Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 12 Issue No. 19 May 13-19, 2011

PAGE 18

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The City Council approved the rezoning for South Jamaica this week, setting the stage for economic development tempered by a slow-down in residential sprawl.

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Council OKs South Jamaica Rezoning

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

would establish moderate-density districts to encourage appropriately-scaled new housing and businesses.

“The rezoning would establish contextual building height limits (between 30 and 40 feet) and also reduce the depths of the commercial overlays on these streets to prevent commercial uses from encroaching on residential blocks,” according to City Planning.

The rezoning was spearheaded by a bevy of local community groups and the late-Councilman Tom White.

“Our largest rezoning also serves as a legacy for the late Council Member Thomas White Jr., who worked closely with us on this plan and was truly dedicated to and passionate about improving southeast Queens,” Burden said.

White’s successor Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), adding business owners as well as the local block associations participated in the effort.

Current zoning laws in South Jamaica have remained stagnant since they were established in 1961. Zoning changes would limit future residential development to housing types that match existing contexts.

Photo by Ira Cohen

The City Council approved the rezoning of 538 blocks in South Jamaica, bring the total number of blocks rezoned in Queens in the last three years to more than 5,000.

“I want to thank Speaker Quinn and my colleagues for unanimously approving the re-zoning of South Jamaica, which represents an important step for the Southeast Queens community to preserve, protect, and enhance how these communities grow for the next decade,” said Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans).

The area to be rezoned is located in the southern and western portions of Community Board 12. It is bounded by Liberty Avenue, 108th Avenue and South Road to the north; Merrick and Springfield Boulevards to the east; North Conduit Avenue to the south; and the Van Wyck Expressway to the west.

The rezoning has three goals: neighborhood preservation, strengthening major corridors and expanding the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health program, according to the City Planning Commission.

“By providing incentives for new and expanded full-line grocery stores, FRESH promotes healthy lifestyles and provides more access to fresh produce for residents, which will combat the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes,” said City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden.

The rezoning is intended to preserve the architectural character of South Jamaica, provide aid to new grocers, and expanded full-line grocery stores that participate in the FRESH programs, which offer zoning and financial incentives for grocery stores to locate in some of the most underserved neighborhoods in the City.

“The extension of the important FRESH program, which would allow for tax incentives for supermarkets to come into the community, is integral for families to have access to healthy, nutritious food,” Comrie said. “In addition, the implementation of contextual zoning to protect lower density communities will prevent out of character and out of place development.”

Along wider corridors, the proposal

The City Council approved the rezoning of South Jamaica which would enhance commercial strips like Sutphin Boulevard.

Wills said the character of the neighborhood, which generations of families have come to expect, will be maintained.

With the caveat of the FRESH program, Wills believes the rezoning will aid in the building of infrastructure and expansion of small businesses.

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

Public Advocate Eyes Illegal Conversion Fix

BY DOMENICK RAFTER In a borough populated with new immigrant families and young recent college grads looking for an affordable place to live, illegal conversions are a problem that everyone knows exists, but few are willing to take it on.

But illegally converted apartments can be more than a nuisance, they can be fatal. Often firefighters have trouble navigating illegally converted apartments during fires, putting their lives and the lives of anyone trapped inside at risk. Last week, a 12-year-old boy in the Bronx died in a fire in an illegally converted apartment.

Some neighborhoods in Queens have become notorious for illegal conversions.

Semi-attached houses in Ridgewood,

Woodside, Middle Village and Jamaica are often divided into four or five different apartments. In Flushing and Astoria, newly constructed apartment buildings house 2-3 families per apartment. In Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, large Victorian homes often house a large family of 15-20 people. The problem is what triggered the Dept. of City Planning to propose rezoning a significant portion of Richmond Hill.

Though the city receives thousands of complaints about illegal conversions each year, only a handful ever end in fines.

DOB officers sent to investigate the complaints are often denied entry and the complaints are often closed after two tries; homeowners, expecting visits from the DOB, have become smart on how to avoid encountering an inspector. The

problem has led Public Advocate Bill de Blasio to call for reforming the way the DOB responds to complaints.

"We see illegally divided housing across Queens, both in neighborhoods dominated by big apartment buildings and those made up single-family homes," de Blasio said. "Wherever it happens, it is dangerous and the Dept. of Buildings needs to respond rapidly to reports they receive."

Among the things de Blasio would like to see the DOB change is the hours of inspection visits, so that owners are at home when inspectors come. Currently, most visits occur during the day when homeowners may be at work. He added that the DOB should have a quicker response time to complaints, which can sometimes be more than a month, and

they should prioritize illegal conversions.

Borough President Helen Marshall included a page on her Web site dedicated to illegal conversions. Her "Fighting Illegal Conversions: A Comprehensive Guide for Communities" outlines ways to spot illegal conversions and how to report and fix existing violations and get permits to legalize conversions.

According to 311, most of the complaints about illegal conversions in Queens, nearly a third, have been in Community Board 7, especially in Flushing, College Point and Whitestone.

A number of those complaints have been "closed" because the DOB could not gain entry to the building.

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

CB10 Addresses Aqueduct Crime Fears Members of Community Board 10 got to express their frustrations and fears to NYPD Queens South Commander James Secreto about the potential negative effect the Resorts World Casino will have on the neighborhoods surrounding Aqueduct Racetrack - and whether or not the NYPD is prepared to handle it.

CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton said she was "satisfied" with the response Genting New York gave on security inside the property, but feared what would happen beyond the gates of the site, where residential communities exist right in the future casino's backyard.

Braton said she felt the 106th Precinct, which covers Howard Beach, Ozone Park,

South Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park, has been neglected by the city; the community board has not pressed for more cops- until now.

"We have not pushed for equal resources as much as we could have," she said.

Secreto did not have many concrete answers for the board, much to their dissatisfaction, but said he had requested new officers in the 106th in preparation for the casino's late-summer opening. Secreto could not disclose exactly how many he requested, though he expects an increase.

The conversation also turned to the plague of loud music in South Richmond Hill and Ozone Park and the rising prostitution problem along South Conduit Avenue, not far from Aqueduct. Some mem-

bers, like Margaret Finnerty, president of the Richmond Hill South Civic Association, feared these problems would grow after the casino opens.

Donna Gilmartin, chair of CB 10's Aqueduct committee, said the NYPD needed to give more details on its plans to combat potential issues as soon as possible to alleviate the concern in the community that the city will not allocate resources until it is too late.

"There are a lot of worried people right now," she said. "I don't want this community to get out of control and then try to put it back together."

Secerto noted that in the previous situations much like this one, like when the Gateway Mall opened in East New York, the fear of rising crime was unfounded, and

the same could happen in this situation.

Braton countered that the casino is a unique circumstance, with Genting forecasting more than 8 million visitors a year.

Frank Dardani, chair of CB 10's Public Safety Committee, noted that the possibility of rising crime in the communities around Aqueduct is not just a problem for local residents, but the state as a whole, as the casino's business will suffer if the surrounding neighborhoods see a rise in crime.

"This casino is going to bring a ton of money to the state and all agencies will benefit from it," he said. "But if this gets out of control and people fear going to the racetrack, they won't go and the casino will fail."

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

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

TCI Plans Locations In SEQ Schools

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

“Think of all the people in the past 15 or 20 years that didn’t graduate from high school,” he said. “Many of them are unaware that they could go to college, and they would love to go to college.”

Walter Acham, Jamaica High School principal, said he was approached about the partnership a month ago.

“To move higher education into South Queens […] would benefit folks out here,” he said.

Not only will the surrounding community benefit from the partnership, but Acham said students at Jamaica also stand

to gain. TCI will provide chances for mentorship, instructional, and technological advantages for students at Jamaica.

McGrath said the school is not just for recent high school graduates; he encourages the community at large, even those without high school diplomas, to attend an open house.

“Despite the challenges you are facing, talk to us and we’ll help you find solutions,” McGrath said. “Courage is half the battle.”

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

QEDC’s Taste A Huge Success Photo by Ira Cohen

For more than a century, Technical Career Institutes College has been entrenched in Midtown Manhattan, but the storied institution is now branching out to Queens.

While TCI is in the process of procuring space for a Queens site, the college is collaborating with Jamaica and Thomas A. Edison Career/Technical high schools. Both schools will provide the college with instructional space from Monday to Thursday during the evening hours beginning June 1.

“As we get larger, we plan to open up a permanent facility in the center of Jamaica,” said John McGrath, TCI’s CEO and president. “A lot of our students are from Jamaica.”

TCI will host open houses at both high schools. Anyone interested should visit Jamaica High School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 and 25. There will be open houses at Edison at 7 p.m., on Thursday, May 19, and Tuesday May 24.

TCI was established by Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi in 1909. The school claims the distinction of being the largest two-year private college in the New York metropolitan area, and awards Associate degrees in 18 academic programs.

The college is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

McGrath said very few two-year institutions hold that distinction.

McGrath said the sites in Queens will

ease the burden on a bevy of students who hail from the borough.

“We are providing access to students who otherwise would not be able to come to Manhattan,” he said.

TCI is not only for the high school graduate, but it is also for those who did not acquire secondary school credentials.

McGrath said about 40 percent of TCI students have yet to receive a diploma or GED. He said TCI accepts those students, and will help them obtain high school credentials after they have acquired 24 college credits.

BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY Hundreds of hungry people filled the Caesar's Club at Citi Field Tuesday night to get their fill of all the great food the borough has to offer at the Queens Economic Development Corp.'s annual Queens: A Taste of the World event.

The night served as a great launching pad for QEDC's Entrepreneur Space, a Long Island City commercial kitchen and office space that serves as a one-stop location for burgeoning food-related businesses.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson, the winner of Bravo's "Top Chef," and a Food Network regular, was a guest judge for the evening, and had nothing but praise for

Vendors from QEDC’s Entrepreneur Space line the wall at Queens: A Taste of the World.

See more pictures on Page 41. the cuisine of Queens.

"It's just like Queens; it's diverse, and it's my favorite boro because that shows

in its cuisine," he said. Asked if he would open his next restaurant here, he was emphatic: "No, I'm going to come here and eat. When I write about food or talk about it, I always tell people to go to Queens."

QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein was thrilled by the turnout, and was delighted to see the response to the vendors from the Entrepreneur Space.

"We've grown from 40 clients to 100 clients in six months, and this is a great showcase for them," he said. "It indicates that people want to start businesses in Queens, and we're very proud of that."

Reach Editor Brian Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext, 122.

Cricket’s New Home At Baisley Park

By SASHA AUSTRIE

Photos by Ira Cohen

Under brilliant blue skies and a slight spring breeze, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe bowled the first official pitch on the new Baisley Pond Park cricket field on Monday.

“It is a spectacular day to be here celebrating the opening of the cricket

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe bowling the first official delivery.

ground,” Benepe said.

Borough President Helen Marshall allocated $650,000 for construction of the new field, which includes a leaguesized cricket pitch and a sustainable drainage system of planted bioswales, which are designed to remove silt and pollution from the surface of runoff water.

Marshall said it was both “a privilege and a pleasure” to provide the funds for the park. In the past five years, Marshall has donated more than $1 million to Baisley Pond Park and has allocated $140 million to the borough’s parks.

“Our parks, thanks to the investments of many elected officials, are home to 30 cricket grounds,” Benepe said.

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski gave late-Councilman Tom White credit for embracing and supporting Baisley Pond Park to the tune of $10 million.

“This would have been a golden day for him,” she said.

White’s Successor, Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), hopes to build on White’s legacy, by promising he would try to secure a cricket stadium so international games can be played in the borough.

Cricket is the fastest growing sport in New York City and has a long history in the borough. It is one of 19 sports played in the Public School Athletic League, with

Cricket players and local officials cutting the ribbon to Baisley Pond Park’s new field.

26 high schools and 50 colleges participating.

Community Board 12 Parks Committee Chairwoman Marguerite Barrett remembers the first cricket field in Southeast Queens on 110th Avenue and 173rd Street.

“We use to come out every Sunday and we use to watch cricket all day long,” she said. “I wish the cricket team the best of luck.”

Phillip Franklin, a member of the home team the Melbourne/NY Alliance Cricket Club, has played cricket in the park for

more than 30 years. He said the park was rife with pebbles and broken bottles initially. In the mid 1970s, the cricket field received a makeover, but Franklin said it is nothing compared to the pitch’s latest facelift.

“This is most definitely the most beautiful cricket field in New York City,” said Joe Siewharack of the Melbourne/NY Alliance Cricket Club. “We hope to make it better than this.”

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

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

In Our Opinion: Brenda Jones Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Deputy Editor:

Joseph Orovic

Editorial QEDC Hits Home Run The Queens Economic Development Corporation showed this week that it is truly an engine for change and growth in Queens.

At its annual Queens: A Taste of the World dining event at Citi Field, the QEDC drew hundreds of visitors to sample some of the best - and least - known restaurants in the borough, who all provided a great time for patrons.

But equally as visible, and in some cases more talked about among attendees, were the small, independent businesses that are making a name for themselves using the QEDC's Entrepreneur Space in Long Island City. This one-stop shop for budding caterers, bakers and vendors was showcased throughout the Caesar's Club with great dips, baked goods, fine catering and more.

Not only did the QEDC give everybody who attended a night of top cuisine, but it truly fulfilled its mission of providing a resource network for budding businesses by showcasing the talent and creativity coming from our borough's smallest businesses.

Congratulations on a job well done, and we look forward to seeking continued growth thanks to the hard work of the QEDC.

Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie

Letters

Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Harley Benson Sasha Austrie Domenick Rafter Jason Banrey Stefan Singh

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 May 13-19, 2011

A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2011 Tribco, LLC

Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher

Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher

Real Issues During the past few months, I have chosen to remain silent in an effort to assess the real issues of concern to the communities throughout America. The list of real issues that many Americans are facing are many. These real issues include, but are not limited to, the following: poverty; homelessness; mis-education of our youth; lack of parental involvement in our children’s lives; unemployment; taxes;

health insurance; illegal drug activity; gang violence; and gun violence. Last, but not least of our concerns, is the corrupt politicians that we (unknowingly or know) elect to serve, and represent us - the people. Where is the outrage? The above concerns (and those not listed) affect our very existence, and yet daily we endure this nonsense, because “we the people” are too busy, or turning a blind eye. Where is the quality of life that we are entitled?

Letters What a shame.

America is better than this!

We donate our resources worldwide, and yet we can’t resolve our own problems. That leaves a lot to ponder. Our government needs to take a real look at this country’s needs first and foremost, before contributing to the desires of others. What country on this earth cares about our suffering? Babies, children and adults are suffering every day, right here in America.

Who comes to our defense against poverty, hunger, mis-education, taxes, unemployment, health insurance, corrupt politicians, illegal drug activity, gang violence and gun violence?

The billions or trillions of dollars sent abroad to assist others should be utilized in America to prevent these escalating ills that are destroying our very existence.

Sadly, our government sends the military (our loved ones) to engage in combat against others seeking resolution from the very ills that we endure right here in America. Let’s put our resources to work for America.

Enough is enough.

Liz Bishop-Goldsmith President, Mothers Against Guns, Inc.

Solar Energy To The Editor: I am a sophomore at the High School for Environmental Studies, and my generation has be-

come increasingly concerned about and aware of the importance of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the Earth's atmosphere.

I believe clean energy must play a key role in our future.

New York has fallen behind other states in producing clean energy, especially solar, which accounts for just 0.02 percent of the state's overall energy production. Even New Jersey is ahead of us - the Garden State actually produces six times as much solar as New York.

This semester, I have been interning at the New York League of Conservation Voters and have learned about a bill that I hope my representatives will support. Called the "Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act," this bill will not only reduce the amount of fossil fuels being emitted into the atmosphere, but will create 22,000 jobs, will boost the economy, create a better future for my generation and will create a greener New York at the same time.

There's been a lot of talk about solar energy as it is something that many New Yorkers have wanted for a long time. Now is the time to start taking action for a brighter, greener future for my generation and the generations to follow.

Anahi Naranjo, Glendale

Deleting Women Out Of A Historic Moment A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE A funny thing happened in journalism last week in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s killing.

A Brooklyn-based Hasidic Newspaper ran the instantly-famous photo of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CIA Director Leon Panetta, Counterterrorism Director Audrey Tomason, and others in the White House Situation Room, watching the raid on bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan unfold.

Jaws locked, eyes glued to the screen, tension is written all over the president’s face and Clinton sits with a hand over her mouth in tense amazement as they all watched the drama unfold.

It is a photo that will be part of American presidential and military history forever. The image is testament to the enormity of the task ordered by the president with the support of those in the room as they watched Navy SEALs carry out the justice for 9/11.

How then, does the newspaper justify doctoring the photo to eliminate Hillary Clinton and

Audrey Tomason’s images from the historic event?

Hillary’s body language tells the story of being in that room in that moment brilliantly. But the editors clearly thought their readers would be offended that there were women in the room.

The fact is that no matter how any group may feel about women being in a room with a group of men – or whether or not women should serve outside the dining room – you just can’t change the facts of the moment. The instant the image was snapped, it became an icon of the event. To paraphrase Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War, it now “belongs to the ages.”

Tampering with the photo is akin to tampering with evidence in a crime.

With a couple of clicks on a computer mouse, two vital members of the president’s team were Photoshopped out of the visual record of a historic moment.

As African Americans, we are still excavating our own history in this country, as our contributions were deliberately left out of the history books and textbooks. We have had to fight for our very right

to breathe, never mind contribute and get credit for it.

Women have also not had an easy time getting opportunities and recognition. They have benefited from the Civil Rights Movement in addition to our own Women’s Movement. Both women and blacks had to fight for the right to vote and the right to be equal to men in general.

The women in the Situation Room that Sunday night earned the right to be there. These are not women whose religion barred them from being in the same room with the righteous men. They are professionals with equal intellectual capacity, and they’ve got the resumes to prove it.

We don’t know much about Tomason’s history, but we do know that Hillary Clinton has worked hard for the rights and protection of women, children and people from minority communities all her life; her efforts and example have opened doors for countless people.

She just made a historic run for president two years ago, and before that served as the junior senator from our state. Now she follows two other women as Secretary of

State. For a newspaper editor to decide to chop her out of the picture depicting an important moment in the war on terror is an insult not just to Hillary and Tomason, but to women everywhere.

Supposedly the White House, upon releasing the photo, ordered that it not be altered in any way.

Again, it belongs to history. It would have been more understandable if someone wanted to show just the president’s tension-filled face by pulling him forward in the photo. But cropping out the Secretary of State and the director of Counter-Terrorism? That’s just appalling and plain ridiculous.

The newspaper did issue an apology and explanation saying, in part, “In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status. Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive.”

“If?!”

They would’ve been better off not running the photo at all.

Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER

106th Precinct

tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Purse Snatched The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two suspects wanted in connection to a robbery that occurred in Ozone Park.

On Monday, May 2, at approximately 11:10 p.m., a victim was approached by perpetrators at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 96th Street in Ozone Park, who removed the victim’s pocketbook without her permission and fled the location.

The first suspect is described as a black or Hispanic man, around 23-24 years old and the second suspect is described as a black man, around 22-24 years old.

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

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

109th Precinct Missing Man Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing Flushing man.

Abraham Strizhevsky, 89, last seen on Friday, May 6, at around 1 p.m. at 138-49

Blunt Trauma Death On Monday, May 9, at around 1:48 a.m., police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious man in front of 31-29 Higgins St. in Flushing. Upon arrival, responding officers observed an unidentified 40-year-old Hispanic man on the street unconscious and unresponsive.

EMS responded and transported the victim to Flushing Hospital where he was later pronounced dead on arrival. The Medical Examiner has classified the case as a homicide due to blunt force trauma to head of victim. The investigation was ongoing.

Police are trying to help locate Abraham Strizhevsky.

Elder Ave. in Flushing.

Strizhevsky is described as white, 5foot-6, 190 lbs, and was wearing black pants, a black sweater, glasses, and was carrying two canes. He is said to be in good physical, but poor mental condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their

113th Precinct Stabbed To Death On Monday, May 9, at around 4:45 p.m., police responded to a call of a woman stabbed inside Baisley Park Houses, 116-40 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Apt. 6F in South Jamaica.

Upon arrival, police discovered the victim, a 58-year-old black woman, with multiple stab wounds to the body. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

114th Precinct Motocycle Death On May 9, at 6:05 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of a motorcycle accident eastbound on the Grand Central Parkway at the RFK Bridge in Astoria.

The driver of a 2010 Ducati motorcycle, a 46-year-old Hispanic man, was traveling eastbound on the Grand Central Parkway when he lost control and was thrown from the motorcycle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

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

Osama Bin Laden Came to Timely End ation did the thousands of innocent civilians receive before he sent the hijacked airliners to crash into their offices?

It was clearly in the national interest to dispose of the matter on the spot, and the result was presumably dictated by Stern the elected official who is commander-in-chief. There is a certain irony in a Nobel Peace Prize recipient personally involved in the murder of an unarmed captive, whether in t he presence of h is daughter or not. But think of how many lives would have been saved if bin Laden had been stopped 10 years ago, before 9/11, when President Clinton authorized the removal of bin Laden from the planet after the bombing of the destroyer U.S.S. Cole on Oct. 12, 2000.

Clinton later said that his order was never carried out because the United States was unable to establish a mi litar y pre sence i n Uzbekistan and because American intelligence and law enforcement agencies refused to confirm that bin Laden had authorized the bombing.

On the photo issue, I completely agree with the President.

As he said, we do not spike the football after a touchdown, nor should we create an iconic image for bin Laden’s followers to venerate. The conspiracy theorists will never be satisfied, nor need they be, for the further they depart from reality, the less credible they become.

Burial at sea was also entirely appropriate. No remains, no relics, no tomb, no shrine. Life began in the sea, and it is not the worst place to decompose. As the fate of Luca Brasi, who killed far fewer people than Osama bin Laden, was poetically described by his colleagues, “He sleeps with the fishes.” Besides, if he is going to meet the 72 virgins who Muslim theologians say await him in paradise, the Nor th Arabian Sea will simply be a stop on his journey.

Osama bin Laden did not liberate anyone from tyranny. T he Taliban regime in Afghanistan was harsh and oppressive, a medieval theocracy brutal to its own people.

We predict that bin Laden will be regarded over the years primarily as a mass murderer, who employed the ingenious method of hijacking jet planes whose tanks were filled with jet fuel. He caused the death of thousands of innocents as part

of a deluded conspiracy to re-establish the Caliphate and rule the world. The lesson of his life is how much harm one individual can do using modern technology.

The bombing of American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998, should have alerted the world to the menace of bin Laden.

Much more w il l be wr it ten about bin Laden and his remarkable career. But if he had to be described in one word on his nonexistent tombstone, we sugge st that “murderer” rather than “martyr” would be an appropriate appellation. starquest@nycivic.org

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

By HENRY STERN Not to write about Osama bin Laden this week would be to ignore an event of historic importance.

He is directly responsible for the death of almost 3,000 New Yorkers, a figure surHenry passed most notably by Hitler, who is primarily accountable for the tragedy of World War II. Mao Tse-Tung, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Slobo da n Mi lose vic, Saddam Hussein, Hafez al-Assad, and various African genocidal tyrants were also mass murderers, but usually employed more primitive means than the Nazi fuhrer and the Wahhabi devotee.

Bin Laden was terminated with extreme prejudice by well-trained Americans who, we presume, followed the instructions they were given. The thought that he should have been taken alive is naive.

Who would try him? On what authority? How would a sentence be carried out? How much attention would he get for years while the legal system took its protracted course? What would the International Court of Justice opine on the mat ter? And what consider-

Doing More With Less:

Cuts, Tough Choices In ’12 Budget

BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY New York City has made at least 10 wholesale rounds of pre- and post-budget fixes in the last three years, adjusting for an economy that has been struggling to stay positive in harsh fiscal times.

Though each of the past three years, a bare bones budget has been bolstered by a sudden influx of federal spending and additional savings, this time, no such bailout is expected.

This time, according to Mayor Mike Bloomberg, we’re going to feel it.

The Mayor released his proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year last week, a $67 billion behemoth that includes no new taxes, but does hold some considerable cuts and drops in services, including the much ballyhooed layoff of more than 4,000 public school teachers.

Who’s Getting Cut? Across the board, local and citywide services will feel a pinch. Some agencies are going to be asked to do the same job – or more – with less money. Others will simply not be able to do as much as they have in the past. The results trickle down from major agencies straight to summer youth employment programs.

In our most vital services, the NYPD will lose $64 million, the FDNY will lose $38 million, $13 million has been cut from Corrections, and Sanitation has been slashed by $91 million. A great deal of these “savings” will be found in the loss of 840 staff positions – all through attrition – for which replacements will not be hired.

In what some have called the worst cut of all, 4,278 public school teachers will be laid off, and another 1,120 who

leave the Dept. of Education will not be replaced, leaving a total loss of 5,398 fewer classroom teachers next year. The final cut to the schools is $393 million.

Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters, a non-profit education advocacy organization, said the effect on schoolchildren will be devastating.

“Already in the last three years alone, students in grades K-3 have experienced class size increases of 10 percent, leading to the largest class sizes in over a decade,” she said. “Why should they have to suffer any more?”

Haimson characterized the Mayor’s attitude toward the schools as “passing the buck” to state and federal authorities without having the desire or leadership to focus on classroom teaching.

In Queens, the borough’s library system will lose 148 staff members to layoffs, with a $7.7 million cut in funding; the Queens DA will lose $667,000. The Parks Dept. will lose $47 million in funding, CUNY will lose $24 million, the Dept. for the Aging will lose $12 million and Health and Welfare agencies will lose $210 million.

There will be a 10 percent reduction in funding to the Beacon Programs in schools, 2,140 fewer summer jobs for teens and 15 literacy programs that help immigrants learn English will be shuttered.

Dollars And Cents Hundreds of millions of dollars in the form of Federal Stimulus Package dollars will not be headed into City coffers this year. The mayor has proposed a way to help boost revenue through non-tax measures that will increase fees, fines and

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

Community Needs As part of the budget process, local Community Boards make requests for specific local funding as well as capital improvements. They submit their requests to the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget in advance of the Mayor’s proposal. In most cases where the OMB sided with the request, they responded to Community Boards with a statement that the responsible agency – be it Health and Hospitals, Parks or the Dept. of Transportation – would try to accommodate the request within their reduced budgets, but made few promises for funding.

Uniformly, requests for more police, new precincts, equipment and vehicles for police, fire and parks, maintenance, new construction and roadwork were summarily denied.

In some cases, the OMB referred Community Boards to ask for discretionary funds from their local Council members. In most cases, the standard response was “Due to fiscal constraints, the availability of funds is uncertain.”

Here is a breakdown of some of the larger projects, by Community Board.

CB 1: Queensbridge Park renovation, tree pruning, new cops for the 114th precinct.

CB2: Repave 69th Street to 72nd drive and from Queens Boulevard to Maurice Avenue; reconstruct Borden Avenue between Van Dam Street and 30th Street, and 30th Place, 31st Street and 31st Place, between Borden Avenue and 48th Avenue; include new catch basins and improved drainage to relieve chronic flooding conditions.

CB 3: Install air pollution testing monitors in the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst located near LaGuardia Airport; increase hospital beds at Elmhurst Hospital.

CB 4: Reconstruct Streets bounded by 57th Avenue, Long Island Railroad, Grand Avenue and Queens Boulevard.

CB 5: Provide funding for repair/replacement of park infrastructure following the devastating tornado of September 2010; reconstruct ball fields, jogging path and add security lighting at Principe Park in Maspeth; establish a public park on the grounds of the former St. Saviour’s church, and fund the church’s restoration.

CB 6: Rehabilitate Flushing Meadow Corona Park and hire additional P.E.P. Officers for Parks Department.

CB 7: Reconstruct College Point Boulevard between 14th and 23rd Avenues;

Across the board, Council members, need organizations and other City officials have been sharply critical of the Mayor’s proposal, saying the poor management and a heavily reliance on nonessential consultants has driven expenses through the roof.

“While the Mayor’s Budget presents a picture reflective of the lingering effects of the recession, it should be noted that throughout the economic crisis, City agencies have spent billions of dollars on high-

priced outside consultants, resulting in runaway spending on technology-related contracts,” Comptroller John Liu said.

Recently, Information technology consultants for the Mayor’s City Time personnel management system, as well for the Schools Construction Authority, have been indicted on charges of funneling money into their own pockets in addition to the millions they have earned in fees for services that Liu said are not essential.

The Professional Staff Congress, the faculty union for the CUNY system, admonished the Mayor for his cuts.

“Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to cut CUNY, especially the community colleges, is a decision to deny low-income, minority and immigrant students an adequate learning environment, to pack them into over-crowded classrooms, increase their time to graduation, raise their tuition, and relegate their instruction, mentoring and guidance to overworked, under-resourced faculty and staff,” said PSC President Barbara Bowen.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn (DManhattan) was more reserved about the Mayor’s budget. She and the Council will analyze the budget and make their own recommendations for changes.

“We have a lot of hard work ahead of us in the next several weeks,” Quinn said.

“The Council is committed to working with the Administration and to making the tough decisions necessary to protect the essential services and important programs New Yorkers depend on, as well as the long-term fiscal health of our City.”

Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 122.

rehabilitate Cunningham Park; reconstruct 182nd Street between 64th Avenue and Horace Harding Expressway, 181st Street between 67th Avenue and 69th Avenue.

CB 8: Rehabilitate Cunningham Park, Cedar Grove Playground and the bridge at Willow Lake in Flushing Meadows; add bathrooms near the Flushing Meadows ball fields.

CB 9: Plant trees in the district in order to beautify and maintain the character of residential streets – there are dead trees and locations where no trees exist, particularly on Jamaica Avenue from 101st Street to 121 Street; Forest Park Greenhouse restoration and playground; restore the Civic Virtue fountain at Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard.

CB 10: Increase Height of Fencing at Tennis Courts from 10 to 15 feet. at P.O. Edward Byrne Park, North Conduit Avenue between 131st and 133rd Streets, to prevent tennis balls from flying over existing fence and startling motorists.

CB 11: Fund reconstruction of streets and drainage between Utopia Parkway and the Clearview Expressway, and between Northern Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway; rehabilitation of Alley Pond Environmental Center Building CB 12: The list included a series of street construction, drainage and sewer needs, which did see a glimmer of hope, with the response stating that “All requests

for street reconstruction in the Springfield and Baisley Trunk Drainage Basin systems of Southeast Queens, and its vicinity, will not be considered until the NYCDEP completes its Drainage Study for this area and a new Drainage Plan has been approved.”

CB 13: Select site for new 116th Precinct, which was once again shot down, as the OMB responded by saying “Construction of the Queens South Task Force Building is completed at a cost of $7.3 million and the Command officially opened in June 2004. It is a new 20,000 square foot facility that fulfills the City’s commitment to the community.”

CB 14: Initiate a Study to Locate a professional Health Related Technical School in the district, specifically because of the geographic isolation of this peninsula from the mainland, which “makes travel by mass transit or surface bus transportation a project in itself. The large population of eligible teenagers graduating from our school would avail themselves of an opportunity to receive a higher education without doubt.”

The response from OMB was typical of this year’s budget: “While CUNY maintains its support for the community colleges and continually advocates for their invaluable service, at this time, no funding is available for this purpose.”

other cost-of-living adjustments.

The cost of driving and parking in Queens will go up. Meters in Queens, which just went to 25 cents for 20 minutes when that same quarter used to buy a half hour, will drop to only paying for 15 minutes, raising the hourly meter rate to $1 from 75 cents, generating $9 million in new revenue. Parking in municipal lots will go up at the same rate, raising nearly another $759,000. Red light cameras in 20 locations will now become two-way, bringing in another $5.6 million. The people who clean and maintain our streets will also all get one-week furloughs during the year, saving just more than $1 million.

In our parks, it will cost more to join recreation centers and to use public facilities, netting the City an additional $4 million. Fees for reserving tennis courts and ball fields will go up, bringing another $2.2 million to City coffers.

The Sexual Assault Response Team funding for City hospitals will be eliminated, saving the City $1.2 million, and another $2.6 million will be saved by attrition of 50 311 call center positions.

Sharp Criticism

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

pix

Canned Food Drive

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

New Tractors On April 27, Audrey Lewis, CEO of E Joy Community Resource Center, conducted a presentation for the 100 Black Men of Long Island at its April general membership meeting to raise awareness of hunger deficiency that affects more than 300,000 people, the majority of whom are senior citizens and children. 100 Black Men of Long Island had completed its annual food drive, which raised more than $2,000 to fight hunger. Pictured: 2nd from l., Mandell Smith; 3rd from l., Henry Holley; 5th from l., Bryant Barnett; 6th from l., Audrey Lewis; 7th from l., Kathy Negri; 8th from l., Phil Andrews; and Hon. William Wise.

Weinstein Awarded

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, Councilman Leroy Comrie, Southern Queens Parks Association Director of Operations Peter Richards and St. Albans Little League President Damani Nyhuma celebrated the addition of three new Holland Tractors to Southeast Queens Parks in District 27. Comrie allocated $225,000 to purchase these vehicles. Pictured l. to r.: Richards, Lewandowski, Comrie and Nyhuma.

Justice Jeremy S. Weinstein, Administrative Judge, Civil Matters, Queens County, was the recipient of the 2011 Benjamin Cardozo Award presented by the Jewish Lawyers Guild at their 35th Annual Dinner. Pictured l. to r.: Kenneth J. Halperin, Dinner Chair; Justice Jeremy S. Weinstein; Justice Barbara Kapnick, who presented the award to Weinstein; and Glenn A. Jacobson, president of the Jewish Lawyers Guild.

Borough Beat

Boro Players Fight For B-Ball Title

BY STEFAN SINGH New York City parks house some of the greatest non-pro basketball players in the country. In the inaugural People's Games, that talent was on display against some of the best ballers from Los Angeles.

Team NY was represented by amazing people from all walks of life and that includes Knicks legend Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Queens' natives Daniel Alotta and Nygel Roach.

The People's Games is a sports concept that offers non-professional athletes the opportunity to represent their hometowns in a battle against other U.S. cities to prove which city dominates in various sports.

Alotta, who has zero prior experience in organized basketball, was chosen for this team because he is a true representation of the people of New York. The resilient football player from Temple University won a battle with cancer; in his senior year of high school, Allotta was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and battled the disease all through his college career.

"In high school you think you can run through walls, and it made me aware that I am not invincible," said Alotta. "You go

from playing sports every day to your daily routine involving seeing a doctor."

The 33-year-old shooting guard for Team NY no longer takes life for granted and rather than sulk in his diagnosis, Alotta challenged it like a true athlete. He said that his cancer forced him to be a better player. "I actually competed at a higher level," he said. "There is a certain will that you gain when you overcome what I have."

His teammate and fellow Queens' representative Roach played college ball at St. John's University. The 26-year-old Manhattan resident walked onto the Red Storm court for three consecutive years.

As a basketball fan, and more specifically a Knicks fan, Roach is honored to be coached by The Pearl. "You can't ask for more," he said. "The guy is a legend."

In the best-of-three tournament, Team LA swept Team NY 2-0. LA won Game 1 in Venice Beach 59-55. NY lost game two on their home courts in Union Square by a final score of 58-55.

The title currently resides in L.A., but Monroe looks forward to coaxing the title to the Big Apple in the next People's Games.

Reach Reporter Stefan Singh at ssingh@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 128.

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May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

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Profile

Marmara Back In Charge At 113th

BY SASHA AUSTRIE

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

PRESS photo by Sasha Austrie

After a three-year hiatus, Deputy Inspector Milt Marmara has returned to the 113th Precinct.

“I’m very, very happy to make this place my home for the next five to 10 years,” he said. “It feels good to be back.”

Marmara was surprised by his new appointment, but is looking forward to being back in the borough.

“Everybody was very happy,” he said of his return to the 113th. “They know me and they know my style.”

Marmara replaced the outgoing Deputy Inspector Kristel Johnson, who was reassigned to Bronx Queens Housing.

“I’m happy for her,” he said. “She is moving onto another positive change in her career.”

Marmara left the bounds of the 113th Precinct three years ago to head up the 69th Precinct in Canarsie.

“It’s almost like you are moving away from your family,” Marmara said of the move back to Queens. “But I feel like I’m coming back home to my other family. It feels like I never left.”

Marmara said though the 69th Precinct is smaller than the 113th, the resi-

dents and issues are similar.

“It is a smaller version of the 113th,” he said, adding that the area is home to middle class families, professionals and homeowners.

Marmara has spent his career in public service, first as a soldier in the United States Army Reserves from 1986 to 1995.

His NYPD career has spanned 20 years, beginning as a housing officer.

“I always loved public service,” he said.

Though he would not go into specifics, Marmara said there were a lot “little spots” he would focus resources on. His goal is to reduce crime and improve the quality of life.

Marmara said there will be a focus on commercial vehicles being parked on residential streets, limiting speeding on residential streets and noise abatement – with an eye on very loud house parties in particular.

He stressed teamwork, with both his fellow officers and the community at large.

“There is an open door policy,” he said. “The precinct is not a fortress.”

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

Deputy Inspector Milt Marmara with the Communications Affairs Officer of the 113th Precinct.

A&E

Love Songs Dominate Spring Concert The 84-year-old Oratorio Society of Queens is handing the baton to a new generation of classical singers, incorporating students from its choral scholarship program into the institution's upcoming May 22 concert at Queensborough Community College.

The OSQ will perform Brahms' "Liebeslieder Waltzes" as well as American songs of Hope and Freedom in the 120-plus member choral group's return to Queensborough.

Under the direction of Maestro David Close, the concert will feature soloists performing with OSQ, including soprano Geraldine McMillian, bass-baritone Vaughn Fritts, guest artist Jerry Korobow, and pianists Barbara Podgurski and Arielle Levioff.

Other program highlights include "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" by Brahms, African-American Spirituals, and the ever-popular "This Land is Your

Land," by Woody Guthrie, led by Jerry Korobow on guitar and banjo. All the songs ref lect a wide range of music that is the American choral experience.

The program will also feature singers from the OSQ Choral Scholarship Program and a song composed by one of the OSQ interns, vocalist Julie Bouchard, at the piano with the chorus singing back-up. "'And let us hope they will become real family music, and sung a lot' said Johannes Brahms in regard to his first set of 'Liebeslieder Waltzes' right before their publication," said OSQ Assistant Conductor, Ben Arendsen. "With the premiere of the 'Liebeslieder Waltzes' on Jan. 5, 1870, Brahms certainly found that popularity; the Waltzes were an instant hit with the public and were by far his greatest popular success to date."

Written for piano four-hands and four voices (often sung with one voice on a

part, but also done regularly with full chorus), the pieces were intended to be sung in homes, at dinner parties and various other informal settings, Arendsen said.

The poetry is based on the always popular subject of love - the English translation for "Liebeslieder" is "love songs."

"Mostly folk-like in nature, Brahms set all of the pieces in the most popular folk style of his time, the waltz," Arendsen said. "Each song is to-the-point, catchy, and a perfect musical expression of the text chosen."

Queensborough Community College is located at 222-05 56th Ave, Bayside, one block east of Springfield Boulevard. Parking is free on the main lot adjacent to the theater, which offers easy-access entry.

Ticket prices at the box office are $25 general admission, $20 seniors and students with ID; children, 12 and under, accompanied by an adult, are free. For additional information, call the Oratorio Society of Queens at (718) 279-3006 or visit QueensOratorio.org.

Not Just For Mets Fans connoisseur and I must say it is delish.

I would go to Cascarino's merely for its bread. After the bread, a bevy of dishes made their way to the table Caesar salad, crispy calamari, penne alla vodka, chicken stiano, lasagna and margherita pizza.

I was really impressed with the calamari. A part of me was quite happy that my companion is allergic, which meant I had my fill. I dunked the lightly breaded rings in marina and hot sauce.

The penne alla vodka was creamy and rich. My date gave the thumbs up on the pasta coated thoroughly in the sauce, and once I had a bite I knew we were going to fight over the leftovers.

We joined the Cascarino's faithful that swear by the chicken stiano. The dish is a pan-fried chicken cutlet cooked in a red Marsala wine sauce topped with prosciutto, mushrooms and fresh mozzarella. Now I know why it's so popular.

As for the lasagna, the cheese and the sauce stretched across the plate creating a precarious stringy bridge, with f lavors dancing across my palate on every bite. The margherita pizza was a worthy exclamation point at the end of the hearty meal.

Sure, we may have eaten the meal backwards, but at Cascarino's, there's no wrong way to do things - and there are no wrong choices. Go; you'll be happy you went.

Cascarino's also serves breakfast until 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch is offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant also does catering and has a party room that can accommodate up to 100 people. Got a birthday coming up? Make a note.

"When people walk out of here they are happy," Cascarino said. "By the way, mama still makes the meatballs." — Sasha Austrie

The Oratorio Society of Queens performs at Queensborough Community College.

Leder Gallery Leads Arts Weekend Kickoff

Jeffrey Leder Gallery will present a Selected Group Exhibition of 13 Long Island City artists who are as diverse as the neighborhood they come from.

Some of the artists depict scenes from Long Island City; yet for others, the influence may not be as obvious. Though not initially curated to do so, this exhibit can serve as an exploration into what affect, if any, working in this community has had on its artists.

Chosen from among the approximately 1,400 artists that work here, these 13 offer a wide spectrum of mediums from drawing to painting to sculpture.

Jeffrey Leder Gallery has a special affinity for Long Island City artists, with more than half of those represented working within a few blocks of the space.

The artists in this show include many familiar names that have exhibited at the gallery in the past, such as Violet Baxter, Sharon Florin, Orestes Gonzalez, Arthur Hammer, Donna Levinstone, Demetrius Manouselis, Pietrapiana, Alexis Portilla and Ellen Schneiderman. Other artists being shown at Jeffrey Leder Gallery for the first time include Yves Dezawy, Karen Dimit, Kristy Schopper, and Susanna Starr.

Coinciding with the opening of this

show is the LIC Arts Open, a celebration of the thriving arts community in Long Island City, that is home to MoMA's PS1 contemporary art center, the Noguchi Museum, the Socrates Sculpture Park, and the greatest concentration of art in NYC outside of Manhattan.

The festival will take place May 1422, and will be open to the public. It will feature myriad cultural activities and events, including Artists Open Studios with hundreds of artists participating; special exhibitions and gallery shows; musical, theater, dance and comedy performances by local talents; walking tours, food tastings, community outreach involving a children's art contest judged by our Co-Sponsor, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), and much more.

The LIC Arts Open is organized by the LIC Arts Open organization, a collaboration of arts entities, businesses and individuals who seek to bring Long Island City's diverse artistic presence to the attention of arts lovers of New York and beyond.

For more information, please visit Jeffrey Leder Gallery online at jeffreyledergallery.com. The gallery is located at 11-05 44th Road., 3rd Floor, in Long Island City.

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

THE ORIGINAL CASCARINO'S OF COLLEGE POINT 14-60 College Point Blvd., College Point (718) 445-9755 CUISINE: Italian HOURS: Sun-Thurs 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 6:30 a.m. 11 p.m.

CREDIT CARDS: Yes PARKING: Lot New York City is every foodie's haven. Every section of this fair city has some treasure tucked away, waiting to be unearthed. This may be the only place on earth where authentic creations are found around the bend, and down the block of any non-descript street. Of all the selections to be had in the most diverse borough, I always feel especially happy when the choice is Italian.

The Original Cascarino's of College Point, operated by Rob Cascarino and family, has a leg up on the competition.

There is no secret here because for more than two decades, this has been a neighborhood staple. The New York Mets have certainly taken notice, making Cascarino's wood oven pizza the official pizza of the team.

"I called the [Mets representative] to come here and taste my pizza," said Cascarino.

Whether you are in the mood for a panini, pizza or pasta from the heart of Calabria, Italy, Cascarino's will pique your interest.

My guest and I started out with what was essentially dessert. Looking to unwind after a long week, we both opted for a mudslide. For those of you who don't know what it is, it is akin to an adult milkshake. How can you go wrong with ice cream, liquor and chocolate syrup? I am considering making this a preliminary ritual to the start of every meal.

We were served fresh focaccia, baked in house. I fancy myself a bread

Faith

Spring Concert Given Youthful Edge The Merrick Park Baptist Church is hosting its annual spring concert.

“It happens every year, but this year, we are doing something a little different,” said Vearlane Edge, youth minister.

This is the first time that the concert, which is geared towards teens and young adults, will bring in artists from outside of the church.

The concert, sponsored by the Angelic Choir and C. G. Norton Youth Ensemble,

will feature Minister Earl Jones, Jr. and Anointed Forever, with a special guest appearance by Malika Davis.

“This is for the underserved youth that we can’t get a hold of with the everyday, normal stuff,” she said, promising audience members can expect “a top-rated performance both spiritually and interactively. It is almost like a party going on.”

As someone who knows what the streets have to offer, Edge is fulfilled when some of the teens decide to change their lives.

Word “Religion and science both profess peace (and the sincerity of the professors is not being doubted), but each always turns out to have a dominant part in any war that is going or contemplated.”

—Howard Nemerov

Edge, a 25-year member of the church, said she joined when she was a teenager.

“It is very exciting; it is very fulfilling, very encouraging,” she said of her tenure at the church.

Merrick Park Baptist was incorporated in 1928 with a congregation of two children and seven adults, at 108-40 172nd St., St. Albans. In Merrick Park Baptist Church’s Spring Concert on May 14 has 1960, 32 years after the been revamped to reach more youths. church was established, Bishop Curtis Norton was handed the the walls of Merrick Park Baptist Church reigns. to 15 auxiliaries and gave rise to seven The church and its congregants have churches. The Nortons also spent 37 seen a litany of changes in Norton’s 43 years on air with a Sunday morning broadyears as pastor, including a move to its cast on WTHE 1520 AM. current location at 120-02 Marsden St. In 2003, the torch was passed. Rev. Norton’s wife, Dr. Millicent Norton, Curtis Norton Jr., took on the role of carehas been at her husband’s side, doing her taker. part to strengthen the church. In 1985, The concert will be held at 6 p.m. on she founded the Association of Free May 14, at 120-02 Marsden St. Tickets Women in Christ. The association has cost $20. For information, call (718) 276approximately 20 chapters around the 5039. world.

Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at The church was not the Norton’s only saustrie@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, haven. Their ministry branched outside Ext. 123.

Notebook Campus Magnet Bulldogs

Coach Stresses Books Over Games

BY ALLISON HAZEL

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

Coach Charles Gramby is an institution at the Campus Magnet Complex in Cambria Heights. For 42 years, he has been the Basketball coach from when they were the Andrew Jackson Hickories to now, when they are the Campus Magnet Bulldogs.

Although his main duty is to coach basketball, often you will find him giving advice to students who are not even basketball players. He encourages all students to finish school and pursue higher education.

He wants students to succeed. “A college education will open your mind to so many things,” said Gramby, whose daughter is a graduate of Hampton University.

Business Pros: Students from the virtual business in Virtual Enterprise class called “Office Supplies Enterprise, Inc.” of the Business, Computer Applications & Entrepreneurship HS in the Campus Magnet, Cambria Heights, took part in the Virtual Enterprise International 14th Annual Trade Fair in the 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan. Their virtual business sells office supplies. The students operate the class like a business, doing all the activities a real business does.

Coach Gramby reminds his players that they are student athletes - rather than athletic students. He frequently reviews the report cards of the team members, because in addition to leading them in the right direction athletically, he knows it is imperative that prospective college athletes have a good academic record and SAT scores. In order to play Division I or Division II sports in college, a high school athlete must register with the NCAA clearing house. Grades play a major role in the NCAA clearing house eligibility.

Coach Gramby, like many other coaches, transforms his boys into young men. Each player is taught responsibility, determination and self respect. The Bulldogs are no strangers to scouts and scholarships. Recent graduates of the Campus Magnet Bulldogs attended Queens College, City College, Norfolk State University, several SUNY schools and other institutions.

Allison Hazel is a senior in the Humanities and the Arts HS in the Campus Magnet Complex.

Coach Charles Gramby (back row, l.) with his players and staff.

Photo by Ira Cohen

By SASHA AUSTRIE

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

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

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 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 7:15-9:45 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.

ENVIRONMENT

MISCELLANEOUS SPAY/NEUTER Tuesday, May 17 ASPC A M obil e Uni t Me tropolit a n Avenue between Rentar and Plaza, Middle Village starting at 7. Tuesday, May 24 5552 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood starting at 7.

Sunday, May 29 37-55 82 nd Street, Jackson Heights starting at 7.

INSTALLATION Saturday, May 21 Daniel Post of VFW Post 2813 will hold its installation of officers at 3 at the Post Canteen, 51-27 Queens Blvd., Woodside.

RESUME WRITING Saturday, May 14 at the LIC library at 10:30.

US CITIZENSHIP Saturdays, May 14, 21, 28 Pathway to US Citizenship at the Steinway library at 3.

BALLROOM DANCE Mondays, May 16, 23 ballroom dancing at 6:30 at the Forest Hills library.

INTRO COMPUTER Monday, May 16 Fresh Meadows library. Register.

CAREER POTENTIAL Monday, May 16 discover your career potential at the Central library at 1.

JOB INFO SERVICE Monday, May 16 Middle Village library. Register.

JOB SEARCH Monday, May 16 Job Search and Networking Strategies a Far Rockaway library at 6.

SEARCH THE INTERNET Monday, May 16 Search the Internet to Find a Job at the Central library. Register.

INTERVIEW PREP Monday, May 16 Interview Preparation Workshop for adults at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 6:30.

CLAY ORNAMENTS Monday, May 16 workshop at 6:30 at the South Ozone Park library at 6:30. Also Tu e s d a y, M ay 1 7 a t t h e Whitestone library at 2:30.

Friday, May 20 at the Corona library at 4:30.

COMPUTER CLASS Tuesdays, May 17, 24, 31 at the Rosedale library at 10:30.

COMPUTER BASICS Tuesdays, May 17, 24 at the Astoria library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, May 17, 24, 31, June 7 at the Glendale librar y. Register.

INTRO COMPUTERS Tu e s d a y, M ay 1 7 a t t h e McGoldrick library. Register.

JOB READY? Tuesday, May 17 Are You Job Ready? Workshop at the Briarwood library at 2. Also on Thursday, May 19 at the Steinway library at 6.

POETRY WRITING Tuesdays, May 17, June 21, July 19 budding poets are invited to a constructive feedback in a personalized setting at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows.

TANGO DANCE & CLASS Wednesdays, May 18, 25 Buenos Aires Tango, 111-08 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 711. $15. Beginners welcome, no partner necessary.

347-642-4705.

CHINESE LANGUAGE Wednesdays, May 18, 25 learn Chinese at the Laurelton library. Register.

WII TIME Wednesdays, May 18, 25 play Wii at the Peninsula library at 4:30.

YOUR CAREER Thursdays, May 19, 26 “Taking Charge of Your Career” from 1:30-3:00 at the Central library.

US CITIZENSHIP Thursdays, May 19, 26 Pathway to US Citizenship at the Sunnyside library at 5:30.

COMPUTER CLASSES Thursdays, May 19, 26 at the Rosedale library at 6.

GRANTWRITING SKILLS Thursday, May 19 polish your grantwriting skills at the Greater Astoria Historical Societ y in LIC. 6-8:30.

COMPUTER CLASS Fridays, May 20, 27 at the Middle Village library. Register.

SCRABBLE Friday, May 20 Bananagrams and Scrabble at the Windsor Park library at 2:30.

CAREER POTENTIAL Saturday, May 21 discover your career potential at the Central library at 11.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, May 21 Defensive Driving at Wesley United Methodist Church in Franklin Square. 516-8728062.

JOB SEARCH Saturday, May 21 Job Search and Networking Strategies at the Broadway library at 3:30.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, May 21, June 4, 18 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940.

GLASS PAINTING Sunday, May 22 1-2:30 at the Queens Botanical Gardens. 886-3800, ext. 230.

HEALTH YOGA IN THE PARK Saturdays through September 24 at Socrates Sculpture Park. 956-1819.

CAPOEIRA IN THE PARK Saturdays through September at Socrates Sculpture Park. 956-1819.

BLOOD DRIVE Sunday, May 15 blood drive starting at 9:30 at Temple Beth Sholom, 171-39 Northern Blvd., Flushing.

PILATES IN THE PARK Sundays through September 25 at Socrates Sculpture Park. 956-1819.

TAI CHI IN THE PARK Sundays through September 25 at Socrates Sculpture Park.956-1819.

ZUMBA Monday, May 16 Laurelton library. Register. Also at the Lefrak Cit y library at 6.

CHAIR YOGA Mondays, May 16, 23 at the Bellerose librar y. Register.

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT Tuesday, May 17 signs and symptoms of vision loss at 2 at the Auburndale library.

HATHA YOGA Thursdays, May 19, 26 Queensboro Hill library at 6.

ZUMBA Thursday, May 19 Queens Village library. Register.

MEDITATION Thursday, May 19 achieve more and less stress – meditation is the key at the Forest Hills library at 6:30.

RELAY FOR LIFE Saturday, May 21 College Point Relay for Life for the American Cancer Societ y.

917-443-6989.

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.

ENTERTAINMENT ANNUAL ART SHOW Friday, May 13 7-9 and Sunday, May 15 10-2 Annual Art Show by the Students of St. Andrew Avellino School, 35-50 158 th Street, Flushing.

ARMENIAN AWARENESS Through Sunday, May 15 the Anthropology Museum f the People of NY and the Armenian Cultural Educational Resource Center at Queens College will hold a program of exhibits, lecture, food, film and more. $10.

428-5650 schedule.

CHOREOGRAPHY Through Sunday, May 15 Student Choreography Showcase at Queens College’s Rathaus Hall. 7938080.

COMMUNITY SINGERS Saturday, May 14 at 8 the Communit y Singers of Queens, Inc. presents “Spring Fever” at Church on the Hill in Flushing. $10.

658-1021.

ASTRONOMY NIGHT Saturdays, May 14, June 18 Evening with the Stars from 8-10 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $10 adults.

NOCHE FLAMENCA Saturday and Sunday, May 14, 15 at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0064.

DAVID GONZALEZ Saturday, May 14 interactive potpourri of Aesopo:’s classic stories at Flushing Town Hall. 463-7700, ext.

222.

QC CHORAL SOCIETY Saturday, May 14 Queens College Choral Societ y’s 70 th annual Spring Concert at Colden Center. $10. 7938080.

QSO Saturday, May 14 Queens Symphony Orchestra performs “ The Voice” at 7:30 with a pre-concert lecture at 6:30. 326-4455.

ASTRONOMY Saturdays, May 14, June 18 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000 to register.

SPRING JAZZ GALA Saturday, May 14 at Joe Abbracciamento Restaurant in Rego Park. $100. Musica Reginae 894-2178.

BEETHOVEN Saturday, May 14 Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at Colden Auditorium, Queens College. $20. 7938080.

WALKING TOURS Saturdays and Sundays, May 14, 15, 21, 22 LIC. Wednesday, May 11 Flushing’s Chinatown.

Wednesday, May 18 Queensborough Plaza to the Wa te r f r o n t at Sunset.

Wednesday, May 25 #7 Sunnyside to Jackson Heights. Call 961-8406.

SHAKESPEARE Saturday, May 14 Shakespeare in Music: Scenes from Famous Operas

by Great Composers at 2 at the Flushing library.

STAR THEATER Saturday, May 14 Senior per forms of STAR present “An Af ternoon of Theater” at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows library.

BIG BAND SINGERS Saturday, May 14 music of the Big Band Singers at 2:30 at the Peninsula library.

TRIBUTE Saturday, May 14 a tribute to the music of Sinatra, Manilow, Sedaka and more at 3 at the Bayside library.

TANGO Saturday, May 14 masters of tango and argentine folklore with the Horacio Laguna Ensemble at 3 at the Central library.

SOUL LEGENDS Saturday, May 14 a musical tribute to the soul legends Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye at 3 at the Rochdale Village library.

OPEN MIC Sunday, May 15 Open Mic for Poets at 2 at the Central library.

SPRING CONCERT Sunday, May 15 Bayside Glee Club will present its Spring Concert at 3 at Church on the Hill, 35 th Avenue and 168 th Street, Flushing.

PETS & PALS Sunday, May 15 Pets and Pals Part y from 12-3 at Alley Pond Environmental Center.

Games, rides, craft projects, pet adoption and microchip clinic, animal demonstration and more. 229-4000.

ASTORIA SPRING FESTIVAL Sunday, May 15 Astoria Spring Festival from 10-5 on 31st Street between Ditmars Blvd. and 21 st Avenue.

FARM FESTIVAL Sunday, May 15 11-4 at the Queens Count y Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park. $5.

BEN VEREEN Sunday, May 15 at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311.

IT’S BROADWAY Monday, May 16 show stoppers at the Auburndale library at 2:30.

SINATRA & ME Monday, May 16 at the Ridgewood library at 6.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT Monday, May 16 at the South Jamaica library at 6.

DIVAS OF OUR TIME Monday, May 16 at the Rosedale library at 6:30.

LINDA IPANEMA Monday, May 16 Linda Ipanema and the Dixie Cats perform at the Bayside Jewish Center at 7:30.

SINATRA… Tuesday, May 17 tribute to Sinatra, Manilow, Sedaka and more at the North Hills library at 1:30.

WORLD CLASSICS Tuesday, May 17 world classics concert with Horacio Laguna at the McGoldrick library at 2.

BLUES Tuesday, May 17 Eddie Lee Isaacs and the Rockin’ Side of the Blues at the Maspeth library at 2:30.

SPRING FLOWER SHOW Tu e s d a y, M a y 1 7 2-4 Douglaston Garden Club will present a flower show “Gardening Pleasures” at the C o m m u n i t y C h u rc h o f Douglaston, 39-50 Douglaston Parkway. Free.

BROADWAY TO PARIS

Thursday, May 19 From Broadway to Paris with Phyllis Lynd and Sean Mahony at 6 at the Woodside library.

PENNY SOCIAL Friday, May 20 at the Queensboro Hill Community Church, 138 th Street and 60 th Avenue, Flushing at 7. $3 includes cake, coffee and 25 tickets.

TAP EXTRAVAGANZA Friday, May 20 at 8 at Flushi n g Tow n H a l l . 4 6 3 - 7 7 0 0 , ext. 222.

RAKONTO Saturday, May 21 Daniel Kelly and Friend perform jazz at Flushing Town Hall.

463-7700, ext. 222.

ASTORIA HISTORICAL Saturday, May 21 History Round Table to honor and salute veterans at 1. $5.

Greater Astoria Historical Societ y, 35-20 Broadway, 4 t h floor. 278-0700.

REGINA CARTER Saturday, May 21 Regina Carter’s “Reverse Thread” at 8 at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0064.

TEA Saturday, May 21 Nativit y Columbiettes Tea at noon.

835-6853, $10.

SYMPHONY 101 Saturday, May 21 Shake, Rattle and Roll for the family at the Lefferts library at 1 and at the Bayside library at 3.

SWEET CYANIDE Saturday, May 21 premiere rock band at the Flushing library at 2.

BIG BAND Saturday, May 21 Stan Auld performs at the Forest Hills library at 2.

BLUES Saturday, May 21 Jumpin’, Jivin’ and Croonin’ the Blues with Eddie Lee Isaacs at 2:30 Langston Hughes library.

EMS CELEBRATION Saturday, May 21 the Little Neck Douglaston Community Ambulance Corps 11-4 at 42-18 Marathon Parkway, Little Neck.

ART SHOW Saturday and Sunday, May 21, 22 10-5 the Jackson Heights Art Club’s 56 th Annual Members Show at the Parish House, St. Mark’s Church, 33-50 82 nd Street.

Awards ceremony Saturday night 7-10.

SARI GRUBER Sunday, May 22 Sari Gruber performs at LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College. $36. 793-8080.

STAMP SHOW Sundays, May 22, June 26 Bayside Stamp Show at the Ramada Inn in Bayside. 104:30. Free.

ABSOLUTELY ANNA Sunday, May 22 Anna Berger one-woman show at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center. $20. 428-6363.

JAZZ & WINE Sunday, May 22 the Bayside Historical Societ y will offer a concert of jazz with wine and cheese at 2 at Fort Totten. $20. 352-1548.

BEETHOVEN Sunday, May 22 Oratorio Societ y of Queens performs at Queensborough Community College at 4. $25. 2793006.

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

GRAFFITI CLEANUP Saturday, May 14 at 10 at the corner of 49 th Street and Skillman Avenue, Sunnyside. Rain date May 21st . 646-298-8669.

MAKE A SOLAR PANEL Saturday, May 14 at Alley Pond Environmental Center.

229-4000 for fees and details.

SPRING BIRD WALKS Sundays, May 15, June 19 with Alley Pond Environmental Center. $5 members, $7 others. 229-4000.

TREE CARE Saturday, May 21 free tree care workshop at the Central library 2-4.

EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS

People Five LaGuardia Community College students have received highly coveted Spring Caucus CUNY Scholarships that place them in internships with New York State legislators who are members in the New York State Legislative Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. The LaGuardia scholars were the only community college students selected to participate in this competitive program.

Gloria Colon, a Business Administration major is interning at the office of NY State Assembly Member Marcos Crespo; Harmonie Kobanghe, majoring in Liberal Arts, is interning with NY State Senator Malcolm Smith; Yo Sep Lee, an International Studies major, is interning with NY State Assembly Member Grace Meng; Alejandro Madi and Kevin Magana, Liberal Arts majors, have been placed in the offices of NY State Assembly Member Francisco Moya and NY State Senator Jose Peralta, respectively.

The Caucus CUNY Scholars Program, through the Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public Affairs, is an academically rigorous internship for students considering careers in public service, and who are interested in the service of the New York State Legislature. Eligible students must have a 3.0 GPA, and must submit faculty recommendations, a written application and an official college transcript.

“Our students are ensured a high-impact learning experience,” said Professor Marie T. Hanlon of LaGuardia’s Coop-

erative Education Department, “and the opportunity to have an insider’s view on the day-to-day activities of political leaders in our city.”

The program allows students to learn about the work performed by the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, as well as the services provided by the New York State Legislature to communities of need in the City of New York.

Several local residents are scheduled to complete their baccalaureate studies in May at SUNY Oswego.

The following local residents (with their academic major in parentheses) are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremonies: Tiffany M. Chiu of Floral Park (business administration, cum laude); Laura A. Pu of Flushing (history); Antonio J. Troina of Oakland Gardens (biology); Gal Dvir of Flushing (global and international studies); Giovanni Cano of East Elmhurst (history); Chanel J. Grullon of East Elmhurst (public relations); Elizabeth Reytblat of Jackson Heights (human development, cum laude); Anant K. Rangan of Rego Park (political science, cum laude); James W. Jin of Glendale (finance); Phillip A. Bazemore of Laurelton (political science); Darius L. Wigfall of Springfield Garden (marketing); Lucila A. Rengifo of Kew Gardens (psychology); Onpui Wong of Woodhaven (business administration); Alicia E. Grant of Jamaica (secondary education); and Kevin G. Leonard of

Rockaway Park (English, cum laude).

Students who graduate with honors are indicated by the traditional Latin phrases summa cum laude, with highest honor (grade averages of 3.8 to 4.0); magna cum laude, with great honor (grade averages of 3.6 to 3.79); and cum laude, with honor (grade averages of 3.30 to 3.59).

The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning instant game ticket from April 17-23, and received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more. The past week’s winners include: Adria Grizzell of Flushing who won $25,000 on the $3,000,000 Richer instant game. Grizzell’s winning ticket was purchased at the Barakth & Saiful at 159165 Church St. in Manhattan.

Maxine Wilson of Queens Village who won $10,000 on the Money Ball Bingo instant game. Wilson’s winning ticket was purchased at the Mt. Vernon Citgo Mart at 422 Gramatan Ave. in Mount Vernon.

The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings April 17-23. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more.

Frances Gately of Middle Village who won $48,936 on the Take Five drawing of April 15. Gately’s winning ticket was purchased at the Family Vending at 26 Federal Plaza in New York.

Barbara Michaels of Astoria who won $250,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Feb. 25. Michaels’s winning ticket was purchased at the Kapil at 29-20 Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria.

Walter McNeil of Jamaica who won $12,922 on the Take Five drawing of April 11. Mcneil’s winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven at 219-17 Hillside Ave. in Queens Village.

Thierry Lamarre of Jamaica who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of April 15. Lamarre’s winning ticket was purchased at the Webster Super Grocery at 2280 Webster Ave. in Bronx.

Pawan Neupane of Long Island City who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of April 19. Neupane’s winning ticket was purchased at the Liu & Chang at 51-03 Skillman Ave. in Woodside.

Army Pvt. Ashley F. Matos 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.

She is the niece of Mjones Medina of Woodhaven, and daughter of Rauleto Matos of Jamaica.

CLASSIFIEDS Psychic

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Classified Deadline: Monday Before 5 P.M. Unless Otherwise Specified

Press Policy: All advertisers are responsible to give correct advertising as it will appear. The South East Queens Press will assume no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject or reclassify any ad. All ads are prepaid! NO REFUNDS, FUTURE AD CREDIT ONLY. Ads ordered to run more than one week as part of a consecutive week rate may be cancelled after the first week but no refund will be issued!

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May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Hub Zone Businesses needed for services and supplies to include but not limited to office supplies, maintenance supplies, clothing and linens.

Please send catalogs and qualifications to ameister@geogroup.com or mail to Queens Private Detention Facility 182-22 150th Avenue, Jamaica NY 11413

Models Of Queens

Stephanie Napolitano Home: Kew Gardens Age: 31 Height: 5’ 7" Weight: 129 lbs Stats: 35-28-36

Turtle, of “Entourage,” will seek to bring a Queens classic to Hollywood.

Art Imitates Life

Stephanie’s Ink Stephanie’s not really a model, but she sure does enjoy having her picture taken. Many of her shots were taken at a recent tattoo convention in Philadelphia, and Stephanie has, for some time now, enjoyed being in front of the lens to show off her ink.

That may be due, in part, to the fact that in her regular day job as a psychiatric research assistant, she usually has to keep her tattoos covered and the septum piercing turned up. Outside of work, though, she’s happy to let her true

nature show.

“I’m actually not ‘officially’ a model,” she said. “I’ve done some work for art exhibits, and I did a few shoots sort of as stuff comes along. It’s definitely not a fulltime gig for me.”

Though she keeps covered during the day, “it’s definitely part of who I am,” she said. “I’m not shy about having [my tattoos].

I just don’t show it off at work.”

A native of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Stephanie moved to Kew Gardens in the fall of 2009,

and loves it in our booming borough. Living not far from the Austin Ale House, Stephanie is able to pop in a couple of times a week.

“When I go it’s pretty late, and we have a great time,” she said.

Steph is currently going to school for her second master’s degree, this time in mental health counseling.

In her spare time, she owes her great bod to the decade of martial arts training, most recently studying Mixed Martial Arts at Tiger Schulmann.

Don Peppe’s, the South Ozone Park eatery notorious for being the dining room for the mob and for filling the air along Lefferts Boulevard with the smell of Fra Diavolo since 1968, is expanding.

The restaurant, where mobsters once ate and were even banned from eating there by probation officers, would like to expand to Manhattan, perhaps with a place on the West Side, owner, John De Luca, told the New York Post.

But reality isn’t the only place where Don Peppe’s expanding.

Saw To Web

Giving Chris Guff Anyone giving gruff to a Queensite is an enemy of ours, especially if the offending party is from Brooklyn.

So imagine our disgust to learn Harvey Keitel ribbed Astoria native Christopher Walken for his lack of military service.

Keitel, a Brooklyn native, and Scott Glenn recently shared a bromance moment at a Tribeca Film Festival gala, bonding over their service as Marines.

“Hey, Walken, were you in the Marines?” Keitel reportedly asked.

“I was, but no one believes me,” Walken sheepishly responded.

We’re not sure why Keitel felt the need to call out Walken – who actually has not served in the military in any capacity. But all of the macho posturing is not going to outdo Walken’s turn in Pulp Fiction – or make Keitel’s any more memorable.

Keitel, you’re on notice. Don’t let us catch you at Kaufman studios anytime soon.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 13-19, 2011

Stick To The Runway It seems Miss USA is not tough enough.

The reigning Miss USA Rima Fakih was a contestant on WWE’s “Tough Enough.” After being body slammed and thrown around like a rag doll by former wrestler and trainer Bill Demott, the former Queens resident was shown the door a week ago. She had been up for elimination three previous times, but her charm kept her at the “Tough Enough” facility.

We won’t deny that she looks hot in bikini, but to make it in the wrestling world, you have to be able to do a somersault. Rima seemed to have trouble just running from one side of the ring to the next. Maybe she should stick to pageantry.

But Tribbie favorite former Model of Queens Reby Sky continues to shine in and out of the squared circle.

We prefer her in the tiara, not in the ring.

Christopher Walken may not have been a soldier, but he has played on many times, including here in “Pulp Fiction.”

Don Peppe’s is becoming Queens’ newest TV star.

Doug Ellin, the executive producer “Entourage” says that the character of Turtle, a Queens native himself, will try to open a Hollywood franchise of Don Peppe’s with a number of sports names as co-investors, in the show’s final season this year. The storyline will feature a parade of New York sports stars.

No word if any mob bosses are banned from the fake Don Peppe’s too.

The Saw Lady, Natalia Paruz plays next to her poster-sized QR Code.

Confidentially, New York . . .

It seems that everybody is getting in on the QR code buzz.

The box codes are growing in popularity as handheld mobile devices now have reader apps that allow anybody with an even mildly smart phone to scan a code and be brought to a Web page.

Astoria’s Natalia Paruz, better known to her fans as “The Saw Lady,” has been a musical saw performer in the subway for years.

She recently printed out a QR Code that, if scanned, leads smart phone users to a link where they can download a free mp3 of her music.

Paruz, who was the first subway performer with a Web site and the first with a blog now says that she’s the first to use a QR code, and expects many more to follow her idea.

But the Trib was there first printing our Web sites QR Code on this page.

I Got You

Trib cartoonist Dom Nunziato, never known for his good taste or political correctness, is marketing one of his recent works online at: http://www.cafepress.com/ IGotcha. The cartoon that didn't make the Trib features Uncle Sam with foot on a slain Osama Bin Laden and is available on a wide variety of t-shirts or mugs.

What’s Up SATURDAY, MAY 14 Walkers for Wellness Club Looking for a fun way to improve your health? Join the Walkers for Wellness Club at New Hope Lutheran Church of Jamaica. Under the guidance of a Walking Leader, you will walk two to three times each week at a comfortable pace with others along routes throughout Southeast Queens. The club is open to walkers of all ages and abilities. The walking schedule is Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Walkers meet at New Hope Lutheran Church, located at 167-24 118th Ave. T-shirts and pedometers will be provided. Contact Thurkessa Brown at (917) 553-1089 for more information.

York Summer Jazz Program The York College Summer Jazz Program ’11 will hold auditions on Saturdays, May 14 at 9 a.m. in the York College Performing Arts Center. Students must be public high school sophomores and juniors in good standing, be able to read music, and have their own instrument. Big Band instrumentation will be given priority (alto/tenor/bari saxes, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums/percussion). Students need to prepare a solo piece of any genre and be prepared to sight read. No previous jazz experience necessary.

A Tribute to Mae Jemison The Black Spectrum Theatre Company is pleased to announce the return of the celebrated “A Tribute to Mae Jemison”.

An African-American physician and NASA astronaut, Dr. Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel in space. For tickets and info, call (718) 7231800. Tickets are available online at www.blackspectrum.com.This event will be held at the Black Spectrum Theatre, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Foreclosure Prevention and Education

Baisley Pond Canoeing The Baisley Pond Park Coalition and the Long Island City Community Boathouse cordially invite you to the opening of the Baisley Pond Park Canoeing Program. Please RSVP by May 10. To RSVP, call Ms. Brown at (347) 898-3133 or (718) 341-0541, Mr. Griver at (347) 277-9999, Ms. Owens at (888) 434-5303, Ms. Watt at (718) 659-8202, or Ms. Dryer at (917) 833-7450.This free event will take place at Baisley Pond Park - 155th Street at 124th Avenue – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Masters of Tango and Argentine Folklore Enjoy folk music from South America

PS/IS 270 Spring Bazaar Come out to PS/IZ 270 for its spring bazaar, where vendors will sell affordable jewelry, clothing and delicious Jamaican cuisine. Email psis270pta@gmail.com for more information.

This free event will take place at 233-15 Merrick Blvd. at 11 a.m.

Family Fun Day Affinity Health Plan, in partnership with Councilman Leroy Comrie, is hosting Family Fun Day, as it also celebrates 25 years of serving the community. This free celebration will take place at St. Albans Park in Jamaica, Queens. The event will feature amusement rides, coloring contests, music and an appearance by Rex, Affinity’s mascot. Additionally, Healthplex, a major dental program vendor, will be on site to give out toothbrushes and provide free dental screenings for children. There will also be an appearance by the New York Knicks Groove Truck, which will distribute snacks and prizes.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 Charlie Victor Romeo The York College Theatre ends the 2010 - 2011 academic year in collaboration with The CUNY Aviation Institute at York College presenting the intensely profound, important, and award-winning drama, CVR – Charlie Victor Romeo. A unique and riveting theatrical experience, Charlie Victor Romeo is a live performance documentary derived entirely from the “Black Box” transcripts of six major real-life airline emergencies. For additional information, call (718) 262-5375.

This event will be held at the York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. at 2 p.m. Admission is $7.

Open Mic For Poets Stefanie Lipsey is a 2010 graduate of the MFA program in Creative Writing and Literary Translation. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences and a Bachelors in music, and currently works as a librarian on Long Island.

Lipsey’s poems have been published in several journals and she has been a featured reader and workshop leader in libraries and bookstores throughout New York City and Long Island.

This free event will take place at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.

York Gospel Chorus Celebrating the history of Gospel Quartet Music! Come out and join the York College Gospel Chorus as we celebrate the history of the Gospel Quartet. This music is still heard throughout the country and now for the very first time, we bring this style of music to our campus. For additional information, contact Jonathan Quash at jquash@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-3772.

This free event will take place at the

York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., from 3-6 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 16 Discover Your Career 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 take place at the Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 1 p.m.

York College Barbershop Back by popular demand, the York College May Barbershop is continuing its discussion on the difficulties facing gay, lesbian, and trans-gender youth in our community. Why does the black community treat this as a taboo subject? Come out and let your voice be heard. For additional information, contact Jonathan Quash at jquash@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-3772.

This free event will take place at the York College Academic Core Building Faculty Dining Room AC-2D01 - 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., 5-7 p.m.

Search the Internet to Find a Job The Job Information Center, in collaboration with New York Cares, will help you find the most useful websites when job hunting. You must have basic computer skills.

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

Walkers for Wellness Club Looking for a fun way to improve your health? Join the Walkers for Wellness Club at New Hope Lutheran Church of Jamaica. Under the guidance of a Walking Leader, you will walk two to three times each week at a comfortable pace with others along routes throughout Southeast Queens. The club is open to walkers of all ages and abilities. The walking schedule is Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Walkers meet at New Hope Lutheran Church, located at 167-24 118th Ave. T-shirts and pedometers will be provided. Contact Thurkessa Brown at (917) 553-1089 for more information.

TUESDAY, MAY 17 Camera Club The Southeast Queens Camera Club welcomes photographers, beginners to advanced. Meetings are held the second, third and fourth Tuesday every month at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Family Life Center, 177-01 Baisley Blvd.

Create an Email Account In this single-session workshop, customers will learn how to set up/open their own email account. Pre-registration is required in person at Cyber Center Desk.

Participants must possess basic mouse and keyboarding skills.

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 York Observatory Open Night The York College Observatory is open

to the public every second or third Wednesday of the month - rain or shine - at 8:30 p.m. Gather in room 2E01 and then proceed to the fourth floor terrace off G corridor if it’s clear. For additional information, contact Tim Paglione at paglione@york.cuny.edu or (718) 2622082.

This free event will be held at the York College Academic Core Building (AC 2E01), 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Walkers for Wellness Club Looking for a fun way to improve your health? Join the Walkers for Wellness Club at New Hope Lutheran Church of Jamaica. Under the guidance of a Walking Leader, you will walk two to three times each week at a comfortable pace with others along routes throughout Southeast Queens. The club is open to walkers of all ages and abilities. The walking schedule is Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Walkers meet at New Hope Lutheran Church, located at 167-24 118th Ave. T-shirts and pedometers will be provided. Contact Thurkessa Brown at (917) 553-1089 for more information.

Google Tips & Tricks In this single-session workshop, customers will learn how to: use Google Maps; create and share documents online; organize your medical records all in one place; design your home page with iGoogle; and much more. Pre-registration is required in person at the Cyber Center Desk. Participants must possess basic mouse and keyboarding skills.

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

A Tribute to Mae Jemison See Saturday’s listing. At 10:30 a.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 19 Job Info 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 7 p.m.

A Tribute to Mae Jemison See Saturday’s listing. At 10:30 a.m.

Memorial Remembrance Luncheon State Sen. Shirley L. Huntley and the South Jamaica Houses Senior Center are pleased to present a pre-memorial day luncheon. A New York State Recognition Certificate for a member of your family who served in any War or Conflict will be awarded. For more information, please contact Christine at (718) 5233069.

This free event will take place at JSPOA South Jamaica Senior Center, 107-60 159th St., at 4 p.m.

May 13-19, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

The Greater Allen Development Corp., in connection with the Greater Allen AME Cathedral Financial Ministry and Queens Legal Services of Jamaica, are pleased to present a two-day workshop – Know Your Options: Foreclosure Prevention and Education.

Register online at secureallencathedral.org/allen/know.htm This free event will take place at Allen Christian School - 171-10 Linden Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

and experience the passion, beauty and intensity of the Argentine tango.

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