QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 23, 2023 Page 12
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Howard Beach teen pilot takes to the sky Anthony Gulluscio, 13, is already achieving his high-flying dreams by Kristen Guglielmo
Sarasota, Fla. “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot,” Anthony Anthony Gulluscio is a typical eighth-grad- said. “I don’t remember exactly when it started, er. He attends PS/MS 207 Rockwood Park in but my mom says since I was 2, I’ve wanted to Howard Beach, and is close with his grandfa- fly planes.” During the Nov. 11 flight, Anthony piloted a ther, Frank Gulluscio, with whom he enjoys listening to The Beatles. He’s even a member of Cessna 172P. He flew in two circles over the ocean at Jones Beach, which he noted is relathe school’s newspaper club. tively close to JFK Airport. Not so typical, though: “There was arriving trafAnthony can fly a plane. fic, and a huge aircraft At only 13, Anthony coming from Germany,” has been on two discovery Anthony said. “So I had to f lights, also k now n as pay attention to that, too.” introductor y f lights — The discovery flight is short f lights for people documented in a video posti nt e rest ed i n lea r n i ng ed to his YouTube channel, about flying, or taking the SomewhatFirstOfficerAnfirst step toward earning a thony. pilot’s license. Participants Asked if he was worried of any age can sit in the or scared at all during the pilot’s seat next to a certiexperience, Anthony said, fied instructor, who over“Believe it or not, I’m a litsees and assists during the tle short so I was worried I flight. couldn’t reach the rudder “ I t w a s a m a z i n g ,” Anthony told the Chroni- Anthony flying a plane in Farming- pedal.” Still, he was able to pilot. “The instructor is cle of his discovery flight dale on Nov. 11. there, so I’m not totally flyexperience at Farmingale Aviation School, though it was not the first ing on my own.” During the flight, Anthony participated in a time he’d piloted — Anthony had also taken a discovery flight in the past while visiting stall test, which he explained as taking the Associate Editor
Anthony Gulluscio is already achieving his high-flying dreams, taking discovery flights at only 13 COURTESY PHOTOS years old. engine down to a low setting. “The plane starts to drop like a rock,” he said, adding that the stall test spooked his mother. “My mom was filming in the back seat, and she was so scared she dropped her phone during the test.” “She almost had a heart attack,” his grandfather joked. “But he handled it.”
Anthony said he has completed four full motion flight simulators, which pilots use as well, and uses an iPad application called Infinite Flight to simulate flying. Asked about his goals for the future, Anthony said he wants to become a commercial pilot. And at the rate he’s flying, it’s safe to say he’s Q on the way there.
State to establish AAPI commission by Kristen Guglielmo Gov. Hochul last week signed bill A3301/S1051 into law, which will establish a New York Asian-American and Pacific Islander Commission. The action came days after Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) penned a letter to the governor, signed by numerous elected officials and 50 Asian-American groups, calling on the governor to sign the bill. According to the letter, the commission will “create a place in the executive infrastructure that will address the AAPI community’s safety, health, economic wellbeing, education and civic participation.” The new law mandates that the commission will be housed in the NYS Department of State and will be composed of 13 members jointly appointed by the governor, state Senate and Assembly. New York’s Secretary of State will chair the commission. Fur ther more, the commission will develop policies to promote the AsianAmerican community’s safety, health, economic stability and education, Rajkumar’s office said. It will also galvanize leader-
ship in the Asian-American community and develop public education campaigns on Asian-American issues and culture. The letter’s signatories from Queens include state Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) a nd Assembly members Ron K i m (D-Flushing), Steven Raga (D-Maspeth), David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows), Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) and Juan Ardila (D-Sunnyside). State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Assemblymembers Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park), Clyde Vanel (D-Queens Village), Khaleel Anderson (D-Far Rockaway), Jessica GonzálezRojas (D-East Elmhurst), Catalina Cruz (D-Corona), Daniel Rosenthal (D-Flushing) and Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) were not signatories, but all co-sponsored the legislation. “I am proud to have established a historic commission that will bring Asian-American New Yorkers across our state to the table of government,” Rajkumar said in a written statement. “... This Commission will empower Asian-American New YorkQ ers for generations to come.”
PHOTO COURTESY NYPD / FACEBOOK
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Associate Editor
106th Precinct honored Officers and civilian members of the NYPD’s 106th Precinct were honored for their ser vice and achievements last Wednesday in a Medal Day ceremony at Resorts World NYC in South Ozone Park. The celebration was attended by a number of elected officials and community leaders, including state Sens. Joe Addabbo Jr. and Roxanne Persaud, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and a representative of Councilwoman Joann Ariola. The command-
ing officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, Assistant Chief Kevin Williams, was also in attendance. “Today we had the pleasure of honoring the dedication and valor of our police officers and civilian members of the 106 Precinct on their medal,” read a post from the 106’s Facebook account. “Thank you to Resorts World Casino NYC for allowing us to host this prestigious event.” — Kristen Guglielmo
