Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 14 Issue No. 20 May 17-23, 2013

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

DÉJÀ VU

Months after defeating a proposal for a hot sheet motel across from Springfield Gardens High School, the community comes together again to battle a potential liquor store at the same location.

By Natalia Kozikowska … Page 3.

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

News Briefs Comrie Announces New Traffic Light

On Thursday, May 16, Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-Jamaica) was joined by Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), the Queens Borough Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Dalila Hall, and residents of southeast Queens to celebrate the installation of a new traffic light in Cambria Heights.

In March, Comrie and his colleagues in the Council passed Resolution 916 calling for the State legislature to pass Assembly bill A04327, which would allow the City to create a pilot program for speed cameras.

In addition, Comrie introduced legislation requiring the NYPD to report to the City Council (on an annual basis), hit and run incidents that result in a fatality or severe injury with a description of all actions that were taken to determine who was responsible.

The Councilman also introduced a resolution calling for the NYPD to include the mandatory collection of video surveillance from cameras within the vicinity of a hit-and-run accident that results in a fatality or severe injury.

Comrie is a prime sponsor of two resolutions that have already been introduced in the City Council. Resolution 1677 calls on the State legislature to pass legislation that will allow New York City to install and operate red light cameras in more than 150 intersections.

Resolution 1721 calls on the State legislature to create a tax credit for property owners who install surveillance cameras on their property.

‘Sweetheart Swindler’ Sentenced

On Wednesday, May 15, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced that a 26-year-old Hollis woman was sentenced to a consecutive term of one to three years in prison for jumping bail shortly after pleading guilty in March 2007 to stealing an 85-year-old man’s life savings.

In May 2007, the defendant, Natasha Munchkin Marks, was sentenced in absentia to two to six years in prison on the larceny charges. She was arrested last month in Oklahoma after Queens District Attorney investigators alerted local authorities there that she was in the area.

“There is truth to the saying that ‘justice is patient,’ – as which this case can attest,” said Brown in a statement. “Sentenced in absentia to two to six years in prison back in 2007 after admitting to having befriended an elderly man and scamming him out

of his life savings and then fleeing, this sweetheart swindler commenced serving her original prison sentence last month and will now serve additional years for jumping bail.”

On March 1, 2007, Marks had pleaded guilty to second- and thirddegree grand larceny as a hate crime and agreed to make $150,000 in restitution to the victim. She also signed a waiver of extradition as a condition of her guilty plea. But on March 29, 2007, Marks failed to make partial restitution as promised and failed to appear for a court appearance.arrest. On May 3, 2007, Marks was sentenced in absentia to two to six years in prison.

According to the charges, an investigation began on Sept. 15, 2006, when a family member and a neighbor of the 85-year-old victim reported to authorities that the man was being financially exploited by a woman known only as “Sandy.”

In interviewing the victim, the District Attorney’s Elder Fraud Unit learned that the defendant had befriended him in a supermarket and that during conversations in person and on the telephone, she told him numerous hard luck tales.

Marks had requested 85-year-old Louis Bruno to provide her with hundreds of thousands of dollars for various expenses – such as hospital bills, doctor bills, start-up money for a business and for investments.

As part of her scheme, Marks had instructed the victim how to write the checks and had obtained numerous checks payable to one of her aliases, “Crystal Smith.” Marks told the victim that “Crystal” was a friend who would cash the checks which totaled $164,000.

Cumulatively, Marks stole more than $800,000 from Bruno.

Memorial Day Parade Announced

Laurelton will hold its 24th annual Memorial Day Parade on May 27. The parade will start at the intersection of Francis Lewis and Merrick boulevards at 9 a.m. It will end at the Laurelton Veterans Memorial Triangle at 225th Street and North Conduit Avenue.

Elected officials, civic leaders, veterans groups, school officials, local clergy, scout troops and youth groups will participate.

The parade is sponsored by The Laurelton Lions Club, The Garden Club of Laurelton, the Concerned Citizens of Laurelton, Benjamin Moore American Legion Post 1946, the Federated Blocks of Laurelton and Colonel Edward O. Gourdin Post 5298 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. For information, call Fritz Casimir at (718) 496-5013.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Presstime

Electeds Protest Liquor Store Opening Just months after community residents declared victory against a proposed hot sheet motel across the street from Springfield Gardens High School, they have found themselves protesting yet again – this time against a proposed liquor store at the same location.

In an effort to block the approval of a liquor license, applied for by a man by the name of Tarsem Singh, State Sen. James Sanders (D-Jamaica), Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), Community Board 13 district manager Lawrence McClean and more than a dozen frustrated locals and students gathered at the site last Friday afternoon to protest.

“At this very spot not long ago there was a community fight. A guy came up and said he wanted to put a hot sheet motel 75 feet from our school,” Sanders said. “Lo and behold, we started to hear what type of stores were coming to the mall and learned they want to put a liquor store here.”

“Do we want a liquor store here?,” the Senator asked. “No!,” shouted the protestors in unison.

According to the regulations of the Alcohol Beverage Control, a liquor

been contacted about the apstore may not be opened plication for the liquor license within 200 feet of a school – a standard procedure for and the proposed location. business owners looking to According to Frank Joopen a liquor store in the comseph, a community liaison munity. for Richards, the distance Richards has also tried to set from curb to curb is approxup a meeting with the owner. imately 75 feet.

He claimed that Singh never “Even if you were to put got back to him to schedule a the liquor store at the back meeting but he has voiced the end of the mall from the community’s concerns to him. curb, it is about 170 feet and “I’ve been trying to reach still less than 200 feet, so Last week, State Sen. James Sanders and Councilman already it doesn’t meet the Donovan Richards held a protest against a proposed him,” Richards said. “They ordinance,” Joseph said. liquor store across from Springfield Gardens High signed the lease not realizing that we would be against it. If The calculations, howev- School. the owner wants to drop this er, are subjective, which is why Richards is concerned the liquor there. It’s right in front of their bus plan, he has no problem dropping it. stop,” he said.

The problem is they signed the lease license may be approved.

In addition to its close proximity already.”

“We want to see how they [the Although Richards said he has SLA] measure because sometimes to Springfield Gardens High School, their measurements are not our mea- CB13 members expressed frustration very little faith in the SLA, he is hopeful that the community can stand tosurements,” Richards said. “They for the lack of notice.

“We’re especially upset because as gether and block the approval. may count the door instead of the a community board, we were not no“We work with them on issues for sidewalk.”

Richards, along with many mem- tified of the application.,” said Mc- years and they continuously still apbers of the community, expressed Clean. “We were in the fight to not prove licenses when the community concern about the site’s close prox- have a hotel here because we do not is so against it,” he said. “Still, I am imity to the school and its possible want our young people negatively in- hoping that when the community fluenced. Putting a liquor store there comes together, we can accomplish negative consequences. the impossible.”

“We don’t need to put vices in is the same thing.”

Since the application has been Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowstheir face. We already have too many with cigarettes, with marijuana and placed, CB13 has written a letter to ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or all these other vices that are out notify the SLA that they have not nkozikowska@queenspress.com.

Photo by Ira Cohen

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

Peralta ‘Surprised’ At Wiretap Inclusion

By NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA In light of the news that he was among one of nine individuals secretly wiretapped by disgraced ex-Senator Shirley Huntley, State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) expressed shock at the reports.

“I was as surprised as anyone to know that my name was on this list,” Peralta said. “I immediately reached out to my attorneys because I knew there was no wrongdoing in this situation. No authorities have reached out to me.”

Last Wednesday, Judge Jack Weinstein unsealed the document containing the names of six elected officials and two political insiders who were wiretapped.

Queens representatives Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and State Sen. Malcolm Smith (DJamaica) were named, along with State Senators Ruth Hassel-Thompson (D-Bronx), Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn), Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) and John Sampson (D-Brooklyn).

The former political consultant

and associate to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Melvin Lowe, and former press advisor to Smith, Curtis Taylor, were also secretly recorded.

According to the unsealed document, between June and August of 2012, Huntley, while acting at the direction of the government, recorded meetings with the nine individuals.

Recordings of four of the elected officials, as well as the two staffers did not yield any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Although Peralta said he can not go into details about the conversation he had with Huntley, he is confident that he is one of the four elected officials who were innocent.

“I’m working hard to provide a better quality of life for my constituents,” he said. “Whatever I’ve been doing, I’ve been trying to do it as honestly and transparent as possible and it’s a shame that this happened but we need to move forward.”

Unlike many of the other elected officials on the list, Peralta said he had no previous significant relationship with Huntley and was surprised

to hear from her last summer.

“It was a little bit [strange],” he said. “While I can’t go into detail, I know there was nothing, absolutely nothing that was said on my behalf that was wrong or criminal.”

Since the list has been released, reports have surfaced that the Senator, a Queens Borough President candidate, has paid $31,000 in legal fees since the end of 2011 to Stroock Stroock & Lavan, a New York City law firm.

The fees, Peralta said, were not in any way related to Huntley’s secret recordings of him.

“My election attorney is Jerry Goldfeder – one of the premiere election attorneys in the State,” he said.

“He works for Stroock and Stroock.

They’re expensive, but it’s strictly only been for campaign related expenses and general election consulting.”

Since the arrest of Smith and the conviction of Huntley, some elected officials, like State Sen. James Sanders (D-Jamaica), have explored the possibility that authorities are trying to target minority leaders. Peralta,

however, is not convinced that this is the case.

“If you go back in history, whether its Republican or Democrat – bad apples are bad apples and there is no label on them and it’s an unfortunate thing that this is happening currently, but I just don’t see that there is a conspiracy out there,” he said.

Despite his rough week, Peralta said he is looking forward to moving on and focusing on his campaign for borough president.

“I think it’s a minor setback but I’m going back out to the community and think that people realize the type of individual I am,” he said. “It’s a minor setback, but we’re ready to move forward.”

If elected, Peralta said he hopes to bring new legislative issues to the forefront that may have been previously neglected.

“I hope to work with my colleagues to introduce and push legislation that is going to be positive for the Borough, he said.”

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com.

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

Group Seeks To Expand IC Facility

During Wednesday night’s Community Board 12 meeting, the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State revealed a proposal to construct a two family-style home for eight young adults suffering from Cerebral Palsy, a condition that causes physical disability.

The proposed site, located at the corner of 110th Avenue and 164th Street in Jamaica, is currently owned by the CPA of NYS. The group has been operating a 15-people Intermediate Care Facility since the 1990s and is now looking to utilize the unused portion of property.

“We have the funds and the opportunity to provide two new homes for people with developmental disabilities and severe medical challenges,” said Joseph Pancari, executive vice president of CPA. All eight individuals are currently attending residential schools outside of the City and have families that live within the five boroughs. The proposed home, Pancari said, will give these young adults the opportunity to be close to their families again.

Pancari also noted that construct-

Photo by Natalia Kozikowska

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

developed and there will be lighting, it will discourage any of that dumping in the future,” he added.

CPA also noted that as part of their proposed development, they will construct a driveway to ensure employees are not crowding street parking.

“We know parking is sometimes a concern and we wanted to make sure that we kept parking off the street as much as possible so each of the homes will have their own driveway so that the staff who work there will not be The Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State are proposing to construct a two family- parking on the street,” Pancari said. style home for patients If approved, the homes will be open in June 2014 Last month, when CPA cleaned and will construct 15 jobs in which ing the new two-family home will help up the area, they removed 50-70 au- residents of southeast Queens will target illegal dumping in the area.

“The area is currently underdevel- tomobile tires and close to 35 bags of have priority. oped – there’s no sidewalk and its garbage from the site.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikows“Once there is development ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or an area where there is a lot of dumpon the site and a sidewalk will be nkozikowska@queenspress.com. ing,” he said.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Saujani Discusses Public Advocate Bid During the PRESS of Southeast Queens’ series of sit-downs with candidates running for elected office, Reshma Saujani joined the PRESS editorial staff to discuss various issues surrounding her campaign for Public Advocate.

Saujani, former Deputy Public Advocate for Bill de Blasio, launched her campaign in April with a kick-off event in Flushing. She is one of several Democratic candidates contesting to be first-in-line to succeed de Blasio.

A graduate of Yale Law School and founder of Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization that works to bridge the gender gap in STEM studies, Saujani vows to create opportunities for girls, women, children and immigrants.

One of the many topics discussed,was the misconstrued role of the Public Advocate office.

“The office has seen a lot of budget cuts and it has taken the character of who represents it, but being that I was Deputy Public Advocate, I see the office as a place in government that can speak out for the most vulnerable in our City,” Saujani said.

and to get things “I see it as being the done, but Saujani watchdog, who is thinking about the replied by saying, policies and issues “I believe when you have innovativeness that affect those communities.” and creativity in the She continued to office, we won’t need explain her efforts as to depend on govDeputy Public Advoernment to tackle issues.” cate by building the Saujani is an adDream Fellowship program after the Valvocate of computer lone Scholarship was science education and career technical cut by the City Council, which helped well- Public Advocate candidate schools. She said she deserving immigrants Reshma Saujani discusses is capable of getting go to college on a her campaign. resources for underprivileged students, scholarship.

“As Deputy Public such as used computAdvocate, I created a survey and an ers, without being pushed aside by analysis of immigrant entrepreneurs the Dept. of Education or the Maybecause there was no data that tells us or’s office.

Of her long record in technology, what these businesses need and how we can help them,” Saujani said. “We Saujani said, “I consider myself the found that many of these small immi- tech candidate for the City and pushgrant-run businesses don’t have a web- ing innovation. I want to build on the site, so from our report, it forced New work I did as Deputy Public Advocate York City Economic Development and close the technology access gap Corporation to react and help provide and help women entrepreneurs.”

On the topic of affordable housing, them with extra resources.”

Since the Public Advocate office Saujani said, “We need to put corpohas no line of authority over any City rate lawyers across the City that have a agencies, it is hard to execute policy pro bono requirement to work and crePhoto by Luis Gronda

By TRiShA SAkhujA

ate an army of lawyers that can protect tenants being abused by landlords.”

Regarding Saujani’s prior work on Wall Street as a lawyer, she said she does not need to apologize for working within the financial services sector because she needed to pay for her graduate school loans and send money back home, but her mission in life is to work in public service.

Saujani says being a South Asian can only help her campaign because the South Asian community is finally gaining a political voice. She is running to be the first South Asian woman elected to City office.

Saujani said she distinguishes herself from the rest of the candidates by having executive experience in the office and by running a very tech savvy campaign.

“I want to take it one step further by not only issuing reports and ideas, but also create pilot programs to see results,” she said. “For example, after issuing the Immigrant Entrepreneurship report, we wanted to take about 60 businesses, study them, ask them what they need, look at their budgets and actually provide them with help.”

Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, or at tsakhuja@queenstribune.com.

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

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

Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Mayor Mike Bloomberg certainly has a way about him. From the very beginning of the discussions to bring a soccer stadium to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the Mayor has alienated a large segment of Queens residents with his plans to alienate a large segment of Queens parkland.

And with each new announcement, the Mayor’s gung ho approach to get this stadium built continues to appall.

The introduction of Shiekh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a potential team owner was bad enough for some people. Then, on Monday, Mr. Mayor seemingly arbitrarily decided that any parkland taken from Flushing Meadows Corona Park could and should be replaced at the vacant Flushing Airport.

No discussions have been held, no negotiations have been made public and it seems as if no one in Queens has been contacted to discuss these plans.

Perhaps Mayor Bloomberg should just announce that process be damned, we’re doing things his way. At least then Queens residents would have an honest idea of what is actually going on.

Shiek Mohamed

Letters

Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Harley Benson Natalia Kozikowska Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Trisha Sakhuja Art Dept:

Rhonda Leefoon Lianne Procanyn Barbara Townsend Alan Goldsher Director of Marketing Maureen Coppola Advertising Administrator Advertising Executives Merlene Carnegie Nicole Douglas Shari Strongin

A Queens Tribune Publication © Copyright 2013 Tribco, LLC

Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller

Honor Memorial Day

To The Editor:

Memorial Day is fast approaching. I hope it will not slip by with the many forgetting the importance of this day. Memorial Day in my book is not just another day off to maybe shop for sales

and backyard barbecuing. In my opinion, Memorial Day is a time to remember all those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

This Memorial Day, I find myself thinking what it means to be an American. The answer is crystal clear, and that is the pride to live in a county

Letters that allows us our personal freedom to express ourselves and speak our minds. These freedoms come with great personal sacrifice for those who leave family, friends and jobs to serve the greater good.

I myself had served during the Vietnam era. Although I never saw combat, I had friends who did and who died serving their country. So, please honor Memorial Day by honoring those who gave their lives for what we all hold most dear.

You can do this by attending parades in your local communities and saluting those who served our country so well. I also ask the many that can to display the flag of our country from homes and businesses. You can also call those veterans you know and tell them thanks for serving and keeping us free from tyranny.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks

IRS Abuse

To The Editor:

The recent revelations of the Obama Administration’s IRS targeting Conservative groups are reminiscent of the tactics used by Nazi Germany

and the Stalinist Soviet Union.

Unfortunately 501(c)(19) Not for Profit Veterans Service Organizations have been experiencing this type of abuse for half a decade.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the IRS increased the difficulty and length of Form 990. They said this was necessary to prevent not-for-profit front organizations from smuggling money to terrorists abroad. This meant that not-for-profit organizations that have $500,000 or more in total assets, or had gross receipts of $200,000 couldn’t use the four page Form 990EZ. They must now complete the longer 12 page document. All under the threat of prosecution if not properly prepared. It’s unconscionable to put the WWII and Korean War leadership of our VSOs under this kind of stress.

I call on U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng to put an end to this draconian requirement. I appeal to their sense of fairness and demonstrated willingness to help veterans in the past.

Marvin R. Jeffcoat, SFC, USA (RET)

Another One Shoots And Walks Away A Free Man A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE It never fails: Police shoot an unarmed Black or Latino youth (or older for that matter) and walk away scot free.

It is a scenario that gets repeated time after time after time in our City. When will it end? The answer to that question seems ominously clear: never!

If “never” seems too final a word to accept in this case, it is. And we should not accept it. We have to keep on fighting for justice for the victims of these fatalities at the hands of officers who believe that their own lives are in danger because they think some young suspect is armed.

Some may well be armed, but so far most of the victims have not been armed. Oh, Amadou Diallo was armed – with a wallet! That is so dangerous they had to shoot him nearly 50 times.

We get it. No officer wants to be shot. We do not want them shot either. They are there to protect us. But citizens also have the right not to be shot dead because an officer thinks he is a suspect and might be armed.

R a m a r l ey G r a h a m , a Bronx youth, was not armed when Officer Richard Haste chased him into his home and shot him dead last June.

According to the victim’s mother, officers then waited 15 minutes before calling an ambulance. The young man’s life might have been saved. Now earlier this week, a judge dismissed charges against the officer who shot the 18 year-old, because prosecutors failed to mention in the filing that other officers had told Officer Haste that they believed Graham to be armed.

Haste was acting on that tip when he shot the young man.

So let me get this straight: The suspect is running away from

the cop and the cop thinks he is armed, but you follow him into his home and you shoot him dead. If you fear for your own life, why the heck are you following him into his home?

I do not think anyone is saying Ramarley Graham was a role model. Far from it; they are saying he was selling drugs on the corner. We do not know that for sure. But if in fact that is what he was doing, then obviously he was breaking the law and it is the police’s duty to arrest anyone they see doing that. Nonetheless, some guy selling a few joints on the corner should not have to end up dead at the hands of the police when he posed no immediate threat to them or anyone else.

There will be protests. In fact, I may even join ‘em. The judge on this case, the Hon. Steven Barrett, expressed regret in advance of announcing his decision. Supposedly his hands were tied based on how the evidence was presented.

All the relevant facts should be heard and somehow they omitted the part where fellow officers told Haste that they believed the suspect was armed and therefore dangerous.

Somebody had hasty fingers. Ms. Graham’s son was shot and left to die right there in her apartment while officers supposedly debated the situation. Now another one walks. Really?!

We are so tired of this mess they need to find new words to say, “tired of this mess.” There has got to be a better way to do policing in this city. Do the cops have to react with deadly force every time? How about using a stun gun once in a while?

The least we can do is not kill our unarmed citizens even if we think they are up to no good. We should have a healthy respect for the power of the badge, but we should not have to fear for our lives because of it.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

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Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

OP-ED

Legislative Crime Wave Or Better Prosecutors?

BY HenrY Stern Is there a crime wave among elected officials in New York State?

That is a question that can reasonably be asked in view of the current spate of indictments, trials and convictions of elected public officials, primarily state legislators. The increasing number of prosecutions, however, is not just today’s news. In the last seven years, 32 state-level officials have been the subject of criminal proceedings. The ratio of defendants to the entire population of the legislature is comparable to street criminality in some neighborhoods.

We ask: Why? Does the field of public service have a particular attraction for white collar criminals?

Or do ordinary men and women, previously presumably honorable, succumb to temptation when substantial public funds are available for them to spend or allocate without their having to carry guns or commit crimes of violence?

Another issue that arises in these cases is the question of just what conduct is criminal. There is a red line defining criminal behavior which some legislators cross; others try to

get as close to the line as they can without crossing it. But calculations as to the exact focus of the line may be erroneous, or simply viewed differently by different prosecutors or judges. The closer one drives to the cliff, they greater the likelihood of slipping off it.

A third area of concern is with the effect of influence. Many people in the larger community get jobs and promotions because of their real or perceived influence in generating business for their prospective employers. Some politicians hire themselves out as lawyers or agents for clients who wish to do business with the government, directly or through subsidiaries or relationships.

United States Senators and Representatives are presumed to represent the economic interests of their district. Their success in this area is considered a measure of their political effectiveness. Seniority is advertised as a reason to re-elect public officials, lest their districts lose the benefit of the influence gained by their lengthy service.

Bribery is not a crime whose boundaries are precise. Although it is usually clear what is bribery and

what is not, there are fact situations in which one party conveys benefits on another which may or may not be criminal. Sometimes the determinations rest on the skills of opposing counsel. An effective and publicly honored District Attorney may be more likely to secure convictions than a weak prosecutor. The data revealing substantially lower conviction rates in Bronx County compared with other counties in NYC indicate that prosecutorial skill is one element in measuring the effectiveness of fighting crime.

Federal courts have higher conviction rates than state or local courts.

This may be because more serious crimes are tried by federal judges, or it may be that federal prosecutors are better trained, more competent and more effective than their local counterparts.

The importance of the position of District Attorney is shown by the fact that in all five boroughs in the City the position is elective, rather than appointive. In the Federal system, the US Attorneys are appointed by the President, usually on the recommendations of the Senators of that state, and are employees of

the Department of Justice. This enables the President to use the Justice Department to achieve his programmatic goals.

Elected officials are expected to devote some of their time and energy to promoting the economic interests of their districts. Campaign contributions are a measure of their success in this area. They also have a role in inducing federal spending in their districts.The question arises as to whether public officials are more corrupt than they were years ago, or whether criminal behavior is now being defined more broadly to include transactions which might in earlier days have been considered unsavory but not criminal.

This is true on Wall Street. Cases involving insider trading, in which one party traded because of his position, has access to information not available to the public. Insider trading can, and occasionally is, punished by prison sentences. If any one person deserves credit for the increased activity of the Federal government in prosecuting white collar crime, it is Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

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May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

Police Blotter 102nd Precinct

Rape Arrest

On May 8, police arrested Travis Wynter, 25, of Ozone Park and charged him with rape in regards to an incident on May 5.

According to police reports, at 5:10 a.m. on May 5, a 20-year-old female victim was given a ride by Wynter in his vehicle. Wynter then parked his vehicle in the vicinity of the location where the victim exited the vehicle and Wynter allegedly exited the vehicle, chased the victim to the corner of the street where he sexually assaulted her.

108th Precinct

Robbery Arrest

On May 10, police arrested Nicolas Almonte, 27, of Long Island City, charging him with five counts of robbery (with firearm), three counts of robbery (motor vehicle), and one count each of attempted robbery (with firearm), attempted robbery (motor vehicle) and unlawful imprisonment.

The charges are in connection to a series of incidents allegedly committed by Almonte on May 9.

Assault

The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the victim and suspect for the following incident described below: On May 10, members of the Central Robbery Queens Transit Squad received a cell phone video that captured an assault on a Queens-bound 7 train. At 1 a.m. on May 5, an unidentified male punched an unidentified victim and exited the train at the 69th Street Station.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, approximately 5-foot-9, 180 lbs., with brown eyes and long black hair pulled back in a pony tail. He was last seen wearing a dark T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by visiting nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to CRIMES (274637) then enter TIPS577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

112th Precinct

Attempted Robbery

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying the following

vehicle accident on the suspect wanted in consouthbound lanes of the nection with an attemptVan Wyck Expressway. ed robbery of a yellow Upon arrival, police decab driver. termined that the victim, At 9:50 p.m. on May identified as Rudolf Wel3, the suspect entered lington, 32, of Brooklyn, the vehicle in the vicinwas operating a 2003 ity of 63rd Drive and Honda CBR motorcycle, 108th Street. The sustravelling southbound on pect demanded money, the Van Wyck, when he displayed a syringe and simulated a gun. The vic- This suspect is wanted in lost control and struck a tim did not comply and regards to an attempted guardrail. EMS respondthe suspect fled the lo- robbery within the con- ed and transported the cation without property. fines of the 112th Pre- victim to Jamaica Hospital, where he was proNo injuries were report- cinct. nounced dead on arrival. ed at this incident.

The suspect is described as a white There were no other reported injuries. male, between the ages of 25-30 with brown hair and a slight beard.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577- Investigation At 3:59 p.m. on May 6, police reTIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by visiting nypd- sponded to a 911 call of an unconcrimestoppers.com or texting their scious male in front of 41-19 30th tips to CRIMES (274637) then enter Ave., Astoria. Upon arrival, officers were informed by EMS that the vicTIPS577. tim, an unidentified Black male in his All calls are strictly confidential.

40s or 50s was found unconscious and unresponsive outside the location. EMS transported the victim to Collision Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was At 11:38 p.m. on May 7, police pronounced dead on arrival. The inresponded to a 911 call of a motor vestigation is ongoing.

114th Precinct

113th Precinct

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

advocacy Groups Protest MLs FMCP stadium Plan

new Parkland?

A few days after the rally, Mayor Michael Bloomberg continued to throw more support behind building the stadium at FMCP. At a press conference in Brook-

Bloomberg floated the idea of creating parkland at the vacant Flushing airport in College Point during a press conference this week. Park advocates argue that the area has suffered from chronic flooding and is too far from Flushing Meadows Corona Park. lyn on May 13, the Mayor said that the City intends to build new parkland at the vacant Flushing Airport.

Bloomberg deflected criticism of removing the parkland at FMCP by noting that his administration has developed a record of creating new parkland throughout the City.

“There’s new parks in every borough. You’re gonna have the biggest new park in a century at Fresh Kills. There’s new parkland up in the Bronx. Every borough is getting new parkland. So total, on balance, there’s an enormous amount of new parkland. But, it’s not the only thing people need. A lot of people want a stadium to enjoy soccer,” Bloomberg said, according to published reports.

The 70-acre former airfield in College Point has been vacant since 1984, after LaGuardia Airport opened. There were plans in 2004 to turn the area into a distribution center for small businesses in the Borough, but that was shot down less than a year later after strong opposition from residents living near the area and then-Councilman Tony Avella.

While still in the planning stages of the new stadium, MLS has declined to comment on specific details of the proposal.

“MLS continues to work closely with the City to bring professional soccer to New York City; however, there is no deal yet and therefore we can’t comment on any specifics,” said MLS Spokeswoman Risa Heller in a statement.

Requests placed to the Mayor’s office seeking further comment were not returned as of press time.

Environmental racism Will Sweeney, a member of the Fairness Coalition of Queens, a

group of civic organizations opposed to building the soccer stadium at FMCP, said that there are several problems with turning Flushing Airport into a park and it raises the question of environmental racism.

“You are taking away parkland from an area that is predominately Hispanic and giving it to an area that is predominately white,” he said.

He added that the airport has suffered from chronic flooding in the past, which served as another reason why the site was shut down in favor of LaGuardia, and is too far from FMCP to be considered replacement green space.

“If you were to try to walk there, it would take you over an hour,” he said. “If they want to replace the parkland, it has to be adjacent to Flushing Meadows Corona Park.”

Javier Valdes, co-executive director of Make the Road New York,

also blasted the proposal to creating replacement parkland at the airport, citing the inaccessibility.

In a statement released earlier this week, Valdes also noted that the airport, located in College Point, is in an area with a higher percentage of white residents than Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which he argued was more accessible to the minority populations in Corona, Flushing, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.

“What the Mayor said is outrageous. His plan to force working class people of color to rent their park away to a billionaire for $1 a year in exchange for parkland in a wealthier, white neighborhood is insulting,” he said. “It’s out of touch and it’s unjust. We are calling on all elected officials in New York City to denounce this.”

Holly Leicht, executive director of New Yorkers 4 Parks, blasted MLS’ plan to build the stadium in an OpEd that ran in the New York Daily News earlier this week and posted on their website.

“Building a stadium on this site will alter not just the site itself, but the nature of the park altogether.

The footprint of the arena would be up to 13 acres, but the directly affected acreage, as defined by MLS’s proposed circulation roads and pathways, would be at least double that.

On game days, tens of thousands of fans traveling from Citi Field parking lots, the Long Island Rail Road and the No. 7 Train would overwhelm the park, exacerbating the already significant maintenance challenges this heavily used public space faces,” Leicht’s statement read in part.

Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127 or at lgronda@queenstribune.com.

Photo by Luis Gronda

A small group of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan to voice their displeasure over the potential soccer stadium at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The protestors, from a few different organizations like Make The Road New York, chanted in English and Spanish “Whose park? Our park!” and “Our park is not for sale!” outside of the United Arab Emirates American embassy on East 47th Street in Manhattan on May 9.

Their reason for choosing the embassy was due to the recent news that Shiek Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE and owner of the Premier League soccer club Manchester City, is interested in owning the Major League Soccer team that would play in Queens if the stadium is built.

Hilary Klein, Strategic Campaigns Director for Make the Road NY, led the rally and said that the City should not let Al Nahyan spend his money on the team and stadium and should instead concentrate its efforts on rebuilding the park itself.

“Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the most important green space for our community,” she said. “If the Shiek can pay with his own money to build a stadium, why is New York City talking about giving away parkland.”

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), who has voiced his disapproval of the project in the past, continued to do so at the rally, calling it “the worst land deal since Peter Minuit bought Manhattan for 24 dollars.”

“There are so many problems with this, beginning with the fact that there was no bidding involved here,” Vallone said. “The Mayor and MLS have come in and decided that this was appropriate without asking the people of Queens.”

Other Community members who spoke out against the proposed stadium included Ed Westley, a Jackson Heights resident and member of Community Board 2, and Farzana Marshed, a member of the Queens Community House.

“Why do they want to do business here? They can develop anywhere,” Marshed said. “We are Queens residents; we have a lot of needs. Why do they want to do business in our park?”

Photo by ira Cohen

By Luis Gronda

opponents of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s proposal to build a soccer stadium at Flushing Meadows Corona Park – and of potential investor shiek Mansour bin Zayed al nahyan – gathered outside of the united arab Emirates american embassy in Manhattan on May 9.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

pix

Dance Night

Photos by Walter Karling

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Members of the Edge School of the Arts, along with teacher Kerri Edge, performed for the Greater Jamaica Development Corp.’s 46th Annual Meeting of the Members on Wednesday night.

During a recent bimonthly meeting of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp., PRESS of Southeast Queens Director of Marketing Alan Goldsher (left), presents a recent issue to members of the Downtown Committee, including (from left) William Martin, committee chairman; Errol Pierre, Health First Health Insurance Exchange; Harry Ghaness and AJ Ghaness of H&N Insurance Agency and Financial Group.

Senior of the Year

State Sen. Malcolm Smith celebrated the recent passing of a resolution honoring Gladys Joyner upon her selection as the New York State Office for the Aging’s Queens County 2013 Senior of the Year.

Queens Taste 2013

Photo by Ira Cohen

Photo by Walter Karling

Paper Presentation

Winners of the Queens Taste 2013 awards gathered during the event Tuesday night at Citi Field. F. Ottomanelli’s and the Pine Restaurant tied for Best Entrée; McClure’s Pickles took Best Appetizer and Take a Break & I’ll Bake took Best Dessert. Pictured below, the staff of Take A Break show of their wares. For more on the event, see a review on page 15.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

Borough Beat

BP Candidates Discuss FMCP Projects

BY JOE MARVILLI

Photo by Joe Marvilli

On May 9, the Holy Civic Association and the Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy joined together to hold a Borough President candidates forum at Flushing Hospital.

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria), State Sen. Jose Peralta (DElmhurst), Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and former deputy BP Barry Grodenchik were on hand to answer questions from a moderator and from the audience.

One of the most passionate topics of the night was the three proposals on the table for the area surrounding and including Flushing Meadows Corona Park: the Major League Soccer Stadium, the United States Tennis Association expansion and the Willets Point development.

Comrie was firmly against both the USTA and MLS pitches.

“I do not believe that we should alienate any parkland at all,” he said.

“As Chair of the Land Use Committee, I will tell you that I’m going to be urging my members if it even gets to us to vote against [MLS].

(From left): Former deputy BP Barry Grodenchik, Councilman Leroy Comrie, State Sen. Jose Peralta and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. met at a Borough President forum at Flushing Hospital to discuss FMCP and other developments.

Grodenchik focused his answer on the MLS stadium, which he was firmly against due to a lack of answers from its Borough Board meeting in December.

“Quite frankly, it was the worst plan I have ever seen come before the Borough Board in my nearly 25 years of attending these meetings,” he said.

Vallone also attacked MLS for its lack of clear answers in where the replacement parkland would be placed.

“The law is they can replace that parkland anywhere in the City. It could be in Staten Island somewhere,” he said.

As for Willets Point, Vallone agreed with Comrie that the project was a mess, saying it was completely different now from the original proposal brought before the City Council.

While Peralta had been supportive of MLS in the past, he had a far more cautious view on Thursday night.

“I think it could have benefited the people of Queens, if they were going to replace parkland, if they were going to invest in the park, if they were going to really repair all the area around the stadium,” he said.

While all candidates at the panel disliked at least one of the FMCP projects, they talked about what business developments they would support in the Borough. One thing they all agreed on is rebuilding and protecting the Rockaways.

Peralta thought that the restaurant business is a great opportunity for economic growth.

Comrie said he would improve transportation and school training if elected, but a big economic powerhouse of Queens is its airports.

Grodenchik said that Queens needs to capture tourists coming into the City.

Vallone touted his experience in building senior housing, saying it was something he would support Borough-wide.

Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, or at jmarvilli@queenstribune.com.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

A&E

The Great Taste Of Queens Queens, known as one of the greatest melting pots in the world, highlighted its diversity once again as dozens of merchants from all around came together at Citi Field for Queens Taste 2013. I immediately grabbed a plate and fork and headed to the closest restaurant stand.

I am a sucker for thinly-sliced cured pork products; there is nothing sexier than seeing a beautiful piece of Serrano ham being hand-carved ever-so-carefully, precisely slicing the delicate meat to the perfect thinness.

For the people at La Rioja, this is a specialty served at their tapas bar located in Astoria. Also located in the same neighborhood is Christos Steakhouse, which served a thinsliced filet, crusted with a wild mush-

room bacon crust, only to be topped off with a slightly melted piece of gorgonzola cheese and a drizzle of their demi glaze to top it off.

As I fluttered around the Caesars club in Citi Field, scouring for that next great dish, I stumbled upon Magna Ristorante, based in Flushing.

Beautifully colorful bruschetta pasta drew me in to their booth, which was unbelievably tasty. It made me believe that pasta should be served with the Italian appetizer usually served on toast or a cracker. The only compliment to the flavor of their pasta was their Pollo Antonio. Soft, tender and lightly marinated, those dishes made me hungry for more.

As I continued my tour, I came upon a crowd and I could only assume I was approaching something delicious. If anything was going to

Woodhaven Film Set To Premiere

By LuIS GROndA Students from a Woodhaven Catholic school are putting together a film about the storied history of the neighborhood.

The movie, titled “Woodhaven: Diverse Backgrounds United in One History,” will premiere on June 10 at 6 p.m. at the Cinemart movie theater on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills. It will feature several interviews with longtime members of the community and focuses on Woodhaven’s diversity and changes throughout the years. It was put together by several students from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Woodhaven.

Patty Eggers, a history teacher at the school, said they first got the idea to do the film after speaking with Ed Wendell, who runs the Woodhaven Historical Society and the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, and coming up with a way to tell the neighborhood’s historic past.

She said that some kids had done video projects in the past and went around asking the students if they would be interested in being a part of this project.

The response to her inquiry was tremendous and a total of 28 kids – all from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades – agreed to take part in creating the film. Eggers said that the responsi-

bility of putting the documentary together is split among the kids, with some of them doing the interviews, others handling the actual filming and some editing the movie.

Eggers said that the students have been working on the film since February and are about 80 percent done with the entire project.

She has taken a hands-off approach to overseeing the project, saying that she is only trying to be the facilitator for the kids and she lets them make all of the decisions as it gets closer to completion.

Wendell, whose organization donated 20 copies of the book “The Story of Woodhaven and Ozone Park” by Vincent Seyfried, which was used as a primary reference guide for the film, said that it is paramount that kids learn about the history of where they live, especially at a young age.

“It gives them a sense of belonging in the community,” he said.

To help the civic group with costs related to the movie, you can log onto projectwoodhaven.com and you can purchase sponsorship options ranging from $25 to $125.

Part of the package for each option includes two tickets to the premiere next month.

Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127 or at lgronda@queenstribune.com.

get a crowd, it would have to be the only two restaurants serving sliders. Though each was completely unique from one another, they both delivered perfection on a bun in their own way.

The Dog & Duck gastro pub, a Sunnyside establishment, lived up to their name with a savory duck slider. The oldest butchers in Queens, F. The hand-carved ham from La Rioja was a favorite Ottomanelli Burgers & during Queens Taste 2013.

Belgian Fries, located in Woodside, delivered a simple yet homemade chocolate-dipped anidevastatingly succulent fresh ground mal crackers, Sara quickly drew my beef slider that was everything you focus away from America’s favorite want a mini burger to be. children’s cracker to another one of Just as I thought I could not eat their treats: a dark chocolate candied anymore, I realized it was dessert jalapeño, sprinkled with a touch of time. I just happened to turn around sea salt. to find Sara Meyer, the owner of LitIn the end, it was a successful tle Bird Chocolates, a Queens-based event as everyone in attendance felt artisanal chocolate company. With a as if they were a winner that night at nice smile and a display of their own Citi Field.

Photo by Ira Cohen

By ERIC JORdAn

Jacob A. Riis Hosts Arts Festival

BY TRISHA SAkHuJA The Queensbridge Community Center, located at Long Island City, was bustling with a diverse crowd celebrating the arts, music and dance performances by the youth of the nearby communities.

The 15th annual Springs Arts Festival, a free event on May 11, was hosted by the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House, a holistic community-based, non-profit organization. It provides services to the youth, families, immigrants and seniors in the western Queens community.

The festival has progressively become the biggest event of the year, which allows community members from Long Island City and greater Western Queens to showcase their artwork and dances, and partake in face painting and arts and crafts.

“We are very proud of the arts festival because it is an opportunity to showcase the artwork created by our youth with the help of The Joan Mitchell Foundation,” said Director of Development and Communications Christopher Hanway.

An assortment of food, including

healthy side dishes and drinks, were served throughout the day.

Colorful prototypes of sneakers made by students were exhibited, along with face sculptures produced by seniors and photography from the Normandeau News.

“The Spring Arts Festival is a great opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the vibrancy of our community,” said Ny-Treasure Bartee, 17, a current Riis AcademyQueensbridge and 2013 Denmark Summer Youth Exchange Program participant said.

The students from the Tech Club at Information Technology High School in Long Island City enjoyed playing games with the youth, displaying how robots function and explaining various parts of the computer to the participants.

“I enjoyed the kung fu performance by the Karate Team the best,” said Sara Tusk, a long-time resident of Queensbridge Houses.

“Over the years the festival and the community have become so multicultural,” Tusk added.

Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, or at tsakhuja@queenstribune.com.

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

Faith

Hollis Church Celebrates Jazz Legacy

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA In an effort to revive the jazz legacy in southeast Queens, the Hollis Presbyterian Church will kick off Black Music Month with a historic panel discussion featuring four legendary jazz artists. Two of the featured musicians will also be holding a concert later that month to help locals reconnect to their neighborhood’s rich jazz culture.

Having attended Hollis Presbyterian Church as a child, Ron West, the organizer of the event, said he wanted to do something to give back to the community. He currently runs a jazz program at the Abyssinian Church in Harlem and wanted to bring that spirit back into his old neighborhood.

“I always had a close attachment to that church,” West said. “What we’re trying to do is help out a couple of local churches and get more involved with cultural activities, like music, to get people to come out from the neighborhood and learn about what the church had to offer.”

Given that southeast Queens is home to legends like Count Basie, Miles Davis and Jaki Byard, holding an event like this is Hollis was a nobrainer.

“I think that people will be able to get a sense of how historic their neighborhood is,” West said. “The fact that Count Baise, Milt Hinton are from around there – they are influences on

music that our parents grew up with.”

The free panel discussion, which will take place at the church on June 7, will feature artists Steve Kroon, a percussionist, Bill Jacobs, a vibraphonist, Onaje Allen Gumbs, a pianist, and George Cables, also a pianist.

“These guys have never come together Legendary jazz musicians George Cables (left), Onaje Allen Gumbs (center), Bill Jacobs like this. Most of the (right) and George Kroon (bottom left) will be kicking off Black Music Month in Hollis. time when they appear, they have a concert but nobody has ever sat them down col- time and will be able make certain come a musician and I was fascinatlectively to talk about this,” West said. connections.” ed that we had these giants around For Kroon, one of the artists us. It was a great time, there was a “This is a historic meeting because when you really kind of understand scheduled for a concert later that great energy.” who they are and who they’ve played month, inspiring the younger generaThe free panel discussion will held tion to explore jazz and make those at the church on June 7 at 7:30 p.m. with, its amazing – the depth.”

Immediately following the panel connections is a priority.

The first concert featuring the “They lived behind a great legacy Steve Kroon Sextet will be held at discussion, Gumbs and Cables will of work. It’s a good way to get a con- the church the following day, June each perform a song on the piano.

The entire experience, West said, versation going with the younger 8, at 7:30 p.m. The second concert, will be able to bring back the audi- generation,” Kroon said. “This was featuring Onaje Allen Gumbs, will be ence of an older generation back to a part of my upbringing and I want held on June 13 at the church. Tickthe jazz era as well as inspire the the younger generation to embrace ets to the concert are $25. younger generation to want to learn jazz and feel the way I do about muFor more information, call the sic.” more about the genre.

Hollis Presbyterian Church at (718) Maintaining the cultural legacy 776-4646.

“Some of them are going to be able to relive some very vivid memo- of southeast Queens, his hometown, The Hollis Presbyterian Church is ries. They are going to be meeting was also important for Kroon. located at 100-50 196th St., Hollis.

“Queens has a history of great mupeople who have played with people Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowsthat they’ve enjoyed for years,” he sicians and legacies,” he said. “They ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or said. “Some of them are going to be influenced me into wanting to be- nkozikowska@queenspress.com hearing the music for the very first

Notebook

Photo by Joe Marvilli

Steve Kroon, a percussionist, hopes to bring back the jazz culture to his hometown in Queens.

Elected officials, Martin Van Buren High School students, teachers, administrators and North Shore-LIJ reps met to sign a contract for a pre-med program at the hospital. The program would begin this September for a select number of students in the 11th and 12th grades. The number of students will depend on how many doctors can participate in the program, as the students will be active assistants.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Profile

South Jamaica Rapper Dreams Big Southside Jamaica is home to several legendary rappers. Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks all have roots stemming from the neighborhood and now another South Jamaica native, Alvin Preyor, a.k.a. Broadway Al, is looking to make his mark in the hip-hop industry.

Preyor began to work on his hip-hop career when he was just a sophomore in high school. Inspired by rappers like Nas and Biggie, he began to take the music industry seriously and began to work on his first mixtape.

“There are two rappers that really got me into rap and it was Nas and Biggie,” Preyor said. “When I first heard Biggie’s album, Ready to Die, I loved the music. I liked it so much I kept listening to it everyday and when I heard Nas’ album, Illmatic, it was the same thing. I was just falling in love with music.”

The reason Biggie and Nas played such a big role in inspiring him, Preyor said, was because their lyrics held

a deeper meaning and a message that he was able to relate to.

“When I listened to the lyrics, I started to see some of the stuff they were talking about that was going on in my neighborhood and my life,” he said. “That’s what got me motivated to do rap and tell my story.”

For years, Preyor has been working on his 14-track mixtape, self-titled ‘Broadway Al,’ and in December of last year, it was finally released.

“What I enjoy most about rapping is just the music. I like the attention.

I just love it all. It breaks down the feeling,” he said. “It is very soulful to me.”

His most memorable experience as a rapper was recording his mixtape in the old studio of Jam Master Jay. “That gave me a lot of inspiration because a lot of people came through this and it was a big moment for me,” he said. “There are a lot of legends in spirit in that building.”

Much like Nas, who often raps about his less-than-perfect childhood growing up in the Queensbridge Houses, Broadway Al said his Southside Jamaica roots play a heavy role

in his perceptions about life and his lyrics.

“Growing up in Southside – it’s not an easy neighborhood. You see a lot and you go through a lot,” he explained. “Growing up there has really changed the way I look at life. I saw a lot of things at a young age and did a lot of things so it shaped me and molded me to who I am today.”

Ten years from now, Broadway Al hopes to Southside Jamaica rapper, Alvin Preyor, aka continue to rap and make Broadway Al, dropped his first mixtape in Dec. a name for himself.

2012.

“I really see music as a career and I really want to do this ‘Broadway Al,’ visit www.soundcloud. and take it into longevity,” he said. com/broadwayal157.

“I’m not doing this to come in and To learn more about Broadway Al just make money. A lot of people and his future upcoming performancthat come into the game make the es, add him on Facebook at www.famoney and disappear and you never cebook.com/broadwayal157 or follow hear from them again. I don’t want to him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ be like that. I just want that longevity broadwayal157. and have people remember me and Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowshave a legacy.” ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or To listen to Pryor’s mixtape, nkozikowska@queenspress.com Photo courtesy of Steven St. Vil

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

Send announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14 Road, Whitestone NY 11357. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina or email to queenstoday@ queenstribune.com Yearly schedules and advanced notices welcome!

ENVIRONMENT POWERING FUTURE Saturday, May 18 Powering Our Future with Solar One. “Energy Efficiency” at the Jackson Heights library at 3.

PLANT PROPAGATION Saturday, May 18 Sunnyside library at 3:30.Also on Monday, May 20 Steinway library at 6:30.

POWERING FUTURE Saturday, May 18 “Wind Power.” Saturday, May 25 “Energy Efficienc y.” Far Rockaway library at 4.

FOOD WASTE DROP Saturdays 1-3 at the Broadway and LIC library.

URBAN CYCLING 101 Monday, May 20 hit the road on two wheels at the Broadway library at 6:30.

SINGLES SPRING FLING Saturday, May 18 9pm1am at the Oakland Little Neck Jewish Center, 4910 Little Neck Parkway. $25 by May 11 or $30 at the door. 224-0404.

FLEA MARKETS THRIFT SHOP Saturdays 12-4 at the Queens Baptist Church, 9 3 - 2 3 2 1 7 th S t r e e t , Queens Village. 4652504.

FLEA MARKET Saturday, May 18 Renaissance Charter School’s flea market at 35-59 81 st Street off 37 th Avenue in Jackson Heights 9-4.

NEIGHBORHOOD FLEA Sunday, May 19 Maspeth Federal Parking Lot, 101-09 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills 103.

YOUTH

TEENS HORROR & MORE See Entertainment listing.

POKE-MY THOLOGY Saturday, May 18 Flushing library at 2.

FAHRENHEIT 451 See Talks CHESS CLUB Saturdays Flushing library at 2.

OPEN MIC Sunday, May 19 Central library at 2.

URBAN COMICS Monday, May 20 North Forest Park library at 3.

POETRY SLAM Monday, May 20 Rock Da Mic Poetry Slam Workshop at 4 at the Central library.

GREEN CRAFTS Monday, May 20 Sunnyside library at 4.

URBAN COMICS Tu e s d ay s , M a y 2 1 , 2 8 Queens Village library at 4.

ORIGAMI Tu e s d a y, May 21 Laurelton library at 4:30.

SISTER TO SISTER Tu e s d a y, May 21 Pomonok library at 4:30.

READING CIRCLE Tu e s d a y, May 21 Arverne library at 5.

SANDY COLLAGE Tuesday s, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Arverne library at 5.

ALL ABOUT US Wednesday, May 22 Queens Village library at 3.

SELF ESTEEM Wednesday, May 22 Broadway library at 4.

BOOK RECYCLING Wednesday, May 22 Central library at 4.

THEATER WORKSHOP Wednesday, May 22 at 4 aDouglaston library.

GREETING CARDS Wednesday, May 22 Flushing library at 4.

BIKE FIX A FLAT Wednesday, May 22 Astoria library at 4:30.

ONLINE TEST PREP Wednesdays, May 22, June 12, 26 LIC library.

Register.

PRE-GED CLASS Thursdays and Fridays until June 28 pre-GED Classes at the Cambria H e i g h t s l i b r a r y. 4 8 0 4300.

CARNIVAL See Entertainment listing.

GREEN CRAFTS Thursdays, May 23, 30, June 6 Broadway library at 4.

FLUSHING ANIME Thursdays, May 23, 30, June 6 Flushing library at 4.

SEWING CLASS Thursdays, May 23, 30

Poppenhusen library at 4.

ROBOTIC WORKSHOP Thursdays, May 23, 30 Ridgewood library at 4.

MANGA CLUB Thursdays, May 23, 30 Corona library at 5.

READING BUDDIES Thursdays, May 23, 30 McGoldrick library at 5.

MANGA DRAWING Thursdays South Ozone Park library at 4.

CHESS CLUB Thursdays Rochdale Village library 4:30.

RECORDING STUDIO Fridays, May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 Recording Studio Workshop: Audio Engineering, Editing and Mixing at 2:45 at the Far Rockaway library.

TEEN MOVIES Fridays, May 24, 31 Central library at 3:30.

HAPPY HOUR Fridays, May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21 Flushing library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, May 24, 31 Fresh Meadows library at 4.

RECYCLED CRAFT Friday, May 24 Jackson Heights library at 4.

ADVISORY BOARD Friday, May 24 Laurelton library. Register.

TEEN ZONE Fridays, May 24, 31 Queens Village library at 4.

SUPERHERO MASK Friday, May 24 Queens Village library at 4.

HIP HOP See Entertainment SKYFALL See Entertainment

PARENTS NEW MOMS Thursday, May 23 Support Group for New Moms in Flushing. 6702920 12-1.

SCRAPBOOKING Fridays, May 24, 31 scrapbooking for preemie parents in Flushing.

670-2920.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CTR Family and child therapy, parent management training and more. 5700500 sliding scale.

KIDS KORNER Weekdays Central Queens YM-YWHA in Forest Hills. For K-6. 2685011, ext. 203.

ANIBIC Association for Neurologically Impaired Brain Injured Children, Inc. sponsors programs for those through adulthood.

423-9550.

WHAT’S THE SOUND? Saturday, May 18 e x plores orchestral instruments at the Ridgewood library at 2.

PICTURE BOOK TIME Saturday, May 18 Ridgewood library at 10:30.

FAMILY STORY TIME Saturday, May 18 Flushing library at 11.

ZUMBA FITNESS Saturdays, May 18, 25 Central library at 2.

CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

MATH HELP Saturdays for grades 48 Flushing library at 10.

SCIENCE LAB Saturdays Central library at 11.

PRESCHOOL STORY M o n d a y , M a y 2 0 Corona library at 2.

SPELLING BEE Monday, May 20 Central library at 3.

URBAN COMICS Monday, May 20 North Forest Park library at 3.

WEATHER STATION Monday, May 20 North Hills library at 3.

FAMILY STORY TIME Monday, May 20 Auburndale library at 4.

WORD GAMES Mondays, May 20, June 3, 10, 17, 24 McGoldrick library at 5.

GAME NIGHTS Mondays, May 20, 27 Richmond Hill library at 5.

CHESS CLUB M o n d a y , M a y 2 0 Corona library at 6.

SCIENCE LAB M o n d a y , M a y 2 0 Corona library at 6.

CRAFTY TUESDAY Tuesday, May 21 Forest Hills library at 3:30.

READ TO A DOG Tu e s d a y, M ay 21 Auburndale librar y. Register.

URBAN COMICS Tu e s d a y s , M ay 2 1 , 2 8 Auburndale librar y. Register.

CHESS Tuesdays, May 21, 18, June 11, 18 Rosedale library at 4.

WORD PROJECT Tuesday, May 21 Central library at 4:30.

ARTS & CRAFTS Tu e s d a y, M ay 21 Woodhaven library at 4:30.

SANDY COLLAGE Tuesdays, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Arverne library at 5.

TWINE TIME Tu e s d ay, M ay 2 1 C o rona library at 5.

MATH GAMES Tu e s d a y, M ay 21

McGoldrick library at 5.

COMPUTERS Tu e s d a y s , M ay 2 1 , 2 8 Ridgewood library. Register.

SCIENCE LAB Tu e s d a y s , M ay 2 1 , 2 8 Corona library at 6.

ECO CRAFTS Wednesdays, May 22, June 5 Sunnyside library at noon.

BUGS AS PETS Wednesday, May 22 Auburndale library at 3:30.

PLAY DOH PART Y Wednesday, May 22 Fresh Meadows library at 3:30.

WORLD STORIES Wednesday, May 22 Ridgewood library at 3:30.

SUPERHERO STORY Wednesday, May 22 Corona library at 4.

MAY CRAFT Wednesday, May 22 Windsor Park library at 4.

READY READERS Wednesday, May 22 Corona library at 5.

CLAY ANIMALS Wednesday, May 22 McGoldrick library. Register.

KNITTING CLUB Wednesdays, May 22, 29 Corona library at 5:30.

TUNEY TOTS Thursday, May 23 South Ozone Park library at 11.

FAMILY STORY TIME Thursday, May 23 Bay Terrace library at 11:30.

CARNIVAL See Entertainment READ TO A DOG Thursdays, May 23, 30 North Hills library at 4.

SEWING CLASS Thursdays, May 23, 30 Poppenhusen library at 4.

TISSUE PAPER ART Thursday, May 23 Richmond Hill library at 4.

CRAFTY FUN Thursday, May 23 Briarwood library at 4:30.

MATH DAY Thursday, May 23 Central library at 4:30.

MANGA CLUB Thursdays, May 23, 30 Corona library at 5.

READING BUDDIES Thursdays, May 23, 30 McGoldrick library at 5.

S TORY T I M E Friday, May 24 Broad Channel library at noon.

MANGA DRAWING Fridays, May 24, 31 Broadway library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, May 24, 31 Fresh Meadows library at 4.

REPTILE EDVENTURE Friday, May 24 Hollis library at 4.

CRAFT Friday, May 24 Middle Village library. Register.

BOARD GAMES Fridays, May 24, 31 Windsor Park library at 4.

MEMORIAL DAY CRAFT Friday, May 24 Central library at 4:30 and McGoldrick at 5.

VIDEO/BOARD GAMES Fridays, May 24, 31, June 7, 21, 28 Rochdale Village library at 4:30.

MUSICAL GAME DAY Friday, May 24 Woodhaven library at 4:30.

PIGEON’S PARTY Saturday, May 25 Central library at 3:30.

HIP HOP See Entertainment

MEETINGS P-FLAG Sundays, May 19, June 16 P - F l a g , a s u p p o r t 5 group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663.

POETRY CLUB Monday, May 20 Auburndale library at 2.

EVENING CRAFTERS Monday, May 20 Fresh Meadows library at 6.

FICTION WRITING Monday, May 20 Hollis library at 6.

AMER. LEGION Tuesdays, May 21, June 18 at 8 the American Legion McKee Post 131 meets at 10-20 Clintonville Street, Whitestone. 767-4323.

BEREAVEMENT Tuesdays, May 21, June 18 B e r e a v e m e n t S u p port Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows at 7:30. 969-2448.

TALK OF THE TOWN Tuesday, May 21 learn the art of public speaking in St. Albans at 7:15. 6407092.

POETRY Tu e s d a y, M ay 2 1 t h e Woodhaven Poetry Societ y at the WRBA Office, 84-20 Jamaica Avenue at 6:30.

FH VAC Wednesdays, May 22, June 26 Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp.

793-2055.

JAMAICA KIWANIS Thursday, May 23 Kiwanis Club of Jamaica meets. 527-3678.

FDR DEMOCRATS Thursday, May 23 at the Chabad Center in Bayside at 7:30.

WRITING CLUB Thursdays, May 23, 30 Peninsula library at 2.

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

Queens Today EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS JOB READINESS Saturdays, May 18, 22, June 17 resumes, cover letters, job interview and beyond at 2:30 at the Cambria Heights library.

SAFE CONSTRUCTION Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19 Construction Sa fet y and Health Training at t he Ar verne librar y. Register.

INTER. WORD Saturday, May 18 Central library. Register.

INTER. EXCEL Saturday, May 18 Central library. Register.

JOB SEARCH Saturday, May 18 Job Search Strategies and Resume Writing Far Rockaway library at 2.

BEGIN POWERPOINT Monday, May 20 Central library. Register.

BEGIN EMAIL Monday, May 20 Fresh Meadows library at 10:30.

MAC MONDAY Monday, May 20 Garageband at the Central library. Register.

BALLROOM DANCING Mondays, May 20, June 3, 10, 17, 24 Forest Hills library at 6:30.

BEGIN WORD Tuesday, May 21 Flushing library. Register.

MASTERING EXCEL Tu e s d ay s , M a y 2 1 , 2 8 LIC library. Register.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Tuesday, May 21 Baisley Park library at 11.

BASIC COMPUTERS Tuesday s, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 Bellerose librar y. Register.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Tuesday s, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 McGoldrick library at 11.

BEGIN WORD Tu e s d a y, May 21 Steinway librar y. Register.

BETTER RESUME Tu e s d a y, May 21 Poppenhusen library at 11:30.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Tuesday s, May 21, 28, June 11 Bellerose library.

Register.

FEDERAL JOB SEARCH Tu e s d ay , M ay 2 1 Fa r Rockaway library. Register.

TECHNOLOGIST IS IN Tu e s d ay s , M a y 2 1 , 2 8 receive personal instruction at the Pomonok library. Register.

STAINED GLASS Tuesday, May 21 Central library. Register.

ONLINE MARKETING Tuesday, May 25 Ef fective Online Marketing Techniques for Small Businesses Queensbridge li-

brary at 5:30.

JOB SEARCH Tuesdays, May 21, June 4, 18 Job Search Strategies and Resume Writing at the South Jamaica library. Register.

CREATE EMAIL Tuesday, May 21 Central librar y. Register.

TECHNOLOGY INTRO Wednesday, May 22 Introduction to Emerging Technologies Central library. Register.

JOB SEARCH Wednesday, May 22 Central library. Register.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Wednesday, May 22 W i n d s o r P a r k l i b ra r y.

Register.

ONLINE TEST PREP Wednesdays, May 22, June 12 LIC library. Register.

COMPUTER CLASS Wednesdays, May 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 Woodside library at 5:45.

ONLINE JOB Wednesday, May 22 Central library. Register.

MOCK INTERVIEWS Thursdays, May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27 Central librar y. Register.

GOOGLE DOCS Thursday, May 23 Central librar y. Register.

PRE-GED CLASS Thursdays and Fridays through June 28 Cambria Heights library.

480-4300.

BEGINNERS RESUME Thursday, May 23 LIC library. Register.

CODEACADEMY LAB Thursdays, May 23, 30 teach yourself computer languages. Central library. Register.

OFFICE SUITE Thursdays, May 23, 30 Poppenhusen library at noon.

BUSINESS CARDS Thursday, May 23 using Publisher at the Far Rockaway library at 1:30.

BEGIN GENEALOGY Thursday, May 23 St. Albans library at 2.

INTERVIEW STRATEGY Thursday, May 23 Flushing library. Register.

BUSINESS BASICS Thursdays, May 23, 30 Corona library at 5.

LEARN CHINESE Thursdays North Forest Park library at 6.

EMAIL INTRO Friday, May 24 Central library. Register.

RESUME WORKSHOP Friday, May 24 LIC library. Register.

LEARN ARABIC Fridays, May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 Central library at 4:30.

HEALTH BLOOD DRIVE Saturday, May 18 St. John’s Marthoma C h u r c h , 9 0 - 3 1 2 1 3 th Street, Queens Village 93.

BLOOD DRIVE Monday, May 20 John Bowne High School. 6325 Main Street, Flushing 9-3.

CHAIR YOGA Monday, May 20 Broadway, Rosedale and Glendale library. Register.

MEDICARE RIGHTS Monday, May 20 How Hospital Care is Covered Flushing library at 2.

STRETCH & TONE Monday, May 20, June 3, 10, 17, 24: Shape Up NYC LIC library at 6:30.

KICKBOXING Monday, May 20 Flushing library. Register.

BLOOD DRIVE Tu e s d a y, May 21 LaGuardia Airport’s Port Authorit y. 670-1007 114.

WHAT’S IN A DRINK? Tuesday, May 21 learn how much sugar is in common beverages and more at the Far Rockaway library at 1.

VISION & AGING Tu e s d ay, M a y 2 1 Fa r Rockaway library at 2.

CHAIR YOGA Tu e s d a y, May 21 Douglaston library. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Tu e s d a y, May 21 Whitestone librar y. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Wednesday, May 22 Briarwood and Whitestone librar y. Register.

TAI CHI Wednesday, May 22 Fresh Meadows library at 2.

AEROBICS Wednesday, May 22 S h a p e U P N YC a t t h e Central library at 4.

AUTISM WORKSHOP Wednesday, May 22 Richmond Hill library at 4:30.

CHAIR YOGA Wednesdays, May 22, 29, June 5 Woodside librar y. Register.

NEW FOOD TERMS Wednesday, May 22 terms such as organic, non-GMO, etc. at the Central library at 7.

MEDITATION CLUB Thursday, May 23 Bellerose library at 5:30.

BODY SCULPT FITNESS Thursdays, May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27 Lefrak Cit y library at 5:30.

DANCE FITNESS Friday, May 24 Richmond Hill library at 5.

ENTERTAINMENT NEW MUSIC FEST Through May 19 Queens New Music Festival at the Secret Theater in LIC. 894-2178.

SAVE KIDS Saturday, May 18 Elmor Youth and Adult Activities, Inc. presents “Save Our Children” at the Louis Armstrong Center in Corona. 7. $20. 6510096, ext. 217.

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, May 18 Historic First Presbyterian Church of Newtown participates in the NY Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House 11-4.

PUPPETRY THEATRE Saturday, May 18 Flushing Town Hall. 463-7700, ext. 222.

HORROR & MORE Saturday, May 18 Sixth Annual Institute of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction with readings, film screenings, make-up demos, lectures on witchcraft, paranormal, Japanese monsters, psychic readings, art gallery, more. Flushing library starting at noon.

PEKING OPERA Saturday, May 18 Life and Art of Peking Opera Performers: Day Jobs, Opera Dreams at the Jackson Heights library at 2:30. Also Tuesday, May 21 Flushing library at 6.

PAUL TAYLOR DANCE Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19 Paul Taylor Dance Company at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0064.

NU URBAN CAFÉ Saturdays live jazz, r&b, open mic 8-midnight.

Free. 188-36 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. 917817-8653.

NYC’S SOUTH POLE Sunday, May 19 Tottenville, Staten Island and the NY “South Pole” F o rgo t t e n N Y Wa l k i n g To u r w i t h t h e G r e a te r Astoria Historical Societ y. 278-0700 for ticket information.

ORATORIO SOCIETY Sunday, May 19 at Queensborough Communit y College. 6316311.

OPEN MIC Sunday, May 19 Central library at 2.

STAMP SHOW Sundays, May 19, June 16 Ramada Hotel in Bayside 10-4:30. Free admission and parking.

645-7659.

FASHION & LUNCH Sunday, May 19 Ravenswood Lions Club’s Spring Luncheon and

Fashion Show fundraiser 1-5 at Riccardo’s by the Bridge. 274-3487.

BINGO Tuesdays 7:15 American Mart yrs Church in Bayside. 464-4582. Tuesdays 7:15 (doors open 6) Rego Park Jewish Center. 459-1000. $3 admission includes 12 games.

SCRABBLE Tuesdays Fresh Meadows library at 2.

CHESS Tuesdays 4 Rosedale library.

BIG BAND SOUNDS Wednesday, May 22 Flushing library at 1.

TOMMY TUNE Thursday, May 23 Queensborough Communit y College. 6316311.

CARNIVAL Thursday, May 23 Carnival to Save the Library with games, face paintings, crafts, prizes and more at the Woodhaven library starting at 3.

FAB 50S PART Y Thursday, May 23 Po m o n o k l i b ra r y. Ro o t beer floats, deviled eggs and Chex Mix to celebrate 1950s food and games with Fahrenheit 451 trivia. Starting at 4:30.

SHOW TIME Thursday, May 23 Show Time with Flo Michaels at the Queens Village library at 4:30.

OPEN MIC Thursday, May 23 East Elmhurst library at 6.

DYSTOPIAN FILMS Friday, May 24 “Equilibrium.” Friday, May 31 “The Book of Eli.” Screening and discussion of film at 2 at the Flushing librar y.

NU URBAN CAFÉ Fridays live jazz and r&b 9-midnight. Free. 188-36 Linden Blvd., St. Albans.

917-817-8653.

GAME DAY Fridays 4:30 Woodhaven library.

GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays 2 Hillcrest library.

SPRING CONCERT Saturday, May 25 Chinese folk songs and Italian opera arias at the Flushing library at 2.

BAROQUE CONCERT Saturday, May 25 Forest Hills library at 2:30.

HIP HOP Saturday, May 25 Hip Hop Appreciation with Hip Hop Book Club at the Central library at 4.

SKYFALL Sunday, May 26 James Bond movie “Skyfall” at the Central library at 2.

SENIORS AARP3334 Mondays, May 20, June 17 St. Kevin’s Parish Center. 224-0478.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Monday, May 20 Laurelton and Queens Village library. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Monday, May 20 Ar ve r n e l i b ra r y. Re g i s ter.

BASIC COMPUTERS Tuesdays, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25 South Ozone Park library at 11.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Tuesday, May 21 Forest Hills librar y. Register.

OLDER ADULTS DAY Wednesday, May 22 live entertainment, blood pressure, health information, more starting at 10 at the Flushing library.

BRAIN GAMES Wednesday, May 22 Flushing library at 11:30.

CLEARVIEW CENTER Thursday, May 23 blood pressure at 9:30 and Fire Safet y program at 10:15.

Friday, May 24 Parental Guidance at 12:45.

Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue.

STARS Wednesday, May 24 at 1 1 : 1 5 a t S N A P, 8 0 - 4 5 Winchester Blvd., Queens Blvd.

TALKS COOPERSTOWN Saturday, May 18 “Cooperstown: The Baseball Hall of Fame” at 1. $5. Greater Astoria Histo r i c a l S o c i e t y. 2 7 8 0700.

FAHRENHEIT 451 Saturday, May 18 Fahrenheit 451 discussed at the Forest Hills library at 2:30. Also on Monday, May 20 at the Forest Hills library at 3. Also on Thursday, May 23 at the Ozone Park library at 6.

AMUSEMENT PARKS Sunday, May 19 “Amusement Parks of NY and LI: An Illustrated Lecture 2:30 Queens Historical S o c i e t y. 9 3 9 - 0 6 4 7 . $ 5 members, $8 others.

ELDER LAW Monday, May 20 Elder Law, Estate Planning, Trusts , Asset Protection at 1 Pomonok library.

STEINWAY BOOK M o n d ay , M ay 2 0 “A Confederacy of Dunces” discussed at 6:30 at the Steinway library.

POMONOK TALK Wednesday, May 22 “The Language of Flowers” discussed at 2 at the Pomonok library.

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Page 20 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

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May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21

People Army Pvt. Jude F. Saint has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Saint is the son of Alta Saint and Jean Guilbault Saint of Queens Village.

Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the winter 2013 semester at Berkeley College. They include: Queens Village: Jeffry Guilliani, Sukhwinder Johal, Nalesha Narine.

The New York Army National Guard has announced the reenlistment of members. They include: Sergeant Kimicoe Grace of Jamaica has reenlisted to continue service with the 145th Maintenance Company.

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Specialist Elwood George from Rosedale has reenlisted to continue service with the Company G (Forward Support Company Field Artillery), 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Richmond Hill: Staff Sergeant Leonardo Diaz of Richmond Hill has reenlisted to continue service with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Signal Battalion.

Staff Sergeant Samaris Quinones of Rosedale has reenlisted to continue service with the Headquarters, 106th Regiment (Regional Training Institute).

Air Force Airman Harly R. Chacon graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Chacon is the son of Sandra Cortes of Hollis.

Local students received degrees during spring 2013 commencement ceremonies at Herkimer County Community College. They include: Jamaica: Adrian Chatman, AAS

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Local students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement at Buffalo State’s annual Honors Convocation. They include: Cambria Heights: Jeff Oyo. Jamaica: Liza Sang Yan. Springfield Gardens: Simone Dawson.

Nigel Lang of Springfield Gardens was honored for excelling academically during SUNY Canton’s 2013 Honors Convocation.

Andrelle Mathelier of Queens Village will attend Stevenson University in Maryland this fall, after graduating from Queens Preparatory Academy.

Arvin Tangalan of Jamaica earned the Student Life Leadership Award during SUNY Delhi’s annual Student Life Leadership Award Ceremony.

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the $1,000 scholarship from Jamaican Nurses Group of New York.

Local students were named to the President’s List and Dean’s List for the winter 2013 semester at Berkeley College. They include: President’s List: Forest Hills: Jasmandee Arango, Anthony McKeown, Rui Sato.

Kew Gardens: Kathyanne Smith.

Rego Park: Reshma Bardai, John Velasco.

Dean’s List: Forest Hills: Nicole Guarino.

Kew Gardens: Christina Pulchan.

Rego Park: Nowshin Ahmed, Rizki Hamid, Dalila Rahmani, Henry Rodriguez.

Marine Corps Pvt. James Moy, son of Charlene Ise of Forest Hills and Nobel Moy of Manhattan, recently graduated from the Marine Aviation Supply Specialist Course with Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One, Marine Aviation Support Training Support Group 21, Meridian, Miss.

Cynthia Delaney of Forest Hills was recognized for outstanding academic achievement at Buffalo State’s annual Honors Convocation.

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Unless Otherwise Specified Press of Southeast Queens Policy: All advertisers are responsible to give correct advertising as it will appear. The Press will assume no financial responsibility for errors or omissions.

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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!

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens May 17-23, 2013

Bills, Bills, Bills You can run, but you can’t hide from LIPA or the National Grid because they will find you, even if you don’t actually owe them money.

Firefighter Kieran Burke, a resident of Breezy Point, received many bills to his temporary postal-box address in New Jersey for the gas and electricity he has not been able to use since he lost his home during Superstorm Sandy.

Due to LIPA’s carelessness to not turn off the power during the storm, Burke’s home was burned to the ground.

So, not only have they caused a lot of trouble and

heartache for Burke’s family, but they continue to salt his wounds with false bills.

To make matters worse, the LIPA representative Burke spoke to over the phone had no clue as to how so many homes were burned down and failed to give him a proper explanation.

The whopping total of $1,605 is how much Burke apparently owes to LIPA and the National Grid for their negligence and downright stupidity.

The New York Post intervened to help Burke’s family and only then did the two companies admit their mistake.

3 Little Pigs Find A Home

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo recently welcomed three little pigs into its family.

The trio, born on May 9, is a rare mulefoot hog breed, known for pigs that have single non-cloven hooves.

The female black coarse-

hair pigs are fairly uncommon because they are no longer bred by farmers.

They grow to reach about 250 to 400 pounds.

This news makes this QConf reporter wonder, which borough is the birthplace of the big bad wolf?

David Does Wright Thing New York Mets third basemen David Wright launched an initiative last week to honor first responders and victims of Superstorm Sandy.

The campaign, called The Wright Thing, aims to raise awareness of the work the responders have done, and continue to do, and the struggles the victims have gone through in the six months since the storm hit. The initiative will also petition that more work should be done as the areas affected by the storm continue to recover.

According to a press release sent out by the Mets, Wright said that he got the idea to start this program after he visited Staten Island to make

a $250,000 donation to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. He saw in person the damage the storm caused.

"I wanted to do something to help repay the thousands of volunteers who devoted countless hours to helping our City recover,” Wright said.

The program will honor several first responders and victims throughout the rest of this season, with the first being Jerry Chan, who was honored at last Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Chan led volunteers who delivered food and supplies to residents of Knickerbocker Village in Manhattan, who were powerless one month after the storm.

Artist Of Queens - Alacia Stubbs

When it comes to art, Alacia Stubbs has had a storied history, both in and out of Queens, that is far from complete.

Stubbs lived in Queens Village for 26 years before moving down to Charlottesville, VA. She just moved back to Queens, this time settling in Bayside this past January. The Borough has been a longtime inspiration for her, especially regarding her interest in landscapes.

“I got interested in all the funky, sometimes dilapidated stores and old houses I saw from the train windows. I started bringing my camera with me on the subway, photographing whatever caught my eye,” she said. “Now I am beginning a series of paintings of buildings using these photos as a starting point for my paintings.”

Stubbs attended Parsons School of Design, where she earned a BFA. She gained a MA from Yale University in Studies in Religion and the Arts. She studied printmaking with Bob Blackburn and Roberto delo Monaco at Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop in Manhattan and with Flo Hatcher.

“These three were dedicated teachers who communicated their passion for artmaking along with specific technical skills to their students,” Stubbs said.

Her interest in both sculpture and painting has led to many creations in the two fields, but her techniques for each style are very different.

“My mind with its visual ideas connects easily to my hands working the clay, and the sculptures seem to make themselves.

Clay is my emotional medium,” Stubbs said. “Painting is my intellectual medium

because I have to struggle to express my 2-D ideas to my satisfaction, and put the paint on the canvas in a way I find pleasing.”

Stubbs was also the winner of an “ArtInPlace” commission to create a ceramic sculpture for a public park in Charlottesville. The piece, titled “Little Plant Dancing,” was eventually bought by a private collector.

“I never expected to win, I did win, and I embarked on figuring out how to make the largest clay sculpture I had ever made,” she said.

For the future, Stubbs will keep working on her “Houses of Queens” series and keeping teaching art at a Bayside senior center.

“I just want to continue artmaking and art teaching forever!,” she said.

Got Talent? Tell Us About It! QConf is looking for some talented Queens residents to feature. If you are a model, a musician, a chef or an artist, we would love to hear from you!

Send an email to editor@queenstribune.com Who we are: QConf is edited by Steven J. Ferrari.

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

May 17-23, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23

What’s Up MAY 17 Simpson & Sauternes: Lyra Consort Lyra Consort, featuring musicians Vita Wallace, Beverly Au and Lisa Terry, will perform selections from Christopher Simpson’s Little Consorts and other 17th century chamber music on violin, lyra viol, and continuo. The program will also include Johann Schop’s beautiful divisions on the famous Lachyrmae tune, solos by John Jenkins and more. In addition to the music, discover Sauternes - a sweet French wine that was popular in early America. The concert will be held at King Manor Museum at 6:30 p.m. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. The King Manor Museum is located at 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue. Tickets are $30 at the door and $25 in advance.

GRBUDC 58th Annual Dinner Dance The Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club will present their 58th Annual Dinner Dance. For ticket information, please contact Archie Spigner at (347) 612-1887. The event will be held at Antun’s at 8 p.m. Antun’s is located at 96-43 Springfield Blvd. You must call for the price.

MAY 18 Girlfriends Breakfast of Empowerment Be there for the 1st Annual Girlfriends Breakfast of Empowerment to focus on giving women the opportunity to spend a few hours to celebrate their girlfriends and raise a few dollars for one young lady to go off to college girlfriend style. We as women sometimes get so busy with everyday life, we forget our girlfriend time. For additional information, contact Regina Lashley at (917) 7092254 or anjanette1125@aol.com. The breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held at Occasions Catering Hall.

Occasions Catering Hall is located at 127-08 Merrick Blvd. Tickets are $40.

Summer Jazz Programs 2013 Auditions Auditions for the York College Summer Jazz Programs are now open. Audition early for one of these coveted spots. Auditions will begin at 10 a.m. at the York College Performing Arts Center located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

The Jamaica Ball Party on behalf of the non-profits that work for the betterment of Ja-

maica. Ninety percent of every $50 ticket will go directly to the participating Jamaica non-profit of your choice. Only 250 tickets will be available. Tickets will be sold exclusively online at www.thejamaicaball.com.

The Jamaica Ball will be held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. The Jamaica Performing Arts Center is located at 153-10 Jamaica Ave.

MAY 19 York College Gospel Choir The York College Gospel Choir takes the stage for an end of the year gospel celebration. The event will take place at 3 p.m. at the York College Academic Core Building located at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. It is free to attend.

MAY 23 Fair to Benefit Businesses Affected by Sandy Councilman Donovan Richards, along with State Sen. James Sanders and the Rockaway Development Revitalization Corporation, will host a resource fair in order to help local businesses still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Richards’ Rockaway office located at 1526 Central Ave., Far Rockaway. To RSVP for the event, email cmdonovanrichards@ gmail.com or call his office at (718) 471-7014.

MAY 24 Dept. of Environmental Protection Protest The Queens Chapter National Action Network, Assemblyman William Scarborough, Southern Queens Residents Environmental Justice Alliance, South East Queens County Young Democrats, Eastern Queens Alliance, Community Board 12 & 13, Councilman Leroy Comrie, Councilman Ruben Wills, Councilman Donovan Richards, Assemblywoman Vivian Cooke, Assemblywoman Michelle Titus, Assemblywoman Barbara Clarke, State Sen. Malcolm Smith, State Sen. James Sanders, Congressman Gregory Meeks and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries invite you to join them at a rally at the Dept. of Environmental Protection’s headquarters to declare that southeast Queens residents refuse to go another decade with the problem of community flooding. For more information, or to RSVP, call the office of Queens Chapter National Action Network at (718) 949-9500, send an

e-mail to queenschapternan@gmail. com, or call the office of Assemblyman Scarborough (718) 723-5412.

The protest is scheduled to begin at noon at the headquarters located at 5917 Junction Blvd., Flushing.

ONGOING Lincoln Park Basketball Association The Lincoln Park Basketball Association is looking for volunteers to coach baseball for 5-14 year olds, and youth football for 9-10 and 1112 year olds. LP’s Fam’s Association is assembling teams to participate in organized youth athletic leagues for the spring, summer and fall of 2013.

The coaches will receive nominal reimbursement for travel expenses. If you are interested in coaching, contact Paul Cox at (917) 607-2421 or Derik Braswell at (917) 692-4775.

Mobile CPR Program FDNY EMS instructors will come out to your site to conduct the CPR training using your facilities. The Be 911 Compressions Only CPR Program is brought to you free of charge by FDNY and NYC Service.

The goal of the program is to train as many people as possible in basic CPR skills. In addition, participants will be briefly educated on the automated external defibrillator (AED) used to try and revive a person suffering from cardiac arrest. Though this program does not certify any participants, the FDNY and NYC Service believe increasing the knowledge of how to save a life is far more beneficial.

The program welcomes all ages, as long as the individual can demonstrate competency in retaining the required skills.

Appointments can be made Monday through Friday during the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Classes may be approximately 20 minutes depending on the size of the group.

For group registration of 10 or more participants or further information, contact the FDNY’s CPR Training Unit at Telephone Number (718) 281-3888.

Group Sessions Clergy United for Community Empowerment, Inc. Group Sessions are located at 172-17 Linden Blvd.

Second Floor, St. Albans, for the community on various topics such as domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse intervention, decision making, condom use, high risk behaviors leading to HIV, and self – esteem awareness. All group sessions offer light snacks and bever-

ages. Group sessions are open to the public.

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

Scholarship Award The Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults has announced that applications are being accepted for the Barbara Decosta Walden scholarship award for graduate studies in gerontology. Applicant must be a City resident accepted to an accredited graduate program with a concentration in gerontology.

Deadline to apply is Sept. 15. To secure an application, email JSPOA@ jspoa.org.

Slow Zone Program The City Dept. of Transportation is accepting applications to the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program.

Neighborhood Slow Zones reduce the speed limit on residential streets from 30 m.p.h. to 20 m.p.h. Slow zones grant local families peace of mind because they know drivers in their communities will stick to safer speeds. Communities that apply for a Slow Zone can get safety improvements that reduce traffic crashes, cut-through traffic and traffic noise, making residential streets safer for biking and hiking.

Community Boards, civic associations, BIDs, elected officials or other community institutions such as schools or churches can apply.

Applications are due by May 31.

For information, call (212) 6298080 or email safety@transalt.org.

Student Volunteers Available The Justice Community Program at LaGuardia Community College is seeking partners from Community Board 12 organizations interested in hosting student volunteers for community service and service learning projects at their sites.

The goals of JCP are to help build stronger and safer communities and to reduce crime and recidivism by engaging young adults who have been involved in the criminal justice system in educational and community activities. All JCP participants are between the ages of 16-24 and reside in Jamaica, St. Albans or Hollis and are eager to learn leadership skills through community projects.

For information or to request JCP student volunteers for your site, call Nakita Vanstory, coordinator, at (718) 482-5128 or (718) 725-3324.

Sub-Acute Care/Post-Acute Care • Short Term Rehabilitation Nursing Home • Medical Model Adult Day Health Care Social Model Alzheimer Center • Long Term Home Health Care Community/Inpatient Hospice

Parker Jewish Institute for HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION

271-11 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, New York 11040-1433 www.parkerinstitute.org

A New York State Authorized Managed Long Term Care Plan:

Medical Transportation provided by:

(516) 322-6223 (877) Parker3 (877-727-5373)

On-Site Dialysis provided by: