Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 12 Issue No. 45 Nov. 11-17, 2011

Page 22

Southeast Queens Flooding:

PRESS Photos by Ira Cohen

WORRY RUNS DEEP

Groups in Southeast Queens are beginning to unite to take action and make suggestions to the City to fix the decades-long flooding problems that have plagued the community.

By Veronica Lewin…Page 3

Online at www.QueensPress.com

A Letter To The Wave

BY LEROY GADSDEN

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

I would dare not call myself an expert on anything; however, I do know enough about my history to be angry, upset and appalled at the issue in the Wave (10-711) depicting Sen. Malcolm Smith and U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks as caricatures of a bygone era.

This depiction was racially insensitive, demeaning, and a whole lot of other mean spirited things to a race of people in America. I am disturbed and angry that in 2011 the remnants of the discrimination that has permeated our society is still prevalent in your newspaper. The racist tendencies of a bygone era reared its head when you portrayed these men as simpletons.

I do not challenge the content of your message. As elected officials, they opened themselves up to public critique and scrutiny. However, the First Amendment does not give you the right to insult them or a race of people in your efforts to get your story to the people. Both of these men of African descent were elected from predominantly minority districts by the people to serve in our participatory form of government – one of the noblest forms of service one can render to his community.

Regardless of the intent of the message of your article, your portrayal was a racist representation of two African American elected officials. Truly you could have gotten your message or critique of their political service across without depicting them in such a demeaning manner. King’s English and the Webster Dictionary offer a variety of words that could have been used to describe your views on their political practice. However, you chose to reach back into a dark period of America’s history of discrimination.

Your depiction of Rep. Meeks and Sen. Smith mirrored the depiction of African Americans by the media in the late 1800’s after the Civil War. These type of depictions were used to reinforce the negative and false stereotypes of African Americans as buffoons, clowns, ignorant, superstitious, lazy, pathological liars and unworthy of respect and citizenship. These stereotypes were applied to the very same people who as slaves built the country for free, made it into one of the greatest nations in the world.

The negative depictions of African Americans were constantly used to instill into the minds of slaves and descendants of slaves and slave owners that African

THE JOURNEY BEGINS 11.11.11 Visit RadioCityChristmas.com at 866-858-0007 or call ©2011 MSG Holdings, L.P. All rights reserved. Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall are registered trademarks of Radio City Trademarks, LLC. All rights reserved.

Americans were inferior to their white counterparts. Even after the legal slavery and the Civil War, there was an attempt in America to create a slavery or bondage of the mind. The caricatures and or negative depictions of African Americans were a socially accepted way of allowing people to express their warped and twisted feelings and fears about race and culture. These depictions reinforced the stereotypes conceived in the darkness of ignorance and eventually led to racial violence and intolerance in the forms of lynching, isolations, second class citizenships, and segregation.

I ask you the question, what message is sent to the child just learning to read or write when he or she opens your newspaper to find two African American elected officials portrayed as buffoons? Dr. King once stated that the standard of the mind is the standard of the individual. Dr. Carter G. Woodson once wrote that if you can control the mind of the individual, you won’t have to tell him to sit in the back of the room, but he will know his place and automatically go there on his own. Sociologists and criminologists understand that the dangers of labeling rest in the fact that if you label a person long enough, eventually he or she will engage in selffulfilling prophecy and act out the role.

Control of the mind is control of the individual. Your newspaper bears the burden of creating the inferiority complex when you run this type of negative depictions of African Americans.

Two hundred years off of the plantation and residing in the White House, we as a people find ourselves portrayed in such a manner. Please know that at no point and time in the history of America do we find ourselves portrayed in a positive manner in the caricature that you rendered of Sen. Smith and Rep. Meeks. You do not have the power or authority to change history. Hate and discrimination is hate and discrimination regardless of the intent. It was demeaning and discriminatory when African Americans were portrayed as buffoons in 1865 and it is demeaning and discriminatory when African Americans are portrayed as buffoons in your newspaper in 2011.

The racial caricature portrayed in your newspaper has and will continue to be used to perpetuate racial violence and intolerance, and to dehumanize, humiliate and degrade African Americans.

Presstime

Trees Suggested To Aid Flooding Ills

BY VERONICA LEWIN The constant flooding of Southeast Queens has upset community leaders and residents for decades. Heavy rainfall often causes soaked basements and flooded roads, leaving many to worry whenever there is a chance of precipitation. Still, a permanent solution has not surfaced to relieve homeowners and business owners in one of the most densely populated areas in the borough.

At last week’s meeting of the Federated Blocks of Laurelton, a York College professor gave a presentation on the rising water levels in Southeast Queens.

Until 1996, Jamaica Water Supply would pump millions of gallons of water out of the ground daily. When the City Dept. of Environmental Protection took over, the agency started bringing water from upstate, leaving the excess water underground with no place to go. Over the past 15 years, the standing ground water level in Southeast Queens has risen to 30 feet, leaving many homeowners to deal with saturated basements each time there is heavy rainfall.

Another factor contributing to f looding in Southeast Queens is the overbuilding that happened in the area after World War II. The housing boom not only in-

Fed Report Casts Eye On Boro’s Bridge Ills

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Dhar said planting hybrid Poplar trees would help decrease rising water tables in addition to supporting the City’s initiative to plant more trees. Unlike other trees, the hybrid Poplar tree would not be invasive to the current ecosystem because they are not a part of the food chain. Most importantly, the hybrid Poplar tree soaks up a tremendous amount of water, which could help lower the water table levels in Southeast Queens. Dhar said a 5-year-old tree soaks up about 100 liters a day. The trees could also be used for paper production or as biomass for energy purposes.

Dhar said planting these trees would be more cost effective than pumping the water out of the ground.

York College has three wells on campus used to monitor water table levels for studies. Dhar said he plans to continue to monitor the water table levels in Southeast Queens until a solution is implemented.

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

Larger Loans Sought To Aid Home Buying

BY VERONICA LEWIN Queens’ U.S. Reps. have signed a petition to increase federal protection to prevent more homeowners in the borough from being at risk of losing their homes.

More than 100 members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Gary Ackerman (DBayside), Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) and Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica), wrote a letter last week to House Speaker John Boehner (ROhio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urging the leaders to support restoring the loan limits to $729,750 in an upcoming House-Senate appropriations conference committee.

The higher loan limits were put in place to prevent homeowners from seeking more costly private loans. Despite the housing market showing little improvement, the federal loan guarantee expired on Sept.

30, when the limit dropped to $625,500 in most areas of the country.

“Many of us have hoped that private lenders would be ready to return to the housing markets and enable us to reduce the federal role, but this has not yet happened,” the letter states.

If the limits are restored, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration would be allowed to guarantee mortgages of up to $729,750 in high cost areas such as Queens. The federal government backs Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac in order to provide stability in the housing market. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase mortgages from banks to ensure lenders have enough money to create new loans and promote home ownership. The FHA provides mortgage insurance on loans and provides lend-

ers protection when homeowners default on their mortgages.

The lawmakers worry lower loan limits will make it harder for potential homeowners to obtain financing, causing house prices to continue to fall. This could trigger an increase in defaults, greater negative equity and distressed home sales, and prolong economic recovery.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, one in nine homeowners in the borough are more than 90 days delinquent on mortgage payments or in foreclosure. Foreclosures are highly concentrated in Corona, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and Southeast Queens, where foreclosure rates are as high as 17 percent. As a result, the house price index shows a yearly decline of 5 percent as of February 2011.

“Forcing this transition in a weak market, before the private market has shown the willingness to take on additional mortgage risk, is not wise policy during a housing crisis,” Ackerman said.

The U.S. Senate passed a fiscal spending bill last Tuesday that includes a bipartisan amendment to restore the higher conforming loan limits and extend them for two years. It was not included in the House version of the bill. The Senate amendment is based on The Conforming Loan Limit Extension Act of 2011, introduced by Ackerman and Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) earlier this year that does the same thing. The House-Senate conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year.

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

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

If you are leaving Queens by car, chances are the route you are taking desperately needs repairs.

According to a recent study done by the research arm of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, four of the borough’s major bridges are in dire need of repair, as are more than a dozen overpasses and highway viaducts.

The Kosciusko Bridge is slated for replacement starting The Bronx Whitestone, next year.

Throgs Neck, and Kosciusko Bridges all made the list of “structurally infrastructure work is also being planned deficient” spans, as did the Robert F. for the Throgs Neck and RFK Bridges.

“The safety and maintenance of our Kennedy Bridge viaduct over Randalls Island. Also on the list were a handful of bridges and tunnels is our highest priority, overpasses and highway viaducts around and we cannot stress strongly enough that the borough including four along the Van each crossing is safe and well-maintained,” Wyck Expressway, the Long Island Ex- said MTA Bridges and Tunnels spokespressway overpass over the Grand Cen- woman Judie Glave.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels do not take tral Parkway, the Cross Island Parkway overpass over Bell Boulevard, and the any federal money, however, and finance Hempstead Avenue overpass over the their projects through toll and bond revCross Island Parkway near Belmont Race- enue.

The Kosciusko Bridge between Brooklyn track.

Structurally deficient does not mean and Queens is managed by the State DOT. the bridge is unsafe for travel, and on MTA Plans to replace the span entirely were unbridges like the Whitestone and Throgs veiled last year, a project that could use Neck, it could mean simply that there is no federal money, and it is currently in the shoulder on the road, or the roadway is too design phase with construction expected to narrow. Weight restrictions would be start in 2014. New York State DOT spokesplaced on bridges that had any structural man Adam Levine said the state has been issues, and there are no restrictions on any doing constant repair work to maintain the structure until a new one is built. Also, the bridge on the list in Queens.

The list was released by the Bureau of Kew Gardens Interchange is undergoing a Transportation Statistics, a part of the US massive reconstruction that includes conDOT and comes as the Obama Administra- structing new bridges and new ramps.

The overpasses and viaducts on land tion is pushing a bill to fund reconstruction and rehabilitation of the nation’s bridges that made the list do use state and federal money for repairs. More help from the and highways as part of job creation.

U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson federal government is needed Crowley said, Heights) whose district includes parts of because these links are key to not only the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges, Queens’s daily life, but the entire nation’s.

“We need to look at this from a security said New York State and City Depts. of Transportation have done a great job point of view, and a commerce point of view,” he said. maintaining them.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at The Whitestone Bridge is in the middle of a multi-year renovation that includes drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357replacing the entire deck on the span; 7400, Ext. 125.

creased the population of Southeast Queens, but it also increased the amount of concrete and asphalt, which prevents rainwater from being absorbed.

At this time, the DEP plans to address the water table issue in 2018, when the City must shut down and repair the three ground tunnels that bring water to the city from Upstate New York. An alternative water supply will be needed. Elected officials and community members have been asking the DEP for years to create a permanent solution for the flooding. In the meantime, residents have been forced to wait things out.

Professor Ratan Dhar, coordinator of Environmental Sciences at York College, said there are several solutions to combat the issue of flooding, but each has its pros and cons. Simply pumping out high amounts of water would decrease the water table levels, but would leave the community at risk for sinkholes. One solution addresses the issue of flooding while also aesthetically improving Queens – planting more trees.

Group Urges Help For Young Men

BY VERONICA LEWIN A new report paints a bleak future for today’s youth unless the community bands together to improve the lives of the future.

The Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council report called “We Have Failed Our Children” cites poverty, substance abuse, poor education and the criminal justice system as reasons today’s children of color are not succeeding. Unemployment, HIV and gun violence are also to blame.

The HHSYC was founded 10 years ago, in July 2001 by Randy Fisher, the former manager of Southeast Queens native LL Cool J. The organization was created to work towards improving the image of the hip-hop community and uses the hip-hop culture to improve social, political and economic conditions in communities.

Fisher has served as the Executive Director for the past nine years.

The release of the report correlates with the organization’s 10-year anniversary.

HHSYC conducted a decade’s worth of research to find out if society has failed our children. The short answer is: yes. The 189page report uses articles and statistics to analyze exactly how and why today’s children are doomed from the start, in addition to offering solutions to reverse the cycle.

The report revealed the United States has the largest amount of prisoners in the world, with many of those incarcerated being men of color. More than 90 percent of all young homicide victims and perpe-

trators in the City are black and Latino. A hip-hop culture that accepts violence and unlawful behavior may be the reason some of today’s young people are acting out, the report concludes.

HHSYC hopes releasing this report will shed light on the issues that plague youth across the nation, and hopes the community will come together to makes changes before it is too late. The report

for other cities in the future. The program is the result of a similar study conducted by Bloomberg’s office, which highlighted the overwhelming inequalities for men of color compared with white men. The program aims to change the fate of youth of color in the Big Apple.

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

Eyeing A Parking Fix For Boro

BY DOMENICK RAFTER Alternate side of the street parking may soon require a permit in some parts of the borough.

The City Council passed a home rule resolution last week to support legislation proposed in Albany that would mandate parking permits for residents in certain neighborhoods where parking is a problem.

The legislation, proposed by State Sen. Dan Squadron (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D-Brooklyn), would give New York City the authority to organize and run its own residential parking permit program. It would still be up to the city to put together the program and the give final approval. The permits would likely carry a small cost.

Support for a program was overwhelming in the council with many representa-

THE STEVE KROON SEXTET Saturday, November 19, 2010 ● 7:00PM

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

recommends decreasing single-parent households to ensure children have a male and female role model in their lives. The report also calls on the nation to implement more projects similar to Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Young Men’s Initiative.

When the Mayor first announced the three-year, $127 million program in August, he said it was the first of its kind in the nation. Many have said it could be a model

$20.00 Adults / $10.00 Students & Seniors

YORK COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Tickets available at the Box Office, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

Call: 718-262-2840 or online at www.york.cuny.edu Major funding for this series provided by NYC Councilmembers Leroy Comrie (27th-CD) Deputy Majority Leader NY City Council and Chair of Land Use Committee, and Ruben Wills (28th-CD), Chair of Substance Abuse Sub-Committee.

tives from neighborhoods where parking is difficult voting yes, including Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) whose district is notorious for parking problems.

“I voted for [the bill] because it is important that we create the needed parking spaces for residents who live and work in our city,” she said. “This resolution supports legislation in the State Senate and Assembly that will provide relief for residents and neighborhoods, without harming our important commercial areas.”

But some representatives from other neighborhoods where parking is often an issue were opposed.

Council members Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria), Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) and Peter Koo (R-Flushing) all opposed the measure.

“The people, don’t have to pay to park

in the neighborhood [now],” Koo said.

“Just because you have a permit doesn’t guarantee that you have a space.”

Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) told a meeting of Community Board 10 he supported the measure – he was the only Republican on the Council to do so.

“I’m open to this idea,” he told CB 10 last week. “You’re not entitled to a spot in front of your house, but you are entitled to a spot on your block.”

Ulrich noted that his district suffers parking problems because of people from outside the area driving into the neighborhood and parking near the A train.

He said the permits would not be citywide and could be limited to only specific blocks that are problem areas.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.comor(718)357-7400,Ext. 125.

Experts Eye Casino’s Dire Potential

BY ROSS BARKAN

The sepia footage looks dated for several reasons – the overwrought narrator’s voice, the maladroit and seemingly staged smashing motions, the flowery string music – but nothing makes it seem more like an anachronism than one of the most powerful politicians in the United States lifting up a sledge hammer to pulverize a pile of dilapidated slot machines.

Back in the autumn of 1934, New York’s tiny yet pugnacious mayor Fiorello LaGuardia brought down a mallet on a trash heap of slot machines to demonstrate to Getty Pictures and the struggling city how much he reviled the presence of gamblers within city limits.

Today, just 77 years later, an equally tiny mayor, more little finance than little flower, has welcomed, along with a host of other politicians, the opening of Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York City’s only casino. No one will catch Mayor Michael Bloomberg wielding a sledge hammer on slot machines anytime soon. Cheerleading for the casino, led by the likes of Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park) and State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) have drowned out dissenters.

The casino’s actual economic impact will not, according to several experts on the effects of casinos on neighboring communities, be at all like Resorts World New York City President Michael Speller’s rosy

vision. They agree that Resorts World will create a host of new problems that will do little to bolster Queens’ economic health.

“Social costs at casinos are $3 for every $1 in new tax revenue,” said Dr. John Warren Kindt, a professor of business administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “And that’s a conservative estimate. In Queens, the cost will probably will be $6 in new social costs.

That’s because people won’t be buying the necessary items – food, clothing, and other necessities – for their families.”

Kindt has written about the effects of legalized gambling on economies for decades. His research has unequivocally led to one fact: casinos do far more harm than good. In his estimation, consistent gamblers spend 10 percent less on food and 25 percent less on clothing.

Each slot machine, according to Kindt, on average takes $100,000 a year out of consumer spending. This is lost spending on consumer goods like cars, refrigerators, and computers, and lost money to Queens businesses. A 2006 study by the Federal Reserve of Boston found casinos bring in no new money to local markets, and simply substitute gambling for other goods and services. Connecticut, which has two large casinos, has been the worst job-creating state since 1987. And the most comprehensive study of gambling in America, the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study, conducted by a Congress-charged commission to find out the impact of le-

galized gambling, recommended a moratorium on the building of new casinos.

Kindt estimates, because of Queens’ population, each slot machine will possibly be taking in $500,000 in lost consumer activity every single year.

Some of the statistics Kindt cited are the product of Dr. Earl L. Grinols, a professor of economics at Baylor University in Texas. The author of Gambling in America: Costs and Benefits, he has also extensively studied the outcomes of legalized gambling on communities.

“Queens is uniquely situated to virtually guarantee this casino’s economic impact will be on the negative side of the ledger,” Grinols said. “What New York has done is shrunk the economy and given out special favors to connected people, and created some social costs related to gambling.”

Grinols described Resorts World as a glorified restaurant or entertainment venue that will simply take dollars that would have been poured into a City location, like a local restaurant or retail outlet, and instead pour it into the casino. The difference between Resorts World and an ordinary business is that Resorts World has an exclusive monopoly to operate in New York City.

Though Resorts World claims it will provide $350 million annually in tax revenue to the state to support education, Grinols argues the impressive number will not mean New York reaps any additional

net revenue because of the social costs that come with legalized gambling. Because it can take some time for people to become addicted, Grinols estimates that many of the casino’s social costs will not become apparent for three to four years.

“All things considered, adding up winners’ wins and losers’ losses, is this going to be good for New York State? The answer is no.”

And the jobs Resorts World casino generates will mostly likely be low-paying: according to the National IndustrySpecific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates; in 2010 the median wage for gambling industry employees including tips was $11.25 an hour.

Dr. Sigmund C. Shipp, a professor in the department of urban affairs and planning at Hunter College, said the work the casino provides will not lead anyone to prosperity.

“Locals are usually employed at the lowest level as porters, janitors, and unskilled workers who do backbreaking work at very low levels of pay and without worker related benefits,” he said. “Minorities and the poor are often the victims of these activities.”

This is the first story in a series about the impact of Resorts World Casino on Queens.

The next story will focus on the casino’s potential sociological impact.

Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.

Dedicated Inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Program • Largest in southern Nassau County • Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Hip Fracture, Disabling Arthritis • Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Neurological Disorders Highly Skilled Therapists and 24 Hour Rehabilitation Nursing Care • Expert, Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Team Provides Individual Care • Supervised by Board-Certified Rehabilitation Specialist Physician

Superior Outcomes – Rapid Recovery • Optimum Healing For Higher Levels of Function and Independence

Tours/Physician Referrals:

516-62MERCY CONVENIENT FREE PARKING

1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre • www.MercyMedicalCenter.info A Safe Haven For Newborns—Legal Option To Abandonment

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Advanced Equipment and Innovative Techniques • Physical, Occupational, Recreational and Speech Therapy • Nintendo Wii Video Gaming, Yoga, Aerobics • Pet Therapy Program

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 Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel

Editorial Keep Memories Alive With the recent introduction of our mobile apps for iPhones and iPads, clearly we are looking toward the future of news delivery, and the future readers of our borough. We encourage anyone with those devices to search for us in the App Store under Queens Tribune and download us today.

But not all of our readers have mobile devices. No, many of our Trib regulars are the rotary phone set, people who have lived long and full lives in our borough and who rely on our print editions for bringing them the borough’s news.

Today, those same readers offer something that we can never hope to capture on our own – their memories. As we offer our readers a glimpse of the future of our newspaper, we encourage those with more years under your belts to help share your memories of life in Queens with the Queens Memory Project, which we feature on Page 10 in this week’s edition.

Your stories are an invaluable part of our borough’s history, and should be shared and saved. We urge you to call Project Director Natalie Milbrodt at (718) 997-3650 to get involved; and for those who have embraced new technology, go to queensmemory.org to learn more about how you can preserve the tales of past generations for the children of our future generations.

Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Letters Reporters: Harley Benson Veronica Lewin Domenick Rafter Jason Banrey Ross Barkan Art Dept:

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

Deny ICCC To The Editor: The Queens Civic Congress, the umbrella coalition for more than 100 Queens civic organizations, congratulates CB 13 on its vote to oppose construction of two multi-story apartment buildings on the Creedmoor campus adjacent to several low-density Bellerose neighborhoods.

QCC supports services for seniors and indeed supported development of low rise, low-density senior housing elsewhere on the Creedmoor site. We are opposed to out of scale non-contextual development that negatively affects built out neighborhoods

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher

Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher

state-owned land. Creedmoor is not the only state-owned land in Queens. The MTA, desperate for funds, owns train yards and bus depots across Queens. In the past developers have eyed both the Sunnyside Yards and the Jamaica Yards for high density housing.

Now ICCC’s plan goes to Queens Borough President Marshall for a hearing and her advisory opinion. QCC calls on BP Marshall to turn down ICCC’s plan and instead support the Creedmoor Master Plan which calls for responsible development that will better serve Queens and the Bellerose community.

And we call on the Board of Standards and Appeals to reject this development, which will jeopardize a thriving community.

Patricia Dolan, President, Queens Civic Congress

Just Another Mob To The Editor: It is not clear why and what the OWS occupiers are protesting, but their anger is directed at the wrong people. Only the government has the power to levy and collect taxes, regulate banks and commerce, print money and to employ force to implement the edicts that annoy them. Since the government is the only institution allowed to steal lawfully, citizens have formed collectives to manipulate the system for their own ends. Politicians increasingly ignore the Constitution and use their influence to reward groups that will keep them in power. The state is no longer a protector of individual rights but a facilitator of mob rule.

To wit, tax laws enable the rich like Warren Buffett to have a lower tax rate than his secretary. The rich also benefit as a result of governmental licensing requirements, tariffs, taxes and regulations designed to stifle competition and protect their wealth and status. On the other hand, proponents of the welfare state want to increase taxes on the rich in the name of “fairness” and “social justice,” even though almost 50 percent of citizens pay no income tax and 30 percent of those receive welfare in the form of Earned Income Tax Credits. The poor complain about the rich, the rich complain about the poor and both complain about the government… and everybody hates capitalism.

The misguided and uninformed protestors are railing against the wrong “ism,” since government bailouts, regulation and investments in businesses is not capitalism. We are besieged by collectives vying for power and wealth without regard for the Constitution and individual rights. What we have is mob rule, the antithesis of capitalism and individualism. Under a system of individualism, each man has the same rights whether he is alone or has a million others with him.

Under collectivism whoever has the biggest gang at the moment holds all rights. It is not against an individual that man needs protection, but from a group and mob rule.

The occupiers are just another mob with a claim on other peoples’ property.

Ed Konecnik, Flushing

A Community Board Legend Passes A Personal Perspective

A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2011 Tribco, LLC

like Bellerose. ICCC’s proposal, which seeks to effectively change the existing zone to a higher density residential one, is clearly out of character with the nearby low density housing and just as clearly negatively affects its nearby neighbors—with nine-story buildings less than fifty feet from many one family, one-story homes.

Without any public notice or hearing, the State sold the property to ICCC for far less than market value, an action that Attorney General Schneiderman is investigating.

Queens residents should be especially wary of how ICCC acquired the Creedmoor property –

Letters

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

For decades the name Susan “Sue” Noreika was synonymous with Community Board 13 in Queens Village. The chairperson became the face of the Community Board until her very recent retirement.

Sue was committed to the communities that comprised Community Board 13.

She was fortunate to work with great people on her Board and with civic leaders and Clergy who appreciated and respected her uncompromising commitment to community service.

According to Joseph Goldbloom, former chief of staff to Councilman Archie Spigner, Noreika served at Community Board 13 under four Queens Borough Presidents and every mayor since John Lindsay.

I met Sue about 12 years ago when I did a story on a Summer

Youth Employment program at CB13 headquarters in Queens Village. By then she was up in age – I did not guess just how “up,” but since her death a few weeks ago I realize she must have then been in her late 70s then. But her spirit was youthful and she was committed to helping those young people on that snaking employment line. She was amazing.

Everyone who knew her spoke of how ahead of her time Noreika was. She saw the changing of the communities, which included Queens Village, Bellerose and Floral Park, and she made moves to accommodate the needs of new ethnic groups even before the needs were realized.

“She leaves behind a legacy of commitment that will never be forgotten,” said Goldbloom, who fondly recalled Noreika’s love of her World War II khaki trench coat.

And her life did not go uncelebrated.

In life she was feted at various

political events, and earlier this year Community Board 13 honored her with a resolution recalling that she testified at more city Board of Standards and Appeals hearings than any other community board chairman in the history of the city.

At her wake and funeral, a who’s who of Queens elected officials and community and religious leaders came out to pay their respects. The likes of Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, Assemblyman David Weprin and Councilman Mark Weprin, as well as other Council members past and present such as Archie Spigner and Leroy Comrie, all sung her praises.

They paid their respects to a woman with whom they had collaborated on behalf of their respective constituencies. As Chairwoman of the Board, Sue’s decades of service were unpaid. She did it all for the love of people and of public service.

Noreika grew up in Nebraska and would regale friends with stories of baby-sitting TV legend Johnny Carson, who was originally from Nebraska as well. Interestingly, she was only a few years his senior. Carson was born in 1925 while Noreika was born in 1921. But her brush with famein-the-making was not what made her happy. It was the opportunity to contribute to her community here in Queens that did it for her.

In addition to her many years of community service, Noreika also served her nation in World War II as a member of the Women’s Army Corps. Locally, she was also a member of American Legion Post No. 301, based in Queens Village, a board member of the Children’s Psychiatric Center in Bellerose and founder of the Queens Economic Development Council.

Sue Noreika was an American original. May her eternal reward be bountiful.

Police Blotter Compiled By ROSS BARKAN

102th Precinct Bank Robbery The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a woman wanted for a bank robbery that occurred at the Chase Bank located at 90-14 Jamaica Ave. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, at approximately 2:46 p.m., a woman entered the bank and demanded cash. She threatened that she was in possession of a firearm but never displayed the weapon. The teller handed over an undetermined amount of cash and the suspect fled the bank. She was last seen walking westbound on Jamaica Avenue.

The suspect is described as a white woman in her 30s, 5-foot-8 , 150 lbs. with blonde hair and wearing glasses. She was last seen wearing a black and white Adidas nylon top with blue jeans.

106th Precinct Gunpoint Robbery The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying a man wanted for robbery. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, at approximately 1:20 p.m., the victim, 21-year-old woman, was walking in the vicinity of 87th Street in Ozone Park when the suspect, armed with a gun, approached her and demanded her property. The suspect fled with cash, jewelry, her cell phone and iPod. There were no reported injuries.

The suspect is a 22-year-old black man, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8, weighing 130-150 pounds, wearing a blue sweatshirt, dark jeans and a black baseball hat.

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

Burglary The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating and identifying two men wanted in connection with a burglary. On Sunday, Oct. 30, at approximately 4 p.m., two suspects entered the Himalayan Mini Market located at 39-02 64th St. and removed cash, calling cards, and cigarettes. Both suspects fled on foot. The suspects are described as two black men in their 40’s; the first is ap-

proximately 5-foot-6, and the second is approximately 5-foot-8.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

Hit And Run At 5:55 a.m. on Nov. 3, police responded to a pedestrian struck on the eastbound Long Island Expressway near the 48th Street exit. An individual was struck by an unknown vehicle in the right lane of the lower level of the Long Island Expressway. EMS also responded and pronounced the pedestrian dead on arrival. The pedestrian was not identified as of press time. The vehicle fled to parts unknown. No arrests were made and the investigation was ongoing.

113th Precinct Stabbing Suspect On Friday, Oct. 28, at 11:05 a.m., police responded to a report of a man stabbed in the vicinity of 117-34 142nd St. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered Patrick Dixon, 17, with a stab wound to his neck. EMS also responded to the location and transported the victim to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Stephon Huffman, 17, has been arrested and charged in the murder.

114th Precinct Apartment Robbery The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect wanted for burglary. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, at approximately 1:30 p.m. a suspect entered through the front door of an apartment in Astoria, removed jewelry and computer equipment and fled the location.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

Police are searching for suspects in a string of robberies targeting delivery men in Briarwood and Jamaica. At least six robberies have taken place against at least two stores in Briarwood since Oct. 17.

All robberies took place in the evening between 7:25 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Four of the six robberies took place in Briarwood, one on 84th Road on Oct. 17, 87th Avenue and two within a block of each other on Nov.3 on 85th Drive and 86th Road. The latter two occurred within a half hour of each other.

Two other robberies took place in Jamaica. One occurred on 138th Place between Jamaica and Archer Avenues on

Oct. 18, while the other occurred on Remington Street on Oct. 21, two blocks south of the Jamaica LIRR station.

In at least one instance, the delivery man had his motorbike stolen by the suspects.

The NYPD would not comment further on the investigation but at least one resident said more robberies have occurred in the area, specifically on the west side of the Van Wyck Expressway in Richmond Hill.

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

—Domenick Rafter

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

Robbery Suspects Sought

Free Politics From Corporate Money

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

By ED KOCH troller, president of the City Council Remember the ma xim, (now Public Advocate), five bor“Money is the root of all evil?” It ough presidents and all members is certainly true with respect to our of the City Council, and all candielectoral politics. While it is nec- dates running for all of these poessary for candidates to raise funds sitions in opposition, could spend, for election campaigns, as well as how much the fact is the system is an individual could connow out of control. The tribute to a candidate. vast sums pouring into Both the national politics today has corand Ne w York Cit y’s rupted our elections, and effor ts at reasonable decisions of the U.S. Suregulation to limit the preme Court have made impact of money have it impossible to protect been rendered useless the electoral system from

by U.S. Supreme the corruption of money.

Court decisions. Both Ed Koch Vast sums contributed disystems, federal and rectly and indirectly to candidates, municipal, required the candidate the unlimited spending of a candi- to submit to the federal and mudate of his or her own wealth on nicipal limitations in order to behis or her own candidacy, the use come eligible for the matching of ancillary organizations to direct funds. Neither the federal or mufunds indirectly to campaigns, and nicipal government could mandate most ominously the unlimited a candidate participate in order to spending in support of any candi- run for public office. However, most date in any election by corpora- candidates at the municipal level tions and unions, taken together wanting and needing the matchhave distorted our system. ing funds have voluntarily accepted I was a member of Congress the limitations. from 1969 to 1977. In 1972 we Several decisions of the U.S. enacted legislation that created Supreme Court totally destroyed public fina ncing of pre sidential the federal and municipal efforts to elections, providing candidates for effectively regulate and limit the president and vice president with amounts of money contributed and matching funds while limiting how the amounts legally spent in the much an individual could contrib- course of the election. The first case ute to a candidate. Candidates who was Buckley v. Valeo (1976). Unreceived matching funds were der that decision, candidates were bound by those limitations. lawfully permitted to spend their In t he Cit y of Ne w York, own monies on their ow n camwhere I was mayor from 1978 to paigns without limitation, provided 1989, we enacted legislation in they didn’t voluntarily enter the 1988 that was proposed by then matching fund system, giving a corporation counsel Peter Zimroth. wealthy person an extraordinary The legislation limited how much advantage in any campaign. The citywide candidates – mayor, comp- U.S. Supreme Cour t equated

spending money to speech and the spending of personal wealth for one’s own candidacy was protected under the First Amendment.

An even more devastating decision of the U.S. Supreme court was rendered in a recent decision Citizens United v. FEC (2010). That decision granted to corporations and unions the same free speech rights as individuals have giving corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited funds in support of a candidate for public office.

The President of the U.S. has said, as is his right, that he will raise and spend in the next election a billion dollars. His Republican adversaries will undoubtedly seek to raise and spend as much or more.

That is the background. Many good government agencie s and individuals are appalled by the corrupting of our election process with these decisions, allowing unlimited funds to pour into general and primary elections, and giving an overwhelming advantage to special interest groups and corporate interests who can raise massive war chests and direct them to candidates who then become dependent upon, and subservient to, these special intere sts. L ast week, a group of seven Senators led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced a joint re solut ion to address t he problems besetting efforts to limit the spending of money in federal, state and municipal elections. The other senator s were Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (DOR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-

RI). In introducing the legislation, Udall said: “Over the past 10 years, the influence of corporations and special interests in political campaigns has exploded. Each time a regulation is put in place, special interests circumvent the rules through legal loopholes or use the courts to strike down the law. The problem isn’t one particular law or judicial decision; it’s the fact that Congress can no longer effectively regulate the flow of money into campaigns. The only sure fix is a constitutional amendment that gives Congress the authority to reform the campaign finance system.

“We didn’t get here over night. The Supreme Court has issued a series of bad decisions that have crowded and distorted our elections with a flood of corporate and special-interest money that can swing an election one way or the other. In 1976 the Supreme Court laid the groundwork for a broken system in the Buckley v.

Valeo decision. In that case, the Court incorrectly decided that imposing modest restrictions on campaign expenditures violates the First Amendment right to free speech. This established the flawed precedent that money and speech are the same thing - something I strongly disagree with.

“More recently the Supreme Court issued an even worse decision in Citizens United v. FEC. In this case, they granted the same free-speech rights to corporations and other special interests that the Constitution guarantees to individuals. With Buckley v. Valeo equating money to speech, and now Citizens United giving Free Speech rights to large corporations and interest groups, the political system is becoming evermore unbalanced.

“While the average American only has one vote and limited re-

sources to contribute to political candidates, these organizations can now pour vast sums of money into advertising that influences the outcome of our elections. As a result, in the elections of 2010, New Mexicans and all Americans saw a new breed of attack ads from outof-state interests. The vast majority were negative. These new organizations raised and spent unlimited funds for the first time since before there was television.

In the upcoming 2012 election, you can certainly count on even more.”

“This constitutional amendment would: Authorize Congress to regulate the raising and spending of money for federal political campaigns, including independent expenditures. Allow states to regulate such spending at their level.

Not dictate any specific policies or regulations, but instead would allow Congress to pass campaign finance reform legislation that withstands constitutional challenges.”

Prior to the Senators introducing their bill, I decided to convene a meeting of likeminded citizens – nationwide – to support a constitutional amendment to rid the electoral system of the corrupting burden of unlimited contributions and spending. We now have the Udall constitutional amendment to rally around and support in the Congress and, if enacted, then in every state legislature. The amendment must be adopted in both Houses of Congress by a twothirds vote and in the state legislatures with three-fourths of the states or ratifying conventions held in three-fourths of the states. Ever y state will need people to organize support for this amendment.

If you want to be a part of the effort to free our electoral process from the corrupting grip of big money, please let me know.

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

Borough Beat

Aides Get Raise, But Jobs May Slow

BY ALISON DENISCO Angelica Chayka, 39, is one of more than 80,000 home health aides who ventures out into the city each day to care for some of New York's most vulnerable people. She makes beds, takes blood pressure, and helps with bathing and dressing, among other tasks. And yet she makes only $8 an hour, generally less than parking lot attendants and housekeepers.

But come next March, wages for Chayka and other New York City home health aides will begin an incremental increase to the area's living wage of $10 per hour, due to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget for the upcoming year. However, the budget also includes cuts to Medicaid, which could damage the home care industry as a whole.

On a recent Monday, a group of some 20 home health aides convened at the Sunnyside Community Services building for an annual in-service training, which allows them to maintain certification.

Many women in attendance expressed the need to be better paid for the diligent care that they said they provide.

"You are giving care one-on-one, and it's very personal and important for the patient," said Chayka, who attended the in-service class. "If they go to a hospital or nursing home, it's not the same type of service."

The low wages of the home health aide

tendant services under a city contract, and the other has clients who can pay out-of-pocket.

Despite the occupation's low wages, the 12 three-week training cycles offered each year are flush with people, primarily women, looking to enter the home care field.

Most begin working for an agency within one week of completing their Sunnyside Community Services holds one of its training.

"The home care industry is one of home health aide training sessions. the only fields consistently hiring individuals, when so many people industry are a major factor in the field's are being laid off," said Thomas-Randall. high turnover rates, which are estimated "There is still a need for care for elderly at 40 to 60 percent nationally per year, and disabled clients."

And the need is only expected to grow, according to PHI PolicyWorks, a national strategy center that works to strengthen with the aging Baby Boomer population and rising life expectancy rates. Home the direct-care workforce.

"I'm a strong advocate for home care health aides and personal care aides curworkers to get more money," said Andrea rently represent the second and third fastThomas-Randall, associate executive di- est-growing jobs in New York City, rerector of the privately-funded homecare spectively. They also top the list of occuservices branch of Sunnyside Community pations expected to generate the greatest Services. "I think it will impact the quality number of new jobs between now and of care, and cause people to stay longer 2018, according to the State Department of Labor. and provide better services."

"There has been a lot of progress in this Sunnyside Community Services offers free government-funded home health aide field in the past decade, but for the future, training and certification through two li- there is a need to invest in this growing censed programs that provide home care workforce, and try to meet the growing services. One of them provides home at- demand for it," said David Ward, director of

policy and planning at the non-profit advocacy group Direct Care Alliance. "How we do this is a real challenge, and it will be a conversation we have for years to come."

Gov. Cuomo's executive budget calls for cutting $2.85 billion of Medicaid funding. Carol Rodat, the PHI New York State policy director, said she expects to see a consolidation of home health care employers and agencies as a result of the cuts.

"Agencies will close, and employees will move to larger ones," Rodat said. "Aides may get fewer hours initially, and there may be some migration from one employer to another. It will be important to pay attention to what happens in the transition, and provide support to the aides."

Rodat said that, though there will be challenges, home health aides will eventually play a larger role in patient care.

"Over time, there will be a far greater integration of professional care givers and home health aides. Technology will also play a larger role, and hopefully aides will also be trained to be computer literate," Rodat said.

Many aides, like Chayka, said they were simply grateful to be employed.

"There are not many jobs out there, and you have to find yourself opportunities," she said before the training session began.

"Sunnyside gives people the opportunity to do this work and help people."

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

“Keeping History Alive”

Queens Memory Project Sets Stage To Capture, Preserve Borough’s Past “will go a long way in restoring our collective memories by depositing them in one place.”

BY JASON BANREY Rising out of the swamp and ash dumps of what was once a desolate and deserted area, Flushing Meadows Corona Park became a sight to see in 1939.

From a barren wasteland, Robert Moses, one of the nation’s most prolific urban planners, carved from a wasteland his very own international spectacle, which gave more than 44 million spectators a glimpse of “the world of tomorrow,” right here in the county of Queens.

From a population of a little over one million residents who helped play host to that great World’s Fair of 1939, Queens is now more than double in size and boasts a community of the most ethnically diverse denizens in the nation, if not the world.

Today, many of the borough residents cannot recall those days of just 80 years ago – most of us are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, so it is not woven into our family’s history. Although the searing heat of that grand opening day of April 1939 will always resonate as one magnificent moment in the minds of scores of individuals who once lived to see it, that generation is fading, and it is unclear if the memories they carry will pass to future generations.

That is about to change.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

The Project Begins In the 1920s, before the borough’s first World’s Fair was even a glimmer in Moses’ eye, Annalou Christensen was whisked from her home on West 14th Street in Manhattan by her father to live in Waldheim, Queens, a neighborhood in the process of being developed for wealthy families as a summer getaway.

“When we came there were dirt roads,” said Christensen of the surrounding area of her home, which stood on Cherry Avenue at the northern end of Smart Street, just a couple of blocks from Flushing Hospital.

“This was an area of summer homes.

Traveling from Manhattan was a long journey,” she said. Today, it’s only a 20-minute trip to downtown Flushing from our is-

A photograph of Annalou Christensen from 1924 is available to viewers who log on to the Queens Memory Project Web site. land neighbor.

Christensen’s memory, of a Flushing which once was, remains with us today even after her passing, and is the first of what some hope to be the beginning of a vast collection of oral histories donated by the borough’s residents to become a part of the unprecedented undertaking now known as the Queens Memory Project.

What began as an independent study project has laid the foundation for a creative and interactive process that is capturing the borough’s history seen through the eyes of our oldest residents before their recollection slips through the cracks of time.

One year ago, as a Special Collections and Archives Fellow in the Queens College Libraries, Natalie Milbrodt, now director of the project, single-handedly began conducting interviews, recording history as it was remembered by its participants of the past.

With a $25,000 grant from the Metropolitan New York Library Council in 2010, Milbrodt was able to establish collaboration with the Archives of the Queens Library. With the funds and a team of able student archivists, Milbrodt was able to combine images, interviews and records, to form the first-ever digital archive of contemporary and historical records of life in the borough.

Harnessing Web 2.0 technology, the Queens Memory Project’s Web site, queensmemoryproject.org, allows visitors to contribute their own photographs, sounds and videos in a project Queens’ Borough President Helen Marshall said

John Hyslop, Digital Assets Manager of the Queens Library shows off a state of the art flatbed scanner which will soon be used to digitize its book collection.

The Library Helps Nearly a century ago, the Archives at the Queen Library began a similar quest by collecting any and all materials, documenting the natural, social, economic and political history of Long Island’s four counties: Queens, Kings, Nassau and Suffolk.

As the library’s special collections continued increasing, the 115-yearold institution became recognized as one of the nation’s preeminent resources for Long Island research.

Along the way, the emergence of the digital age presented itself as a viable tool to retain historical artifacts and documents for newer generations smitten by the popularity and availability of the home computer. But in the 90s, as Queens Library officials and local historical societies seriously began to discuss digitizing the vast collection the institution had amassed, plans were quashed due to a lack of resources and the always looming constraints to the library’s budget.

Today, the borough’s Central Library, located in Jamaica, is home to the Digital Assets Management department, which has been actively digi- An inside look of the Central Library reveals the tally capturing and preserving its cen- digitization process which is currently underway. tury-old archives, which it soon will display on its own interactive Web site. Our tory which are interwoven into each of sister newspaper the Queens Tribune is the borough’s neighborhoods.

By geographically molding tours to proud to have its entire history as part of Queens’ communities, viewers are not only the library’s digital archive.

“With the Queens Memory Project able to experience the past first hand, but providing an introduction of displaying also understand history as it unfolded.

“I can talk about the Old Quaker Meeting contemporary information, it will help House, but I can best talk about it in front of draw people into what we have been doit,” he said of the historical site where Dutch ing here,” said John Hyslop, Digital Assets Manager at the Queens Library. “It freeholders signed the Flushing Remonalso provides us with a venue to draw strance of 1657, the precursor of what would young people in toward information eventually set the stage for the United States which has been on record for decades.” Constitution’s provision on the freedom of Although the Queens Library has dedi- religion in the Bill of Rights.

Over the years, Eichenbaum has seen a cated itself to digitally preserving docudecline in people interested in the signifiments of all of Long Island’s four counties, it has focused efforts to preserve the his- cance the borough holds in history, noting tory of Queens, dedicating hundreds of thou- that the borough’s younger generation of sands of dollars to digitally archive primary ethnically diverse residents are often unas well as secondary sources of informa- aware of the history their home holds.

As the average age of members of the tion and make it readily available at the fingertips of those willing to access it, as op- Queens Historical Society continues to pose to crowd-sourced information gener- rise, Eichenbaum worries and wonders ated by popular Web sites such as Wikipedia. who will carry the torch of history to future generations. There’s a lot riding on the Queens Memory Project.

History Personified “With a lot of people coming from outBorough Historian Jack Eichenbuam side the country and from all around the has set himself apart. As both student and teacher of the borough’s history, he stands states that don’t know about this great out in a technological age, offering city place, I continue to wonder who will carry residents a more tactile experience than all this on,” Eichenbaum said reminiscing over his career as a historian. “New York the internet can offer.

For more than three decades, City has certianly changed a lot. We’ll just Eichenbaum has guided thousands of have to wait and see.”

Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at participants on his historically niche and jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357diversified walking tours, discussing many of the world’s greatest moments in his- 7400, Ext. 128.

Confused by so many Medicare choices?

Relax. MetroPlus can point you in the right direction.

October 15 - December 7 is your chance to enroll in or switch your Medicare plan.

Don’t miss out! Come to one of our free Medicare Seminars. We’ll answer all of your questions and tell you what you need to do to take advantage of this time period.

Bellevue Hospital

Coney Island Hospital

Elmhurst Hospital Auditorium A1-22

Conference rm. 2010 Nov. 16 , 23 , 30 10am-1pm Dec. 7th 10am-1pm

Auditorium (2nd flr.)

Dec. 1 9am-12pm

Nov. 22 nd 12:30pm-4pm Dec. 2 nd 1pm-5pm

Gouverneur Hospital

Jacobi Medical Center

Kings County Hospital

Conference rm. C (12th flr.)

4th flr. Auditorium, Bldg. 1

E-9 Conference rm. (9W01)

th

rd

th

st

Nurses Residence Penthouse Bldg. 4

Nov. 16th, 29th 9am-12pm Dec. 2nd 9am-12pm

Lincoln Hospital

Metropolitan Hospital

North Central Bronx Hospital

Conference rm. 3

6th flr. Auditorium

Rm. 6M-06

th

nd

th

Nov. 15 , 22 , 29 9am-1pm Dec. 6th, 13th, 20th 9am-1pm

Nov. 21

st

9am-1pm

Dec.1 st 9am-1pm

Nov. 30 th 9am-2pm

th

Dec. 5th 9am-1pm

Conference rm. 4

Nov. 18 , 25 9am-12pm Dec. 2 nd 9am-12pm

Queens Hospital

Woodhull

East New York Diagnostic and Treatment Center

Auditorium

Solarium

2nd Floor Confrence Rm.

Dec. 2 nd 1pm-5pm

Nov. 18 th 9am-12pm Dec. 2 nd 9am-12pm

Nov. 14 th, 29 th 12pm-3pm Dec. 5 th 12pm-3pm

th

Dec. 2 nd 9am-2pm

This information is available for free in other languages. Please contact our customer service number at 1.866.986.0356 foradditional information. Esta información está disponible gratuitamente en otros idiomas. Para obtener más información llame a nuestro Departamento de Atención al Cliente al 1.866.986.0356. MetroPlus is a Health Plan with a Medicare contract. This event will include sales presentations about all MetroPlus Medicare Advantage Plans. A sales representative will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call the plan. MetroPlus Medicare Advantage Plans are available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens. H0423_ MKT1081File&Use10102011

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

For detailed location information and to RSVP, please call us.

Photos by Ira Cohen

pix

Southeast Queens Photos Edited By Harley Benson

Queens Dems Prep For Election Day

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer rallies the troops.

Queens County Democrats gathered at Antun's last Thursday for a preelection party.

Assm. Rory Lancman (l.) and Jeff Assm. Ed Braunstein and Assm.

Gottlieb.

Mike DenDekker.

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

BP Chief of Staff Alex Rosa (l.) and Dep. BP Barry Grodenchik.

Former Councilman Archie Spigner (l.) and Sen. Shirley Huntley.

Assm. Vivian Cook speaks as QCDC Exec. Sec. Mike Reich looks on.

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (l. to r.), Assm. Aravella Simotas, Paul Vallone.

The band entertains all night long.

Sean Crowley (l. to r.), Assm. Grace Meng, former BP Claire Shulman and DA Richard Brown.

THE NEW

Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated 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

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

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

Profile

Photos courtesy of Olney Marie Ryland

Mini Houses Take Maximum Effort

BY VERONICA LEWIN

One Southeast Queens resident has been building her reputation in her neighborhood, one tiny brick at a time.

Olney Marie Ryland’s father was a carpenter, and she often watched him working. Through watching and helping, she learned basic craftsmanship, but it was not until 1989 when Ryland put her skills to work. At the time, she collected miniature furniture. When her collection grew, Ryland planned to buy a display cabinet until a friend suggested she put the furniture in a dollhouse. When Ryland went shopping for a dollhouse, she was not impressed with anything on the shelves.

“There wasn’t anything on the market I could buy that would give me what I wanted,” Ryland said. That’s when she went to a lumber yard to get her own wood, and began making her own dollhouses. Ryland cuts material for all of the dividers, door openings and window openings herself. Her husband Vernon cuts sheets of three-eighths plywood down to size to use for the houses.

When she and her husband purchased their Addisleigh Park home in 1997, she decided to use the blue prints to build a to-scale replica of their home. Six months

The scale model of New Hope Lutheran Church that Olney Marie Ryland has donated for a church fund-raiser. later, Ryland’s first replica was displayed in her living room window. Visitors and neighbors were impressed with her work and began asking her to create replicas of their homes. When Ryland is not building replicas, she spends her free time building doll houses.

Dollhouses take Ryland a month to build, while to-scale replicas take six

months to finish. Ryland said she has to be “in the zone” to be creative. When she is in the zone, she wakes up at 4 a.m. and works for two hours. She will not work on replicas after work, and dedicates about three hours on the weekend to building.

Ryland said she enjoys seeing the reactions of people she builds replicas for.

The man who owned what Ryland said is

FALL OPEN HOUSE

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

Sunday, November 13, 2011 12 – 4pm 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11451

Get answers about admissions and financial aid Meet students and faculty Tour our campus

Reserve your place at york.cuny.edu/openhouse-2011

the most beautiful house in the neighborhood asked her to make a replica of his house. When she saw the house, she said it would be challenging to recreate and was hesitant to give it a try. When she finished the replica, the man was so impressed with Ryland’s work, he bought a rope to surround the replica to keep visitors from getting to close to it.

When Ryland joined New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica three years ago, she wanted people to know how much she loved the church. She built a replica of New Hope Lutheran and kept it a surprise until the project was finished.

Three years later, she revealed the model church to her congregation.

“If that’s the only gift that I have to give my church, that’s what I’m going to give,” Ryland said.

Taking six months to build a replica helped Ryland discover she had patience to wait for floor plans and plywood to turn into a mini dream home. She used to sell her doll houses and replicas, but now she builds to help her church. She is currently building a doll house that will be raff led off at New Hope Lutheran during the holiday season.

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

A&E

Phobia Leads Boro Gal To Reality TV

BY RAMIRO FÙNEZ

They crawl, they fly, they infest and they simply freak some people out.

Just the word “cockroach” is enough to give even the most stoic of people chills.

For one Woodside woman, her phobia of the creepy crawlies had been so severe that it hurt her family and has now landed her national attention.

Laura Aguinaga, 28, appeared on Animal Planet’s “My Extreme Animal Phobia” this past Friday, highlighting her

fear of cockroaches. The episode showed Aguinaga’s experience through an intensive five-day exposure therapy where she directly confronted her fear of the ubiquitous pest.

“I’m excited and very nervous.”

Aguinaga said before the episode aired.

“I’m going to see myself through the eyes that my family saw me. This is the first time I see how I react to my phobia.”

Aguinaga’s intense fear began at a young age after travelling to see family in Puerto Rico and discovering the bed in the outhouse where she was sleeping was

A 5 Napkin Brunch and split an entrée of the Macaroni and Cheese. The taquitos came in a row of six, with pernil-style pork filling tiny fresh-made shells, topped with queso fresco, sour cream and salsa. Each of these two-bite delights offered a symphony for the palate – crunchy meets silky, sweet blends with heat.

The Mac and Cheese comes in a large bowl with shell pasta baked in a mix of cheddar and gruyere, swirling in a sea of parmesan cream with hints of onion and leek. The bubbling mix is certainly a great meal for one, but split between the three it offered spoonfuls of homey goodness to prep us for our main dishes.

My first guest, visiting from Virginia, had never experienced 5N before, so she went straight for the Brunch Burger, a generous 10 oz. of ground beef topped with ham, American Cheese and a fried egg, slathered with the proprietary 5N sauce (a sweet and spicy ketchup blend), and served on a sesame bun. It was a revelation, and I fear we have ruined her for any future burgers she may enjoy down South. Perhaps it can be viewed as a play on Steak and Eggs (which is also on the menu), but the burger combines richness, sweetness, tang, chew and snap in every bite – the perfect blend of breakfast and lunch.

My second guest, who has dined at 5N with me in the past, went for the Sausage & Egg Sliders – simplicity on a biscuit. The fresh made breakfast sausage was paired with scrambled eggs and topped with American cheese – a classic done just right.

For me, I tackled the breakfast burrito, a flour wrap holding a mix of scrambled eggs, chorizo and Monterrey Jack, served with a spicy tomato sauce to dip into.

Though the dishes all are naturally served with fries, I opted to substitute for the Tater Tots, which are closer in internal texture to a knish, but still have the breadcrumb crispness on the exterior.

We barely scratched the surface of the brunch offerings, which include Cinnamon French Toast with bananas and buttered maple syrup, a variety of pancakes, salads, omelets, fish tacos and even Lobster Roll Sliders. The menu is enormous and, like their lunch and dinner fare, everything is cooked to order.

—Brian M. Rafferty

NYPD, FDNY Battle For Boxing Supremacy

BY MONICA GANESH The 29th annual Battle of the Badges will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the FDNY Bravest Boxing Team will once again compete against NYPD Fighting Finest to support charities.

The match, which starts at 8 p.m., will feature 12 three-round matches. In the past the charity event has been sold out, with approximately 5,000 people supporting these charities. The winners from each match receive a championship belt.

The FDNY leads the series 15-13 and has been donating to the Homes for Heroes organization. The NYPD donates to the Cops and Kids boxing program. The proceeds are split evenly and donated to both charities. Over the years the FDNY Bravest Boxing team has donated more than $100,000 to various charities.

This year the FDNY proceeds will be donated to renovate the home of Marine Corps 1st Lt. James Byler, 25, of Huntington. Byler stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on Oct. 17, 2010 and lost both legs under the knee and both pinky fingers.

“I think both are good causes,” said Bobby McGuire, president of FDNY Boxing. “It’s a great time for a good cause.”

McGuire was an original member of

FDNY Boxing in 1992, when it was created.

“It’s very hard fought,” McGuire said.

“And every year it comes down to the last round of the last fight to determine who’s going to be the winner.”

According to McGuire, only prides are injured, because the teams follow USA boxing rules and regulations.

The president of NYPD Fighting Finest agreed with McGuire and said he believes that the department’s pride is based on these matches.

The NYPD will donate its proceeds to support amateur boxing for kids 21 and younger. The money goes toward three gyms in Brooklyn and Staten Island to give these kids a place to train alongside cops.

“We work five days a week, and we try to get in as much [practice] as we can,” NYPD Fighting Finest President Dave Siev said.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and at the Madison Square Garden Box Office and cost $30, $50 and $60.

“It’s important to give back in life.”

McGuire said. “This is a great night. It is entertainment and it gives back to a great cause.”

Reach Intern Monica Ganesh at interns@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

5 NAPKIN BURGER 35-01 36th St., Astoria (718) 433-2727 5napkinburger.com CUISINE: Burgers HOURS: 11:30 am-11 pm Mon-Thu; 11:30 am-midnight Fri; 11 am-midnight Sat; 11 am-11 pm Sun PARKING: Street CREDIT CARDS: All Major RESERVATIONS: Yes, Open Table The burger: in its more pure form, it is a delicious, drippy taste explosion of beef – you decide your favorite toppings.

Some prefer to drape it with condiments, layer it with a variety of veggies or simply eat it bare, enjoying the mix of meat and char.

It is no wonder, then, that burger joints have been popping up all over the place.

One of the City’s premier burger hotspots opened an outpost in Astoria this past year, across from the newly renovated Museum of the Moving Image, but to set itself apart from the madding crowd, it has reminded customers that it has chefs, originality and creativity on its menu; in short, it’s not just a burger joint.

The humorously-named 5 Napkin Burger – a fairly apt description of their mainstay, the signature version of which is topped with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onion and rosemay aioli – has melded its fare with the resurgent brunch concept to offer a menu that will delight carnivores and critics alike.

Yes, for brunch you can still get your burgers – in beef, lamb and tuna form (though the Inside Out and Veggie versions don’t make the brunch menu) – but 5N offers a wide range of other dishes specially prepared for the glassy-eyed and groggy. A new Bloody Mary bar allows diners to create their own version of the classic concoction, with a wide range of fresh mixtures all prepared to order. Try the straight tomato, horseradish and celery stalk with a spear of bleu cheesestuffed olives. Don’t worry – the vodka’s already in there. Bellinis and Mimosas are also ready for the asking.

If you’re into appetizers at brunch time, the Hell’s Kitchen Wings will certainly wake you up, and the Chicken Noodle Matzoh Ball Soup will warm you from head to toe, but my guests and I decided to go with the Pork Taquitos

covered with hundreds of cockroaches. The reaction to the insects on her bed was so intense, she was unable to make any future visits to the island.

Aguinaga stopped visiting her late grandmother in Puerto Rico while she was sick because she was scared the roaches would infest the house. Since her grandmother’s death, she vowed to overcome her fears.

“I can’t live with this phobia because it came between me and my Dr. Robin Zasio, known for her work on “Hoarders,” comforts grandma,” she said. “I’m Aguinaga during a session. hoping when people watch it somebody else will know how I feel and leave their pho- couldn’t otherwise handle.”

Zasio, currently appearing in televibia. If someone can have their lives sion network A&E’s hit show “Hoarders,” changed from this, I’ll be happy.”

Licensed Clinical Therapist Dr. Robin is also publishing a book on phobias and Zasio treated Aguinaga at the Anxiety anxiety disorders.

For more information on the televiTreatment Center of Sacramento, where she completed fear-relieving exercises sion show, visit animalplanet.com. For inwhile being filmed for the television show. formation on Zasio’s anxiety clinic, visit “Laura’s been extremely motivated anxietytreatmentexperts.com.

Reach Intern Ramiro Fúnez at after realizing that her fear of cockroaches abducted her life deeply.” Zasio interns@queenstribune.com or (718) 357said. “She conquered a situation that she 7400, Ext. 124.

Faith

Group Facing Its Last Thanksgiving For 11 years Samaritans Outreach Ministries and United Baptist Church of Truth in Laurelton, have been feeding the poor with their weekly soup kitchen and yearly Thanksgiving gala, but this year may be their last due to lack of insurance coverage.

Every Tuesday and Thanksgiving from noon to 3 p.m., the organizations provide food to the community in the basement of the United Baptist Church of Truth at 225-01 Merrick Blvd. The meals are never the same, and the organizations are known for their menu that includes three

choices of meat, sides of macaroni and cheese, collard greens, peas and rice and various beverages.

“We have made history,” said the Rev. Dorothy Fentress, pastor and founder of Samaritans Outreach Ministries. “They call us the restaurant soup kitchen.”

The soup kitchen, which has never run out of food, not only provides food for the less fortunate, but offers them clothes and shoes as well. For the Thanksgiving gala on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the usual soup kitchen operating time, the organizations will give the guests gifts of toiletries and lightly used clothing and shoes, which are checked that they are

Word “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man’s life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.”

—Albert Einstein

in good condition and then washed.

“We embrace these people as family,” Fentress said. “You don’t give your family garbage.

We have spoiled them and it’s beautiful.”

Over the years the soup kitchen has been utilized by hundreds of people, and the amount continues to grow. To feed the large crowds, the organizations purchase large amounts of food through donations, a The reliable soup kitchen is in danger of closing. grant they receive from Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and out of their own and would like to partner with them to pockets. The day before the kitchen is help the needy.

Fentress urges the community to doopen, Fentress and a staff from both organizations spend the day preparing and nate to the soup kitchen. Samaritans Outcooking the large feast. reach Ministries is a non-profit organizaThe soup kitchen can no longer be run tion and all donations are tax exempt. out of the basement because the church’s Cash, checks and money orders made out to Samaritans Outreach Ministries and can insurance will not cover it.

According to Fentress, running the be sent to 130-15 229th St., Jamaica, NY soup kitchen is not an easy task and “a 11413. normal person would not look for this.”

Reach Intern Monica Ganesh at She is looking for a local church which interns@queenstribune.com or (718) 357has enough space to house a soup kitchen 7400, Ext. 124.

Notebook S.W.A.G. UNIVERSITY

Program Helps Young Men Achieve Excellence A new mentoring program is giving teens and parents in Queens the opportunity to better understand each other during the difficult adolescence period.

I’m Just Saying, LLC is hosting its first S.W.A.G. University success and skills life camp for young adults on Nov. 18. The organization is holding simultaneous workshops in Brooklyn and Queens. The Queens life camp will be held at IS 58, located at 132-55 Ridgedale St. in Springfield Gardens.

Program Organizer Cathleen Williams said her goal has been to tackle the low graduation rate of men of color in the City. Since 2005, the citywide graduation rate has gone up 13 percentage points. During that same time period, the graduation rate for black and Hispanic students went up 14 percent, which helped close the black-white and Latinowhite graduation achievement gap by 22 percent and 23 percent respectively.

Still, Williams wants these numbers to continue to improve.

There will be a panel of speakers at the event talking to young men and women about careers and dealing with teen angst. Several Southeast Queens or-

Photo courtesy of Cathleen Williams

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Cathleen Williams and attendees of last year’s Great Men of Excellence award ceremony. ganizations will be speaking at the event, including the United Black Men of Queens and the Southeast Queens Youth Development Council.

Williams said there is a lack of positive male role models in the school, as many teachers are women. Male students are left to seek advice from women, who they may not feel comfortable reaching out to. “Whatever it is that men need to

talk about, they’ll be able to share in this unique environment,” Williams said.

Williams said the focus of the night will be about the young adults growing into adults of S.W.A.G. – Sophistication, Wisdom, Accountability and Greatness.The event is open to young adults 14 and older. There will be a closing ceremony at the end of the night to commemorate the accomplishment. Parents are encouraged

to attend next week’s workshop to learn what is on the minds of today’s teenagers. The workshops will be separated by gender.

“The parents will be able to understand and see what issues are affecting their children,” Williams said.

Though parents are strongly encouraged to attend, Williams does not want their attendance to cause backlash at the meeting or when the children go home.

She said rules will be expressed at the beginning of the workshop to ensure a safe space for all involved.

“They won’t share with you if you don’t learn how to talk with them in an environment that’s safe,” Williams said. Parents will also have the opportunity to speak with a mentor. “Sometimes parents need mentors too,” Williams said.

The following night, the organization will host the Great Men of Excellence award ceremony in honor of International Men’s Day. Former Mayor David Dinkins will receive the Legendary Award of Excellence. There will also be live entertainment. For more information or to register, call (347) 288-6379.

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

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

BY MONICA GANESH

What’s Up SATURDAY, NOV. 12 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.

Winter Baseball Clinic Players ages 5-14 will learn the necessary fundamentals that will improve their level of play as well as their knowledge of baseball. There will be two six-week sessions of instruction, from Oct. 15 to Nov. 19, and Dec. 3 to Jan. 21. Both sessions are not required, but recommended. The price of each session is $50 per child. The fee for players who register in the midst of a session will be $10 a week. For more information, contact (718) 529-7911 or (718) 835-9252.

This event will be held at PS 752, located at 142-10 Linden Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Winter Basketball Program The Lincoln Park Basketball Association is offering a Fall/Winter Basketball Clinic for children ages 8-16 on Saturdays from Oct. 22 through Jan. 28. The $50 registration fee includes insurance, weekly training and a T-shirt. Full payment must be made by Nov. 19, no exceptions. For more information, contact (347) 234-6833 or (718) 682-6938.

This event will be held at the Queens Transition Center, located at 142-10 Linden Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOV. 13 York College Open House

Open Mic for Poets Michael Alpiner has been writing poetry and teaching English for more than 20 years and has published work in “Jewish Currents,” “Soul Fountain,” “Time Being Books,” New Works Review” and “The Verse Marauder.” “Pebbles from the Village” is his poetry memoir of his family’s European immigrant experience.

This free event will be held

MONDAY, NOV. 14 Adult Chess Club Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings.

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

Stay Well Learn new ways to take charge of your health and help your friends do the same.

Learn how special exercise and relaxation techniques make a difference in your life.

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

Workplace Etiquette and Behavior You’ve been lucky enough to get a job, but how do you make sure you keep it?

Participants will learn: appropriate dress for men and women; punctuality and scheduling; standards for face-to-face, phone and email communication.

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

Investor Education Seminar Come to this St. John’s University seminar on avoiding problems with securities brokers and the common legal problems that frequently occur with them. Topics include: common investor problems, how to check on the history of a broker, prohibited broker conduct, causes of action, tips for investors and common scams.

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

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 Health Care Forum Don’t miss this forum for non profit and health care professionals. Breakfast and Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and the forum will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are $5. For additional information, or to register, visit http:// www.communityuplink.net/qf1115.html, send an e-mail to mmerlis@jcrcny.org, or call (212) 983-4800 x122.

This event will be held at Community Mediation Services,89-64 163rd St., at 8:30 a.m.

Non-Profit Workshop Council Member Leroy Comrie is hosting a free non-profit workshop to take place at York College. Comrie has collaborated with local businesses and nonprofits to help build institutions needed in Queens. The workshop will show entrepreneurs how to find and write grant proposals, create successful events, how to save money, and how to prepare for audits. The workshop will take place at York College’s Faculty Dining Room.

Participants must register ahead of time by either calling Council Member Comrie’s district office at (718) 7763700 or register online at www.leroycomrie.com.

This free event will be held at York College, 94-20 Guy R Brewer Blvd.

Downtown Jamaica Networking Get ready to socialize with other professionals and rub shoulders with special guest Dustin Keller from the New York Jets. Food and beverages will be served, and a lucky door prize will be up for grabs courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Stick around for Network Now drink specials at Applebee’s.

This free event will be held at the Verizon Wireless Store, 161-19 Jamaica Ave., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Queens College Baroque Ensemble. This violin and cello trio will perform with baroque era bows. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for the general public.

This event will be held at King Manor Museum, 153 Street at Jamaica Avenue, at 6 p.m.

ONGOING Job Club

In this two-session workshop, older adults will learn the basics about the computer, the keyboard and mouse and the Internet. Preregistration is required in person at the Cyber Center Desk. Class runs from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. For details, please call (718) 990-0769.

This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center offers a free service to assist people from Southeast Queens with job-readiness skill sets in writing a professional resume and cover letter; interviewing practices and techniques; applying on-line procedures; elevator pitch and Microsoft Suite 2007.

For additional information, contact 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.

CB 12 Monthly Meeting

CPR Training

Concerned about the future of the community? Then participate in your local community board meeting. Community Board 12 is bounded by Hillside Avenue (south), the Van Wyck Expressway (west), North Conduit Avenue (south), and Francis Lewis Boulevard/Springfield Boulevard (east) encompassing the communities of Jamaica, South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Hollis, St. Albans and North Springfield Gardens.

This free event will be held at Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center, 172-17 Linden Blvd., at 7 p.m.

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.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16 Intro to Computers

THURSDAY, NOV. 17 Walkers for Wellness Club See Saturday’s listing. At 7 p.m.

Social Media and the Job Search Social media is one of the most popular and effective tools job-seekers can use to market themselves. Participants will learn an overview of social media, effective ways to use social media, top social media sites, how best to use social media for your job search and how to use social media to promote yourself in the job market.

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

Black Spectrum Theatre Forum The Black Spectrum Theatre Company has proposed to start a charter middle school for the performing arts. A forum will be held to discuss the possibility.

When: Thursday, November 17th - 7:00 pm This free event will be held at Black Spectrum Theatre, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 18 Queens College Baroque Ensemble King Manor Museum is pleased to present another in its series of 2011 concerts on historic musical instruments.

Friday’s performance will feature the

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 oneon-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.

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

The Open House provides an opportunity for prospective students to learn about York College, including its varied degree programs, student services and state-ofthe-art facilities. Speak with faculty from York’s various academic disciplines. Meet representatives from our Student Service Offices. Attend a financial aid workshop to learn about the different forms of available aid, filing the FAFSA and TAP applications, and recommended filing dates.

For additional information, contact Laura Bruno at lbruno@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-2165.

This free event will be held at York College’s Health and Physical Education Building, 160-02 Liberty Ave. from noon to 4 p.m.

at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.

Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL

Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 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.

DANCE COUNTRY WESTERN Saturday, November 12 Neil Scott Johnson. $13.

Thanksgiving celebration with heroes served. Saturday, December 10 Gunsmoke performs at the Christmas Dance with a visit from Santa. $12. Glendale Memorial Building, 72-02 Myrtle Avenue at 7:30. 7634328.

LINE DANCING Saturdays 2-4 at Holy Family RC Parish Church, Msgr.

Mahoney Hall, 175-20 74 th Avenue, Fresh Meadows.

Light refreshments. Bring friends!

ISRAELI FOLK Mondays 7:15-9:45 at Hillcrest Jewish Center, 18202 Union Turnpike. $10 session. 380-4145.

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

DINNER GREEN GALA Thursday, November 15 2011 Green Gala at Alley Pond Environmental Center.

229-4000.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

ENVIRONMENT GREEN FILM Saturday, November 12 “Bag It!” will be shown at the Steinway library at 3.

PL ASTIC ALTERNATIVES Monday, November 14 Safer Alternatives to Plastics: Cracking the Code on Plastic Labels at 6 at the Astoria librar y.

PESTICIDE EXPOSURE Thursday, November 17 Pesticide Exposure in our Everyday Life at 6 at the Broadway library.

TREE CARE Saturday, November 19 Become a Tree Care Steward at 2:30 at the Sunnyside librar y.

RELIGIOUS ASTORIA CENTER Saturdays, November 12, 19 Shabbat Youth Program at 9:30. Saturday Shabbat Services at 9:30, followed by Kiddush. Astoria Center of Israel, 27-35 Crescent Street, Astoria. 278-2680.

EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP Saturdays, November 12, 19, 26 Becoming a US Citizen and Building Your Civic Knowledge at the Jackson Heights library at 2:30.

BALMS Saturday, November 12 at 3 at the Sunnyside librar y.

Monday, November 14 at the Woodside library at 4:30. Thursday, November 17 at 6 at the Astoria library.

Saturday, November 19 at 3 at t he Broadway library.

Balms for the Body: Making Natural Body Care Products.

Register.

INTRO POWERPOINT Monday, November 14 at the Central library. 990-5102 to register.

BALLROOM DANCE Monday, November 14 ballroom dancing at the Forest Hills library at 6:30.

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS Monday, November 14 at the Ridgewood library at 2.

Make holiday clay ornaments.

BELLY DANCING Monday, November 14 at the Langston Hughes library.

Register.

WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE Monday, November 14 workplace etiquette and behavior at the Central library at 6.

SEARCH FOR A JOB Monday, November 14 search the internet for a job at 6:30 at the Central library.

POETRY WRITING Tuesday, November 15 poetry writing workshop at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows.

INTRO INTERNET Tuesday, November 15 at the McGoldrick library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, November 15, 22 at the Rosedale library at 10:30.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, November 15, 22 at the Arverne library at 10:30.

BOLLYWOOD Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 5 Bollywood dance instruction at the Bellerose library. Register.

PRACTICE LAB TIME Tuesdays, November 15, 22 computer practice lab time at the Far Rockaway library at 4.

INTRO COMPUTER Tuesday, November 15 at the Queens Village library at 10:30 and at the Ridgewood library. Register.

LEARN TO DRAW Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 5 learn to draw or learn to draw better at the Hillcrest library. Register.

INTRO POWERPOINT Tuesday, November 15 at the Central library. 990-0769 to register.

TANGO CLASS Wednesdays, November 16, 23, 30, December 7, 14, 21, 28 at Buenos Aires Tango in Forest Hills. 347-642-4705.

NOOK NIGHT Wednesday, November 16 Nook Night at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows INTRO WORD

Wednesday, November 16 at the Central library. 9900769 to register.

BASIC COMPUTER Wednesday, November 16 at the Windsor Park library at 10:30.

COMPUTER TUTORIAL Thursday, November 17 at the Woodside library at 6:30.

INTRO POWERPOINT Thursday, November 17 at the Pomonok library. Register.

SOCIAL MEDIA & JOBS Thursday, November 17 Social Media and the Job Search at the Central library at 4.

BPI CONTRACTOR Thursday, November 17 Become a BPI Certified Contractor at 6:30 at the Steinway library.

INTRO E-MAIL Friday, November 18 at the Poppenhusen library. Register.

INTRO FACEBOOK Saturday, November 19 at the LIC library at 10.

JOB SEARCH Saturdays, November 19, December 3, 17 Job Search Boot Camp at 10:30 at the Central library.

NEWSLETTERS & CARDS Saturday, November 19 Newsletters and Cards.

Learn how to use Publisher and Word templates to create newsletters and cards at 2 at the LIC library.

BEE KEEPING Wednesday, November 19 begins a bee-keeping course at the Voelker Orth Museum in Flushing. 359-6227.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, November 19 at the Knights of Columbus in Valley Stream. 341-0452 to register.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, November 19, December 3, 17 Learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-4367940.

BOATING SAFELY Sunday, November 20 the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-01 will give an 8 hour “About Boating Safely” class. 12-01@verizon.net to register and further information.

FLEA MARKETS GOLDEN BAZAAR Saturday, November 12 at Church in the Gardens 114. 50 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills.

ANNUAL FAIR & FLEA Saturday, November 12 at Emanuel Church, Woodhaven Blvd. and 91 st Avenue from 10-8. Baked goods, books, granny’s attic, vendors, more.

MINI BAZAAR Sunday, November 13 mini bazaar and rummage sale 103 at the Forest Park Jewish Center, 90-45 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale.

TREASURE SALE Saturday, November 19 106 & Sunday, November 20 10-5 Holy Family School, Utop i a P a r k w a y a n d 7 5 th A v enue.

ENTERTAINMENT LORCA FLAMENCO November 11 through December 11 flamenco tribute at Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. 729-3880.

MOVING IMAGE Through January 16 Jim Henson Screenings and Programs. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 th Avenue, Astoria. 777-6800. $15.

5 BORO SONGBOOK Saturday, November 12 at F l u s h i n g Tow n H a l l . 4 6 3 7700, ext. 222.

ASTRONOMY Saturdays, November 12, December 17 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 2294000 to register.

CHINESE DRAMA Saturday, November 12 at the Flushing library at 2.

NYC SWING Saturday, November 12 at the Flushing library at 2.

JAZZ & MORE Saturday, November 12 jazz, r&b, Brazilian, bossa nova and Pop at 2:30 at the Cambria Heights library.

AUTHOR TALK Saturday, November 12 author talk with slide show with Fred Cantor and Debra L. Davidson t the Fresh Meadows library at 3.

AUTHOR READING Saturday, November 12 Shalja Patel at 3 at the Langston Hughes library.

VOICES & GUITARS Saturday, November 12 Music for Voices and Guitars at 6:15 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Bayside. 2291663.

OPEN MIC Sunday, November 13 at the Central library at 2.

JAZZ QUARTET Sunday, November 13 Charlie Porter Jazz Quartet at Flushing Town Hall. 4637700, ext. 222.

LIVE JAZZ Sundays through December 18 at 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans from 5-9. $5 donation. 347-262-1169.

OPEN MIC Mondays, November 14, December 12 evening of poetry at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike.

FILM SCREENING Monday, November 14 “The Human Resources Manager” will be shown at 2 at the Fresh Meadows library.

BROADWAY SONGS Monday, November 14 Broadway and Nightclub songs of New York at 6:30 at the Middle Village library.

LOVE SONGS Tuesday, November 15 It’s Never Too Late to Fall in Love love songs at 1:30 at the North Hills library.

CLASSICS Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 5 Jerry, George and Jack: Celebrating the Music of Jerry Bock, George David Weiss and Jack Lawrence at 2:30 at the Maspeth library.

AMER. SONGBOOK Thursday, November 17 The American Songbook Revisited at 1:30 at the Kew Gardens Hills library.

BOBBY DARIN Thursday, November 17

tribute to Bobby Darin at 2 at the Mitchell-Linden library.

FRANK SINATRA Thursday, November 17 tribute to Frank Sinatra at the Windsor Park library at 2.

AMER. SONGBOOK Thursday, November 17 Great American Songbook at 2:30 at the Auburndale library.

CHRISTMAS CAROL Thursday, November 17 “A Christmas Carol” solo performance at 6 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library.

CLAREMONT STRINGS Thursday, November 17 Claremont Strings Holiday Show at the Seaside library at 6.

DARIN, DIAMOND, ANKA Thursday, November 17 tribute to Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond and Paul Anka at the Hollis library at 6:30.

AUCTION Friday, November 18 Msgr.

McClancy High School Parents’ Club 28 th Annual Anniversary Auction at Ricardo’s by the Bridge. 898-3800 information.

JAZZ Friday, November 18 NEA Jazz Masters Concert at 8 at F l u s h i n g Tow n H a l l . 4 6 3 7700, ext. 222.

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

BLUE PIPA Saturday, November 19 celebrate the New China with Min Xiao-Fen and Steve Salerno at 2 at the Flushing librar y.

LATIN JAZZ Saturday, November 19 Latin Jazz Coalition at 3 at the Central library.

BLOOD, SWEAT… Saturday, November 19 Blood, Sweat and Tears performs at Queensborough C o m m u n i t y C o l l e ge . 6 3 1 6311.

TRIVIA Saturday, November 19 trivia at the Fresh Meadows library at 3.

CLASSICAL MUSIC Sunday, November 20 classical music concert at 3 at Astoria Center of Israel. $18 adults, $10 6-12. Coffee and cake follows. 278-2680.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY Sunday, November 20 “Forbidden Broadway” will be performed at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311.

HOFFMAN FLICK Sunday, November 20 Dustin Hoffman narrates the film “Against the Tide” at the Little Neck Jewish Center.

224-0404 to reserve.

DANIEL RODRIGUEZ Sunday, November 20 “America’s Beloved Tenor” Daniel Rodriguez performs at Our Lady of Fatima in Jackson Heights. $25 advance, $30 at the door. 2:30. 25-02 80 th Street.

STAMP SHOW Sunday, November 20, Bayside Stamp Show Ramada Inn, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside 10-4:30.

HEALTH INTRO CHAIR YOGA Saturdays, November 12, 19 at the Lefferts library. Register.

SOCIAL WORKER Monday, November 14 The Social Worker at 11 at the Sunnyside librar y.

INTRO YOGA Monday, November 14 Woodside library. Register.

CANCER 101 Monday, November 14 at the Flushing library at 5:30.

NUTRITION & ZUMBA Monday, November 14 Cambria Heights library at 6.

INTRO YOGA Mondays, November 14, 21 Glendale library. Register.

ZUMBA Monday, November 14 fitness program at the Rosedale library. Register.

MASSAGE THERAPY Mondays, November 14, 21, 28 massage therapy and reflexology at NYHQ. 6701695.

FEMALE CANCER Monday, November 14 “Look Good – Feel Better” female cancer support group at the Radiation Oncology Conference Room. 800ACS-2345.

INTRO CHAIR YOGA Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 5 McGoldrick library. Register.

THORACIC Tuesday, November 15 8 th Annual Thoracic Symposium at the NY Hospital Queens.

670-1419.

BLOOD DRIVE Tuesday, November 15 at Silvercrest Center for nursing & Rehab in Briarwood.

661-7987.

SPECIAL NEEDS Wednesday, November 16 Insight into Dealing with Special Needs at 11:30 at the Richmond Hill library.

MASSAGE THERAPY Wednesdays, November 16, 23, 30 at NYHQ in Flushing.

670-1695.

STRESS MANAGEMENTY Wednesdays, November 16, 23, 30 Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 6701695.

RELAX & SELF HEALING Thursday, November 17 introduction to Relaxation and Self Healing at the Bellerose library at 3.

INTRO CHAIR YOGA Thursday, November 17 Briar wood librar y. Register.

ZUMBA Thursday, November 17 Ar verne library. Register.

BLOOD DRIVE Thursday, November 17 York College. 661-6987.

YOGA CLASS Thursday, November 17 Queensboro Hill library at 6:30.

TREATMENT OPTIONS Thursday, November 17 Tr e a t m e n t O p t i o n s to F i t Your Lifest yle (kidney disease) in Flushing. 670-1276.

WEIGHT LOSS Thursday, November 17 Weight Loss Surgery Seminar in Flushing. 670-2082.

MASSAGE THERAPY Fridays, November 18, 25 in Flushing. 670-1695.

MAMMOGRAMS Saturday, November 19 Appointment 738-1111.

Queens Today SINGLES

MEETINGS Wednesdays, November 16, December 7, 21 Queensview Lodge 433 meets in Whitestone. 917-754-3093.

MEN’S GROUP Thursdays, November 17, December 1 Queens Pride House Men’s Group from 79 for gay, bi, trans men.

TOASTMASTERS Thursday, November 17 Advance for Leadership/ Toastmasters meeting at the Briarwood library at 5:45.

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

P-FLAG Sundays, November 20, December 18 P-FLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663.

TALKS AMERICAN DOCUMENTS Saturdays, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 10 What do you know about our important American documents 1pm at the Greater Astoria Historical Societ y, 35-20 Broadway, 4 th floor, LIC. $5. $ EMPOWERMENT Monday, November 14 Financial Empowerment at 2 at the LIC library.

INVESTOR SEMINAR Monday, November 14 St. John’s Universit y Securities Arbitration Clinic presents “Investor Education Seminar” at 6 at the Central library.

GET ORGANIZED Monday, November 14 Get Organized at 6 at the Steinway library.

FAR ROCKAWAY Monday, November 14 “The Housekeeper and the Professor.” Monday, Dec e m b e r 1 9 “A C h r i st m a s Carol.” Books discussed at 6:30 at the Far Rockaway library.

ARCHITECTURE Mondays, November 14, 21, 28, December 5 Architecture and You series at the Flushing library at 6:30.

SEASIDE Monday, November 14 “Infidel” discussed at 6:30 at the Seaside librar y.

CIVIL WAR Thursday, November 17 “The Forgotten Legacy” with Willie Cooper at the Queens Historical Societ y. 45 members, $8 others. 143-35 37 th Avenue, Flushing. 939-0647, ext. 17.

GRANTS Thursday, November 17 Grant Seeking talk at 2 at the Steinway library.

BAY TERRACE Friday, November 18 “Changing Habits’ discussed at 10:30 at the Bay Terrace library.

HISTORY ROUNDTABLE Saturday, November 19 Civil War Roundtable at 1 at the Greater Astoria Historical Societ y, 35-20 Broadway, 4 th floor, LIC. $5.

SINGLE SERVICE Friday, November 18 Single Service Friday Night Shabbat at 8 at the Little Neck Jewish Center, 49-10 Little Neck Parkway. 516-487-0674.

THEATER S’WONDERFUL Through November 13 at Queens Theatre in the Park.

760-0064.

HARD WALL Through November 19 “A Hard Wall at High Speed” will be presented at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. 866-811-4111.

TWO PIECES OF… Through December 11 “ With Over Two Pieces of Luggage” will be presented at the Greek Cultural Center in Astoria. 726-7329.

TWELFTH NIGHT Saturday and Sunday, November 12, 13 at St. Luke’s in Forest Hills. Presented by the Gingerbread Players.

268-7772.

HAIRSPR AY Saturdays and Sundays, November 12, 13, 19, 20 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing. 229-8547.

SENIORS BASIC COMPUTERS Tuesdays, November 15, 22 computer classes for older adults at the Baisley Park librar y. Register.

HOWARD BEACH Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 5 Jokercize and Exercise at 10:15. Wednesday, November 30 Metro Van 10-noon.

Howard Beach Senior Center, 156-45 84 th Street. 7388100.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Tuesday, November 15 at the Auburndale library. 6413911 reservations.

AARP DRIVING Wednesday, November 16 at the Forest Hills library at 1.

BASIC COMPUTERS Wednesday, November 16 at the Central library. Register.

STARS Wednesdays, November 16, 23 Senior Theater Acting Repertory at the Hollis library at 10:30.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Friday, November 18 defensive driving for veterans at the Rosedale librar y. 4798914 to register.

MAMMOGRAMS Saturday, November 19 nocost mammograms with Communit y Board 6. Appointment needed. 7381111.

PARENTS CHILD CARE GIVERS Monday, November 7 CUNY Child Care Givers workshopLangston Hughes library at 5:30.

FIT KIDS Saturdays, November 12, 19 Fit Kids Nutrition Program in Flushing. 661-7687.

ELECTRIC COMPANY Saturday, November 12 at the Central library at 2.

LIBRARY EXPLORERS Saturday, November 12 at the Central library. 990-0114 to register.

PRESCHOOL CRAFT Monday, November 14 at the Windsor Park library at 1:30.

CRAFT KIDS Mondays, November 14, 21 at the Flushing library at 3.

GOING GREEN Mondays, November 14, 21 Going Green with LEAP at the Broadway library at 4.

WORD PROJECT Monday, November 14 C o m m u n i t y Wo rd P ro j e c t with BOOST at the Central library at 4:30.

BOOST MATH Monday, November 14 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Tuesdays, November 15, 22 at the Glen Oaks library at 11.

READ TO A DOG Tuesday, November 15 at the North Hills library. Register.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays, November 15, 22 at 5 at the Windsor Park library.

JUDY SIERRA Tuesday, November 15 Best of Judy Sierra Storytime at 10:30 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.

GOING GREEN Tuesday, November 15 Going Green with LEAP at the Steinway library at 4.

BOOST MATH Tuesday, November 15 at the Central library at 4:30.

CRAFTS Wednesday, November 16 at the Steinway library at 11.

MY THS & MONSTERS Wednesday, November 16 at 3 at the North Hills library.

S TORY T I M E Wednesday, November 16 Squanto’s Storytime at 3:30 t the Bay Terrace library.

MOVIE DAY Wednesday, November 16 at the Baisley Park library at 4.

GLITTER TURKEY Wednesday, November 16 at the East Flushing library at 4.

LEARN TO SAVE Wednesday, November 16 at the Peninsula library at 4.

BOOST SCIENCE Wednesday, November 16 at the Central library at 4:30.

READ TO ME Wednesdays, November 16, 23 at the Bay Terrace library at 10:30.

STORY TIME Wednesdays, November 16, 23 at the Arverne library at 10.

HAPPY HAPPY STORY TIME Wednesdays, November 16, 23 t the LIC library at 10:30.

NUTRITION Wednesdays, November 16, 23 at the Cambria Heights library. Register.

BOOST HEALTH Wednesdays, November 16, 23 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

NUTRITION WORKSHOP

Thursday, November 17 at t he Bay Terrace libra r y at 3:30.

WILD WEATHER Thursday, November 17 Wild Weather Fun at the Far Rockaway library at 4:30.

THANKSGIVING Thursday, November 17 arts and crafts at the Hillcrest library at 4:30.

BOOST READING Thursday, November 17 at the McGoldrick library at 5.

YOGA AND ME Friday, November 18 yoga for preschoolers at the Douglaston library. Register.

CRAFTS Friday, November 18 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

GOING GREEN Friday, November 18 going green with LEAP at the Astoria library at 3:30.

NUTRITION WORKSHOP Friday, November 18 at the Bay Terrace library at 3:30.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Friday, November 18 at the Broad Channel library at 3:30.

MATH CLUB Friday, November 18 at the McGoldrick library at 4.

GAME DAY Friday, November 18 at the Rochdale Village library at 4.

BOOST GAME DAY Friday, November 18 at the Central library at 4:30.

ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays at 2 at the Queens Village library.

ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays at the LIC library at 2.

GAME DAY Fridays at the Queens Village library at 2.

FLASH FRIDAYS Every Friday at 3 at the Ozone Park library.

GAME PLAYERS Every Friday at the Hillcrest library at 4.

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

GAME DAY Fridays at the Rochdale Village library at 4.

GAME TIME Fridays at the Windsor Park library at 4.

CHESS TUTORIAL Fridays at 4 at the Woodside library.

BOOST GAME DAY Fridays at the Central library at 4:30 and at 5 t the McGoldrick library.

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

LIBRARY EXPLORERS Saturday, November 19 at the Central library. Register.

THANKSGIVING STORY Saturday, November 19 Thanksgiving Storytime at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Saturday, November 19 at 11:30 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.

FAMILY STORY TIME Saturday, November 19 at the Flushing library at 11.

TEENS LEARN TO KNIT Saturdays, November 12, 19 at the Steinway library at 1.

RESUME WRITING Saturday, November 12 at the Broadway library at 3.

OPEN MIC Sunday, November 13 at the Central library at 2.

RELATIONSHIPS Monday, November 14 Healthy Adolescent Relationships at 4 at the Pomonok library.

COLLEGE CLUB 2011 Mondays, November 14, 21 a t 5 a t t h e P o m o n o k l i b ra r y.

WORK ETIQUETTE Monday, November 14 workplace etiquette and behavior at 6 at the Central library.

WRITING ESSAYS Monday, November 14 writing college essays at the LIC at 6.

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

LAPTOP USE Weekdays Ne: at 3 at the Laurelton library.

HOMEWORK HELP Weekdays at the LIC library at 3.

TEEN JEOPARDY Tuesday, November 15 at 4 at the Flushing library.

CAREER & COLLEGE Tuesdays career and college exploration from 3-5 at the Central library.

LIC CHESS CLUB Tuesdays at the LIC library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays at the Windsor Park library at 4.

GAME DAY Every Wednesday at the Howard Beach library at 4.

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

KNIT & CROCHET Wednesdays at the South Ozone Park library at 1.

KNITTING CLUB Wednesdays at the Bayside library. Register.

TEEN REC ROOM Wednesdays, November 16, 23, 30 at the Steinway library at 4.

YOUNG REFORMERS Thursday, November 17 at 4 at t he Laurelton librar y.

Register.

CAREER & COLLEGE Thursdays career and college exploration from 3-5 at the Central library.

TEEN THURSDAYS Every Thursday at the Bay Terrace library at 3.

CHESS CLUB Every Thursday 4-5:30 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library.

GIRL & BOY SCOUTS Friday, November 18 at the Laurelton library. Register.

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

SAT PRACTICE Saturday, November 19 practice test. Register Flushing library 800-273-8439.

JOB SEARCH Saturdays, November 19, December 3, 17 job search boot camp at the Central library at 10:30.

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

CAMBRIA HTS LIBRARY Saturdays, November 12, December 10, January 14 Friends Board of Directors of Queens Library at Cambria Heights meet 4-5:15.

BELLA ITALIA MIA Sundays, November 13, December 11 Bella Italia Mia meets at Christ the King High School, 68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village. 426-1240.

VFW 4787 Mondays, November 14, 21, December 12, 26 Whitestone VFW Community Post meets. 746-0540.

AMERICAN LEGION Mondays, November 14, December 12 American Legion Post 510 meets at St. Robert Bellamine in Bayside Hills. 428-2895.

CATHOLIC VETS Mondays, November 14, December 12 American Mart yrs Catholic War Veterans Post 1771 meets in Bayside. 468-9351.

BRANDEIS Monday, November 14 the Brandeis National Committee meets at the Great Neck library at 10:30.

AMER. LEGION 131 Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 5 , December 20 American Legion, Post 131, meets at 8 at 10-20 Clintonville Street, Whitestone. 767-4323.

AUBURNDALE Tuesday, November 15 the Auburndale Association meets at St. Kevin’s, 45-21 194th Street at 7:30.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 5 , December 20 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 175-20 174th Street, Fresh Meadows at 7:30.

TALK OF THE TOWN Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 5 , December 6, 20 learn the art of public speaking in St. Albans at 7:15. 640-7092.

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

FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets.

917-612-3463.

ADVANCED WRITERS Tuesdays Advanced Bayside Writers’ Group meets at 6:30 in the Terrace Diner, 212-97 26 th Avenue, upper level. Get feedback on your writing and develop your skills.

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

TOASTMASTERS Wednesdays, November 16, December 7, 21 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale Toastmasters Club in Jamaica. 9780732.

FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesdays, November 16, 30, December 7, 21 Flushing Camera Club meets at 7:15 at Flushing Hospital.

479-0643.

KNIGHTS OF PY THIAS

YOUTH

People The 2011 Garvey-Tubman music series, sponsored by Councilman James Sanders, Jr. and the Margert Community Corp., was supposed to come to a conclusion this summer, and a celebration of Haitian music and culture was intended to be one of the final highlights. Sadly, Hurricane Irene had other plans, forcing the cancellation of Haiti’s Tabou Combo, one of the most renowned Konpa bands in the world, who were supposed to perform in Brookville Park. Instead, the band was joined by dancers Surette Bonbon, Nov. 5 at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center to perform live for more than 200 concert goers in attendance.

Though two months later than expected, the band still put on a blistering hour and a half performance that encouraged a feeling of summer warmth and island hospitality in the midst of an icy November night.

Sanders reminded the crowd on hand that though separated by peculiarities of history, all Caribbean peoples share the same lineage and family tree.

“Tonight, as we close out the GarveyTubman Concert Series for 2011, let’s remember that whether its reggae or Konpa, blues or jazz, our community shares the common bonds of strength and perseverance over struggle that have come to define us as a people,” he said. “The GarveyTubman Series is all about celebrating life, in all its diversity, and that’s what we’ve endeavored to do this year. Though we’re

shutting down production for 2011, the series will be back in ’12, with new acts, new performances, and celebrations of new cultures that make up our vibrant Southeast Queens community.”

After a snowstorm the day before, the Third Annual Queens Unity Walk was blessed with a bright sunny day. On Sunday, Oct. 30, about 100 people, some from as far away as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, and New Jersey, joined the Walk, which was meant to bring together people of different faith traditions.

The event began at the Sikh Center of Flushing located at 38-17 Parsons Blvd.

Members of the Sikh community have the faith tradition of providing a meal, known as Langar, to all the guests and members who enter their houses of worship. All participants in the Walk were welcome to share in Langar before the Walk began. The event then started with an informative introduction to the Sikh faith given by Swaranjeet Singh.

Next, participants of the Walk crossed the street to The Temple Gates of Prayer Synagogue. Rabbi Albert Thaler, who has served the synagogue for over 31 years, welcomed everyone and opened his talk with a communal reading of a poem by Rabbi Abraham Heschel. The poem titled “No Religion is an Island” spoke of the unity of all peoples and the need for truth and justice. Both members of the Sikh community and the Temple Gates of

Prayer expressed the belief that people of various faiths share a common language of love and respect for all humanity and must treat each other with compassion.

A 10-minute walk brought all to the next stop, the Masjid Hazrat Abu Bakr Mosque on 33rd Avenue. This mosque serves the large Afghan community, as well as other Flushing residents. Visitors were able to observe a memorial service in the main room, learn a bit about the Qur’an and the six pillars of the Muslim faith, and engage in a question and answer session with Brother Shuwaib, one of the teachers affiliated with the center.

The next stop was on Northern Boulevard at the Tzu Chi Foundation.

Founded by a Buddhist nun, their mission is to perform acts of charity in the Buddhist tradition of loving kindness.

This mission is carried out all over the world from New York City to Haiti to Afghanistan. The Tzu Chi presentation included a song and moving slideshow showing their charitable works. As the slideshow and song played, everyone was invited to stand with their palms together in a “Buddhist prayer stance.” It was an inspirational sight to see everyone, whatever their denomination and/or ethnicity, standing together silently in a unified and shared communion.

The final destination of the day was the Flushing Quaker Meeting House where Naomi Paz Greenberg and Joan

Kindler spoke of the past and present history of this congregation. We learned about the movement’s advocacy of pacifism, its role in the abolition of slavery, and that Quaker women were considered to be equal to men from the very beginning. We sat on historic wooden pews in the landmarked 1694 structure that was built by Flushing hero John Bowne in the wake of religious oppression by Governor Peter Stuyvesant. It was Stuyvesant’s religious intolerance, especially against the Quakers, that led to the writing of the Flushing Remonstrance in 1657, considered to be the first declaration of religious freedom in American history.

Elaine Peters, one of the participants, described the Walk as a pilgrimage. She said, “My husband Jim and I learned about the history, customs and commonalities of the various faiths.”

The Walk ended with the breaking of bread (and shared fruit) with friends old and new. It was a fitting and symbolic conclusion to our Unity Walk.

Tell The PRESS

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

CLASSIFIEDS Home Improv.

Home Improv.

Tree Services

Tree Services

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

Sewer & Drain

Sewer & Drain

ARNOLDO’S TREE SERVICE

-Spring Cleaning & -Lawn Maintenance-Stump Grinding-Land Clearing-

Construction

All Tree Services Provided FREE ESTIMATES Licensed & Insured

NUNEZ CONSTRUCTION

917-442-8482

We Specialize In Crack Repairs also Ceiling & Wall Repairs

EXPERT WORK ON STOOPS BRICK, BLOCK & CONCRETE

FAX YOUR AD TO US AT 718-357-0076

7 Days, Lowest Prices Free Estimate License & Bonded

718-219-1257 Facebook: nunezconstructioninc

Take Your Business To The Next Level and Advertise with us!

718-357-7400

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21

• Pruning • Stump Grinding • Planting • City Permits Obtained • Prompt Storm Service 149-57 Beech Ave. • Flushing New York 11355 Ph: 718-463-7829 Cell: 917-337-4062

Jose Landscaping & Tree Services

Press Policy: All advertisers are responsible to give correct advertising as it will appear.

The South East Queens Press will assume no financial responsibility for errors or omissions.

We reserve the right to edit, reject or reclassify any ad.

All ads are prepaid!

NO REFUNDS, FUTURE AD CREDIT ONLY. Ads ordered to run more than one week as part of a consecutive week rate may be cancelled after the first week but no refund will be issued!

Models Of Queens

Ginny: Body and Mind

Ginny Jamaica Age: 28 Height: 5’ 7" Weight: 120lbs Stats: 34-26-34

Jump in your Wayback machine and set the dial for 2003.

If you step out and look around, you may see Jamaica Queens’ Ginny working to make her mark on the modeling world.

Then again, you would have had to look quick – her first foray into modeling didn’t last long – life got in the way, and her dreams of being splashed across the pages of Vogue had to be put on hold – until now.

“I just decided to pick it back up again,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s mostly something for fun; I enjoy taking pictures, and I’d love to try to see what happens.”

An office manager at CUNY who is working on a Masters of Public Administration degree, Ginny doesn’t exactly have a lot of time to focus on being in front of the camera, but it certainly is enjoyable.

“It’s something that’s fun,” she said. “I’ve tried to do more, but I haven’t gotten to that point. It takes time to network, to meet the right people. I’m just going to try setting up some profiles on modeling sites.”

In her downtime, Ginny goes to the movies, reads, rides her bike through the park and goes on strolls at the Queens Botanical Garden. “It’s just beautiful there,” she said. “Right now it’s getting colder, so I won’t be there as much.”

She’s also a bit of a gourmet. “I like to eat a lot,” she said. “It doesn’t look it, but I like to eat out a lot, too.”

She knows that her academic work is going to point her career in one particular direction, but if the modeling works out, “It’s always good to have a plan B.”

What The Cluck?

Queens' very own Caped Crusader rides his “Boulevard” Batcycle

He’s No Bruce Wayne Boulevard as co-grand marshal.

Vigilante justice has a new name.

The day before Halloween, the kiddies of Astoria were stunned by the likes of a superhero – well, maybe not so super, but a community hero nonetheless.

Dressed as Batman, Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. jumped on his Harley Davidson batcycle, posing for pictures at the annual Astoria Halloween Family Parade.

Beginning at PS 85, Vallone greeted school kids, leading the popular parade down Ditmars

Atop his grumbling hog “Boulevard,” his cape flapped in the wind as spectators looked on in awe of his spectacular physique.

We’re not too sure if the costume was for the enjoyment of the neighborhood kids or if Vallone genuinely felt at home in the Dark Knight’s costume; either way he’s a definite shoo-in for the heroic role in reality.

He’s buff, tough, and will always fight for truth, justice and the American way.

We all know not to count our chickens before they hatch, but it turns out that some people had to be explicitly told that their birds should be inspected before they get sent to grocery stores.

According to the New York Times, the 44th Avenue Joe Crowley’s tweet Halal Poultry Corp. in Corona had been selling thousands of pounds of uninspected poultry to local supermarkets before the Dept. of Agriculture caught on. The slaughterhouse is exempted from federal laws In the world of social media and witty Twitter messages, headshaking mandating chicken inspections because it’s supposed celebrity moments like the abrupt end of famous-for-no-reason Kim to sell chickens only for at-home consumption. ApparKardashian’s 72-day marriage can turn into a trending topic in a matter ently, they mistook grocery stores for homes and have of hours. been selling their hens to retail stores uninspected.

After she announced her divorce from husband, New Jersey (soon Though there have been no reports of anybody to be Brooklyn) Nets player Kris Humphries, the general public took to getting sick from the meat, there IS a reason why the Twitter using the hashtag, #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage. To The FDA hopes to keep Queens chicken eaters FDA requires certain oversight on poultry purveyors mock the marriage with examples of things that lasted longer than it, healthy.

– ever heard of salmonella? some offered serious tweets, like So keep your eyes open if you’re buying chicken in Corona. If you one woman’s cancer treatment, Confidentially, New York . . . see thumbprints, bruising, an icky sheen – or if the breasts and thighs the NBA lockout, a college semesjust plain stink – that chicken is probably not right for you. ter, and some joking, such as “this And why is it okay to sell uninspected poultry for in-home use? tweet.”

Anybody want a burger?

Even our elected officials got Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 11-17, 2011

Tweet On!

Sowing Seeds A Westchester County pastor, the Rev. Steven Smith, recently asked his fans to pray for College Point. The reason? It needs a church.

“Please pray that God will call Apostolic church planters to raise up a United Pentecostal Church in College Point, Queens, NY,” Smith wrote on his blog, along with a logo that shows an arrow heading for a target – no, not the one on 20th Avenue. The end of the post includes a copy of College Point’s Wikipedia entry.

We’re not really sure what Apostolic church planters are, but we assume it’s a type of farming even us urbanites can do.

A quick glance at Smith’s blog shows he has asked his parishioners to pray for other local areas, including Huntington and Flushing. No word if Apostolic church planters raised up a church in those communities.

into the act. U.S. Rep. and Queens Democratic Party chair Joe Crowley used the Kardashian “marriage” for a political attack against Congressional Republicans. He tweeted: “The number of days without a #GOP jobs bill #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage.”

Hey Joe, it also works with #DontHoldYourBreath and #WhenPigsFly.

Who We Are QConfidential is edited by: Michael Schenkler. Contributors: Ross Barkan, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Veronica Lewin, Mike Nussbaum, Brian Rafferty, Domenick Rafter, Jason Banrey

--------------You can reach us by email at Conf@QueensPress.com;

Nov. 11-17, 2011 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23