This is Queensborough - June 2022

this is...

June 2022 . Volume 18 . Issue 6

‘Queens Day’ in Albany

ALSO

· Chamber hosts Job Expo at Citi Field · Tech Spotlight: Genova Designs · A Slice of Queens: Beebe’s at the Boro Hotel

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June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

Exposure

It’s finally beginning to feel like summer, longer days, and warmer weather is upon us.

Folks are certainly antsy to get out and take some much-needed vacation.

To that end Queens Chamber is excited about the return of our Business Expo 2022.

Due in part to the pandemic we’ve been unable to assemble in-person for one of our largest events since May 2019. That was then, this is now.

The second week of this month all roads lead to Citi Field for day filled with our business community exhibiting their goods and services, educational seminars, Keynote speakers, and NY Mets star John Franco who will be joining for the afternoon.

It’s all about exposure for our Queens Chamber business owners and some who aren’t members, yet.

One of the most important aspects about operating a busi-

Closing out the month our ness is foot traffic, potential new Family-Owned Business comcustomers.

As a spectator it’s your oppor- mittee will host their first in a series of presentatunity to tap into tions on the topic products and servicof succession es that will be on planning. display throughout This hourthis expansive Expo. long session will It’s BIGGER, answer some of BOLDER, and the questions BETTER!!! We want you might have to see you there. as an internally Mid-month we’re owned organizakicking summer off with our first net- THOMAS J. GRECH tion as you plan next steps towards working event of the PRESIDENT & CEO transitioning season. to other family Mark your calendars and join the Chamber on the members.

Gees it’s only June and we’re 15th at SingleCut Beersmiths in jumping right into the sumAstoria for an evening of mixing mer months with something for and mingling with your fellow business owners. Have a cold everyone to provide you with beverage, exchange a few busi- opportunities for exposure.

You’ve heard me say this ness cards and stick around for an all the night has to offer. You’ll time and time again, I love what definitely walk away enriched I do, it’ the greatest job ever.

Queens Chamber has been and from the experience.

will always be here working tirelessly on your behalf.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support.

Always Queens STRONG!

Join the Queens Chamber of Commerce today.

To sign up visit queenschamber.org

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Make Every Moment Count

My first month as Chair has been quite rewarding.

Early last month I had the distinct pleasure of making the trip to our state Capitol as part of the Chamber’s Queens Day in Albany.

It was a full day filled with visiting with our elected officials, seating in the Senate Chamber during session, and most importantly connecting with business owners from across Queens like yourself. One of those rare moments I don’t take lightly.

In whatever you do in your daily business you should always seek out ways to enrich the lives of others, simply make every moment count.

As business owners I know you’re familiar with the phrase “time is money.” And that statement is true, however, you should

make it a priority to invest your cutting edge of this fast-paced socitime wisely in ways that are ben- ety we live in. eficial not only, your business, but I hope you’re being wise and life as well. taking advantage Many of you of all that’s make reading this are well available to you. acquainted with As I mentioned Queens Chamber and before, I take great the work they do on pleasure in learning behalf of the business and listening to othcommunity. If you’re a ers. member, you’re probWhenever I ably aware of the benhave an opporefits that membership tunity, I owe it to affords you. Access you to share some HOWARD GRAF to resources that will knowledge as well. help sustain your orga- CHAIRPERSON Life and business is nization, and opportuall about give and nities to build your network result- take, but it’s an equal balance. You ing in increases your bottom line. should always be willing to give And, of course, educational pro- which will make you appreciate the grams designed to keep you on the latter.

With summer launching into full swing, you’ll undoubtedly take time away from the hustle and bustle of work life to wind down and recharge.

When you do, make every moment count and you will better appreciate the break in the long-run.

If you’re unsure what all Queens Chamber has to offer visit our website www.queenschamber.org.

The hard-working staff is ready and always available to assist with your needs. They’re knowledgeable and nice people too!

I’m grateful for this opportunity I have to serve as Chair but I even more thankful to each and everyone of you for supporting this 111-yearold institution we call Queens Chamber.

All the best to you and yours.

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QUEENS QUICKLY Mayor Adams reduces burdens for small biz

clude introducing a cure period when a business fails to prominently and conspicuously display its price list, introducing a universal 60-day cure period across all Class 2 “Major Violations” and Class 3 “Lesser Violations” related to small businesses, and removing the penalty for failure to maintain required bins for disposal of compostable straws in restaurants.

Other examples of violation reforms include increasing time for restaurants to address maintenance and replacement issues with grease interceptors, reducing maximum fines for violations of time/temperature control for preparing foods safely, eliminating violations for picture tubes (older TVs with cathode ray tubes) sold or offered for sale without proper label and eliminating the violation for a failure to conspicuously post electrical work permit while work is in progress.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams took major steps to reduce burdens on and cut red tape for the city’s small businesses by announcing reforms to 118 city regulations.

The 118 reforms stem from Executive Order 2 “Small Business Forward” — signed in January 2022 — that requires city agencies to review existing business regulations and ensure local businesses face fewer needless fines and penalties without jeopardizing public health or safety.

The reforms include the repeal of 30 provisions, the reduction of civil penalties (fines) associated with 49 provisions, and amendments to 39 provisions to include a first-time warning or cure period or to extend an existing cure period.

The reforms are expected to be implemented by December 31, 2022, and they are projected to save New York City small businesses approximately $8.9 million annually.

“From the earliest days of my administration, I made clear that the city would be a partner to the small business community, which is the backbone of our economy,” Mayor Adams said.

“The reforms we are outlining are a direct result of us listening to nearly 1,000 small business owners and putting in place a plan of action to help fill their needs. Today, we are cutting red tape, reducing burdensome regulations, and saving our small businesses approximately $8.9 million — supercharging our recovery and paving the way for an equitable, five-borough economy.”

Examples of the reforms being announced today and their corresponding agencies in-

Chipotle workers successfully push to implement NY HERO Act Workers at four NYC Chipotle stores have advanced efforts to initiate the formation of Workplace Safety Committees, as provided by New York’s historic HERO Act of 2021.

Following a HERO Act complaint against Chipotle at one store for failing to recognize a Workplace Safety Committee, so far, two efforts have successfully secured commitments to form committees while two continue to await responses from Chipotle.

The NY HERO Act outlines a clear-cut process that allows workers to create Workplace Safety Committees. Under the law, private employers who employ at least ten workers must

permit employees to establish and administer a joint labor-management workplace safety committee with the right to raise health and safety complaints to which the employer must respond.

32BJ SEIU President Kyle Bragg joins workers in celebrating the formation of Workplace Safety Committees and demanding concrete improvements to workplace safety at Chipotle.

“The success of this effort shows that when we organize together, we can win,” John Larkin, Chipotle worker at 501 7th Ave., said.

“Securing a Workplace Safety Committee is a start, and we will work to make sure that it truly addresses the unacceptable safety and health issues at our store. I got burned twice from broken equipment in the kitchen. But our grievances go beyond what this committee can address. We demand truly fair schedules, wages that keep pace with the cost of living and a meaningful voice on the job.”

“Again and again, we have reminded this fast-food giant it cannot ignore hard-won protections like the NY HERO Act,” Kyle Bragg, president of 32BJ said. “Until this global corporation shows the New Yorkers who keep Chipotle running the respect they deserve, we do not intend to stop.”

“Management has not been protecting us, so we were forced to take our health and safety into our own hands using the HERO Act,” Alyssa Roman, a Chipotle worker at 620 9th Ave (formerly 269 Amsterdam Ave.) said. “As a pregnant mother, my health and safety don’t seem to be a priority. They don’t seem to care when I get sick. We are glad they have agreed to form a committee, now we demand real safety and respect. We spoke up and they offered to form a committee. This is just one step toward real dignity in the workplace.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments .................................. 6, 7

It’s in Queens: Summertime festivities..............................................................24

Slice of Queens: Bebee’s Pizza at the Boro Hotel ............... 8

Get to Know the Chamber’s Newest Members ................................................... 28

Tech Spotlight: Drew Williams of Genova Designs................... 9 COVER STORY: Queens Day in Albany........11, 17 Expert Advice............................................................................14, 15, 16 Chamber Member News........................................................ 18, 19 Nonprofit News......................................................... 20, 21, 25 4

PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez

MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Offner

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June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

QUEENS BUSINESS EXPO 2022 Exhibitor Opportunities Exhibitor - Standard (Member Rate)........ $695 Exhibitor - Standard (Non Member Rate) $795 Exhibitor - Jumbo (Member Rate)........... $795 Exhibitor - Jumbo (Non Member Rate)... $895 Non Profit Organization............................. $300 Additional charge of $75 for electricity at table

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Bronze Sponsor ........................................ $1,250 Prime exhibit table, promotions, pictures & stories in our monthly "TIQ" Magazine.

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Ad Commitment Deadline : Ad Submission Deadline :

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Ads must be submitted in pdf or jpg to expo@queenschamber.org All exhibitors will be listed in the Daily News Expo Guide.

For more information visit: queenschamber.org Call 718-898-8500 or email expo@queenschamber.org

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS ​David Do confirmed as TLC Commissioner Mayor Eric Adams announced the confirmation of David Do by the New York City Council as commissioner and chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, with no votes against his confirmation.

“I am excited and ready to take on this role to serve the entire for-hire industry at this critical time, and I want to thank Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Joshi, and the City Council for this incredible opportunity,” incoming TLC Commissioner and Chair David Do said.

“I want to let drivers know that they have a partner in me. I am fully committed to helping drivers get relief from crushing medallion debt, delivering true transportation equity for our customers with disabilities and those outside of Manhattan, and leveraging technology and innovation to diversify and strengthen our industry.”

Twyla Carter appointed Attorney-In-Chief / CEO of The Legal Aid Society

The Legal Aid Society announced the appointment of Twyla Carter, a national leader in public defense, civil rights and access to justice work, as Attorney-In-Chief and Chief Executive Officer. Carter becomes the first Black Woman and first Asian American to serve in this role in its over 145 year history.

Carter will assume this role full-time in August 2022.

Carter will depart her role as National Director of Legal and Policy at The Bail Project, a nonprofit organization that provides free bail assistance and pretrial support to thousands of low-income people every year.

In this position, Twyla created the unit’s strategic mission and directed the legal, policy, and advocacy efforts at the federal, state and local levels, and successfully fought efforts in multiple states to eradicate or limit the work

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of charitable bail organizations.

Prior to joining The Bail Project, Carter served as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Criminal Law Reform Project at the American Civil Liberties Union where she litigated local and state bail inequities and right-to-counsel protections in the federal courts and designed alternative bail and representation policies and procedures for targeted jurisdictions. Notably, Carter litigated Booth v. Galveston County, a pretrial bail case in Texas where the magistrate court held that people accused of crimes have a right to counsel in initial bail hearings under the Sixth Amendment, one of the only jurisdictions in the nation to guarantee legal representation at this critical stage of trial.

Carter was also a public defender for ten years and the Misdemeanor Practice Director for the King County Department of Public Defense. She also served as a Staff Attorney with The Defender Association on felony and misdemeanor cases.

“It’s truly an honor to join the nation’s oldest and largest public law firm serving lowincome people on a myriad of issues ranging from criminal defense to tenant rights, access to justice for young New Yorkers, and so much more,” said Twyla Carter, incoming Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of The Legal Aid Society. “Now more than ever, vulnerable New Yorkers need Legal Aid, and I look forward to further enabling and positioning the organization to strengthen bedrock direct services, policy advocacy and impact litigation work. Our clients deserve nothing less.”

In her new role, Carter will work to secure Legal Aid funding fairness to ensure that staff are fully compensated for their invaluable work and that the organization has the resources needed to continue to provide New Yorkers comprehensive legal representation.

This campaign will build on Legal Aid’s pay parity efforts which sought to bridge the salary gap between public defender and civil legal services employees with City attorneys.

“Legal Aid has played an incomparable role in New York City for well over a century, connecting vulnerable New Yorkers with critical legal services to address a myriad of needs,” said Zachary Carter, Chair of the Board of Directors at The Legal Aid Society.

“We are thrilled that Twyla Carter, a prominent member of the national public defender and civil rights community, will serve at the helm of Legal Aid, positioning the organization to meet the challenges that face our clients and the communities we serve.”

United Way of NYC Announces New President and CEO United Way of New York City is pleased to announce that Grace C. Bonilla, Esq. has been named the new President and CEO of the 85-year-old organization.

During her extensive career, Bonilla served in several senior positions in New York City government.

She was most recently the Founding Executive Director of the NYC COVID-19 Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce, stepping into that role after leading the New York City Human Resources Administration, as the Administrator of the largest social services agency in the country. There, she led a team that developed programs designed to combat poverty and income inequality. This built on her earlier success as a Deputy Commissioner overseeing the Human Resources Administration’s Office of Community Affairs and Immigrant Services, working in that capacity to broaden access to food and benefits for low-income non-English-speaking New Yorkers.

Bonilla has also played key roles in the City’s philanthropic community, most recently as the Senior Vice President for Latin America for Covenant House International, where she provided strategic counsel for proCONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2021 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication.

Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. BQE Media assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.

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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

gram affiliates focused on helping children who were victims of hunger, homelessness, and human trafficking from four Latin American regions.

Earlier in her career, Bonilla also served as President and CEO of The Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, Inc. leading a staff dedicated to providing educational and early childhood resources for New York City’s Hispanic communities.

Bonilla was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of both St. John’s University and Brooklyn Law School. Her life and work are rooted in the heart of this city.

“Leading United Way of New York City would be the honor

of a lifetime under any circumstance, but at this particular time in the history of our city, it is a true call to action that I am excited to take on,” said Bonilla.

“As the first Latina and only the second woman to hold the position, it is my intention to carry with me my lived experience as a lifelong New Yorker, public servant, mom, and daughter of immigrants. My driving force will be the hopes and dreams of fellow New Yorkers who, like my family, picked this city as their best chance to thrive and fulfill their highest potential. I firmly believe that United Way of New York City can continue its legacy of being a change agent during this unprecedented time.”

Donald F. Donahue, currently co-chair of UWNYC and retired

President and CEO of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, noted that, “United Way of New York City plays a unique role as a backbone organization convening cross-sector partnerships among government agencies, businesses, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to support efforts to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Grace’s extensive experience and knowledge make her the perfect person to move UWNYC forward to even stronger success as a trusted partner.”

“It was essential for us to select a leader with ingrained knowledge of New York City’s culture and dynamic,” Michael Schmidtberger, UWNYC cochair and Chair of the Executive Committee at Sidley Austin LLP,

said. “Grace was not just born and raised here in New York. She has devoted her life to serving the underprivileged communities of this city. She understands the problems that New York’s neighborhoods face, and she’s poised to work with our partners to find equitable solutions.”

Bonilla will step into the role that had been held by former President and CEO Sheena Wright, who was recently appointed to the role of Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives for the City of New York within Mayor Eric Adams’s administration. Wright led UWNYC for nearly a decade.

Ms. Bonilla will formally assume her role as President and CEO of United Way of New York City at the end of July.

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A ‘SLICE’ OF QUEENS

Beebe’s Pizza at the Boro Hotel

BY ROBERT INTELISANO

In Long Island City on the westernmost tip of Queens, is a hidden gem called Beebe’s Pizza. If you didn’t know it, you would walk or drive right by the trendy Boro Hotel where Beebe’s is situated in the lobby of the building at 38-28 27th street in Long Island City.

With a population of 57,000, Long Island City is a redeveloped industrial area nestled along the east river of Manhattan. The area is known for its high-rise buildings with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, art galleries, museums, performance spaces, and cultural diversity.

This up-and-coming neighborhood is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in New York City. Long Island City is part of the Queens Community Board District 1, which also includes Astoria, Astoria Heights, Queensbridge, Dutch Kills, Ravenswood, and Steinway.

Beebe’s opened their doors on March 2nd, 2018, inside the new Boro Hotel. At the time, the closest train station was known as 39th Avenue-Beebe Avenue on the N and W line, just two stops from Manhattan. In 2019, the station was closed for renovations and when it reopened, due to pressure from the Dutch Kills Civic Association, was renamed 39th Avenue-Dutch Kills to “better represent the neighborhood’s history” said an MTA spokesman at the time.

Dutch Kills, when founded in 1642, was a swampy area with several farms and a mill. The Dutch Kills farms supplied produce to the New York markets and the waterpowered grist mills ground grains in the area now known as the Sunnyside Rail Yards.

In 1901, construction commenced on the Queensboro Bridge, which would connect Manhattan with Queens. The bridge–known by many as the 59th Street Bridge, because of its location between 59th and 60th streets in Manhattan–was renamed the Ed Koch Queensboro

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Bridge in 2011.

The city tore down many of the Dutch Kills buildings creating open spaces around the new bridge forming Queens Plaza; hence, Long Island City was born.

In the late 1940’s and 1950’s, local manufacturing had declined greatly. Most of the industries and factories were transformed into studios, which encouraged artists to flock to LIC to rent economical and creative studio space in the former industrial buildings. In 2001, the area was identified as a “growth area” by the city and was rezoned to foster residential and commercial development. Long Island City has been growing and thriving ever since.

I arrived 30 minutes early, before our scheduled 6 p.m. dinner reservation for six. The plan was to try between 3-4 different pies and a few appetizers. I also wanted to check out the breathtaking Manhattan Skyline view from the hotel rooftop.

The Boro Hotel has 13 floors and then the rooftop. It is one of the few Queens buildings that has a designated 13th floor. I met a couple on the elevator who were staying at the hotel, and they had no idea there was a restaurant in the lobby.

Walking into Beebe’s, I was greeted by Marshall. I was immediately drawn to the attractive tomatored-colored oven. As I sat down at the closest table to the oven, Beebe’s Manager, Nick Spanos, greeted me and we struck up a con-

The Roni Pie

View from the rooftop of the Boro Hotel versation before my “foodie” group If you order a pie, usually 2-3 slices arrived. I hadn’t told Beebe’s I was are charred with heat bubbles (which doing a pizza review for This Is I prefer) and the other side of the pie Queensborough Magazine before- is less cooked, even if you ordered a hand, so Nick was pleasantly well-done pie. If you have a famsurprised. ily with different preferences, this Nick asked how I had heard about is ideal. If you are looking for the Beebe’s, which was a story unto consistency of an evenly cooked pie, itself. Sophia Xanthopoulos, a class- this is not good. mate, friend from Beach Channel A pizzeria is only as good as the High School, and loyal pizza col- quality of its ingredients and oven. umn reader, had been telling me Beebe’s features a 3,200-pound about this place for years and urging gas oven imported from Modena, me to go. Ironically, that day was her Italy, home of Lamborghini. At birthday. I mentioned it to Nick, and 519 degrees, pies can be ready as it turns out they knew each other– quickly as three-and-a-half minutes, the Greek Connection! depending on how many pies are We started the experience with being cooked concurrently. What is the Kale Caesar salad and meatball unique about this gas oven, to obtain appetizers, which were both solid. consistency, is that it can automatiThen came what we were waiting cally rotate the pies. Their cheese for, the pies, which were served two comes directly from an Ohio farm, at a time. I chose the Margherita so literally, farm-to-table. and the Louie “New York Style” One of the many things I liked pies first, a warmup for our taste about Beebe’s is that they allow you buds. I waited to eat until every- to customize your pie, should you one else had a slice to see their reac- prefer different combinations than tions and big smiles erupt across on their menu. This is a fun place. their faces.

One of the foodies in our group Next up, we ordered the “Roni” was Adrian Miller, who owns a pie, which consisted of tomato, moz- sales training firm. She liked it so zarella, and pepperoni. For the much that she was back there two grand finale, out came the “Hot nights later with her husband. Give Italian,” arguably their most popu- Beebe’s a try, you will thank me lar pie. This unique pie has toma- later. to, mozzarella, pickled chili, hot sausage, pepperoni, and Mike’s hot Email me at Rob@InsuranceDhoney. octor.us to share your favorite At most pizzerias when the pie Queens pizzeria and slice. comes out, it is not evenly cooked.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

TECH SPOTLIGHT Drew Williams of Genova Designs This month’s featured tech entrepreneur is Drew Williams, the founder and CEO of Genova Designs, the parent company of 3D Thoughts and 3D Vibes.

It’s a company that combines 2D images and 3D sculptures for products like hats and bags.

3D printing allows us to create highly customized pieces that can be used to enhance an outfit and add personalized style.

We saw the potential for 3D printing to empower creative designs and new styles, but also saw a lack of full-color 3D printed products.

a new product that people can use to customize their outfits.

Never before could you take a sculpture of these types of characters and add it to an outfit to customize the style.

Could you tell us a little bit about your company?

What is your latest project and why are you excited about it?

Genova Designs revolves around creativity and design.

Using 3D printing, we take 2D images and combine them with 3D sculptures to create small, mobile accessories that can be attached to hats, bags, and clothing using a set of magnets.

In our latest project, we took some of the most iconic horror characters from American films and created some great designs.

The time and craft that was spent to create these characters and their distinct details can now be displayed in full 3D with

I’ve read about and seen many great businesses around the Queens area while participating in the NYDesigns Accelerator program.

The Queens tech and business community looks like a very welcoming place to support and help businesses grow, and we are looking forward to working more closely with the community.

Why are you excited about the future of tech in Queens?

I believe there are many opportunities, from creative to financial, for us to explore.

To learn more, visit genovadesigns.com, 3dthoughts.com, and 3dvibes.biz

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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

Elizabeth Lusskin departing LIC Partnership after eight years Elizabeth Lusskin is departing from her role as the longtime president of the Long Island City Partnership, and executive director of the Long Island City Business Improvement District.

Next month, she will be named executive vice president of small business and technology development with the Empire State Development Corporation.

Since joining the LIC Partnership in October 2013, Lusskin has helped promote the neighborhood’s industrial, commercial, residential, tech, social service and cultural assets through a variety of successful programs, initiatives, and events.

“Getting to lead LICP and the LIC BID during this pivotal period in the history of LIC has been the greatest honor,” Lusskin said.

“This is a truly fabulous community, encompassing everything a true ‘city’ would require — from industry to culture to residential — and a diversity of people, sectors, and community leadership that is unparalleled. We have a first-rate, mission driven staff and highly engaged boards of directors. I am so proud of all we have accomplished over the last eight years, both as a neighborhood and as an organization, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for both.”

During her tenure, she helped oversee the expansion of the LIC BID to more than double its size.

Created in 2005, the original LIC BID expanded in 2017 to include commercial corridors along Jackson Avenue, Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive. The LIC BID is managed by the LIC Partnership and also provides

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beautification initiatives throughout the community.

In addition to her role at LIC Partnership, Lusskin serves as the co-chair of the NYC BID Association and is a member of the Queens Tech Council and NYC Workforce Business Council, among others.

She served on economic development transition committees for both Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr., and was co-chair of the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan Steering Committee and co-chair of the Amazon Community Advisory Committee Project Plan Committee.

In her upcoming role with the Empire State Development Corporation, Lusskin will direct a large portfolio of grant, loan and incentive programs, and will report to its newly appointed president, Hope Knight, who has most recently served as the president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.

Lusskin’s last day with the LIC Partnership is May 24 and she will assume her role with Empire State Development on June 1.

The Partnership’s board will govern the organization until a successor is identified; a start date is expected this summer.

Current and former colleagues praised Lusskin’s dedication to the LIC community and wished her good luck in her next endeavor.

“The Long Island City Partnership has been so fortunate to have Liz Lusskin at its helm during the past decade of unprecedented growth.

Liz leaves the LIC community and the organization well positioned for its next great chapter,” Patricia Dunphy, senior vice president of Rockrose and LIC Partnership board chair, said.

“The LIC BID has grown and thrived under the leadership of Liz Lusskin. I have truly enjoyed working with Liz to improve this wonderful neighborhood! Our entire community is grateful for her hard work and creativity, all of which will be put to good use in her next chapter with ESD,” David Brause, the president of Brause Realty and LIC BID Chair, said.

“Liz Lusskin’s legacy in Long Island City is one of leadership, innovation and growth. I could not be happier for her as she takes her immense talents to Empire State Development, where she will surely continue to deliver real results for our businesses and our families across the state,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Queens is a stronger borough because of Liz’s time with the Long Island City Partnership, and I look forward to our continued partnership as she transitions into her new role at ESD, led by organization president and fellow Queens luminary Hope Knight.”

“Throughout Liz Lusskin’s time at the helm of Long Island City Partnership, she has been a steadfast and dedicated partner in transforming Long Island City to the bustling hub of arts, culture and business it is known as today,” U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney said. “I am thrilled she will be joining Empire State Development as Executive VP for

Elizabeth Lusskin, former president of the Long Island City Partnership and Executive Director of the LIC BID will take an executive role with the Empire State Development Corporation Small Business and Technology Development, and she will bring to New York State the same vision and ingenuity she has brought to Long Island City and Western Queens.”

“Liz Lusskin’s leadership, vision, and tenacity have helped transform Long Island City into a thriving, mixed-use neighborhood and a great place to live, work, play and own a business,” Queens Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Thomas Grech said. “Liz has been a valuable resource to me and my team and a trusted partner in all things Long Island City. While we are sad to see her leave the LIC Partnership, we are thrilled she is joining Empire State Development as Executive VP for Small Business and Technology Development.

Her tireless advocacy for small businesses, particularly in the technology sector, make her ideal for this position.”

June2022 2022• •Volume Volume18 18• •Issue Issue66 June

COVER STORY

Chamber visits Capitol for ‘Queens Day’ On May 10, hundreds of business leaders from Queens visited Albany to meet with state lawmakers during Queens Day in Albany.

The event, which gives local business leaders an opportunity to advocate for the interests of commerce, was held in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.

New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., who chairs the committee on racing, gaming, and wagering, delivered remarks during a luncheon with Chamber members, who later met with dozens of State Senate and Assembly Members.

Before returning to Queens, the visitors to The Capitol enjoyed a dinner catered by dozens of Queens restaurants.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Queens’ diverse neighborhoods, and throughout the pandemic, they have played an essential role in keeping our communities af loat, all while facing unprecedented challenges,” Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech said. “One of the most important things we do as a Chamber is advocate for the interests of our members. It was inspiring to meet with our elected representatives in person, so they could hear from our members firsthand about the challenges they face. I thank all of the business leaders who joined us, as well as Senator Addabbo and his colleagues in the legislature, who listened to their concerns.”

Addabbo, whose district represents the Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, and Rockaway communities, said that Queens Day in Albany is one of his favorite days during the legislative session.

“It was great to welcome back

Howard Graf, chairman of the Queens Chamber of Commerce executive board, meets with state representatives on ‘Queens Day’ in Albany on May 10 Queens Day to Albany, demonstrating that we can overcome a pandemic and make attempts to return to normal life,” Addabbo said. “Queens Day allows us to meet with our constituents, as well as great community organizations and businesses, while we are upstate working on legislative issues. Queens Day reminds us why it’s important to promote our local businesses and to recognize what they’ve been through during COVID and their efforts to help others throughout the pandemic. I am thankful to Tom Grech and the entire Queens Chamber for being there when needed for our businesses and for allowing me to participate in their Queens Day festivities.”

During their meetings with state lawmakers, members of the Chamber took the opportunity to discuss several issues impacting businesses both in the bor-

ough and throughout the state, including: ● The New York State Film Production Tax Credit - The State budget for the 2023 fiscal year extends the credit for the next three years.

Currently, it provides a 25 percent credit for qualified production expenditures.

Members of the Chamber advocated for extending and expanding the credit by eliminating the annual cap, eliminating the sunset clause, and increasing the tax credit from 25 percent to 30 percent.

Queens is home to several film and television production studios including Silvercup Studios and Kaufman Astoria Studios, and will soon welcome Robert DeNiro’s Wildf lower Studios to Astoria. ● Real Property Tax Law

485-w - The proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul aims to replace the existing 421-a tax exemption for developers building affordable multi-family housing.

It is well established that New York City is in need of affordable housing, but building can be expensive and challenging due to cost, taxes, and increasingly more expensive insurance and utility costs.

The Queens Chamber came out in support of the 485-w program proposal, which would create affordable housing through privately-financed development projects in parts of the City where government struggles to build on its own. ● Making Resorts World New York City a full-scale commercial casino - Since it opened in Ozone Park more than 10 years ago, Resorts World has Continued on Page 17

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June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

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EXPERT ADVICE

Commercial uPVC Vinyl Windows & Doors Energy Efficiency, Strength, and Beauty for NY Buildings

BY STEVE CHEN Building owners and developers of new and existing properties here in New York are eager to achieve greater energy efficiency to meet New York City energy codes, keep operating costs at the lowest possible levels, and optimize occupant comfort. Windows, curtain wall, and storefront fenestration are key components of making buildings energy efficient, and there are many window frame materials to choose from.

One window material which has been widely used throughout Europe for decades is unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), also known as high-end commercial vinyl.

While ordinary vinyl windows have been used in single-family and low-rise residential homes for decades in the US, uPVC vinyl is relatively new here but gaining popularity.

In many cases it is a superior alternative to aluminum frame windows for mid- and highrise properties and those buildings with large window openings because of its incredible characteristics.

High-end commercial vinyl window and door products offer the best of both worlds: structural performance and strength equal to top aluminum products while simultaneously providing the extraordinary thermal performance of vinyl windows. With thermal performance up to 45 percent more efficient than comparable thermally-broken aluminum windows, uPVC windows can play a key role in buildings seeking to qualify for LEED and Passive House certifications, or simply to reduce energy bills.

Headquartered right here in Queens, Crystal Window & Door Systems fabricates, in addition to aluminum and standard vinyl products, a complete line of high-end commercial uPVC vinyl products – the MAGNUS line – for many types of properties. MAGNUS products are available in double-hung, slider, casement, picture, and tilt-turn styles and sliding glass doors.

We offer a wide array of options for these products to achieve any aesthetic, including top quality hardware, between-glass grids, and color and finish choices. For superior energy efficiency, many glazing options are available such as triple insulated glass and low-E glass coatings.

To facilitate new construction and replacement projects in a variety of building types, numerous installation accessories are available.

Our high-end commercial vinyl products with internal reinforcements can also be com-

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1,500 vinyl windows at One Flushing bined in larger window openings to provide expansive views.

One bonus characteristic of commercial vinyl as a window product material is the sound attenuation it offers. Because of the inherent nature and design of the non-metallic frame with multiple chambers, uPVC vinyl windows and doors reduce exterior sound improving comfort of tenants. Used throughout the city, Crystal’s MAGNUS product line is perfect for properties in demanding high-noise locations near highways, airports, railways, or busy urban streets.

Finally, high-end commercial vinyl is often a lower cost window solution compared with aluminum or wood, both in initial cost and in overall maintenance costs throughout the life of the window.

Crystal high-end commercial vinyl windows have been utilized in many new multi-family high-rise buildings here in New York.

Recent examples include 2,400 windows for the new Archer Green Apartments in Jamaica (which at 23 stories in twin towers is amongst the tallest commercial vinyl projects in the nation), 1,500 windows for One Flushing in the heart of Flushing, and 925 windows for The Gilbert on First in Manhattan. Crystal also supplies projects across the country with highend commercial vinyl products, such as 5,100 windows and doors for Monticello Villages, a luxury apartment complex in Santa Clara, CA, 325 windows for a new Marriott hotel by the San Diego airport, and nearly 1,000 windows and doors for The Finery, a new mixed-use development in Nashville.

High-end commercial (uPVC) vinyl window and door products are a quality, cost-effective solution for many property development and renovation applications. They provide strength, durability, and beauty all in one material, with extraordinary thermal performance needed to meet energy codes today and beyond. Investing in high-end commercial vinyl fenestration definitely adds value to any property.

Steve Chen is the president of Crystal Window & Door Systems, one of the largest national manufacturers of windows, doors, and other architectural fenestration products in North America.

The company headquarters and main production facility are located at 31-10 Whitestone Expressway in Flushing, Queens, with over 350 employees at this location. It has since expanded with additional factories in Chicago, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, and California.

For more info call 718-961-7300.

Monticello Villages in Santa Clara, CA

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

EXPERT ADVICE

Crystal Windows A Key Supplier in Rockaway Village Project

Manufacturer provides almost 9,000 windows for Expansive New Development National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems is wrapping up its deliveries of thousands of new windows for the ambitious new development Rockaway Village in Far Rockaway, NY. The expansive multi-year new construction project is rejuvenating this neighborhood at the outskirts of New York City’s Borough of Queens, taking advantage of the convenient passenger and elevated subway rail lines, and replacing abandoned properties and empty lots with beautiful new apartment buildings and retail spaces.

“We are very proud to be part of this exciting construction project at Rockaway Village,” said Sabrina Leung, Crystal Architectural Sales Manager. “Crystal’s design, engineering, and production capabilities and our on-site consulting expertise made us the perfect partner to supply our high-end architectural windows to these new properties.”

Crystal has supplied five of the development’s large mid- and high-rise residential buildings with 8,843 energy efficient architectural window products. Most of the Crystal windows used at the Rockaway Village project were configured in large combinations of in-swing casement, picture, and HVAC louvers. In many cases, the windows provide expansive views, spanning large floor-to-ceiling openings, up to 91 inches wide by 107.5 inches tall.

Each building also used 90 degrees mullions to join windows at building corners, providing an attractive and exciting glass feature for occupants. The combination arrangements were facilitated using the Series 8800/8810 master frame option as well as several types of mullion systems.

The five buildings Crystal supplied at the Rockaway Village project exclusively used the company’s high-end architectural aluminum Series 8800 In-Swing Casement and Series 8810 Fixed windows. The windows feature heavyduty 2-5⁄8 inch deep frames with corner key reinforcement. Both the casement and fixed windows use advanced polyamide strut thermal break systems for enhanced thermal performance.

The window sashes offer 1.25 inch IGU

Crystal supplied nearly 9,000 windows for Rockaway Village development pockets and provide a zero-sightline look. A continuous master frame option allows the combination of multiple styles in one opening.

The Crystal Series 8800 In-Swing Casement is rated AW-PG100/PG80. The Series 8810 Fixed/Picture window is rated AW-PG75.

Specified with clear, tempered, or laminated glass panes, the insulated glass units (IGUs) for the windows were also specified with Guardian SN68 low-E glass coatings and Argon gas filling to deliver outstanding energy efficiency.

To accommodate individual apartment HVAC units, several thousand of the Series 8810 Fixed window frames were fitted with AEL-42 model louvers by Reliable of Geneva, AL. Crystal supplied the PTAC louvers and factory installed them into the window frames prior to jobsite delivery.

The Crystal Series 8800 In-Swing Casement uses four-bar concealed hinges and a triple compression gasket seal. For safety, all the Series 8800 Casement windows were fitted with NY City code certified opening limit devices.

In apartments designated for seniors, Crystal equipped the operating casements with ADA compliant hardware. Installation accessories for all the Series 8800 and 8810 windows included subsills and receptor systems, as well as H-, 3-piece, and 90-degree corner mullions.

As the windows’ thermal strut construction allows for window frame interiors and exteriors

to be different colors, all the windows received an extremely durable two-tone AAMA 2605 powder coat paint finish, with bronze exterior and white interior frames. Electrostatically applied powder coat paint, which virtually eliminates VOC compounds, is noted for its environmental sustainability, uniform coating, color properties, and weather resistance.

Rockaway Village is developed and owned

by Phipps Houses of New York, NY, one of the largest non-profit developer and owner of affordable housing in the Metro Area. When fully completed, Rockaway Village will offer 1,700 new apartments in 8 buildings, which range from 8 stories to 15 stories, along with over 120,000 sq. ft. of commercial and community space, landscaped courtyards and outdoor gathering spaces, and tree-lined streets and walkways.

The terminus of the Long Island Railroad Far Rockaway branch is at the east end of the development, and the west end is across the street from New York City’s A-Train Mott Avenue elevated subway station.

Marvel Architects of New York, NY, is the design firm for the entire Rockaway Village development, and Lettire Construction, also of New York, NY, is the general contractor.

Longtime Crystal customer Marvel Contracting Service (not related to Marvel Architects) of Queens, NY, served as the fenestration installer.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

EXPERT ADVICE

Safeguarding from Medicaid Recovery

BY RONALD FATOULLAH, ESQ. & JUNEL ABREU, ESQ. When an individual receives Medicaid, he or she is subject to estate recovery.

In other words, the state can recover benefits it paid on behalf of the Medicaid recipient from the individual’s estate. Commonly, a Medicaid recipient’s largest asset is his or her home. There are some strategic estate planning tools that can be used to protect one’s home.

One such tool is the creation of a life estate. A life estate is joint ownership of property between two or more people for different periods of time.

The life estate allows an individual known as the “life tenant” the exclusive right to live on the property for the rest of his or her life.

The other owner of the property is known as the “remainderman.”

The remainderman cannot take possession until the end of the life estate, which occurs upon the death of the life tenant.

When the life tenant dies, the house will avoid going through probate, and ownership of the property will pass automatically to the remainderman.

Although the property is not part of the individual’s probate estate, it will be included in the individual’s taxable estate.

This means that depending on the size of the estate and the state’s estate tax limit, the property may be subject to taxation.

However, there can be a reduction in tax on the capital gains when the remainderman sells the property. The remainderman will receive a “step up” in the property’s basis.

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Another commonly used estate planning tool is the creation of an irrevocable trust.

This option requires that the house be transferred into the irrevocable trust.

When the house is transferred, it cannot be removed from the irrevocable trust. If the house is sold, then the proceeds of the sale must remain in the irrevocable trust.

Both estate planning tools (the life estate and irrevocable trust) can trigger a Medicaid ineligibility period of five years.

A transfer penalty can occur if a life estate is purchased in another home but can be avoided if the purchaser of the life estate lives in the home for at least one year after the purchase and pays an appropriate amount for the life estate.

Every strategic estate planning tool has it benefits and pitfalls. It is important to consult with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney to determine which tool best meets your needs.

This summary is not legal advice and does not create any attorney-client relationship. This summary does not provide a definitive legal opinion for any factual situation.

Before the firm can provide legal advice or opinion to any person or entity, the specific facts at issue must be reviewed by the firm.

Before an attorney-client relationship is formed, the firm must have a signed engagement letter with a client setting forth the Firm’s scope and terms of representation.

Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq. is the founder of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a law firm that concentrates in elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, guardianships, estate administration, trusts, wills, and real estate.

Junel Abreu, Esq. is an attorney with the Ronald Fatoullah & Associates law firm.

Mr. Fatoullah is also a partner with Brightside Advisors, a wealth management firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles.

The law firm can be reached at 718-261-1700, 516-466-4422, or toll free at 1-877-ELDER-LAW or 1-877-ESTATES.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

created good-paying union jobs, employed a strong and diverse workforce, generated muchneeded revenue for local schools, supported local nonprofit organizations, and generated economic activity which continues to support local small businesses.

Members of the Chamber said that granting RWNYC one of the three remaining casino licenses would allow them to double their workforce by adding over 1,000 union jobs and doing even more to support the local community.

“It was wonderful to have Queens come to Albany to share our great diversity and talents with everyone in New York State,” Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan said. “I enjoyed tasting all the food from our district, particularly the threegeneration female-owned restaurant, Ricas Pupusas & Mas, as well as meeting small business owners from across Queens.

I am very appreciative that I was honored with my Queens colleagues.”

Nolan, whose district represent s t he Su n nyside, Ridgewood, Astoria, Long Island City, and Maspeth neighborhoods in Queens, announced earlier this year that she plans to retire after her current term expires this year. She has been a state representative for the district since 1985.

“Queens Day in Albany 2022 was a complete success,” said Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman said. “I was so glad to welcome the best county in the state to our capital once again to showcase our small businesses, culture, food, and customs.”

Hyndman was elected to the State House in 2015 and serves as a representative of the 29th district, which encompasses the Laurelton, Rosedale, St. Albans, Hollis, Springf ield Gardens, and Jamaica communities.

“If you want to experience the cultural diversity of our borough, look no further than the small businesses and restaurants that enrich our neigh-

New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. meets with members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce during Albany Day in Queens. (Photos: Dominick Totino)

Members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce celebrate Queens Day in Albany. borhoods. I was privileged to sponsor the Senate resolution celebrating Queens Day in New York State. We appreciate the efforts of the Queens Chamber of Commerce as they assist small businesses,” State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said.

Stavisky became the f irst woman from Queens to be elected to the Senate in 1999 and currently serves as Chairperson of the State Senate Committee on Higher Education.

Outgoing NYS Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan celebrates her retirement with Queens legislators and members of the Chamber of Commerce.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

A New Vision for Child Care

PS Family Is Changing The Way We Think About In Home Child Care

BY GABRIELLE NAPOLITANO Families with children under 3 and in-home child care providers in Queens have a new family child care network dedicated to supporting their needs.

Meet PS Family NYC (Program Support LLC), a progressive relationship based program with a hands-on approach to working with family child care providers. PS Family is transforming traditional childcare.

This boutique network tailors its services to meet the needs of the providers and families they serve. Features and benefits of the network include: • One on one support navigating the affiliation process for existing childcare businesses • Help with expanding or opening new childcare programs • Staff Learning • Enrollment assistance for families applying for free and low-cost childcare • Financial assistance for families • Materials for child care programs • Guidance for parents who need financial assistance • Coaching for individuals, staff, and owners • Workshops and more PS Family is one of 35 networks that were awarded contracts to supervise family child care providers in Brooklyn and Queens.

Networks ensure that providers are trained in best practices, verify parent payment eligibility, and adhere to all DOE guidelines. PS Family offers all this and more.

The providers affiliated with PS Family use the Let’s Play Curriculum, offer yoga, and many are Spanish speaking, along with many other learning opportunities.

PS Family enhances provid-

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Gabrielle Napolitano is the creative marketing manager with PS Family.

(Photo: Maria Molina, childcare provider) ers offerings with free public workshops and training, like a 10 month CDA course offered to all PS Family network providers at no cost.

PS Family hosts a series of free Raising Peaceful Children workshops focusing on raising children without violence. All PS Family events are offered in Spanish and English.

PS Family was brought together by veteran educator, Emelie Gay, with a vision to help in-home child care providers offer quality services and navigate new and ever changing DOE covid requirements, while being an integral part of the community to help children flourish.

Emilie Gay started her educational career as a preschool teacher and has been working in early childhood education for nearly thirty years.

Working as an early childhood quality improvement specialist for CUNY research foundation: QUALITYstarsNY, Emilie supported early childhood programs as a consultant.

To promote the development of young children through arts and education initiatives, Emilie created a community based organization, The Pistachio and Flourishing projects.

A graduate of Chaminade University of Honolulu Hawaii,

Emilie has a Masters in Education and is the recipient of the Brooklyn council of the arts regrant. She is also currently a NAEYC Legacy Leadership fellow For information about PS Family and all that we offer, please check out our website https://psfamilynyc.org.

(Photo: Rosa Avila, childcare provider)

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

Launch Creative Minds in the midst of the Pandemic

BY KIMMY MA

March 16, 2020 was the announcement of the shelter in place order, which was soon followed by daily briefings and all the uncertainties have left families afraid and in panic.

There were many tragedies during the heigh of COVID, including the death of my close friend and neighbor. At first, I thought it was going to be brief, but before you knew, it was already the end of June.

The studio’s activities calendar was left blank for over three months.

Art patrons were fearful to return.

We all missed the hands-on interactions necessary to make art, and all the nuanced creative dialogue that could not be spoken through zoom.

Shortly after re-opening, more bad news flurried in. The music shop and restaurants next door had shut down, and for months, our small businesses were left with little activity. Subsequently, it was only the barbershop and me left standing.

The streets looked rejected and depressed. It reflected the anxiousness of the people. It was so bleak and desolate, you can hear the leaves rustling on the ground.

What kept me going was my faith, my passion for art, and the optimism and support from our art patrons and families. These intangible elements have helped fuel a purposeful sword to slay wretched Covid with determination.

The truth is my work would not be here if it was not for the art families and students, who shared the same passion. As a community, we realize the value of art education, as a beautiful sanctuary for our creative spirits.

Art is a lifelong companion and it teaches an important life lesson, that failure is just a series of experimentations on how to start over, and it helps carve the ultimate path to create something beautiful from a blank page and mistakes.

Kimmy Ma is the manager of the Kimmy Ma Art Studio in Fresh Meadows

Art instructor Kimmy Ma is a proud member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and a small business hero of 2021

Art students lend a hand painting a new mural outside of the art studio located at 190-19 Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows This taught me how to re-build my business. One phone call, email, and text at a time.

While perfection is unattainable it is something to strive for! As one of a few women owned small

businesses in my neighborhood, I have championed art for over two decades, but it was not done without challenges.

Battling hostile COVID added an even more egregious hurdle to

overcome. On top of negotiating the back rent with my landlords, the increasing cost of energy and supplies due to inflation, I had to pay my staff and keep the studio intact.

When we first reopened, there was a point when we had just one student show up to class. But we persevered and we still have a ways to go!

One of our creative solutions was to make art outdoors during the summer. That really helped make the transition to returning more bearable for our art families during COVID, while still giving our students the opportunity to socialize and create art in a healthy environment. Our studio is a small yet bright spot where like-minded young artists can share artistic experiences and their love for art.

It is about time and we are ready to celebrate our creative voices once again with our student’s art show on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th, from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. All are welcome and admission to the show is free.

For K-12, group, private, zoom or in studio art lessons, please visit our program guide at kimmymaartstudio.com.

To us, art is more than an afterschool activity. It is means of selfexpression unlike any other.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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NONPROFIT NEWS

Flushing Town Hall: 160 Years of Resilience

BY ELLEN KODADEK

This is the story of a historic Queens building.

Not many buildings can claim a tale worth telling, but this one can, and on June 9th, Flushing Town Hall will throw a Happy Birthday Gala in celebration.

The cultural institution is itself only 43-years-old, but its landmarked building, located at the corner of Northern Blvd. and Linden Place, is turning 160. In its storied hallways, Flushing Town Hall will also debut an exhibition looking back at the building’s rich history, to remain on view to the public through year-end.

The building’s first cornerstone was laid on June 7, 1862, soon after the Civil War’s start, when the people of Flushing determined they needed a headquarters for welcoming troops home. The community’s one structure of note was the John Bowne House, a long an established gathering site for abolitionist activism and religious freedom—but it was a mere farmhouse. They envisioned something on a grander scale, emblematic of the pride and appreciation they felt for their returning soldiers.

Built in the Romanesque Revival style that was popular at the time, with a front facade featuring a triple arched portico topped by a classic entablature, the building was constructed in 19 months and opened in January 1864 with a Grand Inaugural Ball.

Over the next few decades, as New York City continued to grow in population and economic vitality, so did the neighborhood of Flushing, and this Town Hall became an important stop on the lecture and vaudeville circuit. The building welcomed an eclectic roster of notable figures, including Frederick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, P.T. Barnum, and Tom Thumb. It also became a popular venue for military galas.

In 1898, the Town of Flushing was consolidated as part of New York City, which took over control. The building was converted into a courthouse and jail cells were added within. In fact, the “green room” used by performers still retains its original jail cell door and slatted metal

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bars.

In 1960, the Hall went through a dizzying array of reinventions and was used as a library and a bank. It was also used by the Highway Bureau, the Department of Public Welfare, Big Sisters of Queens, the Flushing Historical Society, the Girl Scouts and the Department of Sanitation.

By 1967 the Landmarks Preservation Commission bestowed the building its protected status, and in 1972, the National Park Service named the Hall a historic site. It can be found in the register of Historic Places. But amid the financial crisis of the early 1970s and following so much turnover, the building fell into disrepair.

Local resident Stephen Phillips stepped up, spending half a million dollars to restore its structure. Flushing Town Hall reopened in 1976 as a 300-seat theater with a restaurant and bar downstairs. Folk singers Peter, Paul & Mary performed in June of that year.

Unfortunately, this new incarnation was short-lived. By 1989 the building was again vacant—a forgotten relic of the past, with broken windows and covered in graffiti. The civil court ordered the construction of a surrounding security fence.

It was then that two women stepped forward, heroic. Claire Shulman, the first female Borough President of Queens, and Jo-Ann Jones, who took the helm, together created The Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts, better known today as the cultural institution Flushing Town Hall.

In 1990, the Council was awarded stewardship to renew the building as a multicultural arts center, receiving $2.1 million for safety upgrades and restoration.

Flushing Town Hall reopened to the public on May 20, 1993, and has been presenting music and dance peformances, fine art exhibitions, and educational programs ever since.

Of course, the building did shutter again—temporarily—when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the city. In turn, Flushing Town Hall pivoted to virtual programming, made possible by new technology.

With the arrival of vaccines, the Hall swung open its doors once again, welcoming back artists and eager audiences.

Ellen Kodadek is the Executive & Artistic Director of the Flushing Council for Culture and the Arts.

Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. in Flushing.

For tickets to the celebration and info on upcoming programs, visit flushingtownhall.org.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

NONPROFIT NEWS

In the Heart of the Heart of Queens: Thomas Berry Place

BY MARY LINDA DEWITT

Linguistically and culturally vibrant, home to a cornucopia of cultures and languages, Jamaica has always been, arguably, the dynamic and relevant heart of Queens. Therefore, it makes sense that the spiritual heart of Queens now finds a home in the ecologically-minded, inclusive, and socially conscious, Thomas Berry Place, or “TBP” for short.

Thomas Berry Place is the renewed, renovated and reimagined facility that for decades was known as Bishop Molloy Retreat House, the much-loved spiritual retreat house in Jamaica, Queens. TBP is named after the renowned Passionist priest Fr. Thomas Berry, CP—an academic, author, and pioneer environmentalist. With a particular attention to serving the prolific, interfaith community in which we position ourselves, TBP is devoted to serving communities here in Queens while challenging and pushing notions of what it means today to be a truly inclusive and accessible. We are, decidedly, a center for education, dialogue, and social responsibility. And, while our roots are distinctly Passionist and Catholic, we proudly build on that inspiring history while simultaneously recreating our role in a world where social responsibility is informed by an inclusive and intersectional ecological consciousness.

As they say, location is everything, and that is an understatement when describing where Thomas Berry Place is located. Close enough to Manhattan, but far enough away to feel like an idyllic retreat situated in the gentle, lush rolling hills of Jamaica Estates overlooking Jamaica proper, one can get here from downtown Manhattan in approximately thirty minutes by subway. A transportation hub like no other, our campus is accessible as well from the east

by Nassau County buses which run ubiquitously on Hillside Avenue, which is home to thriving Little Bangladesh, Central American, and East Indian communities. The opportunity to enjoy delicious fare on Hillside Avenue is a treat for locals and visitors alike. Where else can you enjoy a mango lassi, some jerk chicken, and a pupusa all on the same street? In the words of Sr. Mary T. Naccarato, PBVM, Director of TBP’s Spiritual Programs, “Thomas Berry Place is an ‘oasis’ where anyone came come to pause from life and encounter the Divine in the beauty and sacredness of this place. We look forward to Welcoming You soon!”

TBP is singular in that is the only full-service retreat and conference facility of its kind in Jamaica, Queens, and actually, the entire metropolitan area. The centrically located TBP also

boasts ample parking for guests. Furthermore, it is situated right between two major international airports of JFK and LaGuardia. Available for day, midweek and weekend events, there are fifty renovated bedrooms, twenty of them with Queen size accommodations, and thirty with twin.

Our grounds are teeming with possibility for educational and spiritual pursuit, hosting a board room with accommodations for fifteen people, two spacious conference rooms for eighty to one hundred people, smaller conference rooms that accommodate thirty-five people, a library and break out rooms, not to mention a chapel accessible twenty-four hours a day.

Thomas Berry Place has singular outdoor areas—including an apple orchard and lush gardens—and a fully operational urban organic farm designated to provide organic food sources for our in-house kitchen and dining room that can serve up to one hundred diners, helmed by acclaimed chef Anthony O’Connor.

Moreover, our relationship to the planet as being integral to our daily mission is at the forefront of all our decisions here at TBP. Not only does our facility utilize solar power, but the flooring is carbon neutral across its full life cycle. Ramiro Agredo, COO of Thomas Berry Place, “In the TBP lobby we are also proud to highlight our Living Wall, a verdant lush display of various flora. Its purpose is not solely aesthetic, but rather these plants serve to purify and renew oxygen in an effort to reconceptualize the concept of indoor space and our relationship to it.”

Additionally, the facilities are constantly taking on new and exciting dimensions in the form of a soon-to-be café/bakery run by our mission partner Reconnect. Every single aspect of Thomas Berry Place is directly connected to our commitment to rethinking the ways of reflecting, healing and communicating. Positioned on the same campus as Immaculate Conception Monastery, Parish and Academy, the team at TBP works closely with mission-based partners like Reconnect and Hour Children, Passionist Earth & Spirit Center, Emmaus House, and Sisters of St. Joseph, all who collaborate with us to logistically and theoretically to provide a quality guest experience.

We invite you to visit our campus and learn more about our this our singular endeavor: thomasberryplace.org

Mary Linda DeWitt is the Senior Assistant to the Director of Development and Fulfillment with The Passionists Provincial Office of St. Paul of the Cross.

The Office of Development and Mission Fullfillment, located at 86-45 Edgerton Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens, is responsible for creating and spreading awareness of their mission and the effort made

The grounds at Thomas Berry Place on a sunny day

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As a valued neighbor of the Holiday Inn Express Maspeth, we would like to offer you a 15% Local Loyalty discount.

Pick up a Local Loyalty card at a participating Maspeth business, and present it at our front desk to receive your special 15% OFF rate! Scan the barcode to see the list of participating businesses.

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June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE

QUEENS BUSINESS EXPO 2022

June 8, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Don’t miss out on this business opportunity to meet over 130 Exhibitors, multiple panel discussions, and a wide range of speakers considered to be a who’s-who in their respective field. Complimentary registration is open online.

Citi Field 41 Seaver Way, Flushing

DAILY NEWS LUNCHEON

June 8, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join the Queens Chamber of Commerce as we explore the world of tech as it relates to Queens and the future, featuring special keynote speakers and lunch at Citi Field.

Caesars Sportsbook at the Metro Grille 41 Seaver Way, Flushing

U.S. OPEN JOB FAIR

June 15, 2022 from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Begin your career in sports by working at one of the greatest sporting events in the world! Available Opportunities include Player Services, Court Attendant, Guest Services, Courts and Grounds, Credentials, Front Desk, Facility Operations, Box Office, Administration, IT, Access Control, Parking Lot Attendants, Phone Operations and Command Center.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows Corona Park

QUEENS MIXER

CHAMBER

SUMMER

June 15, 2022 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Connect, network, and enjoy a cold pint with the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

SingleCut Beersmiths, 19-37 37th St., Astoria

INSIDE THE MANUFACTURER: WHITE COFFEE TOUR

June 21, 2022 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Join members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce for this up-close look at this 80-year-old family owned business in Long Island City.

White Coffee, 18-35 38th St., Long Island City

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

June 22, 2022 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Rules of engagement to maxamize your membership Queens Chamber of Commerce, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, Jackson Heights

D I F F I C U LT MEET & GREET WITH DEPT. OF M ANAG I N G CONVERSATIONS AND DIFFICULT BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER PERSONALITIES IN THE ERIC ULRICH WORKPLACE June 22, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

On behalf of the Real Estate Committee, the Energy & Environmental Committee and the Board of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, please join us for a meet and greet with newly appointed Department of Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich.

The Auditorium at Bulova Corporate Center, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Heights

ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTORS UNITE June 23, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Queens Chamber Entrepreneurship & Innovation Committee presents: Investor & Entrepreneur Q&A Panel Do you have a concept or idea you’re hoping to move from its current state to a fully realized product ready to market and promote?

WeWork Gotham Center, 28-07 Jackson Ave., Long Island City

SUCCESSION PLANNING: PART ONE June 29, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

This seminar is devoted to highlighting the major considerations when planning for the future transition of your family business.

Drawing inspiration from the popular HBO show Succession¸ we will discuss various topics and hurdles to building a succession plan including family dynamics considerations, the importance of shared governance, and how to build a comprehensive approach.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

JULY

THRIVE IN BUSINESS BY USING GOOGLE BUSINESS

July 13, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

You are invited to a webinar presented by Thryv teaching you about how to use Google for Business.

Here you will learn: How to get found on Google without spending money. Learn why you’re NOT getting found online and what you can do about it. How to get your business in front of thousands of potential customers for free. How to nurture your new customers over a lifetime - increasing repeat business sales.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

July 15, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Human Resource Specialists face the challenges of communicating with employees on many difficult issues including coaching discipline and termination. Communication is further challenged by the many difficult personalities we encounter in the workplace. This program will offer the nuts and bolts of effectively engaging and succeeding in managing those difficult communications and personalities. We will also focus on the ins and outs of effectively coaching a challenging employee.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

BE EASY TO DO BUSINESS WITH! WHOSE TERMS ARE YOU DOING YOUR BUSINESS IN?

July 19, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

You are invited to a webinar presented by Thryv on how to be easy to do business with and deal with clients.

Here, you will learn about: How to enhance your client’s experience. Learn how to engage your clients. Modern tips for doing business on their terms. What does your online presence say about youe.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

RESOLVING CONFLICT IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Aug. 12, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Most conflicts that arise can be avoided or resolved if we have the necessary training in managing conflict. The conflict which is not resolved will spiral out of control and can lead to serious consequences including anger, violence, and loss of customers.

This program will put you on the track to successfully managing conflicts and improving relationships with your supervisors and coworkers. This program will explore the numerous cultural variables that impact how conflict is resolved in different cultures. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

EVOLVE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHANGING TIMES Sept. 27, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

You are invited to a webinar presented by Thryv on how to evolve with technology and the changing times in a post-COVID world.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

23

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

IT’S IN QUEENS Bayside Food and Music Fest June 5 from 1 - 6 p.m.

By Rob MacKay, Director Public Relations, Marketing & Tourism, Queens Economic Development Corporation The world’s most diverse borough is going to be hopping in June.

First of all, there’s Queens Rising, a multi-disciplinary arts celebration that will sponsor performances, exhibitions, and cultural events for the entire month.

Then, there are unrelated outdoor and indoor events, such as street festivals, music marathons, dance festivals, and surfing. Add warm weather and declining Covid, and get ready to have fun.

Queensboro Dance Festival June 4 - Oct. 2 Twenty-six Queens-based dance companies offer performances and classes in public spaces around the borough. Expect Hawaiian, West African, Turkish Gypsy, Kathak, and other genres.

An afternoon of live music, art, games, bouncy houses, volleyball, and a restaurant stroll.

Vicinity of Bell Boulevard and 41st Avenue.

The New Queens Pride Parade June 5 @ 12 p.m.

An annual tradition and multicultural festival returns after a two-year, Covid-provoked hiatus.

Expect a fun afternoon of marchers, vendors, performances, and costumes.

Vicinity of 37th Road and 75th Street in Jackson Heights.

Queens Rising at the Gantries June 11 @ 3 p.m.

A free day of music as part of Queens Rising, a month-long celebration of arts and culture. This day features Joel Ross, Cumbia River Band, DJ Rekha, and Gentlemen of Soul.

Gantry Plaza State Park, 04-09 47th Rd., Long Island City.

Long Island City Ballet June 4 @ 3 p.m.

Historic Jackson Weekend June 11 - 12

Heights

This local troupe performs Kaleidoscope!, a magical view of Alice in Wonderland to a score by Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The Jackson Heights Beautification Group hosts a weekend of walking tours, a slide lecture, an exhibition, and top-notch local networking.

Community United Methodist Church, 81-10 35th Ave.

Catch a wave and hang ten with AmpSurf at Rockaway Beach on June 25.

Cow Goes to the Opera June 12 @ 1 p.m., 4 p.m.

The world premiere of Queens College faculty member Sunny Knable’s opera for children and families about a curious cow in southern France that falls in love with the lights and sounds.

The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills.

Def Poetry Jam Reunion Concert June 16 @ 8 p.m.

Danny Simmons brings the talent from his HBO show Def Poetry Jam Reunion Concert back to the community that raised him.

The lineup features several accomplished artists who have agreed to return to honor the memory of the award-winning program.

Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave. Inti Raymi Sun Festival June 18 @ 12 p.m.

A special celebration of Inti Raymi (a South American sun festival) with a ceremony by Abya Yala Arte y Cultura, art making for the whole family, and dance performances from the Andes.

Queens Museum, NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Enter the world of AMC’s series “The Walking Dead” at the Museum of the Moving Image on June 25 24

Without Borders leads a stroll through Alley Pond Park. She discusses plant species, especially those associated with the Solstice and its traditional folklore.

Alley Pond Environmental Center, 224-65 76th Ave., Oakland Gardens.

Gospel meets Cote D’Ivoire June 24 @ 1 p.m.

Jewish Gospel singer Joshua Nelson performs. Then, Ivory Coast traditional dance and drum master Vado Diomande goes next.

To finish on the right now, they jam together.

Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.

Living with The Walking Dead June 25 @ 1 p.m.

The AMC series “The Walking Dead” depicts survivors in a postapocalyptic world plagued by flesh-eating zombies.

This exhibition includes production material such as costumes, props, concept art, storyboards, scripts, and prosthetic makeup.

Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.

Court Square Block Party June 19 from 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

AmpSurf Learn to Surf Clinic June 25 @ 7 a.m.

Live music, food, crafts, a popup playground, puppetry, comedy, and more outdoor fun.

Vicinity of 43-15 Crescent St., Long Island City.

The nonprofit AmpSurf offers surfing lessons to veterans, first responders, and people living with disabilities. Beach 67th Street and the water, Rockaway Beach.

Early Morning Summer Solstice Walk June 21 @ 8 a.m.

Jocelyn Perez from Herbalists

For more information, visit www.itsinqueens.com.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

NONPROFIT NEWS

QCH hosts 10th annual spring event

(Pictured left to right) New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, QCH Board President Michael Stellman, and QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases at QCH’s 10th Annual Celebrating Local Champions Reception at Forest Hills Stadium on May 18, 2022.

BY THOMAS CRUZ Queens Community House, one of the borough’s largest social service organizations, held its 10th annual “Celebrating Local Champions” reception at Forest Hills Stadium on May 18.

The event was the nonprofit’s first in-person spring event since 2019. Attendees included local elected officials, Queens community stakeholders, borough residents, QCH leadership, program participants, and supporters of the organization.

At this year’s event, QCH honored New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi as “Local Champions” for their years of supporting the Queens community.

“Both Senator Stavisky and

Assemblymember Hevesi have been tireless advocates for the Queens community, going above and beyond to ensure that families and individuals across the borough have the resources that they need,” QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases said in a statement.

“The main reason Assemblymember Hevesi and I continue to support Queens Community House is the fact that they have programs for every age, from early childhood to older adults, serving the entire community in both good times and challenging times,” said Senator Stavisky.

“I am incredibly honored to be named ‘Local Champion’, but the real champions are the staff, volunteers, and board members of Queens Community House,” Hevesi said. “Thank you for all the work you do for our community.”

QCH also announced Esther Sanchez as the winner of their 2022 Irma E. Rodriguez Community Builder Award.

“Esther embodies what is best about our borough – a compassionate, tenacious, and selfless individual who has made a dedicated effort to unite neighbors of all backgrounds,” Anna Dioguardi Moyano, QCH director of community building, said.

During the event, Queens residents and community stakeholders connected with each other as well as QCH leadership and program participants to learn about the organization’s array of services.

Supporters of the event’s spring raffle included Starbucks, Sephora, 2nd Story Pilates & Yoga, Bath & Body Works, Martha’s Country Bakery, New York Sports Club, The Truffleist, The Queensboro Restaurant, Kiehl’s, 5 Burro Café,

Club Pilates, Gregorio Herrera Art, StretchLab, Bistro Eloise, Aigner Chocolates, Portofino Ristorante, Nick’s Bistro, and TGI Fridays.

Thomas Cruz is the director of communications for Queens Community House, located at 108-25 62nd Drive in Forest Hills 25

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP

37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with

more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June.

ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION

120 Wall Street, 9th Fl., New York, NY 10005 aafederation.org QUICK GLANCE: The Asian American Federation’s mission is to raise the influence and well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and organizational development.

Established in 1989, the Federation is a panAsian non-profit organization representing a network of community service agencies in the Northeast. These agencies work in the fields of health & human services, education, economic development, civic participation, and social justice.

BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID

213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Executive Director: Christine Siletti 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and

over 350 members. Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.

BAYSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

41-16 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 President: Ed Probst Vice President: Judith Limpert 718.229.2277 info@baysideba.com baysideba.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1997, the

Bayside Business Association services all of Bayside business to address issues and concerns those businesses have with regards to running their businesses.

ACCOMPANY CAPITAL (FORMERLY BCNA)

78-27 37 Ave., Ste. 1 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@accompanycapital.org QUICK GLANCE: Accompany Capital is an

award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender that provides small and micro business own-

26

ers in New York City with low-cost loans, access to business training & technical assistance, and one-on-one counseling.

Accompany Capital has disbursed over $34 million in loans and assisted over 10,000 immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City since its founding as Business Center for New Americans (BCNA) in 1997, as well as provided workshops and one-onone advice on business management and marketing to over 10,000 businesses.

BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTER NETWORK (BOC, INC.)

85 S. Oxford Street #2 Brooklyn, NY 11217 718.624.9115 bocnet.org QUICK GLANCE: Business Outreach Center Network’s mission is to improve the economic prospects of traditionally underserved groups, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that whatever their differences, people and communities share a common goal: to achieve economic stability and growth. Working in partnership with culturally diverse individuals and organizations in support of this shared goal is the hallmark of BOC.

CHHAYA CDC

37-43 77th Street, #2 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718.478.3848 chhayacdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Core to our strategy is organizing and advocating for systemic changes that remove the barriers to well-being, housing stability, and economic mobility for our communities. For over 20 years, Chhaya has served tens of thousands of individuals and led the charge on key policy issues for immigrants, such as basement legalization, language access, tenants’ rights, and more.

CHINATOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP)

217 Park Row, 2nd Floor, Suite 9 New York, NY 10038 chinatownpartnership.org QUICK GLANCE: Chinatown Partnership, led

by Wellington Chen, was formed in 2006 as new start-up from grounds up to bring residents, business owners and community groups together to rebuild Chinatown following 9/11, and to preserve the neighborhood’s unique culture while ensuring its vitality in the future through strategic positioning.

With the highly popular Weekend Walks street festive series, Mid-Autumn Festival, One Day in NYC, annual Beautification/Earth Day, East West Parade with Little Italy, Double

Valentine’s Day to promote the softer side of Chinatown and the Jewelry District and all the cafes, eateries in the area. Explore Chinatown marketing initiative, Lunar Stages outdoor film screenings, and Taste of Chinatown street events, Chinatown Partnership helps promote the area as a special destination to live, work, and visit.

FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the

group has over 225 members. Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.

GATEWAY JFK

Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 516.730.3400 info@GatewayJFK.org GatewayJFK.org QUICK GLANCE: Formerly the Greater JFK

Industrial BID and founded in 2016, the group seeks to provide support to the off-airport air cargo and services district through supplemental services and improvements, technical and professional services for its members, and advocacy and administration.

GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and repre-

senting over 200 businesses.

GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group

has 75 members. GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.

GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID 84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with

more than 350 businesses under its umbrella on Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.

JAMAICA CENTER BID

161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Jennifer Furioli 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamCenterBID (Twitter) @jamcenterbid (Instagram) @Jamaica Center BID (Facebook) QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the

Jamaica Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street. With a budget of over $1 million, the BID’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Jamaica as a thriving business hub and an enjoyable destination to shop, work, live and visit.

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 300687, Jamaica, NY 11430 Executive Director: Clorinda Antonucci President: Al DePhillips Vice President: Joseph Morra JFKCoCExec@gmail.com jf kairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group

has over 200 members. The chamber was chartered in 1978 by a group of business people in and around JFK Airport. It is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce. The chamber seeks to create an environment in which members of the business community can work together to enhance the growth, well being and economic development of the airport community and its aviation industry.

LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP

President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Long

Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.

MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have

120 members and a budget of $115,000.

MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)

BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Covering roughly 600 busi-

nesses with 30 active members, the Maspeth Industrial Business Association provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Maspeth. They help companies in the Maspeth Industrial District in developing workforce, accessing tax credits, obtaining financing, navigating government regulations and, in some cases, finding real estate.

MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35

businesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80 th streets. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.

MURRAY HILL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NY

P.O. Box 1897 New York, NY 10156 212.886.5867 murrayhillnyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Murray Hill is a unique residential neighborhood in midtown Manhattan. While there is no formal boundary for the neighborhood, the area served by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and its sister organization the Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) extends from Fifth Avenue eastward to the East River and from 42nd Street down to 26th Street (encompassing the 10016 postal code).

MYRTLE AVENUE BID

62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with

over 300 retail and service businesses under its purview. Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in

Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC.

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309 Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Executive Director: Seth Bornstein 718.263.0546 queensny.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million

and a resource for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:

ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE

info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and

a resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces.

ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION

1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300 www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the

Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies.

ROCKAWAY EAST MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (REMA4US)

1032 Beach 20th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 rema4us.org QUICK GLANCE: REMA 4 US, Inc. seeks to engage in economic development and revitalization in the Rockaway Peninsula. To strengthen our community revitalization programs and community development efforts in the Rockaway Peninsula REMA works alongside businesses, civic groups, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

REMA works to inform the public about opportunities that exist to strengthen the community, and to create a welcoming and safe environment to help expand economic opportunity in the Rockaway Peninsula.

STEINWAY ASTORIA PARTNERSHIP BID

25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Marie Torniali

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

NEW MEMBERS MAJOR CORPORATE Boingo Wireless, Inc. and Subsidiaries 10960 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90024 boingo.com New York, NY 10111 Boingo is a company at the forefront of wireless internet technology. They have pioneered many firsts to connect people, business and things.

From 5G to CBRS to Wi-Fi 6 to whatever comes next, Boingo is leading the way.

Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel at Tangram 133-36 37th Avenue Flushing, NY 11354 marriot.com/en-us/hotels/nycburenaissance-new-york-flushing-hotel-attangram

SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS Hossain Construction & Development Inc. 189-10 Hillside Avenue Hollis, NY 11423 Contact: bellal.eee59@outlook.com Luxian International

Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel is the anchor to a four-phase complex called Tangram, positioned to be the epicenter of Flushing, Queens, and spanning two city blocks.

745 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10151 https://www.theluxian.com Contact: luciane@theluxian.com

Barone Management LLC

SpotOn

Pier 92 Restaurant Inc.

1044 Northern Blvd.

Roslyn, NY 11576 baronemanagement.com

100 California Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA, 94111 spoton.com

377 Beach 92nd Street Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 bungalowbarny.com

Brooklyn Tile and Design

SpotOn is committed to supporting businesses at the heart of our communities with the software and payment solutions they need, supported by local and personal service, delivered at a fair price, and designed to help them compete and win.

CORPORATE

112-05 Rockaway Blvd.

South Ozone, NY 11420 brooklyntileanddesign.com Founded as Milford Tile in 1983, Brooklyn Tile and Design is a third-generation familyowned business that started in Brooklyn and branched out into Queens.

RBH Restaurant LLC 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive Rockaway Park, NY 11694 therockawayhotel.com Offering a fresh and innovative way to stay in Rockaway Beach, The Rockaway Hotel + Spa is your urban beach getaway with a new view of New York City.

She Media NY, LLC 83 Cromwell Avenue Staten Island, NY 10304 https://www.shemediany.com Contact: tram@shemediany.com

Wells Fargo Advisors 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 wellsfargoadvisors.com Wells Fargo Advisors is a premier financial services firm, serving investors nationwide through around 12,000 Financial Advisors.

Driven by a strong and abiding commitment to service, they help our clients succeed financially with investment planning and advice designed to help them achieve their life needs and financial goals.

Subtan NY Inc. 17 Flower Avenue Floral Park, NY 11001 Contact: subtan100@gmail.com Zone 126 31-10 23rd Street, Ground Floor Astoria, NY 11106 https://www.Zone126.org Contact: ARupchandani@zone126.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID

has over 300 members. The Steinway Street Business Improvement District encompasses all 300 business located on Steinway Street from 28th Avenue to 35th Avenue. National chain stores such as Victoria’s Secrets, The Gap, Benetton, and Express are side by side with local family-owned shops.

SUNNYSIDE COMMERCE

CHAMBER

PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688

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OF

sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: With an annual budget of

$55,000, the chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation throughout the neighborhood.

SUNNYSIDE SHINES

45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: The BID has a budget of

approximately $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. The mission

of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe and dynamic commercial district.

SUTPHIN BOULEVARD BID

89-00 Sutphin Boulevard, Suite 204C Jamaica, NY 11435 Executive Director: Glen Greenridge 718.291.2110 sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net QUICK GLANCE: The BID was founded

in 2004 and represents 134 businesses, 56 properties and 39 property owners along Sutphin Boulevard between Hillside Avenue and 94th Avenue in Jamaica.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6 EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Howard Graf

Patrick Yu

Thomas J. Grech

Brendan Leavy

Richard Dzwlewicz

Michelle Stoddart

Joanne M. Persad

Jacqueline Donado

Chairperson

Associate Treasurer

Vice Chair

Associate Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate Past Chair

Patricia Mezeul Nash Roe

President & CEO

Thomas J. Santucci

Secretary

SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE STAFF Business Development Manager

Chief of Operations

Strategic Program Coordinator

Alejandra Espejo

Jef Gross

Financial Controller

Neil Wagner

Business Service Program Manager

Manager of Committee Development

William Blake Vincent L. Petraro, Esq. Dominick Ciampa George Rozansky Joseph Farber Gerard Thornton Louis D. Laurino Jeff Levine Joseph M. Mattone, Sr

QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kenneth J. Buettner Stephanie Baldwin Chad E. Callahan Sal Crifasi David Diraio Steven DeClara

Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf Raymond Irrera

Kenneth Koenig Lorraine Chambers Lewis Bert Lurch Meredith Marshall Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul

Melinda Murray-Nyack Maria Odysseus Stephen Preuss Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Juan Santiago

Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan

Mark Weprin Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner

CORPORATE MEMBERS 365 Data Centers A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Above All Pressure Cleaning Abrams Fensterman Ads Engineers, DPC Aeroterm Amna Construction Corp Antun’s of Queens Village Aora Development Approved General Contracting Inc., ARK Development LLC Aurora Contractors, Inc. Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service Bank of America BedRock Real Estate Partners, LLC Berkshire HathawayHomeservices

Laffey International Realty BJ’s Wholesale Club Blumenfeld Development Group, Ltd. Capital One Bank Carben Construction Inc. Carter Milchman and Frank CBRE CDS-Mestel Construction Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Champion Elevator Corp.

Ciampa Organization Cine Magic LIC Studios, LLC Cipico Construction, Inc. CitizensRx CLEAR Secure, Inc. Combs & Company Complete Supply

Cord Meyer Development LLC Cornell Tech Cort CPower Energy Management Crann Integrated Solutions Crescent Properties, Inc Cross County Savings Bank Crown Castle Crystal Window & Door Systems, Ltd Dedline AV Direct Clean Service Solutions East Coast Energy Group Eastern American Technologies EDGE AUTO INC Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management EOS Electrical Corp EW Howell Construction Group First Central Savings Bank

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Adrienne Whaley Queens Underground Black & Brown Film Festivals queensunderground718@gmail.com

BANKING & LAW

Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com Jackie Harounian Wisselman, Harounian & Associates jackie@lawjaw.com

COMMUNICATIONS Jake Oliver Anat Gerstein jake@anatgerstein.com Henry Ramos Dedline AV henry@dedlineav.com

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com Prabhleen S. Virk Citrin Cooperman pvirk@citrincooperman.com

ENERGY Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies

jaypsolly@gmail.com

azra@azra.com

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

NOT FOR PROFIT

Bill Staniford Rentigo bill@staniford.com Deepti Sharma Food To Eat deepti@foodtoeat.com

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES Chad Callahan Plaza College cec4@plazacollege.edu Michael Shoule JW Hampton mikes@jwhampton.com

FOOD, BEVERAGE & HOSPITALITY Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Vincent Gentile Vassilaros & Sons Coffee vincent@vassilaroscoffee.com

MANUFACTURING Lina DeLaCruz Control Electropolishing Corp. lina@controlpublishing.com Azra Khalfan-Kermali Plaques by Azra

Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Wendy Phaff Gennaro Queens Center for Progress wphaff@queenscp.com

REAL ESTATE

Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie RIPCO klouie@ripcony.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com

TECHNOLOGY

Sean C. O’Rourke Combs & Company sorourke@combsandco.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com

TRANSPORTATION Marlon Taylor NY & Atlantic Railway mtaylor@anacostia.com Phil Jones LIME philip@li.me

FLUID MECHANIC’S CORP Forest Hills Financial Group, Inc. Gatsons Electric, Inc. Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. GOLDEN AGE HOME CARE INC goPuff Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association HANAC, Inc. HE2PD, Inc. Healthy Corner Pharmacy Heatherwood Communities Himmel + Meringoff Properties HNY Ferry, LLC Hydro Quebec IKEA Queens INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry INF Associates, LLC Innovo Property Group Instacart J Strategies, Inc J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James E Fitzgerald Jason Office Products JGM Construction Development Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Knights Collision Experts Inc. Krispy Kreme Laffey Real Estate Levine Builders Littler Mendelson, P.C. Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M & T Bank Madison International Realty Madison Realty Capital McBride Consulting & Business Mega Contracting Group LLC Mesirow Financial Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade Molloy College Mondial Automotive Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp.

My Benefit Advisor, LLC NBCUniversal New York + Atlantic Railway New York Crystal Cleaning New York Islanders Hockey Club New York Life Insurance Company New York State Energy Coalition, Inc. Nonprofit Sector Strategies, PBC Northwell Health Nuvo Solutions Onegroup Owareco, LLC Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates

PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Popular Bank Priority 1 Security LLC ProCleanings Co QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens College R.A.M.S. Mechanical Inc. Red Eye Group LLC REDI Group, LLC Reef Technology REIL Capital Related Retail Corporation Ripco Investment Sales RXR Realty Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Securitech Group, Inc. Signature Bank SL Green Realty Corp.

Solo Energy & Electrical, Inc. Solve Together LLC Spectrum Reach Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s University Standard Group Starbucks Corporation Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Sullivan Engineering LLC SUNation Solar Systems Target TGI Office Automation The Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders The First National Bank of Long Island TLC Virtual Resiliency Total Fire Protection Transmission Developers, Inc. TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp.

United Airlines United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vista LIC Hotel, Best Western Premier Collection W & M Fire Protection Services W. SCULLY, CPA, P.C. Waste Management of New York LLC Watch Guard 24/7 White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. York College - CUNY

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

Higher Education is essential for Queens

BY NEW YORK STATE SENATOR TOBY ANN STAVISKY The City University of New York has a rich history, dating back to the founding of the Free Academy in 1847.

Townsend Harris, then President of the City’s Board of Education stated “let the children of the rich and poor take their seats together.”

Queens and York Colleges, CUNY Law School, LaGuardia and Queensborough Community Colleges are all descendants of that tradition. CUNY is embedded in the fabric of Queens.

By keeping these institutions strong and making them more affordable, we will ensure our students and our economy continue to thrive.

Two years ago the Brookings Institution, a well-respected Washington DC based public policy organization, ranked CUNY as among the top colleges nationally for providing upward mobility for its graduates.

Students from families in the bottom 20 percent income level experienced the greatest increase in potential earnings.

Our public universities and colleges have struggled to maintain enrollment over the last several years.

A range of factors has contributed to this problem, especially the rippling effects of the COVID-19 health crisis.

However, our lack of state support and tuition increases shoulder much of the blame. Cuts in state support and the strain of the TAP Gap (the difference between the Tuition Assistance Program and the actual cost of tuition) forced administrators to reduce services, neglect infrastructure and technological needs, and lay off adjuncts. Rising tuition rates deterred students who simply could not afford the cost of an education.

This year’s New York State Bud-

get included historic investments for CUNY. When we assumed the majority in the Senate in 2019, we began the process of reversing a decade of neglect and cuts to our CUNY schools.

As Chairwoman of the State Senate Higher Education Committee, I take great pride in helping facilitate this sea change, along with my colleagues. We have not increased tuition and expanded TAP and opportunity programs, as well as funded more full-time faculty.

This new budget will begin to address infrastructure needs with hundreds of millions of dollars in appropriations for capital projects, which will provide prevailing wage jobs.

Additionally, we are making a

MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

30

substantial investment in on-campus childcare so Queens families can continue their academic pursuits, with the benefit of having their children nearby.

These are steps in the right direction for CUNY, but I believe we can do more. Too many students graduate from college, starting their careers owing thousands of dollars in student loans. I have sponsored a bill, that passed the Senate, to increase the income level for TAP eligibility from $80,000 to $110,000. This will offer relief for middle class families who are struggling with the extra costs of textbooks, ever-evolving technology needs and other school related costs.

If we spend smartly and invest in the right programs, I am confident we can improve our schools, grow our enrollment and lower the cost of college.

I have said many times that the P3 concept should be applied to higher education, a public-private partnership with the business community is essential. By working together, each will benefit. I look forward to working with the Chamber on these issues.

June 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 6 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.

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QUEENS BUSINESS EXPO 2022

Wednesday June 8th 2022 Meet St. John’s alum and NY Mets star, John Franco.

John will be on the show floor all afternoon!

Over 140 Exhibitors Multiple Educational Seminars Keynote Speakers Raffle Prizes Appearance by Mr. Met

Lunch & Keynote Speaker Doors Open at 11:00 am Business Expo 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Citi Field 41 Seaver Way Flushing, NY 11368

COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION & PARKING register at queenschamber.org Take 7 train straight to the Citi Field Stop

For more information visit: queenschamber.org Call 718-898-8500 or email expo@queenschamber.org