Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 13 Issue No. 23 June 8-14, 2012

PAGE 18

CONVENTION CENTER:

NO DICE

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Inset Photo by Ira Cohen

Gov. Andrew Cuomo admits that all bets are off for a convention center at Aqueduct Racetrack.

By Domenick Rafter …Page 3

News Briefs

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

‘Comfort Women’ Memorial Rally Korean-American advocacy groups and numerous elected officials rallied in the auditorium of J.H.S 194 in Flushing to fight for the creation of a “comfort women” memorial in Queens. Spearheaded by Councilman Peter Koo (DFlushing), the controversial memorial would honor women who the Japanese military forced into sexual slavery during World War II. The Japanese government said they formerly apologized for the “comfort women” atrocities, though letters from a Japanese individual attacking Koo for his efforts to create a memorial were sent to every City Council member. Historians differ on how many women were impacted: Japanese scholars estimate 20,000, while Chinese scholars believe the number was as high as 410,000. Since women in former Japanese colonies in Korea and China were particularly abused, the issue has galvanized Korean and Chinese immigrant communities in New York. Some Japanese have argued that the women were prostitutes and were not actually coerced into sexual acts, though most historians reject this claim.

The Korean American Voters Council, Korean American Association of Queens, Korean American Senior Citizens Society of Greater New York, Korean American Society of Connecticut, Council of Korean Churches of Greater New York, Kwang Bok Association of New York, Korean American Parents Association – Greater New York, Korean Veterans Association of NE Redion and Korean Business Council of New York all sponsored the event.

“Ours is the strong voice for those who can no longer speak and whose story must be told,” Koo said. “We should not rest until the world recognizes and acknowledges all injustice done to these innocent women.”

Hosted by Seol Kwang Hyun, executive vice president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, the rally featured a slide show explaining the history of “comfort women.” Advocates have proposed that a street be renamed in downtown Flushing, and point to a “comfort women” memorial already in place in Palisades Park, New Jersey, as an example of what can be created in Queens.

Crime Up in 111th Precinct Crime is up 5 percent in the 111th Precinct, compared to this time last year.

Spanning the neighborhoods of Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Hollis Hills and Fresh Meadows, the precinct’s more affluent coverage area is not usually a haven for crime.

This is still the case: the 111th Pct. remains one of the safest in the City, though according to Captain Jason Huerta, grand larcenies have been the biggest problem plaguing the precinct.

This issue is not new, though. For years, precinct captains have warned people not to leave expensive possessions in their cars unattended. There have been 172 grand larcenies this year, up from 148 a year ago. The cause is not clear, though laptops, cell phones, wallets, navigation devices and purses remain the most popular targets for car thieves. In late April, at least a dozen cars on a stretch of Douglaston Parkway were broken into, alarming residents. There has also been a rise in identity theft, though Huerta did not make those statistics available.

Crime is down 5 percent over a 28day period in the 111th Pct. Preventing grand larcenies has been a top priority, Huerta said.

After-School Cuts With less than a month before the city’s budget is due, the last dash to protect funding that could be facing the ax is on, and among those who could suffer are after-school programs in Woodside.

Woodside on the Move, a community organization that runs after school programs at two Woodside schools is facing cuts as part of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s plan to slice $18.7 million and 24,000 seats from city after-school programs.

Bloomberg says the city budget is facing a $2 billion shortfall. Woodside on the Move itself could lose up to $1 million in funding.

Adrian Bardoni, executive director of Woodside on the Move, said the real effect would be felt on families who rely on after school programs.

“Some of them will have to cut back on their hours or even quit their jobs because they will need to stay home and take care of their children,” said Adrian Bardoni, executive director of Woodside on the Move, “This will mean the end of free after-school programs.”

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (DSunnyside) held a rally on May 23 at PS 152 in Woodside, on behalf of community organization Woodside on the Move’s after-school programs at neighborhood schools; PS 152 and PS 11 on Skillman Avenue.

“It is dead wrong to balance the budget on the backs of these children,” he said. “Without these after school programs these children will have nowhere else to go while their parents work.”

Van Bramer noted that children who do not have access to after school activities often end up on the streets, sometimes involved in crime activity, which would cost the city money anyway.

Presstime

Jamaica Staple To Shutter At Month’s End

BY VERONICA LEWIN After more than 10 years of helping Southeast Queens find employment, the staff at the Jamaica Neighborhood Center will be joining the unemployment line.

The Jamaica Neighborhood center announced May 31 that the 14-year-old center will have to close on June 30 due to a loss of funding. Program Director Jule Grant said they were shocked to hear the news after Memorial Day weekend.

“It sucks,” she said.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center was founded in 1998 by the Sisters of St. Dominic as an all-inclusive center. Located at

161-06 89th Ave., the center has been providing a plethora of educational activities to the community. The goal of the Jamaica Neighborhood Center was to address common obstacles faced

by Southeast Queens including unemployment, literacy and healthcare.

“I believe it’s going to be a great loss to the community,” Grant said.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center Job Club is a free program that helps those seeking employment by providing peer interaction, one-on-one counseling, computer training and access to workshops and seminars conducted by experts in the field.

With the City unemployment rate at 9.5 percent in April, it has become difficult to find a job. In addition to the people helped by the Job Club, the Jamaica Neighborhood Center’s five staff members will be out of work at the end of the month.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center was also known for its Adventures in Reading program, a year-round program that promotes the importance of reading. During the summer months, the program reads to children at Rufus King Park Monday through Friday. Participants also play literacy games to encourage reading comprehension. When fall approaches, the program moves

inside to WIC centers and daycare centers throughout Southeast Queens.

“Our mission is to encourage early literacy and in order to do so, we go wherever the kids are available,” Program Director Sylvia Walker said in September.

Volunteers read to two classrooms of about 15 kids at four daycare centers in Southeast Queens. How often Adventures in Reading can read to classrooms depends on the number of volunteers they receive, but they go into classrooms at least one hour a week.

The Jamaica Neighborhood Center also educated Southeast

Queens on prevalent health issues in the community including childhood asthma and lupus.

During the remaining days the center is open, staff members are brainstorming ways to save the Jamaica Neighborhood Center by the end of June. They have also been reaching out to other organizations in the community to see if they will continue some of their programs in their absence.

“It was a pleasure serving the community and I hope the void that we leave is filled,” Grant said.

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

Gov. Cuomo Questions Convention Plans State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), whose district includes Aqueduct Racetrack, said he believed the announcement did not preclude that further development would take place at the site.

“Knowing that we are at the very early stages of realizing the actuality of building a convention center, or even full gaming in New York, I am still optimistic that in the end we will make every effort to maximize the potential at Resorts World,” Addabbo said. “The site has been the provider of thousands of jobs. Our state government would be irrational to not ex-

plore the possibility of thousands of more job opportunities and extensive revenue to be created there.”

Other casino developers including Caesars, Sands and MGM Grand have hinted that they’d be interested in a bid.

Addabbo stressed that Aqueduct remained the best place for a convention center.

“Actually, the Resorts World site could have a ground-breaking for a convention center tomorrow if it were approved,” he said. “Most other sites are years away from developing a convention center due to the environment, traffic, soil and other stud-

Classrooms Without Walls: Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, at podium, addresses the crowd at MS 226 in South Ozone Park Wednesday night. Tisch traveled to Queens for the launch of the Classrooms Without Walls program in Districts 27 and 28, the first Councilwide rollout in the State. According to Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Rochdale), new teleconferencing technology will allow students to connect with peers from other schools and around the world. It also makes it easier to have guest speakers come to the classroom. “It takes the everyday monotony out of the classroom and it adds an extra edge to the teacher’s platform,” Wills said. All 23 schools in the district will online by the beginning of the next school year.

ies that must be completed beforehand.”

In a statement, Borough President Helen Marshall, who supported the idea of convention centers at both Aqueduct and Willets Point, remained supportive of building one in the borough.

“The need for a convention center in Queens has not diminished,” she said. “I remain hopeful and optimistic that something will get built. We have the labor force to build it, and we need the thousands of jobs that would be generated.”

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

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

With the paint on the walls of the brand new Resorts World New York City Casino barely dry, Gov. Andrew Cuomo dedicated a huge portion of his State of the State address in January to a plan for building the world’s largest convention center at the Aqueduct Racetrack site adjacent to the new casino. The announcement was met with trepidation from the communities surrounding the site which were just getting used to the new addition to their backyard.

But now the concerns and questions over the proposal may be all for naught.

Gov. Cuomo admitted last week that his plan to build the Aqueduct convention center had fallen apart. Genting, the parent company of Resorts World New York City casino, had been in talks with the governor to invest $4 billion of their own money to build a 3.8-million-square-foot convention center on the site.

But Gov. Cuomo told former Gov. David Paterson on the latter’s radio show last week that talks collapsed.

“We had those conversations going on for a few weeks,” he said. “Those conversations haven’t worked out.”

Sources close to the discus-

sion said at least part of the reason for the failure was the state’s rejection of a demand by Genting for exclusivity over casino gambling in the area.

Cuomo reiterated that the convention center idea , which he said would bring 10,000 construction and 10,000 permanent jobs, is not dead. Instead, a bid process for a proposed convention center, and possibly more casinos if full gambling is legalized in New York State, will likely be held and that any development that does happen may be built away from Aqueduct or outside Queens entirely. Willets Point has been eyed as a potential site for a convention center, even after Gov. Cuomo announced his plans at Aqueduct.

In a statement, Genting spokesman Stefan Friedman said the company still plans to make a bid.

“Resorts World welcomes the governor’s approach as the uncertainties and difficulties regarding the constitutional amendments, tax rate and infrastructure support made any decision difficult for both parties,” the statement read. “We now look forward to working with Gov. Cuomo and participating in any competition for a convention center/casino project that the governor designs.”

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Pol Seeks To Change Definition Of Rape

BY JASON PAFUNDI

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

Raise your hand if you know how to define ‘rape,’ and keep your hands up if you know that in New York State, rape is only defined to include forced vaginal intercourse.

It is a safe bet to think that the majority of New Yorkers did not know that the definition of rape in the State penal code excludes forced oral and anal penetration, and for a large number of the State’s elected officials — including one member of the Assembly in Queens — that is just wrong.

In direct response to the recent mistrial in the case against former NYPD officer Michael Pena, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) is pushing legislation to define ‘rape’ to include all acts of forcible sexual penetration.

Pena was not convicted of rape, Simotas said, because his accuser did not remember being penetrated, though the physical evidence presented pointed to the fact that she was.

The disgraced officer was sentenced to 75 years to life — the exact same penalty he would have received had he been convicted of rape — but Simotas said being labeled a convicted rapist has a stronger stigma attached to it, and it is something that is better for the victim.

“The importance of calling rape by its name cannot be understated,” Simotas said. “By denying this fact, by calling rape something different — predatory sexual assault or criminal sexual act — society fails to validate the victim’s experience and trauma.

“The fact that this man was not labeled a rapist and that the victim could not say she was raped under the eyes of New York law really bothered me.”

According to the charges and testimony, the victim was on her way to work when Pena grabbed her and forced himself on her at gunpoint. The defendant himself admitted that he assaulted her, but insisted it was not rape.

Semen on the victim’s underwear, redness to her genitals, eyewitness accounts and the victim’s own testimony was not enough to get the jury to convict the 28-year-old of rape.

Simotas’ legislation, being called the “Rape is Rape” bill, will refine the penal code to include forced oral and anal penetration — eight other states have already rewritten their laws in the same manner.

2012 Beach Day: Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Far Rockaway) joins Parks Commissioner Adriane Benepe along with other officials and took part in the official 2012 Beach Day Opening Ceremony sponsored by the Parks Dept., this past Memorial Day weekend. The event included live entertainment and food from local Rockaway boardwalk vendors.

The Assemblywoman said the image that most powerfully conveys the necessity of this redefinition is what happened to the Bronx school teacher in the Pena case.

“To be forced, at gunpoint no less, to perform oral sex or to be forcibly penetrated anally is rape, plain and simple,” Simotas said.

“You cannot see that vision in your mind and call it anything else.”

Simotas said she has received

support on both sides of the aisle in the Assembly and hopes that the process to pass the bill will be a smooth and quick one. If passed during this legislative session, which ends this month, the bill would take effect on Nov. 1.

Many parents of victims and victims themselves called Simotas’ office and explained how they could not understand why the prosecutor could not charge rape.

Forest Park Carousel Opens To Public

BY DOMENICK RAFTER

PRESS Photo by Domenick Rafter

Carnival music triumphantly echoed through the sounds of rustling trees and a spring downpour.

It was a symphony that hadn't been heard in Forest Park for awhile. The source of the music came from the top of the hill near Woodhaven Boulevard - the 109 year-old carousel that was alive for the first time in almost three years.

With a new operator and some cosmetic changes, the carousel at Forest Park reopened to the public on Memorial Day weekend.

Representatives from New York Carousel, the attraction's new operator, joined local officials and Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.

"The carousel is back open for business," announced Lewandowski, who grew up only steps from Forest Park.

The carousel was shuttered in 2009 when its previous operator, New York One, let its contract with the Parks Dept. expire.

An audit done by Comptroller

Children enjoy themselves at the Forest Park Carousel opening on May 24.

John Liu in 2011 showed the company, which operated the Flushing Meadows Corona Park carousel until last year, allegedly kept poor financial records and violated health codes.

Local residents, led by Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents Block Association, have been pushing for the carousel to reopen since 2009 and the Parks Dept. sought out vendors, but repeatedly failed to find any interest- until now.

New York Carousel took up operations for the ride and the first children, students from nearby St. John Lutheran School in Glendale, took a spin on the carousel's ornate horses in a special preview on May 24. The carousel officially opened on May 26 and will be open weekends from 11 a.m. to sunset until New York City public schools close for the summer, after which it will be open daily until Labor Day. On its first full day, a steady

f low of local children, most of them from the surrounding neighborhoods scurried through the gates of the carousel to be the first paying customers to ride the attraction since 2009.

Though the ride is open, the concession stand has not and the enclosed area at the top of the hill where the carousel sits lacks seating, both of which are coming along with other events for children, said New York Carousel's Ami Abramson.

"We want to figure out what the demand is and what the kids want," he said. As part of the contract with the Parks Dept., New York Carousel has the ability to bring in more attractions, such as shows and games, and make use of the sloping hillside between the carousel and Woodhaven Boulevard.

Abramson said some renovations were done during the month of May, including moving the iron gates that surround the ride inward by eight feet, so parents could have a closer look at

their children and be covered under the carousel's great tentshaped canopy. The wood floor was polished and some detail work was done on the animals and carriages inside the carousel and further work will be done to clean the mirrors in the center of the ride. New York Carousel also operates the ride at Flushing Meadows Corona Park - a deal the Parks Dept. mandated in the bid and the operator was happy to agree to.

"It makes a lot of sense for us to put our resources into both [carousels]," he said.

The carousel, which is technically located within the boundaries of the neighborhood of Woodhaven, is a source of pride for the community, Wendell said.

He added he was not certain he would ever see it spin again.

"There were times when I thought this was not going to happen," he admitted.

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

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

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 Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel

A New Idea Now that Gov. Cuomo’s plans for the 3.8-million-square-foot convention center at Aqueduct seems to have fallen apart, it’s time for our elected officials to come up with an alternate plan that would bring a similar economic investment into the borough.

According to the governor, the original proposal for the “world’s largest convention center” would bring 10,000 construction jobs, followed by another 10,000 permanent jobs to Queens. The economic impact would likely have been a boon during tough fiscal times.

Cuomo made assurances that it is still possible a convention center could be built, but it might be by a different developer and maybe even at a different site.

Just because these most recent negotiations fell apart, there is no reason to scrap the idea altogether. Now is the time for our elected officials to make some noise and ensure that everyone involved sees the potential in bringing a convention center to Queens.

With all that Queens has to offer, the borough seems like a perfect place for a brand new convention center, either at Aqueduct or, to cite a different proposal, at Willets Point. With international airports, sports venues and a casino all within our borders, what more could a developer ask for?

Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

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 8-14, 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

Letters Have Patience To The Editor: We now live in an impatient world that cries for immediate results and doesn’t acknowledge the bigger picture. An example of this mindset appeared in your Letters section last week, when a resident of Woodhaven un-

loaded a list of complaints about the newly reopened carousel at Forest Park.

One complaint involved the lack of a large sign on Woodhaven Boulevard. For over a century, our carousel has operated in Forest Park without the benefit of a gaudy sign. With all

Letters the gates finally rolled up, there is simply no better advertisement to passersby, than the lights and sounds of an active carousel.

Another pair of complaints involved a not-yet-opened concession stand and table and chairs that haven’t arrived yet.

At our most recent Woodhaven Town Hall meeting, New York Carousel Entertainment explained that what we are seeing now is a work in progress, and that each of these items will be taken care of in short order. They have been quite communicative on this point and the media has reported this on multiple occasions. The alternative was to wait until everything was completed before letting the kids on the ride.

If they had done that, you can be sure that someone would complain that they should just let the kids on the ride and worry about the finishing touches later.

In other words, you can’t please everyone.

The folks at NY Carousel have done a remarkable job considering how little time they had to get everything up and running for the holiday weekend. Keep in mind that the deal was struck less than a month ago. The fact that it was open at all was a small miracle. And after nearly four

years of silent inactivity, the sight of “40 or 50 men, women and children” at our carousel — even hungry ones — was very welcome.

Looking at the big picture, we welcome NY Carousel to our long and continuing relationship with the Forest Park Carousel. We’re very happy with the progress they have made so far, particularly the removal of the “prison-style” bars, which kept anyone watching the carousel distant and apart from the action. In its place are waisthigh gates that give you an unimpeded view at least 8-10 feet closer than before. This modification is also a nod to our history, as it recreates the viewing available at the original carousel. This kind of thinking has made us quite comfortable with the prospect of NY Carousel being the caretaker over the years ahead - and, we hope, for many more successful years beyond.

We welcome everyone who wishes to be better-informed of what’s going on in Woodhaven to become part of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association. We can be reached at (718) 296-3735 or via email at info@woodhaven-nyc.org.

Edward K. Wendell, President, Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

A Marine Tells It At York Graduation

A Personal Perspective

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

I have long felt that the people who serve in our military deserve far more appreciation than we give them when they return from war.

Too often after a tour of duty, military service people are left to their own devices to figure out how to rebuild civilian lives dealing with injuries both physical and psychological.

Last week at York College’s commencement, one veteran, a 25-year-old Marine, wowed a crowd of at least 1,500 with his amazing story of his two tours of duty in Iraq.

Tony Wan came to York in 2009 after experiencing the horrors of the Iraq War and wowed his professors with his accomplishments as a chemistry major. His

participation in the undergraduate research program was always impressive and he maintained killer grades throughout, graduating in three years with a GPA of 3.99. He seems like any other student and most classmates did not know his story until he told it compellingly as valedictorian on June 1.

He will now be applying to medical school with plans to become a neurologist. Looking at him, Wan shows no external injuries but he did suffer concussions, which he knows could cause problems later.

Wan, who lives in Flushing and graduated from Benjamin Cardozo High School in Bayside, decided to join the Marines at 17, so he could afford college afterwards. He was trying to spare his hard-working parents the expense of financing college for two children on

their modest salaries.

Our men and women in the military are not given a forum in which to express their experiences. It is for that reason that we can only imagine what they go through. Wan changed all that for the audience at his graduation as he masterfully compared and contrasted the difficulty of surviving war and then college.

He recalled carrying 40 pounds of gear over 48 miles of rough terrain through 54 hours of combat exercises during his first tour of duty.

“Imagine,” he said, “Your eyes water from smoke, your ears ring from explosions and your nose closes from the acrid smell of gunpowder…food and sleep deprivation, climbing walls… to rescue a fellow Marine, and carry him on your back all the way back.”

He explained that that was only a test run during boot camp and told the audience to imagine having to do such a rescue over and over again when someone’s life was really in danger. Then he dramatically likened the college experience to his war experience. On his first tour of duty in Iraq, Wan lost his best friend when their convoy struck a roadside bomb.

“That’s not something you get over,” he said. “Not easily, if ever….”

He learned leadership in Iraq as well. On his second tour of duty, he became team leader and would ride in the lead truck and would strategically exit the convoy to get down on all fours to hunt for possible explosive devices that would devastate his charges.

I thank Corporal Wan and all the men and women who serve our country all over the world.

“I have a super low rate up to $2.0 million!�

No one knows mortgages better than ,BSFO $BSUFS, your friendly, neighborhood Mortgage Consultant. She has a special, limited-time mortgage that, once approved, could get you moving on a new home or refinancing your existing one. Hurry because this offer may be withdrawn at any time. t 'JYFE 3BUF .PS UHBHFT t #J 8FFLMZ .PS UHBHFT t "EKVTUBCMF 3BUF .PS UHBHFT t $P PQ $POEP -PBOT t 40/:." 0UIFS "GGPSEBCMF )PVTJOH 1SPHSBNT t -PBO "NPVOUT VQ UP .JMMJPO "WBJMBCMF

,BSFO $BSUFS /.-4 *%

XXX SJEHFXPPECBOL DPN ,BSFO Queens: Ridgewood – 71-02 Forest Avenue t )PMMJT – 205-11 Hillside Avenue -BVSFMUPO o 230-22 Merrick Boulevard Brooklyn: $PCCMF )JMM o 244 Cour t Street Nassau: 'SBOLMJO 4RVBSF o )FNQTUFBE 5VSOQJLF t (BSEFO $JUZ 1BSL o 2435 Jericho Turnpike )JDLTWJMMF o 220 Old Country Road Manhattan: OE "WFOVF t TU "WFOVF Member FDIC

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

To make an appointment or meet Karen at one of our Ridgewood branches, call 917-807-6480.

6th Congressional District Primary:

Forest Bayside Could Be Keys To Victory ForestHills, Hills, Bayside Could Bayside, where cozy restaurants huddle around Bell Boulevard and neighbors strain to keep the budget ax's blade from nipping Engine 306, is not usually a place people fight over. Parking could be the endeavor that brings Forest Hills residents closest to war - the meter is running out, Austin Street is packed and tony Forest Hills Gardens, private streets and all, is off-limits - but the central Queens neighborhood is not what would typically be called a battleground. With a congressional primary less than three weeks away, Bayside and Forest Hills are now the most contested chunks of turf in a new district.

Since U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) announced his retirement, clearing the way for a rare incumbent-free congressional race, three Democratic elected officials and one political unknown have emerged from four distinct regions of the newly-drawn 6th Congressional District. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), hailing from the district's western portion, is counting on the support of neighborhoods like Glendale and Middle Village.

Backed by Queens Democrats, Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) will rely upon Asian voters massed in urban Flushing.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman's (D-Hillcrest) vertical district spans heavily-Jewish neighborhoods like Hillcrest and Fresh Meadows. Dr. Robert Mittman, a Bayside-based allergist, survived challenges from the Lancman campaign and reached the ballot. Mittman has never sought elected office before, lacking the name recognition of his three rivals. Democrats will vote on June 26.

None of the frontrunners' current districts encompass Forest Hills or Bayside, two enclaves that are melting pots of race, class and voting history.

Forest Hills and neighboring Rego Park are 55 percent white, 26 percent Asian and 14 percent Hispanic, according to 2010 Census figures. Bayside is now

PRESS Photos by Ira Cohen

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

BY ROSS BARKAN

The diverse Forest Hills will be a key swing area in the 6th District.

47 percent Asian, 39 percent white and 10 percent Hispanic.

Among Democratic primary voters, Jerry Skurnik undertook the relatively unscientific task of analyzing the surnames of voters and determining if they appeared Asian, Hispanic or Jewish. Of registered Democrats in Bayside, Skurnik, a founder of the voter file vendor Prime New York, found that 30 percent are Asian, 10 percent are Hispanic and 14 percent are Jewish. A mix of African-Americans and nonJewish white voters comprise the rest of this voting population.

Those percentages are 10 percent, 10 percent and 33 percent respectively in Forest Hills.

Non-Jewish white voters make up a large chunk of the rest of the voters. The Forest Hills tabulations favor the Jewish Lancman, according to political observers, though this does not mean he will necessarily win the neighborhood. Meng hopes to scoop up the sizable Asian blocs in both neighborhoods and Crowley will be vying for a large chunk of the 6th District: white voters who are not Jewish.

Mittman's name recognition in Bayside could steal a small number of votes from any of the candidates.

Lancman, Meng and Crowley have campaign headquarters in Forest Hills. All Democratic campaigns have acknowledged that winning Bayside and Forest Hills could be the difference between failure and the chance to battle in a general election that heavily favors a Democrat.

Sources close to campaigns portray vigorous door-knocking operations underway in both areas.

They Won't Be Ignored The immigrant influx that has transformed Queens over the past two decades has remade Forest Hills, a mix of soaring apartment buildings, single-family homes and the artful commerce of Austin Street. Forest Hills' mixed housing stock distinguishes it from other Queens neighborhoods that are often painted with the broad brush strokes of "urban" or "suburban."

The Grand Central Parkway, Jackie Robinson Parkway and Long Island Expressway form its borders.

"Forest Hills is becoming more diverse," said Russell Schaffer, a Forest Hills resident and lifelong Democrat. "In my building alone, there are Orthodox Jews, Asians, AfricanAmericans, older voters, Latinos. It's not the Rockaways, and certainly not Flushing. It's not a neighborhood candidates can afford to ignore."

The Queens County Democratic headquarters also lie on Austin Street-Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) is a co-chair of Meng's campaign. As Schaffer observed, the traditional Jewish populace now mingles with emergent Hispanic, Russian and Asian residents who, if they show up to vote, will serve as swing voters in what political observers expect to be a close election. Direct mailings from all the candidates are now cramming many of the overstuffed mailboxes in Forest Hills.

"We've always had a very diverse group," said Barbara Stuchinski, president of the Forest Hills Civic Association. "Basically, it boils down to two sections, your high rise dwellers or residential one-family homes.

You'll find high risers will vote more on a party line and home owners may vote for more conservative candidates."

Rogue Voters Bayside may just be an entire neighborhood of wildcards.

Bayside's contribution to the new 6th Congressional District is bordered by Francis Lewis Boulevard to the north, the Long Island Expressway to the south, the Cross Island Parkway to the east and Bay Terrace to the north.

Unlike Forest Hills, Bayside is a suburban community lacking in subway access and proud of its harmonious blending with n e a r by Na s s a u C o u n t y.

Ackerman, Bayside's outgoing congressman, backed Meng last week. The lone Republican congressional contender, Councilman Dan Halloran (RWhitestone), represents Bayside, along with Little Neck, Douglaston and Whitestone on the City level. Before State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) defeated Frank Padavan in 2010, Padavan, a moderate Republican, represented the area in Albany for 38 years. Police officBayside does not march in lockstep with ers, firefighters, schoolteachers and retirees fill either Democrats or Republicans. many of Bayside's single-

family homes.

Voters do not march in lockstep with Democrats or Republicans. Avella and Halloran are equally fond of portraying City government as a Manhattan-centric bureaucracy that ignores the needs of Bayside. Residents like this rhetoric.

"We have to feel like we're being considered," said Mike Feiner, president of the Bayside Hills Civic Association. "The candidate who in his or her campaign speeches says we're just as special as Manhattan is the one who will get attention."

Another theme that may have saved Halloran's campaign in 2009 was the threat of "over development." Walk the hushed streets of Bayside enough, and the gripes of longtime homeowners overcome the calm: if Bayside is not vigilant, so the thinking goes, moneyhungry developers will try to transform Bayside into another downtown Flushing, where Manhattan does not feel so far away.

Many residents are privately glad that only the Long Island Rail Road, and not a subway line, cuts beneath their neighborhood.

"A lot of people who move to Bayside, including my parents decades ago, moved here because of the quality of education," said Steve Behar, a member of Bayside's contingent of Community Board 11. Bayside is known for high-scoring schools like Bayside and Benjamin Cardozo High School. "Those people have more of an incentive to make sure those elected officials have the same belief."

Grasping for historic parallels, Skurnik sees former Congressman Anthony Weiner's 1998 congressional primary victory over Melinda Katz as the most similar to this singular race: neither candidate represented the Rockaways, then a part of a Queens district that included portions of Brooklyn, and Weiner fought hard to woo Rockaways voters unfamiliar with any of the Democrats.

Weiner won by 285 votes.

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

Police Blotter 105th Precinct Bank Robbery The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect wanted for a bank robbery.

On May 25, at approximately 11:50 a.m., the suspect walked into the HSBC Bank, located at 220-09 Hillside Ave., and passed a note to the teller demanding money. The note also stated that he had a firearm. The teller complied and handed the suspect an undetermined amount of money. The suspect then fled the bank in an unknown direction.

The suspect is described as an AfricanAmerican male, 30-40 years old, 6-foot-5, approximately 200 lbs., with dark complexion and facial hair.

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.

106th Precinct Accident Investigation On June 1 at approximately 12:30 a.m.,

Compiled by STEVEN J. FERRARI NYPD responded to a report of a motorist plied and handed the suspect an undisstruck at the intersection of Lefferts Bou- closed amount. The suspect then fled levard and Rockaway Boulevard. Upon westbound on 54th Ave. The suspect is described as 6-foot, 180 arrival, officers discovered the victim, a 39-year-old African-American male, lying pounds. He was wearing a light blue shirt, on the ground with severe body trauma. jeans, a black baseball hat and sunglasses.

Anyone with information is asked to EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to Jamaica Hospital, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS where he was pronounced dead on arrival. (8477). The public can also submit their Upon further investigation, it was de- tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ termined the victim was operating a website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle traveling texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), south on Lefferts Boulevard when he lost then enter TIP577. control and struck a 2001 Nissan Altima All calls are strictly confidential. traveling north. The operator remained on the scene.

108th Precinct Bank Robbery The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect wanted for a bank robbery.

On May 30 at 2 p.m., the suspect, an African-American male in his 40s, walked into the Chase Bank located at 54-12 48th St., handed a teller a note demanding money. The note also stated he had a firearm. The suspect then displayed a silver and black firearm. The teller com-

114th Precinct

Victim Shot The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance with the whereabouts and identity of two suspects wanted in connection to an assault.

On May 31 at approximately 7:05 p.m., an African-American male approached a 35-year-old African-American male and shot the victim in the right leg. The suspect was accompanied by an AfricanAmerican female who fled with the suspect in a dark SUV on 10th Street.

The first suspect is described as wearing

a cap, a dark T-shirt and dark jeans. The second suspect, who is wanted for questioning, was wearing a multicolored dress.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).

All calls are strictly confidential.

115th Precinct Attempted Kidnapping The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect wanted in regards to an attempted kidnapping.

On May 29 at 8:15 a.m., the suspect – Mark Synclair, 33-year-old African American male, approximately 5-foot-9, 200 pounds – attempted to kidnap the victim, a 7-year-old male, in front of P.S. 192, located at 99-01 34th Ave. The victim was able to struggle with the suspect and run from the scene without any injuries.

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.

+RPHEX\HUV &DQ 5HFHLYH 8S WR LQ 3XUFKDVH $VVLVWDQFH 2Q 9DFDQW 6KRUW 6DOH DQG %DQN 2ZQHG 3URSHUWLHV LQ %URRNO\Q 4XHHQV 6WDWHQ ,VODQG

)RU LQIRUPDWLRQ ZZZ Q\PF RUJ QVS

2ZQHU 2FFXSDQF\ 5HTXLUHG 5HJLVWUDWLRQ )HH $GGLWLRQDO 5HVWULFWLRQV $SSO\ )XQGLQJ DYDLODEOH IRU D OLPLWHG WLPH

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

0LFKDHO 5 %ORRPEHUJ 0D\RU RI WKH &LW\ RI 1HZ <RUN 0DWKHZ 0 :DPEXD &RPPLVVLRQHU 1<& 'HSW RI +RXVLQJ 3UHVHUYDWLRQ 'HYHORSPHQW 6KDXQ 'RQRYDQ 6HFUHWDU\ 86 'HSW RI +RXVLQJ DQG 8UEDQ 'HYHORSPHQW

pix

Summer Interns

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

York Graduation Queens DA Richard Brown stands with some of the 91 law school and college students participating in the District Attorney’s office’s 10-week Volunteer Summer Internship Program.

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

York College valedictorian Tony Wan, a decorated former Marine corporal who served two tours of duty in Iraq, gives his valedictory address during the college’s 42nd commencement exercises on June 1.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) greeted the graduates during York College’s commencement ceremonies.

Photo by Ira Cohen

Photos by Ira Cohen

Standing Ovation Performers from the Big Apple Circus salute the crowd following a performance.

The circus runs through June 17 at Cunningham Park. For information, visit www.bigapplecircus.com.

Kitchen Inventory Blowout!

WEISMAN’S BIGGEST SALE EVER! NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

FREE IN-HOME MEASURING!

FULLY FULLY ASSEMBLED ASSEMBLED

TAKE ANAL N ADDITIO

*

GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES!

ALL ALL WOOD WOOD -- IN IN STOCK! STOCK! Every Kitchen On Sale!

F F O % 25

**

25% OFF TAKE A ADDITIO N NAL

**

OUR AL REDUCEDREADY PRICE!

ADY OUR ALREPRICE! D E C U D RE

Landmark Oak Wheat**

Ginger Maple**

BACKYARD SAVINGS EVENT ost!

Below C

9 ft. MARKET UMBRELLA

29

Assorted Colors.

Sugg. Retail $69.99

99 99

PARK BENCH Sturdy Wood Seat And Decorative Iron Back Scroll Design. #90016

69

99 99

8” x 12” Wall

23 ¢¢

3” x 6 ”

1099999

Includes cushion Sugg. Retail $199.99 #92624

Wall or Floor

Ceramic Tiles • Texas Noce • Orleans Hueso

6 PC. PATIO SET

1599999

Set Includes Glass Top Table, 4 Chairs And Matching Sugg.

Umbrella. #91168

Retail $199.99

12” x 12” Floor

¢¢

§

Sq. Ft.

75% Of f

American Made

Porcelain Floor Tiles

Sugg. Retail $1.99 Sq. Ft.

Happy House 4 Colors Available

3”x6”

20¢¢ 10¢¢ §

79 Your Choice

Each

6”x6”

f 60% Of

CANOPY SWING

12” x 12” Floor

60% Of f

Porcelain Wall & Backsplash Tiles ” 6” x 6

99 99

§

Large Selection Of Colors To Choose From!

18” X 18”................$1.29 Sq. Ft.

99

Ea. Ea. Sugg. Retail $2.59 Sq. Ft.

§

Sq. Ft.

Sugg. Retail $3.99 Sq. Ft.

Floor & Wall Glass Tiles

Glueless Laminate Flooring l Speciase Purcha

¢¢

• Many Styles To Choose From • Easy Installation

Starting At

89

¢¢

70% Of f

Sq. Ft. Sugg. Retail $2.49 Sq. Ft.

Available In Assorted Colors

99 299

Starting At §

Sq. Ft. Sugg. Retail $8.99 Sq. Ft.

SHOP AT HOME 24 HOURS A DAY: WeismanHomeOutlets.com

Sale Ends June 13, 2012

QUEENS

BROOKLYN

63-27 Metropolitan Ave..............718.497.0212

1175 McDonald Ave...............718.377.8871

• MIDDLE VILLAGE

• SPRINGFIELD GARDENS

• BOROUGH PARK

218-01 Merrick Blvd...................718.723.4000

STORE HOURS: • MON-WED 8-6 • THURS 8-8 • FRI 8-7 • SAT 9-6 •SUN 10-5 • SPRINGFIELD: MON-WED 8-6 • THURS 8-7 • FRI 8-6 • SAT 9-6 SUN 10-5 *Based on 60” Starter set. **Pertains to cabinets advertised in today’s ad. All sales final. Not res ponsible for type errors or omissions. Photos for illustration only. § Manufacturers Sugg. Retail.

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

• Telche Gris • Cocina Beige

Sugg. Retail $199.99

1st Quality

ost!

Below C

Ceramic Tiles

99

Includes 2 Chairs, 2 Ottomans & Coffee Table.

Sugg. Retail $99.99

all ciia ec pe S Sp e se as ha ch rc ur P Pu 6” X 8”

5 Pc. Outdoor Conversational Set

Profile

Abuse Victim Puts Experiences In New Book “At the time it was happening, I didn’t think it was abnorNine-year-old Donna Mae mal. I thought this happened to DePola took a handful of pills everyone,” she said. one day. By the time the sound She turned her experience of footsteps arrived at her bed- into the book, “Twelve Tins,” room door, she was which was showtoo high to care. Too cased at this week’s high to care that her BookExpo America father’s body would at the Jacob Javitz soon be on top of Convention Center. hers for yet another Book Expo America is rape. The drugs designed to introduce made her forget, she publishers to unsigned said, about the pain authors. She came up she had suffered for with the idea to put the past five years. her thoughts down on “I knew that if I paper eight years ago, got high before my and it took her six father snuck into my years to write the room, I wouldn’t Donna Mae DePola book. even care or even be DePola said her in this world to even know what preteen drug use escalated from he’s doing,” she said. pills to alcohol, marijuana, DePola, 63, was sexually heroin, and eventually cocaine. abused by her father and cousin She later fell into a cocaine psyfrom the age of 4 to 17. chosis and was admitted to

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Holliswood Hospital for mental health treatment. Seven years after getting treatment, she was hired as the hospital’s director of marketing.

Years after the abuse ended, DePola suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and would have sporadic flashbacks. When this happened, she would relapse.

“Drugs do what they’re supposed to do,” she said. “It makes you forget your pain.”

In 1987, her father passed away. When going through his belongings in a dropped ceiling, she came across twelve reel film tins. Upon finding the tins, she hid them behind a boiler. Several months later, she found a reelto-reel player and planned on watching the films. Inside the tins she found small pieces of paper with dates and times, and thought she saw her hair on one of the reels.

She took the twelve tins to her psychiatrist and asked her to view the films before her. DePola was right: the 12 tins contained film of her sexual abuse. She said although she remembered him taking photos, but she was not aware that he was recording as well. Still, DePola felt a sense of relief after the discovery.

“The tins, as horrible as they were, were kind of like my freedom,” she said. Prior to finding the films, she was told by people she confided in that she was lying about the abuse. Now that there was proof, it was hard to deny.

“It was horrible that it was on film, but also no one could say I lied about it,” DePola said.

“Twelve Tins” takes readers from her abuse as a child to her current role today, president of the Resource Training Center.

Among other things, the organization offers support to individu-

als having trouble finding employment because of a former substance abuse problem and also provides training to become credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselors. The Resource Training Center has five offices in the state, including one in Richmond Hill.

She said many readers have told her how therapeutic the book can be for sexual assault victims. DePola stressed the importance of coming forward after being assaulted, a choice some women do not make out of fear that they will not be believed.

“Women who lie about rape, they ruin it for people who it’s really happened to,” she said.

“Twelve Tins” is available for purchase at donnamaedepola.com or at the Kindle store on amazon.com.

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

ters degree in public administration.

St. Albans: Jaquan Bryant, Bachelor of Arts in communication; Scott Henderson, Masters in public administration.

South Ozone Park: Jasmyn Brown, Bachelor of Professional Studies in fashion merchandising.

Peralta, both of Ozone Park, were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn.

People

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

Christopher Davius o f Cambria Heights and Nadia Misir of South Ozone Park were named to the President’s List for the spring 2012 semester at SUNY Oswego.

Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at SUNY Oswego. They include: Queens Village: Damaris Dunn, Kazi Hasan, Maya Siegel.

Rosedale: Nicholas Davis.

South Ozone Park: Kevin Ramkishun.

Pamela Defensor of Jamaica received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Dominican College in Orangeburg.

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at St. Lawrence University in Canton.

Natasha A. Bennett of Jamaica graduated magna cum laude with a degree in govern-

ment and a minor in Caribbean Latin American studies. Bennett graduated from Martin Van Buren High School.

Jennifer I. Nweji of Jamaica received a degree in global studies and government. Nweji graduated from Grover Cleveland High School.

The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more.

Bennie Anderson of St. Albans won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing May 22.

Anderson’s winning ticket was purchased at the JFP Grocery & Deli, 201-01 Linden Blvd., St. Albans.

Michael Argyros of Jamaica won $20,185 on the Take Five drawing May 27. Argyro’s winning ticket was purchased at Best Friend Tires, 138-17 Hillside Ave., Jamaica.

Noble Abraham of Queens Village received a Bachelor of Science degree in health science during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pa. Shannon V. Robinson of Springfield Gardens received a degree in mathematics during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

Bryan Cash of Rosedale won a scholarship to Syracuse University worth $8,000 in the 2012 Citizenship Education Conference, sponsored by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

They include: Queens Village: Derrick Avery, Bachelor of Arts in public administration.

Rosedale: Deon Abrams, Mas-

Naomi Anthonio of Springfield Gardens was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. Alisa Yu of Jamaica graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

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

Eliot Pacheco and Michelle

Genesis Tejada of Ozone Park received a Bachelor of Arts degree 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.

Esthefania Rodriguez of Ozone Park was named to the President’s List for the spring 2012 semester at SUNY Oswego.

Camille Romero of Queens Village and Traci Forrester of Springfield Gardens were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Alfred State College.

A&E

Author Takes Trip To Astoria’s Past As Roseanna Chiofalo was writing her first novel, "Bella Fortuna," she turned to Astoria for inspiration. Originally from Astoria, Chiofalo wanted to show how the neighborhood

used to be when she was growing up.

"I had a lovely childhood there, Astoria had a real sense of community," Chiofalo said.

"Bella Fortuna," published

by Kensington Publishing Corp., is about a wedding dress de-

Restaurant Review

Soul Food Lands In Queens

A Plate of Soul 110-46 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica (718) 880-1337 HOURS: Tues-Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri-Sun 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

CUISINE: American DELIVERY: Take out only CREDIT CARDS: Visa and Mastercard

Author Roseanna Chiofalo with her new book. on her block hung out on the street, even in the dark.

Astoria is much different today, Chiafalo said. It is less residential and has numerous restaurants and lounges.

"It's a great place to live if you're single, but has gotten more crowded and noisy," she said. "No one comes out and talks to each other like they used to."

Chiofalo recently moved to Forest Hills with her husband.

She said Forest Hills is quieter so it is easier for her to write from home. Chiofalo said she wanted people from outside the area to experience different par ts of New York, not just Manhattan. There are many at-

tractions and activities in Queens and she said she hopes that visitors will explore parts of the City besides the tourist locations.

Chiofalo has a strong Italian heritage, which she said affected her writing. Her parents are from Sicily and came to New York in 1961. She grew up speaking Sicilian at home.

Bella Fortuna means good luck in Italian. The second half of the novel is set in Venice, Italy.

"I wanted to get through the community, showing then special love and bond between family and the beauty of Italian American culture," Chiofalo said.

The author said "Bella Fortuna" is a tale of love, luck and destiny. The novel brings up the discussion of how much people have control over their own lives and how much is in the hands of fate.

"In the end, we are the masters of our destiny," said Chiofalo.

"Bella Fortuna" is on sale on Aug. 28. She is currently writing her second book which is also set in Astoria.

Mets Induct Franco To Hall Of Fame

BY DAN MILLER Johan Santana's no-hitter wasn't the only big event at Citi Field last weekend.

Just two days after the first no-no in New York Mets history, the team inducted former relief pitcher John Franco into the Mets Hall of Fame.

A four-time All-Star, Franco is recognized as the Mets alltime saves leader (276) and games pitched leader (695).

With 424 saves overall in his career, Franco has the most of any left-handed reliever. The pitcher was honored in an onfield ceremony before Sunday's Mets-Cardinals game. Former

teammates from the Mets and his St. John's University baseball team joined family and friends as Howie Rose called him to the podium to receive the honor.

The timing of Franco's induction was fitting, as his alma mater plays in the NCAA baseball playoffs.

John Franco throws out the first pitch at Sundays MetsCardinals game, after he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Finding good soul food in Queens can be a challenge. Unless you have a relative from the South, your best option is to make the trek to Harlem to visit Sylvia’s. Luckily, Sylvia’s grandson was kind enough to bring down-home cooking to the borough.

James Nico Holman opened A Plate of Soul on Merrick Boulevard three months ago, and it has already made a splash in South Queens. During the lunch hour on a Tuesday, there was a steady flow of customers coming in to take advantage of A Plate of Soul’s great specials.

The restaurant offers a filling fish sandwich for just $2.

Unlike many dining options in the neighborhood, A Plate of Soul’s modern décor and comfortable seating make it a welcoming place to relax and enjoy a meal. That’s exactly what my guest and I did. I was joined by Kevin Livingston, creator of the “100 Suits for 100 Men” program. We discussed Queens politics while perusing the menu.

The menu featured traditional soul food, including col-

lard greens, mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. Kevin and I decided to try the fish and chips. For just $6, the price cannot be beat. Instead of being dipped in cornstarch like traditional fish and chips, A Plate of Soul dips their fish in cornmeal for a lighter, delicious option. After one bite, I realized Sylvia taught her grandson right. The fish was crispy and seasoned perfectly.

Our lunch was topped off with a bowl of mac and cheese.

Before my trip to Merrick Boulevard, I was convinced I could only get a delicious bowl of mac and cheese in my mother’s kitchen upstate. I was pleasantly surprised that I could get an equally tasty bowl of the gooey side dish in Queens.

Each forkful dangled with strings of cheese and I resisted the urge to ask for a second helping after I scraped the bowl clean in just a few minutes.

Unlike some places, A Plate of Soul serves right sized portions for people watching their waistlines. Beginning this week, the restaurant will serve their summer menu, which includes wraps, salads, soups and sandwiches. The eatery will soon begin serving a Vegan menu as well. Holman said the restaurant only uses organic Kosher products to ensure the quality of the food served. For those of you looking for lighter options in South Queens, A Plate of Soul is definitely worth a visit.

–Veronica Lewin

signer named Valentina who works at boutique in Astoria with her family. She has made numerous brides happy on their wedding day and now it's her turn to shine. Valentina perfectly plans her wedding in Venice but series of unexpected surprises await her. Astoria plays a big part in the first half the novel.

"I always knew I wanted to set the book in Astoria; it has a special place in my heart," Chiofalo said.

She said Astoria has changed a great deal over the last 20 to 30 years. The neighborhood was filled with local shops and people beaming with color, Chiofalo said. She wanted to capture the essence of a friendly community with countless unique characters, including many immigrants.

Chiofalo said she has an idealized memory of her childhood neighborhood.

"On hot summer nights, I would sit on my stoop and talk to my unique neighbors," she said. The blackout of 1977 stands out in her head as a time when she and all the neighbors

Photo by Dan Miller/DMD Images

BY CRISTINA FOGLIETTA

Faith

Golf Outing Planned To Save Landmark

BY VERONICA LEWIN One nonprofit organization in the borough is golfing this month to revive a vacant building to serve the community.

The Royal People Group and Peoples First Baptist Church are hosting a Family Fun Golf Outing Fundraiser on June 16.

The event will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Alley Pond Golf Center, located at 232-01 Northern Blvd. Families will have the option of playing mini golf for $25 a person or $50 to participate in a golf clinic. Proceeds will help renovate a building into housing for veterans and teens.

The castle-like building in Brooklyn originally housed the 153rd Precinct. It was one of six buildings in the borough designed to look like a castle in an attempt to showcase the police presence in Brooklyn. The precinct eventu-

Lady Simone Lord-Cleveland ally moved and the Peoples First Baptist Church took over the building. Due to a five year ownership battle, the historic building became dilapidated and the former precinct is in need of repair.

The Royal People Group and Peoples First Baptist Church

plan to restore the building to provide housing for veterans and their families as well as young people who have aged out of the foster care system. The group estimates that the renovations will cost $5 million.

Royal People Group became a non-profit a year ago and strives to show teens their selfworth. “We want the youth to know that they are royal people and they have so much good in store for them,” said Founder Lady Simone Lord-Cleveland.

She is also the new pastor of Peoples First Baptist Church.

She took over after her husband, the Rev. W.D. Cleveland, passed away. Lord-Cleveland has focused on improving the lives of youth and those less fortunate.

“Homelessness can happen to anyone,” she said. “We are offering a solution to this problem by providing a home to

those who served this country and for the youth that need a start in life to keep them from crime, street life and jail. Some people just need someone to care and a stable place to live in order to succeed in life.”

At Royal People Group’s first Youth Summit at Shekinah Youth Church last fall, a dozen high school and college students shared their experiences with attendees in hopes to help youth

choose a positive life path. Lord said many students waste their time in high school and are unaware of the importance of taking the SATs for being accepted into good colleges.

The dress code for the event is all white. For tickets or more information, contact (917) 7202485.

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

Word “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

1 Timothy 4:8

Notebook Bezos Scholars

Local Scholar Picked For Aspen Workshop Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

BY VERONICA LEWIN One local junior has earned the prestigious honor to attend a workshop in Colorado.

Jeremiah Grant Jr., a junior at Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, has been selected as a Bezos Scholar and will attend the Aspen Ideas Festival. He is one of 12 public high school juniors in the country who received this honor. Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (DQueens Village) announced the news last Wednesday.

“I am pleased that my constituent Jeremiah has been selected as Bezos Scholar. His outstanding credentials and grade point average would suggest that he is right at home with the other young international

tion a local ideas festival. val, they mobilize their commuscholars,” Clark said.

“The power of two is very evi- nity around big ideas in the form The Aspen Ideas Festival will be held from June 26 to July 2. dent on the Aspen Institute cam- of a Local Ideas Festival. It’s For the second consecutive pus — it’s an educator and stu- about putting education into acyear, the Bezos Scholars Pro- dent scholar team experience,” tion – creating a ripple effect that is transformative for gram will include five stuschools and communities.” dents and an educator In Colorado, Bezos from the African LeaderScholars will connect with ship Academy in South “This community has high people from around the Africa. hopes for Jeremiah, and we Students are chosen wish him well as a Bezos globe, including international leaders, thinkers, enthrough an application trepreneurs and creative process that focuses on Scholar and in his senior year artists. They will particiacademic achievement, of high school and beyond.” in lectures, presentaleadership and commu—Assemblywoman pate tions, debates and discusnity involvement. After Barbara Clark sions that span a range of scholars are chosen, a teacher from each critical topics. In the past, scholars shared meals and school is invited to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival. said Jackie Bezos, president of had roundtable discussions with The goal is that the students the Bezos Family Foundation. Supreme Court Justice Stephen and teachers will bring the “When scholars return home in- Breyer, Secretary of Education ideas back home and organiza- spired by the Aspen Ideas Festi- Arne Duncan, oceanographer

Sylvia Earle, Twitter co-founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams and author and New York Times columnist David Brooks.

Jeremiah Grant is active in Southeast Queens. He volunteers at area hospitals and finds time to tutor his peers. Grant intends to utilize his leadership skills and his community commitment into becoming a doctor.

“This community has high hopes for Jeremiah, and we wish him well as a Bezos Scholar and in his senior year of high school and beyond,” Clark said.

The assemblywoman encouraged Grant to think boldly, inspire other and be apart of the changing world.

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

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.

THEATER AUDITIONS Tuesday, June 12 starting at 7 the New Theatre Players of St. Helen’s will hold auditions for Joe DiPietro’s comedy “Over the River and Through the Woods” in the gym, 157-10 83 rd Street, Howard Beach. 347-2350972.

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

FLEA MARKETS INDOOR FLEA MARKET Mondays through June 25 10-3 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, 41-60 Kissena Blvd. Saturdays 9-5 at Trinit y U n i te d Methodist C h u r c h , 1 0 8 th S t r e e t a n d 86 th Avenue, Jamaica.

MISCELLANEOUS

INTER. WORD Saturday, June 9 Intermediate Word at the Central library. 990-5148.

INTER. EXCEL Saturday, June 9 Intermediate Excel at the Central librar y. 990-5148.

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

TEEN SPACE Monday, June 11 Father’s Day Craft at the Windsor Park library. Register.

TEEN GAMING Mondays, June 11, 18, 125 at 4 at the Fresh Meadows librar y.

HENNA PAINTING Monday, June 11 henna hand painting workshop at the Astoria library at 6.

EXTREME COMICS Monday, June 11 at 3:30 at the Lefrak library. Tuesday, June 19 at 3:30 at the Ro c h d a l e V i l l a ge l i b r a r y.

Learn to recreate your own realit y in comic-book form.

PLASTIC BAG JEWELRY Monday, June 11 a t t h e Woodside library. Register.

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

SAFE ONLINE SHOPPING Monday, June 11 a t t h e Kew Gardens Hills library at 6:30.

WORK RELATION Tu e s d ay, J u n e 1 2 a t t h e Central library at 3:30.

JOB READINESS Tuesdays, June 12, 19, 26 at the Far Rockaway library at 3.

TEEN LAPTOP Tuesdays, June 12, 19, 26 learn how to use laptops at the Arverne library at 4.

BEGINNERS CHESS Tuesdays, June 12, 19, 26 at the Rosedale library at 4.

STREET COMIX Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the Lefferts library at 3:30.

SISTER TALK Wednesday, June 13 at the Pomonok library at 4:30.

RESUME HELP Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the Arverne library at 4.

TEEN GAMING Wednesdays, June 13, 20 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

GAME DAY Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the Howard Beach library at 4.

SEWING CLUB Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the Rosedale library at 4.

CARNIVAL Thursday, June 14 Broke

Down Carnival at the LIC library starting at 1.

LANYARD MANIA Thursday, June 14 at the Briarwood library. Register.

ANIME CLUB Thursdays, June 14, 21, 28 at the Flushing library at 4.

FASHIONISTA ST YLE Thursdays, June 14, 21, 28 at the LIC library at 4.

POETIC JUSTICE Friday, June 15 at the Broadway library at 4.

ANIMALS Friday, June 15 treating pets and reducing unwanted animals at the Corona library at 4.

TEEN GAMERS Fridays in June at 4 at the Broadway library.

TEEN HAPPY HOUR Fridays, June 15, 22, 29 at the Flushing library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, June 15, 22 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

FUN WII Fridays, June 15, 22, 29 at the Hollis library at 4.

FUN DAY Saturday, June 16 at the Ridgewood library starting at 10. Flea market, crafts, face painting, food and more.

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

EXHIBIT ARTISTS Through June 29 “Amulets, Nazars & Evil Eyes: Artists Looking Forward” at the Queens College Art Center.

997-3770.

DOLL MUSEUM Wednesday through Saturdays 12:30-4:30 the Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454. “”Love Connects Us All” and international doll collection.

ANIMATION Through September 2 “Animation” at the Hall of Science. 699-0005.

DINNER FUNDRAISER Wednesday, June 20 Bay Terrace Community Alliance 1 st A n n u a l C h i c k e n N i g h t Fundraiser 4-10 at Boston Market, 23-90 Bell Blvd., Bayside. BTCA receives a percentage of proceeds that night. Mention BTCA.

SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS Saturdays through Saturday 29 12-3 at Socrates Sculpture in LIC. 956-1819.

KIDS CLUB Monday, June 11 a t t h e Hillcrest library at 4.

MAGIC JIM Monday, June 11 at 3:30 at the South Ozone Park library and at 6 at the Sunnyside library. Tuesday, June 12 at the Briarwood library at 3:30. Wednesday, June 13 at 3:30 at the Bellerose library. Thursday, June 14 at 3:30 at the Maspeth library and 5:30 at the Pomonok library. Friday, June 15 at 3:30 at the Rego Park library.

BOOST Mondays, June 11, 18 at the South Hollis library at 2:30.

FATHER’S DAY CRAFT Monday, June 11 a t t h e Queens Village library at 4.

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

WIGGY WORMS Monday, June 1 1 a t t h e Woodside library at 4:30 Learn how worms turn trash into compost treasure.

MAKING BOOKS SING Mondays, June 11, 18, 25 at 4:30 at the Central library.

CITY STICKS Mondays, June 11, 18 at 4 at the East Elmhurst library.

Wednesdays, June 13, 20 at the LIC library. Register.

DREAM BIG W/ANIMALS Monday, June 11 at 4 at the Hollis library. Tuesday, June 12 at 4 at the Mitchell-Lind e n l i b r a r y. We d n e s d ay, June 13 at the Cambria Heights library at 3:30.

Thursday, June 14 at 4 at the Rosedale librar y. Pet hedgehogs, bugs, frogs, bunnies and more in an interactive live animal program.

BOOST PROGRAM Tuesday s, June 12, 19 at the South Hollis library at 2:30.

CREATIVE CRAFTS Tu e s d ay, J u n e 1 2 a t th e Central library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, June 12 at the East Elmhurst library at 4.

DREAM WATERCOLORS Tu e s d ay, J u n e 1 2 a t th e Seaside library. Register.

HAPPY STORY TIME Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the LIC library at 10:30.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Wednesday, June 13 at the South Hollis library at 11.

S TORY T I M E Wednesdays, June 13, 27 at the East Elmhurst library at

11:30.

BOOST Wednesdays, June 13, 20 at the South Hollis library at 2:30.

READERS’ CIRCLE Wednesdays, June 13, 20 at the South Hollis library at 3.

FATHER’S DAY GIFTS Wednesday, June 13 make a gift at the Fresh Meadows library at 3:30 and a card at the Poppenhusen library at 3:30.

MAGIC SETH DALE Wednesday, June 13 at 3:30 at the Rochdale Village librar y. Thursday, June 14 at 4 at the Richmond Hill library. Friday, June 15 at 4 at the Seaside library.

LIBRARY BUDDIES Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 at the Auburndale library at 4.

ENDANGERED ANIMAL Wednesday, June 13 at the East Flushing library. Register.

ORIGAMI Wednesday, June 13 at the Peninsula library at 4.

SEA TREASURES Wednesday, June 13 at the Central library at 4:30.

T WILIGHT TALES Thursdays, June 14, 21, 28 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 6:30.

CARNIVAL Thursday, June 14 Broke Down Carnival at the LIC library starting at 1.

ORIGAMI TOYS Thursday, June 14 at the Ridgewood library at 3:30.

BOOST Thursdays, June 14, 21 at the South Hollis library at 2:30.

BOOST FLAG DAY Thursday, June 14 at the Central library at 4:30.

READ TO A DOG Thursday, June 14 at 4 at the Auburndale library.

Wednesday, June 20 at the Auburndale library at 4. Register.

LANYARD MANIA Thursday, June 14 a t t h e Briarwood library. Register.

ARTS & CRAFTS Thursday, June 14 Father’s Day arts and crafts at the Hillcrest library at 4.

COMMUNITY WORD Thursday, June 14 Community Word Project at 4 at the Queens Village library.

STORY & CRAFT Friday, June 15 Father’s Day Story and Craft at the Douglaston/Little Neck library. Register.

ARTS & CRAFTS Friday, June 15 Father’s Day Arts and Crafts at the Central library at 4.

STORY SHARING Friday, June 15 at the Forest Hills at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, June 15, 22 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

PRESCHOOL CRAFTS Fridays, June 15, 29 at the Sunnyside library. Register.

ANIMALS Friday, June 15 do you know how to take care of your pet? Corona library at 4.

BOOST Fridays, June 15, 22 at the South Hollis library at 2:30.

LIBRARY BUDDIES Fridays, June 15, 22 at the Auburndale library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Fridays, June 15, 22 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

STORY SHARING Friday, June 15 at the Forest Hills library at 4.

FUN DAY Saturday, June 16 at the R i d ge w o o d l i b ra r y. F l e a market, crafts, readings, face painting, food and more starting at 10.

FAMILY STORY TIME Saturday, June 16 at the Flushing library at 11.

SENIORS AARP 4158 Monday, June 12 North Flushing Chapter 4158 meets at noon at Church on t h e H i l l , 1 6 7 - 0 7 3 5th A v enue, Flushing.

CAREGIVERS Tuesdays Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886.

SENIOR COMPUTERS Wednesdays, June 13, 20 at the Central library at 9:30.

STARS Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27 Senior Theater Acting Repertory meets at the Hollis library at 10:30.

GAMING FOR SENIORS Wednesdays, June 13, 27 Wii Gaming at 2 at the Fresh Meadows library.

AARP 29 Thursday, June 14 AARP 29 meets at noon at Grace House, 155-02 90 th Avenue, Jamaica.

INTRO COMPUTERS Thursday, June 14 Flushing library at 10.

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

FREE LUNCH Saturday, June 16 All Saints Church in Richmond Hill.

849-2352 reservations.

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

LIC BIKE PARADE Saturday, June 9 11-3 at Socrates Park. 956-1819.

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

BLIND DATE & BOOK Thursday, June 14 B l i n d Date with a Book – choose from a variet y of wrapped books and meet others at the Steinway library at 6:30.

KUTSHER’S July 20-23 ARMDI trip to Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello. 224-7989.

ROCKET MINI GOLF Through December 31 at the Hall of Science. 6990005.

YOUTH

TEENS

Queens Today TALKS RACISM Saturday, June 9 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens, 147-54 Ash Avenue, Flushing, examines widely held beliefs about race through a series of films and documentaries. Doors open at 7. $5 suggested donation.

SAFE ONLINE Monday, June 11 Safe Online Shopping at 6:30 at the Kew Gardens Hills library.

SEASIDE BOOK Monday, June 11 “Freedom” discussed at the Seaside library at 6:30.

LIC BOOK Tuesday, June 12 “Of Mice and Men” discussed at the LIC library at 10.

FOOD STAMPS Tuesday, June 12 at the Forest Hills library at 2. Thursday, June 14 at the Central library at 10 and at the Pomonok library at 2. Learn about Food Stamps.

HILLCREST Tuesday, June 12 “ O l i ve Kitteridge” discussed at 2 at the Hillcrest library.

Plumb./Heat

AFRO-AMERICAN Tuesday, June 12 AfricanAmerican Leaders in PreC i v i l Wa r Q u e e n s a t th e Central library at 2:30.

LIFE INSURANCE Wednesday, June 13 Life Insurance for Estate Planning Purposes at the North Hills library at 1:30.

POMONOK BOOK Wednesday, June 13 “Buddha in the Attic” discussed at 2 at the Pomonok library.

HOUSE IN ORDER Wednesday, June 13 Putting Your House in Order at the Whitestone library at 3.

GLENDALE BOOK Thursday, June 14 “My Antonia” discussed at 6:30 at the Glendale library.

NIGHT BOOK CLUB Thursday, June 14 “”Buddha in the Attic” at 6:30 at the Windsor Park library.

ANCIENT GREEKS Friday, June 15 Book Discussions at the Bay Terrace library at 10:30.

SPIRITUAL PATH Saturday, June 16 Tantra as a Spiritual Path at the Flushing library at 3.

Violations

HEALTH

MEETINGS LIBRARY DIRECTORS Saturday, June 9 Cambria Heights meet at 4.

AMER. LEGION Monday, June 11 American Legion Post 510 at St. Robert Bellamine in Bayside Hills. 428-2895.

CATHOLIC VETS Monday, June 11 American Mart yrs Catholic War Veterans Post 1772 in Bayside.

468-9351.

VFW 4787 Mondays, June 11, 25, July 9, 23 Whitestone VFW C o m m u n i t y Po s t m e e t s .

746-0540.

CHARTER SCHOOL Monday, June 11 Central Queens Academy Charter School Board of Trustees meeting at 8 at 111 Eighth Avenue, 4th floor. 212-381-5460.

TELEPHONE PION. Tuesday, June 12 Telephone Pioneers of America meet in College Point. 463-4535.

LIONS CLUB Tuesday, June 12 Lions Club of Ravenswood at 6:30 at Riccardo’s by the Bridge, 2101 21 st Avenue, Astoria.

COMM. BD. 9

Floors

Tuesday, June 12 Community Board 9 meets at 7:45.

286-2686 for location.

CLINTON DEMOS Wednesday, June 13 Clinton Democratic Club meets at 7 at Vallone and Vallone, 25-59 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing.

CDED 26 Thursday, June 14 CDEC 26 meeting at MS67, 51-60 Marathon Parkway, Little Neck. Business meeting at 7, public meeting at 8.

JEFFFERSON DEMS Thursday, June 14 Jefferson Democratic Club meets 7:30 at the Clearview Golf Course Clubhouse.

STAMP CLUB Thursdays, June 14, 28 Queens Stamp Club at the Forest Hills library at 5:45.

98 TH STREET T h u r s d a y , J u n e 1 4 9 8 th Street Block Association meets at the East Elmhurst library at 6.

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

Floors

INTRO YOGA Monday, June 11 Register Broadway library.

HATHA YOGA Monday, June 11 Flushing library. Register 661-1223.

SPRING INTO MOVEMENT Monday, June 11 exercise Langston Hughes at 6.

LEARN CPR Monday, June 11 a t t h e Rosedale library. Register.

ZUMBA Mondays, June 11, 18, 25 Laurelton librar y. Register.

THINK YOUR DRINK Monday, June 11 nutrition ed Central library at 3.

RECOVERY INC. Mondays, June 11, 18 Forest Hills library at 5:45.

AUTISM Monday, June 11 Autism: Moving Forward at 6 at the Ozone Park library.

ZUMBA Monday, June 11 Ridgewood library. Register.

INTRO YOGA Tu e s d a y s , J u n e 1 2 , 1 9 Rego Park librar y. Register.

STRESS RELIEF Tuesday, June 12 Simple Stress Relief Flushing library

Floors

at 6.

MEDICARE Wednesday, June 13 at 11 South Hollis library. Thursday, June 14 at 3 Po p p e n h u s e n l i b r a ry. T h e ABCs of Medicare.

YOGA INSTRUCTION Wednesday, June 13 at the Woodside library. Register.

WELL SPOUSES Wednesday, June 13 well spouses of the chronically ill at St. Charles Rehab Center in Albertson at 7. 516-829-8740.

MAMMOGRAMS Thursday, June 14 in Far Rockaway. 800-564-6868.

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

RECOVERY INC. Thursdays, June 14, 21, 28 Forest Hills library at 3:30.

ZUMBA Thursdays, June 14, 21 South Ozone Park library.

Register.

INTRO YOGA Thursday, June 14 Queens Village library. Register.

LEARN CPR Thursday, June 14 at the Lefrak library. Register.

Home Improv.

Looking 4 ppl

MY HOUSE

LOOKING FOR VIETNAM ARMY VETERANS or anyone that served in

HOME IMPROVEMENT Inc.

• Extensions, Kitchen/Bsmnt • Bathroom, Tiles, Painting, • Sheetrock, Carpentry, Cement All Kinds of Woodwork We do it all! All household needs!

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL!

Call Adrian

718-974-6983 Lic & Insured #1282515

Records ♫ Old 33s-45s-78s ♪

Dooo-Wop - Rock & Roll - Heavy Metal - Punk Diisco - Latin - Blue Grass - Reggae/Calypso Soul - Blues - Jazz - Gospel - Ethnic Music Foreign Film soundtracks No Top Hitmaking Artists or Classical Charlie 516-612-2009

MFM Flea Market Construction

Tree Service

221-02 Merrick Blvd.

NUNEZ CONSTRUCTION

Psychic

We Specialize In Crack Repairs also Ceiling & Wall Repairs

Jose Landscaping & Tree Services - Spring Cleaning - Lawn Maintenance - Stump Grinding - Land Clearing All Tree Services Provided

718-341-3532

SPIRITUAL ADVISOR

By Katie

FAX YOUR AD TO US AT

718-357-0076

Over 25 years exp., helps w/love marriage, career & finance, happiness & success.

Tarot readings, healings.

Call for 1 FREE READING

316-469-4821

EXPERT WORK ON STOOPS BRICK, BLOCK & CONCRETE 7 Days, Lowest Prices Free Estimate Licensed & Insured

718-219-1257 nunezforu.com

FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed

Insured

917-442-8482 631-266-2058

from the 121st Aviation group stationed in Soc Trang, Vietnam. Both served from 1969-1970.

Rick Weimer would like to get in touch with you for the annual reunion Please Call

610-948-9450

BOILER MAN

Classified Deadline: Friday Before 5 P.M.

Andd All Other Heatingg Needs

Unless Otherwise Specified

Installations • Water Heaters Repairs • Basement Heat Conversions • Separarte Zones Oil Tanks •

Huge flea Market Sale!

Great merchandise, bargins, promotions.

Plants, flowers, groceries Indoor & outdoor vending avail.

LOOK Old Clocks & Watches Wanted

By Collector, Regardless of Condition - Highest Prices Paid 917-748-7225

Boiler Service

Flea Market

ISRAEL SANTIAGO & JOHN COUGHLAN (MAIL CLERK)

516-815-8510 Pest Control

ACE PEST CONTROL Over 35 years service to the community Residential/Commercial Call for all your pest problems

718-225-8585 Lic. & Ins.

Press Policy: All advertisers are responsible to give correct advertising as it will appear. The South East Queens Press will assume no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject or reclassify any ad. All ads are prepaid! NO REFUNDS, FUTURE AD CREDIT ONLY. Ads ordered to run more than one week as part of a consecutive week rate may be cancelled a fter the first week but no refund will be issued!

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Want 2 Buy

LOW W PRICES!

SOC TRANG (121ST)

Spidey has always been a Queens kid

Science’s Superhero One of Queens’ most famous (fictional) sons made a trip back to the borough late last month.

The New York Hall of Science hosted cast members from the Broadway production of “SpiderMan: Turn Off the Dark,” including photographer Peter Parker and his alter-ego, Spider-Man. The event gave kids a lesson on the science behind Ol’

Webhead’s powers, going into detail on spider webs and center of motion. The masked hero – who was originally created as hailing from Forest Hills – then visited the Science Playground to climb on the Spider Web. Thankfully, unlike the earliest performances of the Broadway smash hit, no one was hurt over the course of the presentation.

Tall Tale Of Success

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens June 8-14, 2012

Queens loves its native sons and daughters, and we’re always proud to see them succeed. We enjoy celebrating their success, as we’ve done a few “They Came From Queens” special editions.

For South Jamaica’s own Nicki Minaj, her success materialized twostories tall. The pop star’s image hovers over Queens Boulevard in a larger than life ad on the side of Queens Center Mall for her album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Minaj, who, like many who grew up in Queens, probably once eyed merchandise at the borough’s popular retail destination, saw her album debut at number one after its April release.

For anyone who drives down Queens Boulevard, the ad is hard to miss, especially her eyes which seem to follow you down the street.

With an ad that big, it should include lyrics to her songs, so we know what it is she’s actually saying in her raps.

Though she’s only been modeling professionally for a year, Nelly has enjoyed her transition from behind the camera to in front of it.

Identifying as a photographer for many years, she considers modeling an addition to her passion of working with cameras.

“Ever since my early teen years, I’ve been into art, photography, and fashion. I’ve always had a respect for modeling. I consider it an extension of my artwork,” she said.

She is currently working with Shortstack Modeling, and shares their vision of redefining beauty in the modeling world.

“Girls should always keep in mind that agencies are really strict.

But it’s always important to be yourself and never change who you are.”

When Nelly isn’t modeling, she is doing volunteer work, working on her photography and fashion design, having her pictures displayed in art shows – Drexel University has featured her – and hanging out with friends in Queens, particularly in Forest Hills with other Shortstack models.

“I love the atmosphere of Queens.

There are a lot of nice people wherever you go.”

Nelly will be a freshman at Hunter College in the fall, and hopes to continue modeling with Shortstack. “I’d love to stay with Shortstack, and I’m open to other agencies.”

Just Being Herself

Nelly Gordpour Home: Bayside Age: 18 Height: 5’5" Weight: 105 Stats:

Models Of Queens

Good Luck, Jim & Lindsey Say what you will about the Mets leader- children, the former GM has taken matship, but those front-office types aren’t all ters into his own hands. Earlier this week, bad. he donated a kidney to his daughter.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Take, for example, former Mets General Manager and current Mets radio contributor all involved.

Jim Duquette. His 8-year-old Confidentially, New York . . . daughter, Lindsey, was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease known as FSGS shortly after birth. With no known cure for the disease, a leading cause of kidney failure in

Hooking Up Being a spokesperson for an elected official means it is important to choose your words carefully. Recently, Dan Andrews did not. A May 22 press release read: “Queens Borough President Helen Marshall watches as job-seeker hooks up with recruiter at Employment Assessment and Recruitment Fair at Queens Center, Thursday, May 17th.”

If the Beep is looking to communicate with today's young job-seekers, she and her spokesperson might want to talk to their kids . . .or grandkids.

"Hooking-up" in today's lingo means: having casual sex without a long-term commitment.

Beep Marshal watching as one young job applicant "hooks up".

What’s Up This free event will be held JUNE 9 at 232nd Street and 116th AvWalkers 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.

Education Conversation The Eastern Queens Alliance Inc. invites you to participate in the next Community Café. The topic of this particular community cafe is “Education: What’s Going On?” The discussion will attempt to answer questions around the success or failure of our local schools and whether or not we are adequately preparing children for the future. Breakfast will be served.

For additional information, or to RSVP, send an e-mail to info@easternqueensalliance.org or call (347) 824-2301.

This free event will be held at York College’s Faculty Dining Room, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Project H.Y.P.E.

enue at 9 a.m.

Award Ceremony Shirley Huntley for State Senate is pleased to present the 6th Annual Ordinary People Accomplishing the Extraordinary Awards. Tickets can be purchased for $85. For additional information, contact Lois Menyweather at 646-284-1689 or lmenyweather@gmail.com.

This event will be held at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., from noon to 4 p.m.

JUNE 11 Stay Well Learn new ways to take charge of your health and help your friends do the same. Learn how special exercise and relaxation techniques make a difference in your life!

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

Open Lab Need more time for your job

Careers in Early Childhood search or to update your resume?

The NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute will present information about careers in early childhood care and education. The Institute will discuss its services, including: academic planning and counseling; career and vocational assessment; resume preparation; interview and job search strategies; and teacher certification and study plan support.

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

2012 Tennis Clinic Calling all tennis playing ladies! The Women’s Ministry of The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York is pleased to invite you to its 2012 Tennis Clinic. All players - Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced - are invited for an afternoon of great tennis.

Visit www.allencathedral.org/ tennisclinic/register.aspx for price information.

This event will be held at Alley Pond Tennis Center, 79-20 Winchester Blvd., from 3 to 6 p.m.

JUNE 10 Open Mic for Poets Dana Collins is a vegan, adopted-Korean poet living in Deer Park, NY. She earned her MFA in poetry from Queens College, where she is now working towards an MA in applied linguistics. She has been published in the blog “Poets on Adoption” and the online journal “The Whistling Fire.”

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Cen-

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 to 5 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., from 2 to 5 p.m.

Rethink Your Drink Is that drink really good for you? Come learn what’s actually in your beverage! This nutrition education is provided by the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Queens ConnectCare will also be offering free health screenings and the opportunity to schedule an appointment at the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center.

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

JUNE 12 Walkers For Wellness Club See June 9 listing. At 7 p.m.

cations: “African-American Leaders in Pre-Civil War Queens” and “The Problem of Flooding in Southeast Queens.”

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2:30 p.m.

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.

JUNE 13 Job Readiness Workshop Series On May 2 and June 6, library staff will teach tips for writing resumes and cover letters. On May 9 and June 13, experts will cover preparing for the interview.

On May 16 and June 20, you will be equipped with even more jobsearching techniques.

This free event will be held at Queens Public Library’s Central Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 6 p.m.

Summer Music Festival It’s back. The Downtown Jamaica Summer Music Festival.

Tonight will feature Vybz Evolution and the DJ - The Bajan King.

This free event will be held at Union Hall Street, between Jamaica Avenue and Archer Avenue, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Queens Art Express Queens Art Express is a spring arts festival of performance, events, exhibitions, and great places to eat in the vibrant cultural communities of Queens, NY. The four day festival runs from June 14 to June 17. Be there when Jamaica takes center stage and four artists present collaborative work that answers the question: What if we re-made U.S. housing policy? The four artists include Ran Hwang, Anna Lise Jensen, Carlos Martinez, and Queen GodIs. Food will complement the art.

This free event will be held at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.

JUNE 14 Walkers For Wellness Club JUNE 15 See June 9 listing. At 7 p.m.

Outreach and Assistance Mock 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.

Leaders In Pre-Civil War Learn About Food Stamps Queens Queens Library is partnering Jim Driscoll will talk about African-American leaders in preCivil War Queens. Jim Driscoll, vice president of the Queens Historical Society and former staff member of the Queens Library archives, was the lead researcher for two divisional publi-

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

with the NYC Hunger Free Communities Consortium to help you connect to healthy and nutritious food. Learn about available programs and benefits, get accurate information about the Food Stamps program, find out if you qualify, and learn how to apply.

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?

For additional information, contact Simone Williams at (347) 731-1721 or isis.staff@gmail.com or visit thedaughtersofisisfoundation.org, This free event will be held at Young Queens Loft, 148-14 Liberty Ave., 2nd Floor, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ONGOING CPR Class Learn to protect yourself and others at Heron Care with a CPR class that includes a certification from the American Heart Association. Please call (718) 2918788 for more details. Heron is located at 168-30 89th Ave., Jamaica.

June 8-14, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

In traditional cultures, rites of passage ceremonies serve to support individuals to recognize and take possession of their unique gifts and potentials for the benefit of the entire community.

Project H.Y.P.E. affirms this same principle in offering their programs for the modern world, helping men, and young people to undertake their passages with courage and insight, discovering gifts of love and strength to bring back to their people. The boys will be gathering at 232nd Street and 116th Avenue at 9 a.m. and will be marching down 116th Avenue and ending their journey at 218-01 116th Ave. by 10 a.m.

They will be lead by “The Elite Marching Band.”

tral Branch, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., at 2 p.m.

“I’m working with President Obama to

help New Yorkers build careers they can be proud of.”

— GREGORY W. MEEKS

Congresman Meeks is fighting to put our families back to work — even in today’s uncertain economy. n n n n

Protected manufacturing jobs by supporting President Obama’s efforts to double U.S. exports.

Promoted small business job growth by expanding access to credit.

Prepared students for high-tech, 21st century jobs by investing in STEM curriculum and job training programs.

Held a local job fair to connect Queens’ families with Federal Government Agencies and Private Sector Employers.

In the June 26th Democratic Primary, Vote For

GREGORY W.

MEEKS FOR CONGRESS Paid for and authorized by Friends for Gregory Meeks.