Volume 13 Issue No. 2 Jan. 13-19, 2012
PAGE 18
PRESS Photo by Domenick Rafter
VISION QUEST
Greater Jamaica Development Corporation asks the state’s economic development czar for support in redeveloping several sites downtown. By Domenick Rafter … Page 3
Online at www.QueensPress.com
News Briefs MLK Events In honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., local leaders are inviting the community to honor the civil rights activist in their own way. Councilman James Sanders Jr. (DLaurelton) will host his third annual Community or Chaos conference on Jan. 16 at the St. Luke Cathedral’s Multi-Purpose Center, located at 133-24 233rd St. in Laurelton. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. attendees will learn how to start and run a successful non-profit organization. The program is not only aimed at nonprofits and community activists, but also community members who may have an interest in starting a non-profit but do not know where to start. Monday’s workshop is co-sponsored by the Community Resource Exchange, Citizens Committee of NY, Cause Effective, The Drug Policy Alliance and The Foundation Center. To register for the event, call (718) 5274356. The Jamaica Branch of the NAACP has planned a trip to the nation’s capital to visit King’s memorial for Jan. 21. Chapter President Leroy Gadsden said it is important for the community to celebrate King’s life. “We want to pay our respects and we sure we never forget the contributions Dr. King made to America,” he said. In addition to stopping by the King memorial in Washington D.C., the group will visit the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, an exhibit dedicated to the historical accomplishments of blacks. The bus will leave promptly at 7 a.m. next Saturday from the chapter office, located at 189-26 Linden Blvd. Those interested in attending can call (718) 978-0400.
Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
Clinics Recognized For Diabetes Care
As We Salute the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let Us All... Together... Congressman Strive to Make Gregory W. That DREAM Meeks Come True
6th Congressional District
Paid for by Friends for Gregory Meeks
Two health clinics operated by Community Healthcare Network were recently recognized by a national organization for high-quality and well-managed diabetes care. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a not-for-profit organization that focuses on honoring quality care, recognized the LIC Health Center, 36-11 21st St. in Long Island City, and Queens Health Center, 97-04 Sutphin Blvd., for its diabetes care and treatment. The NCQA checks on whether doctors draw blood and find that patients are taking care of their condition. They also check to see that doctors are checking for feet and eye issues. Diabetics are prone to retinopathy in the eyes and neuropathy in the feet which, if left unchecked, can lead to severe complications. Dr. Peter Tesler, chief medical officer for CHN, called diabetes care a “team effort” and said it was “critically important” to engage the patient so they take care of the chronic condition. Dr. Julia Garber, associate medical director at the Queens Health Center, said that the clinic sets up appointments with a podiatrist and an opthamologist to make sure patients are getting the best care available. According to the Dept. of Health, 11 percent of Jamaica residents suffer from diabetes. An important issue the clinic also deals with is obese and overweight patients, which can lead to adult-onset diabetes. The clinic will refer patients to a
nutritionist who will teach patients what and how to eat and also advise exercise.
‘A’ Train Improvements Riders along the Lefferts Boulevard branch of the A train are going to see some structural and aesthetic improvements to the nearly century old elevated line over Liberty Avenue. Besides that terminus, the MTA also outlined plans to reconstruct parts of 111th Street, 104th Street, Rockaway Boulevard, 88th Street and 80th Street stations. Linda Tonn, MTA design manager for station rehabilitation projects said the Lefferts Boulevard station meets the requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act to add an elevator and other “renewal” work. The elevator at Lefferts Boulevard will be located on the north side of the station where the sidewalk is wider. It will have stops on the street, the mezzanine and the platform so those using the elevator can go directly to the platform from the street. The station will also have other ADA compliant features including detectable warning strips on platform edges and braille signs. The stairs and windscreens at Lefferts Boulevard will also be replaced and the columns on the platform will be repaired. Similar work will be done at the other five stations, some of which- like Rockaway Boulevard- have already had new street stairs installed, but the stairs from the mezzanine to the platform will be replaced. At Lefferts Boulevard, 80th Street and 104th Street mezzanine level floors will be replaced. The platforms will be reconstructed to make them more level and fix ponding issues that have been happening after rain, especially at 88th Street and 104th Street. Tonn said 104th Street’s platform is in the worst condition and would need the most work. She added the MTA is about a third of the way through the design process and the project is scheduled to go to contract at the end of the year.
Correction: An incorrect photo of Bishop Charles Norris Jr. ran in the Jan. 6 issue of the PRESS of Southeast Queens. We sincerely apologize for the error.
Bishop Charles Norris Jr.
Presstime
Cuomo’s Econ Vision Wanted in SEQ BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Hospital Union Reaches Agreement BY VERONICA LEWIN After months of uncertainty, Peninsula Hospital Center employees can now breathe a little easier after a union agreement has been reached. The hospital's largest employee union, 1199 SEIU, will receive $10 million over the next three years, half of the money that was owed before the hospital declared bankruptcy last year. Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway has been on life support since last summer. Each hospital employee received a Warn Act notice on July 29, which contained an outline of employee rights, contact information, job retraining options and benefits employees are entitled to in the event of a closure. On Aug. 1, the hospital submitted a draft closure plan to the State Department of Health for their review and approval. On Aug. 23 MediSys, which operates Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, ended its affiliation with
the Far Rockaway hospital. Closing the hospital would have left St. John's Episcopal Hospital the lone hospital to serve residents on the peninsula. In September, Revival Home Health Care took over the day to day operations of the hospital, with Chief Operating Officer Todd Miller becoming Peninsula's Chief Restructuring Officer to help staff members with the transition. Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton), who represents part of the Rockaways, said he was pleased the hospital's doors have been able to stay open. "Peninsula is not entirely out of the woods yet, but I have absolute faith that if all parties continue to work together in the spirit of compromise to do what's right for the people of the Rockaways, Peninsula will be able to sort out its financial issues and remain in operation for years to come," Sanders said. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
BY BRIANNA ELLIS Despite persistent efforts to provide food for seniors, low attendance has caused an end to J-SPOA’s South Jamaica Offsite Meals Program. The program will official come to an end Jan. 13. “We just didn’t get the numbers, maybe 2 to 3 people a day,” said Melissa Evans, J-SPOA’s director of administration. Evans said the lack of members was caused by the previous center closing in June 2010 due to city budget cuts. Former director Carol Hunt strived to continue a program that would allow seniors to get a hot meal every day.
Seniors can still look forward to alternate locations that provide food daily. Theodora G. Jackson Adult Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is located at 92-47 165th Street in Jamaica. Five blocks down, on 92-33 170th St., the Friendship Center offers special services to selective senior citizens. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., seniors can expect more than just a hot plate. The center caters exclusively to seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and disability. Reach Intern Brianna Ellis at intern@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7100, Ext. 124.
ESDC CEO Ken Adams takes a tour of Jamaica Thursday morning. where Smith pushed for more express buses to Manhattan. “A lot of work has been put into transportation in the area, but we still need more,” Smith said. Adams also toured the Arverne-By-TheSea development, Wavecrest Mall, and O’Donohue Park in Far Rockaway and also visited the Beach 116th Street retail corridor in Rockaway Park. He also got a look at Rockaway’s crown jewel – the beach. Smith pushed the need for commercial areas to complement the successful growth in residential development in recent years, especially in Arverne. “We have the residential, what we need is the commercial development,” Smith said. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400 Ext. 125.
Theater Seeks Charter After Denial
BY VERONICA LEWIN
When the Black Spectrum Theater’s proposal for a charter school was turned down two years ago, Founder Carl Clay took the rejection as a chance to tweak their curriculum to the needs of the community. This time around, the theater is hopeful their plans will turn into classrooms. The Black Spectrum Theater proposed to open the Spectrum Charter School of Performing Arts at Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica nearly two years ago. The campus would educate 360 middle school students with the intent to prepare children for a career in the arts. “Our mission has been to provide for a new generation of performing artists in urban communities,” Clay said. The application was rejected by the SUNY Charter Schools Institute last year for undisclosed reasons. The Black Spectrum Theater held a community meeting Tuesday night to discuss their plans for the charter school. The performing arts company already partners with public schools for theater programs and hosts theater camps throughout the year. “We wanted this school to have its own space,” he said. Clay said he believes opening the Spectrum Charter School will integrate performing arts with the classroom in a way that is not done in city
schools. He said core curriculum at the school would include performing arts, such as acting out a play in English class. Many critics of the plan question why the Black Spectrum Theater does not partner with an existing school that lacks performing arts curriculum. Clay, a former New York City school teacher, expressed concern with a full-partnership with a public school. Although a partnership would be more economically feasible than opening a school on their own, Clay said the theater did not want to run the risk of joining a school and having it not work out. Clay added that the theater opened in 1970 with the intention that it would one day host a school for young performers. “Education has always been an underpinning for all that we do,” he said. If the plan is approved this time, Spectrum Charter School will enroll 120 students a year for three years, until the campus reaches its capacity of 360 students. Programs offered will include digital filmmaking, production and a theater institute. Clay is hopeful their revised proposal will be accepted this time and other groups in the area will follow suit. “We hope this is the first of many performing arts schools in the area,” he said. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3
Senior Offsite Meal Program Ends Friday
Carlisle Towery made a case for hotels and retail development around the LIRR/ AirTrain terminal, especially in the fairly underdeveloped areas to the south of the station. He warned that while he wanted the see the area developed, he didn’t want to lose the character of the community. “We never wanted it to be a megalopolis of hotels,” Towery said. The area around the LIRR station was rezoned in 2007, but the financial crisis thwarted development there. As the economy rebounds, he hopes it will light a new spark in the area – with the governor’s help. “We don’t do anything without government partnership,” Towery added. The Wonder Bread factory on Douglas Avenue took up the majority of the brainstorming meeting Thursday morning, but the group also touched on the former site of Mary Immaculate Hospital and the condition of Jamaica Hospital, which Towery warned was being “overwhelmed with patients” and would not be able to handle the population boom that could come with redevelopment in the area. Towery also brought up the proposed convention center at Aqueduct Racetrack and noted that it took will “have implications to supporting the Downtown Jamaica agenda.” After his visit to Jamaica, Adams headed to the Rockaway Peninsula where he saw the rehabilitation projects current being undertaken along the A line and
Photo by Domenick Rafter
Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica) had one simple message to Queens native Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s economic development czar to bring back to the state’s chief executive; “Come home, Andrew.” A little more than a week after the governor outlined his economic development proposals, Kenneth Adams, the CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation paid a visit to the borough, meeting with Borough President Helen Marshall at Borough Hall and touring Southeast Queens with State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis), first in Jamaica and later on the Rockaway Peninsula. At a meeting in Ja-
maica, Cook implored Adams to push Downtown Jamaica as a priority in Gov. Cuomo’s economic development plans, noting that Cuomo is a native of Southeast Queens and his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo – grew up in Jamaica. “We need [Gov. Cuomo] to bring his vision home,” she said. While most of the economic development talk has been focused elsewhere in the borough, the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. reached a hand out to Gov. Cuomo via Adams on Thursday morning asking for support in redeveloping several sites in Downtown Jamaica, including around the LIRR station, the former Wonder Bread bakery site and the vacant Mary Immaculate Hospital. GJDC President
Feelings Mixed On Convention Center BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton had always known that the casino at Aqueduct Racetrack was not the end of it. Hotels and convention space have always been on the table. But when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in his State of the State speech last Wednesday that he supported a plan to build the world’s largest convention center adjacent to the Resorts World New York City casino on Aqueduct grounds, Braton’s reaction could probably be best described as what you get when you mix concern, confusion and surprise in a blender and add ice. “We knew this was coming, we just didn’t know the scale,” Braton said at the Jan. 5 CB 10 meeting, as apprehensive laughter rumbled through the room. That frozen cocktail of emotions was shared by many in the neighborhoods surrounding Aqueduct Racetrack. Having just endured the opening of the casino that brought gridlock to the streets of what has always been a rather quiet, isolated, even suburban part of the borough, hearing the terms “world’s largest” attached to any proposed development nearby raised quite a few red flags. The message at the first CB 10 meeting of the year was that the community did not oppose the idea, but felt rather blindsided by the governor’s announcement so soon after the holidays and after the chaos of the casino opening had died
A year after the first phase opens RWNY is eyeing the completion of a 1,000 room hotel somewhere on the site. All development will occur on uninhabited land. At least 10,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs could be created by the The center will have over three and a half million square feet of convention center, RWNY said, almost 10 convention space. times the number of jobs down. A community that up until recently created by the casino. had no major facilities to draw thousands Some expressed concern about the of people had questions- and a lot of them. possibility of the massive convention cenWhere is it going to be built? How big ter turning into a “white elephant” bewill it be? Is it going to be a “boondoggle?” cause of statistics questioning the profitHow are people going to get there? ability of convention centers in recent Genting’s local subsidiary, Resorts years. RWNY spokesman Stefan FriedWorld New York, is calling the proposed man said the design of the center and its convention center the New York Interna- location leads the company to believe it tional Convention and Exhibition Cen- will be successful. ter- or by the pleasant acronym; NICE. The convention center will have one The $4 billion project would be entirely huge floor- something that does not exist financed by RWNY. 3.8 million square at the multi-level Jacob Javits Convention feet of convention center space would be Center in Manhattan, but desired by many built in two phases. The first phase, 2.6 convention organizers. That satisfies one million square feet, will be built on land community concern; whether or not the leased to RWNY and completed by No- development will be an eyesore in the vember 2014. The second phase- the fi- neighborhood’s skyline. Its location benal 1.2 million square feet- will be built neath a busy flight path to JFK airport later, on property now leased to the Port eliminates any possibility of any tall buildAuthority of New York and New Jersey. ing, State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard
Beach) reminded CB 10. Transportation issues are a major topic on the minds of locals. Some wondered how the expected tens of thousands of visitors get to the convention center. RWNY said it would work with the State and the MTA to introduce “uninterrupted” subway service between Aqueduct and Midtown Manhattan. “Uninterrupted” subway service could come via a new line running together with the A train making fewer stops or by use of the so-called “Queensway,” the abandoned LIRR viaduct that connects to the Rockaway branch of the A train near Aqueduct Racetrack and ends at the LIRR main line in Rego Park. “Transportation to the site is an issue that needs to be addressed and we have been discussing the feasibility of MTA service from Manhattan to Aqueduct, with Genting paying the cost of such service,” Gov. Cuomo said in a letter to state legislative leaders this week. At the CB 10 meeting, Braton told the board that it was too early in the process for many of the questions to be answered in full, and her board would need to be included in discussions. “At this point, the relationship that we have with Genting is good,” Braton said. “When [the casino] first came about, that was a leap of faith for us. It’s no longer a leap of faith.” Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
Queens Woman Sees Top Of The World BY DOMENICK RAFTER When Arverne resident Barbara Hillary retired from her many years working in nursing education, she realized she hadn’t traveled as much as she wanted to. She came across an advertisement for a photography trip to Canada to take pictures of polar bears in their natural habitat. That would be the beginning of a journey that would literally take her to both ends of the Earth. Hillary, a native of Manhattan, attended nursing school and obtained degrees in Gerontology, Political Science and International Affairs. As a child, she vacationed in Hilton Head, S.C., where her mother’s family is from. Back then, the island, now known for its chic golf courses and resorts, was only accessible via an old boat where your crewmates included live poultry. But the warm coasts of the south are a far cry from where she most recently vacationed. After going to the Canadian province of Manitoba to see polar bears up close, she fell in love with her frosty surroundings. Hillary, who is also a cancer survivor, later discovered that no black woman had ever been to the North Pole. After confirming that fact with the Russians — who informally administer the North Pole —the idea became more enticing. “The fact that no black woman had ever set foot on the North Pole, I decided to try to do it,” Hillary explained.
So she made her decision- she was going to the North Pole. Now all that she needed to do was convince everyone else she was serious. “The first difficult thing was trying to reassure people that you haven’t lost your mind,” she said while laughing. More serious — she needed money. A trip to the North Pole costs $22,000 and that’s without the airfare to the Arctic and the many layers of clothes you’d need to survive. She called around trying to raise the money, while practicing her coldweather survival skills. When she finally raised the money, she was off to the north. Her trek started in Svalbard, an icy island about three hours flying time north of Norway. From there, she flew on a Russian jet to base camp somewhere in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. On April 23, 2007, Hillary became the first black woman ever to reach the North Pole. “A sea of ice,” Hillary said of the scene. “It’s mindboggling. It never ends.” Reaching the top of Earth, Hillary quickly made the decision she needed to go to the bottom. The South Pole is nearly twice the cost of visiting the North Pole. For one thing, Hillary needed to get to Chile- a process that was complicated by a strike in that country at the time. There she waited. “When you’re in Chile you must pay your own room and board until you get the go ahead weatherwise to reach base camp,” she explained.
So she did, and when she got the OK to head into Antarctica, she slept in an unheated tent in 40-degree below zero temperatures and saw a different scene than she had seen on the Arctic. The Arctic is a frozen ocean, while Antarctica is a land mass. She saw mountains and met mountaineers heading to climb the continent’s tallest peak- Vinson Massif. In January 2011 - at the age of 79 Barbara Hillary reached the South Pole the first black woman ever to visit both ends of the planet. At the South Pole, she observed the Amundsen-Scott station with its buildings built on hydraulic stilts to allow it be raised above the snow and the actual pole, which, unlike the North Pole, is marked. Back home in a more temperate climate, Hillary has become a motivational speaker, talking about her adventures that so many doubted she would go through with. “It’s a matter of determination, believing in yourself, and the way you were raised,” she explained. “I was raised to stand on my own two feet. I was raised that the world didn’t owe me anything. That you work hard for what you want, and you don’t lie and you don’t steal.” As for her trips, “I’m proud I did it,” she said. At the age of 80, Hillary is planning her next adventure. Where? She’s keeping that a secret for now so no one steals her idea, but you can learn more about her and her
Arverne resident Barbara Hillary became the first black woman to reach the North Pole. adventures at her website barbarahillary.com Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400 Ext. 125.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5
OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 (voice) (718) 357-7400 fax (718) 357-9417 email news@queenspress.com The PRESS of Southeast Queens Managing Editor:
Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor:
Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:
Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor
Regina Vogel
Editorial Convention-al Wisdom The borough is experiencing mixed emotions about Gov. Cuomo’s announcement last week, proposing the world’s largest convention center in Queens. While some may zero in on the potentially problematic – the profitability of convention centers in recent years and a logjam of visitors clogging transportation – we should focus on the benefits the Governor’s proposal would bring to the borough. In this time of economic uncertainty, the creation of 10,000 new permanent jobs would be nothing short of a boon to the community. And with the Governor’s announcement that any costs associated with creating uninterrupted subway service between Aqueduct and Midtown will be covered by Genting, many financial concerns seem to wash away. The proposal would also give New York City a state-of-the-art space with plenty of room to accommodate any number of events looking for a home that would fit their needs. For years, groups have complained about the lack of available space in the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. Already, groups are planning to move out of the confined spaces of Manhattan into Queens. Sure, anything can happen between now and the opening of the first phase of the center in November 2014. But as it stands, it sounds like the world’s largest convention center would do a lot of good for the borough.
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Letters Reporters: Harley Benson Veronica Lewin Domenick Rafter Ross Barkan Jason Pafundi Intern: Brianna Ellis Art Dept:
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Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher
Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher
No Convention Center To The Editor: If Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way, the world’s largest convention center could be coming to Queens. (Queens Tribune Jan. 5-11, 2012) One hopes Cuomo does not have his misguided way, and is set on a path to a responsible good government that does not exist solely for the benefit of billionaire real estate developers. The Governor needs to do research, which I believe will demonstrate the
error of his thinking. Ignoring for the moment this city in the case of the Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side has a structurally sound center which is slated to be enlarged and upgraded, to the tune of $1.4 billion, why do the taxpayers of this city need a different center? Does the Governor have in mind the removal of Javits so prime Manhattan real estate will be turned over to real estate developer friends together with huge taxpayer subsidies? Apart
Letters from what one may say about the Javits Center as is or if demolished, the error in Cuomo’s thinking is his failure to understand convention centers are no longer viable, lose money and are an abysmal waste of taxpayer dollars, and make no mistake that under Cuomo’s plan taxpayer involvement will be in the billions of dollars. A Brookings Institution report in 2005 (before the current worsened economic environment) raised serious questions about a convention hall space race with other cities, stating: You’ve got cities around the country building new or expanded convention space at a very rapid rate in a market that is already glutted and over supplied.” In an environment where every major center around the country is sharply discounting rental rates or giving space away and throwing in incentives, the likelihood of any succeeding is remarkably dim.” The report also pointed out that there has been a steady decline in attendance. Doing business with huge corporations like Walmart does not take place in a convention center. You set up an office near Walmart’s purchasing center and that is where you solicit business. Furthermore, enormous amounts of business are conducted through the internet. The kind of taxpayer fueled project Cuomo is talking about is nothing but pie in the sky non-
sense and must be rejected. Benjamin M. Haber, Flushing
More Gun Control To The Editor: It seems to me that Turner’s standing with others to raise thousands of dollars for the family of slain Officer Peter Figoski of the NYPD might soften his views against gun control. I implore to stand with U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy to ban the sale of extended capacity ammunition magazines. Extending background checks on purchases made at gun shows and other sensible laws may prevent the deaths and maiming of countless innocent citizens like Arizona’s U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and the senseless deaths of the young girl and five others attending her rally a year ago. I implore you, U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, to stand up to your responsibility as our representative in Congress. Vote for strong gun control laws. Tell the NRA that no one hunts with AK-47s! B. K. Brumberg, Howard Beach
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Aqueduct On Track to Revitalize Boro
A Personal Perspective BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE
I’m not a gambler. I don’t promote casino or other forms of monetary gambling. But I do recognize commercial success when I see it. And I can appreciate the gamble of an idea that pays off. In only two months of operations, the new casino at Aqueduct Racetrack has reported a stunning $90 million in revenue. Although not an “official casino” as one would find in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, these slot machines have become an irresistible draw for people who enjoy that sort of thing. Officially known as Resorts World Casino New York City, the facility has created hundreds of jobs and inspired part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent State of the State Address. In fact, you could say it was the centerpiece. The governor has proposed the exciting idea of a super convention center to trump all convention centers; plus hotels and other businesses. Hello, Gov’na! At long last, Queens will be the
borough on everybody’s mind. Queens is now in play as a place of promising economic vitality and that’s a great place to be. According to Cuomo, Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Convention Center is way too small for a state and city like New York. He informed us that our convention center ranks 12th in the nation and that’s not good enough for New York. “We should be number one,” he noted. With the space, two airports and an air train, Queens is the perfect place for this mega investment; and kudos to the governor for having the confidence to say so. With our economy at its worst in decades, it will take not just thinking outside the box, but thinking without the box to get us out of it. Cuomo is anti-big government. But he certainly is pro-big ideas. If he gets his way, the proposed convention center would be about 3.8 million square feet and would be developed with private money of approximately $4 billion. Not our tax dollars. My understanding is that Genting,
the same outfit which handles the current facility at Aqueduct, would again be handling the investment with Resorts. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but it sounds almost too good to be true. And it may well be. The governor has now sent letters to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for just that. The matter will at some point be presented for legislative approval. And that’s where the rubber will hit the road. The legislative bodies will no doubt go over the proposal like a fine tooth comb trolling for lice. We hope that politics don’t get in the way of a potentially great idea. But we also expect our legislators to protect our interests so the coming weeks and months will be interesting. If this comes to fruition, then Aqueduct seems on track to become the borough’s largest employer after JFK Airport, which employs about 40,000, and LaGuardia Airport, which also has thousands of employees. Not bad at all for under-utilized land
in Ozone Park. Like the rest of the nation, state and city, Queens has been hit hard by the economic crisis. The tell-tale signs are in the boarded up stores on our commercial strips. It is obvious by the number of residential foreclosures in our neighborhoods due to unemployment, and indeed in many other aspects of our lives. These are indeed hard times and hard times usually force us to be creative. Gov. Cuomo’s proposal has the markings of a meaningful economic boon to our borough. He has wanted to be governor probably since his father was governor back in the ’80s and early ’90s. He finally got his opportunity and it behooves him to distinguish himself as a governor who cares and who does something great with that caring. The proposal has – and will have — many detractors, but for the people who can’t find work and for the borough and city that need a shot in the arm, this sounds like a great idea. Let’s hope it gets off the ground in a hurry.
Politics Can Help Cities to Prosper If Leaders Wise By HENRY J. STERN Fifty years ago, I was appointed and sworn in as Secretary of the Borough of Manhattan. That elegant title did more than justice to my actual duties, which were those of a staff assistant to the Borough Pre sident of Henry Manhat tan, at the time Edward R. Dudley. Judge Dudley had won the Democratic primary for Borough Pre sident over Assemblyma n Lloyd Dickens in a race that was a sidebar to the city-wide contest for the Mayoralty which followed Mayor Wagner’s break with Carmine DeSapio, leader of Tammany Hall, the regular Democratic organization. Mr. Dickens is the father of Inez Dickens, a Cit y Councilmember from Harlem who has been mentioned as a candidate for Council Speaker in 2013. The Liberal Party, under the leadership of Alex Rose, supported Wagner and was influential in his primary victory. The Democratic count y leaders had suppor ted State Comptroller Arthur Levitt, a regular Democrat from Kings County. Dudley ran on Wagner’s ticket, which carried Manhattan easily. When it came time to select
the staff for his new term, Dudley found a dispensable Democratic district leader, Florence M. Ferguson of Inwood, who held the title of Secretary of the Borough of Ma nhat tan. Ms. Ferguson, an affable woman whose husband Stern was an optometrist from 207th Street, resigned, leaving a timely vacancy. To fill it, Dudley chose a 26-year-old government buff who at the time was serving as law clerk to a State Supreme Court Justice, Mat thew M. Lev y. That is how I entered the full-time profession of politics. To fill Ms. Ferguson’s spot, Borough President Dudley relied on several members of his senior staff. Perhaps the most influential was Jerome L. Wilson, his press secretary. Wilson, a man of unusual ability and high principle, was later elected to the State Senate, representing East Harlem and Yorkville. He served two terms in Albany, but his career in elected office ended when he lost a race for Congress in 1966 to i ncumbent Ted Kupferman. Wilson later became a successful attorney in New York City. A reform Democrat who was also a reasonable person, he would have made a fine County Leader.
The small Liberal Party, which had supported Dudley, was divided in its choice. The executive director of the Party favored an official who had been his employee at par ty headquar ters. Wilson and younger staff members, as well as the Liberal Party vice chairman, liked me. The Borough President made the final decision, and did not regret it. Two years later, Dudley was elected to the State Supreme Court. He advanced in the court system and remained until he retired. He was succeeded, eventually, by Constance Baker Motley, a civil rights at torney who had been elected to the New York State Senate. In 1966, she became the first African-American woman to become a United States District Judge. She was appointed to the bench by Pre sident Lyndon B. Johnson. The Secretary of the Borough was one of a staff of about a hundred who conducted the business of the office. Some were ‘political,’ others were civil servants. They varied in ability and industry but were loyal to their work and to their employer. Over the years, the Borough President’s office was sharply reduced in size as its line functions were transferred to operat ing agencies, primarily t he
Depar tment of Highways. T he maintenance and repair of streets, a function of the Borough President for a century, was in the proce ss of profe ssionalization a nd depoliticization, a task that would take years to complete. By 1962, much of the Borough President’s work dealt with community relations, and acting as liaison between community boards and public agencies. The Borough
President is also involved in city planning, economic development, and zoning issues. I both represented the Borough President at meetings and reported to him on community sentiment. Public service is a privilege. If it is done honestly and well, it can substantially benefit the people. Over the years, that is what I have tried to do. StarQuest@NYCivic.org
Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7
Remembering The Dream:
MLK’s Legacy Extends To Queens Photo courtesy of Rabbi Moshe Shur, former head of Queens College chapter of Hillel
BY ROSS BARKAN
Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
He was alive then, speaking of another who was prematurely slain, and the students and faculty of Queens College applauded for two minutes when he had finished his speech. In May 1965, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not yet a martyr. He was a speaker in a packed auditorium, his rhetoric incantatory, urging students to follow the path of nonviolence a year after one of their own, Andrew Goodman, had been one of three young men murdered by Ku Klux Klan members in Mississippi during 1964’s Freedom Summer. As Martin Luther King Day approaches once again, the usual encomiums will be prepared for a legendary activist well deserving of them. But what will get little attention (or none at all) is King’s relationship to the borough of Queens, one that is overlooked in many historical narratives. Queens is a borough of startling diversity, a place where legendary black figures like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald made their homes, and also a place where civil rights activism flourished. Malcolm X lived in East Elmhurst and went to the same doctor as current Borough President Helen Marshall. Harry Van Arsdale Jr., the renowned labor leader of the New York City Central Labor Council, knew King well, and pictures of King and Arsdale can still be found at Local Union No. 3, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, in Flushing. Jewel Avenue, as Queens residents are well aware, was renamed Jewel Avenue and Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue after the labor leader who once lived on that avenue and attended Townsend Harris High School. Civil Rights Memories Harlem will always be remembered, as it should be, as the New York nexus of the civil rights movement. But Corona, East Elmhurst, Jamaica, and several other neighborhoods quietly became hotbeds of activism. Now 92 and treasurer for the Corona/East Elmhurst chapter of the NAACP, Addie M.K. Crawford remembers King speaking at churches and youth programs on Queens Boulevard. Though she didn’t see him speak in Queens, when she did meet him, she knew she was talking to an individual unlike any other. “The way he talked was the way he lived,” Crawford said. “I remember seeing him at City Hall once. I was very anxious just to shake his hand. He’s just remarkable, there’s no match for him.” Speaking about King at times in the present tense, Crawford also recalled another, more human side to the civil rights leader. As King left City Hall, he was in a hurry, and seemed rather nervous. Perpetually a target in an era of startlingly public assassinations — Malcolm X had been assassinated in 1965 and presidential candidate Rober t F. Kennedy would be killed months after King — King was assassinated in 1968, unleashing waves of grief and anger throughout the country.
King with a QC graduate and rabbi.
Martin Luther King addressing SCOPE volunteers at the orientation in Atlanta in June of 1965 (from the Dean Savage collection) According to Andrew Jackson, the director of the Langston Hughes Library in Corona, King spoke at the Corona Congregational Church on 34th Avenue and 102nd Street. King, besides speaking at churches, was also known to show up at Queens youth programs and educate teenagers about the civil rights movement. Oft-forgotten in the narrative of King was his fight for economic justice. Marshall shook King’s hand on Northern Boulevard outside of a store dedicated to servicing the poor with free food and clothing. A long line, as always, formed to greet King, and Marshall finally got to shake his hand. “I shook hands and started crying. He hugged me,” Marshall said. “I feel really blessed I was able to touch that man.” The Activist College Situated in South Flushing, Queens College is as diverse as its namesake, and in the 1960s, students were galvanized by the resolute calls for change that seemed to echo from every corridor in the nation. A century of dehumanizing racial and economic oppression was at last being fought on a public and national scale; the students of Queens College, like the youth leaping into the Occupy Wall
Street movements today, saw what was happening around them and decided they needed to lend their own energy and their idealism. “Queens College has always been a very politically progressive campus,” said Ben Alexander, professor of archival studies and head of special collections and archives at Queens College. “Certainly, in the 1960s, a generation of very liberal, red diaper babies were present on campus. Their parents had lived through the Great Depression. The college had a large contingent of students who began to exercise interest in social justice, civil rights, and resistance to segregation and abuses in the South.” Queens College has built an increasingly crucial civil rights archive over the past few years. Though the collection is not large, it features several singular mementos of a tumultuous era. The collection includes handwriting of black students at a freedom school — an alternative school established to educate blacks who had been shut out of all-white schools — in Meridian, Miss, photographs of a burning cross at a Klan meeting in South Carolina, a fading photograph of King addressing a small crowd in Atlanta, and a manual for young activists on what to do when arrested. Goodman attended Queens College, though he was a Manhattan native. He was one of many Queens and CUNY students that traveled south in the summer of 1964 to help register blacks to vote. Though all races and ethnicities had been supposedly protected by the 15th Amendment ratified nearly a century earlier, death threats kept many southern blacks from exercising voting rights. Queens College students also traveled to Prince Edward County, Virginia, to tutor black students after the public school system was shut down to avoid compliance with Brown v. Board of Education. King Arrives On that spring day, May 13, King came to Queens to tell those in the auditorium, “It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.” Introduced by then president Jo-
seph P. McMurray, King, according to a story by McCandlish Phillips in the New York Times, mixed civil rights and peace advocacy with a discussion of economic justice. Present that day with King was Ronald Pollack, then student body president. “King had this manner of speaking that was just extraordinary,” Pollack said. “Both the content and tone were very inspiring. He had a way of speaking that reached your head and your heart in ways that I’ve never heard from anyone from before and after.” Pollack, who participated in Freedom Summer, had invited civil rights and antiwar activist and politician Al Lowenstein to speak at the college earlier. Lowenstein helped Pollack get in contact with King. Michael Schwerner, murdered along with Goodman in 1964, also had a brother who taught at Queens College. “On campus, all around, they were recruiting people to go to Mississippi,” said Mark Levy, a Queens College alumnus. “There were demonstrations at Queens College around the opening of the World’s Fair in 1964. Hiring practices there were pretty segregated. In 1965, after Freedom Summer, another group of students went down to Mississippi to help rebuild churches that had burned.” Activist students didn’t ignore their own backyard. Many participated in the Jamaica Help Project, an initiative committed to tutoring students in South Jamaica. As Ken Cohen, president of the Northeast Queens NAACP branch noted, besides newspapers, Queens residents who wanted to stay up-to-date with a civil rights movement in flux would make their way over to Queens College. More Work to Be Done Cohen was sanguine as he spoke about all the contributions King made to the United States and world, but said progress doesn’t mean racial and economic justice has been achieved. “It seems that at this day and time we’re in now, our country has become more diverse, and there are more people to turn around,” Cohen said. “And it seems that there are those that will try to keep people from moving forward; Those that want to take us back to square one.” Besides being a movement intended to bring people together, Cohen said that the civil rights movement was also a battle for voting rights. Goodman, Schwerner, and James Chaney died because they dared to help blacks vote. Cohen alluded to efforts today being made in some states to make voting more difficult, like asking all voters to provide proof of identification before they vote. Critics of the measure see it as a throwback to an era when southern states did all they could to keep minorities from appearing at the ballot box. “We’re still working on it, although we’re getting closer, we’re not quite there yet,” Cohen said. “We’re still fighting for the rights of everyone.” Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.
Police Blotter Compiled by JASON PAFUNDI
105th Precinct Robbery Suspect Nabbed Queens detectives arrested a man allegedly responsible for 11 recent gunpoint robberies in the borough and three additional robberies in Nassau County after matching fingerprints found on a discarded bottle of brandy. Gregory “Bubba” Kennedy, 31, from Queens, was pulled over for speeding on Jan. 3, while driving a black Chevrolet Impala on 130th Avenue in Queens. During the stop, the Anti-Crime officers of the 105th Precinct recognized the driver from the photograph on a wanted poster produced after a robbery committed at a T-Mobile store in November. According to police, on Nov. 25 at 10:15 a.m., a suspect, his face covered by a scarf, entered the store at 251-05 Jamaica Ave., displayed a firearm, demanded money and f led with $2,750. Detectives recovered a surveillance video which showed the suspect, his face still covered, enter a livery cab around the corner from the store, open its passenger side door and discard a liquor bottle onto the street. The Evidence Collection Unit recovered an empty bottle of Paul Masson Grande Amber brandy and lifted fingerprints matching Kennedy. Detectives were able to retrieve a photo of the suspect, who has multiple prior arrests, and produced a wanted poster that was circu-
lated within the 105th Precinct. During questioning after his arrest, Kennedy implicated himself in 10 other armed robberies within the confines of the 103rd, 105th, 106th and 113th precincts. According to the suspect, between Oct. 11 and Dec. 30, he stole approximately $11,435 in the robberies of the JFK Inn, three different T-Mobile stores, three Dunkin Donuts locations (two of which he robbed twice), a McDonald’s and a Metro PCS. He was charged with 11 counts of Robbery in the first degree.
106th Precinct City Employee Busted James Robinson, a City Corrections officer, was arrested on Jan. 6. Robinson, a 52-year-old black man, was charged with rape, assault and unlawful imprisonment.
111th Precinct Missing Teenager 16-year-old Angela Zheng was reported missing after she was last seen on Friday, Jan. 6, leaving her residence, located at 225-14 59th Ave. in Bayside. She was last seen at approximately 6:40 a.m. leaving her home, and she never returned. She is described as being about 5-foot-4 and 110 pounds with black hair. She was wearing a blue jacket with fur
In Celebration of the Life & Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
trim, blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. She wears glasses and has braces and is in good physical and mental health.
114th Precinct Missing Boy Gerardo Ramos, a 12-year-old Hispanic boy, was last seen on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at approximately 3 p.m. walking home from I.S. 204, located at 36-41 28th St. Ramos, who lives at 38-15 9th St., Apt. 2R, in Long Island City, is described as being approximately 5-foot-1, 105 pounds with brown eyes and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a brown coat, grey sweater, blue jeans and blue and grey sneakers. Anyone with information in regards to this missing woman is asked to call the Crimestoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website, nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
Corona Man Charged According to DA Richard Brown, Elvis Infante, a 35-year-old man from Corona, was arraigned on a 3,000 count indictment charging him with the possession and promotion of more than 1,000 images and 500 videos of
child pornography. Infante, of 58-35 Granger St. in Corona, was charged with 1,544 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child and 1,544 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child. He was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail or a $250,000 bond. His next court date is April 16. Brown said that, according to the charges, NYPD detectives were notified on Aug. 19, 2010, by the New York Internet Crimes Against Children agency about a cyber tip that the username 3SFORI7ZWOW7 had uploaded 12 images of child pornography to the Ning social networking website. A Hotmail email address with the same name was registered to the defendant. On Nov. 24, 2010, detectives went to Infante’s home and recovered his computer. An initial search found 80 images of child pornography, but a further forensic investigation led to the recovery of more than 1,000 images and over 500 videos of children depicted in a sexual manner or performing sexual acts. The investigation was conducted by Detective Andrew Jackson of the NYPD’s computer crimes squad. The defendant faces 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison for each count. “These cruel acts cannot and will be not be tolerated in a civilized society,” Brown said.
Borough Beat
Queens Native Now Leads Obama’s Staff
BY DOMENICK RAFTER
District Office P: 718-454-0162 F: 718-454-0186
Albany Office P: 518-455-2701 F: 518-455-2816
Jacob Lew Lew is Obama’s third Chief of Staff since taking office, following Daley and Rahm Emanuel, who was elected Mayor of Chicago in February 2011. He is the second member of the President’s staff from the borough. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is a native of East Elmhurst. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400 Ext. 125.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9
from New York State Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm A. Smith
President Barack Obama’s new right hand man is a Queens boy. Jacob Lew, who has been head of the Office of Management and Budget since November 2010, was appointed by President Obama on Tuesday to replace William Daley as White House Chief of Staffa high ranking White House position and senior aide to the president who is often responsible for organizing the president’s schedule and overseeing the staff in the West Wing. An Orthodox Jew, Lew is a native of Forest Hills and graduated from Forest Hills High School. He later graduated from Harvard and Georgetown Law School. Before being head of OMB, Lew previously served as an advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and also served as head of OMB in the final three years of President Bill Clinton’s term. When not in Washington, Lew and his family live in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. He has also worked for Citigroup and was Executive Vice President for Operations at NYU and was a professor at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service.
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Get On The Court
Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson
Day of Pampering Councilman Ruben Wills sponsored “Pampering Day” at Mara’s Hair Salon, located at 137-42 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Owner Tamara Telechea hosted more than a dozen young ladies, ages 6-12, to an evening of spoils including free hairwashes, styling and manicures. Photo by Craig Roberts.
Councilman Leroy Comrie hosted a basketball clinic with New York Knicks legend John Starks at the Jamaica YMCA Jan. 6. In addition to the fundamentals of basketball, participants got a feel for sportsmanship and the importance of healthy living during the clinic. Photo by Ira Cohen.
Holiday Recycling Bill Passage
Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
Assemblyman Rory Lancman and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, after the passage of legislation that prohibits New York companies from doing business with Iran’s energy program.
Councilman James F. Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) joins West Cunningham Park Civic Association President Bob Harris a n d L e w i s Tr e e S e r v i c e worker Michael Saraniero for Mulchfest on Sunday in Cunningham Park. The annual citywide event, which helps transform Christmas trees into useful mulch instead of filling up landfills, attracted more than 500 families to Cunningham Park over the weekend.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11
Profile
Jamaica Salon Gives Royal Treatment BY VERONICA LEWIN While walking down Hillside Avenue near Parsons Boulevard, one can't help but notice the abundance of shops, including places to get taxes done, restaurants and salons. One royal hair salon near the bustling intersection is trying to stand out for their customer service. Queen of the Wink, located at 159-10B Hillside Ave. in Jamaica, prides itself on having a stylist for every kind of hair type. One stylist specializes in children's hair, while another is knowledgeable about taking care of natural hair. The salon itself specializes in extensions. Each of the six stylists brings a unique skill to the salon, according to Manager Sarah Chambers.
The spacious salon offers a variety of hair styling options, as well as eyelash extensions.
"There's somebody that does something for everyone," she said. Queen of the Wink opened its doors five years ago. In addition to styling services, the salon offers massages, spa treatments and makeup services. Chambers said eyelash extensions attract the most customers outside of hair styling. Their temporary lashes, which last two to three weeks, are a common choice for those who may want longer lashes for a special occasion. Queen of the Wink's most popular eyelash extension is the mink semi-permanent extension. Fur lashes are $75, but the long-lasting lashes are easy to maintain and clients can put makeup on them like they could with their natural eyelashes. "It's really tasteful, and it's pretty," Chambers said. Those looking to jazz up their eyelashes can get extensions with jewels on them or eyelashes in different colors. Chambers was a nurse for 10 years before earning her cosmetology license. She said working at Queen of the Wink helps her express her creativity in a way nursing could not. "It keeps me challenging myself. It keeps me fine-tuned," she said. What Chambers enjoys most about working at Queen of the Wink is the client interaction. "It's really good to get to know the community," she said. Accord-
Staff of Queen of the Wink salon on Hillside Avenue. ing to Chambers, their clients range from working class people to socialites. She attributes the diverse clientele due to the salons personalized treatment. "We don't treat everyone the same," she said. Stylists try to maintain a personal relationship with clients and use top of the line products for hair and makeup. The owner, Simone West, makes sure her employees are knowledgeable about new products and styles and cater services to each individual. Chambers said each of their stylists
has been licensed for at least two years, something that can be hard to find in small salons throughout the city. She said this helps Queen of the Wink maintain an edge over the competition. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the salon offers a wash, roller set and style for $25. On Wednesdays, customers can get a relaxer for $45. For more information, call (718) 262-8049. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
People Fourteen Queens Library locations will be converted to RFID check-in and check-out over the next couple of months. All work will be done over weekends. Two locations, Fresh Meadows and Far Rockaway, will be closed for one Saturday each to complete work. The Fresh Meadows location will be closed Jan. 21; Far Rockaway will be closed Jan. 28. Other libraries that will be converted within regular public service schedules are branches at Mitchell-Linden, Richmond Hill, Lefrak City, North Forest Park, South Ozone Park, Queens Village, Glendale, Astoria, Hollis, Howard Beach, Whitestone and North Hills. For information, call the library at (718) 990-070 0 or visit www.queenslibrary.org. Home Instead Senior Care seeks entries for the “I Will Remember For You” family reunion giveaway contest. To enter the contest, submit a story in written or video form about your experience with a family member living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias for a chance to win a family reunion. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31. Three finalists will be notified by Feb. 15. For information and contest rules, visit www.rememberforalzheimers.com. The New York Lottery recently announced the names of area players who
claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings Jan. 1-7. Nfri Deveraj of Richmond Hill won $10,000 on the Win 4 drawing Dec. 30. Deveraj’s winning ticket was purchased at the Md And M Lottery, 114-07 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica. Ralph Mastruzzo of Jamaica Estates won $10,000 on the Powerball drawing Oct. 22. Mastruzzo’s winning ticket was purchased at the MCM Farm Deli Grocery, 179-02 Union Tpke., Fresh Meadows. Eugene Englese of Bayside won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Dec. 13. Englese’s winning ticket was purchased at the Nor-Cross Service Station, 17-55 Francis Lewis Blvd., Whitestone. Celine Pelerin of Jamaica won $29,207 on the Take Five drawing Dec. 24. Pelerin’s winning ticket was purchased at the Palak Mini Market, 85-45 164th St., Jamaica. Yong Ouyang of Maspeth won $10,000 on the Powerball drawing Dec. 28. Ouyang’s winning ticket was purchased at the Ming Xing Gift Shop, 46-17 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. Ricardo Serrano of Ridgewood won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Jan. 3. Serrano’s winning ticket was purchased at the 1115 Pennsylvania Meat Corp in Brooklyn. Hsin Yang of Bayside won $10,300 on the Powerball drawing Oct. 29. Yang’s winning ticket was purchased at
the Yogi 19, 61-19 Springfield Blvd., Bayside. John Munnelly of Flushing won $25,000 on the Win 4 drawing Dec. 22. Munnelly’s winning ticket was purchased at the Pramukh 71, 107-36 71st Ave., Forest Hills. Da Ruan of South Richmond Hill won $67,193 on the Take Five drawing Jan. 2. Ruan’s winning ticket was purchased at the Mickey G rocer y, 113-07 Liberty Ave., South Richmond Hill. Jamar Roberson of Jamaica won $250,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Jan. 3. Roberson’s winning ticket was purchased at the F&B Deli Mini Mart, 138-02 Farmer’s Blvd., Jamaica. Christopher Syntilas of Astoria won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Dec. 20. Syntilas’s winning ticket was purchased at the Astoria Convenience at 22-55 31st St., Astoria. Lillian Barron of Jackson Heights won $80,409 on the Take Five drawing Oct. 4. Barron’s winning ticket was purchased at the Bayside Ems Pharmacy, 40-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside. Local students were named to Kent School’s Honor Roll for the fall 2011 semester. Kent is a co-ed college prep school in Kent, Conn. Lucas Bejarano is a 6th form student from Ozone Park. Oussama is a 3rd form student from Astoria.
Anira Figueira is a 6th form student from St. Albans. Claudy Nesly Gay of Cambria Heights recently graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. Students recognized include: Francisco Alvarez of Astoria, Audra Clyburn of South Ozone Park, Tania Gonzalez of Woodside, Grace Kazlusky of Glendale, James Kazlusky of Glendale, Iajhiah Lucas of Jamaica, Eliot Pacheco of Ozone Park, Michelle Peralta of Ozone Park, Annamaria Primiani of East Elmhurst, Louis Rizzo of Whitestone, Ariel Schiffer of Bayside and Joseph Totino of Whitestone.
Tell The PRESS Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, engagements and honors to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd. Whittestone, NY 111357 All announcements will be considered for publication without fee.
A&E
Laughing Devil Brings Comedy To LIC BY JASON PAFUNDI Steve Hofstetter is a funny guy. But considering he makes his living as a comedian, it’s not a surprise. What may surprise some, though, is that Hofstetter and some partners have opened a comedy club in Long Island City, the first full-time comedy location in Queens in nearly 20 years. The Laughing Devil, located at 47-38 Vernon Blvd., hosted its first show on Dec. 16 and has been playing regularly to packed audiences on weekends and aboveaverage crowds during the week. “We are past our initial projections three fold already,” he said. “Our weekends have been packed and our weekdays have been good. People are really having a good time.” Hofstetter chose LIC for the club for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that he lives on the same block. “My wife was joking with me that if we moved even a block away that I would be annoyed having to walk to work everyday,” Hofstetter said. He and his partners also recognized the growth LIC has shown over the last few years, and they saw the opportunity to thrive, especially since Queens has been
devoid of a full-time comedy establishment for the last two decades. In addition, there are already over a dozen comedy clubs in Manhattan. “The growth has been unprecedented. It’s amazing that there are like 25,000 people in a quarter of a square mile, and there just aren’t enough entertainment options,” he said. “So from a selfish standpoint and a business standpoint, it made sense.” Hofstetter said there are things the Laughing Devil does not do that make it different from the majority of the clubs in Manhattan. And while Hofstetter said that they cannot compare to the Comedy Cellar – the famous club off MacDougal Street in the East Village known for their high volume of celebrities – he said that the Laughing Devil has a lineup that can compete with the other clubs in the City. “I can’t say that our lineup is as good as the Cellar’s, but I can say that our lineup is as good, if not better, than the majority of the other clubs in New York,” he said. Hofstetter and his partners operate three other comedy clubs – the Laughing Skull and Funny Farm in Atlanta and Morty’s Comedy Joint in Indianapolis –
Restaurant Review
Like Eating In Mexico VEYTA’S BAKERY CAFÉ 35-58 97th St., Corona (718) 898-0058 CUISINE: Mexican HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. DELIVERY: Yes CREDIT CARDS: No
borhood. Still, some LIC residents expressed concern, including one woman that was afraid the location would become a dance club before long. “I couldn’t help myself from laughing,” he said. “I looked and asked if they had ever seen a 760-square-foot dance club.” Without endless amounts of money to spend on advertising, Hofstetter said that the club has focused on social media, including a Facebook page and Twitter account. But the biggest advertisement of all is word of mouth. “I’ve been there with some co-workers and we had a great time,” said Woodside resident Mark Pachenko. “We’ve told our friends, and they’ve told their friends. If you spread the word, a place like this will really take off.” As the club continues to sell tickets and becomes more well-known around the City, Hofstetter hopes to keep attracting bigger names to the lineup. Upcoming shows feature Kyle Grooms, who had his own Comedy Central special, and Rich Vos, who starred on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. The Laughing Devil has shows every night at 8 p.m. and also hosts a 10:30 p.m. show on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit laughingdevil.com or call (347) 91DEVIL. Reach Reporter Jason Pafundi at jpafundi@queenstribune.com or call (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Flushing Native Looks To Go Far With Band BY DOMENICK RAFTER Flushing-native Christian Peppas grew up listening to a wide range of electronic rock and new wave artists. Now his bandThe Amatory Murder- is using their influence for their style of synth rock and they are finding an interesting fan base both in New York and far from here. The Amatory Murder is out with a new album called “A Different Frequency” and will be touring New England in January and the Midwest in February in support of it. Peppas said the album has a themecommunication between people. “It kind of a concept album,” Peppas said “It’s a rock album, but it tries to play on the communication thing. Things get so warped between people. Things are never clear.” Peppas, who attended PS 32 and IS 25 in Auburndale and later went to LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, lists as his musical influences bands like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Marilyn Manson and Placebo and those influences can be heard in The Amatory Murder’s eclectic aura and futuristic sound. Like 80s New Wave all grown up and blended with some of the 1990s most popular genres: metal, techno and industrial. The Amatory Murder got its starts playing in such venues as Brian Dempsy’s on Bell Boulevard. Peppas said their sound comes from
the trouble they’ve had finding a drummer, leading them to use electronic music. “We started experimenting with other ways of creating music,” he explained. “It morphed into our sound.” His band has avoided labeling their music, Peppas said, but has found a rather loyal fan base in the goth community and The Amatory Murder’s music has received airplay across the pond in Europe. The video for the title track for “A Different Frequency” is done in Claymation and was shown at a music festival in Poland. A visual artist himself, Peppas said he is more than just the band’s frontman. “Creative direction both visually and musically, I kind of take the reins on that,” he explained, noting his experience as a visual artist- for which he attended LaGuardia- hoped him design the band’s cover art and logos. The Amatory Murder is also releasing a remix album called ‘Nobody’s Listening: A Different Frequency Remixed/B-Sides’ in the spring. It is a compilation of some of the band’s songs re-interpreted by other DJs and artists, as well as a few alternative versions and unreleased material. They can be found online at theamator ymurder.com or Facebook.com/theamatorymrdr. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400 Ext. 125.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13
Growing up with a mother from Mexico, some of my favorite dishes growing up came from south of the border. As such, I’ve always been a little picky about going to eat at Mexican restaurants. More often than not, the food was not up to the standard set by my mother. On a whim I decided to stop in to Veyta’s, a corner café in Corona, one weekend when I was craving Mexican food. After just one taste, it quickly became one of my favorite places to go when I didn’t feel like cooking. If you’re looking for an elaborate façade, Veyta’s may not be the place for you. While some Mexican-themed decorations hang on the walls, the restaurant is somewhat plain compared to some other more f lamboyant Mexican restaurants that look to hit you over the head with the fact that they are Mexican restaurants. But the ordinary appearance actually helps with the authenticity. The décor doesn’t distract from the food, which is the main draw. About midway through the first meal I had there with my parents, they both agreed that eating at Veyta’s was the closest thing to eating in Mexico they’ve experienced in the United States.
The best part of the experience of eating at Veyta’s is the authenticity. The first time my parents visited me in Queens, I took them to the café. They both raved about how it felt like they were eating in a restaurant in Mexico. Whenever they come through the borough now, I can count on walking across the street for a great Mexican meal. Easily my favorite dish on the menu is the chilequiles – a plate of corn chips cooked in either a green or red salsa. Diners can choose to add two fried eggs, beef and chicken to the serving for an even more filling meal. I’ll admit to ordering the chilequiles on more than one occasion. Every time I’ve ordered the dish, though, the plate has had a different presentation. Not once, however, did it ever disappoint. While I rarely stray from the chilequiles verdes con huevos y carne, the menu is filled with traditional Mexican fare that has delighted every time I’ve gone with guests. If you have room after your meal, look to the wall by the door. The wide selection of traditional Mexican pastries – combined with the desserts behind the counter – will satisfy any sweet tooth (Veyta’s is, after all, a bakery as well). My favorite treat to bring home is the orejas, a flaky, sweetened pastry made to look like ears. If you’re looking for an authentic Mexican experience, you can’t do much better. —Steven J. Ferrari
and the name for the LIC club was a tie-in to Laughing Skull in Atlanta. “Anybody that would get offended by our name isn’t the type of person that comes to a comedy club anyway,” he said. “I asked someone who questioned the name if they ate deviled eggs. They had no response.” One of the things Hofstetter points to as being a big key to the club’s success is that he himself is a comic, and throughout his career, he has established relationships with comedians across the country, making it easier to bring in top talent. “These are the guys that I work with, and it’s a lot easier to get these guys to come by the club,” he said. “We are a really cool place to hang out, and every comic that has come here so far has said that they like the place.” He started looking at locations in September and spent the entire month plus half of October, and he said that everyplace they found had something wrong with it. “We would literally just walk up and down looking for any available space,” he said. “At the last minute, right before we were going to give up, this clothing store went out of business, the owner left in the middle of the night, and the next day there was a ‘for rent’ sign. We signed the lease two weeks later.” The community has overwhelmingly embraced the club, and Hofstetter said that people knock on the door and say that they are glad the club is in the neigh-
Faith
Community Staple Salutes 350 Years in Manhattan will be the guest preacher at the event. "It's an opportunity for us to In 1662, a group of Dutch settlers built reflect on the journey that we've come on to be able to rejoice about so a 40 square foot church on many good things that have what is now Jamaica Avenue. happened," O'Connor said. At the time, they did not know In addition to building a contheir house of worship would gregation, the First Presbyterian become one of the oldest PresChurch also housed many acbyterian churches in the countivities for the community on its try, or that Donald Trump campus. One of the church's would be confirmed at the buildings served as a movie thechurch. They just wanted a ater, while other buildings had place to worship. playhouses, bowling alleys or "They believed this is where gyms. All of these amenities they were called to do minisPastor Patrick transformed the church from try," said current Pastor Patrick O’Connor solely being a place where O'Connor. He attributes the continued success of the First Presbyte- people can come to praise the Lord to a rian Church in Jamaica to the fact that place people could go to feel a sense of the church has always been an open door. community. "We've always seen ourselves The church, located at 89-60 164th as being here to serve the community," St., is celebrating its 350th anniversary O'Connor said. The family-like qualities of the First Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Scott Johnson of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church may be responsible for the birth of several staples in the neighborhood. According to O'Connor, the Jamaica YMCA, Jamaica Hospital Center and J-SPOA all got their start inside the First Presbyterian Church. The church also contributed money for the founding of Princeton University. "The church has not just lived for itself but has reached out beyond," he said. O'Connor has been the church's pastor since August 1992 and said it has been a life-changing experience. He cites the upcoming Tree of Life Outreach Center — Voltaire as one of the church's accomplishments BY VERONICA LEWIN
Photos by Clifford Mason
Word
If God did not exist it would be necessary for us to invent Him.
since he began leading the congregation. The church acquired land next door to build the family resource center, which O'Connor called a blessing. "We think that God just somehow made it possible," he said. The Tree of Life will seek to help those who are just starting out or ready to change their lives. The Tree of Life encourages people to take the next The First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica is often packed for steps, with its focus on Sunday service. helping youth, immigrants and those in recovery. The out- quite amazing," she said. Sawh also taught reach center will open later this year. Sunday School at the church and later Ishmael Carter has been a member of became the school superintendent. She the First Presbyterian Church for nearly said O'Connor saw potential in her that 20 years. He was not a Presbyterian at the she did not recognize in herself. "The time, but fell in love with the congrega- church has become my family. The church tion and decided to join. has allowed me to grow in so many ways," "It was a dynamic church in the area Sawh said. when I was looking for a church home," O'Connor is hopeful for the longevity he said. of the church and will create a 5-year plan He went on to teach Sunday School to keep expanding the church's outreach. for 10 years and has been a part of several Sunday's event is the first of six throughof the church's ministries. Carter said he out the year to commemorate the church's has noticed the changes at the church milestone. The community is invited to since he joined and attributes O'Connor's celebrate with the congregation. For more "radical outreach" to the church's rapid information about the 350th anniversary growth. celebration, visit firstchurchjamaica.org. Dora Sawh became a member in 1990 Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at and said she is grateful the church opened vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, up the doors for her to serve. "It's just Ext. 123.
Notebook Martin Van Buren
School's Brightest Learn To Lead Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
BY VERONICA LEWIN An honors program at a Queens Village School is preparing young adults for successful futures. The Scholars Institute at Martin Van Buren High School is a program designed to prepare students for higher education. The scholars are held to rigorous standards, with each student required to maintain a 90 percent average in all of their classes. If a student falls below an 80 percent in any of their classes, it is considered unacceptable. Students must also have excellent attendance, a requirement that helps students maintain academic success. Often, students who are in the Scholar's Institute have completed their Regents diploma course requirements by the end of junior year. Many of the students choose to take Advance Placement and College Now courses during their senior year to better prepare them for the first year of college. Vice President Jaya Hariprasad said stu-
dents involved in the program are very committed and spread their enthusiasm beyond the classroom into the community. Each of the 90 scholars are required to serve at least nine hours of community service each marking period. Students can participate by helping teachers grade assignments or tutoring peers who need help. On holidays such as World AIDS Day, scholars will present lectures about the issue in hopes to increase awareness among the student body. This past year, the Scholar's Institute raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society. Hariprasad attributed the program's success to the work of Scholars Institute Advisor Shane Sweeting. She said Sweeting prepares her and the other students to be successful after graduating by highlighting their strengths, in hopes to become the leaders of tomorrow. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
The 2011-2012 Scholars Institute at Martin Van Buren High School.
Queens Today SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL
Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14 Road, Whitestone NY 11357. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina. IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
PARENTS S TORY T I M E Thursday, January 19 family story time at 4 at the Auburndale library. INTERNET SAFETY Thursday, January 26 Internet Safet y for Parents at the Cambria Heights library at 6.
SINGLES SIMCHA SINGLES Friday, January 20 Simcha Singles for those 30s-60+ at the Little Neck Jewish Center, 49-10 Little Neck Parkway at 8. Friday Night services followed by discussion. Refreshments. 516-4871466. SINGLES Wednesday, January 11 “Creating Excitement in 2012.” Wednesday, January 25 “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.” Wednesday, February 8 “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” Wednesday, February 22 “Is There Such A Thing As Perfect Love?” Wednesday, March 14 New member open house and “Make New Frie4nds & Keep The Old.” Wednesday Night Singles Group of the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck. 7-9. $7 Adult Center members, $9 others. Hot beverages and bagels. 225-6750, ext. 236.
FLEA MARKETS
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST REHEARSALS Mondays, January 16, 23 Oratorio Society of Queens will start rehearsing at 7 at Temple Beth Sholom in Flushing. 279-3006 if interested in becoming a member. Reservations required.
M.L. KING TRIBUTE Saturday, January 14 tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King starting at 11:30 at the Central library. CHESS CLUB Every Saturday at the Flushing library at 2. OPEN MIC Sunday, January 15 at the Central library at 2. LAPTOP USE Weekdays at 3 at the Laurelton library. HOMEWORK HELP Weekdays at the LIC library at 3. TEEN STUDY Mondays through Thursdays at the Lefrak Cit y library at 4. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4. TEEN CHESS Mondays at 6 at the Bayside library. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, Januar y 17 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. JEOPARDY Tuesday, Januar y 17 Teen Jeopardy Challenge at the Flushing library at 4. COMIC BOOKS Tuesday, Januar y 17 writing and creating comic books at the Seaside library at 4. PRACTICE SAT Tuesday, Januar y 17 SAT Practice Test with Kaplan at the Seaside library at 4. HOMEWORK & GAMES Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays homework help and teen gaming at the Fresh Meadows library at 4. LIC CHESS CLUB Tuesdays at the LIC library at 4. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays at the Windsor Park library at 4. CROCHET & KNIT Wednesday, January 18 at the Far Rockaway library at 2:30. WORK WITH ANIMALS Wednesday, January 18 at 3:30 at the Steinway library. Thursday, January 19 at the Astoria library at 3:30. Alley Pond Environmental Center show you how you can work with animals. MOVIE MAKERS Wednesday, January 18 Movie Makers Club shows you how to create your own mini-movies at 4 at the Flushing librar y. TEEN ZUMBA Wednesday, January 18 at the St. Albans library. Register. RESUME WRITING Wednesday resume writing for young adults at 4 at the Arverne librar y. GAME DAY Wednesdays at the Howard Beach library at 4. GAME DAY Wednesdays at the St. Albans library at 4. CHESS Wednesdays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library. KNIT & CROCHET Wednesdays at the South Ozone Park library at 1. KNITTING CLUB Wednesdays at the Bayside library. Register. INTERNET SAFETY
Thursday, January 19 internet safet y at t he C a m b r i a H e i g h t s l i b r a r y. Register. COLLEGE CHOICE Thursday, January 19 Accepted: Getting Into Your First Choice School at the Briarwood library at 3:30. CHINESE NEW YEAR Thursday, January 19 stories and crafts at 5 at the Hillcrest library. ANIME CLUB Thursday, January 19 Flushing Anime Club at 4 at the Flushing library. DRAMA POSSE Thursday, January 19 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. TEEN THURSDAYS Thursdays at the Bay Terrace library at 3. CHESS CLUB Thursdays 4-5:30 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library. CHESS CLUB Thursdays at the East Flushing library at 5. CHESS & CHECKERS Friday, January 20 chess and checkers club at 3:30 at the Astoria library. HAPPY HOUR F r i d ay, J a n u a r y 2 0 Te e n Happy Hour at the Flushing library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays crafts at the Briarwood library at 4. YOUNG REFORMERS Fridays, January 20, 27 Young Reformers Group at the Laurelton library. Register. MANGA BOOK TALK Friday, January 20 learn about Japan and Japanese culture in the Manga series Rurouni Kenshin at the Broadway library at 4. ORIGAMI CLUB Friday, January 20 at the McGoldrick library at 4. GREEN COMIC BOOK Friday, January 20 make a green comic at the Woodside library at 3:30. BOOK BUDDIES Friday, January 20 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4. CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Auburndale library at 3:30. CHESS TUTORIAL Fridays at the Woodside library at 4. GAME DAY Fridays at the Woodhaven library at 4:30. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Every Friday at 4 at the Hillcrest library. TEEN FRIDAYS Fridays at the Seaside library at 4. BOY SCOUT TROOP 1 Every Friday Men 12-17 who are interested in fun, friendship and adventure are invited to join Boy S c o u t Tr o o p 1 F l u s h i n g / Bayside 8-10 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 36-01 Bell Blvd. SCI FI MOVIES Saturday, January 21 sci fi movie marathon for teens at the Flushing library starting at 10:15. PRACTICE SAT Saturday, January 21 Practice Test for SAT at the Ridgewood library at 10:30.
QUEENS LIBRARIES Many branches of the Queensborough Library offer toddler and pre-school programs. Contact your local branch for dates. APEC PROGRAMS January, February and March Alley Pond Environmental Center will hold Toddler time Nature Programs, Sunny Bunnies and Fledglings (for those 3-4). 2294000. DR. KING Saturday, January 14 tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. starting at 11:30 at the Central library. S TORY T I M E Saturday, January 14 Picture Book Story time for 5-8 year olds at 1:30 at the Broadway library. PENGUIN PARTY Saturday, January 14 for those 3-5 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 2294000. ANIMAL CARE Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 29 for those 8-12 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 2294000. S TORY TIMES Saturdays at 11 and Tuesdays at 10:30 weekly story times at Barnes & Noble, 1766 0 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , F re s h Meadows. DR. KING Monday, January 16 tribute to Dr. King at the Baisley Park library at 4:30. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, Januar y 17 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, Januar y 17 at the Windsor Park library at 4. BOOST WORD Tu e s d a y, January 17 BOOST Word of the Week at the McGoldrick library at 5. ARTS & CRAFTS Tuesdays, January 17, 24, 31 for those 5-12 at the Auburndale library at 4. CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY Tuesday, Januar y 17 Chinese calligraphy workshop at the Sunnyside library at 4. BOOST WORD PROJECT Tu e s d a y, January 17 B O O S T C o m m u n i t y Word Project at 4:30 at the Central library. STORY HOUR Wednesday, January 18 story hour at 10:30 at the Baisley Park library. FAMILY COLORING Wednesday, January 18 family coloring and story time at 10:30 at the Bay Terrace library. HAPPY HAPPY STORY Wednesday, January 18 story time at the LIC library at 10:30. LIBRARY BUDDIES Wednesday, January 18 at the Auburndale library at 4. BOOST HEALTH Wednesday, January 18 BOOST health and science at 5 at the McGoldrick library. S TORY T I M E Wednesdays, January 18, 25 for 18 months-3 years at the East Flushing library at 11:30. STORY TIME
Wednesday, January 18 at the Hollis library at 10:30. MORNING STORY TIME Wednesday, January 18 at the Kew Gardens Hills library at 10:30 and 11:15. CHINESE NEW YEAR Wednesday, January 18 at the Fresh Meadows library at 3:30 for those in grades K-6 and at 4 at the Central library for those 6-12. STICK PEOPLE Wednesday, January 18 multicultural stick people at the East Flushing library. Register. BOOST READING Thursday, January 19 BOOST Reading Buddies at 5 at the McGoldrick lib ra r y. STORY TIME Thursday, January 19 at the Kew Gardens Hills library for those 3-5 at 2:30. DESIGN DAY Thursday, January 19 build, write, draw, paint and more at the Central library at 4. For those in K-3. WIMPY KID Thursday, January 19 games and activities about “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” at 4 at the Seaside library. CHINESE NEW YEAR Thursday, January 19 celebrate Lunar New Year with music and folktales at the Hillcrest library at 5. LITTLE KIDS CRAFTS Thursday, January 19 at the Howard Beach library at 3:30. For those 4-12. FAMILY STORY TIME Thursdays, January 19, 26
at the Auburndale library at 4. COLOR & CRAFT Friday, January 20 Kids Coloring and Craft at 11 at the Queensboro Hill library. CHESS & CHECKERS Friday, January 20 at the Astoria library at 3:30. ACTIVITY TIME Friday, January 20 at the Briarwood library at 3:30. LIBRARY BUDDIES Friday, January 20 at the Auburndale library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Friday, January 20 at the East Flushing library. Register. BOOK BUDDIES Friday, January 20 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4. GIRL SCOUTS Friday, January 20 at the Central library at 4:30. STORY TIME Friday, January 20 stories, crafts and playtime at the Hollis library at 10:30. STORY TIME Friday, January 20 s t o r y time at 11:30 at the Queensboro Hill library. PRE-SCHOOL CRAFTS Friday, January 20 at the S u n n y s i d e l i b r a r y. R e g i s ter. CHINESE NEW YEAR Friday, January 20 at the Bay Terrace library at 3 and at the McGoldrick library at 5. ORIGAMI Friday, January 20 at the McGoldrick library at 4. FAMILY STORY TIME Saturday, January 21 at the Flushing library at 11.
SENIORS STAY WELL Mondays at the Central library at 10. Learn how special exercise and relaxation techniques make a difference in your life. SNAP BELL PARFK Tuesday, January 17 11 am Obesit y and healthy alternatives. Tuesday, Januar y 24 11 am Medicare eligibilit y and coverage. SNAP Bell Park Senior Center, 227-02A Hillside Avenue, Queens Village. CAREGIVERS Ever y Tuesday Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. CHAIR EXERCISE Tuesdays low impact chair exercise at 11 at the Flushing-Fresh Meadows Jewish Center. $5. 357-5100. STARS Wednesday, January 18 Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets at 10:30 at the Hollis library. KEW GARDENS Wednesday, January 18 special dance class at 11, ballroom dance at noon. Monday, January 23 Men Only workshop at 10. Wednesday, January 25 Line Dancing Class at noon. Mondays Falun Gong (to purif y mind and body) at noon, comedy writing 2:303:30. Wednesdays Spanish conversation at 10 and Building muscle and strength at
1 1 . F r i d a y s Ta i C h i / C h i Kung classes at 10 and Drawing/Painting at 1 (no experience needed). Kew Gardens Communit y Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, suite 202. COMPUTER BASICS Wednesday, January 18 computer basics for older adults at the Central library. 990-0769. HOWARD BEACH Wednesdays mah jongg at 10 and Zumba Gold 1:302 : 3 0 . 1 5 6 - 4 5 8 4 th S t r e e t . 738-8100. STAY WELL Wednesdays at 10:15 at the East Elmhurst library for exercise and other health related programs. WOMANSPACE Wednesdays Womanspace, a discussion group devoted to issues concerning women, meets 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue. New members welcome. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Thursday, January 19 AARP Driver Safet y Program at the Auburndale library. 641-3911 to register. STARS Fridays, January 20, 27 Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets at 10:30 at the Queens Village library. FREE LUNCH Saturdays, January 21, February 18, March 17 All Saints Church in Richmond Hill. 849-2352 reservations.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15
VENDOR MARKET Saturday, January 14 9-5 Tr i n i t y U n i t e d M e t h o d i st Church, 86-02 108 th Street, Richmond Hill. WINTER TREASURE Saturday, January 21 9:302:30 and Sunday, January 22 11:30-3:30 Winter Treasure Sale, Bake & Book Sale at Church of the Resurrection, 85-09 118 th Street, Richmond Hill.
YOUTH
TEENS
Queens Today MEETINGS CAMBRIA HTS LIBRARY Saturday, January 14 Friends Board of Directors of Queens Library at Cambria Heights meet 4-5:15. P-FLAG Sundays, January 15, February 19, March 18 P-FLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663. REPUBLICAN CLUB
HEALTH
ENTERTAINMENT
EDUCATION/
KILLING KOMPANY Friday, February 3 “Murder by Marriage” at Riccardo’s in Astoria. The Killing Company performs mystery dinner shows. 1-888-SHOOTEM for information.
Tuesday, Januar y 17 Rego Hills Republican Club meets at 7:30 at the Sizzler at 10027 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills. AMERICAN LEGION Tuesdays, Januar y 17, February 21, March 20 American Legion 131 meets at 8 at 10-20 Clintonville Street, Whitestone. 767-4323. AUBURNDALE CIVIC Tuesdays, Januar y 17, February 21, March 20 Auburndale residents meet at St. Kevin’s, 45-21 194 th Street at 7:30. BEREAVEMENT Wednesdays, January 17, February 21, March 20 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows at 7:30. 969-2448. TALK OF THE TOWN Tuesdays, Januar y 17, February 7, 21, March 6, 20 learn the art of public speaking at 7:15 in St. Albans. 6407092. MEN’S CLUB SOCCER Tuesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center 89:30. 263-7000. FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets. 917-612-3463. FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesdays, January 18, February 1, 15, 29 Flushing Camera Club at Flushing Hospital. 479-0643.
FITNESS PARTY Saturday, January 14 fitness part y 7:30-9:30 at the Central Queens YM-YWHA. Workouts, strategies and tips. $5 advance, $8 at the door. Reservations 2685011. NUTRITIONAL SUPPLE. Wednesday, January 18 Understanding Today’s Nutritional Supplements at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 11. NAMI Wednesday, January 18 National Association for Mental Illness meets at 7:30 in the Sloman Auditorium of Zucker Hillside Hospital, 2 6 6 th S t r e e t a n d 7 6 th A v enue, Glen Oaks. Support group for families meet at 6. ZUMBA Wednesdays the Sisterhood of Bay Terrace Jewish Cent e r , 1 3 - 0 0 2 0 9 th S t r e e t , Bayside, will hold Zumba Fitness classes from 7:30-8:30. $8 members, $10 others. 428-6363. YOGA Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 6701695. $10 class. WINTER BLUES Thursday, January 19 learn more about seasonal mood changes and what to do to offset the symptoms at the LIC library at 2.
JACKSON HTS 3AM January 13 through January 22 “Jackson Heights 3AM” world premiere involving car dispatchers, drag queens, emergency room staffers, gamblers and insomniacs. Free at PS69, 77-02 37 th Avenue, Jackson Heights at 7 and 8. ADVANCE MAN January 12 through January 29 part 1 of Mac Roger’s sci-fi epic “The Honeycomb Trilogy” at 3 and 8. $15 students and seniors, $18 general admission. Sec r e t T h e a t r e , 4 4 - 0 2 2 3 rd Street, LIC. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Saturday, January 14 Con Brio Ensemble performs virtuoso masterpieces for violin, oboe and piano at 2 at the Flushing library. ASTRONOMY Saturday, January 14 An Evening with the Stars at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000 to register. KING TRIBUTE Saturday, January 14 tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. starting at 11:30 at the Central library. STEAM OF LIFE Saturday, January 14 “Steam of Life” film at the Steinway library at 1. WORLD OF MUSIC Saturday, January 14 at the
Ridgewood library at 2. CLIFFORD OWENS Saturday, January 14 Clifford Owens: Anthology Performance. Live with selected scores – written or graphical instructions for actions – of African-American art. MoMA at PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, LIC at 3. Suggested donation. CONSTITUTION Saturday, January 14 Documents in American History presents the American Constitutional Government and its future at 1 at the Greater Astoria Historic a l S o c i e t y, 3 5 - 2 0 B ro a d w a y , 4 th f l o o r , L I C . 2 7 8 0700. Free. RECEPTION Sunday, January 15 Bayside Historical Societ y’s opening reception for “Celebration of the Arts,” a mixed-media art exhibition and concert. 2. $5 suggested donation. 352-1548. WINGS OF SONG Sunday, January 15 St. Luke’s Episcopal Church presents Music for a Winter Afternoon at 3 at the church at 85 Greenway South, Forest Hills. $12 suggested donation. 268-7772. LIVE JAZZ & R&B Sundays, January 15, 22, 29 live jazz and r&b 6-10 at Déjà vu, 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans.
SMARTPHONES Saturday, January 14 i n formative session on e-readers, smart phones and other devices at 2 at the LIC librar y. POETRY WRITING Tuesday, January 17 poetry writing workshop at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows at 7:30. INTRO INTERNET Tuesday, Januar y 17 at the McGoldrick library. Register. INTRO MICROSOFT Tuesday, Januar y 17 at the Maspeth library at 1. ACING THE INTERVIEW Tuesday, January 17 LIC library at 1:30. COMPUTER ESSENTIALS Tu e s d ay, We d n e s d ay a n d Thursday, January 17, 18, 19 at the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck. $75. 225-6750, ext. 236. INTRO E-MAIL Wednesday, January 18 Central library. 990-0769. INTRO INTERNET Wednesday, January 18 Windsor Park library. Register. KNIT & CROCHET Wednesday, January 18 So. Ozone Park library at 1. COVER LETTERS Wednesday, January 18 Microsoft Word for Cover Letters at the Central library. 990-5102 to register.
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Heating Oil
Junk Cars
Junk Cars
Autos Wanted
Autos Wanted
DINNER ST. NICHOLAS Sunday, January 15 St. Josaphat’s in Bayside will hold a St. Nicholas Dinner Dance from 2-6. 746-5138. $35. Reservations. DEMOCRATIC CLUB Saturday, January 21 the Ridgewood Democratic Club will hold their annual membership brunch. $20 renewal dues include brunch. 229-4201.
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Apprentice President Good As Gold Celebrity He may not be running for President - at least for now- but Jamaica
Models Of Queens
Sara Gold Glen Oaks Age:33 Height 5’6" Weight 117 Stats 34-26-34
Sara is a natural! This model of Queens sports naturallyhighlighted strawberry blond hair, beautiful curves and a tiny waist. She is a standout at any event. Although she is often perceived as shy by strangers, her friends and family already know she is the most naturally beautiful girl in the world. Sara’s modeling resume includes shoots for hair care giant Nexus. She has also appeared at various car shows. Although she grew up in Levittown (and graduated Levittown High School),Sara has lived in Queens the past 10 years and attended Queensboro Community College. She is very interested in health as she has also attended medical assistant school (although she does not work in that field). When she is not out looking for modeling work, Sara enjoys shopping at Queens Center Mall. She also enjoys hanging out with friends and enjoying the Cajun cuisine at Bourbon Street on Bell Blvd. Sara also enjoys ice skating at Flushing Meadow Park.
native Donald Trump is not disappearing from the lime light. The Queens native is back with his reality show, “The Celebrity Apprentice,” with a cast that sounds like Wikipedia’s list of “Famous Italian-Americans” Among those on this season; Adam Carolla, Lou Ferrigno, Penn Jillette, Michael Andretti, Paul Teutul, Lisa Lampanelli, and Real Housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice. Howard Beach’s own Victoria Gotti will be on the show. Whether or not she will have enough “backup” to keep herself from getting fired remains to be seen. The new season premiers Feb. 12, so expect the publicity hound He's baaack! from Queens to hint at a presidential run in late January and then announce he’s not running for President around Feb. 4.
No-Show Leads To Kidnapping
"Game On" To Take Off
Kevin James, The King of Queens, has a new Red Box crown.
Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 13-19, 2012
Long Live The King The former “King of Queens” is now the king of Redbox. For its inaugural lifetime achievement award, the DVD rental service honored comedian Kevin James, who starred as Doug Heffernan in the TV show based in Rego Park from 1998-2007. In honoring James, Redbox noted the popularity of many of his movies with the service’s customers, including Grown Ups and Paul Blart Mall Cop – the fastest movie in Redbox history to reach 1 million rentals. Here at QConf, we won’t question the choice to honor James. But we may question the 1 million Redbox customers who rented Paul Blart. The mall wasn’t even in Queens.
Nas is at the center of an international incident. Rapper Nas, a native of the by goons working for a local “conQueensbridge housing develop- cert impresario” named Henrique ment in Long Island City, found Miguel. himself in a pickle to start 2012, Sources close to Nas told TMZ though it was a concert promoter that he wants to help and said the who was in the biggest jam of all — whole thing was a “miscommunikidnapped and held for ransom in cation.” Angola. Tell that to Allocco, who while Nas was booked by AllGood he was being held captive by hired Entertainment CEO Patrick thugs, Nas had taken his talents to Allocco to perform on New Year’s South Beach to ring in the New Eve in Angola, a country on the Year with LeBron James, Dwayne southwest coast of Africa. Wade and company. Nas was paid an advance of $315,000, but never got on his flight. According to a representative from AllGood Entertainment, Former Queens Tribune reMike Hope, host of “Game On” which begins this week in Elmhurst's Play. Allocco and his son were snatched porter and now NY Times scribe, Richard Sandomir wrote recently Confidentially, New York . . . Have you ever wanted to be on in the Times that even though the a game show but haven’t heard Mets are going through dark times, back from “Who Wants To Be A Mr. Met is as lovable as ever. Millionaire” yet? Sandomir quotes Dave Raymond, Starting this week, you have a the first Phillie Phanatic, “As a chance to compete in front of a performer, as I was, you’re a reflecmuch smaller audience: your drinktion of your fan base. Fans love ing buddies. For the next nine Mr. Met because he’s very proTuesdays at 9:30 p.m. aspiring tective of them. Even when he’s contestants can play “Game On” used to poke fun at the Mets, you at Play in East Elmhurst (77-17 smile.” Queens Blvd). The Mets, it turns out, are tightThe game starts with a general lipped about who plays Mr. Met or knowledge question being posed how large his head exactly is. A to the audience, and whoever texts spokesman for Mr. Met declined the correct answer first gets to to tell Sandomir anything other come on stage and answer more than to say, “Mr. Met never questions for prizes. speaks.” Winners can walk home with Sounds like the perfect new prizes ranging from iTunes gift owner for the Mets. He’ll speak cards to cruises. Who needs softly and carry a big head. But Meredith Vieira when you can win does he have any cash stored up a cruise without having to leave in that noggin? the borough? Better hope so.
Mr Met
What’s Up SATURDAY, JAN. 14 Walkers For Wellness Club Looking for a fun way to improve your health? Join the Walkers for Wellness Club at New Hope Lutheran Church of Jamaica. Under the guidance of a Walking Leader, you will walk two to three times each week at a comfortable pace with others along routes throughout Southeast Queens. The club is open to walkers of all ages and abilities. The walking schedule is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Walkers meet at New Hope Lutheran Church, located at 167-24 118th Ave. T-shirts and pedometers will be provided. Contact Thurkessa Brown at (917) 553-1089 for more information.
Enrichment Classes The Queens Baptist Church is offering free reading and math enrichment classes every Saturday. Stop by the church and ask for Barbara Montgomery or Linda Day to register, or call (718) 465-2504. This free event will be held at the Queens Baptist Church, 93-23 217th St., from 10 a.m. to noon.
Winter Basketball Program The Lincoln Park Basketball Association is offering a Fall/Winter Basketball Clinic for children ages 8-16 on Saturdays from Oct. 22 through Jan. 28. The $50 registration fee includes insurance, weekly training and a T-shirt. For more information, contact (347) 234-6833 or (718) 682-6938. This event will be held at the Queens Transition Center, located at 142-10 Linden Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Queens Book Fair The Blackcurrant Press Company and the Black Spectrum Theatre Company invite all students, teachers, authors, and lovers of books to the first annual Queens book fair. The book fair will feature many authors including Tonya Pinkins, author of “Get Over Yourself,” Cheryl Wills, author of “Die Free”, Cathleen Williams, author of “Single Mother, The New Father”, Beverly A. Burchett, author of “Queen Kinni”, and the Black Spectrum Theatre Company’s own Carl Clay, author of “Poorducing Theatre and Film at Black Spectrum.” For additional information, call (718) 723-1800. This free event will be held at Black Spectrum Theatre, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For children ages 6 to 14 and their families. 11:30 am: Songs and Stories of Freedom; 12:30 pm: Dear Dr. King reception; 1:30 pm: A Man and His Dream documentary. This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 11:30 a.m.
SUNDAY, JAN. 15 Poetry Open Mic Nicole Cooley will read with Tatiana Alvarado. She is from New Orleans and is now a Professor of English at Queens College where she directs the new MFA Program in creative writing and literary translation. She has published five books,
350th Anniversary Celebration The First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica invites you to worship with us as we celebrate our historic 350th Church Anniversary. As one of the oldest continually serving Presbyterian churches in the United States, this milestone will be a day of reminiscing, rejoicing, and spiritual enrichment. Refreshments will be served and the event is Free for everyone. The ceremony is the kick-off to a host of exciting 2012 events for the church and the community. For more information contact (718) 526-4775. This free event will be held at 89-60 164th St, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Life and Legacy of MLK The Afrikan Poetry Theatre and Sistahs Collective are proud to present the 7th annual Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The afternoon will feature a film clip on Dr. King; cultural performances and poets. The special guest speaker will be Dr. Umar Johnson, a nationally recognized child psychologist and motivational speaker who will discuss the significance of Dr. King’s legacy and the development of our children as the leaders of tomorrow. Refreshments will be available. There will also be a mini vendors market! This free event will be held at 176-03 Jamaica Ave. from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
children in attendance will also receive a free book to help build their personal library. This is an opportunity to promote and strengthen the partnership between parents, schools, community and encourage the importance of reading for student success. Lunch will be provided followed by a dynamic keynote speaker. Key community partners, local school administrators/teachers and local UFEI Engagement Team members will provide resources materials for all. Register by phone at (800) 307-4782 Ext. 3322 or online at ptaspeakers.wufoo.com/forms/z7p7r9/ This free event will be held at Presbyterian Church of St. Albans, 190-02 119th Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TUESDAY, JAN. 17 Walkers For Wellness Club
Councilman James Sanders presents the 3rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community or Chaos Conference. Looking to start your own organization? Are you a non-profit looking to expand your organization? Are you tired of the senseless in your community? Need advice on fundraising? Are you a faith-based organization looking to build your kingdom? Well don’t miss the Councilman James Sanders’ 3rd annual Community or Chaos Conference. Come out and learn from non-profit experts on how to build your organization and community. you must R.S.V.P. by phone, (718) 527-4356, or email drichards@council.nyc.gov. This free event will be held at 133-24 233rd St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DREAM to R.E.A.D. The Queens Community PTSA and The National PTA Urban Family Engagement Initiative (UFEI) would like to invite your organization to our Author Showcase at the 2nd Annual DREAM to R.E.A.D event. This event is designed for children, parents, grandparents and community partners to come together and celebrate the dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through fathers and literacy. The participants of the event will relish in a day of empowerment with Reading and Art. The
Social Media and Job Hunting Did you know that social media is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to find a job? Participants will learn what social media is, top social media websites, how best to use different social media sites and tools for your job search and how to use social media to build your professional network. To register, call (718) 990-5102 or visit the Job Information Center. This free event will be held at Queens Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.
See Tuesday’s listing. At 7 p.m.
Laptops For Students Laptops are available Monday through Thursday for teens and children to use from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, call (718) 528-2822. This free event will be held at the Queens Library Laurelton Branch, 134-26 225 St. from 3 to 5 p.m.
Introduction to Word In this two-session workshop, customers will learn how to save files, cut, copy and paste text, and format documents. Participants must possess basic mouse and keyboarding skills. Registration in advance is required in person at the Cyber Center Desk. For details, please call (718) 9900769. This free event will be held at Queens Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 16 Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Own Your Own Business Community or Chaos Conference
ger plays and crafts with your toddler. Recommended for ages 18 months-preschool. This free event will be held at the Queens Library Rosedale Branch, 144-20 243 St., at 10:30 a.m.
Learn how to develop your idea into a business plan. Participants will learn how to create demand for your product or service, set goals and objectives, budgeting and timelines, and identifying resources and networks. To register, call (718) 9905102. This free event will be held at Queens Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6:30 p.m.
Talk of the Town Toastmasters Have you made a Resolution to become a better leader and speaker in 2012? If so, come to Talk of the Town’s Next Meeting. Talk of the Town is an enthusiastic, fun Toastmasters Club with Members from all walks of life, who share the desire to learn how to be better leaders and communicators. If parking in the Family Life Center lot, please only use the spaces along the side of the building. There is plenty of free street parking available after 7:00 pm. All guests interested in improving speaking or leadership skills, while meeting fun friends and neighbors are welcome! This free event will be held at Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center, 172-17 Linden Blvd., at 7:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18 Picture Book Storytime Enjoy picture books, stories, songs, fin-
THURSDAY, JAN. 19 Walkers For Wellness Club See Saturday’s listing. At 7 p.m.
Laptops For Students Laptops are available Monday through Thursday for teens and children to use from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, call (718) 528-2822. This free event will be held at the Queens Library Laurelton Branch, 134-26 225 St. from 3 to 5 p.m.
Zumba Come join us for a free Zumba dance class, health screenings and referrals for care at the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center. This program is made possible through a generous grant from the New York State Health Foundation. This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 20 Outreach and Assistance Are you a young woman 17-24 years of age and need assistance in applying for housing, completing college applications, financial aid or just need assistance and don’t know where to turn? The Daughters of Isis Foundation is available for support! Contact the foundation for information or to schedule an appointment. For additional information, visit www.thedaughtersofisisfoundation.org, call Simone Williams at (347) 731-1721 or email isis.staff@gmail.com. This free event will be held on the second floor of the Young Queens Loft, 14814 Liberty Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Annual Children’s Foundation Fundraiser Come one, come all to the Laurelton School’s annual children’s foundation fundraiser. On tap for the evening will be a fashion show, silent auction, a dance party, catered food, and a live DJ. Semi formal attire is requested. All funds raised by alumni and friends will go directly to benefit the education of the children of 156. For more information, please contact Kim Esteva at (917) 306-7183 or email psma156q@earthlink.net. This free event will be held at PS 156, 229-02 137th Ave., from 7 to 11 p.m.
Jan. 13-19, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19
MLK Tribute
most recently the poetry collections Breach (Louisiana State University Press) and Milk Dress (Alice James Books). Tatiana Alvarado grew up in Astoria where she currently resides. This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.
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