Volume 13 Issue No. 10 March 9-15, 2012
PAGE 18
PRESS Photos by Domenick Rafter and Ira Cohen
SHOWDOWN?
Congressional district maps proposed by a special magistrate this week could lead to U.S. Reps. Greg Meeks and Bob Turner running against each other in the November election. By Domenick Rafter ‌ Page 8.
Online at www.QueensPress.com
News Briefs Work Continues On J/Z Subway ‘El’. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. That may be true, but it is probably also true that Rome wasn’t renovated in a day as well. For most of us, we are too young to know what it was like when many of the borough’s important structures, like highways and trains, were built. But as these structures age, we have learned what it’s like to endure their renovations. Since last summer, the neighborhoods of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill have been dealing with the painting of its rustic elevated subway line, which carries the J and Z trains over the neighborhoods’ main commercial strip, Jamaica Avenue. The line, which was built during the First World War, was in need of an overhaul. The decades-old paint chipped away at the columns and the trestle over busy Jamaica Avenue. Last year, the MTA undertook a repainting of the entire structure between the Brooklyn border and the 102nd Street Station in Richmond Hill. Some businesses in Woodhaven complained they have lost money as many parking spots along Jamaica Avenue were blocked by work equipment. Similar problems occurred along Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park when the elevated line there was worked on a few years earlier. The Woodhaven section of the project is finished, according to the MTA, except for the section immediately above the busy intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. That location, which is one of the mezzanine sections of the Woodhaven Boulevard station, will not be worked on until new deck installation is completed. The line, which continues as an elevated line through Brooklyn to the Williamsburg Bridge, once ended at Jamaica Avenue and 168th Street in Downtown Jamaica, but the “el” east of 129th Street was demolished in the 1970s and 1980s and the J and Z trains was rerouted underground to Jamaica Center.
Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
DEP Sewer System Work Last summer’s weather was dominated by rain. It didn’t come often, but when it did, it came in buckets. On Aug. 14, 2011, 8 inches of rain fell on the city. Two weeks later, Hurricane Irene dropped another 8 inches. The deluge caused flooding throughout the borough, but one of its biggest effects was on a busy stretch of roadway in Middle Village that will now get some much needed and much-awaited relief. The section of Metropolitan Avenue between Cooper Avenue and 80th Street cuts directly through the center of St. John’s Cemetery. After a long study - and the August rains - DEP added the location to its capital project and is moving forward with installing a new sewer system that they say will alleviate the flooding concerns. Work officially began on the new system on Monday. The $527,000 project, funded by the DEP, will include new 24-inch storm sewers and five new catch basins. Work is expected to be completed in June.
Mets Ordered To Pay U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff issued a fourpage ruling Monday stating that the owners of the New York Mets must pay back up to $83.3 million to Irving Picard, the trustee trying to recover funds lost in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. The judge also said that the parties will go to trial March 19 over an additional
$303 million that Picard is trying to recover. Attorneys for the Mets’ owners filed for the case to be dismissed entirely, claiming that Picard was not entitled to any more money, but the judge rejected that request, thus forcing the team’s principal owners to stand trial just 17 days before the Mets open the 2012 season April
5 against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Picard originally filed suit against the Mets’ owners claiming that they knew Madoff was breaking the law. The suit claimed the Mets received $83.3 in fictitious profits and an additional $303 million in principal in the two years before Madoff filed for bankruptcy.
Presstime
Choices Clinic Moving To Jamaica BY VERONICA LEWIN After three years of planning, one of the state’s largest women’s health clinics will open its doors in Jamaica. Choices Women’s Medical Center is expected to open at 147-32 Jamaica Ave. by March 17. The 18,000 square-foot facility will house a plethora of services, including abortions, family planning and counseling. Choices, which has been serving the community for more than 40 years, is moving its clinic from Long Island City. The center boasts a 24-hour hotline and texting service for people with questions. Founder Merle Hoffman said the clinic is moving across the borough to where the need is. “I thought it would be really, really good and necessary if I could go to Jamaica because of the, what I would consider, crisis in women’s health.” A New York Lawyers for the Public Interest study found residents in Southeast Queens are more likely than others in the borough to have adverse health
outcomes. Jamaica residents have the highest rates of HIV- related deaths and the second highest rate of homicide deaths in the borough. Southeast Queens is an area with few nearby hospitals and limited access to nonemergency care. According to the NYLPI study, 21 percent of residents in Jamaica do not have a primary care physician. Because of this, one out of 10 people head to the emergency room whenever they need medical care. Twenty percent of adults in Jamaica lack insurance and 13 percent are underinsured. By moving to Jamaica, Hoffman hopes to start what she calls a “women’s health renaissance” in Southeast Queens. Last year, the medical facility saw 40,000 visitors and performed 10,000 abortions. Choices is partnering with Jamaica Hospi-
Merle Hoffman tal Center to ensure patients have healthcare from the prenatal stage to postpartum. A former concert pianist, Hoffman first became interested in healthcare after taking an odd job as a medical assistant. When the State abortion law changed, three years before Roe v. Wade, her boss started a small practice
to perform abortions. “I thought it was romantic and pioneering and exciting, so I got involved with the project,” she said. Hoffman soon became an options counselor. “It was that really deep, intimate connection that motivated me and inspired me through all these last decades.” She said outreach is one of Choices’ main priorities. Her organization goes into schools to educate young people about the need to be responsible for their own sexual health. “It’s not just the knowledge of using the birth control, it’s having the responsibility to do it. If the diaphragm is in your car, it’s not going to work,” Hoffman said. To help patients adjust to the transition, Choices is providing a shuttle bus from their administrative office, located at 41-16
29th St., in Long Island City. The bus will operate regularly throughout the day during the first few months the Jamaica site is open. Hoffman said she has not faced direct opposition to the new Jamaica facility, but said opponents have been praying for her for years. One of her most vocal opponents has been the EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers, a pro-life center with an office in Long Island City. President Chris Slattery has long called the Big Apple the “abortion capital of America,” and frequently protests outside of abortion clinics. “In a world of logic, there would be no question about this, but we’re not living in that world,” Hoffman said. “We’re living in an environment where there are massive attacks on women’s health.” For more information about Choices, contact (718) 3499100 or text “choices” to 27126 from a mobile phone. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Peninsula Announces 200-Plus Layoffs
BY VERONICA LEWIN
2011, allowing employees to feel some sense of comfort. This past January, Peninsula reached an agreement with 1199 SEIU, the hospital’s largest employee union. The union will receive $10 million over the next three years, half of the money that was owed before the hospital declared bankruptcy in 2011. Things appeared to be moving forward, until Peninsula’s clinical lab was shut down last month. On Feb. 23, the State Dept. of Health suspended the clinical laboratory for 30 days following a failed state inspection. While the lab is closed, other services at Peninsula Hospital Center remain open. According to the hospital, patients can still access the health center, specialty clinics and dental care. The emergency room is open to walk-ins. If Peninsula is unable to provide
care, the patient will then be transferred to another hospital. According to CEO Todd Miller, Peninsula officials have been working “around the clock” to bring the lab up to snuff in less than 30 days. “All elements in the Dept. of Health’s survey of the lab are expected to be addressed by the hospital by week’s end,” Miller said in a statement. Despite Peninsula’s public struggle, hospital officials are optimistic the Far Rockaway facility will survive. According to Peninsula, the hospital anticipates no longer being bankrupt by midMay. In the meantime, hospital employees are left wondering how temporary the hospital layoffs will be. “The workers of Peninsula have been the ultimate team players during this crisis, taking on
cuts in payment and benefits in order to keep the hospital running smoothly,” Sanders said. “I expect their loyalty and dedication to be rewarded.” Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Spring Ahead
Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour this Sunday, March 11, at 2 a.m., Eastern Standard Time.
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3
In an attempt to change the hospital’s condition from “critical” to “stable,” more than 200 Peninsula Hospital Center employees will undergo short-term layoffs. Employees were notified about the upcoming layoffs on March 1. In a statement, the hospital said temporary staff cuts are being implemented as a way to save money while Peninsula is “on diversion.” Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton), who represents the area surrounding the hospital, expressed concern with Peninsula’s decision. “Let me be clear: the laying off of more than 200 workers in the midst of a sluggish economy is a crisis unto itself, and will only serve to further undermine the
growth and revitalization of both Peninsula Hospital and the Rockaway peninsula,” Sanders said in a statement. The announcement of temporary layoffs is the latest snag in what has been a suspenseful eight months for Peninsula staff. Each employee received a Warn Act notice last July, 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 Dept. of Health. Three weeks later, MediSys, which operates Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Jamaica Hospital Center, ended its affiliation with Peninsula. Revival Home Health Care saved the hospital in September
Harkless Named Big East ROY BY JASON PAFUNDI
Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
on the floor almost every night for St. John’s (13-19), and that was the case in the loss to Pitt that ended their season Tuesday afternoon. The Johnnies played well in the first half and led 26-20 before Pitt closed the half on a 132 run. In the second half, the shots stopped falling for the Red Storm, and Assistant Coach Mike Dunlap said that it had an effect on the team’s play on defense. “We had a lot of easy baskets that didn’t go in, and I think that it impacted our ability to play probably a little bit more intensely in the second half,” Dunlap said. “We let that bleed into our defense.” The Johnnies shot just 22-for66 in the game, with D’Angelo Harrison (4-for-18), guard Phil Greene (0-for-7) and God’sgift Achiuwa (1-for-10). “The story was that we had plenty of good looks, we just couldn’t finish,” Dunlap said.
Playing without head coach Steve Lavin, who plans on returning to the bench next season after completing his recovery from cancer surgery, the Red Storm had just six scholarship players for the majority of the season — five freshman (Harkless, Harrison, Greene, Sir’Dominic Pointer and Amir Garrett) and a junior college transfer (Achiuwa). So while the Red Storm are disappointed that the season is over, the focus on next season has already begun. “I’m excited,” Harrison said. “I want to get out there and play right now.” Reach Reporter Jason Pafundi at jpafundi@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Photo Courtesy of St. John’s University
St. John’s freshman forward Maurice “Moe” Harkless was named the 2011-12 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year after the team’s opening-round loss to Pitt in the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden Tuesday. Despite the storied history of the St. John’s program, Harkless, from Jamaica, is only the second Red Storm player to win the award (David Russell won it in 1979-80). “This award means a lot to me,” Harkless said. “I would like to credit my teammates and coaches for this award. As a team with so many new players and five freshmen starting, we held together and did a good job this year.” Harkless, who played high school basketball in Forest Hills before transferring to a school in Connecticut, averaged 15.2 points per game — ninth in the
nation among rookies — and 8.6 rebounds. In January, he had is standout game — a 30-point, 13rebound effort at Cameron Indoor Stadium versus Duke. After Tuesday’s presentation, Harkless opened up to reporters about the possibility of him leaving St. John’s for the NBA. “I’m going to sit down and talk to my coaches about it,” he said, “as well as talk to my family and my teammates, and we’ll come up with a conclusion.” According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, Harkless is the No. 34 ranked prospect, and with 30 teams in the league, that puts him as a borderline first round pick. He said playing close to home was a big reason he came to St. John’s and said that it will be a part of his decision on whether or not to stay. “It’s easy because you feel more comfortable playing around your family and friends every game.” Harkless was the best player
Maurice “Moe” Harkless
BY ROSS BARKAN
The ultimate fate of any development at Willets Point may hinge on something seemingly banal: expressway ramps. Like automobiles that need those inelegant ramps to begin their crosscity journeys, the controversial dream of a 62-acre Willets Point sans auto body shops—and with hotels, a convention center, and retail outlets—may not be possible without new Van Wyck Expressway ramps. And the future of such ramps depends on an evaluation from the Federal Highway Administration. According to emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Willets Point United, a collective of Willets Point property owners opposed to the development plans, U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (DJackson Heights) contacted the FHWA in January because he believed the ramp approval process had slowed. Crowley, like most local elected officials, openly supports the proposed Willets
Point development. Dave Hart, an FHWA Senior Operations Engineer, differed with Crowley’s assessment one day later, writing in an email to Walker that, “I do not believe the review/approval approval [sic] process has slowed as we are completing our due diligence.” Crowley did not comment on his contact with FHWA officials. “A revitalized Willets Point is vital to the overall economic revitalization of Queens. Not only will it create a vibrant area for all New Yorkers to enjoy, but it will also help create thousands of much-needed jobs for our community,” he said in a statement. The FHWA did not return calls for comment as of press time. Advocates of the Willets Point development crave a swifter approval process because the City’s Economic Development Corporation had promised a judge that they would not invoke eminent domain to take the Iron Triangle properties until a ramp plan was fully approved— this meant any land acquisition
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
Willets Worries Over Ramps Continue
A development battle rages at Willets Point. would be tied to approvals from the New York State Dept. of Transpor tation and FHWA. WPU and other opponents of the development hope the agencies strike down any ramp plans because of a traffic explosion that would, in their eyes, inevitably result from any large-scale development. Claire Shulman, president of the City-sponsored Flushing Willets Point Corona LDC, said that all questions about the expressway ramps should be directed to the EDC. According to EDC spokeswoman Jennifer Friedberg,
the ramps are not included in Phase 1 of the development. Phase 1, which will be adjacent to Citi Field, will take up 12.7 acres and is scheduled to have a developer named in the next few months. For subsequent phases, the approval of expressway ramps will be more relevant, she said. “Stop worrying about jobs. Start worrying about these ramps and highways and how many people are going to die and get injured from all these extra cars,” said WPU president Jerry Antonacci. “Where are all these people going to go?”
Actual traffic numbers are elusive, depending on which report one reads and who actually calculates them. WPU’s transportation engineer Brian Ketcham—he helped slay Westway, a Koch-era West Side Highway proposal—has maintained that a Willets Point development will lead to automobile congestion that is hazardous and unsustainable. The interchange between the Grand Central Parkway and the Whitestone and Van Wyck Expressways is cited as an especially troubling traffic spot. The EDC has prepared an environmental assessment that shows how potential Willets Point auto traffic would utilize a third of the Van Wyck Expressway, as opposed to half as reported in a 2008 Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement that gained City Council approval. If the ramps are eventually approved, WPU has indicated they would appeal the decision. Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
March 9-15, 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:
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Reporters: Harley Benson Veronica Lewin Domenick Rafter Ross Barkan Jason Pafundi Intern: Brianna Ellis Joanna Gonzalez Art Dept:
Rhonda Leefoon Candice Lolier Barbara Townsend
Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
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A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2012 Tribco, LLC
Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher
Editorial A Map For The Future The redistricting process in New York finally has some forward momentum, no thanks to the members of the Legislature tasked with redrawing district lines. The movement has almost everything to do with Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann, who released her rulings just over half a day after she presided over a public hearing to discuss Congressional district lines in New York State. After watching the Legislature’s created commission, LATFOR drag its feet for so long on redrawing Congressional district lines, Judge Mann took less than one day to offer a proposal to the three-judge panel. There was no partisan bickering; there were no backdoor deals to protect either side of the political spectrum. Judge Mann’s ruling was as close as we’re likely to get to an independent authority redrawing the lines. The speedy turn-around this week is simply more proof that the state needs a new method of redrawing district lines this time around and in the future. The process used for State Senate and Assembly lines is clearly flawed – no one seems happy about the proposals on the table and Gov. Cuomo continues to claim that he will veto the lines as they stand. Perhaps Judge Mann is free to give the Senate and Assembly lines a quick once over?
Letters
Unconstitutional?
To The Editor: The Dept. of Homeland Security’s Media Monitoring
Initiative gives federal agents the power to gather, store, analyze and disseminate data on millions of users of social media including
Letters Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. This is unconstitutional, as it violates the Fourth Amendment and its prohibition on warrantless searches. It also violates our right to free speech. This is another instance of the federal government slowly taking away our liberties. We can only hope that in 2012, an educated electorate will select candidates for election to Congress who will pass a law permanently revoking the Dept. of Homeland Security’s power to carry out the mission as outlined in the Media Monitoring Initiative. Janet McCarthy, Flushing
Clinic Opposition To The Editor: It has just come to my attention that an abortion mill will be opening in Jamaica. I find the death of even one child to be very sad. This clinic expects to perform 10,000 abortions a year. This in my opinion is an egregious and nefarious act against the unborn. As a Catholic and Grand Knight of St. Anastasia
Knights of Columbus Council No. 5911 in Douglaston, I am greatly saddened. There will be a protest and prayer vigil on Saturday, March 24. Msgr. Philip J. Reilly and Helpers of God’s Precious Infants will begin with a Mass for life at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica at 7:30 a.m. There will be a Rosary procession to Choices Women’s abortion mill. After the prayer vigil and songs, the group will return to the church for the Benediction at 10:30 a.m. There will also be police at the scene. There will be many from the parish communities as well as many members from the Knights of Columbus. I urge all that feel abortion is wrong to join in this prayer vigil and procession. Remember this: Evil thrives when good people do nothing. Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village
WRITE ON:
The PRESS of Southeast Queens, 150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357 email news@queenspress.com
Why He Believes In Teaching A Personal Perspective BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE Every once in a while I hear that one of my former York College professors is retiring. Speech Communication professor James Como is the latest, and I cannot let him go without saying thanks. Dr. Como is a legend at York College. As one of the institution’s longest-serving faculty members, he wrote the entire speech curriculum and taught most students who have passed through the college since his arrival in 1968. He counts doctors, lawyers, politicians, business people and judges such as Queens Supreme Court Justice Jeremy Weinstein among his former students. In those early days he was often mistaken for a student because he was so young. He is a chief reason I am able to write an opinion piece every week. His speech classes help students to present arguments,
which is what a column mostly is. He will always be one of my favorite professors. I also write speeches for a living and when I applied to graduate school, he was the first person I asked for a letter of reference. I was extremely proud to present it with my application packet. He is not one to suffer fools gladly, but students know and respect Dr. Como for his intellectually stimulating and demanding classes, which include anecdotes from real life, occasionally his own, and of course, his private interview with James Brown. But mostly they appreciate him for his commitment as a speech professor who teaches them the art of presenting themselves capably and engagingly. Equally important, Professor Como is known as the C.S. Lewis Scholar of Record. His books include Why I Believe in Narnia: Thirty-three Reviews and Essays on the Life and Work of C. S. Lewis (2008). In it, he “vari-
ously discusses C. S. Lewis’s ramified genius and its application to religious thought, cultural analysis, literary history and criticism and fiction-writing.” As a credentialed foreign correspondent, Como covered the landmark Peruvian elections of 1990. His command of rhetorical theory and criticism is evident in international conference papers (“Domain Theory,” for the International Society for the History of Rhetoric meeting in Poland), in Proceedings (“Elitism at the Core: Dare We Call it Rhetoric?” the University of North Texas Press), and journalism (“Debates, Debates, and Showbiz,” a cover-story for National Review). He has been a City University of New York Chancellor’s Access to Excellence honoree and a Salvatori Fellow with the Heritage Foundation. His book-length work-in-progress is The Tongue is Also a Fire: Essays on Rhetoric in Conversation and Culture.
He can usually be seen in a spontaneous “salon” in one of the college’s dining rooms — in conversation with both students and colleagues. Como quotes Jacques Barzun’s conception of the intellect from his The House of Intellect: “community property that can be handed down.” He says that the most satisfying gestures for him remains the letters of gratitude former students “trouble themselves to write.” That sentiment certainly ties in with the Lewisian theory that “affection is responsible for ninetenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.” James Como looks far too young to retire and his mind is still too valuable for full retirement. He will continue to teach here and there and have time to enjoy that well-earned retirement. His is one of the great intellects that contributed to the college’s success. Thanks, Professor Como!
What Comes After The John Liu Legacy?
John Liu, the Queens Tribune “Person Of The Year” in 2009
lize his Council Finance sophisticated union orgaChair and be Brooklyn’s fanizations will find turnout vorite son. anemic at best. Others: Forty-five days is not Rory Lancman -- if he enough time to raise and can’t find a Congressional spend money. So look to seat to run for, what the someone who has “cit y hey? Lancman seems to be election eligible” money in ready to try for anything if the bank. it provides an exit from AlName recognition is bany. a chal lenge city wide. If Ruben Diaz, Jr. – the you have it now, it’ll cost Bronx Beep is in an off year less to acquire. and could try to emerge as So, who are the posthe citywide Latino leader. sibilities for this non-exScot t Str inger – it istent race? makes the most sense for Consider those who the Manhat tan BP who is lost to John Liu 3 years an announced candidate for ago: Mayor. He will likely be the David Yassky, who best funded Comptroller canis now par t of t he didate and the only one who Bloomberg Administrarepresents a constituency as tion, came the closest to large as the entire borough Liu. While he has been an of Manahattan and the preeffective Chairman of the sumed frontrunner. New York City Taxi and Unless Brooklyn Beep Limousine Commission, Marty Markowitz decides the position is not high to play and then if he could profile and does not build sell the electorate on the fact or maintain political suphe’s serious, he could be the port. front runner. Melinda Katz — priNo, John Liu is not vate practice and motherhood has taken Melinda PRESS Publisher Mike Schenkler and John Liu at dead. No, John Liu has not out of politics and the pub- the PRESS office, top 2011, bottom 2001. lic eye. Bronx Beep has returned from been indicted. No, John Liu has not anDavid Weprin works his dis- Washington to consider a Mayoral trict as Assemblyman and tried to run but could be one of the nounced a resignation. As a matter of fact, we’d love play to a wider audience with his frontrunners in this race. pathetic effort trying to keep AnJessica Lappin could aban- to have the opportunity to interthony Weiner’s seat in the blue col- don a Manhattan Borough Presi- view and consider Mayoral Candiumn. That sad campaign effort dent shot for an off-year special date John Liu. But, we’re not betting on it. coupled with a last place finish in election. the four-way Comptroller race in Dominick Reccia could uti- MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com ’09 should tell David something – we doubt it will. Look for Weprin to try to raise money and get the Queens Dem Organization behind him. Dubious. There are those who have been banking money in anticipation of their next race – for something other than Comptroller. Peter Vallone, Jr. has been stashing away the cash and sits with good name recognition Citywide as a law and order guy which can convert to fiscal watchdog. He could jump in rather than wait for the Queens Beep race against a Queens Dem County candidate. Dan Garodnick with his ambition and fundraising, this may just be a case of right place, right time. Adolfo Carrion – the former Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7
A driven achiever with political instincts and appetite, at times it appeared like there was no stopping John Liu. Wikipedia reports that: “At the age of five, he moved with his family to the United States from Taiwan. Chang F. Liu, his father, was a Master of Busi ne ss Administration student and bank teller who worked 12 hour days. In honor of John F. Kennedy, Liu’s father changed his sons’ names to John, Robert, and Edward, and his own name to Joseph.” Ethnic politics in our city is a well-won and respectable heritage and John has played the game with precision and inspiration. He was destined to become synonymous with Asian city politics. He was on the fast track to becoming the next Mayor. And then it all began to un-
ravel. Some insiders blame it on a Chinese cultural influence where political fundraising doesn’t adhere to the rules. But whether it is cultural, with his knowledge or not, if a conviction comes from the two indictments to date, or if the Federal investigation lays blame at the doorstep of John himself, it appears that the dream is unraveling quickly – very quickly. To me, John is still a friend. He stopped by our Whitestone office last August. His visits have been the subject of this column since 2001. That visit of last summer never made it to a column – apparently t he 9 t h Congre ssional District Special Election had priority. But John and I have had an hour or so to talk many times over the past decade – usually over bagel and lox – John is a pro at ethnic politics. But sadly, the John Liu era may be coming to an end. It appears campaign fundraising scandals may be his downfall. His potential frontrunner status in the 2013 Mayoral race seems over. The likelihood of him making that race is rapidly fading. The damage caused John by his apparent inability to keep his campaign finances on the up and up will likely cause further damage. Political insiders are already whispering the names of the next New York City Comptroller – and they are betting the selection will be long before the next scheduled election in 2013. Should John Liu be forced to or decide to step down this year, as a result of the Comptroller Campaign Fundraising scandal, a nonpartisan special election will be held approximately 45 days later, according to the City Charter. To the best of my recollection, t h is Char ter prov ision of a Cit y wide non-par tisan (no party de signation) elect ion has never been utilized. Pundits can only guess how it will play out. Some basic assumptions: 1) turn out will matter; 2) money will matter and; 3) name recognition could matter. While organizational help – including political par ties which will not be permitted to designate a candidate or have a line on the ballot – will be important, pulling voters for a special election where only comptroller appears on the ballot will be a challenge. Even the
Photos by Ira Cohen
By MICHAEL SCHENKLER John Liu, who I have known for more than a decade, has trailblazed the New York City political landscape, becoming the first Asian-American to achieve Citywide elective office by capturing the position of Comptroller in 2009 after a hotly contested fourway Democratic Primary. John has inspired a generation of Asian Americans to par ticipate in the system.
Quick Draw:
Judge Issues New District Lines BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
What the state legislature could not accomplish in a year, a federal judge did in less than 24 hours. The fight over new district lines found a battlefield in a Brooklyn courthouse on Monday and by Tuesday morning, the “special master,” Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann, appointed by the court to preside over the drawing of new Congressional districts, had released her rulings. At Monday’s public hearing, lawyers representing Assembly Democrats, Senate Republicans and various other groups who submitted plans to redraw New York State’s 27 congressional districts argued their points before Judge Mann, chosen by a panel of three federal judges to preside over the redistricting process. A little more than 12 hours after Judge Mann called a recess, she released her maps- almost a week early, speeding up a process that is already many months late. The Hearing Much of the Monday’s hearing focused on whether or not incumbency protection is a viable argument for mapmaking, an argument Judge Mann did not seem warm to. She pointed out that the State Constitution makes no mention of incumbency when outlining redistricting. The hearing also focused on the recent U.S. Supreme Court case Perez v. Perry, which overturned court-drawn Congressional lines in Texas. Anthony Geremia, a lawyer for the Senate Republicans, argued that incumbency should be taken into account because not to do so “risked losing [a combined] hundreds of years of seniority.” Daniel Chill, lawyer for the Assembly Democrats, agreed to an extent with Geremia’s arguments, noting that incumbency has been taken as a major factor in redistricting in the state for decades.
The Map Judge Mann had until March 12 to release her own map, but to the surprise of almost everyone, her recommendations, including her own set of maps, were released to the public just as the sun rose Tuesday morning. Her new maps axed the district of U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (RMiddle Village). However, much of Turner’s Queens portion of his district; including Middle Village, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, and Electchester were combined with Downtown Flushing and Bayside - taken from the district of U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (DBayside - to create a new Central Queens district numbered the 6th. Turner’s home was moved into the Jamaica-based district of U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica), renumbered the 5th, that will now include all of the Rockaway Peninsula, Jamaica Estates and Elmont in Nassau County. The district remains a minority-majority, with 55 percent of its voting age population identifying as black. The district of U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) looks mostly similar and will continue to include Woodside, Jackson Heights and College Point, as well as the East Bronx, and will also pick up Corona. The
district, now numbered the 7th, is renumbered the 14th. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s (DAstoria) Manhattan-based district, renumbered the 12th, will continue to include most of Astoria - except the Steinway section - as well as Long Island City and Sunnyside. Maloney’s district will also gain Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, which she had represented in the 1990s. The neighborhoods of Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, Little Neck and Bellerose would be placed in the 3rd district which stretches across the northern half of Long Island to Smithtown. Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Howard Beach are thrown into two Brooklyn-based districts with the latter two in the East New York-based 8th district and Woodhaven in U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s (D-Brooklyn) district renumbered the 7th. Upstate, the district represented by retiring U.S. Rep Maurice Hinchey (D-Hudson Valley) was eliminated. What’s Next? Judge Mann’s map will now go before a panel of three judges from the Eastern District of New York for final approval, expected by March 15. If the maps hold, they will become law pending
Proposed Congressional District 5
Voting Rights Act clearance by the Dept. of Justice. If the maps are not approved by the court, the process could start all over, jeopardizing the scheduled Congressional primaries in late June. Ballot petitioning for the primary election is to begin in less than two weeks.
The court maps could also be thrown out if Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans strike a deal and pass their own maps in the next few weeks. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
Proposed Congressional District 14
Proposed Congressional District 6
Police Blotter Compiled by JASON PAFUNDI
105th Precinct Fatal Accident On March 4 at 4:06 a.m., police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Rockaway Boulevard between Brookville Boulevard and Guy R. Brewer Boulevard. Upon arrival, police determined that a white Nissan Maxima (vehicle No. 1) was traveling southbound on Rockaway Boulevard in the middle lane when it rear-ended a white Mitsubishi box truck (vehicle No. 2), also traveling southbound in the middle lane of Rockaway Boulevard. EMS responded and pronounced the driver of vehicle No. 1, 29-year-old Joseph Brown, dead at the scene. EMS also transported the three passengers of vehicle No. 1, a 29year-old female, a 22-year-old female and a 21-year-old female, to Jamaica Hospital where they are listed in stable condition.
The driver of vehicle No. 2, a 39-year-old male, was also transported to Jamaica Hospital by EMS and is also listed in stable condition at this time. No criminality is suspected and the investigation is ongoing.
107th Precinct Woman Assaulted The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect wanted for a sexual assault. On Feb. 27, at 2 p.m., the victim, a 67-year-old female, was entering her apartment when the suspect came up behind her and asked her for a glass of water. The victim invited the suspect into her apartment, and once inside, he sexually assaulted her at knife point. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 45-65 years old, 5-foot 9-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. The suspect has a thin build,
dark complexion and was wearing black rimmed glasses. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stopper’s website and at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
1 and 110lbs. She is in good physical and mental health. Anyone with information in regard to this missing is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800577-TIPS (5477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
109th Precinct
111th Precinct
Missing Teenager
Pedestrian Killed
The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 14year-old Dominique Ben-David. She was last seen on March 2, at approximately 8 a.m. at her residence located at 144-46 38th Ave. She was wearing a blackhooded sweatshirt and pink pants. She has black hair, last seen in a pony tail with a pink bow and is approximately 5-foot
On Feb. 29 at 5:53 p.m., at the intersection of Springfield Boulevard and Union Turnpike, police responded to a 911 call of a pedestrian struck. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered the victim, a 40-year-old male, unconscious. EMS also responded the scene and transported the victim to North Shore Hospital where he
was pronounced dead on arrival A preliminary investigation determined that the victim was crossing over Union Turnpike, from the north side to the south side, when he was struck by a 2000 Volkswagen driven by a 24year-old Hispanic woman, that was traveling west bound on Union Turnpike. There is no criminality suspected at this time and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the victim has not been released.
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Leaders Honored
Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson
PRESS Talks
Councilman Peter Koo recently honored local community leaders with a City Council proclamation in recognition of Black History Month. Pictured (from left) are Sherrell M. Jordan, Michaiah Jordan, Al Rankins, Catherine Williams, Koo, John Byas Sr. and Florence Salgado. Photo by Ira Cohen
Spirit Of Queens PRESS Reporter Veronica Lewin (r.) speaks at the monthly Federated Blocks of Laurelton meeting on March 1. President Dwight Johnson (l.) invited Lewin to speak about her reporting experiences in Southeast Queens.
Councilman Daniel Dromm (center) was presented with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spirit of Queensâ&#x20AC;? Community Leader Award at a ceremony held last week on the opening night of the second annual Queens World Film Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image. He is pictured with festival founders Don and Katha Cato.
Decade Of Science Award
Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein recently presented Yo r k C o l l e g e A l u m Yisa Rumala with the Decade of Science Award at a CUNY luncheon during the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus Weekend in Albany.
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11
Profile BY VERONICA LEWIN
Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
One young jazz musician has been nationally recognized for her work. Camille Thurman has been honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for work on her unreleased album, “Origins.” The album is expected to be released sometime this year. Staying up after her parents put her to bed is the reason Thurman is a jazz musician today. Thurman said her mother learned how to play the piano at a young age, and would always play after she thought her daughter was sound asleep. She said she would stay awake listening to her mother play at night. “Sometimes, when she wasn’t looking, I’d get up and play what she played the night before, until one day she caught me,” she said.
After getting caught, Thurman not only mastered the piano, but took it upon herself to learn as many instruments as possible. At PS 251, Thurman took violin lessons for two years. When she left the school for PS 132, it did not have a music program at the time. With the help of one of her teachers and her mother, she was able to get a recorder program at the elementary school. Born and raised in St. Albans, the 25-year-old appreciates the strong jazz culture in her community and does not plan to move anytime soon. “This is the best place on Earth because there’s so much rich history here,” she said. “You can just walk down 10 blocks, you’re at Fats Waller’s house. You get to see Ella Fitzgerald’s house, you see James Brown’s house, you see Sarah Vaughan’s house. There’s so many people
Photo by Camille Thurman
St. Albans Native Wins Jazz Award
Camille Thurman was recently honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. from that era that lived here at one time.” Thurman got involved with band while she was in middle school. Her band teacher al-
lowed her to practice in the band room during her lunch period, where she perfected her skills. “I just loved the flute and then found the saxophone and I stuck with it,” she said. She plays the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, and the bass, alto and regular C flute. When asked what her favorite instrument was, she said she likes them all because they each have a distinct character and sound. On top of that, she sings and writes her own songs. Her music career has brought her all over the world, including a trip to Israel in 2010. “It’s a cultural melting pot, just like New York City,” Thurman said. She said she experienced history and had an opportunity to see where Jesus was laid to rest. Thurman would love to have a performance in Hawaii someday. Her favorite song to play is “You Go to My Head,” which has
been covered by many jazz greats, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. In the future, Thurman sees herself being an educator, like her parents. For the last three summers, she taught a lecture at a music camp called “Jazz and Pop Culture,” where she incorporated her knowledge of jazz history with her love for geography. During the school year, Thurman enjoys going into classrooms and playing songs for children or helping young saxophonists master the instrument. Thurman’s next scheduled Big Apple performance is on March 12. She and her band will be playing at the Creole Restaurant & Supper Club in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.camillethurmanmusic.com. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
A&E
Poets Bring Literary Rep To Boro BY ROSS BARKAN While many consider Brooklyn to be hogging the literary spotlight these days - writers flock to Park Slope and Fort Greene like pigeons to breadcrumbs, hoping the good vibes and soaring rents and pleasant architecture will pro-
vide the proper concoction for a best-selling novel – Brooklyn does not, in fact, have it all. Brooklyn does not have the Fresh Meadows Poets. Founded in 1986, and now led by George Northrup, the Fresh Meadows Poets are a poetry collective unique to Queens. Performing poetry readings
Restaurant Review
A Filling Menu Seva 30-07 34th St., Astoria (718) 626-4440 www.sevaindianrestaurant.com CUISINE: Indian DELIVERY: Yes HOURS: Noon to 10:30 p.m. everyday CREDIT CARDS: Yes, all major.
ferry crossing the East River. At first glance, Queens’ literary legacy seems limited to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s description of Flushing as a “valley of ashes” in The Great Gatsby, an acrid purgatory between the glimmering points of Manhattan and Nassau County. The Fresh Meadows Poets, nearly 30 in number, hope to change that perception. They have read at Queens Borough Hall, libraries, and senior centers around the borough, and sponsor two poetry contests for Queens high school students. For Northrup, a psychologist by trade, poetry is an art that should be as accessible to as many people as possible. When reading his own poetry in public, he opts for the
more humorous and straightforward poems in his oeuvre. Though he does not like to generalize about the state of poetry, he believes poets in the world of academia are writing more for select audiences than a larger readership that may want to embrace poetry. “If we want to make work accessible to large audiences, we need to make it so a person does not have to read a poem four to five times to understand it. If it has to be read twice, that’s okay. A poem at least has to be interesting. Some people assume their lives are interesting.” Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
Author Seeks Changes In Environment Thinking BY JOANNA GONZALEZ Originally from Flushing, author Kendra Pierre-Louis was raised in Bayside and graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. While studying at Cornell, she was inevitably drawn to the lush, rich, and diverse ambience of Ithaca and thus began to focus on environmental studies. That focus led to her recentlyreleased book, “Green Washed: Why We Can’t Buy Our Way to a Green Planet.” “I realize that the environment is the basic need for the human species to even survive,” Pierre-Louis said, She said that this is a fundamental basis of her philosophy, pointing out that while our society fights for political rights, environmental rights should be first, because without them, we would not have the privilege to carry out any of the others mentioned before. While small efforts by individuals are appreciated, she said, people need to do more than
pushing others to “go green” by tion, Pierre-Louis acknowledges not purchasing water bottles or that there are still some refreshencouraging the use of eco- ing and relaxing green areas in friendly shopping bags rather Queens, some of her favorites inthan plastic ones. clude Alley Pond Park and OakFor Pierre-Louis, one para- land Lake in Flushing, and mount communal way of improvCunningham Park in ing the city of New Fresh Meadows. York would be to reToday, she works shape the mass tranat the New York Bosit system. tanical Garden in Pierre-Louis said the Bronx, where that the transit sysshe happily edutem should focus on cates and explains easy-access transporothers on the functation in Queens and tions of the repuother boroughs aside table, highly acfrom Manhattan. claimed garden; she Since sometimes Kendra Pierre-Louis also informs the it is simply quicker to general public on just drive to another borough in- simple useful natural resources stead of redundantly traveling, a and introduces and advocates frequent transit pattern espe- new approaches to a healthier, cially found on bus lines, com- improved, and finer way of life. muters are forced to use their cars Pierre-Louis will sign copies or sometimes even buy one due of her book from 6-8 p.m. March to the inconvenience, which 13 at Wix Lounge, 10 W. 18th eventually, she said, “trickles St. in Manhattan. For more indown into a whole bunch of formation, visit other issues, such as getting the www.wixlounge.com. roads paved, car maintenance, Reach Intern Joanna Gonzalez etcetera.” at intern@queenstribune.com or Despite Queens’ reconstruc- (718) 357-7400, Ext. 124.
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13
I’ve never been adventurous when it comes to food, so I was a bit hesitant when my girlfriend suggested going out to an Indian restaurant for dinner. A friend recommended Seva, in Astoria, and she was intrigued enough by the description that she wanted to try it. Couldn’t we go out for pizza, I thought. I’m glad I decided to listen to her. It was a Saturday night, so the place was pretty busy, but we were still seated as soon as we walked through the door. As we looked over the menu, we shared an order of garlic nan, leavened soft flat bread, baked in a clay oven. The bread was fantastic and set the stage for an amazing meal. Seva offers a prix fix dinner special, where diners can chose an appetizer, an entrée and dessert for $13.50. The entrée comes with Basmati rice. We decided to each go with the prix fix special. For an appetizer, I had the Masala crab cake while my girlfriend had the vegetable samosa. When paired with the prix fix menu, the appetizers
offer one large piece of each item – enough to savor but still keep you wanting more. We each took bites from each other’s plates. For an entrée, I went with the chicken korma – chicken in a almond and cashew nut sauce, with yogurt and coconut. Pouring the dish over the rice on my plate, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to handle the dish. When the waiter asked me if I wanted spicy, I said yes, without thinking about how I normally can’t handle food that is too spicy. Thankfully, the chicken korma was milder than I was expecting, the spice highlighting the flavor of the dish. Before long, I had cleared my plate. My girlfriend, a vegetarian, had a more limited selection. But when her Baigan Bharta – roasted and mashed eggplant, baby green peas, onions and tomato – came out, she was happy with her choice. For dessert, we each chose the kheer, rice pudding with vanilla and nuts. After the filling appetizers and entrees, we were both unsure of whether we could even touch dessert, but the kheer looked so good. Once I had a taste, I couldn’t stop and before I knew it, it was all gone. Seva may not have been my first choice for dinner, but it certainly worked out in the end. I’m looking forward to making more trips to the restaurant so I can try some of their other dishes. -Steven J. Ferrari
across the borough, the Fresh Meadows Poets are not, despite their name, confined to bucolic Fresh Meadows. This past Saturday, members read their poetry at the Queens Botanical Gardens. Their goal is straightforward enough: promote the art of poetry in a borough with many potential poets, Queens. Northrup, who lives in New Hyde Park, is originally from Western New York and has lived in New York City since 1969. He admits that compared to boroughs like Manhattan and Brooklyn, Queens lacks a glamorous literary past. The poet Hart Crane never wrote a poem about the Queensboro Bridge. Walt Whitman did not exult in a Queens
Faith
BY VERONICA LEWIN Churches around Southeast Queens have been doing their part to address the need for food in the area. The St. Albans Congregational Church, located at 172-17 Linden Blvd., is hosting its fourth annual Lenten food drive, called “Forty Cans In Forty Days.” Members of the community have
each been asked to donate one food item for each of the 40 days of Lent or to make monetary contributions to the church’s Because We Care Food Pantry. The church is asking for not only canned goods but other non-perishable food items, like pastas, rice and cereal. The annual food drive ensures that the church will have enough supplies to make monthly distributions during tough eco-
Word “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” -Matthew 7:12
nomic times. According to a recent City Harvest study, the need for soup kitchens has dramatically increased over the past few years. City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, collected data from 221 city-wide soup kitchens and pantries that provided monthly reports from July 2007 to July 2011. The Manhattan-based organization used data from the first and last fiscal year to determine the usage of food pantries city-wide. Out of agencies that reported for all 48 months, 77 percent saw an increase in visitors from 2008 to 2011. Queens and Brooklyn tied for second with a 29 percent increase in visitors. City Harvest said rising food prices may be to blame. Budgets that could cover expenses four years ago may not be able to make ends meet in 2011. The price increase may be the reason
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
Clergy Address Food Need In SEQ
The Rev. Floyd Flake New Yorkers are going to food pantries more often. In 2008, 5.7 million visits were made at agencies in Queens. In 2011, the number increased to 6.8 million visits, the organization stated. Just a few miles away, the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral
hosts a soup kitchen twice a week. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, visitors can receive a hot meal at the Shekinah Youth Church, located at 111-54 Merrick Blvd. The soup kitchen is just one facet of the ever-expanding church. In the last 35 years, the vision of the Rev. Floyd Flake turned Allen A.M.E. in Jamaica into the nationally-recognized church it is today. When Flake assumed the role of pastorate in 1976, Allen A.M.E. was in a building on the corner of Sayers Avenue and Merrick Boulevard. Now, the church has moved to a building at 110-31 Merrick Blvd., to house a congregation of more than 20,000 members. For more information on food pantries in Queens, visit cityharvest.org. Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Notebook
Martin Van Buren H.S.
Track Captain Races To Success One Martin Van Buren senior is spending his final year in high school leading the track team and excelling in the classroom. St. Albans resident Marcus Burns is the captain of the Queens Village school’s track team. He is also a member of the school’s Scholars Institute and is planning to teach fifth graders at nearby PS 33. Through the Scholars Institute, Burns has participated in the annual Breast Cancer Walk and increased awareness of AIDS. As a member of the student organization, Burns helped organize the school’s auction carnival, open mic event, and represents Martin Van Buren at high school fairs for middle school students. He
also serves on the senior board of the student organization, where he helped decide senior
Marcus Burns
events and assisted in creating the design for the coveted senior sweatshirt. Burns is also a member of the high school’s robotics team and the piano club. During the summer of 2010, he interned at the Anti-Defamation League’s Manhattan office, where he worked in the mailroom and attended workshops on tolerance and diversity. Outside of school, Burns helps clean up Roy Wilkins Park and studies martial arts. He has a 3.7 GPA, making him a member of the honor society Arista. Burns plans to major in biology in college to pre-
pare for a career in the medical field. SUNY Stony Brook is on the senior’s list of schools.
Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.
Stop The Violence: Natassia Powell, a junior in the Business, Computer Applications & Entrepreneurship High School in the Campus Magnet Complex, is shown standing under an anti-violence mural at the school. Powell and a group of students painted the mural as part of a community service project.
Photo by Bob Harris
Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
BY VERONICA LEWIN
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, IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
SENIORS
THEATER FUNNY THING M a r c h 1 0 - 2 5 “A F u n n y Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum” in Little Neck. $18 adults. 229-4644. AUDITIONS Sunday, March 11 at 2 and Monday, March 12 at 8. Parkside Players “Done to Death” in Forest Hills. 516520-9474.
TANGO Through March 18 world premiere musical at Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. 729-3880. GARDEN FAMILY DAY Saturday, March 10 at the Queens Botanical Gardens, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing. 886-3800. ORGAN RECITAL Saturday, March 10 at 6:15 at St. Josaphat in Bayside. Free. 229-1663. CHINESE ENTERTAIN Saturday, March 10 Nai-Ni Chen and Ahn Trio perform dance and music at 8 at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. $15 advance, $20 at the door. 482-5151. LIVE JAZZ & R&B Sundays, March 11, 18, 25 live jazz and r&b 6-10 at Déjà vu, 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. OPEN MIC POETRY Monday, March 12 Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows at 7:30. BINGO Tu e s d a y s 7 : 1 5 A m e r i c a n Mart yrs Church in Bayside. 4 6 4 - 4 5 8 2 . Tu e s d a y s 7 : 1 5 (doors open 6) Rego Park J e w i s h C e n t e r . 4 5 9 -1 0 0 0 . $3 admission includes 12
DINNER AWARDS Saturday, March 10 East Elmhurst-Corona Civic Association luncheon and awards ceremony in Jackson Heights. 426-3147. EMPTY BOWLS Sunday, March 18 at the New Homestead Home in Kew Gardens. 441-6614. Includes silent auction and more. REPUBLICANS Tuesday, March 20 Rego Hills Republican Club will hold their Annual Dinner at Portofino in Forest Hills. 275-6005. IAAP Saturday, March 24 Queens chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals meet. 516-437-7038 evenings. ITALIAN LECTURE Sunday, April 24 “Leonard Covello” lecture at St. John’s starting at noon. $15. Reserve by April 20 th . QUEENS TASTE 2012 Tuesday, May 1 at Caesars Club at Citifield. Contact disco erqueens.info/ queenstaste. ELMHURST HOSPITAL Thursday, May 17 180 Years celebrating women’s health.maerkerj@nychhc.org.
games. SCRABBLE Tuesdays Fresh Meadows library at 1 and East Flushing library at 3:30. CHESS Tuesdays 4:30 Rosedale library and 4 at LIC library. YIDDISH THEATER Wednesday, March 14 Story of the Yiddish Theatre at the Forest Hills library at 6. PROSODY 400 Friday-Tuesday, March 1620 spoken word with live band at York College. $7. 262-2412. GAME DAY Fridays 4:30 Woodhaven library. BANANAGRAM/SCRABBLE Fridays Windsor Park library at 2. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays 2 Hillcrest library. BLUES BROTHERS REVUE Saturday, March 17 at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311. THOUSAND LAUGHS Saturday, March 17 Thousand Laughs at the little Neck Jewish Center. 224-0404. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Saturday, March 17 at the Langston Hughes library at 2:30. EMPTY BOWLS Sunday, March 18 at the New Homestead Home in Kew Gardens. 441-6614. Includes silent auction and more.
FLEA MARKETS FLEA MARKET Sunday, March 11 flea market and ethnic Polish bake sale 9-4 at St. Josaphat’s RC C h u r c h , 3 5 th A v e n u e a n d 210 th Street, Bayside. SPRING FAIR Saturday, March 24 9-3 at UUCQ, 147-54 Ash Avenue, Flushing. Crafts, vendors, kids’ room, flea market, food and more. FLEA/YARD SALE Saturday, April 28 (raindate April 29). Greater Ridgewood Historical Societ y’s outdoor flea market and communit y yard sale at the Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood. INDOORFLEA MARKET S a t u r d a y s 9 - 5 a t Tr i n i t y United Methodist Church, 1 0 8 th S t r e e t a n d 8 6 th A v enue, Jamaica. THRIFT SHOPS Saturdays 11-4 at Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop, Queens Baptist Church, 9323 217 th Street, Queens Village.465-2504.
VICTORIAN FLOWER Sunday, March 11 “The Art of Drying Flowers.” $15. Sunday, March 18 “Dried Pressed Art.” Sunday, March 25 “The Victorian Bouquet and the Language of Flowers.” $20. Bayside H i s to r i c a l Societ y in Bayside. 352-1548 to register. BALLROOM DANCING
SINGLES SINGLES 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. SIMCHA SINGLES Friday, March 16 for those 40-60+ at the Little Neck Jewish Center, 49-10 Little Neck Parkway at 8. Services followed by discussion: “Jewish Humor: Its Place in Jewish History and Its Role in our Contemporary Lives.” 516-487-0674.
TALKS SEASIDE BOOK Monday, March 12 “Forever” discussed at 6:30 at the Seaside library. HILLCREST Tuesday, March 13 “A Farewell to Arms” discussed at 2 at the Hillcrest library. TURKISH LANGUAGE Wednesday, March 14 How a Language Migrated from Central Asia to the Mediterranean at Campbell Dome, Queens College at 12:15. 997-5597. SELLING CRAFTS Wednesdays, March 14, 21, 28 learn how to sell your handicrafts online at the Central library. 990-5102. CALLIGRAPHY Thursdays, March 15, 22, 29 appreciation of classical Chinese calligraphy at the Flushing library at 6:30. LITERARY SOUP Thursday, March 15 Literary Soup Adult Book Club at the Queens Village library at 6:30. Check library for March’s title. ELDER LAW Sunday, March 18 “Elder L aw for Yourself and Your Parents” at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 7111 112 th Street at 1`0:30. Light breakfast served.
Mondays, March 12, 19, 26 at the Forest Hills library at 6:30. INTRO POWERPOINT Monday, March 12 at the Central library. 990-5102. LI CRAFT CLUB Mondays, March 12, 26 at the Long Island Cit y library at 1. JOB SEARCH Mondays, March 12, 26 at the South Jamaica library at 2. JOB INFORMATION Monday, March 12 at the Middle Village library at 4. JOB INTERVIEW PREP Monday, March 12 at the Central library. 990-5102. RESUME WORKSHOP Tuesday, March 13 at the LIC library at 1:30. RESUMES Wednesdays, March 14, 28 at the Central library. 9900700 register. INTERNET SEARCHING Wednesday, March 14 at t h e W i n d s o r Pa r k l i b ra r y. Register. LEARNING LABS Wednesdays at the LIC library at 1:30. KNITTING CLUB Wednesdays Bayside library. Register. INTRO COMPUTERS Wednesdays Central library. Register. OIL PAINTING CLASS Wednesdays Grace Lutheran Church in Forest Hills. 472-4055. CIVIL SERVICE JOB Thursday, March 15 learn about the nature and t ypes of state and cit y job applications at the Central library. 990-5102. LEARN TO DANCE Thursdays ballroom smooth and Latin dances at the Samuel Field Adult Center in Little Neck. 225-6750, ext. 236. BOOT CAMP Thursdays learn computer programs at the Arverne library at 10:30. COMPUTERS Thursdays Glen Oaks library. Register. Rosedale library at 6. QUILTING CLASS Thursdays 10-2 Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454 East Elmhurst library at 12:30. . COMPUTER CLASS Thursdays Queensboro Hill library. Register. KNIT & CROCHET Thursdays Fresh Meadows library at 6. Crochet at the South Hollis library at 6:30. BOOT CAMP Fridays through March 30 at the LIC library at 2. INTRO MICROSOFT EXCEL
Friday, March 16 at the C e n t ra l l i b r a r y. 9 9 0 5102. CHESS & CHECKERS Fridays, March 16, 23, 30 at the Astoria library at 3:30. CHESS CLUB Fridays Auburndale library at 3:30.Tutorial Woodside library at 4. BEGIN COMPUTERS Fridays Poppenhusen and Middle Village libraries. Register. COMPUTER LAB Fridays practice time at the Arverne library at noon. KNITTING CLUB Fridays Maspeth library at 10. KNIT & CROCHET Fridays Fresh Meadows library at 10:30. COMPUTER COURSE Every Friday Ozone Park library. Register. JOB SEARCH Saturday, March 17 job search boot camp at the Central library. Register. PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, March 17, 31, April 7, 21 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940.
RELIGIOUS REFORM TEMPLE Sunday, March 11 “The Glee Spiel” sing-a-long Purim at 10. Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112 th Street. WOMEN’S SEDER Sunday, March 25 at Te m p l e T i k va h . 5 1 6 - 7 4 6 1120.
MISCELLANEOUS TAX PREP DAY Friday, March 16 at Majestic Marquise in Ozone Park. 738-1111 information. COMMUNITY SINGERS Communit y Singers of Queens, Inc. rehearses at Messiah Lutheran Church. New members welcome. 658-1021. BARBERSHOP Wednesdays Barbershop Harmony Societ y meets in Flushing. 381-8689. FH VAC The Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps needs volunteers. 793-2055. FH SYMPHONY Wednesdays rehearsals at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 374-1627. GLEE CLUB Tuesdays the Bayside Men’s Glee Club rehearses. 4245769.
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15
HOWARD BEACH Tuesday, March 13 “Fa l l Prevention” at 10:30. 15645 84 th Street. 738-8100. TAX HELP Tuesdays, March 13, 20 at the Hollis library. 465-7355. AARP 4158 Tuesday, March 13 North Flushing chapter 4158 meets at noon at the Church on the Hill, 167-07 35th Avenue, Flushing. New members and visitors welcome. DRIVER SAFETY Thursday, March 15 AARP defensive driving class at the Auburndale library. 6413911 to register. TAX HELP Thursdays, March 15, 22, 29 tax counseling for low-income older adults at the Fresh Meadows library at 1. STARS Fridays, March 16, 23, 30 Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets at the Queens Village library at 10:30. KEW GARDENS Friday, March 16 Coping With Aging workshop at 1. Kew G a rd e n s C o m m u n i t y Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, suite 202. ELDER LAW Sunday, March 18 “Elder Law for Yourself and Your Parents” at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 7111 112 th Street at 1`0:30. Light breakfast served.
EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS
ENTERTAINMENT
People Tiffany Johnson of Laurelton has been nominated as National Youth Correspondents for the 2012 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Johnson is a student at Benjamin Banneker Academy. Ifeoma L. Ottah of Springfield Gardens was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Boston University in Boston, Mass. The combined Queens Alliance-Queens Kiwanis Baseball League invites youth teams to register now for the 2012 season. Divisions of play include 12&U, 14&U, 16&U and 18&U. For information, call Mike Rizzo at (718) 366-7717 or (718) 8214487 or Bill Bellas at (917) 7512682. The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings Feb. 26-
Sewer & Drain
March 3. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more. Alex Villagran of Rego Park won $10,000 on the Win 4 drawing Feb. 27. Villagran’s winning ticket was purchased at Get Liquor From Us, 47-31 Junction Blvd., Corona. Izdehar Alghazali of Ridgewood won $25,000 on the Win 4 drawing Feb. 27. Alghazali’s winning ticket was purchased at Yasmin’s Deli, 818 Onderdonk Ave., Ridgewood. William Chang of Woodside won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Feb. 24. Chang’s winning ticket was purchased at the Rockville Centre Newsstand, 40 Front St., Rockville Centre. Christopher Reese of Long Island City won $10,000 on the Quick Draw drawing March 1. Reese’s winning ticket was purchased at Resorts World Casino NYC in Jamaica. New York Air National Guard announced the comple-
Sewer & Drain
tion of training for members of the New York Air National Guard at FS Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. Airman 1st Class Frank Belcore of Flushing completed training for the aerospace maintenance apprentice course at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Airman 1st Class Jose Clavijo of East Elmhurst completed training for the electronic principles, communication/navigation course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Airman 1st Class Oscar Perez of Queens Village completed training for the security forces apprentice course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Lindell Bekye of Jamaica was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester and Buffalo State College. Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Colgate University in Hamilton. They include:
Furniture
Upholstery
Astoria: Alex Luna. Jamaica: Chi Yung Fung, Marvin Kelly Vilma. Woodhaven: Andrea Jean Pura. Woodside: Joseph Triminio. Ajah Hawley-Alexander of Cambria Heights and Gefferson Henriquez of St. Albans were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies in Teaneck, N.J. The following local students graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology during fall 2011 commencement ceremonies: Shawn Carson of St. Albans earned a Master of Business Administration degree. Dashawn Mitchell of Jamaica earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. The following local students graduated from Binghamton
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University during fall 2011 commencement ceremonies: Ting Yan Wong of Jamaica earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Christine M. Hernandez of Queens Village earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental studies and planning. Jaquan Bryant of St. Albans is taking part in an internship for the spring 2012 semester through the Marist College Communication Internship Program. Bryant will intern in the athletic department for Marist College in Poughkeepsie. Fahriba Khan and Domonique Moody, both of Jamaica, were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Clayton M. Brown of Holliswood and Jemarley L. McFarlane of Jamaica were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
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March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17
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Hoping For Broadway
Whitney Rae Grandell Home: Astoria Age: 24 Height: 5’ 7" Weight: 125 lbs Stats: 34-27-33
Modeling may not have been what Whitney set out to do when she moved to New York, but she’s certainly taken to it quite easily. The California girl works consistently in showrooms in Manhattan, modeling women’s fashion. “It’s not something I actively pursued as my passion,” she said. “But it’s really worked out for me.” Whitney came to New York in 2007 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she began to learn the acting craft. Since she’s been in the Big Apple, Whitney has done some theater – “Broadway is something I’d love to do,” she said – and hopes to parlay her experience into film roles. “I would love to have a role in an episodic TV show,” she said. “That’s my real dream.” She knows what she wants, and Whitney said she was willing to work hard to get it. “It takes a long time for people to conquer their dreams,” she said. “But I think I’ve done pretty well for myself.” When she’s not showing off in a showroom, Whitney said she enjoys going out for some fine dining or drinks in Astoria. As spring approaches, she said she’s looking forward to sitting outside with some coffee at some of her favorite places on 30th Avenue. “There’s a lot of nice outside dining opportunities in Astoria,” she said.
The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge can do some damage.
A Few Screws Loose?
The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge is one of the great places to get a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline. That is, unless the bridge itself obstructs your view. Andrew Campbell of New Jersey was heading to a game in Jackson Heights when a large screw and a piece of metal shattered the windshield of his car on the bridge’s lower level. “I was stunned, it sounded like a gunshot when it hit the windshield,” Campbell said. “It was totally unexpected. I was very shocked. I’m grateful I’m okay.” Recently, some have begun to think that Ed Koch may have a few screws loose. We just didn’t think they would end up on cars.
Lighting Up The Sky
Models Of Queens
Characters First Judd Apatow has been making people laugh since he was a teenager. Now, the film and TV writer is being honored for it. The Flushing native was given the Herb Sargent Award For Comedy Excellence at the Writer’s Guild of America East gala, held last month at BB King’s in Manhattan. He was presented with the award by his “Bridesmaids” star Kristen Wiig. Known for his character-driven comedies, perhaps Apatow’s next project should take on the New York State Senate and Assembly’s redistricting efforts. There would be a lot of crazy characters in that flick.
Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens March 9-15, 2012
Twitter Patter This week, a special sort of article appeared on the Mets.com homepage. It was titled, “Twitter a Polarizing Topic in the Mets Clubhouse” and concerned the efforts of lovable ginger infielder Justin Turner’s efforts to recruit fellow Mets to Twitter. While pitcher R.A. Dickey has embraced Twitter, fellow Met Josh Thole, he of the weak pop ups to short, and mental Mike Pelfrey think Twitter is for twits. Said Thole of Twitter, “Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, it’s great.’ OK. Go 0-for-12 and lose the game for the team and see how great it is.” With all the pundits picking the Mets to finish in the NL East basement, maybe Thole has a point. Twitter can be a rough place for a famous person who fails in the spotlight.
The Northern Lights as seen over Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Could they be coming soon to Queens? For Queens denizens, the New York . . . “northern lights” are merely whatever lights dot the apartment buildings across the East River in the Bronx. But some scientists are saying the REAL Northern Lights may be coming to Queens. According to the Space Weather journal, there is a chance that we’ll be able to see the aurora borealis right here in New York City in the next 10 years. The last time that happened, slavery was still legal. The northern lights were last visible in Queens in a rare event in 1859. But don’t plan your aurora borealis parties just yet, there is only a 12 percent chance we’ll see them in the next decade. Nevertheless, it would be exciting to see lights that aren’t police helicopters circling or the glow of the Empire State Building in a layer of smog for a change.
Flushing native Judd Apatow
Confidentially,
Mets catcher Josh Thole thinks Twitter is for the birds. Based on pre-season ticket sales, Mets players shouldn’t have to worry too much about joining Twitter. If followers equal tickets sold, Josh Thole will be tweeting to his mom, girlfriend, a random man trying to sell apartments in Flushing, and a porn star.
What’s Up SATURDAY, MARCH 10 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, 9323 217th St., from 10 a.m. to noon.
Home Buyer Seminar
Lovers Rock Lovers Rock, often dubbed ‘romantic reggae’ is a uniquely black British sound that developed in the late 70s and 80s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems. Live performance, comedy sketches, dance, interviews and archive shed light on the music and the
Braata Folk Singers The Braata Folk Singers are fast becoming one of the Caribbean Diaspora’s leading performing folk groups. In a relatively short time the group has grown in popularity in New York City and the Tri-State area. The singers’ dynamic presentation of the region’s folk music encompasses fresh choral arrangements, enthralling theatrical movements and expressions, complemented by colorful and elegant costuming. Admission is $25 for adults; $20 for children and seniors. This event will be held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., at 8 p.m.
www.nyc.gov/HILink. This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.
Job Interview Prep Are you ready for your next job interview? Participants will learn how to prepare for the interview, interview body language and etiquette, how to handle difficult questions, and how to project yourself as the best fit for the job. To register, call (718) 990-5102. This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 13 Walkers For Wellness Club See Saturday’s listing. At 7 p.m.
Tupac or Who Shot Me?” Written by George Carroll and Christina Tyler. For tickets and information, visit http:// www.blackspectrum.com or call (718) 723-1800. Admission is $25; $20 with a college ID. This event will be held at Black Spectrum Theatre - 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, at 8 p.m.
Observatory Open Night
ONGOING Job Club
The York College Observatory is open to the public every second or third Wednesday of the month - rain or shine. Gather in room 2E01 and then proceed to the 4th floor terrace off G corridor if it’s clear. For additional information, contact Tim Paglione at paglione@york.cuny.edu or (718) 262-2082. This free event will be held at York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 Picture Book Storytime THURSDAY, MARCH 15 Enjoy picture books, stories, Walkers For Wellness Club songs, finger 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.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Open Mic
Career Day
Ann Podracky received an MFA from Queens College’s Program in Creative Writing and Literary Translation. She was a fiction editor for the online journal “Ozone Park” and in 2010 was a writer in residence at the Louis Armstrong Archives and Museum. Her work has appeared in “Poetry and Performance,” Issues 38 and 39, and her work is forthcoming in “Hanging Loose 100.” She grew up in the Rockaways and lives in Queens. This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.
BYSIC and AWCWA will be hosting its winter/spring PreConstruction Training Program “Career Day,” an after work trade networking event with women and men who are building New York. This is a workforce career initiative to give the students the opportunity to network and take with construction workers, union organizers and apprentice representative. We are asking that all participate. For additional information email info@awcwa.org or call (888) 434-5303. Please call for price. This event will be held at SUNY– Queens EOC, 158-29 Archer Ave., from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 12 Affordable Health Options
Selling Crafts on ETSY
In this workshop you will learn about the NYC Health Insurance Link, health care access options for immigrants, and how federal health care reform will affect you. We’ll refer to the following link:
name, market research, payment acceptance options, setting up shop policies and basic web marketing. Will introduce legal and tax issues, including sales use taxes and licenses. This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6:30 p.m.
Learn how to sell your handicrafts online. To register, call (718) 990-5102 or visit the Job Information Center. Intermediate Computer skills required. The basics of setting up an ETSY account, including choosing your
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.
State and City Civil Service Are you ready for your next State or City Job? Participants will learn about; the nature and types of State and City Job applications, resumes, and how to search for these jobs. To register, please call (718) 990-5102 or visit the Job Information Center. This free event will be held at Queensborough Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, March 16 Tupac Movie Just who did shoot Tupac Shakur? If you really want to know, then you need to check out the Black Spectrum Theatre’s production of “The Tragedy of
The Jamaica Neighborhood Center offers a free service to assist people from Southeast Queens with job-readiness skill sets in writing a professional resume and cover letter; interviewing practices and techniques; applying on-line procedures; elevator pitch and Microsoft Suite 2007. For additional information, contact Ethan Chazin, Job Coach, at (718) 739-2060, Ext. 18 or echazin67@gmail.com. This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center - 161-06 89th Ave. Services are available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
CPR Training The FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit will hold regularly scheduled free CPR classes in all five boroughs. The first Tuesday through the fourth Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of every month there will be Borough CPR training sessions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens. Training is free to anyone over the age of 14. The goal of this program is increase the number of people in New York City trained in bystander CPR Each class lasts 1 hour and participants in the class learn basic CPR skills from a member of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service. In Queens, the classes will be held the fourth Thursday of every month at EMS Station 54, 222-15 Merrick Blvd. In addition, please visit www.nyc.gov/ cprtogo for New York Sports Club locations offering free CPR classes starting in January. Please visit www.fdnyfoundation.org or call (718) 999-2413 for more information.
March 9-15, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19
Capital One, in partnership with Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) will present a home buyer seminar. Neighborhood Housing Services will lead a discussion on: affordable housing options and programs; NHS grants; and qualifying and credit reports. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Capital One Bank at (718) 5271700 or Comrie’s office at (718) 776-3700. Refreshments will be served. RSVP seats are limited. This free event will be held at Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center, 172-17 Linden Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
generation that embraced it. This dance provided a coping mechanism for what was happening on the streets. Lovers Rock developed into a successful sound with national UK hits and was influential to British bands such as Police, Culture Club and UB 40. The film sheds light on a forgotten period of British music, social and political history. Admission is $11. This event will be held at Black Spectrum Theatre, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, from 5 to 7 p.m.
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