Vol. 41, No. 10 March 10-16, 2011
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Deadline...................................................................3 Editorial ...................................................................6 Not 4 Publication ....................................................8 This Week ..............................................................10 Closeup .................................................................10 Focus ..................................................................... 11 Police Blotter ........................................................12 Trib Pix...................................................................20 Leisure ...................................................................22 Queens Today .......................................................24 Classifieds.............................................................28 Confidential ...........................................................38
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Page 2 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: PELAGOS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/13/10. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, c/o John Giovanis, 33-21 21 st Street, Long Island City, New York 11106. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ 3076 43 STREET LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/10/2011. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 36-01 30th Ave., Astoria, NY 11103, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of formation of PEACHTREE 50 DAYCARE, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on July 30, 2010. Office location: Queens. Secretary of State of New York has been designated for service of process. Secretary of State of New York shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to PEACHTREE 50 DAYCARE, LLC, at 12215 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, New York 11434. Purpose: any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of DAVIDA REALTY HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/10/10. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 82-40 217TH St., Hollis Hills, NY 11427. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Cyruli Shanks Hart & Zizmor LLP, 420 Lexington Ave., NY, NY 10170. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation MJ Optometry, PLLC art. of org. filed Secy. of State NY (SSNY) 11/ 29/10. Off. Loc. in Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: Martin S. Kim, 79-04 37 th Ave., Jackson Hts, NY 11372. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of LOGIC DATA INFORMATION, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/18/2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC to: 84-15 124 th Street, Apt. 2, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation Wu Global Opportunities, LLC art. of org. filed Secy. of State NY (SSNY) 9/29/10. Off. Loc. in Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY
LEGAL NOTICE shall mail copy of process to: 41-50 Main St, Ste 209, Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of LI GAS STATION, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/18/11. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 3100 47th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/ o Ekmel Anda at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Thai Rock LLC (Insert name of Limited Liability Company) Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is; Thai Rock LLC SECOND: The county, within this state, in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: Queens THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: Robert M. Kaskel 101-02 Shore Front Parkway 1st Floor Rockaway Park, NY 11694 USA (Scott Weddle, Mgr of EZonlineFiling (signature of organizer) Scott Weddle, Mgr of EzonlineFiling (print or type name of organizer) ________________________________________________________________ Name: 3-D KIDS, LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. Of State of NY 01/12/2011. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to THE LLC, C/O Eric A. Lichtenstein, M.D., 192 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity. _______________________________________________________________ NAME: INTERIORS BY FRANCESCA LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. Of State of NY 01/ 03/2011. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to THE LLC, C/O Frances Herrera, 9945 67th Rd., #520, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Kimmy Ma ArtStudio LLC Under Section 204 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST. The name of the limited liability company is Kimmy Ma ArtStudio LLC SECOND. The county within this state in which the limited liability company is to be located is Queens. THIRD. The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process accepted on behalf of the limited liability company served upon him or her is: c/o United States
LEGAL NOTICE Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. FOURTH: The name and street address in this state of the registered agent upon whom and at which process against the limited liability company may be served is: United State Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13 th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. ________________________________________________________________ PROBATE CITATION File No. 2009-1073/A SURROGATE’S COURT – QUEENS COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: MARY F. DIORIO and CHARLES N. DIORIO if living and if dead, to her/his heirs at law, next of kin and distributees whose names and places of residence are unknown and if she/he died subsequent to the decedent herein, to her/ his executors, administrators, legatees, devisees, assignees and successors in interest whose name and places of residence are unknown and to all other heirs at law, next of kin and distributees of MARIE C. DIORIO, the decedent herein, whose names and places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained Christina Diorio A/K/A Christina Bates A petition having been duly filed by RAE C. MONTEVERDI who is domiciled at 32 – 27 166th Street, Flushing, Queens, NY YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, on the 31st day of March, 2011 at 9:30 A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of MARIE C. DIORIO lately domiciled at 110 – 20 71st Road, Forest Hills, Queens, NY admitting to probate a Will dated November 15, 1997, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of MARIE C. DIORIO deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: RAE C. MONTEVERDI HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate MARGARET M. GRIBBON Chief Clerk FEB 07 2011 (Seal) JOHN J. CASLIN, JR. Attorney for Petitioner 212 - 681 – 0800 Telephone Number 99 Park Avenue, 3rd Fl. New York, NY 10016 Address of Attorney [Note: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.] ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF E-File With Ease LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: EFile With Ease LLC SECOND: The county, within this state, in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: Queens THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon
LEGAL NOTICE whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: E-File With Ease 163-10 Northern Blvd Suite 310 Flushing, NY 11358 USA Cristian Stanescu (signature of organizer) ________________________________________________________________ Notice of formation of SJ Capital LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on January 13, 2011. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 2130 2 7 3 rd A v e n u e A p t 2 C , Bayside NY, 11364. Purpose: any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF WALKWITHU, LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: WALKWITHU, LLC SECOND: The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: QUEENS THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: SUNGHYE HAN 21118 45 DRIVE, 2FL BAYSIDE, NY, 11361, USASUNGHYE HAN (signature of organizer) _______________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF XMAC, LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: XMAC, LLC SECOND: The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: Queens THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: 67-57 Ingram Street, Forest Hills, NY 11375 Chin H. Huang (signature of organizer) ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: RIGHTEOUS CONVICTION MANAGEMENT, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/25/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, c/o Kate Chan, 8446 56 th Avenue, Elmhurst, New York 113734814. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Bottom Line Construction & Development LLC
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST. The name of the limited liability company is Bottom Line Construction & Development LLC SECOND. The county within this state in which the limited liability company is to be located is Queens. THIRD: The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process accepted on behalf of the limited liability company served upon him or her is: 255 West 148 th Street, #5B, New York, New York 10039. FOURTH: The name and address in this state of the registered agent upon whom and at which process against the limited liability company may be served is: Alexis McSween, 255 West 148 th Street, #5B, New York, New York 10039. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed these Articles of Organization on the date below. Date: November 22, 2010 LegalZoom.com, Inc., Organizer /s/ Imelda Vasquez By: Imelda Vasquez, Assistant Secretary 101 N. Brand Blvd., 10th Floor Glendale, CA 91203 ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of URI Total Care Management LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 11/13/07. Office location: Queens County. Princ. bus. addr.: 35-05 Farrington St., Flushing, NY 11354. Sec. of State designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 1 Maiden Lane, 5th Fl., NY, NY 10038, Attn: Spiegel & Utrera, P.A., P.C., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. Purpose: any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ NORDIC-UBS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/11/2011. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 56-01 Maspeth Ave., Maspeth, NY 11378, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Arbor Close Rental LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST. The name of the limited liability company is Arbor Close Rental LLC SECOND. The county within this state in which the limited liability company is to be located is Queens. THIRD: The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process accepted on behalf of the limited liability company served upon him or her is 111 14 75 th Ave., Forest Hills, New York 11375. FOURTH: The name and street address in this state of the registered agent upon whom and at which process against the limited liability
company may be served is: Mary T. Brown, 111-14 75 th Ave., Forest Hills, New York 11375. ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION of STRATEGIC PHYSICAL THERAPY, PLLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/14/2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: Strategic Physical Therapy PLLC, 84-54 250 th Street, Bellerose, NY 11426. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. ________________________________________________________________ ISTS Brains LLC. Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 2/15/11. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 29-17 34 th Avenue, Apt. 4A, Long Island City, NY 11106. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of Zervoudis Associates, LLC, Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 12/16/10. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Vasiliki Troianos, 5-30 150th St., Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful activities. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of 149 Place Condominium LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/8/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/ o Seungho Kim, 43-01 37th St., Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: any lawful activity. _______________________________________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County, on the 14 day of February, 2011, bearing Index No. NC-87/ 2011, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica NY 11435, grants me the right to assume the name of Mike Yun Heoh. My present address is 43-23 Colden Street, #25J, Flushing, NY 11355; The date of my birth is 07/30/1981; the place of my birth is Seoul, Republic of Korea; my present name is Yun Ho a.k.a. Mike Yun Heoh _______________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: ANAF HOLDINGS, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/15/11. The latest date of dissolution IS 12/ 31/2061. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 104-66 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, New York 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Queens Deadline By DOMENICK RAFTER About a month ago, Valerie Lewis, the principal of PS 124 in South Ozone Park, noticed students who lived in the Skyway Hotel homeless shelter two blocks from the school began missing class. Concerned about the pattern of absences, she walked over to the shelter which housed homeless families at 132-10 South Conduit Ave., and was horrified at what she found. Families, given only five days' notice, were uprooted. The water in the building was turned off. Furniture was being thrown into the street. "What was going on there was egregious," Lewis said. Without warning, the shelter was reclassified a "men only shelter," and local residents and officials, irate at the City for what it calls "lack of respect" for their neighborhood, have grown further incensed. Nobody, not the shelter's neighbors, nor local officials, nor Community Board 10, knew it was happening. By the time parents and community members gathered at PS 124 on March 3, more than 30 men had already moved in. Lewis said she had contacted the City and the new owners of the shelter, who had told her that the homeless population among single adults had risen, necessitating the need for more shelters, and families were being moved to parts of the City where there were "more opportunities." By the end of March, she said, the shelter would house up to 180 men. "I think they thought no one would notice," she said.
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen
Shelter Switch Brings Outrage, Fear it will get. The worst thing for the mayor right now is bad press. I'm not going to accept that you don't have time to fight for this." CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton, who was also kept in the dark, called the shelter's change "outrageous." She said CB 10 District Manager Karyn Peterson has met with the Commissioner of Public Services about the shelter. "I find it hard to believe they didn't have enough time to notify everyone," Braton said. The Skyway Family Shelter sign still hangs In a statement, Dept. of Homeless outside the men-only site in Communit y Services spokeswoman Heather Janik Board 10. said the change was necessary and they would work with the community. "As DHS continues to provide tempoAn angry Councilman Ruben Wills (DSouth Jamaica) told parents at a March 3 rary, emergency shelter to homeless New meeting that he was told about the change the Yorkers, we strive to be a good neighbor and night before. He said Dept. of Homeless work with the community to address any Services Commissioner Seth Diamond told concerns that arise," the statement read. "We him that DHS moved the shelter into the have recently seen an increase in the number community because "they met opposition of single adults seeking services from our elsewhere." Wills noted that more than 70 system, and as such, must utilize all available percent of Queens' homeless shelters are in capacity to ensure the needs of our clients are met every night." Southeast Queens. DHS said it notified CB 10 and local "Our unfair burden of housing the homeless population of Queens is not to be toler- officials Feb. 9 of the change and chose new ated," he said. He added Council legislation to management on Feb. 10. Parents are concerned about the popula"scatter" homeless shelters was blocked, and called on the state legislature to step in. He also tion of homeless men living in the shelter in the called for parents and local resident to "be quiet community bordering JFK Airport and loud" and suggested a rally be held at City Hall. bisected by the Belt Parkway. They began to "This room should be packed," he said. notice men from the shelter loitering at gas "The more people there are, the more press stations and a park on North Conduit Avenue, asking for money, and wandering residential streets at night. Eileen Lamanna, who has a child and a grandchild in PS 124, said she has seen groups of men gathering in areas where children walk every day. "We don't know what they're putting in that shelter and they aren't going to tell us," Lamanna said. "What were these people in power thinking?" land) and a rules fight erupted between Sen. Gianaris and Sen. Tom Libous (RBinghamton). Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) said Republicans were showing "blatant disregard" for promises they made before the election. "Those who choose not to embrace this cause will have failed their constituents, their duties and responsibilities as an elected state By DOMENICK RAFTER official, and most of all the 19 million plus The City Council passed new legislation residents of the great state of New York," she that would increase fines on landlords who said. leave their tenants in the cold, just as the In the Assembly, Speaker Sheldon Silver numbers of heat complaints called into 311 introduced Gov. Cuomo's redistricting legis- this winter in the borough grows. lation last week. It has 71 co-sponsors, inSponsored by Public Advocate Bill de cluding a number of Republicans. Blasio, the Heat Enforcement for Tenants The redistricting bill, sponsored by As- (HEAT) Act passed the Council last week. semblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) is The new law will raise the fine for landlords cosponsored by a least nine Queens members who leave their tenants without heat, up to of the Assembly as of March 8; Ed Braunstein $1,000 per unit, per day for repeat offenders. (D-Bayside), Andy Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), It will also require landlords to go a full two Grace Meng (D-Flushing), Aravella Simotas years without any heat or hot water violations (D-Astoria), David Weprin (D-Little Neck), before penalties would reset back to the Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven), Rory Lancman lower maximum fine of $500. (D-Hillcrest), Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing) "We don't want a single New York family and Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Park). to face another brutal winter without heat," The rest of the borough's delegation; Jeff said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. "We are Aubry (D-Corona), Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica), changing the economics so that landlords Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), William will think twice before turning off their tenScarborough (D-Jamaica), Cathy Nolan (D- ants' heat just to save money." Ridgewood), Marge Markey (D-Maspeth), According to the Public Advocate's ofFrancisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights), Mike fice, nearly 24,000 complaints about lack of DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights) and Michele heat have been called in to 311 between Titus (D-South Ozone Park) all have not October and the end of last month in Queens come out for or against the bill, though both alone, out of over 172,000 citywide. The Clark and Moya have recently said they sup- highest number of calls, around 2,000, came port independent redistricting as a concept. from Jamaica, followed by Astoria with more Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at than 1,600 and Ridgewood/Glendale with drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357- more than 1,400 calls. More than 1,000 calls 7400, Ext. 125. each came from Flushing, Far Rockaway,
Senate Argues Rules On Redistricting Bill
Bill Slaps Landlords Who Don't Offer Heat Elmhurst, Richmond Hill and Woodside, all neighborhoods with large renting populations. The Public Advocate also keeps a list of "NYC's Worst Landlords" with a map of locations of open heat complaints. As of March 4, only three of these landlords are in Queens: two in Jamaica and one in Richmond Hill. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
Top Heat Woes Zip 11385 11691 11377 11373 11372 11435 11368 11355 11375 11434
Complaints 1,481 1,077 1,062 1,018 979 921 888 796 760 718
The top 10 zip codes for heat complaints in Queens, Oct. 2010 to Feb. 2011
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 3
By DOMENICK RAFTER As the push for redistricting reform continues in Albany, support is growing for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's independent redistricting bill in both houses of the state legislature, while Senate Democrats look to invoke parliamentary rules to force a debate on the legislation, a move that created fireworks on the floor of the State Senate this week. Senate Democrats, nearly all of whom have endorsed the governor's bill, are seeking to force the Senate Rules Committee to take up the legislation. If one third of the committee's membership asks for a vote on the legislation, one must be held, forcing the Republicans into a potentially embarrassing vote against independent redistricting. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said he did not oppose independent redistricting, but favors a Constitutional solution. All Queens State Senators except Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) are openly supportive of the bill, which was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria). Smith, however, is one of the 11 Democrats on the Rules committee to sign a petition demanding a public hearing on the bill. A spokesman would not further clarify his individual position on the bill. On Tuesday afternoon, the Rules committee rejected the Democrats' petition, leading to an hour-long rules fight on the floor of the Senate. Democrats objected to the Rules committee clerk's rejection of the petition, saying the rule that allowed them to petition the committee for a hearing on redistricting was one created by the Republican majority at the start of the session. The objection was ruled out of order by presiding officer John Flanagan (R-Long Is-
The PTA at PS 124 met with the new management at the shelter to discuss security. They were told the shelter would have five full-time security guards working on three shifts, but the shift changes will coincide with school arrival and dismissal, which worried parents. The guards will only work on shelter grounds and after 10 p.m., the doors of the center will be locked and those left outside will be left to fend for themselves until morning. The shelter has agreed to provide vans to bring the men outside of the neighborhood for recreation. They admitted the shelter does not know the criminal records of the men who will be housed there because the City gives them little notice when they drop off residents. That point opened up concern about the possibility of violent criminals or sex offenders living in the shelter without anyone knowing. The school and the surrounding neighborhood sits in between the shelter and the A train subway and Aqueduct Racetrack, leading to concerns about men in the shelter coming in contact with children on their way to and from the casino scheduled to open there this summer. Lewis said PS 124 would now have to come up with its own security plan. The school building will be locked down during the day. In the schoolyard at recess, the gates will be locked, with teachers and staff having the key to open them. Lewis said PS 124 was recently changed to a "priority one" school, calling for added security. Lewis said she thought it was because of the school's proximity to JFK. Landing planes often fly low over the school. Now she believes the shelter had something to do with that change. "That should have been my first signal," she said. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
System Alerts You When Water Runs
Page 4 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
New Bill Would Help Fight Tickets By JOSEPH OROV IC We’ve all lived through it. The rush of uncertainty as you slip out of your car and head to a Muni-Meter, all the while hoping a traffic officer does not spot your dashboard’s lack of a receipt. A bill introduce by Councilman Jim Genarro (D-Fresh Meadows) would mitigate the panic. The legislation would force parking agents to immediately cancel parking tickets for anyone who produces a valid muni-meter receipt with a time stamp made five minutes before or after the ticket was written. Currently, traffic enforcement cops can ticket any vehicle without a receipt, regardless of whether the driver is feeding quarters in the meter as it is being written. “We’d like to help folks out who follow the law,” Genarro said. “Right now, you don’t have any recourse, even if you’ve followed
the law to the letter. This is something that cries out for being rectified.” The bill was included in a package of legislation Council Speaker Christine Quinn touted during her State of the City address. Genarro was effusive in his thanks to the Speaker and expressed optimism for the bill’s enactment into law. The only question is implementation. The system, according to Genarro, is already in place. The ticketing process just needs a few adjustments. “What we would need to do is create a mechanism whereby the ticket agent would scan this valid slip you got from the meter,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect it to be a vast undertaking.” Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.
Photo by Brian M. Rafferty
By JOSEPH OROV IC Mayor Mike Bloomberg visited Eastern Queens to tout one of the craftier benefits of the City’s oft-maligned new wireless water metering system. Standing before the guts of the Douglaston Pump Station, the Mayor highlighted the $252 million system’s Leak Notification Program, which tracks water consumption in nearly realtime, allowing the City to alert homeowners of sudden spikes in their usage possibly caused by leaks. The new system tracks water consumption four Co unc i lman Mark W epri n li stens as Mayo r Mi ke times a day and lets con- Bloomberg speaks at the Douglaston Water Station to sumers monitor their use explain the City’s new water leak notification system. on the City’s Web site, nyc.gov. The program alerts homeowners to ows) has been among the new meters’ more unusual spikes in consumption, which vocal champions, and wholeheartedly enBloomberg said could indicate an otherwise dorsed the program, not just for the alerts, unknown leak. The heads-up allows a poten- but for the potential to inform consumers tial leak to be addressed well before the shock about the cost of their habits. of an unusually high water bill – or costly “People in your household that might be repair – comes in, the Mayor said. a chronic long-shower taker, one may be able “There are situations where time means to see in real time what their water usage money,” Bloomberg said. “High tech can costs,” he said. “Knowledge is power and m e a n l o w e r c o s t s f o r N e w Y o r k e r s . being able to find out minute by minute is Homeowners will no longer see a quarterly certainly a great leap forward, better than bill and be shocked by a wild increase caused learning in the aggregate.” by an unknown leak.” Flushing resident Lisha Li attested to the The program was welcomed by critics of program’s effectiveness. A notification alerted the new meters, who contend the new de- her to check for a leak after her water convices have themselves created an increase in sumption jumped from $8 to $100 a day. The water bills. cold caused a broken pipe. Addressing the “While I and many of my constituents leak early in the billing period saved her continue to complain the water rates are too thousands of dollars, Li said. damn high, I welcome this aspect of the The City gave the program a trial run program,” said Councilman Mark Weprin beginning in December, and sent out about (D-Oakland Gardens). 1,300 notifications. Homeowners with the The Mayor was quick to respond to the new meters can sign up for the alerts online caveat of the Councilman’s endorsement. or by calling 311. They will be notified by “The way you pay for this technology is email, phone or writing, and the City is through the water rates,” Bloomberg said. currently working on a text message sysThe Leak Notification Program is part of tem. The new meters should track most a greater effort to make government more water usage across the City by January “customer friendly” through an effort spear- 2012. headed by Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at called NYC Simplicity. jorovic@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Mead- 7400, Ext. 127.
Bill Would Push MTA On Security “The MTA is doing an inadequate job of providing security,” he warned. “[The comptroller’s] report only makes clear that the MTA is not equipped to handle security from an anti-terror perspective.” He said the bill is modeled on a post-Sept. 11 bill that gave the State DHS authority over security at power plants and chemical
facilities, which Gianaris said has been “very successful.” The MTA has opposed the bill, citing cost concerns, but Gianaris said he was not worried about opposition. “We faced the same concerns from the power industry and chemical industry,” he said. Gianaris added that the bill would not cost
the MTA any money and on the state level, money already allocated to DHS should cover most of the expenses. If passed and signed into law by the governor, it would take effect immediately. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
Boxing Comes To Cordon Bleu By DOMENICK RAFTER The Cordon Bleu in Woodhaven is used to hosting weddings and Sweet 16s, but on March 4, it hosted a unique event – a night of boxing. With a boxing ring set up on the dance floor, nearly 200 enthusiastic fans gathered at the catering hall on Jamaica Avenue to watch New Legend Boxing Promotion’s inaugural “Friday Night Fights” event. The card featured eight fights with pugilists coming from as far away as Idaho to compete. Tickets went for between $40 and $80 and spectators were treated to a buffet and cash bar. The night was good for fighters from Queens. In the first fight, Howard Beach’s Vinny Celentano defeated Richard Mason of Long Island after four rounds in the heavyweight bout. On the mezzanine level, a few dozen Celentano fans, wearing shirts supporting him, erupted in celebration when the judge’s scores were announced. In the ladies’ super flyweight bout, the undefeated Patricia Alcivar of Elmhurst defeated Laura Gomez, who hails from Sonoma, Mexico, after six rounds.
In the main event, the featherweight bout, Brooklyn’s Juan Dominguez delivered a thirdround knockout to Gabriel Gomez. In the Welterweight bout, Mike Ruiz of Lynbook defeated Jorge Barajas of Idaho after a thirdround stoppage. Edward Valdez of Manhattan defeated Angel Torress of Westchester County in a sixth-round knockout. Mike Chapman, chief marketing officer of New Legends Boxing Promotions, which is affiliated with New Legends Boxing, a boxing studio in Ozone Park, said the idea of the event was born last fall. He said he hopes New Legends does “Friday Night Fights” bimonthly, but would wait to see the response from the first fight before deciding when to hold the next. “We’ll give ourselves some time to work out the kinks,” he said. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
Undefeated Patricia Alcivar of Forest Hills kept her record strong on Friday night.
PROPOSED SUBWAY STATION CHANGE A hearing will be held at the location, date, and time noted below at which the public is invited to comment on the proposed permanent closure of the station entrance on the south side of Queens Boulevard at the Briarwood–Van Wyck Boulevard subway station on the E F line. This entrance closure is to accommodate a widening of the Van Wyck Expressway. A diagram depicting the proposed change is below and also available at www.mta.info
EF
TIME AND PLACE OF HEARING The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Registration closes at 9 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2011 Queens Borough Hall 120-55 Queens Blvd Room 213 Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Directions: Subway: E F to Kew Gardens - Union Turnpike Station. Bus: Q10/Q60 to Queens Blvd at 80th Rd; Q37 to Union Tpke at Kew Gardens Rd; Q46 to Union Tpke at Queens Blvd; Qm18, X63, X64, X68 to Queens Blvd & 78th Av (rush hours only)
Registration to speak will remain open until 9 p.m. on the date of the hearing. Oral testimony limited to 3 minutes. To register in advance of the hearing, for more information, or to comment, go to www.mta.info or contact (718) 521-3333. In accordance with applicable legal requirements notices are being posted at appropriate locations throughout the MTA system with respect to this proposal under consideration. This hearing location is accessible to the mobility impaired. Interpreter services available for the hearing impaired.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Jay H. Walder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
mta.info
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 5
Public Hearing
By DOMENICK RAFTER A bill introduced by State Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) would give the state more authority over security on subways, buses, bridges and tunnels. The legislation, which Gianaris first introduced in the Assembly in 2005, would grant the New York State Director of Homeland Security oversight of the security measures utilized by the MTA at its facilities. DHS would examine the security measures being used by the MTA, and then issue findings and recommendations regarding necessary enhancements. “New York’s mass transit riders deserve to use the subways and buses free from fear of a terrorist incident,” Gianaris said. “We need anti-terrorism experts to oversee the security measures in place and ensure all necessary steps are being taken to make our mass transit system as safe as possible.” A report issued by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli this week revealed the MTA has gone over budget and has been tardy in implementing security at its facilities. Overall costs have jumped 44 percent, from $591 million to $851 million. The report showed that security upgrades will not be completed until June 2012, nearly four years after its estimated completion date after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. DiNapoli’s report shows the bulk of the MTA’s costs are in security-camera projects, which were severely delayed when defense contractor Lockheed Martin defaulted on an agreement with the agency to equip the subway system with state-of-the-art cameras, leading to a prolonged court battle that still continues. The report highlighted the need for the legislation, Gianaris said.
Edit Page In Our Opinion:
Lesser Of Two Evils We’ve seen this dance before. Last year, it was libraries that were going to be decimated. This year, it’s teacher positions and senior centers. It’s always something, and somehow the combination of city funds along with state and federal borrowing seems to allow things to continue to operate as they always have – more or less. How is this done? By going deeper into debt. We spend more than we can possibly pay for, and our budget fears seem to go away with a flourish with the announcement that the senior centers have been saved, or the layoffs held back, or the libraries remaining open; whichever bogeyman is paraded about to strike fear into the budget process is finally defeated, and the true horror comes later in the form of increased debt. With the push being made by Ed Koch’s New York Uprising for independent redistricting, there seems to be another facet of the movement being ignored – a balanced budget. We cannot afford to pay for everything all the time. The services we cherish come at a grave cost to our future. If we’re so concerned about teachers for our kids, should we not also be worried for the financial burden they will have to bear? If we’re so stricken with fear about our seniors centers, should we not also be concerned about who is going to continue to pay for their services once they are gone? There are no easy answers, because the questions don’t provide simple solutions. Who should we hurt more, and when should we hurt them are the more realistic questions our lawmakers need to face – and they need to find an answer.
In Your Opinion:
Page 6 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Tax The Rich To The Editor: When the stakes of letting Wall Street fail were too high, we the taxpayers bailed them out. Lower Manhattan has since bounced back and the companies that gambled with our pensions and our mortgages are once again making a windfall in profits. Meanwhile, the folks on Queens Boulevard are still struggling. Jobs have not rebounded. Rent prices are still astronomical. Foreclosure signs speckle our streets. Classrooms are filled to the brim. Tuitions at public universities have soared. And now the governor has proposed cutting Title XX funding, which would shutter 110 senior centers in New York City, including 22 in Queens, the borough with the largest older adult population in the city. Two of the senior centers slated for elimination on April 1 are managed by Queens Community House and are located within public housing complexes. They serve low-
income people who are barely scraping by on fixed incomes, which have not risen since this recession began in spite of a soaring cost of living. Closing these centers would mean that hundreds of seniors would be in isolation, unable to access a nutritious affordable lunch or a place to exercise, to take classes that keep their minds active and engaged and to socialize with their neighbors. Is this how our society should treat people who have contributed to the workforce for their whole lives? In New York City, 44 percent of our wealth is in the hands of the top 1 percent of income earners, and yet they only contribute one-third of the tax base. Our representatives in Washington, Albany and City Hall are asking us to sacrifice. But our neighbors have been sacrificing for years, and continue to do so through increased prices, wage freezes, MTA hikes and various user taxes. We believe the wealthiest New Yorkers should pay their fair share
Michael Schenkler Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
through the extension of New York State’s Personal Income Tax Surcharge along with the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus’s Temporary Income Tax Surcharge. By implementing these modest revenue generating measures, we can begin to reap the dividends of our investment in the financial industries’ solvency and keep us from regressing into a society that can’t look out for its own members. Joe Hennessy, Chair, CB 6
Without Pity To The Editor: The city is planning to close 105 senior citizens centers, which I can only say is a great travesty. These senior citizens have worked all their lives and some of them are hurting and quite needy. These seniors rely on these centers for meals, education, exercise activities and for family and friends. Out of this 105 there will be 22 that will close in Queens. Added to that, some of these seniors get their only good meal at these senior centers. The city ought to be ashamed for what they are about to do. Remember this: these seniors built this city and what it has become today. I think that New York City is slowly becoming the city without pity. Frederick Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks
Help Jamaica Ave. To The Editor: With snowstorm after snowstorm blanketing Jamaica Avenue, it was easy to forget what the street that we walk down almost every day looks like. Sort of like walking around a familiar house in the dark – you know it by heart. But now that the snow has melted, a new and almost unfamiliar light is being shed on Woodhaven’s main commercial and transportation venue. And what’s showing isn’t pretty. What is becoming painfully clear is that Jamaica Avenue is a bit of a mess. Bird droppings coat the corners and streets around our two elevated train platforms. Litter baskets overflow with garbage tossed by residents who do not want to hold it in their homes for the next Sanitation Department pick-up. Trash is tossed to the streets by those who frequent stores that do a brisk take-out food business. We’re now also beginning to see the economic hurt that many other neighborhoods have been experiencing for the last few years. This is translating into empty storefronts and sidewalks not being shoveled of snow before it becomes a thick and impenetrable slab of ice. Why are
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things different now? What can be done to change this recent slide? These are tough questions to answer but one thing is certain. In about a year we will have a newly refurbished and repainted elevated train structure. If businesses and their representatives do not take a different approach to how they administer the business district we can no longer point the finger of blame at the State for having our subway system be the eyesore of Woodhaven. Like the new problems that now affect our Jamaica Avenue, we have to come up with new and ambitious plans to bring the district into the 21st century. We have to proactively attract new and vibrant businesses that all of our residents would be happy to shop at. We need to rethink the concept of having one man with a Rubbermaid trash-can on wheels cleaning more than 25 blocks with a broom. We need to have well-thought-out promotional days and a medium to actually deliver this information to our residents. And we need to open channels of communication with the building owners about rents that would support a dynamic and diverse shopping environment. This may be one of our last best chances to get this right. I implore Jamaica Avenue’s business owners to get together and grab this opportunity, to put on their thinking caps and come up with a new and comprehensive plan. They have nothing to lose but business. Vance B Barbour, Woodhaven
Hypocr isy To The Editor: Few politicians say what they mean and even fewer mean what they say. Hypocrisy is nonpartisan, so party affiliation does not matter. Most feign to be what they are not and assume the mantle of virtue when issuing edicts, regulations and legislation. After the shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., the progressives castigated “right wing hate mongers” in the media for inciting the tragic violence. The tragedy, in their opinion, was instigated and inspired by unregulated “hate speech” that should be censored. However, there seems to be tacit approval of Andy Stern’s SEIU union Web site fight song that calls on workers to “smash” their bosses to the ground and “take the bastards down.” One Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts was heard exhorting his constituents to “get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary.” Pro-choice progressives defend James Mammarella Director of Sales and Marketing Shelly Cookson Corporate & Legal Advertising Account Executives Joanne Naumann Elizabeth Rieger Shari Strongin
Merlene Carnegie Madalena Conti Tom Eisenhauer Donna Lawlor
Maureen Coppola, Advertising Administrator Accounting: Leticia Chen, Phyllis Wilson
and advocate “freedom of choice” but not for the citizens who are compelled to join a union before they can work and are coerced to pay dues and contribute to political campaigns. The hypocrites in Congress have imperiled our republic with their insidious hypocrisy. They require every citizen to prove that they carry health insurance but not everyone must prove they are a citizen. Ed Konecnik, Flushing
Go For It, John To The Editor: There is a simple answer to New York City Comptroller John Liu’s recent announcement asking citizens for suggestions as to which municipal agencies to audit. Why not look at how all New York City municipal agencies manage their respective share of $6 billion plus in regular formula federal aid supplemented by billions of dollars more in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) stimulus funding from Washington. Ditto for the billions from Albany. Before elected officials start crying about potential cuts in aid from Washington or Albany, they should ask how NYC manages the billions of dollars already received from both Albany and Washington every year. Does NYC submit grant applications complete and on time? Are current state and federal funded programs being completed on schedule and within budget? Are contract change orders reviewed to determine they are both fair and reasonable? Has there been sufficient oversight to avoid any waste, fraud or abuse? Without sufficient staff, will various city departments be able to continue submitting grant applications? Will they avoid having unspent funds being carried over year after year not used for the intended purpose? In many cases, federal and state agencies provide funding for staff to administer their respective programs. Are municipal employee staff positions funded by federal and state grants exempt from any periodic hiring freezes or layoffs? Are they all filled? Adequate city staff is needed to review and approve vouchers from recipients. There is also the need for dedicated employees to process financial reimbursements and provide periodic progress reports for respective federal and state funding agencies to review. Intelligent citizens look forward to hearing what NYC Comptroller Liu uncovers. Larry Penner, Great Neck Mitch Kronenfeld: Classified Manager Elizabeth Mance: Administrative Assistant Classified Ad Representatives: Nadia Hack, Peggie Henderson, Fran Gordon, Marty Lieberman, Chris Preasha, Lorraine Shaw, Sheila Scholder, Lillian Saar
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Boro’s Gateway Should Remain Named for Queens By COUNCILMAN hat tan Bridge, and Queens dePETER VALLONE Jr. serves the same respect. For every driver stuck in its So let’s get out of the busirush hour traffic, for evne ss of renami ng ery runner dreading its bridges all together. We steep uphill climb, and already learned our lesfor every child gazing at son the hard way with its intricate structure the renaming of the while riding an elevated Triborough Bridge. I opN or Q train traveling posed that renaming alongside it, it’s a bridge also, but again it was not like no other, unit ing p er sonal to Rober t F. two distinct worlds in a Kennedy. It simply went global city with one true against the community’s Councilman name – the Queensboro Peter Vallone Jr. wishes and cost taxpayBridge. ers millions in muchBy now many of you have needed revenue that could have heard about the proposal to been used for maintenance and change its name to the Koch- upgrades rather than new signs – Queensboro Bridge in honor of not to ment ion the endless agformer Mayor Edward I. Koch – a gravation and confusion that living legend. He absolutely de- comes with giving directions to a serves a tremendous honor, equal bridge that no longer exists on in symbolism and size to the maps or road signs. Queensboro Bridge, for guiding our The proposal, which was put cit y through one of its darke st forward with the best intentions – periods and for his endless service albeit too quickly and without ever to residents in all five boroughs. consulting Queens County – will But not at the expense of a land- likely be voted on by the Cit y mark so closely tied to Queens’ Council in the very near future. culture, h istor y and present-day I am not at all surprised to see life. No one would ever rename the 70 percent of people surveyed by Brooklyn Bridge or even the Man- the Queens Chamber of Commerce
against the renaming. The survey also featured a question on congestion pricing, which indicated that more people would rather pay to cross the bridge than have it renamed. I’m happy to see that many Queens organizations and editorial boards have joined me. Queens re sident s have written my office, posted on my Facebook wall and come up to me in the street – all pleading for the Queensboro Bridge to keep its rightful name. I’ve also attended numerous civic association meetings throughout Queens where members unanimously are against the renaming, to put it mildly. Often the mere mention will elicit booing and hissing – again, not because of what the name is being changed to, but because of pride in our borough and pride in our bridge. I’ve suggested an alternative – a not her tur n-of-t he centur y
Keep the Queensboro Bridge for Queens. landmark located in the heart of the cit y’s civic center – the Municipal Building. This 40-floor str ucture, one of Ne w York’s most beautiful buildings, with vaulted ceilings featuring the same unique tile as the Bridge’s vaulted ceilings, truly keeps this cit y r unning. It not only face s Cit y Hall but it is where the busi-
ness of the cit y is conducted. Let’s hope our drivers will keep their chance to curse its name during rush hour traffic, let our runners feel proud of completing the Queens portion of the marathon on its grueling terrain and let our kids continue to marvel at the hulking presence of…the Queensboro Bridge!
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Tweed Undercuts Principals By Grabbing Half Their Nuts By HENRY STERN school system several We tend to write t ime s i n a fe w shor t about what we view as years. Their claims of edumajor injustices, which cational achievement means that minor injuswere debunked by state tices receive short shrift. officials last July, and the The Dept. of Edulongest-serving chancelcation can briefly and lor departed in December. appropriately be reAlthough this is not ferred to as Tweed, refa cosmic issue, it deserves Henry Stern erencing its abode at 52 more public scrutiny than Chambers St., a building whose con- it has yet received. What the struction enriched the Democratic Tweedlings have done this year is count y leader at the time to an to renege on an agreement which extent unmatched until the advent allowed school principals to defer of CityTime 140 years later. The a small percentage of the annual schools had been run since 1940 appropriation for their school unout of 110 Livingston Street, in til the next year, to enable them Brooklyn, an address that in time to retain teachers or offer new probecame a metaphor for waste and grams. These are expenditures bureaucracy. Rejecting figurative they would be unable to afford unsuggestions that it be blown up, le ss they were al lowed to keep the city sold the building and it is some unspent funds. now a convenient if uninspired One of the key goals of educondo. cation reform under mayoral conThose educrats not pensioned trol was to increase the authority off reconstituted themselve s in of principals, while at the same Tweed, a 19th century relic at the time holding them responsible for northern end of City Hall Park. the succe ss or fai lure of their Seized by idealism, the Tweedlings students. The principal was to be set up a City Hall Academy, a char- treated as the CEO of a school, not ter school to share their building and as a bureaucrat at the bot tom of remind its occupants who they were the Tweed totem pole. supposed to serve. The children This year, Tweed has notified shortly afterward disappeared and the principals that one-half of the the Academy was relocated. One money they have saved and set doesn’t use an executive suite for aside will revert to headquarters if manufacturing, even in education. the money is not spent this year. The move to Manhattan does The deadline for “use it or lose it” not appear to have drastically af- is now March 18. fected the thought practices of the Councilwoman Elizabeth Tweedlings, who reorganized the Crowley of Queens held a press
conference with several other elected officials at P.S. 128 i n Middle Vi llage prote st ing the Tweed directive. “Taking 50% of our schools’ reserves will do little to close a budget gap but will have a big impact on the programs schools can provide for our students,” said the councilmember. “We are telling the Mayor and the DOE to not cut our schools reserves - it’s bad education policy, it’s bad management policy and it’s bad budget policy.” Four elected officials joined in her statement. It is hard for us to believe that Cathie Black ordered this policy shift on her own, breaking faith with the principals who are considered the cornerstones on which Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s program to reform the schools is built. Across the five boroughs, the total amount saved by the principals was around $80 million. Why should Black impair her own credibility by taking less than $40 million (the 50%) away from the schools to return to headquarters, when the Department’s total budget exceeds $20,000,000,000? (That is twenty billion dollars.) Also, the fact that the principals have until March 18 to spend the money means there may not be any financial savings at all, just a lot more school supplies and toilet paper purchased. The closer one looks at this episode, the odder it appears. One would think that this administration in particular would want to
encourage initiative by principals through giving them a small percentage of their school budget to save for a rainy year, 2011-12. It is an extraordinarily difficult task to teach children, many from deprived backgrounds, to read, write and cipher. It is fair to suppose that the best ways to teach may not yet have been discovered. The point of today’s article is not to take DOE to task for the performance of its million students; we may not know any better than they do on that subject. What we do know is that it makes sense to keep one’s word,
and not to take away what has been given, not to alienate the people you rely on to lead, and not to conceal what is being done or who has done it. If one conducts oneself properly and obeys the rules of civilized behavior, people will be more likely to believe that what one is doing on more important matters is credible and makes sense. The appropriate words here are those that Bloomberg for years has addressed to every commissioner just after he has appointed them: “Don’t [mess] it up.” StarQuest@NYCivic.org
Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 9
Queens This Week
Flushing Y Gets $1.1M For Children The Flushing YMCA got a much-needed cash infusion when it received $1.1 million in federal grants for a program assisting outof-school kids. The grant will help fund the Y's YouthBuild, which helps at-risk youth obtain diplomas or GEDs while also providing occupational training in the building industry. The program is open to individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, kids aging out of foster care, dropouts and others. The programs serve the entire borough. The job training program includes the construction or renovation of single- and multi-family homes, which are then sold to
low-income families and the homeless. "By helping young adults earn their GED and learn valuable job skills, YouthBuild reflects a unique blend of the YMCA's commitment to nurturing the potential of young people and fostering a sense of responsibility for self and others," said Jack Lund, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. The funds from the U.S. Dept. of Labor were secured by U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. "This critical grant will play a key role in putting at-risk youth in Queens on the path to success," Ackerman said. "Thanks to this money and the outstanding work of the
Flushing YMCA, many young men and women throughout the borough will finish their education, secure employment in the construction trade and learn important career skills. I am extremely pleased to have worked with the Flushing YMCA to secure these important funds, so that this desperately needed program can continue in our community." The grant will help continue the program for 70 youngsters for the next two years. "By building math and reading skills, YouthBuild programs help students finish high school and put them on the right path towards a college degree, a job and a brighter
future," said Schumer. "With this critical investment in building our future, the Flushing YMCA can now keep its Queens YouthBuild programs open for business." YouthBuild aims to have 70 percent of the program's graduates earn their GEDs; 75 percent gain employment. "With this critical investment in building our future, the Flushing YMCA can now keep its Queens YouthBuild programs open for business," Schumer said. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127. —Joseph Orovic
MS 74 Gal Sees Future As An Artist Gina Siaw, 13, has already had the privilege of seeing her work hang in the Met - the MetLife building in Manhattan, that is. One of several students chosen for the honor, the Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School student painted a can of V8 that hung for several weeks in the iconic landmark. "I was happy because it was the biggest one there," Siaw said. Her assignment was to paint any crunched up can, but the choice of the Campbell's product was a twist of fate that proved serendipitous. When Siaw picked up her painting, along with a large basket of V8 products, she
received a hand-written note from Campbell's CEO D.R. Conant congratulating her on a job well done. "I looked for a can but the only one we had was V8, so my dad drank it," she said. "I thought it was going to be weird because everyone else had a Coke or Pepsi." Interested in drawing since she was a child, the straight-A student considers it one of her greatest talents, and spends all her free time perfecting her art. In a portfolio of what her mother considers her best work, some of the most impressive are pencil-drawn still lifes. "I think I got it from my grandma," Siaw
said. "She can draw very well." Describing her as a good daughter who always knows what she wants, Wendy Chen said, "I was surprised. I didn't expect to see that she has an achievement in the arts. But I am glad. I agree with her in everything she wants to do. I never force her to do anything." Aiming for medical school or fashion design, if she gets her wish, the seventh grader will be accepted into the Bronx High School of Science or Stuyvesant High School. Not afraid of a little hard work, her college of choice is Emory University. —Jessica Ablamsky
Gina Siaw stands in front of her painting.
Queens CLOSEUP Angr y Delight Theatre Time Productions will present "12 Angry Men" at its new location, Grace Episcopal Church, 14-15 Clintonville St., Whitestone, March 11-20. Call (347) 7329015 for tickets and information.
Page 10 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Mom's Home Cooking Join QCC Professor Megan Elias for an interesting look at the evolution of the role of women in culinary history in "Mom's Home Cooking, Women & Food in Queens," a lecture presented by the Queens Historical Society Sunday, March 27, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Over time the tasks associated with preparing meals have changed profoundly as food sources and opportunities have changed. The work that women did in kitchens in Queens' agricultural past is very different from that preformed in the borough's private and commercial kitchens today. Dr. Elias will explore the ways that changing foodstuffs have brought changes to the lives of women in Queens over the course of the borough's history. The cost is $5 for members, $8 for nonmembers (life members are free). The event will be held at Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing.
Green In Queens Going Green In Queens 2011, a greening, Educational and Networking Conference, will be held Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Al Oerter Recreational Center, 131-40 Fowler Ave., Flushing. Free admission, free workshops, giveaways, food and fun. There will be more than
50 tables/exhibits and 10 workshops For more information call (718) 341-1395 or go to goinggreeninqueens2011.eventbrite.com
Clinton Dems On Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m., the Clinton Democratic Club will hold a meeting with special guest Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. The meeting will take place at Vallone & Vallone LLP, 25-59 Francis Lewis Blvd. To learn more call (718) 428-7285.
Rummage Sale A rummage sale will be held Saturday, March 19 at the Poppenhusen Institute 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, email collegepointrelay@yahoo.com or call (917) 443-6989.
Fresh Air Camps Join The Fresh Air Fund in its 135th summer of providing free summer experiences to NYC children! The Fresh Air Fund is currently registering boys and girls, six to 12 years old, in all five boroughs for two-week visits to volunteer host families in 13 Northeastern states or at one of the five Fund camps in upstate New York. On a Fresh Air Fund experience, a child will see a world outside New York City, full of meadows, streams and lakes. Wherever children go, they may learn new skills like riding a bike, swimming or gardening. Children often make friends that last forever. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada through The
Fund's Friendly Town program. Additionally, 3,000 children attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from lowincome neighborhoods. Community agencies in all five boroughs register children for Fresh Air programs. For a referral to a participating agency, visit freshair.org or call The Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003.
Oratorio Karaoke Join with OSQ singers for just one night! Last year, we had so much fun at our Karaoke fund-raiser, and this year, we're stepping it up a level with the Table Sing-Off. Yup, we're going to compete for prizes. So, gather your friends and pick a good song and prepare to knock our socks off! The event will be held Sunday, March 27, 4 p.m., at the Community House, 15 Borage Place, Forest Hills. Call (718) 279-3006 for tickets or e-mail info@queensoratorio.org. There will be all kinds of music, raffles, a supper buffet, desserts available for purchase. Bring the beverage of your choice (soda, wine, beer, etc.). $50 per person.
Flushing Camera Club The Flushing Camera Club is celebrating its 40th season of serving all of Queens, Long Island and New York City. The club meets at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Flushing Hospital; enter at 45th Avenue and Burling Street. Meetings are on the first, third and fifth
Wednesday of the month. Come and spend an evening with us to learn about good photography and to enjoy excellent photography related programs. Validated free parking is available. For more information call (718) 749-0643 or go to flushingcameraclub.org.
Defensive Driv ing A defensive driving course for insurance and point reduction will be given at Holy Family Church in Flushing, on Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For information and registration call (631)3609720. The cost is $45.
Purim Par ty On Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m., the Queens Community for Cultural Judaism will host its annual Purim Party, presenting a reading of a very witty version of the Purim Story with lots of laughs! Costumes are encouraged for a prize. We'll schmooze over deliciously, light refreshments, music. Admission is $5. At Queens Unitarian Congregation, Ash Avenue, corner of 149th Street, Flushing. Call (718) 380-5362.
12-Step Program Nar-Anon Never Alone is a 12-Step support group for anyone affected by a loved one's use and/or abuse of drugs. There are no dues or fees. Meetings are held at the VFW Hall in Whitestone, 19-12 149th St., every Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. Newcomers are welcome. For further information, please contact Norma at (718) 217-0364.
Queens Focus PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE...PEOPLE..PEOPLE... The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings between Feb. 27 and March 5. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more. Mark Mosias of Astoria who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Feb. 22. Mosias’s winning ticket was purchased at the Wandy’s Market at 34-17 28th Ave. in Astoria. Awadkumar Jewat of Woodhaven who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Feb. 25. Jewat’s winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven at 99-49 Horace Harding Expy. in Corona. Jorge Orellana of Jamaica who won $32,487 on the Take Five drawing of Feb. 27. Orellana’s winning ticket was purchased at the Lucky D & J Convenient Store at 4233 College Point Blvd. in Flushing. Fernando Garcia of Long Island City who won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing of Jan. 4. Garcia’s winning ticket was purchased at the Jackson News & Magazine at 49-17 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City. Haniff Mohammed of Hollis who won $32,487 on the Take Five drawing of Feb. 27. Mohammed’s winning ticket was purchased at the Honish Deli Grocery at 182-46 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica. Evangelos Zimnis of Middle Village who
New Computers:
won $24,291 on the Take Five drawing of Feb. 28. Zimnis’s winning ticket was purchased at the Middle Village Card at 79-24 Eliot Ave. in Middle Village. The College of Saint Rose in Albany announced that the following local residents are among 858 students named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester: Megan Fuchs of Broad Channel, Rebecca Jean-Paul of Cambria Heights, Dominykas Milka of Ridgewood, Devin Nuszer of Belle Harbor, Vincenzo Rosignano of Fresh Meadows and Dalisa Soto of Corona. The following students are on the Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievement for the Fall 2010 semester from the School of Management at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The criteria for the Dean’s Honors list is a minimum grade point average of 3.75. Tiffany Choi of Forest Hills, Da Hye Ham of Woodside, Yanhong Guo of Maspeth, Xiao Fei Wen of Kew Gardens, Yiyang Li of Howard Beach and Moreen Ang of Woodhaven. The following students are on the Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievement for the Fall 2010 semester from Harpur
Queens College’s Hillel Center welcomed Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky into their new, state of the art multimedia computer lab. The Senate provided $25,000 in funding for computer upgrades. Pictured l. to r.: Queens College President James Muyskens; Rabbi Moshe Shur, executive director of the Queens College Hillel; Queens College students; Sen. Stavisky; Susan Henderson, Queens College Vice President for Institutional Advancement College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The criteria for the Dean’s Honors list is a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Steven Michael Lange of Howard Beach, Tahseen Mohammad Afgani of Ozone Park, Samantha June Lourine of Ozone Park, Elizabeth Munde of Ozone Park, Deviani Umadat of Ozone Park, Geneal Y. Chichester of South Ozone Park, Cassandra Yolanda Murray of Queens, Kurnvir Singh of South Ozone
Park, Dominique Emilio Adames of Woodhaven and Bonnie Li of Woodhaven. The following students are on the Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievement for the Fall 2010 semester from the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The criteria for the Dean’s Honors list is a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Russell L. Shapiro of Richmond Hill and Thomas P. Huzij of Woodhaven.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICENOTICE OF NON DISCRIMINATORY POLICY BRIDGEVIEW NURSING HOME LOCATED AT 143-10 20 TH AVE. WHITESTONE NY 11357 A PARTICIPANT IN THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ITS POLICIES REGARDING ADMISSIONS, EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES BECAUSE OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, AGE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, SPONSORSHIP, MARITAL STATUS, CITIZENSHIP OR NATIONAL & ETHNIC ORIGIN. _______________________________________________________________ SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 8596/09 WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF SASCO 2007-MLN1 Plaintiff, vs. ANGELA LOGAN, ET, AL. Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 240-02 CANEY ROAD ROSEDALE, NY 11422 SBL #: BLOCK 13550 LOT 62 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this
Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 24th day of February, 2011, TO: ANGELA LOGAN, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. DAVID ELLIOT of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 24th day of February, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by NORRIS REID A/K/A NORRIS ROY REID (who died a resident of the State of New Jersey on the 28 th day of May, 2008) dated the 9th day of August, 2006, to secure the sum of $419,760.00, and recorded at Instrument No. 2006000519788 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on
the 14 th day of September, 2006; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 31 st day of March, 2009, and sent for recording in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York. The property in question is described as follows: 240-02 CANEY ROAD, ROSEDALE, NY 11422 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Caney Road with the Easterly side of Brookville Boulevard; RUNNING THENCE Southerly along the Easterly side of Brookville Boulevard, 100.274 feet; THENCE Easterly parallel with the Southerly side of Caney Road, 21.94 feet; THENCE Northerly at right angles to Caney Road, 100.00 feet to the Southerly side of Caney Road; THENCE Westerly along the Southerly side of Caney Road, 29.34 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COM-
PLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1877-BANK-NYS (1-877-2265697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You
should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: February 24, 2011 Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228 The law firm of
Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. _______________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of 16804 LIBERTY AVENUE LAUNDROMAT, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/ 18/10. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 95-25 Queens Blvd., 10th Fl., Rego Park, NY 11374. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Laundry Capital Co., LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 1/ 20/11, bearing Index Number NC-000004-11/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Yasmine (Last) Ali My present name is (First) Yasmeen (Last) Ali aka Yasmeen J. Singh aka Yasmeen J. Graeber aka Yasmeen Jagnandan Singh My present address is 110-20 71 st Street, Apt. #431, Forest Hills, NY 11375 My place of birth is Trinidad My date of birth is August 13, 1954
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 11
LEGAL NOTICE
Compiled by DOMENICK RAFTER
109th Precinct SON KILLED: On Wednesday, March 2, at approximately 2:42 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting a man stabbed inside 34-20 137th St. Apt. 3C in Flushing. Upon arrival police discovered Rene Vera, 38, who had been stabbed in the torso and a 57-year-old Hispanic female who had been stabbed in the chest. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The female victim, Vera's mother, was transported to New York Hospital Queens where she is listed in stable condition. The investigation was ongoing.
man in his 20s, approximately 5-foot-5, 130 lbs. In the third incident, he was described as wearing a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and dark sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' Web site at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
110th Precinct CHURCH ROBBED: The NYPD is seeking the public's SEX ASSAULTS: Police assistance in providing any inare seeking the public's assisformation in regards to a Grand tance in identifying a suspect Larceny that occurred in wanted in connection with three Elmhurst. sexual assaults in Flushing. Between 7:30 p.m. on SaturOn Wednesday, Sept. 22, day, Feb. 26, and 10 a.m. on 2010, at approximately 10:10 p.m., in the vicinity of 34th Police are looking for Sunday, Feb. 27, an unidentiAvenue, a 37-year-old Asian this man in a string of fied suspect or suspects removed woman was approached from s e x u a l a s s a u l t s i n several religious articles from a closet inside of St. Bartholomew behind by the suspect who Flushing. Church located at 43-22 Ithaca pushed her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. The suspect fled the St. in Elmhurst. Anyone with information is asked to call location on foot. The victim sustained laceraCrime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The tions and bruises to her legs. On Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at approxi- public can also submit their tips by logging mately 7:30 p.m., in the vicinity of Sanford o n t o C r i m e S t o p p e r s ' W e b s i t e a t Avenue and 147 Street, a 27-year-old Asian nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips woman was approached from behind and to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. dragged to a secluded area where the suspect struck the victim in the face, slammed her against a wall and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the location. The victim's cell phone and wallet were removed by the suspect. The victim was treated for minor injuries. On Sunday, Feb. 27, at approximately 3:45 p.m., in the vicinity of 37-04 Bowne St., a 25-year-old Asian woman was approached by the same suspect who sexually assaulted her and fled the location. The victim was Some of the items stolen from St. treated for minor injuries. The suspect is described as a Hispanic Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst.
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Slow, Steady Win Boro Growth Race Tribune photo by Domenick Rafter
By DOMENICK RAFTER In short, Queens is developing at a natural pace; perhaps not at quite the speed hoped by some, but according to a panel of five leaders of commerce from different parts of the borough who met last week at a Queens College-hosted business forum, progress is being made. During the hour and a half presentation, the five discussed problems, successes and hopes for the future of development in their part of Queens and how it affects the rest of the borough. Kevin Alexander, executive director of the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corp., discussed the Arverne-By-The-Sea development, which he said has revitalized the economically distressed area about halfway between Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway, bringing 2,300 new residences to the area. As a result of the new homes, just farther east, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a new Stop & Shop has brought jobs and shopping to the community at Wavecrest Gardens. Alexander also outlined plans to reinvest in Far Rockaway, including renovations of the A train subway station at Mott Avenue, and creating a better commercial strip along Beach 20th Street. He outlined plans to renovate O’Donohue Park on Seagirt Boulevard to include a new skateboarding park and concert space on the oceanfront. Gayle Baron, president of the Long Island City Business Development Corp., said Long Island City was undergoing a major commercial and residential boom with the completion of new buildings around Court Square and Queens Plaza, as well as the recentlyannounced Hunters Point South project.
Carlisle Tower y speaks at the forum. The neighborhood, which will soon be the new home of JetBlue and CUNY School of Law, is attracting not only new residents and businesses, but tourists seeking to stay close to, but not in, Manhattan. “European and Asian tourists are choosing Long Island City as a place to stay,” she said, adding the neighborhood is home to the Toyoko Inn, the largest hotel in the city outside Manhattan. Over in Ridgewood, Theodore Renz, executive director of the Ridgewood Local
Development Corp., acknowledged that the neighborhood is more isolated and less commercial-centric than the other sites in the borough, but that it has also been experiencing its own revival as an artisan community. Most of the apartments at the redeveloped Ridgewood Times building at Myrtle and Cypress Avenues have been occupied, with a significant number of new residents coming from Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Renz said, noting that the new Ridgewood transit terminal at Myrtle and Wyckoff Avenues has
helped spur development. He pinpointed the area around the Halsey Street L train stop as one where development has been occurring. In Flushing, former Borough President Claire Shulman, president and CEO of the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp., said there needs to be better “transportation-orientated development.” She avoided most discussion about Willets Point and focused her presentation on Downtown Flushing, including renovating the LIRR station to make it more accessible. She also focused on revamping College Point Boulevard and stressed the need to redevelop the waterfront at the Flushing River. Shulman discussed ideas to build a pedestrian bridge over the Flushing River connecting Downtown Flushing to Willets Point, and credited the Asian community for redeveloping Flushing, which she said had been stunted in growth until the new immigrants arrived. “The Asian community really saved Flushing,” she said. Carlisle Towery, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp., said with the economy on the mend, the GJDC has been “wooing the private sector” into reinvesting in Downtown Jamaica, especially in the developing Airport Village around Jamaica Station. The current national financial situation, he said, has been the biggest obstacle in attracting commerce to Jamaica, which he said was ripe for development. Towery also acknowledged that the muchanticipated commercial strip along Sutphin Boulevard below the LIRR was moving forward and would be completed soon. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 125.
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 13
PLUS Lifestyles
50
What if Everything You Thought You Knew About Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Medicaid Was Dead Wrong?
ELDER LAW AND MEDICAID PLANNING Medicaid needs arise when you least expect them. Americans are living longer than before. At the turn of the 20th century, life expectancy was about 47 years. In the 21st Century, life expectancy has doubled. As a result, we face more challenges and transitions in our lives than those who came before us. • PROTECT your life savings • INCREASE the amount of income you keep. • AVOID losing your home • REDUCE or ELIMINATE your nursing home bills • LEARN about Veteran’s Benefits
WILLS, TRUST AND ESTATE PLANNING We know you want to pass your wealth to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, at the time of your death. If done correctly, a Estate Plan can help minimize estate taxes for a married couple and allow a trusted person to take over your care and finances during incapacity. • PROTECT your family • AVOID probate delays and expenses. • SAVE estate taxes. Give your money to your family. • PRESERVE money for children or charitable causes.
Page 14 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
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SENIORS RALLY TO SAVE THEIR CENTERS “We cannot and will not balance the budget on the backs of our seniors,” Van Bramer said. “We will fight to keep [senior center] doors open.” In Woodhaven, members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association are calling on all residents to show their support for the CCNS Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Senior Center. Not only do senior centers provide hot meals and a break from loneliness, but they have doubled as cooling centers during the summer months, said Edward Wendell, President of the WRBA. Standing outside of the Angelo Petromelis Senior Center in College Point, State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) joined dozens of worried seniors holding signs that read, “Have Some Respect for Our Seniors” and “Where Will We Go for a Hot Meal and a Place to Meet Friends?” Avella said the City is claiming it is being forced to make these cuts due to the proposed removal of the Title XX Discretionary Funds under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed state budget, released last month. “It’s a disgrace that every year we are faced with threats of closure from the City,” Avella said of the proposed cuts. “We won’t let this happen.” Additional closures to SelfHelp
POLL SHOWS HUNGER GROWING IN BORO
since January 2009. Residents answered questions on topics ranging from emotional and physical health to work environment and access to basic services. Berg also pointed out that the continuing trend, which was discovered last year, shows just how widespread food hardship still continues to be throughout the nation. Despite the low ranking of some congressional districts on the survey, there is assistance for those with the inability to afford enough food proposed in the President’s recent recommended Fiscal Year budget for 2012. In President Barack Obama’s proposed budget, he aims to strongly support federal nutrition programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), extending the suspension of time limits for certain working-age adults without dependents with anticipation for their growth. The Food Research and Action Center and New York City Against Hunger both stated they strongly support the president’s goal to eliminate hunger by 2015 and his budget which allocates funding towards its eradication. The Food Research and Action Center has continued to lobby on the behalf of the SNAP, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program as well as other federal food and nutrition programs. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 128.
wake up in the morning. “It’s not just about food,” said Caruso. “It’s also about [seniors’] social life and mental health. [Senior centers] help from living an isolated and lonely life.” Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 128.
A N EW H OME :
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., former Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., Borough president Helen Marshall and Evangeline Dour is, chair of the HANAC board of directors, join others from HANAC to cut the ribbon at the HA NAC George T. Douris Tower Affordable Senior Residence on Hoyt Avenue South Tuesday.
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 15
BY JASON BA NREY A new poll has found that Queens still has some of the hungriest congressional districts in the nation. According to the poll taken by Gallup and the Food Research and Action Center, a national anti-hunger organization, residents living in seven of the city’s 13 congressional districts still faced the inability to afford enough food. Five of the six congressional districts in Queens were listed on the report. District 7, represented by U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), ranked third in the city, with nearly 1 in 4 residents not being able to afford enough food; it was also the sixth hungriest in the nation. In the districts of U.S. Reps. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Nydia Velasquez (DRidgewood) respectively, more than 1 in 5 residents faced food hardship. Falling within the bottom three of the city’s congressional districts were districts represented by U.S. Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside), and Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens), where an average of nearly 1 in 10 struggled to put food on the table last year. “This provides the latest wake-up call that all levels of government need to take immediate action to reverse the city’s growing hunger poverty, and inequality of wealth,” said Joel Berg, executive director of New York City Against Hunger. The report analyzed data collected from surveys provided to more than 650,000 people after interviews with 1,000 households were taken every day
Clearview Senior Center in Bayside and Latimer Gardens Senior Center in Flushing would leave the elderly living in areas north of Northern Boulevard with few accessible facilities. Rhonda Caruso, director of the Angelo Petromelis Senior Center, said that the center has given seniors a real reason to
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen
BY JASON BA NREY Seniors, their advocates and public officials decried Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s plan to close 105 senior centers cross New York City, including 22 in Queens. The centers, which offer the elderly exercise, educational and social programs, as well as meals, will be forced to shut their doors if the budget, which slashes $27 million for senior services, is approved. The mayor said the reductions are due to a 30 percent cut in funding for senior programs in the state budget. In response, seniors are rallying support across the borough and gearing up for multiple protests outside of the same facilities which have served them for years. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (DSunnyside) has scheduled two rallies this Friday to protest budget cuts that will close two senior centers in Long Island City. The first will be held outside Queensbridge Riis Senior Center at noon and the second at Ravenswood Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Van Bramer stressed that 90 percent of individuals who utilize the centers are below the poverty line and the slash in funding would deprive the vulnerable group of core services they heavily rely on.
50 PLUS Lifestyle
FLUSHING HOUSE RESIDENT TURNING 100
From gas lights to electricity, from cars you cranked to state-of-the-art hybrids, Gertrude Coopersmith has seen it all. Well, perhaps not all. On April 10, Gertrude, a resident of Flushing House since June 5, 2006, will celebrate her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends, in the retirement home’s rooftop lounge overlooking New York’s panoramic skyline.
Her birthday is really April 1, but as Gertrude tells it, “I was the youngest of six girls. You see, my parents wanted a boy, but I was born on April 1, so I fooled them!” Her sister Julia Berkowitz, who was also a resident of Flushing House, recently passed away after reaching 101 years. It would seem longevity is all in the family. Born Gertrude Klein on April 1, 1911 in Pittsfield, Mass., she was soon to pick up the nickname of Etee by her sister Julia, who couldn’t pronounce Gertrude. She is still called by that name today by some
members of her family. When Gertrude was 10, the family moved to Brooklyn. She attended Erasmus Hall High School, followed by Maxwell Teacher Training School. After receiving her diploma and a substitute license to teach, Gertrude found employment with the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. In 1934 she married Hyman Coopersmith, whom she had known since she was 14. Her marriage of 61 years was marked by dedication to her children. During the 1970s, they moved to Florida
and after her husband passed, Gertrude came back north in 1996 and has managed on her own. She is still very active and mentally in tune with what’s happening in the world. She no longer bakes, but still paints, reads, does crossword puzzles and has even entered today’s world of high tech. She has a cell phone and plans to master the computer. But don’t let that petite, Grandma-look fool you. She is a master at Scrabble and has proven so to her three children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
PROVEN TO BE EXCEPTIONAL
Page 16 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Gertrude Coopersmith
Residents and staff members at Atria Kew Gardens in Queens are proud to congratulate that organization’s outstanding Maintenance Technician, Latchman Persaud, who has been recognized by Atria with the company’s national Exceptional Service Mentor award. Already known as a highly skilled, responsible and reliable professional, Latchman was largely responsible for maintaining full and uninterrupted environmental services for well over 100 elderly residents during extremely trying weather emergencies in December and January. “Latchman is an exemplary employee” explains Executive Director Bella
Kirschner. “He is a hard-working, highly motivated and disciplined individual whose great performance consistently provides our residents with excellent customer service.” “The initiative and resourcefulness that Latchman demonstrates on a daily basis is remarkable,” agrees Maintenance Director David Steinberg. “In addition, he is always smiling and ready to help no matter how difficult the task may be. Even during the recent blizzards, he was always there, helping to keep our community running smoothly under unusually difficult conditions.” “It is a pleasure to have Latchman on our Atria team.”
Latchman Persaud
PLUS Lifestyles
50
I wonder what it would be like to not worry so much... I can’t help but worry about my mom being home alone. I want her to enjoy her senior years — but how will we find the “right” community for her?
We chose the comforts of home... We felt a warm, welcoming feeling the moment we entered Brandywine. Sure it was beautiful... but the people we met and friendly staff are what made it so inviting.
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We chose her happiness... Now she has something to look forward to everyday! Brandywine offers so many activities that interest her... from local outings to crafts and movie nights...there is always something for her to enjoy with her new friends.
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www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 17
There are so many good choices available — but only one great one...
Willets Point Showdown:
Hearing Testimony Establishes Platform For Future Legal Fight
Page 18 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Tribune Photos by Ira Cohen
spectively, drew attention to EDPL Section 401, Subset 3 Subset c. The 93-word, onesentence parag raph gives the EDC a potential 10-year window to condemn all the remaining unsold proper t y within Willets Point, like Antonacci and Bono’s, without subsequent public hearings. The option becomes available if the EDC successfully sees through the condemnaWillets Point’s lone resident, Joe Arddizone, made a tion of Phase 1’s still-unsold proper ties within statement with more than just his voice. three years after all legal challenges have been settled. the latter promising a legal battle. In essence, Antonacci and Bono arAttorneys Michael Rikon and Michael Gerrard laid out a legal case against the gued their land, though outside of Phase City’s plan, promising to file a petition in 1, was part of the evening’s discussion. an appellate-level State court shortly af- The EDC never told them. “I was not notified the hearing would ter the EDC’s response to the public also include future condemnation of my hearing. Their clients approached the micro- property,” Bono said. In his opening testimony, McKnight phones after them, clutching papers with written testimony. They introduced them- promised the agency would hold public selves by name, then block and lot num- hearings for future condemnations outbers. It gave a jarring, self-dehumaniz- side the bounds of Phase 1. “This hearing is solely to consider the ing effect to their testimony, but was use of condemnation for properties in the largely done for legal purposes. Anyone can speak at a public hear- Phase 1 area,” he said. “With respect to ing, but only a condemnee can file a pe- the use of condemnation for later phases, tition, Rikon later explained. The block any such proposed condemnation would and lot numbers acted as a nod to the be the subject of a separate hearing.” Rikon was skeptical at best, noting the looming legal wrangling. They also served to meet case law precedents, project’s metamorphosis from a singular which stipulate petitioners must raise le- entity to phases as proof of the EDC’s ability to change its mind. gal issues at the public hearing. “I don’t buy it,” he said. “If you read the “Theoretically, anyplace else, elected officials are more considerate of prop- public notice, it starts off as describing the erty owners and pay closer attention to project as 61.4 acres. Initially, it’s a project, then condemned in phases. It just doesn’t what they say,” Rikon said. The business and land owners – make sense, what they’re doing.” rarely mistaken for Ivy League MBAs – occasionally rattled off legal terminology Electeds Chime In in their thick, brusque accents, while also Promises and Doubts In Among the redevelopment’s supportlacing in digs against the City, former Legalese Borough President Claire Shulman and ers were various elected officials who The remaining three hours of testi- Mayor Mike Bloomberg. represent the area, including U.S. Rep. mony were distr ibuted between the Jake Bono and Jerry Antonacci, of Bono Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), State project’s supporters and opponents, with Sawdust Supply and Crown Container re- Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) and Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn (DFlushing). “Willets Point is a gem of a resource that has gone underutilized even as more than 4 million people annually visit the attractions immediately surrounding Willets Point,” Crowley wrote in submitted testimony. Councilman Dan Halloran (RWhitestone), who was mistakenly introduced as a Congressman, counts himself among the few local elected officials to oppose the project, but was the only politician to voice his feelings in person. “I have a bill in the Council to hamstring your ability to take away people’s property,” Halloran said. “Hopefully it will pass committee before you get started on this monster.” Halloran grew noticeably irate as he continued speaking, lambasting the lackDirector of Operations for the Division of Planning of the Dept. of Housing luster response to numerous Freedom of Preservation and Development, Charles Marcus (l. to r.), Hearing Officer Ed- Information requests his office filed with ward Kramer and NYC Economic Development Corp. Senior Vice President the EDC, before ultimately decrying the Tom McKnight listening to public testimony. use of eminent domain. By JOSEPH OROVIC The redevelopment of Willets Point has seen its fair share of rallies and meetings. But a March 2 public hearing finally showcased the visual and linguistic contrast between the project’s supporters and those it would immediately affect most. The denizens of the Iron Triangle wore familiar garb – Carnhart jackets; baseball caps; worn jeans and dusty shoes (with one notable exception) – offering a stark contrast to the sharp-dressed suits scattered among them. They peppered their comments with the phrase “eminent domain” often; the project’s more prominent suppor ters used the term only once. The gathering at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library was a mandated part of the Eminent Domain Procedure Law. It allowed speakers to voice support or raise issues which the EDC must respond to before moving forward with condemnation proceedings and eventually eminent domain, if necessary, in acquiring the remaining land in the project’s first phase. “The benefits, purposes and uses to be served by Phase 1 of the plan are numerous and include the transformation of 20 acres of substandard and underutilized land into new commercial, residential, hotel, and open space development,” said EDC Senior Vice President Tom McKnight. The plan to remake the 62-acre Iron Triangle has spent the better part of the last decade mulling through political, legal and logistical formalities. Land acquisitions were announced; a Request for Qualifications was submitted. All the while, eminent domain loomed on the horizon like a menacing cloud, with all parties bracing for its unwanted arrival. On March 2, it finally came to the fore, inseparably attaching itself to the project.
“It should never be the business of government to put people out of business,” he said. Halloran’s testimony ended with a flourish, after his name was mangled into “Holler-an.” “It’s ‘Halloran,’ I’m an elected official,” he shot back. “At least get that right.”
Yea and Nay Sayers The redevelopment’s unelected supporters included business leaders such as Jack Friedman of the Queens County Chamber of Commerce, who touted the plan’s convention center, and Queens Economic Development Corp.’s Seth Bornstein. “The opportunity to transform this location into a new community with residential, retail, commercial and recreational areas is crucial to the future of the city,” Bornstein said. Overall, the EDC estimates the project will create more than 4,600 permanent jobs and 18,000 construction jobs. But the Iron Triangle’s remaining business owners felt overlooked. The EDC offers a Worker Assistance Plan at LaGuardia Community College, which has helped 507 of the estimated 2,500 workers in the area, according to the program’s director, Linda Barlow. Business owners contested the attendance figure, and promised to see her in court as well. The project will also create affordable housing, a point of little consolation to Joe Arddizone, the area’s lone resident. Far from his usual bombastic self, his delivery was measured and drawn out. But unlike the rest, Arddizone came decked out in full patriot regalia from the Revolutionary War era, tri-corner hat and all. “Where am I going to go?” he asked. “Nowhere. Who is going to pay for all this development? Your children.”
Another Step On Tuesday, the EDC sent out solicitations to contractors, seeking a company to lay the initial infrastructure work at Willets Point. It calls for the reconstruction of a storm sewer and outfall and a sanitary sewer main outside the bounds of the Iron Triangle. In the meantime, the EDC promised to continue negotiations with the remaining landowners within the Phase 1 area of the project. The City is obligated to give landowners fair market value of their properties, if eminent domain is used. But as the condemnation proceedings carry on, “if ” creeps closer to “when.” Many of the speakers at the public hearing, like Bono, left feeling somewhat vindicated. This point was coming, they thought, regardless of promises to the contrary. Mayersohn was the only prominent supporter of the plan to use the phrase “eminent domain” in her testimony. It was received by the project’s opponents like a poorly-delivered punch line. “Eminent domain should be used only as a last resort, after all other avenues have been exhausted,” she wrote. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
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Queens Celebrates At St. Pat’s For All Parade
Above: Councilman Danny Dromm bends down to pose with kids who showed up for the annual St. Pat’s For All Parade in Sunnyside. Below: Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (l.) poses for a picture with Assemblyman Mike DenDekker.
Above: Children carry the banner of the Shannon Gaels Football Club, one of many groups participating. Below: Mayor Mike Bloomberg meets with kids already in the St. Patrick’s spirit. Photos by Brian M. Rafferty
Colorful Oswaldo Gomez speaks with Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (c.) and District Leader Dierdre Fierich (r.). Below: Comptroller John Liu addresses the crowd before the parade.
Douris Tower Grand Opening
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Page 20 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson Above: Former Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. stands with Enageline Douis at the grand opening of the HANAC George T. Douris Tower affordable senior residence in Astoria. Below: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Borough President Helen Marshall were on hand.
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. speaks about the Douris family at the grand opening. Below: Speaker Christine Quinn talks about the needs of seniors in the City. Photos by Ira Cohen
Toby And Al
Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky met with Al Gore, former Vice President and Nobel laureate, to discuss environmental issues in New York State.
Rooted in the Community, Growing to Meet Your Needs Flushing Hospital has been serving the community for over 125 years, and just as the neighborhood has grown, so has our commitment to it. Over the past few years, we’ve taken several steps to ensure that we’re providing the most advanced and comprehensive care. At Flushing, qualified doctors have been added, allowing new programs and services to bud and existing ones to branch out. Even with our recent growth, we want you to know that our interests are still firmly rooted in this community.
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 21
To find out more about the services offered at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5000 or visit www.flushinghospital.org
• Emergency Services • Ambulatory Care • Pediatrics • Psychiatry and Addiction Services • Obstetric & Gynecology • Rehabilitative Services • Radiology • Dental • Department of Medicine • Surgery • Wound Care Center • Geriatric Medicine
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Oratorio Grows, Gets New Rehearsal Site them, eventually forcing them all out. This is a problem which LeeAnn Close, Treasurer of t he OSQ a nd w ife of t he Oratorio’s Conductor, says is not so bad. “Ten years, ago we had half of what we have now,” said Close of the group’s membership. “In a way, it’s a good problem to have.” The issue of space became inevitable to deal w ith a lit tle more than two weeks ago, when the group no longer fit into the rehearsal space donated to them by the North Presby terian Church in Flushing. The popularity of the group’s spring and holiday concert s has increased its membership numbers, with almost all of the recent concerts being sell-outs, despite cuts in funding from elected officials and other resources. The success generated from each show has resulted in an outpouring of positive reviews, spread through word of mouth, which has not only touched the vocally-inclined within the borough but also those beyond. Julie Bouchard, 16, travels all the way from Oyster Bay every Monday to meet at the ne w rehearsal site, Temple Beth Sholom in Auburndale, to prepare for this spring’s concert. Despite the distance, her OSQ President Patt y DeCiccio-Franke, OSQ Artistic youthful energy has made her a Director and Conduc tor David Close, and Rabbi highlight in this year’s producSharon Ballan of Temple Beth Sholom, who has ex- tion. She will have the honor tended to the group a larger rehearsal space at her of performing the first song she has ever written, titled “Smile.” Auburndale temple. By JASON BANREY Founded more than 80 years ago, the Oratorio Society of Queens has seen many members melodically come and go through their aisles. The sight of an experienced member leaving usually meant their seat would be filled by another. Each new member would add a different voice to the eclectic and everchanging mix of vocalists, never interrupting the chorale’s continuous flow of fanciful song. In a recent turn of events, the OSQ has seen the number of its members gradually increase from less than 100 to more than 120 in just three years. It has been a game of musical chairs where as the number of players increased, shrinking the space around
Page 22 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
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REVIEW
Bouchard says she owes most of what she has learned to Oratorio’s constant rehearsals, as well as the “music makin’ group’s maestro,” David Close. “Although my voice is st ill young, the OSQ has helped me learn the feel of music,” said Bouchard. A quality which Maestro Close said is a gift that is given to any member who joins the OSQ, willing to put in a little bit of work. More than 16 years ago, Althea Higdon of Jamaica heard about the diverse group and decided to join the mix. Since then, she has developed her sultry, soprano voice with the support, training and steady rehearsals under Close’s guidance. “Maestro Close has the patience to make you want to sing,” said Higdon. “The training I have received here has taught me to read music as a singer. I don’t plan on leaving any t ime soon.”
Higdon now dashes from her administrative job in Manhattan each Monday to prepare for this spring’s concer t. With members ranging from age 16 to over 80, spanning a mixture of racial and ethnic backgrounds, the OSQ, seems it, will never lack the enthusiasm to skip a beat. “We’re a performance not to be missed,” said Maestro Close. “We always raise the roof.” The OSQ’s next performance is on May 22 at the Queens Performing Arts Center at Queensborough Community College and will feature a whirlwind tour of romantic waltzes, spiritual songs and patriotic numbers. For more information go to queensoratorio.org. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Film Shows A Heart In Middle Of Debris By JOSEPH OROV IC The hulking masses of rust and debris inhabiting Willets Point have, for good or ill, fused themselves to the identity of our borough. For daily 7 train riders, the sight rarely garners more than a glance. T he documentar y “Foreign Parts” offers a fresh view of the Iron Triangle, showcasing the lamented junkyard through the prism of unfamiliar eyes. The effect is revela- A still from the film shows the juxtaposition of the tor y. junkyards against the gleaming Citi Field next door. Over the span of two years, directors Verena Paravel and J.P. Joe Ardizzone; two lovers, Sara and Luis, Sniadecki shot more than 150 hours of film, struggling to eek out a life in a derelict van; documenting the flow of life in Willet s Point and the neighborhood’s homeless yet efferthrough its inhabitants and newly-discovered vescent queen, Julia. Looming large over the documentar y visual angles, unveiling a tight-knit community and brutish beauty often unseen by is the contested redevelopment of the area, Queens residents. The film ultimately elevates and namely eminent domain. The controthe downtrodden, humanizing what is often versial land acquisition technique is eluded characterized as a band of misfits and to 17 minutes into the film to but not over tly explained unt il the ver y end. It crooks. “Ever y day was a total fascinat ion,” deprive s “Foreign Par t s” of any sor t of Paravel said. “Visually it’s really difficult to politicization, a goal very much on the filmfind this kind of place. The environment it- makers’ mind. “We wanted to show people the beauty self is really overwhelming.” The film opens with a dismantling, as a and the suffering and the joys of this place fork lift and wrench are used to disembowel that are beyond-but still part of-this political a minivan. Scenic shots of workers mulling battle,” Sniadecki said. “We don’t see filmabout, family outings, grilling food and guid- making as a way of making these arguments; ing the flow of traffic; Willets Point, it turns we see it as a real experience and a cinout, may be among the last neighborhoods ematic experience.” Still, the contentious topic is given a fiin Queens where e ver yone knows each nal salvo, as the closing credits end with other’s name. “It is a whole world unto itself,” Paravel audio of State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said. “It’s a very vibrant communit y that from a ral ly against the Iron Triangle’s redevelopment. works in a very specific mode.” “We are here to say, ‘Mike Bloomberg, The film is not a classic documentar y, with a deep-voiced narration lopped onto you are a traitor to the American dream,’” footage. In fact, the directors’ goals were he says. “At the end of the film, you have a feelthe exact opposite. “By applying a narrative, it gets in the ing you know a lit tle better who these people way of viewers gett ing their own experi- are,” Paravel said. “It was more powerful to ences,” Sniadecki said. “The whole ap- give a sense of who they are and how they proach is to allow the joy and experience live then bring up the issue of eminent doand sorrow of the other to mark you and main. It’s more power ful.” “Foreign Par ts” will be screened at the take you – and you let that carve out or shape out the way you approach the space.” Museum of Modern Art March 10 to 16. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at Narratives do eventually emerge, as the filmmakers gravitated towards the lives of jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357four Willets Point regulars: it s last resident, 7400, Ext. 127.
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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Queens Today TEENS
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.
HORROR & FANTASY Saturday, March 12 author readings and short films, dinosaur expo and a meeting with the staff of “Blood Moon Rising Horror Magazine” at noon at the Flushing library. SHSAT PRACTICE Saturday, March 12 at the Fresh Meadows library at 3. FUTURE WRITERS Saturdays, March 12, 26 book club at the LIC library at 11. CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2. TEEN TUTORING Saturdays, March 12, 19, 26
Page 24 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
ENTERTAINMENT EDER AND WOPAT Saturday, March 12 Linda Eder and Tom Wopat appear at Colden Center. 793-8080. HORROR & FANTASY Saturday, March 12 author readings and short films, dinosaur expo and a meeting with the staff of “Blood Moon Rising Horror Magazine” at the Flushing library at noon. BELLE’S PLAYERS Saturday, March 12 new production of scenes and monologues at 2 at the Forest Hills library. DANCE INTO SPRING Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 at the Poppenhusen Institute. 463-0434 information. SYMPHONY CONCERT Sunday, March 13 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. $5 adults, $3 seniors and students. 347-1627. VIOLIN CONCERT Sunday, March 13 Leila Josefowicz performs at Queens College. 793-8080. OPEN MIC POETRY Monday, March 14 at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows. AMERICAN SONGBOOK Monday, March 14 Arnie Gruber and the Great American Songbook at 1:30 at the Kew Gardens Hills library. WOMEN IN SONG Monday, March 14 changing face of women in popular music at 2 at the Queens Village library. BLUES Monday, March 14 Swinging Side of Blues with Eddie Lee Isaacs at 6 at the Baisley Park library. IRISH MUSIC Monday, March 14 Shannon Breeze performs at 6 at the Flushing library. IRISH FIDDLE Monday, March 14 Cady Finlayson’s Spirited Irish Fiddle at 6 at the Middle Village library. AMERICAN SONGBOOK Monday, March 14 Naomi Zeitlin and the Great American Songbook at 6 at the Richmond Hill library. GAME NIGHT Monday, March 14 Monthly Family Game Night at 6 at the South Jamaica library. MOVIE & TALK Mondays the Friends of Pomonok present a movie and discussion. Bring lunch. 1 at the Pomonok library.
IAN MCEWAN Tu e s d a y, M a r c h 1 5 I a n McEwan reads from his work at 7 in the Music Building at Queens College. $20. 7938080. DRAMA PORTRAITS Tuesday, March 15 “By A Woman’s Hand: Three Dramatic Portraits” at 1:30 at the Kew Gardens Hills library. IRISH HUMOR Tu e s d ay, M a r c h 1 5 I r i s h Humor in Verse and Prose at 2 at the Hillcrest library. MUSIC MAN Wednesday, March 16 Kaleidoscope of Music featuring Carl “The Music Man” and Teri-Ann at 1 at the North Forest Park library. ST. PATRICK’S TRIVIA Thursday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Trivia at 6 at the Steinway library. MUSIC 30S-70S Thursday, March 17 Great Music from the 30s to 70s with Eddie Lee Isaacs and Friends at the Windsor Park library at 6:30. CHAMBER MUSIC Friday, March 18 Cello Fest. LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College at 10. $95 series. 997-3802. LIVE JAZZ Fridays through December 13 at 180-25 Linden Blvd.., St. Albans. 347-262-1169 ticket information. MEET THE COMPOSER Saturday, March 19 at Queens College. For the family. 793-8080. HAITIAN Saturday, March 19 Haitian author talk followed by music and dance at 2 at the Central library. AFRO-PERUVIAN JAZZ Saturday, March 19 at the Flushing library at 2. ART IN NY Saturday, March 19 Art in NY: From Jackson Pollock to A n d y Wa r h o l a n d B eyond Forest Hills library at 2:30. FOLK & PROTEST Saturday, March 19 Songs That Moved a Generation: Folk and Protest Songs of the 1960s at the Peninsula library at 2:30. OPEN MIC Sunday, March 20 at the Central library at 2. UKRAINIAN DANCE Sunday, March 20 Voloshky performs at 3 at Queens-borough Communit y College. 631-6311.
at the Bayside library at 10. TEEN TUTORING Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Bayside library at 3:30. LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Hollis library at 4. TEEN CHESS Mondays, March 14, 28 at the Bayside library at 6. CHESS CLUB Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4. TEST FEST Monday, March 14 free practice test month at the Rochdale library. Register. TEEN ADVISORY Monday, March 14 at 4 at the Central library. COLLEGE PREP Monday, March 14 Candid Talk Parent to Parent at 5 at the Pomonok library. CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 14 at the LIC library at 6. FAMILY GAME NIGHT Monday, March 14 family game night at the South Jamaica library at 6. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Hollis library at 4. TEEN GAME DAY Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Rochdale Village library at 4. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Baisley Park library. Register. SHSAT PRACTICE Tuesday, March 15 at the Woodside library. Register. COLLEGE PROCESS Tu e s d ay s , M a r c h 1 5 , 2 2 , April 11 at the Far Rockaway library at 3:30. GRAPHIC NOVELIST Tuesday, March 15 meet Neil Numberman at the Cambria Heights library at 4. Also on Thursday, March 17 at the Lefferts library at 3:30. CHESS CLUB Tuesday, March 15 at the LIC library at 4. SKILLS OF THE STAGE Wednesday, March 16 Lefrak Cit y library at 3:30. CHESS Wednesdays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library. SAT STRATEGY Wednesday, March 16 Auburndale library. Register. LEARN MAGIC Wednesday, March 16 Far Rockaway library at 4. ST. PAT’S CRAFT Thursday, March 17 at the Briarwood library at 4. GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, March 17 at the Queens Village library at 4. YOGA FOR YOUTH Thursday, March 17 at the Ridgewood library. Register. ST. PAT’S TRIVIA Thursday, March 17 at the Steinway library at 6. TEST FEST Saturday, March 19 with the Princeton Review at the Ridgewood library. Register. OPEN MIC Sunday, March 20 at the Central library at 2.
Queens Today YOUTH Tuesday, March 15 at the Lefrak Cit y library at 4. CHESS CLUB Tuesday, March 15 at the LIC library at 4. BOOST WOMEN Tu e s d a y s , M a r c h 1 5 , 2 2 BOOST Women’s History Month program at the McGoldrick library at 5. CHESS Wednesdays at the Queens Village library at 3:30. CRAFTS Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 at the Steinway library at 11. First come, first served. FAMILY COLORING Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11:15. HOMEWORK HELP Wednesdays, March 16, 23 with BOOST LIC library at 3. CHESS & CHECKERS Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 Woodside library at 3. FUN READING Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 B ay Te r r a c e l i b ra r y a t 3:30. CROCHETING Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 at the Bayside librar y. Register. CHESS CLUB Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 Ridgewood library at 4. MATH ACTIVITY Wednesdays, March 16, 30 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5. S TORY T I M E Wednesday, March 16 at the Queensboro Hill library. Register. BOOK TIME Wednesday, March 16 for those 3.5 to 7 at the Rego Park library at 3:30. ST. PAT’S CRAFT Wednesday, March 16 Queens Village library at 4. WATERCOLOR Wednesday, March 16 watercolor portrait at the South Hollis librar y. Register. BRAVE WOMEN Wednesday, March 16 Lefrak Cit y library at 4:30. HOMEWORK HELP Thursdays, March 17, 24 with BOOST LIC library at 3. ARTS & CRAFTS Thursdays, March 17, 24 at the Auburndale library at 4. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Thursday, March 17 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 3:30. LITTLE CRAFT Thursday, March 17 Howard Beach library at 3:30. NECKLACE Thursday, March 17 Native American Necklace workshop at the Baisley Park library. Register. ST. PAT’S CRAFT Thursday, March 17 at the Bellerose library at 4. ST. PAT’S CRAFT Thursday, March 17 at the Briarwood library at 4. STORY TELLER’S CANDLE Thursday, March 17 storytelling, music and puppetry Corona library at 4. GIRL SCOUTS Thursday, March 17 at the Queens Village library at 4. ST. PAT’S PARTY Thursday, March 17 at the Ridgewood library at 4. DISCOVER SCIENCE Thursday, March 17 at the
McGoldrick library at 5. ST. PAT’S TRIVIA Thursday, March 17 at the Steinway library at 6. CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Poppenhusen library at 3:30. GAME DAY Fridays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays Hillcrest library at 4. GAME TIME Fridays at the Windsor Park library at 4. CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library. Register. ACTIVITY TIME Fridays at the Briarwood library at 3:30. RAISING READERS Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Peninsula library at 10:30. FAMILY STORY TIME Fridays, March 18, 25, April 1 Seaside library at 11. HOMEWORK HELP Fridays, March 18, 25 with BOOST LIC library at 3. BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Bayside library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Briarwood library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays, March 18, 25 East Flushing library. Register. BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4. CRAFTERNOONS Fridays, March 18, 25, April 1 at the Ridgewood library. Register. JAPANESE CUDDLE Friday, March 18 at the Forest Hills library at 3. ARTS & CRAFTS Friday, March 18 at the McGoldrick library at 5. S TORY T I M E Saturdays, March 19, 26, April 2 at the Ridgewood library at 11. S TORY T I M E Saturday, March 19 at the Flushing library at 11. ART FOR TOTS Saturdays, March 19, April 16, Sunday, February 27 Art for Tots 2-4 at the Noguchi Museum. 204-7088. CATERPILLAR STORY Saturday, March 19 Ver y Hungry Caterpillar Story time at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 1 7 6 - 6 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i k e , Fresh Meadows.
DANCE COUNTRY WESTERN Saturday, March 12 St. Patrick’s Dance. NY Metropolitan Country Music Association. $12. Glendale Memorial Building at 7:30. 7634328. SQUARE DANCE Saturday, March 26 Alley Pond Environmental Center’s square dance. $12. 2294000 to register.
ALUMNI ST. AGNES Saturday, April 16 St. Agnes Academic HS in College point for all years, especially those ending in 1 or 6. 3536276.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 6700/10 PNC MORTGAGE, A DIVISION OF PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO NATIONAL CITY MORTGAGE, A DIVISION OF NATIONAL CITY BANK Plaintiff, vs. ZHAOQIN JIANG, MIN HUA CHENG, ET, AL. Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 139-39 35TH AVENUE # 4H A/K/A 13939 35TH AVENUE # 4H FLUSHING, NY 11354 SBL #: BLOCK 4994 LOT 1422 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 3rd day of February, 2011, TO: MIN HUA CHENG, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. JAIME A. RIOS of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 24 th day of January, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by MIN HUA CHENG and ZHAOQIN JIANG dated the 3rd day of November, 2008, to secure the sum of $220,000.00, and recorded at Instrument No. 2008000462991 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 3rd day of December, 2008; The property in question is described as follows: 139-39 35TH AVENUE # 4H A/K/A 13939 35TH AVENUE # 4H, FLUSHING, NY 11354 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION Block 4994 and Lot 1422 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Unit known as Unit No. 4H (the “Unit”) in the premises known as and by State Manor Condominium and located at 139-39 35 th Avenue, Flushing, New York, Queens County, City and State of New York, designated and described as Unit 4H in the Declaration establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the
Buildings and the Land on which it is erected (hereinafter called the “Property”), made by State Ave. Realty, LLC under the Condominium Act of the State of New York (Article 9-B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York), dated July 14, 2008, recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York, Queens County on the 25 th day of September, 2008 in CRFN No. 2008000381828 (hereinafter called the “Declaration”), and designated as Tax Lot 1422 in Block 4994 of the Tax Map, County of Queens, City and State of New York. TOGETHER with an undivided 2.7748 percent interest in the common elements of the Property (hereinafter called the “common elements”). Premises known as 13939 35th Avenue, Unit 4H, Flushing, New York HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877-BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney
for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: February 3, 2011 Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228 The law firm of Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. _______________________________________________________________ OPEN ENROLLMENT NOTICE Riverton Street Charter School 11834 Riverton Street 718-481-8200 (phone) 347923-3315 (fax) Open enrollment for the 2011-2012 academic school year ends on Friday, 4/1/2011 at 5 p.m. Applications are available for grades K - 4 and can be obtained at the school, at www.NHAschools.com or by calling NHA at 866-NHA-ENROLL. Should the number of applications received during open enrollment exceed available seats, a random-selection drawing will be necessary. The drawing, if needed, will be held on Friday, 4/29/2011, at 4:00 p.m. at the school. Applications received after open enrollment will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for remaining open seats. Waiting lists will be formed accordingly. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Riverton Street Charter School admits students of any race, color, and nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of intellectual or athletic abilities, measures of achievement or aptitude, disability, status as a handicapped person, homeless status, English proficiency, religion, creed, race, sex, color, or national origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and athletic or other school-administered programs. _____________________________________ SB HOMES LLC, a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed with the Sec of State of NY on 1/27/11. NY Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/ her to The LLC, 108-50 172nd St., Jamaica, NY 11433. General Purposes.
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 25
QUEENS LIBRARIES Many branches of the Queensborough Library offer toddler and pre-school programs. Contact your local branch for dates. KIDS’ THEATER Through Saturday, April 9 LaMicro Children’s Theater Workshop Sunnyside library. TEEN TUTORING Saturdays, March 12, 19, 26 at the Bayside library at 10. MATH HELP Saturdays Flushing library at 10. SCIENCE LAB Saturdays, March 12, 19, 26, April 2 at the Central library at 11. 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 k e , Fresh Meadows. ANIMAL HOMES Saturdays, March 12, 19 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000 register. ART FOR FAMILIES Sundays, March 13, 20 for families with children 5-11 at the Noguchi Museum. 204-7088. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library. Bring needles, yarn. AFTERSCHOOL TIME Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Arverne library at 3. CRAFT KIDS Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Flushing library at 3. HOMEWORK HELP Mondays, March 14, 21 with BOOST LIC library at 3. TEEN TUTORING Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Bayside library at 3:30. CUDDLE-UP TIME Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 Russian Cuddle-Up Story Time at the Forest Hills library at 3:30. CUDDLE TIME Monday, March 14 Chinese Cuddle Up at the Forest Hills library at 2. LITTLE TOT TIME Monday, March 14 at the Hillcrest library at 4. SPRING CRAFT Monday, March 14 St. Patrick’s Day and Spring Craft at the Windsor Park library. Register. CHESS CLUB Monday, March 14 at the Lefferts library at 6. CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 14 at the LIC library at 6. FAMILY GAME NIGHT Monday, March 14 at the South Jamaica library at 6. BOOST HOMEWORK Tuesday, March 15 at the LIC library at 3. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 Hillcrest library at 3:30. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Baisley Park library. Register. NUTRITION WORKSHOP Tu e s d a y s , M a r c h 1 5 , 2 2 Ridgewood library. Register. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Tuesday, March 15 at the Bay Terrace library at 3:30. JIGSAW PUZZLE
LEGAL NOTICE
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Page 26 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Queens Today EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS FM POETS Saturday, March 12 Fresh Meadows Poets meet to discuss and critique work at 10 at the Forest Hills library. RESUME WORKSHOP Saturday, March 12 at the LIC library at 10:30. BECOME A CITIZEN Saturdays, March 12, 19, 26 at the LIC library. BOATING SAFETY Sunday, March 13 with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Howard Beach. $60 per person. 347-267-8381. BALLROOM DANCE Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 Ballroom Dancing with Jing Chen at the Forest Hills library at 6:30. POETRY WRITING Mondays, March 14, 21 workshops at the Wood-haven library. Register. ENGLISH CONVERSATION Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 LeFrak Cit y library at 10:30. CHESS CLUB Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. INTRO COMPUTERS Monday, March 14 at the Fresh Meadows library. First come, first served at 10:30. LIC CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 14 for adults at 1 at the LIC library. JOB INFORMATION Monday, March 14 Job Information Services at 4 at the Middle Village library. CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 14 craft club at 6 at the LIC library. RESUME WRITING Monday, March 14 at 6:30 at the Far Rockaway library. BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Astoria, LIC and Glendale libraries. Register. COMPUTER CLASS Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Arverne library at 10. INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 Peninsula library. Register. POETRY WRITING Tuesdays, March 15, April 19 Poetry Writing workshop at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows at 7:30. INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesday, March 15 Introduction to Computer Basics for Adults at the Queens Village library. Register. SEARCH INTERNET Tuesday, March 15 at the Maspeth library at 1. CHESS CLUB Tuesday, March 15 at the LIC library at 4. SCRABBLE Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 at the Forest Hills library at 2. CREATE E-MAIL Wednesday, March 16 Create an Email Account at the Central library at 10. INTERNET SEARCHING Wednesday, March 16 at t h e W i n d s o r Pa r k l i b ra r y. Register. CHESS CLUB Thursdays at the East Flushing library. Register. COMPUTER CLASS Thursdays at the Queensboro Hill library. Register. KNIT & CROCHET Thursdays at the Fresh Meadows library at 6.
SKETCHING Thursdays, March 17, 24 The Essentials of Sketch at the Flushing library at 7. INTRO COMPUTERS Thursday, March 17 at the Pomonok library. Register. JIC ORIENTATION Thursday, March 17 career resources at the Central library at 7. KNITTING CLUB Fridays at the Maspeth library at 10. KNIT & CROCHET Fridays at the Fresh Meadows library at 10:30. ESL CLUB Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Lefrak Cit y library at 10:30. SCRABBLE Fridays Bananagrams and Scrabble at the Windsor Park library at 2:30. GAME DAY Fridays, March 18, 25, April 1 chess, checkers and other board games at 2:30 at the Bay Terrace library. CHESS CLUB Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Auburndale library at 3:30. INTRO FACEBOOK Saturday, March 19 at the LIC library at 10. FLOWER ARRANGE. Saturday, March 19 Celebrate spring with a flower arrangement demonstration at the Bayside library at 2:30. PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, March 19, April 2, 16, 30 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940.
TALKS H&R BLOCK Monday, March 14 learn about the company at 6 at the Steinway library. SEASIDE Monday, March 14 “The Heretic’s Daughter” will be discussed at the Seaside library at 6:30. CHASING GHOSTS Monday, March 14 at the South Ozone Park library at 6:30. BOOK TALK Monday, March 14 “Our Kind of People” discussed at the National Council of Jewish Women. 343-9029. LIC BOOK CLUB Tuesday, March 15 “ T h e Sea Wall” will be discussed at the LIC library at 10. LEFFERTS Wednesday, March 16 Book Club Lefferts library at 4. BELLEROSE Thursday, March 17 “Brooklyn” will be discussed at the Bellerose library at 10. FINANCIAL LITERACY Thursdays, March 17, 24, April 7, 14 learn to manage your personal finances at the Central library. LITERARY SOUP Thursday, March 17 Literary Soup Discussion Queens Village library at 6:30. ST. ALBANS Thursday, March 17 “Getting to Happy” will be discussed at 6:30 at the St. Albans library. BAY TERRACE Friday, March 18 at the Bay Terrace library at 10:30.
Queens Today HEALTH
MEETINGS
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 7 days a week. 962-6244. ZUMBA Saturdays, March 12, 19 at the Langston Hughes library. Register. WAITANKUNG Sundays at 2. Waitankung is a great total-body workout. Join these ancient Chinese exercise classes in the Flushing Hospital/Medical Center auditorium on 45 th Avenue between Parsons and Burling. Free. Jimmy 7-10pm 347-2156 information. TAI CHI Mondays and Thursdays at 11 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1695. $5 a class. CHAIR YOGA Mondays, March 14, 21 at the Rosedale librar y. Register. ZUMBA Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 at the St. Albans library. Register. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT E ve r y Tu e s d a y We ste r n Queens Caregiver Network in Sunnyside. 5:30-6:30. 784-6173, ext. 431. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Every Tuesday 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. CHAIR YOGA Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 at the Woodhaven librar y. Register. CHAIR YOGA Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 a t t h e Re go P a r k l i b r a r y. Register. SECOND HAND SMOKE Tuesday, March 15 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 3. Wednesday, March 16 at the East Elmhurst library at 10:30.What are the dangers of secondhand smoke and what can you do about it will be discussed. YOGA Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 6701695. $10 class. MEDITATION Wednesday, March 16 spiritual solution to stress, anger and conflict at the Fresh Meadows library at 1:30. OA Thursdays at the Howard Beach library at 10:30. ZUMBA Thursdays, March 17, 24 at the Corona library. Register. HATHA YOGA Thursdays, March 17, 24, 31 at the Queensboro Hill library at 6. Bring mat and wear comfortable clothing. CHAIR YOGA Thursdays, March 17, 24 at the Howard Beach librar y. Register. AUTISM WORKSHOP Friday, March 18 at the Rosedale library at 10:30. ZUMBA Fridays, March 18, 25 at the Astoria library. Register. TAKE CONTROL Saturday, March 19 Take Control of your Health at the Peninsula Hospital Rehabilitation Center in the Meditation room, 51-15 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway.
POMONOK FRIENDS Monday, March 14 Friends of Pomonok meet at the library at 1. VFW 4787 Mondays, March 14, 28 Whitestone VFW Community Post meets. 746-0540. CATHOLIC VETS Mondays, March 14, April 11 American Mart yrs Catholic War Veterans Post 1771 meets in Bayside. 468-9351. AMERICAN LEGION Mondays, March 14, April 11 American Legion Post 510 meets at St. Robert Bellamine in Bayside Hills. 428-2895. AMERICAN LEGION Tuesday, March 15 Edward McKee Post 131 meets in Whitestone. 767-4323. AUBURNDALE Tu e s d a y, M a r c h 1 5 t h e Auburndale Improvement Association meets at St. Kevin’s Church, 45-21 194 th Street. Enter through parking lot. Meet neighbors and a d d re s s c o m m u n i t y c o n cerns. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Tu e s d a y, March 15, Wednesday, April 6, Tuesday, April 19 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Fami l y , 1 7 5 - 2 0 1 7 4 th S t r e e t , Fresh Meadows at 7:30 in the church basement. 9692448. WOMANSPACE Wednesdays Womanspace, a discussion group devoted to issues concerning women, meets 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue. New members welcome. FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesdays, March 16, 30 Flushing Camera Club meets at Flushing Hospital at 7:15. 479-0643. SAFAD HADASSAH Wednesday, March 16 at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. $5 cover charge. Presentation about the history and landmarks of Forest Hills and Rego Park. TOASTMASTERS Wednesday, March 16 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale Toastmasters Club in Jamaica. 9780732. KNIGHTS OF PY THIAS Wednesday, March 16 Queensview Lodge 433 meets in Whitestone. 917754-3093. HORIZONS CLUB Thursday, March 17 “The Great Caruso: A Comparison of Caruso and Lanza” at the Horizons club, for those 55 and over, at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th street. $3 includes coffee and cake. 261-2900. ADVANCED TOASTMASTER Thursdays, March 17, 31 learn the art and science of public speaking in Queens. 525-6830. BELLA ITALIA MIA Sundays, March 20, April 10 Bella Italia Mia.457-4816. P-FLAG Sunday, March 20 PFLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663.
RELIGIOUS REGO PARK JC Saturday, March 12 Parashat and Haftarat Club at 12:30. Saturday, March 19 celebrate Purim at 8. Sunday, March 27 light brunch, make collage art, appreciate poetry and join in singing Yiddish songs. $5. 11:30am. Saturday Shabbat Services at 9. Wednesdays 12:302:30 Yiddish Vinkel. Wednesday evenings at 6:30 Torah Discussion after evening Minyan Service. Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 4591000. REFORM TEMPLE Saturday, March 12 Mitzvah Day following 10am Shabbat service. Thursday, March 17 Horizons, for those 55 and over, meet for a lecture on The Great Caruso. $3 includes coffee and cake. Friday, March 18 “Healing Psalms” author will be the guest speaker at the 8pm Shabbat service. Sunday, March 20 Purim Celebration with “Megillah Mia,” a singa-long at 10. Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. 261-2900. ST. THOMAS Sunday, March 13 Creative Ministries Reenactment of the Passion. March 29-31 Lenten Parish Mission. April 16 Annual Breakfast with the E a st e r B u n n y. May 7 Mother’s Day Concert. May 14-15 Homecoming Mass, brunch and tours. 100th Anniversary Events for St. Thomas the Apostle, 87-19 88 th Avenue, Woodhaven. LUTHERAN REDEEMER Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 Midweek Lenten Service at 7:30. Sundays regular worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30. Sunday School, Adult Bible Class and Friendship Hour at 9:30. Youth Group at 12:30. Wednesday prayer group and Bible Study at 7. Lutheran Church of the Red e e m e r , 1 5 7 - 1 6 6 5 th A v enue, Flushing. 358-2744. JEWISH MEDITATION Thursdays, March 17, 24, April 7 at the Hillcrest Jewish Center. $10 suggested donation. 380-4145. 7:30. LAW SABBATH Friday, March 18 Brandeis Law Sabbath. 298-1080. HILLCREST Saturday, March 19 Purim Celebration at 7:30. Sunday, March 20 Minyan at 8:30 followed by Megillah reading at 9:15. Hillcrest Jewish Center, 183-02 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , F l u s h i n g . 380-4145. FOREST HILLS Sunday, March 20 7 th Annual Purim Carnival after Megillah reading noon-2:30. Come in your favorite cost u m e ! T h u r s d ays Ta l m u d Class following Morning Minyan. $10 non-members. Forest Hills Jewish Center. 263-7000, ext. 200. BAYSIDE JC Sunday, March 20 Purim on 32 nd Avenue with a hot buffet dinner and music at the Bayside Jewish Center. $22. 352-7900. BELLEROSE JC
Sunday, March 20 Purim Carnival following the 10am reading. Tuesdays at 7:30 “Journeys in Judaism.” Bellerose Jewish Center, 254-04 Union Turnpike, Floral Park. 343-9001. PURIM PARTY Tuesday, March 22 Park Hills Hadassah Chapter will hold a Hadassah Purim Part y at the Rego Park Jewish Center. 275-0636.
FLEA MARKETS SPRING TREASURE Saturday, March 19 9:303:30 and Sunday, March 20 11:30-3:30 bake and book sale, used clothing, more at Church of the Resurrection, 8 5 - 0 9 1 1 8 th S t r e e t , R i c h mond Hill. FLEA MARKET Sunday, March 20 9-4 flea market and ethnic Polish bake sale at St. Josaphat, 35 th A v e n u e a n d 2 1 0th S t r e e t , Bayside.
SENIORS AARP CHORUS Like to sing? The AARP Queens Chorus holds practice rehearsals for performances at nursing homes, rehab and senior centers. 523-1330. TAI CHI CLASSES Mondays at 9 at the Pomonok Senior Center. 591-3377. TAX HELP Mondays, March 14, 21, 28 free individual income tax counseling for low-income older adults at 1 at the Sunnyside library. CAREGIVERS Ever y Tuesday Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. TAX HELP Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29 AARP free individual income tax counseling for low-income older adults at 1 at the Bayside library. Also on Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22 at the Hollis library at 1. AARP 4977 Wednesday, March 16 the Corona/E. Elmhurst AARP 4977 meets at 1:30 at Corona Congregational Church h a l l , 1 0 2 - 1 8 3 4th a v e n u e . 458-7429. TAX HELP Wednesday, March 16 Broad Channel library at 1. TAX HELP Thursdays, March 17, 24, 31 AARP free individual income tax counseling for low-income older adults at 1 at the Fresh Meadows library. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Thursday, March 17 AARP Driver’s Safet y Course at the Pomonok Center. 591-3377, ext. 226 to register. STARS Fridays, March 18, 25, April 1 at 10:30 at the Queens Village library. Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets. FREE LUNCH Saturday, March 19 at All Saints Church in Richmond Hill. 849-2352 reservations.
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9is
Models Of Queens
Asif Hirani
Poetry In Motion
When Asif Hirani isn’t involved in Home: Elmhurst sports with his friends or working out, Age: 26 you might be able to find this male model Height: 5’6" at the Queens Center Mall checking out Weight: 160 lbs the new releases at GameStop. “It’s just a way to walk around when I want to do something with my friends rather than go to the movies,” he said. The well-rounded dude has a softer side, admitting, “I usually do a lot of writing as well. I like to write poems. I usually don’t share that with a lot of people. It’s kind of weird for a guy to do that stuff.” Modeling is all new to Asif, who decided to give it a shot after being encouraged by his parents. After taking a couple of head shots a few months ago, he’s trying to build his portfolio. “I’ve been interested in it for a while,” he said. “I always liked performing, so modeling was one of the things I wanted to do when I was a kid because it looked so awesome.” With acting and dancing passion, he’s a frequent performer at community festivals. “I’ve performed for the community for about six years,” he said. “I’m Indian, so we do some Indian dances, then we mix it up with some hip-hop, some modern, some break and stuff.” Monday through Friday finds him operating the family newsstand, said the Elmhurst resident. “I’ve lived here since I was 6 years old,” he said. “A lot of people from my country live around here. It doesn’t feel like a different place. It feels like home away from home.”
Page 38 Tribune March 10-16, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
City’s QR Codes Last week, the City introduced a new permit feature that uses the likely replacement for the ubiquitous UPC codes that label every item your money can buy. The QR code, which stands for Quick Response, has been used for years in the shipping industry to track large amounts of data on freight containers and boxes. Today, the block symbol can now be found on any permits issued by the City Dept. of Buildings. The way it works is simple – simply point your smartphone loaded with a QR app at the symbol, and voila – you are taken to data about the project without having to do any kind of additional search. The image that shipped with
the press release on the new QR news brought our phone to a page about a construction project on Broad Street in lower Manhattan that featured a consulting service from Glendale. The City has previously been using QR on Sanitation trucks and the Staten Island Ferry to show users video about recycling and tourist information, respectively. We love the idea, and it will certainly help the tech-savvy nosy neighbor find out all about the kitchen renovation going on next door. But we also love the many uses of the QR code, including this one, which brings a scanner to the Queens Tribune Web site. Hmmm… this high-tech stuff is starting to get interesting.
Very Poor Vision A Queens man is suing a pharmacy chain for mixed up medicine. Smith Maceus had dropped off his post-operative prescription for Durezol at a Walgreens in Elmont. He was handed Durasal, a wart remover, instead. One could fault Maceus for not double checking the prescription – except the prescription was for eye drops. He is now suing the chain after claiming the acid-filled Durasal did not speed up his heal-
How can you mix these two up? ing process. We’ve all heard about doctors’ legendarily bad handwriting, but wart remover instead of eye drops? Someone should see an eye doctor.
Pia’s Pipes Everybody seems to know Pia Toscano. The 22-year-old from Howard Beach made the semi-finals of American Idol and immediately after her name was announced, her bandwagon caught up to the New York Knicks’ in size. Our social media feeds have become clogged with locals who all rushed to claim they know Pia; whether because she’s a friend’s friend, or went to a friend’s school, or is a cousin’s neighbor, or a neighbor’s cousin. For her first performance, she sang The Pretenders’ classic “I’ll Stand By You,” receiving what judge Randy Jackson called “the first standing O of the season.” Is she the new frontrunner? If all her neighbors’ cousins and friends’ friends back in Queens have anything to say about it, she certainly will be. Our Idol gal (right), Pia Toscano
LL Cool J: Not Quite Perfect
Despite his outrageous body, LL Cool J is subject to human indulgences. The 43-year-old Queens native with the bulging muscles has admitted to being a mere mortal - by confessing his love for junk food. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, LL remarked, “I love banana pudding, I love ice cream. I mean, if the ice cream is soft enough, I might go through half a gallon in one basketball game.” He keeps his physique looking fit and sexy by LL Cool J's abs were made in Queens having his indulgences in moderation. Still, keeping those washboard abs in his mid-40s? To quote one Need a cab and stuck in the of LL’s songs, it is “something like bowels of Midtown Manhattan in Point your QR reader here for the a phenomenon.” the late afternoon. Good luck. Trib Web site. It seems that the suspicion on Confidentially, New York . . . the minds of many a Joe Officeguy who relies on the yellow beasts of burden to take them from one latte to the next was confirmed recently. If you want a cab at 4 p.m., you’d better go to Astoria. Like cops, Sanitation workers, nurses, good luck getting a hold of one while shifts are changing. It seems that the Taxi & Limousine Commission tracked taxis and found that, fairly consistently, at 4 p.m. they’re not to be found in Manhattan. Who knows, maybe the taxi drivers just figure that when the rush hour is ready to start and all those people who have to spend their day in Manhattan are getting really stressed – they just want to go relax for a little while, have a cup of tea, and recharge before dealing with their Manhattan end-of-day nightmare. Hey, we’d rather be in Astoria most of the time, too.
Taxi!
Rooted in the Community, Growing to Meet Your Needs
C
Over the past 125 years, Flushing Hospital has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. Even with our recent growth, this is one thing we refuse to change
To find out more about Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center, please call 718-670-4542 or visit www.flushinghospital.org
• One-on-one doctor/patient assessment and ongoing care • Specialty dressings, such as MediHoney and Apligraf • V.A.C. therapy • Home care services • Evaluation for and referral to hyperbaric unit • Education materials and resources
www.queenstribune.com • March 10-16, 2011 Tribune Page 39
ommitted to the needs of our patients, Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center, which treats chronic and non-healing wounds, is just one of the many services branching out to better meet your needs.
The recently expanded, state-of-the-art Wound Care Center offers the following comprehensive services: