Queens Chronicle - Back To School 08-24-17

C M BTS page 1 Y K

Back to School and

QUEENS

Fall Guide 2017

Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 2

C M BTS page 2 Y K

The Mary Louis Academy

TMLA +

2017 BACK TO SCHOOL & FALL GUIDE CONTENTS

Back to School • Prepare early for high school application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 • New and expanded schools in Queens . . . . 5 • Who’s right on school violence statistics?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 • ‘Zombie’ charter schools could live again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 • How teaching has evolved over the years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

At The Mary Louis Academy, you will find your own voice—distinctive, confident, intelligent, creative, and empowered—a voice that will be one of your greatest assets in life.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 15, 2017 10am-3pm

• Your 2017-18 school calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org

Fall Guide

• Enjoying the ‘countryside’ in Queens . . . . 10

Please pre-register for our open house at www.tmla.org.

• A season of top-notch live entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Mary Louis Academy is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Chartered by the State of NY.

MALO-072221

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.tmla.org

• There’s a world of programs at the library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 • A great weekend trip: Saratoga Springs . . . 14 • The fall season on traditional TV. . . . . . . . 16

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 | Phone: 718-297-2120 Fax: 718-739-0037 | @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016

SUPPLEMENT EDITOR: PETER C. MASTROSIMONE; COVER DESIGN: JAN SCHULMAN; EDITORIAL LAYOUT: TERRY NUSSPICKEL

C M BTS page 3 Y K Page 3 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

C K H S

An Independent Catholic High School Providing Quality Catholic Education Since 1962

The advantages of a Christ the King Catholic education... x x x x x

Over $80 million in college scholarships offered over the past 5 years Thousands of college credits earned by students while in attendance at CK “On-the-spot” scholarships offered by Catholic universities visiting CK Over $4.5 million awarded in 4-year academic scholarships to incoming freshmen in the past 5 years Guaranteed Fixed Tuition Rate (guaranteed not to increase over 4

years)

x

Continuing Catholic Education School Loyalty Award

x

Highly acclaimed Theatre Arts Program Top ranking Speech & Debate and Mathematics teams Microsoft licensed IT Program Nationally recognized Sports Program Campus Ministry and Community Service Program Full range of extracurricular activities

x x x x

For more information, contact Steven Giusto, Assistant Principal (718) 366-7400, EXT. 240

Join us at our

Open House Saturday, September 30th Tours from 10 AM to 1PM

Serphin R. Maltese, Chairman • Michael W. Michel, President • Geri Martinez, Principal

CHRI-072283

x

($2,000 over 4 years offered to students currently attending a Catholic grammar school)

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, NY 11379 www.ctkny.org

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 4

C M BTS page 4 Y K

High School admissions prep Your child should start planning by 7th grade

by Victoria Zunitch Chronicle Contributor

With high school choice in place for all New York City students, the 13-year-olds in this fall’s eighth-grade class need to get about the business of choosing which high school they will register at next year, right?

Wrong! In the city public school system, “High school choice” means that schools choose the students they want to admit, while students begin as early as the fifth grade to prepare to compete for the schools they would like to attend.

Every student is guaranteed a spot in some public high school, somewhere, but all students who wish to attend a public high school must apply, even to their zoned school.

The good news: The city and the Borough of Queens offer a large number and variety of high schools, and — theoretically, at least — each student can apply to any school. There are schools that focus on strong academics, career and technical education, the arts or combinations thereof. Bells and whistles include strong athletic programs, help with getting part-time high school jobs and internships, and the chance to earn college credits — or even a two-year associate degree — during your high school years.

“NYC is home to some of the best public high schools in the country. Students are fortunate to be able to apply to schools that specialize in the areas they are interested in,” said Mrs. A., a parent from central Queens.

That takes a lot of work, however. The complicated and confusing process could probably fill a semester-long class in any of the city’s middle schools, but it’s good practice for college admissions. The Department of Education recommends thinking about high school the summer before eighth grade.

But the word on the parental street is that it’s smart to map out a strategy in the spring of sixth grade — when students are as young as 11 years old — for admission to the New York City high school from which they will graduate at age 17. An early start gives you time to sort through all of the choices and prepare for any admissions exams or auditions.

Admission to one of the highly competitive specialized high schools requires excellent grades in middle school and a very high grade on the Specialized High School Admissions Test, which usually requires taking several test prep courses.

Open houses can be “sold out” or nonexistent, so footwork is required to research prospective schools.

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

The nine specialized schools All students can list up to 12 schools on their application, and the city’s nine specialized high schools run a separate application process. Disadvantaged students who want to participate in the city’s DREAM Specialized High School Institute must apply in sixth grade. And heads up! If you want your child to attend Hunter College High School, the process starts as early as the end of fifth grade, when students may be as young as 10, which can mean fifth grade, with test prep for the Hunter admissions exam. If your child doesn’t receive admission to Hunter during sixth grade and enroll for seventh, that option is off the table for high school.

Students who gain admission to the eight specialized high schools requiring the SHSAT usually engage in significant test preparation for a year or longer before the test. Let’s say your child memorized the periodic table of the elements at age 8 and is a walking encyclopedia of scientific knowledge.

That makes her a favorite for Queens’ only specialized high school, the Queens High for the Sciences at York College, right? Wrong again! Science isn’t tested by the SHSAT, which only covers mathematics and English language arts.

And there’s a lot for a Queens student to think about when

applying to the ninth specialized high school, LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts in Manhattan, which requires good middle school grades and test scores, auditions and portfolios instead of the SHSAT. LaGuardia is popular with artistic students from all boroughs because it has a reputation for being strong in both academics and the arts. It doesn’t hold open houses, and instead suggests prospective students attend its public events to get familiar with the school; however, there aren’t many scheduled in the summer and early fall, when the DOE recommends eighth graders start thinking about high school.

LaGuardia applicants must choose the curriculum they’re interested in — for example, dance or the other performing arts, visual arts, technical theater — and obtain an audition ticket from their guidance counselor in early fall. At their late fall audition, most students must perform a prepared piece or submit a portfolio, such as 10 to 15 pieces of visual art, which many students prepare with private tutors or in semester-long afterschool programs. LaGuardia has an extended school day, which means that Queens residents would need to commute home daily from Manhattan’s West Side during rush hour, do homework and squeeze in some sleep before starting the morning commute all over again.

Finding a good fit and giving it your best shot can take a good deal of preparation. It sounds overwhelming, but take heart. Two simple words can ease your path: Plan ahead.

The Chronicle has prepared this guide to get you started.

Proper prior planning The first step is to prepare academically for high school admissions by staying focused on grades in middle school.

Students who have their heart set on attending one of the SHSAT schools sometimes start attending test prep classes in the summer between sixth and seventh grade. These classes are usually a big commitment, as they typically run at least once a week for several months at a time, or every day in a “summer camp” format.

Then, write down your core values for high school and refer back to them throughout the process. Must have a short commute? Prefer a disciplined environment with a dress code? Need a strong foreign language program? A written list of your parameters will help to keep you focused.

Get on the high school admissions learning curve in the late spring of sixth grade, or at the latest, the spring of seventh grade. First read the DOE’s high school admissions home page at schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/High, where you can also download its High School Admissions Timeline and other general information.

Sign up for the DOE’s high school admissions and specialized high schools email notifications at schools.nyc.gov/ subscribe. Actually read those emails as they come in! Especially take note of invitations to sign up for additional notification services, such as specialized high school text alerts.

This year, the SHSAT email list invited subscribers to download the “Remind” app, which sends push notifications about test prep directly to your smartphone. These services help you meet deadlines and register for events. Stay informed by keeping up with local news reports about city high schools.

Now, create a calendar for applications, testing dates and DOE events. Frequently check the DOE’s High School Admissions Events Calendar for general admissions events and open house events at specific schools. The first events are usually the July Family Workshops for both regular admissions and specialized admissions; these meetings focus on the mechanics of applying.

Next, create a wish list of schools. It’s essential to list as

Admissions requirements vary not only among schools but sometimes within them, as with Forest Hills High School’s various FILE PHOTO academies and programs. many choices as possible. Don’t think you can simply list your one target school to have a better chance of your child getting in. If he or she does not, you’ll need to enter round two after everyone has had a chance to accept or decline their first-round acceptances, and by that time, fewer spots will be open.

Getting to know a school Start by considering your default zoned school and other ones nearby, if only because it will be easier to get information about the neighborhood and to swing by for a look at the building. If you can get there around arrival or dismissal time, you might catch some clues about school culture and crowding.

Keep a notebook or create computer files for your notes. Read the websites of your favorite schools to learn about admissions policies, programs and any open houses you might be able to attend. Some schools also hold events, such as plays, concerts or PTA fundraisers, that are open to the general public. Consider attending one of these to learn more.

The DOE provides a useful tool that lets you search by keyword or borough at schoolfinder.nyc.gov. Databases like insideschools.org and greatschools.org are also popular, but aren’t always completely up-to-date. The same goes for school websites. The DOE has an “official” website for each school with a bare minimum of information (name, address), but most schools have also created their own proprietary websites with admissions, curriculum and other information.

Find out which admissions processes are used by your wished-for high schools and the criteria they use.

Consider the content of the curriculum and any special programs. In Queens, Forest Hills High School offers the Carl Sagan Science/Math Honors Academy, the Law & Humanities Institute, the Academy of Instrumental/Performing Arts, and the Drama Program, all of which have specific admissions requirements. Townsend Harris High School is a regular-application public high school for the humanities directly adjacent to Queens College. The Baccalaureate School for Global Education provides a European-style Intercontinued on page 18

C M BTS page 5 Y K

3,700 seats being added but many more needed in Queens

by Anthony O’Reilly Associate Editor

While the city will be adding nearly 3,700 new school seats in Queens, that only begins to scratch the surface of what’s needed to alleviate the overcrowding crisis affecting thousands of students.

In The World’s Borough, three brand-new school buildings will be opening their doors. They are PS 335, located at 150-15 Raleigh St. in Ozone Park, which will have 516 seats; PS 332, a 468-seat elementary school at the former site of Keil Bros. Garden Center & Nursery, at 210-21 48 Ave. in Bayside, the siting of which was met with community opposition; and PS 298, a 796seat school coming to 50-51 98 St. in Corona. Also coming to Queens are the openings of three additions to existing schools.

IS 125 in Woodside will see an additional 728 students attending school; PS 11, also in Woodside, is getting 856; and PS 49 in Middle Village another 333.

New schools and additions combined, there will be 3,697 new spaces for pupils to be educated in Queens.

Some Queens legislators said finding new sites for schools, working hand-in-hand with the School Construction Authority, is

one of the hardest tasks they have.

“There’s always an issue of space,” said state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), a member of the Education Committee. “The location of some of these schools may not always be the best, but what can we do? That’s what we deal with. We’re not blessed with rolling green pastures.”

Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), chairman of the Council’s Education Committee, said he’s found sites before, which have then been shot down by the SCA for multiple reasons.

“It is very frustrating,” he said.

And while the two are excited for what’s to come, numbers provided by advocacy group Class Size Matters show the new seats coming this school year don’t even begin to make a dent.

For example, in School District 27 — where PS 335 is opening — the Department of Education in its February 2017 capital plan identified the need for 1,768 seats. At that time, there was only funding for 972.

Additionally, only 37 percent of K-8 seats had sites in the process of design, compared to a 29 percent average citywide.

In School District 26, future home of PS 332, the average school utilization rate is

121 percent, the third-most overcrowded behind nearby District 25 and District 20 in Brooklyn. The DOE has identified the need for 2,504 seats but only set aside funding to create 924.

In School District 24, which will be home to PS 298 and the three new additions opening this school year, there is funding set aside to create 4,885 seats, but a known need for 9,403.

In their quest to reduce the number of students in each room, Class Size Matters last month filed a complaint with the state alleging the city has not taken measures mandated by law to reduce overcrowding in schools. The city in 2007 was required by the Contract for Excellence Law to ensure K-3 classrooms has no more than 20 students, grades 4-8 no more than 23 and high school core classes no more than 25 by the 2011-12 school year. The plaintiffs, including some Queens parents, allege class sizes have only grown since then.

Dromm said he agreed with the premise of the complaint.

“They have not followed that law,” he said.

One way of achieving the mandated goals, he added, is to continue to build new

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Now opening: three new schools

More than 3,500 new seats will be filled in Queens this year. schools throughout the city, though admitting that will be a challenge.

“The two are directly correlated,” the Q councilman said.

WE ARE LA SALLE. ARE YOU? OPEN HOUSE Saturday, SSatu attu dday, ay October Oct ctober tobee 211 10 10A 10AM-2PM 0AMM-2PM -2PPM • 99% College Acceptance Rate

• La Salle WORKS, our internship program • Partnerships with top universities, Cooper Union, NYU and Manhattan College • Digital Learning Partnership with Microsoft Corp.

• Championship-winning sports programs • Among the most affordable Catholic high schools in New York City

QUESTIONS? 212.475.8940 ext.240 admissions@lasalleacademy.org DIRECTIONS 6 train to Astor Place N, R, W to 8th Street - NYU Q to 14th Street F to 2nd Ave B, D to Broadway/Lafayette L from 14th Street A, C, E & NJ PATH

lasalleacademy.org LASA-072260

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

• La Salle IN THE CITY, our action-based learning program

215 East 6th Street between 2nd Avenue & Bowery New York City

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 6

C M BTS page 6 Y K

Whom to believe on violence?

Police, state statistics tell two different tales on safety. Here’s why.

by Anthony O’Reilly

edged a request for an interview with Kittredge on why the group uses the highly-disputed numbers, but he did not contact a Besides making sure their children are getChronicle reporter before deadline. ting a quality education, the No. 1 thing parAsked of FES’s persistent claim that the ents want to know about their kids’ school is city is not being truthful about safety in that it’s safe. schools, Grimpel said “The NYPD is not So when the morning bell rings once again fudging safety statistics.” for the 2017-18 school year on Sept. 7, will There is one other use for the VADIR numchildren be entering a safe public school sysbers, to identify “persistently dangerous tem or one riddled with violence? schools.”

The answer is somewhat complicated and And even as the state data shows a rise in depends on whom you ask. incidents under de Blasio, it’s showing a dip Take the 2015-16 school year for example; in the number of schools called “persistently according to New York City, there were about dangerous.” At the start of the 2015-16 school 7,000 violent incidents in public schools. It’s year, there were 27; now there are two — PS the second-safest school year on record, only 183 in Rockaway and IS 49 on Staten Island. behind 2016-17, which saw a 5 percent drop How does one become a persistently danfrom the previous year. gerous school? DOE officials explained to “Thanks to the hard work of the NYPD members of Community Education Council and the Department of Education, families 27, the panel that represents PS 183, that a can rest assured that our school buildings are formula takes the number of incidents, enrollsafe places,” Mayor de Blasio said in an Aug. 1 statement announcing the most recent Are the city’s public schools safe? You might get two different answers if you look at city and state ment and other factors to determine which ones make the grade. school year’s safety statistics.

FILE PHOTO statistics. We explain the reason why.

A school must also be named a “potentialBut according to state data, there were 16,851 violent incidents in the 2015-16 year ty agent ... we can’t report numbers that are process of overhauling VADIR, and while it ly persistently dangerous school” before did not respond to requests for comment on becoming persistently dangerous.

— statistics for 2016-17 are not yet publicly not brought to us.”

So does that mean the Rockaway school is And the second, is that it must be an actual how it’s specifically striving to do that, one of available. the reforms took effect in July — which more violent than others? Not necessarily, the De Blasio’s foes, such as the pro-charter crime.

“If it’s a crime in the penal law, it’s a crime reduced the number of categories of violent school officials explained. Attendance being group Families for Excellent Schools, often one of the major factors means PS 183, which incidents from 20 to nine. push those numbers and claim the number of in the school,” the NYPD spokesman said.

Cases formerly classified under assault has about 600 students, will always be more That’s not always the case for the incidents incidents have been growing since he took found in VADIR reports. For example, a first- with serious physical injury or assault with likely to earn the dubious distinction than office, by 30 percent since he took office.

“Failing to report 10,000 violent incidents grader hitting another first-grader with an physical injury will simply be grouped togeth- Brooklyn Technical High School, which has covers up a crisis of this Administration’s empty milk carton was recently designated as er under physical injury — codes will be pro- around 5,500 pupils. CEC 27 President vided to allow the state to know the severity of Wendy Pratt-Hall said it was “disheartening” own making,” Families for Excellent Schools “Assault with a Weapon.” to see “so much disrup“We would never any given incident.

CEO Je re m ia h K ittion” at PS 183.

The policy was “revised con sider t wo k id s tredge said in an Aug. 1 “We don’t know what’s play i ng i n a play- to provide clarity to schools statement issued shortly he NYPD is ailing to report 10,000 going on with them,” she g rou nd and there’s for ease of categorizing before the mayor’s. not fudging violent incidents said. “Whether it’s homesome sort of incident incidents to improve accuWhy the big discrep... to be an assault,” racy in reporting,” the SED a ncy? It u lt i m at ely safety statistics.” related or they’re being covers up a crisis of bullied, we don’t know Chief Brian Conroy, s a i d w h e n i t f i r s t comes dow n to t he this Administration’s — Lt. John Grimpel, what’s going on, but there’s school safety chief for announced the change in reporting mechanism NYPD spokesman something going on that the NYPD, said at a December 2016. each side utilizes. own making.” didn’t need to happen.”

Improved clarity and recent press conferCity Hall uses num— Families for Excellent Schools Both potentially persistently dangerous ence alongside de Bla- accuracy for VADIR are desperately needed, bers from the city Police sio and Schools Chan- according to Councilman Danny Dromm and persistently dangerous schools have Department to highlight the safety of public schools and groups like cellor Carmen Fariña. “And unfortunately the (D-Jackson Heights), chairman of the Coun- “incident reduction plans” implemented to best address the issues affecting the campusFES look at statistics from the state’s Violent State data does that ... Many incidents may be cil’s Education Committee.

“The VADIR system is in need of revi- es, in an effort to get them off the lists. DOE and Disruptive Incident Reporting system — handled inside a classroom with no police sion,” said Dromm, a former public school officials credited such measures for the drop involvement whatsoever.” known as VADIR. Mark Rampersant, the DOE’s deputy CEO teacher. “In my opinion, the only thing in dangerous schools in the five boroughs.

A short way of describing the differences “Our schools are the safest they’ve ever between the two could be that the NYPD will for Safety and Security, said at the same press VADIR does is promote a schoolyard-to-prisonly record criminal acts, whereas VADIR conference the city is “working closely with on pipeline by criminalizing, what I would been and the continued decrease in crime, counts just about everything that goes on in the State and we have helped them to under- view as an educator, child development school-related arrests and summonses shows and around schools — and, according to its stand using sort of penal code language to issues. A kid throwing a milk carton does not that our investments in proactive and positive define the actions of a kindergartner is proba- really come down to a violent incident, unfor- school discipline interventions are making a critics, over-exaggerates some of them. tunately that’s how VADIR is collecting that sig nif icant impact,” said Far iña in a Lt. John Grimpel, an NYPD spokesman, bly not the best way to go.” statement.

Where does the state get these figures and data.” said there are two things that must occur for Dromm said he preferred “restorative pracVADIR has been criticized by many eduthe police to record an incident in the school, descriptions from? School administrators the first is that it must be brought to the atten- report every incident in and around their cation officials including former state and tices that deal with disruptive students and buildings to the DOE officials, who then file U.S. Education Commissioner John King, try to get to the root cause of the problems” tion of law enforcement.

“We need to be made aware of it,” Grimpel the VADIR reports using the categories avail- who once said it “rarely reflects the realities during his time as an educator.

“This is something I’m very, very much in of school health and safety.” said in an interview. “If it’s brought to the able to them.

Q Families for Excellent Schools acknowl- favor of,” he said.

The state Education Department is in the attention of the school but not the school safeAssociate Editor

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

“F

“T

C M BTS page 7 Y K

Part of deal to extend mayoral control of schools

by Michael Gannon Editor

With days left until mayoral control of New York City schools would disappear, state Assembly Democrats refused to link the extension to the cap on charter schools; Republicans in the Senate would agree to nothing else.

Nevertheless, the deal eventually reached in Albany has left all sides declaring at least partial victory.

Mayor de Blasio gained a two-year extension shortly before restoration of the old boards of education threatened to cast the school system into chaos.

On his official website, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) took credit for passing a “bipartisan omnibus bill ... [that] included a two-year extension of mayoral control of New York City schools, giving our educational system stability and allowing our schoolchildren to thrive.”

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk) got an agreement to restore 22 so-called “zombie” charter slots from schools that failed or never even opened.

“We came to a responsible agreement that extends mayoral control ... while assuring that charter schools continue to play an

important role in the education of school children there,” Flanagan said.

The deal meant Heastie did not have to agree to an increase of the charter cap, which both he and the powerful United Federation of Teachers union opposed.

There are 228 charters in the city scheduled to be open in the 2017-18 school year.

James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center, said the 22 restored slots leave the city with between 42 and 45 unfilled slots, depending on how many applications are approved in the next round.

“It’s a good first step forward, a victory for those who don’t want an artificial cap on high-quality schools,” he said.

Merriman said there was no change in existing statutory language from 2015.

And, while the mayor and backers of charter schools still are worlds apart on many issues — supporters have taken the city to court over things like funding and assignment of classroom space — Merriman said there has been a good deal of increased cooperation.

He said de Blasio and the DOE, for example, “have bent over backwards” this year to expedite the delivery of student MetroCards for charter students whose

school year often begins earlier and ends later than regular city school.

“Parents had the cards in hand when the school year started,” he said.

Neither the Mayor’s Office nor the office of Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jacksomn Heights), chairman of the Council’s E ducat ion Com m it t ee, responded to requests for comment for this story.

Multiple sources contacted by the Chronicle said it is not yet possible to determine how many of the 22 zombie slots might or might not be in Queens. Merriman certainly would like to see some head to The World’s Borough.

“A lot depends on where people have the guts — and that’s what it takes to seek to open a charter school,” Merriman said.

“In Queens there is a demand, and there is the need for seats,” he said. “But it also is a tough real estate market.”

According to the DOE website, two new charters — all are classified as New York City public schools — will open this year in Queens, raising the borough’s count to 20.

The new institutions include the Forte Preparator y Academy Char ter School for grades 5 to 8 in East Elmhurst and New Visions Char ter High School for the

Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

The Walking Ed: ‘zombie’ charter revival

Queens charter schools, such as the Merrick Academy in Springfield Gardens, could grow in numbers in under the deal to extend mayoral PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON control.

Humanities in Far Rockaway. Our World Neighborhood Charter School 2 for grades 5 to 8 in Astoria is scheduled to open in SepQ tember 2018.

OPEN HOUSE SAT., OCT. 14, 2017 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

STAG-072285

Challenge. Inspire. Transform.

13-20 124th Street

•

College Point, NY 11356 • 718.353.6276

•

www.stagneshs.org

980 Park Avenue New York, NY 10028 646-346-8131 • www.loyolanyc.org

Open House Dates: October 5, 2017 - 5:30 pm October 25, 2017 - 5:30 pm

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

LOYOLA SCHOOL

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 8

C M BTS page 8 Y K

How teaching has changed

by Mark Lord

Tech, testing are big factors

— mostly disadvantaged — districts, pre-preK classes are being formed for 3-year-olds.

Even at that age, Common Core plays a The days of the old country-style schoolpart. Pre-K programs, marms have long since passed, but one As a teacher of ESL, Schachne The site goes on to explain that the Abor n said, are “all needn’t look back nearly that far to realize “complex activity of teaching is based on helping stujust how much the art of teaching has evolved found that the technology served to keep the students engaged. “The divided into 22 components (and 76 dents meet or exceed the over the years. smaller elements) clustered into st a nd a rd s for pre -K The consensus among educators, represent- kids loved writing on the Smart f o u r d o m a i n s o f t e a c h i n g Common Core. It sounds ing public and private schools, high schools board. There were different games responsibility.” more daunting than it is.” and elementary schools, city and suburban we could play. You have to keep One elementary school teacher And the effects of schools, seems to be that it was the advent of switching things up for them.”

Of course, technology has at from Astoria, who wished to Common Core are felt technology and the introduction of the Comremain anonymous, suggested across all subject areas, Shana Aborn Esther Schachne mon Core that have had the greatest influence least one school-related drawback, a distraction in many a classroom: the PHOTO BY MARK LORD COURTESY PHOTO there are “now so many elements to though South Ozone on their teaching styles. be rated on that it’s difficult to be Park native Kelvin JenAnd the impact has been both positive and cell phone. Students’ keeping their hands under their desks or pocketbooks on good at all of them all the time.” Observations kins, a teacher for over 20 years before negative.

Early in her career, which dates to 1991, their laps are often dead giveaways that cell by supervisors have become “more of a ‘got- becoming director of fine arts in the Unioncha’ situation,” she said, calling today’s work- dale, LI, school district, sees it in a more posFlushing native Stacy Bernstein taught French phones are involved.

“I almost had a battle” on many occasions place “stressful and intimidating.” itive light than many. at Middle School 158 in Bayside before movto try to get the students to put the Because of the new evaluation system, “Common Core was given a bad rap,” Jening on to Robert F. Kennedy Comdevices away, Schachne said. which relies heavily upon student perfor- kins said. “It wasn’t all bad. It follows everymunity High School in Flushing, Apparently hitting everyone mance on standardized tests, this teacher, with thing the arts have always been. The way the where she taught French as well as even harder was the introduction of over 10 years’ experience, predicts a big turn- arts are taught are what Common Core proSpanish and English as a second Common Core, a state standards over in the profession. poses: Take a text, study it, and put it back language. For the past 21 years she initiative that was launched across “The fun and exciting units we used to together.” has been at a middle school in the country in 2009, with an eye on plan are no longer incorporated The downside of the approach, he Westchester County. establishing a clear set of standards because of the focus on test prepasaid, has to do with the standardTechnology, she said, used to be for kindergarten through high ration,” she said. “Teachers are ized tests. “They just threw it at used primarily as part of afterschool school in the areas of English lan- afraid to take risks or to try someus,” he said. activities. Now it is not only taught Stacy Bernstein g uage ar ts and literacy and thing new in case they have a surAnd, he added, over the past 10 in most schools but is employed in COURTESY PHOTO mathematics. prise observation, so they aren’t to 15 years, he has noticed a greatnearly every classroom activity.

Prior to that, each state had its own defini- growing.” And, she added, the new er emphasis placed on teachers “For a foreign language, that’s huge,” she rather than students. said, as it allows her students “to visit other tion of proficiency, resulting in a lack of focus “is not a true picture of “Teachers must jump through countries on line.” Beyond that, they “can cre- national standardization. New York State teachers, so great teachers are runadapted the new standards in 2010, with full ning away.” more hoops,” he said, “and stay on ate stuff online,” and “I can grade it online.”

Kelvin Jenkins And despite the best intentions, Sharing Bernstein’s enthusiasm for technolo- implementation in place by the 2013-14 school COOURTESY PHOTO top of buzzwords. Students have she said, students aren’t performing been kind of given a free ride. it gy in the classroom is Maryellen Pierce, of New year. The effects have been far-reaching.

“Teaching has only changed big-time in the any better because of the new focus. In fact, they don’t pass, it’s more the teachers’ fault Hyde Park, LI, who teaches social studies and theater arts at The Mary Louis Academy, the past five or six years, when the Common Core she added, “I’ve seen several students vomit than the students’ fault.”

A graduate of August Martin High School private Catholic college preparatory school for and the Danielson rubric and the multiple during exams because of stress.” observations for all teachers came out,” said Danya Crowd, a retired high school special in Jamaica, where he played in the pit for girls in Jamaica Estates.

“Use of technology is an everyday occur- Robert Gold, who retired last year after teach- education teacher from Queens Village, has musicals like “The King and I” and “South ing English at Forest Hills and Franseen teaching go “from student- Pacific,” Jenkins laments the effect that rence in my classroom,” cis Lewis high schools. centered to data-centered” over the increased paperwork has had on teachers. she said, adding that her According to Gold, all teachers years.

“It’s forcing seasoned teachers out the students all have iPads. are now observed at least three or As a teacher of students with door,” he said. Nowadays, they seem “more Pierce is able to integrate four times a year, even those who special needs, Crowd found herself worried about standardized scores than the software lessons in her have been tenured for decades. That more and more inundated with nitty-gritty of education. It’s sad.” planning, and she has the group had previously been observed paperwork. “It seems to be about On that, he is in agreement with Crowd, ability to post classwork once annually. numbers. It’s hard to keep track to saying, “Teachers used to build relationships notes, educational videos constantly input data about the stu- with their students. Teachers are more conAnd the use of rubrics, a scoring and even send messages dents. It takes away from the prepa- cerned with their ratings.”

Robert Gold to parents at the touch of Maryellen Pierce tool based on a set list of criteria, has become a system-wide phenomenon.

PHOTO BY MARK LORD ration time,” she said.

One teacher, who also wished to have her a button.

PHOTO BY MARK LORD Before retiring in 2010, Crowd name withheld, has spent much of the past 28 “Rubrics are now used with every “Parents can look up years working with students in their kids’ weekly grades so nothing is a sur- single graded assignment,” Gold indicated. caught the beginning of the burgeonalternative school settings, many prise when they get their report cards,” she “You can adapt rubrics, go to various websites ing Common Core era. “In special that have rubrics, construct your own, but you ed they gave you a list of goals of whom were on suspension “for said. instead of allowing you to get to various issues.”

The school also utilizes Smart boards, inter- must use rubrics.”

Even teachers, to a great extent, are now know your students and come up Most recently she has been active computer-driven white boards that long working in the ReStart Academy, a ago began to replace traditional chalkboards, evaluated based on a rubric, one devised by with goals per each child’s needs,” city Department of Education prooffering greater opportunities for collaboration Charlotte Danielson, recognized in some quar- she said. “That’s not individualized ters as an expert on teacher effectiveness, and education planning to me.” gram that provides students a secbetween teachers and students.

One major change was noted by ond chance at success.

Smart boards have also come in handy for incorporated in the Danielson Framework for a relative newcomer to the profesEven in such a setting, with no Esther Schachne, who taught at Robert F. Ken- Teaching.

Danya Crowd Gold, suggesting teacher creativity is stifled sion, Shana Aborn, who works as a nedy Community High School for 20 years PHOTO BY MARK LORD more than 25 students per class, allowing her to develop one-on-one before retiring in 2015. Their inclusion in daily by it, is not the only educator who indicated pre-school teacher in Rego Park.

“Education is beginning so much earlier relationships with them, she shares one major lessons “was a very big thing,” she said, admit- displeasure with the framework, a researchting that “it was a little intimidating, but I did based set of components that is grounded in a than when I was a student or even a generation complaint with her colleagues: “How can you what I had to do.” If need be, she called upon constructivist view of learning and teaching, or two ago,” she noted. “Now formal education learn when you’re texting your buddy in the according to the Danielson Group’s website. begins at age 4.” She indicated that in certain bathroom?” she wondered.

Q her students to lend a hand.

Chronicle Contributor

*early dismissal

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

March 6-7 Tuesday and Wednesday March 8-9 Thursday and Friday March 14-15 Wednesday and Thursday March 30-April 6 Friday through following Friday May 3 Thursday May 9 Wednesday May 23 Wednesday May 28 Monday June 7 Thursday June 11 Monday June 15 Friday June 26 Tuesday

SAINT JOAN Quality education since 1921!

Children of all faiths are welcome to attend

Enroll now for 2017 - 2018!

Pre-K to Grade 8

(Two blocks from Roosevelt Ave. & the 7 train.)

718-639-9020 www.sjaschoolny.org PrincipalSJA@aol.com

ARC CATHOLIC SCHOOL

• Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence • AdvancED Accredited • 3 and 4 yr. old Full Day Program (8am - 2:15pm) • Traditional academic subjects plus Music, Art, Physical Education, Computer Science, Band and STEM activities • Textbooks, workbooks, work-a-texts along with notebooks still used in every subject • Title I Classes in Reading and Mathematics after dismissal without pulling students out of classes for Stop in Any these services. We also have a Title I Time for a Tour!

Guidance Counselor twice a week during the school day.

No Appointment • SMARTBoards™ in every classroom, Needed! class sets of iPads and Chromebooks.

Online ebooks, Storia (Scholastic), and Mathematics programs.

• After School Care for all students from 2:15pm -7pm (for additional tuition per month) JOAA-s072020

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

35-27 82nd Street Jackson Heights

OF

SCHOOL SESSIONS BEGIN FOR ALL STUDENTS. Partial day for prekindergarten.

Elementary school: parent-teacher conferences.

Rosh Hashanah (schools closed).

Middle school: parent-teacher conferences.

High school: parent-teacher conferences.

Columbus Day (schools closed).

Election Day. Students will not be in attendance.

High School parent-teacher conferences, 11-9 evening, *11-10 afternoon.

Elementary parent-teacher conferences, 11-15 evening, *11-16 afternoon.

Thanksgiving recess (schools closed).

Middle school parent-teacher conferences, 11-29 evening, *11-30 afternoon.

Winter recess (schools closed).

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (schools closed).

Lunar New Year and midwinter recess. (includes Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday, (schools closed).

Middle school parent-teacher conferences, *3-6 afternoon, 3-7 evening.

High school parent-teacher conferences, 3-8 evening, *3-9 afternoon.

Elementary school parent-teacher conferences, 3-14 evening, *3-15 afternoon.

Spring recess (includes Good Friday and Passover) schools closed.

High school: parent-teacher conferences.

Middle school: parent-teacher conferences.

Elementary school: parent-teacher conferences.

Memorial Day (schools closed).

Anniversary Day (schools closed).

Clerical day for students in elementary and middle schools, schools closed.

Eid al-Fitr (schools closed).

LAST DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS.

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Sept. 7 Sept. 8 Sept. 13 Sept. 21, 22 Sept. 26 Sept. 28 Oct. 9 Nov. 7 Nov. 9-10 Nov. 15-16 Nov. 23-24 Nov. 29-30 Dec. 25-Jan.1 Jan. 15 Feb. 16-23

Information courtesy NYC Department of Education website: schools.nyc.gov

2017-18 PUBLIC SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

C M BTS page 9 Y K

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 10

C M BTS page 10 Y K

In fall, the country comes to Qns. Get your pumpkins, apples and glimpses of foliage without leaving home

by Christopher Barca Associate Editor

There’s nothing quite like a cool fall afternoon spent picking the finest apples, finding the fattest Halloween pumpkins, sipping steamy cider and admiring the awesome fall foliage.

Fill your lungs with a deep breath of that crisp air. Fill your stomach with those delicious cider donuts. Fill your heart with the sights and sounds of Mother Earth’s changing seasons.

However, one thing you won’t have to fill in order to experience such a magnificent moment with nature is your car’s gas tank.

New England and upstate New York are still and forever will be the mecca of autumn — ground zero for foliage and the fruits of fall. But for those of you who can’t or don’t want to leave Queens, don’t worry.

Our borough does a bang-up job when it comes to providing all that fall has to offer.

Fall foliage Before urban sprawl claimed the mouth of the Hudson and East rivers centuries ago, our future home borough looked a lot like modern-day New England, wooded and rife with animals large and small.

But some vestiges of pre-Colonial Queens still exist today, specifically places like Alley Pond Park, Cunningham Park and Kissena Park, where visitors might think they were anywhere else but the big city.

So when those green leaves of the summer turn to whimsical shades of red, yellow, orange and pink as fall arrives, don’t feel the need to travel upstate or to those picturesque New England towns to, as the kids say, “leaf peep.” The aforementioned borough parks will be the places to be.

According to Community Board 8 Chairwoman Martha Taylor, there’s no better green space to see the sights of autumn than Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows.

A founding member of the Friends of Cunningham Park civic group, Taylor said in an interview last Thursday that the 358-acre space is the first place Queens residents should go when looking for fall foliage.

“It’s easy to get to and, yes, it’s beautiful,” Taylor said. “It’s a great place to walk, jog or ride your bike. You don’t even feel like you’re in New York anymore.”

But if you want to visit Vermont without leaving Queens, Taylor says a trip along the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, one of the country’s first concrete roadways, is a must.

“It’s absolutely the best place to see the foliage,” she said. “It’s very secluded, aside from some joggers or bike riders.”

Originally built in 1908 as a racecourse by the railroad mogul William K. Vanderbilt Jr., the road later became popular with alcohol bootleggers during Prohibition and, eventually, New York socialites traveling to their Suffolk County estates.

The 1933 opening of the Northern State

This isn’t a picturesque walking path along the banks of a lake in Vermont. It’s a trail right here in Cunningham Park. You can find countless trees — and their gorgeous changing leaves — without PHOTO COURTESY NYC PARKS leaving the borough this fall.

Parkway rendered the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway useless, with the latter closing to vehicular traffic in 1938.

Today, the tree-lined road belongs to pedestrians and cyclists, allowing people to travel between Cunningham Park and another popular borough green space, Alley Pond Park.

Nearly twice the size of Cunningham, Alley Pond offers miles of hiking trails along routes lined with beautiful trees that turn vibrant shades of red and pink once the temperatures start to cool.

“You can choose between several of the park’s official walking paths, although the most popular are the green trail and the white trail,” the Parks Department’s web page about Alley Pond Park reads. “The green trail is especially tree-filled, surrounded by tulip trees and some sassafras.”

One of those hiking paths even leads to what many environmentalists believe is the tallest tree — and oldest living thing, at over 350 years — in New York City, the 134-foottall tulip poplar tree known as the Queens Giant.

While smaller than the two aforementioned spaces, Kissena Park, at just 237 acres, is an underrated place to see the best sights autumn has to offer.

In fact, the Parks Department’s Urban Park Rangers organization is hosting a free fall foliage walk there at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30.

According to Martha Brodylo, the Queens Urban Parks Ranger sergeant, Kissena Park is home to some of the more fascinating trees in the borough.

“There are native trees from Iran and other places from the old Parsons nursery,” Brodylo said in an interview. “The trees that were left behind, including the Manchurian linden and the Persian parrotia, just rooted there.”

Those trees are rare, but like the trees one would find here in the Northeast, their leaves spectacularly change colors in the fall as well.

“Our number one goal is to link New Yorkers with the natural world,” Brodylo said.

“Just show up with your walking shoes and an open mind.”

Urban park rangers will also be leading a fall foliage walk at Captain Tilly Park in Jamaica at 1 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Flavorful food To truly experience the fall, you need to involve all of your senses. And when it comes to embracing all that autumn has to offer, taste is just as important as sight.

Luckily, you don’t have to leave Queens to sip some stellar cider, munch on marvelous cider donuts or devour some red delicious apples. And no matter what fall treats you prefer, the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park will have you covered this September and October.

“It’s really like an escape when you walk through the gates, as you’re surrounded by so much agriculturally,” Executive Director Amy Boncardo said in an interview. “You’re within a working farm and it surrounds you.”

The museum’s two biggest events of the season include the two-day 35th annual Queens County Fair the weekend of Sept. 23 and Oct. 1’s Kickoff to Fall.

The former event will feature corn-husking and pie-eating contests, while the latter will provide attendees a glimpse into the lives of rural farmers.

And instead of having to go upstate for some scrumptious food, many of the staples of an autumn diet — apples, donuts, cider and roasted corn on the cob — will be coming downstate to you.

For example, the apples sold at the event are grown at orchards across the Hudson Valley, where they are picked and driven to the museum on Fridays and Saturdays.

“There is no apple picking. You don’t get to take them off the tree yourself,” Boncardo said, “but still, it truly is a day of fall.”

If you can’t travel across the borough to Floral Park, you can get the Hudson Valley’s best at your area farmer’s market, courtesy of sustainability group GrowNYC’s greenmarket program.

There are nine such entities in “mainland” Queens — including one in Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, Flushing, Ridgewood, Forest Hills and two in Astoria — open one day a week either year-round or through the end of November.

Produce farms like Migliorelli, Sawkill and Terhune, all of Dutchess County, have products for sale, as do dairy farms from across Long Island and New England.

For hours of operation specific to each greenmarket, log onto grownyc.org.

The Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing also operates a farmer’s market every Friday through Nov. 14, where visitors can buy fresh produce from farms north of New York City.

Family fun There are few things more quintessentially autumn than pumpkins. And like cider donuts and apples, you won’t have to leave the borough to snag yourself one.

The Queens County Farm Museum’s pumpkin patch will be open for business each weekend — beginning Saturday, Sept.

30 and ending Sunday, Oct. 29 — and on Columbus Day, Oct. 9.

The pumpkins are not grown on-site, Boncardo said. But they are trucked in from rural Pennsylvania and upstate New York orchards, so you know you’re getting the best the Northeast has to offer.

Want to have a little fun before picking your pumpkin and lugging it all the way to the car? Look no further than the museum’s “Amazing Maize Maze.”

For just $10 — $5 for children 4 to 11 and free for toddlers — inquisitive visitors can try to conquer the venue’s three-acre corn maze. A fantastic mental exercise, the trek takes about 45 minutes to complete.

The labrynth is a popular one, as Boncardo said about 24,000 people gave it a try last October alone.

“It gets crowded,” she said. “You need to bring your patience because there may be a line to get in.”

So you walked the maze and got your pumpkin. Time to go home. Instead of treking all the way back to your car, take the farm museum’s hay ride.

“As much as I’ve done it, I still love taking the hay ride,” Boncard said. “There is nothing better than sitting on a bail of hay and having hay on your legs for the rest of Q the day.”

C M BTS page 11 Y K Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Established In 1973

UNLIMITED TUTORING INC. PRIVATE TUTORING AT OUR CENTER OR YOUR HOME Weekdays or Saturday Reasonable Rates - NYC Licensed Teachers ADULTS - CHILDREN Computer Instruction

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon. - Fri. SUBJECTS OFFERED - ELEMENTARY THRU COLLEGE Reading, Mathematics, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Accounting, Business, Calculus, Physics, Writing, Trigonometry, Chemistry, US History, Biology, Global History, Earth Science, Algebra, Geometry, Living Environment, Cursive Writing

RENT SOME FUN!

PREPARATION FOR :

SPECIALTY CYCLES, WATERCRAFT & MORE QUEENS: Flushing Meadows: (2 locations), Jacob Riis Park STATEN ISLAND: FDR Boardwalk (2 locations) Product and hours vary by location.

A.C.D.

114-64 MERRICK BLVD., JAMAICA

ďF>CĐ DC>ĢEEE> Ğ 8)&&-'6/3&/5"-4þ$0.

WHEF-072292

718-291-0922

©2017 M1P •UNLT-072289

BROOKLYN: Marine Park, Lakeside Prospect Park, Bensonhurst Park

• Regents Examinations • PSAT, SAT, ACT, and SSAT • Catholic High School Entrance Exam • N.Y.C. Specialized High School Exam • N.Y. State Math Test and ELA Exams • Common Core • GRE • USMLE • TOEFL Vouchers • ASVAB Accepted • GED • CUNY

back to school

99

Includes X-Rays, a Comprehensive Exam and Dental Cleaning

718-728-3314

32-50 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11103 www.alldentalneeds.com

STEF-072305

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

STEINWAY FAMILY DENTAL CENTER Healthy teeth and gums for life

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 12

C M BTS page 12 Y K

Stars will shine all season long Divas, Shakespeare, Jane Austen ... this borough has everything

by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

In need of some fun and exciting family entertainment? Well, help is on the way, courtesy of our borough’s professional performance venues, which have attractions of every sort and variety lined up for the coming months.

The Queensborough Performing Arts Center has a packed season in store, kicking off with “Shades of Buble,” a three-man tribute to Michael Buble, one of the most popular neocrooners of this generation. Promised hits include “Quando, Quando, Quando,” “Come Fly With Me” and “Fever.” This nostalgiafilled event comes to QPAC on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.

Tickets: $35-$45.

The following week brings two superstars of Broadway, Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune, in a concert featuring musical performances culled from their landmark careers. “Two for the Road,” on Oct. 8 at 3 p.m., will showcase moments from such shows as “West Side Story,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Chicago,” as well as “Nine,” “My One and Only” and “Grand Hotel.” Tickets: $40-$50.

On Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., Taylor Dayne brings her unique vocal style to the venue. Tickets: $35 and $50. The next day, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m., rock ’n’ roll legend Darlene Love comes to town, with special guests The Fabulous Coasters. Tickets: $40-$48.

A change of pace comes with the arrival of the operatic pop ensemble Kol Esperanza, in a performance billed as “an intimate evening from Israel.” This marks their New York City debut. Show date is Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $34-$44.

QPAC is located on the campus of Queensborough Community College (222-05 56 Ave., Bayside). For further information, go to visitqpac.org or call (718) 631-6311.

The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College is gearing up for a busy season of its own, with Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) making a rare local appearance on Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. He will be perform-

The Ten Tenors will perform both traditional and contemporary Christmas songs at the Colden AudiPHOTO BY BELINDA ROLLAND torium on Dec. 10. ing in the intimate LeFrak Concert Hall, and will, in all probability, be singing many of his hit songs, including “Puff, the Magic Dragon.”

Tickets: $35-$45.

Another big name in the music world, Gladys Knight, will be the attraction at Colden Auditorium on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. The seven-time Grammy Award winner, dubbed the “Empress of Soul,” has enjoyed number one hits on the pop, gospel, rhythm and blues and adult contemporary charts. Tickets: $39-$115.

“Inti-Illimani — Celebrating 50 Years of Music, Education & Activism” will be presented at LeFrak on Oct. 29 at 3 p.m., providing the essence of the Latin-American ethno-musical experience. Tickets: $25-$45.

LeFrak will also be the site for the New York Philharmonic Ensembles, who’ll give a Nov. 5 performance that will provide an intimate connection between musicians and audience. Music by Klein, Beethoven and Shostakovich will be performed. Tickets: $25-$40.

A special treat is in store for the youngsters as “Sleeping Beauty” comes to Colden on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. via the State Ballet Theatre of Russia. Set to music by Tchaikovsky, the performance was inspired by the timeless fairy tale about wishes that really do come true. Tickets: $23-$42.

Still in autumn but just in time for the holiday season comes “The Ten Tenors — Home for the Holidays,” with one of Australia’s most popular music groups offering traditional and contemporary Christmas classics. The performance at Colden is on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $30-$55.

All venues at Kupferberg are located on the campus of Queens College (65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing). For further information, go to kupferbergcenter.org or call (718) 793-8080.

The Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center at York College presents The Dance Theatre of Jamaica in “Movements,” featuring a vibrant interpretation of classical and contemporary

Taylor Danye, left, will sing at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center this fall, while Inma Heredia will perform at Thalia Hispanic Theatre and PHOTOS COURTESY QPAC, LEFT, COURTESY INMA HEREDIA AND, RIGHT, BY RAUL HIGUERA Flora Martinez will star in a show at Queens Theatre.

dances in Jamaican style, on Sept 30 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. Tickets: $30-$75.

Also at York will be a concert, “Steve Higgins & Friends,” on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. (Tickets: $30-$70); A Night of Broadway, a showcase/ revue, on Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $20 and $50); and The Will Downing Christmas Show with special guest Alex Bugnon, presented at the college by the Black Spectrum Theatre Co. on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. (Ticket prices TBA).

York College is located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica. For further information, go to yorkpac.com or call (718) 262-3750.

Black Spectrum also presents at its own theater “Kingfish The Musical,” a tribute to the original kings of comedy, Amos and Andy.

Performances run from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, at various times. Tickets: $25. The theater is located in Roy Wilkins Park (177 St. and Baisley Blvd., Jamaica). For further information, go to blackspectrum.com or call (718) 723-1800.

Historic Flushing Town Hall presents a wide variety of global attractions, including the popular Monthly Jazz Jam, held the first Wednesday of each month. The next will take place on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. The ongoing event is described as a “fun way to hone your skills and jam with peers.” Tickets: $10 (free for members, students and jamming musicians).

Town Hall also presents Enchanted Formosa on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m., a free attraction (online RSVP required). Presented in collaboration with Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, the performance features songs from indigenous tribes, combining folk, pop and altrock. Suggested donation: $10.

A special concert in tribute to jazz icons Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk takes place on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. ($42; $32 members; $20 students).

Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. in Flushing. More: flushingtownhall.org or (718) 463-7700, ext. 222.

Thalia Hispanic Theatre (41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside), the only bilingual Hispanic theater in the borough, presents “Divas de España,” a musical revue about what it really takes to be a diva. Performed by Inma Heredia, who wrote the piece, in English with Spanish songs, the show runs Sept. 22-Oct. 8 at various times. Tickets: $35. More: thaliatheatre.org or (718) 729-3880.

Queens Theatre (located at 14 United Nations Ave. South in Flushing Meadows Corona Park) begins its 29th season, offering a variety of dramatic, dance and children’s performances, including Jane Austen’s classic “Sense and Sensibility”; a look at the life of Latin American historical figure Frida Kahlo, starring Flora Martinez and called “Frida Libre”; and a return appearance by the Pilobolus dance troupe.

The theater’s resident troupe, Titan Theatre Co., presents four productions, including Shakespeare’s tragedy “Richard III” and its popular holiday attraction, “A Christmas Carol.” More: Visit queenstheatre.org or call Q (718) 760-0064.

C M BTS page 13 Y K

Musical performances, movies and, yes, books, all await you

by Michael Gannon Editor

The Queens Library has long said it’s not just about books anymore.

And its schedule of the arts, from lectures to performances, for the fall and into winter has offerings that you won’t find in any reference section. Here is just some of what’s in store The library’s Culture Connection program on Sept. 7 will offer an evening with Grammy-nominated trumpet player Alphonso Horne.

Horne has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Rhianna, Michael Feinstein, Marcus Roberts and others. The show runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the main lobby of the Queens Central Library at 89-11 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica. No reservations are necessary.

The “Sunday Concerts @ Central Series” returns with two scheduled performances, both also at the Central Library.

On Sept. 10 from 3 to 4:15 p.m. with Camille Thurman and The Darrell Green Trio. Thurman is a singer and classical saxophonist, feted as a rising star by “Downbeat Magazine.”

Afro-Caribbean music will be front and center on Oct. 1 when the group Legacy Women takes the stage.

The all-female troupe includes singers, drummers and dancers.

Typically, the group’s set list includes numbers with Afroindigenous roots, including bomba music from Puerto Rico, and Palos and Salves from the Dominican Republic.

Movies are the standard fare at the Forest Hills Library, which most weeks through the end of the year will host a Friday Movie Matinee from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Forest Hills Library is located at 108-19 71 Ave. Of course, books will not be ignored as the weather turns colder.

Author and Forest Hills resident Bob Brody will discuss and sign his memoir “Playing Catch with Strangers: A Family Guy (Reluctantly) Comes of Age,” at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The book chronicles his upbringing as the hearing child of deaf parents and his life after moving to New York City.

The Richmond Hill Library will host Alex Seguera, author of the detective thriller “Dangerous Ends,” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. Books will be sold and signed. The library is located at 118-14 Hillside Ave. Cythia Tang will discuss female characters in the acclaimed Chinese novel “The Dream of the Red Chamber” beginning at 1 p.m. at the Flushing Library, which is at 41-17 Main St. The talk will be in Chinese.

On Monday, Sept. 18, Mitali Perkins, the author of several books for young readers, will speak about her experiences as a writer from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Baisley Park Library at 117-11 Sutphin Blvd.

Author and journalist Hugh Wyatt will be at the Central Library from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 to discuss his book “Phoebe’s Fantasy,” written about Phoebe Jacobs, the friend and publicist to all the stars of jazz including Duke Ellington and Queens’ own Louis Armstrong.

Poet and Queens resident Eli Steiner will be reading at an open mic night from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Forest Hills Library.

Other open mic nights are scheduled throughout Queens. The Flushing Library is inviting people to show their talents in five-

Alphonso Horne will appear at the Queens Central Library on PHOTO BY LAUREN DESBERG Sept. 7 as part of Culture Connection. minute presentations of poetry, written or spoken words, comedy or music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7.

The Douglaston-Little Neck Branch, located at 249-01 Northern Blvd. will invite all comers Monday, Sept. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 will see two diverse open mic nights.

Singers, rappers, poets and musicians are invited to the East continued on page 18

Su

TACHS:

ARCM-072299

Register at: Exam Date: Molloy Code:

CHSEE:

www.tachsinfo.com www.chsee.org Nov. 4, 2017 Oct. 28, 2017 012 012

83-53 Manton Street Briarwood, NY 11435 718-441-2100 www.molloyhs.org

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

!

E S U O H N OPE 1am-4pm r u o r o f s Join unday, October 15, 2017 1 To apply to Molloy take the TACHS or CHSEE Exam:

Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Library is offering a festive fall

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 14

C M BTS page 14 Y K

Racing just a sliver of Saratoga Looking for a weekend getaway? Head upstate to the Spa City

Cannons at Saratoga National Historical Park, where Revolutionary War battles fought in 1777 led the French to ally with the Americans. The green space has many other attractions that history buffs NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PHOTO will appreciate.

by Ryan Brady

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

Associate Editor

Head north on I-87 for about three-and-half hours and see for yourself: Saratoga Springs boasts far more than horse racing.

“There are great restaurants and the downtown area is so quaint and walkable,” Annamaria Bellantoni of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce told the Chronicle.

“And even on the little side streets, there are great shops and restaurants.”

Racing season ends on Sept. 4. But that is immaterial. Along with its greater area, the tiny upstate city is one of the finest for a fall getaway. Some of the attractions — like the free Giant Pumpkin Festival on Sept. 23 in Sunnyside Gardens at 345 Church St. — are autumn-only. And others, like hiking Hadley Mountain, are enhanced by fall foliage.

One of the most fun things to do in the fall is pick apples. “Saratoga Apple is a great place to go for apple picking,” Bellantoni said. The orchard is located at 1174 NY-29 in a rustic part of Schuylerville, a nearby village within the greater Town of Saratoga.

Another fun spot she recommends is Ellms Family Farm at 448 Charlton Road in Ballston Spa, an idyllic village a little outside Saratoga Springs proper. While Bellantoni says it is “family-oriented,” she also said that it is a great place for young couples. The farm, which opens up on Sept. 16, features the Amazing Maize Corn Maze, along with less elaborate labyrinths for children.

General admission to the farm is $16 for those between 2 and 18 years old, with another 75 cents added if you plan on tackling the Amazing Maize Corn Maze; kids under 2 are free; and it’s $14 for everything for people older than 18. Groups of 20 or more pay $14 per person without the maze and $14.75 with it; active military personnel and seniors pay $13 for everything.

Vigorous even through the off-season, the

Spa City’s horse-racing culture goes well beyond its historic track. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame sits right across the street from the course at 191 Union Ave. Triple Crown trophies, pre-Civil War equine paintings and a venerable Hall of Fame line its galleries. And if you like sculptures, you’ll find many fine ones of horses at the museum.

It is closed on Mondays in September and on both that day and Tuesdays in October and November. Fridays are free throughout the fall.

Tickets are $10 for adults, free for children 5 and under, and $5 for students and senior citizens 55 and older.

The museum actually offers tours of the race course’s Oklahoma Training Track through October. They cost $15, last 90 minutes and cover around one mile. Reservations are required; call (518) 584-0400, ext. 120 to make one.

Saratoga Springs has several other interesting museums. One, the National Dance Museum, is located at 99 South Broadway in Saratoga Spa State Park. Admission costs $6.50 for adults; $3 for children between 3 and 12, $5 for students with a valid ID and seniors. Children under 3 are free.

Honoring the greatest dance performers, teachers, directors and choreographers of all time, the institution boasts an impressive Hall of Fame.

If you’re into cars, the Saratoga Automobile Museum is unlikely to disappoint. It is located at 110 Avenue of the Pines within the same park. It’s free for children under 6; $4 for children 6 to 16; $6 for active military members and seniors 65 and older; $6 for students 17 and older with ID and $8.50 for adults.

The museum has an ongoing exhibit called “East of Detroit,” a historical look at the New York automobile industry, which features cars like Charles Lindbergh’s Franklin Airman.

Boasting far more than just museums, the

Saratoga Springs’ National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has a statue of Seabiscuit, a famous thoroughbred. The institution, which is a great place to learn about racing, is one of the PHOTO BY P_R_F VIA FLICKR many fine museums in the area. vast and quiet state park is a great spot to get some nature. There is a five-mile trail for biking, walking and running in the green space that can be found at tinyurl.com/ybarncws.

Hiking through the park, according to Saratoga Spa State Park Environmental Educator Alli Schweizer, is a great way “to experience the wildlife and the plants that live there.”

Surrender to total relaxation at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa, which is operated by the Gideon Putnam Hotel Spa, another site in the state park. The carbonated bath water is a potent tranquilizer. “It’s a totally unique experience,” Schweizer said. “You can’t really do it anywhere else.”

Prices vary depending on what you specifically order. Forty minutes in the mineral baths costs $40; it’s $30 if you go between Monday and Thursday from October through May. No trip to Saratoga would be truly complete without tasting its famous springs. “You can taste the natural mineral springs and see them up close,” Schweizer said. Many of them are in the spa state park. A complete map of all the springs can be found at tinyurl.com/y8sbbglg.

While the concert season winds down at summer’s end, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the park is having the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival on Friday, Sept. 8 and the following day. Tickets vary for different parts of the festival, but you can spend 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 with great wine and food at the festival’s “Grand Tasting” event for $85. You can get tickets at spac.org.

Those itching to gamble can still do so, even with the track closed. The Saratoga Casino Hotel at 342 Jefferson St. has live harness racing, slot machines and other games.

After a day of activities, you’ll likely want to unwind with some great food and drinks.

Downtown Saratoga has stellar dining options in spades.

If you like seafood, the highly rated restaurant 15 Church should be your speed: Its menu

includes Chilean sea bass and skillet-roasted scallops. Its address is its eponymous street and building number.

Lovers of classic American food will fit right in at The Olde Bryan Inn at 123 Maple Ave. Buffalo chicken wings and country fried chicken are solid choices at the restaurant, which also has foods like the Mediterranean filet sandwich and Chinese chicken salad. And ask your server about the ghost stories, which are the stuff of local legend.

Just outside the downtown area at 462 NY-29 is the Saratoga Winery. “They have some great outdoor seating on the patio and live music,” Amanda Blanton of the Adirondack Regional Chambers of Commerce said.

“You can buy it by the bottle there as well.”

Among other options, the business offers two wines called Saratoga White and Saratoga Red. The winery is a location on the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail. Upstate, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently said, “is increasingly becoming the Napa Valley of craft brewing.” If you’re a craft beer buff, it would be a good idea to hit some of the spots in and around Saratoga on the beverage trail; check out the complete map for it at adkcraftbev.com.

“Fall is a good craft season,” Bellantoni said. One of the top locations on the trail is the Shmaltz Brewing Co. in Clifton Park, a town about halfway between Saratoga Springs and the state capital. The brewery, Blanton points out, “just released their 30th anniversary ale and it’s Star Trek-themed.”

Another great spot on the trail is Druthers in Downtown Saratoga at 381 Broadway. Some of its unique creations include Against the Grain Hefeweizen, a malty Bavarian wheat beer; and the hoppy All In IPA. The brewery, Blanton said, is “very popular.”

Broadway is the heart of Downtown Saratoga. Charming coffee shops, bars, stores and continued on page 19

C M BTS page 15 Y K

As parents you have a list of responsibilities to meet to make sure your child has everything they need to go back to school. Ophthalmologists recommend that one of those items on your list should be scheduling an appointment for your child’s eye examination.

Surprisingly, as many as one out of four children in school have vision problems and a large number of children with vision problems go undiagnosed. When vision impairment goes undetected, it can have a negative effect on a child’s schoolwork, which can sometimes result in a misdiagnosed learning disability.

When a child cannot see well, you might expect them to verbalize their inability to see clearly or complain of headaches. However, a child may not say that they are having trouble with their vision because they do not realize that what they are looking at isn’t supposed to be blurry.

Some common signs of vision problems that parents can look out for are: • Omitting letters, words or phrases • Writing that is difficult to read, crowded or inconsistent in size

• • • • • • • •

Mistaking words with similar beginnings Miscalling or omitting “small” words Losing place while reading Misaligning digits in columns of numbers Writing uphill or downhill Reversing letters (d for b) or words (saw for was) Rereads or skips words while reading Lip reading or whisper reading to reinforce comprehension

Parents and educators may assume that when a child passes a school vision screening, there is no vision problem. However, school vision screenings often only test for visual sharpness.

A child who can see 20/20 can still have a vision problem.

If your child exhibits any of the signs and symptoms listed left, you may want to make an appointment for an eye exam with an Ophthalmologist at:

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ophthalmology Center.

For an appointment, please call 718-206-5900.

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

The Importance of a Back to School Eye Exam

8900 Van Wyck Expressway, Jamaica, NY 11418 www.jamaicahospital.org

©2017 M1P • JAMH-072287

Offering the widest selection of today’s most modern trends.

46-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City

718-729-5535 B AT H • T I L E • S T O N E

Fax: 718-606-8943

Email: mail@sinksandstonesnyc.com SINS-072291

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

See us before starting your kitchen or bath renovation.

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 16

C M BTS page 16 Y K

What’s new on traditional TV Spinoffs, remakes and a few fresh concepts too

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Correspondent

In an ever-changing world there is still one constant: namely that when school is back in session, the broadcast networks unveil their new shows. Here is a look at what they have in store for us.

CBS As has long been the case, CBS was America’s most-watched network last year, and it’s debuting what would appear the most foolproof new show of the fall: “Young Sheldon,” a spinoff from its wildly popular sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” The new show will focus on the awkward childhood years of the series’ leading high-IQ character, Sheldon (Jim Parsons who serves as an executive producer here). Iain Armitage plays Sheldon as a pre-adolescent.

Whitestone native Steven Molaro serves as an executive producer What should be another sure thing is the reboot of a ’70s classic, “SWAT,” with former “Criminal Minds” co-star Shemar Moore in the old Steve Forrest role as the leader of an elite LA police tactical unit. At the recent Television Critics Association conference held in Beverly Hills, Moore said that he wants to tell Los Angeles law enforcement stories from a minority viewpoint, something which never happened with legendary Jack Webb series such as “Dragnet” and “Adam-12.”

It seems to be de rigeur that every TV network have a military drama this fall, and the Tiffany Network’s entry is “SEAL Team,” starring “Bones” co-star David Boreanaz and Jessica Pare. Boreanaz told the TCA conference that there will be more time spent learning about his squad’s personal lives than on the mission of the week.

Jeremy Piven, who will always best be known as Ari Gold on the HBO showbiz sendup “Entourage,” switches to drama in “Wisdom of the Crowd,” playing a Silicon Valley billionaire who quits his company after his daughter is murdered and dedicates himself to using technology to track down criminals who have evaded justice. The show is inspired by a former CBS tech procedural, “Person of Interest.” Let’s hope that it has some of POI’s dry humor or this will be a very turgid hour.

While CBS appears to be on firm ground with the aforementioned “Young Sheldon,” it’s gambling with another pair of comedies, “Me, Myself, and I” and “9JKL.” “Me, Myself, and I” tells the tale of Alex when he was 14 back in 1991; at age 40 today; and looking ahead to when he’ll be 65 in 2042.

Jack Dylan Grazer (nephew of film producer Brian Grazer) plays Alex at 14 while sitcom vet John Larroquette plays the elder version. Most of the heavy lifting, though, will fall to Bobby Moynihan who just left “Saturday Night Live” after nine seasons and will play the 40-year-old.

The concept is clever but it remains to see if it will find enough audience to satisfy CBS execs.

“9JKL” star and executive producer Mark Feuerstein claims that the inspiration for this

show came from his own life when he returned to his native Upper East Side to film the USA Network hit “Royal Pains.” He had previously moved to the West Coast, where he was enjoying a successful acting career but wound up returning to his old apartment building — the same one his brother and his parents live in.

Apparently the lack of privacy was an issue for Feuerstein as that is the central joke of the pilot, which also contains a number of unfortunate Jewish stereotypes. Feuerstein is a very personable actor and is also a Princeton University alum so he’s clearly a sharp guy. He has a solid supporting cast that includes Elliott Gould, Linda Lavin, and up-and-coming actress and Long Island City native Liza Lapira.

My sincere hope is that things will improve dramatically for this show.

NBC It wasn’t that long ago that NBC’s primetime lineup was a FEMA-type disaster area. Things have improved markedly for the Peacock Network, thanks primarily to last year’s big rookie weepy drama hit, “This Is Us.” NBC has the broadcast rights to two big February sports extravaganzas, the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics from PyeongChang, South Korea. It will use those highly watched platforms to promote mid-season shows so NBC will debuting few new shows this fall.

“Everything Old Is New Again” was a witty and perceptive song composed by the late Peter Allen, and it certainly is apropos for NBC as it will be reviving “Will & Grace” nearly 20 years after it first debuted and enjoyed a nineseason run.

Last year the original cast of Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally got together and played their old characters for a video that supported Hillary Clinton in her unsuccessful presidential campaign. It garnered a lot of attention, including that of NBC programming executives who wondered if the cast would consider reprising their roles in a weekly series. The answer was a resounding yes.

NBC’s other new fall show, “The Brave,” concerns a special operations military force that undertakes what seem to be impossible missions. Anne Heche is the best-known cast member. With so many other shows and movies dealing with the same plot device, and the fact that this is not the kind of program one associates with NBC, the odds of good ratings would seem to be as daunting as their mission of the week.

NBC’s big fall event will be a “Law & Order” miniseries dramatizing the Menendez bothers, Erik and Lyle, who were convicted of killing their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989.

Producer Dick Wolf is promising a sympathetic portrayal of the siblings who claim they were driven to kill because of parental physical and sexual abuse. It is scheduled to wrap up toward the end of September.

One of the surprising facts about the television industry is that while primetime gets most of the attention, daytime has always been where

the profits are for the networks. Therefore it wasn’t surprising that NBC officials had comedian Steve Harvey talk about his new 3 p.m. daily talk show with TV journalists a few weeks ago.

Harvey’s show, “Steve,” will serve as the lead-in for Ellen DeGeneres’ similarly firstnamed 4 p.m. talk show, “Ellen.” Steve claims that his goal is to create a show that feels more like the kind that you see at 11:30 p.m. While that sounds like a smart idea, Harvey admitted that it’s easier said than done when I pointed out that David Letterman tried to do the same thing in 1980 on NBC. Letterman’s sophisticated humor went over the heads of morning viewers and the show was canceled after a few months.

NBC Entertainment CEO Bob Greenblatt crowed that “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon is dominating the 18 to 49 demographic in the late night talk show wars but was a bit defensive when I pointed out that historically “The Tonight Show” dominated the solar system when it came to ratings. While the Trump administration has been great for “Saturday Night Live,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (and especially for MSNBC, which has come out of nowhere to become the most-watched cable network in the country), it has particularly benefited CBS “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, whose anti-Trump monologues have become a nightly must-watch event, at Fallon’s expense.

Greenblatt said at the TCA confab that Colbert’s success was the result of the news cycle.

“I guarantee you that Jimmy Fallon will have his job a lot longer than Donald Trump has his current one!” he told me in the lobby of the Beverly Hilton.

ABC The past few years have not been stellar for what the entertainment trade magazine Variety has long referred to as the Alphabet Network.

The good news is that ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey has greenlit some promising programs.

My pick for the breakout star of the new season is someone who reminds me of a young Will Smith, comedic actor Brandon Micheal Hall (yes, he inverts the “e” and “a” in his middle name), who has attracted critical attention in the TBS comedy “Search Party.”

Hall has the title role in “The Mayor.” His character is an aspiring hip-hop performer who comes up with the idea of running for mayor of his small city as a publicity stunt to promote his music. Of course the joke is on him as he wins the election and has to face this responsibility.

The showrunner behind “The Mayor” is former MSNBC producer Jeremy Bronson, who is trying to mesh witty comedy with a touch of much-needed civics. Bronson told me that the inspiration for the show came not from President Trump but rather wrestler Jesse Ventura, who served as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003.

One show that will certainly catch attention is “The Good Doctor,” whose premise is wheth-

Better get your spot — “Young Sheldon,” spun off of CBS’s popular sitcom “The Big Bang CBS TELEVISION Theory,” debuts this fall. er a top-flight surgeon has a place in medicine if he happens to be autistic. British actor Freddy Highmore, who has played more than his share of offbeat characters, is Dr. Sean Murphy, a technical wiz in the operating room whose interpersonal skills do not fall into the category of traditional bedside manner. The executive producer of “The Good Doctor” is David Shore, who was the creative force behind the old Hugh Laurie series on Fox, “House.”

Also looking promising is “Ten Days in the Valley,” in which Kyra Sedgwick plays a writer of a weekly TV network police procedural. Art tragically imitates life when her daughter is kidnaped from her San Fernando Valley home.

The one clunker to avoid is “Kevin Probably Saves the World” starring Jason Ritter as an ordinary Joe who is forced to change his ways when he encounters a guardian angel. We’ve seen variations of this theme for years on TV and it has been done better previously, based on the clip that I saw.

Although it won’t be airing until mid-season, “American Idol,” with Ryan Seacrest hosting and Katy Perry making $25 million as one of the judges, jumps to ABC two years after Fox ended its run.

FOX While things aren’t as rosy for Fox as when “American Idol” was in its Simon Cowell heyday, or when “Glee” was an obsession for many, the fourth network has more than held its own.

Although its ratings sagged a bit last year, “Empire” is Fox’s flagship show outside of “The Simpsons,” which looks as if it will run forever. Not surprisingly, “Empire” is launching a spinoff, “Star,” about a female vocal group looking to make it big in the music biz. Based on what I saw, you can think of it as “Dreamgirls” meets Bob Fosse because of the singing and elaborate choreography. Benjamin Bratt and Queen Latifah are the big names in the cast.

Expect the relatively unknown singers to be anything but anonymous by December.

Seth MacFarlane has long had a working continued on page 18

C M BTS page 17 Y K

THE CRAYON BOX PRESCHOOL

AT

MARGARET TIETZ!

wants to thank Bayside and surrounding communities for 20 years of giving us the privilege of educating your children. Have a wonderful and productive school year!!

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

r e m Sum

44-10 192nd Street, Flushing 718-888-9341 www.crayonboxpreschool.com ©2017 M1P • CRAB-072267

RICHMOND HILL FLEA MARKET

Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a voluntary, not-for-profit health care provider.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY SUNDAY 8:00 AM TO 3:00 PM

THE COMMUNITY’S PREMIER REHAB CENTER Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Centerb LV SURXG WR SURYLGH WKH FRPPXQLW\ ZLWK WKH KLJKHVW TXDOLW\ 6XEDFXWH

• Largest Indoor Flea Market In Queens! • Jewelry • Clothing • Toys And So Much More! • Something For Everyone!

5HKDELOLWDWLRQ /RQJ 7HUP &DUH DV ZHOO DV +RVSLFH VHUYLFHV DV QHHGHG LQ D QHZO\ UHQRYDWHG DQG FRPSOHWHO\ .RVKHU VHWWLQJ

Monday - Friday • 9am - 3pm

www.richmondhillfleamarket.com 347-709-7661 • Fax: 866-627-3181 117-09 HILLSIDE AVE., RICHMOND HILL, NY 11418 at the corner of Myrtle and Hillside Avenues Only 2 blocks from Lefferts Blvd.

©2016 M1P • RICF-068660

VENDORS: REGISTER ONLINE TODAY

Centrally located near the Queens communities of Kew Gardens Hills, Hillcrest & Jamaica Estates. Only 20 minutes from Crown Heights, Manhattan & the Five Towns.

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

164-11 Chapin Parkway, Jamaica Hills, NY 11432 www.TietzJewish.com • (718) 298-782

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 18

C M BTS page 18 Y K

Plan early for applying to high schools continued from page 4

nat ional baccalau reate deg ree upon graduation.

If your child is into sports, don’t assume your school will offer many choices or even house a gym and athletic fields. Bayside High School fields the Commodores football team and offers a wide variety of other sports teams, such as girls’ teams for soccer, volleyball, swimming and outdoor track, and golf teams, as well as boys’ teams for track, swimming, handball, outdoor track, tennis and volleyball.

More school-finding resources are available at schools.nyc.gov / Choices Enrollment/High/Resources/default.htm, where the DOE provides downloadable resources. These include a School Finder worksheet in either English or Spanish, a citywide high school directory and directories by borough; the Specialized High Schools Student Handbook; a Guide for Families of Students with Disabilities; and a High School Admissions Workbook. The site also posts the most recent High School Admissions and Specialized High Schools Admissions Presentations for those who aren’t able to attend the annual July Family Workshops, and it provides a list of helpful High School Admissions Apps.

In the fall, pay close attention to high school admissions information provided by your middle school. Consider attending high school fairs; eighth-graders will like-

ly need to do so. The DOE holds boroughspecific fairs and a citywide fair every year in the fall. School-specific open houses for prospective applicants also get going at this time.

Key dates this year Registration for the SHSAT and LaGuardia auditions is done through school counselors between Sept. 7 and Oct. 12. New NYC residents or those in private schools should visit the Queens Family Welcome Center at 30-48 Linden Place, second floor, in Jamaica. This year, the SHSAT can be taken by eighth-graders on Saturday, Oct. 21 or Sunday, Oct. 22. Special SHSATs are given to ninth-graders, eighth-graders who are English language learners or who have individualized education plans or approved 504 plans for students with disabilities.

This year, those tests are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 4.

LaGuardia’s auditions will be held on weekends starting on Saturday, Oct. 28 and ending on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Other tips and information In October, seventh-graders are a year out from the SHSAT. If you haven’t already, buy one of the SHSAT prep books at a cost of $10 to $25, or check one out from your branch of the Queens Public Library. They’re popular, so you might have to reserve one in advance. Browse the questions and make a

Traditional TV lineup

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

continued from page 16

relationship with Fox, so it’s not surprising the network would indulge him with an hourlong series in which he is the titular star. “The Orville” appears, based on its two-minute promotional clip, to be a comedic spoof of “Star Trek” in the vein of the very likable 1999 Tim Allen-Sigourney Weaver film, “Galaxy Quest.” Certainly that is the impression that Fox executives understandably want to create.

At the TCA panel for his show, MacFarlane surprised most by saying that he wants “The Orville” to be a serious tribute to “Star Trek” and tackle some of the social issues that the original did 50 years ago. He claimed that he wasn’t inspired at all by “Galaxy Quest” and even seemed dismissive of the film.

What many forget is that “Star Trek” was far from a big hit when it first aired. It was questionable every year during its first run as to whether NBC would renew it. The popularity of “Star Trek” conventions over the years has created a bit of a revisionist history. Don’t be surprised if Fox executives talk to MacFarlane about trimming the show to 30 minutes and playing it for laughs if the ratings mirror the Mets’ season and tank early.

Thankfully, sitcom stalwarts Craig Robinson and Adam Scott have no qualms going for laughs in “Ghosted.” As the name indicates, it’s a weekly half-hour homage to “Ghostbusters,” as all things relating to the supernatural are ripe for satire.

CW CW president Mark Pedowitz has made it his mission to make his network less dependent on preteen girls and appeal instead to a wider audience.

Last year, he rolled the dice with a clever comedy, “No Tomorrow,” about living out your bucket list, but unfortunately the dice came up snake eyes for him.

Comedy may not be totally dead on the CW, however. It is relaunching that 1980s ABC soap opera, “Dynasty,” that back in the day starred Linda Evans, Joan Collins and John Forsythe. CW is bringing all of the backstabbing back and more with this update.

I never watched the original but I might check out this remake since there were a lot of humorous one-liners being uttered by the cast. I am not the sure how they were able to keep a straight face reciting their lines.

In many ways, the campy comedy reminded me of the top-notch 1960s “Batman” series that starred the late, great Adam West.

“Dynasty” producer Josh Schwartz told me that while there are laughs, he doesn’t want the tone to be that campy.

Yes, even the CW has a military show this fall. “Valor” is a soap opera in which conspiracies will be unveiled along with tales of romance in the armed forces.

Cable FX has long been the basic cable network that has most resembled premium services

plan to learn any areas you haven’t learned yet (quick, what’s the formula for the area of a circle?). One low-cost choice in place of paying for tutoring classes is to work your way through all of the available SHSAT books and give yourself multiple practice tests. Although the test changed in 2017, you can still use older prep books by simply skipping the now-defunct “scrambled paragraphs” section.

This year’s eighth-grade students must submit a completed high school admissions application by Dec. 1. Ninth-graders are also eligible to apply to some schools for their 10th-grade year.

Some high schools, like the Baccalaureate School for Global Education in Astoria, provide preference to Queens residents (after first giving spots to students in its middle school) before admitting those from other boroughs.

Students who don’t like their match can appeal or participate in the second round.

New York City does provide some second chances. A make-up date is scheduled about two weeks after the initial SHSAT test that allows for illness. If you don’t get into your favorite school, there is a second application round in the spring of eighth grade. And if things still don’t work out, ninth-graders can take the test again in the fall and try to transfer to an open spot at their favorite school, although those opporQ tunities are rare.

such as HBO, Showtime and EPIX. In January FX will examine the life and death of Gianni Versace as part of its “American Crime Story” series. Talented Venezuelanborn actor Edgar Ramirez, who portrayed the boxer Roberto Duran in the film “Hands of Stone,” stars as Versace.

Bobby Moynihan isn’t the only “Saturday Night Live” alum to be getting his own series this fall. Jay Pharaoh will star in “White Famous” for Showtime. Think of this show as “Entourage” with a more culturally diverse cast.

Showtime will also debut “Smilf” with comic actress Frankie Shaw playing a 20-something single mom who lives in South Boston. Rosie O’Donnell plays her character’s mom.

Tru TV is promising that Forest Hills native Billy Eichner will return for another season of guerrilla New York street comedy accosting people with bizarre questions with the cult favorite “Billy on the Street.” Eichner is currently starring in “Difficult People” on the streaming service Hulu.

Speaking of streaming services, CBS is working hard to take some of the market share from Hulu, Amazon and Neftlix with its CBS All Access. CBS All Access has an endless library of CBS shows from years past and it made its first foray into original programming last year with the spinoff of “The Good Wife” titled “The Good Fight.”

Next up for All Access is the latest incarnation of “Star Trek,” called “Discovery,” with Jeremy Isaacs sitting in William ShatQ ner’s chair.

Library offering a festive fall continued from page 18

Elmhurst Library at 95-06 Astoria Blvd. from 6 to 7:30 p.m., while Eli Steiner will be back at Forest Hills from 6:30 to 7:45.

Author and editor Raquel Penzo of Brooklyn will host an open mic night for poets from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Central Library.

Writers are not left out.

The Broadway branch at 40-20 Broadway, Long Island City, hosts twice-monthly meetings of the NY Writers Coalition for writers looking for help, those looking to get started and those who just want to share work and experiences with other writers.

The meetings take place from 2 to 4 p.m., usually on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Writers or aspiring ones who are 18 or older with a taste for poetry, prose, theater and just about anything else are invited.

All genres, backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome. Writing prompts and other materials will be provided.

The scheduling exceptions occur on Saturday, Sept. 9, when the workshop is being pushed back a week to accommodate the Labor Day weekend, and December, when a third Saturday — Dec. 30 — is scheduled to be added to meetings on Dec. 2 and 16.

The North Forest Park Library in Middle Village will host “Journaling for Everyone,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 98-27 Metropolitan Ave. Veteran journalers, relative newcomers and those interested in getting started are welcome. Guests are welcome to share their works. Writing prompts and other materials will be made available for beginners.

For those into physical recreation, the Queens Library is continuing its ShapeUp NYC schedule with various organized activities throughout the borough.

The Rego Park Library hosts chair yoga classes for beginners from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on most Mondays at 91-41 63 Drive.

Entry is first-come, first-served. Comfortable clothing is recommended.

The Carib Dance Fitness program, which combines aerobics and dance with African rhythms and beats, takes place most Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. at the South Ozone Park branch at 128-16 Rockaway Blvd.

Richmond Hill hosts “Body Rock” most Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The workout combines dance, aerobics and music.

Comfortable clothes, a towel and water bottle are highly recommended.

North Forest Park hosts its Dance Fitness program most Mondays from noon to 1 p.m., with exercises designed to increase cardiovascular fitness and tone and shape the body.

There’s plenty more where these came from. Check queenslibrary.org for the full Q event schedule.

C M BTS page 19 Y K Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017

A weekend in Saratoga Springs continued from page 14

MOHS-071851

restaurants line the mid-rise com me rcia l st r ip. A lso renowned for its Victorian architecture, the mid-rise commercial strip is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Within this area are the picturesque mansions of North Broadway, a quiet part of the street to stroll after getting a few drinks. It ends at the green and sprawling campus of Skidmore College, which is great for a jog or quiet walk.

A turn-of-the-century Victorian mansion on North BroadBut the best-known green way in Saratoga Springs. space in the region is SaratoPHOTO BY PETER FLASS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ga National Historical Park, the entrance for which is at 648 NY-32 in a location where the imperial Gen. John Burtown called Stillwater. It’s the site of the goyne surrendered. Among other attracRevolutionary War’s pivotal Battles of tions, the park is also home to the stately Saratoga, which led the French to ally with Saratoga Monument, an obelisk dedicated to the battle built in the late 19th century; the Americans.

The park, which is a popular location for and the preserved home of rebel general hiking and has a bike path, is open year- and U.S. Sen. Philip Schuyler.

Another great way of taking in nature is round for free. And its visitors center, as Bellantoni pointed out, offers a breathtak- to head to the Adirondack Mountains or the adjacent Kayaderosseras range. ing view of the expansive green space.

“Spruce Mountain is a good mountain to Throughout the nearly 4,000-acre green space sit artifacts of the two battles like climb,” Schweizer said. Directions to the cannons, along with signs demarcating ter- peak, which is in the Kayaderosseras range, Q ritory the British lost in the battles and the can be found at tinyurl.com/y7rddv4g.

Make Your Home New Again!

A Designer’s Touch at Affordable Prices!

Visit Our

FABRIC STORE

FREE Shop-At-Home

JO-VIN Custom Window Treatments, Draperies, Shades, Bedding and Motorization ©2017 M1P • JOVI-072300

With Our Experienced Designers Measuring & Installation Available

94-23 JAMAICA AVE., WOODHAVEN

718-441-9350

Fax:

718-441-1447

www.jo-vin.com

MAC

WE DO CUSTOM REUPHOLSTERY

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

For Discounted Designer Fabrics Available to the Public!

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 24, 2017 Page 20

C M BTS page 20 Y K

/HW·V *LYH (YHU\ &KLOG D +HDOWK\ 6WDUW LQ /LIH /HW·V *HW (YHU\ &KLOG &RYHUHG

Back to School & Fall Guide 2017

To learn more about applying for health insurance, LQFOXGLQJ &KLOG +HDOWK 3OXV (VVHQWLDO 3ODQ 4XDOLÀHG Health Plans, and Medicaid through NY State of +HDOWK 7KH 2IÀFLDO +HDOWK 3ODQ 0DUNHWSODFH YLVLW ZZZ Q\VWDWHRIKHDOWK Q\ JRY RU FDOO

FIDH-072290