Volume 11 Issue No. 38 Sept. 24 - 30, 2010
PAGE 22
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
STAYING THE SAME
The City Council voted unanimously to rezone Rosedale, which will preserve the neighborhood’s character. By Sasha Austrie...Page 3
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Presstime
Council Approves Rosedale Rezoning
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
From here on in, Rosedale's architectural character should remain largely unchanged. On Thursday, the City Council voted to rezone Rosedale by a unanimous vote almost a month after the City Planning Commission approved the down-zoning. "The strength of our community has always been derived from the beauty and character of our neighborhood," said Councilman James Sanders (DLaurelton). "We will not allow sleazy developers to ravage our communities by taking down stately mansions and putting up cheese-box houses, unfit for the designation of a home." The rezoning would benefit 193 blocks within Community Board 13. Zoning has remained unchanged in Rosedale since 1961. The new zoning law would replace all or portions of the existing R3-2 zoning district with R2, R3A, R3X or R3-1 dis-
tricts. In addition, most of the C1-2 and C2-1 overlay districts will be replaced with C1-3 or C2-3 districts. Certain 2-1 and C11 overlay districts will be eliminated or reduced where residential or community facility uses exist and a new C1-2 overlay district is proposed to be mapped where commercial uses exist. The R3-2 zoning replacements would ensure that one to two family detached homes continue to inhabit Rosedale neighborhoods. The maximum building height is 35 feet and allows one parking space per unit. "The Rosedale rezoning in southeast Queens is another significant advance in our extensive work to protect lower-density neighborhoods by removing old zoning that allows out-of-character development," said Amanda Burden, City Planning commissioner. "By applying new zones that more closely match and reinforce local building patterns, we will preserve the beautiful blocks in Rosedale that
The signature single- and two-family homes that define Rosedale were given permanence with the City Council's approval of a new zoning for the neighborhood.
Twisted Storm’s Path Sliced Queens In Half BY DOMENICK RAFTER
The rezoning effort was collaborative, as Community Board 13 and local civic associations pushed for the down-zoning. Lawrence McClean, Community Board 13 district manager, said the new zones would keep the character of Rosedale. "[The rezoning] means the quality that made Rosedale a residential community will now be maintained," McClean said previously. Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.
Queens Ripped Apart By Surprise Tornado tornado, help has been easier to come by for some. There is a limit to the number of tree specialists, insurance adjusters, contractors and city workers who can handle the load. Progress in some fringe areas that were not as hard hit – along Parsons Boulevard in Flushing and on Calamus Avenue in Maspeth – has been slow. In Forest Hills, communities have come together to clean up. From the unaffected neighbors who have offered food and shelter to those displaced to the volunteers who cleared out dozens of fallen trees at a local Little League, the tales of generosity are widespread. But so, too, are the tales of woe. Poor insurance, questions over individual vs. city responsibility and the shock of the scale of the damage have been hard to swallow for some. There have been very few injuries reported as a direct result of the tornado, though there was one death. A 30-year-old Pennsylvania woman was crushed by a tree that fell on her car when she pulled over on the Grand Central Parkway at the height of the storm. As the community continues to clean up, the Queens Tribune dedicates this issue to the people, families, schools, homes and businesses affected by last week’s devastating weather – and to being prepared for the next time. Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 122.
BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
It was a typical Thursday afternoon in Queens on Sept. 16. Rush hour had hit; the highways were filled with cars carrying people home. Most school buses had delivered their charges; kids were doing homework, playing with friends and helping get dinner ready. The sky turned gray, then black. Wind swirled, buffeting the commuters, shaking children in their houses. An ominous sound bore down from overhead as the sky turned green, lightning dancing across the sky. To see it was disorienting; rain seemed to lift from the ground, trees that had swayed now flew across the highway, over cars and into homes. The crash of debris blended with the smashing of the rain until the sound became deafening. And then it was gone. For about 15 minutes this scene played out across a swath of Queens running from Ridgewood to Middle Village and Rego Park, Forest Hills, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Auburndale and Bayside before exiting at Little Bay. Each location felt the force of the storm for no more than 2 or 3 minutes. The final verdict: an 80-mph tornado that started in Brooklyn cut into Ridgewood and flattened out to a nearly five-mile-wide “macroburst” as it slammed into Middle Village and Rego Park at 125 mph. From that burst a new tornado formed, tearing through the borough at 100 mph, but entire sections of the borough – Astoria and Jackson Heights in the Northwest, Jamaica and Floral Park in the South and East – never felt it. In the blink of an eye thousands of trees were uprooted or ripped apart. In the first 24 hours alone the Parks Dept. reported 3,931 residential trees damaged – that number does not even bear in mind the ones inside Forest, Juniper Valley, MacDonald, Flushing Meadows, Kissena, Bowne MacDonald Park in Forest Hills was hit dead-on by the or Crocheron parks. In the days since the tornado.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3
When the epic storm roared through Queens last Thursday afternoon, it delivered a double blow from two destructive forces not common in New York City. The storm first spawned a tornado in Brooklyn. The F0 twister touched down in Park Slope at 5:33 p.m. and dissipated two miles to the northeast in Clinton Hill. The same storm crossed into Queens seven minutes later and unleashed a macroburst, a wide swath of straight-line winds of around 125 mph; the strength of a Category 3 hurricane. The macroburst was eight miles long and five miles wide, according to the National Weather Service, extending from Jackson Heights to Richmond Hill, with the hardest hit areas being Middle Village,
Rego Park and Forest Hills. Reports of fallen trees extended as far away as Ozone Park, Hollis and College Point. At 5:42 p.m., an F1 tornado, packing winds of 100 mph, touched down near Forest Hills High School, bisected Flushing Meadows Corona Park north of Meadow Lake, and crossed the Long Island Expressway near Main Street. The twister zigzagged in a general northeasterly direction through Flushing, Auburndale and Bayside, passing close to Queens College, Kissena Park and Clearview Golf Course before dissipating in the Long Island Sound near Fort Totten less than a mile from the Throgs Neck Bridge. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
are lined with one- and two-family detached and semi-detached homes, and protect the appealing suburban-style character that is cherished by its neighborhood residents. I am thrilled to vote yes." Sanders had hoped that the rezoning, which had been sought after for 40 years, would be completed before the housing market rebounds. "We are seeking rules and regulations that say if you take down a one-family home, you can only put up a one-family home," he said.
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
BY SASHA AUSTRIE
Wills Touts Endorsements, Platform
Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
They stood around him in an arc. Friends, family, mentors and clergy gave Ruben Wills their support in his bid for the 28th Council District seat. He is their candidate. “Ruben has been field tested,” said Councilman Leroy Comrie (D- St. Albans.) “He has volunteered at every level of service [in New York State government]. He is unafraid to take on issues.” The 28th District became vacant when late-Councilman Tom White, who had served the district for 15 years, died in August. Wills and 10 other opponents are vying for the seat, which will be determined in a nonpartisan Nov. 2 special election. Like Comrie, State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) was confident in Wills’ ability to lead the district. Wills said his agenda is focused on “Jobs, jobs, jobs, healthcare and economic development.” He added that equipping the district with both a community center and a youth center is also on his to-do list. Wills said he is running on his experience and record of delivering for the community throughout the last 15 years. He previously worked for Comrie and served as Huntley’s Chief of Staff. Wills said, though it was a losing battle, he aided the community in the fight to stop the closure of two Queens hospitals, adding that he tried to navigate the foreclosure crisis plagu-
PRESS Photo by Sasha Austrie
BY SASHA AUSTRIE
Councilman Leroy Comrie, (l. to r.) Marcia and Ruben Wills and Mohammed Hack gathered to endorse Wills’ run for the 28th Councilmanic District seat. ing Southeast Queens as Huntley’s top adviser. “I am mature enough to know what the youth need,” Wills said. “I am mature and seasoned to know senior issues.” A gentleman applauded Wills’ decision
to locate his campaign office in Richmond Hill. “Never has there been a political office on this side of the Van Wyck,” he said. “Once you honor your word of coming to Richmond Hill, we will work with you.”
This is not Wills’ first attempt to lead the 28th District. Last year, Wills launched a campaign against White and a slew of other opponents and placed fourth in the race. Wills said this campaign feels different, with people talking about his candidacy as if it belongs to them. His wife Marcia Wills said her first reaction to her husband’s political ambitions was, “Let’s pray about this. We wanted to make sure it was the right time.” Almost a week after White died, she gave the signal to march ahead. Between now and Nov. 2, Wills plans on blitzing the district. “We will knock on every door we can knock on,” he said. “We want to make sure the community is engaged. We want to remove some of the apathy that people have.” Ondrea Harris, a Baisley Houses resident, said Wills has her vote come Election Day. “Ruben is the one that we want and will get,” she said. Harris said her nephew was killed in Mount Vernon and Wills went to support the family. “He goes beyond Queens,” she said. “He is helping us open [the Baisley Houses Community Center] along with [Huntley]. He and his wife Marcia, they are like family.” Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.
DEP Outreach Clarifies New Plans BY SASHA AUSTRIE On Monday, Dept. of Environmental Protection representatives gave Southeast Queens homeowners a tidbit of information in a customer service outreach event. Matthew Mahoney, Associate Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs and John Singleton, deputy commissioner, briefed attendees on the usage of their water and sewer fees, the new automated meter reading, the Water Debt Assistance Program and other payment options. DEP uses the majority of the revenue to make billions in improvements and fulfill mandated investments issued by the state and federal governments. From fiscal year 2003 to 2010, DEP had $19 billion in capital project commitments, of which 69 percent or $13 billion were legal mandates. Including ensuring that city water is safe for consumption, mandates have also added to customers bills. Between fiscal year 2002 and 2011, the agency increased the water rate 24 percent. This year, legal mandates cost homeowners $177. DEP has lowered the proposed rate for fiscal year 2011 by 1.4 percent to help lower water rates, according to Mahoney. Other efforts to lower rates include a reduction in employees by 214, a reduction of non-emergency fleet saving $2.7 million and energy savings reducing costs by $1 million.
Another money saving measure is the installation of 460,000 automated meter readings.
Singleton said the devices, which are installed free of charge to homeowners, will send water usage to
New automated meter reading is one in a host of programs the Dept. of Environmental Protection is introducing to update its systems and help homeowners save money.
DEP four times a day. Also, it allows customers to monitor their water usage online. "It gives the number of gallons and the amount of water used," Singleton said. "It gives the payment history for the last three years and bill history from the day the AMR device was installed. You can figure out hourly usage." Singleton said the apparatus will be a boon for home as leaks can be noticed and remedied before it affects a homeowner's wallet. Farrell Sklerov, DEP spokesman, said the entire city will be outfitted with AMRs by the end of 2011. Mahoney highlighted the Water Debt Assistance Program, which was launched in February 2008. He said enrollment would temporarily relieve homeowners on the brink of foreclosure with past-due water and sewer bills. To qualify, homeowners have to be delinquent on their mortgage, a notification of lien, sale or service termination and tax Class 1, owner occupied one-, two-, or three-family home. "It's not a forgiveness, it's a forbearance," Singleton said. "It gives people a little bit of breathing room." Including the debt assistance, there are also payment plans and tax exemptions for senior citizens. Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5
Editorial OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS 174-15 Horace Harding Expwy. Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 (voice) (718) 357-7400 fax (718) 357-9417 email news@queenspress.com The PRESS of Southeast Queens Associate Publisher
In Our Opinion: Arnold Thibou Executive Editor:
Brian Rafferty Contributing Editor:
Marcia Moxam Comrie
Bringing Out Our Best The worst natural disaster to hit Queens in at least a quarter century brought out the best in some of our residents this week. Within minutes of the tornado passing through, as the shock of the damage was still settling in, people immediately started dragging limbs off roads to help allow traffic to pass. Within hours, as commuters faced a nightmare of either delays or cancelled service, the drivers who waited hours to pass through a few short miles did not lean on their horns. They knew that we all, at this point, needed to work together. That spirit was true from Forest Hills to Flushing, from Middle Village to Auburndale and in every corner of our borough. Strangers and neighbors have been helping each other survive, adjust and get back to normal following the devastating storm. Today, despite the rift caused by the tornado that split our borough in two, we have come together to unite as one people, side-by-side, neighbor-by-neighbor. Let us continue to work together.
Production Manager:
Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor
Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen
Reporters: Harley Benson Sasha Austrie Joseph Orovic Domenick Rafter Jessica Ablamsky Editorial Intern: Angy Altamirano Jason Banrey Rebecca Sesny Art Dept:
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Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
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A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2010 Tribco, LLC
Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher
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Letters No Reform Hero To The Editor: I was outraged this week after picking up a copy of the Eastern Queens Gazette and looking at the front cover of the paper which called State Sen. Frank Padavan a "Hero Of Reform." Padavan is anything but a Hero Of Reform. He has had 38 years to prove that he is a reformer and he has not. He is probably one of the most anti-reform politicians I could ever think of. Padavan has always been a supporter of making abortions illegal. Last year when he had an opportunity to give his LGBT constituents marriage equality he voted against the bill. In 2008 he
challenged hundreds of St. Johns University students' voter registrations in court during finals week. Padavan has always been against the legalization of gambling in New York State, which is something that would help close our state's budget gap. And how can we forget Padavan's role in last year's Albany coup which paralyzed State Government for weeks. After all this, how could Padavan possibly be a "Hero Of Reform?" The only reason why he signed onto Mayor Koch's NY Uprising pledge is to save his own hide. Padavan's opponent this year, former Councilman Tony Avella,
Letters has spent his entire career being a reformer and he is someone that we can all believe will go up to Albany and help bring change to what is the most dysfunctional legislature in the country. To all voters in the 11th Senatorial District, please vote for reform and change this November. Vote Tony Avella for New York State Senate. Matthew Silverstein, Bayside
Anti-Semitic Tony To The Editor: We are still months away from the November elections. However, before things get heated up with too many political messages and ads, it is imperative for voters to take note of former Councilmember Tony Avella, who is vying to run against State Sen. Frank Padavan. In 2009, when current Council member, former Black Panther member, and outspoken antiSemite Charles Barron decided that he may run for the Speaker's seat, almost all Council members abstained from giving him support, because Barron has a long record of drumming up antiSemitic and racist sentiments. However, the only Council member to support Barron was Avella, who helped form the "Barron/ Avella New York City Council Democratic Reform Movement." In May, when Barron compared Gaza to "a concentration death camp," Avella didn't see a need to denounce his friend's statement. A few years ago, Barron intro-
duced a bill in the Council that would have named a street in the memory of known anti-Semite and racist Sonny Carson, who few New Yorkers remember in good light. Avella joined the most radical members to vote to fulfill the wish of a known anti-Semite to put in memory the name of someone who was an instigator of hate in the City and architect of the bloody Crown Heights riot. Due to Avella's actions, it is known within the Democratic City Council caucus that Barron has always a loyal vote to support him in his hateful agenda. The last thing that we need is to send to Albany someone who was ready to give the second most powerful city seat (the Speaker post) to an outspoken antiSemite. In this critical year, when every seat hangs in the balance on all levels of government, we cannot afford to send to Albany a person that supports and supported divisions and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Whatever one's political party affiliation may be, it is certain that where Avella comes into play, one needs to vote the other way. Charles Gold, Queens
WRITE ON: The PRESS of Southeast Queens,
174-15 Horace Harding Expy. Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 email news@queenspress.com fax: (718) 357-9417
Tornado And The City: Oh What A Tangled Mess A Personal Perspective By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE A tornado tore through three of our city's five boroughs last week like it thought it was in Kansas. Brooklyn, Staten Island and our beloved Queens took a beating last Thursday at the close of the workday, trapping commuters on highways, parkways and byways alike with blinding rain and lightning while toppling trees. It also led to the death of one commuter in the drive-time mêlée. When it was all said and done, neighborhoods in Forest Hills, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Hollis Hills and other parts, were a mess of tumbled trees and electric wires, crushed cars and damaged houses. There were no yellow brick roads to the fix-it wizard. Days after the onslaught, we were still chopping out of it. Myth holds that cities don't get hit by tornadoes, but New York is starting to shatter that opinion. Meteorologists now say
New York City has been hit by tornadoes more often this year than have rural areas. About five years ago, a mid-day tornado also decimated parts of Brooklyn. So much for that theory! The thriller that got us last week is said to have migrated from Kansas and Ohio and "accelerated into the East." That was some acceleration. It felled monster trees like little boys topple toy soldiers. Some snapped in two and others simply succumbed, root and all, to the tempest. It was a frightful experience. As New Yorkers, we are not used to this sort of natural assault; but more and more these last few years, there have been rude awakenings. Last spring, dozens of trees also toppled throughout the city. We had endured history-making rain falls and the soggy soil simply gave way around the roots of the big old trees, even causing a few deaths. One cannot help but wonder if
Mayor Mike Bloomberg, while busy putting in new trees, shouldn't also mandate that some older, top-heavy trees be given extreme trims or simply be replaced with saplings. Our citizens, our homes and our automobiles are being endangered by these toppling monstrosities. I'm all for cleaning our air via the grand old trees, but they need to be monitored. Saplings take time to mature and provide the cleaning and shade that the veteran trees do. There is history and splendor in the older trees; but at what price do we keep our vulnerable old beauties? We would not want to go on a random slash and burn, but we do need to make sure they are safe. About a decade ago, a tree on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Laurelton toppled on a bus transporting children to school. A woman lost her life on the Grand Central last week when she parked parallel to a tree during the shocking blow-by. Visibil-
ity was poor, traffic was barely moving and she tried to be safe by pulling over to the side. Her passenger was also hospitalized. I was not home when the tornado hit; I was on the road and it was frightening. I was worried for my own safety and for my property and neighbors. It was a big sigh of relief that I uttered upon returning to find that we were unscathed in our part of Queens. The Earth seems to have entered into an era of natural unrest. Environmentalists are blaming global warming due to the centuries of abuse the planet has sustained at our hands. There is plenty of blame to go around on that score. In the meantime, the city cleans itself up from the rubble; FEMA is determining whether or not affected neighborhoods qualify for aid and homeowners try to negotiate payments from their insurance carriers. It will be a while before any kind of compensation exchanges hands. We wish them all well.
Police Blotter Compiled By DOMENICK RAFTER
102nd Precinct Found Dead On Tuesday, Sept.14, at 6:54 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious person in front of 84-27 85th Ave. in Woodhaven. Upon arrival police found a Nicholas Cordova, 17, of 84-22 106th St., Richmond Hill, lying on the
ground with an injury to his head. EMS transported Cordova to Jamaica Hospital where he was later pronounced dead on arrival. There were no arrests at this time and the investigation was ongoing.
110th Precinct Crushed By Van
On Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 7:15 a.m., police responded to a 911 call of a man hit by a car on 76 Street and Woodside Avenue, in Elmhurst. Upon arrival, police observed Rashid Muhammad, 75, of 75-06 Woodside Ave., Elmhurst, unconscious and unresponsive, with trauma to the body. At that intersection, a 2001 Chevy van collided with an ambulance. The van then
St. John's Fund-Raiser Paid Herself $1M: DA
By DOMENICK RAFTER
A former dean at St. John’s University was arrested last week and charged with embezzling more than $1 million from the school over a six-year period. Dr. Cecilia Chang, 57, who had been Vice President of International Relations and Dean for the Center for Asian Studies until her suspension in September 2009, was arrested at her home on Tryon Place in Jamaica Estates last Wednesday. She was charged in a 205-count indictment with one count of first-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree attempted grand larceny, 69 counts of second-degree forgery, 69 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and 64 counts of firstdegree falsifying business records. Queens DA Richard Brown said Chang allegedly submitted travel and en-
tertainment charges for reimbursement as costs related her to job when in fact, the charges were not work-related. The charges included casino expenses, meals at restaurants, lingerie shopping and even her son’s tuition at St. John’s School of Law. The DA’s office has placed a lien on her Jamaica Estates mansion. Chang is also alleged to have diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in foundation donations intended for the school to herself, including $250,000 from a Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, head of the charitable organization the Kingdom Foundation. According to the DA’s office, she attempted to appropriate another $550,000 by creating a fake not-forprofit organization called the Global Development Initiative Foundation and mislead the Saudi foundation into believing the money would go to St. John’s. “It is disheartening, indeed, to see an alleged betrayal of this magnitude which
flipped on its side and in that process hit Muhammad. He was removed by a separate ambulance but died en route to the Elmhurst Hospital. An investigation was ongoing. No arrests were made. The drivers of both the van and the ambulance were in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital.
112th Precinct Suspect Sought
inexcusably deprived the University of much needed educational funds and could have a chilling effect on the school’s future fund-raising efforts,� Brown said. Brown said that the investigation leading to last week’s indictment began following a 2009 internal audit by University officials of Chang’s travel and entertainment expenses that led to her suspension. According to the charges, Chang was required to submit her credit card bills to the University with an explanation of the expenses. Her expenses were usually high. She allegedly used a credit card from a Taiwanese bank and submitted those charges, which included her son’s tuition, to be reimbursed, arguing she could only use that card while overseas. If convicted, Chang could face 25 years in prison. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400 Ext. 125.
The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man wanted in connection with five grand larcenies that took place in Forest Hills and Rego Park. The suspect approaches the victims on a bicycle, removes property and flees the location on the bicycle. In four of the incidents, the suspect fled on a red bicycle, while during the fifth, the suspect was riding a silver BMX bicycle with rear pegs.
113th Precinct Shot To Death On Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 2:44 a.m., police responded to a 911 call of a man shot near 143-04 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans. Upon arrival, police found Sanders Jones, 29, of 143-04 Linden Blvd., with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. EMS also responded and transported Jones to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. There were no arrests made in regards to this incident and the investigation was ongoing.
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Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7
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The Truth About Ethics and the State We’re In
By MICHAEL SCHENKLER Pedro Espada was destroyed at the Primar y polls last week. Hiram Monserrate did no better. No offense to Gustavo Rivera who I do not know or Francisco Moya who I do know, but those elections were not their victories, but losses for two disgraced has-beens. We wish the best to Rivera and Moya, who we endorsed, the best but see the story in the selective defeat of the losers. The i nside e stablishment turned on Espada and Monserrate. Members of their own party, their caucus and many of their former friends and allies villainized the two. Hiram first became a target of his colleagues and par ty and suffered the humiliation when removed by his colleagues last year, citing his behavior and conviction of a misdemeanor in a domestic violence incident – he was found innocent of the major charges.
Espada is facing charges of corruption for his alleged misuse of public funds in his Bronx healthcare business and rightfully was condemned by his party and colleagues. But I think it is clear they both suffered their Democratic colleagues’ animus when they broke with the Democratic Caucus and threw Senate control to the Republicans in the summer of 2009. Then they returned to their caucus extracting prices which were paid by the angry Democratic caucus. Well, the repayment is now complete. The Senate Democratic caucus-led vendetta has destroyed both of the fallen amigos politically. Neither again will be able to obtain elective office or hold appointed jobs. They are both pariahs so painted by a political world that has tolerated such behaviors when the offenders are loyal party member s whose vote s ca n be
counted on. Don’t get me wrong, I am not condemning the Democratic Senator s who turned on Pedro and Hiram; their behaviors deserved it. But there have been many legislators before them who were abusive, corrupt or so embarrassing to the Legislature but their colleagues looked the other way. It took an insurgent named Shirley Huntley to beat a physically abusive Ada Smith in the Democratic Primary for State Senate four years ago. Smith’s colleagues and party looked the other way in spite of a clear pat tern. Brooklyn State Sen. Kevin Parker hasn’t been reprimanded by his colleagues in spite of a series of incidents of physical abuse. Smith, Parker, Monserrate: they all should have been called on the carpet and punished by the Senate; but only Hiram who deserted his party and threw the Senate into chaos last
summer was punished. And who joined Hiram – or led him – in last summer’s greater
dysfunct ion tha n usual? Pedro Espada – an apparent crook. He was an apparent crook when the Republicans embraced him and made him Senate President in exchange for his vote. He was an apparent crook when the Dems kept him as Senate President and increased his member item allocation to buy him back. But the history of the Legis-
lature shows apparent crooks are suppor ted by their caucus until convicted of a felony. The list of unethical crooks that should have been abandoned by their colleagues is long, starts with former Senate Leader Joe Bruno and runs straight on til morning. Without prejudging any member of the Legislature, it is clear to me that the ethics oversight of the members by the Assembly and Senate is a political self-serving process to protect those in office. As we approach the potential new era of reform forced upon the Legislature, ethics looms large. Right after the courts or the governor rejects their self-serving attempts at reapportionment, look to the budget process and ethics to top the list of reforms to be rammed down the legislature’s throats. And that’s the State of New York. MSchenkler@QueensPress.com
Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
What We Learned From The Primary
By HENRY STERN In an initial take on last week’s primar y, we offer some nuggets of fact, surmise and opinion. 1. The Democratic and Republican party organizations continue to weaken. They are most influential in races Henry where no one knows who the candidates are, usually for judgeships or at the bottom of the ticket. For more important offices, where voters have familiarity with the candidates, they make their own decisions as to whom they will support, guided to some extent by the campaigns and the media. The generally low Democratic turnout placed a premium on machine support. Percentage w ise, more Republicans cast ballots. 2. Tuesday was a good night for incumbents. As far as we know, only two state senators were defeated. Pedro Espada, Jr., in the Bronx, against whom the entire civilized world had combined, lost 62-33 to Gustavo Rivera; and Bill Stachowski of Buffalo, lost, 63-26, to Tim Kennedy. Stachowski, a state senator for 28 years, was a target of environmental groups for his opposition to clean up of toxic wastes, and gay organizations objected to his host ilit y to mar riage equalit y. Stachowski was supported by the Worki ng Familie s and t he Independence Party. He held up the state budget because he insisted on greater autonomy for SUNY Buffalo. However, in the end he caved and disappointed his constituents. Tim Kennedy is an Erie Count y legislator, who li nked Stachowski to the dysfunction in Albany. We also suspect there were
demographic changes in the district since the Polish-American solon, a former football star at Holy Cross, was first elected a generation ag o. Bot h ca ndidate s signed the Koch pledge. 3. T he only t wo Assemblymembers to be Stern denied renomination were Ginny Fields in Suffolk County, who lost to Ken Mangan, 53-47, and Francine DelMonte of Niagara County, who lost to John Accardo, 52-48. Reform was not a particular issue in these races, all four candidates having signed the pledge. 4. The majority of incumbent state legislators were not challenged by other aspirants. Therefore, primar y elections were not held for those positions. Fifteen incumbent senators were challenged. For the remaining 47 seats (out of a total of 62), the incumbents were unchallenged. Twenty-seven assembly members were challenged. For the remaining 123 seats (out of 150) the incumbents were not challenged in a primary. 5. According to Jerry Skurnik, who is an expert in these matters, the reason there are proportionally more contested city than state elect ions is that the city’s campaign finance system provides for matching funds on a 6-to-1 basis for contributions of $175 or less. The maximum public subsidy for a city council race was $88,550 in 2009, and it will rise in 2013. The expenditure limit was $161,000; it too will rise. There is no provision for matching funds in state elections, so the candidate must raise all the funds he spends. This discourages
candidacies, because to attain a minimal level of exposure in an assembly race against an incumbent, spending close to $100,000 is a requirement. Double that sum for a state senate race. Since people are usually unlikely to give large sums to local candidates, there is a great advantage to aspirants who can fund their own races. 6. The roll out of the new electronic vot ing machine s was flawed, drawing the ire of the public and spurring elected officials to berate the Board of Elections. Now we must find out how accurate the electoral counts tabulated by the machines are. The Board is conducting a lottery to randomly select 3 percent of the election districts in the five boroughs for a hand recount of the paper ballots processed by the machines. We will keep you posted on how the two sets of figures match up. Theoretically, they should be identical. 7. The 2011 legislature will be very much like the 2010 legislature, except that the coup conspirators Espada and Monserrate will be gone. We cannot predict which party will control the state senate next year, and what the effect of the Paladino candidacy will be on Republican legislative candidates. Will the GOP be energized by its standard bearer, or will frightened mo derate s de ser t t he elephant line? Democratic senate leader John Sampson of Brooklyn will presumably succeed Pedro Espada as majorit y leader, if the Democrats retain their senate majority. Sampson has written a letter signing on to the Koch reforms, as has Dean Skelos, the Republican leader, and all his troops. 8. If the senators keep their written pledges, substantial legis-
lative reform would be a strong possibility in the areas of redistricting by an independent commission, ethics reform identifying and limiting the private employment of elected public servants in the legislature, and requiring a state budget to be balanced budget pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This is the law in New York City, but not in New York State. The Assembly will be a harder sell. Speaker Silver says that he would allow some reforms, but he has balked at an independent redistricting commission. An important element of the Speaker’s power to enforce his will is the ability to punish refractory (from his viewpoint) legislators by abolishing their districts, merging them with others, or removing their homes from their districts. An independent commission would presumably not be congenial to
spot redistricting on the basis of a legislator’s independence or submission to the Speaker. The leadership has many other powers over individual members, including committee assignments, lulus (pensionable payments to commit tee chairs and miscellaneous favored designees), the use of the Rule s Commit tee to advance or to bottle up bills, the assignment of office space and other facilities, etc. The Speaker’s power was likened many years ago, with regard to the City Council, to the authority of a Mother Superior in a convent. The power to terminate a political career by reapportionment is a superfluous award of authority to the most powerful man in state government (with the occasional, but not recent, exception of the governor). It is now 40 days to the election. We will be following the race. StarQuest@NYCivic.org
Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
Borough Beat
Ancient Spire Ruined Atop Flushing Church PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
PRESS Photo by Joseph Orovic
The spire’s remains lie as a pile of debris outside the church Friday. PRESS Photo by Joseph Orovic
The neo-gothic spire atop St. George’s Church rose above the din of Main Street Flushing for 156 years. It took a scant few moments to tear down. By the time the colossal winds and pounding rain were done, the Episcopal/ Anglican church’s iconic apex laid strewn across Main Street in tattered ruins. The church itself was founded in 1702, and had among its members Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lewis. The spire was erected in 1854. A neighboring hotdog stand owner braved the storm on the corner of 39th Avenue and Main Street, holding onto his cart as the winds blew north up Main Street. He managed a glance over his shoulder to see the spire get hit by lightning then twist slightly in the wind like a bottle cap before detaching from the church. The scene left Downtown Flushing in disarray. Police cordoned off the entire stretch, shoving aside centuries-old piles of wood and clearing the street. According to the parish’s sexton Blaise Scelsi, the spire nicked an MTA bus but thankfully missed any pedestrians. The storm caught the church at an awkward moment, as it is in the midst of a power transfer.
Interim pastor Shawn Duncan had hardly been temporarily at the helm for a week when the storm hit. He admits his connection to the physical structure is not that great as a result, but adds, “The Church isn’t the building – it’s the people.” In that spirit, Duncan held regular services the night of the storm. As of printing, contractors were slated to come and assess the extent of the damage, as well as seal-off any holes in the steeple left as a result of the storm. Duncan could not estimate how long rebuildThe iconic peak of St. George’s is now gone. ing would take. The only recognizable remnant left is the dilapidated cross sure what will replace the that once crowned the spire. The mangled lost structure. wood and copper fixture rested within the Reach Reporter Joseph church’s main entrance, a twisted mess Orovic at hardly resembling its original self. jorovic@queenstribune.com The church itself carries on, but is un- or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
BY JOSEPH OROVIC
The copper cross from atop the spire is now mangled.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9
The Road Ahead:
Baby Steps Toward A Full Recovery Residents and community leaders emerged from Thursday's storm to find a diagonal gash of disarray across the borough as remnants of the dual tornados and a macroburst faded east into the distance. In the most recent count, thousands of trees had toppled, 24 homes required forced evacuation - five of which need to be demolished - and one life was lost. It had been 25 years since Queens faced a tornado, and the immediate question following the destruction was, "Can we recoup from this effectively?"
Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
Photo by Angy Altamirano
By most accounts, the answer is a tenuous "yes," given the circumstances. According to local leaders and elected officials, the city, Parks Dept. and Con Edison showed an overall effective level of coordination. Mayhem was kept at bay. Major roads were cleared relatively quickly. An epic tragedy was averted. Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz's (DForest Hills) district served as the storm's practice grounds, with massive trees left prostrate across streets. "It took the 'forest' out of Forest Hills," she said. "This could have been really disastrous." Koslowitz found the city's response effective overall, and was impressed with Safe For School? the speed of cleaning. She had one gripe A little more than half a day after last with schools being left open while their week's macroburst and tornado roared entrances were plugged though the borough, by downed trees, espeschoolchildren all over cially PS 174. Queens were waking up "I looked at all the to find out schools schools and it was a diwere open. They saster area," Koslowitz weren't the only ones said. "I was a little upwho were upset by it. set." Mayor Mike Those trees have Bloomberg, while sursince been cleared. veying tornado damThe northern swath age in Corona on of Councilman Jim Thursday night, said Gennaro's (D-Fresh schools were to remain Meadows) district sufopen Friday, despite fered downed trees and some having been damlost power from the aged. Koslowitz and storm. CB 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio both "In my estimation there is no doubt what- Along Kissena Boulevard, a said some of the soever that this area has firefighter hacks away at a tree to schools in Forest Hills and Rego Park, though been made into a disas- remove it piece by piece. structurally sound, were ter area. It just is. It's a dangerous places for fact," he said. Still, he heralded the response within children to be. At PS 174 in Rego Park, downed trees the first few days. "There's been a remarkable amount of and debris littered the sidewalks around work and progress that's been made in the school and the schoolyard. Over the school's main entrance, tree branches, the last 100 hours." But the assessment is not so positive hanging by threads, swayed over the for Councilman Dan Halloran (R- heads of students. Debris from the storm Whitestone), who found the city's reac- still made Dieterle Crescent impassable, forcing parents who usually drive their tion within the first 24 hours lackluster. "What we've been trying to do is play kids to school to walk instead, in streets littered with debris. catch up," he said. "It's a mess, it's too dangerous for The flawed response includes poor communication, difficulty getting through them to be there," Gulluscio said. Russel Sage JHS on Austin Street in to 911, the late activation of local CERT teams, Parks Dept. offices closing for the Forest Hills was open, despite the fact weekend and even a shortage of yellow that a 50-foot tree tumbled into the front yard near the entrance and remained uncaution tape, according to Halloran.
moved by the time students got to school Friday morning. The sidewalks along adjacent Yellowstone Boulevard were impassable and many students were forced to walk in the busy street. On the opposite side of Yellowstone Boulevard, only a block from the school, Austin Street was closed for a one-block stretch because of downed power lines. Though no damage was done to the school, or its grounds, students and parents at PS 49 in Middle Vil- The Wedding Gazebo at Queens Botanical Garden lage were forced to maneuver was destroyed. through debris-clogged streets to the school's east and southeast after the storm. Fallen and damaged trees in Juniper Valley Park, directly across the street from the school, worried some parents. Every classroom at Rego Park's Our Savior Lutheran School were either badly damaged or destroyed. The private school, at 64-33 Woodhaven Blvd., was closed Friday and Monday to allow crews to fix structural damage to the building. The school's playground sufA worker helps clear away a tree in Flushing. fered considerable damage, and a shed that housed toys and barbecues was completely destroyed. Borukhov replied, "Oh, forget about it." Though he had not yet called insurance for his damaged sign, it could be a Burst Bubble At Queens College, almost every cor- costly replacement. The small sign cost ner of the campus had trees that had $4,000. Though business was bad for some, fallen due to the strong winds of Thursday's storm. Lamps along the cam- others used the chaos as an opportunity pus had been shattered and the glass de- to make a little money, like the enterprisbris scattered on the floor. Yet, cleaning ing individual who hung up a handmade crews had arrived early Friday to aid in poster board sign that read, "we buy storm damaged cars" in an area that sustained clean up. One of the biggest damages that the severe damage. campus suffered was the shredding of the Moving Onward tent that houses the indoor tennis center. The strong winds and fallen trees ripped According to the district managers of a hole through the tent and brought it the affected areas, a healthy dose of perdown onto the court inside. Even though spective has generally kept residents' the outcome was horrible, members of the complaints to a minimum. Women's softball team joined together "You've got to realize that this is someto help clean up the wreckage. thing not for New York," said CB 7 Dis"I didn't believe it was real," said Sara trict Manager Marilyn Bitterman. "Under Kumou, a senior. "After seeing the tent, I the circumstances, they did a very, very realized it was real and actually hap- good job." pened." Kumou, along with team memGennaro said some residents are upset bers and friends, including seniors Julia over slow clean-up efforts, but he constantly Carbone and Victoria Coan and sopho- reminds them of the city's priorities. more Alex Dragl, cleaned up the softball "You need to tell people that streets field and then moved on to clean up the are not cleared and areas that don't have indoor tennis court. power and that the priority is getting the people's power back on," he said. Most agree a recovery is a long time Businesses Bashed away. But how exactly to even define a For Ruben Borukhov, the day after the storm was not his best. Standing in front of "recovery" is difficult. The council members agreed that their his shop on Francis Lewis Boulevard, he asked passersby, "Want a Christmas tree?" districts lost more than trees - they lost a Though many of them laughed and chunk of the neighborhoods identity. "I'm not sure that tree canopy is goexchanged pleasantries, none patronized his namesake operation, Ruben's ing to look like that," Halloran said. "It's going to be decades before we see anyBarbershop. "We cleared [the debris] away last thing like it again." Gennaro was more succinct. night," he said. "You couldn't even see "We lost a lot of good wood out there," the sign. We need people to come in." Despite his best effort, trees and de- he said. Reach the Queens Tribune newsroom at bris were piled so high that his awning, and those of his neighbors, were hard to editor@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, see. Asked how business was going, Ext. 122.
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
Leaders Weigh In
Is It Safe? While many are assessing the damage to their homes and personal properties, Queens residents should be vigilant of any suspect trees, according to arborist Gerard Arnold, who does work for the Queens Botanical Garden. While the immediately obvious trees are being addressed by the city, Arnold said a second round of trimming, uprooting and cutting should be expected, as the less apparent damage begins to show. "There's usually an initial wave then a second wave," he said. Erring on the side of caution is best when handling trees suffering residual damage from Thursday night's storm. Arnold recommends folks keep an eye on even slightly damaged trees. Dangling branches and leaning stumps could present problems down the road. According to Arnold, homeowners should look for uniformity in the coloration of leaves. If any section of the tree begins to yellow or wither ahead of fall's schedule, they should have the tree checked out. But do not tackle the project alone - entangled branches cut incorrectly can send wood crashing down. Folks are best off calling in a specialist. "Have a professional handle it, always," Arnold said.
PRESS Photo by Joseph Orovic
BY PRESS STAFF
Photos by Walter Karling
pix Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson
A Community Focus The Greater Jamaica Development Corp. held its bi-monthly meeting of its Downtown Committee Sept. 15.
Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
Featured speaker Queens Tribune Advertising Director Alan Goldsher explaining the benefits of keeping one's business name in the public eye through the community press.
PRESS of Southeast Queens Associate Publisher and featured speaker Arnold Thibou informed the meeting, among other things, of targeted display advertising and general classified ads in promoting one's business.
Meeting participants discussing the appearance of the recent issue of the PRESS of Southeast Queens : (seated) Committee Chairman William Martin, Ayanna Spurlock-Shackelton; (standing) Arnold Thibou, Alan Goldsher, Bruno Iciano.
Ayanna Spurlock-Shackelton, Program Director for Youth & Community Empowerment of the Community Mediation Services, described her organization's recent and future activities.
Guest speaker Bruno Iciano, Community Affairs Liason with the NYC Department of Sanitation, provided helpful tips in promoting the upkeep of the neighborhood by keeping the area free of trash.
Guest speaker Deputy Inspector Charles McEvoy of the 103rd Police Precinct related positive crime-fighting statistics in the area.
C O L L E G E
Vissi Dance Theater NYC Presents
QUEENS GALA EVENT Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 7:00 pm $20.00 Adults / $10.00 Students & Seniors
THE YORK COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 94-45 Guy Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11451
Major funding for this series provided by NYC Councilmembers Thomas White Jr. (28th-CD), Chair of Economic Development, and Leroy Comrie (27th-CD), Deputy Majority Leader NY City Council and Chair of Land Use Committee.
Box Office: 718-262-2840 PAC Information: 718-262-3750 Tickets are available online at: www.york.cuny.edu
S P E C I A L P R E S E N TAT I O N S E R I E S
Y O R K
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13
Profile
SEQ Poets Thrive For Over 30 Years
BY SASHA AUSTRIE
Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
With its bold hues, The Afrikan Poetry Theatre seems out of place in a neighborhood rife with muted colors. But for 31 years, it has grown roots on Jamaica Avenue. The Afrikan Poetry Theatre was the brain child of two poets, Yusef Waliyaya and John Watusi Branch. The two met at the “East” Cultural Center and Uhuru Sasa Shule “Freedom Now School” in Brooklyn. They brought their talents together in 1976. Within a year, the duo had evolved from an ensemble with drummers to expanding the power of their words with additional musicians and poets. Without a permanent place to call home, the theater’s first audiences were in public parks, prisons, outdoor festivals, community center and clubs. A mere two years after coming into being, the organization found a space close to the Central Library on Merrick and a year later they made their home in the current location on Jamaica Avenue. To celebrate their history in the community, the Afrikan Poetry Theater is hosting its annual Creative Cuisine event at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Harvest Room, located at 90-40 160th St. Byron Perry, a consultant and board
The Afrikan Poetry Theatre will celebrate its history with its annual Creative Cuisine event on Oct. 30. member of the theater, said patrons of the event can expect an exquisite evening of dinner and entertainment. Food will be cooked by about 30 men. Tickets are $35 for adults, $40 at the door and $15 for children. For tickets call (718) 5233312. “The brothers are prepared,” Perry said. He said the menu will be rife with southern African and Caribbean foods. Sekou Branch, 36, said he grew up
within the walls of the theatre, which are covered with African American leaders peering out of picture frames. “I was raised in here, so a lot of my thinking comes from here,” he said. “It’s been here about 34 years; two generations of this community grew up in the theatre.” Perry said the establishment is unique as it caters to the entire family. He said the programs range from jazz music to lectures on Africa and African American issues. “Ironically, we don’t have black his-
tory programs because we celebrate black history all year round,” Perry said. “We have the largest Kwanzaa program in New York City.” Perry joined the Afrikan Poetry Theatre 30 years ago. He said then he was a poet and volunteered his time to the organization. Ronald Burwell, assistant administrator and affiliate of the theatre for 29 years, said he became a permanent fixture to benefit the children of the community. “We started a youth group – a brotherhood/sisterhood school,” he said. Burwell, said the school, dubbed MAAT, which is a Kiswahili word meaning balance, operated for 20 years. “We tried to reach them and teach them about culture,” he said. Even after 34 years, the theatre is still making strides to reach beyond its four walls. Perry said renovations of the theatre’s space will soon commence. Including renovations, the establishment is reaching out to a new generation via the web, afrikanpoetrytheatre.org, Twitter and Facebook. “I want people to support the program all year round,” Perry said. “Come to the fundraiser, become a member.” Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.
A&E
QBG Artist Interacts With Visitors
Queens Botanical Garin Indiana with a B.A. in den announced that artist Graphic Design and a workSusan Springer Anderson ing emphasis in sculpture. will be its new artist-in-resiShe studied design abroad at dence, working at the GarJames Cook University in den for a month from Sept. Townsville, Australia. She is 18 through Oct. 17. She will a 2010 QCAF recipient. create a collection of figuraHer body of work focuses tive installation sculptures on exploring and exposing utilizing natural materials the different layers of the hucollected from the Garden. man experience through the As a twist, Anderson will assemblage of a variety of create the sculptures with the repurposed materials. She has assistance of the community One of Susan Springer shown her armature assemthrough a series of drop-in Anderson's pieces. She will blage sculpture in juried galworkshops. The project is work with visitors to create lery shows, solo features and made possible through a "people" for the Queens in non-traditional spaces in grant with the Queens Com- Botanical Garden. New York, New Jersey, Chimunity Art Fund. cago, Indiana, North Carolina Anderson is an artist and teaching art- and Washington D.C. Examples of Susan's ist, working and living in New York City. current work can be found on her website: She is a graduate of Anderson University home.earthlink.net/~susan.springer/
Restaurant Review
A Slice Of Old Napoli to repeat, I wavered between the fagottini - fresh pasta filled with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts, served with smoked prosciutto and sage in a cream sauce - and the breaded chicken, topped with prosciutto, fontina cheese and a brown sauce accompanied with mashed potatoes and spinach. I asked the server for input, without hesitation she said, "Get both." So, I got both. There was nothing left to be desired. I got everything I bargained for and more. The fagottini was creamy and cheesy. The walnuts added a great texture and a nice crunch. I then tackled the breaded chicken. The flavors gave a hint of chicken parmigiana, but in a different fashion. It was pure comfort. The mashed potatoes were homemade and the spinach added color and contrast to the plate. I felt less guilty for consuming the creamy entrees by having a side of green. My date ordered the lasagna emiliana - meat and béchamel sauce topped with parmesan cheese. Though I was quite satisfied with my two entrées, I jealously took a forkful of the lasagna. Just as rich and creamy as I remember. Up next came dessert, which at Naplè means a wonderful marriage of f lavors in a gelato concoction. We settled on the coppa stracciatella chocolate chip gelato with hazelnuts and a dusting of cocoa powder. There is nothing more delectable after a hearty meal than a delightful dessert Go ahead, visit Naplè and if none of the entrées or desserts pique your interest, just go simple and try the pizza. No matter what you get, you won't be disappointed. — Sasha Austrie
p.m., Community Workshop; Saturday, Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4p.m., Community Workshop; and Sunday, Oct. 17, 3-5 p.m., Exhibit Opening. Queens Botanical Garden is an urban oasis where people, plants and cultures are celebrated through inspiring gardens, innovative educational programs and demonstrations of environmental stewardship. Located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing, Queens Botanical Garden is easily accessible by car, train or bus. Parking is available in the Garden's lot on Crommelin Street. For travel directions and more information visit queensbotanical.org or call (718) 886-3800
Quintet Boro Concert Set For This Sunday
Quintet of the Americas woodwind ensemble will be in concert on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m. at Natives Theater, 82-24 Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights. This program is presented in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in cooperation with the Latin American Cultural Center of Queens. Repertoire for this concert includes Judah Adashi's "Songs and Dances of Macondo," based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude;" William Grant's "Still's Folk Suite No 4" and "Adolorido and Yaravi" from "Miniatures;" Paquito D'Rivera's "Aires Tropicales;" Carl MaultsBy's "Still Rockin in Jerusalem;" Leonard Bernstein's "Danzon" (arr. Oldham); James Cohn's "Samba Nostalgica" and "Finale" from "Fiesta Latina;" Piazzolla's "Libertango;" and a selection of Colombian dances. The Sept. 26 concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call Natives Theater at (718) 335-0780. Members of Quintet of the Americas are Sato Moughalian, flute, Matt Sullivan, oboe, Nicholas Gallas, clarinet, Barbara Oldham, horn and Maureen Strenge, bassoon. Founded in Bogota, Colombia in
1976, the Quintet has specialized in bringing new music from the Western hemisphere to audiences in the United States since its arrival in New York in 1979. The group has enjoyed an international career that has taken them to concert halls throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. They are currently in residence in The Department of Music and Performing Arts in The Steinhardt School at New York University. Visit their website at quintet.org and become their friend at facebook.com. This program is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding comes from The Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation. This performance of "Songs and Dances of Macondo" is sponsored by the American Composers Forum through its Encore Program, supporting repeat performances of new works.
The members of the Quintet of the Americas.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15
NAPLÈ 29-02 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing (718) 358-0070 CUISINE: Italian HOURS: Mon-Sun 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. CREDIT CARDS: Yes PARKING: Street The downed trees blocking my path and a steady drizzle that lingered long after the storm gave me a feeling that I was not in Queens anymore; the sunshine yellow walls and green and white accents of Naplè made for a welcome refuge. I have been here before and I happily worked through every morsel put in front of me. My one goal at Naplè was to not repeat any of my past selections. Right out of the gate, I failed. Perusing the menu, I found the classic caprese - beefsteak tomato layered with buffalo mozzarella and parma prosciutto - drizzled with with balsamic vinegar and kissed by basil leaves. I was tempted by the beef Carpaccio - thin raw sliced beef marinated with extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and accompanied with arugula, shitake mushrooms and sliced parmesan cheese - but I ended up with the perfection of the caprese. I had committed its simple elegance to memory and in doing that it branded me. Though the complimentary homemade bread arrived after the appetizer, it was worth the wait. As customary, the bread is drizzled with olive oil, rosemary and a pinch of salt. The browned edge of the bread is infused with the essence of the oven. Being in the bright atmosphere surrounded by a bevy of chatter and soft music, Mother Nature's rant was forgotten; the main focus was selecting an entrée. I lingered on the lasagna emiliana. I had it last time. Being determined not
id2.html. Susan also has a blog that is tracking her progress throughout the QBG project at delicateutility.blogspot.com/. While in-residence at QBG, Anderson and the garden goers assisting her will be creating three or four "people" in the Garden. These people will be posed as if they were looking at something in the Garden for example, one will be seated on a bench, another will be looking into the Rose Garden, and yet another will be in the Bee Garden dressed as a 19th century apiarist. The community is invited to join Susan Springer Anderson to create these sculptures in the garden beginning Sept. 18, 2010. The remaining schedule of events for her time in-residence is: Sunday, Sept. 26, 1-4
Faith
Imam Advocates Equality and Peace BY SASHA AUSTRIE
Word
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality." - George Bernard Shaw
tion to it," he said. "In June 2010, it was Ali said the feeling was mutual. "Growing up in Indonesia, going to blown up in the media. The project has school in Pakistan and teaching in Saudi been hijacked." Mayor Michael Arabia, I had feelings Bloomberg advised that afabout the other - Jews, ter the November elecChristians, Americans," tions much of the clamor he said. Ali said his nowould cease. tions changed because of Ali said developers of his Irish Catholic neighPark 51 are steadfast and bors, who embraced his believes moving the center family. sets a dangerous prece"They changed my dent that Muslims do not thinking," he said. have equal rights. And as his neighbors "We want to make sure altered his assumptions he our country is on the right sought to do the same for track," he said. "We want to his neighbors after the upheaval of 9/11. Imam Shamsi Ali, of the Ja- make sure our country is most "September 11th really maica Muslim Center has beautiful and respectful." He contends that changed me," he said. "It emerged as a leader in the began my engagement with fight against efforts to ostra- those condemning Islam forget that for centuries, the American mainstream." cize Muslim Americans. people have justified evil Ali was one of two with religion on their side. Imams who met with "Religions are intended for good things. President George W. Bush when he toured Ground Zero. He had this message for It is people that do bad," he said. "All reliBush, "Tell the people this has nothing to gious people must take back their religion." As he was in the days after 9/11, Ali is do with Islam and Muslims." Bush's care again optimistic that the squalor lobbed to mention his words made him proud. The latest firestorm, which involves at Islam will pass. "I want our fellow Americans to see Park 51, the proposed community center blocks from Ground Zero, came as a sur- Muslim Americans as normal Americans," prise to Ali, who said it is mostly politi- he said. "See us as human beings before anything else." cally motivated. Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at "The first time this came to the public sphere, it was on the front page of the saustrie@queenspress.com, or (718) 357New York Times and no one paid atten- 7400, Ext. 123. Photo by Sasha Austrie
There are events that can change the essence of one's life. Imam Shamsi Ali's life changer came on Sept. 11, 2001. In the midst of the broken buildings and devastation, the storm against Islam was brewing. "Our religion is innocent of these things that happen," he said. "We Muslims are opposed to them." As a cloud of dust and smoke chased thousands out of the city, Ali hailed a cab to take him home to Astoria and the cabbie unleased hurtful epithets about Muslims. He kept quiet. His own fury was building against those who had destroyed the Twin Towers in the name of Islam and those who demonized his religion. Ali's anger spilled out at the Interfaith Center of New York, where he was asked to speak days after 9/11. "I was angry at the terrorists," he said. "I cursed the attacks. I spoke from my heart."
Ali, clad in a suit in the confines of his office at the Jamaica Muslim Center, looks more a businessman than an Imam. At first glance, his distinctly Asian features do not fit the conventional Muslim portrait. "Only 18 percent of Muslims come from the Middle East," he said. The majority of Muslims come from Asia. Ali was born and raised in Indonesia. At the age of 12, he started going to Muslim school. He was being groomed to be an Imam. "We are the people who interpret the Koran," he said. He continued his education at the International Islamic University in Pakistan. Ali was the assistant Imam. After his completion of his education, he accepted a teaching position in Saudi Arabia at the Islamic Foundation Institute, where he also served as the Imam. In 1996, Ali immigrate d to the United States to lead the Masjid AlHikmah in Astoria. Just as people have preconceived notions about, Muslims
Notebook Steps To Success
Program Changes Negative Outlook Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
BY ROB MCKAY When Tiana Marie Farmer enrolled in the Steps To Success program at the community-based organization Safe Space last year, she was defensive and confrontational, frequently lashing out at others. An adoptee, the Jamaica resident had family issues and financial difficulties, which at times made her feel that attending college wasn't possible. As part of the Steps To Success curricula, Farmer worked on her emotional health through conflict resolution classes, group therapy sessions and one-on-one supervision with Stacey Bristow, a youth employment and leadership coordinator at Safe Space, which offers a wide array of services focusing on mental health, community health, at-risk youth, violence prevention and school-based education enrichment. "When I started, I had a bad attitude," Farmer admitted, but Bristow helped change her mind. "It felt good to have
somebody on my side. She really cared about me." Farmer learned job readiness, interview skills and how to create a resume and cover letter. She also built up her vocabulary and even improved her presentation abilities. One of the most effective activities was writing an autobiography, as Farmer found the process therapeutic. Her adoptive mother didn't like the the idea of Farmer disclosing the family's information, but it eventually made them closer. "It was good to get it out," Farmer said. Through a Steps To Success contact, Farmer got an internship at the Possibility Project, which gives youth the opportunity to express themselves through theater and dance. Then she decided to train for a job in a duty-free store at JFK International Airport. Now 20 years old, she is in her third year at Queensborough Community College and hopes to transfer to either Queens College or Molloy College on Long Island.
Stacey Bristow of Safe Space (l.) helped Tiana Marie Farmer overcome a pessimistic attitude and helped her find an internship.
People The Queens Library Foundation will host its Annual Gala on Monday, Oct. 4, from 5:30-10 p.m. at Water’s Edge, on the East River at 44th Drive, Long Island City. Being honored as 2010 Children’s Champions are Eileen A. Auld, New York State Community Relations Director, Citi; John Lomio, President, JMK Construction Group; and Mary Ann Mattone, Community Leader and Past President of the Queens Library Board of Trustees. Proceeds from the Gala will support the Futures Fund, an endowment ensuring availability of library materials, educational and intellectual development resources for the children of Queens. Eileen A. Auld joined Citi in 2003 and has served as New York State Director for Community Relations for Citi’s Global Consumer since 2007. She is the point person for all franchise-wide community relations activity within the State. Ms. Auld works closely with Citi’s businesses to leverage Citi’s financial and human capital in addressing community needs. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, Treasurer of the NYPD’s Police Management Institute, a board member of the Flushing Willets Point Corona LDC, the Neighborhood Opportunities Fund and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development Community Action Board. She was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg to the N.Y.C. Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment Advisory Council. Prior to joining Citibank, Auld was Assis-
Eileen A. Auld
John Lomio
tant Commissioner, Community Affairs of the NYPD. John Lomio is president of JMK Construction. He has more than 25 years experience in the construction industry. Growing up in a family operated construction business has given Mr. Lomio exposure to all facets of the construction world. He is particularly expert at all aspects of interior finish work. Lomio has led JMK Construction Management’s involvement with installation of RFID-powered self-service technology at Queens Library over the last five years. Mr. Lomio is a benefactor to several worthy not-for-profit organizations, including Bronx Lebanon Hospital, among others. Mary Ann Mattone is a trustee of Queens Library, past president of the Board and current chair of the Administrative Committee, and a member of the Queens Library Foundation’s Board of
Mary Ann Mattone
Directors. This continues a distinguished career in community service and volunteerism dedicated to improving the lives of New Yorkers. She was honored by the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall for her efforts; April 7, 2010 was Mary Ann Mattone Day in Queens. Mattone is a registered nurse and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University. She co-authored many scientific articles in the field of psychiatric research. Among her philanthropic interests are the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Columbus Citizens Foundation and the Queens Botanical Garden; she was appointed by Mayor Giuliani to the Cultural Advisory Board of the City of New York. She also serves the Foundation of York College and the Italian Cultural Center of St. John’s University and she is a Lady of the Holy Sepulchre, among many
other charitable endeavors. Tickets for the event are $350 per person. For more information on the event, including corporate packages/sponsorship opportunities, please phone (718) 4804273 or visit queenslibraryfoundation.org. The Queens Library Foundation raises funds to augment the programs and services of Queens Library, the highest circulating library in the U.S. The Futures Fund is an endowment that benefits children’s library services. For more information on supporting the Queens Library Foundation, please visit www.queenslibraryfoundation.org. Army Reserve Spec. Ramon D. Murrell is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, respectively. The soldiers return to Fort Dix, N.J. for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units. The specialist served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Iraq Theater of Operations. Murrell, a human resource specialist, is a member of the 389th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Fort Totten, Bayside, N.Y. He has served in the military for two years. He is the son of Brenda F. Pleasant of Queens Village. In 2008, Murrell graduated from Robert F. Kennedy High School, Flushing.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17
Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL
Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina. IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
ALUMNI SPRINGFIELD GDNS 73-78 September 25 part y cruise in Freeport. 845-323-3119. BAYSIDE 90 September 25 at Arnos Ristorante. 800-655-7971. NEW TOWN 85 September 25 Newtown HS at Astoria Manor. Marialoves2write@yahoo.com MATER CHRISTI 65, 70, 75, 80 Saturday, Oc tober 2 at St. John’s Prep, formerly Mater Christi. 721-7200, ext. 686. OUR LADY OF VICTORY Saturday, October 9 class of 1970 reunion. Olv70reunion@aol.com CARDOZO 84-85 November 6 at the Marriott in Melville. 800-655-7971. CARDOZO 90 November 13 at the Marriott in Melville. 800655-7971.
DINNER EMANUEL UNITED Saturday, September 25 full course Hungarian Goulash dinner and entertainment at Emanuel Church in Woodhaven. $15 adults, $7.50 children. 849-1153. JEWISH WOMEN Oc tober 14 gala journal luncheon at the Swan Club. $60. National Council of Jewish Women. 516-487-1199.
Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
ENVIRONMENT NATIONAL ESTUARIES DAY Saturday, September 25 join Alley Pond Environmental Center for a festival to commemorate our local estuary – Little Neck Bay – and meet members of your neighborhood historic, health service, recreational, civic association, school groups and government organizations. Hike, listen to music, more. 11-3 at 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston. Free. 229-4000.
THEATER KILLING KOMPANY Saturday, Oc tober 2 “ The Oktoberfest Murders!” at Riccardo’s in Astoria. The Killing Company performs mystery dinner shows. 1-888SHOOT-EM for information
EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS WOMEN & WORK Free job training program for women at Queens College. 997-4899. DRAWING CLASS S t a r t i n g O c to b e r 4 N a tional Art League will hold drawing fundamentals and advanced techniques 1-4 in Douglaston. 361-0628. FRESH MEADOWS POETS Saturday, September 25 at 10 poets meet to discuss and critique their poetry at the Forest Hills library. SCRABBLE CLUB Saturdays at 10 at Count Basie Jr. HS, 132 nd Street and Guy R. Brewer Blvd. 886-5236. KNIT AND CROCHET Saturdays at the Seaside library at 2:30. PET OWNERS Sundays (not on holidays) from 1-4 free workshops on pet behavior at Crocheron Park in Bayside (weather permitting). 454-5800. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library, 249-01 Northern Blvd. INSTRUCTION & DANCE Mondays and Fridays e): 7:15-8:00 dance lessons, dance from 8-11. Italian Charities of America, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst. $10. ADULT CHESS Mondays at 6 at the Queens Village library. BALLROOM DANCE Monday, September 27 at the Forest Hills library at 6:30. COMPUTER CLASS Monday, September 27 at the Lef fer ts librar y. Register. POLISH RESUME Monday, September 27 at the Central librar y. Register. POETRY WRITING Monday, September 27 at t h e Wo o d h a ve n l i b r a r y. Register. LI CRAFT CLUB Monday, September 27 LI Craft Club at 1 at the LIC library. CREATIVE WRITING Monday, September 27 at the North Hills library. Register. FABRIC JEWELRY Monday, September 27 Fabric Beaded Jewelry workshop at 2 at the Rego Park library. CHESS CLUB Monday, September 27 at the South Hollis library at 5:30. GET YOUR YARNS OUT! Tu e s d a y s a f te r ev e n i n g Minyan at 8, knitters, crocheters, needlepointers, and others meet at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 2637000, ext. 200. OPEN BRIDGE Tuesdays at 8 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. Call 263-7000 for fees. COMPUTER BASICS Tuesday, September 28 at the Astoria library. Register. ADULT SCRABBLE Tuesday, September 28 at 1 at the Fresh Meadows library. COMPUTER BASICS Tuesday, September 28 at
the Glen Oaks library. Register. DUPLICATE BRIDGE Wednesdays 10:30-3:00 at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. $12 session, includes light lunch. 261-2900. WATERCOLOR CLASS Wednesdays at 9:30 at NAL. Traditional and contemporary, all levels. 969-1128. INDOOR SOCCER – DADS Wednesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 263-7000. ZUMBA Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center. 2810912. JOB ASSISTANCE Wednesday, September 29 Job Assistance Workshop at 6:30 at the Flushing library. CRAFT WORKSHOP Thursday, September 30 Go green! Elegant Environmental Jewelry: A Craft Workshop for Adults at the Sunnyside library. Register. SCRABBLE/CHESS Thursdays at 4 at the Windsor Park library, 79-50 Bell Blvd., Bayside. QUILTING CLASSES Thursdays 10-2 at the Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 917-817-8653 to register. KNIT/CROCHET Thursdays at 6 and Fridays at 10:30 at the Fresh Meadows library. QUILTERS Thursdays at 1:30 at the East Elmhurst library. ADULT CHESS Thursdays at 6 at the Queens Village library. OPEN BRIDGE Thursdays from 8-10pm at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. $12 per player. 275-6615 to register. MANDARIN CHINESE Thursday, September 30 learn to speak Mandarin Chinese at the Flushing library. Register. US CITIZENSHIP Thursday, September 30 Pathway to US Citizenship: Becoming a US Citizen and Building Your Civic Knowledge at 5:30 at the Lefferts librar y. ARTIFACTS & RELICS Thursday, September 30 Artifacts & Relics: Poetry as a Medium for Telling and Preserving Personal History at 6:30 at the Langston Hughes librar y. PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, Oc tober 2, 16, 30 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940. POETRY WORKSHOP Monday, Oc tober 18 poetry writing workshop at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows at 7:30. JH ART CLUB Classes in all art forms days and evenings for children and adults. 899-0065. WOMEN’S NETWORK The Queens Women’s Network can help with resume assistance, typing and Microsoft tutorials, job search, interviewing techniques, GED and ESL classes, referrals to training programs. 657-6200.
TEENS CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4. CHESS CLUB Monday, September 27 at 5:30 at the South Hollis library. CREATIVE WRITING Monday, September 27 Creative Writing and Dance Workshop at the Laurelton library. Register. CHESS Wednesdays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library. TEEN GAMING Wednesday, September 29 at 3 at the Fresh Meadows library. GAME DAY Wednesday, September 29 at 4 at the Howard Beach library. TEEN MANGA Wednesday, September 29 Teen Manga and Anime Club at 3:30 at the Bayside library. B’NAI B’RITH YOUTH Thursdays for high school s t u d e n t s a t Te m p l e B e t h S h o l o m , 1 7 2 nd S t r e e t a n d Northern Blvd., Flushing at 7:30. WII PLAY Thursday, September 30 at the Bayside library. Register. CREATIVE WRITING Thursday, September 30 Creative Writing and Dance Workshop at the Hollis library. Register. GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, September 30 at 4 at the Queens Village library. GAME PLAYERS Fridays at the Hillcrest library at 2. SCOUTING The Rego Park Jewish Center will offer boy and girl scouting. 516-526-2492. SAMUEL FIELD Y Basketball, SAT Prep, more at the Samuel Field Y’s Teen Center at PS169. 423-6111. TENNIS Yo u t h a n d Te n n i s , I n c . teaches tennis to those 4-18 at the Roy Wilkins Tennis Center. 658-6728. VENTURE CREW 158 First and Third Fridays at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9 2 nd A v e n u e a n d 2 1 7 th Street, Queens Village. Boys and girls 14-21 are encouraged to try this new adventure in scouting. YOUTH GROUP Fridays t he Communit y Church of Little Neck will hold their Communit y Youth Group from 7-9. 46-16 Little Neck Parkway. 229-2534. ART CLASSES Fridays the Alliance of Queens Artists in Forest Hills offers teen workshops. 5209842. CATALPA YMCA Saturdays recreation, Weight room and fitness center available. 69-02 64 th Street, Ridgewood. 8216271. GAY GROUP Mondays the AIDS Center of Queens Count y has a Gay/ B i / L e s b i a n Yo u t h G r o u p (ages 16-21) meeting designed to support young people in exploring feelings
about sexualit y and other issues. 896-2500. TEEN CENTER Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-9 the Samuel Field Y offers a Teen Center at PS169. 4236111. BOY SCOUTS 138 Thursdays Boy Scout Troop 138 meets at 7:30 at 19215C 64 th Circle, basement, Fresh Meadows. For those up to 17. 454-2391. COUNSELING Call 592-5757 for free counseling at the Forest Hills Communit y House. ACQC SUPPORT AC Q C Te e n Pe e r S u p p o r t Group - information, support, skills development training for those “touched by HIV/AIDS.” Ages 14-16. 8962500. GENERATION Q The Queens Lesbian, Gay, B i s e x u a l a n d Tra n s ge n d e r Pride Communit y Center hold a Generation Q Youth Service program. Call GAY2300. SCOUTING Join Scouting in Queens. 212-651-2897. POMONOK TEENS Teen Council addresses teen i s s u e s i n th e c o m m u n i t y. 591-6060. BUKHARIAN LOUNGE Bukharian Teen Lounge, for
those 15-18, at the Central Queens YM-YWHA in Forest Hills. 268-5011, ext. 202. VAC YOUTH SQUAD T h e G l e n O a k s Vo l u n te e r A m b u l a n c e C o r p s Yo u t h Squad is looking for new members 14-18. 347-1637. DROP IN CENTER Mondays-Thursday from 47 the Queens Rainbow Comm u n i t y C e n t e r, 3 0 - 3 7 4 Steinway Street, 2 nd floor, Astoria, holds a Drop-In Center for LGBTQQ youth up to 22. 204-5955. YOUTH SERVICES The 105 th Precinct Communit y Council of fers a L aw Enforcement Explorers Program for interested youth in the surrounding areas. Contact PO Kirkland at 7769164. EMPLOYMENT SERVICE Sunnyside Communit y Services Youth Employment Services available. 784-6173, ext. 129. BOY SCOUTS 158 Fridays, through mid-June at Redeemer Lutheran C h u r c h , 9 2 nd A v e n u e a n d 2 1 7 th S t r e e t , Q u e e n s V i l lage, from 7:30-9:00. SCOUTING The Rego Park Jewish Center will offer boy and girl scouting. 516-526-2492.
YOUTH QUEENS LIBRARIES Many branches of the Queensborough Library offer toddler and pre-school programs. Contact your local branch for dates. ALLEY POND Alley Pond Environmental center in Douglaston presents Sunny Bunnies for those 3-4, Wee Sprouts for those 18-23 months, Toddler Time for those 24-35 months and Fledglings for those 3-4 Through December. Call 229-4000 for exact schedule. CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2. S TORY TIMES Saturdays at 11 and Tuesdays at 10:30 weekly story times at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , Fresh Meadows. SCIENCE LAB Saturday, September 25 at the Central library at noon. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck lib ra r y. B r i n g n e e d l e s a n d yarn. CHESS CLUB Monday, September 27 at 5:30 at the South Hollis library. CREATIVE WRITING Monday, September 27 Creative Writing and Dance Workshop at the Laurelton library. Register. BOOK TALK Tu e s d a y, S e p te m b e r 2 8 Children’s Book Discussion at 4 at the Queens Village library. CHESS Wednesdays at the Queens Village library at 3:30. STORIES & CRAFTS
Wednesday, September 29 at 10:30 at the Bay Terrace library. WII PLAY Thursday, September 30 at the Bayside library. Register. GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, September 30 at 4 at the Queens Village library. ART WORKSHOPS Saturdays Women’s Studio Center in LIC holds Children’s Art Workshops. 361-5649. SHABBAT SCOUTS Sundays Shomer Shabbat Boy Scout Troop 613 meets from 6-7:30 at Young Israel of Windsor Park. 969-1571. BOY SCOUT 138 Thursdays Boy Scout Troop 138 meets at 7:30 in the basement at 192-15C 64 th Circle, Fresh Meadows. For those 11 and older. 4542391. CUB/TROOP 158 Fridays Cub Scouts and Troop 158 in Queens Village meets at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 92-10 217 th Street. 465-1712 Troop, 468-5235 Cubs. CUB SCOUTS 351 Fridays at St. Nicholas of Tolentine school cafeteria, Parsons Blvd. and Union Turnpike. Boys in grades 15. 820-0015. CUB/TROOP SCOUTS Fridays from September through June Pack 357 and Tr o o p 3 5 7 m e e t s i n t h e S c o u t R o o m , 6 9 - 1 6 1 6 4th Street, Flushing. 591-9514 Cubs, 279-9085 Scots. SCOUTING Join Scouting in Queens. 212-651-2897.
Queens Today ENTERTAINMENT Melanie Griffith, Liam Neeson) will be shown at 3 at t he Bay Terrace Je wish Center. $5 donation. 13-00 2 0 9 th S t r e e t , B a y s i d e . R e freshments served. MANDY PATINKIN Sunday, September 26 at 3 at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center. 6316311. $45. AMER. SONGBOOK Monday, September 27 Naomi Zeitlin and the Great American Songbook at 6:30 at the Howard Beach library. Berlin, Kern, Gershwin, Arlen, Ellington and more. SINATRA… Monday, September 27 a tribute to the music of Sinatra, Manilow, Sedaka and more at 6:30 at the Queens Village library. BINGO Tuesdays at 7:15 at American Mart yrs Church, church basement, 216-01 Union Tu r n p i ke , B a y s i d e . 4 6 4 4 5 8 2 . Tu e s d a y s a t 7 : 1 5 (doors open 6) at the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 459-1000.$3 admission includes 12 games. AMER. SONGBOOK Tu e s d a y, S e p te m b e r 2 8 Arnie Gruber and the Great American Songbook: Porter, Kern and Gershwin at 2:30 at the Bayside library. BLUES Thursday, September 30 The Swingin’ Side of the Blues with Eddie Lee Isaacs at 6:30 at the Cambria Heights library. COUNTRY WESTERN Thursday, September 30 Savannah Sky performs at 6:30 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library. MOLLY PICON Thursday, September 30 Musical salute to Molly Picon, star of the Yiddish Theatre with Diane Cypkin at 6:30 at the Forest Hills library. SINATRA… Thursday, September 30 a tribute to the music of Sinatra, Manilow, Sedaka and more at 6 at the Whitestone library. SIXTIES BEAT Saturday Oc tober 2 starting at 4 in the Rochdale Village Senior Center’s auditorium, 169-65 137 th avenue, Jamaica. Sixties Beat with the Limelites, Johnny Allen, Mel Lewis “Jesters” and the New Marvelletes. 525-2800 ticket information. ONE MAN CIRCUS S u n d a y, O c to b e r 3 L o u Johnson, a Ringling Brothers graduate, will present a One M a n C i rc u s a t Te m p l e Tikvah, 3315 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park at 3. $15 advance, $18 at the door. 516-746-1120. ‘SWONDERFUL Sunday, October 3 the first new Gershwin musical since “Crazy for You” will be performed at 3 at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center. 631-6311. $35. CAPITOL STEPS Sunday, Oc tober 10 spoof of politics at 3 Queens-borough Performing Arts Center. 631-6311. $30-39.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 7 days a week. 932-6244. www.westernqueensna.org. FAMILY HEALTH FAIR Saturday, September 25 starting at 10 at the LIC library. Health screenings, information and more. TAI CHI Mondays and Thursdays at 11 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1695. $5 a class. INTRO TO YOGA Monday, September 27 at the Lefrak Cit y library and the South Hollis library. Register. ZUMBA Monday, September 27 at the Hillcrest library. Register. CORONA CANCER Monday, September 27 Corona Cancer Action Council Meeting at 6 at the Corona library. FEMALE CANCER Mondays, September 27, O c to b e r 1 1 , 2 5 “ Lo o k Good, Feel Better” program for women undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy in Flushing. 1-800ACS-2345. STRESS FREE LIVING Monday, September 27 workshop at 6:30 at the LIC library. VEGETARIAN DIET Monday, September 27 learn about the benefits of the vegetarian lifest yle at 6 at the Steinway library. ALZHEIMERS Tu e s d a y s , S e p t e m b e r 2 8 , Oc tober 12, 26 Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 592-5757, ext. 237. MS SELF-HELP Tu e s d a y s , S e p t e m b e r 2 8 , Oc tober 12, 26 Multiple Sclerosis Self-help group to share a common life experience for support, education and mutual aid 1-2:30 at the Howard Beach library. YOGA DANCE Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1948. $10 class. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT E ve r y Tu e s d a y We st e r n Queens Caregiver Network in Sunnyside. 784-6173, ext. 431. LEARN CPR Wednesday, September 29 help save a life by learning CPR at the Bellerose library. Register. OA Thursdays at the Howard Beach library at 10:30. LEARN CPR Thursday, September 30 help save a life by learning CPR at 7 at the Howard Beach library. INTRO TO YOGA Thursday, September 30 at the Jackson Heights library a n d t h e St e i n wa y l i b r a r y. Register. MEMORY LOSS Fridays Couples with one partner experiencing memory loss meet at the Samuel Field Y. 225-6750, ext. 236. CO-DEPENDENTS ANON. Fridays 10-11:45 at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral C e n t e r , 8 5 - 1 8 6 1 st R o a d , Rego Park. Women only.
FLEA MARKETS OUTDOOR FLEA Saturdays and Sundays until November 28 St. Nicholas of Tolentine from 9-5 at the intersection of Parsons Blvd. and Union Turnpike, Jamaica. WEEKLY FLEA Sundays 9-4 at Our Lady of the Angelus Church, school field, 98-05 63 rd Drive, Rego Park. OUTDOOR YARD SALE Saturday, September 25 93 at All Saints’ Church, 21435 40 th Avenue, Bayside. If it rains, inside gym. FLEA/HEALTH Saturday, Oc tober 2 9-5 50 vendors, free health testing at Saint Mark’s Church, 335 0 8 2 nd S t r e e t , J a c k s o n Heights. CRAFT FAIR Saturday, November 13 sponsored by the PTA of St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point. RUMMAGE/BOUTIQUE Sunday, November 21 9:303:00 at Young Israel of New Hyde Park, 264-15 77 th avenue. THRIFT SHOPS Saturdays and Sundays 104 at St. Fidelis Mother & Child Residence, 124-15 14 th Avenue, College Point. 353-4749. Saturdays 11-4 at Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop, Baptist Church, 93-23 2 1 7 th S t r e e t , Q u e e n s V i l lage. 527-2132. Mondays 10-3 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, 41-60 Kissena Blvd. Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30-1:30 at Temple Sholom of Floral Park, 263 rd Street and Union Turnpike. Tuesday s and Wednesdays 2-5 at Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills. 268-6704. First and third Wednesday 10:30-2:30 at Grace Episcopal Church, 14 th Avenue and Clintonville Street, Avenue. Wednesdays at Grace Church, 15117 14 th Road, Whitestone. Wednesdays and Saturdays 9-2 at the Floral Park United Methodist Church, 35 Verbena Avenue, Floral Park. 354-4969. Thursdays from 10-1 at All Saints’ Church, 2 1 5 th S t r e e t b e t w e e n 3 9 th and 40 th Avenues, Bayside. 229-5631. Fridays 11-3 at the Maspeth United Methodist Church, 66-35 58 th Avenue. JUDAICA SHOPS Daily and by appointment Forest Hills Jewish Center’s Judaic Gift Store. 263-7000. Sundays 9-11:30 at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center, 1300 209 th Street. 428-6363.
RELIGIOUS HILLCREST JC Sunday, September 26 Sukkot Dinner. Sunday, October 3 Adult Education will feature the Coller Memorial Lecture at 9:30. Hillcrest Jewish Center. 380-4145. SUKKOT LUNCHEON Tuesday, September 28 the Sisterhood of the Bay Terrace Jewish Center will hold a Sukkot Luncheon. $18 members, $7.50 children and $20 non-members. 428-6363 reservations.
SENIORS COMPUTER SKILLS The YMCA of Greater NY is conducting small computer classes at the Cross Island YMCA Senior Center and the Jamaica YMCA Senior Center. Contact 479-0505 or 739-6600 for information. FREE LUNCH Saturdays, September 25, Oc tober 30 at Church of the Resurrection in Kew Gardens. 847-2649 reservations. STAY WELL Mondays at 10 at the Central library. Tuesdays at 2 at the Flushing library and
MEETINGS JEWISH VETS Sundays, September 26, Oc tober 24, November 28, December 26 Jewish War Veterans of the USA Lipsky/ Blum Post meet at the Garden Jewish Center. 4634742. ST. ALBANS CIVIC Sundays, September 26, Oc tober 24, November 28 the St. Albans Civic Improvement Association meets at 1:30 at the St. Albans L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 2 0 0 th Street and 119 th Avenue in the undercroft. 276-4263. QUEENS TOASTMASTERS Monday, September 27 Queens Toastmasters Club meets. 525-6830. VFW 4787 Mondays, September 27, Oc tober 11, 25 Whitestone V F W C o m m u n i t y Po s t meets; ladies auxiliary meets the 2 nd Monday. 746-0540. FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets. 917-612-3463. ADVANCED WRITERS Tuesdays at 6:30 at the Terrace Diner at Bay Terrace Shopping Center and also t h e l a st Tu e s d ay o f t h e month in the Communit y Room in Panera Bread at Bay Terrace Shopping. FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesday, September 29 Flushing Camera Club meets at Flushing Hospital. 4416210. BEREAVEMENT Thursdays, September 30, Oc tober 28 St. Adalbert’s Bethany General Bereavement group meets in Elmhurst. 429-2005. QUEENS CENTRAL ROTARY Thursdays 6:30-8:30 Come learn if Rotary is for you. 465-2914; me1nc@aol.com CIVIL AIR PATROL Fridays 6-10 at Vaughn College of Aeronautics, 86-01 23 rd Avenue, East Elmhurst. Academy WOMAN’S GROUP Fridays the Woman’s Group of Jamaica Estates meets at noon. Call 461-3193 for information. NAL Friday, Oc tober 1 National Art League meets for “Building Drama & Feeling you’re your Oil Paintings,” a demonstration by artist Petro Pappalas at 8. 44-21 Douglaston Parkway. Public is invited. Free.
Wednesdays at 10 at the East Elmhurst library. Special exercises and relaxation techniques. CLEARVIEW Monday, September 27 Music Appreciation at 12:30. Tuesday, September 28 Lunar Festival Celebration at 1. Wednesday, September 29 Tai Chi at 2. Thursday, September 30 Speaker’s Bureau at 10:15 and blood pressure check at 9:15. Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26th Avenue, Bayside. 224-7888 to register. AARP 1405 Monday, September 27 the Flushing AARP Chapter 1405 meets at the Bowne Street Communit y Church, 143-11 Roosevelt Avenue at 1. STARS Wednesday, September 29 at 10:30 at the Hollis library. Come join to perform theatrical works at the library.
TALKS SOFT SKILLS Saturday, September 25 author discussion with Lu Ming, who will talk about his new book at 2 at the Flushing librar y. BUILDING WEALTH Monday, September 27 Building Wealth: Successful Strategies for All at 6 at the Bayside library. BUSINESS TRENDS Monday, September 27 Business Trends and Opportunities in Flushing at 6 at the Flushing library. PERU Monday, September 27 Peru: Beautiful and Historic Wonder at 6 at the Hollis library. POMONOK BOOK Monday, September 27 “A Fine Balance” will be discussed at 2 at the Pomonok library. FORECLOSURE RIGHTS Monday, September 27 at 6:30 at the St. Albans library a n d Thursday, September 30 Know Your Rights: The Foreclosure Process at 6:30 at the Central library.
PARENTS FREE SCHOOL HELP Free school help for students of all ages, parents and teachers. FreeSchoolHelp.com KIDS KORNER After School Center is at the Central Queens YM-YWHA in Forest Hills. 268-5011, ext. 201. Extended hours. PLAYGROUP The CUMC Playgroup is accepting registration for its preschool parents’ cooperative program in Middle Village. Children 18 months to 4 years. 894-2293. ADHD OR PDD Daily after school programs to meet needs of elementary school aged children who have learning disabilities and ADHD or PDD at the Bay Terrace Center, 212-00 23 rd Avenue, Bayside from 2:306:00. 225-6750, ext. 266.
Sept. 24-30, 2010 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19
LUNCH/CARD PARTY Register by Oc tober 4 for the Sisterhood of Bay Terrace Jewish Center’s Luncheon Card Part y on Tuesday, Oc tober 19 at 11:30. $20 reservations. 631-5468. MODERN DANCE Saturday, September 25 Queens Museum of Art presents Beginner and Intermediate Modern Dance in Mandarin Chinese at noon at the Flushing library. AMAZING MAZE Through Sunday, November 7 a 3-acre corn maze at Queens Count y Farm Museum. $8 adults, $5 children. 347-3276 information and times. JOURNEY TO THE WEST Saturday, September 25 A Story in the St yle of Beijing Opera told in English and Chinese at 2:30 at the Jackson Heights library. HORACIO LAGUNA Saturday, September 25 World Classics at 2 at the Peninsula library. HISPANIC HERITAGE Saturday, September 25 learn to make balloon arrangements (noon), listen to mariachi band (2pm) and watch flamenco dancers (3:30pm) at the Langston Hughes library. & CHINESE MUSICAL ARTS Saturday, September 25 Love of Mid-Autumn Festival Concert at 2 at the Flushing library. SYMPHONY 101 Saturday, September 25 Strings Attached: A Performance/Workshop for the Entire Family at 1 at the Forest Hills library and at 3 at the Sunnyside library. RAT PACK Saturday, September 25 tribute to Sinatra, Davis and Martin at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows library. YORK JAZZ Saturday, September 25 Bobby Sanabria and Candido Camero at 7 at the York College Performing Arts Center. $20 adults. 262-3750. COUNT Y FAIR Saturday and Sunday, September 25, 26 from11-6 at t h e Q u e e n s C o u n t y Fa r m Museum. $7 adults, $4 children 12 and under. Livestock, produce, home crafts, pig racing, petting zoo, animal rides, more. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park. 347-FARM. DANZA MEXICANA Saturday and Sunday, September 25, 26 at Queens Theatre in the Park. 7600064. $27. CHURCH BAZAAR Saturday, September 25 10-5 and Sunday, September 26 12-3 at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 25-36 37 th Street, Astoria. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Sunday, September 26 Con Brio Ensemble will perform works by Mozart, Kodaly and Schumann at 4:30 at Church in the Gardens, 50 Ascan Avenue. $12. 459-1277. SHINING THROUGH Sunday, September 26 the film “Shining Through” (starring Michael Douglas,
HEALTH
What’s Up SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 Youth & Tennis The Youth and Tennis group meets every Saturday morning at Roy Wilkins Park Saturday. To learn more, call Bill Briggs at (718) 658-6728.
Seido Karate Japanese system Seido Karate emphasizes building of spirit, mind and body, using hand, elbow, and foot techniques. Adults can learn how to defend themselves in a safe and friendly atmosphere every Tuesday and Saturday until Oct. 30 at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd. All levels are welcome. The fee to participate is $120.
Classical Ballet Studying ballet is one of the most effective and elegant ways of improving posture, grace, flexibility, and strength. No experience needed for these classes. Students are taught at the barre and must be 6-15 years old.. Learning ballet is a good foundation for all other dance styles. The class will be held every Saturday until Oct. 30 at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd. at 11:30 a.m. The fee to participate is $110.
Belly Dancing Kids between 6 and 15 years old will learn basic and traditional belly dancing movements. Movements will be built into a choreographed routine. The class is a great way to build self-confidence, balance and coordination. No prior belly dance experience required. The instructor was featured on "America's Got Talent." The class will be held every Saturday until Oct. 30 at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd. at 2:30 p.m. The fee to participate is $110.
York Women's Volleyball Come support the local team when the York Women's Volleyball team faces off against Old Westbury/St. Josephs. For additional information, contact John Scarinci at jscarinci@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-5104. This free event will be held at York College's Gymnasium at 11 a.m.
Page 20 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
Historic House Festival The King Manor Museum cordially invites all children, families and adults to enjoy guided tours of King Manor's period rooms, with a special focus on archaeological discoveries and what they reveal about life and food in Rufus King's home. View rarely-seen collection pieces and learn why we no longer consider our north kitchen a "summer kitchen," what types of foods the King farm produced, and more. When: Saturday - September 25th - 1:00 pm through 5:00 pm (last tour begins 4:30pm) This event will be held at the King Manor Museum, at 153 Street and Jamaica Avenue, from 1-4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and free for all children under 16.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 26 Sickle Cell Walk-A-Thon It's National Sickle Cell Awareness month, and Gloria Rochester is pleased to
present the annual Sickle Cell Walk-AThon. For additional information, visit qscan.org, or contact Gloria Rochester at (718) 712-0198 or SickleCellWalk@verizon.net. This event will be held at Walk-A-Thon Begins at Merrick and Baisley Boulevards at 10 a.m. Participation costs $20.
HISTORIC HOUSE FESTIVAL See Saturday's listing. MONDAY, SEPT. 27 Adult Chess Club Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings. The event is held at 6 p.m. every Monday at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.
Zumba The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves like merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, belly dance, flamenco, tango and samba which creates a mind blowing, one-of-akind fitness program. Zumba not only has long-term benefits, but will allow all to experience, in an hour, calorie-burning, bodyenergizing and awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life. This class will be held every Monday until Oct. 25 at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd. at 7:40 p.m. The fee to participate is $100.
every Tuesday and Saturday until Oct. 30 at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd. All levels are welcome. The fee to participate is $120.
Camera Club The Southeast Queens Camera Club welcomes photographers, beginners to advanced. Meetings are held the second, third and fourth Tuesday ever month at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Family Life Center, 177-01 Baisley Blvd.
Intro to Excel In this two-session workshop, customers will learn the basics of how to create spreadsheets, use formulas, and print tables. Preregistration required in person at Cyber Center Desk. This free event will be held at the Queensborough Public Library's Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd. at 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 Men's Soccer Come have some recreational fun in a non-competitive and friendly environment. A great way to stay active and meet people who enjoy the sport. Soccer is played in Jamaica YMCA's main gymnasium at 89-25 Parsons Blvd. every Wednesday, 7-10 p.m., until October 27. All levels are welcome. Rough play will not be tolerated. The fee to participate is $50.
Sewing 101 York College Barbershop Does your image define you? Come and share your thoughts on this somewhat controversial topic. Special invited guests discuss why they are on a campaign to improve the image of inner-city males. For additional information, contact Jonathan Quash at jquash@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262 - 3772. This free event will be held at York College Academic Core Building - 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Room 2D01, from 5-7 p.m.
Polish Your Resume
Learn how to be creative without spending a lot of money. Joining sewing 101, a class that will teach you the basics of how to sew from threading, stitching and setting a sewing machine for different features. Step by step, the instructor will guide you in learning how to also read a pattern, cutting and piecing. No sewing experience necessary. The class is open to anyone 13 and older. Homework may be required to complete a project. The class will be held every Wednesday at the Jamaica YMCA, 89-25 Parsons Blvd., from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The fee is $150.
Bring a copy of your resume on disk; volunteers will guide you through editing and producing a professional quality resume using Cyber Center computers. Participants must have keyboard and mouse experience. Preregistration is required at the Job Information Center. This free event will be held at The Queensborough Public Library's Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd. at 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 30 Adult Chess Club
NAACP Monthly Meeting
Calling all older adults: Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people while brightening your life. Rehearsals are held at 10:30 a.m. Fridays at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.
Join the NAACP for their monthly meeting. Items on the agenda include the election of the nominating committee. All members whose memberships are current as of thirty days (30) prior to the meeting date may be elected to the Nominating Committee. This free event will be held at NAACP Jamaica Branch, 189-26 Linden Blvd.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 28 Seido Karate Japanese system Seido Karate emphasizes building of spirit, mind and body, using hand, elbow, and foot techniques. Adults can learn how to defend themselves in a safe and friendly atmosphere
Practice your chess skills weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings. The event is held at 6 p.m. every Thursday at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St., (718) 776-6800.
FRIDAY, OCT. 1 Senior Theatre Acting Repertory
ONGOING CPR Training The FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit will hold regularly scheduled free CPR classes in all five boroughs. The first Tuesday through the fourth Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of every month there will be Borough CPR training sessions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island
and Queens. Training is free to anyone over the age of 14. The goal of this program is increase the number of people in New York City trained in bystander CPR Each class lasts 1 hour and participants in the class learn basic CPR skills from a member of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service. Volunteers for the class follow along using the CPR Anytime Personal Learning Kit, which features an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin. All participants are able take home the kit at the end of class and asked to pledge to use the kit to show five of their family members and friends how to perform CPR. This class teaches basic CPR technique and is not a certification course. In Queens, the classes will be held the fourth Thursday of every month at EMS Station 54, 222-15 Merrick Blvd. In addition, please visit www.nyc.gov/cprtogo for New York Sports Club locations offering free CPR classes starting in January. Please visit www.fdnyfoundation.org or call (718) 999-2413 for more information.
Group Sessions Clergy United for Community Empowerment, Inc. Group Sessions are located at 8931 161st St., 10th Floor, Jamaica, for the community on various topics such as Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Substance Abuse intervention, Decision Making, Condom Use, High Risk Behaviors leading to HIV, and self - esteem awareness. All group sessions offer light snacks and beverages. Group sessions are open to the public. Round-Trip Metro Card reimbursement is available at the end of each completed session. For further information call (718) 297-0720. All services are free. Please call for next group date.
Infant Mortality Clergy United for Community Empowerment's Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative program provides the following services free of charge: case management services, parent skills building, crib care, breast feeding education, health education, nutritional information/education, referral for HIV testing, confidential one-on-one counseling, workshops, and women support groups. IMRI provides referrals for Food stamps, GED, GYN, Emergency Baby Formula (qualifications required) and more. Call (718) 297-0720. Located at 89-31 161 St., 10th floor, Jamaica. Services are available Tue.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HIV Awareness Clergy United for Community Empowerment provides intervention and curriculum-based prevention education sessions on HIV/AIDS, to reduce risk behaviors that lead to HIV transmission. Services are located at 89-31 161st St., Jamaica. Call (718) 297-0720 ask about our presentation to adolescents and men/women of color. Services are available Tue.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Laurelton Flea Market A flea market has opened at 221-02 Merrick Blvd. On sale are a wide range of items, including household items, jewelry and clothing. The market is open every Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reality Bites
Queens Cutie Brittany Ramos Home: Middle Village Age: 19 Height: 5’ 6" Weight: 130 Stats: 36-29-34
Models Of Queens If you recognize Brittany Ramos, it’s probably not from her latest fashion shoot. Her face has yet to grace Cosmopolitan magazine or a billboard in Times Square. A newbie to the business, this budding model has big dreams. Currently taking classes at LaGuardia Community College, Brittany plans to transfer to a four-year school and eventually go on to law school. “I’ve been saying I wanted to be a lawyer since I was maybe 10 years old,” she said. “I’m pretty
talkative and I like to argue my case a lot, so I think law would be really good for me.” While her main focus right now is on school, the busy bee has had “countless jobs,” — Claire’s, Toys ‘R’ Us and even handing out flyers. “I had to hand out flyers in the rain and everything, but it pays,” she said. “Anything to earn the money that I want.” Although her recent photo shoot was a first, it hopefully won’t be her last. Brittany is hoping to turn modeling into a
Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 24-30, 2010
Darling Nicki MTV lovers might have noticed a new phenomenon – Nicki Minaj fever. The Young Money honey kicked off the biggest night of the year in music, the MTV Video Music Awards, with her first ever solo televised performance. The Queens-raised emcee strutted down the runway in a metallic pink and purple unitard that might be useful in the next Star Trek movie, and wiggled her hips in a leather catsuit for the big performance. Recently declared by the music giant MTV as set to take the world by storm, welcome to the big time, Nicki!
Ticketed To Death? How observant are NYC Traffic Agents? Well, observant enough to notice your car illegally parked, but if you’re inside, in trouble, don’t expect help. Nicholas Rappold’s Jeep was illegally parked on 165th Street near 35th Avenue on the morning of Sept. 14 when a traffic agent noticed and wrote the 21-year-old a ticket. But the the ticket writer failed to notice Rappold was inside his car, claiming she couldn’t see inside
because of the Jeep’s tinted windows, even though the ticket was left on the windshield, which was NOT tinted. An hour after the ticket was issued, Rappold’s friend, whom he had been visiting the night before, apparently had no trouble seeing though the Jeep’s windows; he found Rappold…dead of an apparent drug overdose, his body slumped over the wheel. We wonder who will have to pay the ticket.
lucrative side gig. “I’ve always been interested,” she said. “It was nice to know that I could do it even though I’m short and not the skinniest person alive.” When this Queens-raised cutie isn’t attending school, Brittany likes to jog, read and write. Her favorite haunts in Queens are Glendale and Long Island City. “I couldn’t see myself really living anywhere else but Queens,” she said. “I know pretty much every transportation, every nook and cranny there is to know.” QConfidential is edited by: Michael Schenkler. Contributors: Jessica Ablamsky, Sasha Austrie, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Mike Nussbaum, Joe Orovic, Brian Rafferty, Domenick Rafter.
Conf@QueensTribune.com;
Confidentially, New
The Carpio family hits Times Square. “Sextuplets Take New York” debuted on TLC last Tuesday and the verdict is that they are no Gosselins. The Carpios of Queens are the average New Yorkers just trying to make ends meet and raise happy healthy kids. Digna and Victor Carpio already had a son, Jhan Carlos, before they added six to their family almost two years ago. The Queens couple’s most contentious battle on the first episode was whether to get harnesses or leashes to stop the toddlers from wandering off. Hmmm. Well, the season is still young. In the realm of reality television drama is always one episode away. We’ll see.
Twister
The Trib office on the LIE service road in Fresh Meadows is just one of the many Queens spots that was visited by last week's twister. What’s dark, gloomy, wet with York . . . a raging fury and blows so hard it can knock over trees like bowling pins? No, it’s not Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino. It was the tornado that bore through Queens on Thursday evening, leaving the borough in shock and partially paralyzed. Members of the Queens Tribune staff were unlucky enough to be on hand as the twister moseyed past the paper’s office, taking out tree branches, flooding the Horace Harding Expressway and leaving our neighbor’s awning in tatters. One reporter’s car even shifted across the street. The borough was last hit by a tornado in 1985. We usually end these items with a joke, but in all sincerity, if early reports of the damage are any indication, we hope it will be quarter century until another hits.