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Pols respond to Trump shooting PAGE 2
Queens’ musical
After Karina Vetrano was murdered in 2016, the Howard Beach community swore to never forget her. Last Friday, the neighborhood kept that promise at a street co-naming ceremony, as the corner of 165th Avenue and 84th Street is now also known as Karina Vetrano Way. At the event’s end, attendees released purple balloons in Vetrano’s honor.
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
What do Queens officials have to say since former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt last Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania?
After a bullet grazed his right ear, Trump, visibly shaken and bloodied, put his fist in the air and mouthed the word, “fight” as he was ushered away by Secret Service.
The shooter was identified as Pennsylvania resident Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was shot dead by Secret Service during the incident. A rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed as Crooks fired at Trump, and two others were wounded.
While political divisiveness has been growing this election season, Queens politicians, many of whom reiterated support for President Biden last week, took to social media to react to the event. The group largely condemned violence and sent well wishes to the former president.
“I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote on X. “Political violence has no place in our country.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) also took to the platform, to share a similar message.
“Political violence is completely unacceptable and has no place in American democracy,” she wrote. “My thoughts are with former President Trump and all of those affected by this horrifying act. I’m grateful to law enforcement for their swift response.”
Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on X said, “We cannot let political violence become the norm. It is un-American, unacceptable, and reprehensible. I am glad the former President
is safe, and I am praying for everyone at today’s rally.”
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens) wrote, “Political violence has no place in our country. My thoughts are with all those injured tonight. I condemn this act wholeheartedly.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) echoed the sentiments, writing, “Political violence is never acceptable and has no place in our
democracy. My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump and those impacted by this senseless violence.”
“There is no place for political violence, including the horrific incident we just witnessed in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Queens). “It is absolutely unacceptable and must be denounced in the strongest terms. My heart goes out to all the victims and I wish the former President a speedy recovery.”
At the city level, Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said on Facebook, “Praying for the health and safety of former President Donald Trump and his entire family and all those at the rally who were put in jeopardy by a deranged assailant. No President or candidate should have to be in fear for their life.”
In a separate post, Ariola honored Comperatore’s memory.
“Sending prayers to the family of retired firefighter Corey Comperatore who was killed at the rally for President Trump yesterday,” she wrote. “FF Comperatore died a hero, protecting the lives of his wife and daughters. A senseless act of violence has changed their lives forever. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.”
Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whit-
continued on page 27
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by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Emotions ran high last Friday as friends, family and community members gathered in Howard Beach for a street conaming ceremony, as 165th Avenue and 84th Street is now also known as Karina Vetrano Way. Vetrano, who was murdered while jogging nearby in 2016, would have turned 38 that day.
The event was intimate, with just close family, friends and neighbors in attendance, including Vetrano’s parents, Cathie and Phil, her siblings Tana and Eddie, and her nephew, Jude Medina.
The Rev. Francis Colamaria, pastor of St. Helen Roman Catholic Church, engaged the crowd in prayer and blessed the street.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach), who got the legislation for the street co-naming passed and whose office organized the event, gave emotional remarks.
“Karina Vetrano meant so much to so many people here in Howard Beach,” she said. “But her reach wasn’t just a local one. As a speech pathologist, Karina touched the lives of children and families — all of them that she served. Karina lit up the room wherever she went, and the impact that she had on all who knew her was undeniable.”
She added, “As we unveil this street sign, let it serve as a lasting tribute to Karina’s life and legacy. Let it remind us of her boundless energy, her infectious joy.”
Retired NYS Supreme Court Justice Augustus Agate said, “The word of the day is ‘remembrance.’ This has been done in her memory. ... We will not allow Karina to be forgotten. That’s not going to happen.”
Other attendees included former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce and Dets. John Russo and Barry Brown. The trio were among the officers who worked tirelessly to identify and detain Vetrano’s murderer,
Chanel Lewis, who was caught nearly six months after Vetrano’s death and sentenced to life in prison.
“It was probably the most difficult investigation in my time,” Boyce said. He said Vetrano was the “true hero” of the case.
“She left us with the evidence that we needed to make the case,” he said. “She fought like a lioness, and because of that, we were able to catch the terrible killer who now sits in jail for the rest of his life.”
“The most important thing is helping people feel safe around their homes and in their homes,” Russo said. “And when the arrest was made, I think that we were able to bring some measure of that to the people in the neighborhood. ... This is the case that mattered most at that time, and we got it done. So today, the most important thing is honoring Karina.”
The evening saw two poetry readings: one piece written by Vetrano, and one written by her mother when Vetrano was 18.
“A fawn, she’s gentle,” her mother recited. “So fragile, my girl. A tiger, she rages, she roars in this world.”
Vetrano’s father thanked the attendees for coming to support the family and honor his daughter’s life and legacy.
The evening culminated in a tearjerking ukulele performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Nicole Cicero. Afterward, attendees were given balloons in shades of purple to release in Vetrano’s honor. Q
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Gov. Hochul last week signed eight new bills into law that are meant to protect New Yorkers from the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries found in e-bikes and other micromobility vehicles.
“In New York City alone, lithiumion batteries have sparked 268 fires that have injured 150 people and claimed 18 lives,” Hochul said. “You know what the number was just a couple years ago? Zero. Zero people lost their lives. So today, I want to announce some new measures pertaining to e-bikes, scooters and moped safety on the roads.”
The signed bills are as follows:
• S154F/A4938D, which prohibits the sale of lithium-ion batteries used in micro-mobility devices, bicycles with electric assist or mopeds unless such batteries are manufactured in
accordance with certain standards and specifications. It also provides a civil penalty and authorizes district attorneys, county attorneys and corporation counsel to have concurrent authority to seek the relief. Queens co-sponsors include state Sens. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria), Kristen Gonzalez (D-Long Island City), John Liu (D-Bayside) and Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights) and Assemblymembers Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and Juan Ardila (D-Sunnyside).
• S8743/A9338 directs the state Department of State, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to develop and maintain safety resources, information and protocols in
regard to fire hazard prevention relating to, but not limited to, lithium-ion batteries, mopeds and micromobility devices. It was co-sponsored by Ardila.
• S8742/A9337 requires the state fire administrator, within the Office of Fire Prevention and Control of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, to provide training materials for first responders regarding emergency response to incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. Ardila was a co-sponsor.
• S7503B/A1910B requires retailers of micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist and mopeds powered with lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such devices or bicycles, to provide customers with an operating manual. It was co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Jeff Aubry (D-Corona), Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens) and Weprin.
into
• S9419/A7628A requires police
by Naeisha Rose Editor
A transit activist group plans to rally and hold a press conference outside the office of Borough President Donovan Richards on Wednesday, July 24, as a response to the MTA hosting a Queens Bus Network Redesign public hearing in the middle of the summer while some commuters are away on vacation.
The public hearing will be held later that evening in the atrium at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
The rally will be held outside of Borough Hall at 2:30 p.m.
Charlton D’souza, president of Passengers United, the transit activist group, said he had reached out to straphangers who are still working during the summer and was told that they did not know there was an upcoming hearing. The Queens Village man also said some of the bus riders did not see notices on the Q10, Q102 and other transit lines that will be impacted by the changes by the proposed network redesign.
To register to attend the hearing in-person or via Zoom, use this link: shorturl.at/UjAiF.
D’souza thinks the meeting should be pushed back to at least January 2025, because
it is the middle of the summer and many people are on vacation, so their voices will not be heard. He also believes the agency should incorporate public feedback of the final proposed plan, which was released last December, ahead of the hearing.
The MTA did outreach for the final proposed plan from fall 2023 to spring 2024.
“It is summer and everyone is on vacation right now,” D’souza said. “People are not coming out to a public hearing on the 24th.”
The transit activist wants the meeting pushed to January 2025, because parents will be distracted come fall as students go back to school and will be very busy during preparing for Thanksgiving and December in late fall and early winter.
Richards’ office was not available for comment. Gov. Hochul’s office deferred to the MTA when asked to comment about D’Souza’s concerns.
A spokesperson for the MTA said the hearing is hybrid. This is a link to the bus network redesign: shorturl.at/XJbKf. Information about the hearing is there.
“The MTA is redesigning the Queens bus network to deliver more efficient service, reduce travel times, and better match current travel patterns,” said an MTA spokesperson via email. “We continue to take into account community feedback and encourage commu-
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Charlton D’souza, president of Passengers United, says the MTA should push back its Queens Bus Network Redesign hearing to January 2025. FILE PHOTO / COURTESY
nity members to attend the next public hearing on Wednesday, July 24.”
Allan Rosen, a board member of Passengers United, said the people working on the plan either don’t use public transportation or don’t live in the areas they are proposing to redesign.
“It looks like they looked at a Google Map
and they just decided to eliminate one out of three bus stops,” said Rosen, of Brooklyn. “After there were complaints that they were taking stops away from senior centers and important locations, they put some of those stops back and they replaced it with other stops that they took out.”
Rosen, a retired MTA bus planner, said there is no rationale for how the MTA is redesigning the bus system in Queens.
“They started with the wrong assumptions,” he said. “’Buses are slow. They have to be speeded up. The reality is that Queens has the fastest bus system in the city. They have concluded the way to speed up the buses is to eliminate bus stops and they targeted the low-usage bus stops.”
Rosen believes there is no benefit in eliminating low-usage bus stops because the bus operator will just skip them most of the time. People who do use them will have to walk farther to the bus, adding time to their commute, which is counter to the MTA’s plans, he added.
“They say one of their goals is to make trips faster,” he said. “They are only looking at times spent on the bus. They are not looking at the times people are walking to and from the bus. Even if you save three minutes, if you have to spend more time to get to the bus, your trip is going to take longer.” Q
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by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
A discussion about real estate investment tips in Israel scheduled for a Kew Gardens Hills synagogue on Sunday was moved online after organizers learned of a planned protest by pro-Palestinian supporters.
But the protest went on nonetheless outside Congregation Charm Circle on Park Drive East — the original site of the talk — amid a heavy NYPD presence.
Protesters and couterprotesters confronted and yelled at each other, with some getting physical.
In the days leading up to the event, the Palestine Assembly for Liberation/The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, which goes by PAL-AWDA of NY/NJ, billed the demonstration on social media as part of the ongoing call to pressure Israel to stop selling what they call stolen Palestinian land for the establishment of illegal settlements.
“As the genocide on Palestinians continues, we call for a complete end to the settlercolonial project of Israel and its goal of expansion,” a post said.
But Steven Saperstein, who organized the
original presentation at the synagogue, said it was never about real estate sales, per se, but counseling people on tips they could use if they wanted to move to Israel or perhaps get a second home for either residential or investment purposes.
He said the real estate expert who spoke is a Queens native who now lives in Israel.
“He is from Holliswood, and his grandfather was the first rabbi of Young Israel of Hillcrest,” Saperstein said. “And he doesn’t really work in the disputed areas. He works in Israel proper.”
Saperstein estimated 60 percent of those in attendance at the protest — even those in the pro-Israel contingent — were outside agitators coming in to the neighborhood.
He also said most knew that the seminar was going virtual shortly after an agreement was reached on the evening of Thursday, July 11, with direct input from the NYPD and Mayor Adams’ office.
Saperstein said if the pro-Palestinian protesters had not elected to show up anyway, there would have been no reason for the counterprotesters to stop by.
Saperstein also is a community outreach coordinator with Shmira, the Queens Borough Safety Patrol, which, among other services, provides added security patrols in heavily Jewish neighborhoods.
Shmira was making advance plans of its own beginning last week, as was the NYPD.
The protest came just weeks after demonstrtions outside a land sale seminar in Los Angeles on June 23 turned into a full-blown riot after being seriously understaffed by the LAPD.
Shmira, in a post on its X feed on July 11, among other things, directly cautioned anyone planning to attend against engaging with protesters, in order to avoid being goaded into a response that would require police interventions.
“There is a time to counter-protest and stand up for what is right,” the Shmira post said. “This is not it.”
Shmira also said both its members and the NYPD would be on site in numbers.
Abraham Pinkhazov, a Queens coordinator for Shmira, said police were able to keep the
Mayor Adams on Tuesday took umbrage at the idea that female leaders of maledominated city departments may not always get the support they need to lead.
The question came in response to FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh’s recent announcement that she will step down in coming months. She has led the department since 2022. The reporter who asked it at a press conference noted that former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell also quit after a relatively short tenure.
Saying he had “started out with five deputy mayors and a woman chief advisor and
two groups separated, and that the NYPD quickly summoned reinforcements in the early going just as a precaution.
Photographs and videos from social media sites show dozens of protesters carrying proPalestinian, anti-Israel and anti-United States posters, leading Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Flushing) to express doubts as to the organizers’ stated aims of disrupting a real estate seminar.
“Carrying Hezbollah terrorist flags in a Jewish community and calling for the death of the Jewish people at an event where the venue was changed tends to put people on
edge,” Berger said on X Monday. PAL-AWDA on Monday claimed many of its people were harassed by counterprotesters. Pinkhasov said there were a few fistfights that broke out and a few arrests, but nothing major.
Saperstein added that those took place in a nearby park and not at the synagogue.
The NYPD did not respond when asked about the number of arrests and any possible injuries. The Chronicle was unable to reach PAL-AWDA for further comment either through an email on its website or through Facebook. Q
The Queens Chronicle is seeking a freelance reporter who is conscientious, reliable and able to turn stories around quickly when needed.
The ideal candidate will have a flexible schedule and be able to cover events such as press conferences, protests and art exhibit open-
a woman chief of staff,” Adams said in part, “Men need to stop with this sexist belief, if a woman wants to leave this administration and continue her work. A man leaves, we don’t say that.”
Kavanagh recently took criticism when the New York Post reported that she had apologized to state Attorney General Letitia James after some firefighters booed the top prosecutor during a ceremony, saying she had to “fix” them. Kavanagh said that after 10 years of giving all her time to the FDNY, she needs to give more to life. Q
— Peter C. Mastrosimone
ings. Knowledge of and interest in government and politics are strong pluses.
Applicants should send their resumes and three writing samples to Editor-in-Chief Peter C. Mastrosimone at peterm@qchron.com. Experience is preferred; talent required. Q
The MTA will bring its mobile van to the Food Emporium at 82-35 153 Ave. in Lindenwood on July 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the office of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach).
During that time, residents can obtain or refill their senior or disability reduced fare MetroCards, transfer balances and get answers to questions about other services the agency provides.
Reduced fares are available for riders who are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability, according to mta.info. To
apply, one must bring two valid forms of identification, including one with a photo.
“This is such a vital service for our community, especially for our seniors as so many of these services are not readily available at stations in our community,” Pheffer Amato said in a statement.
“I want to create more access and accessibility for people to get around our City when dealing with public transportation,” she said. “We need to make things easier for people, and this van is a great tool to do that.” Q — Kristen Guglielmo
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Exactly how the state Vehicle and Traffic Law applies to parking lots continues to evolve. Though many are privately owned, people can’t just do as they please. Try driving drunk in one and see what the cops think of that. They, and the courts, will probably tell you that the law applies to parking lots open to the public much like it does to roads.
But apparently it does not in every respect, which is why the state Legislature passed a bill this session specifically saying police must be allowed to enforce the law against reckless driving in parking lots. We urge Gov. Hochul to sign the legislation.
Also pressing her to do so are the bill’s chief sponsors, northern Queens state Sen. John Liu and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. They held a press conference Monday at the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, along with a slew of area activists and residents, to highlight the problem the bill seeks to address.
That problem is car meetups, where young
whippersnappers show up to show off their souped-up rides — “tuned” in today’s lingo. They’ll burn rubber doing donuts, race around, blast music and all the rest. They keep doing it in the shopping center parking lot, much to the chagrin of people trying to live their lives nearby and get some sleep.
What’s needed is some law and order. We say crack down on the tuner meetups just like we say crack down on speeders on the roads, illegal vehicles, illegal vendors, shady massage parlors and all the other scofflaws and illicit institutions giving a central finger to the peaceful, law-abiding residents of Queens.
In California, these meetups, aka sideshows, are huge. Sometimes cars slam into the crowd. Sometimes cars are set ablaze. Earlier this month, a mob of 80 or so busted into a convenience store and trashed it. This is what can happen if you let a problem get out of control. This is why Hochul should sign the bill to try to slam the brakes on car meetups here.
Jewish people in Kew Gardens Hills should be able to go to synagogue without fear of being harassed or attacked on the street. That’s it. End of story. No ifs, ands or buts.
Not only are they right to do so, it is their right to do so. And the reason for their going to the temple is hardly important when the reason they’re vulnerable to attack is that they’re Jews.
Yet on Sunday, there were clashes outside Congregation Charm Circle, located among the homes on Park Drive East, and in a playground across the street. There was plenty of yelling, some shoving, some punching and some arrests. The flag of Mideast terrorist group Hezbollah flew high, and one young woman, perhaps brainwashed at some overpriced college, bore a mess of a homemade sign that
read “F--k Israel & the U.S. all the way until the end of time.” We hope she’s not an English major. It’s distressing to see certain elements in society bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which Hamas started, to the streets and synagogues of Queens. Ostensibly the protesters were there to oppose a real estate seminar that involves land the Arab Palestinians claim is theirs, but they really just oppose Jews. And the real estate event had been moved from the synagogue anyway, to avoid just this.
Kudos to the NYPD and private security patrol Shmira for keeping the peace as best they could. And to Assemblyman Sam Berger for highlighting things like the Hezbollah flag on his X feed. People need protection, and also to know what’s out there today.
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Dear Editor:
The MTA public hearing on the Queens Network Bus Redesign, set for July 24, must be postponed until 2025 for the following reasons:
July is vacation time.
None of the thousands of comments since the release of the Proposed Final Plan were incorporated. There is no evidence that the goals of “meeting customers’ priorities” of more reliable service, faster travel, better connections and ease of use have been met. Communities in transit deserts will continue to be underserved, and interborough travel will be deficient with existing connections severed, although improving it was one of the goals. No new routes are offered from Brooklyn and northern Queens to the Rockaways.
The plan does not accommodate the influx of riders that congestion pricing is guaranteed to have, if implemented. Bus driver and equipment shortages are ignored. Locations for additional free transfers have not been announced.
Nearly 3,300 passengers who signed a petition against the elimination of over 1,400, or one-third, of all bus stops are being ignored. The MTA did not release existing and proposed revenue miles and hours to prove that the plan is not an overall service cut. Spending $30 million more in operating costs could mean more buses running “Not in Service.”
Equity was not properly incorporated. There
were no studies to determine how disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as those with mobility problems would be affected. The MTA did not use adequate quantitative or qualitative data to determine changes to bus routes, bus stops, etc. to back up its decisions.
Public outreach was insufficient with no information given other than a website link. Attendance at outreach events was low, with less than 1 percent of Queens 500,000 weekday bus riders reached.
Letting the MTA rush the process without properly incorporating public input or performing due diligence is like giving it a blank check to make any changes it wants and would be catastrophic.
Passengers United Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit advocacy organization.
Charlton D’souza, President Jack Nierenberg, Vice President Allan Rosen, Board Member on behalf of Passengers United Queens Village
Dear Editor:
I am surprised the blacksmiths union didn’t prevent the auto industry from using horsepower to measure a car’s unit of power as an infringement on their stock in trade (“How slow can you go?” Letters, July 11).
It must have been quite stressful to see you r future speed by while holding an empty anvil. Ray Hackinson Ozone Park
Dear Editor:
I would like to praise Rep. Grace Meng for her involvement in getting the United States Postal Service to implement measures to combat mail theft. As reported, Meng announced that the USPS will implement recommendations from a federal investigation that showed the agency was not doing enough to combat
mail theft in Queens. I thank her for coming to bat for our Queens residents.
My wife and I were victims of mail theft when our tax refund check, worth a few thousand dollars, was stolen. It took us almost a year to recover the funds. That was a hardship for us, for we are senior citizens on fixed incomes and I had just had surgery at that time.
Since then, we have had our refunds sent directly to our accounts. Also, any checks I send out I bring directly to the inside of the Glen Oaks Postal Office, where they are doing a great job. I also have a pen that I received from the NYPD so when I write checks the ink cannot be washed off and preventing thieves from altering the check. I do believe the U.S. Postal service needs to do more to protect out mail. Thank you, Rep. Grace Meng.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose
Dear Editor:
March 12, 2024 marked the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Jack Kerouac (“Beat icon Kerouac was the Wizard of Ozone Park,” I Have Often Walked, by Ron Marzlock, July 11). It made me reread one of his best writings, “On The Road.” His works remind me of the adventurous spirit of youth. Sadly, as we get older, with more responsibilities and less free time, there are fewer journeys to take, but the ideals of Jack Kerouac continue to live in all of us.
Larry Penner Great Neck, LI
Dear Editor:
We are living in troubled times, We need unity so that your nation can shine. Upon God we can depend, For He is our best friend. Civility and debate must take center stage, Not killings and rage.
So please, God, hear our prayers, We need your tender loving care.
Cynthia Groopman Little Neck
Dear Editor:
In observing the events of the previous months, we have seen President Biden call MAGA supporters domestic terrorists and extremists; at the same time, he was soft on the pro-Hamas protesters, only saying that he did not want their votes. Meanwhile the chaos, violence and intimidation exhibited by the proHamas groups was soft-pedaled and dismissed. Recently the pro-Hamas group went to the home of Sen. Lindsay Graham and yelled that the intifada was here to stay.
On July 4 pro-Hamas groups burned the American flag, and praised the Palestinian flag. The pro-Hamas groups vote Democrat, and their uncommitted votes in the primary showed who they are.
I have seen Trump’s MAGA supporters shout “USA, USA, USA.” And I have seen Hamas supporters shout “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Anti-Semitism within the Democratic Party goes on and there are no pen-
alties or denouncements.
Apparently, the party does not want to offend the pro-Hamas groups. Where is their backbone? Sen. Chuck Schumer criticizes everyone else, but not the anti-Semites in his own party.
I was a Democrat for 50 years. They never fulfilled the promises they made. I switched and am glad I did. The current party is an embarrassment to our country and our freedom.
Looking forward to the November election, as a Democrat, how can you tolerate the obvious tolerance of outright anti-Semitic and antiAmerican behavior? The choice is up to us. We can stand up and fight for America or let the anti-Semites and anti-Americans win.
Lawrence lancucki Great Neck, LI
Editor’s note: The writer penned his letter before the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Dear Editor:
First let me say that the assassination attempt on former President Trump was a disgusting occurrence, a horrible act that left an innocent Trump supporter dead and others injured.
Having said that, Republican news outlets immediately blamed Democrats for the shooting and the escalation of political violence in our nation. What a joke. It’s not Biden who promises to pardon the hundreds of criminals who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Criminals who Trump has called “tourists and hostages.”
It wasn’t Biden who, after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer survived a kidnapping attempt, belittled the threat. No, Trump disparaged Whitmer as a political enemy. His supporters chanted “Lock her up.” Trump laughed and replied, “Lock them all up.” It wasn’t Biden who (while speaking at a Montana campaign rally) praised Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte for previously assaulting a reporter, saying, “Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!” It wasn’t Biden who, instead of condemning them for their violent acts, told the far-right white supremacist group the Proud Boys that they should “Stand back and stand by.”
As for the shooter? Not much is known of the gunman, registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks, at present time. Reports are that he was bullied repeatedly in school. He was a loner. An honor student. He wore camouflage military outfits. We’ll never know what pushed him to commit such a horrific act.
After all, according to the GOP-controlled Supreme Court, it’s only legal to assassinate a political opponent if you are a current or former president.
Robert LaRosa Sr. Whitestone
Dear Editor:
Project 2025 is a Christianity-based, Conservative manifesto that will dramatically affect how we are governed and the way we live. When “Mein Kampf” was published in 1925, the world largely ignored that manifesto. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.
by Stephanie G. Meditz Chronicle Contributor
Following the pair of tragedies that occurred on city beaches in the past month, beachgoers are still soaking up the sun, but with extra care.
In wake of two teenage sisters’ deaths off Coney Island on July 5 and two teen boys’ deaths off Rockaway on June 21, lifeguards on Rockaway Beach near 97th Street remained vigilant on a warm day earlier this week, often blowing their whistle to warn swimmers that they were too far out.
When she heard about the teens’ deaths, Teresa Vega of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, said “the water is too strong” and “they’re not being attentive.”
“Teenagers are probably just doing what they want to do,” she said. “It’s the summertime, their parents are working, they have to work, they can’t pay attention to their kids 24/7 ... and the kids are enjoying their freedom.”
She also does not think there are enough lifeguards, calling attention to the ongoing shortage — Mayor Adams said 230 lifeguards were employed at the beginning of beach season, with hundreds more required to promote safety. He reached a deal in May with District Council 37, the bargaining unit representing lifeguards, that will allow the city to hire more lifeguards and raise the swimming capacity at beaches and pools over the next few summers.
stuff like that,” Manhattan resident Kaitlyn Nelson added.
Local lawmakers share those concerns — Councilmember and Parks Committee Chair Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) and Councilmember Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) announced on Monday the launch of a new free swim program called “Wave Makers” [see separate story in this edition or at qchron.com].
Other beachgoers refuse to let the chance of turbulent waters stop them — Al Maliqi of Forest Hills said a lifeguard had just “whistled [him] out” of what he believed was shallow water, and his wife, Melissa, thought it was because of the rip currents.
“People don’t know how to swim. Even if they know how to swim, though, I feel like sometimes it’s just too much,” she said. “I think the lifeguards are doing their best to make sure people aren’t going far.”
Following the recent drownings, several elected officials, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, have called on Adams and the Parks Department to extend beaches’ operating hours. Lifeguards are currently on duty at city beaches from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
ixed opinions on lifeguard hours and responsibility.
Asked what should be done to prevent drownings, Vega proposed more teen swim programs and volunteer-taught swimming lessons.
“I respect the ocean. I don’t even go on the Jet Skis here,” Vega said when asked if she goes swimming off Rockaway.
Other beachgoers also emphasized swimming lessons — Manhattan resident Jordan Jones said learning how to swim is a “safety and a life thing,” especially for New Yorkers who cannot regularly access bodies of water.
“In this economy, it’s not very accessible for people to just pay for swim lessons nowadays. But it’s kind of an essential thing sometimes if you’re along the coast or if you have pools and
Asked if they thought that would be helpful, Al Maliqi said there is “no need for that,” to which his wife replied, “Of course there is.”
“There are people here that are coming at seven o’clock in the morning,” Melissa Maliqi said.
“That is their fault,” her husband responded.
“It’s tragic, but it just kind of goes to show that you should really be safe. It’s kind of irresponsible to swim either before hours or after hours when no one’s there to watch you and make sure that you’re safe,” Nelson said, adding that she knows many people who are unhappy with the beaches’ current hours. “No matter how much you tell people [not to] be in the water after hours, people are still going to do whatever they want.”
“[Teenagers are] more than responsible and understand the consequences and the difference between a pool and the ocean,” Villa said, adding that his young daughter knows not to go in the water past her knees. “You can’t play around with Mother Nature.”
He suggested that beaches offer life vests for visitors to rent during the day if they do not think their swimming skills are up to par.
Asked about the three shark sightings by NYPD drones last Thursday that shut down parts of Rockaway Beach, Al Maliqi said it might be helpful to install nets that prevent both sharks and swimmers from passing.
“I’ve always been cautious around water regardless, but I’m not too wary because I myself know some of the signs of certain things to watch out for. Even though I know I’m a strong swimmer, I know not to just rely on the fact that I’m a strong swimmer,” Bronx resident Aislinn Zurita added.
The Maliqis said the recent deaths and shark sightings did not make them wary of bringing their children to the beach. One of them is enrolled in swimming lessons right now.
Others were not so sure — when he heard about last month’s drowning deaths off Rockaway, Brooklyn resident Matthew Koziarski turned to Flushing native Neetha Laxmi and asked, “So what are we doing here?”
“Not going to the beach is 100 percent effective,” he said when asked what he would recommend to prevent drowning.
As for sharks, Laxmi suggested signs in the water to ensure that swimmers do not go too far out.
“That’s kind of scary, but I have no idea how you prevent that, that’s the thing. You still wanna go,” she said, though she is “kind of scared” that the sightings occurred in broad daylight. Q M
Upon learning that last month’s drownings off Rockaway occurred when lifeguards were off duty, former lifeguard Louis Villa said, “That’s clearly their fault.”
Jones said, “To me, it’s not going to make a difference. Knowing about it, I’m definitely going to be more conscientious, but even before we got here, the lifeguards were blowing their whistle at people to get out of the water.”
by Sophie Krichevsky Editor
Standing poolside at the Garden School in Jackson Heights Monday afternoon, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) announced the launch of a pilot program that will provide 2,600 New York City second-graders with free swim lessons.
The effort, known as Wave Makers, is the result of a public-private partnership between the city and several nonprofit organizations, including Asphalt Green, the YMCA of Greater New York, the Gray Foundation and Commonpoint Queens, all of which will be providing the lessons at various sites across the city, with a focus on areas lacking access to pools and aquatics instruction.
ambitious and creative strategies to address this crisis on every front.”
The Garden School’s twice-weekly classes — one of the pilot’s earliest launches — kicked off at the beginning of the summer and will run through the end of summer vacation. While some sites will follow a similar structure and will start in the coming weeks, at others, new swimmers will get fewer lessons or will have them during the school year, depending on which of the program’s partners is operating a given pool. Krishnan’s office said that, being part of a pilot program, the variation will help determine how much instruction is sufficient should Wave Makers become a permanent fixture.
“No parent should be burying a child because that child did not know how to swim.”
“The truth is, every one out of four New York City children does not know how to swim, and the statistics are even worse for communities of color, like right here in Jackson Heights ... despite the fact that we are a city surrounded by water,” Krishnan, who chairs the Council’s Parks Committee, said in part. “We as a city need to take this crisis seriously, and ... we need far more comprehensive,
— Councilmember Julie Menin
The launch follows the tragic drownings of four city teens in recent weeks, two off the Rockaways and two off of Coney Island. It also comes about a year after the City Council enacted a bill by Councilmember Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide free swim lessons to all city second-graders. During those hearings, Menin said, it became clear that one of the largest hurdles was the lack of public
pools in certain parts of the city.
“One of the questions I had for [the Parks Department] was, ‘Why is it that you’re only relying on city pools, where 18 out of 51 City Council Districts don’t have a single city pool?’” she said. “So one of the aspects of this project is we, literally, with the help of our part-
ners ... have mapped out over 1,000 pools across New York City that can be utilized to provide free swim lessons to second-graders.”
Menin would add later, “No parent should be burying a child because that child did not know how to swim. That is shameful, and it’s on the
continued on page 27
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Dr. Jaime Grossman is no stranger to Queens. Though he spent the last two years living in Illinois, Grossman grew up in Forest Hills and graduated from Queens College in 1990.
Now, the optometrist has returned to the World’s Borough at Blvd Optical in Howard Beach, at 164-42 Crossbay Blvd.
“I went to optometry school at Nova Southeastern University down in Florida,” Grossman told the Chronicle. He graduated from there in 1996 and has since worked in several different modalities of optometry.
“I’ve had subleases, where I leased out spaces and had different doctors working for me,” he explained. “I’ve lived and worked in Queens, in Long Island City over the years, and then I moved and practiced in other states as well.”
Grossman holds active licenses in six states
and recently made the decision to move back to Queens for family reasons.
“I had the good fortune to meet Dmitriy [Israel, the owner of Blvd Optical],” Grossman said. “He does an incredible job with the patients because he’s from and living in Howard Beach, so he does a wonderful job in helping folks.”
Grossman said Blvd Optical treats patients with a “hometown” feel to things.
Eye care can often be overlooked — some patients are intimidated by the idea of optometry. Asked if he had any advice for prospective patients, Grossman said they shouldn’t be intimidated.
“My goal has always been to provide care for people the way I would want for myself or my family to be treated,” he said. “And that’s how I treat each and every person. So when someone comes here, they are treated like family.” Q
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Since 1978, Danny’s Szechuan Garden has served the Howard Beach community and beyond with delectable Chinese cuisine and entertaining hibachi dinners.
The restaurant has two sections — one dedicated to the sit-down Chinese, Szechuan-style cuisine, which originated in the Sichuan province. It’s known for being spicy, oily and peppery, but it can include other flavors like salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and smoky.
Some notable Chinese menu items include Chong Qing Chicken, tender sliced white meat chicken with vegetables in a tangy and sweet sauce, and shredded beef with shredded hot peppers, for those who can handle the heat. The meals are served family-style.
In the other section, guests can enjoy a hibachi dinner prepared at a large tableside grill. The chef will double as entertainment by cracking jokes and showing off knife skills. Of course, the onion volcano — stacked sliced onion rings that erupt with fire — is a special trick at hibachi restaurants that guests can expect to see.
During a hibachi meal, a diner will order their choice of protein, with options including chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, lobster and scallops. The meal comes with Japanese onion soup, salad, shrimp appetizers, vegetables and a choice of hibachi fried rice or noodles.
Manager Vicky Wang said the eatery has dedicated customers.
“We have people come in who said they used to come as children,” she said. “And then they bring their own kids.”
Asked the most popular menu items, Wang said on the Chinese side, people
enjoy General Tso’s chicken, crispy chicken nuggets coated with a honey sauce and hot Szechuan peppers, and on the hibachi side, people love the steak and chicken.
Danny’s Szechuan Garden serves up great food, but it also serves up great service. Wang said many of the staff had been there for years, having come from the previous location further down the boulevard that closed in 2011.
“We have over 20 people who work here,” Wang said. One of the chefs has been there for over 20 years, she said, and the delivery driver has been there for at least 15, proving dedication to their job and the community.
Danny’s Szechuan Garden, at 156-40B Crossbay Blvd., is open daily for dining in and take-out, from 11:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call the restaurant at (718) 738-6500 or visit its website at dannyszechuangardens.com. Q
• 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
• Swing over to your area senior center
• Ozempic and weight-loss drugs
• Healthy foods and dietary supplements SUMMER 2024
• Administrator is 2016 Recipient of Lily Leadership Award
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
As temperatures rise in Queens, so does the allure of its senior centers. Bustling with a variety of summertime activities, whether it’s a lively game of bingo in the comfort of air conditioning or time in the great outdoors, these facilities, also known as older adult centers, not only provide relief from the heat, but also serve as vibrant hubs of socialization and fun.
The city Department for the Aging estimates that there are more than 300 older adult centers and affiliated sites throughout the city, providing healthy meals, fun activities, classes, fitness programs and social services. Membership at these centers is free and open to New Yorkers ages 60 and older. A full list of centers can be found at nyc.gov/site/dfta.
Studies have shown that older adults report feeling healthier, more positive and less socially isolated after becoming members of an OAC, according to the agency.
Services Now for Adult Persons, known as SNAP, has two older adult centers: Eastern Queens, at 80-45 Winchester Blvd. in Queens Village, and another at 133-33 Brookville Road in Rosedale.
Both sites provide meals, transportation, case assistance services and wellness groups and activities. Enrollees can look forward to holiday celebrations, birthday parties, bingo, music, day trips and volunteer opportunities.
The Brookville location, the smaller of the two, offers discussion groups, arts and crafts, jewelry making, computer classes, light exercises and creative writing, according to snapqueens.org. Those are offered at the Eastern Queens location too, as well as music therapy, blood pressure monitoring, mindfulness and meditation.
“For the months of July and August, we’re planning to do a lot of in-person activities,” Nina Bhola, the director of the SNAP Eastern Queens Older Adult Center, told the Chronicle. “We anticipate a hot summer, so
we want the members to stay as cool as possible.”
Recently, the seniors went on a day trip to City Island in the Bronx to visit a museum, have a meal and enjoy a day of nice weather, Bhola said.
“We’re doing a casino-themed prom for our seniors next Friday at a local restaurant,” she said. The seniors will dress up and vote for prom king and queen.
Then, on an August day still to be determined, the center will have its annual luau, which offers live dancers, food and music. The staffers said the seniors look forward to the event every year.
Cathy Cahn, the director of the Brookville location, said, “We did a ‘Wheel
of Fortune’ program. We have a picnic at the plaza, which is a potluck with carnival games, coming up this Friday. ... There’s always lots of programs throughout the day.”
She added that the picnic is an indoor program because it sometimes can get too hot for the seniors to be outdoors.
“We do play bingo,” Cahn said. “But we’re not defined by that. We’re much more than just bingo — although the seniors are always happy with that kind of game.”
“The main focus is socialization,” said Marian Lewek, SNAP’s chief operating officer. “So even though the seniors may be learning a craft, or taking part in an educational workshop on diversity, the main focus is that they have an opportunity to be in a cool location where they have opportunities to talk to one another.”
She added, “Whether it’s formal, in a women’s discussion group or a men’s discussion group, or informal just sitting at tables, they’re not alone. They feel supported. They feel recognized and they feel valued by being together here.”
Some older adults may be apprehensive to visit a senior center, and some caregivers may be hesitant as well. Asked what she would say to naysayers, Cahn said, “It’s like a family, everybody’s very intimate, and people are happy to be here, it really becomes their way of life, their day-to-day and week-to-week. And I always encourage people to come and see what they’re missing out on by not coming.”
Lewek added, “We really work hard to meet the needs of the senior wherever they are. If they come to the center, they get a sense of how it is. It’s very hard over the phone — you get a much better understanding when you’re there in the center.”
The Middle Village Adult Center, at 69-10 75 St., is another option for seniors seeking care and entertainment. The location offers the basics found at most older adult centers, and also offers additional activities such as knitting, crocheting, watercolor and multimedia painting and mahjong.
Seniors looking to enjoy the great outdoors can participate in fitness picnics at Forest Park, according to Rabbi Richard Levy, the center’s executive director.
“We offer something for everyone,” he told the Chronicle.
The center offers weekly fitness classes in Forest Park and Juniper Valley Park. And during the warmer months, older adults can participate in a variety of guided outdoor activities.
On Tuesdays, from 10 to 11 a.m., residents can take an invigorating morning walk in Forest Park with instructor Debbi. After the walk, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., participants can engage in chair yoga to relax, rejuvenate and recharge.
On Thursdays through Aug. 29, seniors can participate in tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Juniper Valley Park.
“He’s outstanding,” Levy said of the tai chi instructor, Gerard. “He’s really very, very good. He’s been associated with us for a number of years. He attracts people and he has real energy.”
Levy also boasted that the location receives compliments on its lunch offerings. “Our lunches are very well-known and popular, with taste and quality,” he said, noting that they are free, with a $4 suggested contribution.
Information on other events can be found at middlevillageadultcenter.com.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens boasts multiple older adult centers with a variety of unique activities. Recently, the Howard Beach Older Adult Center had a “save your breath” workshop with discussions on respiratory health and lung-detoxifying foods. The Bayside location recently had an art exhibition showcase to show off members’ talents.
Other locations include Ozone Park, Hillcrest, Catherine Sheridan in Jackson Heights and Peter J. DellaMonica in Astoria. A full list of the group’s older adult centers can be found at its website, ccbq.org/ older-adult-centers.
The HANAC, or Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee, Ravenswood Senior Center provides activities and programming for individuals ages 60 and over residing in the New York City Housing Authority’s Ravenswood Housing Development and the surrounding community.
Seniors at Ravenswood’s center, located at 34-35A 12 St. in Astoria, can take morning group walks, called “walk-a-thons.” And on Wednesdays, the seniors get the opportunity to go on a shopping trip. A full schedule can be found at the Department for the Aging’s website or hanac.org. Q
by Michael Gannon Associate Editor
Nearly a dozen drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for weight loss ; and a popular drug for type 2 diabetes that isn’t approved for weight loss still offers that result to many patients.
Like any drug, those inducing weight loss can have any number of side effects. And like any drug, side effects can require more diligence for myriad reasons in elderly patients.
Dr. Isabella Park specializes in hospice, palliative and geriatric medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills hospital.
“I focus on polypharmacy, where there’s too many medications,” Park said. “As you get older, you have more comorbidities and more medical conditions start to add up.”
Comorbidity refers to a patient having two or more diseases or medical conditions at the same time. If each one requires one or more drugs, side effects and possible drug interactions require more and more care in both prescribing medicine and monitoring patients’ response.
“Some things interact,” Park said. “Even if there are not severe [interactions] all of the medications running around in your body can take a toll ... Sixty-five isn’t old anymore. There’s a lot of young, healthy 65-year-olds out there. But it depends on how many comorbidities you have.”
Park and Dr. Yursa Jamal, an endocrinologist at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, said weight loss drugs, while helpful, can have side effects such as dehydration and gastrointestinal difficulties such as nausea and diarrhea. Some also can lead to loss of muscle mass as well as fat. Jamal, who treats many elderly patients with diabetes, said that can even happen with drugs for which weight loss is merely a side effect.
results in increased urination.
And in one case Jamal had take a patient off Ozempic after a number of years,
“She had passed 65 but was having extreme muscle loss,” she said. “ We had to change her to another diabetes regimen.”
The manufacturer Lilly has a similar pair of drugs, with its trade name Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound, with the same basic drug, approved by the FDA for weight loss, both in November 2023.
Park said that for older adults, loss of weight, even if it is just a side effect from their diabetes drug, can be a big benefit if they are obese or even just overweight, particularly if they also have conditions such as arthritis or back pain.
“Two birds with one stone,” she said.
PHOTO COURTESY NOVO NORDISK
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss — a similar drug from its company, Wegovy, is — but it does have that side effect. Doctors say even approved medications require an extra level of care with senor citizens.
While a drug from Novo Nordisk under the brand name Wegovy has been approved by the FDA for weight loss since 2021, Ozempic, made by the same company, has been approved only for treatment of type 2 diabetes since 2017. Earlier this year it was approved for preventing heart attacks and strokes in patients with type 2 diabetes. But it has a side effect of weight loss and Park said some patients use it “off label” for that effect.
“I prefer to give Ozempic especially if they have comorbidities, if they’ve had a heart attack or heart condition,” Jamal said. “There is always a risk of side effects in an elderly population.” She said, for example, if a diabetes patient is taking Ozempic or diet drugs that can run the risk of dehydration, doctors need to make sure he or she is not already on one that
Jamal said muscle mass, along with a diet, exercise and nutrition, also must be kept under watch, as drugs and comorbidities, dehydration and suppressed appetite can combine for trouble. Loss of nutrients such as B-12, she said, can lead to patients having a wobbly gait, increasing the risk of falls. Park said the risk of falls also increases when the loss of muscle mass affects patient’s joints — particularly if it is abrupt.
Park reiterated that any drug must be treated with the proper respect. “Metformin is an age-old diabetes medication — cheap as hell, and it has been used for years on the front line against diabetes,” she said. “But you have to take it with food or you’ll be horribly nauseous. Even with ibuprofen, you can’t take it on an empty stomach or you’ll be nauseous, and it could even cause a stomach bleed.”
Park said she would like to see long-term studies of newly approved drugs include more data from elderly patients, including those in varying degrees of health. Q
By Naeisha Rose Editor
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength,” said Betty Friedan, a feminist activist and writer credited with ushering in the second wave of American feminism.
Seniors who are in the golden stage of their lives and want to maintain their vigor should use every opportunity to stick to the mantra “you are what you eat” in the kitchen and outside it, to help them stay healthy by being more mindful of their nutrition, according to experts in the field.
Christina Wilkinson, a registered dietitian and state-certified nutritionist from Maspeth, told the Chronicle via email that when she does public presentations for seniors she always tells them to avoid foods high in saturated fat.
“That comes mainly from animal products,” Wilkinson said. “Any visible fat should be removed from cuts of beef and pork. Preparation is also important. Something that starts out healthy, like chicken or fish, can be made unhealthy if it is deep-fried. Baking, broiling, boiling, steaming or gilling are preferred methods. It’s also better to cook with olive oil.”
The Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics agrees that food prep matters and says it is safer for adults 65 and older to eat poultry that is cooked to a safe temperature or deli meats, cold cuts and dry sausages cooked to 165 degrees.
The NCHS says it is best to have beef, veal, lamb and pork at 145 degrees and allow meat to rest for three minutes before carving or eating it. Pâté or meat spreads should be in sealed, airtight containers that don’t need to be kept refrigerated before opening.
Eating raw or undercooked meat, unheated deli meat or refrigerated meat spreads later in life is risky for the elderly, according to the fact sheet. Having premade deli salads such as coleslaw, potato salad, tuna salad, chicken salad and egg salad can be bad, too.
“As people age, their immune system and organs aren’t as able to recognize and rid the body of harmful germs, including ones that
cause food poisoning,” said a CDC spokesperson via email. “Many older adults also live with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer, and are taking medicine that can weaken the immune system. Also, stomach acid decreases as people get older, and stomach acid plays an important role in killing germs and reducing the risk of illness.”
Dawn Kelly, owner of The Nourish Spot, a salad and juice bar in South Jamaica, shared the CDC’s sentiments and said raw food like wheatgrass is best for seniors.
“You want to put in your body things that rejuvenate you,” said Kelly. “It is important to eat your leafy greens so that you are regular when you go to the bathroom. It also helps you to keep your blood pressure down.”
Kelly says older people should take wheatgrass once or twice a week because it is good for the mind and body.
“Wheatgrass has every known vitamin and
mineral that our body needs,” she said. “Vitamin E and Vitamin D are good for eyesight ... I really believe wheatgrass is an elixir, a fountain of youth.”
Wheatgrass helps with stamina, is great for detoxing and is a good source for people also lacking Vitamins A, C, K and the B-complex, Kelly said.
Adding raw turmeric to one’s diet eliminates inflammation for older people, said Kelly. She also suggests that people cook with olive oil versus vegetable oil, which comes with a ton of preservatives.
“Our bodies were not made to process those things,” she explained.
antihistamines and organ-transplant rejection drugs.
“For people with type-2 diabetes, I would recommend low-glycemic fruits and vegetables,” said Webb. “Low-glycemic fruits are berries, which are high in antioxidants and low in sugar. Green apples are lower in sugar. Pears, lemons, limes, coconut and half or a medium-sized banana is good for a diabetic. If they have grapes they should have about 10.”
Having cod liver oil or foods with Omega-3 is great for brain health, said Webb.
“The food we should avoid is processed food,” said the nutritionist. “You want whole foods — unadulterated food that are in their original form.”
Corissa McEwen, a scientist of age-related disorders and the founder and CEO of Find Your Fitness, a self-care and holistic wellness company, said via text that is important for seniors to cut out dairy, processed sugars, white flour, wheat bread, fried and salty foods.
The scientist from Springfield Gardens says that 90 percent, if not more of diseases seen in young and old people are caused by dairy.
“Inflammation is often the start of a disease, so you want to stay away from things that will cause that and dairy will cause them,” McEwen, whose site is fyfnow.com, told the Chronicle.
Processed sugar throws off blood glucose levels and causes inflammation. White flour and wheat can cause inflammation. Fried foods can cause kidney issues and high cholesterol and salty foods can cause water retention that impacts the kidneys negatively, she said.
Wilkinson also said a wellrounded diet of fruits and vegetables keeps one’s immune system healthy and provides great sources of calcium.
“It’s also important to spend time outside because Vitamin D is made by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight,” Wilkinson said.
When it comes to supplements, she recommends that seniors ask their doctors as there are potential medication interactions to consider.
Keri Watkins Webb, a holistic nutritionist who resides in Queens Village, recommends that seniors eat what works in conjunction with what their doctors are saying about their health.
“If you have high blood sugar, it is not necessarily good to have dried fruits, mangos or bananas,” said Webb, founder of the company Empowered Living NYC. “Keep a food diary of what you are eating. Experiment with different foods and see how well you do on that food.”
Webb believes people should have a diet filled with vegetables and fruits, but some, such as grapefruit or grapefruit juice, do not work well with medicines for lower cholesterol, high blood pressure or Crohn’s disease, as well as
People with a sweet tooth should eat two or three dates or figs, the latter with nuts, to satisfy their cravings, said McEwen, who also recommended dark chocolate.
The Rev. Simone Lord Marcelle, the owner of Mother Juice Bar Café in South Jamaica, said food rich in minerals and antioxidants such as spinach, along with nettle and green teas, is anti-aging.
“Zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, celery, parsley and cucumbers, beets and carrots can be juiced and consumed daily with garlic for healthy blood pressure and healthy heart and eyesight,” said Lord Marcelle via email. “Also sea moss, dulse and kelp have a lot of minerals and will support the brain. Consuming organic coconut oil and cinnamon daily is good for combatting Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
For healthy, well-lubricated joints, seniors should be supplementing their diet with flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, krill oil and Omega-3 supplements, said Lord Marcelle, who is also a certified naturopath.
“For a healthy heart, hawthorn berries, cayenne pepper and heart healthy foods such as ginger, turmeric, blueberries add years to one’s lifespan,” said Lord Marcelle. “Elderberries boost the immune system and schisandra berries manage anxiety. ... Processed foods, especially those in packs, white rice, white sugar should be avoided. Farm fresh is very healthy and will aid longevity.” Q
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By Cynthia J. Conza, Esq.
Clients often ask whether they should prepare a will or set up a revocable trust. To answer that question, it is important to understand the differences between these two important estate planning tools.
Fundamentally, both a will and a revocable trust are designed to transfer your assets to your benefi ciaries when you die. You will also name an individual to carry out your wishes: the executor in your will or the trustee in your trust. Both a will and a revocable trust can be changed as many times as you wish while you are still alive. You also retain complete control over the assets you identify in your will or revocable trust.
There are also signifi cant differences between a will and a revocable trust. A primary difference is by putting your assets into a revocable trust you are allowing your benefi ciaries to avoid the probate process in Surrogate’s Court. Probate can be expensive and may take
many months. By avoiding the delay of probate, a revocable trust gives beneficiaries immediate access to assets upon death. A revocable trust also prevents a will contest by an heir you purposefully left out of your will or received less than they think they deserved.
A revocable trust can also ensure the inheritances you leave remain in your bloodline for your grandchildren and not end up with in-laws. Similarly, a revocable trust can protect the inheritances you leave from your children’s divorces or creditors. Married couples with taxable estates can also reduce and often eliminate estate taxes with a revocable trust.
Choosing between a will or revocable trust is an important decision and will have a signifi cant impact on your children and benefi ciaries. Please feel free to contact me at cynthia@conzamcnamara.com or (718) 845-5555 if you would like to discuss further.
- Advertorial -
continued from page 2
estone) simply posted a photo of the former president from the rally on her official government X account, and wrote, “Praying for our country.” On her separate, nongovernment personal account, she wrote, “Democrats did this. And they won’t stop. We prefer peace, but if they want war so be it.”
Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) posted, “Violence is never the answer for political disagreements or discourse in this country. I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the other victims who were shot at today’s rally.”
Councilmember Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) in a statement to the Chronicle said, “Political violence is utterly unacceptable, and our differences must be resolved at the ballot box. I vividly remember the attempted assassination of President Reagan and the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; seeing a similar attack on President Trump is heartbreaking. We must do better, and my prayers are with the victims and the nation.”
The Queens Village Republican Club, the nation’s oldest, posted a statement on its website.
“Most everyone knows the earthshaking news that President Trump was shot yesterday at a rally in Bulter, Pa. in an assassina-
tion attempt on his life,” the group wrote. “Thank God President Trump survived and is safe. This is a turning point in American history. We can only conclude that this was an Act of God, a prelude to Trump’s victory and America’s return to greatness. God Bless America and President Trump!”
The Queens Democratic Party also posted a statement to X.
“Violence is never the answer,” the group wrote. “Any fights and disagreements must be decided by debate of the issues, voters at the polls, and a robust judicial system. Acts like what happened in Butler, PA are simply unacceptable. Our hearts go out to everyone who was hurt at the rally.”
“As President Biden said in his Oval Office address this weekend, we must always be a nation that resolves our political differences with ballots instead of bullets,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards in a statement to the Chronicle. “Political violence is antithetical to who we are as Americans, and never should it be viewed as acceptable in our democracy.”
He added, “All those who encourage, foment or otherwise cheer the kind of violence our nation has experienced in recent years — from the January 6th insurrection to the attack on Paul Pelosi to Saturday’s tragic shooting — must be forcefully denounced and ostracized from our political discourse.” Q
State Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday announced a 625-count indictment charging five individuals in a guntrafficking operation. The AG’s Organized Crime Task Force recovered 86 firearms, including 55 ghost guns and 25 assault weapons, and 90 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammo.
According to the AG’s Office, the investigation began in late 2023 and focused on Satveer Saini, 20, of East Elmhurst; Mateo Castro-Agudelo, 21, of Long Island City; Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez, 20, of Richmond Hill; Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas,
continued from page 13
city for not doing that.”
The city’s lifeguard shortage compounds the problems posed by the widespread inability to swim. According to Krishnan, the city is on pace to have 900 of the 1,600 lifeguards it needs to cover city facilities this summer.
Wave Makers, said Craig Lastres of Commonpoint, can help curb that down the line.
“Not only are we teaching our kids how to swim, but what are we doing in the future, if these second-graders can learn how to swim today, in 10 years, we hope to see them at this pool, lifeguarding and hav-
continued from page 4
that results in death or injury to make a report to the Department of Motor Vehicles, consistent with current requirements for motor vehicles including motorcycles. It also requires police to investigate such incidents when they are made aware of them. It was co-sponsored by Addabbo and Assemblymembers Jessica González-Rojas (D-East Elmhurst), Ardila, and Aubry.
• S703B/A8450B requires mopeds to be registered by dealers at the point of sale if they are to be used in the state. It was co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Steven Raga (D-Maspeth) Sam Berger (D-Flushing), Weprin and González-Rojas.
traffic laws. The legislation also authorizes that any retail entity that violates the law may be penalized with a fine of no more than $250 per unit for the first offense and not more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense. It was co-sponsored by state Sens. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), Addabbo and Ramos, and by González-Rojas and Rozic in the assembly.
“These new laws ... will help to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
— State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr.
• S7760A/A8102A requires micromobility devices, mopeds and bicycles with electric assist to have a red tag attached to the charging cord that states to unplug when not in use. It was co-sponsored by Addabbo and Assemblymembers Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows), Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica), González-Rojas, Ardila and Hyndman.
• S7744D/A8310C requires retailers to affix a notice on any bicycles with electric assist and micromobility devices that states to always yield to pedestrians and follow
20, of Long Island City; and Milanjit Sidhu, 20, of Greenwood, Ind. The guns were purchased in Indiana and Long Island, and sold at various Queens locations, including at the Louis C. Moser Playground in Jackson Heights and the Queens Center Mall parking area in Elmhurst, the AG’s Office said. The individuals were charged with conspiracy in the fourth degree, as well as first degree criminal sale of a firearm and/or first degree criminal possession of a firearm. If convicted of one count of either of the latter crimes, the defendants face a maximum of 25 years in prison. Q
ing a job,” he said.
But Wave Makers is just one piece of the lifeguarding puzzle, Krishnan said. One of several approaches he is interested in, he said Monday, is offering a wider variety of certification programs and lifeguard testing options to potential guards, as the Parks Department does not, for instance, accept certifications from the Red Cross. Sharon Levy of the YMCA told the Chronicle that the organization has been advocating for the creation of a course that would bridge the gap between the city’s lifeguard certification and the Red Cross one.
At this point, the pilot program is at capacity, Krishnan said. He added that the wait list is “a couple hundred deep.” Q
“As e-bike adoption increases and battery technology continues to develop, I urge New Yorkers to be aware of safety best practices and to use their devices and chargers properly,” Hochul said in a statement. “These laws underscore our commitment to help New Yorkers make educated, safe, smart choices with their purchases of products with lithiumion batteries and how to best store and use them in order prevent any more tragedies from occurring.”
“A spike in the reckless operation of unregistered scooters and limited-use motorcycles posing a serious risk to pedestrians and other motorists and an increase in structure fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used to power these vehicles, commanded legislative action,” Addabbo said in a statement. “These new laws to address various issues beginning at the point of purchase will help to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.” Q
by Naeisha Rose Editor
Investment in a new health and wellness hub is underway at York College, which has received $7.5 million from the New York City Football Club, said Claudia Schrader, the CUNY school’s interim president, on Tuesday.
“What an incredible gift from the New York City Football Club,” said Schrader ahead of receiving the check from the squad. “The largest single donation of unrestricted funds in the college’s history.”
Schrader acknowledged former president Berenecea Johnson Eanes as she accepted the baton for carrying on the school’s partnership with NYCFC, which will help improve the school’s health program.
About $2 million of the funds is being allocated this week for the hub, Schrader told the Chronicle.
“We are going to create a health and wellness hub for our students and in addition to that, we are going to also renovate our fitness center that our students workout in,” Schrader said. “We are going to actually purchase some transportation for our athletic teams and the health and professional programs. ... We are also invested in programs for equipment for services and resources they will need as well.”
The school interim president said the remaining $5.5 million in funds will be dis-
State Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday announced a 625-count indictment charging five individuals in a gun-trafficking operation. The AG’s Organized Crime Task Force recovered 86 firearms, including 55 ghost guns and 25 assault weapons, and 90 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammo.
According to the AG’s Office, the investigation began in late 2023 and focused on Satveer Saini, 20, of East Elmhurst; Mateo Castro-Agudelo, 21, of Long Island City; Hargeny FernandezGonzalez, 20, of Richmond Hill; Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas, 20, of Long Island City; and Milanjit Sidhu, 20, of Greenwood, Ind. The guns were purchased in Indiana and Long Island, and sold at various Queens locations, including at the Louis C. Moser Playground in Jackson Heights and the Queens Center Mall parking area in Elmhurst, the AG’s Office said.
The individuals were charged with conspiracy in the fourth degree, as well as first degree criminal sale of a firearm and/or first degree criminal possession of a firearm. If convicted of one count of either of the latter crimes, the defendants face a maximum of 25 years in prison. Q
bursed over the next three years.
“I would say additional investments in health and wellness and student support services,” said Schrader. “So we are also talking about academic support, more investment in our degree programs — we want to make sure they have state-of-the-art equipment, resources and access to those kinds of supports as soon as we finish the planning of this.”
NYCFC will also build on its partnership with the school’s students via a Youth Leadership Training Program, which will mentor the next generation of community soccer leaders said Jennifer O’Sullivan, COO of the football club.
“As the only Major League Soccer team in New York City, we want to use the power of soccer in our home borough of Queens and throughout this diverse city,” said O’Sullivan. The soccer club plays matches at Citi Field and its affiliate team plays at St. John’s University’s Belson Stadium. “
NYCFC has plans for a permanent home at Willets Point, where construction is underway for a stadium to open in 2027.
The funding comes after plans for a Queensboro Football Club (a United Soccer League team) stadium in 2022 at York was nixed for the rival proposal by NYCFC (an MLS team) at Willets Point. The QFC plan would have brought a 7,500-seat stadium to
York. The NYCFC plan will have a much larger 25,000-seat facility.
“At a time when New York City’s educational systems are in dire need of critical funds, this $7.5 million over the next three years will allow them to expand their college’s program and services to both students and faculty,” O’Sullivan said.
by Sophie Krichevsky Editor
Several area Northwell Health hosptials were recently given top honors by U.S. News and World Report, making Northwell the most-awarded health system in the state for the second year in a row.
The rankings assess nearly 4,500 medical centers across the country in 15 different specialties; only 160 hospitals were ranked in at least one category.
While North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset was tied for first as the state’s top hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which straddles the Queens-Nassau border in New Hyde Park, was tied for fifth with fellow Northwell facility Lenox Hill Hospital.
In all 10 categories, LIJ ranked in the top 56 nationally. It was rated 11th in diabetes and endocrine disorders, 13th in OB/ GYN, 17th in ear, nose and throat, 21st in neurology and neurosurgery, 24th in orthopedics, 29th in geriatric care, 36th in pulmonology, 38th in gastroenterology and GI surgery, 41st in urology and 56th in cancer.
LIJ’s obstetrics and gynecology program was also rated second in New York
University Hospital was tied for the state’s top facility.
State. U.S. News recognized the hospital as the second best regional hospital for equitable access in the state.
Northwell President and CEO Michael Dowling applauded the rankings in a statement.
“Providing an amazing patient experience is the ultimate goal at all of our Northwell hospitals and the latest U.S. News Best Hospitals list shows just how dedicated we are at making it happen,” he said.
Elected officials supporting the partnership between the team and the school include U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica), state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmembers Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) and Francisco Moya (D-Corona) and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica).
“As a huge soccer fan and someone who was raised in Corona, Queens, today is a huge moment for us,” said Moya. “York College is an institution that really breeds the leaders of this community and of this city.”
Moya is one of the elected officials supporting the NYCFC stadium at Willets Point. The soccer stadium and the larger Willets Points Revitalization Plan are expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic activity and create 1,550 permanent jobs.
Adams, a sorority sister of Schrader and former psychology student at York, was pleased about the donation.
“This is the beginning of it all for me and to stand here now, able to share in this phenomenal moment also takes my breath away,” Adams said. “The funding will be critical to strengthening York College’s programs, services and supports for students and faculty alike. It will help this phenomenal educational institution, which is a pillar of our community in Southeast Queens.” Q
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) will host a free, senior-only job fair in Kew Gardens from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 26, at the Kew Gardens Community Center at 80-02 Kew Gardens Road.
Residents 55 and older will be able to apply for jobs with companies that are specifically looking to hire senior workers. Attendees are asked to use the 80th Road entrance.
“With the cost of living in New York City continuing to rise, many people over the age of 55 are finding that they are having a difficult time meeting their financial needs and have to re-join the workforce to make ends meet. Other seniors may still want to continue participating in the workforce,” Addabbo said in a statement.
Representatives from each company will accept resumes and meet with potential job candidates to discuss openings within their organizations.
Interested job seekers are asked to dress professionally and bring several copies of their résumés to hand out to companies they would like to apply to. For information about the job fair, contact Addabbo’s office at (718) 7381111. Q
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by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor
Eat, dance, shop, learn and more at the three-day, 45th annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow at the Queens County Farm Museum.
The intertribal spectacular will feature Native American dance competitions by people from more than 40 Indian Nations; an expansive market of art, crafts, jewelry and food from the various cultures; people in full regalia; and bonfires, weather permitting, at the powwow, located at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Floral Park, from July 26 to 28.
To get a one-day or three-day pass, visit shorturl.at/8m2yf. The cost ranges from $12 to $36. No ticket is required for children under the age of 2. Visitors are encouraged to bring lightweight, portable seats as straw-bale seating is limited. Strollers, backpacks and other personal items are permitted.
There are no ATM machines or designated storage space for strollers, backpacks or other personal items on site, but there are restrooms, along with free bike racks and parking.
Farm members are eligible for 15 percent off the program, but additional fees apply for food and craft vendors. Hayrides also
cost $6 per person. All event proceeds support the Thunderbird American Dancers Scholarship Fund and the Queens County
Staten Island’s Richmond County Orchestra will put on a free concert at St. John’s University in Jamaica Estates on Sunday, July 21, at 4 p.m. on the Great Lawn.
A variety of classical hits, such as “Ave Maria” and Mozart’s “Allegro,” will not only be played by the orchestra — which will be led by conductor Alan Aurelia — but by three featured soloists: Natalia Paruz, Julie Passaro Krygsman and Jia-Yi He.
Popularly known as “Saw Lady,” Queens native Paruz, seen above at right, has made a name for herself as she has spent two
decades playing music on a carpenter’s saw, or the musical saw. In addition to numerous television and radio performances, Paruz will be featured on the soundtrack of Francis Ford Coppola’s forthcoming movie, “Megaloplis.”
Dubbed “the flying trombonist,” Passaro Krygsman, above at left, is an aerialist known to play her trombone while performing acrobatics on aerial silks.
Harmonica virtuoso Jia-Yi He, center, will also take part in Sunday’s performance. He is best-known for his appearances on America’s Got Talent in 2006.
Farm Museum Education Program, according to Queens Farm.
Vendors interested in participating in the event must send inquiries to thunderbird vendors@gmail.com. Other questions may be directed at hello@queensfarm.org.
On Friday, July 26, the event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. The following day, gates open at 10 a.m. Performances will run from 12 to 5 p.m. and again at 7 to 10 p.m. The powwow concludes on July 28, running from 12 to 5 p.m. with the gates opening at 10 a.m. again. A bonfire is lit on Friday and Saturday nights between 8 to 9 p.m.
The powwow will include six major dance categories for those competing. Noncompetitive dances include the Gourd, Round and Rabbit dances, as well as demonstrations of various Iroquois, Pueblo and Apache dances.
The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers will also be performing in full regalia. The troupe is the oldest Native American dance company in New York. It was founded in 1963 by a group of 10 Mohawk, Hopi, Winnebago and San Blas tribes, and the troupe has pledged to preserve the culture and traditions of all American Indian people through songs, dances, ceremonies and educational programs. Q
Hot town, summer is here! And so is the Queens Chronicle’s 16th annual Summer in the Borough Photo Contest. We hope your entry will arrive soon! Go out and take your best shots of families gathering, children playing, workers working, lovely landscapes, birds on the bay — whatever you think best says “summertime in Queens.”
If you need any inspiration, take a look at last year’s winner, taken by Betsy Becker at the Queens Zoo. As to the rules, there are several, so please go to tinyurl.com/y8wyhvwy for the full list. Send your high-resolution digital photos to peterm@qchron.com, or mail prints to Queens Chronicle Photo Contest, 71-19 80 St., suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385. The winner will get a $50 gift card. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 23, the day after summer ends. Good luck! — Peter C. Mastrosimone
by Sophie Krichevsky Editor
The Queensborough Performing Arts Center’s longtime executive and artistic director, Susan Agin, has left the organization, the Chronicle has learned.
Though both Agin herself and a spokesperson for the City University of New York (QPAC is part of Queensborough Community College) confirmed the departure, the reason for the move is not clear. Agin declined to comment further on the matter, as did the spokesperson, who said sharing personal information about personnel was against CUNY policy.
Executive and Arts
Director Susan Agin has left her position.
Agin came on as QPAC’s executive and artistic director in the spring of 2004, per her LinkedIn page. Prior to that, she was a theater producer at Flushing Town Hall for the better part of five years.
Agin was well-known for her enthusiastic promotion of QPAC events and her love of the performing arts.
Under her leadership, QPAC underwent a large renovation, which attendees were able to enjoy for the first time in April 2023. Most of the upgrades were designed to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those include the replacement of the theater’s elevator with a larger, wider one and the installation of wheelchair-accessible entrances, seating and restrooms. The theater lobby was also expanded to include a new ticket booth and concession stand, and the auditorium got new seats and acoustic finishes.
An associate of Agin’s wrote on her LinkedIn page in 2013 that she is “a consummate professional” and a “singer, director, teacher and a passionate administrator for the arts.”
“It’s her life’s work. She knows what it takes to get the job done,” Arianna Licet Ariza wrote. “And she’s a wonderful and funny person, a trustworthy person. Working with Susan is a gift!” Q
by Michael Gannon
Jazz and Queens became inexorably linked more than a century ago, with dozens of its founders and best practitioners living in the borough.
The Queens Jazz Trail Concert Series, ongoing through Sept. 5, seeks to not only pay tribute to that rich heritage, but to take it to new generations.
The free concert series, which kicked off in Jamaica on June 27, will bring artists to a total of five city parks.
Jon Yanofsky, director of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, said the series of Thursday evening concerts combines the resources of his institution, Flushing Town Hall, the Louis Armstrong House Museum and the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Salcedo’s Latin Soul will perform at Travers Park in Jackson Heights at 7 p.m. on July 25. Sam Martinelli & The Brazilian Jazz Collective is at Rockaway Beach in Far Rockaway at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15. Baisley Pond Park in Jamaica will host Funkin’ for Jamaica at 6 p.m. on Aug. 29.
The George Gee Swing Orchestra is set to wrap up the series at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Astoria Park. Information is available at kupferbergcenter.org.
The first 100 people at each concert will receive a free copy of the Queens Jazz Trail Map created by Flushing Town Hall in 1998 and updated this year with a state grant.
came together quickly once the Kupferberg Center broached the idea to the other organizations.
“We pulled it together quickly because of our key partners,” Yanovsky said. “It was very fertile soil in which to plant this idea.”
He said all the groups had worked with one or more of the performers, and all are steeped in the history and tradition of jazz.
Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Jacqueline Langstrom accommodated their search for the perfect parks to start what they hope will be an ongoing series.
Yanovsky said the map itself was the genesis for the idea of a new kind of jazz concert series. Despite the number of moving parts, the series continued on page 33
by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor
John West, a boxer, married Matilda “Tillie” Doelger, a corset model, on Jan. 18, 1889. They settled in Brooklyn.
Their first child, Katie, born Aug. 23, 1891, died two months later on Oct. 30. Mary Jane “Mae” was born Aug. 17, 1893, followed by Mildred Kate on Dec. 8, 1898, and John II on Feb. 11, 1900.
John Sr. opened up a detective agency, which enabled the family to buy a one-family, 1152-square-foot home in 1913 at 705 Boyd Avenue in Woodhaven. Mae loved to perform. Mildred Kate also liked to sing, and performed as Beverly Arden.
By 1920 their home was renumbered as 89-05 88 St. Son John became a plumber apprentice. Mae was a standout vaudeville performer, married briefly two times. Upon the death of her mother, already a widow, in 1930, she left New York for California.
Entering movies at age 40, she was an instant sensation. Her legendary insatiable libido helped make her famous, and she built a career around it. She was notorious for quips such as, “When I’m good, I’m
still with its original look in the 1930s, at 89-05 88 St. in Woodhaven. Today, a plaque outside honors her memory. INSET
very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better.” West acted into her 80s, passing away on Nov. 22, 1980. She is buried in the Queens section of Cypress Hill Cemetery on the Brooklyn-Queens border. Q
In a city known for its fast pace, Chapin Home for the Aging stands as a testament to enduring care and compassion. Established in 1869, this four-star nonprofi t skilled nursing facility has supported seniors and their families for 155 years.
Chapin Home provides a true home for its senior residents, ensuring they experience serenity, security, and a sense of belonging. The transition to residential care can be daunting, but Chapin Home prioritizes making residents feel at home swiftly. With individualized care, highly trained staff, a warm, homelike environment, and a vibrant calendar of activities, residents thrive and fl ourish.
Whether seniors need short-term rehabilitation, long-term nursing, or specialized dementia care, Chapin Home offers comprehensive, detailed care. Their comprehensive approach includes top-notch nursing and physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, as well as nutritional, cognitive, social, and emotional assistance.
Chapin Home’s mission is rooted in founder Dr. Edwin Chapin’s philosophy: serve people based on their needs, not their background. This principle of “what is your need, not your creed” drives their commitment to quality care for all. As one of the few remaining non-profi t nursing homes in New York, Chapin Home ensures all seniors have access to quality care and an enjoyable retirement.
Family involvement is key at Chapin Home. Recognizing the invaluable insights family caregivers provide, the community encourages active participation in developing personalized care plans. This family-focused philosophy helps ease the transition for both residents and their loved ones, fostering a supportive environment.
With a legacy of providing exceptional care in three centuries, Chapin Home for the Aging upholds its reputation for excellence. This nursing home remains a vital part of the community, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seniors in Queens.
by Peter C. Mastrosimone editor-in-chief
Got kids who can’t get enough of dinosaurs? The Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy has got you covered this Saturday, when Dinosaurs Rock will roar into Triassic Playground with a presentation youngsters can really sink their teeth into.
The Dinosaurs Rock slogan is “We bring the museum to you!” and that’s just what will happen during a large portion of the three hours of prehistoric fun and education planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There’ll be an interactive presentation on the late, great beasts that have fascinated people for generations, a fossil dig and small specimens for kids to take home — a fossilized shark tooth, spiral-shelled ammonite, piece of petrified wood or similar item.
But first they’ll get to see and touch such treasures as a fossilized dinosaur egg, a cast footprint and the skull cast of a feared predator. About 20 exhibit pieces will be shown.
“Somehow getting a genuine specimen in the hand of children can really spark a lifelong interest in the topic,” said Leslie Freund, who co-founded Dinosaurs Rock with her husband, Neil Brown, in 2000. “We’ve had kids who have attended one of our Dinosaurs Rock at age 7, and then at age 17 are headed off to palentology school in college.”
Whether their love of Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus and all the rest turns into a serious field of study or not, the kids love seeing what the Dinosaurs Rock team brings to the table. Their parents do, too.
“At a family event such as the one coming up, we make it interesting for both the parents and the kids,” Freund said, “and I think there are a lot of fossil and mineral fanatics even among adults out there.”
“It’s for the kids, but there’s a lot of adults who like dinosaurs, too,” agreed Jean Silva, president of the FMCP Conservancy. “And this organization I’ve hired, that’s been coming, Dinosaur Rocks, they’re just amazing.”
Freund said she and her team are just as excited to present to the kids as they were nearly 25 years ago when they started.
“There’s something really magical about watching the children watch our event
because they typically are not seeing things in such an open, up-close manner,” Freund said. “Typically in a museum, the items are behind glass, and they are told, ‘Do not touch,’ whereas we are the opposite. When we can ... we do as much of a hands-on approach as possible.”
The day also will include face painting.
Silva asks that people register for the event at tinyurl.com/5ft54ycd and to make a donation, of any amount, to the conservancy. That donation can be refunded upon arrival at the playground. The conservancy’s website needs updating, but anyone who has trouble registering or has questions is welcome to call Silva at (718) 544-7436.
Triassic Playground is on the east side of the park, at the southern end of Meadow Lake. There is some parking there, as well as at the boathouse a few minutes’ walk up the roadway, and at nearby Park Drive East in Kew Gardens Hills, Silva noted.
Dinosaurs lived 250 million to 66 million years ago. While the name means “terrible lizard,” today it is understood that their closest living descendants are birds — that birds in fact are “feathered therapod dinosaurs,” ones that survived the mass extinction that killed the rest and kept evolving.
As Silva noted, “Dinosaurs have never left us. Check out the skies.” Q
continued from page 31
“This is a project that can have a lot of legs,” Yanovsky said. “It’s not just a look back at people who made their homes here in the 20th century. It’s about artists who are still living and doing the music, creating and unfolding the legacy of jazz that is still here in this borough. So it’s past, present and future. I think people will find it exciting.”
Steve Salcedo, founder of Salcedo’s Latin Soul, certainly does. A Queens native now
living in Astoria, he has an eight-person group that has been playing together for about eight years.
He has been performing since age 16. His influences include both popular music and traditional music from his Dominican heritage that he listened to growing up.
“It’s really a combination,” Salcedo told the Chronicle about his music. “It’s a lot of Latin music, a lot of soul music. It refers to that era of New York music called boogaloo, kind of a subgenre. It’s the most New York thing you can get, when the youth of New York in the 1950s and 1960s were coming together and you had the rise of doo-wop and the Motown sound.
“You had the Mambo and the Cha-ChaCha, and all the rhythms coming from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. You had Latin youth, first-generation Americans, listening to popular music on the radio.”
All of which, he said, they try to channel to the audience.
“There’s a lot of depth to it, but it’s really just a party,” Salcedo said. “We’re so passionate about it.”
And he takes pride in introducing people
who may not have heard them yet to the Dominican influence he brings to the music. Salcedo doesn’t have to say it for a listener to know he is looking as forward to the show as much as someone who has just
landed a hard-to-get concert ticket.
“My favorite place to be is on stage,” he said. “There’s no rush like it. I like to say the audience is a mirror. If the audience is dancing, it’s because we’re dancing.” Q
Mount St. Mary Cemetery, in Flushing, is looking for a SALES REPRESENTATIVE to serve families with care & compassion
The right individual will guide families through the process of making informed decisions for cemetery at-need and pre-need planning services.
We offer excellent competitive compensation for motivated individuals, which includes a fixed base salary (not a draw) plus commission and incentives.
Benefi ts include medical, dental, paid vacation, personal/sick time, disability and a 403B program.
This is a Full-Time performance based (NON-REMOTE). Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-1pm, position.
Experience:
• Record of accomplishment in networking, developing leads, contacting referrals, setting appointments and meeting monthly sales goals
• Excellent in-person communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work and make decisions under pressure and tight deadlines
• Proficient in the use of computers, software, and technology
• Valid state issued driver’s license required
Compensation:
$65,000 - $82,000 the first year Please submit resume to: cbalcarcel@ccbklyn.org
Howard Beach, Sat 7/20, 10am-3pm, 85 St betw 160 & 161 Aves. MULTI-FAMILY SALE!
Howard Beach, Sat 7/20, 7:30am-11:30am, 158-40 100 St. MOVING SALE! MUST SEE!
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-855-399-2803
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St. John’s Cemetery, Outdoor Mausoleum Ave Maria, bottom row, holds 4. St John’s price -$29,500, my price -$24,500, best one there! Call Sal 954-245-6372.
Something for everyone!
Woodhaven, Sat 7/20, 9:30AM-4PM only, 91-32 88 St. Rain or shine. 2 Family yard sale. Something for everyone.
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don’t
Accept the insurance company’s first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-888-454-4717. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.
***AAA***AUTO BUYERS
$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VANCARS. 516-297-2277
Having a garage sale? Let everyone know about it by advertising in the Queens Classifieds Call 718-205-8000 and place the ad!
PLEASE CALL LORI, 1-929-361-0643 (Cell Phone). I PAY THE BEST, MOST HONEST PRICES FOR ESTATES, FURNITURE, CHANDELIERS, LAMPS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT WORKING), FURS, COINS, POCKETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES, GLASSWARE, STERLING SILVERWARE, FIGURINES, CANDLESTICKS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS, RUGS, PIANOS, GUITARS, VIOLINS, FLUTES, TAG SALES, CLEANOUTS, CARS
We buy vintage, estate & costume jewelry. Top cash paid for whole contents of your accumulations. Also, interested in watches, coins,stamps, records, photos, art & other antiques. Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104
Howard Beach, Sat 7/20, 8am-3pm, 83-07 158 Ave. Too much to mention, Something for everyone!
GLEN COVE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF ‘79 45th Reunion September 21, 2024 6PM Contact Barry Feldman for details. (215) 534-7368 verythingguy2@gmail.com
SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call 877-988-7277
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Notice of Formation of 1925 CORNELIA STREET LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/13/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: NORTHWEST REGISTERED AGENT LLC, 418 BROADWAY, STE N, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of 217-17 102ND AVE LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/04/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: NIURKA SANCHEZ TORRES, 217-17 102ND AVENUE, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11429. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
64-33 CENTRAL AVENUE LLC.
Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 06/20/24. Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 64-33 Central Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice is hereby given that a Liquor License, serial number NA-0246-23-148548, for beer, wine, and cider has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine, and cider at catering facility (private events only) under the Alcoholic Beverages Control Law at 78-16 Atlantic Ave, 2nd Floor, Ozone Park, NY 11416 on premise consumption. Benrooftop.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE OF THE CABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. NATHANIEL DANIELS, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ISAAC DANIELS, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on August 16, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., premises known as 135-02 221st Street, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 13113 and Lot 26. Approximate amount of judgment is $295,947.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #708238/2015. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Eun Chong Thorsen, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No. 193546-1
Notice of Formation of VELASQUEZ NY ENTERPRISES
LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/15/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: JOSUE VELASQUEZ, 4008 104TH STREET, CORONA, NY 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of B & E VENTURE PARTNERS LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/27/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 22919 MERRICK BLVD., #612, LAURELTON, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
BERGWELL LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 05/29/24. Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 68-43 Ingram Street, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
DEVAN MEDTECH SOLUTIONS
LLC Articles of Org. fi led NY Sec. of State (SSNY)6/3/24. Offi ce in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 83-11 Langdale St., New Hyde Park, NY 11040, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of INTEGRATED CARE L.C.S.W., PLLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/13/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE PLLC, 80-19 233 STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
JTR Sheet Metal, LLC,
Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/6/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 25-54 47th St, Astoria, NY 11103. General Purpose
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY CARVER FEDERAL SAVINGS
BANK, Plaintiff against PHILIP CAMPBELL; VERLIE LONDON
A/K/A VERLIE J. LONDON; CARLOTTA MCDONALD, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 28 Corporate Drive, Suite 104, Halfmoon, NY 12065. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 24, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at steps of Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on July 26, 2024 at 11:15 AM. Premises known as 163-12 108th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11433. Block 10171 Lot 32. All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $294,591.43 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index No 711329/2019. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 11th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certifi ed bank check made payable to the referee. Michael Cervini, Esq., Referee File # 21-001064-01
NOSHIN LLC FILED WITH SSNY ON 4/15/2024. OFF. LOC.: QUEENS CO. SSNY DESIG. AS AGT. UPON WHOM PROCESS MAY BE SERVED. SSNY SHALL MAIL PROCESS TO: THE LLC, 115 57TH AVE, Unit 5719, LIC, NY 11101. PURPOSE: ANY LAWFUL ACT OR ACTIVITY.”
Notice of Formation of NOW THAT’S DOUGH LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/01/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: SUGANDHA SINGH, 11572 LEFFERTS BLVD., SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY 11420. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS U.S BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2020-GS4, Plaintiff AGAINST NIZAM K. ALI A/K/A NIZAM ALI; A. AZRAHIEN ALI, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Courthouse steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on August 9, 2024 at 10:30AM, premises known as 221-18 91st Road, Queens Village, NY 11428. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block: 10714, Lot: 8. Approximate amount of judgment $524,503.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index #719715/2022. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the QUEENS County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Offi ce of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov/Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.
Martha Taylor, Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP 28 East Main Street Rochester, NY 14614 SPSNC803 81321
Notice of Formation of RED QUALIA LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/15/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: ALVIN CONCEPCION, 4302 30TH AVE APT 3R, ASTORIA, NY 11103. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718-722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.
Howard Beach Furnished Room for rent: $250 per week. Males only. Gas & electric, Wi-Fi all included. Close to shopping, trans & JFK airport. Contact 718-772-6127. Call or text.
Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sat 7/20, 3:30pm-5pm, 164-37 85 St. Brookfield Hi-Ranch, 4 BRs, 2.5 baths, 40x100 lot, move-in cond! Asking $1,088,000. Connexion Real Estate 718-845-1136
Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, Sat 7/20, 12pm-2pm, 158-31 78 St. Raised Ranch on 38.5x113 lot. Main level 3 BRs, 1 bath. Finished lower level, 1 BR, 1 bath. Well maintained. All updated. ASking $899K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
Notice of Qualifi cation of Sovereign NY LLC. Fictitious name in NY State: Phase Surf LLC. App. For Auth. fi led with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/26/23. Offi ce location: Queens County. LLC formed in Colorado (CO) on 5/16/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail/email process to the principal offi ce of LLC: 201 Hart St., Brooklyn, NY 11206, oakley.sovereignsurf@gmail.com. Arts of Org fi led with CO Secy of State, 1700 Broadway, #550, Denver, CO 80290. Purpose: any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of SP TRADE GENIUS LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/30/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: SHAMPA R PADDER, 10633 155TH ST, 1ST FL, JAMAICA, NY 11433. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Centreville/Ozone Park, Sat 7/20, 1:30-2:30pm, 96-30 149 Ave. Colonial, lovely 1 fam, 3 levels + basement. Laminate flrs, updated kit w/ Quartz counters, new appli. All new
new
3 BRs, 2 1/2 baths. 1 car gar, pvt dwvy. Reduced $775K. Connexion Real Estate 718-845-1136
Notice of Formation of TIPSY G LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/05/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: ZILIN LU, 3 COURT SQ, UNIT 3608, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualifi cation of UA 34TH STREET II, LLC Appl. for Auth. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/05/24. Offi ce location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/03/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. fi led with Secy. of State of State of DE, 820 N. French St., 10th Fl., Wilmington, DE 19801. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
HEARING NOTICE The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals has scheduled a hybrid public hearing on the following application on July 29th or July 30th, 2024: BSA Cal. No. 2024-19-BZ Premises: 58-02 Northern Boulevard, Queens - Block 1182, Lot 40 Variance (§72-21) to permit the development of an automobile sales showroom with accessory offices (UG 9) contrary to underlying use regulations. R5 zoning district. Applicant: Gerry Caliendo, RA, AIA An agenda listing the specific session (including the final date and time) with call-in details will be posted as an announcement on the front page of the Board’s website (www. nyc.gov/bsa) the Friday before. The hybrid public hearing will be live streamed on the Board’s website and on YouTube. Interested persons or associations may watch online and call in to present testimony during the public hearing. Please see the Board’s Virtual Hearing Guides located at https:// www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/public-hearings/public-hearings.page
The public hearing will be conducted as a “hybrid” public hearing,” during which the Commissioners will meet in person at the Board’s office in Manhattan and also appear virtually on live-streamed YouTube and on an interactive Zoom Webinar. Applicants and the public may attend in person or participate remotely by calling into the Zoom Webinar and watching the YouTube live stream. The in-person portion of the hearing will take place at 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor, Spector Hall, New York, NY 10007. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing in person must present identification and go through a security checkpoint upon arrival into the building. Details for the hearing will be posted on the Board’s website the Friday before the hearing. Persons who request that a language interpreter or a sign language interpreter or any other form of reasonable accommodation for a disability be provided at any of the scheduled hearings must notify Toni Matias, Deputy Director of the Board of Standards and Appeals, at 212-386-0085 or tmatias@bsa.nyc,gov at least 10 days before the hearing date. In the interest of accommodating social distancing with limited seating capacity and to address ongoing health concerns, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate in the hearing remotely. You may submit a written statement by using the “Public Comment form” on the Board’s website located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/ contact-bsa/public-comments.page For any communication, please include or refer to BSA Calendar No. 2024-19-BZ and the property address: 58-02 Northern Boulevard, Queens - Block 1182, Lot 40. To coordinate review of the application materials, inquire about continued hearing dates and/or assistance, please contact the Board office at (212) 386-0009.
Notice of Formation of UG Holdings US LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led with NY Dept. of State: 6/11/24. Offi ce location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: SPI Agent Solutions, Inc., 407 N. Highland Ave., Nyack, NY 10960. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
Notice of Formation of WORLDWIDE TREASURES AND COLLECTIBLES, LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/11/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: WILLIAM KLEIN, TRI-COUNTY BAZAAR, ISLE 4 B., 3041 HEMPSTEAD TNPK, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Queens Action To ForecloseA Mortgage Index #: 705471/2014 Everbank Plaintiff, vs Elena Caniba As Heir To The Estate Of Rhodora Bonello, Leficia Gaba As Heir To The Estate Of Rhodora Bonello If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands , Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors , And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, Aurora Sermon As Heir To The Estate Of Rhodora BonelloIf Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or GeneralOr Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To BeIncluded In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, Esperanza Domingo As Heir To The Estate Of Rhodora Bonello If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, AndAssignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them,Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, New York State Department Of Taxation And Finance-Tax Compliance Division-C.O.-ATC, Internal Revenue Service - United States OfAmerica, Oscar A. Prieto As The Administrator For The Estate Of Rhodora Bonello, Wilfred Aguilar As Heir To The Estate Of Virgilio Aguil ar If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, New York City Parking Violations Bureau, People Of The State Of New York, Unknown Heirs OfVirgilio Aguilar If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In,Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatee s, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or TitleTo Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of WhomAnd Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, New York City Environmental Control Board John Doe (being fictitious, the names unknown to Plaintiff intended to be tenants, occupants, persons or corporations having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the property described in the complaint or their heirs at law, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, assignees, creditors or successors.) Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 32-15 54TH STREET WOODSIDE, NY 11377 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Leficia Gaba, Aurora Sermon, Esperanza Domingo, Wilfred Aguilar,Unknown Heirs of Virgilio Aguilar Defendants In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Timothy J. Dufficy of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Eighth day of July, 2024 and filed with theComplaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated October 24, 2008, executed by Rhodora Bonello (who died on April 16, 2009, a resident of the county of Queens, State of New York) to secure the sum of $457,500.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2008000464723 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on December 5, 2008. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed January 13, 2014 and recorded on March 5, 2014, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2014000077555. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed March 10, 2016 and recorded on April 4, 2016, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2016000116590. The property in question is described as follows: 32-15 54TH STREET, WOODSIDE, NY 11377 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or the Foreclosure Relief Hotline 1-800-269-0990 or visit the department’s website at WWW.DFS.NY.GOV. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE N OT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN YOUR HOME DURING THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME UNLESS AND UNTIL YOUR PROPERTY IS SOLD AT AUCTION PURSUANT TO A JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AND SALE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY AND PAY PROPERTY TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: July 10, 2024 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 81664
by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor
Major League Baseball’s expansion of wildcard berths has changed the calculus for many teams when it comes to how they will manage the July 30t trade deadline. There are far more b uyers than there are sellers of talent. Six weeks ago, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns thought he would be a seller, just as the Mets were a year ago. Our Flushing heroes were 11 games under .500 and showed no sign of having a pulse.
The Mets surprised everyone by playing crisp baseball in June and, against all odds, coming into the All-Star break over the .500 mark. Stearns offered muted praise for the turnaround at his monthly pregame press conference. My guess is Stearns is miffed he cannot engage in a teardown as the Mets have a legitimate shot at a wildcard berth. In the last two years the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks went to the Fall Classic after getting the last National League playoff slot.
Stearns knows it would be MLB malpractice if he does not address the Mets bullpen woes. Father Time appears to have caught up with veterans Jake Diekman and Adam Ottavino. Reid Garrett, solid in the first six weeks of the season, wound up on the injured list with arm issues when July rolled around. He was getting pummeled by opposing hitters just before that
when he was not walking them. Miami Marlins closer Tanner Scott’s name is being bandied around as someone who will be relocating at the end of this month.
That brings me to Mets icon Pete Alonso, who will be a free agent at the end of this season. Stearns has kept his cards close to his vest when it comes to Alonso’s future. Team executives tend to be loyal to players they acquire, and the Polar Bear goes back to the Brodie Van Wagenen era, so he is not a Stearns guy. Another factor is Stearns would rather have a root canal than haggle with Alonso’s agent, the infamous Scott Boras.
There were published stories about the Houston Astros inquiring about Alonso. The clubs worked on a trade a year ago in which the Mets shipped Justin Verlander to Houston for highly touted prospects. Stearns would love to have the same scenario play out with Pete.
Everything depends on where the Mets are in the standings in two weeks. If they are in a strong position for the playoffs, Stearns will stand pat. If they are one of eight teams playing for a wildcard slot, then he may deal Alonso and let Mark Vientos take over at first base. How the Mets fare in their four upcoming home games with the always troublesome Atlanta Braves may determine things. Q
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