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The power to change your community is in your hands. We can help inform funding every year for the next ten years for public services like healthcare, childcare programs, public transportation, schools, and job assistance. And our responses determine how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. But time is running out, so complete the census today online, by phone, or by mail.

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EXPRESSIONS PONDER THIS! Nobody Said it was Going to be Easy

By Hazel Rosetta Smith

Aging is a fact, not a dooms day in retrospect. Like anything else that we want to hold onto, it takes diligent determination to age healthy and gracefully. If it is true that youth is fleeting, it may be because we do not count the days until they become undeniable years gone by.

The best wines are highly regarded and priced because the grapes have a little age on them. Crock pots simmer meat to succulent tenderness because of slow cooking. We can participate in the management of our body’s aging process into full maturity by slowly and wisely maintaining a steady partnership of mind, body, and spirit.

The late Dr. Johnnie Coleman, Minister and Founder of Christ Universal Temple in Chicago was known for teaching people how to live better lives. I Hazel Rosetta Smith

was privileged to meet Dr. Coleman in 1990 and her words continue to resonate in my mind today, “It works when you work it.” The principle mandates for Dr. Coleman’s teaching was an understanding of the power to create a long productive life, built on a daily practice of healthy renewal through spiritual consistency and perseverance.

My 101-year-old grandmother, the late Margaret Howard Banks, often said to me,

her inquisitive granddaughter, “Chile, you’ll understand it by and by.” I always thought her words meant when I reached heaven, the Lord would reveal the mysteries of life. Now I am blessed to be in the third quarter of my life finally getting an understanding of those words. By and by is upon us right here and right now, every day, just look around.

Looking back with fond memories of the countless blessings that have come my way, I remember with great pride, watching my granny enjoying life one day at a time, spreading her wisdom, sharing her love and laughter, praising her God unapologetically. She never complained, simply exclaimed, “Age is just a number written in God’s book, assigned to each of his children, designated as the time allotment for the fulfilment Dr. Johnnie Coleman Margaret Howard Banks

of his purpose.”

Margaret Howard Banks opened her eyes at the break of dawn every morning speaking the same words, “Thank you, Jesus.” Nothing was taken lightly or for granted, from bathing to dressing, to breakfast preparation, there was always thanks given all day long. She stretched her arms to strengthen the muscles, she walked every day for blood circulation, and she read God’s good book out loud every evening to challenge her comprehension and strengthen her voice.

Someday something will ache and no matter how much we try to ignore or deny it; it will be the result of the wear and tear on the limbs that have carried

our body through many storms. When the back gets weary and sitting too long does stiffen joints, we can pull on our strong commitment to be a conqueror and rise to the occasion.

So, nobody told you aging would be easy. The charge is to expect the unexpected and be open to change, for it will surely come. As birthdays accumulate with numbers that seem to surprise even you, do not hesitate to remind yourself you are important, you are uniquely created. It would be inappropriate for you to think anything other than, you deserve to have an active, fun-filled celebration of life every day. What you choose to do is up to you. [Hazel Rosetta Smith is a journalist, playwright and director for Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries, retired former Managing Editor and Woman’s Editor of The New York Beacon and current columnist for Harlem Community News, Inc. Contact: misshazel@twc.com]

Queens Stands United for Peace

We will not stem the increase in recent shootings by prosecution alone. That is why I remain dedicated to bridging the gap between criminal prosecution and community-based intervention as we work to ensure the safety of all Queens residents.

On Sunday, I stood alongside Queens Borough President Sharon Lee as we were joined by Southeast police officers, elected ofwe have lost and rallied Queens community leadficials, and residents who in support of communiers, union leaders, pastors, care about the future of ty-based intervention methcure violence groups, youth their neighborhoods. ods and alternatives to preleaders, sports academies, We remembered those vent further crime.

QUEENS UPCOMING EVENTS

Every Friday-Sunday 5:30pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Open Mic at QED

The best open mics in the city are BACK! Well, the backyard, to be spe cific! Comedians, poets, musicians, storytellers, per formers of ALL types are welcome to perform for 4 minutes! Audience mem bers are welcome, too! Events have very limited seating, temperature tak en at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased on line in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Friday 8:00-9:30pm

Safe & Sound with Na talie Cuomo

Stand up comedy with Natalie Cuomo! Every Fri day at 8pm. Featuring comedians from Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central & more! Events have very limited seating, temperature tak en at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased on line in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Saturday 5:30pm

Transplants ComedyLive, In person, Outdoor Show

Comedians and new New Yorkers tell jokes about how they got here and where they’re from. Events have very limited seating, temperature tak en at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased on line in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Saturday 8:00-9:00pm

Nerd is the /new Black

Nerd Is The New Black is a smart and edgy standup comedy show and also one of the hottest shows at QED. Charles McBee brings some of the funniest comedians from MTV, Comedy Central, and Netflix to perform on QED stage. Events have very limited seating, tem perature taken at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased online in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria. com

Every Sunday 2:00-3:30pm

The Re-Open Storytell ing Show & Mic

Show up to QED, head to the backyard, throw your name in the bucket and tell a true, no theme, 5 minute story about some thing that happened to you at The Re-Open Sto rytelling Show! Hosted by David Lawson. $10 tickets must be purchased in ad vance. Proceeds will go towards keeping the lights on at QED in this uncer tain time for venues everywhere. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria. com

Every Wednesday 6:00pm

Wellness Wednesdays

Every Wednesday at 6pm, join LIFE Camp, Inc and Kheperah Kearse live on Facebook for #Well nessWednesday. Learn simple wellness tips to bol ster our mental, physical and emotional well-being during these trying times. Visit lifecampinc.com/ wellness to join.

July 30 4:00-5:00pm

The EQA Roots & Shoots Youth Brigade

Are you a tween or teen who wants to make a difference? Then be come a member of The Eastern Queens Alliance’s Roots and Shoots Youth Brigade. Summer online meetings started July 3rd but you can still join. Visit jamaica311.com for more info.

August 1 1:00-2:00pm

Virtual Walking Tour: The Hidden History of Lit tle Neck, Session II Douglaston

Join the Queens His torical Society with their board president/Queens historian Jason D. Antos and explore Douglaston, an officially designated historic district, and enjoy the incredible architec ture, interesting local legends, and Native American history. This tour will be streamed live on QHS Instagram.

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Black-Owned Drive In Movies in Queens

Iam so excited to share with you the news of Movies In Your Car, a re-imagined drive-in theater brought to you by Bounce Playground, opening Thursday, July 30 th at York

College Performing

Arts Center. Blackowned and known for their family oriented all-inflatable traveling amusement park, the creators of Bounce Playground have discovered a way to successfully transition their business to one that can safely provide summer entertainment for a large group of people, of all ages, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Movies will be shown on giant inflatable hi-definition screens with sound played from a pre-programed station for your car radio. The new car theater will host two showings per night, highlighting Black American films such as Belly and popular Blockbuster films like Trolls and Transformers, to fit the interests of the community and all attendees.

Finding ways to support the community, Movies In Your Car has partnered with local restaurants to provide premium dinner and drinks for guests to purchase. Tickets are per car starting at $40 for General Admission and $60 for the VIP experience. Ticket holders will have the chance to safely enjoy a retro movie experience with a more contemporary feel. Whether a ladies night with friends, date night or an evening with your children, Movies In Your Car has a film for you.

The grand opening schedule includes: 1. Thursday,

July 30 th – 8PM: Girl’s Trip 2. Thursday,

July 30 th – 11PM: Training Day 3. Friday, July 31 st – 8PM: Minions 4. Friday, July 31 st – 11PM: Belly 5. Saturday, August 1 st – 8PM: Sonic The Hedgehog 6. Saturday, August 1 st –11PM: Harlem Nights 7. Sunday, August 2 nd – 8PM: Trolls 8. Sunday, August 2 nd – 11PM: Transformers

Vacancies on Queens Community Education Council

Borough PresThe CECs are dewithin its respective ident Sharon signed to be a formal community school disLee is acceptvoice of community trict, ing applications from input and insights into CECs are respondedicated and educashaping the New York sible for advising and tion-minded individuCity schools system. commenting on eduals interested in filling On this critical road cational policies and one of six vacant posiof rebuild and recovproviding input to the tions on the borough’s ery for our future, such chancellor and the Community Education voices are needed now Panel for Education Councils (CECs) in more than ever. Policy., which must be time for the upcoming CECs are part of the returned by email to edschool year. New York City school ucation@queensbp.org

The COVID-19 governance structure, by Friday, August 7. pandemic has deeply with each CEC overFor more information, disrupted the education seeing the elementary visit www.queensbp. and lives of our kids. and middle schools org/education.