Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 12 Issue No. 37 Sept. 16-22, 2011

PAGE 18

RUBEN’S RETURN Councilman Ruben Wills – challenged by three foes in a Democratic Primary this week, including former Councilman Allan Jennings – won with two-thirds of the vote and is all-but-assured the chance to fill out the remainder of the late Tom White’s term.

By Veronica Lewin…Page 3

Online at www.QueensPress.com

News Briefs Queens Restaurant Week They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but that wasn’t the case in front of Borough Hall on Monday when a handful of the borough’s eateries handed out free samples of their favorite dishes.

The event was to kick off Queens Restaurant Week, where more than 90 participating restaurants from Rockaway to College Point and Astoria will offer special deals to customers to promote dining in the borough. Restaurant Week, sponsored by the Queens Economic Development Corp., is technically more than just “a week.” It will go on for eight days over the course of two weeks; Sept. 19-22 and 2629. Borough President Helen Marshall said the event is important to Queens because the borough’s ethnic diversity also gives it a diverse palate.

“No matter where you come from, or where you call home, you can find its food here in Queens,” she said.

Participating restaurants will offer threecourse prix fixe meals for $25 and some may also add lunch specials during the eight days.

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

Religious Freedom Law After half a decade of political wrangling, the City’s more devout religions scored a major victory with the passage of Councilman Mark Weprin’s (D-Oakland Gardens) Workplace Religious Freedom Act. The legislation redefines what employers can claim as an undue hardship when rejecting applicants whose religious practice causes a deviation from company protocol.

“There is no reason [employers] shouldn’t be able to accommodate most religious situations,” Weprin said.

The bill represents a concerted effort by the Sikh community, which has faced several hurdles landing jobs because of their turbans and beards.

Amardeep Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Coalition, welcomed the bill’s passage as the reward for six years’ work.

“There’s really nothing about a turban that stops you from doing your duties to protect the city as a police officer or to operate a train,” he said. “We finally have a law that really squarely focuses the employer’s eye on ‘can this person do their job or not?’ It’s a bill that protects anyone of any faith.”

Both Weprin and Singh said they felt the bill would open the door to a more diverse workforce, not just in public sector jobs but also in the private sector.

“It would be nice to have people of different religions walking the street or protecting our city,” Weprin said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between their religious freedom and their job.”

Goldfeder Wins Pheffer Seat Phil Goldfeder, a one-time aide to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, held on to the State Assembly seat vacated by now-County Clerk Audrey Pheffer in the Rockaways, but the strong showing of U.S. Rep-elect Bob Turner on the peninsula made the race closer than many expected.

Goldfeder, who lives in Far Rockaway, defeated Republican candidate Jane

Deacy, a former police officer from Breezy Point 54-46 percent in the district that includes most of the Rockaway Peninsula, Howard Beach and parts of Ozone Park.

That margin was much lower than the 3-1 margins Pheffer regularly won with, and the closest race in the district in decades. The district is the most Republican state Assembly district in Queens, voting for Republicans like Mike Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki and splitting evenly between 2004 Presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush.

The race was called just after 11 p.m. as Deacy spoke to supporters at Bob Turner headquarters in Roma View catering hall.

Two blocks south at Old Mill, Goldfeder was arriving to cheers and hugs from his staff. Though the campaign was grueling, he said, there was no time to rest.

“We’re going to get to work immediately,” he said, promising “quality accessible government for the district.”

Queens ’Hoods City’s Safest Determining the safety of New York City’s neighborhoods was once a crap shoot.

Many of the stigmas looming over areas were the products of films, newspapers and hearsay, without much detailed criminal data available to the public.

After wondering how to determine which neighborhood is safe, DNAinfo.com, a Manhattan neighborhood news source, created a solution.

The interactive Crime & Safety Report, compiled by the Web site, reveals the NYPD Compstat data, going as far back 17 years, when the police database was created.

For a small fee, members of the community can get access to the comprehensive, interactive report which analyzes detailed police information from the City’s 76 precincts – stats which have been traditionally difficult for both the public and press to obtain.

After dividing the number of reported crimes in a given neighborhood by the number of people living there, the comprehensive resource was able to compile a ranking of the city’s safest neighborhoods.

According to the report, Bayside, Fresh Meadows, Forest Hills and Rego Park (also the safest neighborhood in the borough), Flushing and Whitestone, and the Rockaways were listed in the City’s top 10 safest neighborhoods.

By putting this information together with 2010 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the site was able to compile per-capita crime for each of the city’s 69 neighborhoods.

Although the report did bulk some of the city’s communities together, because most neighborhoods’ lines have not been officially drawn, the report’s creators say the six-month project does give an accurate reading of statistical data.

“Eleven of the 22 safest neighborhoods are in Queens,” said Murray Weiss, a noted investigative journalist who helped acquire NYPD Compstat data for the project.

“The borough of Queens actually comprises the bulk of the neighborhoods that are, in fact, very safe.”

To get more information about the Crime and Safety Report go to dnainfo.com/crime-safety-report.

Presstime

Wills Holds On To 28th District Seat

City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-South Jamaica) was chosen for the second time in less than a year to represent the 28th District.

Wills' campaign staff announced the results around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at his campaign headquarters in Rochdale Village, after 99.8 percent of the votes were tallied. With more than two-thirds of the vote, it was clear the incumbent councilman beat out the other three challengers to retain the council seat.

Wills' main opponent was former Councilman Allan Jennings, who represented the district from 2001 to 2005.

Up until the last week of campaigning, candidates focused on gaining support without attacking the opponent. But the good feelings dissipated last Tuesday when Wills asked the Campaign Finance Board to investigate loans Jennings received during the campaign. Jennings retaliated by bringing up the councilman's upcoming court case for an old larceny charge and accused him of being a bad father.

Jennings spent Tuesday morning campaigning at the same places as Wills, which led to an altercation near August Martin High School where the councilman asked Jennings to apologize to his daughter and wife for his hurtful accusations. Despite the negative publicity, Wills' constituents chose him to continue representing the district.

"We sent a clear message again that this community is not going to tolerate negative campaigning," Wills said. "We need people that are going to talk about the issues and address the issues."

Wills won the seat in a special election last November after the passing of lateCouncilman Tom White Jr. in August. For the past nine months, the councilman has been representing the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.

Wills's re-election did not come as a surprise to those who supported him. Instead of anxiously staring at the television waiting for results, most at his election party were patiently waiting for the news they already knew.

One Wills supporter said she was sure he would walk away with a win because of all he has done for the community in such a short time. Wills' wife Marcia was excited he will have more time to improve District 28.

"I'm so happy because Ruben has so many ideas, so many things he wants to do for this community," she said.

During his campaign, Wills received support from several elected officials, including many in Southeast Queens.

"It's easy to support him because he's been doing the right thing," said Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans). Some of the politicians came to the councilman's election party to wait for the results, including City Comptroller John Liu and State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica).

"Why wouldn't I support Ruben Wills?" asked Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (DJamaica). She said though he has faced adversities in the past, he has proven he can move forward to serve his district.

Community Board 12 District Manager Yvonne Reddick said she and Wills always worked well together when he served on Community Board 12, and said he

Hospital Director Guilty Of Bribery

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Councilman Ruben Wills celebrates after being re-elected Tuesday.

Expand Zadroga Bill To Cover Cancer: Pols

BY JASON BANREY A decade after the Sept. 11 attacks, the lingering effects of toxins that filled not only the air around the city but the lungs of the valiant first responders for weeks after the towers fell can still be felt in every first responder’s cough.

Although the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act has already established health monitoring and financial aid to numerous first responders, many Queens politicians are determined to expand the bill, to include those who have developed cancer.

On Sept. 8, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), along with bipartisan support from numerous members of Congress, city union officials and 9/11 first responders and survivors, gathered at Ground Zero announcing that they have filed a petition that would require Dr. John Howard, the 9/11 Health Program Administrator, to consider whether or not cancer coverage should be added to the Zadroga Bill.

The petition follows the release of a peer-reviewed study by the FDNY, published in “The Lancet,” a leading medical journal, which indicated an elevated risk in melanoma, thyroid and prostate cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among

firefighters who served at Ground Zero compared to the general population.

Compared to other firefighters who were not exposed to toxins, the study also indicated an overall increase in cancer among firefighters who were at the site following the Sept. 11 attacks.

After the Twin Towers collapsed, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) asked the lower house of the state legislature to visit Ground Zero.

Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (DMaspeth) was one of those members present that day. Although she only recalls being at the site for 10 minutes, she vividly remembers the after effects that lasted for at least 10 days after touring through the damage.

“I could taste the World Trade Center,” said Markey, who temporarily had trouble breathing after her visit to Ground Zero. “I can’t even imagine what first responders are going through today. No one who served should be denied compensation.

We owe it to them.”

By law, the petition, which was signed

by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, gives Howard 60 days to take action.

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

In Their Memory:

Mourners gather at the site of the World Trade Center to pay tribute to those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

David Rosen, the former CEO of MediSys, the parent company of Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital and Peninsula Hospital was convicted on Monday of bribing former Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio and two Brooklyn state legislators.

Rosen, who was fired as head of MediSys earlier this year after being indicted, is the first of eight defendants, including Brooklyn’s State Sen. Carl Kruger and Assemblyman William Boyland, to face a judge in the bribery case that alleged Rosen bribed the three state legislators with hundreds of thousands of dollars for special treatment in Albany.

He was convicted of five counts of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy and conspiring to commit bribery. Rosen chose a bench trial – where a judge renders a verdict rather than a jury – to speed up the process and force the prosecution to put together a case against him quickly. The trial began last month and federal Judge Jed Rakoff issued a 40-page decision explaining the verdict on Monday.

“This is a sad, even tragic case as it reveals how a widely admired hospital

administrator who diligently sought to better the health care of impoverished communities nonetheless chose to entangle himself in the bribing of state legislators,” Rakoff wrote.

“If there were any doubt about the pervasive nature of public corruption in Albany, today’s multicount conviction of David Rosen should put it to rest once and for all,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the lead prosecutor in the case.

Boyland, who has not resigned from office, is scheduled to be tried next in November. Kruger, who also remains in office, will go to trial next year. Seminerio, who passed away earlier this year in prison, pleaded guilty to corruption and resigned from the Assembly in 2009.

MediSys is the operating company for Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals and Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn. It had been the operator of Peninsula Hospital, which faced closure late last month, but was saved last week after being purchased

by Revival Home Health Care.

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

understands the needs of the community.

District Leader Archie Spigner said Wills was the best candidate and was confident voters felt the same way. "He has shown, in the short time he has been in the Council, that he's up to the job and that he can do the job," he said.

Though the councilman is celebrating his re-election, he will appear on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 8. The winner of that election will serve as a City Council member until the end of the term in 2013.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Photo by Walter Karling

BY VERONICA LEWIN

BY VERONICA LEWIN After a push from Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), one fast food chain is taking steps to provide children with healthier options.

McDonald's of the New York Tri-State area unveiled their new, lower-calorie Happy Meal Wednesday at their Cambria Heights location at 216-07 Linden Blvd.

In April, the councilman introduced legislation that would ban kids' meals adding up to more than 500 calories from being served with toys. An old hamburger Happy Meal with a Coke was nearly 600 calories, but McDonald's new Happy Meal is just 490 calories. Customers can save

even more calories by substituting soda for low-fat milk.

McDonald's says the sodium intake in the new chicken nugget Happy Meal has been cut by more than 20 percent since 2003.

"As we all work together to try to combat the issue of obesity and try to create better nutritional options for families, this is an opportunity to do so," Comrie said.

Each Happy Meal will now include a bag of apple slices. Instead of the small fries usually served with happy meals, a new 1.1 ounce size container of french fries will be included in each box. For customers who want apples only, a second bag will be substituted for the fries. Though the restaurant has been offering apples as a side

choice since 2004, McDonald's research found that only 11 percent of Happy Meal customers made the healthy choice.

Students from the Montessori Progressive Learning Center in St. Albans were the first to taste test the new, healthier Happy Meal. While most of the children were eager to open the toy, some did notice the switch. Gabriel, 5, eats apples every day and was excited to see the fruit in his Happy Meal. He said he would save the apple slices for last, after he enjoyed his chicken nuggets and French fries.

The lower-calorie Happy Meal will be available at all Tri-State area restaurants by Friday. McDonald's plans to offer the new Happy Meal nationwide by the end of 2012.

Billah, chairman of the Jamaica Muslim Center. "After 10 years, still we are paying the price for all those 19 people; bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, has forced us to suffer and suffer psychologically. I think this suffering should end now."

On Sept. 9, Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) held a 9/ 11 Memorial Ceremony with the Jamaica Muslim Center at 85-37 168th St. The assemblyman and Muslim leaders, along with members of the mosque, stood in unison and prayed for the victims lost 10 years ago.

Lancman's office held 10 memorial cer-

emonies throughout his district, one for each year that has passed. He added it was important to have a ceremony with the Muslim community because they suffered from 9/11 just as every New Yorker did.

"We need to separate the fact that the people who attacked the World Trade Center and the United States were Islamic fundamentalists and not every Muslim is an Islamic fundamentalist," Lancman said.

The Jamaica Muslim Center is a nonprofit religious organization established in 1976 to serve the Muslim population in Queens. The center includes a mosque and other services for the community while

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

Comrie: New Healthy Meals Yummy Councilman Leroy Comrie applauds McDonald’s lower-calorie Happy Meal that was unveiled in his district Wednesday.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Muslims Seek Acceptance Post-9/11

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

A decade after the terrorist attack that devastated New York City and the nation, not all things have gone back to normal.

While the tragedy led many diverse people to unify as Americans, Muslim-Americans were not included in this togetherness.

Instead, Americans who practice Islam were seen as a threat to our safety and were ostracized by many. A decade later, leaders in both communities are trying to end the divide between Muslims and non-Muslims.

"Muslims in the U.S.A. have become victims of this incident," said Motasim

serving as a resource for information and cultural cooperation for people with different religious backgrounds.

Lancman said relations between the leadership of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities are excellent, but most Americans have not had the opportunity to interact with Muslims, causing lingering biases. Lancman said events like last week's help work through the bias, without being blind to the threat fundamentalists are to our country.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.

Late Councilman's Legacy Lives On

BY VERONICA LEWIN The family of late City Councilman Tom White Jr. took the time to celebrate his life of community service and empowerment one year after his passing.

J-CAP Foundation Inc. hosted the first Thomas White Jr. Memorial Golf Outing and Dinner Sept. 1. The all-day event was held at the Clearview Park Golf Course in Bayside. White’s family wanted to honor the late councilman’s passing in a memorable way. Friends, family and elected officials throughout the borough came to celebrate the day and honor the late councilman.

Councilman White passed away Aug. 27, 2010 at age 71 after a battle with cancer. White served in City Council from 1991-2001, where he was term-limited out of office. He ran again in 2005, defeating incumbent Allan Jennings. He served until his passing. White’s mother Marie said while she was sad her son could not attend the golf outing, it is a nice way to honor him and his memory.

J-CAP, founded by the late Councilman, is one of the largest substance abuse treatment programs in the state. One of White’s wishes was that his family established a memorial scholarship fund in his passing.

Along with the J-CAP Foundation, part of last week’s proceeds went to the Thomas White Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“Tom was purely about helping those who were in need,” said State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans).

Councilman Ruben Wills (D-South Jamaica) said he was honored to do the first tee, as White paved the way for District 28 when he served as a councilman. “Tom was an advocate for treatment,” Wills said. “But a lot of people don’t know he was an advocate for prevention and he was an advocate for young people taking their lives straight, and that’s the kind of work that I’ve looked forward to carrying on.” Before Wills teed off, White’s son and members of the J-CAP board released a heart shaped balloon into the sky to

honor the late councilman.

Assemblyman Jeff Aubry (D-Corona), who has known the councilman since the 1960s, said it was bittersweet to attend the golf outing, “Tom White was a good friend long before politics,” Aubry said. He said the two were allies, competitors and friends when Aubry was working with the not-for-profit multi-service organization Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities and White was working with J-CAP. One lucky golfer went home with a brand new Mercedes CL 350 after win-

ning a hole-in-one contest. Brooklyn band Obsession entertained dinner guests while raffle winners were announced. The night concluded with a silent auction. He said he was pleased with how the first memorial event went.

“It was a beautiful day, definitely a success for us,” White said. “We were very happy with the program and look forward to building on it from this day forward.”

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Fair Encourages Healthy Life

BY VERONICA LEWIN Community leaders in Southeast Queens are encouraging residents to eat well and live well this Saturday, Sept. 17. The Farmers Boulevard Community Development Corp. will host a free health and wellness fair outdoors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 113-50 Farmers Blvd. in St. Albans. Participants will have access to free blood pressure screenings, body mass indexing, nutritional information, massage therapy and produce giveaways.

There will also be dance fitness instruction and Walgreen’s will be giving away free pedometers for participants to earn store discounts based on the amount of daily walking they do.

The organization’s Executive Director

Isa Abdur-Rahman said the health and wellness fair is necessary because Southeast Queens is being affected by a lot of negative health trends, including obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. He added a lot of these health problems are caused by the diet and lifestyle people are choosing.

Abdur-Rahman said one of the challenges of living in the outer boroughs is that it can be difficult to cook a fresh, home-cooked meal after work.

“The more time you spend commuting the more pressure it puts on you to cook a healthy meal at home,” he said. Because of this, people choose takeout, frozen and processed meals that are quick, but have little nutritional value.

For the children, there will be activities

such as jump rope and hula hoop competitions. Participants will be able to purchase a lunch plate for $5 provided by Earth Tones & Side Dishes, a restaurant concept developed by the organization to offer wholesome menu options while celebrating the community’s iconic musical history.

“We’re just trying to encourage the community members and event participants to eat differently and be mindful of sodium intake,” Abdur-Rahman said.

Adbur-Rahman encourages people to arrive early for a chance to win door prizes and giveaways before they run out. For more information, visit farmersblvd.org.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

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Allen Christian School 171-10 Linden Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11433

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Saturday, September 17th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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

Brenda Jones Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Deputy Editor:

Joseph Orovic Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie

Editorial A Lesson In Democracy The victory this week of businessman Bob Turner in defeating Assemblyman David Weprin for the 9th Congressional District seat vacated by Anthony Weiner certainly was hard-fought and well-earned.

But certainly a part of the victory can be attributed to the missteps of the Queens Democrats, who need to learn a valuable lesson from this special election: allow the people to decide.

If the registered Democrats had held a primary this week instead of a special election, they might have found a very different candidate on the ballot to oppose Bob Turner and they may have seen a very different outcome in a general election to follow.

Instead, for their own political gain, they preferred to leave the public out of the process and force a candidate onto the voters. If vetted by the voters, we feel the Democrats of the ninth district would have agreed on a candidate that would have caused fewer of them to cross party lines, or brought more of them to the polls when it came to facing the worthy Republican candidate.

So while we congratulate Bob Turner on his victory and look forward to working with him on the issues that affect the 9th District and beyond, we wag our finger and shake our heads at the Queens Dems who we hope learned that this week the people matter more than the party.

Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

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Reporters: Harley Benson Domenick Rafter Jason Banrey Veronica Lewin

Letters Redistricting To The Editor: On Sept. 7, the NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment rolled into Queens. A strange name for a committee charged with the task of drawing new legislative district lines following the 2010 Census.

Although a majority of state

legislators actively endorsed former Mayor Koch’s call for an independent legislative redistricting process, this is not what we got. It is unfortunate that the current crop of career politicians now sheepishly remain silent.

Where are the voices that promised an independent redistricting commission? Of course, nowhere to be found now that the two

Letters parties begin drawing district lines that will insure the re-election of these politicians over the next 10 years. When we elect the same people, time and time again, why should we expect different results?

As President of Glen Oaks Village, a co-op that is home to 3,000 families in Eastern Queens, I testified before this legislative committee. I told them that Queens is a borough of diverse communities and neighborhoods and it is essential that these neighborhoods remain intact and not split up in the redistricting process. In the past Glen Oaks Village has been cut into separate legislative districts, which has hurt our ability to speak with one voice and lessened the political potency of our residents.

I urged the committee to pay particular attention to the neighborhoods in which legislative district lines are being drawn. These are not merely streets and avenues, but are real life communities of individuals whose neighborhoods must remain undivided in the legislative redistricting process. Respecting the integrity of civic associations and keeping neighborhoods together must be an essential component of any re-districting process and must trump the political goal of designing election districts

merely to re-elect incumbents.

Bob Friedrich, Glen Oaks

9/11 Conspiracies To The Editor: Television coverage of 9/11 dealt mostly, if not totally, with the emotional turmoil of survivors’ experiences on that tragic day. What was missing was the very controversial explanation of what really happened: How did the buildings fall so fast? Why did building 7 collapse, even though it wasn’t hit by the planes?

NORAD’s untimely response.

Flight 93’s debris field spread out over eight miles. And a ton of other questions. The Internet is filled with web sites on these subjects but not a word from the media; it really is worth a look.

Frank St. George, East Rockaway

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Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

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Parade Gives ‘Hump Day’ New Meaning A Personal Perspective

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

I’ve never been to the West Indian Day Parade but boy did I get an eyeful from this year’s event via YouTube.

Two scandalously clad participants in the annual costume fest of Caribbean pride initiated a leave-nothing-to-the-imagination bump and grind with two young police officers that had observers screaming for more. It proves Latin pop singer Shakira’s point that “hips don’t lie.”

For about 20 seconds, these two officers engaged in what once got Bobby Brown arrested from the stage – “simulated sex.”

I know those tropical beats at the parade are irresistible, but wow, this was on a whole other level.

That out of the way, it’s funny as all get out. Yes, the officers made a mistake. They got carried away in the moment. They seemed quite young and acted like many other red-blooded American males would have in the situation. They just seemed to have forgotten they were in uniform

when they decided to “just go with it.”

There are some who are practically calling for their badges, but I hope they don’t get into too much trouble for it. They are fortunate that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is trying to put it into perspective – that they got carried away in the moment.

Yes, you can judge the overly enthusiastic, uninhibited women for “starting it,” but they had nothing to lose but the respect of people they don’t know and whose opinions don’t matter to them. But the officers should have kept their composure and taken a pass.

Workers at a catering hall don’t neglect their duty to join the conga line or electric slide at their customers’ events. But then again, the guests are usually not trying to engage them in that manner either.

Calling the officers’ actions “a dereliction of duty,” one local politician was on TV practically calling for their heads because “anything could’ve happened” while the two officers waxed or-

gasmic at the parade.

There were many things that went wrong that day. People got shot; two African-American political figures were momentarily arrested for ignoring a “do not enter” section. For sure, that seemed excessive and certainly disrespectful, as one officer was seen roughing up a staffer from the Public Advocate’s Office.

Councilman Jumaane Williams was also trying to identify himself and was ignored – he was even wearing his Council pin but it didn’t matter to the officers. It was just another glaring example of the disrespect the AfricanAmerican and Hispanic communities frequently endure in this city. It was hurtful to see the replays on TV and I hope they get some measure of justice for the disrespect they endured.

In any case, we don’t know for sure that any of that happened because two officers had 17 seconds of fun with members of the crowd. Because of the distrust between cops and our community, it was a most unusual sight: this moment of levity occurred

between members of each side.

But again, this whole business of disrespect was prevalent in even that light moment. No matter how innocent it might’ve appeared, it also symbolized a lot of disrespect from a sociological perspective.

Face it, any woman who invites that sort of public interaction is probably not thinking about self-respect; and the officers’ giving as good as they got, also shows an underlying lack of respect. But the two young women spontaneously invited it by engaging them in this manner.

We also realized that behind the blue, cops too are human beings, game for a little bit of dirty dancing even if the timing is wrong. Hopefully they won’t get into too much trouble for making us laugh. And equally important: lesson learned.

Next year’s revelers should be admonished to keep their bodies away from the cops; and police chiefs all over the borough will be laying down the law to their officers to retain their professional stance.

Weprin v. Turner: All Politics Is Local

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER “All politics is local” - “Tip” O’Neil, Speaker of the House 1977 - 1987.

It’s Wednesday morning, the day after the night before. . . . . . the night in which Republican Bob Turner became the first Republican in a lifetime to take the 9th Congressional District.

Now slow down.

Barack Obama was not on the ballot and in spite of the spin masters from both sides, this “upset”

was as localized and microcosmic as any election could be. It was not as the Republicans will claim, a national referendum on the president. It was not, as the Weprin campaign will blame, the fault of the President.

It was simply a terrible candidate with a worse campaign in a district that is an anomaly.

The 9th Congressional District covering portions of Queens and Brooklyn has more Orthodox Jewish voters than any other district in the nation – I believe by far. The turnout for this election was likely 40 to 45 percent Orthodox Jewish. And David Weprin, an Ortho dox Jew lost his ow n community.

Ye s, t here were issue s i nvolved but the reason he lost his own community was that he and his campaign never really did the job of communicating with his Orthodox leaders.

Early in the campaign Ed Koch declared this election as a referen-

dum on Obama’s position on Israel. A not-so-quiet whisper campaign within the Orthodox community turned on Weprin for not only voting for the gay marriage bill but also saying he could reconcile his position with his religion.

Mario Cuomo demonstrated beautifully that you could break with your own religion’s orthodoxy without rubbing your position in their face. He and his campaigns communicated with his unhappy church leaders when he supported “Choice.” He willingly addressed people’s freedoms but acknowledged, respected and personally followed his church’s doctrines to the contrary. He, however, would not support them as “law” for others.

The Weprin campaign missed the entire dialogue with the Orthodox community. Reporters would return to our office and talk about the “gay” issue in the synagogues.

The Weprin campaign needed damage control and there was none.

Bob Turner stole the issue of suppor t for Israel from David Weprin; the candidate and the campaign allowed it to happen. Yes, Ed Koch was the catalyst. But I never saw the early-on tv commercial with the orthodox Jew calling Ed Koch Mushugga. My column responding to Koch was more aggressive than any thing the campaign did to dispel the belief that Bob Turner was bet ter for Israel than David Weprin. The Koch boshwabble was allowed to fester and grow. And it did.

David Weprin lacked charisma, and the campaign did nothing to humanize him. I never saw his arm around a senior or his connection with a lit tle kid. I never heard him talk to the consitiuent living on Medicare and Social Security and convey that he felt their pain.

The candidate was terrible, the campaign was worse.

On an ideological level this writer, a reformer at heart, sees

another major issue. David Weprin was selected by the party leaders w ithout a primar y. The reason they chose David was one of loyalty and control-not electabilit y, good government or the wishes of the people. When a par ty takes its own needs above those of its members and the people, we all lose.

The Winners: Bob Turner, his campaign manager O’Brien Murray, the Queens GOP. The Losers, David Weprin, The Parkside Group (political consultants), the Queens Dems.

The spin here is not Barack Obama. The spin here is local elections are local and the Dems blew this one. Kudos to the Turner operation.

I interviewed Bob Turner and think he may not be the right wing ideologue the Weprin campaign tried to make him out to be. I wish him well.

Good luck Bob. MSchenkler@QueensPress.com

Ten Years Later, They Still Want To Kill Us All report on the Fort Hood massacre, where an Islamist army major, who had made no secret of where h is sympath ie s lay, murdered 13 American soldiers on a military base i n Texas, t iptoed around the issue of why Major Nidal Malik Hasan acted the way he did.

Stern And army psychiatrists approved his performance despite hearing his tirades about infidels.

Another fact that has remained below the radar is that “according to the Bipar t isan Policy Center, in 2009 at least 43 America n cit izens or re sidents aligned with Sunni militant groups or their ideology were charged or convicted of terrorism crime s i n the United State s or elsewhere, the highest number in any year since 9/11.”

A web of organizations in the United States have defended radical terrorists on First Amendment grounds as exercising their religious freedom.

There is nothing in the First Amendment protecting bomb makers, or people who commit acts of violence or exhort others to do so.

Far beyond shouting “fire” in crowded theaters, there are ideologue s who would set fire s in crowded theatres, or buses or subways if they could.

The struggle against Islamic terrorism is one that will continue well into the future. It has by no means ended with the death of Osama bin Laden. It is different from our previous wars in that it is not fought by national armies over defined territories, and concluded

with the victory of one side and the surrender of the other. The enemy here is a malignant ideology which believes, as a matter of faith, that non-believers must become subservient to one particular theology, and that all who do not should be required to pay tribute, or be put to death.

That may sound ridiculous to you, but if millions of people believe it and thousands act on it, the matter is quite serious. And there may be billions of people who, even if they do not necessarily believe it and are highly unlikely to act on it, would not be enormously upset if that ideology prevailed and Earth became a theocracy.

The struggle for freedom and democrac y, value s we take for granted, can be a lonely effort.

Another human impulse is submission, the desire to be guided by someone else and freed from personal responsibility. We saw that in Jonestown, Guyana in 1978, and in Germany in the 1930’s.

Circumstances do not require ever yone to feel t hat way, just enough party members to control the government, the army and the police who rule the country.

With the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the world has become more dangerous.

The ability of individual non-state actors to do enormous damage has increased substantially and will continue to do so.

The survival of representative governments is complicated by the fact that many law-abiding people are unable or unwilling to identify and confront the enemy, despite repeated incidents of violence, like

the mass killings in peaceful Norway, of all places. Sure the attackers can be called crazy, but their insanity sometimes takes the form of murdering others on behalf of particular causes. The Norway nut hated Muslims, and his act shows that violence is not confined by ethnicity or ideology. The Son of Sam obeyed a dog and killed retail, but that was 35 years ago, before the AK-47.

It makes good sense, however, to look for violence in or near places where it has occurred, and among people who have repeatedly committed violent aggressive.

And it is important that the entire society be made aware of what is going on. The jihadists state their goals openly, as Adolf Hitler did in Mein Kampf, published in two vol-

umes in 1925 and 1926. He followed his course unimpeded for 13 years, while civilized Westerners, exemplified by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, averted their gaze and swallowed Hitler’s lies.

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, it is was important to look to the future as it was to honor the heroes and recall the past. Our efforts should be devoted to seeing that no such tragedy occurs again, and that the people of the United States and other nations be roused from their self-centered stupor, and begin to take actions to protect themselves before it is too late. At this point in world history, it appears highly unlikely, at least to us, that time is on our side.

StarQuest@NYCivic.org

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

By HENRY STERN The tenth anniversar y of 9/11 created a media stir of considerable magnitude. The tenth anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1951, caused relatively little stir.

But by then, we had won World War II. Anxiet y had been Henry augmented by the authorities reporting a “credible threat” of another terrorist attack. By the time you read this, another attack may or may not have occurred. If it did, it most likely was on a far lesser scale than 9/11, but may still inflict substantial damage and attract world at tention. Unfor tunately, to many people in other countries, an attack on the United States would be a cause for rejoicing.

Police Commissioner Kelly tells us that in the last 10 years, 13 credible plots to attack New York City have been foiled. An article from The Daily Beast, reports that nationwide 45 jihadist terrorist plots have been thwarted since 9/11. Some, like the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber, failed only because of the clumsiness of the plotter. Others were stopped by the excellent work of our intelligence community. Whatever the case, it is conceivable that someday our lucky streak will come to an end.

Meanwhile, the American people have differing levels of awareness as to threat of terror.

Our government seems reluctant to think of this ongoing danger as directly related to a radical branch of Islam, which it clearly is. The army

Turner Wins!

GOP Shift, Galvanized Orthodoxy Factor In Democrats’ 9th CD Loss riage, noting the religious protections in the bill that passed in June and went into effect in July.

Both these issues galvanized a significant portion of the Jewish vote, normally a solidly Democratic bloc, to Turner, helping give him the win. Some analysts say the results put in question the president’s support with Jewish voters nationwide, specifically on the issue of Israel.

Veering Right When Anthony Weiner succeeded Chuck Schumer in this district in 1998, it was a bastion of Democratic support; Al Gore won 67 percent there in 2000. But after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the district quickly veered right. The district

As Assemblyman David Weprin speaks to supporters, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (l.) notices a report on TV showing that Turner had been declared the winner. the 1967 war. Although this has been U.S. policy for the past few decades – Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush supported it – the announcement riled up some Jewish voters in the district.

Former Mayor Ed Koch latched onto that discontent and endorsed Turner in July, hoping to send a message to Obama that the policy, and his perceived frosty relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was unacceptable to Jewish voters.

Also in question was Weprin’s support for marriage equality, which proved unpopular in socially conservative Orthodox Jewish areas of Brooklyn, especially in Brighton Beach and Midwood neighborhoods. The area’s state assemblyman, Steve Cymbrowitz, was one of the Democratic “no” votes. A letter signed by 40 rabbis made its way around the district during the campaign blasting Weprin for voting to allow same-sex marriage, which they said violates “Torah Law.” Weprin had defended his vote on same-sex mar-

suffered huge losses in the attacks, especially among police and firefighters in the Rockaways, and the issue of terrorism shot to the top of the list of concerns among residents.

In the 2002 elections, Weiner defeated his unknown opponent Al Donohue by 30 points, a far smaller number than his previous two victories. In that year’s gubernatorial race, incumbent Republican George Pataki cruised over Democratic nominee Carl McCall in the district. Four years earlier, Democratic nominee Peter Vallone Sr. kept the race close in the 9th despite losing to Pataki by a larger margin statewide.

Two years later, President George W. Bush took a surprising 44 percent in the district; that margin repeated itself in 2008, when John McCain got 44 percent, winning the Brooklyn portion, despite losing nationwide. The district was among Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s weakest downstate last November.

The Jewish Vote Though the 9th district is overwhelmingly Democratic by registration, it’s not by voting bloc. About a third of the district is working class whites of Irish, Italian or Polish descent, a mostly Republican bloc outside of Forest Hills. Another third is Hispanic and Asian, a solidly Democratic group. The Democrats have won with the support of the other third – Jewish voters – who are especially strong in Brooklyn. Many of these Jews are Orthodox, who have leaned conservative in the last few years.

President Obama’s position on Israel became a major issue in the race after he announced he supported negotiating a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority – a precursor for the creation of a Palestinian state – starting with the borders of the two lands from before

Historical Result The race was the closest Congressional election in Queens since 1992, when U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (DBayside) fended off a challenge from Suffolk County Legislator Allen Binder by a 7-point margin. That year was the first time Ackerman was facing voters on Long Island as well as Queens.

In the 9th district, it was the closest race since 1984 when Democrat Tom Manton defeated Republican Serphin Maltese by 5 points to replace Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

Maltese later served in the State Senate.

The last Republican to represent Queens in Congress was John LeBoutillier, whose district was mainly in Nassau County, but included Douglaston, Little Neck and Bellerose. LeBoutillier defeated Democratic incumbent Lester Wolff in 1980 and held the seat for one term, leaving office at the end of 1982.

The last Republican to represent a district entirely in Queens was Seymour Halpern, who represented a district that included Whitestone, Bayside, Fresh Meadows and most of Eastern Queens during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Though the Brooklyn portion of the 9th district hasn’t seen a Republican representing them in the House since 1923, much of the Queens portion was in the district of Republican Albert Bosch in the 1950s. Bosch was succeeded by Joe Addabbo Sr. in 1960.

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

Photo by Domenick Rafter

It was an election result few believed was ever possible a few years ago. A retired Breezy Point businessman, mostly unknown a year ago, runs for Congress as a Republican to succeed one of the most well-known progressive Democrats in the country after he was forced out of office by scandal.

And he wins.

The loser is a scion of Queens – and New York – politics; the son of a former State Assembly Speaker. But Tuesday’s election proves that what heretofore was impossible can happen on any given day, including the election of a Republican to represent Queens in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bob Turner, a retired media executive, ran for Congress in 2010 against Anthony Weiner and never really thought he’d see the inside of the U.S. Capitol. Now he’s headed there. He defeated Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) 54 to 46 percent to win the seat vacated by Weiner in June after he got caught sending pictures of his nearly naked crotch to women on Twitter and initially denied doing it, chalking it up to a hit job on him by a right wing activist.

In a race that swung on numerous campaign gaffes, the reaction among Jewish voters to President Barack Obama’s policy – and perceived attitudetoward the state of Israel, coupled with Weprin’s vote for marriage equality helped Turner come out ahead in the end.

“We have lit one candle today. It’s going to be a bonfire pretty soon,” Turner said to supporters at Roma View catering hall in Howard Beach shortly after midnight Tuesday night. Turner said that his victory would send a message to Washington; his campaign was about getting frustrated voters to send that message.

“It was people like us who got off their couch and said ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,’” he said.

Weprin initially didn’t concede Tuesday night, leaving the Cobblestone Inn in Forest Hills without making a statement after the race was called for Turner. He called his opponent to concede Wednesday morning.

“I just called Bob Turner to congratulate him on a well-fought campaign,” Weprin said. “He will now have the honor of representing Brooklyn and Queens in Congress, and I hope that he will work every day to represent all of the diverse communities that make up the 9th Congressional district.”

Photo by Ira Cohen

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

By DOMENICK RAFTER

Turner celebrates his victory with family.

Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER

102nd Precinct Attempted Rape

tering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

105th Precinct

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the following man wanted in connection with an attempted Stabbed To Death rape that occurred in Forest Park.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, at approxiOn Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 10 p.m., in mately 1:17 p.m., police responded to a the vicinity of Park Lane 911 call of a man stabbed in South and Myrtle Avenue front of 235-08 148th Ave. inside of Forest Park, a 13in Rosedale. Upon arrival, year-old white girl reported responding officers obthat she was approached served a white man between from behind by a man who the ages of 40 and 50 lying placed his hand over her on the ground unconscious mouth, threw her to the and unresponsive with stab ground and attempted to wounds to his neck. pull her shorts down. The EMS also responded to victim screamed and fought the location and prooff the suspect who then nounced the man dead at fled the location. the scene. There were no The suspect is described Police are looking for this arrests made in regard to as a white man, 30-35 years suspect in an attempted this incident and the invesold, approximately 5-foot-10 rape in Forest Park. tigation is ongoing. The to 6-feet, between 190-220 identity of the deceased lbs with light brown scruffy facial hair. The was withheld pending proper family nosuspect was last seen wearing a blue base- tification. ball cap, navy blue windbreaker type jacket and tan khaki cargo shorts.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging Cell Store Robberies onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at The NYPD is seeking the public’s asnypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting sistance in locating three people who are their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then en- wanted in connection with 10 robberies

101st, 106th, 114th Precincts

Police are looking for these suspects in a string of cell phone store robberies. at Metro PCS stores citywide, including three in Queens, between July 29 and Sept. 7.

The Queens robberies took place on Friday, Aug. 26, at 3:25 p.m. at a Metro PCS store at 25-09 Astoria Blvd. in Astoria; on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 3:10 p.m. at 10-85 Beach 21st St. in Far Rockaway; and at 4:45 p.m. the same day at a Metro PCS store at 158-06 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach.

In all locations, the suspects displayed a firearm and removed an unknown amount of cash before fleeing. Only one man was involved in the Astoria robbery, while the Far Rockaway robbery included the same man from the Astoria heist and another man; the Howard Beach heist included the same two men and a woman.

The two men are described as black, 20-25 years old, 6-foot to 6-

foot-1. The woman is described as black, 18-23 years old, 5-foot-3 and 110 lbs.

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

110th Precinct Vehicle Accident On Wednesday, Sept. 14, at approximately 1:37 a.m., police responded to a 911 call of a vehicle accident on Queens Boulevard in the vicinity of Woodhaven Boulevard near Queens Center Mall, in Elmhurst.

Upon investigation, police determined Paul Gallagher, 56, Of 75-02 Austin St. in Forest Hills, was driving a 1995 Saturn and was traveling eastbound on Queens Boulevard when he veered onto the median and then struck the divider between eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic.

EMS responded and transported Gallagher to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The medical examiner was to determine cause of death. There was no apparent criminality.

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

Luminaries and the families of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, gathered 10 years later at the site this past Sunday.

Photos by Walter Karling

pix

Ten Years Later

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Celebrity Tennis The US Open is always the perfect place to watch the stars.

One of many tributes held up in memory of those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Queens' Paul Simon performs a moving rendition of "Sound of Silence."

Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks of Lower Manhattan's growth in the last decade.

Photos by Ira Cohen

President Barack Obama addresses the crowd.

Diddy showed up.

First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Open.

National Grid offers mail-in rebates to make high-efficiency natural gas equipment even more affordable.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

up to $1,000 rebate for a high-efficiency space heating boiler or up to $600 rebate for a space heating furnace, saving up to 30% on your heating costs by using less energy to produce the same amount of heat as standard equipment $300 rebate for an indirect water heating unit, cutting water heating expenses by up to 30% $100 rebate for an outdoor boiler reset control, saving up to 10% or more on heating costs by operating according to the weather outdoors $25 rebate for a programmable thermostat, saving up to $180 a year by managing your heating needs automatically and efficiently National Grid residential natural gas heating customers residing in Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island may qualify. Please visit our website for full program details and a list of qualifying equipment models. Customers must obtain a reservation number online before submitting their rebate applications. This offer is subject to change or cancellation at any time. Some restrictions may apply. Savings and energy efficiency experiences may vary. Š National Grid 2011

For more information, please visit:

www.powerofaction.com/nyc13

A&E

Restaurant Review

Book Fair's Growth Leads To Boon Of Urban Writers

A Hidden, Juicy Gem

BY MARLENA MATUTE

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

Even with the recent introduction of the e-reader, there is nothing like a good book. However, there are authors within our community that are not recognized, a fact that C&B Books Distribution is changing.

C&B Books Distribution started in 1995, with its goal to provide urban, self-published authors the exposure needed to get their work out into the community.

According to Caroline Rogers, CEO and owner of C&B Books, the company started as a street vendor in Queens, providing the public with affordable books written by African American authors of all genres and for all ages. But later it took a turn.

"I saw how the consumers eagerly sought titles written by African American authors," Rogers said. "I decided to give them something a little larger by holding the first annual Queens Book Fair."

The first fair, conducted in 2005, was done to give celebrated urban writers the chance to showcase their work and connect with their audience. With the success of that fair, the company decided to expand the fair to include health professionals to promote awareness and preventative methods to avoid illness.

"I thought that literary and health would be a very informative event for all people especially in the African American communities." Rogers added.

The 6th annual Queens Book and Health Fair will be taking place on Sept. 24 at the Jamaica Farmers Market's Harvest Room from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, go to cbbooksdistribution.com.

Reach Intern Marlena Matute at mmatute@queenstribune.com.

PUERTA MADERO STEAKHOUSE 158-15 Horace Harding Expy., Fresh Meadows (718) 661-4262 CUISINE: Argentine & Greek HOURS: Tue-Sun noon-11 p.m.

PARKING: Street RESERVATIONS: Accepted CREDIT CARDS: All Major Don’t be fooled by the exterior. Though it is easily the nicest shop on the strip, Puerta Madero Steakhouse is by no means impressive from the outside. Venture in. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

With small tables layered with maroon and white tablecloths, and funky, modern blue lighting lining the walls, the overall effect is surprisingly elegant. Don’t be surprised if you forget where you are.

After being quickly seated by the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff, my guest and I perused the menu, an eclectic mix of Italian and Argentinean dishes. Always up for an adventure, on the advice of our server we chose several traditional Argentinean dishes.

As we waited for our food, we enjoyed a basket of warm, crusty Italian bread with Encortido, an Argentinean appetizer that consists of cannellini bean, scallions and garlic in olive oil.

At first bite the Encortido is surprisingly sweet, followed by a hint of onion. You’ll discover what happened to the garlic after you swallow. A surprisingly strong aftertaste awaits you, which is fine with this garlic lover.

While doing some serious damage to the breadbasket, the offer of Sangria was happily accepted, and we

chose the white. A mix of white wine, peach, pineapple, brandy and 7-Up with chunks of apple and orange; the mellow flavor belies the alcohol. On your next trip, make sure to order a pitcher, but don’t forget the designated driver. It’s too good to sip.

To our delight, the first course came quickly – an exotic looking appetizer known as Matambre: sliced veal served cold, stuffed with boiled eggs, spinach and peppers in a light garlic sauce, topped by a Russian salad. We both went back for seconds.

The second dish, Clams Polipo, finds clams cooked in tomato sauce, with garlic, oregano and fresh herbs.

Not normally a clam lover, I nonetheless enjoyed these.

Our first main course was the Canneloni, a crepe stuffed with spinach, ricotta and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce. Give the dish time to grow on you. I was unimpressed after the first nibble, and my guest did not think he would finish it, only to devour it after the third bite.

It’s a hearty meal disguised in a delicate exterior, whose highlight, the tomato sauce, begs to be sopped up with your extra bread. If anyone has their recipe, please, let me know.

The grand finale, black angus skirt steak, lightly seasoned and grilled to perfection, is served with chimichurri sauce: olive oil seasoned with parsley, pepper, garlic, oregano and vinegar. This must be eaten to be believed.

A mouthful of bloody rare steak with yummy, yummy chimichurri is my new definition of heaven.

Puerto Madero is one of those neighborhood restaurants that a couple might refer to as “our place.”

Make it yours.

A&E

Queens Film To Premiere Sept. 23

“Director’s Cut,� the award-winning feature film by Little Neck resident Elana Mugdan, will have its first Queens screening on Sept. 23. The movie will be shown at the Community Church of Douglaston, starting at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $10; all proceeds benefit the church, located at 39-50 Douglaston Parkway. “Director’s Cut� is a comedy about Cassie Thompson, a college dropout who – in an effort to turn around her dead end life – decides to make an impossibly complicated fantasy film with a ragtag group of oddball friends. Her ambitions greatly exceed her capabilities. The film chronicles the team’s misadventures, along with Cassie’s growth as she struggles to keep her dream alive.

The 22-year old Mugdan wrote, directed and edited the film, which was shot almost entirely in northeastern Queens, where Mugdan has lived her entire life.

Area residents will recognize many of the featured locations in Little Neck, Douglaston and Bayside. A few scenes were shot in Manhattan and Nassau County.

The movie’s local roots run deep: Dave Dodds, another Queens native who resides in Bayside, was behind the camera as director of photography. Special effects were provided by Lenz Produc-

DY N A M I C

tions, owned by Eugene Chu of Little Neck. The soundtrack features a hauntingly beautiful song composed and performed by Alex Dadras, also of Little Neck.

Since its premiere in December 2010 at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, “Director’s Cut� has been an official selection at eight film festivals, earning widespread acclaim and winning major awards at three of them. The film won the Director’s Choice Award for a feature at the 2011 Litchfield Hills Film Festival in Connecticut.

In April 2011, “Director’s Cut� won the Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award at the prestigious Boston International Film Festival. In July, the movie was featured at the New Hope Film Festival in Pennsylvania, where it won another Indie Spirit Award. “Director’s Cut� was a Main Selection at the Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs and an Official Finalist at the Las Vegas Film Festival. The picture is an Official Selection at the upcoming Filmshift Festival in Massachusetts this fall. The trailer for the picture, an official selection of the International Las Vegas Cine Fest, can be viewed at wix.com/ shivnathproductions/shivnathproductions.

Mugdan formed her independent film

C A P T I VAT I N G

p roduction company, Shivnath Productions, Inc., in early 2010. Shooting for “Director’s Cut� took place between February and July 2010, with post-production (editing, sound, music and special effects) continuing into November. Mugdan received invaluable assistance during filming from the New York City Parks Department, the Douglas Manor Association and the Community Church of Douglaston, among others.

Mugdan recently signed a contract with Circus Road Films, Inc., of Santa Monica, Calif., which will pursue distribution agreements for the movie.

Unlike her protagonist, Mugdan is not a college dropout, having graduated in 2009 with highest honors from the University of The movie poster for “Director’s Cut.�

Maine. She is a product of the New York City public school system, having attended PS 94 For tickets and more information and MS 67 in Little Neck, and Townsend contact Elana Mugdan at (718) 224Harris High School in Flushing.

7256.

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Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Faith

Health And Faith At Lady Of Light

BY VERONICA LEWIN One church known for its service to the community is sponsoring a health fair this weekend in St. Albans.

Our Lady of Light Parish is sponsoring a health fair this Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fair will be held at the Riverton Street Charter School, located at 118-34 Riverton St. in St. Albans.

“It is our objective to promote a greater sense of health awareness among our neighbors, and especially our children,” said Diane Broadwater, Director of Our Lady of Light’s parish food pantry.

Broadwater is also the organizer of the health fair.

Local health care professionals will be educating attendees on proper nutrition, caring for the elderly, the dangers of lead paint and fire safety. Professionals will also conduct blood pressure screenings and provide information on cancer screening, prevention and treatment options.

try distributes food to low income individuals and families once a week, and uses the help of volunteers. For additional information, contact (718) 454-

Faculty from Riverton Street Charter will be helping out with this weekend’s event. Physical education teacher Javier Rivera will conduct exercise classes, while second grade teacher Amanda Brown will lead zumba dance sessions throughout the day. Science teacher Frances Vivioso will present information about the impact of fast food.

Principal of the Riverton Street Charter School Verone Kennedy helped make the school space available for the fair and encouraged his faculty members to volunteer. “I can think of nothing more important to our success in achieving educational excellence than a healthy student body and a healthy family life,” Kennedy said.

St. Catherine of Siena and St. Pascal Baylon merged in 2008 to form Our Lady of Light parish. The church operates several committees and groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Divine Intervention young adult group, Girl Scouts and a food pantry. The food pan-

1403 or (718) 644-7911.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Word “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”

—Anne Frank

Notebook

Library Discovery Center

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

On Thursday, the Queens Library will officially unveil an interactive learning center that is unprecedented in the country.

The new Children’s Library Discovery Center, located at the Central Queens Library, is filled with books and exhibits to satisfy the curiosity of any young learner.

The idea for the Discovery Center project came 10 years ago and opens Thursday after three years of construction. To cel-

The new color-coded guide makes it easier for readers to find their favorite genre.

ebrate, the library will host a grand opening Thursday from 3:30-6 p.m. DiscoverE the Robot will introduce Borough President Helen Marshall and Councilmen Leroy Comrie (D-St.Albans) and Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).

One of the most unique features of the two-floor Discovery Center is an interactive map of Queens. Visitors are greeted at the door with a floor map of the borough. When a child steps on a landmark, they hear a sound associated with that place. Stepping on the Steinway Factory prompts piano music to start playing, while a crowd cheers for standing on Citi Field. Queens Library spokeswoman Joanne King said she hopes having fun at the Discovery Center will make children lifelong learners.

“This unique library is one for the modern age,” Marshall said. “Clearly, it is not only a library, but a museum and school that will awaken interests and open new vistas and opportunities for children in search of knowledge and wonder. It will be a boroughwide resource for generations to come.”

Funding from Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Marshall, Comrie, the Queens City Council Delegation, and a federally-funded grant from the National Science Foundation totaling $30.3 million has made the Discovery Center a reality in Queens.

To make it easier for readers to find their favorite subject, the library is colorcoded. All a child has to do is follow the colored line associated with the subject to pick a book of interest. “Even if you can’t read, you should be able to find what

Photo by Michael Moran

Children Discover Queens At Library

This interactive map of the borough gives children a fun learning experience at the new Children’s Library Discovery Center. you’re looking for,” King said.

Math and science exhibits will be rotated out, so when children come to the Central Library, they can have a fresh experience.

Also, the exhibits will be exchanged between other Queens Library branches so kids across the borough can get the Discovery Center experience in their neighborhood.

“All of these hands-on exhibits are part of the way kids learn about science and math, and it’s an opportunity for them to interact with the world,” King said.

This Saturday, Sept. 17, the Queens Library will host a Discovery Day to celebrate the opening of the new center.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can experience the Discovery Center while also enjoying refreshments, musical perfor-

mances, science experiments and storytelling. The event will be held, rain or shine, at the Central Library, located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica. The event will move indoors in the case of rain.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Is Your School Doing Something Good?

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

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14 Road, Whitestone NY 11357.

Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina.

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

ALUMNI MARTIN LUTHER HS Saturday, September 24 Martin Luther HS in Maspeth will host an Alumni Day for all grades. 894-4000.

THOMAS JEFFERSON Sunday, January 15 class of 1961 will meet in Florida.

Tjhs1961@aol.com

DINNER BAYSIDE SISTERS Sunday, September 18 the Sisterhood of the Bayside Jewish Center will hold their annual breakfast. $10.

ENVIRONMENT RECYLCING EVENT Sunday, September 18 at Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot from 10-3.

VANISHING BEE Monday, September 19 “Vanishing of the Bees” film at the Broadway library at 6.

COMPOSTING Tuesdays, September 20, 27 waste food drop off at the Steinway library at 4.

PESTICIDE EXPOSURE Friday, September 23 at the Woodside library at 4. Learn what organic labels mean and how to shop for the healthiest products.

WASTE RECYCLING Sunday, September 25 Electronic Waste Recycling from 10-4 at the Hall of Science.

212-477-4022 information.

SACRED MUSIC Saturday, September 17 Sacred Music Chorale of Richmond Hill begins rehearsals at 10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 86-20 1 1 4 th Street. www.richmondhillny.com/ ArtsSMC WALK & RUN Sunday, September 25 Long Island Hear t Walk and 5K Run. 516-450-9126.

MARTIN LUTHER SINGS Tuesday, September 27 the choirs of Martin Luther School in Maspeth will sing the National Anthem at CitiField. 894-4000, ext.

133.

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

NOOK STORY TIME Saturday, September 17 Nook Children’s Storytime at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 1766 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , Fre s h Meadows.

SCOUTING Saturday, September 17 register for Cub Scout Pack 368. 271-1100.

DISCOVERY DAY Saturday, September 17 Discovery Day at the Central library starting at 11.

AUDITIONS Saturday, September 17 12-4 at MS158, 46-35 Oceania Street, Bayside. The Yo u t h Orchestra will hold auditions for new members 11-18. 834-8904 information.

MATH HELP Saturdays at the Flushing library at 10.

HOMEWORK HELP Saturdays 10-noon teen tutors available at the Bayside library.

CHESS CLUB Every Saturday at the Flushing library at 2.

S TORY TIMES Saturdays at 11 and Tuesdays at 10:30 weekly story times at Barnes & Noble, 1766 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , Fre s h Meadows.

CRAWLING CRITTERS Saturday, September 17 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

NATURE PHOTO. Sunday, September 18 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.

FROGS & BUGS Monday, September 19 Frogs, bugs and animals at the Astoria library at 3:30.

Also Tuesday, September 20 at the Woodside library at 4.

BOOST WORD Monday, September 19 Word Project at the Central library at 4:30.

HOMEWORK HELP Mondays 3:30-5:00 teen tutors available at the Bayside library.

TURN OFF TV Tuesday, September 20 at 10:30 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Tuesday, September 20 at the Glen Oaks library at 11.

SIGN LANGUAGE Tuesday, September 20 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

BOOST MATH Tuesday, September 20 at the Central library at 4:30.

BOOST MATH Tuesday, September 20 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

TODDLER CRAFT Wednesday, September 21 at the Briarwood library at 10:30.

MOTHER GOOSE Wednesday, September 21 at the Fresh Meadows library at 10:30.

STORY TIME Wednesday, September 21 at the Hollis library at 10:30.

HAPPY STORY TIME

Wednesday, September 21 at the LIC library at 10:30.

TODDLER STORY TIME Wednesday, September 21 at the Briarwood library at 11.

FAMILY STORY TIME Wednesday, September 21 at the Seaside library at 11.

S TORY T I M E Wednesday, September 21 at the East Elmhurst library at 11:30.

PRE-SCHOOL STORY TIME Wednesday, September 21 at the Maspeth library at 1:30.

FALL COLORING Wednesday, September 21 at the Bay Terrace librar y.

Register.

BOOK MAKING Wednesday, September 21 book making workshop at the Cambria Heights library.

Register.

BOOST Wednesday, September 21 International Day of Peace Program at the Central library at 4:30.

READING BUDDIES Wednesday, September 21 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

SIGN LANGUAGE Thursday, September 22 at the Elmhurst library. Register.

BOOK MAKING Thursday, September 22 at the Ridgewood library. Register.

AUTUMN CRAFTS Thursday, September 22 at the Hillcrest library at 4:30.

BOOST HEALTH Thursday, September 22 Health Science at the McGoldrick library at 5.

CRAFT TIME Every Thursday at 3:30 at the Ozone Park library.

STORY TIME Friday, September 23 at the Hollis library at 10:30.

CHESS CLUB Fridays, September 23, 30 at the Auburndale library at 3:30.

GAME DAY Friday, September 23 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

CHESS CLUB Friday, September 23 at the Auburndale library at 3:30.

CRAFTS Friday, September 23 at the Maspeth library at 3:30.

BOOK BUDDIES Friday, September 23 at the Bayside library at 4.

SIGN LANGUAGE Friday, September 23 at the Broadway library at 4.

BOOST GAME DAY Friday, September 23 at the Central library at 4.

MATH CLUB Friday, September 23 at the McGoldrick library at 4.

CRAFTS Friday, September 23 at 4 at the Seaside library.

GAME TIME Friday, September 23 at the Windsor Park library at 4.

BOOST CRAFT Friday, September 23 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

TEEN HOMEWORK HELP Saturday, September 24 at the Bayside library at 10.

SCIENCE LAB Saturday, September 24 at the Central library at 11.

TEENS

HEALTH

MEETINGS

AUDITIONS SeeYouth listing.

HOMEWORK HELP Saturday, September 17 tutors at the Bayside library at 10.

DISCOVERY DAY Saturday, September 17 Discovery Day Street Fair at 11:30 at the Central library.

SAT PRACTICE Saturday, September 17 at the Bayside library at noon.

EID CONCERT Saturday, September 17 EID concert and Bengali fashion show at the Central library at 2.

UNFRAMED Saturday, September 17 Unframed: A Dramatic Performance with Iyaba Ibo Mandingo at the Langston Hughes library at 3.

MOVIES FOR TEENS Monday, September 19 at the Steinway library at 3.

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

TEEN HOMEWORK Mondays, September 19, 26 at the Bayside library at 3:30.

TEEN CHESS Mondays, September 19, 26 : at the Bayside library at 6.

TEST TAKING SECRETS Tuesday, September 20 at the Cambria Heights library at 3:30.

LIC CHESS Tuesday, September 20 at the LIC library at 4.

CHESS TIME Tuesday, September 20 at the Seaside library at 4.

TEEN TUESDAYS Tuesday, September 20 at the Hillcrest library at 4:30.

WHITE HOUSE Wednesday, September 21 White House Current Events at the Laurelton library at 3.

RESUMES Wednesday, September 21 at the Arverne library at 4.

BOOK MAKING Wednesday, September 21 at the Cambria Heights library. Register.

TEEN REC ROOM Wednesday, September 21 at the Steinway library at 4.

GET CRAFTY Thursday, September 22 at the Flushing library at 4.

BOOK MAKING Thursday, September 22 at the Ridgewood library. Register.

SHSAT PRACTICE Thursday, September 22 at the Woodhaven library at 4.

BASIC WEB DESIGN Thursday, September 22 at the Arverne library at 6.

CREATIVE WRITING Thursday, September 22 creative writing workshop at the Langston Hughes library at 6.

CHESS CLUB Fridays, September 23, 30 at the Auburndale library at 3:30.

GAME PLAYERS CLUB Every Friday at 4 at the Hillcrest library.

YOUNG REFORMERS Friday, September 23, 30 America’s Young Reformers meet at the Laurelton library.

Register.

TEEN HOMEWORK Saturday, September 24 at

the Bayside library at 10.

HEALTH FAIR Saturday, September 17 a health and wellne3ss fair will take place at 113-50 Farmers Blvd., St. Albans.

CHAIR YOGA Saturdays, September 17, 24 i n t r o d u c t i o n t o c h a i r yoga Elmhurst library. Register.

ZUMBA Saturdays, September 17, 24 at the Fresh Meadows library. Register.

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

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

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 7 days a week. 962-6244.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS Sundays 7-8:30 at Zion Episcopal Church, 143-01 Northern Blvd., entrance on 44 th Avenue, room 5, Little Neck.

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

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

ASTHMA Monday, September 19 A s t h m a Tr i g g e r s i n t h e Home Astoria library at 6.

ZUMBA Monday, September 19 at the Langston Hughes library.

Register.

INTRO RELAXATION Monday, September 19 introduction to relaxation and self-healing at 6 at the Laurelton library.

HEALTHY LIVING Monday, September 19 healthy living and the built environment at 6 at the Sunnyside library.

CHAIR YOGA Tuesday, September 20 at the Queensboro Hill library and the Rego Park librar y.

Register.

ZUMBA Wednesdays, September 21, 28 at the Richmond Hill library at 4.

T’AI CHI Thursday, September 22 at the Forest Hills library. Register.

SMART SKIN Thursday, September 22 at the LIC library. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Thursday, September 22 at t h e W i n d s o r Pa r k l i b ra r y.

Register.

ZUMBA Thursday, September 22 at the Queens Village library.

Register.

FREE YOGA Thursday, September 22 at the Queensboro Hill library.

Register.

INTRO CHAIR YOGA Thursday, September 22 at the South Ozone Park library. Register.

TAI CHI Thursdays, September 22, 29 at the Forest Hills library.

Register.

CHAIR YOGA Fridays, September 23, 30 introduction to chair yoga Ozone Park library. Register.

BELLA ITALIA MIA Sunday, September 18 Bella Italia Mia meets at Christ the King High School, 68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village. 426-1240.

P-FLAG S u n d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 8 PFLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663.

AUBURNDALE Tuesday, September 20 the Auburndale Association meets at St. Kevin’s, 45-21 194 th Street at 7:30.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Tuesday, September 20 a t Holy Family Catholic Church, 175-20 174 th Street, Fresh Meadows at 7:30.

TALK OF THE TOWN Tu e s d a y, S e p te m b e r 2 0 learn the art of public speaking in St. Albans at 7:15. 6407092.

AMER. LEGION 131 Tu e s d a y, S e p te m b e r 2 0 American Legion, Post 131 meets at 8. 767-4323.

KNIGHTS OF PY THIAS Wednesday, September 21 Queensview Lodge 433 meets in Whitestone. 917754-3093.

TOASTMASTERS Wednesday, September 21 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale To a s t m a s t e r s C l u b i n J a maica. 978-0732.

FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesday, September 21 Flushing Camera Club meets at Flushing Hospital. 4790643.

HORIZONS CLUB Thursday, September 22 Horizons, for those 55 and over, special High Holidays program at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th Street at 12:30. $3. Includes coffee and cake.

STAMP CLUB Thursday, September 22 Forest Hills library at 5:45.

CAC Friday, September 23 Southern Queens Regional CACV meeting to improve the health of Jamaica, South Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Baisley Park, South Hollis and St. Albans. 2 at the South Hollis library.

FLEA MARKETS TRASH & TREASURE Saturday, September 17 93 at All Saints Church, 21435 40th Avenue.

FLEA MARKET Sunday, September 18 104 a t t h e Yo u n g I s r a e l o f Queens Valley, 141-55 77 th avenue, Flushing.

BOOK & HEALTH FAIR Saturday, September 24 12-6 6 th Annual Queens Book and Health Fair in the Harvest Room at Jamaica Market, 90-40 160 th Street, Jamaica.

FLEA MARKET Saturday, September 24 94 at the First Presbyterian Church of Newtown, Queens Blvd. and 54 th Avenue, Elmhurst.

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

MISCELLANEOUS

YOUTH

Profile

Job Coach With Unorthodox System

BY VERONICA LEWIN With the national unemployment rate at 9 percent, many are losing hope they will be able to find a job until the economy turns around. A new job coach in Jamaica believes the jobless still have a chance, as long as they make a few tweaks to their search approach.

Ethan Chazin has been the new job coach at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center’s Job Club for a little over a month, and hopes to help Southeast Queens with his new approach.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center Job Club is a free program that helps those seeking employment by providing positive peer interaction, one-on-one counseling, computer training and access to workshops and seminars conducted by experts in the field.

“I knew deep down that my love and my greatest strength was helping people,” Chazin said.

He believes many were ill-prepared for the changing economy, do not know how to adjust and need to find a new set of skills to find employment. Chazin is known for his unconventional methodology for job seeking and said his approach works for some, but most people find it a challenge.

Chazin’s method is a three-step approach. First, the job seeker has to look inward and figure out what they love to do. Next, the person has to discover what they are good at and what skills they have to offer potential employers. Lastly, the job seeker has to create a plan to find a career that best matches their interests and abilities.

In 2004, he founded The Chazin Group, which helps individuals network better and find a career that matches their passion in life. The organization also helps businesses conduct professional training and development programs, human resources consulting and recruiting, among other things. Chazin has given lectures to more than 35 colleges and universities and associations of business professionals. Through The Chazin Group, he has helped more than 10,000 people find employment over seven years.

Chazin earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, East Bay and his master’s in marketing from George Washington University. He started his career as a recruiter in Washington D.C. and has been helping people obtain employment ever since.

After spending 23 years in the pri-

vate sector, Chazin decided to alter his career path in 2008. That year, he was downsized from the management team at Time Warner and decided to devote the rest of his career teaching what he learned about the job market to others.

“I would teach them so they wouldn’t go through the pain,” he said.

In addition to being a job coach with the Jamaica Neighborhood Center, Chazin is an adjunct professor at New York University, Queens College and St. John’s University.

In 2009, Chazin wrote a book, “Bulletproof Your Career in These Turbulent Times,” which provides readers with ways to develop a job search marketing plan best suited to their abilities and uncover hidden jobs in the market.

The job coach said he enjoys when people tell him they were struggling for a long time before meeting with him, but Chazin’s methods gave them hope which eventually led to an employment opportunity. “When someone has one of those life-defining moments where I’ve been able to help them through a lot of pain, transition to a better place, that’s the reward,” he said.

The Job Club is open Mondays and Thursdays from 9-5 p.m. and Wednes-

Ethan Chazin, the Jamaica Neighborhood Center’s new job coach. days from 10-6 p.m. For more information, contact (718) 739-2060.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

People Garlington of Tacoma, Wash., and brother of Taneka Amos of Jamaica.

Killebrew received a bachelor's degree in 2009 from St. John's University, Jamaica.

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

The following students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2011 semester at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y.: Haniyyah Bashir, class of 2014, a resident of Rosedale; and Mayra Bermeo, class of 2013, a resident of Jackson Heights.

To be eligible for Dean’s List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or better and take a minimum of 12 lettergraded hours (four courses).

Michael R. Killebrew Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Michael R. Killebrew graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

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

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

He is the son of Karen Mason-

Several local residents have reserved places as freshmen at SUNY Oswego, listed here with their high school in parentheses, are: Shinnell T. Burroughs of Saint Albans (not listed); Melanie Munoz of South Ozone Park (The Mary Louis Academy); Kevin L. Ramkishun of South Ozone Park (Brooklyn Technological High School); Alison P. Sito of Bellerose (The Mary Louis Academy); Kazi F. Hasan of Queens Village (Bayside High School); Deseree Jimenez of Queens Village (Bayside High School); Cindy Nervil of Jamaica (not listed); Maurice Antoine of Jamaica (High School Graphic Communications Art); Shanice C. Brown of Jamaica (St. Francis Preparatory School); Davion V. McEqwan of Jamaica (Hillcrest High School); Tiffany A. Francis of Far Rockaway (Brooklyn College Academy High School); Cherish D. Smith of Arverne (not listed); Joy

L. Smith of Arverne (not listed); and Christa M. Hedderson of Rockaway Point (F.H. Laguardia High School Music).

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area (RMHCNYTSA) awarded a $17,000 scholarship to Sabrina Hussain of Ozone Park, a graduate of John Adams High School.

This year alone, RMHC-NYTSA is awarding more than $85,000 in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors.

Sabrina will be attending Pace University in the fall and plans to study biology.

She hopes to become a pediatrician, specializing in neonatology. Sabrina is an active member of the John Adams High School Key Club, National Honor Society and Boys and Girls Club of America, among other organizations.

“Sabrina exemplifies all of the qualities of a true leader and role model, working very hard throughout high school to achieve her goals,” said Diane Koury, president of RMHC-NYTSA and local McDonald’s franchisee. “Looking at all of her academic achievements and volunteer positions within the community, we have no doubt Sabrina will be extremely successful at Pace University and one day become a very talented pediatrician.”

Recipients were selected based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need and community involvement. To be eligible, the applicants had to be graduating high school seniors who planned to attend a two or fouryear college or university with a com-

plete course of study.

Students of all backgrounds were eligible to apply by submitting a scholarship application to one of the four scholarship programs available: the RMHC/ Asian-Pacific Students Increasing Achievement Scholarship (RMHC/ ASIA), RMHC/African American Future Achievers Scholarship (RMHC/AAFA), the RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (RMHC/ H.A.C.E.R.) and the RMHC Scholars Scholarship (students of all ethnicities are eligible to apply).

RMHC began its support of scholarship programs in 1985 by committing $50,000 toward the first scholarships awarded through the Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) program. In 2001, the RMHC/ ASIA (Asian Students Increasing Awareness) and RMHC/(African American Future Achievers Scholarships) began. By 2007, the U.S. RMHC Scholarship Program had awarded more than $29 million in scholarships. To date, RMHC National has awarded more than $32 million to help high school seniors attend college.

Tell The PRESS Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, engagements and honors to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whittestone, NY 11357 All announcements will be considered for publication without fee.

Graffiti Blaze

Darling Denise

The acclaimed firefighter drama Rescue Me recently featured an episode that set graffiti heaven 5Pointz ablaze. The flames appeared CGI generated – which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Just depends on who you ask. We’re not sure if graffiti, busting Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. is a fan of Rescue Me, but he should be now!

Oh, Lenny…

With the miserable season the Mets have had and it being 25th anniversary of their 1986 championship, it’s only reasonable to expect that some of the key players from that formidable team be in the news.

Unfortunately for Lenny Dykstra, he’s gotten a little too much exposure.

“Nails” pleaded not guilty last week to indecent exposure charges after a slew of women came forward to say that the former center fielder showed off his… well… bat when they responded to ads for personal assistants or housekeepers for the ex-Met. You know, with the outstand-

Wasn’t Lenny Dykstra on the Phillies? ing car theft and drug possession charges pending and the beating he has taken over personal investments, maybe its time we identified Lenny as less of an ex-Met, and more of a one-time Philly. At least then we’d have something to smile about.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 16-22, 2011

First Injuries; Now the Money After starting the year with negativity surrounding the Mets, by midseason it looked like they were turning it around. With Jose Reyes playing like a madman on his contract year and the team actually competing, they were enjoyable to watch. Then the injuries to David Wright, Reyes, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy came and doomed the team.

To add insult to injury, last month, a federal Appeals Court ruled team owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz will have to fork over $300 million in the Bernie Madoff scandal. Boy, for a team that was “bleeding money,” as Wilpon said in the New Yorker, how will the Mets re-sign Reyes?

The team has practically no one coming to their games and now they lose $300 million?

Then to top it all off, the sale to David Einhorn and the influx of the much needed money fell through.

Just wait til next year!

Models Of Queens Daters Or Haters?

The results are in and New York City singles have spoken.

We’re ready to settle down!

According to a poll by Match.com, a leading online dating website, 94 percent of city residents are looking for love.

In Queens, many of the sites subscribers said they were looking for love in other boroughs, particularly Manhattan and Brooklyn.

When it comes to making the trek to the isolated Island of Staten, borough residents left the isle

Queens or S.I.?

Our borough has some of the hottest people in the City – or at least some of the cockiest.

A New York Post survey revealed 53 percent of Queens residents would rate themselves at least an eight out of 10. We have the second highest self-esteem in the City, losing to the Bronx, where 67 percent of residents think they’re hot stuff.

Staten Island residents are either really honest or don’t think too highly of themselves, as not a single respondent would rate themselves an eight or higher.

Which falls in line with how the rest of the world rates them.

Armstrong Sweats

Satchmo Sweatin'

So how much rain fell at the U.S. Open last week? Certainly, it was enough to delay the finals for both women and men by a day, and the hectic schedule certainly ran some players ragged.

But it wouldn’t have been so bad if not for the fact that Louis Armstrong got sweaty.

The namesake for the smaller stadium at the National Tennis Center was often seen dabbing his brow with a hankie when he performed. Apparently, that trait was

Denise Camacho hasn’t been modeling for long but she’s learned life lessons that take other models years to learn.

From spending time at batting cages in Flushing with her brother to hanging out with friends on Steinway Street in Astoria, Camacho has strived towards maintaining a down-to-earth personality that resembles her openmindedness in modeling.

In 2009, Camacho entered Shortstack Modeling, a program dedicated to young women who don’t fit into normal modeling standards. As her career would continue developing, so would her passion for inspiring other young women.

“I always doubted myself and had second thoughts, but once I did it I was so happy that I got accepted. All of the girls were girls like me who wanted to model and learn,” she said.

“It was one of the best experiences I had because it made me more confident,” she said. “I’m so happy that I’ve accomplished something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Apart from her modeling career, Camacho is a fulltime student at Queensborough Community College where she is receiving a degree in Liberal Arts. She plans to apply to FIT for a career in fashion design, one of her strongest passions.

While continuing to pursue her career goals, Camacho continues to advise aspiring models to follow their dreams regardless of their appearance. “Just go for it,” she said.

“You’re going to regret the chances that you didn’t take.”

passed on to his stadium.

On Thursday, when the torrential rain stopped in the late morning, crews dried off the hard surfaces and play was able to resume.

However, as the sun began to bake the court and the humidity rose, the moisture in the ground began to sweat up through the surface, and there wasn’t a hankie big enough to wipe away the moisture. Despite the lack of rain, play had to be delayed once again thanks to Satchmo’s sweat.

Denise Camacho Home: Flushing Age: 18 Height: 5’2" Weight: 108 lbs Stats: 31-28-34

afloat when searching for a significant soul mate.

Although the survey only questioned 1,000 of the site’s users, which doesn’t put an accurate gauge on the millions of singles slipping through town, it did have one startling revelation: Astoria was the worst neighborhood to bring a date.

Seriously, Match.com?

With the amount of bars, restaurants, clubs and lounges overflowing in the bustling borough locale you could never have a disappointing romantic experience.

Believe us, we know.

Confidentially, New York . . .

What’s Up SATURDAY, SEPT. 17 Youth & Tennis The Youth and Tennis group meets every Saturday morning at Roy Wilkins Park Saturday. To learn more, call Bill Briggs at (718) 658-6728.

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

Discovery Day Street Fair We invite our community to celebrate with us as we explore the wonders of science. Check out the Queens Library’s brand-new Children’s Library Discovery Center at our exciting street fair. Dazzle your senses, amaze your mind, and play with possibilities. There will be activities for all ages. Come play with us.

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

Delta Sigma Theta Kickoff

to a diverse group of performers that celebrate the ever-evolving art form of dance.

Don’t miss what promises to be a dynamic, captivating and entertaining event. The main event will be preceded by a free outdoor performance. The main event will take place on the JPAC stage and will feature: The Vissi Dance Theater; Yoo & Dancers; Neville Dance Theatre; and the Balance Dance Theatre.

For additional information, jamaicaperformingartscenter.org, send an e-mail to info@jamaica-performingartscenter.org or call (718) 618-6170.

When: Saturday, September 17th - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm This event will take place at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., from 4-9 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and children.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18 The Rev. Flake Anniversary Concert In celebration of the Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake’s 35th Allen A.M.E. Pastoral Anniversary, a concert is being held. The concert will feature the Allen Music Ministry and the Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry.

For additional information, call (718) 2064600.

This event will be held at Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, 110-31 Merrick Blvd., at 5 p.m.

Call for the price.

MONDAY, SEPT. 19 Adult Chess Club

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated Queens Alumnae Chapter is pleased to present their “2011-2012 Activity Kickoff.” Come out and learn more about Delta programs designed to serve the youth of our community including: Delta Academy; Delta GEMS; and Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence (EMBODI). Other program providers will be present as well. For additional information, contact Michele or Mindy at programplanning@dstquac.org.

This free event will take place at Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick Boulevard at Baisley Boulevard, from noon to 5 p.m.

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

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

Constitution Day

TUESDAY, SEPT. 20 Camera Club

Fashion Show Expo 2011 Please join us for a Bengali celebration of EID with popular music and fashions through the ages from the times of the Mughal Empire to the present. There will also be a special guest appearance by the winner of the Hillside Honda Star Search 2010, Khairul Alam Sabuj.

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

JPAC’s Making Moves The second annual Making Moves Dance Festival will introduce audiences

Learn how to search the Web for various private sector and nonprofit, government/civil service job boards, while job hunting; and how to reply to job listings online.

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

The Southeast Queens Camera Club meets at Roy Wilkins Park, Administration Bldg., 2nd Floor, 177-01 Baisley Blvd.

Summer photography classes occur on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. Classes are free - bring camera manual.

For full details, visit seqcc.org or (718) 723-6849 or (516) 328-3776.

Men Take a Child Back to School Calling all fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles, brothers, significant male caregivers, next door neighbors, mentors, ministers, pastors, deacons, trustees and other men to: “Take A Child to School on the First Day.” The United Black Men of Queens County Inc. is pleased to present The Million Men March: Men Take A Child Back to School.

This free event will be held all day, all over Southeast Queens.

The York College Observatory is open to the public every second or third Wednesday of the month - rain or shine - at 8:30 p.m.

Gather in room 2E01 and then proceed to the fourth floor terrace off G corridor if it’s clear. For additional information, contact Tim Paglione at paglione@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-2082.

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

Create an Email Account In this single-session workshop, customers will learn how to set up/open their own e-mail account. Participants must possess basic mouse and keyboarding skills. Pre-registration is required in person at the Cyber Center Desk. For details, please call (718) 990-0769.

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

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 Walkers for Wellness Club See Saturday’s listing. At 7 p.m.

Union Hall Street Thursdays Come one, come all, to the greatest block party of them all. Applebee’s, the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District, Councilman Leroy Comrie, Jamaica First Parking, and the Downtown Jamaica Open Space Coalition are pleased to present Union Hall Street Thursdays.

Come on out for and evening of food, drink, music and dance. Tonight’s evening will feature Caribbean, Calypso, and Reggae music.

This free event will be held at Union Hall Street (between Jamaica and Archer Avenues) at 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23 Senior Theatre Acting Repertory Calling all older adults: Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people while brightening your life.

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

ONGOING Sickle Cell Walk-A-Thon September is Sickle Cell Awareness month. The Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network will hold a Walk-A-Thon on Sept.

25 to commemorate the 101st Anniversary of the discovery of the disease.

The walk will begin at 160th Street between Liberty Avenue and Archer Avenue (York College) and go to Roy Wilkins Park.

For more information, contact Kywanna Alfred at (718) 712-0873 or sicklecellwalk@verizon.net. You can also visit qscan.org.

Job Club The Jamaica Neighborhood Center offers a free service to assist people from Southeast Queens with job-readiness skill sets in writing a professional resume and cover letter; interviewing practices and

techniques; applying on-line procedures; elevator pitch and Microsoft Suite 2007.

For additional information, contact Ethan Chazin, Job Coach, at (718) 7392060, Ext. 18 or echazin67@gmail.com.

This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center - 161-06 89th Ave. Services are available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Group Sessions Clergy United for Community Empowerment, Inc. Group Sessions are located at 89-31 161st St., 10th Floor, Jamaica, for the community on various topics such as Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Substance Abuse intervention, Decision Making, Condom Use, High Risk Behaviors leading to HIV, and self – esteem awareness. All group sessions offer light snacks and beverages. Group sessions are open to the public.

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

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

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

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

Sept. 16-22, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

Learn about the Constitution, try writing with a quill pen, and make a special craft! Enjoy stories and much more at this free family event!

This free event will take place at the King Manor Museum in Rufus King Park (153 Street at Jamaica Avenue), from noon to 3 p.m.

Find a Job

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 York Observatory Open Night

THE NEW

89-11 Merrick Boulevard Jamaica, NY 718-990-0767 Train: F to 169th Street Bus: Numerous buses go to the 165th Street Bus Terminal.

Queens Library is an independent, not-for-proďŹ t corporation and is not aďŹƒliated with any other library system.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ESI-0515597.

1170-8/11

Hours: M/W/Th-10-9; T 1-9; Fri 10-6; Sat 10-5:30; Sun 12-5