t have the grassy fields that Flushing Meadows Corona Park has or the open marshlands that make up Alley Pond Park, but it is much larger than Queens’ other urban getaways like Astoria Park, Crocheron Park and Baisley Pond Park. Forest Park is a natural oasis without a master plan, but one that has gotten the attention of the Parks Dept., sometimes to the delight of the surrounding communities, sometimes not.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

The Carousel The century-old Carousel has been in Forest Park, on a hilltop only steps from Woodhaven Boulevard, since 1972, but since 2008, the carousel has been quiet, shuttered behind a chain-linked fence after former vendor New York One basically abandoned it. Local activists have been pushing the Parks Dept. to find a new vendor, but so far efforts have turned up dry.

The Parks Dept. issued a new Request for Proposals for the carousel, as well as the carousel in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, on April 8. Part of the RFP includes allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages at the Forest Park site, though only with food, and added an optional site for more amusements in the area between the carousel and Woodhaven Boulevard.

So far no interested parties have bid.

“If a proposal includes the optional amusement venue, the Forest Park location would expand to include the open area to the east of the carousel. This area slopes down to the low, wrought iron fence along Woodhaven Boulevard. The Parks Dept. envisions an amusement venue that would include small rides that cater to ages 12 and younger,” the RFP states. The area could also include games and other attractions subject to Parks Dept. approval, a proposal Ed Wendell, President of the Woodhaven Residents

Forest Park’s bandshell (above) underwent a massive renovation last year. Forest Park’s nature trails (left) have developed a notorious reputation for what goes on after dark.

Block Association, likes.

“Additional attractions will increase the chances of making a good profit, which increases the chances that our carousel will be up and running,” said Wendell, who has led efforts to reopen the carousel. “It’s a very positive development.”

The Parks Dept. will mandate that the vendor operate the facility at a minimum during the months of April through September from 11 a.m. until sunset, seven days per week, weather permitting.

The contract would end Dec. 31, 2025.

All proposals for this RFP must be submitted no later than Friday, May 13 at 3 p.m.

The Trails The eastern two-thirds of the park, where its namesake forest exists, are covered by nature trails. These trails that meander through the park and connect Union Turnpike to the north with Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South to the south, are packed with people on any given summer weekend, and the bridle path is frequented by horseback riders, who can often be seen alongside Union Turnpike.

But when the sun sets, a different demographic takes to the park’s trails. The trails that delights during the day have become notorious for being frequented by men engaging in sexual activity behind the thick brush, sometimes only feet from Park Lane South. A decade ago, the men in the park at night numbered over 100, but a mix of increasing police presence in the park, adding more lighting on trails and Forest Park Drive and more public acceptance of homosexuality have de-

creased those numbers to a dozen or so.

The reputation remains, however, and many who hike the trails come back with stories of strange events they come across deep in the woods.

“I saw a naked photo shoot in there while hiking,” said Nicole Peters, a Rego Park resident. “Some shady things happen in that park.”

George Seuffert Bandshell Acting almost as the epicenter of Forest Park activity, the Seuffert Bandshell has been home to summer concerts and plays for almost a century. Its adjacent parking lot has played host to special events like circuses. When music isn’t being played on its stage, it becomes a popular makeshift skateboarding park for local teenagers.

The bandshell that some have called “the cultural center of the community,” has been renovated at three times in the past 35 years, in 1977 and 1999 and once again last year when its wooden benches began rotting away and breaking, leading some to get splinters just sitting on them.

With the help of funds from Borough President Helen Marshall and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), even at the time when budgets were tight, the bandshell and its seating underwent a massive renovation in early 2010.

The old wooden benches were replaced with more durable steel ones. The stage got a fresh coat of white paint and new trees and shrubs were added around the perimeter and among the benches, creating the image of a concert hall in the forest.

sioned in 1989 and given to the Parks Dept. in 2004.

Since then, nature has reclaimed the reservoir and local residents like it that way; but the Parks Dept. had other plans for it. Unlike the nature trails, the carousel and the bandshell before it, the City found itself at odds with the parks’ neighbors.

“In all our public meetings, never less than 75 percent of the people wanted it to be left natural,” said Community Board 10 member David Quintana.

Quintana said the Parks Dept. came in with a “preconceived plan” and never intended to listen to the desires of the community.

“It’s typical of how the Bloomberg administration operates,” he added.

In 2008, then-Comptroller Bill Thompson shot down a plan to redevelop the reservoir into recreational fields on environmental concerns, but approved a bid to upgrade and build new walkways around the perimeter of the reservoir, work that has already begun. But even those plans didn’t fit community wishes. The plan to put a path and new lighting around the perimeter did not include an overpass over busy Vermont Place to an adjacent parking lot that would allow children, seniors and disabled residents to access the site without crossing the thoroughfare.

As for Phase 2, which would include the recreation fields that Thompson killed in 2008, a lack of money and political will has been blamed for its demise.

In the meantime, activists continue fighting on the state level, with support from legislators on the Queens side, to have the reservoir declared a protected wetland. Representatives on the Brooklyn side support developing the site as baseball and other athletic fields, something they say is badly needed in their neighborhoods. On the Queens side there are already fields farther east in Forest Park, like Victory Field and the Park Lane South tennis courts in Woodhaven.

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

Ridgewood Reservoir Though not technically part of Forest Park, Ridgewood Reservoir shares the same glacial moraine on the other side of the cemeteries straddling the Brooklyn border. The reservoir was decommis-

The Parks Dept. is looking for a new vendor to operate the Forest Park Carousel.

Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER a missing Bayswater teen.

Denzel Jones, 17, was Missing Teen Girl last seen April 14 inside of 14-47 Point Breeze Place in The NYPD is seeking the Bayswater. public’s assistance in locatHe is described as 5-footing a missing teenager from 3, 150 lbs with brown eyes Arverne. and black hair. He was last Christen Bloomfield, 14, seen wearing blue jeans, black of 610 Beach 69th St., boots, black button down Arverne, was last seen exiting her family’s vehicle at Police are looking for sweater over a green tee shirt.

Anyone with informathe intersection of Atlantic Christen Bloomfield, 14. tion is asked to call Crime Avenue and Ralph Avenue Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS in Brooklyn on Wednesday, (8477). The public can also submit their April 13, at approximately 8:30 p.m.

She is described as being 5-foot-6, 150 tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers lbs with auburn hair and brown eyes. She Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by was last seen wearing a pink jacket with texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) blue jeans, white sneakers and purple then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. framed glasses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).

The public can also submit Hit By Car their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at On Friday, April 15, at nypdcrimestoppers.com or 5:50 p.m., police officers by texting their tips to were called to a pedestrian 274637 (CRIMES) then enstruck at Atlantic Avenue betering TIP577. All calls are tween 74th Place and strictly confidential.

Elderts Lane in Woodhaven.

Upon arrival, police officers discovered a 30-yearold Hispanic male who was Missing Teen Boy Police are looking for struck by a 2006 Nissan Murano that was travelling The NYPD is seeking the Denzel Jones, 17. westbound on Atlantic Avpublic’s assistance in locating

100th Precinct

102nd Precinct

101st Precinct

enue. The pedestrian was struck as he walked between two parked vehicles and attempted to cross from the north to south side of Atlantic Avenue between 74th Place and Elderts Lane.

The man was removed to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, and the car that hit him remained on the scene. There was no criminality suspected, there have been no arrests and the investigation was ongoing.

tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Ravenswood Assault

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a person wanted in connection with an assault that occurred in Ravenswood.

On Thursday, April 7, at approximately 12:45 p.m., a man entered the lobby of 1401 36th Ave., in Ravenswood Houses, and confronted an on-duty U.S. Postal Worker while he was delivering mail to the locaSuspect Sought tion. The suspect then The NYPD is asking the threw a telephone book at public’s assistance in identhe Postal Worker, striking tifying a suspect wanted for him in the head, before fleerobbery in Astoria. ing. The Postal Worker was On Sunday, March 20, taken to an area hospital at approximately 9:55 with minor injuries. p.m., a black man, 5-footThe suspect is described 9, 140 lbs, walked into the as a black man, 6-feet to 6Super 8 Motel at 31-62 foot-2 and approximately 14th St. armed with a gun, 200 lbs. He was last seen and demanded money. wearing a blue hooded The suspect fired one sweatshirt with blue jeans. round at a surveillance TV, Anyone with informatook an undetermined tion is asked to call Crime amount of money and fled Police are looking for this Stoppers at (800) 577the scene. There were no robber.

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

114th Precinct

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Photos by Walter Karling

pix

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Queens Bar Honors Judiciary On April 11 the Queens County Bar Association held its annual reception recognizing the Queens judiciary, Bar Association past presidents, and lawyers and judges celebrating their 50th year in the legal profession.

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

QCBA President Chan Woo Lee greets past presidents of the Bar Association: (standing l. to r.) Steven Orlow (2008-09), David Cohen (2007-08), George Nashak (2005-06), Guy Vitacco, Jr. (2009-10), the Hon. Sidney Strauss (1990-91), Joseph Baum (1992-93), And Edward Rosenthal (200203); (seated l. to r.) Leslie Nizin (2000-01), Howard Stave (1982-83), Wallace Leinheardt (1977-78), Michael Dikman (1978-79), David Adler (1998-99) and Paul Goldstein (1994-95).

QCBA President Chan Woo Lee (l. to r.) greets the 50-Year Golden Jubilarians: Michael Dikman, Francis Kilkelly, Sheldon Lobel, George Nashak, Paul Pavlides, Edward Rosenthal, the Hon. Bernard Strauss and the Hon. Hazel Strauss.

QCBA Associate Dean of the Academy of Law Leslie Nizin (l.) presented Samuel Freed with a special recognition award acknowledging his extraordinary service in the promotion of continuing legal education for the members of the Queens bar.

Featured speaker Vincent Doyle, President-elect of the New York State Bar Association, addressed the audience of more than 150 Queens attorneys and judges.

Borough Beat

Fury Over DOF Co-op Value Flaw

After numerous town hall meetings, a ballyhooed Tax Revolt, and promises of a lawsuit, the Dept. of Finance acknowledged an electronic glitch caused the assessed values of some of the borough's coops and condos to skyrocket.

According to published reports, the agency claimed a computer snafu led some residences to be compared to commercial properties, as opposed to similar rental units, when setting assessed values. The assessment figures provide the base value upon which co-ops and condos are taxed.

"The flawed co-op valuation system which I uncovered and which the DOF is now in full damage control mode, will create enormous hardships for families and communities if allowed to be implemented," said Glen Oaks Village President Bob Friedrich, who has been among the agency's more outspoken critics, along with the Presidents Co-op Council.

The DOF has yet to provide a specific list of the properties affected. An overall review of its new assessed values led to a $339 million error, overvaluing 139 properties citywide, according to reports.

The figures released by the DOF saw the assessed values of some properties, particularly in North and East Queens, skyrocket by up to 147 percent, despite market values remaining flat or falling.

Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland

Gardens) has scheduled a hearing on May 2 to "get to the bottom of this."

"I have no objections to automation if it is done in a reasonable manner, but that is not what happened," said Weprin, who is also founder of the Council's Co-op/ Condo Caucus.

State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing), herself a co-op owner at Cryder Point, filed a Freedom of Information Law request to clarify the exact cause of the

computer glitch, whether it be a programming bungle, human error or something more nefarious.

"I believe, as a co-op shareholder and as an elected official, that my constituents are entitled to full disclosure," she said.

The new values were set to take affect May 25, but the DOF may reportedly push back the implementation of the faulty figures.

The issue of comparables was raised at

a Town Hall meeting that hosted DOF Commissioner David Frankel March 24.

At the time, co-op and condo owners decried the lackluster clarity in Frankel's explanation of how the agency reached its figures, particularly which comparable properties were used.

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

Crossings Get Countdown Lights

BY DOMENICK RAFTER Countdown clocks are coming to some of the busiest crosswalks throughout the borough.

The City Dept. of Transportation announced that more than a dozen busy corridors in Queens would get pedestrian countdown clocks in addition to the areas that have already seen them put to use. The clocks will not be at every intersection along the corridor, just ones that meet federally mandated criteria.

The corridors include the entire length of Queens Boulevard from Van Dam Street in Long Island City to Jamaica, including Rego Park and Forest Hills, home

to some of the most notoriously dangerous intersections where pedestrians have been killed in the past.

The thoroughfare's intersections with 63rd Road, 66th Avenue, and 67th Avenue in Rego Park and 70th Avenue, 78th Avenue, and Yellowstone Boulevard in Forest Hills will get countdown clocks.

"I am absolutely thrilled that the Dept. of Transportation has finally taken action on this longstanding concern of my constituents," said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills). "The installation of these countdown clocks is a major safety feat not only for my neighbors, but also the thousands of people that travel Queens Boulevard daily."

Other byways included in total or in part are 23rd Avenue, 34th Avenue, 164th Street, Atlantic Avenue, Astoria Boulevard, Hempstead Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Main Street, Merrick Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Utopia Parkway and Woodhaven Boulevard.

Small stretches of 188th Street, Hillside Avenue, Jewel Avenue, Kissena Boulevard, Liberty Avenue, Parsons Boulevard and Seagirt Boulevard will also get countdown lights.

A total of 1,500 countdown clocks will be installed citywide.

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

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

A&E

Queens Man Uses His Art To Help

Captain America, and they were calling me Captain America. At the end of the “I have a long history of making super- trip, someone pointed out to me, ‘If a sniper were looking at hero costumes. Back in the early 90’s, for Halyou guys, who do you loween, I made and wore think they would shoot at? The guy with the big a pretty good Captain A on his helmet. EspeAmerica costume,” said cially if they decided to Bayside resident Ray pick you guys off in alAlma, an award-winning phabetical order’”. illustrator who has drawn Alma has always enfor Mad magazine.

“Last year, when I Award winning illustrator Ray joyed working on his ilwent to Iraq to draw Alma’s depiction of former Presi- lustrations.

“I did the majority of caricatures for injured dent George W. Bush. my stuff for ‘Mad’ magasoldiers, I put a big A on the front of my helmet, as an homage to zine between 1996 and 2001,” he said. “It

BY BARBARA ARNSTEIN

Restaurant Review

Scoot To Vespa For Tuscan Brunch

VESPA CIBOBUONO 96 Northern Blvd., Great Neck (516) 829-0005 CUISINE: Tuscany HOURS: Brunch Sat & Sun 11 am to 3 pm; Dinner Sat 4-11 pm; Dinner Sun 4-10 pm; Mon-Thu noon to 10 pm; Fri noon to 11 pm PARKING: Lot CREDIT CARDS: All Major

Stars Shine at QPAC As Ben Vereen Returns

Ben Vereen, an American actor, singer ute to the legends Frank Sinatra and and dancer of legendary versatility and Sammy Davis, Jr. who significantly influunparalleled accolades, is returning to enced him. Get ready to be mesmerized.”

Distinguished artists who Queensborough’s Performing have performed throughout Arts Center for an encore star the decades at QPAC include turn on Sunday, May 15, at 3 jazz legend Thelonius Monk; p.m. renowned dance choreograVereen’s unforgettable perpher Merce Cunningham; 60’s formance in “Pippin” garnered folksinger Judy Collins; the him a Tony Award and Drama fabled Alvin Ailey Dance Desk Award for “Best Actor Company; the great classical in a Musical.” Other Broadway actor Alvin Epstein; and more shows that carry his permarecently Joel Grey, Tommy nent imprint include “Wicked,” “Fosse,” “I’m Not Ben Vereen will be at Tune, Chita Rivera, Marvin Rappaport,” “Hair,” “Jesus the Queensborough Hamlisch, David Cassidy, Christ Superstar,” “Grind,” Performing Arts Cen- Davey Jones, John Pizzarelli and Betty Buckley.

“Jelly’s Last Jam” and “A ter on May 15.

Tickets are $45 all seats.

Christmas Carol.”

“If he were auditioning for Simon For more information about this event Cowell’s new reality show ‘The X Fac- and other upcoming shows, contact the tor,’ he’d win!” said Susan Agin, Artistic QPAC Box Office at (718) 631-6311; tickDirector of the Queensborough Perform- ets are also available online at QPAC.org. ing Arts Center. “Ben Vereen is a tour-de- QPAC is located on the Queensborough force and it’s an honor to be able to share Community College campus in the heart his talents with our audience. Among his of Bayside, with ample free parking and many Broadway selections, he pays trib- 24-hour security.

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

Vespa has been a quaint local favorite of mine for some time. I’ve been there for New Year’s Eve, romantic dinners and family outings, and I’ve never been disappointed. Decorative flair, excellent presentation and a creative menu have always set this Tuscan-style Italian restaurant a notch above many others in my mind.

So when I heard that they are now serving brunch on the weekends, I had to take the trek a few hundred feet across the border into Great Neck to see what Bice and her staff had been working on.

Word, clearly, has not traveled fast about the brunch, but we expect more people to follow. The brunch menu is a mix of grilled flatbreads, egg dishes, sandwiches, salads and a handful of traditional favorites. Any items from the “Uova” (egg) menu comes with coffee and your choice of Mimosa, Bellini, Prosecco, Bloody Mary or Juice for just $19.95.

We started our meal with a simple Panzanella, a Tuscan bread salad with cucumber, red pepper, olives, red onion and tomatoes in a snappy vinaigrette.

The three of us shared it, but certainly the dish comes sized for one – we just didn’t want to ruin our appetites by ordering too many starters. I will admit, though, the salmon carpaccio with dill, pesto, lemon and arugula looked great, as did the roasted pears with gorgonzola and roasted nuts.

No, we chose to focus on our main dishes – and I think we made some ex-

cellent choices. My first guest got the Salmone e Capperi grilled flatbread, which was covered in grilled salmon with peppers, arugula and capers in a lemon sauce. It seemed the tender and f laky rich fish was an entire fillet, crumbled across the hand-stretched, grilled flatbread, layered with peppery greens and hiding a forest of deliciously sour capers in puddles of lemon sauce.

My second guest had the Grigliata Formaggio, a sandwich of mozzarella, fontina and pecorino romano with roasted peppers. It was perfect in its simplicity and served with a lightly dressed side salad and home fries.

For me, I’m an Eggs Benedict fan, so I went for the Vespa twist on the classic – Uova Medici; poached eggs served over spinach and prosciutto on Tuscan bread. Well-seasoned, perfectly poached and complex in its flavor combination, the dish hit on all levels and also came with the salad and home fries.

We shared a side dish of creamy polenta with mushroom and gorgonzola, a decadent delight – creamy, earthy and sharp, taking on the texture of savory grits.

We finished our meal splitting another grilled flatbread – this time with Nutella, bananas and walnuts.

A cautionary note for those of you who haven’t been here before – Vespa does not lock itself into its menu. If on the menu a dish says it has almonds, but you get walnuts instead, it’s simply because the chef made the choice to substitute that day based on the quality of the ingredients. Think of the menu as a guideline, more than a set of rules.

After all, Vespa has never been about sticking to a formula – they just want to give you the best, brightest and freshest they have to offer.

The tradition continues now that they serve brunch. Enjoy!

—Brian M. Rafferty

“Even though my specialty isn’t superwas a combination of different, small features and then they had me do a couple of heroes, I grew up reading super hero comtheir movie parodies and TV parodies. I ics, so I know how to draw Captain America and the Hulk,” he said. “It’s fun was really thrilled when I was for me because I love drawing drawing the ‘Planet of the Apes’ those things. It’s just such a movie parody, because I’m a big great feeling seeing them laughfan of those movies, so for me ing and smiling.” it was a big deal.”

With the efforts he had But not everything was made locally, Alma was quick happy and light. to jump when an opportunity “It came out on the stands to help America’s armed the month of 9/11 and it was forces popped up. so depressing. I was so excited “Last year, I heard that the and the world was falling apart,” he said. “I remember Ray Alma stands with National Cartoonists Society feeling very helpless as an in- his Captain America was looking for volunteer artdividual, because I had a lot of helmet in Iraq, proud ists to go draw for the troops. friends who were police offic- to use his skills to help This was a way for me to patriotically contribute,” he said. ers and firefighters who went soldiers.

“The first trip I did was last down there to work at Ground Zero and I was sitting in my studio think- April, when I went to hospitals in Washing, ‘What can I do? How can I help? I ington, D.C. and Germany.”

He also went to hospitals in Iraq in just draw silly pictures.’”

“But when I started working at an ani- October with nine other cartoonists.

“They were flying us on military airmation studio, I met a woman who had founded an organization called the craft, and every day we would go to a Inkwell Foundation”, he said. “It’s a different base,” Alma said. “We had to group of cartoonists that get together and wear army helmets and flak jackets when volunteer to go draw for sick children in we were boarding and when we got off a plane. The flights on the cargo planes hospitals. So I became a part of that.”

The work for the foundation gave him made me constantly nauseated, but whata sense of how to use his craft to not just ever discomfort I suffered through this entire experience, it was nothing comentertain, but to also help others.

“They were going to hospitals in Man- pared to what the soldiers have to go hattan and Brooklyn, but I got them to come through. It was extremely interesting and out to St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in rewarding to go there.”

Last May, Alma won an award from Bayside,” Alma said. “Sometimes we’ll go to a club for the families of cancer patients. the National Cartoonists Society for Anything they want, we will draw for them.” Magazine Illustration. His most recent He found that the children are attuned work has appeared in “Black Enterprise,” to comic book superheroes, and Alma has “Family Tree” and “WWE Kids,” a wrestling magazine for children. been happy to oblige.

Faith

Stores’ Food Helps Jews At Passover One in five Jewish families in New York City are living in poverty. That number put a strain on food pantries before the Passover holiday, but in response, the Forest Hills Stop & Shop stepped in with some help – a half a ton’s worth.

The store at 89-89 Union Tpke., frequented by many Jewish families in Forest Hills and Kew Gardens, donated 1,000 lbs of kosher food to the Queens Jewish Community Council’s kosher food pantry the week before Passover, which started on Monday. Stop & Shop’s dona-

Word "I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line."

- Lucille Ball

tion featured a bevy of kosher food products that are used in the Passover Seder.

The Forest Hills store is home to a small, but popular, kosher food section.

“We hope those who needed these food products are enjoying their holiday,” said Tammie Smith, manager of the Forest Hills Stop & Shop.

“Today, there are new kinds of burdens,” said Borough President Helen Marshall, “and poverty is one of those burdens in particular. [Stop & Shop’s] expression of generosity provides a valuable and practical way to ensure that many of our Jewish residents will be able to observe the Passover holiday with proper ritual food.”

As the aftermath of the recession and financial crisis continues to come to a head, the number of needy families has risen even as the economy slowly begins to recover. The Queens Jewish Community Council served 930 people in need in February 2009, but in the same month in 2010 that number increased to 1,818 and in February 2011, jumped to 2,240.

That number has left the QJCC’s and other kosher food pantries running low.

“1,000 pounds will make a difference,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).

Warren Hecht, President of the QJCC,

PRESS Photo By Ira Cohen

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Borough President Helen Marshall takes some kosher items off the shelf for the donation as Councilwoman Liz Crowley (l. to r.), and store Manager Tammie Smith look on. said the donation was “needed this year more than ever.”

“The requests for assistance from members of the Jewish community as Passover approaches has been overwhelming,” he said Ilene Marcus, chief of staff of the Metropolitan Council for Jewish Poverty, said

kosher food pantries have given out over 2.5 million pounds of food to needy families.

“The sad thing is that it’s never enough,” she said.

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

Notebook MAST HS

MAST HS Is Undergoing Makeover

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

BY BOB HARRIS When Queens High School Superintendent Juan Mendez recently made a visit to the Math, Science Research & Technology HS (MAST HS) at the Campus Magnet Complex in Cambria Heights, in preparation for the school’s Quality Review, he said, “I am impressed with what I have seen thus far.”

MAST is going through a transformation. Under the leadership of Principal Jose Cruz, the school emphasizes college readiness and rigorous instruction. The curriculum has been expanded to include robotics, nutrition and college credit-bearing courses. MAST, in collaboration with the University of Albany, participates in the University in the High School Program, where students take college creditbearing courses.

This fall, MAST offered one class, Nutrition, which was taught by an academic who has the status of adjunct at the University at Albany. There are plans to expand the program next year to include courses in each of the major content areas. In addition to the University in the High School Program, MAST is part of the College Now program affili-

ated with Queens College.

The school also offers Advanced Placement classes in Calculus and Literature and Composition. Students at MAST have the potential of graduating with college credit, which will help save time and money. A student who takes all the college credit courses offered at MAST can graduate with 12 credits.

This is part of the principal’s vision, to give students the opportunity to experience the rigor of a college curriculum before they get to college. Recently, Jennifer Rodriguez, a MAST student, received an admissions letter to Syracuse University’s Pre-medicine Program. Another MAST scholar, Shennel Edwards, received POSSE scholarship worth $140,000 and will attend the University of Wisconsin next fall. Cruz and his administrative team would like to increase the number of graduates attending fouryear private colleges and universities.

Under the leadership of Cruz, the school environment is also experiencing a transformation. Cruz had the blackboards that had been in use since 1936 replaced with more modern white boards making classrooms look more in touch with the modern era. Every classroom

now has a working computer for teachers to use.

SnapGrades, a computerized grade book, provides students and parents with access to their grades, homework assignments and progress reports. There are interactive white boards, also know as SmartBoards, in several classrooms and there are two computer rooms, one with PCs and one with Apple computers used for a Graphic Design course.

“Life is not complete without music and art,” Cruz said. He hired an art teacher, a graduate of Cooper Union, who is having students work with various art forms, creating impressive pottery and prints. The MAST All Star Band played recently during a PTA meeting, impressing parents with their magnificent rendition of Beethoven and other great composers.

Of course, all this could not be accomplished without controversy. There is always push back in the midst of changes.

Cruz understands this and remains steadfast in his emphasis on quality instruction, accountability and building bridges to community-based organizations that complement the education goals of the school.

“Leadership is stewardship,” he said.

“I want our graduates to leave our school equipped with 21st century sophisticated skills beyond basic application of factual knowledge.”

One only needs to walk the hallways to see the “artifacts of learning,” the impressive displays of student work, pictures of student activities and college acceptance letters. Last June, the graduation rate was 74.5 percent, according to the latest Progress Report. The school is now preparing to graduate 90 percent of its students June 24. This will be a remarkable achievement for a school that had a 57 percent graduation rate two years ago.

Is Your School Doing Something Good?

Write The PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Profile

Fitness Guru Fuels Healthier Lives

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

A horde of people snakes through the Rochdale Village Mall parking lot. Exercise mats, water, towels - some even have their children in tow. Without prodding, they unroll their mats and assume the position.

Denise Warren, a no nonsense trainer, stands at the front of the room. It is stretching time. At the end of the warm up, she requests one plank. The room dissolves in a series of complaints.

"Stop groaning," she bellows.

This is the easy part. They are there to emulate the lithe Warren.

The music starts. Reggae sounds pulse throughout the Rochdale Ballroom, and the bass reverberates inside the moving bodies. From this point on, it is non-stop, intense movement. More than 300 people maneuver their bodies in precise movement. Welcome to Body By Denise.

"Stay on beat," she cautions.

Veronica Billups, 43, has a clear understanding of what Warren can do for her body. She started coming to the classes about two years ago and has lost 40 pounds. Like most of Warren's clients, Billups heard about BBD by word of mouth. Initially, she was intimidated and vowed never to go back. A promise to her cousin brought her back and she has been hooked ever since. At 5'3" Billups

kind of work," Warren weighed 186 lbs and said. Her ex-husband sugwas aff licted with ailgested a career in fitness. ments like high blood With her background as a pressure. competitor in track and "I no longer take any field, the fit was perfect. medications," Billups She became the manager said. "She just changed of a gym on Fifth Avenue. my life totally. I have a Warren noticed that whole new outlook on the same service she was life." providing for her ManhatKim Nixon started tan clients was not availher journey with WarDenise Warren able in her community. ren at 373 pounds a year She brought her body and and a half ago.

"I just got tired, tired of being heavy," workout ethic to Queens 25 years ago. she said. Nixon has since lost 203 pounds. She initially obtained a small room at the Rochdale Village Community Center.

"I am a biggest loser."

Aside from working their bodies, Warren's clientele outgrew the room. On Nixon said Warren teaches a healthy any given night, there are 400 to 500 people per class. lifestyle.

Under her stern exterior and rigid "It has now become a part of my life," muscles, Warren cares about the health she said.

Marcia McDonald-Bell said when she and wellbeing of her clients. According came to Warren about 15 years ago, she to her manager, Karen Pinckneywas "knocking on 300 pounds." Sanchez, Warren has customers from all McDonald-Bell said it is Warren's moti- across the five boroughs and has request vation and speeches that keeps her im- to make guest appearances in New Jersey and Brooklyn. mersed in a healthy lifestyle.

Warren recently garnered the 2010 This was not always Warren's dream. As a child, she wanted to be a lawyer. When she Steve Harvey Hoodie Award for Best graduated from college, she found herself Community Leader. Including the $8 classes, Warren said she provides free working in finance. The fit was imperfect.

"I didn't feel like I was cut out for that services to schools and businesses. She

has even worked with a player for the Atlanta Hawks.

"It is not about the money," she said.

"It is about the meaning."

Currently, Warren is looking to find a home for BBD. Though she would accept a space outside of her community, Jamaica will always be her home base.

"I see this going to its own home so we won't have to move around like aerobic [nomads]."

Midway through the class, stragglers are still hurrying in with mats tucked under their arms. There is no awkwardness.

They simply join the bevy of sweaty bodies on the dance floor.

At 10:05 p.m., the intensity is at a fever pitch. The heat coming off the bodies settles in the room, but Warren does not ease up. After almost two hours of constant movement, she gives them additional instructions.

"Make yourself jog."

This is the cool down.

Classes are from 8-10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at PS 38, and 8-10 p.m. at the Rochdale Ballroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is also a Saturday class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at PS 38.

Classes cost $8.

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

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH

Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone NY 113572809. Send faxes to 3579417, c/o Regina.

BWAY SHOWSTOPPERS April 22-May 1 Neil Berg’s Broadway Showstoppers at Queens Theatre in the Park.

760-0064.

FM POETS Saturday, April 23 the Fresh Meadows Poets meet to discuss and critique their work at the Forest Hills library at 10.

EASTER EGG HUNT Saturday, April 23 Barnyard Easter Egg Hunt at the Queens Count y Farm Museum 12-4. $5. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway. 347-FARM. KUNQU SOCIETY Saturday, April 23 Chinese Opera performance at 2 at the Flushing library.

SLEEPING BEAUTY Saturday, April 23 Russian National Ballet Sleeping Beaut y at Queensborough C o m m u n i t y C o l l e ge . 6 3 1 6311.

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

1 at the Pomonok library.

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 4582. Tuesdays (doors open 6) Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 4591000.$3 admission includes 12 games.

CHAMBER MUSIC Tu e s d a y, A p r i l 2 6 L u c y Shelton and Friends. Friday, M a y 6 C l a r e m o n t Tr i o .

LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College at 10. Free parking. 997-3802 tix info.

PETER CAREY Wednesday, April 27 author Peter Carey speaks at the Music Building at Queens College at 7. $20 at the door.

OPEN MIC Thursday, April 28 at 6 at the East Elmhurst library.

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

NEGRO MUSICIANS Friday, April 29 The B Sharp Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians presents “Continue Our Legacy” at the Hollis Presbyterian Church, 100-50 196 th Street, at 7. 776-4646.

WALKS Saturday, April 30 “The World of the #7 Train”. Jack Eichenbaum’s Public Walks961-8406.

POP ART Saturday, April 30 NY in the 1960s: Pop Art, Minimalism and Beyond, a slide-illustrated presentation at the Jackson Heights library at 3.

JOEL FAN Sunday, May 1 Joel Fan and Friends perform at the LeFrak Concert Hall at 2.

793-8080.

MARIACHI Su nday, May 1 M a r i a c h i Tapatio De Alvaro Paulino at 3 at the Central library.

JAZZ ORGANIST Sunday, May 1 Dr. Joe Utterback, jazz organist, pianist and composer, performs at the Communit y Church of Douglaston. 229-2169.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 7 days a week. 962-6244.

WAITANKUNG Sundays at 2. Waitankung is a great total-body workout.

Join these ancient Chinese exercise classes in the Flushing Hospital/Medical Center auditorium on 45 th Avenue between Parsons and Burling. Free. Jimmy 7-10pm 347-2156 information.

ALZHEIMERS Monday, April 25 What You Need To Know workshop at 6 at the Jackson Heights library.

TAI CHI Mondays and Thursdays at 11 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows.

670-1695. $5 a class.

ALZHEIMERS Tuesdays, April 26, May 10, 24 Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 5925757, ext. 237.

AUTISM WORKSHOP Tuesday, April 26 at 2 at the Queensboro Hill library.

GAM-ANON Tuesdays Free Synagogue of Flushing and Zion Episcopal Church. Wednesdays All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside, First Presbyterian Church in Forest Hills, Church on the Hill in Flushing and United Methodist Church in Middle Village.

Thursdays Free Synagogue of Flushing and Zion Episcopal Church. Call 1-877-6642469.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT E ve r y Tu e s d a y We ste r n Queens Caregiver Network in Sunnyside. 5:30-6:30.

784-6173, ext. 431.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Every Tuesday 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886.

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.

OA Fridays 6:30-8:30 at Unit y Center of Flushing, 42-11 1 5 5 th S t r e e t . S a t u r d a y s 10:30-noon at Resurrection Ascension, Feely Hall, 85-18 61 st Road, Rego Park. Beginners meeting except the last Friday of each month, which is a writing meeting.

CO-DEPENDENTS ANON. Fridays 10-11:45 at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral C e n t e r , 8 5 - 1 8 6 1 st R o a d , Rego Park. Women only.

CHAIR YOGA Saturday, April 30 Introduct i o n to C h a i r Yo g a Fr e s h Meadows library. Register.

WEIGHT LOSS EXPO Saturday, May 21 a medical and surgical weight loss expo will be presented from 10-4 at the Uniondale Marriott. $5 at the door; free in advance 516-374-8631.

Professionals, screenings, cooking demos, samples, more.

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

ALUMNI WOODSIDE REUNION Saturday, May 21 Woodside Reunion will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall. 631-467-6091.

DANCE QUEENS PRIDE FLING Saturday, April 30 Queens Pride House will hold a Spring Fling. 429-5309.

COUNTRY WESTERN Saturday, May 21 Savannah Sky performs at the Mothers Day Dance. $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.

DINNER

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

SONS OF ITALY Friday, April 29 29th Annual Golden Lion Awards Dinner.

800-322-6742.

SISTERHOOD Tuesday, May 3 the Sisterhood of the Bayside Jewish Center will hold a spring luncheon.

WOOD-HEIGHTS DEM. Thursday, May 5 WoodHeights Democratic Club w i l l h o l d t h e i r 8 th A n n u a l Wood-Heights Democratic Club at Dante’s Caterers in Jackson Heights. 457-0733.

FLEA MARKETS THRIFT SHOP Tuesday, May 3 9-2 Jewish Center of Kew Gardens Hills, 71-25 Main Street, Flushing.

BAKE SALE Thursday, May 5 SelfHelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside 10-2.

GARAGE SALE Sunday, May 15 9-4 at American Mart yrs Church, U n i o n Tu r n p i k e a n d B e l l Blvd., Bayside.

THRIFT SHOPS Saturdays 11-4 , 93-23 217 th Street, Queens Village.4652504.

EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS JH ART CLUB Classes in all art forms days and evenings for children and adults. 454-0813.

INTRO FACEBOOK Saturday, April 23 introduction to Facebook at the LIC library at 10.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, April 23 at the Knights of Columbus in Valley Stream. 341-0452.

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 Saturdays (not on holiday weekends) from 1-4 free Doggie Boot Camp at Crocheron Park in Bayside (weather permitting). 4545800. Reservations required. Donations accepted.

BRIDGE CLUB Mondays except holidays 12-4 at Pride of Judea in Douglaston. Lesson & play $10. Partners arranged. 4236200.

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 at the 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.

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.

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.

COMPUTER BASICS Tuesday, April 26 at t he Astoria library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesday, April 26 at t he Glendale library. Register.

INTRO INTERNET Tu e s d a y, A p r i l 2 6 a t t h e Queens Village library. Register.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE Wednesdays 10:30-3:00 at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. $12 session, includes light lunch. 261-2900 INDOOR SOCCER – DADS Wednesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

263-7000.

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

SCRABBLE Wednesday, April 27 at the Forest Hills library at 2.

TANGO DANCE & CLASS Wednesdays, April 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25 Buenos Aires Tango, 111-08 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 7-11. $15. Beginners welcome, no partner necessary. 347-642-4705.

JOB READINESS Thursday, April 28 Job Readiness Workshop Series at the Central 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 at the Queensboro Hill library. Register.

FINANCIAL SEMINARS Thursday, April 28 at the Steinway library at 6.

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

PAINTING WORKSHOP Fridays through June 24 N e w C re a t i v i t y a n d A d vanced Painting Workshop at National Art League. 1-646546-2296.

KNITTING CLUB Fridays at the Maspeth library at 10.

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

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

GAME DAY Friday, April 29 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturday, April 30 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-4367940.

BOATING SAFETY Sunday, May 1 with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary at Fort Totten. $75. 917-952-7014 reservations.

MEETINGS FM POETS Saturday, April 23 the Fresh Meadows Poets meet to discuss and critique their work at the Forest Hills library at 10.

JEWISH VETS Sundays, April 24, May 22, June 26 Jewish War Veterans of the USA Lipsky/Blum Post meet at the Garden Jewish Center. 463-4742.

ST. ALBANS CIVIC Sundays, April 24, May 22, June 26 St. Albans Civic Improvement Association meets at 1:30 at St. Albans L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 2 0 0 th Street and 119 th Avenue in the undercroft. 276-4263.

VFW 4787 Mondays, April 25, May 9, 23 Whitestone VFW Comm u n i t y Po s t m e e t s . 7 4 6 0540.

MEN’S CLUB SOCCER Tuesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 2637000.

FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets.

ENVIRONMENT WORK IN WETLANDS Saturdays, April 23, 30 help eradicate invasive plant species from the wetland of Alley Pond Park with a volunteer crew. 229-4000.

URBAN BIODIVERSITY Wednesday, April 27 Saving Urban Biodiversit y at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

WILDFLOWER WALK Saturday, April 30 Wildflower Walk with Alley Pond Environmental Center. 2294000. $5 members, $7 others.

ARBOR DAY Saturday, April 30 starting at 10 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

WALK FOR APEC Sunday, May 1 join Alley Pond Environmental in a walk. 229-4000.

917-612-3463.

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.

FH VAC Wednesday, April 27 Fore st Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp meets. 793-2055.

WOODHAVEN CULT. Wednesday, April 27 the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Societ y, Inc. meets at Emanuel United Church of C h r i s t , 9 1 t :st A v e n u e a n d Woodhaven Blvd at 1. 8453385.

ADVANCED TOASTMASTER Thursdays, April 28, May 12, 26 learn the art and science of public speaking. 5256830.

LIBRARY MEETING Thursday, April 28 the Board of Trustees of the Queens Borough Public Library will meet in open session at 6:15 at the Central library.

HORIZONS CLUB Thursday, April 28 Horizons, for those 55 and over, meet for a lecture on tenor Jan Peerce at noon at the Re fo r m Te m p l e o f F o r e st Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. $3 charge includes coffee and cake. Bring lunch. 261-2900.

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

THEATER IN ARABIA May 6-13 “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” by Stephen Adly Guirgis at Queensborough Communit y College.

631-6284. $10, seniors $4, facult y and students $3.

ANNIE May 13-22 at St. Andrew Avelino Church in Flushing. $15, $12 children and seniors and Sundays.

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

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

S TORY T I M E Saturdays, April 23, 30 at the Ridgewood library at 11.

MATH HELP Saturdays at the Flushing library at 10.

PARENTS ADOPTING? Saturday, April 30 at 10.

Family Focus Adoption Services in Little Neck. 2241919.

TALKS PARANORMAL Saturday, April 23 “Halfway to the Grave” will be discussed by the Paranormal and Mystery Book Club at the LIC library at 3:30.

BOOK TALK Monday, April 25 “The Beautiful Things That Havens Bears” will be discussed at the Laurelton library. Register.

ASIAN-AMER. LIT Saturday, April 30 “Longing and Belonging: The Idea of Home in Asian American Literature” at 10 at the Poppenhusen Institute, 11404 14th Road, College Point.

Free.

MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING DRIVE Through April 24 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 2637000.

RELIGIOUS

SENIORS AARP CHORUS Like to sing? The AARP Queens Chorus holds practice rehearsals for performances at nursing homes, rehab and senior centers.

523-1330.

TAI CHI CLASSES Mondays at 9 at the Pomonok Senior Center, 6709 Kissena Blvd, Flushing.

591-3377.

CLEARVIEW Monday, April 25 music appreciation at 12:30 and “Emotional Wellness Bingo” at 10:15. Thursday, April 28 “Importance of Exercise” at 12:45. Friday, April 29 Current events at 12:45.

Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside.

224-7888.

CAREGIVERS Ever y Tuesday Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886.

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

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.

HORIZONS CLUB Thursday, April 28 Horizons, for those 55 and over, meet for a lecture on tenor Jan Peerce at noon at the Re fo r m Te m p l e o f F o r e st Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. $3 charge includes coffee and cake. Bring lunch. 261-2900.

STARS Friday, April 29 at 10:30 at the Queens Village library.

Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets.

FREE LUNCH Saturdays, April 30, May 28, June 25 at Church of the Resurrection in Kew Gardens. 847-2649 reservations.

AARP 3654 Tuesday, May 3 in Bayside.

423-4237.

DANCE LESSONS Friday, May 6 free dance lessons Pomonok Senior Center. 591-3377.

SPRING CRAFT Tuesda y, April 26 at the Queens Village library at 4.

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

TODDLERS Wednesday, April 27 stories and crafts for toddlers at the Bay Terrace libra r y at 10:30.

POETRY PORTFOLIO Wednesday, April 27 poetry portfolio workshop at the Ridgewood library at 4.

FAMILY COLORING Wednesday, April 27 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11:15.

FAMILY STORY TIME Wednesday, April 27 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11.

GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, April 28 at the Queens Village library at 4.

BOOK TALK Thursdays, April 28, May 5, 12, 19 book discussions for children and parents at the Laurelton library at 6.

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 at the 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.

CRAFTERNOONS Friday, April 29 at the Ridgewood library. Register.

GAME DAYS Friday, April 29 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

FAMILY PLAYTIME Friday, April 29 at the Queensboro Hill library. Register.

EGG-CITING ANIMALS Saturday, April 30 at Alley Pond Environmental Center for those 5-6. 229-4000 to register.

DESIGN Sunday, May 1 at the Noguchi Museum. 2047088.

BOY SCOUT 138 Thursdays Boy Scout Troop 138 meets at 7:30 in the basement at 192-15C 64 th Circle, Fresh Meadows. For those 11 and older. 4542391.

CUB SCOUTS 351 Fridays at St. Nicholas of Tolentine school cafeteria, Parsons Blvd. and Union Turnpike. Boys in grades 15. 820-0015.

CUB/TROOP SCOUTS Fridays from September through June Pack 357 and Tr o o p 3 5 7 m e e t s i n t h e S c o u t R o o m , 6 9 - 1 6 1 6 4th Street, Flushing. 591-9514 Cubs, 279-9085 Scouts.

SCOUTING Join Scouting in Queens.

212-651-2897.

SHABBAT SCOUTS Sundays Shomer Shabbat Boy Scout Troop 613 meets from 6-7:30 at Young Israel of Windsor Park. 969-1571.

FUTURE WRITERS Saturdays, April 23, 30 at the LIC library at 11.

CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

HS ENTRANCE Monday, April 25 Specialized HS Admissions Test with the Princeton Review. 8002REVIEW to register.

Queens Village library.

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

TEEN GAME DAY Tuesday, April 26 at the Rochdale Village library at 4.

FREE SAT PRACTICE Tuesday, April 26 SAT Free P ra c t i c e Te s t w i t h t h e Princeton Review at the Bellerose librar y. 800-2REVIEW to register.

URBAN BIODIVERSITY Wednesday, April 27 Saving Urban Biodiversit y at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

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

GAME DAY Friday, April 29 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

TEEN HAPPY HOUR Friday, April 29 at the Flushing library at 3.

ACQC SUPPORT AC Q C Te e n Pe e r S u p p o r t Group - information, support, skills development training for those “touched by HIV/AIDS.” Ages 14-16. 8962500.

ART CLASSES Fridays the Alliance of Queens Artists in Forest Hills offers teen workshops. 5209842.

BOY SCOUTS 138 Thursdays Boy Scout Troop 138 meets at 7:30 at 19215C 64 th Circle, basement, Fresh Meadows. For those up to 17. 454-2391.

BUKHARIAN LOUNGE Bukharian Teen Lounge, for those 15-18, at the Central Queens YM-YWHA in Forest Hills. 268-5011, ext. 202.

CATALPA YMCA Saturdays recreation, Weight room and fitness center available. 69-02 64 th Street, Ridgewood. 8216271.

COUNSELING Call 592-5757 for free counseling at the Forest Hills Communit y House.

DROP IN CENTER Mondays-Thursday from 47 the Queens Rainbow Comm u n i t y C e n t e r, 3 0 - 3 7 4 Steinway Street, 2 nd floor, Astoria, holds a Drop-In Center for LGBTQQ youth up to 22. 204-5955.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE Sunnyside Communit y Services Youth Employment Services available. 784-6173, ext. 129.

GAY GROUP Mondays the AIDS Center of Queens Count y has a Gay/ B i / L e s b i a n Yo u t h G ro u p (ages 16-21) meeting designed to support young people in exploring feelings about sexuality and other issues. 896-2500.

POMONOK TEENS Teen Council addresses teen i s s u e s i n th e c o m m u n i t y.

591-6060.

SCOUTING The Rego Park Jewish Center will offer boy and girl scouting. 516-526-2492.

SCOUTING Join Scouting in Queens.

212-651-2897.

TENNIS Yo u t h a n d Te n n i s , I n c . teaches tennis to those 4-18 at the Roy Wilkins Tennis Center. 658-6728.

VAC YOUTH SQUAD T h e G l e n O a k s Vo l u n te e r A m b u l a n c e C o r p s Yo u t h

Squad is looking for new members 14-18. 347-1637.

YOUTH GROUP Fridays the Communit y Church of Little Neck will hold their Communit y Youth Group from 7-9. 46-16 Little Neck Parkway. 229-2534.

YOUTH SERVICES The 105 th Precinct Communit y Council of fers a L aw Enforcement Explorers Program for interested youth in the surrounding areas. Contact PO Kirkland at 7769164.

EXHIBIT QUEENS HISTORICAL Tu e s d a y s , S a t u r d ay s a n d Sundays 2:30-4:30 new exhibit “For Love of the Games: A History of Sports in Queens,” with other exhibits, “Unraveling History: Using Textiles to Date the Past,” “Kingsland: From Homestead to House Museum,” “Persistence: A Celebration of Landmarks in Queens – Past, Present, Future,” and “ The Civil War’s La sting Memor y.” Queens H i s to r i c a l Societ y at Kingsland Homestead, 1443 5 3 7 th a v e n u e , F l u s h i n g .

939-0647, ext. 17. $2 seniors and students, $3 adults.

AMER. CIVIL RIGHTS Through April “Bindu Masks from the Imperato Collection.” February through June “QCC Art Gallery: 20 Years of Collecting.” May through June “Department of Art and Design’s Juried Student Exhibition.” QCC Art Gallery. 631-6396.

ISAMU NOGUCHI Through April 24 “On Becoming An Artist: Isamu Noguchi and His Contemporaries: 1922-1960” at the Noguchi Museum, 32-37 Ve r n o n B l vd . , L I C . $ 1 0 adults, $5 seniors and students. 204-7088.

MANSHENG WANG Through May 27 “Mansheng Wang: Art and Artlessness” at the GodwinTe r n b a c h M u s e u m . 9 9 7 4747.

NAL OPEN ART May 2 through May 28 National Art League Annual Open Art Exhibition at 442 1 D o u g l a st o n Pa r k wa y.

Monday through Thursday and Saturday 1:30-4:00.

Free.

NY REGIONAL AESTHETICS Through June 30 “Express: L o c a l / N ew Yo r k Re g i o n a l Aesthetics” at the Queens College Art Center. 9973770.

FLUSHING COUNCIL Through September 2011 “Within the Emperor’s Gard e n : ” T h e Te n T h o u s a n d Springs Pavilion.” Through November 14 “Endangered Art/ists: China.” November 19 through January 7 “Korean Painting Exhibition: A Walk Through Nature.” Permanent displays include “Jazz Live!”, “Flushing Town Hall:” Fact or Folklore,” an historical exhibition on Flushing Town Hall and its place in history, “Legends of the

Queens Jazz Trail” 463-7700.

DOLL MUSEUM Wednesday through Saturdays 12:30-4:30 the Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454. “”Love Connects Us All” and international doll collection.

BAYSIDE HISTORICAL “The Castle,” “Native Bayside/Native Voice,” “If The Hat Fits,” “The Women of Bayside” and “Bayside Life” On the Edge of Modernity” are on display at the Bayside Historical Societ y, 352-1548. Tuesday-Sunday 11-4. $3 donation.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG Guided tours at the Corona museum. $8 adults, $6 seniors, students. 478-8274.

ANTHROPOLOGY The Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the Armenian Cultural Educational Resource Center Gallery are open at Queens College. 428-5650.

LI ARCHIVES LaGuardia and Wagner Archives display various exhibits exploring the history of NYC. LaGuardia Communit y College. 482-5709. Free.

ALLEY POND CTR. Va r i e t y o f e x h i b i t s a n d a chance to see nature upclose in the mini-zoo and aquarium. 229-4000 for a current program guide.

KING MANOR Pre-Hampton 19th century get-away Village, Jamaica Village, is recaptured at King Manor Museum, in the middle of King Park. $2 adults, $1 children. Limited winter hours, by appointment only. 206-0545.

ONDERDONK Self-guided tours of the national landmark building, built circa 1709. School programs, craft courses, horticultural activities and historical slide shows. Greater Ridgewood Historical Societ y, 1820 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood. 456-1776.

BOWNE HOUSE Original 17th, 18th and 19th century furnishings. 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing. 3590528. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students and children.

POPPENHUSEN Visit the kindergarten room, Victorian Hall, old village jail cells and current exhibits, including the “September 11 Memorial,” “College Point Then and Now” and the “Native American Exhibit.” 10-2. 358-0067.

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

LUTHERAN REDEEMER Good Friday, April 22 Tre Ore Service 12-3, tenebrae service at 7:30. Sunday, April 24 Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at 7, festival service at 10:30. Sundays regular worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30. Sunday School, Adult Bible Class and Friendship Hour at 9:30. Youth Group at 12:30. 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.

HOLOCAUST F r i d a y, A p r i l 2 9 Yo m Ka’Shaah, a holocaust remembrance service, will take place at the Reform Te m p l e o f F o r e s t H i l l s a t 7:30. 71-11 112 th Street.

MEMORIAL DAY Sunday, May 1 Holocaust Memorial Day program will be held at 10:30 in the main sanctuary of the Briarwood Jewish Center, 139-06 86 th Avenue.

SCIENCE LAB Saturdays, April 23, 30 at the 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.

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.

MATH MONDAY Monday, April 25 at the Ridgewood library at 4.

CHINESE CUDDLE-UP Monday, April 25 story time at the Forest Hills library at 2.

TEENS

People Army Pvt. Gozie D. Aneke has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

He is the son of Nobert and Maryrose Aneke of Cambria Heights. Aneke graduated in 2010 from Medger Evers Preparatory School, Brooklyn.

Sameer M. Karandikar Air Force Airman Sameer M. Karandikar 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.

He is the son of Mohan and Manasi Karandikar of Queens Village. Karandikar graduated in 2008 from Francis Lewis High School, Fresh Meadows.

Major General Patrick A. Murphy, The Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capabilities for additional responsibility and leadership.

Fernando Casanova from Richmond Hill, and serving with the 107th Military Police Company is promoted to the rank of Private 1st Class; Andre Mcnair from BellErose, and serving with the 1156th Engineer Company, Vertical is promoted to the rank of Private 1st Class; Hong Chen from Corona, and serving with the 14th Finance Detachment is promoted to the rank of Sergeant; Timothy Janis from Sunnyside, and serving with the

442d Military Police Company is promoted to the rank of Sergeant; Windollyn Patino from Jamaica, and serving with the 719 Transportation Company is promoted to the rank of Sergeant; Gobin Raghunath from Richmond Hill, and serving with the Company B, 1-69th Infantry is promoted to the rank of Sergeant; Corina Encarnacion from Woodhaven, and serving with the 42d Infantry Division Tactical Command Post #2 is promoted to the rank of Specialist; Michael Sloan from Long Island City, and serving with the 42d Infantry Division Tactical Command Post #2 is promoted to the rank of Specialist; Michael Black from Jamaica, and serving with the 719 Transportation Company is promoted to the rank of Specialist; and Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified Soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber Citizen Soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.state.us or www1800goguard.com.

Air Force Airman Pierre A. Dover graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Pierre A. Dover 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.

Dover earned distinction as an honor graduate.

He is the son of Dawn Dover of Far Rockaway. The airman graduated in 2006 from Far Rockaway High School.

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April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21

Psychic

Attorney

Models Of Queens

Bicoastal Gal Unlike many models, Alezia didn’t get her first break as an independent gal striking out on her own. No, she had a whole team behind her.

“I’ve been modeling for a while now,” she said. “When I was 16 I was on a modeling team in high school. We did shows, we went to a competition in Washington, D.C.” This was, as you might imagine, not in Alezia Session Age: 20 New York. Though Alezia is Queens born Height: 5’ 8" and raised, she did go to high school in Maryland, but then came back home to Weight: 112 lbs Hollis.

Stats: 32-24-28 But don’t expect her to stay put for long. Alezia is planning a trip out to Los Angeles this summer to live with a cousin and try to get her foot in the door on the West Coast modeling scene.

“I’m going to do a photo shoot before I go,” so she has some fresh photos, and she’s already lining up photographers to take other pictures while she’s out there.

Having worked on a temp project recently at a law office, Alezia is now devoting herself full-time to focus on the modeling – and music.

“I’ve been traveling back and forth to a family music studio in Connecticut,” she said, and spending a great deal of time writing music and lyrics.

“That’s what I do most of the time; I write, and that’s about it,” she said.

Oh, and she has a “bad habit” of shopping.

Though she admittedly doesn’t spend much time in her home borough, when she does, it’s usually to head out to a neighborhood restaurant or a local park.

“I’m a very energetic person – high-spirited and trying to make it,” she said.

Photo by Ira Cohen

Odom for the Win!

Maybe the team’s frequent mound meetings need to include the MTA.

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens April 22-28, 2011

What Discount?

When it comes to the Mets this season, it would seem they need all the help they can get. They lack a healthy ace pitcher, a reliable bullpen, Carlos Beltran’s knees and all that Bernie Madoff money – which some think would miraculously fix all the previously-mentioned woes.

Tickets sales are not where the Mets want them either. Last year they sold 800,000 fewer tickets than 2009, and numbers probably won’t pick up for this year unless the team can turn things around.

To help out, the Mets have partnered with the MTA to offer discounted tickets to a selection of games, with prices $20 or $30 off.

To see all the specials, you’re supposed to be able to go to mets.com, but a thorough search of the site this past week when the deal was announced was fruitless.

We hope that by the time you read this, the page shows how to get the discount, but if we’re waiting on the MTA to make it happen, that could take a while. Try calling (718) 507-TIXX, for the the “MetroCard” discount.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom has come a long way from South Jamaica. Last week, his reality show with wife Khloe Kardashian, whom he married after a month of dating, premiered on E! with 2.6 million viewers.

The pilot episode is already drama-filled with an unexpected special guest - Lamar’s estranged, heroin-addict father, Joe Odom, whom Lamar was not exactly excited about seeing. In any case, the show is a network success.

We’re not sure if it’s better than an NBA Championship though.

Nice look, Lamar.

State Senator Joe Addabbo

Idol Star Pia Toscano

Good Government In this topsy-turvy world of high unemployment, wars, tsunamis, budget battles and teacher layoffs, it’s good to know that our politicians are keeping an eye on what’s really important to his or her constituents.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. took a moment from fighting to end hydrofracking and keeping school aid in New York City to express his displeasure at Howard Beach’s Pia Toscano’s elimination from

American Idol.

“Pia’s elimination from American Idol was shocking and premature,” Addabbo said. If I had the chance to give Pia a message, it would be to express my appreciation for her God-given talent, for exciting a community and for touching the hearts of millions of people around the country. I am so proud to have Pia within my district.”

Is this what happens when there’s an on-time budget?

Staring Contest Actions will always speak louder than words.

U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley “spoke out” on the House floor, criticizing the GOP first 100 days as the majority in Congress – using only the flick of his wrist.

In an elaborate set up, which involved a large poster board, Crowley let his Republican colleagues know just exactly how he felt about their failure to produce a bill that will create jobs, their efforts to take away health care from the people and manipulation of the tax code to pursue their own ideological agenda.

Cycling through 19 pages, he silently examined, “What has the GOP been up to?”

Looking over his audience, Crowley sternly stared down his

GOP rivals with the look of a father glaring at his children who have just done something wrong – making sure each page made his point.

If that didn’t scare the GOP, it certainly made us think of how productive we’ve been within the last three months.

Sheesh… back to work.

Confidentially, New York . . .

Beat The GWB! Though Queensites were not too receptive about the re-named Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, the ex-mayor is reveling in it.

At the bill signing to add his surname to the bridge, Koch said the structure is probably the best thing he could be identified with because it is in his former congressional district.

He added that though the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge does not span the “inspiring heights” of the George Washington Bridge, it is a “workhorse.”

Yes, the Queensboro is better than the George Washington Bridge – you’re not charged a toll, and it doesn’t lead you into New Jersey.

Congressman Joe Crowley delivers his message

What’s Up SATURDAY, APRIL 23 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.

Bulldogs Registration It’s registration season for the Jamaica Bulldogs and the Jamaica Lady Bulldogs.

Just in case you don’t know, the Jamaica Bulldogs – where they breed champions on and off the field – is home of the 2010 Jr. Mite and Mighty Mite football champions. Boys age 5 through 13 can register for the Jamaica Bulldogs.

The Lady Bulldogs Cheer/Dance/Step Squad is open to girls age 5 through 15.

The Lady Bulldogs have been ranked No. 1 in dance nationally for the second year in a row. Additional information on both programs is available by visiting jamaicabulldogs.net; sending an email to jamaicabulldogs@aol.com; or calling (718) 554-0987.

Applications for both programs are available for download at the Bulldogs Web site.

This event will be held at Liberty Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit the Web site for registration fees.

third and fourth Tuesday every month at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Family Life Center, 177-01 Baisley Blvd.

Discover Your Career Potential Take the Career Exploration Inventory, a self-scored, easy-to-use survey guide to choosing a career based on your interests and experiences.

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

Intro to Excel In this two-session workshop, customers will learn the basics of how to create spreadsheets, use formulas, and print tables.

Pre-registration is required in person at the 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 6 p.m.

GRE Practice Test Get that edge that you have been looking for. Get the advantage on getting yourself into the graduate school of your choice.

Come in and see how you score on the GRE. This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6:30 p.m.

Home Rescue Fair Councilman Leroy Comrie, will host the Rise Up & Stay Put! Home Rescue Fair on April 23 to assist households at risk of foreclosure. Homeowners can pre-register for the fair by visiting cnycn.org or calling (646) 786-0888. Special fair guests include New York City Councilman Leroy Comrie, and KISS FM’s Bob Slade.

At the Fair, homeowners will benefit from one-on-one sessions with HUD-certified housing counselors and attorneys, on-language assistance, and one-on-one sessions with loan specialists from all major lenders.

This free event will take place at York College, 160-02 Liberty Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 25 Adult Chess Club 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.

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.

Interested in starting a blockwatch program in your neighborhood? Come out to a Civilian Patrol Blockwatch Program information session being hosted by the 113th precinct. For additional information, contact Officer Duhaney at (718) 712-1627.

This free event will be held at Thomasina’s Catering Hall, 205-35 Linden Blvd., from 7-9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Intro to Email In this single-session workshop, customers will learn how manage their own email account, and send and receive email messages. Pre-registration is required in person at the 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.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28 Job Readiness Workshop Join us for this interactive workshop. The topics for this workshop is “Come to terms with your emotional reaction to job loss.”

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

Poetry Reading with Paolo Javier

Camera Club

Join us for a poetry reading featuring Queens Poet Laureate Paolo Javier, former Queens Poet Laureate Hal Sirowitz, and poet/filmmaker Stephanie Gray. Books will be available for sale and signing.

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

The Southeast Queens Camera Club welcomes photographers, beginners to advanced. Meetings are held the second,

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 Senior Theatre Acting Repertory

Job Center Orientation What is the Job Information Center and what does it do? Find out at an interactive orientation about its services: career resources including workshops in English and Spanish; assistance with your job searching; Job Information Center resources of books, newspapers, pathfinders, bookmarks and brochures, resume/ cover letter reviews; and Queens Workforce 1 information.

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

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 89-31 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 Reduc-

tion 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 8931 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.

April 22-28, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23

TUESDAY, APRIL 26 Job Club

Civilian Patrol Blockwatch

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.