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BEGIN WITH EDUCATION

Buildings, additions bring more seats

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

The 2023-24 school year is right around the corner, and with the new year comes new Queens public schools, and additions to some existing ones.

IS 429, a new District 30 middle school located at 47-10 Barnett Ave. in Sunnyside, is set to open this September with 725 seats.

The school refers to itself as a “STEAM” school — meaning the curriculum includes a special focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“It’s an educational approach that integrates these subjects into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications,” the school’s website detailed.

The state-of-the-art middle school is one of 10 new schools opening citywide, and one of 32 new Queens buildings in the 2020-24 School Construction Authority’s Capital Plan, according to Kevin Ortiz, the director of communications for the SCA, who took the Chronicle on an exclusive tour of the new establishment.

gymnasium and the auditorium. It’s fully functional.”

The SCA is used to building schools while working with a minimal amount of space. “Sometimes we build schools with as little as 20,000 square feet,” Ortiz said.

In addition to the gymatorium, which comes complete with bleachers, basketball nets and a stage with a baby grand piano, IS 429 has a fitness classroom with padded walls for other movement-related activities.

The school also follows green guidelines, operating fully electric with no usage of fossil fuels. That can be attributed to the SCA’s effort to ensure all future city schools will be fully electric.

School

Expanded spaces

IS 429, where construction began in 2019, has 24 classrooms and two special education classrooms, Ortiz shared. The space includes a reading and speech resource room, a science lab with demo and prep rooms, art classrooms, a music suite, a library, a gymatorium (a gymnasium and auditorium, combined), an outdoor play space, a staff lunch room, a parent room and an administrative suite. The hallways are brightly lit and spacious, with each floor having its own dedicated color scheme.

Ortiz clarified why the school has a single combined gymatorium instead of two separate areas.

“There are certain locations, this one being one of them, that in terms of footprint, we aren’t dealing with a lot of square footage,” he explained. “So we maximize the space by combining them both, the

Additionally, IS 429 is wheelchair-accessible, another priority for the SCA when building new establishments.

As an added touch, each new school being built by the SCA will receive new artwork exclusive to that specific institution. IS 429 has two large pieces of artwork hung in the hallways on the school’s first floor, by José Carlos Casado Mancha, a New York-based multimedia artist from Spain.

It’s safe to say the SCA is proud of the work they have done in building the new middle school.

“IS 429 is the embodiment of everything we do at the SCA,” said Nina Kubota, president and chief executive officer of the agency. “We are addressing overcrowding, especially in Queens, while providing our students with the state-of-the-art facilities they need to learn and grow.”

Asked if the layout and design for IS 429 is the same as other schools, Ortiz confirmed it is not.

“We have various types of spaces we have to work with,” he explained, “We have a combination of in-house architects and designers, and for other locations, we may hire consultants.”

In the case of IS 429, Ortiz said the school was designed completely by archi-

tects from the SCA.

Other new school buildings opening for the year include the replacement building for PS/MS 47, the Chris Galas School, in District 27 in Broad Channel, which has been under construction since 2022 after the old building was demolished in 2021 to facilitate construction of the new space. The school’s previous building was at 140 percent capacity before suffering extensive storm damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

PS/MS 47’s new space will be located at 9 Power Road in Broad Channel. The school capacity is on the smaller side, with 260 seats, and teaches students from pre-K through eighth grade.

Waterside Children’s Studio School, also in District 27 and otherwise known as PS 317, will relocate to 140 Beach 112 St. in Rockaway under a new lease. The school will operate at a capacity of 463 seats and welcome students from pre-K through fifth grade.

In terms of new seats, District 26’s PS 46, the Alley Pond School, located at 64-45 218 St. in Oakland Gardens, will be adding 435

seats to its capacity.

Also in Oakland Gardens and part of District 26, Cardozo High School will have 795 additional seats added at 221-15 58 Ave.

Cardozo High School is also receiving exciting new creative amenities for its students, such as a mock courtroom and a television studio, Ortiz said.

PS 206, The Horace Harding School, located at 61-01 97 Place in District 28, in Rego Park, will see 392 seats added to its capacity this year.

According to Ortiz, the additional capacity in those Queens locations is part of the 4,422 new seats being added across schools citywide.

As part of the SCA Capital Plan, Ortiz shared that 45,000 seats will be added citywide, with Queens getting 32 new buildings and 18,735 seats. Those numbers, however, do not include seats for early childhood (pre-K or 3K).

Early-childhood schools will see 15 locations and 2,100 seats added citywide under the SCA Capital Plan. Since the program’s inception, 16,000 early childhood seats have been added, Ortiz said. Q

IS 429, a new middle school in Sunnyside, is ready to open for the 2023-24 school year. The school comes equipped with 24 classrooms, like the one seen above. PHOTOS BY KRISTEN GUGLIELMO

From left to right: A view into the kitchen area of IS 429’s spacious cafeteria; exclusive artwork in a hallway on the school’s first floor, by José Carlos Casado Mancha; and part of the school’s gymatorium — a combined gymnasium and auditorium.

Educating our students to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners

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Educar a los alumnos para que sean pensadores independientes y aprendices de por vida.

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• Physical Education, Arts & Music integrated into curriculum

Educación física, arte y música integrado en el currículo

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Charters take pride in personalization

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

While traditional, district public schools remain the default choice for most New York City parents, charter schools can be a viable option to optimize a child’s education, according to their administrators and supporters. Queens is home to 27 charter schools serving nearly 15,000 students, according to the New York City Charter Schools Center website.

Free to attend, the schools are described by the New York Charters Schools Association as “public schools that offer personalized learning experiences for students, no matter their needs, circumstances and learning styles.” According to the city Department of Education, charters give enrollment preferences to returning students, siblings of enrolled students and students in the same community school district. If the number of students who apply to a charter school is more than the number of available seats, schools will use a random selection process, such as a lottery.

Anna Hall, the CEO of the Northeast Charter Schools Network, which includes the New York Charter Schools Association, spoke to the Chronicle about parents making the choice between charters and other schools.

“I think the most important thing is that parents have the ability and the opportunity to access whatever type of school is best for their child, and I don’t necessarily think that’s always a charter school,” Hall said.

“It’s about the opportunity for every parent to make a decision

about their child’s unique needs. Parents are the experts on their children. Charter schools offer the opportunity for different programs and models to provide additional choices and opportunities for parents,” she added. “Choosing where your child goes to school is one of the most important things a parent can do.”

A representative from Success Academy, a network of charter schools around NYC with multiple Queens locations, shared a statement on behalf of the organization:

“Success Academy is a great choice for parents looking for strong academic outcomes, unique arts and athletic opportunities and robust communication between teachers and families. It’s a K-12 experience that guarantees placement in highquality middle and high schools, where 100 percent of graduates to date have been accepted to fouryear colleges.”

The statement continued, “According to a recent report from Stanford University’s CREDO, Success Academy leads the city and nation in learning, delivering the equivalent of more than 100 extra days of learning in reading and 200+ days in math.”

The institution stated that the majority of Success Academy scholars are children of color from low-income households in disadvantaged neighborhoods, admitted through a random public lottery.

Last summer, Success Academy shared that its Queens eighth-graders did exceptionally well on Regents exams. According to a representative of the school, 100 percent of students passed the Algebra Regents by the state’s standard of 65 percent, and 86.3 percent passed by

the school’s standard of 80 percent.

Charter schools often receive heat from some parents and educators. Critics say the schools’ higherthan-average test scores may be the result of their denying entry to students based on academics, or expelling those who average lower on exams or have behavioral issues.

“In our experience, most families prefer calm, orderly classrooms over disruptive, chaotic ones,” a representative from Success Academy said. “We take the safety of our students and staff seriously, and while we are strict, we have expelled only two students during the 18 years since we opened our first school.”

Hall also spoke to the criticism, saying, “I think people often think that charter folks are opposed to traditional district schools. And in my experience, that’s not the case. We’re not anti-district, we’re pro-

parents and pro-child. ... It’s always important for parents to be as involved as they possibly can be and understand what goes on in their child’s school, whether it’s a district school or a charter school, and to really work in partnership with the school to ultimately support their child, regardless of where they go.”

Asked whether charter schools are a viable option for the influx of migrant children arriving in the city, Hall responded, “Oh, definitely. There are a lot of charter schools that have really specifically extended themselves and their school community to migrants. I think what’s often the case with charter schools is that they’re actually incredibly interested in reaching those communities.”

She continued, “But the infrastructure that gets set up around transition planning and housing

typically excludes charters. In many cases, oftentimes charters have to really sort of go above and beyond to make sure that newcomers to a community are actually aware of charters because they are relatively unique. But there are a lot of charters in New York City that have really purposefully thought to serve migrants.”

One parent, Dianne Jenkins of Rosedale, told the Chronicle, “I never considered a charter before until I kept hearing people talk about how good they can be. My oldest graduated from a public school, but I’m considering a charter school for my youngest when he’s ready for middle school.”

Asked which schools she is considering, Jenkins said, “Whichever seems the best when it comes time to enroll. Actually, no, he’ll go wherever he can get on the lottery list.” Q

Queens is home to a number of charter schools, including Forte Preparatory Academy in Elmhurst, seen above. Charters pride themselves on personalized learning experiences for children. Is it time to consider a charter school instead of a traditional district public school? PHOTOS COURTESY FORTE PREPARATORY ACADEMY VIA AMY MCGEADY

From left to right: Two students work on an activity together, a teacher aids a student with an assignment and eager students observe a lesson at Forte Preparatory Academy.

Public but nontraditional

WHEN Within two years of approval GRADES

WHERE Community School Districts

24, 25, 26, and 28

Commencing with Kindergarten and 1st grade and growing to serve preK-12th grade.

To learn more about Success Academy’s proposed new schools, please visit: http://successacademies.org/newschools

We encourage your input: NewSchools@SuccessAcademies.org

ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS—NYC is applying to open new free high quality public charter schools in Queens. We’re proud that 100% of our high school graduates were accepted to competitive four year colleges.

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

“For schools, I’ve never really considered anything else,” said Forest Hills parent Maria Ramos.

Ramos, like many others, had an important choice to make this summer — she had to pick a school for her kindergartner.

When thinking about which school is right for her daughter, it was a no-brainer: “She’s going to a Catholic school.”

Faith-based schools may be the right choice for families who prioritize religion but still want a thorough academic experience.

Ellen Ferguson, the director of recruitment and marketing for The Mary Louis Academy, the all-girls Catholic high school in Jamaica Estates, spoke on the highlights of enrolling in a Catholic school.

more on their interests.

“We develop our curriculum and our opportunities based on the needs of our students. We are able to individualize the education for each student to give them the full experience to develop themselves as a person and not just the students.”

Putting one’s faith in education School Catholic

Though much of the school’s curriculum is indeed faith-based, Ferguson said students of all religious backgrounds are welcome at Mary Louis. The same is true at other Catholic schools, according to the website for the Archdiocese of New York. “Everything we do is rooted in dignity for the human person and our Catholic faith tradition, and we offer this to everyone,” it read.

Foundation

“I feel that being part of a Catholic school gives students the opportunity to be part of something more than just their education,” she said. “I believe Catholic schools, especially Mary Louis, help develop the whole child and give them the opportunities to experience and study or focus

Holy Cross High School, a co-ed institution in Flushing, also takes pride in its curriculum.

“Holy Cross offers student-centric classrooms with high academics focused on student achievement,” said Andrea Aloi, director of admissions at Holy Cross. “Our students are not only prepared for the next steps in their education and careers but also instilled with a strong moral code and are best prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Catholic schools also foster a more personal, familial bond among students and educators, according to some faculty.

“We have very much of a family feel, where I find that some of that may be missing at some public schools,” said Jonathan DiDonato, director of admissions, engagement and media at Archbishop Molloy High

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School in Briarwood. “I see warmth in the hallways. I think Molloy excels at that feeling of family. That’s something that we always preach, but we truly feel it, we see it and we experience it.”

“I love to tell people that coming to Catholic schools is like an extension of family,”

TACHS Prep Program

Holy Cross High School is proud to offer a rigorous 6-week program for boys and girls to best prepare for the TACHS exam.

Over the span of 6 weeks students enrolled in our program will participate in face-to-face instruction and review mathematics and language skills that are assessed on the Test for Admission into Catholic High School (TACHS) exam.

Historically, students that attend a prep-class are better prepared and score higher on the exam.

To enroll or for more information visit www.holycrosshs.org/tachsprep/ 26-20 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358

A group of students from The Mary Louis Academy, the Catholic high school in Jamaica Estates, bond outside of lessons. PHOTO COURTESY THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY

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Teaching more diverse histories

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020 sparked discussion about anti-racism throughout the country. As books like Robin DiAngelo’s “White Fragility” and “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Naheisi Coates shot to the top of bestseller lists, many began to urge for reform in a plethora of fields and institutions. That includes changes to school curricula to discuss the contributions of marginalized groups to American history.

While that has not been met with open arms everywhere, New York City has been taking steps toward teaching a more inclusive curriculum. But what is being taught in schools come September?

Former City Councilman and educator Danny Dromm noted that New York City and New York State have made long overdue strides in mandating more comprehensive school curricula. It was not until 1994 that schools were required to teach about slavery and the Holocaust; in 1996, the state mandated the teaching of the Irish Potato Famine.

“When I was a councilmember, one of the things that we wanted to do was infuse LGBTQ history and education beyond antibullying measures,” Dromm recalled to the Chronicle.

He worked to do that through various programs and initiatives through his time on the Council, which he was term-limited out of in December 2021. Among others, those efforts included providing schools with sets of books by authors of color and LGBTQ+ authors and teaching about earlier LGBTQ+ figures — before the Stonewall uprising in 1969 — like activist Marsha P. Johnson and civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

“It took almost 25-plus years to turn that situation around to a place today where we do have some LGBTQ programming going in the schools — unfortunately, it’s not system-wide, but it has made significant changes,” Dromm said. “They do have a curriculum that they do offer to teachers, although I believe it’s optional.”

The program Dromm was referring to is

known as the Hidden Voices initiative, which, according to the Department of Education, provides teachers with resources to teach students about their own backgrounds as well as their peers’.

“Diversity makes up the very fabric of our communities, our neighborhoods, and our classrooms, and it is our responsibility as the largest school district in the country to bring these lessons into all of our classrooms, starting with kindergarten,” DOE spokesperson Nicole Brownstein told the Chronicle via email.

“The Hidden Voices initiative is one way that educators can bring in the strengths and backgrounds of their students into everyday classroom instruction.”

The DOE has unveiled Hidden Voices guides regarding LGBTQ+ people, Asian American and Pacific Islander people in U.S. history along with the “untold stories” of New York City history so far. The department also has plans to release similar resources for teaching about Black history, Latino history and the history of Americans with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the city has been piloting a Black studies curriculum in Harlem and in Queens’ own District 29. The program was developed in partnership with the Education Equity Action Plan Coalition, a group of several activist organizations working to support Black educators and students. The city is expected to make an announcement about implementing it systemwide sometime this fall.

Most of that curriculum, said Adrian Straker, president of the Association of Black Educators of New York, will be integrated into schools’ social studies programs.

The Black history pilot has been designed for kindergartners, fourth-, ninth- and 10thgraders, Straker said. Highlights include lessons on Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Marie Van Brittan Browne — the Jamaica, Queens, native who invented the first home security system — and even a lesson on Mali’s ancient communities for kindergartners. Straker added that teachers, many of whom have weighed in on the curriculum and have taken part in workshops about how to implement it, have expressed excitement about it.

But Shango Blake, president of Black Edfluencers United, emphasized that studying the Black diaspora would not be an addition to the curriculum; rather, it would complement what is already being taught. He pointed to Irish immigration to the United States as an example — students would also

learn about Black people’s journeys and contributions to the United States, be they from Haiti, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica, to name a few.

“This is not a replacement — this is an enhancement of the curriculum,” he told the Chronicle. “Our focus is to right a historic, wrong, so that our children can see the reflections and the contributions that they have given to the development of the world and to the development of America.”

Mitch Klages-Bombich, a behavioral specialist who works on inclusive curricula with the United Federation of Teachers, made a similar point in regard to the teaching of LGBTQ+ history.

is by eradicating the ignorance.”

Several other bills focusing on the teaching of LGBTQ+ history and about hate crimes are also pending in the Legislature.

Those working to make school curriculums more diverse are well aware of the pushback to critical race theory — a legal concept that examines the way race has been embedded into public policy and institutions — across the country.

Inclusivity in the curriculum

“Educators are bringing a lens of equity and diversity, culturally responsive education and history as they’re lesson planning — it’s something that is being just infused in the curriculum naturally, it’s not something that is being imposed,” he said.

Klages-Bombich also said there is “no blanket curriculum,” which allows teachers to tailor to the needs of their students’ backgrounds.

The state Legislature is also considering bills that would require the teaching of AAPI history. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. John Liu (D-Flushing), has only been passed in the Senate.

“There’s very little reference to Asian Americans or the contributions thereof, in the teaching of American history — there’s the requisite mention of the completion of the railroads, the mention of the prison camps during World War II, but little else,” said Liu, who chairs the Senate’s New York City Education Committee. “We have clearly seen an unprecedented few years of anti-Asian hate. And the root cause of hate is ignorance. The only way we can actually eradicate hate in the long term

“If we’re going to talk Black history, this sounds familiar — this sounds like the same parents that said it would do ‘irreparable damage’ to their children to have Black students go to their schools,” Blake said.

“It’s the same rhetoric.” Dromm, too, looked at the opposition in historical context — just closer to home. Asked about demonstrations against Drag Story Hour, the reading events designed to celebrate gender diversity, he looked back at the response to the Children of the Rainbow initiative, a 1991 effort to aid in the teaching of multicultural issues. Dromm recalled “busloads” of people protesting the program outside the Department of Education.

“With Drag Queen Story Hour, that’s the same misrepresentations that happened during Children of the Rainbow,” he said. “In those days, they called us ‘recruiters.’ Now they call us ‘groomers.’”

Dromm thought back to an early Drag Story Hour he attended with Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott and former Rep. Joe Crowley.

“The drag queen asked the kids, ‘Does anybody here know what a drag queen is?’” he recalled. “And this little kid raised his hand and says, ‘Yes, a drag queen is somebody who reads stories to you.’

“That was beautiful, because that’s all they saw — they didn’t see the difference,” Dromm added. “[Kids] have to be taught to hate.” Q

Schools across New York City and State are working to teach histories more reflective of the students in their classrooms.

PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF / FILE

Educators are learning how to integrate more diverse histories into their lessons and pedagogies. PHOTO COURTESY SHANGO BLAKE / BE- U

Student athletes, student leaders

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Tryouts and practices for fall high school sports were well underway before the end of summer, long before rosters are finalized and uniforms handed out.

But officials with the Public School Athletic League and the Catholic High School Athletic Association also have spent their summers helping student athletes succeed off the playing field.

Both organizations have been working on fostering leadership skills. And both organizations believe their programs will help the community at large as well as their students.

“Athletics work within the framework of our schools,” Dominic Vulpis, executive director for the CHSAA’s schools in Queens and Brooklyn, said in an interview with the Chronicle.

“Why? Because it’s part of their becoming part of the whole community,” Vulpis added. “How well you do with life on the playing fields is important to how you will deal with life in reality ... It’s a matter of keeping the ‘C’ in Catholic for the CHSAA.”

The PSAL will be reaching out to its student athletes where they can be found these days — on social media.

The city also is working with private businesses and business leaders, as well as college and professional sports teams, to provide students with opportunities.

Lastly, through each sport, PSAL teams and programs will be instructed to implement service projects within their communities to build leadership and mentoring skills.

Vulpis said the CHSAA effort has components for athletes, coaches and parents. The philosophy is to let schools run their athletic programs “within a context that holds paramount the academic and religious programs of member schools and the academic, spiritual and personal growth of the student participants.”

School Sports leagues

A spokeswoman for the PSAL, which governs 57 sports at New York City’s public schools, said league officials are following a similar path, including planning for athletes’ futures, and molding them into people who will serve the communities they will be a part of.

“Sports and athletics are a critical component in the lives of many of our young people, teaching them important social and emotional lessons, including teamwork and discipline, as well as helping them to perform better in the classroom,” the spokeswoman told the Chronicle in an email. “This upcoming school year we’re focused on ensuring our students have access to the programs they’re interested in and collaborating with professional partners across New York City.”

Vulpis said the CHSAA does not want its schools, particularly those with traditionally strong athletic programs, to be seen by parents merely as someplace where athletics are just considered an opportunity to secure a college scholarship.

“As opposed to using [sports] as an extracurricular activity that’s going to groom them in different aspects of life,” Vulpis said. “It’s not just about sports. It’s more about building an individual for life.”

Everything started with a meeting of principals and athletic directors back in June to bring everyone in on the plans. Student initiatives took place over the summer.

“One of the things that we were finding is that hiring coaches — schools hire their own individual coaches — it’s not like yesteryear,” Vulpis said. “A lot of coaches of yesteryear were your physical education teachers, coaches. Now what is happening is that a lot of coaches are coming from the ranks of youth coaching, travel teams. The philosophy is different. The philosophy is win at all cost. We used to see coaches who are teachers. They were in doctrine with the community.

They were in doctrine with the Catholic Church itself ... But we’re not getting them anymore.”

The new initiative stresses teaching.

“We’re putting something in writing for athletic directors to work from with their coaches,” he said. “How to go about coaching in this league, and what’s expected of them.”

The new procedures also offer avenues of redress for a coach who believes his or her team has been poorly or unfairly treated in some aspect of a contest; or a coach who is confronted with in-game problems such as the possibility of running up the score or a game getting out of hand when the schedule hands his or her team a badly overmatched opponent.

“Coaches can turn those things over to the league and let them sort it out,” Vulpis said.

He said the student section of the initiative also began back in June.

“We knew in getting this plan, we need to reach out to the students themselves,” he said. “How do you do something like that, have them come through in a leadership role? What role do student leaders play in the development of other athletes, their teams?”

Officials opted for a student leadership course offered by the National Federation of High Schools. Athletic directors were tasked with selecting two students from their schools, one male, one female. A single student was chosen from each boys’ or girls’ school. The students took the coursework online on their own time.

“It gets them into the development of leadership qualities that are needed to bring the other student along,” Vulpis said.

A PowerPoint presentation for athletics personnel this summer stressed the need for the schools and coaching staffs to use sports to teach things like personal accountability, self-control, commitment and dedication to

pursuing excellence.

And, finally, the ability to win or lose gracefully, with the ability to go back to the grind after even the toughest loss.

The third point of the trident is getting parents to buy into the educational mission rather than just the athletic competition, particularly those who see sports as a college scholarship opportunity.

He said some parents are not accepting of their child not making the starting five, or of being cut from a team altogether. Some, he said, even threaten to sue.

Parents’ comportment and conduct at a game or match also now will come under more control of the league office.

“We never really had anything to do with [disciplining] a parent,” Vulpis said. “The schools would do their own disciplining. But now the schools have come back to the league saying, ‘We need the help. It’s become so rampant.’”

There now will be standard, uniform regulations for parental conduct, rather than allowing parents at some schools to get away with unacceptable behavior that was not tolerated elsewhere.

Vulpis said one set of conduct disciplinary standards also will offer protection for coaches and athletic directors, as the league will be the final arbiter of any complaint rather than having it settled at their children’s school.

Vulpis pointed out that high school sports are not an inexpensive undertaking. The aim of the new initiatives, he said, is to improve the sports, the students and the schools.

“It’s the backbone, the basis for everything that comes afterward,” Vulpis said. “If we don’t incorporate the values we want in an athletic program, a system that reinforces what we teach in the classroom, then why are we doing this? Why are we spending the money?” Q

The softball team at Archbishop Molloy High Sc hool in Briarwood won the 2023 championship in the Catholic High School Athletic Association of Brooklyn and Queens. With new programs incorporating players, coaches and parents, the CHSAA and the city’s Public School Athletic League are looking to craft champion student leaders as well as champion athletes. PHOTOS BY DENISE HILLIG

St. John’s Preparatory School brought the 2023 CHSAA baseball title back home to Astoria.

Styles as cool as a fall breeze

by Stephanie G. Meditz Chronicle Contributor

Though students may still be in vacation mode, back-to-school season has arrived. The heat might stick around for a few more weeks, but orange and brown leaves will continue to fall, with crisp autumn air not far behind. If you’re looking for a bargain on trendy backto-school wear or a new wardrobe for your new college student, Queens is the place to be.

Denim will be a wardrobe staple for students of all ages this fall. While the weather is still warm, girls may opt for a denim jumper and brightly colored T-shirt for a feminine yet comfortable look. When the temperature drops, you may want to send them to class with a warm flannel or trade their dresses for some jeans with a relaxed fit.

Baggy jeans are trendy for all ages, including high schoolers and college students. Whether they’re flared, bootcut, straight leg or the increasingly popular “mom” and “dad” jeans, teens and tweens will rock the halls in a wave of denim. Pair any of these styles with a tee or sweater for an easy, stylish look. Oversized tees and crew neck sweatshirts are hot commodities for as little as $12.99 in JC Penney, located in the Queens Center mall.

look, while sporty types may pair basketball shorts with a hooded sweatshirt and denim jacket. If the weather permits, cargo shorts with a polo or other smart collared shirt create a timeless look.

Students who are more adventurous with their style might even curate their wardrobe to match a certain aesthetic tailored to their individual tastes and personalities.

School Student fashion

Mackenzie Dorward and George Coronel, employees at Other People’s Clothes in Ridgewood, spoke to the ever-increasing popularity of the “Y2K” aesthetic, which includes bright colors and pieces reminiscent of the late ’90s and early 2000s, such as low-rise jeans and velour tracksuits. Another common aesthetic, known as “cottagecore,” is characterized by light-colored puff sleeve blouses and gunny sack dresses. With their lace-up bodice and flowy skirt, these dresses are hot sellers, Coronel said. He added that high schoolers generally go for a skater look with large shoes, and Dorward attested to the resurgence of grunge looks that, without saying a word, indicate the wearer’s affinity for new metal bands. Though mostly young adults and postgraduates frequent the buy/sell/trade store, many high schoolers and college students have begun tailoring their wardrobe to an aesthetic.

more’s signature look from “Gilmore Girls” pilot episode. Pair this look with sneakers or black combat boots and a pumpkin spice latte, and you’ve mastered the cozy “downtown girl” look. While the weather is still warm, young women may pair baby tees with black miniskirts and carry a knit cardigan in case it gets chilly.

Whether they stick to one aesthetic or not, thrift stores can provide affordable, sustainable, timeless pieces.

“Things are cyclical, so it makes it easier to transition into the next trend versus having to get a whole new wardrobe. You spend less money on certain pieces ... things are coming and going, honestly,” Coronel said.

For young men, layering tees or hoodies with unbuttoned jackets is all the rage. They may opt to style jeans with a T-shirt or classic button-down for a more put-together

Isabella, an incoming college freshman, visited Queens Center’s Aeropostale with her mom, selecting flare jeans and a white knit sweater reminiscent of Rory Gil-

Collegians may even opt to reuse their business casual attire from a summer job or internship. Women might pair wide-leg jeans with an oversized button-down shirt. Others may even test the line between comfort and sophistication by dressing up athletic wear, such as leggings and sports tops, with dress shoes and an oversized blazer. This trend of repurposing workout attire for everyday wear, commonly

known as “athleisure,” encourages young people not to sacrifice comfort for a polished look. They may even elevate it further by choosing monochromatic shades, especially for an all-black outfit.

Athleisure is in high demand among elementary-school students, too — in patterned sweatpants and zip-up sweatshirts, youngsters can be stylish from study hall to the schoolyard.

While older generations often opt for dark, neutral or jewel tones like maroon and navy blue in their fall wardrobe, elementary schoolers want their clothes to mimic their vibrant personalities.

Girls’ clothing this season showcases neon and pastel pink, purple and blue, and boys’ darker palette includes flashes of red, forest green or royal blue.

Children’s clothing stores sell colorful graphic tees galore, including some that reference popular media.

“This generation, where everyone’s watching a bunch of shows that come out and premiere and everything like that, they love,” Alexis Men-

doza, an employee at Abercrombie Kids in Queens Center, said. Kids can literally wear their interests on their sleeve with graphics from “The Mandalorian,” “Stranger Things,” “Top Gun” and even Xbox. The Children’s Place, with locations in Elmhurst, Ridgewood, Jamaica and Astoria, allows boys to become their heroes with a Spider-Man or Avengers tee that matches their slim or straight leg jeans. Girls can take their pick of “girl power” tees for as little as $4.99 and style them with trendy cargo pants.

Varsity, leather and denim jackets can also be appropriate layering pieces and staples in your child’s wardrobe. If your student is still in the market for a new backpack, you can find one for 25 percent off.

To find the hottest trends on a budget, check out one of Rainbow’s locations in Ridgewood, Woodhaven or Elmhurst. You might even find a bargain at thrift stores, including Goodwill in Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Astoria and Long Island City.

Students who like what they’re wearing are set to feel confident in the classroom and beyond, so help them choose stylish, comfortable and practical pieces for their backto-school wardrobe. Q

Denim’s comfortable, classic versatility makes it a back-to-school staple for all ages. Above, a jeans display at American Eagle Outfitters in the Queens Center mall. At left, a forest green varsity jacket at Abercrombie Kids is among the trendiest back-to-school finds. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ

Also trending at Queens Center were a cargo pants and crew neck display at JC Penney, left, and all-black men’s ensemble at American Eagle Outfitters, center. The Children’s Place, right, boasts a wide variety of boys’ and girls’ colorful graphic tees for as low as $4.99. Outside of the malls, buy-sell-trade shops such as Other People’s Clothes can cater to popular aesthetics.

2023-24 PUBLIC SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

SEPT. 7, 2023 THURSDAY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS

Sept. 14 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: elementary schools and Pre-K Centers

Sept. 21 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: middle schools and District 75 schools

Sept. 25 Monday Yom Kippur (schools closed)

Sept. 28 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: high schools, K-12 and 6-12 schools

Oct. 9 Monday Italian Heritage Day / Indigenous People’s Day (schools closed)

Nov. 2 Thursday Afternoon Parent-Teacher conferences: elementary schools (early dismissal)

Nov. 7 Tuesday Election Day (fully remote, asynchronous instructional day)

Nov. 9 Thursday Afternoon Parent-Teacher confs: middle schools and Dist. 75 schools (early dismissal)

Nov. 16 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: high schools, K-12 and 6-12 schools

Nov. 17 Friday Afternoon Parent-Teacher confs: high schools, K-12, 6-12 schools (early dismissal)

Nov. 23-24 Thursday and Friday Thanksgiving recess (schools closed)

Dec. 25-Jan. 1 Monday to following Monday Winter recess (schools closed). School resumes Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023.

Jan. 15, 2024 Monday Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (schools closed)

Jan. 23-26 Tuesday through Friday Regents Exams Administration

Jan. 29 Monday Professional Development for 9-12 & 6–12 schools (students in these schools do not attend)

Jan. 30 Tuesday Spring term begins (semester-based schools)

Feb. 19-23 Monday through Friday Midwinter recess (schools closed)

Mar. 7 Thursday Parent-Teacher conferences: elementary schools and Pre-K Centers (early dismissal)

Mar. 14 Thursday Afternoon & Evening Parent-Teacher confs: middle schools and Dist. 75 schools(early dismissal)

Mar. 21 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: high schools, K-12 and 6-12 schools

Mar. 22 Friday Afternoon Parent-Teacher confs: high schools, K-12, 6-12 schools (early dismissal)

Mar. 29-April 1 Friday to Monday Easter Weekend (schools closed — includes Good Friday & day after Easter Sunday)

April 10 Wednesday Eid al-Fitr (schools closed)

April 22-30 Monday to following Tuesday Spring recess (schools closed — includes Passover)

May 9 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: elementary schools & Pre-K Centers

May 16 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: middle schools and District 75 schools

May 23 Thursday Evening Parent-Teacher conferences: high schools, K-12 and 6-12 schools

May 27 Monday Memorial Day (schools closed)

June 4 Tuesday Regents Administration in Algebra I

June 6 Thursday Anniversary Day/Chancellor’s Conference Day for staff (students do not attend)

June 7 Friday Clerical Day for K-5, K–6, 6–8, and K–12 schools and D75 (students do not attend)

June 14-26 Friday to second Wednesday Regents Exams Administration (excluding June 17, 19 when schools are closed)

June 17 Monday Eid al Adha — observed (schools closed)

June 19 Wednesday Juneteenth — observed (schools closed)

JUNE 26, 2024 WEDNESDAY LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS!

Note: Parent-Teacher conference dates are citywide, however, please check with your school for changes. For testing dates and other events, visit schools. nyc.gov/calendar.

Courtesy NYC DOE website: schools.nyc.gov

The play’s the thing this season

by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

While some local theater companies managed to overcome the obstacles imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic more readily than others, the overall scene has a definite new feel to it, as evidenced by the productions scheduled for the upcoming fall season.

This was traditionally the time of year when big Broadway-style musicals were to be found in abundance on the borough’s stages, but that is decidedly not the case this time around.

Only one musical is on the calendar between now and the end of the year, while several groups have opted to go with smaller-scale straight plays, with titles and authors that are largely unknown.

The sole musical on tap, “All Shook Up,” comes courtesy of Royal Star Theatre, which also will hold the distinction of being the first company to raise its curtain to usher in the new theater season.

The show was inspired by and features the music of Elvis Presley, with more than an occasional nod to the comedies of William Shakespeare for several of its plot twists and turns.

The central role of Chad, a hipswiveling, guitar-strumming roustabout, is embodied here by Nick Prior, with Jamie Berger sharing the stage as his love interest, Natalie. Other leading roles are played by Amanda Doria and Paul Mastrella, all under the direction of Amanda Montoni. Musical direction is by Daniel Tomlin, with Tara Mangione providing the choreography.

Hit songs in the show include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

“I wanted to do this show since

Royal Star Theatre’s birth,” Montoni said. “It worked perfectly with the Elvis movie that came out this year.”

The show, she added, is about “finding that spark in you and fulfilling your dream. Nowadays a lot of people forget it’s OK to follow your dream.”

Performances at The Mary Louis Academy (176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates) are on Sept. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance, online only, $17 for seniors 65 and over and children under 12. Add $2 to each ticket at the door.

For more information, go online to royalstartheatre.com or call (516) 521-5500.

Next up will be City Gate Productions’ rendering of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” an absurd comedy by comedian Steve Martin, which asks the question, “What would happen if Albert Einstein bumped into Pablo Picasso at a French bar in 1904 just before both gentlemen became household names?”

According to the company’s promotional material, the play includes a group of regulars who inhabit the Lapin Agile, witnessing the event. There’s also a visitor from the future who is said to get things “all shook up.” (A mere coincidence, and absolutely no connection to RST’s musical!)

Director Tim Reifschneider guides a nine-member ensemble cast headed by Gaston Leguizamon as Picasso and Josh Saffran Sedacca as Einstein. Other roles are to be played by Christopher Hanks, Jim Haines, Ashley Gage, Toni Watterson, Rick Eisenberg, Rocco Sanabria and David Isareli.

According to one of the producers, Thom Harmon, audiences can expect “a lot of surreal humor,” with

a roster of “zany and interesting” characters.

Performances at The Secret Theatre (38-02 61 St., Woodside) are on Oct. 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 15 and 22 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors and students. For more information, visit citygateproductions.org or call (929) 377-7495.

Come November, audiences will be treated to a wide variety of plays, opening in rapid succession.

Douglaston Community Theatre offers “Making God Laugh,” by Sean Grennan, which follows a typical American family over the course of 30 years’ worth of holidays.

Joe Marshall directs a cast that features Rosemary Kurtz, Christopher Tyrkko, Matt Benincasa, James Brodigan and Tara Mangione.

Performances at Zion Church Parish Hall (243-20 Church St., Douglaston) are on Nov. 3, 4, 10, 11 and 18 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 11 and 19 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $22; $20 for seniors and students.

For more information, click one dctonline.org or call (718) 885-4785.

The next night brings to St. Mary’s Drama Guild a production of “Death by Chocolate,” by Paul Freed, which is said to combine all the elements of classic murder mysteries with a scathing satire of today’s health crazes.

The play is directed by Claire Spinetti, who explained how she was introduced to it.

“You know how you pick up little plays just to read?” she said. A

friend of hers did so and passed it along to Spinetti.

“I was so hooked,” she said. “It’s funny, different, not well-known, which I love.”

The cast is headed by Alison Goldman, Alex Alejandro, Tara Gleason, and Landon Browne.

Performances at St. Mary’s Auditorium (70-20 47 Ave., Woodside) are scheduled for Nov. 4 and 11 at 6:30 p.m. and Nov. 5 and 12 at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $25 for reserved seats.

For more information, visit stmarysdramaguild.org or call (718) 672-4848.

women and their role in marriage.”

Performances at the church (85 Greenway South, Forest Hills) are on Nov. 11 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 12 and 19 at 2:30 p.m.

For more information, click on gingerbreadplayers.org or call (718) 268-7772.

Fall Theater preview

George Bernard Shaw’s classic “Candida,” a comedy centered around the notions of love and marriage, comes to The Gingerbread Players of Saint Luke’s Church for four performances beginning on Nov. 11.

Lauren Snyder stars in the title role, the wife of a clergyman who finds herself torn between her feelings for her husband (to be played by David Ezra Stein) and a young poet (Joe Mignone). Rounding out the cast are Farah Diaz-Tello, Andrew Dinan and Mike Miller.

Director Bill Logan, a Shaw aficionado, calls the play “funny” and “well-written,” offering what he calls “a modern message about

Another classic comedy, Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” arrives one week later, with auditions scheduled for early September with the Parkside Players. The play, one of the Bard’s most popular, revolves around love and all its vagaries.

Director William Frenzel is approaching the casting with an open mind. “I’m open to pretty much anything,” he said. “I like to be flexible in the audition process. Anybody can play anybody. I’m not worried about gender one way or the other.”

According to Frenzel, the production is the first of a Shakespeare play to be done by Parkside in many years. It also is the first show of the first full season for the group since coming back from the pandemic shutdown.

Performances at Grace Lutheran Church (103-15 Union Tpke., Forest Hills) are on Nov. 18, 19, 25 and 26 and Dec. 1, 2 and 3.

For more information, visit the Parkside Players on Facebook. Q

Doing a readthrough of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” are, in order of appearance (in the show, not at the table) Christopher Hanks as Freddy, Jim Haines as Gaston, Ashley Gage as Germaine, Josh Saffran Sedacca as Einstein, Toni Watterson as Suzanne, Rick Eisenberg as Sagot, Gaston Leguizamon as Picasso, Rocco Sanabria as Schmendiman and David Isareli as The Visitor; they’re joined by Director Tim Reifschneider and Assistant Director Emma Reifschneider. The setting is Donovan’s Pub in Woodside — fitting for a play taking place in a bar. PHOTO BY VIRGINIA HARMON

Ben Kaminski, left, Jamie Berger, Amanda Doria and Paul Mastrella rehearse “All Shook Up,” with its nods to both King and Bard. PHOTO BY ALISON KURTZMAN

Exhibits look into the past and future

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Fall. It’s a time for going back to school and vacation blues as one prepares to go back to work, but it’s also a transformative season where a person can expand his or her mind.

So as we get ready to put on some layers, roll back the clock and buy pumpkin spice everything, let’s make room to explore exhibits throughout the World’s Borough. A handful are described here.

One of several kicking off next month at SculptureCenter is a sound exhibit by Julian “Togar” Abraham.

“We are hosting Togar’s first U.S. solo exhibition,” Kyle Dancewicz told the Queens Chronicle. “We brought him to SculptureCenter to activate our lower-level spaces and to engage with his interest in music and group sonic culture.”

Dancewicz, SculptureCenter’s deputy director, said that Togar’s “exciting” collaborative use of exhibition spaces made it a no-brainer to bring him to the center.

“We’ve been working with Togar for about a year and there is also going to be a lot of live programming throughout the fall,” Dancewicz added.

Togar, who resides in Indonesia, said his sound exhibit “Too good to be OK,” which features newly commissioned musical instruments, audio works, kinetic sculptures, video, painting and live events, was inspired by his time in the Southeast Asian country.

the other offerings at SculptureCenter, which is located at 44-19 Purves St. in Long Island City, visit sculpturecenter.org.

Nevena Prijic, a Los Angeles-based artist whose work is featured at Mrs., an art gallery located at 60-40 56 Drive in Maspeth, will present her work “Feral Currents” from Sept. 5 to Oct. 28, and there will be a reception on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Born in Serbia, Prijic takes inspiration from Vin č a figurines in her paintings, as well as Neolithic archeological history and contrasts biological life with futuristic landscapes.

“Vinča culture, being a very important part of Serbian history, their androgynous and futuristic look was exactly what I was looking for when representing human figures at the time,” said Prijic about how the figurines stirred her. “Even though they date around 5500 BC, and from this particular territory, they appeared as if they could belong to some distant worlds, either from the past or the future.”

To learn more about “Feral Currents” or Mrs., visit mrsgallery.com.

Fall Art

The Godwin Ternbach Museum, located within Queens College at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing at the university’s Klapper Hall building, is hosting an exhibit called “Ubuhle Women: Beadwork & The Art of Independence,” from Oct. 4 to Jan. 11, 2024. A reception will be held on Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. and people interested in attending the exhibit must RSVP by Oct. 1 by emailing gtmuseum@qc.cuny.edu.

and income in 1999.

“By stretching the textile like a canvas,” Gibson said in a statement, “the artists transform the flat cloth into a contemporary art form.”

Ntobela described the work as “directly from the soul.”

To learn more about the work or the museum, visit gtmuseum.org.

Resorts World New York City, the casino next to the Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, has an interactive theme for its Red Wall Art Gallery set for November and December.

While there are no set dates or times, the casino, which is located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., has confirmed it will receive artwork from the Queens Centers of Progress and ArtShare for Heartshare, respectively.

“So far I can tell you is that we are implementing a new aspect with augmented reality,” said Courtney Heyward, a Resorts World community development specialist. “We are bringing the artwork to life ... What you do is scan the QR code on your phone and then you scan the photo after. Sometimes there will be a video or sometimes there will be birds flying (around the artwork) ... It’s a very fun aspect to the wall ... It’s something that can be visualized tangibly.”

The artwork will be at the casino’s second floor at the Fifth Avenue Atrium.

If interested in learning more, visit rwnew york.com/red-wall-art-gallery/.

Abstract artist Jeong Min Park’s latest exhbition, “Circulation,” will be featured at The Garage Art Center from Sept. 9 to Oct. 1.

tackle queer and Indingenous culture.

The exhibit started on March 16 and concludes on Oct. 2 at 22-25 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City. To learn more, visit momaps1.org.

The Museum of the Moving Image will feature a sculptural hologram by multidisciplinary artist David Levine from Oct. 27 through March 2024.

An artist talk and reception about Levine’s “Dissolution” exhibit is on Oct. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum, which is located at 36-01 35 Ave. in Astoria.

“Historically, Indonesia is a relatively young nation that was born out of anti-colonialist movements initiated and formulated by a handful of students, young politicians, cultural practitioners from different parts of the archipelago. A nation that has diverse languages and cultures, therefore diverse sounds,” Togar said via email. “To be able to participate in these movements coming from a lineage of listening as practices is my way to contribute to a less unjust society.”

The exhibit starts on Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m., and runs until Dec. 11.

To learn more about “To good to be OK” or

“Ubuhle,” which means beauty in the Xhosa and Zulu languages, is beadwork art sewn into fabric and is the brainchild of South African artist Ntombephi Ntobela and curator Bev Gibson.

Inspired by the breakdown of families in South Africa during the 19th century due to the discovery of gold and diamonds, as well as the cultivation of sugar cane, which forced men into migrant labor while women were left at home unemployed, Ubuhle is also the name of a women’s organization created by Ntobela and Gibson that encouraged women to use their skills with beads to create works of art

A reception will be held on Sept. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the center, which is located at 26-01 Corporal Kennedy St. in Bayside.

Her artwork delves into spirituality and the concept of reincarnation.

“My life is an intricate tapestry that intertwines the past, present, and future, resonating with the essence of each moment,” Park said in a statement.

To learn more about Park’s work, and the gallery visit garagecenter.org.

MoMA PS1 will present a collaborative piece by siblings Chuquimmia Condori and Joshua Chuquimia Crampton.

The exhibit from the California-based artists incorporates sound, music and images that

The volumetric projection is viewable from any angle and functions as a digital zoetrope that beams colorful pixels at 30 frames per second onto an oscillating glass plate.

The piece takes inspiration from 1980s flicks like “Tron” and “Max Headroom.”

“We are thrilled to be the first institution in the United States to present ‘Dissolution,’” said Sonia Epstein, MoMI’s curator of science and technology. “David Levine’s work evokes the past and present of the moving image, combining unique digital media technology with references from the history of cinema, television, and video games — a perfect fit for the museum and our subject matter.”

Eyal Bar-David, a photographer and poet who is currently in Nicaragua, told the Chronicle that he will have his first public exhibition of “A Journey Inward Coast to Coast” at Maple Grove Cemetery’s cultural center in Kew Gardens.

“This collection was created during a twomonth long solo cross country road trip in late 2021,” Bar-David said via email. “The road trip marked the start of a powerful healing journey and it was crucial for me to explore my inner and outer realities artistically.”

Carl Ballenas, the president of Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery, Inc., said that BarDavid’s work will be featured for the entire month of September with a reception on Sept. 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 127-15 Kew Gardens Road.

“This exhibition is dedicated to a photographer who is buried here at Maple Grove,” Ballenas said. “William H. Zerbe lived from 1864 to 1943. He was an award-winning photographer for the New York Herald Tribune for 60 years.”

Learn more at friendsofmaplegrove.org. Q

“Beshu” bead artwork on fabric by Bongiswa Ntobela. PHOTO COURTESY GODWIN TERNBACH MUSEUM

Julian “Togar” Abraham, left, will have a sound exhibit at SculptureCenter in Long Island City. Other exhibits this fall includ e photos, center, by Eyal Bar-David at Maple Grove Cemetery’s cultural center in Kew Gardens and paintings by Nevena Prijic, which will be featured at the Mrs. art gallery in Maspeth. PHOTOS COURTESY TOGAR, LEFT; EYAL BAR-DAVID, AND NEVENA PRIJIC AND MRS.

Away for a day in the Poconos

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

If you’re looking for a day trip and you and your family have varied interests, check out northeastern Pennsylvania.

You just might find that there is more to do in the Keystone State’s Pocono Mountains region than there is in some small countries.

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau offers information on family activities, theme parks, nature and scenic parks and trails, museums, seasonal musical and cultural festivals, vintage train trips, outdoor activities from hiking to white water rafting, and even a NASCAR track on its website, poconomountains.com.

Parks

More than a dozen state and national parks allow hikers, photographers and those just interested in the region’s scenery access to lakes, river valleys, waterfalls and forests, the later of which soon will be perfect for fall foliage watching.

Big Pocono State Park in Tannersville, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Bushkill, the Delaware State Forest in Dingman’s Ferry and Lehigh Gorge State Park in White Haven are among the area’s scenic gems.

Water and boating

For those seeking outdoor recreation with more interaction with nature, a number of companies offer river tubing, canoe trips, kayaking and white water rafting on the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, providding hours of fun over miles of mostly leisurely waterways.

The somewhat more adventurous can try to book whitewater

rafting trips to coincide with water release days, thus adding some oomph when going through the sections of rapids.

The region also has a number of water parks that offer tubing, water slides and wave pools, such as Camelbeach in Tannersville, Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun and Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Pocono Manor.

There also are two indoor sites — Aquatopia Indoor Water Park in Tannersville and H2Oooohh! Indoor Water Park at Split Rock, located in Lake Haromony.

Skyward!

Going up from water, the treetop activities include rope bridges and zip lines. You’ll find them at Adventure at Skytop Lodge in Skytop; Summit Adventure Park at Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton; Camelback Mountain Adventures in Tannersville; Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures in Pocono Manor; Howlers Peak Ropes Course in Scotrun; Pocono TreeVentures in East Stroudsburg; and the aforementioned Split Rock Family Fun Center in Lake Harmony and Blue Lightning in East Stroudsburg.

Amusements

More terrestrial family friendly activities can be found in places like Blue Lightning in East Stroudsburg; Costa’s Family Fun Park in Hawley; Impact Family Zone in East Stroudsburg; and the Split Rock Family Center in Lake Harmony.

More specialized offerings also are available, such as The Arcade Era in Stroudsburg and rock climbing at Pocono Rocks! in Mount

Pocono. S&S Speedways offers indoor go-carts at Stroudsburg.

One of the newer sports crazes also has come to the Poconos at Deepshots Pickleball in White Mills, while Big Screen Escapes offers escape rooms in Mount Pocono and Tannersville.

And any NASCAR fan can give you chapter and verse on Pocono Raceway in Long Pond.

For animal lovers ... “With daily animal shows, a dino dig, petting zoo, parrot feedings and a turtle town, the wonders never end!”

Site welcomes visitors to see its monuments to the Iron Horses in Scranton.

The Stourbridge Line, operating from Honesdale, offers the Pocono Express between August and midNovember, and visits to a seasonal farmers market in September and October, as well as other seasonal events year round.

Fall

Quick trip to the mountains

The visitors bureau, on its website, entices visitors to Claws ‘N’ Paws World Animal Park in Lake Ariel, with its up-close and handson activities for children; and Country Junction in Leighton, with its featured animals and festivals. It also boasts what it calls the world’s largest general store ... and train lovers Train buffs, nature lovers and those who cherish views of the Poconos’ scenic and cultural attractions will find nothing to rail anyone about.

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway offers scenic tours from its headquarters in Jim Thorpe, while the Steamtown National Historic

Related attractions include the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum, located in Lansford; and the Pennsylvania Rail Bike exhibit at the Hawley Train Station in Hawley.

Haunted happenings

With Halloween really just around the corner, the Poconos always plans a haunting reception for its visitors.

Country Junction in Leighton has its Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival from late September through October. Along with pumpkin picking and a corn maze, weekends in October include the haunting of the Waldorf Hotel, featuringa a haunted house, a haunted walking trail, escape rooms and more.

The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos in Swiftwater every fall becomes the Haunted Candle Shoppe of the Poconos, which includes a historic tour

The Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares in Saylors-

burg offers both indoor and outdoor horror exhibits in the old Pocono Mountain resort called the Lake House Hotel.

And in Jim Thorpe, the Old Jail Museum has a haunting atmosphere in just about any season.

It has the 19th-century jail’s old gallows and dungeon, and offers access to the old cellblock. Many say you can sense the spirits of seven members of the “Molly McGuires,” Irish coal miners hanged for murder during their rebellion against mine owners. And just how does one explain the remaining handprint of the miner who said he would leave it there as a testament to his innocence?

For those looking to stay longer than a day, poconomountains.com offers information on hotels, restaurants and other accommodations. Q

Cyclists take in some of the beauty of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains over the Lehigh Gorge Bridge, with its famous fall foliage just coming into bloom. PHOTOS COURTESY POCONOMOUNTAINS.COM

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is one of a number of rail companies offering scenic and historic tours in the Poconos.

Jethro the giraffe greets visitors at Claws ‘N’ Paws World Animal Park in Lake Ariel.

What the Mets can do off-season

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Now that there is one month left to go before the 2023 season mercifully ends, it is time to assume the role of Nostradamus and predict what the Mets will do in the off-season to improve things for next year.

Mets owner Steve Cohen vows the team will be competitive. My guess is he feels the Mets should garner a playoff berth, but beating the Braves for the NL East crown is probably not in the cards.

go-round with the mercurial Stroman. Snell, Rodriguez and Nola should be high on the Mets’ shopping list.

gs will be betu r y seemed d re t urn ,

Fans have ample reason to believe things will be better, though. Edwin Diaz, whose March injury seemed to herald the Mets’ fate this year, should return, and there is little reason to fear he won’t be a dominant closer. The Mets do have to find a quality setup man for him, and they could do it this fall. They could have a reunion with David Robertson, who enjoyed his time in Flushing and did not want to leave. Robertson will be a free agent as soon as the 2023 World Series ends.

The Mets’ starting pitching will have to be addressed. Kodai Senga is currently the team’s ace. Expect the team to go after another major Japanese pitcher. No, not that one. Reports are circulating that the Mets are interested in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is 25 years old and throws a variety of pitches that frustrates hitters.

There are several top pitchers slated to be free agents. Blake Snell, Eduardo Rodriguez, Aaron Nola and ex-Met Marcus Stroman will draw plenty of attention from teams. It is highly unlikely Mets executives will want to have another

moved from Citi F

Nola is having a good year, but not a spectacular one, with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has heard from the legendary boo-birds at Citizens Bank Park on occasion this season. He may be willing to move a hundred miles north. Mets fans are still smarting about Zack Wheeler leaving Flushing for Philadelphia after the 2018 season because the Wilpons did not want to pony up to keep him. Last year, Taijuan Walker moved from Citi Field to Citizens Bank Park, and he is having a good season. It would be poetic justice if Nola reversed this trend.

Fall Looking forward

I indirectly referred before to Shohei Ohtani, who will be the biggest baseball free agent to hit the market in years. Without mentioning his name, Cohen has indicated that while he might make an offer to him, he is unlikely to get into a bidding war.

The conventional wisdom is Ohtani prefers to stay on the West Coast.

The list of free-agent hitters who will be available is lengthy, and it’s safe to say Daniel Vogelbach’s days with the Mets are numbered. Outfielders Jesse Winker and Adam Duvall have tortured Mets fans for years with their crushing home runs. One can hope Mets management has not been oblivious to their offensive talents.

Cohen has said on two occasions the key to sustained success is having a quality minor league system. He may not spend as much on offense as he did in 2021 and 2022 in order to avoid blocking the path of the highly touted prospects in

continued on page 27

Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who suffered a tendon tear in his knee during the World Baseball Classic on March 16, is on pace to be ready for spring training in 2024.

PHOTO COURTESY NY METS

Widen your kitchen comfort zone

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Whether you’re an inexperienced cook cautiously looking to expand your repertoire or a seasoned pro seeking a new challenge, new recipes always have an allure. Here are just three, two quite simple and one a bit more involved, that would be great to try out as the weather starts to cool. In the hope that they’re not all old-hat to our readers, one is from the East, one is from South America and one is vegetarian.

Hoisin mushroom and chicken stir-fry

This first recipe for a simple stirfry is from bestrecipes.com.au and was posted under the name Australian Mushrooms (rice directions are by the Queens Chronicle). The weights in ounces are approximate equivalents to weights that were given in grams.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 tbs. peanut or vegetable oil

• 10 ounces mushrooms thickly sliced

• 10 ounces chicken breast thinly sliced

• 5 ounces sugar snap peas tops removed

• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce

• 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts (optional)

• 1 cup jasmine rice

Rinse 1 cup jasmine rice in cold water. Mix with 1 1/4 cup water in medium saucepan with lid. Bring to boil. Turn down to low and simmer 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 10 more minutes, keeping lid on. (Or substitute your own ricecooking method but remember jasmine takes less water than regular white rice.) Fluff with fork and set aside.

Heat a wok over high heat. Add 2 tsps. of oil and half the mushrooms and until they start to color. Remove

from heat and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 2 tsps. oil and remaining mushrooms.

Add 2 tsps. oil to the hot wok. Add half the chicken and stir-fry 1 minute or until golden. Remove from heat and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 2 tsps. oil and remaining chicken.

Add the remaining oil and sugar snap peas to the wok. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, then return the mushrooms and chicken to the heart. Add the hoisin sauce and stir-fry until well combined and chicken is cooked through.

Stir through the peanuts if using. Remove from heat and serve with rice.

Vegetable strata

This recipe for a simple vegetarian (not vegan) casserole comes from fruitsandveggies.org, which is dedicated to getting people to eat more flora, not fauna. It’s by registered dietitian Jodi Danen, who calls it “super versatile” and “a great way to get more veggies into your family!”

Ingredients

• 1 small red onion, sliced

• 1 tbs. olive oil

• 2 small Roma tomatoes, sliced

• 1 cup broccoli florets

• 6 slices french bread

• 5 large eggs

• 2 cups milk

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• salt and pepper to taste

• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Steam the broccoli. Meanwhile, place broccoli into a microwave-safe dish, covered with 1-2 tablespoons of water, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until bright green and softened.

Whisk the egg mixture. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add eggs, milk, garlic, and salt and pepper. Whisk until blended.

Layer strata in baking pan. Lay the bread on the bottom of the baking pan. Top with steamed broccoli, sliced tomatoes and sauteed onions. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables. Top with shredded cheese. With a spatula, gently push down to get the egg mixture covering most of the ingredients.

Bake. Bake for 50 minutes or until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.

Colombian empanadas: Fried empanadas with beef and potato filling

This recipe for the popular pastries is by Marian Blazes, a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. It is posted on thespruceeats.com, where you can see a video demonstration, too.

Fall

Seasonal recipes

Preheat the oven and prepare the baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray the baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Sautee the onions. In a small skillet over medium heat, sautee onions in olive oil until golden brown. This will take about 10-15 minutes.

“Like many Latin countries, Colombia has its own version of the empanada,” Blazes writes. “These unique and tasty hand pies have an outer crust made with masarepa, the precooked cornmeal that is used to make arepas. The filling is stewed beef (or pork) and potatoes seasoned with hogao, a cooked tomato salsa.” They’re traditionally served with spicy aji sauce, she says, “but they’re also good with chile ranch sauce.”

Ingredients

For the hogao:

• 2 tbs. olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tomato, finely chopped

• 6 green onions, finely chopped

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1/2 tsp. cumin

• 1 package (about 2 tsps.) Sazón

Goya con azafran (saffron)

• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

• salt, to taste

• freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the filling:

• 3 beef bouillon cubes

• 1 pound top round or skirt steak, or similar cut of pork, sliced into strips

• water, to cover beef in pot

• 1/2 pound yellow or white potatoes, peeled and quartered

For the dough:

• 3 cups yellow masarepa, or precooked cornmeal, or harina de maiz

• 2 1/4 cups hot water

• 2 tsps. sugar

• salt, to taste

• freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Make the hogao

Heat olive oil in a large stockpot. Add garlic, tomato, onions, cumin, Goya seasoning and cilantro and sauté over medium heat, stirring, until onion is very soft, 12 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove hogao from pot and set aside in a separate bowl.

Make the filling

Using your hands, crush beef bouillon cubes as you add them to the (same) pot.

Add sliced beef to the pot. Cover meat with water and bring to a boil.

Simmer beef until very tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour.

Add potatoes to beef, adding more water if necessary to cover. Simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes.

Remove the pot from heat and let meat and potatoes cool in the broth.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer meat and potatoes into a separate bowl and set aside. Strain broth into a large measuring cup and reserve.

Place masarepa in a large bowl. Stir 1 cup of the reserved broth into masarepa, along with hot water and sugar.

Season mixture with salt and pepper and set aside for 10 minutes.

Roll masarepa dough into about 40 golfball-size balls.

Make the empanadas

Finely chop meat and potatoes and place in a large bowl.

Stir hogao into meat and potatoes and mix thoroughly, adding a little of the broth to moisten. Slightly mash potatoes.

Working with 1 ball of dough at a time, flatten each ball into a 4-inch circle; placing dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and using a rolling pin will make this easier.

Remove plastic and place a teaspoon or so of filling in the middle of the dough circle.

Fold circle in half to make a halfmoon shape, enclosing filling. Seal edges with fingers. Repeat with remaining balls of dough, placing empanadas in one layer on a plate or cutting board.

Heat vegetable oil to 350 F. Fry empanadas in batches until they are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Do not crowd the pot.

Drain on paper towels.

Serve the empanadas warm with aji sauce or chile ranch sauce if preferred.

On the website, Blazes also offers tips on shaping the empanadas a day before cooking them and how to best store them in the refrigerator, and how to reheat them.

Happy cooking! Q

On this page of recipes, the food that’s simplest to eat is the most complex to make by far. WIKIPEDIA PHOTO / OVERKILL53 You best have a wok at the ready if you’re making stir-fry.

Mets moves in the off-season

continued from page 24

his organization.

The team’s owner does not have to worry about shelling out big bucks for a catcher since Francisco Alvarez has shown home run pop, and excellent defensive skills, in his rookie campaign. Likewise, it is highly doubtful Cohen will give up on Brett Baty after a rough rookie season.

Although it is doubtful any of the trio the Mets received in the recent Scherzer and Verlander trades will be on the 2024 Opening Day roster, it is conceivable infielder Luisangel Acuna (the brother of Braves slugger Ronald Acuna Jr.), and centerfielder Drew Gilbert could be called up sometime next summer. First baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford, who has been doing well with the Brooklyn Cyclones, is at least two years away from making his initial appearance in Queens.

There is a good chance, however, that the top prospect in the Mets farm system, Ronny Mauricio, could be in the 2024 Opening Day lineup. What position he will play is yet to be determined. Mauricio came up as a shortstop, but there is no vacancy there as Francisco Lindor has a long-term contract and is still very productive. Mets fans have been imploring management to call him up this season, but the front office

wants him to spend more time in Syracuse playing various positions in both the infield and outfield.

There has been speculation about Pete Alonso’s future in Queens. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. He likes being a Met and is a fan favorite. Some WFAN hosts have said he is a liability in the clubhouse, but that is a lot of claptrap.

Yes, there was talk the Mets were shopping him at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, but their price was understandably quite high. It is unlikely he will be dealt during the MLB Winter Meetings, which will be held the first week of December in Nashville. The term “winter meetings” is a bit of a misnomer since the first week of December is still autumn.

At his June 26 Citi Field press conference, Cohen made it clear he wants to hire a president of baseball operations. All signs point to native New Yorker, Cornell University alum and onetime Mets fan David Stearns being that person. Cohen has tried to hire Stearns previously, but his current employer, the Milwaukee Brewers, would not let him out of his contract. Those encumbrances end after this season.

Stearns is friendly with current Mets General Manager Billy Eppler, so he will

likely keep him on his staff. It will be Stearns, however, who will be making the trades, call-ups from the minors, and free agent signings.

A bigger question is whether Stearns will want to retain Buck Showalter as the Mets’ manager. Brewers Manager Craig Counsell’s contract also expires after the last out is made in the 2023 World Series. Stearns

hired Counsell and he has done a respectable job in Milwaukee. If Counsell opts to remain in what was once the beer capital of America, then Stearns will stay with Showalter, who is highly regarded throughout baseball.

This should be an active fall for our Flushing heroes. We will cover it all here in the Queens Chronicle. Q

AWARDS:

• Five-Star Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

• Administrator member of American College of Health Administrators

• Administrator recipient of CMS Outstanding Achievement award for Reducing Hospitalizations

• Administrator is 2016 Recipient of Lily Leadership Award

The core of the Mets lineup, highlighted by the formidable duo of Francisco Lindor, left, and Pete Alonso, will aim to get hits more consistently to make the team more successful at the plate overall. Manager Buck Showalter, left, faced a lot of instability this season, especially compared to his Mets debut in 2022, when the team won 101 games. PHOTOS COURTESY NY METS