Queens Chronicle South Edition 01-17-13

C M SQ page 1 Y K SOUTH QUEENS EDITION Serving Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, City Line and JFK Airport

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER NO. 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON

VOL. XXXVI

STRIKE! School bus drivers walk over route bid dispute

PAGE 12

QCHRON.COM

LINES OF FIRE

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS Section

PAGES 23-27

HEALTH & FITNESS Section

FILE PHOTO

PAGES 28-32

Woodhaven, Richmond Hill tell panel to keep their communities together in City Council districts PAGE 14

IT’S A PRIVILEGE TO PEE Upbeat songs speak of living beyond means in ‘Urinetown The Musical’

The NYC Districting Commission, top, held a public hearing at LaGuardia Community College on Monday as members prepare to redraw City Council lines for the third time, and met residents and leaders from Woodhaven, above, and Richmond Hill, above right, who asked them to keep their communities together after previous draft maps divided them.

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CEC 24 calls for armed city schools Pending resolution endorses retired NYPD with concealed carry permits

by Michael Gannon Editor

ity education officials appear to have no interest in a proposal pending in Community Education Council 24 that seeks armed retired police officers in all city schools.

The agenda for CEC 24’s meeting on Jan. 22 contains a draft resolution calling on the Department of Education to hire retired NYPD officers as armed “special patrolmen” to “supplement current unarmed security personnel in NYC public schools.”

A copy of the resolution, attached to a meeting agenda sent to the Chronicle on Tuesday, also calls on the Department of Education to install buzzer-entry and frontdoor-video surveillance equipment at all schools and to install “panic buttons” that link directly to NYPD dispatchers.

Nick Comaianni, president of CEC 24, said the resolution is definitely in response to the Dec. 14 school massacre in Newtown, Conn., and is modeled on a similar proposal under consideration on Staten Island.

“What if the principal or the teacher who lunged at that gunman in Connecticut had been armed?” Comaianni asked on Tuesday.

“You might not have had as many casualties.

Maybe you have only two. Maybe none. We have to look at that scenario.”

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In an email to the Queens Chronicle, DOE lic school?’” Fedkowskyj said in an email on spokesman David Pena said a safe learning Tuesday. He believes armed officers would be environment is one of the city’s top priorities. a distraction.

“As the largest school district in the coun“We need to create a warm and inviting try, we know what works, and putting an environment for our children,” he said. “There armed guard in every building is not the is no guarantee that an armed security officer answer,” he said. can protect every child within each school. I Pena added that city schools are the safest believe it’s just an accident waiting to happen.” they have been in more than a decade Nationally, critics have railed against a “thanks to our colproposal by the laboration with the National Rifle AssoNYPD, reforms to ciation to place hat if the principal our discipline code to armed guards in promote safety, antischools. Fedkowskyj or the teacher who bullying and peer said that was the mediation, and work way of lunged at that gunman NRA’s to remove illegal “deflecting from a guns from the street.” bigger problem and in Connecticut had Dmytro Fedconcern, which is been armed?” kowskyj, a past presithat we have way too dent of CEC 24, much youth gun vio— Nick Comaianni, president CEC 24 serves as Borough lence in our country.”

President Helen MarAnd Comaianni shall’s appointee to the Panel on Educational expects that the Council may catch some heat.

Policy.

“But we sat down and talked about it as a He too scoffed at the idea, saying that the Council,” he said. “I know as a parent with DOE and the NYPD address all security con- kids in school I would feel better.” cerns immediately.

The draft resolution says the retired officers “We as a society have to ask ourselves would not be involved in regular discipline sit‘What kind of climate and learning environ- uations at schools, and Comaianni stressed ment do we want to create for our kids in pub- that the weapons would have to be concealed.

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“A lot of law enforcement is judgment,” he said. “Retired police officers have been trained to see what might get out of hand.”

He added that the cost would be minimal, as all schools in the city have at least one security officer and some have more.

“If you have two, you have one unarmed security officer and one retired police officer working for the same salary,” he said.

Fedkowskyj concurred with a review of security measures, such as panic buttons, locked entrances and improved camera protection. But he also said security measures need to be consistent throughout the system, “so that trained security officers can work throughout the city in every school.”

Fedkowskyj also said the city would be better off spending the “millions on armed officers” on programs to combat youth gun violence.

He said panic buttons would require little more technology or equipment than existing school fire alarms, and that most if not all of the schools in District 24 already have some sort of camera array.

“And in a school system that has billions of dollars in its budget, a few million for security is nothing. They spend more on advertising and some programs that just don’t work.”

The Jan. 22 meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at IS 73 at 70-02 54 Ave. in Maspeth. Q

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QUEENS NEWS

Cuomo casino plan met with frustration Goldfeder, Addabbo worry upstate-only gaming leaves Queens behind

by Domenick Rafter

the five boroughs — said the plan to not allow full casino gambling at Aqueduct Racetrack will prevent much-needed Gov. Cuomo reiterated his support for full casino gaming jobs and tourism from coming to Queens.

“I do have a major concern over the governor’s remarks — including table games — in New York State, but under the plan he outlined in this week’s State of the State speech, made regarding the future of casinos which may impact the future of Resorts World and the opportunity for Queens residents will have to drive a good additional jobs and revenue there,” said state long while on the Thruway to get to roll real Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach). dice at a real craps table or sit with an actual Currently, gamers can play table games blackjack dealer. like roulette and baccarat at Resorts World, In his speech, Cuomo said the idea behind but only in computerized versions. Michael limiting full gaming to upstate is to boost Speller, President of Resorts World, said in tourism and economic development in upstate 2011 that the casino would be able to add counties, while New York City already has 50 table games to the gaming floor if and when million tourists a year. Under his plan, up to they are approved. The decision to introduce three casinos would open to full gaming in full gaming upstate may also kill proposed upstate counties should the state Legislature plans for casinos elsewhere in the city, such and New York voters approve a constitutional as Coney Island. amendment to allow table games.

“I appreciate Governor Cuomo’s desire to “I believe casinos in upstate New York boost our economy and create jobs by allowcould be a great magnet to bring the New York City traffic up,” he said. “They now go Gov. Cuomo proposed three ing enhanced gaming throughout New York to New Jersey, they go to Connecticut — why upstate casinos in his State State, but we must not forget New York City,” of the State address last said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Far don’t we bring them to upstate New York?”

FILE PHOTO Rockaway). “I look forward to working with The plan was unveiled as piece of a larger week. the governor to f inally bring an enhanced part of the governor’s agenda that focused on economic development upstate, including promoting New casino to Resorts World at Aqueduct in Queens and proYork agriculture and farming and opening the Adirondacks vide our neighborhoods the economic boost needed, especially as we recover from Hurricane Sandy.” to a national whitewater rafting competition.

Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for Resorts World, said the But legislators who represent the communities near Resorts World Casino New York City — the only casino in casino was supportive of Cuomo’s plan to bring full gaming Associate Editor

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

SOUTH

Under Gov. Cuomo’s plan, video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Racetrack’s Resorts World Casino New York City, above, will not be joined by real roulette wheels and blackjack — at least not at FILE PHOTO first. to the state, even if just for upstate.

“We remain interested in enhancing our extremely successful partnership with New York State and look forward to reviewing the Governor’s proposal to facilitate economic continued on page 34

Senior housing to open later this year Catholic Charities project in former Fineson Center moving forward

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

The Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens senior housing development in Howard Beach, seen above in a 2011 rendering, will be completed by the end of the year. The agency says the site saw FILE PHOTO little damage from Hurricane Sandy and the storm did not force a delay in opening.

“We fared well. Thank God,” she said.

Construction started on the project a year ago. The new complex will have 96 units, 76 of which will be studio or one-bedroom apartments for low-to-moderate-income senior citizens age 60 and over. Seniors living in neighborhoods served by Community Board 10 will be given preference in the

application process. The other 20 units will be will be one- or two-bedroom units, reserved for residents with developmental disabilities, who will be supervised. The multiple-bedroom units are being constructed so persons with disabilities can have a caregiver live with them.

Applications to live in the new housing

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It may be the only building in all of Howard Beach that was not badly affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The former Fineson Developmental Center building at 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd. is being converted into a new senior citizens housing development by Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens, and the construction site was not badly affected by Sandy.

Judy Kleve, vice president of Older Adult Services at Catholic Charities, said construction is moving forward at a steady pace and the building is now expected to be ready for occupancy by late summer or fall.

By a stroke of luck, the structure escaped the devastation wrought upon most of Howard Beach during Hurricane Sandy last October.

The building, which is located between 156th Avenue and the Belt Parkway at the extreme northern end of the neighborhood, sits a few feet higher than most of the rest of the community, and that kept the worst of the floodwaters at bay.

Kleve said there was minimal flood damage, and the blackout in the weeks after the storm forced a halt in the work, but the storm did not force any big delay in the construction or damage the infrastructure of the building.

development have not yet been distributed and the process is likely to begin in early spring.

The building housed the Bernard Fineson Developmental Center from 1975 until it closed its doors in 2009. The conversion to senior housing was discussed almost immediately after the Fineson Center moved out and the $31 million to fund the project was raised

by December 2011, with construction beginning the next month.

The building will also be the new home of the Howard Beach Senior Center, which was forced out of its former location in the basement of the Rockwood Park Jewish Center after Sandy’s storm surge flooded and destroyed the senior center’s offices.

Kleve announced at the center’s annual New Year’s party on Jan. 8 that the senior center — which is temporarily located at St. Helen’s Father Dooley Hall — will move into the new building, to the delight of it’s members.

“We have a wonderful area on the first floor that will be a great home for [the senior center],” she said.

Catholic Charities took over operations of the Howard Beach Senior Center late last year, though it is still funded through the city Department of the Aging. The organization and the senior center were in talks even Q before Sandy.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 6

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Lindenwood Alliance honors Sandy helpers Groups who helped storm victims praised at first 2013 meeting

by Stephen Geffon Chronicle Contributor

Howard Beach businesses and residents were honored Monday evening for their efforts in helping homeowners in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy by City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Far Rockaway), through an aide, and Lindenwood Alliance board members at the civic’s monthly meeting.

Ulrich presented New York City Council Certificates of Recognition for outstanding service to the community to the Howard Beach Kiwanis, Tuscany Deli owner John Gurino, Ragtime Deli owner Angelo Gurino and the Lindenwood Alliance, as well as the Queens Chronicle, Queens Courier and Forum of South Queens Council citations were also presented to Swami Durga Das of the River Fund, Monsignor Al LoPinto of St. Helen Church, Ellen Buonpastore, Vice President of the Dorchester Arms Co-op, Stephen Sirgiovanni and Pat Adams, publisher of the Forum of South Queens. Adams was also recognized by the Lindenwood Alliance.

“These were just some of the people and businesses that were so generous to this community in our greatest time of need,” Ulrich said, adding that another major community institution also deserves recognition.

Representatives from businesses and charities that assisted in aiding residents affected by Hurricane Sandy pose for a picture after being honored by the Lindenwood Alliance at their January PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON meeting on Monday.

“Russo’s On the Bay was so generous to the people of Hamilton Beach and Broad Channel. Frank Russo is always there for us.”

The honorees were also presented with New York State Legislative Certificates by Angelica Katz, representing Goldfeder.

Joann Ariola, president of the Alliance, told the audience that the group has made donations to the Rockwood Park Jewish Center, the River Fund and St. Helen School.

In other news, Ariola asked Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton for an update on the sewer project scheduled for 149th Avenue and 85th Street.

“It’s going to be a long time coming,” said Braton, adding, “It’s winding its way slowly through the process.”

Efforts by the Department of Transportation to make the dangerous intersection at 88th Street and 153rd Avenue safer were

continuing, said Ariola.

She also reported that Laura, the homeless woman who prior to Hurricane Sandy had been walking Cross Bay Boulevard, continues to live in a homeless shelter.

William Aiello of Lindenwood, noting the daily traff ic congestion on Woodhaven Boulevard coming south from Queens Center Mall, asked if there was support for reactivation of the old Rockaway Beach Long Island Railroad line.

Angelica Katz noted that Goldfeder was a strong advocate for the reactivation of the rail line and would be meeting this week with Gov. Cuomo to discuss the project.

Ariola told the audience that despite management efforts to make the Lindenwood Shopping Center parking lot safer, dangerous traff ic conditions continue. She added, though, that 106th Precinct officers have issued summonses to cars parked in the fire lane and will continue to enforce the law.

She also noted that cars continue to doubleand triple-park by PS 232, but said she is working with the principal to work out a solution to the problem without the need for the police to issue summonses to the violators.

There will be no meeting of the Lindenwood Alliance in February. The next meeting of the group will be on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Arms Co-op, Q 151-20 88 St.

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EDITORIAL

PAGE

Children get thrown under the bus orkers of the world — give us a break.

On Wednesday the already hard-pressed families of Queens and the rest of New York City had yet another unnecessary burden placed upon them when school bus drivers and aides with Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike.

As usual, it’s union members first, the public last.

The city was stuck with handing out free MetroCards so the kids could get to school. Or promising parents they’d be reimbursed for gas or cab fare — whatever transportation expenses they’re incurring.

It’s not enough that many schools are in crisis, or that many parents are more worried than ever about safety following the Connecticut massacre, or that many families are watching every dime, or even that the weather was pretty crummy Wednesday as the strike began.

No, the leadership of this union, many of whose past officers have had ties to the mob, sees fit to make children and their families suffer just a bit more, all in the name of job security. The walkout hits about 152,000 children — 54,000 of them disabled.

The drivers and matrons are striking because the city, trying to cope with the structural deficits it faces as far as the eye can see, is rebidding yellow bus contracts in the hopes of saving some money. It’s about time. Right now the city school system pays far more, $6,900 per student, than any other district in the country for bus service. The

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next closest is Los Angeles, which pays $3,124 — less than half the cost here. The Bloomberg administration would be shirking its duty to the taxpayers if it didn’t seek a better deal.

But the union insists on job guarantees for all its members — meaning that even if one or more new companies are selected, they have to hire drivers from the firms that lost the contracts.

Kind of defeats the purpose of seeking new bids, doesn’t it?

That would be like this newspaper selecting a new printer and then demanding it hire everyone who works for the one we use now. Silly.

In fact it’s worse than that, because this issue has come up before, and the state’s highest court has ruled that the city, which also used to back such job protections, cannot legally do so. So really the union’s problem is with the state of the law. If it wants the law changed, it should bring a new legal challenge or, just imagine, go the old-fashioned route and lobby legislators to rewrite the law to its liking.

Instead it took an action directly targeting young families. Mayor Bloomberg will have no problem getting to work. Neither will Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. No, it’s just regular New Yorkers who will pay for the union’s unwillingness to face the legal facts on the one hand and compete for work in the open market on the other.

It’s sad when anyone loses a job, but it’s a fact of life. You do your best to get another one, that’s all. Let’s hope this nonsense ends soon.

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Doe Fund dough Dear Editor: George McDonald, founder and president of the Doe Fund, announced that he’s running for mayor of New York. He said that creating jobs is his top priority. He’s already done that at the Doe Fund, particularly for himself and his family.

According to a community newspaper report, McDonald earns more than $500,000 a year as president of the Doe Fund, and two members of his family make more than $200,000 annually.

How does he justify these salaries for a nonprofit, tax-exempt and taxpayer-funded organization? McDonald gets $100,000 a year more than President Obama. Does he have more responsibilities and pressures than Obama?

Nonprofit organizations like the Doe Fund justify excessive compensation by saying they must compete for top talent. Compete with whom? Fortune 500 companies? People who work for nonprofit organizations should have a different set of values than employees of profitmaking entities. If they lack those values, they shouldn’t work for nonprofits. Gov. Cuomo says he’ll cut state funding for nonprofit groups that pay staffers over $200,000 a year. That means the Doe Fund could lose a substantial amount of dough. If George McDonald becomes mayor, rest assured he won’t settle for the $1 a year salary Mike Bloomberg gets.

Richard Reif Flushing © Copyright 2013 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part thereof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the publishers. This copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. Reproduction of said advertisement or any part thereof without the express written permission of MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. is strictly prohibited. This publication will not be responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not necessarily in accordance with the views of the QUEENS CHRONICLE. This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objectionable.

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EDITOR

Charles Park’s a mess Dear Editor: Who and where are the so called “Friends of Charles Park?” I and everyone else who lives in Old Howard Beach would like to know.

Charles Park has become a serious eyesore.

According to state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., it is the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. That is bull crap. Charles Park was in terrible shape way before Sandy! The ball fields have become a dog run. Don’t you need permits for a dog run? And no one cleans up after their dogs, so when spring comes the Little League will be rolling on dog pooh.

The benches are still broken. Trees need to be removed. Raccoons are running rampant, maybe with rabies. The swans get hurt by the boats in the canal.

The park could be such a beautiful place. I am tired of hearing it is federal and Gateway is responsible. Maybe the city should take it over!

Years ago when entering city parks throughout the borough you would see beautiful, well-

Storm aid for all omeowners hit by Hurricane Sandy can get federal aid. Businesses are eligible for low-interest loans.

But religious institutions are left out in the cold. They shouldn’t be.

The Howard Beach Jewish Center, for one, took such a beating in the storm it’s in danger of closing.

New U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (DFlushing) tried to fix the problem by including houses of worship in the Sandy aid bill passed this week, but her amendment failed.

We see no reason religious institutions should be barred from the aid that other nonprofit groups can get. Since it would go to any religion, there’s no First Amendment issue. We hope Meng succeeds in finding the remedy she still seeks.

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kept parks — even in poor economic areas. It is time to crap and get off the pot. Give the residents of Howard Beach the beautiful park they deserve. We pay enough taxes. Before the elections all kinds of promises were made. Where are the delegates now? It’s not just Addabbo.

Eric Ulrich’s heart belongs to the Rockaways.

We are left solo. So again I ask who and where are the Friends of Charles Park?

On New Year’s Day a post was made on Facebook of a beautiful park covered in snow, which read “Happy New Year, Friends of Charles Park.” Are you kidding me?

Louis LiCausi Howard Beach

Park it elsewhere Dear Editor: In view of the Mets’ willingness to negotiate a deal with Major Soccer League for use of Citi Field, stopping the usurpation of public parkland in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a soccer stadium is a no-brainer (“Mets’ door

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Dear Editor: The article “Leaked frack report changes no minds” in the Jan. 10 Queens Chronicle cites Karen Moreau of the NYS Petroleum Council, who states that natural gas development (or fracking) will provide tens of thousands of good jobs to upstate New York.

Ah, promises, promises. And now the reality check.

The latest f igures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that employment in the gas and oil industry in nearby Pennsylvania (which has allowed fracking for quite some Bus and rail, then and now time) is nowhere near the “tens of thousands” promised, but a mere 4,144.

Dear Editor: In addition, a recent survey of gas compa“Transit strike shut down the city” (I Have Often Walked by Ron Marzlock, Jan. 10) was nies by the Shale Education & Training Center showed that 70 to 80 percent of these jobs go to worth the fare.

Many have long since forgotten that up workers from out-of-state (mostly Texas and until the late 1960s, it was common to find Oklahoma), who have already been trained by both penny gum and 10-cent soda machines the gas and oil companies to work on other dispensing products at many subway stations. fracking projects in other states. Which makes sense if you’re an oil company.

It was a time people respected Why spend the time and money authority and law. That genera- ONLINE to recruit, hire, and train locals tion of riders did not litter subwhen you can just import previway stations and buses with Miss an ar ticle or gum, candy wrappers, paper letter cited by a writer? ously trained workers?

So the grand total of jobs cups, bottles and newspapers.

Want news from our No one would openly eat pizza, other editions covering created for Pennsylvanians chicken or other messy foods the rest of Queens? Find from fracking ... around 1,000.

And while it’s true that local while riding a bus or subway. past reports, news from diners and motels might profit Until the early 1960s, most across the borough and from all the out-of-state worksubway stations had clean, safe more at qchron.com. ers, the cost in polluted air and working bathrooms with toilet drinking water, smog, traffic paper. Revenues generated noise, road deterioration, fracking-related illfrom a 10-cent fee helped cover the costs.

“MTA restores buses to five Queens routes” nesses for animals and humans — to say noth(Jan. 10, multiple editions) also brought back ing of declining property values — hardly makes fracking a worthwhile investment. good memories.

Don’t believe the gas industry’s hype about Most people have forgotten when the recently restored Little Neck Parkway Q36 bus began. safety and jobs. Remember, the tobacco The original Little Neck Parkway bus service industry said smoking was perfectly safe, too.

Donna Seeger Vassallo began on June 4, 1950. The newly created New Howard Beach York City Transit Authority in 1953 assumed operations. Growing up in the neighborhood during the 1960s and early 1970s, I remember Don’t frack up NYS II the line was known back then as the Q12A. Dear Editor: It was a time when bus drivers had to make Gov. Cuomo had much to say in his annual change and drive — at the same time. No one dared bring any food on the bus or leave any lit- State of the State message to his New York ter behind. Air-conditioned buses were just constituents, but what he chose to be silent becoming a more common part of the fleet. You about should be of concern to all of us in New had to pay separate fares to ride either the bus York City.

I refer to the absence of any discussion of or subway. There were no MetroCards affording free transfers between bus and subway, no dis- the governor’s pending decision on the use of counted weekly or monthly fares, no employee hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, to drill deep below the grounds surface to transit checks.

On April 12, 1990 the Q12A was renamed obtain natural gas resources.

For several months Gov. Cuomo has been the Q79, probably to avoid confusion with the contemplating whether he should bend to the Little Neck-to-Flushing Q12 route.

Thirty months ago on Saturday, June 26, pressure of the oil and gas special interests 2010 at 6:23 p.m., right on time, my wife and I and allow fracking to proceed putting the surboarded the Q79 bus departing Little Neck for rounding area where the fracking would be its last run to Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park. done at great environmental risk, in particular This past Monday morning, I was able to board the area that is close to New York City’s the first bus leaving the Little Neck Long Island watershed and source for our drinking water.

While the governor has been under presRail Road station at 6:41 a.m. The Q36 had resumed weekday service on the old Q79 Little sure from these special interests, he has also been constantly hearing it from those Neck Parkway bus route.

MTA public transportation is still one of the opposed to fracking in New York for the potentially disastrous effect an accident best bargains in town.

Larry Penner could cause our region.

Great Neck, LI continued on page 10

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open to Citi share with MLS,” Jan. 10, multiple editions).

The ball is now in the MLS’s court, and if it is not interested, like all other private for-profit businesses, it is free to look for property in the open market.

Any elected official or anyone seeking public office in the coming election who continues to support the ongoing desecration of FMCP by supporting MLS in the park is likewise a nobrainer and should be denied public office.

Benjamin M. Haber Flushing

EDITOR

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 10

SQ page 10

Letters

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Dear Editor: It is with great sadness that I write about this accident on my block in Glen Oaks Village. At 6:40 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, on 76th Avenue at Commonwealth Boulevard, a man and his dog were hit by a RAV 4. I’ve known Joe and his dog, Sandy, for about six years. Sandy, a golden Labrador retriever, was killed, and Joe, who is 87, suffered two broken legs and a broken pelvis. He was sent to Long Island Jewish Hospital that night.

I would talk to Joe as I’d walk my dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Jack. Joe and Sandy were both very friendly. He would tell me how he served in WWII and was a tailor. He now has lost his best pal, on top of losing his wife of many years a few months ago.

A man and his dog have a very important bond that cannot be separated. I feel that Sandy may have saved his life on that rainy night because there was such a bond between the two of them. I hope Joe recovers and my prayers go out to him and his family at this sad time.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks

Exit stage right, nut jobs Dear Editor: Just when you think you have heard the most outrageous mouthings from our gunaholics, they one-up themselves. Following is the twisted logic presented by Larry Ward, Chairman of Gun Appreciation Day, stated at a press conference celebrating the event:“I believe that gun appreciation day honors the legacy of Dr. King. First of all we’re looking for a peaceful protest, looking for people to come out and to remind the members of Congress and the president how we feel about our Second Amendment, and the truth is, I think Martin Luther King would agree with me if he were alive today that if African-Americans had been given the right to keep and bear arms from day one of the country’s founding, perhaps slavery might not have been a chapter in our history.”

Did anyone tell this “chairman” that Martin Luther King is not alive today because he was assassinated with a firearm? No, he is not around to be boggled by this “chairman’s” asinine assertion. Arm the slaves who were kidnapped, taken by force from their homeland and thereby erase the slavery chapter in our history?

No doubt those history books would be printed in Texas, with its unusual rewriting of history.

Why not? It was seen fit to have Michele Bachmann on the House “Intelligence” Committee and Todd Akins on the House “Science, Space & Technology” Committee. What’s a little enhancing of history?

Grand Old Party, if there are any of you left, wake up and take back your party — which has been no less kidnapped and degraded than were those slaves.

Nicholas Zizelis Bayside

They’re tough to teach

Thank the founders

Dear Editor: The Daily News, in its crusade to vilify city public school teachers, has stated that the leader of the UFT is hiding a dirty secret — more teachers in the city’s poorest neighborhood schools are found to be ineffective.

I say it’s not only Mulgrew’s dirty secret!

It’s just something no one wants to admit.

Even with high unemployment, the Department of Education has difficulty staffing schools in the poorest neighborhoods owing to the enormous challenges there.

Teachers are not magicians! They cannot easily overturn the huge amount of baggage many of their students are burdened with that they bring with them into the classroom.

These youngsters are too often poorly prepared for classroom learning, and their huge overdose of TV, video games, movies, texting, etc., etc., makes them inattentive, uncooperative and in great need of entertainment, rather than having the motivation to learn what the teacher is presenting to them.

Teaching is not the only part of education.

It very much depends on the pupil’s part ... that is, doing what is necessary to learn.

Let’s stop fooling ourselves. If we really want to honestly help children from poor neighborhoods become better students, we must devote more time, effort, and money to getting them at an early age, and giving them more individualized assistance so they have a better chance to succeed as students, and as productive citizens.

Dave Shlakman Howard Beach

Dear Editor: In his “In America, I’m free” (Letters, Jan. 10), Muhammad Toseef Akram, a member of the Muslim Writers Guild of America, congratulates President Obama on winning a second term, because he supports religious freedom.

But Obama doesn’t support religious freedom. When Obamacare kicks in, churches that don’t support abortion or offer contraceptives requested by any patient, which are against their religious beliefs, will be fined enormous sums of money for refusing.

The freedom of worship Mr. Akram found here, and not in Muslim Pakistan, was the vision not of a “visionary” Obama but of America’s founders, who were Christians whose wisdom derived from the Bible. They are the source of America’s unique form of government, its Constitution and Bill of Rights. Obama wants to transform the United States into what all the immigrants here came to escape from in their homelands. It’s ironic that so many Americans voted for a man who is slowly but surely imposing on the citizens of this country all the controls, rules, regulations and fears that they and their parents came to the United States to escape from. The right to bear arms was in fact given to the people so that they could protect themselves from tyrannical governments such as the one Obama is trying to foist on American citizens now.

As a member of the Muslim Writers Guild, if Mr. Akram means what he says, he should acquaint himself with American history and our Constitution and Bill of Rights. He’ll then see that he has nothing to thank Mr. Obama for.

Janice Wijnen Rego Park

C M SQ page 11 Y K Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

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C M SQ page 12 Y K

School bus drivers walk out over bids Union calls strike as city eliminates job protection in new bid contracts

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

More than 150,000 city children were looking for rides to school this week.

A yellow school bus driver union representing roughly 9,000 drivers called a strike starting Wednesday over the city’s plan to bid more than 1,000 routes, but not include provisions in the bid contracts that protect the jobs of current employees.

Local 1181 President Michael Cordiello talks to repor ters before meeting with striking workers in Ridgewood on Wednesday.

The union — Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, based in Ozone Park — approved the strike on Monday afternoon and called for a walkout starting Wednesday. They argue that the Employee Protection Provision in the contracts is important to safety.

“Safely transporting our children back and forth school today has, and always will be, the top priority of every man and woman who make up ATU Local 1181,” the union said in a statement. “The Employee Protection Provision is directly linked to the safety and security of our children by ensuring the city’s most qualif ied, skilled and experienced school bus crews remain on the job, and has been a cornerstone of these contracts for over 50 years.”

But a 2011 New York Court of Appeals ruling declared such a clause in a bid contract illegal, and Mayor Bloomberg said his hands were tied because of it.

“Let me be clear: the union’s decision to strike has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with job protections that the city legally cannot include in its bus contracts,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“We hope that the union will reconsider its irresponsible and misguided decision to jeopardize our students’ education.”

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott reiterated that the city was not legally able to add the provision to the contracts at a Monday evening

Local 1181 workers picket outside a school bus depot on Metropolitan Avenue in Ridgewood on PHOTOS BY DOMENICK RAFTER Wednesday morning. town hall sponsored by District 30’s Community Education Council at PS 234 in Astoria.

“What the union wants us to do has been ruled illegal by the New York Court of Appeals,” he said. “We cannot do this.”

But the union says the city is just using the court decision as an excuse to not have to include the EPPs in their bids.

Local 1181 President Michael Cordiello

ing Celebrat ar Ye Our 4 0 t h me in the Sa Location

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placed blame on the mayor for the strike as he stood with workers picketing outside a bus depot on Metropolitan Avenue in Ridgewood Wednesday morning. Cordiello said the EPPs are not illegal, but the city would have to justify their inclusion in the contracts.

“Despite public pronouncements, it is not illegal to put EPPs in the bids,” he said. continued on page 36

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It’s back to the old redrawing board City line proposal gets panned from Woodhaven to Whitestone

by Michael Gannon Editor

The Rev. Charles Norris of Jamaica gave an understated assessment of the testimony offered as the city’s Districting Commission returned to Queens on Monday night.

“It seems everyone here has the same problem,” he observed dryly.

The problem is the commission’s second go-around in its attempt to redraw New York’s 51 City Council districts.

The exercise is required following the 2010 U.S. Census — and round two by public outrage at perceived gerrymandering that caused the City Council’s leader to throw out the commission’s last map submission in December.

Residents in attendance on Monday universally objected to any attempt to adhere to the last draft. They demanded the redrawing of lines they said at best broke neighborhoods apart in direct contradiction of the commission’s charter.

Still others said the lines appeared aimed at doing nothing but protecting incumbent officials or diluting the voting strength of minority communities.

About 200 people attended the hearing at LaGuardia Community College’s Little Theatre.

Numerous speakers used the phrases “contiguous districts” and “established ties of common interests,” phrases taken directly from the commission’s charge — phrases they said the draft Council Speaker Christine Quinn rejected in December failed to apply.

Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, said he would not tell the commission why splitting Woodhaven in two was a bad idea.

He didn’t have to.

“What is a neighborhood? What is a community?” asked Colin Bucca, one of a handful of Woodhaven residents to speak. “It’s not numbers on a spreadsheet or lines on a map. It’s people.”

Bucca said Woodhaven was a deliberate choice for himself and his neighbors when they bought their homes.

“Now I look and we’re halfway into

Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, led a contingent of neighbors PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON who do not want to be split between two City Council districts.

Howard Beach,” he said. “With the wave of a pen, what I chose is not what I have.”

Such also was the complaint of James Hong, representing the Asian American Community Coalition of Redistricting and Democracy.

Hong and subsequent speakers from the Asian and South Asian communities said the most recent draft of the map divided Bayside between districts 19 and 23.

“Bayside is one community,” he said.

Christina Chang said the lines unfairly divided neighborhoods in Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.

Patricia Martin of Corona said the portion of LeFrak City where she lives is being carved out of the 25th District represented by Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights).

“To do that is to take the heart out of a district,” she said. “To do that is to displace us from where we want to be.”

John Albert said there was no evidence in any past hearings that would explain why the f irst draft split Briarwood and Jamaica Hills.

“Just put LeFrak City back in 25 and Briarwood back in 24 and you would make half the people in this room happy,” said Ali Najmi of Eastern Queens.

Albert also was one of many who said the western boundary of the 28th District, which includes Richmond Hill and bordered on District 32 on the first set of maps, should be moved west from 103rd Street to Woodhaven Boulevard.

He and others said moving the proposed line would bring entities such as Aqueduct Race Track and John Adams High School back into their district.

Many from the Broadway-Flushing area also are asking the commission to move a boundary line that would separate the 19th and 20th districts of Dan Halloran (RWhitestone) and Peter Koo (D-Flushing), respectively, from 33rd Avenue a few blocks south to Northern Boulevard. They said Northern is the neighborhood’s traditional southern boundary.

Henry Euler of the Auburndale Improvement Association asked the commission to

embrace a map drawn up in consultation with members of the Queens Civic Congress that has been endorsed by Koo and Halloran.

Among other things, it separates the 19th and 20th at Northern Boulevard.

Euler, Halloran, Tyler Cassell of the North Flushing Civic Association and others also support moving the entire Mitchell-Linden co-op complex from the 19th District to the 20th, rather than just the portion that was moved on the last map.

Halloran, in his own testimony on Monday, said there is widespread support for the map, which also encompasses North Flushing, Auburndale and others.

“It may be the only thing in our entire political lives that [state Sen.] Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and I agree on,” he said.

Florence Johnson of Jamaica was born in the 28th District, lives in the 27th, and owns property in both. She said the proposed lines take what has traditionally been a strong African-American community and pares parts off while replacing them with other minority groups.

“There are small towns all over America,” Johnson said. “Jamaica is my small town.”

She is concer ned that redistricting could dilute her voting power and that of her children.

Johnson and others also are at least a little suspicious that the lines would be changing so radically just as Jamaica is beginning to reap the rewards of community investment and decades of hard work by long-time residents and business owners.

“It separates those of us who have been working for the changes that are about to come,” she said.

The City Council was due to vote on the first maps back on Dec. 7.

But the draft proved unpopular, and was drawing increasing fire over a last-minute change that would have moved the home of disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez (DBrooklyn) into a new district, where he would have had an easier time running for the City Council.

Quinn specifically cited Lopez in telling Q the commission to redo its work.

Forest Park Carousel may be landmarked

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

The Forest Park Carousel, which reopened last year after three years out of service, may be spinning into a long future.

Now, the Landmarks Preservation Commission is eyeing the attraction for a potential landmark designation.

“We’re actively considering it as a potential landmark and are working closely with the Parks Department on a timeline for a public hearing,” said Lisi de Bourbon, the spokeswoman for the LPC.

Century-old attraction on LPC’s radar The conf irmation from the agency comes after a representative of Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) told Community Board 9 that the LPC said a landmark designation for the carousel was not on its agenda.

The LPC had said last summer that the carousel was on its list of potential landmarks and that it would schedule a public hearing on a proposal to give it landmark status in the fall, but that meeting was never held.

The carousel, which sits atop a hill just off Woodhaven Boulevard near the Seuffert Bandshell, was built in 1903 and came to Forest Park from Massachusetts in 1973 to replace an older merry-go-round that had burned down.

The ride was renovated in the 1980s and closed in 2009 after the previous operator’s contract with the Parks Department expired.

The city sought a new operator for the carousel and the one in Flushing Meadows

Corona Park and finally found one in 2011 — New York Carousel — which reopened the carousel in May 2012.

The company is planning on adding more rides and attractions to the area around the carousel next summer. New York Carousel did not respond to questions on the idea of landmarking the attraction before press time.

A tree fell onto the roof of the building housing the carousel during Hurricane Sandy in October, but the ride itself was not Q damaged in the storm.

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Scholars’ Academy reopens its doors Rockaway school was destroyed by Sandy, then struck by looters

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

The sun had barely even broken over the horizon when school buses turned south off Beach Channel Drive onto Seaside Avenue in a cheese-colored caravan Friday morning. As they let off their cargo of children, other students jumped out of double-parked minivans, backpacks hanging off their shoulders.

In yet another sign that life on the Rockaway Peninsula is creeping back — albeit slowly — to normal in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, one of the community’s major schools is back home.

Scholars’ Academy, located just a few blocks from the Rockaway side of the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, welcomed its students back to class, for the first time since Oct. 26 on Friday morning.

The school building at 323 Beach 104 St. is nestled between the Rockaway Freeway and Beach Channel Drive. When the storm surge rolled onto the peninsula, the entire school was flooded.

Principal Brian O’Connell said the school, which has 1,107 students in grades six through 12, had to replace its electrical and heating systems. The auditorium stage and gymnasium floor were both destroyed and needed to be replaced. Scholars’ also needed new desks, new chairs, band uniforms and fitness equipment.

Scholars’ Academy Principal Brian O’Connell cuts the ribbon on the first day of school since Hurricane Sandy on Friday morning as staff and students wearing special “Scholars strong” and, not PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER seen here, “Rockaway resilient” T-shirts look on with applause.

“We lost approximately $75,000 just in textbooks,” O’Connell said.

The school lost most of its books to the flood and even the structural integrity of the building was in question. An outdoor planter along the Seaside Avenue-facing wall of the school collapsed and a sinkhole formed.

If the damage incurred by Sandy was not enough, the building was looted after the storm, resulting in the loss of more than 90 iPads students use in their lessons. The burglary took place sometime between the storm’s landfall on Oct. 29 and Nov. 16, when it was reported to police.

The school set up a fund to raise money to replace the lost items and has raised $2500 toward replacing lost technology, such as the stolen iPads.

During the evacuations, students were relocated to public schools in Brooklyn.

They had originally expected to be back in the school on Jan. 2, but the opening was delayed by nine days.

On Friday morning, O’Connell welcomed students back by cutting a red ribbon in front of the facility’s Seaside Avenue entrance, standing on the newly laid sidewalk that was built after the sinkhole was repaired. O’Connell led his students and staff — who arrived wearing light blue Tshirts that read “Scholars strong” and “Rockaway resilient” — in a countdown to reopening and a chant full of spirit.

“Are you Scholars strong?”

“Yes!” “Are you Rockaway resilient?”

“Yes!” “Let’s do this.”

Students applauded as the ribbon fell to the floor and slowly they walked back into the school building, giving O’Connell highfives as they walked by.

“I don’t love school,” one student said.

“But I do love this school. All my friends are here, my teachers are here. I almost forgot Q what it looked like inside.”

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New York cracks down on guns Assembly, Senate pass NY SAFE Act, first gun control bill since Newtown

by Josey Bartlett Editor

New York lawmakers this week overwhelmingly passed the NY SAFE Act, a set of bills that ban certain assault weapons, require stricter licensing and background checks, limit bullet purchases and restrict the mentally ill from obtaining guns.

The stringent laws are the nation’s first set of gun control bills approved since the Newtown, Conn., shooting, where 20 children and seven adults were murdered in the nation’s second largest school shooting.

“No parent should have to fear for their child’s life when they send their children to school,” Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) said.

The gun control package passed in the Republican-controlled state Senate close to midnight on Monday 43-18 and 104-43 in the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

“The senators that voted for the NY SAFE Act of 2013 made a bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation, as we have seen far too many senseless acts of gun violence,” Gov. Cuomo said.

“This historic package of bills is consistent with legislation proposed by the Senate Democratic Conference for years but consistently blocked by the Senate Republicans. Unfortunately, it took the tragedies in Newtown, Aurora, and Virginia Tech to enact sensible legislation,” state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) said.

Spokesmen from the National Rifle Association lambasted the passage of the act, saying the laws take away gun owners’ rights and will not affect crime.

“These gun control schemes have failed in the past and will have no impact on public safety and crime,” the NRA said in an

emailed statement. “While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York, and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night.”

The NY SAFE Act precedes national gun control proposals that President Obama released on Wednesday that urge federal background checks and would ban assault weapons and highcapacity magazines.

Under the new state laws, gun owners would be restricted to buying magazines that hold seven bullets instead of 10. The laws also mandate a statewide gun registry and create a uniform statewide licensing process rather than letting each county and city regulate in its own way.

The package includes an amendment to Kendra’s Law, which allows closer monitoring of the mentally ill. The amendment keeps the law into effect until 2017, rather than having it periodically sunset as it has since 1999.

The law increases court-supervised treatment from six months to one year; requires authorities to pick up supervision of such cases when a patient moves to a new county within the state; requires evaluation from institutions and prisons after those with mental illness are released; and creates educational pamphlets explaining the process for family members looking to get help for relatives with mental illness.

“Making it harder for criminals to get guns, and keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill are essential steps in the fight against gun violence,” state Sen. Jose Peralta (DEast Elmhurst) said.

“It’s a step in the right direction with a lot of little parts,” state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said.

He said some senators asked to vote on the bills separately,

but the governor refused.

Addabbo supported the package of bills, but has some concerns. Under the amendment to Kendra’s Law one medical professional, not a panel or a group at a hearing, can deem someone unfit to own a gun.

“This could open up a can of worms legally,” Addabbo said.

The package also names a school safety team, but Addabbo said the wording was too vague. The bill did not say when the findings of the team would be released and who would be appointed to the team.

Last, a minor point of contention for the senator was the change from misdemeanor to felony if an individual is found with an unloaded gun.

“That’s a pretty big jump,” he said.

Two Queens state senators whose gun control proposals were included in the package are Peralta and state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria). Their contributions focus mainly on licensing and background checks.

“An early advocate for more sensible gun laws, I am proud one of my proposals is included in the NY SAFE Act, whose passage sets the bar for the rest of the country to save the lives of innocent people,” Gianaris said.

One proposal Peralta said was left out is microstamping of shell casings.

“We also need to make it easier for law enforcement to put gun criminals in jail by making use of available technology.

That’s why we need to enact microstamping legislation, which has the support of police and prosecutors throughout the state,” Peralta said. “Let’s not waste any more time on the nonsense that a microscopic code on a shell casing constitutes an assault on the Second Amendment rights of sportsmen and law-abiding Q gun owners.”

Sandy debris pickup extended Sanitation will collect in hard-hit areas until Feb. 18

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Associate Editor

The Sanitation Department has extended the special debris pickup in areas hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy by another month.

Sanitation will continue to handle special storm debris collections in neighborhoods hit hard by the storm until Monday, Feb. 18. Originally, the pickup was scheduled to end Dec. 31 and then was extended until Jan. 14. But the department extended the collections again, responding to urging from City Council members representing hard-hit areas, including Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who pushed the department to extend the deadline because of the need in Broad Channel and the Rockaways.

“The men and women of the department have been working around the clock since Sandy hit in order to clear roads of sand and debris and remove massive amounts of flooded furniture, clothing and personal items left behind in its wake,” said Commissioner John Doherty. “We

Hurricane debris outside a home in Broad Channel on Friday, where the Sanitation Dept. will continue special storm pickups until Feb. 18.

PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

now are in the midst of the winter snow season and our full resources must be ready to tackle snowstorms of any size and frequency. As such, we must cease special collections effective Monday, Feb. 18, 2013.”

Since Sandy, Sanitation crews have been providing extra pickups of bulky storm debris in Howard Beach, Broad Channel and the Rockaways, as well as hard-hit parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island. According to the

department, crews have collected more than 389,000 tons of debris as part of the cleanup operations.

Even 10 weeks after Sandy, rubble and debris from gutted homes in the Rockaways still line many of the streets as residents continue demolition and rebuilding.

The Sanitation Department has been removing noncommercial waste from homeowners engaged in small projects. However, homeowners who are undertaking large demolition and reconstruction projects must arrange for their own Dumpsters by contacting a private rubbish removal service.

Bulk and construction debris generated by hired contractors or fee-for-service personnel on home repair or renovation projects is considered commercial waste, and it is the responsibility of the contractor to arrange for appropriate private disposal.

Residents should place hurricane debris on the curb in front of their homes. The special pickups occur on the day before normal garbage collection days. Q

PHOTO COURTESY NYPD

by Domenick Rafter

Wanted The NYPD is seeking the public’s help in locating three suspects and a person of interest, seen above, who are wanted in connection with a robbery in Richmond Hill.

The men, all black men between 20 and 25 years old and 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall, entered a Radio Shack store at 113-20 Liberty Ave. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 3:55 p.m., wearing ski masks, displayed firearms and ordered all the employees to the rear of the locations. The suspects then removed cash and electronic merchandise before fleeing.

The same suspects are being sought in the robberies of two Brooklyn stores.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

SQ page 19

Plans to replace the Kosciuszko Bridge are moving ahead, according to a statement issued this week by the state’s Department of Transportation.

In a letter obtained from Community Board 5, Project Manager Robert Adams said the agency has selected a cable-stayed system for the main span.

A suspension bridge, such as the Throgs Neck or Whitestone, has two main weight-bearing cables that run between two towers. Smaller cables then connect the main cables to the bridge deck.

A cable-stayed design has the towers bear the weight with cables running to them from the deck.

The bridge was built in 1939, and spans just over 6,000 feet, connecting Maspeth and Greenpoint in Brooklyn over Newtown Creek.

The new bridge will be built alongside the existing one beginning this fall, and is estimated to cost more than $511 million. Bids for design and construction will be awarded this summer.

Constr uction is expected to be Q completed by spring 2018.

— Michael Gannon

House OKs $50B in Hurricane Sandy aid Meng push for churches defeated

by Michael Gannon Editor

The House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved $50 billion in aid for areas hit by Hurricane Sandy in October.

But the final draft did not include an amendment being pushed by freshman Grace Meng (D-Queens) that would have allowed houses of worship damaged or destroyed in he storm to apply for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Despite roadblocks and inexcusable delays the House finally did the right thing by approving this critical funding,” Meng said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

Meng reiterated that many New Yorkers continue to suffer from the storm that hit more than two months ago, and that the relief on the way is desperately needed.

“The battle we had to fight to secure this aid was outrageous,” she said The Senate is expected to take up the measure next week. It would bring the total amount of federal Sandy aid to $60 billion.

Meng attempted to attach an amendment

to the House measure that would allow churches, synagogues and mosques that were damaged to apply to FEMA for grants.

Speaking two days before the vote at a breakfast hosted by the Queens Jewish Community Council in Kew Gardens Hills, she said houses of worship, like most nonprofits, are ineligible for FEMA grants.

Meng’s measure died in the House Rules Committee and never made it into the legislation that was approved in the floor vote.

A Meng spokesman said she is exploring other legislation and is in contact with FEMA officials on the matter.

Gov. Cuomo, in a joint statement with Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, expressed gratitude for he outcome.

“The tradition of Congress being there and providing support for Americans during times of crises, no matter where they live across this great country, lives on in today’s vote of the House of Representatives,” they said in a statement posted on Cuomo’s offiQ cial website.

Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Kosciuszko Bridge update

Apply to FEMA

by Jan. 28 Residents who are seeking help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damages stemming from Hurricane Sandy have only a limited time left to make their claims.

The deadline for FEMA aid applications is Monday, Jan. 28, three months after the disaster declaration was issued for 13 counties in New York, including Queens.

FEMA has also opened a new in-person disaster relief center in Rockaway Park’s Sands Point Professional Building at 230 Beach 102 St. It will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

As of Jan. 10, more than $839 million in FEMA aid money has been given in grants to individuals, more than 261,700 residents have registered for FEMA aid, and 173,000 homes have been inspected since Hurricane Sandy struck last Oct. 29.

The Small Business Administration has approved over $461 million in loans to homeowners and at least $32 million in business loans for Sandy recovery efforts. FEMA says more than 2,300 hurricane victims displaced and were Q still living in hotels as of Friday.

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In our review of 2012, the Great Woodhaven Development Corporation will resume with the November 2012 election. This election was for the newly drawn election district lines for Congressional and state legislative candidates(the same process of redistricting of City Council Lines to take place in 2013). At our GWDC Meeting in October 2012, we held the first Candidates Night Debate between state Senate candidates incumbent Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. and his opponent, Councilman Eric Ulrich.

This evening was attended by over 100 people and proved to be very fair and informative.

The November election — being Presidential Election and coming so soon after Hurricane Sandy — was very chaotic. Our local polling places were strained due to Gov. Cuomo’s edict stating all registered voters could vote outside of their usual voting locations due to the storm. Even under the pressure, and with voters still becoming accustomed to the new election voting procedure, Woodhaven polling places have to be credited for doing their job with excellence and professionalism.

After the Election, we congratulated Rep. Nydia M. Valasquez, Sen. Addabbo and Assemblyman Michael Miller on their elections. Also in 2012, it was deja vu all over again, when the old defeated cause of reactivating the Rockaway Beach Railroad was raised.

Twice many years ago this 3.5-mile abandoned line had been proposed to be electrified. In both instances these proposals were soundly defeated by a coalition of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale and Woodhaven leaders and residents. In every proposal, including the recent one, these communities have opposed their backyards being exposed to the dangers of electrification and the disruption to their quality of life. Now also proposed has been a Queensway — a High Line-like park. This idea has been given over $400,000 for a “study” by Gov. Cuomo. At this time, the line is quiet and if any activity should take place there, it should be its cleaning and maintenance. Again, Woodhaven residents will have to discuss this and consider a proposal made by the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association in 2013.

Now to the 2013 GWDC/WBID wish list: 1. More officers for the 102nd Precinct.

2. The rezoning of Woodhaven — Progress.

This, most important project accomplished in September 2012. This rezoning will for prosperity preserve and secure the character of Woodhaven — the big Victorian homes being downzoned, so that they can not be demolished and replaced with small apartment buildings, and the upgrading of Jamaica Avenue zoning.

This rezoning has been a 7-year process spearheaded by GWDC President Stephen Esposito with the assistance of the WRBA and President Ed Wendell and the support of the WBID President Matthew Xenakis.

3. New, brighter street lighting luminaries along Jamaica Avenue.

4. More trees on Jamaica Avenue. This will be pursued as 6 new planters, as well as trees.

5. Benches installed on our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue. This has been proposed to various locations along Jamaica Avenue.

And the “Perennial Wishes:” 1. Wish Fulfilled! — The painting of our “J” Line elevated structure and the repair of the stanchions along Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue. Work will be completed in 2013. This was a great accomplishment for the GWDC/WBID after 25 years.

2. The Forest Park Carousel — Enclose the carousel for all-year-round use; open a restaurant in line with the restaurant in Bryant Park or Tavern on the Green within the enclosure. Also, landmarking of the carousel, so that it will be preserved and eligible for funding, which the GWDC has been pursuing for 15 years.

We will pursue these “wish list” projects in 2013. There are many other small challenges that the GWDC and WBID face and overcome on a daily basis, which have not been listed or noted. In 2013, through the GWDC we look forward to bringing to positive resolution any projects that will affect our stores, businesses, and apartment buildings. Through the WBID, we hope to do the same on Jamaica Avenue. So that working together with our Elected Officials other Organizations our Woodhaven will remain and be preserved as a strong, stable, safe improving Community in which to work, to own businesses and own homes where families thrive and their children grow with a good quality of life for all.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 20

SQ page 20

SQ page 21

Track team gets a helping hand... for their feet

Victims of Connecticut tragedy remembered in hearts

aint Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, had collected an enormous number of items to give to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. In fact, so many things were handed in by good folks that, after distributing the various donations to people in need, Mr. Mazzocchi, an English teacher at John Adams HS, Ozone Park, was asked if he knew of anyone who might be able to use any of the remaining items. Without hesitation, he accepted the generous offer.

In the days that followed, a total of about 40 pairs of track shoes and T-shirts were given to the John Adams girls track team.

“They were ecstatic!” said Ms. Palmieri, the track team’s coach,“I was happy because the girls could now run faster and properly.”

She noted that, if the runners had not received their new gear from the church, they would have had to pay for their own running sneakers.

“It was very beneficial to have this donated to us… we’re very grateful.”

Ms. Palmieri, in her first year at John Adams, was very happy to report that the track team is doing well. “They’re getting better, and they’re improving their stamina.”

One can only wonder if the gifts that the athletes received has had anything to do with their progress.

PHOTOS COURTESY MS. PALMIERI

On Monday, Dec. 17, three days after the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementry School in Newtown, Conn., John Adams HS Principal, Mr. Scanlon, spoke on the loudspeaker, and asked everyone to stand in a moment of silence for the victims.

On Wednesday of the same week, students and faculty members were asked to wear the colors of green and white, as a symbol of remembrance and support for the victims; green and white were the school colors of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

In addition, Ms. Panzer’s leadership class created a beautiful mural on the third floor, displaying the names of all of the victims of the tragedy. Students and faculty members were encouraged to write special messages on red-papered hearts that were placed around the mural.

“Life gives us unexpected turns, whether we understand them or not,” said Lenny Rodriguez, a senior and member of the leadership class. “I would like to think that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps this tragedy will give more attention to the need for change, such as in the current gun laws and more security in schools.”

S

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN ADAMS HS

By Stephany Enamorado

Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

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Hero dog honored at precinct meeting ‘Rocky’ scared off potential burglar PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 22

SQ page 22

by Stephen Geffon Chronicle Contributor

“Rocky,” a 5-year-old Chow Chow-German Shepherd mix, was saluted as a hero at last week’s meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council by his owner, Delores Moore of Ozone Park, for saving her family from a potential home invasion by a man lurking outside her home.

Moore told the council members that on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4 a.m., ‘Rocky’ alerted family members to a shadowy figure in a hooded sweatshirt in her backyard.

She opened up the backdoor and told the dog, “Rocky, get him,” and the dog obediently took off after the stranger. Fortunately for the man, Rocky did not catch him.

Moore told the audience that she was happy that Rocky had just scared off the potential intruder and not bitten him.

“Dog one, intruder zero,” remarked a member of the audience.

Moore brought to the attention of Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale, the precinct’s commander, an individual who was walking on her 91st Street block with a large number of keys trying to open car doors. Pascale told Moore to call 911 if she sees any suspicious individuals on her block and give police a description of the individual.

In his monthly report, Pascale said that thieves are taking advantage of Howard Beach residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

He explained that as residents are in the process of cleaning up in Old Howard Beach, there have been four reports of thefts from open garages during the nighttime hours. He said that extra police patrols have been brought into the area.

With the influx of newly purchased cars in Howard Beach, thefts of tire rims have increased, according to Pascale. Thefts of rims from Toyota Camrys, Nissan Maximas and Honda Accords have occurred on 156th and 157th avenues, said Pascale.

Extra patrols have been assigned to the area in an effort to catch the culprits, he added,

106th’s Cops of the Month “Rocky” was hailed as a hero at the January meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council for scaring off a prospective burglar.

PHOTO BY DELORES MOORE

noting police had made three substantial arrests last year of rim thieves. To deter such thefts Pascale urged car owners to install the appropriate wheel locks on their car’s tires.

Pascale also reported that on the night of the meeting, officers had arrested two individuals in connection with an armed robbery of a business in the vicinity of 103rd Avenue and 97th Street in Ozone Park.

On another frequently raised topic, several residents complained about noise coming from two bars every night in the vicinity of 107th Street and Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park.

“They’re loud and they’re obnoxious,” said one resident. “Don’t confront them, just call us,” Pascale told the resident.

Alex, a resident of South Ozone Park, complained about trucks on Linden Boulevard, which is not a truck route, and asked if police could issue summonses to them.

“We will address the condition,” Pascale assured Alex.

There will be no meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council in February. The next meeting of the council will be on Wednesday, Mar. 13 at 8 p.m. at 103-51 101 Q St. in Ozone Park.

A familiar burglar at St. Helen St. Helen Church in Howard Beach was the site of two burglaries during the month of December, and one of the men arrested in connection with the thefts is a man the church is familiar with.

Theodore Kurpiewski, 22, and his brother Thomas, 19, are accused of stealing money and a number of unidentified items from the sacristy of St. Helen Church twice. One incident took place the weekend before Christmas and the second during the weekend before New Year’s. The brothers are being charged with burglary in the third degree, petty larceny and criminal posses-

sion of stolen property in the fifth degree.

This isn’t the f irst time the elder Kurpiewski has been accused of stealing from the church. He was convicted of a 2010 robbery of chalices and was sentenced to a year in jail in May 2011.

Kurpiewski was arrested after his father returned one of the stolen ceremonial cups.

A source close to the investigation said the duo was caught on surveillance camera breaking into the church and leaving with money and other items on both occaQ sions.

— Domenick Rafter

Police Officers Colin Dyer, center left, and Shawn Phillips were honored with the 106th Precinct”s Cop of the Month award at last week’s Community Council meeting for arresting an alleged drunk driver with a gun.

Phillips and Dyer spotted a suspicious vehicle making an illegal U-turn at 2 a.m. on Jan. 1 near the intersection of 130th Street and Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park, according to Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct.

He said the officers attempted to pull the vehicle over but the driver took off with the officers in pursuit. The chase ended a few blocks

later when he became blocked in by a parked vehicle. When Phillips and Dyer approached the vehicle, they observed that the driver was allegedly intoxicated and arrested him.

The inspector said that as the individual was placed in handcuffs, the officers found a loaded .45 cal. semiautomatic firearm in his waistband.

“These officers really put themselves in harm’s way conducting this car stop, and they took a bad guy off the street,” said Pascale.

Joining the officers here are the inspector, right, and Frank Dardini, President of the 106th Precinct Community Council.

— Stephen Geffon

Evaluations talks go down to the wire DOE, UFT negotiate as deadline hits

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

Negotiations are continuing.

That’s all the Department of Education and United Federation of Teachers had to say on the final day before Gov. Cuomo’s deadline for putting in place a teacher evaluations deal or risk losing $250 million in state funding.

As of Wednesday evening, neither side will say if they are close to a deal, but they did not dismiss the possibility of an eleventh-hour deal late on Wednesday or Thursday.

The negotiations hit a roadblock on Tuesday as the two sides failed to find compromise on a number of issues, though sources on both sides would not elaborate on what those issues were.

On Monday, the UFT dispatched members to heavily trafficked transit hubs all over the city — including at two locations along Queens Boulevard — to hand out fliers asking citizens to demand a fair evaluations plan for teachers. UFT President Michael Mulgrew said if negotiations

fail, Mayor Bloomberg would be to blame.

“If no agreement can be reached, it will be because the mayor cannot be brought to accept our position of what a teacher evaluation system needs to be, and he will once again try to blame teachers,” he said.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott had originally established a Dec. 20 deadline for the city and the union to come to a deal on a teacher evaluations plan, but the two sides blew through the deadline and are now up against the governor’s Jan. 17 date.

New York City is one of the last school districts in the state to put together an evaluations plan. Most districts have had one in place for a while.

Even if the two sides come to an agreement before the deadline, it would still have to be approved by UFT’s Delegate Assembly, and that is not necessarily a certainly. However, unlike other districts, such as Hamburg, NY — a suburb of Buffalo where UFT members rejected a proposed deal last week — the deal will not be put to a vote by UFT members in Q the district.

SQ page 23

Catholic institutions offer religious-based, family-orientated setting

by Domenick Rafter

Linda Freebes, principal of Sts. Joachim and Anne School in Queens Village, said the For many parents, especially those raising strength of Catholic schools stems from their their children in the Roman Catholic religion, religious-centered education.

“We are a faith-based, Christ-centered enviCatholic education is the standard for schooling.

According to the Diocese of Brooklyn, there ronment,” she said. “With all things through are 57 Catholic elementary schools in Queens. Christ, that is how we succeed.”

Every one of the 503 students in Freebes’ Though that number has dropped in recent school is treated as a member of a larger years, and a large section of Southeast family and students are given the Queens is without a Catholic elelove, respect, structure and discimentary school, these schools RELIGIOUS pline they need to succeed. are still a very popular choice “We strive to give every for educating children.

SCHOOLS student, no matter what their There are still as many as SECTION ability, the best opportunity to 15,000 students in Catholic eleperform,” Freebes said. mentary schools in the borough Joann Heppt, principal of Resurrecand that number has changed little this year. Thomas Chadzutko, superintendent of tion Ascension School in Middle Village, said schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn — which Catholic schools provide for every need stuincludes the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens dents may have in their schooling.

“We educate the entire child,” she said.

— said enrollment in the diocese’s schools is stable and they are still a popular choice for par- “We take care of their academic needs, social needs, emotional needs.” ents looking for good education options.

As the demographics of Queens change, so “They have proven results,” Chadzutko said, noting the diocese’s schools have shown acade- have those of Catholic schools. What in the mic excellence in test scores when compared to past were educational institutions dominated other dioceses. He added that many parents by children and grandchildren of Irish, Italian choose to spend the tuition on Catholic schools or Polish immigrants are now home to a much more diverse student body. Chadzutko said because of the “valued-centered environment.”

That sentiment is shared by Queens’ the diocese has reached out to Hispanic communities, which comprise the fastest growing Catholic school principals.

Associate Editor

Hands-On Learning at

ST. HELEN SCHOOL is

Resurrection Ascension School in Middle Village is one of 57 Catholic elementary schools in Queens. Despite a recent drop in enrollment in Catholic schools nationwide, the Diocese of Brooklyn said the student population of Catholic elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER has remained stable.

Catholic constituency in the borough.

But Hispanics are not the only demographic Catholic schools are opening their arms and doors to. Chadzutko said the diocese is focusing on a number of different groups who are open to Catholic education.

“We have to identify the demographic, and come up with a particular marketing campaign for the demographic,” he said.

As a matter of fact, almost a quarter of the student body in the diocese — 22 percent — is not Catholic. Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and even some Jewish

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Why choose a Catholic school?

families have chosen Catholic schools for their children’s education. Both Freebes and Heppt said there are a number of non-Catholic students in their schools.

“They’re looking for an education that is values-based,” Heppt said.

Chadzutko added that the variety of activities and academic excellence of diocesan schools attract non-Catholic families to Catholic schools.

“They come to us because of the options that we have, the academics and the values we live by,” he said. “Everybody is respectful and they can bring something to our community.” Q

We are focused on educa ng the whole child through: ➤ Faith Forma on: Daily prayer and spiritual development, complete sacramental program for First Penance, First Communion and Confirma on, First Friday Mass, prayer services and community service projects.

➤ Rigorous Academics: Full-day Kindergarten, Pre-K 3 and 4 year-old full-day and half-day programs, focused instruc onal schedule of 8:10-3 p.m. with 7 a.m. drop-off and a er-school programs un l 6 p.m., TACHS Prepara on, K-8 Spanish program, SMARTBoard® technology, fully equipped science lab and digital projects u lizing Web 2.0 tools.

➤ Specialized Programs: St. Helen School is Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in partnership with: Fordham University, St. Francis College, St. John’s University and Yale University.

OPEN HOUSES: Sunday, Jan. 27, 10:30 am - 3 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 3 - 5 pm and Thursday, Jan. 31, 7- 9 pm

“Mom and Me” for ages 1 ½-2 ½, a er-school extracurricular ac vi es, training in music and art, band and CYO sports.

Ready to get started? www.sthelenschool.org

▶ ST. HELEN SCHOOL • 83 09 157TH AVENUE, HOWARD BEACH, NY 11414 • 718 835 4155 ◀ STHE-060292

Religious Schools Section • Winter 2013

Christ-Centered, Results-Driven & Always Engaging

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 24

SQ page 24

Getting ready for Catholic Schools Week 2013 Theme to focus on celebration of high-quality, faith-based education The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2013 is “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.” The SECTION annual observance starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2013 is January 27 to February 2. Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community at large.

This year’s theme focuses on the annual celebration of the high-quality, faith-based education the nation’s Catholic schools provide. It also highlights the recent launch of a new initiative — the National Standards and Benchmarks for Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools — to ensure consistently high standards at Catholic schools across the country.

The logo designed for the week illustrates a chart of steady growth culminating in the highest achievement of all, a cross representing the faith that underscores all Catholic education.

“Catholic schools have always aimed for academic excellence while fostering spiritual growth, but our Catholic Schools Week theme for 2013 draws special attention to our new national standards,” said Dr. Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association.

“Making the standards initiative the focus of our theme for the week is a great way to demonstrate our commitment to revitalizing Catholic education across the country to provide the best for students and families,” Ristau said.

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

The standards provide guidance on a range of practices that schools should include in their policies, including those related to mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, excellence and operational vitality. They were developed through a project led by the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness of Loyola University Chicago, Boston College and NCEA. “This is a tremendous opportunity to underscore the long-standing leadership of Catholic schools in maintaining and striving for the highest standards in providing an excellent education steeped in the traditions of the Catholic faith,” said Marie Powell, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The national Catholic Schools Week celebration became an annual event in 1974. The observance is a joint project of the NCEA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Individual dioceses and local Catholic elementary and secondary schools develop and promote their own CSW activities each year.

There are 132,656 private and public schools in the United States, according to Department of Education statistics. Of those, 6,980 are Catholic elementary or secondary schools.

What sets Catholic schools apart from the pack?

Three things, say educators, parents and community leaders: faith, academics and service.

• Faith — Children are taught not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY NCEA/USCCB

• Academics — which in Catholic schools are held to very high standards —help each child reach his or her potential.

• Service — the giving of one’s time and effort to help others is taught both as an expression of faith and of good citizenship.

In Catholic schools, young people learn to question, to establish confidence in their own positive choices in life and to experience the sense of accomplishment stemming from individual achievement and responsibility. Take this opportunity during Catholic Schools Week to learn about Q Catholic schools in Queens.

— NCEA

EXCELLENCE IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION Accredited Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Religious Schools Section • Winter 2013

Ave Maria Catholic Academy AVE MARIA CATHOLIC ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT Inspired by the faithfulness of the Blessed Mother, Ave Maria Catholic Academy exists to provide an everlasting spiritual foundation and superior academic background for all of our students, who in time, will strengthen, enlighten and better our community, our Church, and our world.

158-20 101 Street Howard Beach, NY 11414 718-848-7440 www.avemariacatholicacademy.com

OPEN HOUSE: January 27, 2013 Please join us for Catholic Schools Week Mass at 12 Noon in School Hall Open House to follow 1:15 pm – 3:00 pm EARLY MORNING DROP - OFF AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

FULL-DAY & HALF-DAY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR NURSERY AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN

ACADEMIC AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS Nursery through 8th Grade • Strong Catholic Identity with Faith Formation • Full-Day and Half-Day programs - Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten • Early Morning Drop-Off and After-School Programs • Integrated Algebra I Regents Program in 8th Grade • Comprehensive Italian Language Program for Grades 1-8 • Art, Music and Physical Education Classes • Solely dedicated Science Lab and Media Center • Technology incorporated into all areas of study • SMARTBoard® Technology • Preparation for TACHS exam and NY State testing • Annual TerraNova assessment of student progress • Full-Time Nurse on Staff • Affiliated with CYO Sports • Hot Lunch Program • Upper/Lower Grade Buddy Programs

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW ADMISSIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING JANUARY 28, 2013 ©2013 M1P • OURL-060283

SQ page 25rev

SECTION

Archbishop Molloy High School, 83-53 Manton St., Briarwood, NY 11435. Program: Challenging college, preparatory curriculum with strong Advanced Placement program available at all grade levels.

Website: molloyhs.org. (718) 441-2100 Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, 56-25 92 St., Elmhurst, NY 11373. Program: Advancement Placement exams; college preparatory; four-year Honors Program; a d va n c e d R e g e n t s p r og r a m ; c o l l e g e c r e d i t p r og r a m . We b s i t e : c a t h e d r a l prepseminary.com. (718) 592-6800 Christ the King Regional High School, 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379. Program: Honors; Advanced Placement; Microsoft/IT Academy; College Aff iliation; Visual and Performing Arts.

Website: ctkny.org. (718) 366-7400 Holy Cross High School, 26-20 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358. Prog r a m : C o l l eg e p r e p c u r r i c u l u m ; Fr. Moreau Honors Prog ram; St. Brother A n d r e E n r i c h m e n t P r og r a m ; S c i e n c e R e s e a r c h P r og r a m ; H o l ly C r o s s T V; Sophomore Honors Program. Website: holycrosshs.org. (718) 886-7250

OPEN HOUSE

Monsignor McClancy High School, 71-06 31 Ave., East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Program: Academic College Prepatory; Honors Program; College Credit Programs (36 credits available), Athletics, Clubs, AP Program.

Website: msgrmclancy.org. (718) 898-3800

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Scholarships Available ACCREDITED BY MIDDLE STATES

• Religion Classes • Sacramental Preparation • High Academic Standards • Grades Pre-K to 8 • Full Pre-K (3 & 4-Year-Olds) and K • Reasonable Tuition • New York State Common Core Curriculum • Experienced and Dedicated Staff • Communal Prayers & Seasonal Liturgies • Spanish, Computer, Gym, Art, Library • Peer Tutoring • Paul Effman Music Band, Chorus

St. Agnes Academic High School, 13-20 124 St., College Point, NY 11356. Program: College Preparatory; Honors Program; Advanced Placement. Website: stagneshs.org. (718) 353-6276 St. Francis Preparatory School, 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd., Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Program: Strong Academic College Prepatory; 16 AP courses; 33 college credits offerings (99+ potential credits); Honor Courses in all four years; Advanced electives in art and music; four foreign languages; science research; 100+ extracurricular activities. Website: sfponline.org. (718) 423-8810 St. John’s Preparatory School, 21-21 Crescent St., Astoria, NY 11105. Program: Baccalaureate program with St. John’s University; Advanced Placement courses; Honors courses; religious retreat program. Website: stjohnsprepschool.org. (718) 721-7200

• Computer Laptops - SMARTBoards™ • Internet Accesss - All Classrooms • Extensive Science Lab & Gym Equipment • Aquinas Program, Remediation Program • Clubs-Yearbook, Newspaper, Drama, Radio Station & School Dances • Hot Lunch & Breakfast Programs • CYO Sports Program, Soccer • Boys & Girls Scouts • School Bus or Metrocard if Eligible • Title 1 and In-House Special Ed • School Nurse

NEW YORK STATE TESTING

HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE

Outstanding New York State Wide Testing results in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science

All members of the 2011 - 2012 graduating class were accepted to Catholic High Schools and to Specialized Public Schools.

©2013 M1P • OLPH-060301

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC ACADEMY

The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens supports nine high schools in the borough of Queens. Though the schools have a Catholic Christian mission, they are open to students of all faiths.

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

QUEENS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS

REGISTRATION* Pre-K Age 3, Pre-K Age 4, Kindergarten thru 7th Grade Please call our office to learn the dates, times, documents to bring and registration fees. *Once the official time period for registration is complete, we will continue (by appointment) till June 2013 pending seat availability.

111-10 115 ST., SOUTH OZONE PARK • 718-843-4184 TH

The Mary Louis Academy, 176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432. Program: College prepartory. Advanced placement program. Website: tmla.org. (718) 297-2120

www.olphcatholicacademy.org

Saint Elizabeth Catholic Academy

Divine Mercy

94-01 85th Street • Ozone Park, NY 11416 • 718-641-6990

CATHOLIC ACADEMY

stelizabeth85@yahoo.com • www.teacherweb.com/NY/SES/11416

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS: • Chess Club • Band • Drama Club • Aerobic Dance Club • Arts & Crafts Club (on Saturdays) • Aquinas Club • Children’s Choir • Project Empower

OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, January 27 • 12:00-1:30 pm REGISTRATION: Daily 9:00-11:00 am & 12:00-1:30 pm Come meet our teachers and administration.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. William G. Ferguson, Principal 718-641-6990

Give Your Child The Most Important Gift of All

A QUALITY EDUCATION

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, January 27, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Call for an appointment to visit the school.

Member – Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools WE OFFER Early Childhood – Grade 8 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dedicated and Qualified Faculty and Staff Education in a Safe and Structured Environment Middle States Member Lifelong Christian Values – Daily Religion Classes Grades N – 8 FULL DAYS (M-F) Early Morning Drop Off 7:30 am Internet Access in Classrooms Classes with Laptop & Plato Learning Stations Title I Reading and Math Classes Family Tuition Rates Available School Lunch Program Bus Transportation (if eligible) Afterschool Program with Homework Assistance until 6 pm Boys and Girls Basketball Program Band Baton Twirling Collaboration with St. John’s University

Divine Mercy Catholic Academy 101-60 92nd Street, Ozone Park, NY 11416 Phone (718) 845-3074 Fax (718) 845-5068 Visit our website: www.dmcacademy.com

Nursery – Preschool Kindergarten

3 & 4 Year-Old Program FULL DAY 8:00 am - 2:00 pm HALF DAY 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Kindergarten FULL DAY 8:00 am – 2:10 pm AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AVAILABLE 2:15 – 6:00 pm

Religious Schools Section • Winter 2013

• Early drop-off program available • Free Universal Pre-K available • Full-day Pre-K for 3 & 4 year-olds • Kg-Grade 8 offers a full Academic Program • After-School Program daily 2:45-6:00 pm • Integrated Algebra I and Earth Science Regents Programs for qualified 7th & 8th grade students • Many Scholarships Available • After-School Enrichment Programs • Title I Remedial Programs Resource Room & Speech Available • Student Council • Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish & Computer Classes for All Students • School Guidance Counselors and Full-time Nurse on Premises • Hot Lunch Program

©2013 M1P • STAI-060265

©2013 M1P • SELI-060264

Middle States Accreditation • Excellence in Education since 1885

Established in 1904 by the Montfort Fathers and the Daughters of Wisdom

St. Mary Gate of Heaven School St. Mary Gate of Heaven School has been educating the students of Ozone Park and Richmond Hill for over one hundred years.

We are committed to providing our children with a quality education in a safe and caring environment.

School tours and information will be provided. Come meet students, school parents, and teachers and learn about S.M.G.H.

QUEENS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

We Proudly Offer: • Core Curriculum of Religion, Reading, Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies • SMARTBoards™ in our classrooms • Early Morning Drop-off and After-School Programs • Art Program • A Dedicated and Experienced Faculty • Title I Guidance and Instruction in Reading and Math • Paul Effman Studios offers Band Instruction for Grades 3-8 • Physical Education Program in our Spacious Gymnasium • Financial Aid available to those who qualify!

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE Sunday, January 27, 2013 10:00 am to 1:00 pm 104-06 101st Ave., Ozone Park, NY 11416

718-846-0689

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, NS DECISthIO e right Choosing r High School fo p ember is S pt next Se not easy . . .

www.smgh.org

Find Yourself . . . Be Yourself . . .

Become a St. Agnes Student St. Agnes is a small, all-girls catholics college all-girls Catholic college preparatory school where you will be known by name and appreciated n ffor your personal ability and talent. a • Increased college credit courses and AP courses.

Religious Schools Section • Winter 2013

• Honors program in every area of the curriculum.

• SAT Prep Course in conjunction with the boys from Holy Cross HS. College • On-site Colle Program.

Admission P

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, January 2 6:00 pm-7 4 :30 p

m

Who should Attend?

Research Program • Science Res in conjunction conjunctio with the University of Albany allowing stud students to earn up to twelve college credits.

8th Graders making their final decision about High School for next September and just received their acceptance letters from St. Agnes.

• Competitive teams in just about every sport.

Unable to take the TACHS exam?

Come to our open house and see for yourself the quality and warmth of our school. Make an appointment then to have a buddy day at the school.

• Championship Championsh cheerleading team, dance tteam, step team, photography club, Zumba club, just to n name a few.

• Affiliation with wit the New York Q Hospital of Queens student volunteer program.

13-20 124th Street College Point, NY 11356 718.353.6276 www.stagneshs.org

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS SECTION

©2013 M1P • SAIN-060266

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 26

SQ page 26rev

Transfer Students are Welcome . . . come and receive all the information you need to make this very important decision.

Can’t come on Jan. 24th - call and make an appointment and you will be given time for a tour and have all of your questions answered.

Seeing St. Agnes is loving St. Agnes.

STAG-060305

Holy Child Jesus School, 111-02 86th Ave., Richmond Hill NY 11418 Holy Family School, 74-15 175 St., Fresh Meadows NY 11366 Holy Trinity School, 14-45 143 St., Whitestone NY 11357 Immaculate Conception School, 179-14 Dalny Road, Jamaica NY 11432 Immaculate Conception School, 21-63 29 St., Astoria NY 11105 Incarnation School, 89-15 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Queens Village NY 11427 Most Precious Blood School, 32-52 37 St., Long Island City NY 11103 Our Lady of Fatima School, 25-38 80 St., Jackson Heights NY 11370 Our Lady of Hope School, 61-21 71 St., Middle Village NY 11379 Our Lady of Lourdes School, 92-80 220 St., Queens Village NY 11428 Our Lady of Mercy School, 70-25 Kessel St., Forest Hills NY 11375 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, 111-10 115th St., S. Ozone Park NY 11420 Our Lady of Sorrows School, 35-34 105 St., Corona NY 11368 Our Lady of the Angelus School, 98-05 63 Drive, Rego Park NY 11374 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, 34-45 202 St., Bayside NY 11361 Our Lady of the Snows School, 79-33 258 St., Floral Park NY 11004 Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, 72-55 Austin St., Forest Hills NY 11375 Resurrection Ascension School, 85-25 61 Road, Rego Park NY 11374 Sacred Heart School, 216-01 38 Ave., Bayside NY 11361 Sacred Heart School, 115-50 221 St., Cambria Heights NY 11411 Sacred Heart School, 84-05 78 Ave., East Glendale NY 11385 St. Adalbert School, 52-17 83 St., Elmhurst NY 11373 St. Andrew Avellino School, 35-50 158 St., Flushing NY 11358 St. Bartholomew School, 44-15 Judge St., Elmhurst NY 11373 St. Camillus School, 185 Beach 99 St., Rockaway Beach NY 11694 St. Clare Catholic Academy, 137-25 Brookville Boulevard, Rosedale NY 11422 St. Fidelis School, 124-06 14 Ave., College Point NY 11356 St. Francis de Sales School, 219 Beach 129 St., Belle Harbor NY 11694 St. Francis of Assisi School, 21-18 46 St., Astoria NY 11105 St. Gregory the Great School, 244-44 87 Ave., Bellerose NY 11426 St. Helen School, 83-09 157 Ave., Howard Beach NY 11414 St. Joan of Arc School, 35-27 82 St., Jackson Heights NY 11372 St. Joseph Catholic Academy, 28-46 44 St., Long Island City NY 11103 St. Kevin School, 45-50 195 St., Flushing NY 11358 St. Leo School, 104-19 49 Ave., Corona NY 11368 St. Lukes School, 16-01 150 Place, Whitestone NY 11357 St. Margaret School, 66-10 80 St., Middle Village NY 11379 St. Mary Gate of Heaven School, 104-06 101 Ave., Ozone Park NY 11416 St. Matthias School, 58-25 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood NY 11385 St. Mel School, 154-24 26 Ave., Flushing NY 11354 Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Academy, 146-28 Jasmine Ave., Flushing, NY 11355 St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, 80-22 Parsons Boulevard, Jamaica NY 11432 St. Pancras School, 68-20 Myrtle Ave., Glendale NY 11385 St. Robert Bellarmine School, 56-10 214 St., Bayside NY 11364 St. Rose of Lima School, 154 Beach 84 St., Rockaway Beach NY 11693 St. Sebastian School, 39-76 58 St., Woodside NY 11377 St. Stanislaus Kostka School, 61-17 Grand Ave., Maspeth NY 11378 Our Lady’s Catholic Academy at St. Teresa of Avila, 109-55 128 St., South Ozone Park NY 11420 St. Thomas the Apostle School, 87-49 87 St., Woodhaven NY 11421 Saints Joachim and Anne School, 218-19 105 Ave., Queens Village NY 11429 Ave Maria Catholic Academy, 158-20 101 St., Howard Beach NY 11414 Divine Mercy Catholic Academy, 101-60 92 St., Ozone Park, NY 11416 Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy, 45-11 245 St., Douglaston NY 11362; 56-10 214 St., Bayside NY 11364 Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Academy at St. Michael, 136-58 41 Ave., Flushing 11355 Notre Dame Catholic Academy of Ridgewood, 62-22 61 St., Ridgewood NY 11385 Our Lady’s Catholic Academy at St. Anthony, 109-55 128 St., South Ozone Park, NY 11420 St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy, 94-01 85 St., Ozone Park NY 11416

C M SQ page 27 Y K Page 27 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

The benefits of a Catholic education by the numbers A Catholic education is one of the most important investments you can SECTION make in your child’s future. Catholic schools support you — the parents and guardians — in forming morals, values, character, responsibility and academic achievement. Catholic high schools make a difference. • Scholarships awarded to students in the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens and Archdiocese of New York exceed $350 million. • An average of 96 percent of Catholic high school students in these dioceses go on to higher education. • The graduation rate at each Catholic high school in these dioceses is 95 to 98 percent. • The attendance rate at each Catholic high school is 95 to 98 percent. • 100 percent of Catholic school students perform some form of community service. • More than 80 percent of the students in Catholic high schools take advanced courses beyond the required core courses in the arts, foreign language, literature, social studies, mathematics and science. • Catholic schools — whether small,

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

medium-sized, or large — offer an education that is personal; teachers know their students, their strengths and weaknesses and their learning styles. • All of the schools have programs for tutoring, extra-help or study skills. • All Catholic high schools have Advanced Placement courses and programs for college credit with local colleges and universities. • All of the Catholic high schools are safe places for children to learn; there are security systems and there are rigorous disciplinary and no-tolerance policies Q regarding violence and bullying. — TACHS

Hands-on, Minds-on Education The Mary Louis Academy 176-21 Wexford Terrace Jamaica Estates, NY t XXX UNMB PSH MALO-060204

SOURCE: U.S. CHARACTERISTICS OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES/INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES, NCES

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, NY Accredited by the New York State Board of Regents & The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

ST. FRANCIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Summer camps & enrichment programs available for ages 8 - 14.

For more information please visit us at sfponline.org

ST. FRANCIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd. Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 (718) 423-8810 www.sfponline.org STFR-060203

Religious Schools Section • Winter 2013

Tours available days, nights & weekends.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 28

C M SQ page 28 Y K

Health & Fitness

Unusually strong flu season hits Queens

by Joseph Orovic Assistant Managing/Online Editor

The season for fevers, aches, coughs, sneezes and the occasional dizzy spell is upon us, as this year’s potent and highly communicable strain of the influenza virus hit New York with an unusual fury.

“It has been a particularly bad season so far. We forget previous seasons because the last couple were pretty mild,” said Dr. Diane Sixsmith, chairwoman of New York Hospital Queens’ emergency department.

This year’s variation of the virus has hit sooner than usual, coming on strong around the holiday season and approaching its peak, Sixsmith said. The weather isn’t helping either.

“One of the things that’s making it a little different, this is such a mild winter, people are out and about more,” she said. “Viruses otherwise become more dormant in colder weather.”

There have been 19,128 cases of influenza reported in the state this season, more than the 4,404 found in laboratory tests during the entire 2011-2012 season.

To date, the virus has led to 2,884 hospitalizations, compared to the 1,169 seen all of last season. It has also caused the death of two children in the state, and 18 across the country, according to Gov. Cuomo’s office. The virus has wreaked enough havoc to force the

governor to declare a public health emergency.

New York Hospital Queens has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms from last season, accounting for an extra 50 to 100 emergency room visits per day, Sixsmith said. The facility has had to expand its emergency room’s capacity, with added beds and increased staff.

“It really does look like one of these oldtime medical wards in the 1920s, so you have a bunch of stretchers,” Sixsmith said.

The H3N2 Influenza A strain of the virus has been found in 906 specimens submitted for testing, representing 23 percent of all tested, according to the city’s Department of Health. The less-ghastly B strain of the virus was found in 10 percent of all specimens submitted.

The virus is most problematic for children and the elderly, as well as those with chronic diseases. Some of the borough’s senior centers are feeling the effects as well.

The virus has cost the Ridgewood Older Adult Center in attendance, according to its executive director, Jacqueline Eradiri.

“So many are coming down with it, or they haven’t gotten it but they’re afraid of getting it,” she said.

The center already held an immunization event for seniors to come in and get their shot. It’s hosting a second on Jan. 23 due to the epidemic. It’s also encouraging the

seniors to cover their mouths when sneezing, wash their hands regularly and providing them with a figurative ocean of hand sanitizer. “[The seniors are] seeing how serious it is and being proactive about it,” said Eradiri, adding it’s still important for the elderly to get out of the house.

“Rather than staying home and barricading yourself in, why don’t you come out and experience civilization? Instead of sitting at home and watching ‘The Price is Right.’”

The Centers for Disease Control suggests everyone, regardless of age or physical wellbeing, get a flu shot as soon as possible.

If you’re among the naysayers who doubt the vaccine’s efficacy, note all Influenza A viruses tested to date have matched the strain used in the vaccine.

And no, it’s not too late.

The state Department of Health offers a hotline to find a nearby vaccine provider, (800) 522-5006.

Though the virus is particularly aggressive, Sixsmith recommends the standard recovery of fluids and bed rest. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help lower the fever.

And don’t bother looking for any over-thecounter magic bullet. Standard remedies at your pharmacy will not help you recover sooner, nor are they strong enough to completely mitigate the flu’s symptoms.

Mayor Bloomberg getting his flu shot in PHOTO COURTESY NYC October.

Those with flu-like symptoms should call their doctor before heading to the emergency room. Those with a fever of 103 or more, shortness of breath, diff iculty walking, severe headaches or confusion should see a doctor, Sixsmith said. Just don’t panic.

“This is not a particularly deadly flu,” she said. “It doesn’t seem to be causing the severe symptoms we saw with the rare cases Q of the swine flu.”

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New Year’s resolutions may have varying degrees of success, but even those people who find it difficult to keep their resolutions year after year still tend to make a new resolution once the hour of midnight chimes. Though it may seem as though resolutions are made to be broken, resolutions can be the f irst step many people take toward a happier and healthier life, making them more than just a silly annual exercise in empty promises.

A common hurdle many people must clear when making a New Employing the buddy system is one way to improve your chances of Year’s resolution is choos- making your New Year’s resolution a success. ing the resolution itself.

• Employ the buddy system. Resolutions Resolving to become a millionaire in the next 12 months is likely unrealistic, as is taking on don’t have to be a one-person show. In fact, the same resolution you made last year that your resolution may prove easier to keep if proved unsuccessful. Before making a New you can find someone to go along for the ride.

Year’s resolution this year, consider the fol- For instance, if you have resolved to quit lowing tips aimed at helping you choose a smoking, find a friend who also smokes and commit to your resolution together. You can resolution that has a chance to be successful.

• Make it something you’re likely to lean on each other when times get tough and enjoy. Resolving to lose weight is perhaps the serve as each other’s watchdog. If you resolve most popular New Year’s resolution every year. to learn a foreign language in the year ahead, Though there’s no way to measure how many find a friend to enroll in a class with you. You people make this resolution and stick with it, might commit to visiting a foreign country it’s safe to assume many people fall short of where this language is spoken at the end of their weight-loss goal. That’s because the steps the year if both of you have successfully fulpeople must take to lose weight are not always filled your resolutions.

• Develop a plan before making any comeasy to embrace. Many people join a gym in January so they can fully commit to their reso- mitments. Before you commit to a resolution, lutions to lose weight. But joining a gym isn’t develop a plan as to how you’re going to always the answer, as it’s easy to become make that resolution a success and determine intimidated at a gym where the majority of if this plan is realistic. For example, if you your fellow members are already in great resolve to lose weight, part of your plan shape. But this doesn’t mean you should shy should include an exercise regimen and any away from your resolution. Instead, look for dietary changes. Once you have laid out this ways to make your resolution enjoyable so plan, check it out with your doctor and then you’re more likely to stick with it. If you have examine it to see how likely you are to stick resolved to lose weight but a gym isn’t for with it.

If your plan includes waking up at 6 a.m. you, sign up for a dance class or join a cycling group. There’s more than one way to commit every morning to workout and you know wakto a given resolution, and finding the most ing up that early is problematic for you, then enjoyable way to tackle your resolution is you don’t have to abandon the resolution, but you might want to develop a new plan that’s often the easiest way to make it a success.

• Make it a realistic goal. Your resolution more likely to be successful. The plan should should be realistic. If not, the chances of be in place before you make your resolution. being successful are slim. For example, If you simply cannot map out a plan that’s resolving to move overseas by the end of this amenable to your schedule, then this resoluyear may be a great goal, but if you have no tion might prove very difficult to keep and job prospects overseas or too many commit- you might want to explore another option.

Many people find their New Year’s resoluments at home, then this goal is not realistic and you probably won’t reach your goal. tions have fallen by the wayside come the end However, this doesn’t mean you have to aban- of January. But those serious about making a don your dream of moving overseas. Instead, change can take steps to ensure their resoluQ resolve to make changes that make your tions are a success.

— Metro Creative Connection desire to live overseas more realistic.

SQ page 31 Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Health & Fitness

‘Heart disease’ describes numerous conditions Few people are unaware of heart disease and its potentially devastating effects. But many people may not know that the term “heart disease” is a blanket term used to describe several health problems related to the heart.

According to the World Health Organization, ischaemic heart disease, which is characterized by a reduced blood supply to the heart, is the leading cause of death across the globe. Though many conditions are characterized as ischaemic heart disease, many others are not, and the WHO notes that other heart-related conditions, including stroke, are also among the top 10 most deadly diseases in the world. The following is a rundown of some of the more common heartrelated conditions, many of which can be prevented if men and women make the right lifestyle choices.

• Angina — Angina occurs when a person has chest pain or discomfort around his or her heart because the muscle is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina can be a byproduct of elevated levels of stress or overexertion and may even be caused by clogged arteries.

All cases of angina are not the same.

Stable angina is the most common form, and usually follows a pattern that is common among patients. Unstable angi-

na is less predictable, while variant angina, the rarest form of the condition, occurs while a person is at rest. Rest and medicine are at the root of treating angina, which is more easily treated once its cause has been determined.

• Atherosclerosis — Atherosclerosis is characterized by the buildup of fatty materials in the arterial walls. This fatty material can harden over time, restricting blood flow and resulting in calcium deposits. Daily exercise and a healthy diet void of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods are two ways to prevent or treat atherosclerosis.

• Cardiac arrest — Cardiac arrest is a culmination of several heart conditions, including angina and atherosclerosis. Also known as a heart attack, cardiac arrest occurs when blood and oxygen are unable to reach the heart. Chest discomfort; discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck or jaw; shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort; and nausea or lightheadedness may all be indicators that a person is going into cardiac arrest.

• Hypertension — Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a relatively common heart condition. Nearly every adult has likely received a blood

pressure reading at one point in his or her life. That reading measures the systolic pressure, which is the pressure created when the heart beats, and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the heart when it is at rest.

A blood pressure above 120 over 80 is generally considered high, and might be caused by salt and water levels in the body and the condition of the body’s kidneys, nervous system and blood vessels, as well as the body’s hormone levels.

Treating hypertension is relatively simple, as a doctor will typically recommend some dietary changes and may even prescribe medication for those patients with especially high blood pressure.

• Stroke— Stroke occurs when the blood supply to any part of the brain is interrupted. Potentially deadly, stroke can cause paralysis as well. Trouble speaking, loss of coordination and trouble moving limbs may be indicative of stroke, which is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate medical help. The longer a person goes between the onset of a stroke and seeking treatment often determines the severity of the consequences.

More information on heart disease is Q available on the web at heart.org.

— Metro Creative Connection

Daily exercise is one way men and women can prevent the onset of heart disease.

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SQ page 32

Health & Fitness Skin Cancer Treatment without surgery: Cut-less Dermatology According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one person dies from skin cancer every hour in the United States — a good reason why ever yone should schedule regular skin examinations. But you may ask, how do dermatologists know when a skin growth or mole needs to be removed?

In the past, every worrisome skin lesion required a biopsy, meaning a small piece of tissue was surgically removed and sent to a Dr. Orit Markowitz PHOTO COURTESY MOUNT SINAI pathology laboratory. If the MEDICAL CENTER biopsy showed cancer, additional surger y was needed. Even today, surgical biopsy and removal continues to be the standard of care for skin cancer. Fortunately, we have newer techniques that enable us to not only catch skin cancers earlier but also to help us prevent unnecessary biopsies. Total body photography, digital dermoscopy mole monitoring as well as handheld dermoscopy lesion evaluation are some examples of this vital technology. Dr. Orit Markowitz speaks around the globe on these topics and each year directs the Mount Sinai Greater NY Dermoscopy course for dermatologists in the New York and

New Jersey area who are trying to hone in on these new important diagnostic tools.

How we approach skin biopsies and cancer surgery is therefore changing for the better. There are even newer devices being developed each year and Dr. Markowitz is at the forefront. An example of the most recent laser tool is called Optical Coherence Tomog raphy (OCT). Dr. Markowitz, a pioneer in OCT research, recognizes its potential to eliminate the need for surgery in many cases.

Dr. Markowitz is the Director of Pigmented Lesions and Skin Cancer at Mount Sinai, and she is also the newly appointed President of the International Optical Coherence Tomography Society.

“An important component of OCT is the laser’s ability to take live black and white pictures of deeper skin layers. By combining this technology with other lasers, I am discovering successful ways to both diagnose and treat skin cancer bloodlessly,” said Dr. Markowitz. The earlier a skin cancer is caught, the better the prognosis and outcome. Dr. Markowitz, through the use of nonablative lasers, has been able to successfully treat — without cutting — both early and even more advanced non-melanoma skin cancers. Non-melanoma skin cancers are not as deadly as melanoma but they are the most common type of cancer and frequently occur in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face. The possibility of using noninvasive lasers to both diagnose and treat without cutting is very appealing.

Among the advantages of OCT are improved comf o r t , g r e a t e r c o nve n i e n c e a n d l e s s s c a r r i n g . D r.

Markowitz’s research has enabled Mount Sinai to become the country’s leading center for the development and use of OCT. According to Dr. Markowitz, “I’ve also found OCT to be useful for benign skin growths, thus preventing the need for unnecessary biopsies.” She notes some examples: harmless moles, warts, hemangiomas, seborrheic and actinic keratoses and cysts. Other dermatological diseases that can be diagnosed with OCT include psoriasis, scabies, and blistering diseases.

Dr. Markowitz currently offers OCT and other noninvasive diagnostic techniques to patients at the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice.

For more helpful tips from Mount Sinai dermatologists, visit the Faculty Practice website: http://www.mountsinaifpa.org/patient-care/practices/dermatology and view the seasonable Skin Health Newsletter publication. Q

Orit Markowitz, M.D. Assistant Professor of Dermatology Director, Pigmented Lesions and Skin Cancer Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice www.mssm.edu/markowitz Mount Sinai Medical Center 5 East 98th St., 5th floor New York, NY 10029-6189 For Appointment: Tel: (212) 241-9728 www.MountSinaiDermatology.com

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David A. Kriegel, MD Associate Clinical Professor, Dermatology Director, Dermatologic and Mohs Surgery

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For the latest news visit qchron.com

Doctors look for swelling or bad teeth as telltale signs of prescription drug abuse, Lewis Nelson, professor of emergency medicine at New York University, said on Thursday at Elmhurst Hospital, “but usually it’s hard to tell.”

To help doctors combat addiction, which Mayor Bloomberg calls a serious and growing problem, the city is asking emergency rooms to comply with opioid painkiller prescription guidelines released on Thursday.

“Prescription drug addiction has increased alarmingly,” Bloomberg said. “There’s too many prescripMayor Bloomberg announced emergency room voluntary tions out there.”

Emergency room doctors pre- guidelines for prescribing painkillers. PHOTO BY JOSEY BARTLETT scribe 800,000 doses of opioid painkillers each year, according to the 400 patients at Creedmoor Treatment Cenmayor’s task force on prescription ter in Queens Village were admitted as opioid dependents, whether heroin or Oxypainkiller abuse.

The panel has no data on how many opi- Contin.

Citywide trips to city emergency rooms oid painkiller prescriptions nonemergency room doctors dole out. Doctors in Queens because of overdoses on painkillers like in 2009 wrote close to 400,000 prescrip- Vicodin and OxyContin nearly tripled from tions according to a report released in May 2004 to 2010, according to a repor t 2011 by the city Department of Health and released by the task force. The numbers rose from 55 visits per 100,000 New YorkMental Hygiene.

The city requests doctors not to pre- ers to 143.

Three out of four people abusing scribe long-acting opioids at all, nor prescribe other opioid painkillers for more painkillers get them from friend’s and family than three days. The guidelines also say member’s leftover prescriptions, Farley said “Get rid of the extra by flushing it down emergency room doctors should not refill the toilet,” Farley said. “It’s heroin in pill lost, stolen or destroyed prescriptions.

The city does not have regulatory juris- form.”

Addiction to these drugs starts as early diction over the medical industr y to demand that hospitals adhere to these as 12 years old and can lead to crimes, guidelines, Health Commissioner Thomas Bloomberg said. The city’s special narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan said the Farley said, but it is assumed most will.

“There is this misnomer that these things June 2011 quadruple homicide at a Long are safe,” Staten Island District Attorney Island pharmacy linked back to a clinic Dan Donovan said. “People who secure with several known prescription dr ug their weapons or lock their liquor cabinets addicts and eventually the suspect was do not take care of their prescription drugs.” identified.

“Our recent prosecutions have highStaten Island has nearly double the rate of fatalities from prescription drug over- lighted the connections between opioid doses compared to other boroughs, Dono- addiction and criminal activity. Painkillers generate huge prof its for drug dealers, van added.

In Queens, hospitals reported that over- from street sellers to unscrupulous medical doses of prescription pills took 28 lives in professionals,” Brennan said.

The task force announced on Thursday 2009. During the same year 28 people died from overdoses in Staten Island as well, but the creation of NYC RxStat, a database the borough’s population is about a fifth of where city, state and federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administhe population of Queens.

However, as with all boroughs prescrip- tration will share information that meation drug use still poses an issue. The most sures prescription painkiller abuse. The prescription dr ug fatalities in Queens hope is to create strategies and identify occurred in Far Rockaway, which ranks in trends, according to a task force summary.

“NYC RxStat is an excellent tool that will the city’s top five list for unintentional opiQ oid poisoning deaths. In 2011 most of the enhance our investigation,” Brennan.

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

City trying to fight painkiller abuse

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 34

SQ page 34

USUAL

Goldfeder eyes tighter Vallone leads the (green) rules for insurance cos.

Industry opposes his post-Sandy bills paper chase for beep POLITICS AS

by Peter C. Mastrosimone

by Peter C. Mastrosimone

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

A new “Homeowners Bill of Rights” strengthening the hands of residents when dealing with insurance companies would be established statewide under legislation announced Monday by Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway).

Inspired by the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and the experiences homeowners have had with insurance companies since then, the measure would require firms to provide what Goldfeder called detailed notices revealing: • coverage in case of catastrophes; • how and when to file claims; • consumers’ rights when claims are denied or settlements are insufficient; and • how and where to get coverage for catastrophic events.

A second bill would reduce the time insurers have to investigate and rule on claims, and to pay claims.

“It has been over two months since Sandy ripped through our community and while rate-paying residents have been working

In the 2013 race for Borough Hall, it’s City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria) by a mile so far — when it comes to fundraising.

In the first campaign finance reports filed for this year’s city elections, Vallone reported having raised $1,050,646.

The former prosecutor and son of former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. has spent about 20 percent of that total, or $201,692, according to Campaign Finance Board records posted online.

The next closest candidate was Melinda Katz, the former councilwoman and assemblywoman from Forest Hills, who reported raising about a third of Vallone’s total, $299,496, and spending $52,467.

Placing third in the crowded f ield when it comes to bringing in the money was state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst), who filed a total of $134,680 in contributions — less than half what Katz has raised — and $62,689 in expenditures.

In fourth place is Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), leader of the Queens delegation to the City Council.

Comrie has raised $61,151 while spending $34,673.

Fifth place goes to Barry Grodenchik, the former deputy borough president under Helen Marshall, who’ll be stepping down at the end of the year. Grodenchik has brought in $56,773 and spent $13,896.

Last among the Borough Hall hopefuls is state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who has raised $6,857 and spent $275.

Fundraising for mayor The amounts raised by the candidates running for mayor are of course far larger — at least for some of the hopefuls.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn (DManhattan) has a commanding lead, having brought in $6,195,202 and spent $912,227.

Quinn’s closest rival is fellow Democrat and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who reported raising $3,543,923.

Just behind de Blasio is Comptroller John Liu, also a Democrat, who has raised $3,124,089 while spending $1,096,778.

Bill Thompson Jr., the former city comptroller and 2009 Democratic opponent of Mayor Bloomberg, comes in fourth place, with $2,449,312 on the revenue side and $604,999 on the expenditure side.

Next in line is former Bronx Borough President Adolpho Carrion, a Democrat who is seeking to run on the Republican

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. has raised far more money so far than any of his rivals FILE PHOTO for Queens borough president. line and has raised $1,032,259 while spending $154,516.

Right on Carrion’s tail is supermarket chain owner John Catsimatidis, a Republican, who reported bringing in an even $1,000,000 while sending out $3,811.

Next among the candidates is community newspaper publisher Tom Allon, who also switched from the Democratic to Republican parties to run for City Hall, and who has raised $359,697 and spent $352,255.

Next is Republican George McDonald, head of the nonprofit social-service Doe Fund, with $277,531 on the revenue side and $122,553 on the expenditure side.

Last among the candidates who have raised more than $100,000 to run for mayor is former Democratic Brooklyn Councilman Sal Albanese, who has brought in $134,615 and sent out $10,798.

Behind those candidates is a mix of also-rans who’ve raised as much as $14,000 and as little as $400.

The figures raised by two other people are also notable.

Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, the Forest Hills Democrat, is still listed as a candidate for mayor, and is shown to have raised $5,142,551 while spending $678,509.

And Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, a Democrat who had been a candidate for mayor but now is running for comptroller, reported bringing in $2,744,804 and sending out $458,975.

Election Day will be held less than 10 Q months from now.

hard to pick up the pieces and rebuild, it seems that insurers are not doing their part,” Goldfeder said. “We should not have to wait weeks, months or years for an insurance company to process, approve, and pay for claims that will help rebuild our homes, businesses and lives.”

The industry, which opposes the legislation as written, insists firms have performed well after the storm.

“The insurance industry has worked tirelessly to address an unprecedented number of claims filed in the wake of Sandy,” the president of the New York Insurance Association, Ellen Melchionni, said in a statement emailed to the Queens Chronicle Tuesday.

Adding that a state report shows that companies responded quickly and positively to policy holders, Melchionni continued, “The number of complaints has been less than 1 percent — out of the hundreds of thousands of claims received. This is a testament to the fact that insurance companies were prepared for this terrible storm and have done everything in their power to pay legitimate claims in an expedited manner.” Q

Upstate-downstate casinos continued from page 5 development in upstate New York,” Friedman said in a statement released only hours after the State of the State speech. “As an organization that sent nearly $300 million to the state education fund last year alone, we are enthusiastically supportive of any arrangement that benefits New York State’s schoolchildren.”

The idea to keep casinos out of the city got some support from Mayor Bloomberg, who said on Thursday that he supports the governor’s plan to build full casinos upstate, but was not sold on having them in the city.

“I think casino gambling is very regressive. The average person is going to lose,” he said at a press conference in Elmhurst on Thursday. “I’m not so sure it’s appropriate for New York City.”

But at a press conference on Thursday, Cuomo reiterated that his plan does not rule out full table gaming in New York City in the future, though the first full casinos would be upstate. He noted the city would have an advantage over the rest of the state if the bid was opened statewide. Under an agreement with the Legislature last year, seven casinos were approved with full casino gaming statewide, but in the State of the State speech, Cuomo said only up to three would be upstate.

“If there were going to be [a casino

with table games] in the city, that would be the option that most bidders would bid on,” he said, “We want to take that off the table.”

The governor did not specify where the upstate casinos would be located, though a number of full gaming casinos exist already in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area and in the Southern Tier on land owned by the Seneca Native-American tribe. Members of the tribe have expressed concern about new casinos competing with theirs. The Adirondacks, North Country — the area along the St. Lawrence Seaway across from Quebec — and Finger Lakes regions have been suggested for casino development, according to sources.

Goldfeder called the governor’s clarification “good news” and promised to work with the governor to bring table games to Resorts World.

Full casino gaming would require changing the state constitution. It would need to be approved by two successive Legislatures and then by voters by referendum. That means both the Assembly and Senate would have to pass the bills after two different elections. The amendment already passed both houses last session and is expected to be brought up again this year. If it is approved again, the issue would then go to Q the voters in November.

— Josey Bartlett contributed to this story.

SQ page 35

The Angelo Graci Republican Club will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m. in the Community Center of Christ Lutheran Church, located on the corner of 101 Avenue and 86 Street in Ozone Park.

Councilman Eric Ulrich will speak on what can we expect from the Council in 2013. For more information, contact Bernard Solow, president at (718)Q 738-3736.

Blood drive set The New York Blood Center will be hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 23 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at the Howard Beach Jewish Center, 162-05 90 St. All types of blood are being accepted due to a shortage. For more information call Steven Lange (718) 514-3223. Q

Mardi Gras School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center will hold a Mardi Gras Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Roman View Catering, 160-05 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach.

Tickets are $65 per person and the evening includes dinner, open bar and fun. RSVP by Friday, Feb. 1. Call (718) 738-0588 or email ssndec@aol.com for Q more information.

DOE backs Cuomo education plan Walcott says some ideas already implemented in city

by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

Gov. Cuomo outlined a series of ideas to improve education in New York in his State of the State address last Wednesday, including more class time, universal pre-kindergarten, better teacher qualifications and base pay and community schools that offer education plus community services. And the ideas have received endorsements from Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.

The proposals outlined in the speech were also proposed by a commission dedicated to education reform that he put together last year.

He outlined the need for more in-class time, noting other countries send their children to school for longer.

“The advantages of more education are clear,” Cuomo said. “When you look internationally, countries that are beating us educated their children more.”

He suggested the possibility of longer school days — past 3 p.m. — a longer school year, or a combination of both.

The governor called for universal prekindergarten statewide, arguing that students who start school earlier tend to do better in later grades. He also outlined his proposals for better teachers, including paying $15,000 in extra income to high-performing “master teachers” who mentor newer ones and mak-

ing would-be teachers pass a special exam for teachers similar to bar exams taken by prospective lawyers.

“I applaud Gov. Cuomo for the forward-looking education proposals he outlined in his State of the State address.”

— Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott

Cuomo also proposed the idea of “community schools,” which are schools that serve a neighborhood in more ways than just as an institution of learning, but also offer a wide range of other services needed in more depressed areas.

“A school in a poorer district has a totally different set of needs,” Cuomo said. “We want to create community schools in distressed communities, where that community school becomes the hub of all the services that that children and family need to survive.

It’s not about just providing an education; it’s about healthcare, nutrition, family counseling, a medical clinic.”

Walcott gave the governor a thumbs up for his proposals, noting that some of the ideas have already been implemented successfully in city schools.

“I applaud Gov. Cuomo for the forwardlooking education proposals he outlined in his State of the State address,” Walcott said.

“New York City has observed gains through our work to extend the school day and expand access to early education, as well as our commitment to recruiting excellent teachers by raising base salaries. The proposals the governor outlined today will build on these gains, and I look forward to working with him and our leaders in Albany this legislative session.”

Cuomo also proposed another round of grants for the SUNY2020 program. The grants would go to two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state university system. He also called for grants for CUNY as well.

The governor did not outline any means of funding his plans, however. Pre-kindergarten, higher teacher pay and community schools would add a significant cost to the state’s already bursting budget. The state government already provides around $20 billion Q annually to education.

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 36

SQ page 36

MLS, Mets donors not listed on Peralta filings

by Joseph Orovic Assistant Managing/Online Editor

Five individuals connected to contentious development projects in state Sen. Jose Peralta’s (D-East Elmhurst) district have donated to his borough president campaign, though his disclosures with the city’s Campaign Finance Board do not reveal the connection.

All told, two executive-level officials from the New York Mets and three from Major League Soccer contributed this month a total of $1,780 to Peralta’s campaign. They are listed by name but their employer and titles are not disclosed — as required by the CFB. Peralta’s campaign chalked up the missing information to a clerical error brought on by a tight Jan. 15 deadline. All five donations were made on Jan. 11, a day before the disclosure period ended.

“Our main concern was obviously getting the reports filed at the deadline,” said John Castellano, Peralta’s campaign coordinator. “It is a continuing process. We’re planning to get the information down as soon as possible.” He added the updated filings will reflect all missing employer information.

The donations come at a time when Queens residents and elected officials are considering the creation of a $350 million, 25,000-seat MLS stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, as well as a 1.4 million-square-foot shopping mall next to Citi Field to be built by the Mets’ parent company Sterling Equities.

The January donors with missing employment information include the Sterling Equities president Saul Katz and MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Peralta’s support is integral in the fruition of the mall and stadium; both proposals fall within the bounds of his district.

Also, he will face a vote in the state Senate to approve replacement parkland for the 10 to 13 acres MLS plans to alienate with its stadium, if it passes the city council first.

Castellano asserted the donations by the Mets and MLS will

State Sen. Jose Peralta speaks at a Major League Soccer Town PHOTO COURTESY MLS Hall. not influence Peralta’s stance regarding either project.

“His campaign for Queens borough president is not going to affect the way he legislates as a state senator,” he said. “While he is running, his responsibility right now is to the 13th District.

That’s his primary responsibility.”

Peralta has expressed his support for the MLS project on the condition that suitable and appropriate parkland is found. He even penned a column lauding the project’s benefits for another Queens weekly newspaper.

New bill adds fines to disaster zone crimes Would target fraud, looting offenses

by Domenick Rafter

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Associate Editor

If you commit the crime, you will do the time.

And if you commit one in a part of the city under a mandatory evacuation order, you’ll pay a pretty hefty fine too.

Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) joined with City Council Minority Leader James Oddo (R-Staten Island) to introduce a bill last week that would add a civil penalty to anyone convicted of fraud or property-related crimes under New York State law in an area that is under a mandatory evacuation order because of a natural or manmade disaster such as a hurricane.

Those convicted would face a $50,000 civil penalty on top of the sentences they receive for the crime or crimes.

“People who commit crimes in disaster areas are downright despicable and deserve to face the stiffest penalties under the law,” Ulrich said. “If passed, this bill would punish those who capitalize on others’ misfortune and act as a deterrent for

anyone who thinks they can get away with breaking the law.”

Those convicted of looting, graffititagging, arson, robbery and trespassing would face the additional penalty under the proposed legislation.

The bill would also target those convicted of fraud, including those who pretend to be law enforcement, emergency management or utility workers with the intent of defrauding a storm victim.

A number of looting offensives were reported in the Rockaways and in parts of Brooklyn under mandatory evacuation orders in the days after Hurricane Sandy.

Though there were early rumors of looting in Howard Beach, the NYPD said none of the reports panned out.

Though fraud was not widely reported in the wake of Sandy, there were a number of complaints to police about attempts to defraud storm victims by people pretending to be aid workers, law enforcement off icials and contractors during the cleanup and rebuilding Q process.

Four of the five contributions max out within the $320 limit required for donors categorized as “doing business with the city.” The designation caps contributions from individuals with a monetary interest in the outcome of decisions made by city officials, and are not subject to public matching funds, which will be doled out in August when ballots are set.

“The purpose is to reduce the potential for, and appearance of, corruption,” according to the CFB’s website. “Another term for ‘doing business’ contributions is ‘pay-to-play,’ which suggests that those wanting to do business with the city could use, or could appear to be using, campaign contributions to get city business.”

Had the Sterling Equities and MLS donors’ “employer” field been filled it, it would have read: • Saul Katz, President, Sterling Equities • Richard Wilpon, Senior Executive Vice President of Sterling Equities • Mark Abbott, President, Major League Soccer • Donald Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer • Brett Lashbrook, lobbyist, Major League Soccer Katz does not fall into the “doing business with the city” category, according to a city database which tracks. He donated $500.

Candidates are required to disclose the employer of nearly all individuals, with exceptions for the self-employed and retired, among others.

If properly amended, the missing employment information will not cost Peralta in penalties, which would be levied after the campaign is over.

“Campaigns are required to disclose full information about the groups and individuals who support them,” said CFB spokesman Matt Sollars in a statement. “This ensures voters can make an informed decision at the polls. The CFB reviews disclosures filed by each campaign and campaigns are given an Q opportunity to fix any problems before the election.”

Bus drivers union calls strike continued from page 12 “Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott continue to hide behind the Court of Appeals decision, which is inaccurate in their determination. It is not illegal for the EPPs to be in the bid, they merely need to prove a record as to why it should be in, and we have a 34-year record.”

Striking workers marched back and forth on the sidewalk near the bus depot as some passersby in cars and trucks — and even an MTA bus — honked in solidarity.

Cordiello said the union would not back down from having the EPPs included in the bids and were prepared to stay off the jobs for weeks if need be. “[Mayor Bloomberg] has put our backs to the wall,” he said. “We have no choice but to fight for our jobs.”

Since there are multiple unions representing bus drivers, most school buses are running. At least one union — Teamsters Local 854 — said it wouldn’t strike, but would not cross picket lines, according to a statement from its president, Dan Gatto.

“Our contracts do not allow for [us to strike] and we will honor those contracts,” the statement said. “However, we believe our contracts also allow us to honor picket lines from members of the ATU, and we will not cross their picket lines.”

Cordiello said a number of unions have supported the Local 1181 strike, but would not take their own job actions

because of their own internal decisions or contracts that ban a strike.

The city had been warning about the potential of a bus drivers strike since last month and put together a contingency plan for students and parents in the event of a strike, which the DOE then put into effect on Wednesday.

Students who are affected receive special MetroCards and an extra one is given to a parent of a student who is in second g rade or younger so the parent may accompany the child to school. Further, parents can be reimbursed for the cost of driving their kids to school at 55 cents per mile. If a parent chooses to send their children to school in a cab, the cost of the ride will also be reimbursed.

On Tuesday, the Taxi and Limousine Commission called on all cab drivers to be prepared for the strike.

“Due to the impending citywide school bus strike that could affect as many as 152,000 schoolchildren and their families, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission requests that all taxicab and for-hire service providers be prepared for additional service demand and take steps to ensure that as many drivers and vehicles are available and ready to address this anticipated additional demand,” The TLC said in a statement.

According to the DOT, the contingency plan will remain in place for as long as the Q strike continues.

Franciscans mark 750th anniversary of its discovery in Padua, Italy

by Michael Gannon Editor

Devotees of St. Anthony of Padua are expected to flock to New York City between Feb. 15 and 22 when Franciscan friars from the Basilica of St. Anthony bring a relic — or a preserved portion of a saint’s body — to the region.

The first stop in the city will be St. Adalbert’s Church in Elmhurst on Feb. 15. The church is run by the Franciscan Friars of St. Anthony. Tom Muscatello, a layman who works a St. Adalbert’s, said the friars have send out 9,000 invitations to devotees of the saint throughout the country.

St. Anthony was born to a well-to-do family in Portugal in 1195 and died in Padua, Italy in 1231 at age 35. He was considered a passionate and compelling preacher with expert knowledge of Scripture.

This year marks the 750th anniversary of the discovery of the relic — St. Anthony’s perfectly preserved tongue and larynx — in his casket by the man who later would become St. Bonaventure.

“In the United States, his devotees are numerous, and the largest concentration is here in the New York-Connecticut-New Jersey region,” Muscatello said. “Many of them would never be able to go to Padua. The friars from the basilica will bring the relic over for eight days. We expect all the services to be packed.”

The visiting friars, led by the Rev. Mario Conte from the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Italy, also are scheduled to be in California later this year and are attempting to arrange a series of celebrations in the Chicago area.

Conte, in a statement released by the Franciscans, said it was fitting that the parts of his body that allowed St. Anthony to speak miraculously remained preserved following his death.

“As a preacher and writer, Anthony was continuously praising the Lord with his tongue or his pen,” Conte said. “... because it was with his tongue that he converted so many people through the operation of the Holy Spirit ... Anthony’s tongue therefore represents the saint’s untiring and continuous efforts to know the Word of God, to measure his life against it, and to make it known to others through his preaching and teaching.”

Invited guests to the events in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan include the Rev. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York.

Representatives of DiMarzio and Dolan did not have information regarding their plans by press time.

The first celebration will take place at St. Adalbert’s at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15. The church is located at 52-89 83 St. in Elmhurst.

At 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 16 the relic will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Parish & St. Mary’s Church at 138 Montrose Ave. in Brooklyn, before coming back to St. Adalbert’s at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17.

Five separate services will take place between 12:15 and 6 p.m. on Feb. 19 at St. Francis of Assissi Church at 135 W. 31 St. in Manhattan. The next day the relic will move to St. John the Baptist Church and Friary at 210 W. 31 St. in Manhattan for services at 5:15 and 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 21, will see the relic at St. Crispin Friary/St. Adalbert’s Church at 420 E. 156 St. in the Bronx at 7 p.m.

The following day the friars will travel with it to St. Francis Friary at 500 Todt Hill Road in Staten Island.

The last celebration in the tristate area will take place on Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. at St. John Kanty Church at 49 Speer Ave. in Q Clifton, NJ.

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Because of the way values are calculated, even some homes impacted by Hurricane Sandy are seeing higher assessments, though the city says it is reviewing those and adjusting them accordingly.

The DOF and the Tax Commission are also holding meetings in each borough at which residents can question the assessment process. The Queens meetings will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 7 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, in both cases in room 213 at Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Q Blvd. in Kew Gardens.

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Assessed values of homes up The value of properties citywide rose 4.3 percent to $873.7 billion, according to new assessments for fiscal year 2014 announced on Monday by the Department of Finance.

The increases vary widely between different types of buildings and what impact they will have on individual property taxes is subject to various sections of the law and the ability of owners to appeal their assessments.

The total value of one-, two- and threefamily homes went up 3.6 percent, the total for co-ops and condos went up 6.6 percent and the total for commercial properties went up 8.6 percent.

is written for sinusitis. Keeping in mind that unnecessary and unneeded antibiotic use leads to more virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends that doctors only suspect a bacterial infection when sinusitis symptoms last ten days or more and do not improve. After that, a five-to-seven-day course of amoxicillin is often recommended.

Page 37 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

St. Anthony relic coming to Queens

©2013 M1P • WOOP-060122

SQ page 37

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 38

SQ page 38

Ice Jewelry: where the owners I HAVE OFTEN WALKED can relate to their clients Before LeFrak, homes

for vets (commies too?)

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

WW W.I CE JEW ELRY BUY ING SER VIC E.C OM

We Pay 15x Face Value For Coins 1964 and Below

Ice Jewelry Buying Service is located on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park.

PHOTO BY DENIS DECK

like it’s a one-shot deal and we don’t do that,” Elias said.

In addition to buying gold, silver, diamonds, Recently, a woman and her boyfriend went watches and coins, Ice Jewelry Buying also into an unassuming gold buying and cash loan offers instant cash loans for jewelry and eBay shop on Queens Boulevard. She had a $35 selling services. offer on her ring from another area shop, but Their cash loans program is straightforward and was looking to get a better deal. In what may simple. “It’s a perfect solution for someone who be viewed as poor business acumen, she told has a bill due and a check on the way,” Goldberg her new prospective buyer what her previous said. “But we make sure they have a game plan to offer was. Still, after examining her piece, he buy their jewelry back before the end of the term. offered her $1,600. He did so, as he says, Sometimes these are people’s heirlooms we’re “...because that’s what it was worth.” talking about and we respect that.”

The plight of the worker who’s hard-up for For those who are less Internet-savvy or cash in today’s economy is something that just don’t have the time, Ice Jewelry Buying Arthur Elias and Edward Goldberg can relate to offers a convenient eBay sales service. If what first-hand, having been laid off from their jobs a customer has isn’t an item that Ice Jewelry in jewelry manufacturing. They understand Buying would purchase, like a handbag or that people get into situations where they just antique furniture, they can help find a buyer need a little cash fast to make the bills and Ice on their eBay store. Elias consults with the Jewelry Buying Service hopes to help out in customer to find a target the most honest way they can. price and let the internet STORE HOURS “For this, I like to think we’re auctioneers handle the rest. doing the community a service,” MON.-FRI. 11am - 7pm For anyone who has Elias said. “We’re in the business SAT. 10am - 5pm ever dealt with the hassle of helping people who are in a SUN. by Appointment of selling and shipping tough spot. They can come to an item on eBay — all the our store and know that we can forms involved in setting up a user and paypal educate them on what they have and we’ll give account, the 10-15 percent fee that Ice them what their items are worth. When that Jewelry Buying charges to do all the work is woman told me her previous offer, it made me really a bargain deal. wonder how many times this happens — how “At the end of the day, I just want people many people who really need that money get to feel comfortable doing business with us. taken advantage of?”

People have this conception of gold buying Elias opened his Rego Park shop with stores as these slimy places with slimy Goldberg less than a year ago, and already people, and they’re typically right. But we they’re seeing a lot of repeat customers and want to be different. I don’t think it’s cool to referrals. This is a sign to them that they’re see someone buy a ring for $200 and put it in doing something right — the pawn business their counter for $800. We don’t do that.” typically deals in one-time transactions but Ice Jewelry Buying Services is located at Elias is determined to break that mold, 98-30 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. Hours of building a reputation on trust. operation are Monday-Friday from 11am to “Everyone around here is buying gold these 7:00pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday days; you can go into the barber shop down private appoinments are available. Call for the road and sell your jewelry. The problem Q more information (718) 830-0030. with all these places is they treat everything

by Denis Deck

After World War II there was a massive housing shortage and the hunt was on to find lodging for these returning veterans for their wives and babies. In the borough of Queens temporary housing was set up in Jackson Rego Park Veterans Housing Project, Horace Harding Heights, Middle Village, Boulevard at 96th Street standing on the Rego Park side Jamaica Bay and on both sides looking north towards the “huts” in Corona, Jan. 29, 1954.

PHOTO BY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION of the Corona-Rego Park border.

The latter project was located between Junction Boulevard on the lived there still remember the horror of all west, 99th Street on the east, 57th Avenue the mud puddles and breeding mosquitoes on the north and Horace Harding Boule- they had to endure when it rained.

By 1954 the housing project was disconvard on the south, with a few units going up south of Horace Harding, between 96th tinued and the land was being cleared for Street and 97th Place. The housing consist- business, retail and residential development.

The LeFrak organization put forth a plan ed of clapboard-type barracks that resembled to house 1,800 families on eight blocks, with wooden shacks.

Not everyone was a fan. U.S. Sen. Joe 100,000 square feet on Junction Boulevard McCarthy (R-Wisc.) called the project “a for shopping and parking. City planning deliberately created slum area ... at federal records say only 20 percent of residents expense” and a “breeding ground for com- protested the plan. As a result we now have Lefrak City in place of the humble tempomunists.”

Q The area was marshy, and residents who rary veterans housing barracks.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Chronicle Contributor

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SPORTS

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Piazza passed over

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

There is no legitimate reason why Mike Piazza was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame last week. He was one of the best-hitting catchers of all time, and while it’s hard to say he was the greatest, he clearly ranks alongside Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Mickey Cochrane, Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. Piazza’s defense was more than adequate and starting pitchers liked the way he called a game. He also was able to produce in the two largest American markets, Los Angeles and New York.

So why didn’t Mike get the requisite 75 percent of the vote, something which eluded every other Hall of Fame candidate in 2013? The scuttlebutt from the apologist analysts at the MLB Network was that the voters (current and retired members of the Baseball Writers Association of America) wanted to make sure that they didn’t rush judgment on any player whose glory days were during the steroid era, which roughly ran from 1995 to 2005.

The network and other baseball experts didn’t seem at all bothered by a “guilty until proven innocent” mentality redolent of the unfortunate McCarthy blacklisting era in the ’50s.

Piazza never tested positive for steroids, nor was he mentioned in the Mitchell Report. He was not asked to testify before a congressional committee investigating performance-enhance-

ment drugs the way others were. As more than one member of the BBWAA told me over the years, “We don’t have to hold to the same standards of a presumption of innocence that a jury in a court of law is.”

I have to wonder if there is something else afoot here. The BBWAA is composed solely of sportswriters who write for the nation’s daily newspapers. Members who have spent 10 years in the service of a daily retain all their privileges even when they leave for radio, television, a magazine or even a website.

BBWAA members are used to being treated in a godlike manner by players and all too many team public relations officials. Of course these very same folks often treat writers from nondaily outlets with disdain. One PR exec once contemptuously asked me “You write for a weekly, right?” In his mind he was spelling it “w-e-a-kl-y.” I quickly put him in his place.

Piazza never played by those rules. He always treated me with courteous professionalism. I remember how one prominent New York baseball columnist steamed watching me chat with him.

He is also one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. You can converse with Mike about tax laws, politics, economics, travel, pop culture — anything.

Piazza will make it to Cooperstown sooner Q rather than later. It should have been now.

SQ page 39rev

January 17, 2013

PHOTOS BY CHASI ANNEXY

Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Cast members hoist up Will Sevedge as Bobby Strong, who leads a revolt against his city‘s pay-to-pee policy, outside of a public facility. Below, Sevedge and Lindsay Naas as Penelope Pennywise.

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

by Josey Bartlett

Upbeat songs speak of living beyond means in ‘Urinetown The Musical’

land. It’s a musical. Everyone knows it’s a musical.

The production takes place in a town facing a 20-year drought that has caused corporations and politicians to regulate the water supply by banning private urination and forcing people to use public, pay-for-use toilets. Many people can’t afford to go and either must hold it or face the consequences.

“It’s a privilege to pee,” said Lindsay Naas, who plays Penelope Pennywise.

Lockstock begins the show telling the audience of this cruel reality.

He is surrounded by dancing townspeople on a grungy sidewalk by one of the city’s worst public facilities.

Behind him are parodies of recognizable advertisements such as “Budwater, what else are you going to drink?” and a play off the Levis brand stating Continued page continued onon page 46

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IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO PEE

“Urinetown The Musical” takes the audience on a roller coaster of emotions — sort of.

The bawdy comedy makes viewers at the Secret Theatre in Long Island City laugh, then wonder if it’s OK to chuckle when people are dying and falling sick from the buildup of nitrates in their full-to-the-brim bladders.

Even murders and government corruption are presented with such a dollop of slapstick humor, glittery vests and flamboyant behavior that it’s hard to feel too bad about giggling.

There’s also the added fact that even the actors know they are part of a musical because of the over-thetop, stereotypical deep-voiced narrations of police officer Lockstock, played by Brandon Schraml.

Even the name makes note that this isn’t a play in which people should lose themselves in a created

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 40

SQ page 40

qb boro EXHIBIT

door. Free babysitting for children 3-11 years old.

Reservations required. Call (718) 268-5011 ext. 500 or email dberman@cqy.org for more information or visit the website at cqy.org/nyfc.

Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St. in Flushing, hosts a new art exhibition “Repetition in Design,” a series of oil paintings by Queens artist Gennadyi Gurman, from Jan. 23 to April 15. For more information call (718) 886-3800.

Learn Talmud with Rabbi Manes Kogan at Hillcrest Jewish Center, 183-02 Union Turnpike, on Wednesdays from 10-11:30 a.m. Tractate Ta’anit will be studied from the Babylonian Talmud. The new cycle has just begun.

If you have any questions contact Rabbi Kogan at (718) 380-4145 or rabbikogan@hillcrestjc.org.

Nancy Dwyer, Painting and Sculpture, 1982-2012 will be on view Jan. 18-April 7 at the Fisher Landau Center for Art, 38-27 30 St., Long Island City. Hours are Thursday-Monday, noon -5 p.m. Call (718) 9370727 for more information or visit flcart.org.

The Central Queens Y at 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills, is offering yoga for the active senior adult. Registration is now ongoing for the winter series of 11 classes. Cost is $52 senior CQY members/ $94 senior general public/ $132 under 65 CQY members/ $163 under 65 general public. For more information call Robin Budnetz at (718) 268-5011 ext.

504 or email rbudnetz@cqy.org.

Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, 11-03 45 Ave., Long Island City, announces “Donut Muffin,” an exhibition that explores dialogues in New York-based contemporary painting and sculpture, on view through March 10. Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 pm. and by appointment. Contact David Dorsky at (718) 937-6317 or visit dosrsky.org.

AUDITIONS The Oratorio Society of Queens will begin rehearsing “Messa di Gloria” by Puccini, opera choruses and Americana for the Annual Spring Concert on Sunday, May 19 with Maestro David Close and the Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens. Rehearsals are held on Monday nights at 7:45 p.m. in the FSG hall at Temple Beth Sholom, 172nd Street and Northern Boulevard, Flushing. Auditions are Monday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.

Reservations are required. Call (718) 279-3006.

The Queens College Choral Society seeks new members for its Spring 2013 concert season, which will feature the performance of J.S. Bach’s B Minor Mass on Saturday, May 18. Auditions for new members will take place from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Music Building Room 246, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., on Wednesdays: Jan. 23, 30 and Feb. 6. Rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays from 7:30-9:45 p.m. in room 270. Auditions consist of basic singing skills. No preparation is necessary.

For further information visit qcchoralsociety.org. To schedule an audition contact James John, Music Director, at (718) 997-3818 or jmsjhn@aol.com

THEATRE For the latest news visit qchron.com

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

The Secret Theatre, 44-07 23 St., Long Island City, will show “Urinetown: The Musical” on Thursday Saturday, now through Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18. Call (718) 392-0722.

There will be a live presentation of “Special Effect,” 20 underground animations featuring original music by Lucky Dragons and Seabat on Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria. Tickets are $15 for the public, $9 for members, free for Silver Screen members and above. Advance tickets are available online at movingimage.us or by phone at (718) 777-6800.

Emmy-nominated actor Rob Schneider brings his zany comedy to the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56 Ave., Bayside, on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 for all seats. You must be 21 or older to attend.

“Astrology,” by Ariel Dill, is part of a collection, “Donut Muffin,” on display at the Dorsky Gallery in Long Island City PHOTO COURTESY DORSKY GALLERY through March 10.

DANCE Thalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, premieres “Afro Tango” on Friday, Jan. 25.

The show runs through March 17 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are $35; students and seniors $32; Fridays only $30.

For information and tickets call (718) 729-3880 or visit thaliatheatre.org.

FILM Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria, will present a “Best of 2012” program of films selected by chief curator David Schwartz and assistant film curator Rachael Rakes, through Feb. 22. The cost is $12. Times vary. Visit movingimage.us or call (718) 777-6888 for hours and more information.

Paul Williams, legendary songwriter, singer, actor and subject of the documentary “Paul Williams: Still Alive” will be honored with a weekend retrospective at Museum of Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria, from Jan. 25-27. Prices and times vary. Visit movingimage.us or call (718) 777-6800.

MUSIC A “Salute to Israel” concert will be held on Sunday, Feb., 10 at 7 p.m. at LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College on Reeves Avenue and 150th Street. For tickets call (718) 776-3500. Tickets cost between $50 and $75.

American Composer’s Orchestra hosts coLABoratory: Playing It UNsafe, a developmental lab for new American music, inviting musicians to participate, on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free.

Afro-Amerindian Journey presented in partnership with Terraza 7 Cafe will be on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Cost is $25/$15 members and students with ID.

The Center for Culture, The Afrikan Poetry Theatre, 7603 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, presents traditional African drumming by Abdou Mboup and Waakaw on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 8-11:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $17, at the door tickets are $20. Call for more information (718) 523-3312 or email Jwatusi@aol.com.

FLEA MARKETS Italian Charities of America, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, hosts a flea market on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call (718) 478-3100 for more information.

MEETINGS A leisure group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, Prince Room, 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing. Cost is $6 for lunch. The program includes yoga instruction, discussion groups, card games, bingo, birthday celebrations, guest speakers and holiday celebrations. For info., call Dr. Roz Gold at (718) 229-7511.

A schizophrenics anonymous self-help support group will be held on Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. at L.I. Consultation Center, 97-29 64 Rd., Rego Park. Call (718) 896-3400 for more information. The group is free.

Free public speaking/effective communication meetings are held on the first, third and fourth Saturdays of the month at 10 a.m. Learn to be comfortable speaking before an audience. Meetings are held at the Elmhurst Hospital Center, Conference room A-1-15, 79-01 Broadway. Contact club vice president membership at (646) 748-8290.

CLASSES Central Queens YM & YWHA, 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills, hosts Commitment to Fitness New Year Celebration for adults on Sunday, Jan. 27 from noon - 3 p.m. Cost is $5 per person in advance and $8 at the

LaGuardia Community College is hosting an information session on Wednesday, Jan. 23 for those interested in becoming credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselors. The information session runs from 6-9 p.m. in the college’s B-building Room BA-01 at 30-20 Thomson Ave., Long Island City. To RSVP email ACEProfessional@lagcc.cuny.edu.

For more information call (718) 482-5125.

There will be a drum workshop on Monday, Jan. 28 at 4 pm. at the Douglaston/Little Neck Library, 24901 Northern Blvd. Call the library (718) 225-8414 for more information.

Queens Library Enrich Your Life presents Magic Tricks workshops for teens on Wednesdays: Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800; Jan. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at Bellerose Library, 250-06 Hillside Ave., (718) 831-8644; and Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m. at Briarwood Library, 85-12 Main St., (718) 658-1680. Admission is free. Call your library for more information or visit queenslibrary.org.

The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens is offering free art classes for children ages 8 to 16 on Tuesday and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at NYC Parks & Recreation-ARROW Community Center, 35-30 35 St., Astoria. For more information call (718) 2617664 or email laccq@aol.com Every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. join Rabbi Waidenbaum at the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd., to learn and discuss the weekly Torah portion. On Mondays the Rabbi will teach a class, “Jewish Choices — Jewish Voices,” from 5 to 6:15 p.m. The Parashat and Haftarat Club discusses the Torah portion Bo on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 12:30 p.m. following Shabbat services. The club is led by Rabbi Waidenbaum, Rabbi Romiel Daniel and Charles Lehat. A light bite will be served. There is no charge for any class and all are welcome. Call (718) 459-1000 for more information.

Adult education classes will be held at the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd., Rego Park. Rabbi Waidenbaum will be teaching several adult education classes. No charge. Call for more information, (718) 459-1000.

To submit a theater, music, art or entertainment item to What’s Happening, email artslistingqchron@gmail.com

C M SQ page 41 Y K

Art at the collision of society and the mind across a white divide. There are no words, but a smattering of objects depicting the Ana De Obregoso spends most of her nature of the internal conversation — nails time at the intersection of shot at feathers or the subconscious and stones colliding — an human interaction, exploration of missed producing artwork and mixed communiWhen: Tuesday through Sunday, that illustrates the subcation, with barbs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tler battles in life. and verbal kisses Where: Crossing Art, Take for example inevitably getting “Intra,” a mixedlost in the ether.

136-17 39 Ave., Flushing medium collection It’s in this split-self Tickets: Price from 2002. Profile that De Obregoso www.crossingart.com shots of individuals finds her creative face off against themmuse. Her work illusselves, exchanging joy, derision or hostility trates we’re much more than the sum of our parts, yet dissecting those pieces gives us a better understanding of the whole.

But most importantly, never forget you’re in control.

“At the end, we have the power to create reactions in life,” De Obregoso said at a press preview of the exhibition. “In that way, I think we are all little gods.”

One work in the “Intra” series.

by Joseph Orovic

Assistant Managing/Online Editor

‘Paralleling Narratives’

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Selections from Ana De Obregoso’s series “The Invisible Wall,” on display at Crossing Art PHOTOS BY JOSEPH OROVIC in Flushing until Feb. 13.

Communication, ambition, values, perception — they’re all game in De Obregoso’s work, which will be exhibited in Flushing’s Crossing Art gallery as “Paralleling Narratives” until Feb. 13.

The collection is made up of two visual mediums, photography and video, in a

selection of works that span the last decade. “Intra,” for example, includes a video montage of mouths housing objects meant to symbolize various modes of communication. Your own interpretation of a scorpion resting on a tongue versus a continued continued on on page page 00 46

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Artist Peter Burr, right, adds live performance to video clips.

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an analyst or “stalker” to bring him into a place of healing, a place “pregnant The premiere of “Special Effect” with hope.”

The 20 videos are all animations by could fulfill the audience’s dreams.

Peter Burr’s interactive video perfor- small teams and individuals under the mance to be shown on Jan. 18 at the label Cartune Xprez, founded by Burr.

Museum of the Moving Image uses the These videographers, who range in age 1979 Russian film “Stalker,” which Burr from their 20s to 60s, bear a common calls the “best movie ever,” as a launch- theme of childhood and Saturday morning cartoons someing pad for the what “perverted” imagination. or married with In the film, indiadult experiences. viduals pay a Many of the “stalker” to take When: Friday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. pieces on Cartune them to the forbid- Where: Museum of the Moving Image Xprez’s site depict a den land called the 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria trippy kaleidoscope Zone, which could Tickets: $12; $9 for senior citizens and of colors, drawings potentially fulfill students; $6, for children and people — a people’s desires.

(718) 777-6800, movingimage.us sort of ‘Electric Kool “We’re rallying Aid Acid Test’ meets together around a high schooler’s the essential idea of the Zone,” Burr said. “It is really rich math class doodles.

Burr has been mixing videos with live in film history, and for those artists who don’t come deeply stewed in film histo- performance since 2006, but this project ry, there is a lot of emotion to build on.” is different. It’s the first time Burr has For Friday’s show Burr combines performed as an independent artist. “In videos, live music and live performance. the past I’ve done a lot of work funcBurr performs next to the giant screen tioning as a band,” he said.

Friday night’s production is also Burr’s accompanied by lasers, green screens first foray into commissioning work and and a hacked Kinect camera.

“We’re taking this masterpiece and producing and raising money for a show not remixing it or making a homage to it, on his own.

Burr recently returned from an Ausbut using it as a starting point,” Burr said.

For his piece he uses his own experi- tralian tour, where “Special Effect” had Q ences with therapy and how he employs its world premiere.

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C M SQ page 43 Y K Page 43 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

boro

This book will make you hungry!

by Liz Rhoades Managing Editor

So many restaurants in Queens, where to start? If you’re a food lover and like to try new places but are overwhelmed by the large number of choices, get yourself a copy of “Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens,” a new book that takes the guesswork out of dining.

It is written by food maven Meg Cotner of Astoria, who has done the traveling and tasting so readers can find out where to go for Argentinian to West Indian cuisine — as well as American — and every nationality in between.

“Food is how we connect with others and I’m proud of what Queens offers,” she said.

But as the author admits in the introduction, Queens is a large borough and it would be unrealistic to include every last restaurant. Instead, she focuses on eateries easily reached by subway, and in some cases bus and railroad.

Cotner, a blogger who focuses on western Queens, said it took her three and a half months to test out the restaurants, bakeries and specialty food shops mentioned in the book. Not surprisingly, she also gained 20 pounds, but was able to work them off last

summer swimming laps in the Astoria Pool.

The book is broken up by favorite neighborhood restaurants, landmark eateries that have withstood the test of time, specialty stores and street food. Even the most ardent foodie will find some unexpected surprises.

Take for example Malu, a Long Island City ice cream shop with intriguing flavors and premium taste. Then there’s the Buttercup Bake Shop Outlet, also in Long Island City, which features freshly made cupcakes and other baked goods with discounted prices. The original establishment is located in Manhattan and is especially known for its cupcakes.

In Flushing, Cotner offers the best places to get dumplings and other Asian specialties. Then she discusses Lucia Pizza on Roosevelt Avenue, located next door to a bubble tea establishment. The author loves the juxtaposition of old Flushing and new coexisting side by side. She raves about the pizza slices in tiny Lucia, which has been around for 55 years.

Over in Bayside, Cotner is a fan of Three Brothers Butcher BBQ, a meat market as well as an eatery. She especially likes the pulled pork sandwich and barbecued fries, topped with a choice of barbecued pork,

The “Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens” can tell you just where to go for all kinds of dinners, desserts and more.

IMAGE COURTESY GLOBE PEQUOT PRESS

looking around and did some research online.

“I feel I chose well,” she said.

The author obviously loves Queens and what it has to offer in food. The reader will not be disappointed. The book, published

by Globe Pequot Press, is available for $14.95 online through Amazon and Barnes Q & Noble.

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beef, chicken or chile with cheddar, hot peppers and onions.

For further ethnic selections, Cotner recommends among others El Sitio in Woodside for its Cuban sandwiches; El Riconcito de Tito in Jackson Heights for empanadas; Ayada in Elmhurst for Thai specialties; Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona for tacos and tortillas; Antica Trattoria in Ridgewood for Italian fare; and Cheburechnaya in Rego Park for Russian food.

And there are many, many more, including longtime favorites such as Zum Stammtisch in Glendale for superb German food; Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria for Czech-Slovak cuisine; Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Forest Hills for ice cream delights; the Jackson Diner in Jackson Heights for Indian food; and Ben’s Best in Rego Park for classic kosher deli choices.

Cotner admits that her choices “come down to taste,” but says, “there’s so much variety in Queens that there’s something for everyone.” So you may not see all your favorites; either she didn’t like them or didn’t get to them. In making her selections, the author used her preferences, got recommendations from friends, spent a lot of time

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 44

C M SQ page 44 Y K

The AARP Auto and Home Insurance Program from The Hartford Now available through your local Hartford independent agent! ®

boro CLASSES The YWCA of Queens, 42-07 Parsons Blvd., Flushing, has expanded its GED preparation program to include free adult classes. Tracks vary in length from 10 to 20 weeks depending upon entrance test results. Contact the YW and sign up for the next placement examination. Call Stacy McKelvey at (718) 353-4553 for more information or to reserve your placement exam seat.

Mindfulness Meditation one-hour class with Rabbi Michael Weisser at Free Synagogue of Flushing, 4160 Kissena Blvd., on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Free. For more information, call (718) 961-0030 or email info@freesynagogue.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS A book launch event for “The Man in 3B,” a novel by Carl Weber, will be held at Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.

Boy Scout troop 96 presents its annual pancake breakfast on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 8-11 a.m. and noon - 1:30 p.m. at The Community House, 15 Borage Place, Forest Hills. Cost is $8 and children under 5 eat free.

A festive Tu B’Shevat Shabbat Seder will take place at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 St., on Friday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Registration is required for this event. To register call the Temple at (718) 2612900 or email mail@rtfh.org.

Cafe Marlene hosts open mic night on Sunday Nights at Cafe Marlene, 41-11 49 St., Sunnyside, from 6-9 p.m. Call (718) 205-7330 for more information.

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APT & SISTAHS collaborative presents the 7th annual celebration of the Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Center for Culture, the Africkan Poetry Theatre, 76-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, on Sunday, Jan. 20 from 3-7 p.m. Program begins at 3:30 p.m. Free admission. Food available at the mini African Marketplace. Call (347) 507-0823 Bayside Historical Society will host its annual art show through Jan. 27. Come to “The Castle” at 208 Totten Ave, Fort Totten in Bayside. Visitors can enjoy a vocal performance by Lindsay Magiddo. Admission is $8 per person, free to BHS members.

Bayside Business Association Presents: 10th Annual “Taste of Bayside” on Wednesday, Jan. 23 from 6-9 p.m. at Adria Hotel and Conference Center, 220-33 Northern Blvd., featuring food and beverage samplings from area restaurants. Cost is $30.

Italian Charities of America, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, hosts a dance on Saturday nights through Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. Call (718) 478-3100 for information.

Join the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd., for a Tu B’Shevat luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 12:30 p.m. following Shabbat services. The cost is $18 per person. Pre-paid reservations must be made by Tuesday, Jan. 22. Call (718) 459-1000.

Close Embrace - Nimbus Dance Works comes to Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., on Saturdays, Jan. 19 and 26 for a 1 p.m. interactive arts workshop and a 2:30 p.m. open rehearsal and talk.

Cost for the workshop is $6/$4 children/ free for members with tickets to the 2:30 p.m. program. The open rehearsal costs $12/$10 members/$8 children/ $6 member children. For more information call (718) 463-7700.

The Samuel Field Y has two weekday programs for preschool children ages 3-5 with developmental disabilities and their families. On Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. there is Monday Magic: Learn and Play at the Bay Terrace Center: 212-00 23 Ave., Bayside. On Wednesdays from 3-4:30 there is Gym and Creative Exploration at the Little Neck Site, 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Contact Amanda at (718) 225-6750 ext. 262 or email asmith@sfy.org for more information.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES The Brooks Senior Center, 143-22 109 Ave., Jamaica, welcomes all seniors age 60+. Come and enjoy a healthy lunch from noon to 1 p.m., activities such as Wii sports, bowling, bingo, lap top classes, excercise, ceramics, cards and board games, blood pressure checks, trips, monthly nutrition presentations and monthly birthday celebrations and theme parties. Suggested contribution is $1.25. For more information call (718) 291-3935.

Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center (Benjamin Rosenthal-Prince Street Senior Center), 45-25 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, has a special Saturday program, open every other Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all seniors, especially South Asians, starting Jan. 12, offering basic computer classes, basic English, health education, Indian movies, Indian yoga, games, Kinect bowling, tai chi, Yuan Ji dancing, breathing yoga, Ping-Pong, karaoke, field trips, case assistance and have a vegetarian Indian-style lunch.

Call (718) 886-5777 for further information.

The Ridgewood Older Adult Center, 59-14 70 Ave., Ridgewood, welcomes seniors age 60 and older. The center is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A food pantry is available Tuesdays-Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Other activities include daily hot lunch, mini-trips, monthly birthday parties, theme parties and daily exercise. Movies are held every Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. Call Karen at (718) 4562000 for more information.

The CCNS Bayside Senior Center, 221-15 Horace Harding Expy., hosts free programs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mondays at 12:30 p.m., first-run movie; Mondays and Thursdays at 1 p.m., Ping Pong; Mondays at 9:15 a.m., Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:15 a.m., Exercise class; Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, bingo; Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. and Fridays at 9 a.m., chair yoga; Wednesdays at 9:15 a.m., Wii bowling; Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m., Big Apple Strollers; Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m., line dancing; Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m., duplicate bridge; Tuesdays at 1 p.m., chorus; Mondays and Wednesdays, bridge instruction; Tuesdays at 1 p.m., ESL for Chinese speakers; Thursdays at 10:45 p.m., tai chi; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m,. basic computer classes; Fridays from 1-2 p.m., advanced computer class; Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m., social dancing with DJ. Kosher and nonkosher lunch available at 11:30 a.m. with a $2 contribution. Membership is free.

Call (718) 225-1144.

The Rockaway Boulevard Senior Center, 123-10 143 St., South Ozone Park, offers service programs Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Lunch is at noon with a suggested donation of $1.50. Exercise programs include: tai chi stretch, dance groups, choral group, ceramic, camera class, computer classes, trips, birthday parties and more. For more information, call (718) 657-6752.

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Quirky characters in a stinky world of want continued continued from from page page 39 00

with knives, alcoholism (even if drinking in a place without that brown is the new black, since here in this grimy city the bathrooms is a bad idea) and general insanity.

Caldwell B. Cladwell owns Urine Good Company, which citizens don’t have the luxury of frequent showers. There’s also a neon sign promoting Rio, the ideal place where all the is staffed by a gang of workers who smile creepily and do corrupt politicians and tycoons plan to slink off to at some Cladwell’s dirty work. His only daughter Hope, who is ironically filled with way too much of her name for her point — maybe when the going gets extra bad.

And even when the going gets good in the eyes of the own good, has recently come home from the world’s most people, it goes back in the stinky dumps again as a nod to expensive college to be intertwined in this questionable organization. living unsustainable lives. So Hope, played by Brittney Santro although a life of excess might be in her New York City debut, falls in fun in the now — generations to ‘Urinetown The Musical’ love with the leader of an uprising come might have a nasty future, When: through Saturday, Jan. 26: Thursdays to against the strict urination laws, the musical seems to sing.

Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. the handsome Bobby Strong, All the actors are adept at magAdditional performance on Saturday, played by Will Sevedge. But just nifying their quirky traits. LockJan. 26 at 3p.m. because there is love, doesn’t stock is a little too chipper since Where: The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC mean there is happiness. he’s basically a henchman for the Tickets: $18, secrettheatre.com, (718) 392 0722 “This is not a happy musical,” town’s reigning corporation, the narrator reminds the audience.

“Urine Good Company,” which “But the music is so happy,” Little Sally moans. hauls citizens off to Urinetown — an unpleasant place of lore And the music is upbeat and catchy. Sears, as Little — if they refuse to pay for their morning defecation.

The nymphomaniac Pennywise takes any opportunity to Sally, belts out an impressive solo of “Tell Her I Love Her.” spread her legs, grab her breasts and rub up on any of the Pennywise and Hope both have some impressive voices — other characters. There’s also Little Sally who has extreme although everyone in the musical showcases some pretty cross eyes. (The actress, Macaela Sears, doesn’t have the impressive pipes.

“Urinetown The Musical” is up for the New York Innovsame affliction.) Officer Barrel, played by Charlie Stoop, gets turned on by every man. Other residents of this ative Theatre Awards, which anyone can vote in at Q draught-ravaged town have high voices, an obsession nyitawards.com.

boro

King Crossword Puzzle

For the latest news visit qchron.com

ACROSS 1 Household member 4 Shock 8 Baby bed 12 Retirement plan acronym 13 Acknowledge 14 Humdinger 15 Sports fans’ party site 17 With dexterity 18 Journey segment 19 Blue quality 21 Light color 24 Frat-party need 25 Matterhorn, for one 26 Slight touch 28 Staff members?

32 Pacific rings?

34 Standard 36 Bar 37 Red Square tomb occupant 39 Hee follower 41 Rage 42 Silent 44 Deceived 46 Lottery payment, perhaps 50 Legislation 51 Eye part 52 Exhaust outlet 56 Gambling game 57 Mexican entree 58 Pen point 59 Verve 60 Old World duck 61 Society newcomer

DOWN 1 Trench 2 Geological period 3 Severe decline 4 Rough, as rocks 5 Eggs 6 Oodles 7 Adapt slightly 8 Din 9 Cartoonist Goldberg 10 Troubles 11 Purchases

16 Allow 20 Lair 21 Cover of gloom 22 Sheltered 23 Once around the track 27 Scrooge’s cry 29 Aid when airborne 30 Hibernia 31 Coaster 33 Springfield surname 35 Aries

38 Greek consonants 40 Cricket-bat wood 43 Mongrels 45 Fool 46 Board game, cereal or magazine 47 Caspian Sea feeder 48 Actress Sorvino 49 “Just the facts, -” 53 “Rocks” 54 Slapstick missile 55 Recede

Answers at right

Will Sevedge as Bobby Strong and Brittney Santoro as Hope Cladwell fall in love, if only for a night.

De Obregoso continued from page 00 41 butterfly is part of the experience. But it all starts in De Obregoso’s head.

“It starts at how I perceive the world,” she said. That world was limited to De Obregoso’s mind a decade ago. It has since grown, as shown by the ambitious series, “Particles.”

The work features “Paradise,” a Lima, Peru cemetery with tombs painted in vibrant shades of blue and green. The grainy sequence of photos jumps to a fuller picture, showing a village built on a hillside behind the cemetery, in a drab brown. De Obregoso flourishes in these bits of visual

Ana De Obregoso

PHOTO BY JOSEPH OROVIC

PHOTO BY CHASI ANNEXY

trickery, where limited perception leads to a revelation. In the case of “Particles,” the dissection of perspective also serves as a lesson in the vivacity of the living.

A separate series in “Particles” shows a quaint and unassuming home that is actually part of the favelas, Sao Paolo, Brazil’s notorious slums.

All is not as it seems in some of De Obregoso’s work. And that’s the point. But your mind’s eye and inner voice make the meaning of her work completely your own.

“I don’t have the truth,” De Obregoso said.

“This is just the way I’m perceiving it.” Q

Crossword Answers

SQ page 47

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Page 47 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Commercial & Residential

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 48

SQ page 48

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Page 49 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Professional PAINTER & HANDYMAN

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LEGAL NOTICES To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

31ST DRIVE LLC 1, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/14/2012. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Philip Loria, 37-20 Broadway, 2nd FL, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: BHASIN MANAGEMENT L.L.C. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/21/12.

Office location: Queens County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 120-05 Liberty Avenue, South Richmond Hill, New York 11419.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: ROCK ANGEL PUBLICATIONS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/06/2012.

Office location is Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC., 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY 11228. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: STARTING NOW LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/20/2012. Office location is Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 3420 79th Street, #6D, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 657659 West 179th Street, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/27/12.

Off. loc.: Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 31-10 37th Ave., Ste. 500, Long Island City, NY 11101.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

ARIS DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL, PLLC, a domestic PLLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/24/12. Office location: Queens County.

SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the PLLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Simon Ryoo, 88-09 101 Avenue, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Purpose: Medicine.

Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company. Name: 333 Lenox Associates LLC (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on December 17, 2012.

NY office location: Queens County.

The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to 333 Lenox Associates LLC, 140-16 45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355.

Purpose/character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of NEW YORK GOLDWATER FUND I, L.P. Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Secy. of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/4/2012. Office located Queens County. Princ. office of L.P. is 5002 97th Place, Corona, NY 11368.

SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the L.P. may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the L.P. to the Partnership, 5002 97th Place, Corona, NY 11368.

Name and business address of each general partner are available from the SSNY. Latest date upon which the L.P. is to dissolve is 10/31/2032.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

117-13 LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/21/12.

Office in Queens County.

SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to 102-10 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 2000, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: General.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company.

Name: ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/27/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 420 West 144th Street, New York, NY 10031-5201. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

62 27 136TH ST LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/20/12. Office location: Queens County.

SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 62 27 136th St., Flushing, NY 11367. General Purposes.

LIMAH FUNDING LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/30/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 3601 43rd Ave., Long Island City, NY 11001. General Purposes.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: MINIPAT, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/07/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 111-16 101 Avenue, Richmond Hill, New York 11419.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice is hereby given that an on-premises license, #1267896, has been applied for by 80-12 51st Avenue Rest., Inc. d/b/a Arena Queens NY to sell beer, wine and liquor at retail in an onpremises establishment. For on-premises consumption under the ABC Law at 80-12 51st Avenue, Elmhurst, NY 11373.

21-24 21ST ROAD LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/1/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Rosalie Mollica, 1117 30th Rd., Astoria, NY 11102. General Purposes.

HELLOPMG, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/19/2012. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 93-20A Roosevelt Ave., Suite 3D-I, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

LC UNITED 816 LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/10/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Cathy Chen, 80-18 217 St., Queens Village, NY 11427. General Purposes.

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Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: SUREWAY MAINTENANCE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 9/12/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Dhani Dhaniram, 10520 130th Street, South Richmond Hill, NY 11419. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Chronicle CLASSIFIEDS To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

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SCSEP

Must have BA in Nursing, current NYS NP certification (FNP preferred). 2nd language a plus.

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Must be JOB READY!

•STAFFING COORDINATOR French/Creole Bilingual preferred.

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Growing Queens, NY home care agency seeks caring professionals with a commitment to customer satisfaction & previous home care exp to come grow with us! Must be a team-player with computer literacy, proficiency in Excel and solid organizational skills.

Working knowledge of HHA exchange preferred.

Call for an appointment:

(718) 433-0010

Please email your resume to LHHCSA@HOTMAIL.COM EOE

WANTED:

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Help Wanted

REAL ESTATE AGENTS & ASSISTANT WANTED All areas of Queens.

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Call Jerry Fink

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Email resume to: jobs.apply1935@gmail.com

ARE YOU A HANDYMAN?

Handyman needed for related work on foreclosures throughout the greater New York City area. Immediate openings, apply today!

Reply to: thaase@apropertyusa.com

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 50

SQ page 50

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SQ page 51

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Estates, gold, costume jewelry, Our Classifieds Reach Over old & mod furn, records, silver, 400,000 Readers. Call 718-205- coins, art, toys, oriental items. Call George, 718-386-1104 8000 to advertise.

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To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Real Estate EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 212306-7500.

The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Houses For Sale

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Howard Beach/Astoria, lg, nicely furn rm, close to shops, restauINDOORS - Richmond Hill, Sun rants, parks. Utils/cable, Internet 1/20, 11:30-1:30, 88-08 104 St, Howard Beach, 3 1/2 rooms, pvt incl. 718-704-4639 use side door. Furn & glassware house, no smoking/pets, credit for sale. MUST SEE! check, new kit, tile fls, $1,200/mo, Kew Gardens, furn rm, gentleman G&E incl, avail Feb 1, owner, 347- preferred. $150 per week, share bath, lite cooking. 718-847-8993 792-0371

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Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, 1 BR walk-in, all new, stainless steel ADOPT: 3+1=Happiness. Looking appl, G&E, CAC incl, $1,250/mo. to adopt another little miracle and Broker, 347-846-7809 make our little Lucy a big sister. Old Howard Beach, 2 fl, 2 BRs, Contact Robin & Neil @ 866-303- wood fls, DW, stove, CAC. No 0668, http://www.rnladopt.info/. pets/smoking, avail immed, $1,700/mo neg. 718-753-4948 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. Ozone Park, 2 BR, all new, close NAME: JCIAMPA COMPANY to all, credit check, no pets, LLC. Articles of Organization $1,550/mo. 347-234-2222 were filed with the Secretary Ozone Park, near all trans, newly of State of New York (SSNY) renov, 1 1/2 BR, 1 bath, no pets, on 01/03/13. Office location: $1,200/mo. ref req, 516-993-5628 Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of Ozone Park, studio apt, pvt ent, the LLC upon whom process $850/mo, G&E incl, no smoking, against it may be served. SSNY call 718-843-4564 shall mail a copy of process to Woodhaven, 2 BRs renov, also the LLC, 136-26 37th Avenue, Ozone Park, 1 BR, $800/mo, Flushing, New York 11354. garage avail, refs req. Owner Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 917-520-7902

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REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS $895.00. Expd Attorney. Free Buy/Sell Guide. CRIMINAL MATTERS Richard H. Lovell, P.C., 10748 Cross Bay, Ozone Park, NY 11417 718 835-9300.

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Chronicle

Page 51 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Chronicle

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 52

SQ page 52

LEGAL NOTICES To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

SUMMONS (Family Law) NOTICE TO RESPONDENT (Name): MOHAMEDSALIM ISMALBAHI GADIWALA You are being sued.

Petitioner’s name is: MEGGAN ODELL CASE NUMBER: BD543131 You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120 or FL-123) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter or phone call will not protect you.

If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form.

If you want legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. You can get information about finding lawyers at the California Courts Online SeIf-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), at the California Legal Services Website (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), or by contacting your local county bar association.

NOTICE: The restraining orders on page 2 are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders.

These orders are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them.

A DECLARATION OF PRELIMINARY DISCLOSURE HAS BEEN FILED BY PETITIONER. SEE COURT FILE FOR MORE PARTICULARS. NOTE: If a Judgment or support order is entered, the court may order you to pay all or part or the fees and costs that the court waived for yourself or for the other party. If this happens, the party ordered to pay fees shall be given notice and an opportunity to request a hearing, to set aside the order to pay waived court fees.

1. The name and address of the court are: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 2. The name, address, and telephone number of petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: MARC S. ROTHENBERG, ESQ., SBN 72448, THE LAW FIRM OF MARC S. ROTHENBERG, 4326 ATLANTIC AVE., LONG BEACH, CA 90807-2804 562-424-0502 Dates Pub: Jan. 17, 24, 31 Feb. 7, 2013 John A. Clarke, Executive Officer/Clerk By (Secretario, por) D. Ward, Deputy (Asistente)

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF ARTAIUS MANAGEMENT, LLC. Application for Authority filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/04/2012. LLC formed in DELAWARE on 11/30/2012. Office location: QUEENS County, at 211-63 46th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361.

SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10011, which is the address of the LLC’s registered agent in the State of New York. The address of the office required to be maintained in the jurisdiction of the LLC’s formation is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION filed with the Secretary of State of the State of DELAWARE at 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

SUNSHINE HVAC LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/19/2012.

Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 89-40 198 St., Hollis, NY 11423, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FORSYTH COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION In The Matter Of: 11 JT 218 Shirquinn Aja Darshea Trone DOB: 02-25-11 11 JT 219 Jaylin Alexander Holloway DOB: 02-14-09

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: NEAT AND CLEAN IS WHAT WE MEAN, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/26/2012.

Office location is Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 1560 150th St., Whitestone, NY 11357. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

TO: Jeffrey Holloway, also known as John Doe, father of Jaylin Alexander Holloway: John Doe, father of Shirquinn Aja Darshea Trone TAKE NOTICE that a Juvenile Petition seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is an adjudication of Termination of your Parental Rights with respect to the above-referenced juvenile pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1103.

You are required to make a written answer to the Petition alleging to Terminate Parental Rights within forty (40) days after the date of this notice; and upon your failure to make a defense to the Petitions within the 40-day period specified herein or to attend the hearing on the said Petition, the Petitioner will apply to the Court for terminating your parental rights to the above-referenced juvenile.

Any counsel appointed previously to represent you and not released by the Court shall continue to represent you.

If you are indigent and not already represented by appointed counsel, you are entitled to appointed counsel and provisional counsel has been appointed upon your request subject to the Courts review at the first hearing after this service.

The hearing on the Petition alleging to Terminate Parental Rights is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on, Monday, February 18, 2013 in Courtroom 4-J of the Hall of Justice in Winston-Salem, North Carolina or as soon thereafter as the Court can hear the said case This the 10th day of January, 2013 Theresa A. Boucher, Attorney for the Forsyth County Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 999, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101 (336) 703-3900

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: TRIPLE L HOLDING LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/03/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 69-11 197th Street, Fresh Meadows, New York 11365.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: NOT JUST ANOTHER FUNNY FACE, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/14/2012.

Office location is Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 175-20 Wexford Terrace, Apt. 3P, Jamaica, NY 11432. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Red Menace Game Studios LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/12. Office in Queens County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 42 19 Saull St., Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: General.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: G&T TRANSPORT NYC LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 9/7/2012. Office location is Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Gregory Conway, 120-10 Merrill Street, Jamaica, NY 11434. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 9618 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/03/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 570 Sierra Vista Ave., San Marino, CA 91108.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

AAGJ2 REALTY, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/13/2012. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 421 Willis Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. Latest date upon which LLC is to dissolve: 12-31-2062.

Notice of formation of QPN 10 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/29/2012. Office location, County of Queens. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Storage Deluxe, 26 West 17th St., Ste 801, NY, NY 10011. Purpose: any lawful act

20-56 49th Street LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/2/12. Office in Queens County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 147-32 28th Ave., Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: General.

NOTICE OF FORMATION, GHOTRA MANAGEMENT LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/10/2012.

Office location: QUEENS COUNTY. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process served against the LLC to c/o: THE LLC, 11804 95TH AVE, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11419. Purpose: any lawful purpose or activity.

SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO. 17400/11 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS TRUSTEE FOR RBSGC MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-RP1, Plaintiff, vs.

RUTH NIEH, STEPHEN PEREIRA, HOUSTON FUNDING CORPORATION ASSIGNEE IN INTEREST TO HOUSEHOLD RETAIL SERVICES, NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, NORTH STAR CAPITAL ACQUISITION LLC A/P/O CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), SLOMIN’S INC., “JANE DOE” #1, “JOHN DOE” #1, Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 102-44 86TH AVENUE, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 BLOCK 9186 LOT 15 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or if the Complaint is not served with this Summons to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises.

Dated this 31st day of December, 2012, Gross, Polowy & Orlans, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff(s), 25 Northpointe Parkway, Suite 25, Amherst, NY 14228 TO: STEPHEN PEREIRA Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. AUGUSTUS C. AGATE of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 10th day of December, 2012 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by RUTH NIEH dated the 30th day of August, 1999, to secure the sum of $231,085.00, and recorded at Liber 5384 if Mortgages at Page 2176 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 27th day of September, 1999; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 30th day of September, 2009 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York at Instrument No. 2009000399562. The property in question is described as follows: 102-44 86TH AVENUE, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of 86th Avenue formerly Brandon Avenue or Amber Street, distant 428 feet and 10 1/4 inches (429.3 feet survey) Easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of 86th Street with the Easterly side of 102nd Street, formerly Freedom Avenue or Union Place as said streets are laid down on a certain map entitled “Map of 382 lots situated in the 4th Ward Borough of Queens, City of New York” (compiled May 1, 1905 by Gred G. Dennington, City Surveyor from maps of the Brooklyn Hills, Improvement Co. Plots No.1 and No.3 surveyed by E.W. Conklin and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on March 12, 1899 and January 19, 1891 respectively) and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens June 24, 1905 as Map No. 440; RUNNING THENCE Southerly parallel with 102nd Street, 100 feet (100.12 feet - survey); THENCE Easterly parallel with 86th Avenue 31 feet 4 1/4 inches (31.37 feet - survey) to the Easterly boundary line of the premises laid down on the map hereinabove mentioned; THENCE Northerly along said Easterly boundary line 100.04 feet (100.12 feet - survey) to the Southerly side of 86th Avenue; THENCE Westerly along the Southerly side of 86th Avenue, 28 feet 10 1/4 inches (29 feet survey) more or less to the point or place of BEGINNING. 102-44 86TH AVENUE, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11418 BLOCK 9186 LOT 15 DATED: December 31, 2012.

HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877-BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: December 31, 2012, Gross Polowy Orlans, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff(s) 25 Northpointe Parkway, Suite 25, Amherst, NY 14228. The law firm of Gross Polowy Orlans, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 283174

C M SQ page 53 Y K 133-07 Cross Bay Blvd., Ozone Park

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Page 53 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

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What an anniversary present!

Happy couple is remodeling their home and saving money too, thanks to the HRA program Iris Escobar is a coupon clipper, proud to be frugal. But you don’t usually clip coupons for home improvement, so when she and her husband, Victor, decided to remodel their home, she had to find another way to save.

But Iris didn’t have to look far. The answer arrived in her mailbox one day last summer: a card advertising the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program.

Thanks to the HRA, the Escobars are getting a world-class makeover to their kitchen, dining room and downstairs bathroom, along with a new roof and energy-efficient windows — all without spending a dime in cash, and without increasing their mortgage payments a penny. Taking advantage of the program is letting them save thousands of dollars on a project that would have cost $103,000, and thanks to refinancing, they’re making the same monthly payments they were before on their Baldwin home — but now $200 each month is going toward the principal.

They couldn’t be happier — not about the savings, not about the work that’s being done, and especially not about the full range of services HRA is providing as their home is transformed.

“It’s been a great ride,” Victor said.

“I can’t say enough about the HRA program. I can’t say enough about everybody involved with the program.”

His wife agrees. “I’m excited, I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m glad I met this team; they’re great!” Speaking to Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, she added, “I told my sister about you, I told my coworkers about you — I tell everyone about you.”

What Iris is telling everyone is how the HRA guides clients through every step of the home remodeling process, from helping decide what

work should be done to how it will be financed, from securing financial assistance to overseeing the work and making sure the contractors are not paid until the homeowner is satisfied.

A fan of “The People’s Court,” where she sees a lot of irresponsible contractors sued over jobs that weren’t done correctly, Iris said she was especially glad that the HRA holds clients’ money in escrow until they certify that they’re satisfied.

Carlos described how he starts a project with clients like the Escobars: “I explain to them what HRA does and show them the different options for how we can accomplish what they want to do to reach their goals, help them get financing and a reduced interest rate on their mortgage.”

“Af ter t he f i rs t 10 m i n u tes speaking to him, I was sold on the program,” Victor said. “All through this, he’s been great.”

An HRA administrator explained the program’s basic approach: “The services offered by the HRA extend beyond just financial assistance for home improvement projects. We have implemented numerous processes to ensure that projects completed by HRA-approved contractors are done to the homeowner’s satisfaction.”

Just take a look at some of the program’s requirements for contractors. They all must be: • licensed, bonded and insured for at leas t $100,000 per incident; • registered with the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of an A or higher; • in business for at least 10 years; • able to provide the names and addresses of eight clients they have done home improvement projects for in the past year; and • able to perform four test proj-

ects for the HRA prior to working for any clients.

With that kind of screening, it’s no surprise that only the best contractors get to do HRA-sponsored jobs.

At the Escobars’ house, it’s a big job that’s underway. First the roof and windows were replaced, and new gutters and leaders installed. The couple is thrilled with the result. There’s a stunning new bay window in the dining room that measures about 8 feet wide by 5 feet high. The kitchen features a garden window, an especially deep one with a glass shelf so their plants can be surrounded by light from all sides.

Next the interior of the kitchen and bathroom were completely gutted, with everything from new gas lines and plumbing to new Sheetrock and insulation going in. The door to the basement was moved from one wall to another to make room for all the cabinetry surrounding the garden window.

The new kitchen is going to feature only the best equipment and materials, including a six-burner stove with a pot-filler faucet, double sink with pullout faucet, beautiful real-wood cabinets, granite countertops and floor tiles.

A new two-level peninsula with a granite top will serve as a bar, or just another place for family and friends to gather.

There will even be a tilt-out drawer for sponges and brushes in front of the sinks.

“I’m a hoarder,” Iris said. “They’re giving me lots of drawers and shelves to put away my stuff.”

Even more of her and her husband’s “stuff” will go in the new pantries that will be built in an area just off the kitchen. Those will be done in the same deep finish as the kitchen cabinets, and feature modern conveniences like pullout drawers

Iris Escobar shows off the new tiling that will be going in her bathroom. behind the doors.

The bathroom also will be allnew. The shower will feature a bench and a modern rain shower head. The tile walls will be accented by a mosaic design running around the whole room. The hardware will be bronze, and the contractor even found a toilet in Mexican sand, a cream-like color, that will complement the decor perfectly.

I n t h e f r o n t o f t h e h o u s e, the contractor replaced all the windows in the foyer and added insulation. Not only will the Escobars earn tax credits for energy ef ficiency, but Iris says she felt the difference immediately. Drafty for years, the foyer is now cozy, she said.

After all the interior work is done, the project will go back outside, as a new deck and patio get installed.

Iris likes to entertain, but for the last three years hadn’t bothered because she wasn’t happy with how the house was looking. But now she’s looking forward to holding a big bash in June, to show off the renovations made possible by the HRA program and to celebrate the couple’s 10th anniversary. The timing couldn’t have worked out better.

To find out if you qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program, just call the HRA toll-free at 866-791-6302. Tell them you read about the Escobars’ job, and they’ll give you the same level of excellent service.

HOUR-057628

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 54

C M SQ page 54rev Y K

Iris and Victor Escobar are getting rich wood cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom, and got to see how various colors would look on their walls before choosing. The bathroom will get a carved stone sink.

Carlos Fontanez, the couple’s HRA representative, has become a friend as well — they’ve invited him to a party they’re planning to celebrate their 10th anniversary — and their newly remodeled home.

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Page 55 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013

Connexion I

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 17, 2013 Page 56

C M SQ page 56 Y K

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