This Is Queensborough - September 2021

this is...

September 2021 . Volume 17 . Issue 9

HIDDEN GEM

NEW HEAD AT LIJ FOREST HILLS WANTS COMMUNITY TO REDISCOVER HOSPITAL “THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF QUEENS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO MEET THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF PATIENTS COMING INTO OUR HOSPITAL.”

ALSO

• QUEENS TECH COUNCIL HOLDS FIRST EVENT • NADINE CINO OF SANICHEK • CHAMBER SPREADS WORD ABOUT ONLINE SERVICES

LIJ FOREST HILLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LORRAINE CHAMBERS LEWIS

Work

from the

HIEX

Maspeth Holiday Inn Express Maspeth Offering Special Workspace Rate Finding the right workspace is an ageless dilemma in New York City; especially when literally millions of people are being required to work from home. Luckily, the advent of shared co-working spaces has provided more options. Now, hotels have begun testing out creative ways to offer their unoccupied rooms as daytime office space for individuals and groups.

The Holiday Inn Express Maspeth has found success early into the implementation of offering remote workspace rates.

“We found that because so many people live with roommates in NYC that a quiet, clean space to accomplish their goals during the workday is sometimes hard to come by and that was important for people once the COVID-19 pandemic shifted people from the office to working from home,” said Francisco Victoria, the manager of the Holiday Inn Express Maspeth.

“We have private rooms with premium workstations and many outlets for plugging in your laptop or phone charger that

are very conducive for working remotely.”

and Market Place for snacks and supplies.

Management at the Holiday Inn Express Maspeth feels the hotel is well suited for workday use because of the free WiFi, a 24-hour business center and 100% smoke-free rooms equipped with LCD televisions, a microwave, USB charging ports, a mini fridge and a Keurig coffee maker.

“It’s certainly a quiet and private place to work where you can feel comfortable and get a lot done,” said Jared Jeffrey, a local photographer who has used rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Maspeth as an editing suite. “This is just another way in which a hotel provides hospitality.”

“We have made upgrades throughout the hotel and because of those renovations we’re able to offer this new workplace service,” Victoria said. “We’ve seen some cases where employers have paid for their workers to use our facility as well as individuals needing temporary workspace during the day for a specific project.”

Services included from unlimited printing privileges and free parking. The hotel also provideshe a “Forgot it? We’ve got it” kit to support your needs, branded notepad and pen, mask and hand sanitizer. Take advantage of our Business Center

You can book any stay at the HIEX Maspeth by contacting the front desk of the hotel: (718) 416-2500.

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

IF YOU BUILD IT...

What comes to mind when you Today, Queens continues to expethink about Queens Chamber in rience growth from an economic the fall? One of our development prospecmost anticipated signative through projects ture events: the Annual and structures that will Building Awards. benefit generations to For over 90 years, come. we’ve recognized The Queens Chamber the contributions of has always played a pivarchitects and buildotal role in the business ers for their herculean growth of our borough. efforts creating some The benefits, resources, of Queens’ most iconic and services provided to TOM SANTUCCI structures. our membership all conThe event takes place CHAIRPERSON tribute to the economic at the TWA Hotel, growth of this diverse which opened in 2019. The Eero area we call home.

Saarinen-designed building origiWhether you’re in Flushing, nally opened in 1962 as the TWA Corona, Long Island City or the Flight Center in an age when jet Rockaways, Jamaica or Bayside, travel was at its inception. Fifty- there are buildings that have been nine years later, this marvel of a recognized by the Chamber. If you structure is JFK’s first on-airport build it, they will indeed come. hotel.

I’m thrilled to chair the Board of The first Building Awards took an organization whose goal and place in 1926 with the purpose of purpose is to advocate, educate promoting development in Queens and provide opportunities for the at a time when the borough was growth in Queens. Thank you experiencing a massive population for your sustained supported of growth.

Queens Chamber of Commerce.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

FOREVER CHANGED Throughout history, there are to heal from this tragic event. events that alter the trajectory of Queens Chamber also represents our lives. Some we may have expe- change. Advocating on behalf of rienced first hand, businesses, creating others by way of the educational opportunimedia. Each of us can ties to keep you relpoint to a particular evant, and networking occurrence and ask, opportunities designed “Where were you to expand your circle when…?” of contacts.

Tuesday, SeptemAs this month ber 11, 2001, was unfolds, we’re thrilled one of those lifeto offer more inaltering events; a horperson events. Our rifying day that will THOMAS J. GRECH Garden Networking be embedded in our PRESIDENT & CEO event will take place memories for decades at Antun’s in Queens to come.

Village. The event is the perfect As New York City and the nation opportunity to reconnect and meet prepares to commemorate the 20th fellow business owners. anniversary of this infamous day, We’re also excited to host a I ask that you take a moment to cruise on the Skyline Princess and reflect on the lives lost, their families, and our nation as we continue CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

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QUEENS QUICKLY REGO PARK TO GET NEW LIBRARY

The Rego Park Library is getting a replacement.

The Department of Design and Construction last week presented plans for a new, 18,000-square-foot building at 91-41 63rd Drive. It will replace the current 7,500-squarefoot, one-story library that opened in 1975.

“DDC’s design for the new Rego Park Library greatly expands the available space and takes into account environmental sustainability and user comfort to create a friendly and enriching environment for both adults and younger people,” said DDC Commissioner Jamie TorresSpringer. “Libraries are centers of learning as

well as valuable community spaces and this project achieves both of those goals.”

The new $33.2 million two-story library will more than double the size of the original library.

It will feature separate reading rooms for children and teens, as well as additional space for computer access, educational programs and community activities.

The Rego Park branch is among the busiest in the borough. Under regular circumstances, i.e. pre-COVID, the library serves nearly 200,000 people and lends about 190,000 items each year.

The library reopened for to go-service last August. The branch expanded service for computer use, browsing and in-person reference on May 24. Since then, Rego Park has been among the top 10 Queens Public Library (QPL) branches for check-outs, number of visitors and

computer sessions.

“The outstanding design reflects the progress we have made towards providing this growing community a much larger, modern library with spaces that will uplift and inspire our customers as they access a world of free information, resources, services and opportunity,” said QPL president and CEO Dennis Walcott.

The project, which is being managed by DDC, is anticipated to begin construction in winter 2022 with an estimated completion date of summer 2025.

“I want to extend my deepest thanks to Council Member Karen Koslowitz for her decadeslong advocacy and financial support for a new library, and to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and his predecessor Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz for securing the funds needed to build it.”

“The residents of Rego Park have been waiting for the construction of a new library for a very long time, but thankfully we’re here today to see this next step forward,” said Borough President Donovan Richards.

TRAINING TO WORK IN CANNABIS INDUSTRY

The new library will more than double the space of the current Rego Park branch.

Senator James Sanders is joining with Cannabis Hub to launch the first cannabis workforce training program in the nation.

The “Breaking Ground: Cannabis Education Initiative” is for individuals who want to start a business or simply get a job in the emerging cannabis industry coming soon to New York State.

“There is a Chinese proverb that says, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now,’” Sanders said at a press conference in Far Rockaway announcing the initiative. “Cannabis is going to be one of the most rapidly growing industries New York has ever seen, and those who are not paying attention will get left behind.”

The teachers of the eight-week accredited program are from the Cleveland School of Can-

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

Meet the Interns Who Spent Their Summer With QCC .................................17

Tech Spotlight: Nadine Cino of Sanichek ..................................................7

Stay Connected With the Queens Chamber in September .............................25

Going Solo: Improve Your Energy Efficiency .........................................8

Get to Know the Chamber’s Newest Members ..................................................29

Student Loan Repayment as an Employee Benefit ...............................10 Queens Tech Council Holds First Networking Event ..........................14 Chamber Spreads Word About Web Services in Flushing ................15 COVER STORY: New Head at LIJ Forest Hills ...................................16 4

PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez

MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller

MARKETING DIRECTOR John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9 nabis. Students will be community members who have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.

Students will study in one of three education modules: Cannabis Dispensary, Cannabis Extracts and Infusions, and Cannabis Cultivation. Classes start on October 6, and those interested can apply at cannahubedu.com.

“It is powerful that our neighbors and community members adversely impacted by cannabis prohibition will gain priority access to this training program,” said Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson. “It upholds the economic and social justice focus of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).”

QCC LAUNCHES DRUG DISCOUNT PROGRAM The Queens Chamber of Commerce last month announced the QCC Prescription Discount Card Program. Queens Chamber of Com-

QUEENS QUICKLY merce members will be eligible to receive a card that helps make prescription drug costs as much as 80 percent lower.

“The Queens Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,400 member businesses with over 150,000 Queens-based employees, 90 percent of those businesses have ten or fewer employees,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “As the cost of running a small business continues to increase, both business owners and their employees know that every nickel counts. We are thrilled to help our membership decrease their medical prescription costs.”

The QCC Prescription Discount Card provides members with savings as high as 80 percent on both brand name and generic prescription medications and is accepted at over 67,000 pharmacies around the country.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce hosted a second job fair with Red Eye Aviation Services, a Queens-based certified NYS/Port Authority minority-owned and operated company that provides services in John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport at the Harvest Room in Jamaica. Red Eye Aviation Services was looking to hire 100-plus people for positions that included customer service, ramp, baggage, cargo warehouse, and drivers.

The QCC Prescription Discount Card is absolutely free. There are no enrollment fees, premiums, or deductibles, and no claims forms, referrals, or paperwork are needed to receive benefits.

The QCC Prescription Discount Card is a drug coupon and is not insurance. While it cannot be combined with insurance, members can use the card instead of insurance if: • A drug isn’t covered by insurance; • Current insurance plan has no drug coverage; • Current insurance plan has a high deductible; or • Member has met a low medicine cap To learn more about the QCC Prescription Discount Program, visit: discount-queenschamber.citizensrx.com.

MENTORS FOR BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS The city recently unveiled “BE NYC Access: Consulting,” a new program to connect Black entrepreneurs with world-class technical consulting services and business resources.

Through the program, up to 500 business owners will receive up to four hours of pro bono consulting and guidance from EY on financial management, accessing capital and understanding and engaging customers.

For more information on the program and the application process, visit nyc.gov/BENYCConsulting.

“Black owned businesses have been fighting to keep their doors open and serve their local communities,” said Jonnel Doris, commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services.

“The program will enable Black entrepreneurs to adjust their businesses to meet the city’s most pressing needs and continue to contribute to our economic recovery.”

According to BE NYC’s landmark report “Advancing Black Entrepreneurship in NYC,” less than 40 percent of Black entrepreneurs reported that they had adequate access to mentors and advisors.

While Black-owned small businesses are essential to the fabric of New York City, many have historically been left behind due to limited access to capital and bank loans, predatory credit policies, and the lack of banking relationships.

“Black entrepreneurs often lack access to the resources needed to thrive,” said Marcus Odedina, EY US Global Client Service Partner. “By teaming with BE NYC, our goal is to support Black entrepreneurs across New York as they scale their businesses and reinvest in their communities.”

5

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org Email your announcement or promotion to info@thisisqueensborough.com

PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS After going undrafted in 1998, Hamilton Collins is also past-president of the HealthHamilton returns to played two successful seasons in Spain and care Financial Management Association Greece before beginning a six-year NBA career (HFMA) Metropolitan New York Chapter, and St. John’s family with the Clippers during the 2000-01 campaign. is past-chairman of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospi-

Zendon Hamilton, one of the most prolific talents in the long and storied history of St. John’s basketball, is coming home to join the Red Storm coaching staff.

The seventh-leading scorer and fourth-leading rebounder in St. John’s history will serve as the program’s coordinator of basketball operations. Hamilton will assist in all facets of the Red Storm’s day-to-day doings while playing a significant role in both alumni and community relations.

“We are excited to welcome Zendon back to St. John’s as a member of our basketball staff,” said coach Mike Anderson. “Zendon was an outstanding player who has always been a great ambassador for our university. His experience at the collegiate and professional levels and knowledge of St. John’s will undoubtedly benefit our program.”

Hamilton, who played six seasons in the NBA, HAMILTON becomes the second member of the Red Storm staff to boast an NBA pedigree. Special assistant to the head coach Paul Pressey played 11 seasons in the league from 1982-1993.

“It feels so good to be home and to be a part of this family that has such a storied tradition because of all of the great players and coaches over the years,” said Hamilton.

After participating in the McDonald’s AllAmerican Game at Alumni Hall in 1994 alongside future Red Storm teammate Felipe Lopez, Hamilton had a stellar freshman campaign, averaging 11.4 points on better than 50 percent shooting to go along with five rebounds per contest.

The Floral Park native enjoyed his most productive season as a sophomore in 1995-96, averaging 20.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

After nearly averaging another double-double with 16.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a junior, Hamilton helped lead St. John’s to the NCAA Tournament as a senior in 1998, posting 15.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the 22-win Johnnies.

A three-time Second Team All-Big East selection, Hamilton averaged 8.1 rebounds per game in 72 regular season contests, good enough for the ninth highest average in conference history.

For his St. John’s tenure in total, Hamilton scored 1,810 points and collected 949 rebounds in 114 games, good enough for career averages of 15.9 and 8.3, respectively.

6

The following year with the Denver Nuggets, Hamilton appeared in a career-high 54 games, 15 of which were starts, while averaging careerbest marks of 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per outing.

Over the next several seasons, Hamilton went on to have tenures with the Raptors, 76ers, Bucks and Cavaliers, including 46 appearances with Philadelphia during the 2003-04 campaign.

From 2006-12, Hamilton played professionally all over the globe, signing on with clubs in Poland, Russia, Syria, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Upon retiring in 2013, Hamilton began his coaching career in what was then known as the NBA D-League. Over the next several seasons, he served as an assistant coach for the Idaho Stampede, Texas Legends and Agua Caliente Clippers before coming home to Queens.

Collins joins board of Cord Meyer John F. Collins, who served as president and CEO of NYU Winthrop Hospital from 2009 to 2019, has been appointed to the board of directors of Cord Meyer Development Company, one of the oldest and largest developers in the New York metropolitan area.

The appointment marks only the second time in Cord Meyer’s 117-year-history that an individual has been named to the board who was not already employed by the company or a family member.

According to Matthew Whalen, president and CEO of Cord Meyer Development Company, Collins brings outstanding management experience to the board backed by unparalleled expertise in financial budgeting and planning.

“John Collins has enjoyed a distinguished, celebrated career at some of the leading healthcare institutions in the region,” Whalen said. “He is a true visionary whose reputation for achieving results and managing large-scale operations will prove vitally important to Cord Meyer.”

Collins has 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry where he has been actively involved with several healthcare organizations to shape and improve quality healthcare.

He was chair on the Board of Directors for the Greater New York Hospital Association, chair of the Investment Committee, and member of the audit committee. In addition, he was an active member of the Region 2 Planning Council of the American Hospital Association.

tal Council Committee on Finance.

At NYU Winthrop, Collins had been an integral member of the leadership team for 20 years, working closely with members of the hospital’s Board of Directors, medical staff, and senior administration to provide expert management of all aspects of the hospital’s operations.

He joined Winthrop in 1997 as vice president and CFO. In 2007, he was promoted to COO and CFO, and later appointed executive vice president.

COLLINS In 2009, he was named president and CEO. “It is a privilege to welcome John to the Cord Meyer Board of Directors,” said Cord Meyer Board chairman Richard W. Meyer, Jr. “His impressive professional experience and keen knowledge of financial operations will be greatly appreciated.”

In addition to prestigious commercial and retail properties, including The Bay Terrace Shopping Center, Cord Meyer Development Company is responsible for the development of award-winning apartment buildings, singlefamily homes, and the high-rise condominium projects The Windsor at Forest Hills and The Aston. Current residential development includes Bay Lane Estates, 33 two-family townhouses in Bayside.

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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September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

QUEENS TECH SPOTLIGHT The Queens Tech Corner is a running segment on Chamber social media channels highlighting tech entrepreneurs doing exciting things in Queens.

This month, This Is Queensborough features Nadine Cino, CEO of Sanichek, a Queensbased sanitation technology start-up that has been working harder than ever during the pandemic to keep New Yorkers safe.

Could you tell us a little more about Sanichek and how you got your start?

Sanichek is a woman-owned sanitization management technology company that helps ensure environments are clean from viruses. We also keep track of everything digitally to ensure that areas cleaned using

Sanichek Technology are properly cared for.

We establish a digital record to verify cleaning and sanitization scheduling, job completion, and even “wet contact time,” or time needed for cleaning agents to work before being wiped off.

The onset of COVID has spurred Sanichek’s growth significantly, as the need for a comprehensive way to help safeguard office workers and protect work environments has obviously grown since the onset of the pandemic.

this pandemic. There is a cost to both employees and employers from absenteeism from illness like colds and the flu that are caught and spread in the office.

I would compare the heightened awareness around this reality during the pandemic — and the subsequent adaptations made in the sanitation industry — to the ways in which awareness around ergonomics revolutionized furniture and the ways in which recognition of the importance of natural light revolutionized the way homes and apartments were built.

What kind of an impact has COVID had on your company and your services?

COVID has helped us all focus on the need for a better, cleaner work environment, even beyond

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

Queens is a truly diverse area that has come together in an inspiring way during the toughest of times.

As a significant borough in size and economic impact, Queens businesses need firstclass technology for the best client experience possible and to ensure continued growth and safety going forward.

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TECHNOLOGY

TOGETHER, SOLO CAN IMPROVE YOUR EFFICIENCY

BY EVELYN LASLUISA Solo is a company of professionals dedicated to help businesses move toward a sustainable future through energy-efficient upgrades. Consisting of a network of seasoned energy experts, Solo is equipped to help you transform the way you use energy through a myriad of services, including turnkey lighting upgrades, solar and energy storage, and electric vehicle charging, to name a few.

Our goal is to facilitate the implementation of these upgrades while informing you about their benefits. It is especially crucial now to rethink our approach to energy, and it can all start by scheduling your first energy audit.

After you schedule an energy audit with us, one of our engineers will evaluate your business and propose energy-saving changes. If you already have desired changes in mind, we’d love to hear them.

It is our priority to ensure your satisfaction while guiding you through this process. This means we will oversee the design and implementation of your project.

Even after its completion, we offer training on the new technologies and post-installation support.

Having been present in the energy field for years, we boast a network of trusted providers and partners who are key in allowing for quality products and saving opportunities.

Our expertise in navigating incentive programs further controls costs and increases savings.

All these things combined help us achieve our goal to reduce operational costs and on-site maintenance burdens.

For the last four years, we have partnered with ConEdison as part of their Neighborhood Program, which is designed to help residents and business owners in select neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens reduce their energy

usage and save on their electric bills through lighting and HVAC upgrades.

More than 8,800 local businesses are already participating and taking advantage of incentivized energy upgrades.

Decreasing energy consumption in these areas that are seeing vast increases in electric demand is vital to keep electricity services for everyone reliable. As a participating contractor, Solo has been able to make no-cost upgrades in more than 1,200 buildings, saving each building thousands of dollars in electric costs year after year.

By scheduling an energy audit, you may discover that your building qualifies for a 100 percent subsidized lighting upgrade.

As the Queens representative at Solo, I oversee lighting upgrades under the Neighborhood Program for small and medium businesses.

Any business that currently has incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and is within the select region qualifies to receive an incentivized upgrade to LED lights.

Switching to LED lights will lower your energy cost, reduce maintenance time, and provide better quality light. Upgrading to brighter LED lights can also improve your mood and provide safety and security by maintaining well-lit areas in your business.

The benefits are not only limited to your finances and safety, but the planet as well. A slight environmentally conscious change in the grand scheme of things can seem insignificant, but it has the power to lead to bigger changes.

This is the direction we need to be moving to ensure a hospitable and thriving world for all of us and we want to team up with you in this effort.

Evelyn Lasluisa is an Energy Efficiency Representative with Solo.

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September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

HELPING NEW BUSINESS DURING PANDEMIC

BY BILL SWEET In unusual times, help can come from unexpected quarters.

As more and more diners gobbled up Yumpling’s Taiwanese-style fried chicken and dumplings from a food truck in Midtown Manhattan, the eatery’s Queens-based owner Howie Jeon decided to make the leap and expand his fleet.

He originally envisioned a centralized kitchen with about a dozen employees, targeting a spring 2020 opening. But as with many business plans last year, the pandemic threw a wrench in that.

“COVID hit, and that turned everything upside down,” he said.

That might have been the end of the story, but for help from an unexpected source which allowed Jeon to switch gears and open Yumpling as a sit-down restaurant with curbside service in August 2020.

The unexpected source? A nointerest loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS), a longtime nonprofit lender serving lowerincome New Yorkers. When he first heard about HFLS’s interest-free loans, Jeon’s reaction was a common one: Are you sure, because I’m not Jewish?

It’s a refrain familiar to Shlomo Haft, director of Microenterprise for HFLS. He says he routinely has to mimic the old viral ad for Levy’s Jewish Rye and remind people, “you don’t have to be Jewish.”

Since its founding in 1892, HFLS has disseminated $350 million in zero-interest, no-fee loans to nearly one million borrowers.

Despite the society’s name, tied to the group’s origins in the Jewish community and values rooted in Biblical injunctions against lending at interest, HFLS is a wholly nonsectarian lender.

Since revamping its small business loans program in 2005, HFLS has disbursed more than $16 million in interest-free financing to

over 500 entrepreneurs, including 80 loans totaling $2 million in Queens.

Since March 2020, when coronavirus crippled the city, HFLS has disbursed over 100 loans totaling over $3 million to small businesses in the five boroughs and surrounding counties, including $450,000 to 20 Queens small business entrepreneurs.

Pandemic support in Queens has included loans to help out a graphic designer, children’s daycare provider, nail salon, barbershop, and laundromat.

The $50,000 loan from the HFLS was the only outside money Yumpling took for their build-out costs, which amounted to several thousand dollars more than he expected.

For Andrei Danetiu, owner of Lidia’s Play Cafe in Ridgewood, an HFLS loan allowed him to keep necessities like rent, electricity, and insurance covered during the shutdown so he could avoid getting slammed with expenses, even as the business re-opened at reduced capacity in the summer.

“They’ve helped me during a period when I needed help, and I couldn’t get help from anybody else,” Danetiu said.

Longtime residents of Ridgewood, Danetiu and his wife opted to ditch their office careers as a business analyst and office manager to establish a neighborhood cafe catering to parents of small children. They opened in 2019.

“When we had our daughter Lidia, we began to view things through a lens that only parents with small children could understand,” he said. They needed a pleasant, child-friendly space that offered diversion for the littles and room for parents to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

“We envisioned a Montessoriinspired play space and a cafe with an all-natural menu,” he added.

“We wanted to distinguish ourselves.”

While damage wrought by the pandemic and the associated shutdowns continue to ripple throughout the economy, Danetiu noted that the forced pause might have provided an opportunity for some.

“You never have time to think about what you’re doing if you’re working all the time,” he said. “I think there are a lot of individuals who are starting businesses and following their dreams because they’ve had time to research.”

Having been involved with a number of these loans over the years, Haft said successful entrepreneurs usually share some factors in common.

He recommends that before starting a business, an entrepreneur work in a related business or industry. Second, having an alternate source of income, whether through a part-time job or a partner or spouse with an unrelated job, puts you at an advantage.

“You can invest all the profits into expanding the business, and won’t need to drain the business of

Bill Sweet is a communications specialist for the Hebrew Free Loan Society. capital during its start-up stage,” Haft said.

If you think your business could benefit from an interest-free loan, please call the Hebrew Free Loan Society at (212) 692-9023 or email them at biz@hfls.org.

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EXPERT ADVICE

STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT FOR EMPLOYEES

BY GLYNIS ROBERTS Increasingly, individuals comprising today’s workforce are straddled with significant levels of student loan debt. At the same time, these workers are often conflicted as to whether they should focus on paying off their debt or set aside funds to pay for retirement.

As an employer, adding a student loan repayment program to your employee benefit portfolio not only helps them address this dilemma, but also represents a tremendous opportunity to help attract and retain key talent.

In today’s competitive job market, it’s not enough to simply offer the traditional benefit portfolios of the past. Showing prospective talent and valued current employees that you care about their financial

future by providing student loan repayment assistance goes a long way to help you stand out among your industry peers.

And by structuring the program as a part of your voluntary benefits package, you have the ability to customize the program according to your workplace demographics and budgetary capabilities.

To further benefit employers, the coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March of 2020 added a little-known provision regarding student loans. The provision allows an employer to make up to $5,250 in student loan payments for an employee within a year.

Regardless of whether the payments go directly to the employee or to the student loan servicing entity, the money is considered

tax-free to the employee and the employer is excluded from paying payroll taxes on the funds.

As of this writing the provision, originally set to expire at the end of 2020, has been extended through December 2025.

Employers who assist employees with student loan repayment can utilize a variety of methods, including fixed contributions, matching contributions, consolidating loans or refinancing.

With these programs, the employer first decides how much, if any, they are willing to contribute into the program. Then, based on the vendor chosen, the program options include models focusing on refinancing, consolidation or payroll deductions.

The employer can set a specific amount they agree to pay toward the student’s debt over the course of a year. This is an arbitrary amount set by each employer, typically, $1,000 to $2,000 per year, although larger companies sometimes offer amounts as high as $10,000.

An employer can also set certain eligibility criteria, such as being actively at work for the firm for a required minimum time period or having graduated within a certain number of years.

The employer can choose to match the student loan payment amount by contributing funds into a 401(k) on behalf of the employee.

This relieves the employee of the burden of making the choice to either repay student loan debt or save for retirement.

Refinancing the debt can lower the interest rate and corresponding monthly payments, converting it from a federal loan to a private one.

Consolidating loans combines multiple loans into one with a recalculated interest rate and monthly payment.

By creating a differentiated, unique benefit package that addresses a specific employee need, employers benefit by boosting employee engagement, increasing productivity levels, and improving employee retention rates.

Glynis Roberts is senior vice president of My Benefits Advisor.

Reach her at (212) 706-9451.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings.

For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at qcc.mybenefitadvisor.com.

MEDICAID CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 ishing $156,444 per year!

In the event only one spouse is seeking Medicaid assistance, then the other “Community Spouse” may have assets between $74,820 to $130,380, and is permitted to keep monthly income of $3,259.50.

If the Community Spouse’s monthly income is less than this amount, they may keep some or all the income of the spouse seeking Medicaid.

With proper Medicaid planning, it is possible to lower your available resources below the limit while also achieving your estate planning goals.

This has merely been a primer on Medicaid. The laws surrounding Medicaid are nuanced and extensive. There is no one plan that will fit everyone’s needs, which is why it is important to speak with an elder law attorney to create a plan that is specifically tailored to your needs.

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9 AdGeneric4.833x10.972h.qxp_Layout 1 7/30/20 1:27 PM Page 2

EXPERT ADVICE

DON’T GIVE IT ALL UP TO GET MEDICAID

BY DONNA FUREY, ESQ. & JOHN SAMARAS, ESQ. A common misconception exists that an elderly person must “give up everything” to qualify for Medicaid benefits. This is not the case. An individual may be able to receive Medicaid assistance with proper planning.

There are two main types of Medicaid for the elderly: Community Medicaid and Institutional Medicaid.

Community Medicaid is when an individual wants to remain at home while receiving medical assistance in the form of health care aides.

Institutional Medicaid is when an individual cannot stay home and needs to reside in a nursing home.

Effective October 1, 2020, a 30-month “look back” penalty period will become effective for people applying for Community Medicaid. That means that Medicaid will “look back” at financial transactions made during the 30-month period before the date of application and impose a penalty for any gifts and similar transfers made during that period.

Due to the pandemic, the enforcement date for this new law has been delayed until January 1, 2022.

Therefore, the old rules still apply.

Under the old rules, an individual could transfer assets this month to qualify for Medicaid and would be eligible for Medicaid the next month.

To take advantage of the delayed implementation of the 30-month look back penalty period, an individual would have to transfer assets to the proper limits and apply for Community Medicaid before January 1, 2022.

To qualify for Community Medicaid in 2021, an individual may only have $15,900 in total assets and income up to $884 per month.

In addition, the individual will also be entitled to a $20 monthly personal needs allowance for a total of $904. The home equity limit is $906,000.

The asset limit does not include personal property such as furniture, jewelry or vehicles. When calculating your resources, Medicaid does not include the value of your IRAs and 401Ks. However, Medicaid will be entitled to the Required Minimum Distribution, which will count towards your income. If the person’s income is above the Medicaid limit, they may still be able to qualify for Medicaid with proper planning.

Under the changes, a Medicaid applicant must need limited assistance with physical maneuvering of three or more activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, walking, transferring to the toilet, incontinence, and eating.

However, individuals with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s must need at least supervision with two or more ADLs. Nursing home Medicaid is for individuals who have extensive long-term medical needs. For this type of Medicaid, Medicaid looks back five years to see if any gifts have been made.

To qualify for nursing home Medicaid in 2021, an individual may only have $15,900 in total assets and may only keep $50 of their monthly income. If gifts have been made, the gift causes a penalty for Medicaid purposes during which the individual must privately pay the nursing home.

On average, a nursing home in the five boroughs of New York costs approximately $13,037 per month, which adds up to an astonCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Donna Furey, Esq.

John Samaras, Esq. Associate

LAW OFFICES OF

DONNA FUREY ELDER LAW WILLS and TRUSTS ESTATE PLANNING MEDICAID PLANNING PROBATE ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES SPECIAL NEEDS REAL ESTATE Donna and John received their law degrees from St. John’s University School of Law. John is fluent in Greek.

Donna is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens and was past President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association, past President of the Astoria Kiwanis Club, past President of the East River Kiwanis Club, and past President of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens.

Co-Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Queens County Bar Assn. 2012-2019

Legal Proactive Care For Your Most Sensitive Life Planning Matters 44-14 Broadway, Astoria, New York 11103 Tel: 347-448-2549 Fax: 718-721-0851 E: dfurey@fureylaw.net Web: fureylaw.net

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QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

GUEST ROOMS JOIN GAMING ROOMS AT RWNYC

BY NICHOLAS LOUD Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) has officially opened the Hyatt Regency JFK, a new 400-room hotel located next to the casino.

The eight-story hotel features restaurants, fitness center, and conference space next to Aqueduct Racetrack.

Dave Fuego, a spokesperson from Resorts World and the emcee of a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month, spoke about the casino’s long road to opening during the pandemic.

“In just over a year, we were able to transform this lot into what you see before you today,” said Dave Fuego of RWNYC at a ribboncutting ceremony last Friday. “New York is not coming back, New York is back.”

Genting American East president Bob DeSalvio, who oversees operation in Queens and as well as a casino in the Catskills, highlighted

the 10th anniversary of RWNYC and the recent opening of a new casino in Las Vegas earlier this summer.

“There is no better way to celebrate Resorts World’s 10th anniversary than with the opening of this world-class hotel,” he said. “While the hotel has always been part of our vision, today’s ribbon cutting takes on additional significance as we celebrate the Queens community and do our part to move New York forward.”

Borough President Donovan Richards said the new jobs – the hotel is expected to create over 1,000 of them - and other opportunities will help the Queens economy recover from the pandemic.

“Queens is back in business,” Richards said, “and what better way to bounce back from the pandemic than bringing new jobs. We are not just looking to get back to normal, but to something better than normal.

“We are not just talking about

The Hyatt Regency JFK has 400 rooms.

jobs, we are talking about good jobs that offer people upwards mobility,” he added. “Manhattan is a thing of the past, come spend your money in Queens.”

State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering,

guaranteed that Resorts World will get a full gaming license from the state to loud applause.

“Resorts World is not just a symbol, they are in the weeds of the community,” Addabbo said. “They are at the street festivals and all the local parades.”

Elected officials joined representatives of Resorts World New York City to open the new hotel.

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EMU Health now offering a variety of Genetic Screenings for Cancer Emu Health’s multispecialty center in Glendale, Queens provides a wide range of primary and special care services to its patients.

just one focus such as, ones associated with breast cancer.

There’s multiple different types of genetic testing, you either can have the simplest form for just breast, which is BRCA,” Dr. Sachs said. “But we can test all the way up to 80 plus genes, including pancreatic colon.”

From primary care to gynecology to cardiology, orthopedics, and now multiple screening tests for markers of cancer mutations.

Genetic screening is a complex process where a person’s DNA is analyzed for mutations that occur as the body grows and repairs itself. Dr. Darren Sachs, is the Director of Breast Surgery at EMU Health, a board-certified general surgeon, and an expert on the nuances of genetic screening.

“Genetic testing allows us to know in advance if you are at a higher risk of developing cancer,” said Dr. Sachs. “if somebody thinks they might potentially have breast cancer, the genetic screening is really the preliminary thing that’s done in order to determine.”

Testing can be done on samples of blood, saliva or from a swab of the inside of a cheek. It is a similar collection method compared to those used for genealogy services like 23andMe and other ancestry websites.

Testing does not always give you aggressive breast cancer, we’d be clear answers, but genetic counafraid that you had a genetic mu- selors are trained to interpret and tation that caused you to have this explain the test results and what they might mean to you and your breast cancer at an early age.” family. But it’s important to unGenetic testing looks for specif- derstand that genetic test results ic mutation markers, one such can’t always guarantee you’re not example is for a patient with a at increased risk. family history with breast cancer.

For example, if someone is being “I explain genetic testing like a tested because they have a family crystal ball,” said Dr. Sachs, refermember with a known BRCA mu- encing some people’s apprehentation, testing might focus only on sion towards genetic testing belooking for that specific mutation. cause of what it can potentially In people of Ashkenazi Jewish de- uncover. “It can open your eyes to scent, testing might focus on the something that could happen to specific BRCA mutations that are in the future, which can be intimmost common in this group of idating, yet is information that is priceless.” people

“Unfortunately, a lot of patients think when you ask them about their family history of cancer, they’ll only say, ‘Oh, my mom’s side,’ they always forget that half One of the first things that’s done their genes come from their dad’s at EMU Health when a patient side.” comes in thinking they might have cancer is the intake of patient fam- One of the unique aspects of Emu ily history as well as past medical Health’s genetic screening serhistory to identify possible cancer vices is that their tests can look risk. Dr. Sachs said, “if you were for a multitude of mutations at an really young, and you have very exam should there be a need, not

To find out more information about Genetic Cancer Testing, you can contact EMU Health, located at 83-40 Woodhaven Blvd. by calling 718.850.4368.

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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

TECH COUNCIL HOSTS FIRST NETWORKING EVENT

NEW GROUP FOCUSED ON GROWING BOROUGH’S TECH FOOTPRINT

BY JESSICA MEDITZ A forecast for thunderstorms didn’t stop members of the tech community from attending the first networking event hosted last month by the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s new Queens Tech Council.

“I’ve built an amazing network for myself just by being at these events,” said Mo Faisal, founder and CEO of The Money Hub and FinGem and co-founder of Impact Hub New York Metropolitan Area, who attended the event at ICONYC Brewing in Long Island City. “Every small business owner, entrepreneur or anyone who prospectively wants to build something or be a leader has to go out there and talk to people.”

The Queens Tech Council launched in February with the goal of promoting the tech industry in the borough. Council members include representatives from Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pursuit, LIC Partnership, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Crown Castle, Cornell Tech, and The Business Incubator Associa-

tion of New York State.

The council will focus on ensuring Queens is producing the talent companies look for, getting the resources and capital tech companies need, and helping businesses in traditional industries successfully integrate new technologies “We work with local colleges and businesses who have educational opportunities, whether it’s apprenticeships, upscaling opportunities for the current workforce or anything that can bring more skilled workers into the tech industry,” said Michelle Watson, a technical specialist at the NYC Small Business Resource Network and Queens Tech Council member.

The Queens Tech Council has two working groups. The policy and government group works to highlight the tech industry’s needs to elected officials, while the investment and industry group works to secure both public and private funding.

Chamber president and CEO Tom Grech discussed some of the local tech industry’s recent accomplishments, including the rapid

The event was held at ICONYC Brewing in Long Island City. mass production of ventilators during the height of COVID-19 by Boyce Technologies in Long Island City. Borough President Donovan Richards highlighted the role the tech community will play in the future of the borough and, ultimately, the city.

Rachel Loeb, president & CEO at New York City Economic Development Corporation, addresses attendees as Borough President Donovan Richards and Queens Chamber President & CEO Thomas Grech look on.

14

“We want Queens to be the template for where we need to go, but we can only do that with you,” he told the crowd. “That means networking, relationships, and making sure we’re all rowing in the same direction.”

Rachel Loeb, president and CEO at New York City Economic Development Corporation, was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s event.

She said EDC and NYC Small Business Resource Network collaborated to ensure the survival and success of local small businesses during unprecedented times.

“We’ve been working together as a partnership so that we could get crucial skills when COVID hit and resources to small businesses so that they can survive, whether it be digitizing their business or just staying open,” she said.

Just last week, Loeb attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Bartlett Dairy’s new headquarters in Queens. Additionally, Hyatt Regency JFK recently celebrated its grand opening at Resorts World New York City, and JetBlue announced that its headquarters will remain in Long Island City.

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

CHAMBER SPREADS WORD ABOUT WEB SERVICES The Queens Chamber of Commerce partnered with Councilman Peter Koo for a walkabout, visiting a number of businesses in Flushing and informing them of resources available through the organization.

Among the resources discussed was the Queens Chamber’s new “Open+Online” program, which helps businesses build a new website and assists in SEO (search engine optimization) free of charge.

“The pandemic changed shopping patterns for small business in many ways,” said Koo. “There was a major shift toward online shopping, so we want to make sure our businesses know about the chamber’s capacity to help build websites for our community free of charge. Customers are coming back, and we want to make sure our businesses have every available resource at their disposal so they too can come back and thrive in this post-pandemic economy.”

Beginning at Bland Playground on the corner of Prince Street and 40th Road, the tour made its way up 40th Road to Flushing’s bustling Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of neighborhoods like Flushing, but they’ve had an incredibly challenging year-and-a-half due to the pandemic,” said Thomas Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

“Our Open+Online program can help businesses get back on their feet and thrive in the post-pandemic economy.”

Open+Online is offered through the NYC Small Business Resource Network. Powered by the Peter G Peterson Foundation and the Partnership for New York City, the NYC SBRN provides personalized guidance and assistance to small businesses through each borough’s Chamber of Commerce.

Councilman Peter Koo and Queens Chamber CEO & President Thomas Grech speak with Flushing BID Executive Director Dian Song Yu and business owner Jim Dong.

“Online presence is important for small businesses to thrive,” added Dian Song Yu, executive director of Flushing BID. “Especially during this pandemic era, a website

can serve as a key communication channel between merchants and consumers, allowing businesses to operate more efficiently and broaden their customer base.”

Learn more about SBRN at nycsmallbusinessresourcenetwork.org.

Pictured from left to right are Flushing BID Executive Director Dian Song Yu, Flushing business owner Jim Dong, Councilman Peter Koo, Queens Chamber CEO & President Tom Grech, Michelle Watson, Tech Specialist with SBRN/Queens Chamber of Commerce, and Jessie He, Business Recovery Specialist with SBRN/Queens Chamber of Commerce.

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COVER STORY

NEW HOSPITAL HEAD SEEKS TO REVEAL HIDDEN GEM CHAMBERS LEWIS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT LIJ FOREST HILLS

BY RYAN J. DEGAN Queens native Lorraine Chambers Lewis has taken the reins as new executive director at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Forest Hills, a position she says she will leverage to provide quality care to the diverse community while growing the hospital’s profile.

A local hospital that has over the past year become well known for its efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic’s ravaging effects on the community, Chambers Lewis said her current priority is getting the word out to the community that the hospital has a plethora of other services.

“In terms of our vision in what we would like to do and continue to grow is our presence in the community,” she said. “For folks to really see us as that go-to place when they need acute care, but also addressing their chronic needs.

“We’re building our ambulatory presence in the area, and we really want folks to understand what we do here,” Chambers Lewis continued. “I think there are still so many folks who don’t understand the gem that is here in Forest Hills. We have a lot going on that we’re excited about.”

As a leader, Chambers Lewis brings decades of experience in a diverse variety of roles, many of which saw her serving on the front lines of healthcare, having worked in emergency medicine, critical care, internal medicine and occupational health.

Her first role in healthcare started as a nursing assistant at a skilled nursing facility when she was 18 years old, followed by work as an emergency medical

technician on a college campus in an ambulance.

From there she became a physician’s assistant, a role she served in for 28 years.

In 2002, she became a supervising physician assistant for LIG Medical Center, where she oversaw the daily operations of the hospital’s emergency department fast track, before becoming a corporate director of Northwell Health’s Employee Health Services in 2007.

In that role, she helped develop and launch a COVID-19 employee vaccination program that has immunized more than 50,000 staff members, as well as Northwell’s first injury management and prevention program for employee safety.

Chambers Lewis said that having this diversity of experience, including working as a frontline and emergency healthcare worker, has given her a unique perspective on healthcare work, which enables her to view a

Lorraine Chambers Lewis takes over for Susan Browning as executive director of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills

role of senior vice president of Business Development for Northwell Health.

“Our community has been a strong advocate and partner in all that we have thus far accomplished at LIJ Forest Hills,” Browning said. “As we continue to move our many initiatives for-

“I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PART OF QUEENS. I THINK THERE’S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE, SO I MAY ASK A LOT QUESTIONS SOMETIMES AND HOPEFULLY FOLKS WILL SEE THE VALUE IN THAT.”

16

patient’s perspective with a wider lens.

“I think that in my clinical career, I’ve had the honor of being a part of these different environments that give me a full 360 degree view to the experiences that the patient goes through,” she said.

In her new role, Chambers Lewis succeeds Susan Browning, who led the Queens hospital since 2015, but is now taking on the

ward, including the broad expansion of our ambulatory network, this partnership will remain critically important.”

Touching on some of the challenges that she faced as the hospital’s administrative head, Browning noted that “LIJ Forest Hills serves the most diverse patient population in arguably the entire country.

“Add to it that the demographics of Queens are constantly

changing, and you can imagine the challenge of trying to meet the health care needs of patients coming into our hospital,” she added.

The community’s diverse population is an aspect that Chambers Lewis has a particular sense of connection with. A first-generation American born to Jamaican parents, Chambers Lewis said that she understands the trials that people can face when dealing with health issues in an unfamiliar environment.

“We prioritize being sensitive to what people are feeling and the differences in how everyone addresses healthcare or addresses pain, what they communicate, what they don’t communicate,” she said.

Serving the community is a nearly equally diverse workforce according to Chambers Lewis, which she believes is equal to the task of meeting those challenges.

“We speak hundreds of languages, from every corner of the world there is someone who works here,” she said. “Having a diverse workforce puts us in a really great position to meet the

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

COVER STORY needs of the community best.”

While there are many priorities Chambers Lewis has set for her hospital, tackling the coronavirus pandemic that is seeing a resurgence remains at the top of the list.

After more than a year of hardearned experience, however, she is convinced that her team is more than up to the task of doing so.

“This community was hit very, very hard and the team here had to learn and adapt in a time where there was no vaccine,” Chambers Lewis said. “We didn’t know where this was going, how contagious it was and the treatment has evolved so much.

“The team feels much more prepared and I think that’s what’s changed,” she added of potentially facing a second wave of COVID. “Even if something changes again, we know how to pivot. We won’t get caught off guard.”

Chambers Lewis said prioritiz-

ing the mental wellbeing of staff members is also a priority for her team.

“We have to prioritize and make sure that we are taking care of our team members,” she said.

“We are going to get a better outcome and it is going to be better for them.”

COVID is still a top priority at the moment, but Chambers Lewis stresses that there are still other health issues that residents need to prioritize and encourages people avoid using the pandemic as an excuse to not tackle other needs.

“I worry about advanced illness and advanced diseases not being diagnosed, not being addressed,” she said. “We want to make sure that people know there are still things to take care of other than COVID.” Chambers Lewis can often be seen roaming the halls of her new hospital, saying hello to patients and getting to know her staff members. She can also be spot-

See maspethfederal.com for more information.

Lorraine Chambers Lewis speaks with a staff member. She said the mental well-being of the staff is a top priority for her. ted at various local events around the area.

“In Queens, I think it’s really important to be a part of the community, for people to see you,” she said. “I would like to learn

more about this part of Queens. I think there’s always an opportunity to learn more, so I may ask a lot of questions sometimes and hopefully folks will see value in that.”

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EXPERT ADVICE

DO MY CHILD’S FLAT FEET NEED TREATMENT?

BY DR. FRED DE LUCIA Many parents question whether or not they should do something about their child’s flat feet.

Whether by something they read, opinions of friends or family, or even in discussions with their pediatrician, many parents often face these concerns. The answer is, it depends.

Like many conditions, there are multiple variables that affect how the condition affects the individual person and influence or guide the best treatment approach. Generally speaking, children in their infant and toddler years do not require any treatment since much of their foot and ankle is undergoing development, and can appear “flat” in many cases, which can very well improve as they grow.

As they grow and are more active with walking, more normal development may be noticed during their toddler and early childhood years. In situations where there is excessive tripping or falling, consultation with a specialist is the best course of action to determine where the problem is stemming from, which at times can be rooted somewhere else than the foot or ankle.

As the child approaches preadolescence (9-12 years of age), we often see parents bringing in their children who are com-

18

plaining of pain when walking or standing for long periods of time.

This is usually because children in this age group are becoming more physically active, more physically developed and, in many of cases, the increased stress and weight on the developing flat foot becomes more noticeable to the patient.

We often hear the child complaining of pain on the bottom of the foot or in the outer part of their ankles. Some children may even state that they feel that their feet are “weak” when trying to engage in physical activities for long periods of time.

If left untreated, the child may be less likely to engage in physical activity and may also develop obesity as a result of a reluctance towards exercise. Later in life, untreated severe flat foot deformities may also result in progressive osteoarthritis of various foot and ankle joints, as well as tears and degeneration of tendons and ligaments.

In a large number of cases, flat feet may be mild or moderate with no symptoms or minimal symptoms to the patient. In other cases, severe flat feet may be both painful and dysfunctional in walking.

The findings are various, to say the least, and treatment is aimed at both the severity of the deformity and the characteristics of the reported symptoms.

Upon initial presentation in the office, the foot and ankle specialist will first evaluate your child walking and running for short distances, as well as standing in one place. This is to get an idea of the type of flat foot and presence of various factors influencing it.

Additionally, weight bearing x-rays should be taken to asses the structural architecture of the foot and ankle bones in various points of view.

As found with adult patients that have flat feet, there are often other associated problems such as tendon disease, ligament tears or joint degeneration as a result of many years of walking on a structurally pathologic foot, however this is generally not observed in the pediatric flat foot patient. Therefore in most, but not all, cases, an MRI is rarely required.

For most patients, mild to moderate flat feet can be treated effectively with custom foot inserts, however in more severe cases surgery is often recommended.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the child has pain-free and functional use of their lower limbs, engage happily in physical activity and avoid long-term soft tissue

Dr. Fred De Lucia of Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York can be reached at (866) FAASNY1 or faasny.com. or joint damage as a result of an untreated flat foot.

While the prospect of surgery is very frightening or concerning to any parent, the reality is that children respond extremely well to these procedures, heal quickly, and have an extremely low incidence of postoperative complications, They also have an easier time dealing with surgery, as they have few responsibilities at younger ages and can more easily tolerate a period of recuperation compared to adults who have careers or children of their own.

Procedures selected to correct painful flat foot deformities in the pediatric patient are often considerably less complicated and less invasive than those performed on adult patients.

If you notice that your child has outward pointing feet, has a collapse of their arch, or is complaining of pain or “tiredness” when standing or walking, the best course of action is to get evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon.

The typical statements of “they will grow out of it” or “there’s nothing you can do about it” are both outdated and untrue.

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LIVE MUSIC RETURNS TO FOREST HILLS CONTINUES REVIVAL OF CITY’S MOST UNIQUE LIVE VENUE

BY EVAN TRIANTAFILIDIS Live music returned to Forest Hills Stadium for the first time since 2019, giving thousands of concert-goers in Queens a reason to celebrate and a brief return to normal.

The historic outdoor venue officially reopened in July when Brandi Carlile took the stage before 8,000 fans, kicking off the stadium’s summer concert series on a high note.

The 14,000-seat capacity venue, located at the West Side Tennis Club, will soon be hosting additional live performances, after a season of concerts were lost due to the pandemic.

As part of New York City’s “Homecoming Week,” the stadium hosted a free concert on August 20 featuring funk legend George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, along with other legends in the hip-hop world.

Mario DiPreta, CEO of the West Side Tennis Club (WSTC), says the reopening of the unique venue comes at a time when fans need it most. After hosting a successful first live show back, DiPreta recalled what it was like to welcome live music fans back for the first time in over a year.

“It was amazing to make sure that we could actually do a concert again and get back to some sort of normalcy,” said DiPreta. “The energy was amazing, the crowd was singing to the music. It’s one of the most amazing venues and unique too, there’s not one like it in the world.”

Built in 1923, the outdoor concert venue sits on 13 acres owned by the private tennis club, which played host to the US Open until 1977. It’s where Arthur Ashe became the first African-American to win a Grand Slam tournament in 1968, and it’s where Billie Jean King played while she campaigned for equal prize money and opportunities for women in tennis.

The stadium also hosted legend-

20

ary musical acts in the 1960’s and 1970’s, including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Simon and Garfunkel. In 1968, The Beatles were flown into the stadium by helicopter before performing in front of a sold-out crowd.

“It’s where legends walked the grounds, from tennis to music,” DiPreta added.

But following the US Open’s departure to Flushing Meadows in 1978, the structure began to decay and deteriorate, eventually leading to a denial of landmark status by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2011.

WSTC even weighed the option of having the stadium replaced with luxury condominiums before voting the idea down. The stadium was in need of rehabilitation if it was ever going to host live concerts again.

That’s when promoter Mike Lubo made a cold call to the WSTC pro shop, seeking an alternative site for a band to play a gig. Lubo, who grew up on Long Island, was aware of the legendary performances and

artists who took the stage at Forest Hills Stadium decades ago.

“In one of the great turn of events, the stadium was not landmarked, which enabled us to come in and do the stuff we did,” said Lubo, now the lead promoter for the venue. “The day after the first phone call, I came out here with a structural engineer.”

Lubo recalls the engineer describing the site as “feeling like a war zone”, and Lubo likened the place to, “a dumping ground for three decades.”

But a commitment was made

by Lubo and his team to keep the “bones” of the stadium — built upon first-generation U.S. Steel and poured concrete — and to focus on leading the venue into the 21st century.

After holding their inaugural concert in 2013 with Mumford & Sons, gradual improvements were made to the site’s amenities and safety, including new seats, new aisles and a new world-class stage.

“Our happiest moment was when we finally put real bathrooms out here,” said Lubo.

Now there is a commitment to upgrade the stadium following each concert season. From just one

single show in 2013, to well over a dozen just a few years later, the revival of a historic venue is well under way.

But that was all put on pause last March. Live entertainment came to a halt, along with the venue’s expected 2020 concert season. It would be another 16 months before fans flocked to Forest Hills Stadium once again.

“We were probably the first major industry to fully shut down,” said Lubo. “It’s been a long run of scheduling and rescheduling. Our first priority is that the bands, the crew and the fans are safe.”

When COVID-related restrictions were lifted for New Yorkers in June, it allowed for the venue to host live shows once again.

Under current guidelines, shows do not require proof of vaccination.

Tickets for shows are available at foresthillsstadium.com.

Lubo said it was an emotional return for some when the stadium hosted fans again for the first time in over a year.

“Music and communal gathering is such a big part of what it means to be human,” said Lubo. “I think people really have been missing that in their life.”

The Zac Brown Band performs at Forest Hills Stadium.

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

QCC HELPS GROUP WELCOME NEW LEADERSHIP

The Flushing Chinese Business Association (FCBA) held a ceremony on Monday at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing to celebrate the swearing in of their new Board of Directors and the organization’s 28th president, Dr. Yaoming Wang.

“I understand that we are in a tough time,” said Dr. Wang, who is a pediatrician. “Even though we’ve made a lot of progress, we’re still in a pandemic. I am confident with the leadership in this room, we will move past the pandemic and make Flushing stronger.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz did the swearing in as state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Councilman Peter Koo and Queens Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tom Grech looked on.

“Thanks to the advocacy of Peter

Tu, the Queens Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Flushing Chinese Business Association for the past

Queens Chamber President & CEO Thomas Grech with Councilman Peter Koo at the event.

six years,” said Grech. “Queens is the most diverse community in America, and immigrants continue

to find opportunity here because of the great work organizations like the FCBA do.”

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INTERN PROFILES DOREEN WU ISABELLA COLLINS What school did or do you attend?

What is your major and career goals? Currently, I’m a rising senior at Wellesley High School, and at the moment I am aiming to pursue a career in advertising.

What school did or do you attend?

What is your major and career goals? I will be attending Binghamton University in the fall. I aspire to work in the healthcare industry, however, I am open to exploring other opportunities.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Four percent of the people you meet aren’t going to like you.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Keep your head up and don’t dwell on the past.

What advice would you give a student who wants to explore an internship wit the Chamber?

Always take down note of your tasks so you can get them done efficiently.

What advice would you give a student who wants to explore an internship wit the Chamber?

Come in with an open mind and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Ask questions!

Favorite Music or Movie Genre: I enjoy listening to pop and watching horror movies.

What excited you most about serving as an intern with Queens Chamber? I am extremely honored to be here at the Queens Chamber talking to small businesses and embracing the diversity in Queens.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before the end of 2021? I aspire to improve my cooking skills.

As we are becoming fully vaccinated, what is on your to-do list that you have missed over the past year? Definitely catch up with friends and go sightseeing.

KATELYN THOMPSON What school did or do you attend? What is your major and career goals? I attend SUNY Cortland as a rising sophomore.

My major is Communication Studies, and I have the career goal of being a broadcast journalist or speech pathologist.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Be yourself because life is more enjoyable when you are not putting up a front. When you are authentic to yourself, you are living your life for yourself instead of a way that someone else wants you to lead it. Happiness is easy when you remain true to you because the people in your life love you for who you are and the experiences you have are by your design.

22

What advice would you give a student who wants to explore an internship wit the Chamber? I would tell them to put themselves out there and apply even if they do not believe they are the most qualified for the role. You miss every opportunity that you do not take, and the worst that could happen is you receive a rejection email.

Favorite Music or Movie Genre: My favorite music genre is pop music and, more specifically, boy bands both new and old.

What excited you most about serving as an intern with Queens Chamber? I am most excited about the opportunity to engage small businesses with all the resources the city has to offer them. Giving them the power of knowing what is

Favorite Music or Movie Genre: My favorite music genre is probably pop. I don’t have a favorite artist, really. My favorite movie genres are rom-com, drama, and sometimes thrillers.

What excited you most about serving as an intern with Queens Chamber? I’m excited to get the experience of working in an office

and being able to cooperate in a group setting.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before the end of 2021? I hope to pick up knitting sometime this year. I always pick it up at one point or another and then drop it because it’s difficult, but this time around, I hope to make a habit out of it.

As we are becoming fully vaccinated, what is on your to-do list that you have missed over the past year? I miss going on out-of-state road trips with my family, but now that things are opening up, I’m hoping we can do them more often.

available to them for free can elevate their business, whether it be courses, certifications, or a grant.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before the end of 2021? I hope to pick up knitting sometime this year. I always pick it up at one point or another and then drop it because it’s difficult, but this time around, I hope to make a habit out of it.

As we are becoming fully vaccinated, what is on your to-do list that you have missed over the past year? I will be going to so many concerts because live music is something I have missed the most this past year. It is such a fun experience being able to

meet new people with a common interest as you and dancing and singing to your heart’s content.

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

STAFF PROFILE KARL BRILLANT How long have you been at the Chamber? I’ve worked for the Queens Chamber for about a month.

Previous Job: Working at my alma mater, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, as a USSC tutorial coordinator helping students get resources across campus.

WHERE YOU

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I think the best piece of advice that I’ve ever gotten was that simplicity, patience, and compassion are your three greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? I would tell any candidate would be to always ask questions because there is always something to learn.

Favorite Music or Movie Genre: My favorite movie genre is crime, a la Goodfellas, or comedy.

What do you think will be the most inspiring part of your job?

Really understanding the impact we have in shaping a community.

I firmly believe people are only as strong as the networks they

share and the communities they foster. It’s amazing that the Queens Chamber is able to take an active role in promoting and strengthening communities.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish by the end of 2021? I hope to take a boxing class.

As we are becoming fully vaccinated, what is on your to-do list that you have missed over the past year? I miss the freedom of being able to go to concerts and travel freely without concern. I also really miss little pop-ups around the city.

CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

reception at UBS Arena with the New York Islanders. Over the course of four hours, our guests will enjoy an exciting evening spent with this amazing hockey team in advance of its 2021–22 season.

Fall is in the air, and the Queens Chamber has all the services and resources you’ll need to carry you through the end of 2021

love

and prepare you for the new year ahead. Visit queenschamber.org for more details and to register to attend our events.

I never grow tired of saying how much I love my job. It’s because of you I have the unique opportunity to advocate and stand for the business community of Queens.

As 9/11 approaches, take time to reflect and gives thanks. We will never forget. Queens STRONG!

live LETS BEAUTIFY JAMAICA TOGETHER ZARA'S PHILANTHROPY Involvement on community boards richmond hill hs computer lab Voices of Jamaica features community events Fundraising

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September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 9/1, 4 TO 7 PM

BACK TO SCHOOL STREET FAIR

The Queens Chamber joins the Woodhaven BID for a Back to School Street Fair with free school supplies, games, art, music, and more.

Forest Parkway & Jamaica Avenue Woodhaven

that takes you outside your comfort zone. It’s guaranteed to build your professional network and increase your business bottom-line. Within a matter of minutes you’ll be introduced to numerous new contacts.

Register at queenschamber.org Bulova Corporate Center Cafe 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights

motes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand. The guest speaker will be Petia Abdur-Razzaaq, a professional trainer at Grow With Google.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

10/15, 9:30 AM

Last year the Coronavirus pandemic halted our ability to host this ceremony, but it did not halt all the development within the borough. Join the Chamber for a cocktail reception at the iconic TWA hotel as we recognize and celebrate all the development in Queens in the last two years.

TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport Central Terminal Area 5/6 Jamaica

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS: GARDEN NETWORKING NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE This is a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow BUSINESSPERSON 9/8, 6 PM

business owners and Members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

Antun’s 96-43 Springfield Boulevard Queens Village Register at queenschamber.org 9/14, 2 PM

FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS

Walk away with information about the importance of utilizing a business plan, various financing options, resources for start-ups, and an overall better understanding of the fundamentals for business. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 9/15 & 9/16, 2 TO 4 PM

Cultural awareness can be instrumental in negotiations with other businesses and can be the difference between success and failure. As our workforce becomes more and more culturally diverse, it is imperative to be culturally aware to promote a positive workplace environment. This program will provide the necessary cultural awareness skills to not only survive but to thrive in our ever-increasing business world of diversity.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 10/27, 2 PM

USE YOUTUBE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Get best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that pro-

10/27, 6 TO 9 PM

BUILDING RECOGNITION COCKTAIL RECEPTION

EN ESPANOL 9/14, 4 PM

FINANCIANDO SU NEGOCIO

En este taller, reevaluaremos sus planes comerciales para determinar sus posibles acciones hoy y, en la fase de recuperación, lo guiaremos con hojas de cálculo de finanzas personales y proyecciones financieras comerciales.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

INTRODUCTION TO QUICKBOOKS ONLINE

This two-part webinar will introduce the online editions of QuickBooks to help you decide which edition to use for your small business.

We will also briefly discuss the QuickBooks Desktop editions available to you.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 9/23, 5 TO 9 PM

CRUISE WITH UBS ARENA & NY ISLANDERS

UBS Arena & the New York Islanders are excited to co-host a cocktail reception for the members and friends of The Queens Chamber Commerce. Hear more about the premium experiences the arena will offer and mingle with some of the arena key stakeholders & New York Islanders Alumni.

Register at queenschamber.org World’s Fair Marina Flushing

OCTOBER 10/12, 9 AM

MORNING SPEED NETWORKING

You know how it works. It’s the fast paced event

The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Banking and Law Committee, chaired by Paul Harrison from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Jacqueline Harounian from Wisselman Harounian Family Law, put together their first committee-only happy hour event on the rooftop of Bourbon Street NY in Bayside.

25

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

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 pan-Asian 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 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.

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 owners 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-on-one 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 startup 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 represent-

ing 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

27

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

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 jfkairportchamberofcommerce.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

28

President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120

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

MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)

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

members and a budget of $115,000.

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 business-

es 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 busi-

nesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th 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

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

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 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 718.728.7820

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9

NEW MEMBERS

Total Fire Protection

CORPORATE

IBS Building Services Contractors

36-06 43rd Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 directcleaningsolutions.com Direct Clean provides comprehensive commercial cleaning and facility maintenance services to property owners and tenants throughout the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region.

J Strategies, Inc.

18 Corporate Wood Boulevard Albany, NY 12211 jstrategiesinc.com We are on a mission to bring out the most creative ideas in our clients

Knights Collision Experts, Inc.

2000 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11233 knightstowing.com Knights Collision Experts has been a family owned and operated business since 1948. Currently its third-generation Robles family operators are Joseph K. Robles and Adam M. Robles.

In the NYC market, it is utilized by countless motorists, private and governmental entities due to its ability to deliver as promised over and over, day and night.

Popular Bank

85 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 popularbank.com We’re redefining banking so that you can bank smarter, happier, and more connected than ever before. Through the integration of our innovative technology with our unrivaled customer service, we’re uniquely equipped to provide a broad range of banking services and products designed to propel you, or your business, forward.

Essence Smiles 8710 Northern Boulevard, Suite 204 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 essencesmiles.com

5322 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234 tfp1.com Since 1999, Total Fire Protection has performed fire and life safety services for numerous corporate and government clients across the United States. Our professional technicians have decades of experience keeping facilities of all types and sizes up to code and ensuring that tenants are kept safe.

FlexSpace America 8086 51st Avenue Elmhurst, NY 11373 flexspaceamerica.com Ginkgo 335 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 11017 ginkgo.city

W. Scully CPA, PC

126-15 Foch Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11436 wscullycpa.com W. Scully, CPA, P.C. specializes in providing affordable solutions to businesses and individuals alike who, for whatever reason, find themselves at odds with the IRS or state taxing agencies. Our lead tax resolution strategist, having more than 20 years of experience, will represent you, and fight for you in front of the IRS, allowing you to continue on with your life. Generally, you will never have to meet or speak to the IRS once we are retained.

Nimble Signs 6570 Booth Street, Suite 3F Rego Park, NY 11374 nimblesigns.net Pinwear SportsWear, Inc. 2156 Linden Boulevard, 13B Brooklyn, NY 11207 pinwear.com

INTRODUCTORY

Rios & McGarrigle, LLC 100 Park Avenue, Suite 1600 New York, NY 10017 riosandmcgarrigle.com

African Holistic Health Chapter of NY (C3E) 13-20 116th Avenue South Ozone Park, NY 11420 africanholistic.weebly.com

Rudy’s Exterminating Co., Inc. 21-28 49th Street Astoria, NY 11105 rudyexterminating.com

Ameriprise Financial 530 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 ameriprise.com

The Marty Lyons Foundation 10 Sweeneydale Avenue Bay Shore, NY 11706 martylyonfoundation.org

Dugan & Gonzalez Insurance 1901 Himrod Street Ridgewood, NY 11385 dugangonzalez.com

Whits End 9407 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 whitsendsnyc.com

PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 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 familyowned shops.

SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688

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.

29

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE

queenschamber.org

Thomas Santucci

Nash Roe

Thomas J. Grech

Brendan Leavy

Susan Browning

Richard Dzwlewicz

Joanne M. Persad

Jacqueline Donado

Chairperson

Associate Treasurer

Vice Chairperson

Associate Secretary

Patricia Mezeul Treasurer

President & CEO

Business Development Manager

Chief of Operations

Strategic Program Coordinator

Alejandra Espejo

Jef Gross

Financial Controller

Patrick Yu

Neil Wagner

Secretary

SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE STAFF

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 Stephanie Baldwin Fran Biderman-Gross Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan Ali Chaudhry

Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora

Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf Dr. Cameron Hernandez Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Neil Levin

Bert Lurch 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 Aeroterm Andromeda 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 BJ’s Wholesale Club Blumenfeld Development Group, Ltd. Capital One Bank

Carter Milchman and Frank CBRE Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Champion Elevator Corp.

Cine Magic LIC Studios, LLC Cipico Construction, Inc. Citibank CitizensRx City National Bank Clearcell Power Complete Supply Cord Meyer Development LLC Cornell NYC Tech Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Cort CPower Energy Management Crescent Properties, Inc

Crown Castle Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. Dedline AV DG Construction East Coast Energy Group EDGE AUTO INC Einbinder & Dunn LLP Enterprise Fleet Management EOS Electrical Corp Evolve IP EW Howell Construction Group Farrell Fritz, P.C. Fastsigns South Ozone Park First Central Savings Bank Fluid Mechanic’s Corp.

Gatsons Electric, Inc. Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. GoPuff Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Stoddart ResortsWorld Casino New York City michelle.stoddart@rwnewyork.com Jayson Simba Festival of Cinema NYC FestivalofCinemaNYC@gmail.com

BANKING & LAW

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

COMMUNICATIONS Cody Fisher Blue Ox Marketing, LLC cody@blueoxmarketing.com Leigh Schuckman Sandler Training leigh.schuckman@sandler.com

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

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

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ENERGY

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

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com

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

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

NONPROFIT

Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com

REAL ESTATE

Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie Cushman & Wakefield kevin.louie@cushwake.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com

TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com

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

Dealers Association HANAC, Inc. Healthy Corner Pharmacy Heatherwood Communities Himmel + Meringoff Properties Holt Construction Corp.

Horticultural Creations Inc IKEA Queens INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry INF Associates, LLC Innovo Property Group J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. JGM Construction Development, LLC Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Laffey Real Estate Littler Mendelson, P.C. Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M & T Bank Madison International Realty Madison Realty Capital McBride Consulting & Business Mega Contracting Group LLC Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America Corporation 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 Nuvo Solutions NYC Cooling Tower Inspections and Services, LLC NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Owareco, LLC Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates

PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Pi Capital Partners Priority 1 Security LLC ProCleanings Co QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens College Reef Technology Related Retail Corporation Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Securitech Group, Inc. Signature Bank SL Green Realty Corp.

Solve Together LLC Soter Technologies, LLC. Spectrum Reach Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s University Starbucks Corporation Sterling National Bank Sterling Sanitary Supply Corp Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Sullivan Engineering LLC Target TC Electric TGI Office Automation The Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders The First National Bank of Long Island Transmission Developers, Inc. TSC Training 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 Vanguard Building Solutions, LLC Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Verus Commercial Real Estate Finance Watch Guard 24/7 WellLife Network White Coffee Corp Xin Development Group International York College - CUNY Zara Realty

September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9 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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$

0 copays That’s how much your employees pay when they choose a virtual visit*

0 copays for virtual visits? We have that.

$

Employees can talk with a doctor, get a diagnosis and even a prescription if needed**— which may lead to quicker health solutions for them and more productivity for you. Just one more way health plans from Oxford may help your employees and your bottom line stay healthier.

Contact your broker or learn more at uhc.com/oxfordnow

Oxford insurance products are underwritten by Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. *$0 copay applies to all New York fully insured non-HSA plans for Virtual Visits only, Healthy NY excluded. **Certain prescriptions may not be available, and other restrictions may apply.

Virtual Visits phone and video chat with a doctor are not an insurance product, health care provider or a health plan. Unless otherwise required, benefits are available only when services are delivered through a Designated Virtual Network Provider.

Virtual Visits are not intended to address emergency or life-threatening medical conditions and should not be used in those circumstances. Services may not be available at all times, or in all locations, or for all members. Check your benefit plan to determine if these services are available.

B2B EI21772707.0 8/21 © 2021 Oxford Health Plans LLC. All Rights Reserved. 21-660766-G