Back To School Fall 2014 by Queens Chronicle

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2014

GUIDE Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

Back To School & Fall Guide 2014

FALL

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• Mom’s got so much to do: an essay .........6 • Lawsuits challenge teacher tenure ............8 • It’s a lifetime of learning at the library ...... 10 • A new focus on school sports safety ...... 12 • The 2014-15 public school calendar ........ 13 • The debate over elite HS admissions ...... 14

FALL GUIDE • Fall fashions less muted than usual ......................................15 • There’s still plenty to do in the garden ...................................16 • Great recipes for fall fruits and

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veggies ..................................18 • New network TV shows to check out .............................. 20

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City preps for universal pre-K, year one Finishing touches being put together on ambitious early childhood education program

f it goes of f w ithout a hitch, it may be the shining moment of Mayor de Blasio’s term in office so far. If it doesn’t, it could be a black eye to any chances of a second. As summer winds down, a new school year prepares to star t up, and with it, 50,000 new prekindergarten students, the first class of the city’s universal pre-K program who will be entering the classroom for the first time on Sept. 8. “Full-day pre-K will be transformational,” de Blasio said Monday in Richmond Hill, adding that the goal is to allow all children in New York City, no matter what neighborhood they come from, to go into kindergarten on equal footing. “I think as years go by, we will see a lot more kids going into kindergarten ready,” he added. There has been little criticism from within city politics on the concept of universal pre-K — even de Blasio’s Republican opponent Joe Lhota supported the idea — but there have been concerns, usually centered on the questions of how to pay for it, where to locate these classes and what kind of quality will they be.

by Domenick Rafter

The cost issue was taken care of, at least for now, when Gov. Cuomo decided to fund pre-K through the state budget, a deal struck after he rejected de Blasio’s proposal to raise taxes on higher incomes to pay for the program.

“Full day pre-K will

be transformational .” — Mayor de Blasio

Sources in the de Blasio administration and in the state Legislature have said they expect the tax plan, which needs Albany’s approval for the city to implement it, to be revisited if Cuomo’s funding proves to be not sustainable. Space is a huge issue. Several parents and community education council members from Central and Northern Queens have said they cannot implement a pre-K program due to lack of space, and some

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schools have actually had to cut programs in the past due to such constraints. Because of the space issue, many programs are being held outside of schools, including at libraries, religious institutions and community-based early childhood centers across the city. Holding pre-K classes in private buildings, however, has unear thed another major issue — health code violations. Earlier in the summer, the administration received some unwelcome press when it was discovered that dozens of proposed pre-K sites had numerous violations. Last week, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the city Department of Education gave an update on the status of those violations. “We have worked very hard to ensure ... to make sure every child is learning in a safe and healthy environment,” Deputy Mayor Richard Buery said in a telephone press conference last Friday with Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett and Deputy Health Commissioner Daniel Kass. Buery said that the number of sites with violations in need of immediate correction- dropped from 33 citywide to just 12 over the last few weeks, and violations that require corrections to be made within two weeks dropped from 76 citywide to 28. Buer y added that hundreds of more minor violations were begin worked on in a “quick and rapid manner.” The Department of Health is teaming up with the Department of Buildings and a 20-person team from the FDNY dedicated to issues involving pre-K sites. Bassett said sites that have serious violat ions, wh ich ca n i nclude i mproper inspection of f ire extinguishers, food stored at the wrong temperatures or missing paperwork, can be shut down until the issues are remedied, and students will be placed at another location. “We know from a health perspective how critical pre-K is for a healthy life,” she said. “We take very seriously that child care centers are safe.” Inspections will continue as an “ongoing process,” Bassett said, adding that the city will initiate a new program aimed at helping sites clear violations faster and preventing them in the first place. The new program, which is expected to be in place by November, will help sites get the assistance they need to bring themselves up to code, fix violations quickly and take preventative measures, including more inspections initially to improve their performance. “We’ll be hiring staff soon and ramping up,” Kass said. “The first move is to identify sites that qualify for this program.” Regarding space as the program grows, de Blasio said Monday that the city is allocating $1.3 billion toward constructing new school buildings for the 2016 -17 school year and beyond that will add space

Mayor de Blasio speaks about universal prekindergarten at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens in Richmond Hill on Monday. PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

for pre-K or free up room in existing schools for the programs. “We have made a huge financial commitment to this,” the mayor said. He acknowledged that many of the locations are in poor and minority communities, many of which did not have pre-K before this year. Among them is the Saratoga Family Inn in Springfield Gardens, which is home to dozens of homeless children. For those who are still looking to enroll their students, it is not too late. There are still pre-K options available across the city in schools and CBCs. Parents of 4-yearolds are encouraged to reach out directly to their local public school to see if there are spaces available. They can also visit nyc.gov/prek or text prek to 877877 to lear n about other f ree f ull-day pre-K options. Additionally, the DOE has stationed enrollment specialists at fairs, outdoor concerts, movie nights, NYCHA family days and other public, family-oriented events to speak to parents and get them the information they need to apply for pre-K seats for their 4-year olds. Elected officials a re also host i ng pre -K of f ice hou r s throughout August to inform parents for their options. The DOE added that, if necessar y, pre-K enrollment will continue past Sept. 8, when the first classes are scheduled to Q be held.

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Mom’s got a long checklist to go through An essay on the end of summer and start of the new school year

ur family’s traditional August soaking detachment from all responsibilities was slothing happily along when, on Aug. 19, I received a Facebook message wishing me a Happy Hoo Hah Day. That’s how I knew it was time to start thinking about back-to-school. When my siblings and I were teens, my brother invented Hoo Hah Day as a way to indulge while still sheltered by several weeks from summer’s last call on Labor Day. We observed by concocting a favorite beverage and running wild in the yard at night. Now as the mother of a 9-year-old, my first priority for back-to-school season is still to happily top off summer before we yield to practical preparations. I have a tendency to moon over my child, given the glory and honor of raising a human being on this planet. But this is florid talk for a mom with a growing front-yard water leak and a 14-year-old Chinese exchange student who will arrive for a 10-month stay the day after we return from vacation. The late Gabriel Garcia Marquez told us in his novel “Love in the Time of Cholera” that “without river navigation, there is no love.” So I have deferred the archiving of summer camp art projects and called the plumber. You are invited to join me as I choose a laser approach to September planning. We could go all Type A on this, with multiple lists and calendar entries meant to ensure a full year of seamless routines. But that’s so 20th century. Let’s make a Sep- William Sutton, 9, of Forest Hills stands with some of the many school supplies an elementary school-aged child needs, framed by tember plan that addresses priorities and can be edited in Octo- a friend’s artwork. Presumably William goes to school because that’s where the education is. PHOTO BY VICTORIA ZUNITCH ber and beyond. “Everyone” starts with me, so this year, I will remember to eat First, finish summer. We have days, not weeks. There isn’t conferences are Nov. 18. Concerning logistics, we need to answer one dense question. breakfast with everyone else. time to read the Harry Potter series together, but you can share For lunch buyers, elementary schools usually provide free a few chapters of the first book. Did you promise a beach visit? Who goes where at what time, with what supplies, and what will lunch to all until payments get sorted out. Packaging nonperishLabor Day at a resort is still possible if you’re willing to pay they eat and wear? Double-check the schedule for the first week, when many able items for a full week on Sunday saves a ton of time in the last-minute prices. I had promised days of play at home, which we are placing before and after a family trip. Try waking every- younger children have early dismissal. Public school starts Sept. morning, so I’ll make a habit of it this year. And I’ll sketch out the first week’s dinners ahead of time. We’ve been punting all one at school wakeup time for these activities and earlier bed- 4 and private schools start a few days before or after. School bus schedules change often in the beginning, so don’t summer with takeout and go-out, which can be disruptive once times will follow. Next, I believe that emotional and physical health precede all stake your career on a 7:50 a.m. pickup. If you personally take homework kicks in. You’ll likely want to give each child a bit more responsibility positive pathways in life. So I am closely focused on any support your child to school, remember that commuting is more crowded my 9-year-old daughter might need before fourth grade starts. once school’s in. I’m planning an extra 20 minutes each morning this year. You can practice now, with things like putting shoes She didn’t want her name printed, but she’s looking forward to to ease our daily launch. Update the “blue card” so the school near the front door or choosing clothes the night before. Once school starts, make a human connection with your returning to school with substantially the same classmates as last knows who is, and isn’t, authorized to pick up your child, get a child’s teacher and administrators. They also might be nervous, year, including her friend William Sutton (who wants his name backup, and ask what happens at school if you’re late. Afterschool activities often start a few and a few kind words will establish a relationship for handling printed in very large letters). weeks into the year, but check signup dates any issues that might arise later. The first day is the time to And I’ve identified a few go-to people now so you don’t miss out. remind everyone about dangerous food allergies, no matter how who speak Mandarin to bridge language his year I’m going We purchased school supplies throughout solid your 504 plan. gaps for our exchange student. You might our summer wanderings, but you actually Try to attend at least the first PTA and/or SLT meeting. I want to speak with your child about enterto remember to don’t have to have the full granny cart of spend a lot of PTA time and find that parents who attend some ing a new school or watching a best friend eat breakfast with requested supplies on the first day. events are better-informed and often form lasting friendships. If move away. everyone else. If you feel your child comes under too Many elementary schools comingle all you haven’t the time or patience, kind words encourage others to much pressure at school, you can talk to him supplies, so your purchases won’t be directly keep up the good work. “I can’t chair the fundraiser, but I’ll or her about focusing on one task at a time, one day at a time. I used by your child and aren’t coming home. We carefully donate.” Or: “Thank you for the work you do.” Unless your child has an IEP, or individualized education prohaven’t been able to sell meditation at my house, but you can try. selected my daughter’s extra-thick pencils but they disappeared The transition to kindergarten is extremely difficult for most into a communal bin at her public kindergarten. One enduring gram, defer curriculum questions. Give your child and the teachthese days because it is a full-day, seat-based academic affair. mystery of New York City school life is where all those name- er a chance to get started before second-guessing them. I have a Many parents who can swing it give their children, especially the labeled rulers and pencil boxes go in June, because they always pretty good picture of where my child was at the end of third grade, but I don’t know how she may have consolidated knowl4-year-olds, frequent days off. Some families also maximize need to be repurchased months later. older children’s excused absences for illness and religion. The If your budget is stretched, you can send some obviously com- edge over the summer. For many families, the school year is not much different from official line emphasizes perfect attendance but the parent line at munal supplies like tissues and the three reams of copy paper the playground emphasizes the well-timed mental health day. most schools require later on. They can’t use all of it in the first the summer day camp season. By focusing on a few practical adjustments, I hope to free our family to enjoy as a teenager from For parents who want to maximize attendance for work and month and will appreciate fresh supplies come March. school, compare planned school closings with important work If you don’t need uniforms, plug a few wardrobe holes to get another country discovers America and my curious child grows Q events. For example, the date for elementary school afternoon started and when the weather cools, you’ll be assured of getting toward adulthood. Here’s to inspired scholarship for all. parent conferences is Nov. 13. Middle school afternoon confer- the right size, possibly at a good price. Victoria Zunitch is a Queens Chronicle contributing reporter ences are Nov. 20, high school ones are Nov. 7 and District 75 In the morning, everyone will need breakfast and clothing. who lives in Forest Hills.

by Victoria Zunitch

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Parents seek to weaken teacher job protections Does tenure deny children their rights?

s st udents a nd teachers head back into the classroom, some parents and union officials are heading into the courtroom. At issue are teacher tenure and other job protections for educators. The plaintiffs in two lawsuits filed against the state this summer — including two parents from Queens suing on behalf of their children — contend that tenure and the lengthy process for removing teachers are so onerous that many bad educators remain in the system, denying children their constitutional right to a sound basic education. The two cases come on the heels of a similar suit filed in California that resulted in a June ruling declaring teacher job protections there to be unconstitutional. The first suit here, Mymoena Davids et. al. v. The State of New York et. al., was filed June 30 by the parents and guardians of seven students on Staten Island with the support of a group called the NYC Parents Union. The second, John Keoni Wright et. al. v. State of New York et. al., was filed July 28 by the parents of seven students, including Nina Doster, whose children, Patience and King McFarlane, attend PS 140 in Jamaica; and Tauana Goins, whose

by Peter C. Mastrosimone

daughter, Tanai, who attends PS 106 in Rockaway. That case is supported by a group called the Partnership for Educational Justice. The right to a “sound basic education” is enshrined in the state constititution. The people who filed suit in both cases make similar arguments. In the NYC Parents Union case, the plaintiffs argue that while they are not “against tenure per se” and recognize that teachers have constitutionally protected due process rights, the legal processes in place for discipline and removal are “glaringly inadequate” and effectively deprive “an exceedingly worrisome number of children” of their rights. And they claim they’ve been left with nowhere to turn but the court system. “Public and Elected Officials in New York have not listened, in large par t because the power and money behind the teachers’ union exerts an inordinate amount of influence on politicians and their campaign contributions — effectively leaving parents and administrators without a seat at the table,” one point in the suit reads. “The latest example is New York City’s new contract with its teachers’ union, which will continue many of the same unconstitutional policies that have failed students and their families for decades.”

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When tenured teachers are disciplined

Most of the 359 misconduct cases brought against New York City teachers in the last two school years resulted in fines, while 76 ended in resignation, retirement or termination. Another 279 cases were brought for incompetency over the same time period, resulting in CHARTS COURTESY UFT 140 more teachers leaving the system. The city employs about 74,000. That union, the United Federation of Teachers, says the plaintiffs’ claims are false and is seeking to intervene as a defendant in the NYC Parents Union case. The UFT has not yet decided if it also will seek such “intervenor-defendant” status in the Partnership for Educational Justice suit, a union spokeswoman said, and the two cases may be combined into one anyway. In its motion to intervene, filed July 21, UFT President Michael Mulgrew says the union acts not only to serve its members and promote the democratic administration of schools but also to “advocate for students to help make every public school a place where parents want to send their children and where educators want to work.” Mulgrew defends teachers’ job protections by noting that new teachers serve a probationary period, that tenure is not absolute and that seniority-based layoffs — another provision the plaintiffs claim allows bad teachers to remain in place — prevent them from being arbitrarily fired due to disagreements with administrators or political influences. “Once achieving ‘tenure,’ a teacher is not guaranteed a job for life, as is the popular misconception,” Mulgrew says in the motion. “Rather, as with many other professions in both the public and private spheres, such teachers may only be removed from their positions for just cause and following a due process hearing.” That lets them do their jobs properly without fear of repercussion, he said, “thereby encouraging well-educated professionals to enter and remain in the teaching profession as well as creating the stability in school staffs necessary for the provision of a quality education.” Summing up the motion, Mulgrew says the UFT is “uniquely positioned” to give the court insight on how the laws the suit opposes are implemented every day, and therefore it should be granted intervenor-defendant status. One retired UFT member who found the job protections vital is City Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), chairman of the

Education Committee. Asked for a statement on the issue, Dromm made clear that he supports tenure and has personal reason for doing so. “Tenure is vitally important to making sure we have an effective school system that serves our children well,” Dromm said in an email. “Tenure is designed to protect teachers from arbitrary and baseless accusations. In 1992, when I came out as an openly gay teacher at PS 199Q in Sunnyside, there were many calls from School District 24 board members for my removal. Fortunately, I had tenure and that is the only reason why I can stand before you today as the chairperson of the Council’s Education Committee. Tenure simply protects a teacher’s due process rights and everyone deserves to be treated fairly. “The lawsuit is frivolous and based on the incorrect assumption that teachers can’t be fired. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Both sides in the lawsuits have produced statistical evidence backing their respective claims — that job protections make it too difficult to remove problem teachers or, as Dromm says, that they protect their due process rights. The plaintiffs in the NYC Parents Union case say that from 2004 to 2008, the average time it took to resolve disciplinary cases against teachers — known as 3020-A proceedings after the section of state law that applies — was 502 days. Proceedings for incompetency took 830 days on average and cost $313,000 per teacher, using statistics from 1995 to 2006, they said. The UFT, on the other hand, says in an informational packet that of the 359 misconduct cases brought against teachers in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, 196 resulted in fines, while 76 resulted in the teacher resigning, retired or being fired. And it contends that records maintained by the New York State United Teachers, which UFT members are also a part of, show that the median length of 3020-A cases is 105 days. How the two sides could present such vastly different statistics on the time frame for resolving 3020-A cases was not immediately clear. Q

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Education never ends at the Queens Library Programs include everything from job skills prep to English to website coding

a r e e r cou n selor Nancy Cafferty sits at a small round table opposite two young ladies who have come for guidance in their search for fulfillment in the workforce. Kafayat Onanuga, of Jamaica, is in her mid-20s and has been through the process before. Leandra Cedeno, who lives in Ridgewood and is also 20-something, has come for the first time. They’re about to participate in an hour-long workshop, usually conducted one-on-one, on how to prepare for a job interview, one of hundreds of adult-oriented educational opportunities offered throughout the more than 60 branches of the Queens Library system. The need for adult education courses is being met through the library’s Adult Learner Program, which encompasses a wide variety of services, resources and life-long learning opportunities. “It is a highly impactful program because for adults who don’t have a diploma and are able to achieve that, it is a life-changer,” said Joanne King, the library’s communications director. “We’ve been growing out the adult education since the great recession. No one else offers these courses for free.” Cafferty mentions to her “customers,” as participants in the various programs are called, that “much of the work for a good interview is done ahead of time, like getting ready for an exam.” That includes researching the company (“It shows you’re inquisitive, analytical.”); jotting down two or three good questions to ask the interviewer (she offers “What would be a typical day or week if I were offered the position?” as an example.); and practicing answers to anticipated questions (“Why should I hire you?” for instance.). In meticulous detail, Cafferty explains the difference between the hard skills (education, work experience, knowledge of technology) and soft skills (ability to cooperate, to be a self-starter, to follow instructions, to get along with people) that a potential employer might be looking for. She offers a reminder of the importance of sending out not only a resume, but a cover letter, “whether or not they ask.” Providing a sample letter, Cafferty points to the middle section, or what she terms the “why you should hire me paragraph.” In it, she points out, “you’re trying to tell them you have the qualifications.”

by Mark Lord

Career counselor Nancy Cafferty, left, reviews interview techniques with Kafayat Onanuga and Leandra Cedeno as part of one of the Queens Library’s many adult education programs. Below, “customers” avail themselves of the PHOTOS BY MARK LORD computers in one of the library’s adult education centers. She tells the job seekers that “confidence in yourself is a key factor,” and reminds them on more than one occasion to “always tell the truth.” As the session winds down, Onanuga admits that before attending her first workshop, “I didn’t have a clue on how to answer questions on an interview.” She has since been hired as a respiratory therapist and is optimistic that she will continue to make strides in her career. Cedeno, who is pursuing a career in psychology, already has an associate degree in early childhood education. She has come to the workshop to learn how to overcome nervousness and a penchant for rambling while being interviewed. Cafferty, a resident of Douglaston, has been guiding job hopefuls at the Central Library on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica for two and a half years. She described patrons’ needs as “overwhelming,” saying, “I’ve had everyone from doctors to cleaning ladies. I’ve had people in their late 60s who still need to work.” The advice she offers them varies depending on the level of their education, socioeconomic situation and other factors. A retired accountant, she works at the library a day and a half each week, and, she says, “I’m always

booked solid.” Seven Adult Learning Centers, located at the Central Library as well as branches in Elmhurst, Flushing, Long Island City, Rockaway Beach, Rochdale Village and Astoria, employ full-time professional staff and volunteers who tutor literacy groups and facilitate conversation groups in English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL. Also offered are basic adult education classes, video groups, writing groups, technology-assisted instruction and ongoing tutoring. King said those taking advantage of the offerings have ranged from recent arrivals with Ph.D.s in their home countries who have to get licensed to practice here to “people who can’t even hold a pencil.” In a borough where culture, language and economic levels cover such a wide range, “the variety of levels we have to educate at is very broad,” King said. ESOL classes are offered in 12-week semesters in mornings, afternoons, evenings and on weekends. They cover beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, with instruction in speaking, understanding, reading and writing English, its use in real-life situations, and vocabulary and grammar enhancement.

Approximately 100 ESOL classes are offered each year at 28 different library locations across the borough. Classes are also available for adults who already speak English and want to improve their reading or math skills in preparation for taking the high school equivalency exam. They cover improvement in reading, writing, math and critical thinking, exploration of literature, science and the social sciences, and study and test-taking skills. The library’s Job Skills Training program, overseen by its Job and Business Academy, “is intended to help people take the next step in their careers or personal goals,” King said. “It may mean learning to use a computer, getting an advanced certificate

in software or coding, or preparing for a civil service exam.” The JBA at the Central Library alone employs four full-timers as well as up to a dozen part-timers, offering between 1,200 and 1,500 interactions — classes or one-on-one sessions — per month, according to its manager, Lauren Comito. Comito said most of the individuals who come to the academy are “looking for work. We’ll help them with resumes, cover letters. We offer computer classes to help them brush up on their skills.” All computer classes are held in the Cyber Center Training Room. Pre-registration is required for the courses, which include Treehouse, an online individualized service now offered to library card holders which guides users through building websites and apps; Job Map Orientation, an online self-evaluation used to gain skills in preparation for the next step in a career; and Code Camp, which teaches how to program a website for individuals and businesses. At the Central Adult Learning Center, Library Literacy Assistant Manager Sharonda Amaye-Obu spoke of the Youth Literacy Program, geared to individuals from 16 to 24 years of age, many of whom have left school without the necessary writing and math skills for a pre-HSE class. Available all year round, the classes may have as few as five students each, with most students attending for three to 12 months, she said. For more information on the Adult Learner Program, contact Dio Gica at dio.gica@queenslibrary.org or call (718) 990-8661. Visiting queenslibrary.org/learn provides an in-depth, day-by-day listing of the library’s educationrelated activities, which on one recent day included everything from driver safety, knitting and table tennis to Mandarin for beginners, a discussion on understanding health proQ grams and Zumba.

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Keeping players healthy is the name of the game Safety, more than winning, has become the paramount objective in city sports leagues

On the youth and high school level in New York City, area leagues have followed suit in making the health of young athletes during sporting events a paramount objective. For those parents who nervously watch their child’s football or soccer practice, advances in sports medicine have made today arguably the safest time in recent memory to be an athlete, according to Dr. Warren Young, associate chief of the division of primary care sports medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. “It definitely is,” Young said. “There are a lot of strides being made right now in terms of preventative practices [to avoid injuries].” You ng, who specializes i n or thopedic surger y and is an expert in pediatric sports medicine, concussions and tendon injuries, has worked at NYU Langone for three years. He also serves as a physician with Long Island UniversityBrooklyn, the Public School Athletic League and the US Open. Young’s colleague, Dr. Dennis One of the keys behind the championship run of the Francis Lewis girls basketball team was staying healthy Cardone, an orthopedic surgery specialist, was named the PSAL’s during the season.

he debate over player safety and the impact of playing sports on an athlete’s body has raged on the professional level for years. News of a major league pitcher needing elbow reconstruction surgery or an NFL star getting a concussion are often top stories on ESPN and professional spor ts leagues have made player safety one of, if not the, highest priorities.

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first-ever chief medical officer earlier this month. In recent years, the PSAL has notably instituted such player safety standards as mandating on-site def ibrillators at ever y school-sponsored athletic event, and Cardone, who was unavailable for comment due to work commitments, told WNYC earlier this month that concussion education, the most notable player safety topic in the sports world as of late, will be a focal point of his tenure. “A big part of what we’re doing right now is concussion education,” Cardone said, “[such as] the recognition of a concussion and appropriate treatment of the poten- Young ballplayers get some swings in during the annual tially concussed athlete.” Turn 2 baseball clinic in Flushing last month. One prominent The PSAL’s concussion policy is doctor believes, with the many recent advances in sports a strict one. Prior to the start of the medicine, that youth sports have never been safer for school year, every athletic director student-athletes. PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER BARCA and coach is trained in administering concussion tests and recognizing such The Catholic High School Athletic Associacute brain injuries. ation, the city’s other major high school During the season, an active record of sports league, has similar strict safety guidehead injuries must be kept by each school’s lines for coaches and officials. athletic director. If a player is suspected of As with the PSAL, an active record of having a concussion, his or her coach must injuries must be kept by school officials, and escort the athlete off the field and paperwork any player requiring a doctor’s visit for an to record the exact details of the injury must injury must receive written permission from be filled out immediately. that doctor in order to return to practice or The child may not return to the playing game action. field until at least 24 hours has passed since If an athlete is out of action for more than the injury and a licensed physician gives the one week due to injury or illness, the athlete written medical clearance. CHSAA requires that the player participate When it comes to football, arguably the in up to three team practices without any most dangerous sport a youngster can play, flare-ups of the injury or illness before they Young said preventative measures such as lim- can return to the playing field. When it comes to baseball, the city iting the amount of full contact practices a team can have reduce the number of concus- banned both leagues from using metal bats sions, but educating parents and children about during games, as balls leave metal bats at a the dangers of downplaying them is just as key higher velocity than balls struck with wooden bats. in terms of preventing future head injuries. Strict pitch count limits were also put in “The education part started at the coaching level and the athletic trainers have taken place in the PSAL in 2011 to avoid injury to note as well, but getting athletes and parents the growing arms of high school hurlers. In terms of single game limits, pitchers involved is the next level,” he said. “They need to make sure the child is fully recovered cannot exceed a pitch count of 105. Players are able to pitch the next day if before they can play again.” they throw 25 or fewer pitches; and a player has to rest a day if he throws 26 to 53 pitches, two days if he throws 50 to 70 pitches, three days if he throws 70 to 90 pitches and four days for a total higher than 90. Young said a pitch count limit is something he would like to see the CHSAA adopt, as well as a limit on how many leagues a child can play in to reduce stress on the arm. “The main thing I would love for the city to do would be to get athletic trainers for all schools,” he said. “They’re a great front line for assessing injuries.” Young also notes that mandating trainers may help end the practice of aggressive Lessons in player safety even apply to some of coaches rushing injured players back in order to improve the team’s chance at winning. Q tennis’ youngest stars.

C M BTS page 13 Y K Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014

2014-15 PUBLIC SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR Sept. 4 Sept. 5 Sept. 8 Sept. 25, 26 Oct. 13 Oct. 23 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 20 Nov. 27, 28 Dec. 24 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jan. 2 Jan. 19 Jan. 29 Jan. 30

Thursday Friday Monday Thursday, Friday Monday Thursday Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Thursday and Friday Wednesday through the following Friday Monday Thursday Friday

Feb. 3 Feb. 16-20 April 3-10 April 13 April 23 May 25 June 4 June 26

Tuesday Monday through Friday Friday through Friday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday Friday

SCHOOL SESSIONS BEGIN FOR ALL STUDENTS. (Partial day for prekindergarten.) Partial day for prekindergarten. First full day for prekindergarten public school students. Rosh Hashanah (schools closed). Columbus Day observed (schools closed). Prekindergarten non-attendance day. Election Day, students will not be in attendance. Veterans Day observed (schools closed). Prekindergarten non-attendance day. Thanksgiving recess (schools closed). Winter Recess â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including Christmas and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day (schools closed). Students return on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (schools closed) Prekindergarten non-attendance day. Fall Term ends for high school students. No high school students in attendance. All other students will be in attendance. Spring term begins for high school students. Midwinter recess including Washington and Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthdays (schools closed). Spring recess â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including Good Friday, Easter and Passover (schools closed). Students return to school. Prekindergarten non-attendance day. Memorial Day observed (schools closed). Chancellorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference Day. Students will not be in attendance. LAST DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS.

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Is one test the best HS admissions standard? The debate over entrance exams for the city’s eight specialized high schools

ills to change the admissions criteria for the speciali zed h ig h schools were defeated in the last state legislative session and won’t come up again until January when the next one starts. But that hasn’t stopped advocates on both sides of the issue from pushing their agendas, especially since election season is approaching. The issue is especially hot in Queens, which sends more students (1,119) than any other borough to these high schools — Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, the High School of American Studies at Leh man College, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, Brooklyn Latin School, the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College and Staten Island Tech — which currently require that admission is based on a single entrance exam, as mandated by the Hecht-Calandra Act of 1971. Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the A r ts is the only specialized high school that does not require that students take the Specialized High School Admission s Te s t , but r a t h e r a d m it s t h e m through auditions.

by Laura A. Shepard

A June 22 meeting at the Flushing Library drew a crowd concerned about a proposal to broaden admissions requirements for the city’s elite high FILE PHOTO schools beyond one entrance exam. Mayor de Blasio supports the bills, which seek to expand the admission criteria to also include grade point averages, attendance records and state test scores. If passed, the law would go into effect on July 1 and expire five years later. The bills’ main motivation is to increase enrollment among African American and Hispanic

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students, who comprise only a small percent of specialized high school students. Presently, about 70 percent of students enrolled at these schools are Asian or Asian American. The United Federation of Teachers agrees and has promised to bring the issue up again. The UFT website states: “The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) as the single, high stakes determination for entry for eight of the nine New York City specialized high schools has not been validated by researchers and has resulted in diminished access for high achieving black and Latino students.” Meanwhile, the parent associations of several specialized high schools released statements opposing the change. The Bronx Science Parents’ Association wrote, “We stand for an admissions process that is a pure meritocracy, with one standard that is transparent and incorruptible. The suggested changes to the admissions process do nothing to address the root cause of inequity in elementary and middle school education. Further, the proposed new admissions criteria are deeply f lawed. Disparities in academic outcomes start very early on.” David Lee, an education activist, said that Coalitionedu, which hosted a forum on the issue at the Flushing Library on June 22, is focusing on the primary race between state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and former City Comptoller John Liu for the 11th District seat. Much to the surprise of the Asian-American community, Liu, a Bronx Science alum, supports multiple admission criteria, while Avella dropped his co-sponsorship of the Senate bill, something Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) also did. Lee said many parents gasp when he informs them of the Senate candidates’ respective views. “We don’t think enough constituents understand the issues,” Lee said. “It’s a matter of changing admission standards from merit to something other than merit and we don’t think that’s fair.”

Lee said the Sept. 9 primary race is crucial because the 11th District coincides with School District 26, which contains many “feeder” middle schools and some of the borough’s most overcrowded high schools. Cardozo and Francis Lewis high schools run on double or triple sessions and have trailers to accommodate the overflow. However, the dramatic shortage of over 7,550 high school seats impacts the entire borough. Lee said that changing the admissions criteria in ways that would reduce the number of Queens students who leave to attend specialized high schools would increase pressure on its already overcrowded public schools, where people are already tripping over each other to get into honors and accelerated programs at the public schools, as well as parochial schools. In addition to improving K-8 education throughout the city to increase access to the specialized high schools for students of a l l ba ckg rou nd s, L e e a dvocat e s for increasing access to the DREAM program, which provides tutoring and test preparation for economically disadvantaged sixthto eighth-graders who attain a set score on the fifth-grade state tests and have at least a 90 percent attendance record, by raising the income limit and lowering the required test scores. “We want to promote diversity, but maintain merit,” Lee said. He added that the racial disparity may be due to the fact that students from certain ethnic groups are more likely to choose parochial, private or charter schools, many of which also have high graduation and college acceptance rates, over the specialized high schools, while the Asian-American community focuses on the latter. “We are not trying to take anything away from anyone, but specialized high school students do not want anything taken away from them,” Lee said. Specialized high school students often contend with long commutes in addition to large Q workloads and extracurricular activities.

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Bright colors and showy prints liven up the season’s fashions

1990s; expect to see baggy outlines via relaxed blazers, billowing jackets and even overalls. Oversized and exaggerated silhouettes are also in. Alexander McQueen’s runway show seemed to go overboard with gigantic outerwear enveloping models with mountainous robe coats, turtlenecks and shawls. In pants, boyfriend jeans — relaxed denim, straight-legged pants that purposefully look a bit big — are in demand. Speaking of denim, “denim on denim on denim” seems to be a focal point this season. Expect to see pieces like patchwork long-sleeved shirts or pants. Two-toned denim — perhaps where it fades into a white bleached wash — is this fall’s subtle spin on the trend of color-blocking. Several lines use denim in unexpected ways, such as high heels (Acne Studios) or sunglasses (RayBan). Comfortable yet crisp chambray tops are also a staple at shops like Gap, Madewell and Levi’s. For those who seek earthier styles, a western trend is also emerging. Look out for fringed jackets or even skirts constructed from curtains of full fringe. Bourbon-toned leather jackets, raw denim, fur accents, ornate western belts forged from nickel or bronze and broadrimmed hats reminiscent of spaghetti westerns are at the forefront of this nostalgic trend. Many shoes this season are works of art in and of themselves. An up-and-coming trend is quirky shoes that feature unexpected silhouettes or surreal accents. Don’t shy away from sk y-h ig h st at ement platforms, big buckles or straps that crisscross in unique designs.

Clockwise from the top center, vivid patterns and the western trend are evident at Loveday 31 in Astoria, a tribal-print dress on display at Strawberry in Forest Hills, men’s leather shoes and accessories at Aldo in Forest Hills and some of PHOTOS BY CRISTINA SCHREIL the geometric and colorful jewelry at Loveday 31. For instance, Veneta created a black suede pump with a touch of whimsy — fingers of fabric seemingly creep up the ankle. In menswear, brown leather dress shoes are popping up everywhere. Sneakers are especially chic in both men’s and women’s fashion; for women, sneakers with electric glitter fabrics (think disco balls, on your feet!) are in. Converse recently unveiled a line inspired by DC Comics, with vibrant images of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Jason Delfino, a Queens Village native and CEO of G. Moba, a new line of video game-inspired clothing, said consumers should expect to see more technology as time goes on. Delfino mentioned the Motiif “M” smart trench coat that charges a wearer’s smartphone.

“People are getting much more tech-savvy with their fashion,” Delfino said. “The consumer wants to know how to make the brand stick out and how they can serve them beyond the image.” G. Moba makes “App jackets,” which are built with a card that wearers can scan to share iPhone apps with friends. Delfino assures consumers that there’s no need to have bells and whistles to dress futuristically; the Japanese company Uniqlo patented an ultra-thin fabric that still insulates, which is perfect for keeping warm yet remaining slim and chic. “In the world of fashion, everyone ultimately wants to have a platform to express themselves,” Delfino said. “We all have something to say.” Q

Back To School & Fall Guide 2014

ith weather already starting to shift into fall, look forward to a burst of punchy prints, vibrant gem hues and funky, eclectic patterns spilling over from summer. While New Yorkers tend to lapse into wearing darker, muted tones like black, slate, or deep stone fruit colors in the fall, runway trends suggest shoppers should stand out against the autumnal landscape. “We tend to think of bold colors only for the warmer seasons but, according to some designers, color isn’t going anywhere,” said Jessica Lemos, an Astoria-based style blogger. She mentioned the Christian Dior Fall 2014 Couture Collection, s pr i n k le d chu n k y t r ap ezoid s which incorporates dashes of bright throughout brightly colored pieces) primary colors, like magenta shoes and eclectic tribal-inspired designs contrasted against basic black leg- are also in demand. In menswear, plaid is still a popugings or opaque wool coats. Other high-end designers like lar material for shirts and shorts. The much-anticipated Sept. 14 Oscar de la Renta also embraced color this fall, constructing pieces in launch of the collaboration between designer Joseph Altuzarra and Taremerald, burgundy and cerulean. Lemos also noted how summery get features striking animal prints Bohemian-inspired pieces will — another trademark of the season. Ivona Bilicic, owner of Loveday carry over into fall wardrobes. 31 on 31st Ave. in H&M, which is Astoria, said that focusing on blackstyles gest ur ing a nd -wh it e c onou can point back to the 1960s trasts this season, — like Yves Saint has an assortment to the past with L a u r e n t ’s m o d of accent pieces a mod ’60s look, schoolgirl look — like a cobalt blue or to the future are making a chunky-k nit top comeback. On the a nd a n elect r ic with a coat runway, Miu Miu fuchsia fine-knit that charges and Valentino paid cardigan. Expect your phone. homage to optical similar bursts of prints, and other color in handbags and warm accessories like scarves Mad Man-esque designs. Her boutique is vintage, but Bilicand hats. Colorful accents also play a key ic curates pieces according to trends. role in men’s fashion. Bright hats, Her shop features modern jewelry scarves, socks or patterned ties are — some from Queens-based designfeatured at Urban Outfitters, J.Crew ers Pretty Picnic and Rebel Chic — and Givenchy. For materials, leather, adorned with geometric shapes, or woven with fine leather. suede, and denim are popular. “I think there are so many unique Prints and patterns are also more extravagant; there are more floral individuals walking the streets of prints (think graphic tropical flow- Queens,” Bilicic said. Another decade that made a ers, not feminine daisies). Geometric prints, embraced by designers resurgence in spring fashion and such as Carolina Herrera (who’s will continue to in the fall is the

by Cristina Schreil

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014

Autumn’s about to heat up

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014 Page 16

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Keep on gardening in the fall Time to plant bulbs, prepare lawn for winter and grow vegetables

f you t h i n k fa l l means putting away you r t r owel a nd rake, think again. Preparing the garden for the winter as well as next spring is an important part of planning for its future. And just because the days are getting shorter and cooler doesn’t mean you should overlook fall planting of vegetable crops that will be ready to har vest long before Thanksgiving. Bulbs are the order of business for new flowers that will start producing colorful blooms in early spring. Look for crocuses, daffodils, tulips, alliums, irises, hyacinths, lilies and more in garden centers and big box stores such as Costco. The beauty of bulbs is that they are considered nearly impossible to mess up. Just remember to plant the pointy end up. That’s it. Plant larger bulbs about 8 inches deep and smaller ones about 5 inches underground. No fertilizer is needed for the first year. Bulbs should be planted as soon as the ground is cool, when evening temperatures average between 40 to 50 degrees. For a dramatic effect, plant them in clusters. If vegetables are more to your liking, there are several coldweather varieties that do very well in the fall. The easiest are radishes, which take only 30 days to harvest from seed. Carrots, beets, peas and turnips also do well, but will take longer to mature.

by Liz Rhoades

Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, chard and lettuce can be grown through the winter as long as they are protected. As they develop in the fall, leaves can be cut off and eaten as the plant continues to thrive. The important thing is to keep the ground moist until the seeds germinate, and as the plants develop, mulch around them to keep weeds out and moisture in. These fall vegetables will tolerate a light frost, do well in shorter daylight hours and grow best with mild temperatures. There’s something special about planting turnip seeds in the ground and a couple of months later pulling up the large, bulbous white bulb to eat. Bragging rights are definitely in order if used for the Thanksgiving meal. Root vegetables such as turnips, carrots and radishes tend to have a longer shelf life after harvested. So keep them in a cool, dry place or your refrigerator and they may last until Christmas. Fall is also a good time for planting most trees. The temperatures are cooler, which produces less stress on the trees and gives the roots a better chance to get established. After the tree is planted, be sure to protect it from the cold by placing mulch down once the ground has frozen. Use bark chips or leaves near the tree but not up against the trunk as that can cause fungus to grow.

Raking leaves on a regular basis is an important part of lawn care maintenance PHOTO COURTESY STATE POINT MEDIA in the fall.

For many mature trees, branches should be pruned in the fall. Thin rather than eliminate full branches as f lower buds have already been formed and heavy pruning reduces the next spring’s flower output. The same goes for bushes, both f lowering and otherwise. Evergreens, hydrangeas, buddleias and hundreds more will do better and stand a better chance of survival if planted in the fall rather than in summer. If you’re looking for additional color and fresh blooms this fall, mums are the perfect solution. T he bu shy f lowe r s come i n numerous colors and can fill in holes produced by spent summer plantings. Also recommended for curb appeal are decorative kale and cabbage, Montauk daisies, dusty millers and asters. Pansies are quite hardy and look great on borders or in window boxes. They also come in numerous colors to add a fresh look to the garden. Another fall chore that will expand your garden is dividing plants. During autumn, it is recommended to divide the peony, lily-of-the-valley, Japanese iris and Asiatic and oriental lily. Dig up a full plant and divide it, making sure the roots remain intact. Replant the mother plant and plant the divided grow th wherever you want. Make sure they receive plenty of moisture in the fall and mulch in the winter. Lawn care should not be overlooked in the fall, either. This is the best time to prepare lawns for next spring. During this time of year, grass absorbs energy, moisture and nutrients to prepare for a long, dormant winter. Here are six tips for a goodlooking lawn next spring: • Keep mowing. Continue to mow and water the lawn. As it gets colder, lower the blade for the last two cuttings of the year to allow more sunlight in. • Aerate the soil. This allows more oxygen, water and fertilizer to reach the grass roots. The machines can be rented at gardening centers. • Rake leaves. Better to do early and throughout the season to avoid fungal disease and allow the grass to breathe. • Fertilize. If you fer tilize grass only once a year, do it in the fall. It delivers nutrients so the grass can grow deep roots. The best time to apply is mid to late fall.

Youngsters can learn a lot about how produce gets to the table by helping mom grow their own. Here, turnips are among the fall weather crop. PHOTO COURTESY BONNIE PLANTS

• Fill in. It’s time to remedy those bald spots in the lawn. Buy a lawn repair mixture that includes grass seed and fertilizer. Loosen the soil in the affected area and spread a thick layer of the mixture. Lightly compact and water thoroughly. Water every other day for two weeks. • Control weeds. Use a herbicide on weeds like dandelions. They won’t return in the spring. The latest natural remedy to kill weeds going around the internet that everyone is swearing by calls for: 1 gallon white vinegar 2 cups Epsom salt 1/4 cup Blue Dawn dish soap Mix and spray on weeds. Users say it on ly works w ith Blue Dawn. You be the judge.

If you’d like to lear n more about maintaining a healthy lawn without using artificial fertilizers a n d p e s t ic id e s , t h e Q u e e n s Botanical Garden in Flushing is planning several workshops this fall to discuss the benef its of composting: • Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the garden, 43-50 Main St. The cost is $5 and registration is required by calling (718) 539-5296. The topic is fall lawn care. • Sept. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Douglaston Library, 249-01 Northern Blvd. Call to register, (718) 225-8414. It’s free. • Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the QBG. Registration Q required. The cost is $5.

C M BTS page 17 Y K Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014

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C M BTS page 18 Y K

Pumpkins, squash and apples, oh my! Make the most of your meal by creating new dishes with old favorites

all isn’t always a season people look forward to. Kids go back to school and the days get cooler and shorter. But if there is one thing to be excited over, it’s the delicious comfort food that comes along with the browning leaves and long sweaters. In the summer, herbs and most vegetables and fruit are all the rage. Most greens are in season during the hotter months which makes for great salads and refreshing cold dishes such as gazpacho. Starting in September, however, it’s all about squash, pumpkin and apples. One squash that grows in abundance during the fall months is acorn squash. As the name suggests, its shape is that of an acorn and it is considered a hearty addition to any meal. Conveniently, acorn squash can be saved throughout winter if kept in a cool and dry location, such as a cellar. The squash is usually baked, though it can also be sauteed or steamed. If toasted, the seeds can make for a delicious snack. Like most squash, acorn squash is incredibly versatile and complements tart and tangy flavors.

by Tess McRae

Pomegranate-glazed acorn squash Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 25 minutes Ingredients: • 1 acorn squash • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 cup pomegranate juice • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 tablespoons butter Directions: Halve and seed the acorn squash, then slice into thin wedges. Toss slices in olive oil and roast at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pomegranate juice down with sugar and salt in a skillet for about 5 minutes or until thick. Add the roasted squash, butter and glaze into a bowl and toss until each wedge is coated. For extra flavor, top with fresh mint. *** Acorn squash’s more popular cousin, butternut squash, is another deliciously versatile food to cook with and can make a tasty fry and an even better soup.

Butternut squash soup

Back To School/Fall Guide 2014

Prep: 20 to 30 minutes Cook: 90 minutes

Pumpkins are all the rage in the fall.

PHOTO COURTESY THE_GIRL/FLICKR

Ingredients: • 4 pounds whole butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded. • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 Granny Smith apple • 1/2 yellow onion • 8 fresh sage leaves • 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth • 2 1/2 cups water • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1/3 cup heavy cream • 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place squash, cut-side up, on top. Melt half of butter and brush over the tops and insides of the squash and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until tender for 50 minutes. Meanwhile, peel, core and cut apple and onion into medium dice. Melt remaining butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the apple, onion and sage and cook until softened. Remove pan from heat. When squash is ready, set baking sheet aside until cool enough to handle. Using a large spoon, scoop the flesh into the saucepan and discard the skins. Add the broth, water and salt and pepper and bring to a boil over medium-high stove. Reduce heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cream. Using a blender, puree soup in batches until smooth. *** One of the most common foods used during the fall is the apple. Living in New York, residents are lucky to have their choice of fresh, organic bushels for baking or eating raw. Any seasoned baker knows the best apples to cook with are not always the tastiest. If preparing a pie or apple-glazed dish, always use Granny Smith apples or Macintosh. The more tart the apple, the better it will taste when cooked. The reason is, sweet apples often become mushy or fall apart when heated. Tart apples take to heat better and provide a nice, smooth yet crunchy texture.

Directions: Preheat oven to 175 degrees and place a medium-sized dish in the oven to warm. Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat and brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot pan. Cook for five to six minutes, turning occasionally or until done. Transfer meat to warm dish and keep warm in oven. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet and stir in dry ingredient mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are slightly tender. Remove apples with spoon and place on top of chops. Continue cooking sauce uncovered in skillet until thickened. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle pecans on top. *** A true American fall favorite is pumpkin. The gourd is put in everything, from bread loaves to Starbucks lattes. When it comes to fall food, pumpkins are always No. 1. What better to pair pumpkin with than a New York City delicacy, cheesecake?

Pumpkin cheesecake Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 40 minutes Ingredients: • 2 packages of cream cheese (eight ounces) softened • 1/2 cup white sugar • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 eggs • 1 9-inch prepared graham cracker crust • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 pinch ground cloves • 1 pinch ground nutmeg • 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove one cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Spread over batter in the crust. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Allow to cool and refrigerate for three hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping just before serving. ***

Caramel apple pork chops

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. That may be true but it also pairs well with a good pork chop. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE/FLICKR

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 25 minutes Ingredients: • 4, 3/4-inch-thick pork chops • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • salt and pepper • 1/8 teaspoon grounded cinnamon • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced • 3 tablespoons pecans

Acorn squash may look weird from the outside, but they act as a great base for any dish with tart and tangy glazes and dressings. PHOTO COURTESY KNITTINGIRIS/FLICKR

The fall is an amazing time for food, and even better when you live in a state like New York, where squash, apples and pumpkins are plentiful. Q Bon appetite!

C M BTS page 19 Y K Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014

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Previewing the fall TV season

hen we Baby Boomers were growing up the changing of the seasons from summer to fall meant two things: (a) the start of a new school year and (b) the various TV networks launching their new primetime programs. The television landscape has become far more complicated over the last generation, with the proliferation of cable television networks, and, in the last few years, online companies such as Netf lix, Yahoo and Hulu, which have developed shows that have won Emmy Awards such as “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black.” But when fall comes around, it’s still old school as the attention is clearly on the tried and true broadcast networks. Here’s a quick look at what they have in store for us.

by Lloyd Carroll

Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” will have yet another reboot with Thomas Lennon and Matthew Perry (who has had no TV success since “Friends”) as Felix and Oscar.

NBC The good news for the Peacock Network is that it doesn’t have any obvious new disasters such as last year’s dreadful comedy “Welcome to the Family.” The bad news is that NBC Enter tainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt, who gave the green light to “Homeland” when he ran Showtime’s programming department, has approved two imitations for NBC’s fall slate, and neither looks promising.

CBS The Tiffany Network has had the most viewers over the last decade but has taken shots from hipster critics for appealing to an older audience than its competitors. I don’t see a problem with that, but rather with the lack of risk-taking on the part of CBS. CEO Les Moonves loves his “CSI” and “NCIS” franchises and is launching a new one from each this fall. “CSI Cyber” has Patricia Arquette and James Van Der Beek as FBI agents who specialize in high-tech crime. Scott Bakula has long played gruff characters so he should be a perfect knockoff of Mark Harmon’s Jethro Gibbs character on “NCIS: New Orleans.”

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PHOTO COURTESY CBS

CBS has long championed police procedurals even if they don’t create franchises. Johnny Lee Miller’s success as Sherlock Holmes on “Elementary” has created an employment opportunity for fellow British actor Ioan Gruffudd, who stars as a New York City medical examiner in “Forever.” The twist is that Gruffudd’s character is immortal. It’s not a new TV season unless Dylan McDermott is starring in yet another show. This time it’s “Stalker,” wherein he plays a former NYPD detective who relocates to the LAPD to track down, you guessed it, stalkers. A more intriguing cop show is “Battle Creek,” whose creator is Vince Gilligan of “Break i ng Bad” fame. It st ars Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters. You have seen Winters many times even if you don’t know his name, as he has starred as the humorously malicious “Mayhem” in those clever Allstate ads.

PHOTO COURTESY NBC

“Allegiance” stars Scott Cohen as the patriarch of what seems to be a normal American family but in reality are Russian spies. Apparently no one told Greenblatt that cable’s FX has a similar show called “The Americans.” At May’s NBC Upfront, in which networks present sneak peeks at their new programming to advertisers and the press, Greenblatt took pains to lavish attention on “State of Affairs,” which stars Katherine Heigl, whose talent has long escaped me and who is legendary for diva behavior, as a CIA attache. My prediction is that the dice will come up snake eyes, just as they did for two other Greenblatt pet projects, “Smash” and “The Michael J. Fox Show.” NBC will try to give CBS some competition with police procedurals beyond its remaining “Law & Order” series, “Special Victims Unit.” “Aquarius,” set in the late 1960s, stars David Duchovny as an LA detective who will eventually cross paths with Charles Manson. “The Mysteries Of Laura” has another Greenblatt favorite, Debra Messing, playing a single mom NYPD detective who is tough as nails. Think of her as “Dirty Harriet.” On the comedy front, Kate Walsh stars as a wacky guardian of the law in “Bad Judge.” The fact that the TV version of the Cameron Diaz film “Bad Teacher,” which starred Ari Graynor, flopped on CBS last spring apparently did not deter Greenblatt. The always welcome Craig Robinson, who in real life is a fine musician, stars as a junior high music teacher in “Mr. Robinson.”

PHOTO COURTESY ABC

assume that ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee has to be concerned about his job security. If Lee does lose his job, you have to at least give him points for trying to bring diversity to primetime. Comedian Anthony Anderson, who has never starred in a hit show despite numerous chances, gets an opportunity to fail yet again in the questionably titled “Blackish,” in which he stars as the head of an upscale African-American family. Newcomer Cristela Alonzo gets a show named after her with “Cristela.” Here she is a recent law school grad who finds that the only employment open to her is an unpaid internship at a law firm, and that doesn’t please her Mexican-American family. Former Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher’s wife, JoAnna Garcia, stars in the “Astronauts Wives Club,” set in the 1960s, while “Manhattan Love Story” is yet another “Friends”-inspired show about 20-somethings in the big city.

FOX Kevin Reilly was fired as Fox Television Entertainment president after last May’s Upfront presentation. As is the case when a great baseball team suddenly gets old at once and there isn’t an infusion of top new talent, a la the Philadelphia Phillies, things tanked very quickly for Fox when longtime tent poles such as “American Idol” and “Glee” experienced massive audience erosion and there were no new hits to pick up the slack. So Reilly met the same fate that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel met last year. Ironically, Reilly left Fox with some promising new shows.

ABC These have not been the best of times for what the raffish entertainment trade publication Variety has long called the Alphabet Network. ABC has finished fourth in the ratings the last two years, and one would

Rainn Wilson, one of the stars of NBC’s old hit “The Office,” portrays a brilliant yet humorously crude Portland detective in the hour-long dramedy “Backstrom.” Benjamin McKenzie stars as James Gordon, who will eventually become better known to comic book fans as Commissioner Gordon, in the Batman prequel “Gotham.” Terence Howard stars as the head of a hip-hop music label in “Empire.” Taraji P. Henson, who was last seen on CBS’s topnotch drama “Person of Interest,” co-stars. I have a feeling that Sean “P. Diddy” Combs will be watching this one. Fox executives are hoping that “The Red Band Society,” about chronically ill teens in a hospital, will be their next “Glee.” On the comedy front, “Seinfeld” fans should check out “Mulaney,” which stars witty Chicago comic John Mulaney who portrays a slightly fictionalized version of himself just as Queens College alum Jerry Seinfeld did in the ’90s. Former “Saturday Night Live” player and co-star of the Bruce Dern film “Nebraska” Will Forte stars in “Last Man on Earth.”

PHOTO COURTESY FOX

PHOTO COURTESY CW

CW There have been rumors that the CW, which came about after the merger of the failing UPN and WB Networks, is in danger of folding. Tribune Media President Peter Liguori (who grew up a Mets fan in the Bronx so you know that he’s tough!) has been highly critical of the CW’s ineptitude since Tribune Media owns a lot of its outlets, including Channel 11 here in New York. Liguori has a right to gripe as the CW in recent years tried to focus its programming on preteen girls as well as renewing shows that hardly anyone watches, such as “America’s Next Top Model.” That has not been a recipe for garnering sizable advertising revenue. Last year CW President Mark Pedowitz decided to diversify his programming a bit and he had a hit, by CW standards anyway, with a DC Comics hero, “The Arrow.” This year he is doubling down on DC Comics as the CW will be presenting “The Flash.” The CW has had some success with vampire-themed shows, so now it will expand into the world of zombies with actress Rose McIver portraying a medical student who works in a coroner’s office so that she can maintain her zombie lifestyle undercover. Hey, if this show gets canceled, McIver can always move to CBS Q and join the cast of “Forever!’

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Visit Queens to your arts’ content Borough’s museums and art galleries invite all tastes and ages

he ability to spend a few hours exploring culture from some of the country’s earliest history to some of its newest art is available to Queens residents without even crossing a river. And with school starting, many of those listed here — which are not quite all Queens has to offer — have educational programs for those of all ages, and some discounted admission for students and school groups. With people coming from all over the world to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for two weeks to attend the US Open, many perhaps could take a stroll over to the Queens Museum of Art, located across from the Unisphere at a 90-degree angle to the entrance of the National Tennis Center. In its mission statement, the museum seeks to bring modern art and educational experiences “to local residents, international tourists, school children, artists, people with special needs, families, immigrants and long-time New Yorkers.” The museum reopened last fall following a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation. Its hours are noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $8 for those 12 and older, and $4 for seniors and students. Children under 12 are free. Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Blvd., hosts exhibits, lectures, educational programs and cultural performances sponsored by the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts. The backdrop is a landmark 1862 structure. Directions and information on admission, tickets for presentations and accommodating school groups is available on line at flushingtownhall.org. A current school and a former one — Queensborough Community College in Bayside and MoMA PS 1 in Long Island City — also have made it their mission to bring people and art together. The QCC Art Gallery, at 222-05 56 Ave. in Bayside, houses collections of African and pre-Columbian art, post-modern works from the 1950s and photography. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Travel directions and other information are available online at qccartgallery@.cuny.edu. On its website, MoMA PS 1 bills itself as “a true artistic laboratory,” geared toward contemporary and experimental art, music and musical performances. Founded in 1971 as the Institute for Art and Urban Resources in Long Island City, it became a part of Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art in 2000. It is located at 22-25 Jackson Ave., and is open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Directions and information on admission fees and tours by groups or schools is available online at momaps1.org.

by Michael Gannon

The corn maze, an annual feature of the Queens County Fair, which is coming up at the Queens County Farm Museum, on Sept. 20 and 21 on the 74-acre working farm in Floral Park. FILE PHOTO The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City is dedicated to the works of Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), a Japanese-American sculptor. Located at 9-01 33 Road, the building and gardens themselves are considered to be among his finest works, according to its website. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. General admission is $10 for those 12 and older. Senior citizens and students with valid IDs are admitted for $5. Children under 12 are free. Admission also is free on the first Friday of every month. Directions and other information are available at noguchi.org. Immediately north of the Noguchi is Socrates Sculpture Park. Founded in 1986, the park was formed

when a group of artists reclaimed an illegal dumping site along the East River at 32-01 Vernon Blvd. in LIC. It now functions as a city park where artists can work on their own large-scale outd o or p r oje c t s. T h e p a r k’s we b sit e, socratessculpturepark.org, states that the public has access not only to works of art and those in progress, but also free lessons and art workshops for children, teenagers and adults. The park is open year round between 10 a.m. and dusk. L ong Isla nd Cit y a lso host s t he SculptureCenter, located at 44-19 Purves St. Founded in 1928 according to sculpturecenter.org, the group does not have a permanent collection. “Our efforts are focused on commissioning and producing contemporar y art,” according to its website.

Fun, educational and nearby For those wishing to venture just a little bit out of Queens, the New York Transit Museum, at the intersection of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn, offers exhibitions, tours and educational workshops detailing how the history and culture of the city and its transit system are intertwined. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $7 for adults. Seniors 62 and older are $5, and are admitted free on Wednesdays, with the exception of groups. Children 2 to 17 are $5. Further information is available at web.mta.info/mta/museum. The American Museum of Natural History, at 79th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan, offers exhibits for those interested in mummies, dinosaurs, Hayden Planetarium, the famous blue

whale and many things connected with the Ben Stiller-Robin Williams movie “Night at the Museum.” General admission ranges from $22 (children 2 to 12 are $12.50) to $35 per person, depending on the exhibits one intends to see. Some tours have special or additional fees. Directions and information are available at amnh.org. For art by some of the great masters in a small, intimate setting, there is the Frick Collection at 1 E. 70th St. in Manhattan. The collection features works by Rembrandt, El Greco, Gainsborough and others. Hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $20, $15 for seniors 65 and over and $10 for students with valid ID. Children under 10 are not Q admitted to the gallery.

The group no longer offers classes, but does accept submissions from artists during its annual In Practice Open Call. Artists wishing to be notified of coming open-call periods are invited to sign up for the group’s email list on its website. The center is open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Thursday through Monday. The suggested donation is $5 general admission and $3 for students. A gallery that offers food for the body as well as food for thought and reflection is the Crescent Grill at 38-40 Crescent St. in LIC. Aside from serving a menu with food produced close to home, the restaurant also features the works of local “Local and renowned artists.” Two more conventional stops are the Dorsky and Jeffrey Leder galleries, also in LIC. Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, at 11-03 45 Ave., promotes visual arts through independently curated exhibits, publications and symposiums, all geared toward promoting and fostering understanding of contemporary art. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Thursday through Monday, and admission is free. Further information is available at dorsky.org. The Jeffrey Leder Gallery, at 21-37 45 Road, features painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. It was started in part, according to its website, to create space for talented emerging and mid-career contemporary artists. It sponsors juried shows aside from its regular exhibits. It is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Its website is jeffreyledergallery.com. Moving from contemporary art to living histor y, the K ing Manor Museum in Jamaica offers exhibits, tours, events and other presentations in the family homestead of Rufus King, an architect of the U.S. Constitution and one of the first leaders in the newborn United States of America to call for the abolition of slavery. The museum is located in Rufus King Park at 150-03 Jamaica Ave. between 150th and 153rd streets. It is open from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The suggested donation is $5 for general admission and $3 for senior citizens and students. Children under 16 are admitted free. Directions and information are available at kingmanor.org. And combining both past and present history with science, education and just plain fun is the Queens County Farm Museum on Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. The working farm offers tours, hay rides, up-close views of farm animals and a seasonal farmstand. It also will host the annual Queens County Fair on Sept. 20 and 21. Information on programs for student groups is available at (718) 347-3276, ext. 302, or by sending an email to info@queensfarm. Q org. General admission is free.

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A look ahead at the issues the team will face in the off-season

glove. He has also been a great role model for younger players in the clubhouse in how to comport yourself. Young was released by the Mets earlier this month in a rare admission of failure on Alderson’s part. The funny thing is Young wasn’t as unproductive as many fans and sportswriters made him out to be. He did have some big hits but just not enough to live up to his generous contract. The Mets would not have had to sign Young last season if Alderson did not try to nickel and dime outfielder Scott Hairston, who hit 20 homers for the Mets in 2012, on a new contract after that fine season. Hairston left as a free agent because he wanted $2 million while Sandy was holding the line at $1.5 million. This wasn’t the only case of Alderson being penny wise and pound foolish. He played the same contractual game with relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, who was brilliant in 2013 and served as a de facto pitching coach in the locker room. LaTroy was signed by the Colorado Rockies and Alderson tried to compensate for his loss by signing retreads Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth, who both stunk out Citi Field earlier this season and were released. Fortunately the Mets bullpen has been fairly respectable, thanks to the good work of Vic Black, Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia. Closer Bobby Parnell is expected to return next year after recovering from Tommy John surgery, so the Mets may surprisingly have some trade chips in their relief corps. Ever since Bernie Madoff became a household name six years ago, the Mets have not been major players in free agent signings. This year the Wilpons and Alderson can breathe a sigh of relief because it appears that the Class of 2015 free agents is far from-star-studded. There aren’t any potential Hall of Famers a la Robinson Cano. Ironically, one of the potential free agents is the aforementioned Hairston. The Mets would be smart to chat with him in November when free agency commences. Alderson doesn’t have to worry about seeking a first baseman as it appears that he made the right choice in keeping Lucas Duda over Ike Davis. Duda has hit for power and for a better average than what most expected. He has also shown that he is not a defensive liability. The Mets seem to have a catcher for the future in Travis d’Arnaud, who got off to a horrible start and was demoted to their Las Vegas AAA team. Ever since he returned, d’Arnaud has been tearing the cover off the baseball. Perhaps it’s coincidental but d’Arnaud has worn a T-shirt that says “Queens” in script under his uniform the last two months. My suggestion is that should become a requireQ ment for all Mets players in 2015.

Back To School & Fall Guide 2014

es, there is still a month to go in the 2014 season but for all intents and purposes the Mets organization and their fans are looking ahead to next year. I will put on my turban and shine up my crystal ball as I attempt to be a clairvoyant. The first order of business for Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson is to decide whether to retain Terry Collins as the team’s manager next year. Based on results, it would seem that firing Collins should be a no-brainer. Barring a minor miracle, this will be the fourth straight season that the Mets have had a losing record with him at the helm. His in-game decisions have frequently left many scratching their heads, particularly with respect to when to employ the bunt and the utilization of lateinning double switches. Retaining Terry would seem to indicate that ownership is content with lackluster results. Collins’ supporters rightfully point out that even Hall of Fame managers would not have produced better won-loss records with the Mr. Met wants you — to show up at Citi Field; so what might the team do to have a better season players that he has had to work with over the and generate more demand for tickets next year? PHOTO BY SCOTT SMITH / SRISONS / FLICKR last four years. Even his fiercest critics would For years the Mets scouting department has concede that Mets players never dog it in the in the newspapers. If he’s not ready to pitch field and always play hard no matter what the in April, he won’t see his name as often as played up Wilmer Flores’ ability to hit even if his defense is adequate at best — and that’s score is or where the team is in the standings. he’d like there.” And most of the media likes him because he is The exec did not have to add that he’ll being kind. So far Wilmer has been yet anothcandid in his press conferences, is generally have a harder time dating supermodels if he er dime-a-dozen singles hitter and not that much of an upgrade over Ruben Tejada, who approachable and has worked hard to learn the suffers a setback. names of reporters. My guess is that if the Mets finish up in seems to have a permanent place in Mets It’s common when a manager is about to the neighborhood of their usual 75 wins Col- management’s doghouse. Nevertheless, I expect both of these guys to be back next year. get the ax to hear whispers that he has lost the lins will be back. There was speculation that second clubhouse. That is certainly not happening The Chicago Cubs, who are loaded with here. If anything, Terry reinforced his good terrific shortstops in their farm system, were baseman Daniel Murphy was on standing with the players when he voiced his at Citi Field during the last homestand before the trade block prior to this frustrations with last year’s ace pitcher Matt this week’s visit from the Atlanta Braves. The year’s July 31 deadline, and Harvey’s actions off the field as he recovers Mets, who are anemic offensively and have that if he weren’t moved then, from Tommy John surgery. The operation been suffering at shortstop ever since Jose he would be during the offforced Harvey to miss all of this season, and Reyes was allowed to leave as a free agent at season. Don’t expect Alderthe Mets organization wants him to be conser- the end of the 2011, seemingly have a surplus son to trade the Mets’ lone vative with his exercise regof talented young pitching. representative to the 2014 imen so that he doesn’t Not surprisingly, fans and All-Star Game in light of the reinjure himself. many in the media fanned fact that they don’t have a Two weeks ago, howevtalk that the Cubs should suitable replacement for him in er, Harvey conducted a trade their star shortstop, the minor leagues. Another reason why Murphy will radio interview from the Starlin Castro, to the Mets Mets’ Port St. Lucie, Fla. in exchange for one of their probably stay is the decline in third basebase in which he bragged prized pitchers, such as man David Wright’s production this year, about throwing many pitchZack Wheeler or Noah which is one reason why the Mets offense has been punier than usual. Wright has been the es at 95 mph and reiterated Syndergaard. his goal of pitching for the They can forget that face of the Mets for nearly a decade and is in Mets before 2015. When a idea. Fidel Castro is more the beginning of a long-term contract that repor ter asked Collins likely to be throwing out pays him $20 million annually. The outfield remains an area that needs about Harvey’s statements, the ceremonial pitch on he quickly replied in frusOpening Day 2015 at Citi serious upgrade. Alderson, who is usually tration, “I feel like putting Field than Mets fans are to parsimonious when it comes to contracts (the my head through the wall!” seeing Starlin Castro’s Wright deal was done at the insistence of name penciled in the Mets’ Mets CEO Fred Wilpon as a reward for his It’s Harvey’s narcissism loyal service, and most fans were in agreelineup that day. that not surprisingly has Alderson is very risk ment that it was the right thing to do at the annoyed many of his teamaverse when it comes to time), lavished a $60 million, four-year conmates. A Mets executive high-stakes trades. In fair- tract on Curtis Granderson, and inexplicably summed it up best when he spoke with a couple of The Mets are worried that pitcher ness to him, the old adage signed journeyman Chris Young to a onereporters in the Mets dug- Matt Harvey could reinjure himself that you can never have year, $7.5 million deal. out earlier this month. with too much exercise too soon enough pitching has never Granderson’s batting average has been “Matt likes to see his name after his surgery. subpar but he has shown power and a great FILE PHOTO proven truer in baseball.

by Lloyd Carroll

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014

What’s next for the Mets?

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 28, 2014 Page 24

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