Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 13 Issue No. 22 June 1-7, 2012

PAGE 18

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

IDLE MATTERS

The City is cracking down on vehicles idling near schools to protect children from harmful pollutants while waiting for the bus.

By Veronica Lewin ‌ Page 3.

Online at www.QueensPress.com

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Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

Presstime

City Cracks Down On Idling Near Schools

BY VERONICA LEWIN In an attempt to prevent childhood asthma, the City is taking action to make sure children are not exposed to harmful pollutants while waiting for the school bus.

The Dept. of Environmental Protection announced a twoweek crackdown on vehicle idling near schools, continuing a public education campaign in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma that began last month.

In recognition of Asthma Awareness Month, the DEP sent information letters and “Stop Idling” flyers to more than 1,400 Dept. of Education parent coordinators to try to reduce illegal idling in school zones.

DEP staff also distributed in-

formation to parents, teachers and bus drivers at elementary schools in neighborhoods with high asthma rates. DEP inspectors began a two-week crackdown to ensure enforcement of Local Law 5, which limits idling in school zones to one minute.

Since 2010, DEP inspectors have surveyed more than 80 public and private schools. In 2011, DEP issued nearly 200 idling violations, which can carry a penalty up to $350.

“Our efforts show that we can clean the air in the city, and encouraged by these efforts we will do more to make sure that all children have the chance to breathe clean, fresh, and safe air,” DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland said.

Local Law 5 was signed in

2009 and limits idling in school zones to one minute and three minutes elsewhere in the city.

DEP used public health data to gear the “Stop Idling” campaign towards elementary schools in neighborhoods with high asthma rates.

A New York Lawyers for the Public Interest study focused on Jamaica, where more than 85 percent of the population are people of color. Residents in Southeast Queens are more likely than others in the borough to have adverse health outcomes. In Jamaica, deaths from diabetes were 55 percent higher than the rest of the city. Jamaica residents have the highest rates of HIV related deaths and the second highest rate of homicide deaths in the borough.

There is also a high prevalence of asthma in Jamaica, where children have the second highest rate of asthma-related hospitalizations.

Illegal idling contributes to vehicle emissions of harmful air pollutants, including soot, oxides of nitrogen and organic compounds that contribute to ozone pollution. According to the New York City Community Air Survey, vehicle emissions are one of the leading contributors to harmful air pollutants. Soot pollution alone causes more than 3,000 deaths, 2,000 hospital admissions for lung and heart conditions, and roughly 6,000 emergency room visits for asthma among children and adults in the City every year.

“There are no cures for

asthma, but it can be controlled by avoiding asthma triggers,” Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said. He added that reducing traffic and emissions from sources such as vehicles will benefit not just children with asthma, but New Yorkers with chronic heart and lung conditions as well.

In addition to increasing enforcement, the DEP recommended installing “One Minute Idling” signs in front of schools with frequent idling vehicles. The City is also working towards reducing emissions around schools from non-vehicle sources. The City is also working with school bus companies to retrofit all fullsize vehicles to reduce emissions.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

Seniors Rally To Save Friendship Center

BY VERONICA LEWIN The fight continues to save a unique senior center that is slated to close in one month.

A rally was held last Thursday at the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults’ Friendship Center to protest the impending cuts to a center that serves seniors with special needs. Elected officials and community mem-

bers came out in full force to show how much the Friendship Center means to the community.

J-SPOA announced at the beginning of April that the Friendship Center, located at 92-33 170th St., will have to close on July 1 due to a lack of funding. JSPOA received a letter from the City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene on April 2 stating that the agency will eliminate funding

Mayor Michael Bloomberg waves at spectators at the Forest Hills Memorial Day parade on Monday.

One senior protests the potential closure of the Friendship Center on May 24. activities as well as food and transportation to and from the center.

“Funding for this special population is crucial because they require special activities and special staff so the funding from the DOH is crucial to keep operating,” Collier said in April.

Without the Friendship Center, older adults with special needs

in Southeast Queens will not have a place to maximize their strengths and enhance their functional abilities. There are not similar programs in the area and many other the adult care centers in the borough have a waiting list.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Photo by Ira Cohen

Memorial Day:

for the program on July 1. Executive Director Beverly Collier said this reduction would essentially close the center since the DOHMH’s funding pays for staff and mental health services.

Seniors with special needs became one step closer to saving their community center last month after Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) announced at April’s Community Board 12 meeting that the Queens delegation dug into their discretionary funds to offset the loss of funding by the City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene. Still, it will not be enough for the center to continue providing all of their services.

Open since 1979, the Friendship Center exclusively serves seniors with special needs who have become socially isolated and partially dependent upon others for their daily living. People affected include seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, developmental disabilities and mental illness. According to Collier, 65 to 75 adults visit the center each day. The Friendship Center’s structured environment enables this senior population to participate in normal daily activities. Funding from the DOHMH pays for these

Gary Ackerman Backs Meng In Dem Primary

BY ROSS BARKAN

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

Ackerman, refusing to criticize Crowley or Lancman, said Meng would “fight for middle class families” and be an advocate for Queens’ “most vulnerable citizens,” including immigrants, women, children and seniors. He spoke about Meng’s father “sweating and toiling” in restaurants, though he did not mention that her father, Jimmy Meng, also served in the St ate Assembly.

Ackerman denied suggestions that anyone other than himself influenced his decision to endorse Meng.

“I endorse Grace Meng because of Grace Meng, not because of anybody else,” Ackerman said.

An hour later on the same sweltering day, Lancman stood with Green to advocate for campaign finance reform and oppose the 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Lancman held the press conference next to a Mobil station in Rego Park

Photo by Ira Cohen

Outside his childhood home, retiring U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) endorsed Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on May 29 to fill the seat he chose not to run for, lending a heavyweight to Meng’s growing support base.

Elsewhere in Queens, former Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Mark Green endorsed Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest).

Standing in the shadows of the Pomonok Houses, Ackerman announced that he wants Meng, the Queens Democrats’ choice, to be his successor. Decades ago, the Pomonok Senior Center, where the Meng campaign chose to place a podium, was in a district that Ackerman represented. “ To m e , i t wa s a n e a s y choice because Grace stands head and shoulders in qualifications, ability and temperament above anybody else that

is running,” Ackerman said.

Seniors clustered behind Ackerman and Meng, representing the valuable voters dwelling in the 4,200-person public housing complex. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, housed in neighboring Electchester, backed Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (DMiddle Village), making the south Flushing area one of several battlegrounds in the 6th Congressional District race.

Ackerman’s decision to retire created a rare open congres- U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman and Assional seat and unleashed a semblywoman Grace Meng. flurry of once unforeseen scenarios: the Queens Democratic Party hurried to endorse a new would not run for the newlycandidate, while Councilwoman drawn seat, but leapt back into Elizabeth Crowley shocked po- the race after Ackerman said he litical observers by bucking her was retiring.

Ackerman explained that he cousin, Queens Democratic Chair U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D- and Meng have much in comJackson Heights), to launch a mon, including being the children congressional bid of her own. As- of immigrants. Assemblyman semblyman Rory Lancman (D- Mike Simanowitz (D-Flushing), Hillcrest) had announced, in def- whose district includes erence to Ackerman, that he Pomonok, introduced Meng.

to symbolize, in his own words, “the link between political contributions from ‘Big Oil’ and federal subsidies for oil companies.”

Both Green and Lancman attacked “the corrosive influence of corporate money and democracy.”

Green, unlike Ackerman, is not a native of Queens. With most pivotal endorsements out of the way, the last month of the campaign before the June 26 primary will be a test of how hard endorsers work for their candidates and if the few voters likely to show up at voting booths care about the endorsements.

Lancman said he held no ill will against Ackerman for not backing him.

“I’m not disappointed by Gary’s decision whatsoever,” Lancman said. “I understand the Queens establishment is endorsing Grace, that Gary’s endorsement of Grace is a part of that.”

Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127 or rbarkan@queenstribune.com.

BY JASON PAFUNDI At a press conference at City Hall, Allan “Bud� Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced that Citi Field in Flushing would host the 2013 MLB All-Star Game. And with that announcement comes the idea that the added exposure and influx of people who come to New York City for the game and game-related events will be a big boost to Queens’ economy.

But according to popular travel website Expedia, that is not the case.

Edwin Martinez, the market manager for NYC Metro, said that all-star games are not as big for tourism as the World Series or Super Bowl, because fans tend to follow entire teams, not just one or two players.

According to Martinez, Expedia data shows that MLB All-Star Games do not bring in huge amounts of money to their host cities. The games typically do not have the same level of

excitement that the World Series or Super Bowl would bring. “Those events are specific to teams, so you will have fans from around the world who will come to the event’s host city just to be near their team and with other fans,� Martinez said. “The AllStar Game does not attract that type of traveler.�

Because of that fact, Martinez said, the onus will be on local Queens business organizations, including the Queens Economic Development Corporation’s newly relaunched Queens Tourism Council, to create great packages and bundle attractions.

Seth Bornstein, executive director for the QEDC, said his group will work with members of the tourism council to offer discounts and incentives to get people who come for the All-Star game to spend their money in Queens.

Martinez said that when the All-Star Game last came to New York City — the 2008 game at the

Photo by Ira Cohen

Expedia: Low Tourism Expected For All-Star Game

Citi Field will host the 2013 All-Star Game. old Yankee Stadium — hotels in the Bronx capitalized on rate and occupancy increases at their limited number of hotels, but that the real surge took place in Manhattan at hotels along the Lexington Avenue subway line, which goes to Yankee Stadium. “Expedia anticipates only a

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June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

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modest growth in visitors to Queens during the All-Star Game,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unless of course the borough creates activities and events on the shoulder dates of the event that compliment the Home Run Derby and All-Star Fan Fest.â&#x20AC;?

Expedia is excited at the op-

portunity to work with the Queens Tourism Council and other borough entities, Martinez said, to take advantage of such a big event happening in the borough. He said Queens has a better infrastructure, compared to the Bronx, to support masses of people who may decide to stay in a hotel in Queens rather than Manhattan, â&#x20AC;&#x153;All-Star Games in most sports generally are not huge attractions for the general public because tickets are often too expensive and very difficult to land,â&#x20AC;? Martinez said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But since Citi Field is located in the greatest city and borough in the world, we anticipate that many folks may decide to turn their trip to the game into a full-blown vacation, hopefully staying in Queens.â&#x20AC;?

The game is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

Editorial 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

A Step Closer

Queens has been a social leader since its inception. From the brave men who confronted authorities to demand equal protection for all religion in the signing of the Flushing Remonstrance to the fearless souls who rode for social freedom in the South during the Civil Rights era – some even paying for that freedom with their lives, we have always stood on the forefront of what is right.

The fight for marriage equality has been no exception. From the election of the City’s first openly gay Councilman to the annual Pride parade – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend – Queens continues to be a community that stands up for social mobility.

We ask our readers, particularly those who consider themselves “straight,” to read through this edition and to hopefully have their eyes opened to the fact that members of the LGBT community are no different from everyone else.

Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed

Letters

Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel

Educational Nightmare

Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

To The Editor: Why is it that the UFT and the DOE still have not been able to come to terms with regard to a new contract for the city’s 74,000 public school teachers? It is so ridiculous that this has not yet been accomplished. Other city workers

Reporters: Harley Benson Veronica Lewin Domenick Rafter Ross Barkan Jason Pafundi Interns: Brianna Ellis Joanna Gonzalez Art Dept:

Rhonda Leefoon Candice Lolier Barbara Townsend Advertising Director Shanie Persaud

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

Sr. Account Executive Shelly Cookson Advertising Executives Merlene Carnegie Shari Strongin

A Queens Tribune Publication. © Copyright 2012 Tribco, LLC

Michael Schenkler, President & Publisher Michael Nussbaum, Vice President, Associate Publisher

have gotten new contracts, so why haven’t the teachers?

The UFT needs to take the bull by the horns and stop dragging its feet, and the DOE also needs to stop delaying on this very critical issue.

Is it any wonder that so many newly hired teachers do not stay for more than a few years due to the lack of support from their

Letters own union and school supervisors and administrators? There will be an exodus of teachers this coming June - a combination of those retiring and those simply just leaving. If these teachers are not replaced with new ones, the coming school year will be an educational nightmare.

The mayor should not be allowed to have control of the school system - he has absolutely no idea of how to run it - it is not a business, but that is how he has been running the school system for 10 years, and the results are disgraceful!

The UFT needs to get its act together and fight for a contract for its members that is fair and livable!

John Amato, Fresh Meadows

Need New Packaging To The Editor: Please urge KFC to stop destroying life by using throw-away paper packaging made from rainforest trees. KFC and Yum! have no sustainability policies to exclude products connected to rainforest destruction, and the

company has failed to even answer questions about its sourcing of products such as palm oil, soy and paper products. They have the resources to not have to hurt the environment and wildlife. It will affect us all one day.

Mario Bernabel, Fresh Meadows

Show Queens Off To The Editor: Citi Field has been selected as the site of the 2013 All-Star Game.

This I feel with great pride is an honor for Citi Field, Queens County and our beloved Mets. This I feel is a great opportunity to show the country the good things about Queens. We have good restaurants, excellent shopping, beautiful parks and gardens, entertainment and let’s not forget our amazing baseball team the Mets. So let’s put our best foot forward and show what we got here. Now when out-oftowners come to visit, let’s give them a smile and say hello and welcome to Queens the home of true hospitality.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village

Policing Food Choice: Right Or Wrong?

A Personal Perspective

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE Every year the Mayor of our city comes up with another idea he believes will keep us healthier.

Some like the ideas and some resent them as government trying to control us.

First there was the smoking ban from restaurants and other indoor gathering places. Then it was proposed for sidewalks, parks and beaches. At each turn it has been met by resistance from some segments of the population – usually the smokers. Trans fats have also been banned in the restaurants and that’s a good idea.

Now it is size that matters.

Mayor Bloomberg’s latest proposal is to ban supersized sugary drinks in restaurants and even from sidewalk vendors. The mayor argues that the supersized sodas and other sugary drinks are supersizing our bodies to the detriment of everyone.

I have always wondered why anyone needs a drink that large and yes, I have sat and fumed

when members of my own family have ordered them. I have also fumed when restaurants offer repeat drinks with the meal. Why do we need more than one glass of soda or lemonade, if any?

If we need more than 10 ounces of fluid with our meal, the compromise could be one glass of a flavored drink and as many of water as we can hold. Water is a perfectly good drink and you don’t gain an ounce from it.

Some of us are super disciplined, while some of us indulge rampantly. That is why government thinks it should help make it easier on our bodies with these restrictions. When David Paterson was governor, he teamed up with Bloomberg to ban the use of food stamps for the purchase of sugary drinks. There is no crime in helping people to make healthier choices when the food money is coming from government.

Sugary drinks such as sodas and iced teas tend to be void of nutritional value. Even if sweetened with sugar-free alternatives,

these drinks are still not “doing a body good.” Sugary or not, we have to be mindful of what we consume. Just because something may not be fattening, it doesn’t necessarily make it fit for excessive consumption either.

But God gave us free will, so why are mayors and governors making culinary choices for us?

Well, as Adam and Eve promptly proved in the Garden of Eden, people don’t always make the right choices with their free will.

We’re still paying the price for that forbidden consumption.

Those of us who are health fanatics don’t need to have our choices policed; and I’m not sure we ought to be policing anyone’s at all. Yet it seems necessary because when people get sick from poor diets it impacts the society on many levels.

If kids can’t go to school, it impacts their learning and the future of our city and nation; if working adults get sick and constantly miss work it impacts the productivity of the workplace; and if people don’t have solid insur-

ance coverage the hospitals and the city (and “the city” means we the taxpayers) are left holding the bag for those who can’t pay.

At the same time, the Mayor needs to do more than legislate the scaling down of drink sizes and banning of trans fats. What about physical education? Some schools still don’t have adequate gym classes. Others have gym but only for certain grade levels. Last semester, my son had gym for first period every day and this semester he has no gym classes at all. Are you serious? Every school kid should have gym class several times per week every semester every year.

In a perfect world, our families eat wisely and exercise regularly. Since there is no perfect world, however, it is helpful to have the bad choices restricted on our behalf. And if it takes government intervention to get that done, then that will happen.

It seems we are being saved from ourselves for our own good, much as we may resent the autocracy and audacity of it all.

Cell Phones In Politics: Rude? Fair? or Creative?

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER Technology has changed our lives.

It has also changed politics.

On a national level, Howard Dean led the way and then Barack Obama’s campaign brought campaigns into the 21st century.

It has followed on a local level.

Social media, computer databases, smar t phone apps and sophisticated digital mailings have changed the way campaigns target and reach their prospective voters.

But apparently new technological applications are being created every day.

Word from the hotly contested Queens 6th Congressional race has a surprise technological innovator.

With frontrunner Assemblywoman Grace Meng and Assemblyman Ror y Lancman generally credited as the more cerebral of the

Democratic field, it is Councilwoman Liz Crowlety, we are told, who gets the credit for an innovative use of the cell phone.

It seems that during a Thursday evening May 24, Kissena Park Civic Associartion candidate forum, Crowley texted for information and answers to the questions.

The Councilwoman has been showing up late to a number of civic forums and has been seen before, cell phone que stionably reaching out in a manner some say is rude and others say is cheating.

At one point, one of those present at this forum told us, the questioning made its way to government regulation of banking. And when the Dodd-Frank, Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was mentioned and discussed by several of the others on stage, Liz Crowley speed texted searching for some guidance.

We hope we’re not taking the Councilwoman’s secret weapon away, but next time she’s in a campaign forum with the other candidates, see if she starts texting.

We wonder if seeking outside help is fair.

After all, on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, you can only phone a friend once.

MSchenkler@gmail.com

At the Kissena Park Civic Association May 24 Candidate’s Forum for the 6th Congressional District, (pictured above, l. to r.): Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Green Party Candidate Evergreen Chou, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Dr. Robert Mittman.

Liz Crowley (right) cell phone in hand, reportedly texting in search of information and an answer.

Elected Officials Can Get Ugly by my friend and colleague who had known her for decades. She turned her back on him.

Next, the wife of my friend and colleague, who had worked with her and known her for years, was similarly treated by the elected.

My friend, after the rude and disrespectful treatment, spoke to the son of the elected. He seemingly recognized his parent’s behavior was inappropriate but was dismissive of its importance.

If someone doesn’t like what I write, they can send a letter to the editor. They can call me. They can if they wish write me off. When elected officials display hissy fits in public, conducting themselves with an air of entitlement and a holierthan-thou attitude, they not only alienate the public and the press, they bring disgrace on the office they hold.

Turn your back on someone in public, and the people should turn their backs on you.

We’ll see what we can do to help make that happen.

OTHER MATTERS In other mat ters relating to elected officials and their problems: • Embattled Comptroller John Liu was denied a delegate position to at tend t he early September 2012 Democratic Convention in Charlotte, NC to nominate President Obama for re-election. Published reports point to the federal criminal probe into Liu’s fundraising as the cause.

• South Queens Democratic Councilman Ruben Wills is under inve stigat ion by State At torney General Eric Schneiderman, who has been issuing subpoenas for financial records as it pertains to Wills and his use of City and Campaign funds. At least one staff member has made calls trying to get her name removed from some of the subpoenaed documents.

MSchenkler@gmail.com

Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER I’ll try to remain objective but when elected officials display their arrogance and disdain for others, it often gets to me.

Here’s one such story.

I’ve chosen, for now, to withhold names but I’m not keeping secrets. I think the facts and ugly behavior points clearly to one elected official and if appropriate apologies are not offered, you’ll hear more about this.

Two weeks ago, in this column, I noted naming names, that three incumbent elected officials, out of 27 running for reelection, face serious challenges and could lose their seats. I gave some brief rationale and ran pictures of the incumbents and challengers. This was my true assessment and I stand by it.

Well, one of the electeds did not like that I printed they could lose. The following weekend, at a public event, she was approached

Queens Pride:

Program Offers Support Services For Youth Growing up LGBTQ in Southeast Queens can be a challenge. Luckily, one nonprofit in the area has evolved to make life easier for young people viewed as different.

Safe Space was founded in 1919 as the Queensboro Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In the last 92 years, the organization has expanded to provide family support, mental health services and youth development services. Last July, Safe Space moved its headquarters from Manhattan to 89-74 162nd St. in Jamaica. The organization also has renovated centers in Far Rockaway and Richmond Hill, making a Safe Space close to nearly all in Southeast Queens.

Safe Space tries to bring as many opportunities to the youth and families in the area as possible. More than 46 percent of

the Safe Space staff is One teen pained a bilingual to provide rainbow on a black non-English speakers background, conveywith assistance. ing that others only In 2009, 11 percent see a gay person and of Safe Space’s clients alienate him because identified as LGBTQ. of it.

In December 2011, On the insides of Safe Space received a the masks, youth grant from the New paint a more positive York Life Foundation view of themselves. to continue improving The project gives their LGBTQ services. youth an opportunity Safe Space offers supto safely express port groups, arts explotheir feelings, exration and peer educaplore their feelings tion about HIV and and develop healthy STIs for LGBTQ ways to cope with youth. The organizathe outside world. tion also offers on-site Safe Space’s Behind the Mask Project allows LGBTQ Safe Space anHIV testing and fol- youth in Southeast Queens the opportunity to safely ex- nounced earlier this low-up phone counsel- press themselves. month that they reing. ceived a two year, One of Safe Space’s most themselves and how others view $300,000 grant from the New popular projects is the Mask them. In the workshop, teens York Life Foundation. The Project: Behind the Faces of Our paint both sides of a blank mask. agency anticipates the funding Future. The art project allows On the outside, they express how will allow them to double the youth to explore how they view they feel the world sees them. youth they serve each year. FundPhoto courtesy of Safe Space

BY VERONICA LEWIN

ing will be used to expand programs at their new Jamaica Youth Center, located near the agency’s headquarters.

The organization’s headquarters is home to The Space, an after-school hangout destination for teens. The brightly painted walls and comfortable couches make the area an inviting place for youth. The Space also has a television and a quiet study area. In The Space’s first year of being open, 800 kids from the community came to use the services.

The Space is open to youth ages 13 to 21. The Space is open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m., Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Due to high demand, entrance to The Space is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (718) 526-2400.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

Queens Pride House

Community Center Helps Advance LBGT Rights Even in Queens, life could be tough for a LGBT individual.

That’s one of the functions Queens Pride House, the borough’s only LGBT community center. The organization, based in Jackson Heights, has had a roller coaster ride in the last few years. In 2010, funding nearly caused the center to close its doors, but in the last few years, with the help of advances in LGBT rights, a growing openly gay community in Queens and a new director with a new direction, the Pride House has seen somewhat of a renaissance.

A budget bicker between the state legislature and former Gov. David Paterson nearly caused Queens Pride House to close its doors in 2010. The center was forced to lay off staff as the drama over the state’s last late budget played out. But

by 2 011, t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n found the money it needed and regained its solid financial footing.

That followed with a change in leadership.

Silvia Dutchevici was named executive director of the organization last October after an exhaustive search. She walked into an organization that only a year earlier has been in financial dire straits, battered by the Great Recession and a need for resources.

“We want to make sure we are sustainable and in a safe place, but we also want to grow,” she told the PRESS immediately after her appointment. “I really do feel this is an opportunity for the center to create a community and offer different types of services.

I’ve been preparing for this job all my life. I am really driven to make sure this becomes a vibrant community center, and

by vibrant I mean have many different programs.”

Dutchevici immediately focused on reaching out to the entire borough, away from Northwest Queens where the bulk of the borough’s LGBT population lives. Last year, the center conducted a Youth Empowerment Conference at York College educating college students about STD and HIV. Further, Dutchevici said she was looking to reach out to the community at large, beyond the LGBT community, including immigrants and young people.

Among her ideas, adding ESL and GED classes to the center’s array of services.

Queens Pride House is located at 76-11 37th Ave., Suite #206 in Jackson Heights and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. qphinfo@queenspridehouse.org.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125 or drafter@queenstribune.com.

Press Pboto by Ira Cohen

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Queens Pride House’s headquarters in Jackson Heights.

Police Blotter 102nd Precinct Rape Investigation

Compiled by STEVEN J. FERRARI handgun and demanded money from the employee. He fled the location on foot.

105th Precinct Missing Man

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assisThe NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the following indi- tance in locating Joseph Wiley, a 57-yearvidual wanted for a rape that old African-American male. He took place May 27 at approxiwas last seen on May 28 at 8 mately 11 p.m. in the vicinity of p.m. at his residence, 121-12 89th Avenue between 102nd Laurelton Parkway. He has and 104th streets. The suspect brown eyes and black hair. grabbed a 19-year-old Hispanic Anyone with information is female from behind and forced asked to call Crime Stoppers at her behind a house and sexu(800) 577-TIPS (8477). The ally assaulted her. public can also submit their tips The suspect is described as by logging onto Crime Stopan Hispanic male, 25-35 years pers’ website at old, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-7, 190 nypdcrimestoppers.com or by Rape suspect. to 210 pounds and was weartexting their tips to CRIMES ing a tank top with characters from the (274637), then enter TIP577.

“Family Guy” cartoon on the front, with All calls are strictly confidential. cargo shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their Armed Robbery tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ The NYPD is seeking the public’s assiswebsite at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by tance in identifying the following inditexting their tips to CRIMES (274637), vidual wanted for a robbery that took then enter TIP577. place on May 18 at 11:30 p.m. inside of All calls are strictly confidential.

Dunkin’ Donuts, 202-09 Hillside Ave. The suspect entered the location armed with a

107th Precinct

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s.

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 Stoppers’ website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

112th Precinct Larceny Suspects Sought The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the following people in connection with three grand larceny incidents.

On May 6 at 4:30 p.m. while shopping at 16-35 Junction Blvd., a 63-yearold white male was distracted by the first suspect while the second suspect bumped into him and removed his wallet, which contained credit cards that were used later at a nearby department store.

On May 7 at 3:30 p.m. while shopping

at a store on Queens Boulevard, the second suspect bumped into a 34-year-old female who later realized her wallet had been stolen from her purse. The victim’s credit card was later used at a nearby department store.

Later, at 4:30 p.m., while shopping at the same location, a 43-year-old woman also realized her wallet had been stolen from her purse. Her credit cards were also used at a nearby department store.

The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, black short straight hair with a dyed blonde streak on one side.

He has a tattoo of the name “Rickey” on the side of his neck.

The second suspect is a black or Hispanic female in her late 30s with short black hair. The third suspect is a black or Hispanic female in her 40s with short black hair and a light complexion.

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 Stoppers’ website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

pix

Senior Salute

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Annual Installation Queens Borough President Helen Marshall (left of center) and President Maria Cuadrado (right of center), of the Queens Interagency Council on Aging participated in Salute to Senior Service Volunteers celebration at Borough Hall last month.

Library Rally

Photos by Walter Karling

Pictured during a break in the ceremony are Richard Gutierrez (from left), immediate past president of the QCBA; Peter Vallone Sr., former Council Speaker; Seymour Boyles, former associate justice of the Appellate Division, second department; Supreme Court Justice Robert Nahman and attorney Paul Vallone.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

The Queens County Bar Association held its annual installation of the group's new president. Joseph Risi Jr. addressed the group after being sworn in.

Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project Executive Director Mark Welicky congratulates and greets attorney Mohammed Saleem, the QCBA Pro Bono Service Award recipient, along with his sister, Umara Saleem.

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder joins in a march with library supporters to protect Queens libraries from devastating budget cuts in the upcoming year.

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Profile

By VERONICA LEWIN

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

When Lovari was four years old, he would sing disco hits into a wooden block. At the time, the Bayside boy had no idea that decades later he would be performing at the city’s second-largest LGBTQ celebration.

Anthony Lovari, known in the music world by just his last name, is one of the singers scheduled to perform at this weekend’s Queens Pride parade.

His first full-length album, titled “The Statement,” was released in 2009. The track “All I Want Is You,” reached No. 1 in Portland, Ore. in 2006. Another one of his songs from his debut album, “Work It Out,” was used as a theme song for WNYE-TV show “Under The Pink Carpet.”

His new album “No Holding Back” was released on Tuesday.

The first single off the album, called “Foolish Beat” was re-

leased at the beginning of the year to mixed reviews. The Debbie Gibson remake even captured the attention of gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who was not a fan of the tune. This past Januar y, Hilton posted a YouTube link to Lovari’s song.

The post reads, “If you are easily offended, do not click here.”

Lovari took the insult in stride and considered the blog post a way to draw more attention to his music. “He wasn’t too kind about it, but that’s okay,” he said. “Because of him dissing my remake and my music video it propelled the song to get on the Top 40 U.S. Independent R&B chart.”

Because of Hilton’s post, the video received 5,000 hits in three days on YouTube.

Lovari said he was inspired by the Village People, the Bee Gees and Donna Summer to become a performer.

“I really always knew that I

Photo by Nicole Brown

Local Singer Ready For Pride Performance

Anthony Lovari wanted to be a singer,” he said.

Aside from making music, Lovari is a member of SAGAFTRA, a merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He has not appeared in any major roles yet, but played the role of Angelina Jolie’s brother in the movie “Salt.” He also has a reoccurring role as one of the squad room detectives on “Law & Order: SVU.”

Lovari will soon appear in a movie called “My Friend Vijay,” a film starring Patricia Arquette.

“My Friend Vijay” is about a man who is mistakenly pronounced dead and decides to attend his own funeral disguised as a Sikh.

Scenes from the movie were recently filmed on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights.

However, Lovari’s work behind the camera has earned him praise at the New York International Independent Film Festival, where he won Best Suspense Short at the 2010 awards for his movie “Shore Thing.” The film he wrote and directed was based on real-life shark attacks that occurred in a New Jersey creek in 1916.

Some of his work in the LGBTQ community includes volunteer work for Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) and the Queens Center for Gay Seniors.

Though Lovari is excited to perform at this Sunday’s Queens Pride celebration, he expressed disappointment with Martha Wash, a straight person, being chosen to kick off Queens Pride. A member of the LGBTQ community himself, Lovari said he wished someone from the community could headline the concert instead of performing later in the day.

“She’s great, but I think they’re should be a gay headliner,” he said. “I don’t care, this is how I feel.”

Though Lovari’s multiple hats keep him busy, he does not have plans to give up singing or acting anytime soon.

“Definitely want to stick with both. They’re my dreams,” he said.

For more information, visit lovariworld.com.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

A&E

Theater Group Offers Free Shakespeare

BY BARBARA ARNSTEIN

This summer, the free Shakespeare plays presented by the Hip to Hip Theatre Company include the hilarious farce “Comedy of Errors” - involving two pairs of identical twins and lots of scenes involving mistaken

identities - and one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, “Hamlet,” about a prince’s dramatic decisions after his father’s sudden death, which begins with a visit from a ghost and ends with a swordfight.

Each one will be performed at Flushing Meadows Corona

Restaurant Review

Like A Trip Back To Italy

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CUISINE: Italian DELIVERY: Yes CREDIT CARDS: Yes, all major

Hip To Hip Theatre Company will perform “Hamlet” and “Comedy of Errors.”

Marr said, “Even though what’s being discussed is very profound, it’s a real political thriller. A king has been murdered. We’ll make it thrilling and, along the way, emphasize the profound philosophy that Shakespeare gives us.” “’Hamlet’ represents the first time in Western Literature that audiences were shown a complete human being, the first time there was internal monologue, telling them about the character’s decision-making,“ he continued.

Each play the company pre-

sents outdoors has professional actors, period costumes, sets, lights and props, and this season its schedule has been expanded to four weeks.

“Hamlet” will be performed at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, at 55th Avenue and 111th Street, on July 25 at 7:30 p.m., at the Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave. in Flushing, on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. and at Fort Totten Park, at Cross Island Parkway between Totten Avenue and 15th Road, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. “Comedy of Errors” will be performed at Fort Totten Park at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2, Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8 and at the Voelker Orth Museum on Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are around 90 Join the mailing list by emailing your contact information to contact@hiptohip.org and visit it online at www.HiptoHip.org, to see the full schedule.

Art Show Brings Community Together

BY ROSS BARKAN If you like to draw, paint or enjoy a calm day beneath the trees, come to Kissena Park on Saturday, June 9.

It is there that the Kissena Park Civic Association will host its second annual art competition. Anyone can enter, and the competition will be divided into three age groups: 11 and under, 12 to 18 and everyone above 18.

Artists will meet at the 164th Street park entrance promptly at 9 a.m.

Unlike typical art shows, which pick pieces of art beforehand and display them in a gallery, the KPCA’s competition works differently: all people who show up are given an 11x17-inch piece of paper and an hour and a half to draw on a specific theme. Last year, that theme was simply “park.” This year’s theme will be revealed at the show.

Artists must supply their own materials and seating arrangements, but they can use whatever artistic materials they choose.

Past winners drew in pencil, water colors and oil paints. For Kashmira Cooper, a director and board member of the KPCA, the competition’s goal is to inspire emerging artists and bring people of all backgrounds together for a nice day at the park.

In an increasingly insular, technology-obsessed world, the KPCA’s art competition offers a breath of fresh air. Last year, about 58 people competed, and this year Cooper expects that number to grow to 80. She worked with Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s (D-Hillcrest) office to spread word of the competition and print certificates for the winners, who are judged by a panel of three art teachers and artists.

State Sen. Tony Avella (DBayside) expressed interest in

assisting the KPCA as well.

A host of sponsors will provide prizes for the winners. The KPCA has been approaching local schools to draw students to the upcoming competition. All competitors will receive certificates and gift packages from local sponsors.

Cooper was born in India and has lived in Queens for more than 20 years. She believes the diversity of the borough makes it special, and the perfect place to host an art contest.

“Art as it is speaks to us all,” she said. “An artist does not have to be from any community.

Art comes from your heart, you draw what you draw, talk to each other and make friends.”

“Children,” she added, “need to make time to go out and be one with Mother Nature.”

Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127 or rbarkan@queenstribune.com

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Tratteria Neo is a trip to old Italy right in Whitestone.

Italian restaurants are numerous in Queens, and it is easy to tire of the same old standards that they offer. Pasta.

Spaghetti and meatballs. Pizza.

We get it. Traterria Neo gets that way more than you do, offering great food and an upscale ambience that will please any first date.

With its Mediterranean décor and reasonable portions, Traterria Neo draws more from Italia than Queens. This is good. Attentive waiters and scrumptious bread soaked in olive oil – the olives themselves are spectacular – will help you forget the Cross Island Parkway traffic that daily encroaches on your sanity. After fresh bread warmed me up, I was brought crunchier bread smothered in luscious tomatoes. A baby arugula salad followed up the bread, providing a nice healthy counter to the typical iceberg lettuce salads that dominate American restaurants. I was hardly full, but that was no problem at all. Traterria

Neo was just getting started.

I thought the cavatelli pasta was a main course because it was so rich and filling, but I was wrong. Any patron of Tratteria Neo needs to try this pasta: it includes braised short ribs and ricotta cheese, an absolute delight. As I chomped on the pasta and savored the leftover olives from my salad, I assumed my dining experience, a fine one, was over. But then I was hit with the main course.

My fine host brought me sliced chicken breast, though this was no ordinary chicken breast. Surrounded by encrusted parmesan and wine sauce, I knew I had something special at the tip of my fork. Sometimes food is good enough that you pray the dining experience will not end. You savor the morsels judiciously, trying to balance your hunger with your realization that eventually, all the food will be eaten. I held on for as long as I could, and what an experience it was.

Like any good meal, mine was capped with dessert.

Ample tiramisu ensured I would not go hungry for a very long time. The soft, sugary outer layer dissolved wonderfully in mouth as I greedily scooped whipped cream onto my fork.

If you are in the Whitestone area, there is no reason to not give this restaurant a shot. Your stomach will thank you later.

–Ross Barkan

Park, the Voelker Orth Museum in Flushing and Bayside’s Fort Totten Park, as well as places in Sunnyside, Astoria and elsewhere.

Jason Marr, the founding artistic director of the company, will play the lead in “Hamlet,” as well as directing the comedy and playing a part in it. He teaches acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and has appeared in Off-Broadway plays and on television, including the shows, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “As the World Turns.” His wife, and frequent co-star, Joy Marr, will play Hamlet’s love interest, Ophelia. The leading Shakespeare roles she has played include Lady Macbeth, Kate, Rosalind and many more. Many of the excellent actors from the company’s previous productions will be returning, plus some talented new faces.

Speaking of “Hamlet,” Jason

Faith

Group Helps Queens Women Succeed

BY VERONICA LEWIN During her seven years of service with Top Ladies of Distinction, Lady Versonya DuPont has committed herself to improving the quality of life for youth, women and senior citizens in Queens.

Born and raised in Savannah, Ga., DuPont said she grew up having a strong sense of community and support, and her mother encouraged her to participate in as many activities as possible.

Around age 13, DuPont joined Top Teens of America, a division of the Top Ladies of Distinction that helps teens prepare for adulthood.

Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. was founded in Texas in 1964 as a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization. It has grown to include 104 chapters, including one in the borough.

When DuPont moved to New York City from Chicago, she said she expected to do service work such as helping to feed the homeless. After a year, she realized

performing community service through individual efforts could be a difficult task in a city as large as New York.

Soon after joining Top Ladies in 2004, DuPont introduced the “Dress for Success” program in Queens. “Dress for Success” started on a national level and collects professional attire for disadvantaged women to help them succeed in the work force.

After a few years with the Queens chapter, DuPont took the role of regional recording secretary and later added chapter treasurer and national nominating committee member to her resume.

Though the Brooklyn resident is a member of the Queens chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, her service is not limited to the borough. “In my free time, I pride myself on doing other community type work,” she said. When not doing service in Queens, DuPont serves as chair of the Greater New York Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, Clark Atlanta University Alumni Asso-

organization donates a basket to someone in need. In past years, women in the military received care packages from Top Ladies. Each Mother’s Day, the organization selects a grandmother in a local nursing home who does not have a lot of visitors, and surprises them with a care package in honor l. to r. Lady Sandra Jennings Jackson, of the holiday.

Lady of the Year Versonya DuPont, DuPont said she likes how Lady Arlene Davis, and Chapter Presi- Top Ladies of Distinction has dent Lady Belinda Johnston-Briggs at a successful infrastructure the Top Ladies of Distinction Spring that not just strives to, but acLuncheon. tually makes a significant impact in the community they ciation, and the Brownstoners of serve. The organization prides itBedford Stuyvesant, which strives self on building relationships in the to change the perception of the area and providing long lasting sercommunity. She has worked with vice and support to the commuthe Vacation Bible School and cur- nity.

For the past few years the rently serves with the Women’s Conference Committee and the Queens chapter of the organizaGreater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral. tion has partnered with the St. Throughout the year, Top La- Albans Congregational Church, dies of Distinction maintains a located at 172-17 Linden Blvd. year round presence in the com- for the “Because We Care Food munity. Each Thanksgiving, the Pantry” program. In addition to

making an annual donation to the food pantry, DuPont and the organization treat members of the community to a free meal.

Every year, the organization sponsors a breakfast for senior citizens, where each guests leaves with a full stomach and a new book.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

Word “There was never law, or sect, or opinion did so much magnify goodness, as the Christian religion doth.”

- Francis Bacon

Notebook

Mothers Against Guns

Luncheon Planned For Southeast Queens Dads This year, a local matriarchal organization is taking the time to honor fathers in Southeast Queens.

Mothers Against Guns and the Rochdale Village Community Relations Committee are partnering to host their first Pre-Father’s Day Luncheon on Sunday, June 10.

The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Rochdale Village Community Room, located at 169-65 137th Ave. in Rochdale Village.

The luncheon is free to the community.

MAG and the Rochdale Village Community Relations Committee want to take the time to

honor fathers in the area for their commitment and the sacrifices they have made to raise children.

MAG’s Jamaica Chapter was formed in the early 90s after President Liz BishopGoldsmith’s godson was shot and killed outside of a club on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard.

“I decided to try to get mothers together to bring awareness to it,” she said.

One of MAG’s accomplishments was an ammunition bill proposal in City Council and the State legislature. In 2005, the bill became a law. Now, anyone seeking to purchase ammunition must provide identification and

must provide the make, model and serial number of the weapon they are purchasing for. The legal age for purchasing ammunition was also raised to 21, up from 18.

MAG is currently working on establishing an intergenerational after school program to get children and seniors to interact with each other. She hopes that the seniors could serve as mentors to those in need of someone to talk to.

“We need people who have been out there and see what is going on and try to stop others from making mistakes,” she said.

Limited seats are available for the June 10 luncheon. Those in-

terested must RSVP by June 6 by calling the MAG office at (718) 276-2061.

Reach Reporter Veronica Lewin at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123 or vlewin@queenspress.com.

Volunteer: Zenatasha Wellington is a senior in the Law, Government & Community Service High School in the Campus Magnet Complex. The South Ozone Park resident has been volunteering in the campus’ media center for the past three years. She has plans to attend law school.

Photo by Bob Harris

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 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.

MISCELLANEOUS MEET THE LIBRARIANS Wednesdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27 meet the Steinway librarians at 3 so they can answer questions, recommend library materials and more.

PARENTS BD. OF TRUSTEES Wednesday, June 6 Renaissance Charter School’s Board of Trustees meeting at 6:45. 35-59 81 st Street, Jackson Heights. 803-0060.

HOMESCHOOLING Fridays, June 8, 15, 22, 29 AHEAD, a homeschooling group, meets at the Forest Hills library at 1:30.

ATTACHMENT PARENTING Friday, June 8 Attachment Parenting – parents meet to discuss the nurturing of strong connections with their children at 10:30 at the Forest Hills library.

SENIORS

PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, June 2, 16, 30, July 7, 21 learn how to comm u n i c a te e f fe c t i ve l y. 1 0 12:15 at Elmhurst Hospital.

424-9754.

COMET CIVICS Monday, June 4 Comet Civics meet at 7 at Bethzatha Church of God, 85-20 57 th Avenue, Elmhurst.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Tuesdays, June 5, 19, July 3, 17 learn the art of public speaking at 7:15 in St. Albans. 640-7092.

HAM RADIO CLUB Tuesday, June 5 Emergency Communications Service meets in Briarwood. 3576851.

FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesday, June 6, 20 Flushing Camera Club at Flushing Hospital. 479-0643.

TOASTMASTERS Wednesdays, June 6, 20, July 4, 18 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale Toastmasters Club in Jamaica.

978-0732.

BEREAVEMENT Wednesday, June 6 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows. 7:30. 969-2448.

LIONS CLUB Wednesday, June 6 at 7 Bayside-Whitestone Lions Club meets at Vallone and Vallone, 25-59 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing. 428-7285.

BARBERSHOP Wednesdays Jamaica Chapter of t he Societ y for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet in Flushing. 468-8416.

LA LECHE LEAGUE Thursdays, June 7, 14 support group for mothers who breastfeed at the Forest Hills library at 6.

MEN’S PRIDE Thursdays, June 7, 21, July 5, 19 Queens Pride House Men’s Group 7-9. 429-5309.

UNITED 40S Thursday, June 7 United Forties Civic Association, Inc. at 7 at St. Teresa Parish Center, 50-22 45 th Street, Woodside.

COMMUNITY ACTION Thursday, June 7 Springfield/Rosedale Communit y Action Association meets at 7:30 at St. Peters Lutheran C h u r c h , 2 2 4 - 0 4 1 4 7 th A v enue, Springfield Gardens.

Meet candidates running for 5 th Congressional District.

ILION BLOCK Friday, June 8 Ilion Area Block Association meets at the African Center for Community Empowerment, 11192A Farmers Blvd., St. Albans at 7:30.

ENTERTAINMENT

LIBRARY DIRECTORS Saturdays, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8 Friends Board of Directors of Queens Library at Cambria Heights meet at 4.

DANCE ARMDI Saturday, June 9 at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center. 2247989.

HEALTH LUPUS Saturday, June 2 10-noon Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center, 172-02 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. 739-2060.

CANCER SUPPORT Monday, June 4 Franklin Hospital’s Cancer Support Group 2-4 in the cafeteria.

516-256-6478.

RECOVERY INC. Mondays, June 4, 18 Forest Hills library at 5:45.

COOK WITH SPICES Monday, June 4 at the Baisley Park library at 6.

INTRO YOGA Mondays, June 4, 11, 18 Register Broadway library.

HATHA YOGA Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 at the Flushing library. Register 661-1223.

SPRING INTO MOVEMENT Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 exercise Langston Hughes library at 6.

LEARN CPR Monday, June 4 at the Lefferts library. Register.

RELAX & SELF HEAL Monday, June 4 Introduction to Relaxation and SelfHealing at the Lefrak Cit y library at 6:30.

AUTISM Monday, June 4 latest autism news at the St. Albans library at 6:30.

INTRO YOGA Tuesdays, June 5, 12, 19 at the Rego Park library. Register.

CHAIR YOGA Thursday, June 7 Chair Yoga at the Kew Gardens Hills library at 1:30.

RECOVERY INC. Thursday, June 7 at the Forest Hills library at 3:30. Addresses anxiet y, fear, obsessions, temper, stress and more.

CHAIR YOGA Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21 at the Astoria library at 5:30.

ZUMBA Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21 Latin Dance Fitness Program at the South Ozone Park library. Register.

SYMPHONY 101 Saturday, June 2 at the Hillcrest library at 1. Queens Symphony Orchestra teach all about traditional symphonic orchestras with demonstration. Also at 3 at the Ridgewood library.

CENTENNIAL CONCERT Sunday, June 3 Our Lady Queen of Mart yrs in Forest Hills at 4. $10, children 12 and under free. 268-6251.

CLASSIC PIANO Saturday, June 2 at 2 at the Flushing library.

CHICAGO BLUES Saturday, June 2 405 Blues Band performs Chicago Blues at 2:30 at the Forest Hills library.

STEEL PAN Sunday, June 3 Steel Pan Band performs at 3 at the Central library.

SYMPHONIC Sunday, June 3 Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor at 5 at St. Joseph’s in Astoria. $20, $15 seniors and children. 917-460-4289.

LIVE JAZZ & R&B Sunday, June 3 live jazz and r&b 6-10 at Déjà vu, 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans.

POPULAR DIVAS Monday, June 4 at the Glendale library at 6.

SALSA Mondays Resorts World Casino. Lessons 7:30. 11000 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone ark. 215-2828. Free.

NIGHTCLUB SONGS Wednesday, June 6 Broadway and Nightclub Songs Whitestone library at 3.

LIBRARY FUN Thursday, June 7 Children’s Library Discovery Center at the Central library includes magic, auction and more starting at 12:30.

AMERICAN SONGBOOK Thursday, June 7 at 2:30 at the Poppenhusen library.

PERFORMANCE POETS Thursday, June 7 Open Mic Flushing library at 6.

BLUE NOTES Friday, June 8 York College Blue Notes. 262-2412.

STRAWBERRY FAIR Saturday, June 9 12-5 at All Saints Church, 43-12 46 th Street, Sunnyside. Vendors, food, auction, face painting, crafts for children and more.

FILM TRIVIA Saturday, June 9 at 2:30 at the Sunnyside librar y. Saturday, June 23 at 3 at the Steinway library.

JAZZ PIANO Saturday, June 9 tribute to Art Tatum and Errol Garner at the Flushing library at 3.

OPEN MIC Sunday, June 10 at the Central library at 2.

EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturday, June 2 Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940.

MICROSOFT WORD Saturday, June 2 at the Central library at 9:30.

INTER. COMPUTERS Saturdays, June 2, 9. 16 at the LIC library at 2.

KNIT & CROCHET Saturdays, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Peninsula library at 10.

SOCIAL MEDIA Saturday, June 2 Far Rockaway library at 10:30.

MICROSOFT EXCEL Saturday, June 2 at the Central library at 2.

METRIX LEARNING Sunday, June 3 Central library at 12:30.

FREE E-BOOKS Sunday, June 3 learn to download free books. Central library at 2:30.

MICROSOFT EXCEL Monday, June 4 at the Central library. 990-5176.

INTRO COMPUTERS Mondays, June 4, 11, 18 at the Flushing library at 10.

COMPUTER BOOT CAMP Monday, June 4 Far Rockaway library. Must attend all 12 weeks.

INTRO COMP./INTERNET Monday, June 4 at 10:30 at the Fresh Meadows library.

CRAFTS CLUB Mondays, June 4, 18 at the Broadway library at 12:30.

METRIX LEARNING Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 at the Central library at 1.

OPEN LAB Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 at the Central library at 2.

FUN WITH CROCHET Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 at the Rosedale library at 4.

PAPER/BOOKMAKING Mondays starting June 4 at the Broadway library at 6.

JOB SEARCH Mondays, June 4, 18 6 at the Central library.

BALLROOM DANCING Mondays, June 4, 11 at the Forest Hills library at 6:30.

JOB READINESS Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Woodside library at 6:30.

BEGIN CROCHET Monday, June 4 at the Arverne library at 6.

JOB READINESS Mondays, June 4, 11, 25 at the Arverne library at 5:30.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, June 5, 26 at the Rosedale library at 10:30.

COMPUTER CLASS Tuesdays, June 5, 26 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesday, June 5 at the LIC library at 11.

INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesdays, June 5, 12, 19, 26

at the Ozone Park library.

Register.

LEARNING LAB Tuesdays, June 5, 19 at the LIC library at 1:30.

SMALL BUSINESS Tuesdays, June 5, 12, 19, 26 at the Central library at 7.

BASIC COMPUTER Wednesday, June 6 at the Woodside library at 10:30.

RESUME WRITING Wednesday, June 6 at the LIC library at 1:30.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Wednesday, June 6 Flushing library at 7:15.

KNIT & CROCHET Wednesday, June 6 South Ozone Park librar y. Bring needles and one skein of yarn. 1.

PRACTICE INTERVIEWS Thursday, June 7, 14, 21 Central library. 990-5148.

LEARNING LAB Thursday, June 7, 14, 21 Far Rockaway library at 10.

INTER. COMPUTER Thursday, June 7 at the LIC library at 10.

COMPUTER BOOT CAMP Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21 Arverne library at 10:30.

INTRO COMPUTERS Thursday, June 7 Ozone Park library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTERS Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28 Rosedale library at 6.

RESUME WRITING Thursday, June 7 at the East Elmhurst library at 6:30.

EVENING CRAFT CLUB Thursday, June 7, 14 Fresh Meadows library at 6:30.

KNITTING CLUB Fridays, June 8, 15, 22 at the Maspeth library at 10.

KNIT & CROCHET Fridays, June 8, 22 Fresh Meadows library at 10:30.

BASIC COMPUTERS Friday, June 8 Auburndale library at 11, 11:30 or noon.

KNIT & CROCHET Fridays, June 8, 15, 22 Peninsula library at 12:30.

INTRO COMPUTERS Friday, June 8 at the Central library. 990-5176.

MICROSOFT EXCEL Friday, June 8 at the Flushing library at 10.

MICROSOFT WORD Fridays, June 8, 15 at the Hillcrest library. Register.

BEGIN COMPUTERS Fridays, June 8, 22 Middle Village library. Register.

METRIX LEARNING Fridays, June 8, 15, 22 at 1 at the Central library.

INTERMEDIATE WORD Saturday, June 9 at the Central library. 990-5148.

POETRY WORKSHOP Saturday, June 9 at the Forest Hills library at 10.

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Wednesday, June 6 AARP class at the Windsor Park library. 468-8300 to register.

STARS Wednesday, June 6 Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets at the Hollis library at 10:30.

INTRO COMPUTERS Thursdays, June 7, 14 Flushing library at 10.

STARS Fridays, June 8, 15, 22, 29 Senior Theater Acting Repertory at the Queens Village library at 10:30.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Friday, June 8 McGoldrick library. 335-7547.

THEATRE Friday, June 8 STAR scenes Hollis library at 2.

MEETINGS

People Local students received a degree during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Berkeley College. They include: Briarwood: Geetu Pakhiddey.

Queens Village: Monique Clark, Deanna Drummonds, May Lee, Linda Mitchell, Faria Rahman, Lori Ann Williamston.

Sam Walker of Jamaica received the Outstanding Senior Award and the student Government Executive Board Award during the Co-Curricular Awards night at American international College in Springfield, Mass.

Kwan Stewart, a student at George Washington Carver High School in Jamaica, was awarded a scholarship to attend SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica for the fall 2012 semester.

The New York Army National Guard has announced the recent reenlistment of members in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve in the National Guard.

Plumb./Heat

Sgt. Tanesha Orridge of Jamaica has reenlisted to continue service with the 14th Finance Detachment.

Specialist Michael Brown of Jamaica has reenlisted to continue service with the Company G (Forward Support Company Field Artillery), 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Staff Sgt. Godfrey Leigh of Jamaica has reenlisted to continue service with the Early Entry Element, 369th Sustainment Brigade.

Jada Triblet of Jamaica was named to the Dean’s List for the winter 2012 term at DePaul University in Chicago.

Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at the University of New Haven in Connecticut.

They include: Cambria Heights: Tashina Andrade.

Jamaica: Iajhiah Lucas, Jasmin Patterson.

Queens Village: Joey Rajkumar.

Violations

South Ozone Park: Audra Clyburn.

Ozone Park: Eliot Pacheco, Michelle Peralta.

Arvin Tangalan of Jamaica has earned the Leadership Award at SUNY Delhi’s 12th annual Student Life Leadership Award Ceremony. Majoring in hotel and resort management, Tangalan was one of 27 students, faculty and staff recognized for their outstanding contributions to improving campus life.

Martin Thomas of Jamaica was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at American International College in Springfield, Mass. Thomas is a junior sport and recreation management major.

Local students were honored during the 62nd annual Honors Day ceremony at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

Geraldine Fernandez of Hollis won the Psychology Prize, given

Floors

Floors

by the department, awarded to students with a distinguished academic record in psychology and the college, who have completed a senior thesis and contributed substantially in service to the community.

Lorenzo Sewanan of Hollis won the Trustee Award for Student Excellence, presented annually to a full-time senior who has compiled an outstanding academic record and whose achievements exemplify the high standards of excellence the college expects from its students.

Chi Yung Fung of Jamaica received a Bachelor of Arts in physics and applied mathematics during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Colgate University in Hamilton. Fung was one of 661 students to graduate with the class of 2012, representing a graduation rate of 89.7 percent, one of the highest in the nation.

Mary Capers of South Richmond Hill received a Bachelor

Floors

of Arts in theatre arts during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at SUNY Fredonia.

Raoul Oloa of Richmond Hill received a Bachelor of Arts during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs.

Richard Allen Rogers o f Cambria Heights received a Bachelor of Arts during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn.

Genesis Tejada of Ozone Park received a Bachelor of Arts in biology during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt. Alyssa Brusca and Christina Campisi, both of Howard Beach, received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh.

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June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Looking 4 ppl

Comeback In Queens

Gloria Estafan will rock Citi Field

Twenty-one years after her last No. 1 hit — “Coming Out of the Dark” — Gloria Estefan is coming out of the woodwork to headline the Megaton Mundial De Polito Vega on July 14 at Citi Field.

The legendary performer, best known for her run with the Miami Sound Machine, will be front and center at the historic show, which marks the first time top Latin artists from pop, bachata, meringue, salsa, reggaeton, banda and vallenator will share the stage for one night, honoring Polito Vega. Vega has been instrumental in maintaining 97.9 FM and 93.1 FM as the top Spanish radio stations in the city for more than 53 years.

The way he’s playing now, Citi Field regular, Ike Davis can only dream of having hits like Estefan.

Models Of Queens

Runway Dreams

She’s done modeling work since she was a little girl, but this Woodside wonder is looking to break out and be a star in the modeling world. Because she’s not as tall as a typical model, Chelsea said she wants to expand what people expect a model to look like.

“I have a lot of younger cousins, and I want to show them that there are different ways to be beautiful, that it doesn’t have to be the same thing you see on TV all the time,” she said.

She said she hopes that working with Shortstack Modeling will open up more doors for her.

When she’s not in front of the camera, Chelsea spends her time studying

to be a physical therapist. Though she doesn’t get a lot of free time between modeling and school, the lifelong Woodside native uses the time she does get to explore the borough.

“I like to spend a lot of time in Whitestone,” she said. “I like to go out there for the parks and the bridges. It’s a different side of Queens.

It’s like a whole different world.

“Queens comes down to the diversity,” she said. “There are so many different things to do, so many different places to eat.”

Police Action

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 1-7, 2012

Ever purchased tickets for a game at Citi Field just a little further away than you wanted to sit?

Ever thought about sneaking a little closer to home plate? If you’re an off-duty cop, you should probably think twice. Off-duty NYPD Officer Eduardo Cornejo was ejected from last Wednesday’s Mets/Reds game after he got cozy in a more expensive seat.

The drunken cop earned his three strikes by ignoring the or-

Just because these seats are empty, it doesn’t mean you can have them ders of a guest-services agent, security supervisor and a police sergeant. Cornejo was then arrested and sent packing. So much for New York’s Finest.

A couple of weeks ago, thousands of ultraOrthodox Jews packed Citi Field and Arthur Ashe stadium to protest the darkness and evil that is the Internet. Women weren't allowed, due to the ultra-Orthodox belief in segregation, and had to watch the proceedings at six sites across the Tri-State area. Of course, they watched it on an internet live-feed.

The New York Mets may not be able to sell out Citi Field, but the anti-technology rabbis can.

Perhaps the Mets can learn a little from the Ortodox, perhaps a little baseball prayer is called for.

Frying High

Chelsea Hart Home: Woodside Age 21 Height 5’3 Weight 110 Stats: 32-26-34

Internet Disconnection

QConfidential: Who We Are QConf is edited by: Michael Schenkler. Contributors: Ross Barkan, Steven J. Ferrari, Veronica Lewin, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Mike Nussbaum, Domenick Rafter. Email: Conf@QueensTribune.com

Confidentially, New York . . .

Ordthodox Jews talk Internet evil at Citi Field

Newspaper offices sometimes get the strangest mail. You never know what’s going to come when the Post Office comes a-callin’. Last week, PRESS managing editor Steven J. Ferrari received a French fry.

A fast food service that was going to be featured at the franchise show at the Javits Center next month was touting the quality of its fries in comparison to more popular fast food restaurants. Along with a press release, the company sent along a soggy, squashed fry from an undisclosed fast food location.

The company gets points for inventive marketing, but next time they may want to try a more satisfying tactic for hungry journalists: send over some better food. That fry made us lose our appetites.

Anyone hungry?

What’s Up JUNE 2 JUNE 4 Walkers For Wellness Club Open Lab 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.

Microsoft Word Classes Make your documents stand out with Microsoft Word. Learn to create and save Word documents; format text; copy, cut, and paste items; and insert pictures. To register, please call (718) 990-5148 or (718) 9905176 or visit the Job Information Center.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 9:30 a.m.

Lupus Awareness Event

JUNE 3 Steel Sensation Queens-based Trinidadian Steel Pan Band performs an eclectic mix of calypso, reggae, jazz, and more.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 3 p.m.

State Sen. Malcolm Smith’s crime prevention initiative Operation Safe Southeast Queens will take place on the first Wednesday of every month. For additional information, contact Tai White at (718) 454-0162.

This free event will be held at Smith’s District Office, 20520 Jamaica Ave., from 7 to 8 p.m.

JUNE 7 Walkers For Wellness Club See June 2 listing. At 7 p.m.

Tribute To Rev. Wyatt Library Cuts Protest Join Councilman James Sanders Jr. in protest against the planned budget cuts to the Laurelton Library. Come out and let the mayor know we will fight for our children’s and communities’ future. For more information, contact Donovan Richards at (718) 527-4356.

This free event will be held at Queen Public Library’s Laurelton Branch, 134-26 225th St. at 3:30 p.m.

JUNE 5 Walkers For Wellness Club See June 2 listing. At 7 p.m.

Celebrate Central Library Queens Library and members of Queens Library Guild and Local 1321 invite you to celebrate Central Library, a precious resource that serves all of Queens. We will stand up in support of full funding for libraries this year.

Can’t make it in person? The event will be streaming live. Find us @QueensLibrary and on facebook.com/queenslibrarynyc.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at noon.

Small Business Workshop Learn the ins and outs of starting and managing your own successful small business in this 12session workshop.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 7 p.m.

Join us for a Dialogue with Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, former board Chair of Twenty First Century Foundation and former Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York. Wyatt will be interviewed by Saundra Thomas Vice President of Community Affairs for ABC television. Wyatt will share lessons learned from his many years of dedicated service in the area of youth development and philanthropy. For questions and additional information contact Valerie Oliver-Durrah at volivere@aol.com or visit www.jotform.com/form/ 12020805330.

This free event will be held at the York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

tral Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 12:30 p.m.

Non-Profit Course Non-profit organizations are one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. Are you interested in starting your own?

In this three-part series, participants will learn what non-profit organizations are, how to start one, and how to secure funding for it. Please call the Job Information Center at (718) 990-0746 if you have questions.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 4 p.m.

JUNE 8 Outreach and Assistance Are you a young woman between 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.

For more information, visit thedaughtersofisisfoundation.org, or contact Simone Williams at (347) 731-1721 or isis.staff@gmail.com.

This free event will be held at Young Queens Loft, 148-14 Liberty Ave., 2nd Floor, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Practice Interviews It takes practice to perfect your interviewing skills. Mock interviews let you make mistakes before they count. Learn how to prepare for your interview; successfully deal with difficult questions and follow up properly after the interview. Space is limited. To schedule an appointment, call (718) 990-5148 or visit the Job Information Center.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 10 a.m.

Summer Reading 2012 Join us for an afternoon of Summer Reading events including Summer Reading Registration, Dream Big with Magic Jim and a variety of Activities includ-

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.

Volunteers for the class follow along using the CPR Anytime Personal Learning Kit, which features an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin. All participants are able take home the kit at the end of class and asked to pledge to use the kit to show five of their family members and friends how to perform CPR. This class teaches basic CPR technique and is not a certification course.

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.

ONGOING Job Club

Group Sessions

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 Dhamana Shakespeare-Turner, job coach, at (718) 739-2060, Ext. 18.

This free event will be held at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center, 161-06 89th Ave. Services are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Clergy United for Community Empowerment, Inc. Group Sessions are located at 89-31 161st St., 10th Floor, Jamaica, for the community on various topics such as Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Substance Abuse intervention, Decision Making, Condom Use, High Risk Behaviors leading to HIV, and self – esteem awareness. All group sessions offer light snacks and beverages. Group sessions are open to the public.

Round-Trip Metro Card reimbursement is available at the end of each completed session. For further information call (718) 297-0720. All services are free.

Please call for next group date.

June 1-7, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

The Lupus Connection is pleased to present a lupus awareness event featuring Dr. L. Ward, nephrologist. This program will educate patients about Lupus, discuss diagnosis, treatment options for Lupus and Kidneys, and empower attendees with the tools necessary to address the challenges that come with this condition.

This free event will be held at Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center - 172-17 Linden Blvd., from 10 a.m. to noon.

Need more time for your job search or to update your resume?

Do you just want to brush up on or practice Microsoft Office applications that you learned in our computer classes? Join us for open lab practice every Monday from 2 p.m and Friday from 2 to 6 p.m in the Cyber Center training room. No advance registration is necessary. For more information, visit the Job Information Center.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.

ing Bilingual Birdies, face paintJUNE 6 and science activities.

Operation Safe Southeast ing,This free event will be held Queens at Queens Public Library’s Cen-

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