SEQ Press Epaper

Volume 11 Issue No. 45 Nov. 12 - 18, 2010

PAGE 22

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

HERE TO HELP State Sen. Shirley Huntley brought Baisley Park Houses residents together to tell them about new services that will guide them towards financial independence.

By Jason Banrey… Page 3 PRESS Photo by Jason Banrey

Online at www.QueensPress.com

News Briefs Senior Housing In Fineson The proposal to transform a vacant Howard Beach hospital into affordable housing for seniors and those with disabilities is moving toward completion.

The project will bring 96 new units to the former Bernard Fineson Developmental Center on Cross Bay Boulevard and 156th Avenue in Howard Beach, just off the Belt Parkway. Developers say 12 of the 96 apartments will be set aside for residents with developmental disabilities. The other 83 units, 27 studio and 56 onebedroom apartments, will be for seniors. Half of the units, at least 42 of them, will be reserved for seniors

living in Community Board 10 for as long as the development exists. Catholic Charities won the contract to develop the project in June 2009.

The facility will be completely independent living, not an assisted living or nursing home. There will be a detailed process to get an apartment. Six months before completion, Catholic Charities will begin accepting letters requesting applications. Returned applications will be looked over to make sure seniors fit the age, disability and/or income eligibility, and there will be an interview session to determine if the prospective candidate is the best fit for the apartment.

Still Some Voting Hiccups One person, one vote is the foundation of American democracy, but Election Day 2010 highlighted several ongoing issues with the new electronic voting machines, from privacy concerns to the ballots themselves, according to Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) and State Sen.-elect Tony Avella.

“Those of us who have been involved in the political process for a long time know that New York State was always just “this close” to having its own Florida situation,” Lancman said.

The City Board of Elections needs to take a hard look at what went right, and what went wrong, in the last election, he said.

“Bottom line is, the process needs to be better,” Avella said.

Among improvements should be better training for poll workers, he said.

“I didn’t know that you could put the ballot [into the machine] upside down,” Lancman said. “Nobody told me.”

Lancman’s contribution is a bill that would allow college students to work as poll workers even if they do not live in the county, as new machines bring a need for more tech-savvy applicants. The change would also help fill the constant dearth of poll workers.

When he went to vote, Avella was surprised that booths with electronic scanners provided no privacy.

“My ballot was exposed,” Avella said. “Anybody who took a picture knows now how I voted.”

Voting by mail, common in some states, is a restrictive category of absentee ballots. To alleviate some of the stress on Election Day, New York State should run a vote by mail pilot program, Lancman said.

One of the downfalls of the current system is that, although the machines notify a voter if they choose for too many candidates, there is none if someone misses a race, Lancman said.

Small Biz Lending Up

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

The Queens-Long Island Renal Institute, Inc. (QLIRI) offers the finest quality of care, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromised dignity, in a bright, ultra-modern setting.

Licensed by the New York State Department of Health, QLIRI provides: • Chronic Hemodialysis • Experienced Nephrologists and Dialysis Registered Nurses • Comfortable, State-of-the-Art, Private Treatment Stations • Personal TV and DVD • Homelike Reception Area with Large Screen TV • Free Wireless Access • Social Work Services • Nutrition Counseling • Individual and Family Health Education • Stretcher Capability • Valet Parking Available • Medical Transportation Available

The economy may still be struggling, but there appear to be some rays of light at the end of the tunnel, at least for small businesses.

A new study released by U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) showed a 41 percent jump in small business loans in Queens during the last year, a sign that banks may be lending money again. Weiner said the jump in loans could help bring jobs to the borough.

“Small businesses that wanted to hire were unable to secure loans,” he said of the situation facing borrowers in recent years.

Weiner pointed to legislation passed in Washington during the past two years as reasons for the rise in loans, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the “stimulus,” which increased the amount of money guaranteed by the Small Business Administration in a loan from 75 percent to 90 percent, giving more incentives to banks to lend money.

“The banks are only on the hook for a small portion of the loan,” Weiner said.

Whitestone Bridge Upgrade Northern Queens drivers are in for another temporary inconvenience, as the MTA’s Bridges and Tunnels will begin work on the Whitestone Bridge’s approach on the Queens side.

The work will replace the entire 1,010-foot approach, installing new support archways, widening the lanes and adding an emergency lane to the 71-year-old structure.

The planned work will have three phases: the creation of new, wider support structures under the bridge; the rejuvenation and widening of the approach’s roadway; and a tearing down of the previous supports.

The first phase of the project will begin in early 2011, after the Bronx-side approach of the bridge is largely done, and will last into 2012.

Brief Us! Mail your news brief items to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Presstime

Program Will Help Keep Money In Shape Understanding the importance of financial literacy during dire economic times can be the beginning of steering oneself towards financial independence.

State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) believes she has found the perfect approach, one that will lead her constituents towards achieving economic stability.

Introducing the Financial Independence Today Program at a Baisley Park Houses tenants meeting this past Wednesday, Huntley made residents in Jamaica aware of the free financial services available to them beginning in January.

Sponsored by the East River Development Alliance, United Way of New York City and New York City Housing Authority, the FIT Program will work together with residents to help them identify financial mismanagement and provide support to help them stabilize their finances.

With the goal of working towards household economic security, Huntley assured residents the program has the potential to provide them with free financial counseling — a luxury she feels is taken for granted by the well-off.

“Let’s face it, millionaires get counse-

lors to show them how to spend their money. So it’s really nothing different here; it’s just that [residents] will be working with less capital,” Huntley said.

Residents packed the Baisley Park Community Center eagerly looking for financial solutions while voicing their financial issues.

Seeking guidance out of her rental arrears situation, Barbara King, knows too well how a difficult financial period can affect her monthly rental payments. After undergoing major surgery last year, King fell behind on her rent. She slowly watched her medical bills cut into the small amount of money she usually set aside for her rent.

King is now looking for guidance to put her on a proper budget to reduce her chronic late payments. Welcoming the FIT Program, she hopes ERDA counselors and NYCHA can help her develop a structured budget to avoid further rental arrears and provide her with the opportunity to save again.

“Hopefully I won’t be late with rent no more, and that would be a blessing.” said King.

Florence Juillard, Financial Fitness Program Director for ERDA, has seen the benefits of educating residents about fi-

nancial literacy in other public housing developments within Queens, and urges everyone to take advantage of their free services.

“This is completely doable,” she said. “I think that its going to be resident-led.

It’s going to work if residents want it to work. What’s going to be important is that they show up and they show they want it. ” Members of the housing development’s tenants association are also urging residents to take advantage of the FIT Program when it becomes available during the first week of next year.

For more information about the Financial Independence Today Program, Residents of Baisley Park Houses can contact ERDA at (718) 784-0877 or Huntley’s off ice at (718) 523-3069.

State Sen. Shirley Huntley promised residents of Baisely Reach Intern Jason Banrey Park Houses an upcoming Financial Independence Today jbanrey@queenstribune.com Program will help them get their money right. or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.

PRESS Photo by Jason Banrey

BY JASON BANREY

Klein Out, Black In:

Reaction Mixed On Schools Choice

BY JESSICA ABLAMSKY

When Joel Klein was first appointed in 2002, he toured Astoria’s Bryant High School, his alma mater. the value of listening to staff, Bloomberg said.

In a message to the community, she said, “I will listen to your concerns, your interests and your expectations. In return, I ask for the same from you.”

Black will have to dig public education in the city out of a “difficult hole,” said Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters, a student-advocacy nonprofit. “[Klein] is leaving us with a legacy of classroom overcrowding, communities

college and career ready,” she said. “We have 369 schools where two-thirds of the students are not reading at grade level.

What is going to be done? We need Chancellor Black to come in on day one and address the fact that the achievement gap in New York City remains a chasm.”

There are many changes that should be made to public education in the City, from teaching to the test to mayoral control, said Nick Comaianni, president of the Community Education Council for District 24.

“Now it’s just work, work, work, test, test, test; we must pass this test,” he said.

Communities have different needs, and parents had more input under the old school board system, he said.

Klein’s next venture is at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation as an executive vice president in the chairman’s office and a member of the board of directors. In addition to helping the corporation develop a business strategy for the education market, he plans to continue to speak out on education issues.

Black is a graduate of Trinity College in Washington, D.C. who grew up in Chicago and attended Catholic schools. A longtime resident of Manhattan, with her husband she raised three children in the City, though they went to boarding school in Connecticut.

Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

After eight years, Joel Klein, one of the longest serving chancellors in New York City history, stepped down to take a position in the private sector. In his place will be Cathie Black, former chairwoman of Hearst Magazines, who has been active in promoting literacy and youth mentoring.

To aid in the transition, Mayor Mike Bloomberg promised that Klein will stick around until roughly the beginning of the new year.

Calling him a landmark civic leader, Bloomberg credited Klein with transforming City public education into one with higher graduation rates, less crime and a narrowed achievement gap.

“I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for giving me the best job of my life, and for being there every step of the way in the effort to improve education for our students,” Klein said.

Praising the gains in education made under Bloomberg and Klein, Black said that her main goal will be to build on that work.

“I look forward to working with Ms. Black,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “As a teacher, I will help in any way I can to improve the education for the children of New York.”

Among the criticisms that have been leveled at the City Dept. of Education over the last eight years is a lack of communication between DOE administrators and teachers and parents. Black understands

fighting over co-located schools, Kindergarten waiting lists, unreliable school grades based on bad data, substandard credit recovery programs, and our children starved of art, music and science – all replaced with test prep,” she said. “Instead of progress, NYC black and Hispanic students have fallen further behind their peers in all nine other cities tested since 2003 in the national exams known as the NAEPs.” Haimson would like to see a chancellor who understands how children should be educated.

“As for Cathie Black, it is unfortunate that once again, the mayor has chosen someone with no educational experience, except for sitting on the board of a charter school with teacher attrition rates of 4271 percent, and a student suspension rate of 62 percent,” she said.

Black serves on the advisory council for the Harlem Village Academy. In order to take the job as the Chancellor of the City Dept. of Education, as somebody not certified in school administration, she needs to be granted a waiver by the State Dept. of Education and the State Board of Regents. They complied with that request previously for Klein.

As a noneducator, Black will have a steep learning curve, said Zakiyah Ansari, a parent organizer for statewide education reform coalition Alliance for Quality Education.

“We have hundreds of thousands of kids right now who are not on track to be

DOE Reports Define New Closings

BY JESSICA ABLAMSKY Their fate is uncertain, but eight more schools in the borough could be added to the City Dept. of Education’s closure list, including two high schools and five elementary schools, based on low progress report and quality review scores.

An updated list of schools that might face closure will be available “fairly soon,” said DOE spokesman Jack ZarinRosenfeld. The final decision will be made by mid-December.

The first step towards closure is being classified by the State Dept. of Education as persistently low achieving; earning below proficient on the quality review; or earning three consecutive Cs on progress reports, or a D or an F in one year.

A reprieve is granted by earning “well developed” or “outstanding” on the quality review; higher than the citywide average for either graduation rates or ELA and

Facing Possible Closure

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

Law, Government and Community Service High School Robert F. Kennedy Community High School Academy of Medical Technology: A College Board School PS 195, Rosedale PS 36, St. Albans PS 35, Hollis PS 215, Far Rockaway PS 182, Jamaica

Math scores; or being a first-year school.

Possible interventions range from new programs to staff replacement or closure, which are chosen based on a closer look at the data, such as historic enrollment and test scores, and conversations with school staff and parents, according to the DOE. Already on the list of possible closures are 12 schools in Queens. Of those, seven earned a D or an F on this year’s progress report.

Showing some improvement were five large high schools that earned a B or a C,

including August Martin, Grover Cleveland, John Adams, Newtown and Richmond Hill.

A school that shows improvement may not see “dramatic change,” ZarinRosenfeld said.

“It’s definitely good to see schools on an upward trajectory, and our job is to figure out a way to keep that going,” he said.

Progress reports are based on data, the reliability of which is unproven – high stakes testing that encourages cheating and do

not take class size into account, said Leonie Haimson, founder of the New York City based nonprofit, Class Size Matters.

“It would be only fair for the DOE to take class size into account as well with the progress reports, especially as many high schools are allowed to cap enrollment and thus class size at far lower levels than others,” she said.

Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

Three Boro HS’s Being Changed

BY JESSICA ABLAMSKY Three high schools in Queens are being “transformed” using $4.9 million in funds through a federal grant program to reform the bottom 5 percent of schools, those dubbed “persistently low achieving” by the State Department of Education.

Flushing High School, Long Island City High School and Queens Vocational and Technical High School were targeted by the DOE last summer for transformation, which is one of four federal turnaround models.

Although the model does not call for firing teachers, it mandates replacing principals and basing future hiring practices on teacher evaluation.

Despite that requirement, principals in Queens were allowed to maintain their post by giving them a new job title, as they only

worked in the schools for three years or less.

As part of the transformation, principals hired turnaround teachers who earn a 15 percent bonus for working in the school, and “master teachers” who receive a 30 percent bonus for teaching fulltime and mentoring teachers.

Other reforms include the use of databased teaching strategies, and partnerships with community groups to “maximize and extend instructional time.”

“Thanks to these federal dollars, we’re bringing great mentor teachers to struggling schools, putting in place innovative curriculum reforms and extended learning time, and strengthening supports for English language learners and students with disabilities,” said outgoing Chancellor Joel Klein.

Future funding is dependent upon schools showing progress, and districts

continuing school improvement plans after federal funds run out.

To benefit current and future turnaround schools, the DOE is using federal funds to create programs that will provide academic support for English language learners and students with disabilities, “Teacher Effectiveness Coaches who will facilitate the implementation of the teacher evaluation and reward program,” and partnerships to expand the Advanced Placement program and implement an online credit recovery program.

The fate of seven large “persistently low achieving” high schools in Queens will be determined in the coming weeks, which will free up millions more in grant money.

Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstrbune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

City Urges Residents: 'Run Your Tap'

BY JASON BANREY Running your tap is no longer considered a waste of water after the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced its Run Your Tap campaign last week.

In conjunction with the Health Department, the public service campaign aims to educate city residents about the simple precautions they can take to further reduce potential exposure to lead from the plumbing system.

After testing 125 homes throughout the city from June 1 to the end of September, the DEP discovered elevated levels of lead in 14 percent of buildings and housing units tested.

Although the elevated lead levels do not pose any clear significant public health risks, the city wants to make certain that residents are made aware of the simple inexpensive ways to deal with the issue.

Each year the DEP tests for water contaminants in the distribution network below the city that feed homes and buildings.

Small amounts of lead can still be found in service lines and in plumbing fixtures in dwellings throughout the city. In most instances these small amounts do not present health risks to residents.

Dwellings built prior to 1961, when regulations were put in place to prohibit the use of lead in service lines and plumbing fixtures, have a higher risk of being exposed to lead through their taps.

“Under certain conditions, lead can leech from the pipes and fixtures into the tap water in these homes – especially if the

HEAP Offers Heating Help

BY JESSICA ABLAMSKY With flurries falling this past Monday, the chill of winter cannot be far away.

Fortunately, those with low or fixed incomes can get some help fighting off Jack Frost from inside their homes as temperatures drop.

The Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households stay warm all winter long by providing money to pay heating bills and make necessary repairs.

Enrollment in the program is now open; it provides up to $600 for regular or emergency benefits, and up to $3,000 for heating equipment repairs or replacement.

For a family of four, the ceiling for gross monthly income is $4,094.

This year, State Sen. Toby Stavisky (DFlushing) and Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) are teaming up to promote HEAP to residents in the borough, and will host a representative from the City Human Resources Administration who will help qualifying borough residents apply.

“We all know how cold our New York City winters can be, and how long they can last,” Stavisky said. “For senior citizens, families living on fixed or lower incomes and the disabled, there are special challenges in heating a home. The cost of fuel fluctuates, and some winters are colder for longer, making it difficult or impossible for people with limited means to budget for the expense, which is why the HEAP program is so important for our communities.”

Calling it one of the most essential programs, Meng said, “The Home Energy Assistance Program has directly put money back into the pockets of working families and has also helped seniors get money back during this tough economy.”

An HRA representative will be available Monday through Thursday at Meng’s office at 136-20 38th Ave., Suite 10A. On Fridays, a representative will be available at Stavisky’s office at 144-36 Willets Point Blvd.

For more information call the New York State HEAP Hotline at (800) 342-3009, or the City HRA at (800) 692-0557.

Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 124.

water sits for long prolong periods. That can include overnight or during the school or work day,” said DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway.

Although elevated levels of lead were found, Holloway stresses all residents “not to panic,” ensuring city residents that “New York City water is still the best.”

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley also encourages everyone to continue drinking from the tap and insists city residents the water is “clean and safe.”

“The levels we are talking about are low,” he said. “Any lead levels that would be in the pipes would drop substantially if you’re getting water from the main by running the tap.”

Residents who live in homes and buildings that predate 1961 may have had lead service lines installed and are urged by the DEP to take the precautions and are offering residents lead testing kits.

The campaign lists some simple precautions that can help further reduce your risk to lead exposure. Run your tap for at least 30 seconds until the water is noticeably colder before drinking, cooking or making baby formula any time the water in a faucet has stood for several hours. Lastly, always use cold tap water for drinking and cooking, even after you have run your tap.

For more information about the Run Your Tap campaign visit www.nyc.gov or call 311.

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

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

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

In Our Opinion: Arnold Thibou Executive Editor:

Brian Rafferty Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie

Editorial The Experiment Continues The New York City Public Schools have undergone an experiment for the last eight years with Chancellor Joel Klein at the helm. Many have argued that children should not be the subject of this experiment, but the simple truth is that the system that existed beforehand was failing our children. In the time since Klein took over, there have been changes and restarts along the way, with one policy falling in favor of a new idea.

These policies brought about sweeping changes, with an end result, by some measures, of improvement. Data used to measure these improvements has come under fire, as have rationale for school closings and disconnect between parents and school administration.

We look forward to hearing from new Chancellor Cathie Black, should she gain the needed waiver from the state, about her plans for leading the growth and progress of our most important asset – our children.

There needs to be improvement. We are not satisfied – and may never be satisfied – with our children’s progress; we always want more for our children. The DOE, Chancellor Klein and Mayor Mike Bloomberg have patted themselves on the back for the work of the last eight years. We hope that Chancellor Black can help the parents, teachers and students feel as good about the education system as the administration seems to.

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Left To Drown To The Editor: Losing Republican State Assembly candidate Vince Tabone need look no further than his running mate State Senator Frank Padavan for why he may have lost. “Ed Braunstein To Replace Carrozza” (Jessica Ablamsky, Nov. 4).

After being elected in 1972, Padavan ran as a local Republican-Conservative Party candidate. In the 1990’s Padavan and Assembly member Doug Prescott proudly campaigned as a Republican/Conservative team. They

won several elections together.

Flash forward to 2010. Local Republicans noticed something was missing when stopping by Padavan’s campaign reelection headquarters in Bayside. There was no literature, bumper stickers, posters or lawn signs at Padavan HQ for the Padavan/Tabone team.

What changed from the 1990’s campaign to today? Was Padavan so uncomfortable with Tabone and all his other fellow GOP running mates such as Carl Paladino (Governor); Gregory Edwards (Lieutenant Governor); Jay

Letters Townsend and Joe DioGuardi (United States Senator); Dan Donovan (Attorney General) and Harry Wilson (State Comptroller) that they were all missing in action at Padavan Headquarters?

Was it fear of the Cuomo, Schumer and Gillibrand Democratic juggernaut on the horizon sweeping Queens with record numbers? A party’s ticket is only strong when all the candidates, from top to bottom, work as a team. Republicans are sure to lose when they are afraid to identify party affiliations and campaign on their own with no coordinated effort between them.

Other Republicans might be confused with Padavan’s standard political campaign reelection theme “Nobody Cares Like Frank” when he obviously doesn’t care about them. Intelligent voters can clearly see through this charade. You can’t build a Republican brand name when candidates like Padavan run from it.

Padavan’s ego was so concerned about his own personal survival that he left Tabone and all other Republican running mates to drown on their own.

Larry Penner, Great Neck

Against The Tide To The Editor: There are times that the strongest swimmers find that they cannot swim against the tide and in some parts of our country Democratic candidates lost on Tuesday.

But, here in our part on the world, our candidates and our party proved that they are good “swimmers.”

Joe Addabbo won. Audrey Pheffer won. Our Congressmen won, as did our Senators and Assembly candidates in neighboring districts. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are headed back to the Senate. Andrew Cuomo resoundingly beat a man running under the Republican banner who was a disgrace.

In our hotly contested race to send Joe back to the State Senate, we had hundreds of volunteers that knocked on many thousands of doors, dropped flyers at many thousands of homes, many, many thousands of pieces of literature were mailed, and we made tens of thousands of phone calls.

None of that happened without the help of all of you. Thank you for all you did. From our most liberal to our most conservative Democratic activists, we all worked together and everyone should be very proud of the work we did.

We’re always in need of new volunteers willing to join in to help.

Before we know it, we’ll be back out there on the campaign trail working to put good candidates in office in next year’s elections.

I want to personally thank everyone who contributed their time, talent and money to this campaign and our candidates during this election cycle and ask that you stay involved.

Frank Gulluscio, Democratic District Leader

New Chancellor/New Chapter In City Schools A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

Generally speaking, when most people apply for a job, they usually have at least some inkling of what it is that job requires. Hiring managers usually just toss your resume if there's nothing that matches the job's chief purpose.

But Mayor Mike Bloomberg is a different kind of hiring manager. Take his School's Chancellor-in-waiting…please.

Cathie Black apparently never attended public school anywhere nor have her children. She never had to attend a public school PTA meeting nor meet with a teacher in a PS setting. And like Klein, who is an attorney by training, Black has no prior experience working in academia. This is all new to her.

Black is a publishing executive, and by all accounts, quite a successful one. Good for her. I love to see a woman climb the ranks in a field previously known for its male domination. But K through 12 education needs more than what a business executive brings. For sure, it is important that the chancellor knows how to

get a budget balanced. But there are other tangibles and intangibles to consider.

He or she needs to be adept at working with disparate personalities and job titles in disparate locations. You don't ever want to say someone "cannot" just because they haven't before. But come on…chancellor?

This is one of - if not the largest public school systems in the nation, with 1,600 schools, 136,000 employees, about a million children and a $23 billion budget. Klein, at least, was a product of the New York City public school system and had worked in government in addition to his public sector business experience.

Under his eight-plus-year watch, the system improved, but there's a lot more room for improvement. And it is good that the time has come for him to move on, making room for fresh ideas.

What is troubling is that this replacement appointment seems to have been done too quietly.

The mayor says that a public search was conducted and that Black floated to the top.

Well, just because the position

was posted where upper echelon employment seekers would see it doesn't necessarily make it public enough that the general public would have been aware that Chancellor Klein was leaving.

The incoming chancellor is asking for time to get the lay of the land when she commences her tenure. Even if she came from another system within the nation, I would still be agreeable to giving her time to find her feet in this new city. Unfortunately, being new to this leadership genre, she will need extra time.

It is important that Black know that business acumen alone won't cut it in managing this system.

The business model in publishing can be adopted to fit academia, but that's not the half of it.

Here she will be in charge of ensuring that some one million school children are prepared for college and life. Public education is a complex beast. In previous iterations of her career, Black was looking at the bottom line. Here she will be dealing with a variety of educational and social issues in a quagmire of a system.

Some children need extra at-

tention and social support. There are superintendents, principals and teachers to be managed as well. It won't be a walk in the park and it may have been easier to have chosen someone with some familiarity with the job.

But however we may feel about this out-of-left-field appointment, we do have to wish Black well.

Her success will be our success; our support, advice (whether solicited or not) and patience will come into play.

I have often disagreed with the outgoing chancellor. He has always struck me as being prickly and autocratic; especially when he removed an outstanding principal from an area school, despite appeals from the community not to do so.

But with Black we now seem to have a new opportunity to see our school system evolve and flourish; and hopefully she will be open to seeing the big picture, rather than just the center of it.

She is inheriting a system whose foundation is stronger than it was eight years ago. But make no mistake, it is still a little wobbly.

We'll see how she does.

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Hank Morris: Last Man Standing Who Didn’t Know It All

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER I’m a political junkie, and as such am somewhat familiar with the community of New York political consultants that exist to make the game of politics into a professional and profitable one.

I’ve played in their arena frequently and enjoy the game.

Advising a candidate for office is central to the profession of a political consultant. Effectiveness is most frequently measured in victories. And through the years, New York has had its quasi celebrity political consultants.

There was Davia Garth, the man behind Ed Koch who also worked for John Lindsay, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. His client list was endless -- it also included Governor Hugh Carey.

There is Hank Sheinkopf, who got his star t as a repor ter for the Queens Tribune, and went on to claim Bill Clinton as his

most well-known client.

And there was Hank Morris the man who engineered Chuck Schumer’s defeat of Alphonse D’Amato and then gave us Alan Who? Mor ris was Hevesi’s guru from Alan’s early days in the Assembly right up to his reelection as State comptroller. But apparently he was a lot more than that.

In the New York State payto-play pension scandal which brought down Alan Hevesi and his administration, Morris has agreed to a plea bargain which, according to published reports, would include the repayment of $19 million in kickbacks and guilty plea of a single felony of securities fraud. State Supreme Court Justice Lewis Bart Stone is considering whether to accept the deal.

I had my own encounter with Morris eighteen years ago.

Then, in his pre-multi millionaire days of consulting and lobbying, Morris was throwing his weight around locally. Flexing his muscles and capitalizing on a 1992 antiincumbent trend combined with the new lines of redistricting, Morris declared he could beat nine year incumbent Congre ssma n Gar y Ackerman with a woman candidate.

Morris was aware that 90% of the District was new to Ackerman who had previously represented only Queens, and found his borough’s representation dimin-

ished and after weighing his options, outmaneuvered longtime Congressman James Scheuer and captured party support in Nassau and then Queens for a new tricounty district which stretched all the way to Suffolk along the water of the North Shore.

Ackerman, my friend and partner, appeared to be the popular and party choice for the district. And as Morris continued to mouth off about how he could engineer an upset, he quietly called prominent women in the area suggesting they challenge Gary. When all of them turned him down, Morris convinced his mother, Rita Morris, a librarian to enter the Democratic Primary.

Using favors earned and connections earned in his years in consulting, Morris planned to raise about $1 million, mount a negative campaign to bring down Ackerman who was new to most of the District. He believed he knew the District, the issues and was in control.

How do I know this?

Hank Morris told me.

When he announced his mother’s candidacy, as Ackerman’s friend and campaign chairman, I reached out for Morris to suggest that a Democratic consultant might be better off than making it personal with a sitting Congressman who was the Party’s choice.

Moreover, there had been no past history bet ween Ackerman

and Morris to account for a move I considered bizarre.

Well, Hank accepted my offer and we breakfasted in the city. He selected the Brasserie in midtown; I don’t remember what we ate.

I do remember a lengthy breakfast where he did his best to bully, scare, and impress me. He told me who he was and how much he knew and how he was going to crush Ackerman.

I told him, I just didn’t get it and that all he would accomplish is run up campaign expenses for Ackerman and his mother and at the end of the day, Gary would win and the margin would not be close.

He was arrogant and thought he knew it all.

I was calm, bewildered and paid for breakfast – Gary never reimbursed me.

I was left with the impression of Morris as a person who thought himself better than everybody else, who felt he had the right to make the rules as he went along and above and I found him just plain unlikeable and I think he relished the ability to elicit such a response.

Well Morris was right in reading voter discontent with incumbents, locally we saw once popular Congressmen Steve Solarz and Long Island’s Tom Downey lose their seats – it was similar in voter reaction to this year coupled with a house check kiting scandal and a

large handful of previously-thoughtunbeatable incumbents across the country were paying the price.

But that’s where his know-itall visions ended. His mom was handily beaten by Ackerman with both sides spending close to three quarters of a million bucks – an election fortune for the House back then.

Hank went back to his clients and he and I never spoke again.

The campaign caused some damage between Hevesi and me, who I believe sat on the sidelines choosing to not back Ackerman to please his friend and consultant Morris.

Morris engineered much of the polit ical histor y of Alan Hevesi right up until his disgrace. In that engineering, it appears to me was the same arrogance and belief that he knew better than everyone else and could make the rules as he went along. I didn’t get it in 1992 and I don’t get it now.

I view Hank Morris as a sad, perhaps tragic figure. I’m not sure what voices he heard or tea leaves he was reading back in 1992 or in the Comptroller’s office of New York State. But I believe it was his bad advice to his friend Alan Hevesi that corrupted an otherwise decent person and public official.

Politics consists of some very bright and very misguided people.

And there are some good ones too.

MSchenkler@QueensPress.com

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

No Peace, No Prosperity, Therefore No Re-election

By HENRY STERN Though some contests are still unresolved, we have had the time to dige st the re sult s of last Tuesday’s election.

Nationally, the Republicans won rather convincingly, and though in New York State, they lost all six statewide races, they did pick up six Congressional seats and appear to have regained control of the State Senate.

There are two conditions that people historically have wanted their government to provide: peace and prosperity. The United States, at this time, has neither. It is therefore logical that people should vote for new leaders.

That is the way most people voted, except where the lack of qualifications of particular candidate s took pr iorit y. Witche s, kooks, Scientologists, bat swingers and people who are vulgar with regard to the President were generally disfavored by the voters.

That the Democrats lost only six seats in the United States Senate is due to the peculiar qualities of the Republican primary winners in Delaware and Nevada. Sharron Angle and Christine O’Donnell were not ready for prime time, nor was Carl Paladino, and their shortcomings were well known by the voters. TV coverage will do that.

Apart from the desire for a

new direction, public dislike of Con- ther of whom endorsed him. gress, and general antagonism toPaladino lost to Cuomo by wards incumbents, demographics 1,134,228 vote s, a margi n of played a major role in 27.1%. Dan Donovan, the the election. Middle Staten Island district attorAmerica appeared to be ney who ran for State Atpitted against the North torney General, lost to Eric Atlantic and Pacific Schneiderman by 441,171 coasts. Middle America votes, or 11.1%. The Rewon; there, more states publican candidate for State are landlocked than on Comptroller, Harry Wilson, the oceans. who negotiated the GenSadly, the ideas of eral Motors rescue and was Henry Stern compromise and biparendorsed by almost all of tisanship in the 112th Congress the state’s newspapers, came closare non-starters. Both parties will est of all the challengers. He lost devote themselves to capturing the to incumbent Comptrol ler Tom Pre sidency a nd w i nning t he DiNapoli by 96,291 votes, or 2.4%.

2012 election. Over the next two Wilson and Donovan’s elecyear, they will attempt to kneecap toral weakness is that the Repubeach other. T he only thing that licans had no boots on the ground, may bring the parties together is phone banks or get-out-the-vote a war, and that is too high a price operations, while the Democrats, to pay for political harmony. assisted by public employee unions As far as our own classically with whom they are allied, did. You dysfunctional New York State is can’t spend all your money on teleconcerned, the problem is that the vision; there is still a retail aspect Republicans offered no well-re- to politics. Meanwhile, for the Regarded candidate for governor. publicans, demographics in New It was the weakness of Rick York State are likely to continue Lazio and the rage of the right that to deteriorate, unless t he GOP led to the 62-38 victory by Carl broadens its appeal.

Paladino in the Republican priGovernor-elect Cuomo will mar y, but it was the unsuitability face enormous problems, including of Paladino, which guaranteed the a pending nine billion dollar buddefeat of the rest of the Republi- get deficit for the fiscal year begincan ticket, despite the ability and ning April 1, 2011. He would have appeal of his running mates, nei- a difficult task even if he were not

surrounded by rivals and enemies.

The last two governors failed dismally for different reasons. We hope this one has the ability, the bravery, and the cunning to change the way New York State manages its affairs, while coping with the enormous financial burden it faces.

We wish him the very best, but as Governor, he will have to lead while dealing with elected officials, some of whom have serious integrity issues, while others have problematic judgment, and still others are pawns of the out-

side forces that finance their campaigns and the legislative leaders who give them directions. Andrew Cuomo will have a more difficult task than his father did when he was elected 28 years ago. It is common knowledge that Ne w York State is in worse shape than it was in 1982. The new governor will have to make difficult choices; the first is finding the most competent people for the agencies and for his staff. That will be the first of many tests of his mettle. Here’s hoping.

StarQuest@NYCivic.org

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER

105th Precinct Shot Dead On Saturday, Nov. 5, at approximately 10:45 p.m., police responded to a report of a person shot in the vicinity of 227-13 109th Ave. in Queens Village. Upon arrival police discovered the victim, Matthew Grey, 27, of 740 Empire Blvd., Brooklyn, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS also arrived at the scene and pronounced Grey dead at the scene. There were no arrests made in regards to this incident and the investigation was ongoing.

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

109th Precinct Toddler Tossed

On Tuesday, Nov. 2, at approximately 8:35 p.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting that a child had fallen from the balcony at 35-06 Leavitt St. in Flushing.

Upon arrival, police observed the victim, Jerry Zhou, 2, at the location with trauma to Missing Man the body. EMS also responded to the location and The NYPD is seeking the transported the child to public's assistance in locating NYHQ, where he was proa missing Howard Beach nounced dead on arrival. man.

According to police, Xiao Giuseppe Russo, 72, of Q. Cai, 53, allegedly threw the 160-32 89th St., Howard child from the balcony of a Beach, was last seen on seventh-story apartment Thursday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m., where Cai and her daughter near the intersection of 161st Avenue and 89th Street Police are seeking help were renting a room from the shortly after leaving his locating Giuseppe child's parents, after Cai and Russo, missing since her daughter had a heated arhouse. gument.

He is described as being 5- Nov. 4.

Cai has been charged with foot-5, 200 lbs., with gray hair second degree murder and and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a green and gray sweatshirt. faces 25 years to life in prison if conAnyone with information in regards to victed.

106th Precinct

115th Precinct Delivery Beating On Friday, Nov. 5, at 12:45 a.m., police responded to a report of a robbery in the vicinity of 34-52 75th St. in Jackson Heights. Upon arrival, the victim, a 27year-old Hispanic man, was found unconscious and unresponsive while lying on the ground with serious head trauma.

EMS also responded to the scene and transported the victim to Elmhurst General Hospital where he was listed in serious condition.

An investigation into the incident determined that the victim was a deliveryman who was robbed and assaulted. A canvas of the area by officers led to the arrest of two men for this robbery.

The first suspect, Jorge Paret, 28, of 91-06 31st Ave., East Elmhurst and the second suspect, Anardo Batista, of 3004 92nd St., East Elmhurst, were both charged with attempted murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property.

From the DA Vandal Busted A Chicago teenager has been charged with vandalism for spray painting his tag - "ZEB" - and other markings on subway cars across Queens over an approximate three-year period.

Zebadiah Arrington, 19, of 6244

North Talman Ave. in Chicago, is an alleged member of the Chicago-based graffiti crew "CMW" (Chicago's Most Wanted). He was arraigned on charges of second and third-degree criminal mischief, making graffiti and third-degree criminal trespass. He was ordered to be held on $10,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

According to the charges, the defendant spray painted his tag, "ZEB," and other markings including "Bomb the System" and "CMW" on seven subway cars between Oct. 19, 2007, and Jan. 4, 2010, causing more than $7,600 in damages.

Specifically, it is alleged that he tagged an "A" train laid up at 104th Street and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park; an "F" train laid up at the Jamaica train yard; an "A" train laid up at the Lefferts Boulevard train station in Richmond Hill; a "7" train laid up at the Main Street-Flushing station; an "A" train laid up at the 111th Street-Liberty Avenue station in Richmond Hill; an "F" train laid up at the Van Wyck Boulevard-Briarwood train station; and an "F" train laid up at the Parsons Boulevard station in Jamaica.

It is further alleged that, in executing court-authorized search warrants, on Arrington's e-mail account police recovered photographs of the tagged subway cars matching the tags found on the subway cars he is alleged to have defaced.

The photographs were allegedly transmitted shortly after the trains were defaced.

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

A Spreading Problem:

Boro Resident Endures New Horror Bedbug Infestations Bites Landlords After Exposure To Myster Powder

BY LACEY JOHNSON

A man wearing a white Tyvek suit entered an apartment on Steinway Street looking like a space explorer. Safely cloaked in high-density polyethylene plastic, he sat a bag on the floor and began extracting aerosol cans with cryptic names like CB-80, Phantom, and Bedlam.

Keeping her distance, a concerned woman watched from the bedroom doorway as he heaved her mattresses and furniture back and forth, making sure each crevice was soaked with hissing spray.

Her 4-year-old son clung to her leg, mesmerized by the scene – the result of a single bedbug that his mother discovered clinging to his shirt.

Landlord Burden While it may sound like a simple extermination, bedbug removal is one of the most difficult and costly tasks in the pest control industry.

“Legitimate prices start at $600 and up,” said Gil Bloom, a certified entomologist and president of the largest extermination company in Astoria, Standard Pest Management. But he added that costs can increase dramatically depending on the method used for killing the bugs and the size of the space being treated. “You have large office environments where you’re talking $20,000 to $30,000.”

This means it is often landlords, not their bedbug-bitten tenants, who are stuck

paying the worst bills. According to Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, Ph.D., an urban entomologist with the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University, landlords have been known to spend up to $80,000 to get large buildings bedbug free.

Disclosure Rules Adding to landlords’ bedbug woes is the “Bedbug Disclosure Act,” a new citywide law that took effect Aug. 30. The measure requires landlords to notify prospective tenants about any infestations in the building within the previous year.

The legislation’s stated goal is to suppress the bedbug epidemic by giving “landlords an incentive to comply with their legal obligations to eradicate” infestations.

Oddly, the disclosure act fails to include any legal or financial penalties for landlords who do not comply.

“It might scare people away,” said Jonathan Cedeno, the superintendent of a 54-unit apartment complex in Astoria that was treated for two bedbug outbreaks

Bed Bugs:

Getting Rid of Them

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

The New York State Health Department recommends using pest control companies registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The pest control company should: • Inspect your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs.

• Find and eliminate their hiding places.

• Treat your home with special cleaning and/or pesticides, if necessary.

• Make return visits to make sure bed bugs are gone.

Be sure your pest control company hires licensed pest management professionals. Ask to see a copy of their license or check directly with DEC by calling (718) 482-4994 or visiting dec.ny.gov/permits/209.html.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to clean, disinfect and eliminate their hiding places. Since young bed bugs (nymphs) can live for several months without feeding and the adults for more than a year, the pest control company may use a pesticide. Talk with the professional about safe use of pesticides and make sure he/she: • Uses the least toxic pesticide.

• Follows instructions and warnings on product labels.

• Advises you about staying out of treated rooms and when it is safe to reenter.

• Treats mattresses and sofas by applying small amounts of pesticides on seams only. Pesticides should never be sprayed on top of mattresses or sofas.

Michael F. Potter, University of Kentucky ©2004 HOW CAN I GET RID OF BED BUGS? 1. Find out where bed bugs are hiding in your home.

Use a bright flashlight to look for bed bugs or their dark droppings in bedroom furniture. Or use a hot hair dryer, a thin knife, an old subway card or a playing card to force them out of hiding spaces and cracks.

Check: • Behind your headboard.

• In the seams and tufts of your mattress and inside the box spring.

• Along bedroom baseboard cracks.

• In and around nightstands.

• Other bedroom items, including window and door casings, pictures, moldings, nearby furniture, loose wallpaper, clutter and cracks in plaster and partitions.

2. Clean areas where bed bugs are likely to hide.

earlier this year. “But if they ask me, I can’t lie to them. I have to let them know.”

The high cost of extermination has caused some landlords to resort to cheaper, less reliable pest control methods, while others are avoiding the problem altogether.

“It’s hard to get landlords to take care of things here,” said Marnie Schulenburg, a 26-year-old actress whose Astoria apartment building was recently infested with bedbugs. She said residents had to call the landlord repeatedly before an assistant finally showed up and contacted an exterminator.

Cedeno said the problem could be solved with assistance from local government.

“It would really help if the city could give us a tax break or reimburse us when we have to have all the apartments exterminated. Then landlords would get on it quickly,” said Cedeno. “Then I would also have happy tenants.”

Early Treatment Bloom said the longer an infestation goes untreated the more costly the problem becomes for landlords.

“By the time that one apartment becomes known, there’s a good possibility that it’s in a surrounding unit or about to move to a surrounding unit,” explained Bloom. “I know of three different cases where landlords have sold their entire building because they didn’t want to deal with the bedbug problem anymore. It • Clean bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets and clothes. To kill bed bugs, wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Soak delicate clothes in warm water with lots of laundry soap for several hours before rinsing.

Wool items, plush toys, shoes and many other items can be placed into a hot dryer for 30 minutes to get rid of bed bugs.

• Scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs.

• Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, nearby furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks and open spaces. Immediately after vacuuming, put the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor container.

• If you find bed bugs on a mattress, cover it with a waterproof, zippered mattress cover labeled “allergen rated,” or “for dust mites.” Keep the cover on for at least one year.

• If your box spring is infested, seal it inside a vinyl box spring cover for at least one year. If no cover is available, throw the box spring away.

• Dispose of infested items that cannot be cleaned and get rid of clutter. Seal tightly in a plastic garbage bag and discard in an outside container.

• Repair cracks in plaster and repair or remove loose wallpaper.

3. Be very cautious about using pesticides yourself.

Pesticides can be hazardous to people and pets. If you choose to use a pesticide, or a licensed pest control professional suggests

stopped being profitable.”

An Uphill Battle

Part of what makes bedbug extermination so costly is the labor involved. The insects are resistant to most pesticides and can live without feeding for more than nine months. Some companies use trained dogs to sniff out the bugs, and then kill them with extreme heat from dry vapor steamers. Others use a technique called “thermal remediation,” where large heaters turn the infested area into an oven, cooking the insects. A less expensive method is to spray industrial insecticides on targeted locations where bedbugs like to hide, but this isn’t as foolproof.

Perhaps most frustrating for landlords is their inability to prevent a new bedbug infestation. Regardless of the time and money spent on expensive exterminators, one hitchhiking bedbug carried in by a tenant launches the process all over again.

Marvin Orellana, 25, came face-toface with one after boarding the subway train on Astoria Boulevard last Thursday.

“Out of the corner of my eye, I see something moving on this girl’s book bag.

Immediately, I look at it and I realize it’s a bedbug. I felt horrible because it was crowded and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want anyone to panic,” recounted Orellana, who had his own bedbug infestation a few years ago.

“It’s just so easy for that bug to walk onto some other person.”

you use one, follow these precautions: • Only use pesticides clearly labeled for bed bug extermination. Never use a cockroach spray, ant spray or any other pesticide that does not list bed bugs on the label.

• Follow label instructions exactly.

• Never spray pesticides on top of mattresses or sofas, or in areas where children or pets are present.

• Never purchase or use a product without a manufacturer’s label and never buy pesticides from street vendors.

• Avoid using “insecticide bombs” and “foggers” in your home. These products can spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home, and are not likely to be effective against bed bugs.

HOW CAN I KEEP BED BUGS OUT OF MY HOME? • Wash clothing and inspect luggage immediately after returning from a trip.

• Inspect used furniture for bed bugs before bringing it into your home.

• Never bring discarded bed frames, mattresses, box springs, or upholstered furniture into your home.

HOW CAN I KEEP MY FURNITURE FROM INFESTING SOMEONE ELSE’S HOME? • Never resell or donate infested furniture or clothing.

• If you throw infested furniture away, make it undesirable to others by cutting or poking holes in its upholstery or making it unusable. Tape a sign to it that says, “Infested with Bed Bugs.”

Borough Beat

Creating A Reason To Be Thankful

BY TERRY CHAO This Thanksgiving, while we feast away at our tables on home-cooked provisions with friends and family, Danielle Mahoney, an instructor at PS 212 in Jackson Heights, will participate in Project Give, a program she started based on her previous work with Project FIND, by delivering not only a meal this holiday season, but a special creation from caring individuals.

Mahoney has been participating in the program for four years now. Much of the work is done "before the big day," when they assemble the care packages for seniors who do not have a chance to attend the annual sit-down dinner, which is in its 41st year, at the Church of Saint Paul the

One of the handmade cards from Mahoney's second grade students in Queens.

Apostle on 405 West 59 St. The seniors are on a list to be fed given out by Project FIND. "A lot are alone and live in very small apartments," Mahoney said. "Some were not even sure the food was coming and feel as if they didn't deserve it."

She got the inspiration to include handwritten cards from Cynthia Rylant's book "An Angel for Solomon Singer," "which was the perfect read-aloud to set up the card making project," Mahoney said. The first year, she invited her second-graders to make cards for the seniors to include in the care packages, totaling about 50 cards that were well received and cherished.

"When we do home visits, we have found the cards hanging up on their refrigerators and doors. I've saved a voicemail from a senior, who called crying to say how touched he was by the students," she said. "It's a good feeling to reach out to the seniors. At first it was only my second-graders, but now we've included children across many schools.

Each card helps."

Though Mahoney has joined scholastic.com as a "top teacher offering literacy advice," which has enabled her to reach out to a wider audience, she still needs help in creating cards. She hopes to include two in each package. "People really want to help and be a part of something great, but don't know how to get

started. I hope to get at least 1,000 out, and so far have received 50."

When asked about how the children reacted to the project, she was matter-of-fact.

"They were so excited," Mahoney said. "The older children asked to see if they could make cards for the seniors.

Having seniors and children work together was a really good match. The kids and seniors understood each other very well. I made it a point to return with feedback from the seniors to let the kids know the impact they had on their lives as well as how much they appreciated the cards and warm wishes."

So how do you get started on making a card for one of the many seniors who will definitely appreciate your efforts and thoughts?

"They can introduce themselves, no last name, write the way you would write to a friend, hope they have a wonderful Thanksgiving, to enjoy their meal and that someone is thinking of them," Mahoney said. "Make it colorful, beautiful and add your special touch."

Mahoney invites everyone, not just children, to try to make a simple greeting to a senior. "Every card is different, and they will appreciate it all the more."

"We are all headed in the direction of getting older and I hope to get children to understand the value of our seniors,"

Danielle Mahoney, a teacher in Jackson Heights, stuffs handmade cards from her students into Thanksgiving baskets for seniors last year. She needs more help for this year.

Mahoney said. "Sometimes I think the seniors are forgotten, so it's important to respect the elders in our work. Children need role models, someone to nurture and help them, to teach that our seniors are a population that need a helping hand sometimes."

Cards can be mailed to Project Give, P.S. 212, c/o Miss Mahoney, 34-25 82nd St., Jackson Heights, NY 11372.

Reach Intern Terr y Chao at tchao@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

The Queens County Bar Association in Jamaica held its annual Frank Polestino Memorial Lecture titled "Recent Significant Decisions from our Appellate Courts."

Photos by Walter Karling

pix

Polestino Memorial Lecture

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Photo by Ira Cohen

Healing Hearts

Siobhan, Joseph and Alana McDonegh of Glen Oaks stand with RN Linda Dunckley (l). of the North Shore-LIJ Hagedorn Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center. Dunckley participated in the surgeries that fixed the palates of adopted siblings Siobhan and Joseph.

Celebrating Diwali

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (l.) participated in a Diwali festival in Flushing Nov. 6, where he joined Virendra Patel (r.), Media Coordinator for the BAPS Swaminaryan Temple, 43-38 Bowne St.

Discussing the recent civil and criminal cases from the New York Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court before a well-attended gathering of Queens jurists and attorneys: Spiros Tsimbinos, Appellate Practioner and Editor of the New York State Bar Association's Criminal Law Newsletter; J. Gardiner Pieper, Adjunct Professor of Law at various local institutions of higher learning and President of the Pieper Bar Review; Paul Shechtman, a leading criminal law practitioner and Professor of Law at Columbia University; and Andrew Fine, Director of the Court of Appeals Litigation for the New York City Legal Aid Society.

A special award presentation was made to the Honorable Fred Santucci, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department on the occasion of his upcoming retirement: Chanwoo Lee, the President of the Queens County Bar Association; A. Gail Prudenti, the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department; honoree Justice Fred Santucci; and Spiros Tsimbinos, the program chairman.

Profile

Park Plaza Doorman Best In Queens

BY JOSEPH OROVIC

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

Quick, make a mental list of heroic jobs.

Your mind probably filled with images of firefighters, cops, doctors and members of the armed forces. Doormen did not even register.

But for Carlos Cruz, two decades of service, friendliness - and yes, heroics - in Rego Park was recognized with the "Queens Doorman of the Year" award on Oct. 21.

The 49-year-old has worked at Park Plaza, 61-25 97th St., for 22 years, garnering the trust and goodwill of the coop's residents.

The years of dedication paid off, as several residents nominated Cruz for property workers' union 32BJ Service Workers of the Year Award. Their submissions included anecdotes of Cruz's service, which union officials and members judged.

The Jamaica resident said he was overwhelmed to learn of the award.

"I was very honored," he said. "I never received anything, you know. I never even won a lotto or anything."

With 28 years spent opening doors, Cruz has garnered quite a few stories along the way.

His most memorable is also the most

duty is primarily safety. morbid. A visitor's health "My main concern is took an unexpected dive security," he said, "to while standing in the make sure that nobody lobby. As Cruz announced gets into the building the guest's arrival to a resithat isn't supposed to." dent via intercom, the His jurisdiction gentleman hit the deck. reaches beyond the "Well, he came in and bounds of Park Plaza's died," Cruz said. "He came lobby. On several occainto the lobby and keeled sions, he has stopped over. I thought it was a muggers attacking fejoke." male residents on the Cruz called emergency street. Describing susservices and summoned a pects to cops? Testifying doctor who lived in the in court? Both have bebuilding, while keeping come somewhat comonlookers at bay. It wasn't monplace for Cruz. enough to save the gentleThe award will not man. ultimately change The moribund aside, much for Cruz. He has the Puerto Rico-native said the borough's eclec- Rego Park doorman Carlos Cruz was recognized as the best in the borough at no intention of leaving what he does. the building; his two tic mix of races and namorning, two evening tionalities passes through Park Plaza's lobby every day, heading coming down to the lobby, rattling off a and one graveyard shift a week are just up to one of the building's 455 apart- long string of language he did not under- fine.

"There's a lot of competition for this stand before ending her sentence with ments. job," Cruz said. "I never take my job for "It's a fascinating job," Cruz said. "I "Mickey Mouse!" get to meet a lot of different types of Cruz understood immediately; she had granted. If [the residents] say, 'He's a nice guy,' that's all I need." people from all over the world." a rodent in her apartment.

Reach Reporter Joseph Orovic at The melting pot nature of the job has Work is not just opening doors and had its "lost in translation" moments. summoning the super to handle the odd jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357Cruz happily recalls a Russian woman rodent. Cruz emphasized his day-to-day 7400, Ext. 127.

A&E

Seinfeld Brings Quinn To Broadway

BY ELYSE TREVERS Last season, comedian and Queens College alumnus Jerry Seinfeld made his directorial debut, directing comedian Colin Quinn at the Bleecker Street Theater in “Long Short Story.” The show proved to be so successful that it moved to Broadway.

In school, “they” told us that we should study history, or we would be doomed to repeat it. Well, according to Quinn in his one-man show, we obviously haven’t been studying very hard.

In his clever, comic monologue, the former “Saturday Night Live” regular discusses the foibles of men. The framework is world history and the rise and fall of

powerful cultures. While Quinn gives the speediest world history lesson ever (kind of a McHistory), he takes his audience on a travelogue complete with a slide show of maps and paintings of past civilizations. Each culture is speedily dispatched with a few gibes and commentary. First came the Greeks who spent much of their time thinking. They were later conquered and enslaved by the Romans (“Waddaya think of that?”)

As with many intelligent comics, Quinn uses recognition to provide humor.

We laugh as he juxtaposes the familiar with the historic. The Romans are the tough guys and the Greeks were the smart guys. Inevitably, the audience envisions the showdown in the high school lunch

Restaurant Review

A Taste Of Mykonos Never mind the dipping sauce, these falafel are all about what’s inside – wellspiced, creamy goodness, with a blend of flavors that I could not identify. Don’t forget to try it with the Tzatziki.

Spanakopita, spinach, feta cheese, herbs and spices wrapped in flaky filo dough, is my favorite way to eat spinach and left nothing to be desired.

Rounding out our appetizers was, Saganaki, imported Greek kefalograviera cheese, pan seared in olive oil. What can I say about the Saganaki? It’s fried cheese. How could it NOT be good?

Already well stuffed, we dug into a Roka Salad – arugula, walnuts and shaved parmesan cheese drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This salad is all about the combination. Although it can be a challenge, try to get everything on one fork. The yummy mouthful will make it worth the effort.

Not sure if I had room for the main course, I managed several delicate bites of the Mousaka, baked layers of eggplant, potato and sautéed ground meat topped with béchamel sauce. The strong taste of cinnamon, with the savory meat, was a mouthwatering combination that I, sadly, could not finish.

My guest devoured his Thalasomezes, char-grilled shrimp, octopus and calamari. Pausing only to comment that it was good and make the token offer of a bite, I took that as a sign of his approval and recommend that you do the same.

The highlight of the meal was clearly dessert. One of my all time favorites, we chose Baklava, layers of filo dough with walnuts in honey syrup, and whipped cream on the side. Beautifully plated and big enough to share, their Baklava is lighter than many. Not drenched in honey syrup (though there’s nothing wrong with that), a strong taste of cinnamon, combined with the walnut filing, is culinary nirvana.

With prices that range from $6.50$13.95 for an appetizer, and $11.95-$29 for an entrée, make the drive. It’s worth it.

–Jessica Ablamsky

Boro's Moving Image Casts A New Director of screen culture around the world. It is entirely in character that Shelly is choosRochelle Slovin, founding director of ing to retire only when she knows the the Museum of the Museum will at last be Moving Image, anin precisely the shape nounced last week that she wants it to have." she would retire after Slovin, who was an 30 years at the helm of actress and political the Astoria institute. activist earlier in her Slovin, who was life, served as head of the museum both appointed Executive when it first opened its Director of the not-forprofit Astoria Motion doors in Astoria in Picture and Television Carl Goodman (l.) will replace Roch- 1988 and through its current renovation.

Foundation, which elle Slovin.

The Director-deslater became the museum, in January 1981, will step down in ignate, Carl Goodman, supervises the February, only a few weeks after the Museum's use and study of digital media. newly renovated museum is scheduled to He also oversees its public programming, reopen. The museum's Board of Trustees education and collections initiatives. A unanimously voted to appoint Carl graduate of Wesleyan University, and a Goodman, senior deputy director, as the composer for film, theater and dance, museum's new director-designate.

Goodman has been with the museum "Rochelle Slovin is one of the very since 1989. few individuals who have created a maThere is no one smarter, more capable, jor New York City museum from scratch more respected by the staff or more esand then guided it to maturity," said teemed by colleagues everywhere," Slovin Herbert Schlosser, chairman of the said of her successor. museum's Board of Trustees. "The Board The Museum of the Moving Image will has accepted her planned departure with reopen to the public after its multiyear a mixture of regret at the closing of an era renovations on Jan. 15, 2011. and deep gratitude for the tremendous Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at legacy she has given us, the people of drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357New York and a multitude of enthusiasts 7400, Ext. 125.

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

MYKONOS RESTAURANT 37 Great Neck Road, Great Neck (516) 773-8010 CUISINE: Greek HOURS: Mon-Thu 11 am-10 pm; Fri 11 am-11 pm; Sat 4-11 pm; Sun 4-10 pm PARKING: Street RESERVATIONS: Accepted CREDIT CARDS: Accepted After a long day at work, a belly full of Greek food was just what the doctor ordered. Eagerly anticipating far more than I alone could eat, a guest and I ventured out for a late dinner on a Monday evening.

Upon entering, Greek music fills the air. We are quickly seated by our waiter at a table set for two. Despite our postdinner rush arrival, the restaurant was dotted with friends and family eating in twos and fours.

As I study the thick leather menu, I take a moment to look around.

The interior is simple, with clean lines, white tablecloths and walls decorated by Mediterranean seascapes.

Large windows and lush potted plants lend an air of the exotic, so don’t be surprised if you forget where you are.

To start off, we choose a very healthy assortment of our favorite appetizers.

As a big fan of anything that can be spread on pita bread, I narrowly avoided devouring the homemade Hummus and tangy Tzatziki (their yogurt is imported from Greece).

I tentatively tried the Mussels, which, sautéed in red wine and tomato sauce with feta cheese, leave the fishy taste completely behind.

Calamari is like pizza. Everybody’s got it, and it’s usually okay. The Kalamarakia Tiganita, seasoned with fennel and lightly pan fried, is better than most. The hint of fennel, brought out by fresh-squeezed lemon, was just right.

As a seasoned falafel maker, I am a critical judge. Mykonos offers what might be my new East Coast favorite.

The thick falafel is a three- or four-bite affair, and more lightly fried than many.

room. According to the comic, the Bibli- time and although he looks at the audical Abraham was a deadbeat dad and the ence, seems to make no connection.

Middle East conflict is For a brief moment, one might envision Mel really about father isBrooks’ “History of the sues.

World Part I.” However, The audience laughs while Brooks’ humor is at his comments about broad and borderline other cultures and no culture or religion is safe: coarse (albeit often hysterical) Quinn is more in“Jews got chased out of tellectual. He often every place they went. quotes Shakespeare and That’s why they have the makes philosophical same word for hello and references. goodbye;” “In India, they believe in an after“Long Short Story” is entertaining and a life, so they have the pleasant theater same word for yesterday evening lasting only 75 and tomorrow.” That’s minutes. The show is not why Quinn isn’t offensive. He digs slightly at Colin Quinn performs on Broad- intended to be didactic. everyone and then way.

Although it actually may be a bit highbrow for moves on.

The greatest source of humor, however, some audiences, Quinn uses some coloris in the modern-day references. When ful language to temper the intellect. In Quinn refers to Snooki, Martha Stewart and fact, we leave the theater feeling enterCostco, the audience responds more readily tained, not chastened or chastised. In because that’s when the audience recog- Shakespearean tragedies, the playwright nizes its own world. Quinn and director often included a “fool” whose lunacy alSeinfeld deftly placed current references, lowed him to speak freely and critically reminding the listeners that our world is with impunity. So we aren’t angry at Quinn certainly not lacking foibles. In fact, we for mocking us all.

“Long Story Short” runs through Jan. haven’t progressed very much.

Quinn has a recitative style of deliv- 11 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. ery. He seems almost serious most of the 44th St. Call (212) 239-6200 for tickets.

Faith

Take Your Faith On A Trip Upstate Some of the best houses of worship in the City can be found in Southeast Queens, but who can always be at home on a Sunday - especially in the fall and coming winter months when we might travel, visit friends or spend time with distant family?

If you're up in the Hudson Valley for the weekend, it doesn't mean you have to miss a Sunday at church. Mount St. Alphonsus, in Esopus, N.Y., one of the largest retreat centers in the world, has a slew of upcoming programs - and all are welcome.

Fundraising Concert: Wednesdays,

Dec. 1 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. Hear great Christmas songs like O Holy Night, We Three Kings, O Come All Ye Faithful and many others, all sung by the Mount's choir.

Suggested donation $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and children under 14.

Please arrive early as large crowds are expected. Seating is first come, first serve.

Advent Directed Retreat: Friday-Sunday, Dec. 10-12. This directed and silent retreat provides participants with an opportunity to renew their spiritual lives and to come and listen to what God has in store for them during this time of Advent. There will be

Word “It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others’ religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world’s religions is a sacred duty.”

—Mohandas K. Gandhi

time for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Cost $180, plus $60 paid to the Spiritual Director of your choice.

Family Day At Mount St. Alphonsus: "Our Call to be a Holy Family," Saturday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 3:30 pm.

Sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor, The Archdiocese of New York Catechetical Office, and the Mount. This is Enjoy a Sunday service when traveling upstate at Mount St. a day for families that will Alphonsus in Esopus. include activities, talks and sharing. A potluck lunch will be served at day, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. As we 1 p.m. Each family should bring enough look forward to celebrating one of the food for their family plus a little more to most important events in the history of share. Beverages and dessert will be pro- the world, the birth of Jesus Christ, let us vided. There will be refrigeration available, take time to reflect in what particular way but reheating of food will not be possible. we might be called this year to prepare The cost for a family of four is $25. Up to for and celebrate Christmas. Presented by 3 additional adults and/or children may Pauline Founier. Cost $25, includes lunch. attend at an additional cost of $5 per perMount St. Alphonsus is located on the son. For more info or to make a reserva- banks of the Hudson River in the Village tion, please call (845) 471-5427 or email of Esopus, NY. Thousands of people from dutchessulster@nyfaithformation.org, or around the northeast make a pilgrimage write to the Dutchess/Ulster Catechetical to the Mount each year. Reservations and Office, 26 South Hamilton St., deposits are required for all programs. For Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Reservations more information, please visit are required.

MountSaintAlphonsus.org, or call (845) Advent Day Of Recollection: Wednes- 384-8000.

Notebook Scholars Group

New Scholars President For MVB dent of the Scholars. The Advisor is Shane Sweeting.

Mohamed was the Junior Officer of the Scholars last year, the Student Organization Web site Liaison last year and this year, is on the school Cricket team, a member of Arista with a GPA of 92 percent, a Peer to Peer Advisor for freshmen,

BY BOB HARRIS

Learning Technology:

Student Daniel Riaz in the ITE- A+ Computer Repair classroom studying at a computer. This is a yearlong two-period-a-day course which can earn the students an A+ Computer Repair Certificate after they pass the test. Students can also earn a Cisco Certificate by passing that test. Technology teacher John Marean considers Riaz one of his best students.

Sadiq Aquib Mohamed has stepped up to lead Martin Van Buren’s Scholars group.

Mohamed is a volunteer at his church, the Majir-A-Rufman, in Queens Village. He also works at 4 Seasons Paint. He hopes to attend Baruch College and become an accountant or businessman. His philosophy is to live life with honor, loyalty, respect and forgiveness.

Photo by Bob Harris

Photo by Bob Harris

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

The Scholars is a group in Martin Van Buren HS in Queens Village which promotes scholarship, research, tutoring other students and doing community service.

Sadiq Aquib Mohamned, a senior who lives in Queens Village, is this year’s Presi-

a math tutor, a World Hunger Awareness organizer, helped organize last year’s International Festival, was an organizer of World AIDS Day, helped with the school’s College Fair, took part in past Breast Cancer Walks, and participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Cunningham Park.

What’s Up SATURDAY, NOV. 13 Quality of Life in SEQ The Eastern Queens Alliance invites you to participate in its Community CafÊ, a neighborhood conversation about life in Southeast Queens. Come out and make a real difference by sharing your wisdom, ideas and creativity to tackle some of the difficult challenges that we face in the neighborhood. Breakfast will be served.

For more info, or to RSVP, send an email to info@easternqueensalliance.org or (866) 372-4255 or (347) 824-2301.

This free event will be held at the Herbert Birch Early Childhood Center, 145-02 Farmers Blvd. from 9 a.m. to noon.

Classical Jam Classical Jam is a vibrant ensemble of flute, percussion, violin, viola and cello, creating a lively classical concert experience for today's contemporary audiences.

Classical Jam concerts range from subscription concert series to in-school concerts, bringing the highest caliber of music to diverse audiences.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Bailey at jbailey@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-3750.

This event will be held at the York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. from 7 - 9 p.m. Admission is a $10 suggested donation.

Mientras TANGO The Jamaica Performing Arts Center is pleased to present Mientras TANGO (While (We) Tango). In Mientras TANGO, internationally acclaimed Argentine Tango musicians and dancers explore what goes on while we tango. Through their delightful medley of Tango song and dance, ranging from traditional to more modern, the Octavio Brunetti Tango Quintet, featuring dancers Orlando Reyes Ibarra, Adriana Salgado Neira, Daniel Raphael and Jennifer Wesnousky, escorts you through a range of experiences intrinsic to Argentine tango, both within its passionate embrace and in its surrounding social scene. For additional information, visit www.jamaica-performingartscenter.org or call Nadege Noel at (718) 618-6170.

This event will be held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave. from 8 - 9:30 p.m. Admission ranges from $18 to $25.

Youth & Tennis

SUNDAY, NOV. 14 York Open House York College's Open House provides an excellent opportunity for prospective students to learn about York College, including its varied degree programs, student services and state-of-the-art facilities. Take a student-guided Campus Tour at noon to see York's 50-acre campus, including the Performing Arts Center, Health and Physical Education Complex, art studios, library, laboratories, and smart classrooms. Attend an Admissions Workshop to learn about York's entry criteria, application process, and qualifications for scholarships. Speak with faculty from

Open Mic All are invited to participate in a free open mic poetry event with featured reader Elizabeth Zelvin..

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library's Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.

MONDAY, NOV. 15 Job Center Orientation What is the Job Information Center and what does it do? Find out at an interactive orientation about its services..

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library's Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 7 p.m.

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.

NAACP Meeting The NAACP's Jamaica Branch will hold its elections and a meeting at 6 p.m. There will also be a membership meeting at 7 p.m.

Call (718)-723-3653 for information.

TUESDAY, NOV. 16 Job Club Every Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jamaica Neighborhood Center offers a free service to assist people from Southeast Queens with job-readiness skill sets in writing a professional resume and cover letter; interviewing practices and techniques; applying on-line procedures; elevator pitch and Microsoft Suite 2007.

For additional information, contact Lenin Gross, Job Coach, at (718) 739-2060, Ext. 18 or lgrossjnc@yahoo.com.

This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center - 161-06 89th Ave.

Interview/Job Readiness Workshop The Jamaica Neighborhood Center Job Club, Dress for Success, and the Queens Public Library are pleased to present an Interview/Job Readiness workshop. Learn how to interview successfully in this competitive job market and how to write a resume, secure a job, and be prepared for upcoming job Fairs.

For additional information, contact Lenin Gross-Job Coach at (718) 739-2060, Ext. 18 or lgrossjnc@yahoo.com.

This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center, 161-06 89th Ave. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

National Memory Screening Day Come in and test your memory. The National Memory Screening Process is a

significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by Alzheimer's disease or other medical conditions.

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

Education Forum The Queens Community Parent Teacher Student Association is sponsoring this forum to implement a community strategy to help students attending schools in District 29 achieve academic goals.

Educational service providers and community based organizations will have information for all attendees. Refreshments and childcare will be provided. Please RSVP by Nov. 15. For additional information, contact Mrs. Lorraine Bridges at (917) 306-6035 or lgitbridges@gmail.com.

This free event will be held at the IS 59, 132-55 Ridgedale St. from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Homeownership Workshop Councilman James Sanders, NHSJ, Wells Fargo and Keller Williams invite you to a homebuyers workshop. Come learn about mortgage products, meet realtors and attorneys. Learn how to: qualify for the HPD HomeFirst down payment assistance grant which provides up to 6% of the purchase price of your home; qualify for a NHSJ Home Grant, which could supply you with up to $30,000 in grants for downpayment and closing cost assistance; qualify for free money by joining the First Home Club Savings Program; and educate yourself about the entire home-buying process. RSVP by calling (718) 291-7400.

Feel free to bring a snack.

This free event will be held at the St. Luke Cathedral, 133-21 232nd St., from 7-9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17 LSAT, MCAT and GRE Prep Get the advantage on getting yourself into the Law School, Medical School and Graduate School of your choice. Come in and see how you score on one of these tests.

This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library's Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 5 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOV. 18 Adult Chess Club Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings.

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

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

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

Springfield Gardens Town Hall Councilman James Sanders Jr. invites you to attend a Springfield Gardens Town Hall Meeting. Come and hear about projects and services from the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Dept. of Finance, the NYPD, Dept. of Transportation and the Parodneck Foundation.

For more information, please call Councilman Sanders' district office at (718) 527-4356.

This free event will be held at the Springfield Gardens Educational Complex - 14310 Springfield Blvd. at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 19 Senior Theatre Acting Repertory Calling all older adults: Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people while brightening your life.

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

York College Health Fair York's Annual Health Fare is open to the public and will be providing screenings for blood pressure, diabetic and dental just to mention a few. Workshops will be offered on obesity, nutrition, smoking cessation, as well as offering flu shots and HIV testing. Insurance vendors such as Metroplus, Healfirst and Fidelis and others will be in attendance. There will be vendors to talk about foreclosures, FDNY to talk about fire safety, NYPD to do finger printing for children and many more.

For additional information, contact Tracey Bowes at (212) 562-5063.

When: Friday, November 19th - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm This free event will be held at the York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

CPR Class Learn to protect yourself and others at Heron Care Inc. For more information, please call (718) 291-8788. Heron is located at 168-30 89th Ave., Jamaica.

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

The Youth and Tennis group meets every Saturday morning at Roy Wilkins Park Saturday. To learn more, call Bill Briggs at (718) 658-6728.

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. Listen to the musical performances of both the York College Big Band and the York College Gospel Choir. For additional information, contact Wayne Modeste at prospects@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-2165.

This free event will be held at the York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. from noon to 4 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, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina.

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

PARENTS YOGA FOR PARENTS Monday, November 15 at the Cambria Heights library.

Register.

RENAISSANCE SCHOOL Tuesday, November 16 Finance and Audit Committee meeting at 6:30 at the Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights. 803-0060.

AHEAD Friday, November 19 at 1:30 at the Forest Hills library.

Meeting for parents who home-school their children.

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT Friday, November 19 support group for parents seeking spiritual support with a biblical look at parenting in St. Albans. 454-4044.

RELIGIOUS JEWISH WOMEN Thursday, November 17 the National Council of Jewish Women will visit the Buaharan Jews in Queens.

347-0742.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

SENIORS STAY WELL Mondays at 10 at the Central library. Tuesdays at 2 at the Flushing library and Wednesdays at 10 at the East Elmhurst library. Special exercises and relaxation techniques.

AARP 1405 Mondays, November 15, December 6, 20 Flushing AARP 1405 meets at the B ow n e Str e e t C o m m u n i t y Church, 143-11 Roosevelt Avenue at 1.

AARP DRIVING Tuesday, November 16 at the Forest Hills library. Register.

STARS Wednesdays, November 17, 24 at 10:30 at the Hollis library. Fridays, November 19, 26 at 10:30 at the Queens Village librar y. Come join this theatrical group.

PC FOR SENIORS Wednesday, November 17 at the Central library at 10.

AARP DRIVING Friday, November 19 one day defensive driving class.

641-3911 reservations.

Bellerose library.

FREE LUNCH Saturdays, November 20, December 18 at All Saints Church in Richmond Hill.

849-2352 reservations.

YOUTH

TEENS CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

OPEN MIC Sunday, November 14 at 2 at the Central library.

COLLEGE BOUND CLUB Monday, November 15 at 4 at the Central library.

INTERNET SAFETY Monday, November 15 at the Sout h Jamaica librar y.

Register.

GAME NIGHT Monday, November 15 at the South Jamaica library at 6.

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

HOMEWORK HELP Weekdays through November at 3 at the Baisley Park library. Call ahead to verif y times.

LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Weekdays through November at the Hollis library. Register.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Monday, November 15 at the Baisley Park library. Register.

COLLEGE CLUB 2010 Monday, November 15 at the Pomonok library at 5.

G e t t i n g I n t o Yo u r F i r st Choice School.

TEEN TUESDAY Tuesdays, November 16, 23, 30 at 4 at the Seaside library.

VOCABULARY BUILDING Tuesday, November 16 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

TEEN TUESDAY Tuesday, November 16 at the Hillcrest library at 4.

GAME DAY Wednesday, November 17 at the St. Albans library at 4.

TEEN GAMES Wednesdays, November 17, 24 at the Central library at 4.

TEEN GAME DAY Wednesdays, November 17, 24 at the Kew Gardens Hills library at 4.

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

TEEN MANGA Wednesday, November 17 at the Bayside library at 3:30.

WII TOURNAMENT Wednesday, November 17 at the Queens Village library.

Register.

VOCABULARY WORKSHOP Wednesday, November 17 a t t h e R i d gewo o d l i b ra r y.

Register.

TEEN IMMIGRANTS Wednesday, November 17 at 4 Teen Immigrant Rights at the Cambria Heights library.

POETRY FOR GIRLS Wednesday, November 17 Poetry Club for Girls at 4 at the Langston Hughes library.

TEEN NIGHT Thursday, November 18 at the Arverne library at 5:15.

B’NAI B’RITH YOUTH Thursdays for high school s t u d e n t s a t Te m p l e B e t h S h o l o m , 1 7 2 nd S t r e e t a n d Northern Blvd., Flushing at 7:30.

WII PLAY Thursday, November 18 at the Bayside library at 3:30.

CRAZY CROCHET

Thursday, November 18 at the Laurelton library at 3:45.

GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, November 18 at the Queens Village library at 4.

GAME DAY Fridays, November 19, 26 at t he Bay Terrace libra r y at 2:30.

WII CHALLENGE Friday, November 19 at the Lefrak Cit y library at 4:30.

DESIGN A T-SHIRT Friday, November 19 at the St. Albans library. Register.

GAME TIME Fridays, November 19, 26 at the Seaside library at 4.

GAME PLAYERS Fridays at the Hillcrest library at 2.

MISCELLANEOUS SOUP KITCHEN Saturday, November 13 hot lunch 12-2 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens, 147-54 Ash Avenue, Flushing. 353-3860.

NETWORKING Friday, November 19 The Irish Cottage, 108-07 72 nd Avenue. Friday, December 17 Martha’s Bakery Café, 70-30- Austin Street. Business and Social Networking at 6. $6. Food and drinks not included. “The ‘C’ Network.

263-3501.

FLEA MARKETS OUTDOOR FLEA Saturdays and Sundays until November 28 St. Nicholas of Tolentine from 9-5 at the intersection of Parsons Blvd. and Union Turnpike, Jamaica.

CRAFT FAIR Saturday, November 13 sponsored by the PTA of St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point.

FLEA/BAKE SALE Sunday, November 14 St. Josaphat’s Church in Bayside will hold a flea market and Ethnic Polish Bake Sale from 9-4 in the parish hall, 35 th A v e n u e a n d 2 1 0th S t r e e t , Bayside.

RUMMAGE/BOUTIQUE Sunday, November 21 9:303:00 at Young Israel of New Hyde Park, 264-15 77 th avenue.

HOLIDAY FAIR Sunday, November 21 from 9:30-12:30 at Temple Tikvah, 3315 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.

ALUMNI CARDOZO 90 Saturday, November 13 at the Marriott in Melville. 800655-7971.

ST. JOHN’S PREP Saturday, November 20 alumni of St. John’s Prep High School/Lewis Avenue are invited to a reunion.

721-7200, ext. 686.

INCARNATION SCHOOL Saturday, November 27 Homecoming from 5-11pm at 89-43 Francis Lewis Blvd.

465-5066.

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

ALLEY POND Alley Pond Environmental center in Douglaston presents Sunny Bunnies for those 3-4, Wee Sprouts for those 18-23 months, Toddler Time for those 24-35 months and Fledglings for those 3-4 T h r o u g h D e c e m b e r. C a l l 229-4000 for exact schedule.

CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

MATH HELP Saturdays, November 13, 20 at the Flushing library at 10.

S TORY TIMES Saturdays at 11 and Tuesdays at 10:30 weekly story times at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.

LITTLE RED Saturday, November 13 Little Red: A Fairytale in Rhythm and Rhyme” at Queens Theatre in the Park.

760-0064 tickets.

SKIPPY JON JONES Saturday, November 13 Skippy Jon Jones costume character at 1 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows.

HUDSON RIVER LORE Saturday, November 13 for elementary school children and families at 11 at the Central library.

SCIENCE FAIR HOW TO Saturday, November 13 es: learn correct procedures to do a project at 2 at the Flushing librar y.

DAVID GONZALEZ Sunday, November 14 “Stor i e s a re G i f t s ” a n d “ Ta l e s from the Latino World” at F l u s h i n g To w n H a l l . 4 6 3 7700, ext. 222. $6 and $12.

HOMEWORK HELP Monday-Fridays at the Astoria and Baisley Park libraries. Call to verif y time.

KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck lib ra r y. B r i n g n e e d l e s a n d yarn.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Monday, November 15 for those 3-5 at the Glen Oaks library at 11:15.

CRAFT KIDS Monday, November 15 at the Flushing library at 3.

MATH Monday, November 15 at the Hollis library at 3:30.

WET & WILD Monday, November 15 live aquatic reptiles and amphibians at the LIC library. Register.

CARIBBEAN ARTS Monday, November 15 at the LIC library. Register.

YOGA FOR KIDS Monday, November 15 at the Queens Village library.

Register.

STORY TELLING Monday, November 15 at 4 at the Richmond Hill library.

CROCHET Monday, November 15 at the Rosedale library.

TWEEN TIME Monday, November 15 a t the Arverne library at 4:15.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Monday, November 15 at the Baisley Park library. Register.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT Monday, November 15 at the South Jamaica library at 6.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Tuesday, November 16 at the Cambria Heights library at 3:30.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR Tuesday, November 16 at the Hollis library at 3:30.

ARTS & CRAFTS Tuesday, November 16 at the Auburndale library at 4.

TURKEY DOOR HANGER Tuesday, November 16 at the Lefrak City library. Register.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Tuesday, November 16 at the Queens Village library.

Register.

THANKSGIVING Tuesday, November 16 at the Queensboro Hill library at 4.

VOCABULARY WORK. Tuesday, November 16 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

TODDLER STORIES Wednesday, November 17 at the Bay Terrace library at 10:30.

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

COLORING/CRAFTS Wednesday, November 17 at the Broad&library. Register.

CRAFTS Wednesday, November 17 at the Steinway library. Register.

STORY TELLING Wednesday, November 17 at the Rego Park library at 3.

YOGA FOR KIDS Wednesday, November 17 at the South Ozone Park library. Register.

POND POWER Wednesday, November 17 rd: a t t h e F l u s h i n g l i b ra r y.

Register.

HEALTHY BODY Wednesday, November 17 at the Corona library. Register.

FOOD MENU CRAFT Wednesday, November 17 at the East Flushing library.

Register.

STAINED GL ASS Wednesday, November 17 at the LIC library. Register.

VOCABULARY WORK Wednesday, November 17 a t t h e R i d gewo o d l i b ra r y.

Register.

KIDS TIME Wednesday, November 17 at the Seaside library at 4.

YOGA WORKSHOP Wednesday, November 17 at t he Lefrak Cit y libra r y.

Register.

WII PLAY Thursday, November 18 at the Bayside library. Register.

HOLIDAY CRAFTS Thursday, November 18 at the Pomonok library at 3:30.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Thursday, November 18 at the Central library at 4.

KIDS CLUB Thursday, November 18 at the Hillcrest library at 4.

YOGA FOR KIDS Thursday, November 18 at

the Laurelton library. Register.

GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, November 18 at the Queens Village library at 4.

STORY TELLING Thursday, November 18 at the Whitestone library at 4.

GIRLS & BOYS CLUB Thursday, November 18 at the Astoria library at 4:45.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Thursday, November 18 at the McGoldrick library. Register.

JAPANESE STORY TIME Friday, November 19 at the Briarwood library at 10:30.

COLORING/CRAFT Friday, November 19 at the Queensboro Hill library at 10:30.

GAME DAY Friday, November 19 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30.

GAME DAY Friday, November 19 at the Queensboro Hill library at 3.

FRIDAY CRAFT Friday, November 19 at the Broad Channel library. Register.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Friday, November 19 at the Maspeth library at 3:30.

FLASH FRIDAY Friday, November 19 at the Ozone Park library at 3:30.

GAME DAY! Friday, November 19 at the Queens Village library at 3:30.

BOOK BUDDIES Friday, November 19 at the Bayside library at 4.

GAME PLAYERS CLUB Friday, November 19 at the Hillcrest library at 4.

THANKSGIVING CRAFT Friday, November 19 at the Peninsula library at 4.

GAME TIME! Friday, November 19 at the Seaside library at 4.

ORIGAMI Friday, November 19 at the L a n g s to n H u g h e s l i b r a r y.

Register.

SCIENCE LAB Saturday, November 20 t the Central library at 11.

ORIGAMI ZOO Saturday, November 20 at F l u s h i n g To w n H a l l . 4 6 3 7700, ext. 222. $7.

THEATER MILKMILK LEMONADE Through November 13 at Good Shepherd, 30-44 Crescent Street, Astoria. $18 adults, $12 students and seniors. 212-352-3101.

SWEET CHARITY Saturdays, November 13, 20 at 8 and Sundays, November 14, 21 at 3 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing. $16.

229-8547.

PYGMALION Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 and Sunday, November 14 at 2:30. The Gingerbread Players of Saint Luke’s Forest Hills presents Pygmalion (“My Fair Lady”). $12. 268-7772.

MAME Saturdays, November 13, 20 at 8 and Sundays November 14, 21 at 3 at Bay Terrace Jewish Center, Bayside. $18.

428-6363.

Queens Today MEETINGS Glendale. 526-3987.

TOASTMASTERS Thursday, November 18 at 5:45 at the Briarwood library.

JEWISH WOMEN Sunday, November 21 National Council of Jewish Women will be treated to a per formance of the Youth Symphony at Queens College. 343-9029 reservations.

Monday, November 22 the National Council of Jewish Women meet at Clinton Martin Park at noon. 225-1539.

P-FLAG Sundays, November 21, December 19 P-FLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663.

TALKS NO PROBLEM Saturday, November 13 join Pakistani author Khalid Irfan for a presentation of his latest book “No Problem” at 2 at the Jackson Heights library.

MYSTERY WRITERS Saturday, November 13 Mystery Writers of America/ NY Chapter Whodunit Slam Event at 2:30 at the Forest Hills library.

POMONOK BOOK Monday, November 15 “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” will be discussed at 2 at the Pomonok library.

INVESTMENT PLANNING Monday, November 15 End of Year Tax and Investment Planning program at 6 at the LIC library.

SEASIDE BOOK Monday, November 15 “Shanghai Girls” will be discussed at 6:30 at the Seaside library.

MOVIES & MUSIC Monday, November 15 new book discussion group focuses on titles with strong ties to music and movies. The first book will be Nick Hornby’s “Juliet, Naked.”

7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 1766 0 U n i o n Tu r n p i ke , F re s h Meadows.

LIC BOOK Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 6 “Sold” will be discussed at 10 at the LIC library.

MEDITATION Wednesday, November 17 The Ultimate Peaceful Experience at 6 at the Flushing library.

BIRD CLUB Wednesday, November 17 the Queens Count y Bird Club will present a lecture

by Robert Spiegelman on “Cooling Mother Earth: New York’s Footprint in Nature, Then and Now” at 8 at Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston.

FRESH MEADOWS BOOK Thursday, November 18 “Murder On The Orient Express” will be discussed at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows library.

CHANGCHUN Thursday, November 18 See the Real Changchun with Dave Wang at 6 at the Hollis library.

PROTECT ASSETS Thursday, November 18 at 6 at the Rego Park library.

Friday, November 19 at 4 at the Whitestone library. How to Protect Your Assets, Your Retirement Income and Your Heirs.

PHILOSOPHY BOOK Thursday, November 18

Armchair Philosopher’s Club at the Seaside library at 6.

GLENDALE BOOK Thursday, November 18 “ Tess of the D’Urbervilles” will be discussed at 6:30 at the Glendale library.

LITERARY SOUP Thursday, November 18 “Three Cups of Tea” will be discussed at 6:30 at the Queens Village library.

AUTHOR TALK Saturday, November 20 Andrew P.l Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako) will talk and sign his book “Queens Notes: Facts About the Forgotten Borough of Queens, New York.” The Manhattan Brass Quintet will provide entertainment. Langston Hughes library at 1.

PHILOSOPHY BOOK Saturday, November 20 “Discourse on Method” will be discussed at 2 at the Forest Hills library.

FM POETS Saturday, November 13 the Fresh Meadow Poets meet to discuss and critique their poetry at the Forest Hills library at 10.

RALPH MCDANIELS Saturday, November 13 tribute to Ralph McDaniels at 1 at the Langston Hughes.

GREAT LYRICISTS Saturday, November 13 Naomi Zeitlin’s tribute to Great Lyricists at 2:30 at the Jackson Heights library.

GOLDEN AGE Saturday, November 13 the Golden Age of Radio and Television at the Broadway library at 3:30.

OPEN MIC Sunday, November 14 at 2 at the Central library.

FILM SCREENING Monday, November 15 “Gigante” will be shown and discussed at the Fresh Meadows library at 2.

INTERNATIONAL SONGS Monday, November 15 Classical and Popular International Songs at the Howard Beach library at 6.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT Monday, November 15 South Jamaica library at 6.

SONGS OF SRI LANKA Monday, November 15 songs of Sri Lanka and Around the World at 6 at the Woodhaven library.

ARNIE GRUBER

Monday, November 15 the Sisterhood of Bayside Jewish Center presents noted entertainer Arnie Gruber at 2:30.

203-05 32 nd Avenue.

CHAMBER MUSIC Tuesdays, November 16, 23, 30 at LeFrak Concert Hall at 10. 997-3802 ticket reservations.

MOVIE TRIVIA Tuesday, November 16 Bay Terrace library at 1:30.

ADULT STORY TIME Thursday, November 18 at the Steinway library at 1.

LIVE JAZZ Fridays through December 24 live jazz at 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. 347262-1169.

NEA JAZZ MASTERS Friday, November 19 tribute to Benny Powell at Flushi n g Tow n H a l l . 4 6 3 - 7 7 0 0 , ext. 222. $40.

RECEPTION Friday, November 19 reception for “Korean Painting Exhibition: A Walk Through Nature” from 5-7 at Flushing Town Hall. $5.

BINGO GAME NITE Friday, November 19 at St. Clare’s in Rosedale. $5 donation. 528-9428.

LEGISLATIVE REVUE Saturday, November 20 Queens elected officials take center stage in a hilarious musical comedy revue at Queens Theatre in the Park.

760-0064.

CONCERT FOR COATS Saturday, November 20 at 7:30 featuring the joyful music of the Pan Ivory Steel Orchestra at St. Clare’s, 1 3 7 th a n d 1 3 8 th A v e n u e s , Rosedale. Donation: one coat for charit y (new or worn). 527-6153.

BELLE’S PLAYERS Saturday, November 20 at the Forest Hills library at 2.

Belle’s Players will perform a new production of scenes and monologues by wellknown playwrights.

COMEDY NIGHT Saturday, November 20 comedians Johnny Lampert and Sherry Davey perform at Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park. $20 advance, $25 at the door. 516-746-1120.

MANHATTAN BRASS Saturday, November 20 at the Langston Hughes library at 2.

AMERICAN SONGBOOK Saturday, November 20 Bass Baritone Gunter Stern performs at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows library.

LATIN JAZZ COALITION Saturday, November 20 at the Central library at 3.

FILM SCREENING Saturday, November 20 Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee’s film screening of “8: The Mormon Proposition” at the Jackson Heights library at 3.

HEALTH ZUMBA Saturdays, November 13, 20, 27 fitness program at the LIC library. Register.

RECOVERY, INC. Mondays, November 15, 22 a n x i e t y, f e a r, o b s e s s i o n , temper and more at 5:45 at the Forest Hills library.

ZUMBA Monday, November 15 at the Lefferts library. Register.

EZ YOGA Monday, November 15 Flushing library. Register.

CAREGIVERS WORKSHOP Tuesday, November 16 at the Laurelton library at 1:30.

CHAIR YOGA Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 6 North Hills library at 1:30.

OVERCOME ANGER Thursday, November 18 workshop at 6 at the Laurelton library.

BASIC FITNESS Thursday, November 18 “Moving for a Healthier Life” at 6 at the Sunnyside library. Bring a towel or yoga mat for floor work.

HATHA YOGA Thursday, November 18 at the Queensboro Hill library at 6:30. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a mat.

WOMEN & HEART Thursdays, November 18, December 16 National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease in Forest Hills. 8301511.

CAREGIVERS WORKSHOP Friday, November 19 at 10:30 St. Albans library.

ZUMBA Saturdays, November 20, 27 at the LIC library. Register.

Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

AMER. LEG. AUX. Saturdays, November 13, December 11 Leonard Unit 422 American Legion Auxiliary meets in Flushing. 4632798.

NYC CORRECTION Mondays, November 15, December 20 NYC Correction Retirees Benevolent Association meets in Forest Hills. 263-6334.

TOASTMASTERS Mondays, November 15, 29, December 13, 20 learn communication and leadership skills in Kew Gardens.

646-269-1577.

LOST MIRACLES Mondays, November 15, December 20 St. Adalbert’s bereavement support group, for the loss of a newborn or miscarriage, in Elmhurst.

429-2005.

110 TH PRECINCT Monday, November 15 at 7 the 110 th Precinct Communit y Council meets at t he VFW Hall, Flanders Field Post 150, 51-11 108 th street, Corona. Fire Safet y discussed.

TALK OF THE TOWN Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 6 , December 7, 21 learn the art of public speaking in St. Albans. 527-5889.

AMERICAN LEGION Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 6 , December 7, 21 Edward McKee Post 131 meets in Whitestone. 767-4323.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Tu e s d a y, N o ve m b e r 1 6 , Wednesday, December 1, Tuesday, December 21 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Family, 175-20 174 th Street, Fresh Meadows. 9692448.

AUBURNDALE ASSN. Tu e s d a y s , N o ve m b e r 1 6 , December 21 Auburndale Improvement Association meets at the Reception House, 167-17 Northern Blvd. at 7:30.

TOASTMASTERS Wednesdays, November 17, December 1, 15 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale Toastmasters Club in Jamaica. 9780732.

FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesdays, November 17, December 1, 15 Flushing Camera Club meets at Flushing Hospital. 441-6210.

KNIGHTS OF PY THIAS Wednesdays, November 17, December 1 Queensview Lodge 433 meets in Whitestone. 746-4428.

HORIZONS CLUB Thursday, November 18 “Broadway Babies,” a musical presentation will be performed at Horizons, a club for those 55 and over at noon at the Reform temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. $3 includes coffee and cake. 261-2900.

DINING FOR WOMEN Thursdays, November 18, December 16 Dining For Women, a group that supports women in povert y areas, meets for dinner and friendship at 7 in Flushing.

516-770-1704.

REPUBLICAN WOMEN Thursdays, November 18, December 16 Women’s Republican Club meets in

ENTERTAINMENT

People of John Adams High School, Ozone Park.

Air Force Airman Jonvah P. Baronette Air Force Airman Jonvah P. Baronette graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

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

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

He is the brother of Trevor Baronette of Queens, and son of Noel Baronette of St. Albans. Baronette is a 2008 graduate

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

Clifford Johnson of Queens Village who won $38,556 on the Take Five drawing of Oct. 12. Johnson’s winning ticket was purchased at the Roslyn Car Care Center at 1087 Northern Boulevard in Roslyn.

Susan Haiss of Middle Village who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Oct. 19. Haiss’s winning ticket was purchased at the Optimo Candy & Grocery Store at 74-29 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village.

Sandra Brown of Rosedale who won $250,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Oct. 19. Brown’s winning ticket was purchased at the Dutch Broadway Pharmacy at 1785 Dutch Bdwy, in Elmont.

Felipe Sandoval of Queens who won $10,000 on the Win 4 drawing of Oct. 25. Sandoval’s winning ticket was purchased at the Metro Mini Market at 5401 Metropolitan Ave. in Ridgewood.

Marilyn Ghiotti of Flushing who won $10,000 on the Powerball drawing of Oct.30. Ghiotti’s winning ticket was purchased at the Lucky 21 Convenience at 192-21 Union Tpke. in Flushing.

Carol Carson of East Elmhurst who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions draw-

ing of Oct. 29. Carson’s winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven at 246-15 Northern Blvd. in Little Neck.

Daniel Sepi of Sunnyside who won $10,002 on the Mega Millions drawing of Oct. 29. Sepi’s winning ticket was purchased at the Wendy Stewart at Newsstand/Front Of 396 6th Ave. in New York.

Ruidong Xu of Rego Park who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Oct. 15. Xu’s winning ticket was purchased at the Zuni Trading at 93-23 63rd Drive in Rego Park.

Frankie Tarpley of Jamaica who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Nov. 2. Tarpley’s winning ticket was purchased at the Krishna News at 105-13 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park.

Myo Wai of Woodside who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Nov. 2. Wai’s winning ticket was purchased at the Global Mart at 77-16 Woodside Ave. in Elmhurst.

Jaime Gonzalez of Bayside who won $250,002 on the Mega Millions drawing of Nov. 2. Gonzalez’s winning ticket was purchased at the Jackson Heights Stationer y at 75-23 31st Ave. in Jackson Heights.

Mu Han of Bayside who won $10,003 on the Powerball drawing of Oct. 2. Han’s winning ticket was purchased at the W Sweet Aliza at 73-24 Bell Blvd. in Bayside.

Army Reserve Maj. John S. Jenkins Sr. is returning to the U.S. after a deploy-

ment to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, respectively.

The soldiers return to Joint Base DixMcGuire-Lakehurst, N.J., for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units.

Jenkins, the Deputy Commander, is the member of the 1174th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion, Fort Totten, Flushing, New York. The reservist has served in the military for 23 years.

While deployed, he was decorated for his distinguished service with the Military Service Medal.

He is the son of Helen Johnson of Jamaica, and John Jenkins of Long Island City. The major graduated in 1985 from Bayside High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1991 from the New York Institute of Technology.

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.

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Nov. 12-18, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21

Junk Cars

Tradition

The familiar original “Adventures in Babysitting.”

Boro Remake Children of the 80s, and other victims of too much Aqua Net and acid washed denim, will fondly remember the 1987 comedy “Adventures in Babysitting.” So, too, does Fox, which is remaking the movie under the name “The Sitter.”

“The Sitter” will feature Johan Hill of “Superbad,” Sam Rockwell of “Iron Man 2” and... drum roll please… our fair borough. Crews will be shooting in Forest Park for four or five days with the 100-yearold Forest Park Carousel as a backdrop.

If only we all could ride it.

Lee Ann Anthony has always been surrounded by glamour. Following in the footsteps of her mother, a Trinidadian model, Lee Ann attended the popular Barbizon School of Modeling, and ended up loving it.

“I’ve been modeling for about seven years,” she said. “It’s my passion.”

When the cameras start rolling, Lee Ann feels at home.

“Getting in front of the camera, I love it,” she said. “I feel comfortable.”

Entertainment minded readers might remember her from Floss Magazine as Lady of the Issue, or as the leading lady in music videos for upcoming artists Corte Ellis and Young Riot. You won’t ever find her as some anonymous “booty-shaking girl.”

“If I have to do a music video, I want to be the lead role or the principal,” she said. “I want to stand out.”

Although Lee Ann would prefer to make a career out of modeling and acting, she realizes the value of a good education.

“I believe as a model you should have some sort of back up plan, so I will be going back to school,” she said.

She took some time off to focus on building her portfolio, but will be attending Brooklyn College next semester as an education major.

“I love children,” said the former after-school teacher.

When she’s at home in Spring-

Give And Take Under The Rainbow

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 12-18, 2010

Is there a weather phenomenon we haven’t been affected by in Queens this year? If last winter’s blizzards or this summer’s recordbreaking heat wave didn’t leave us scratching our heads, surely the tornado threw us for a loop.

Another rare weather occurrence paid a visit to our fine borough recently.

After a rather soaking rain, the sky over Forest Hills erupted in a river of color so intense, we wondered if Mother Nature had just

endorsed same-sex marriage.

A full rainbow streaked across the sky, leading drivers on Woodhaven Boulevard to slow down and take pictures, making the rush hour commute even more complicated.

Immediately afterwards people all over the borough began posting their pictures of the Great Forest Hills Rainbow of 2010 on their Facebook and Twitter Have we found our 2011 Gay Pride Glossy Cover?

Laid To Rest Most think when you die, you go to heaven, but two men from Bayside think they go to Flushing.

Peter Kandel, a self-certified “ghost doctor,” and his brother Stew told the Daily News that Flushing Meadows Corona Park is one of the most haunted sites in the city.

The brothers say shadows they’ve seen near the New York State Pavilion and abrupt temperature changes in the water under the Unisphere signal the presence of spirits.

Some historians aren’t sur-

The spookiest part of Flushing Meadows, apparently, is the the roaming Canada Geese. prised. They say spirits come to Flushing Meadows because of fond memories of the park. No, not because they carved vulgar words into trees here or snuck in to the

It’s just like the Mets to give fans a little something while taking back something else. Last Wednesday, the Mets announced that they had picked up the $11 million option for Shortstop Jose Reyes for 2011. The move drew mixed reactions – some feel he’s injury prone and not worth the payoff, other feel he’s a spark plug that motivates the whole team.

On the same day, the Mets also announced that they would be reducing ticket prices on some 62 percent of all seats in the stadium – with only a handful going up in price for the coming season.

What does all of this mean?

Perhaps we shouldn’t expect a park at sunset with their dates in high school for some “alone time,” but because the site was home to two World’s Fairs, in 1939 and 1964, both of which occurred shortly before devastating bloody wars killed thousands of young Americans. Many of those young Americans were fairgoers who return to their last place of enjoyment.

“But ghosts in general – apparitions, phantoms – they like to go where they had fun,” Peter Kandel said.

There are quite a few bars, and motels, in Queens we suggest the brothers check out for spirits, then.

Models Of Queens

Jerry Bock, the co-lyricist of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Fiorello” and “She Loves Me,” among other Broadway titles, died last week.

The fact that he was born and raised in Flushing probably comes as no surprise to those of us who know the A-list celebs who hail from our fair borough.

What might come as a shock though is that Bock took his final bow Nov. 3 – just 10 days after Joseph Stein, the man who penned the book to Fiddler – and less than three weeks after the death of Tom Bosley, who originated the title role in “Fiorello” on Broadway.

Bock, it is said, died a wealthy man.

Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.

Glamour Girl

field Gardens, Lee Ann likes to spend time catching up with loved ones.

“I like to relax, and just chill out with my friends and my family,” she said. major off-season purchases, as reduced revenue might make it harder to pay big bucks for an ace pitcher. At the same time, it might be more affordable to see an average team play an average game.

Hey, it still beats being a Yankee fan – get overcharged at every end, have the playoffs dangled in front of your nose and then crumble to the Rangers who put up one of the most pitiful World Series outings since… well… the Mets in 2000.

Lee Ann Anthony Springfield Gardens Age: 21 Height: 5' 3" Weight: 114 lbs Stats: 34-26-38

We hope Reyes is relaxed and not resting for next season.

Confidentially, New York . . .