Southeast Queens Press Epaper

Volume 13 Issue No. 29 July 20-26, 2012

PAGE 18

Press Photo by Ira Cohen

HERE TO HELP

In order to give people on probation access to needed services without leaving the community, a Neighborhood Opportunity Network opened in Jamaica this week.

By Veronica Lewin…Page 3

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

News Briefs Cooper Indicted On Grand Larceny

Queens Resident Honored For Service

Estelle Cooper, former administrator of Flushing Meadows Corona Park and executive director of its nonprofit fundraising conservancy Unisphere Inc., was indicted Tuesday on charges that she stole more than $50,000 from the conservancy.

The 82-year-old Cooper had been under investigation since early 2012 after the conservancy’s accountant and Queens Republican Chair Phil Ragusa discovered irregularities in the conservancy’s financial records.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced that Cooper was arraigned on July 17 before Queens Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho on a two-count indictment, charging her with second and third degree grand larceny. Cooper faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted and will be tried beginning on Sept. 12.

The alleged fraud was initially discovered in November of last year as the result of an internal audit conducted by Unisphere Inc. The results of the audit were referred to the district attorney’s office in February. Afterwards, a Queens grand jury charged that Cooper obtained access to Unisphere funds and then systematically stole more than $50,000 between Nov. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2011. It was initially reported last month that Cooper had allegedly stolen as much as $90,000.

According to Unisphere Inc.’s latest records, the conservancy had a deficit of $44,868 in November 2011. Cooper’s lawyer, Vito Palmieri, and Conservancy Chairman Bruce Bendell did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.

Cooper resigned as executive director of Unisphere Inc. in January. According to Ragusa, she was asked to resign after the board discovered that she had continually made thousands of dollars in ATM withdrawals. Having helmed the park for the last 17 years, Cooper founded a Republican consulting firm, Cooper and Company, with her grandson Michael Balsamo, after she stepped down as the park’s administrator. Cooper and Company is advising the congressional campaign of former Councilman Allan Jennings.

Even before this indictment, Cooper was no stranger to controversy. In the summer of 2011, her daughter, Ilene Balsamo, drew fire for allegedly not paying some camp counselors and vendors involved in her community day camp, which she operated in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

One Woodhaven man has been giving a volunteer effort that is downright presidential.

Etienne David Adorno has been honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the over 4,000 hours he devoted to community service. Created in 2003, the award serves as “a way to recognize, thank and honor Americans, who by their commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service,” according to the award’s description. The award is a special recognition presented on behalf of President Barack Obama.

Adorno volunteered to be an educator and translator for individuals who did not have the knowledge of financial resources to navigate the complex American legal system. Acting as an intermediary, Adorno spent hours making certain those he helped were not taken advantage of by the legal system. He set up a consumer advocacy website and used social media to keep Queens and all of New York aware of shifting parking regulations and traffic laws.

A graduate of John Jay College, Adorno is a member of the Woodhaven Residents Block Association and Community Board 9, where he serves on the consumer affairs, public safety and education committees.

Summer Program Introduces Nature The dragonflies, in all their bizarre glory, came alive in Queens.

New York City public school girls were introduced to the various types of dragonflies in Forest Park’s lush surroundings yesterday, learning how to catch and identify them. The young women participated in City Park Foundation’s Green Girls Summer Institute.

Green Girls Summer Institute is a program that focuses on enriching scientific knowledge and addressing environmental justice issues through field trips and community service projects in City Parks. The dragonfly education was held at Forest Park Drive, off Woodhaven Boulevard.

Susan Stanley, a research ecologist with the Natural Resources Group — a team of scientists that helps research and maintain the resources of the City’s parks — taught the students that dragonflies are among the fastest insects in the world.

With names like Comet Darner, Wandering Glider, Great Pond Hawk and Widow Skimmer, dragonflies are a remarkable and overlooked species in New York City’s ecosystem. The insects also stay in an aquatic larva stage for a year or more and then molt into a dragonfly and live as adults for a month or two.

Presstime

Center Opens To Help People On Probation

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Among other things, the program seeks to change the criminal justice system for men of color in order to decrease recidivism upon release.

“When we look at poverty rates, graduation rates, crime rates, and employment rates, one thing stands out: blacks and Latinos are not fully sharing in the promise of American freedom and far too many are trapped in circumstances that are difficult to escape,” Bloomberg said last August.

The Jamaica NeON is a community-based DOP office that works with a network of local organizations, government agen-

cies, businesses and community residents to link probation clients to nearby opportunities, resources and services.

NeON staff will take an active role in helping clients navigate local networks and access resources and opportunities. Organizations will be able to help clients find a mentor, seek employment, enroll in healthcare and advance their education. People will also get an opportunity to participate in community benefit projects to improve the neighborhood. For more information, call (718) 286-3045.

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

PRESS photo by Ira Cohen

People on probation in Jamaica will now have a chance to get much needed services where they live.

The new Neighborhood Opportunity Network, located at 162-24 Jamaica Ave., is designed to provide services to people on probation in the community.

Dept. of Probation Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi, along with elected officials and community members, celebrated the opening of the facility Tuesday afternoon.

Jamaica residents on probation can now see their probation officers at a space located close

to home. In December 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened the first NeON in Brooklyn and the Harlem NeON opened this past June. DOP will open additional NeON throughout the five boroughs. The NeON is a component of Bloomberg’s Young Men’s Initiative, which was implemented last August.

Bloomberg’s Young Men’s Initiative seeks to decrease the disparities between men of color and their peers in the Big Apple.

The $127 million program is funded by the City, Campaign for Black Male Achievement of the Open Society Foundations and the Mayor himself, who provided $30 million from

Community Board 12 District Manager Yvonne Reddick addresses the crowd at the new Neighborhood Opportunity Network in Jamaica.

Statue Plans Cause Confusion In Queens

BY STEVEN J. FERRARI

The Triumph of Civic Virtue.

Julianne Cho, a spokeswoman for DCAS, denied reports of a plan to move the statue to Brooklyn. She noted that the fencing was placed around the statue as a safety precaution because parts of the statue were deteriorating.

"There's no secret plan, no

final decision has been made," Cho said. "Right now, we're looking at options to preserve the statue."

Cho noted that the cemetery released a statement late Wednesday that no plan has been finalized for the statue.

"It's premature to be writing

females depicted as vice and corruption was not" a work of art.

Regardless, Marshall expressed remorse that the statue was being moved.

"We would have liked it if the family had decided to restore it here," she said.

Andrea Crawford, chair of Community Board 9, said no one contacted them about decision. She said she was upset that a piece of public art was given away without any consultation.

"For the last ten years, we've been trying to do something about the statue in terms of restoration, and no one called us," she said. "Whether they like the statue or not, it's an important piece by an important sculptor and it deserves respect."

Marshall's office said that there had already been informal discussions about replacing the statue.

With the controversial nature of the statue, she said it would be appropriate to put up a monument to the women of Queens.

"The space has to be dedicated to women," she said.

Reporter Ross Barkan assisted with the reporting in this article.

Reach Managing Editor Steven J. Ferrari at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122, or sferrari@queens tribune.com.

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Reports that the City plans to move a controversial statue that sits outside Borough Hall to Brooklyn caused confusion this week, as a City agency has denied that any plan is in place.

Fencing went up around the statue, called The Triumph of Civic Virtue, about three weeks ago as a safety precaution because parts of the statue were deteriorating.

Borough President Helen Marshall said her office called the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services after fencing went up around the statue about three weeks ago. DCAS explained that there was a crack in the statue that needed to be repaired.

According to Dan Andrews, a spokesman for Marshall, the family of sculptor Frederick MacMonnies, who crafted the statue, had expressed an interest in having the statue repaired at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Members of MacMonnies' family are buried at the cemetery and Andrews noted that the cemetery also specializes in statue repair.

"We never advocated moving it somewhere else," Andrews said.

about it at this stage," Cho said.

The statue, which was moved to Queens by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, has been criticized as sexist for its depiction of a nude man - the personification of civic virtue - standing over two women, depicting vice and corruption.

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), who has expressed his disappointment in the decision, said he disagrees the statue is sexist.

"This statue portrays a myth, it shows Hercules standing atop the sirens, they are not women," Vallone said. "If you oppose this sort of statue, you oppose the statue of Perseus of upholding the head of Medusa."

When asked about Cho's statement, Vallone said that when he spoke to City officials, he was told that the statue would be placed permanently on loan to the cemetery.

"The result is the same," he said. "Whatever you call it, the statue is being removed."

The statue has seen its share of controversy in the past, as former Borough President Claire Shulman tried to remove the statue while she was in office.

Marshall, the current borough president, said in a statement that the statue's "depiction of the male Civic Virtue towering over

Richmond Hill Feeling The Heat

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

Richmond Hill and Woodhaven residents are hoping, for once, that the City keeps them out in the cold.

If a heat wave scorches Queens again on a Saturday, like it did on a sultry July 7, there will be no cooling centers in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill to handle exasperated residents who lack access to air-conditioning. Richmond Hill residents have despaired over the absence of cooling centers open on the weekend. Residents without airconditioning can stay at the Richmond Hill library on weekdays or trek to the Lefferts Library, open only on Saturdays, to avoid temperatures nearing 100 degrees.

“Richmond Hill is the orphan child of Queens,” said Albert Baldeo, a Democratic district leader. “There has always been a paucity of social services, job centers, health centers. We have been reduced to a neglected neighborhood, forgotten.”

munity far less than before for Cooling centers, estabvery different reasons: Wills, unlished by the City to provide a der investigation for the alleged free air-conditioned place misappropriation of $33,000, where people can stay during cannot allocate any money hima heat wave, are typically situself because Council Speaker ated in either libraries or senior Christine Quinn (D-Manhatcenters. Weekend library hours tan) suspended some of his have been slashed across the Council powers. Quinn alloCity; Richmond Hill library is cated Wills’ money and drastinot open on Saturdays or Suncally reduced Crowley’s discredays and the neighborhood tionary budget, believed by podoes not have a senior center.

Richmond Hill, bounded by The Richmond Hill Library serves as a litical observers to be retaliation for defying Queens Demothe Van Wyck Expressway and cooling center during hot weather. cratic Chair U.S. Rep. Joe neighboring Ozone Park, is teeming with Guyanese, Carib- nior Center, despite its name, is Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) by bean and Punjabi immigrants. located on Jamaica Avenue in making a run for Congress against Storefronts adorned with Indian Woodhaven. Vishnu Amadeo, ex- his chosen candidate, Assemblysaris share blocks with restaurants ecutive director of the Richmond woman Grace Meng (D-Flushcooking Trinidadian delicacies Hill Economic Development ing).

The Office of Emergency Manlike doubles, though the once Irish Council, has argued that since and Italian neighborhood does Richmond Hill possesses no agement said that there should be not have a central community single elected representative on a cooling center “within walking center that neighborhood advo- the State or City level, funding is distance” but did not comment cates believe it desperately needs. scarce for any social services. specifically on the availability of Civic leaders have lamented Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Ja- weekend centers. In Woodhaven, that seniors looking for a place to maica) and Councilwoman Eliza- there are several nearby cooling including the gather are forced to cluster in a beth Crowley (D-Middle Village) centers, local Burger King. The each represent portions of Rich- Woodhaven library, WoodhavenWoodhaven-Richmond Hill Se- mond Hill and will fund the com- Richmond Hill Senior Center and PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

BY ROSS BARKAN

Glendale library, but on weekends, the closest cooling center is the Cypress Hills-Fulton Street Senior Center in Brooklyn.

“It is a problem, they have cooling centers in libraries but they could have made arrangements with churches and synagogues for people to go there,” said Mary Ann Carey, district manager for Community Board 9, which represents Richmond Hill. Carey wrote a letter to Mayor Mike Bloomberg after a man complained to her that on July 7, he was shut out of the Richmond Hill and Woodhaven cooling centers, each located in a closed library.

“There are other alternatives.”

Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, did not agree that a lack of cooling centers was a pressing issue for the Woodhaven community. He expressed concern that Carey did not speak with him about the letter.

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

Laurelton Attorney Runs For City Council

BY VERONICA LEWIN One local man has his eyes set on City Hall for a chance to serve the community he was raised in.

Jacques Léandre is running for the 31st Council District, which includes Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Edgemere, Bayswater, Arverne and Far Rockaway. The seat will be vacated by term-limited Councilman James Sanders Jr. (DLaurelton). Sanders’ Chief of Staff Donovan Richards announced plans to run for the open Council seat last fall.

Léandre grew up in Rosedale and returned to the area after studying finance at Morehouse College. He went on to attend the CUNY School of Law. When he returned to Southeast Queens after attending Morehouse College, he said he discovered his former football association – Rosedale Jets Football Association – dwindled down to one team with less than 20 children playing. With the help of a few college friends,

Léandre said he began working to bring the organization back to its former success. Eighteen years later, the Rosedale Jets Football Association is a favorite among youth in Southeast Queens.

“We’re not only providing football and cheerleading, in fact, that’s the last type of instruction we give. We’re a youth development organization that is really concerned with the development of the overall child.”

The Rosedale Jets offers young people conflict resolution courses, high school transmission workshops and other programs to help them succeed off the field.

Léandre said his parents played the most important role in him achieving his goals. His parents worked at Flushing General Hospital for 27 years, where his father was a cook and his mother was a dietary clerk.

“Although they were ex-

Jacques Léandre tremely busy, they always made time to ensure that my brothers and sisters were taken care of,” he said.

He said he uses his parents as an example with how he and his wife Christela are raising their two children.

Léandre said his experience in the private sector and community involvement makes him the best choice for the 31st District.

Léandre, who attended Springfield Gardens High School, said he would like to address the “education crisis” in the district if elected to the City Council. He said it was an aberration for the public schools to be underperforming since so many communities in the school district are comprised of middle-class families.

“I intend to work very closely with the school leaders to help develop the resources that will help our children achieve,” he said.

He said he also would encourage collaboration between parents and faculty and staff to improve the schools.

“I think we have to go back to the basics where we’re engaging and involving parents in the educational process,” Léandre said.

Last month he opened a law

firm to serve the community he grew up in, located at 232-06A Merrick Blvd. in Laurelton. “I didn’t only want to start a law firm,” Léandre said. “I wanted to start a law firm in a community that has groomed me, that has shaped me.”

In the past Léandre partnered with former judges and gang prevention specialists to conduct workshops educating the community on the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk as well as ways to stop the violence in Southeast Queens.

If elected, Léandre said he would work to improve services for seniors in the 31st District to ensure they enjoy their final years of life.

“I believe that our seniors have a bountiful amount of wisdom to offer to our community and we shouldn’t be satisfied with only providing air conditioned space and a hot meal for our seniors,” he said.

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

FRANKLIN HOSPITAL WELCOMES NEW FAMILY PRACTITIONER MEREDITH M. CORSON, DO

Dr. Corson’s goal is to help her patients achieve a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent the development of chronic diseases.

She also specializes in Osteopathic Manipulations, which help alleviate the pain of common musculoskeletal complaints.

For an appointment to see Dr. Corson, please call:

(516) 354-7100.

925 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 200 Franklin Square, NY 11010

Hope lives here.

SM

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Dr. Meredith M. Corson, board certified in Family Practice, has joined the staff of Franklin Hospital, member of North Shore-LIJ Health System. She is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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 Deputy Editor:

Veronica Lewin Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed

Communication Breakdown Confusion has broken out this week over a supposed plan to remove The Triumph of Civic Virtue, a statue that has sat outside Queens Borough Hall for decades, to be repaired and possibly moved to a cemetery in Brooklyn.

Queens officials say they were told of plans to move the controversial statue after the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services had placed a fence around the crumbling landmark. But the DCAS asserts that no plans have been finalized and the agency is looking at its options – nothing more, nothing less.

The situation is an example of government bureaucracy at its absolute worst. Instead of working together to attain the best possible outcome, it seems that no one is sure of what is really happening and the result is the City and the Borough are at odds when open communication could have solved a number of problems.

If the statue is to be removed – something that many officials over the years have tried to do – it should only be done once all involved have been informed of the decision, and a plan should be enacted to replace the landmark.

Hopefully, City and Borough officials can figure out a way to get on the same page without causing so much confusion in the future.

Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen Reporters: Harley Benson Ross Barkan Megan Montalvo Wayne Dean Doyle Interns: Asia Ewart Cristina Foglietta

Letters Blight Revisited To the Editor: In an earlier letter (Briarwood Blight, Queens Tribune, Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, 2010), I pointed out

Art Dept:

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

Advertising Director Gerry Laytin 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

However, reporter Ross Barkan’s article, “Traffic Nightmare: Queens Highways Rank As Most Congested” (PRESS, July 13-19, 2012), accurately explains the reason for this “Wasteland” in terms of Robert Moses’ ideological opposition to public transportation “to offset the debilitating congestion on Queens and Long Island’s roadways.” According to Barkan, “a lack of a northsouth subway line that runs through Queens is one culprit for the Van Wyck’s congestion.” Yet, “Moses also quashed proposals for a subway extension along the Van Wyck, built between 1947 and 1963).” So the cause for this environmental debacle in Briarwood is due to the lost battle of the Long Island Regional Planning Board’s Lee Koppelman, who opposed highway construction “at the expense of public transportation.”

The cure to the Van Wyck congestion lies not in the present widening construction, but rather in the accommodation of new commercial traffic through widening of the Belt Parkway and a subway extension along the Van Wyck. The present project of building an elevator at the

Briarwood-Van Wyck E-F subway station is a minimal MTA concession granted their $68 million deficit in the 2011 budget. But the whole problem is traceable to the aversion of Robert Moses and Mayor Bloomberg to democratic “urban planning and oversight” (Julian Brash, Bloomberg’s New York: Class and Governance in the Luxury City). So, we have the Briarwood Wasteland as a perpetual legacy to our children.

Thanks also are extended to the Queens CB 8 and the Briarwood Community Association.

Joseph N. Manago, Briarwood

SOUND OFF Send your thoughts, ideas, opinions, outrage, praise, observations about our community

To the PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357 e-mail: news@queenspress.com

fax: (718) 357-9417

A Second Chance Is The American Way

A Personal Perspective

BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE Rhonda Leefoon Candice Lolier Barbara Townsend

the environmental deforestation and concomitant damage to the ecosystem of Briarwood due to the present Van Wyck-Kew Gardens Interchange construction project’s widening of the threelane Van Wyck Expressway.

Letters

Most Americans love a comeback story. It was one of the things that endeared President Bill Clinton to us. He even inspired political junkies to dub him, “The Comeback Kid” back in 199192, when he first ran for president and scandals and intermittent primary losses dogged him.

Little did we know then that his worst scandals were yet to come.

Nonetheless, somehow we still found ourselves rooting for the ol’ skirt chaser. That was, in part, because the ones persecuting and prosecuting him were hypocrites. They were just as bad, if not worse.

It seems odd then, that we find it so hard to forgive some of our other scandal kings.

About four years ago Eliot Spitzer fell with a mighty thud from grace with a prostitution

scandal, and since then every time there’s even a whisper of him trying to run for office again it has been met with scorn across the spectrum.

Now we have Anthony Weiner, who this time last year was the laughing stock of the nation following a “sexting” scandal. He lied that his electronic communication had been hacked and a “happy” underwear shot sent out to all his followers. It was a lie. He meant to send the shot to some woman with whom he was dirty-texting and he ended up resigning from his Congressional seat.

Now on the anniversary of that embarrassing episode he’s making stirrings like he’d like to run for mayor. It has been met with surprising resistance and downright venom from some media outlets.

To the best of anyone’s knowledge, Weiner has not held a job since leaving Congress a year ago.

He’s been playing househusband raising his infant son. That’s fine.

But in the eyes of many he has done nothing to rehabilitate his image and he has not done enough penance.

It seems the biblical quote, “He who is without sin let him cast the first stone,” as Jesus said to the accusers of the woman they were about to stone for adultery, applies here.

What Weiner did was juvenile and it was disgusting. Our age-oftechnology Don Juan really turned off a lot of people with his antics and they’re not ready to let bygones be bygones.

With a war chest of more than $4 million, Weiner would be a competitive candidate for mayor or public advocate next year if he should run. And who can blame him for wanting to run?

The current field of mayoral candidates leaves room for an exciting, financed candidate such as Weiner to come in and

create some enthusiasm. Let him run and let the voters decide who our next mayor should be.

We know Weiner knows how to stand up for what’s right for New York and he would fight in Washington and Albany for New York’s fair share with the same passion he did in Congress.

If we, as voters, don’t want him then we will repudiate him at the voting booth. And oh, what fun it would be to poke fun at him again. In the wake of the scandal he was a gift to every comedian and every writer and having him in the race would be the gift that keeps on giving.

Second chances have been the American way forever. We don’t have to vote for him; but we can forgive him and allow him to run.

If he wins, fine. If he loses, fine.

Either way, we would have done the right thing by giving him a second chance.

It’s part of what makes America great.

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

School Turnaround Plan:

BY ROSS BARKAN

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

When Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott admitted last week that 24 struggling schools across the City are planning for the return of the same teachers and principals this fall, the ambitious and polarizing “turnaround” plan appeared to be, at best, on life support.

On July 11, a State Supreme Court judged ruled against the City’s request to suspend an arbitrator’s decision from June, which halted the Dept. of Education’s plan to fire 4,000 teachers in 24 “turnaround” high schools throughout the City. Walcott and the Bloomberg Administration are hopeful that the State Supreme Court will ultimately overrule the arbitrator’s decision that DOE violated their collective bargaining agreements with the United Federation of Teachers and Council of School Supervisors and Administrators by trying to dismiss principals and half the staffs of the 24 schools, including seven in Queens. Oral arguments will begin on July 24 and a fi-

nal decision will come sometime afterwards.

“I have a responsibility to open our schools, and open our schools in a way that allows our students to learn,” Walcott said at a Bronx public school last week.

“We have to operate under the principle that the staff who were at the school will be coming back.”

The Dept. of Education wanted to secure nearly $60 million in federal funding for “turnaround.” With its federal funding jeopardized, the DOE could switch to one of three other federal models for school improvement. The DOE directed all questions to the City Law Dept., who did not return requests for comment.

UFT Victory Emerging from a disagreement with UFT about the implementation of teacher evaluations and a desire to reform schools that had been persistently underachieving, “turnaround” enraged many teachers, students and community members.

At the seven Queens schools – Flushing,

Newtown, Long Island City, William Cullen Bryant, August Martin, John Adams and Richmond Hill – reactions to the plan to dismiss staff and rename the schools themselves were a mix of indignation and rage. “Save our school” chants boomed through rallies and raucous public hearings. Many Queens elected officials joined the protesters.

“The mayor needs to put aside this pettiness of politics and move forward with a real educational plan,” said Dermot Smyth, a Queens UFT representative.

For the UFT, a State Supreme Court ruling finally nullifying “turnaround” would be a major victory. The UFT is highly skeptical of a centralized DOE that allows Mayor Mike Bloomberg to wield considerable power in all matters related to education. The Bloomberg Administration and DOE have countered that schools that are receiving multiple “Fs” on their yearly report card need drastic restructuring to reverse years of decline.

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (DSunnyside) has been an outspoken critic of the DOE’s latest reform efforts, contending that the struggles of schools like Bryant are exaggerated.

“I’ve been fighting these closures for two years because I don’t believe they are the best way to go about improving these schools,” Van Bramer said. “We have to be careful about calling all these schools ‘struggling.’ We’re throwing out the baby with the bath water. There are a lot of really good things going on at Bryant, though it still needs to improve.”

At August Martin in Jamaica, PTA president Jose Ferruzola welcomed the prospect of “turnaround’s” demise. Like UFT representatives, Ferruzola believed the potential closure of August Martin was purely a “political move.”

“I’m very proud, I’m so happy. I knew that the mayor was not going to get his way,” Ferruzola said. “We’re just worried now that the teachers who will be returning will be pressured by the administrators to leave, since they weren’t wanted in the first place.”

Lingering Uncertainties The possible end of “turnaround” was not greeted with universal elation. Some parents, teachers and educational observers saw the plan as a way to replace staff members that were not responsive to the diverse student populations in their hallways. At Richmond Hill, home to a large immigrant South Asian population, Vishnu Amadeo, parent action committee treasurer for Richmond Hill, viewed “turnaround” as a way to hire educational

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

Court Set To Decide Schools’ Fate

A protester holds a sign outside August Martin High School during an event in April. staff more attuned to the needs of immigrants.

“My concern about Richmond Hill and John Adams is that these schools need to have changes in order to help these kids and bring back the prestige of the school,” Amadeo said. “There have been major changes within Richmond Hill in terms of student population and the administration of the school does not reflect this. There has been no outreach by the administration to the Punjabi community.”

Though UFT trumpeted the arbitrator’s decision, teachers themselves who were guaranteed jobs are now left with a far more uncertain educational environment heading into the fall. A teacher in a Queens “turnaround” school who did not wish to be identified described the possible reversal of the initiative as a “total mess.” He does not know which administrators he will be reporting to in September.

“My issue from the beginning is that it was a totally undemocratic sham process where every community was against it and it was obviously political,” the teacher said. “I thought the interview process was a total mess; there were only 15-minute interviews for teachers who had been there 25 years. It was ridiculous and unfair. But a lot of changes being made were good decisions. I thought we would be a better school. Now no one knows who’s working where, there’s no program for the school, I don’t know who the principal will be, if we’ll have an EPO [educational plan organization], or anything like that.”

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

Police Blotter Compiled by STEVEN J. FERRARI

101st Precinct Homicide The NYPD responded to a report of a person shot in the vicinity of Beach 29th Street and Seagirt Boulevard on July 13.

Upon arrival, responding officers discovered the victim, Shawn Plummer, 18, of 205 Beach 31st St., Far Rockaway, with a gunshot wound to the head. EMS also responded and transported the victim to St. John’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

There have been no arrests made and the investigation is ongoing.

105th Precinct Robberies The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the following suspect who is wanted in connection with commercial robberies in the the 105th and 113th precincts. In each incident, the suspect walks into the

locations and displays a firearm while demanding cash. The suspect then goes behind the front counters and removes cash before fleeing. There were no injuries sustained as a result of these incidents.

The first incident occurred at 10:15 p.m. on July 9 inside a Howard Johnson’s Hotel, 15395 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica.

The second incident occurred at 11:45 p.m. July 10 inside a Subway restaurant, 252-18 Rockaway Blvd., Rosedale.

The suspect is described as an African-American male, 27-30 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 and weighing 130 to 150 lbs.

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.

107th Precinct Bank Robberies The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance with the whereabouts and identity of an individual wanted in connection with two bank robberies.

On July 9, an African-American or Hispanic male entered two Capital One banks, 69-09 164th St. and 75-21 Main St. In both incidents, the suspect entered the banks dressed in a U.S. Postal Service uniform and handed the teller a demand note while displaying a black firearm in his waistband. On both occasions, the suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as being 35-40 years old, approximately 5-foot-9, medium complexion, goatee, with a medium build and wearing dark sunglasses.

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.

mirrored sunglasses. He was also carrying a black shoulder bag.

Bank Robbery

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the following suspects wanted in connection with a burglary.

At approximately 1:15 a.m. on June 15, the suspects entered the basement area of 23-33 31st Ave., Astoria, and removed two bicycles before fleeing.

The first suspect is described a white or Hispanic male, medium build, with a beard. The second suspect is described as a white of Hispanic male, medium build, bald with a beard.

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

At approximately 12:15 p.m. on July 9, the suspect entered Astoria Federal Savings Bank, 179-25 Hillside Ave., where he approached a teller, displayed a firearm and handed her a note demanding cash. The teller complied and handed the suspect an undetermined amount of money. The suspect then fled the bank.

The suspect is described as an African-American male, 30-40 years old, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8, 180 lbs., light complexion and freckles. The suspect was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt, light blue jeans, black shoes, a blue Yankees baseball cap and

114th Precinct Burglary

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY TO HELP SOLVE A CRIME.

Borough Beat

Does Weiner Cut The Mustard For Mayor?

Weiner if he made a comeback.

Other respondents chose to draw a line between Weiner’s personal and political life. Ozone Park resident Ramdas Mengroo said that Weiner’s Twitter trouble, while upsetting, was a personal matter and did not affect his ability to be an effective representative.

“I think the guy, the wackadoo, can come back into politics,” said Howard Blue of Forest Hills.

“He’s a good liberal Democrat, though he had the reputation of being rough with his staff.”

Though critics of Weiner were in the minority, they were no less vocal. Joseph Edwards of Ozone Park recoiled when the former congressman’s name was mentioned.

“We should forget about him,” Edwards said. “He should bury himself in the ground.”

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

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

A little over a year after he was forced to resign his seat in Congress, former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner is back in the news, as speculation builds that he may be considering a run for mayor in 2013.

Weiner reentered the public arena when he offered comment on the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Affordable Care Act. Speculation soon followed that he was mulling a political comeback, either in a run for mayor or public advocate in 2013, an assertion the Democrat quickly denied.

“As with everything else the New York Post has written about me and my family, the stories of the last [week] are pure fiction,” Weiner said in an email to the Tribune.

A source close to Weiner, however, said he was considering a mayoral run and would not be

munity,” said Lois Brill of interested in running for Woodhaven. “He came public advocate. If an anbefore us.” nouncement were to come, Support for Weiner was the source said, it would be also a reflection of disdain after the presidential elecor indifference to the other tion in November. candidates in the race, acWeiner found himself in cording to multiple intertrouble last year after it was views. Tom Turner of Forrevealed that he sent sexuest Hills said he would supally explicit pictures to sevport Weiner because he is eral women through the “pro-union” and a Demomicro-blogging site Twitter, including one to a 21- Anthony Weiner meets with constituents in 2010. crat, though he could not year-old college student in Residents in his former Congressional district name any candidates Seattle, Wash. The inci- seem to support a Weiner run for mayor in Weiner would theoretically run against, like City dent unleashed a media 2013.

Council Speaker Christine firestorm that forced him Quinn (D-Manhattan), to resign.

A release from the City Cam- year, would he be able to get the Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, paign Finance Board, however, support of his former constitu- Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, former mayoral shows that Weiner’s war chest is ents?

A random poll of more than a candidate William Thompson, well-stocked. The report noted he still has $4.5 million left from dozen people living within his Comptroller John Liu and Manhis aborted 2009 mayoral cam- old Congressional district over- hattan Media CEO Tom Allon.

Manny, a Flushing resident, paign, though he has yet to raise whelmingly showed support for knew who the mayoral candidates any money for a possible 2013 a potential mayoral run.

“I would still vote for him be- were, but was not impressed with run.

But after the events of last cause he reached out to the com- them. He said he would support PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

BY ROSS BARKAN

Southeast Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson

Dr. K Signing

Photo by Ira Cohen

pix

Benefit Concert Music legend Lionel Richie performed his greatest hits during the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research's seventh annual summer concert benefit on July 11. The Feinstein Institute is a part of the North Shore LIJ Health System.

Community Together

Photo by Ira Cohen

Photo by Walter Karling

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

Former New York Mets pitcher Dwight "Dr. K" Gooden signed autographs for Ridgewood Savings Bank's Astoria branch. The signing was part of a community event that also included food, games and a balloon sculptor.

Samantha Inniss, founder and artistic director of "Art, Food & Soul," and community activist Joe Moretti at a recent meeting of the Jamaica Center Improvement Association.

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Profile

Woman's Work Becomes Broadway Hit

BY VERONICA LEWIN

One local star has been recognized for taking her talents to Broadway.

Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) presented a proclamation to longtime Southeast Queens resident and musician Diedre Murray because of her accomplished career as a composer, cellist, producer, curator, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and two-time Obie winner.

Scarborough applauded Murray's latest accomplishment, adapting and writing the musical score for the Tony Award winning "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," currently on Broadway.

The 1935 Gershwin folk opera was one of the first operas to feature the African-American Experience, and it has not been shown on Broadway in 35 years.

The original four-and-a-half hour opera has been cut by two hours.

Music Festival at PS The play has received good reviews and 122 in Manhattan and the Visiting Arts Music Murray's musical reinSeries at the Wooster terpretation has been Group. She also applauded. The new founded and directed musical score has a jazz jazz at St. Mary's at influence.

Harlem's St. Mary's The play is set in Church and cofounded Catfish Row, located in the Firewall Total Arts Charleston, S.C. BeauFestival at PS 122. tiful Bess tries to break In 1998 Murray defree from her scandalveloped the highly acous past and her claimed jazz opera former lover, Crown.

"Running Man," for Courageous, but which she wrote the f lawed, Porgy is the only one who can res- Assemblyman William Scarborough (l.) presents original story, score, and book with collabocue her and their rela- Diedre Murray with a proclamation. rators Cornelius Eady tionship develops into a love story. "Porgy and Bess" will and the United States. She is and Diane Paulus. Murray won be on Broadway until this Sep- featured on over 50 recordings an Obie for her score and, with as well as having produced re- Eady, was a finalist for the 1999 tember.

Murray has toured the world cordings for the Henry Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In 2001 she wrote the music since the early 1970s as a band Threadgill Sextet, Hannibal leader and concert soloist and Marvin Peterson, Drew Richards arrangements for the musical has performed in most of the and Kelvyn Bell, among others. "Eli's Coming," for which she major jazz venues in Europe, Asia Murray curated the Hearings won her second Obie. In 2002

she composed the score for Brutal Imagination, a verse play by Cornelius Eady. Other works include "Strings Attached," a dance piece by choreographer Risa Jaroslow, "Best of Both Worlds" created by Randy Weiner and Diane Paulus and a collaboration with Sonoko Kawahara on "Name of The Flower," a music-theater piece and "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" with Kathryn Walker.

Murray collaborated with Diane Paulus on the musical "The Best of Both Worlds." Recent projects include a collaboration with Carl Hancock Rux on "The Blackamoor Angel," a full length opera and a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage for children's musical titled "Sweet Billy and the Zooloos."

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

People

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, N.J. They include: Queens Village: Ana Molinar, Hidalgo Montano.

Alyssa Amarain of Hollis Hills was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.

Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Buffalo State College. They include: Cambria Heights: Jeff Oyo. Jamaica: Liza Sang Yan, Mickayla Mc Gee, Philicia Montgomery.

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Afred State University. They include: Jamaica: Noel Carty, nursing; Patrick Parker, business management.

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at the College of Saint Rose in Albany.

They include: Jamaica: Josephine Yeboah, Vincent Tate.

Laurelton: Danielle Williams.

Queens Village: Cynthia Luna, Jessica Snell.

Rosedale: Marisa Frederick, Myrtelle Mehu, Ann Augustine.

St. Albans: Katia Drouillard, Dianne Garnett, Pamela Greene.

South Ozone Park: Lekeisha Hardy, Queen Asemota.

Springfield Gardens: Renita Jackson, Titilayo Soetan.

Air Force Reserve Airman Ervin M. Matthews graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Matthews is the son of

Desiree Phillips of Hollis and is a 2009 graduate of Campus Magnet High School, Cambria Heights.

values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Hutchinson is the son of Gale Hutchinson of Jamaica.

Air Force Airman Jacqueline H. Nazario graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Nazario is the sister of Alvin Nazario and Beatriz Caban of Richmond Hill and is a 2008 graduate of Math Science Research and Technology Magnet School in Cambria Heights.

Haniyyah Bashir of Rosedale was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y.

Air Force Airman Darryl M. Hutchinson graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core

Tamara Jackson of Jamaica was named to the President’s List for the spring 2012 semester at SUNY Potsdam.

Nwamaka Okafor of Jamaica is conducting research at Universidade de IberoAmerica in Costa Rica as part of SUNY Oswego’s Global Laboratory Network.

Local students received degrees during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. They include: Richmond Hill: Prabhjyot Saini, Master of Science in Public Health.

Woodhaven: Kimberly David,

Associate in Arts. David was also named to the Merit List for the spring 2012 semester.

Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Buffalo State College. They include: Ozone Park: Mariah Prensa, Anthony Maldonado.

South Richmond Hill: Khushal Mathon, Carol Reyes.

Marc-Anthony Forgenie of Richmond Hill received a degree in architectural engineering technology during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at Alfred State.

Rose Quinones of Richmond Hill received a degree during spring 2012 commencement ceremonies at the College of Saint Rose in Albany.

Lisbeth Reyes-Fondeur of Richmond Hill was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2012 semester at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.

A&E

‘Minervae’ Debuts in Athens Square Park

BY MEGAN MONTALVO

Restaurant Review

Cuisine The Way You Want It

Baidu Shabu Shabu 37-04 Prince St., Flushing (718) 353-9538 Hours: Mon. – Wed., 6-11 p.m.; Thurs. – Fri., 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Sat. – Sun., Noon to Midnight Credit Cards: Yes, All Major

possible co-existence between the two.

Erik Gullberg, who plays Mars, gives a humorous and convincing performance of the war god that is not to be missed, while Brooklyn-born Scarlett Bermingham appropriately embodies the sexy and sassy goddess in her performance as Venus.

Minerva tries to rekindle her romance with Axon One highlight in as she tries to lure the mortal explorer with a new t h e p l a y c o m e s geographic voyage. from Bermingham’s performance when Venus is ply want to see it again, On The sent by Apollo, played by the Square Productions will be hostcaptivating Jeremiah Maestas, ing additional performances to seduce Vulcan, played by over July 20-23 and 26-29. the eloquent British actor Rob Shows start at 7:30 p.m. each Benson. Met with some hesi- night and attendees are encourt a t i o n , Ve n u s o b l i g e s to aged to bring blankets and come Apollo’s request and quickly early for priority seating. Athens lures vital information from Square Park is located at the corVulcan as if it were child’s ner of 30th Street and 30th Avplay. enue. Admission to the play is The entire cast of performers free. is truly entertaining and the Reach Reporter Megan tragic ending leaves the audience Montalvo at (718) 357-7400 Ext. wanting more. Luckily, if you 128 or mmontalvo@ missed opening weekend or sim- queenstribune.com.

New Literary Journal Comes To Queens

BY MEGAN MONTALVO Watch out Brooklyn and move over Manhattan, Queens has a new literary journal coming to town. Appropriately named after one of the original towns that was incorporated into Queens in 1898, Newtown Literary is scheduled to hit the borough in November and has already received a long list of submissions.

Created by Elmhurst resident Tim Fredrick, the journal will include works from both local authors as well as those who may not live in the area.

“Queens is a very welcoming place to people of all backgrounds,” said Fredrick. “We want that to be reflected in the journal as well.”

As a writer and resident of

Queens for 15 years, Fredrick says that he has become intimately aware of the lack of attention Queens receives from the literary world.

When the idea for the journal first sprung in Fredrick’s mind, he doubted that it would get as much attention as it already has. On the hills of the notoriety, he quickly found himself developing a full fledged non-profit organization devoted entirely to the journal.

“I was initially very nervous and thought that the idea might be viewed as silly,” said Fredrick.

“But as I started to tell people about it, I stated to see just how much it was needed.”

From his work as a teacher of reading and writing at Queens Paideia School, Fredrick says that he also looks forward to in-

spiring the future wave of authors by holding youth writing contests for publication.

In addition to the entrance of the varying writers’ submissions, each issue will also include book reviews from notable Queens writers. The inaugural issue is projected to highlight a review of the latest book of memoirs from local Jackson Heights author Sweta Srivastava Vikram.

Submissions for Newtown Literary will be accepted until Aug. 4. Copies of the journal will be published twice a year and will be available in both print and digital formats starting at $10.

For submission information, visit www.newtownliterary.org Reach Reporter Megan Montalvo at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 128 or mmontalvo@ queenstribune.com.

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

As you walk through the door at Baidu, it seems like entering the nightlife of hip city in China. Bamboo and silk cloth hang from the ceiling and the entire restaurant has dim lighting with various lights and decorations all around. A waterfall is in the middle of the restaurant with colorful lights inside and a flat screen TV in the center. You are surrounded by lightly colored brick walls, bright red booths and beige tables and chairs.

Baidu has a full Sichuan and hot pot menus. If you’re trying hot pot for the first time, each person gets a pot for themselves to cook their own food at their seat, where there are stove tops.

The choice is yours from the broth you cook your food in, entrees of meat and fish, sides of vegetables and different sauces for dipping. You can have every part of your meal exactly the way you want it. The venue is also vegetarian friendly, with a variety of

vegetable and tofu entrees.

Customers can also choose a buffet, where a group can order as much food as they want plus soda or beer within a twohour period for $25 a person.

The rest of my dinner party selected this and were very pleased. They particularly enjoyed the angus beef, which is a restaurant favorite.

Being a vegetarian, I went in another direction. I had the vegetable combo and was pleased with the amount of food it had to offer at an affordable low price. Most of the fresh vegetables on the menu, noodles and some tofu were all on my plate, ready for me to take a bite. They had to take a visit into the pot though of course.

One by one, I dropped the spinach, corn on the cob, tomatoes, mushrooms, slices of pumpkin and cauliflower into my personal pot with vegetarian broth. Next, I dropped my noodles into the pot. I watched as my dinner sizzled in my pot and steam flowed into my face.

I found the experience amusing.

If you are looking for delicious Chinese food cooked to your liking, come to Baidu Shabu Shabu. It is an entertaining and satisfying dining experience!

–Cristina Foglietta

longer in Astoria; the setting was now ancient Rome and the gods reigned supreme.

Sprinkled with the notions of love, religion and violence, the comedic drama challenged members of the crowd to take an introspective look on how their own life may be affected by these critical aspects.

In the first act, the idea of questioning internal beliefs is exhibited when Minerva, played by Rachel McPhee, reunites with her former mortal flame Axon, played by Rick Delaney. Abandoned by his long-lost love, Axon has turned to Christianity, or as the play coins it “Christianity,” for his newfound guidance and denounces Minerva.

Heart-broken and lacking in public adoration, Minerva later emerges in a camp of loyal “Christ-ians” and soon finds herself trying to convince them of her existence as she struggles for survival.

Throughout the play, intermittent scenes of an intricate love triangle between Mars, Venus and Vulcan touch on the themes of love, violence and a

Photo by Megan Montalvo

When Astoria residents think of names like Neptune and Hermes, the local diner and laundromat are more likely to come to mind than the actual Greek and Roman gods for whom they were named. In a neighborhood steeped in Greek culture, it only seems appropriate that a deeper homage outside of these local businesses be repaid to the memory of these ancient gods.

On July 13, homage came

with the inaugural performance of “The Minervae” at Athens Square Park. Hosted by an Astoria-based company, On The Square Productions, the original play drew large crowds of local residents and theater lovers for the opening weekend.

The performance kicked off with a dramatic entrance from the cast, who encompassed the audience as they marched, drummed and chanted past the Roman columns into the park.

From that point forward, it became clear that you were no

Faith

Group Calls For Fix To Flooding Problem

BY VERONICA LEWIN

Homeowner Keisha Phillips-Kong speaks about the problems flooding has caused in her home at last week's meeting.

Word

“The LORD then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.’”

-Genesis 7:1

EQUAL was founded more than 20 years ago and is dedicated to building citizen power for working families and immigrants throughout Queens. The group fights for public policies that will improve the lives of lowand middle-income residents.

Spokesman Michael Stanley said that two of its organizations Bethany Baptist Church and Sunnyside Reformed Church experience basement f looding whenever there is heavy rainfall in the borough.

Due to the many hills and valleys Southeast Queens has, parts of the area flood nearly every time it rains. When John F. Kennedy Airport was constructed in the 1940s, it took away many of Southeast Queens' permeable areas to soak up excess water. Stanley suggested that more storm sewers and permeable pavement could be installed as well as green roofs to soak up rainwater.

Until 1996, Jamaica Water Supply would pump millions of gallons of water out of the ground daily. When the City Dept. of Environmental Protection took over, the agency started bringing water from upstate, leaving the excess water underground with no place to go. Over the past 16 years, the standing ground water level in Southeast Queens has risen to 30 feet, leaving many

Photos by Clifford Mason

Every time it rains, property owners in the borough brace themselves for the likely flooding that will occur. Due to the lack of absorption points in Queens, just an inch or two of rain is enough to dampen basements and flood roadways.

More than 300 people from

across the borough came to the First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica on July 12 to address flooding concerns. Members of Empowered Queens United in Action and Leadership gathered to call on the Dept. of Environmental Protection to take swift action to end the flooding problem that has plagued the borough for decades.

People filled the First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica to call on the City to find a flooding solution. homeowners to deal with saturated basements each time there is heavy rainfall.

EQUAL leader Keisha Phillips-Kong spoke about the problems flooding has caused her while living in St. Albans.

She moved to her home on 119th Avenue in September 2010 and was not aware how prone it was to flooding because she visited on a dry day. About a month after moving in, she soon discovered what many homeowners in the area face - saturated basements. In addition to puddles in her basement, Phillips-Kong said she experiences problems outside of her home as well.

"As soon as it rains, you cannot walk into my driveway," she said.

On days when the driveway is f looded, Phillips-Kong will drive her truck to the bus stop on the corner, pick up her son and nephews, and then back into the driveway. While she enjoys living in St. Albans, she said she may have to move if there is not a f looding solution.

"It's not what I want to do," Phillips-Kong said. "I go to church around the corner, it is a community that I like, but obviously if it is an inconvenience, then no."

For more information about EQUAL's efforts in Queens, visit www.equal-iaf.org.

Reach Deputy Editor at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123.

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

Notebook HLDC Scholarships

Hollis Scholars Praised At Annual Brunch

BY VERONICA LEWIN Some of the best and brightest students in Southeast Queens were honored last weekend.

The Hollis Local Development Corporation, under the leadership of its president, Michael Hargraves, celebrated its third annual Scholarship Awards Brunch on Saturday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Thomasina's lo-

cated at 205-35 Linden Blvd.

The organization awarded scholarships to 13 students - six of whom are continuing college students and seven are 2012 high school graduates and first time awardees. HLDC follows its scholarship recipients through all four years of their college career.

The awards are named for their past president, Bruce L. Brown who worked with the or-

ganization in developing the concept prior to his sudden death in 2011. This year they will celebrate the continuing education of: Tori Alleyne, Taina Wagnal, Derell Brown, Jeff Oyo, Malcolm Williams, and Harold Menier. The newly inducted awardees are: Ashley Harmon, Oren Previl, Katrice Bryce, Jinene Thompson, Shanise Shirley, Kudeejal Kelly, and Tashema Taylor.

Guest speakers at last weekend's event include two of the original Tuskegee Airmen, Dabney Montgomery and Audley Coulthurst. The pair displayed their Congressional Medals of Honor and photos at the White House with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. They also shared with the audience the characteristics and paths they took to succeed in life.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must reside in the Hollis area, have an 80 percent average and maintain that average throughout their college years. For more information, contact Charlotte Thornton, Chairperson, (718) 217-3752 or Michael Hargreaves, (718) 810-2396.

Reach Deputy Editor 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.

SINGLES 60+ SINGLES Thursday, July 26 Mind Readings and more 1-2:30. $10, $2 discount CQY members. Central Queens YMYWHA. 268-5011, ext. 160.

FLEA MARKETS OUTDOOR FLEA Sundays, July 22, August 26, September 23 Outdoor Flea Market 10-5 at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, 4160 Kissena Blvd., Flushing.

TALKS

MEETINGS

BREAKFAST CLUB Sunday, July 22 “The Relationship of Abigail to David: From Coach to Co-Wife” Flushing-Fresh Meadows Jewish Center. 357-5100. $5 at the door. Bring a bible.

9:45 breakfast, 10:30 event.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturday, July 21 learn how to communicate effectively.

10-12:15 at Elmhurst Hospital. 424-9754.

VFW 4787 Monday, July 23 Whitestone VFW Communit y Post meets. 746-0540.

NY CARES Monday, July 23 New York Cares meeting to recruit new volunteers at 3 at the Forest Hills library.

FH VAC Wednesdays, July 25, August 22, September 26 Fore st Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp. 793-2055.

STAMP CLUB Thursday, July 26 Queen Stamp Club at the Forest Hills library at 5:45.

PUBLIC SPEAKING Thursday, July 26 at 6:15 at the Briarwood library.

HEALTH HEALTH FAIR Saturday, July 21 11-5 at L i n d e n P a r k , 4 1st A v e n u e and 103 rd Street. 760-3141.

CHAIR YOGA Saturdays, July 21, 28 at the Sunnyside library at 2.

ZUMBA Mondays, July 23, 30, August 6 at the Seaside library.

Register.

ZUMBA Mondays, July 23, 30 at the East Elmhurst library and the L a n g sto n H u g h e s l i b r a r y.

Register.

MS Tuesday, July 24 National Multiple Sclerosis Societ y support group at 1 at the Howard Beach library.

ALZHEIMERS Tuesdays, July 24, August 14, 28 Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 5925757, ext. 237.

INTRO YOGA Tu e s d ay, J u l y 2 4 a t t h e Hollis library at 2. Bring mat and optional cushion.

ZUMBA Wednesday, July 25 at the Astoria librar y. Register.

HEALTH FAIR Wednesday, July 25 5-8 at CC Moore Homestead Park, 82 nd Street and Broadway.

760-3141.

CHAIR YOGA Wednesdays, July 25, August 1 introduction to chair yoga at the Hillcrest library.

Register.

OA Wednesdays Overeaters Anonymous at the Howard Beach library at 11.

EAT HEALTHY Thursday, July 26 Eating Healthy Away From Home at 3:30 at the Far Rockaway library.

LEARN CPR Thursday, July 26 at the L a n g sto n H u g h e s l i b r a r y.

Register.

ZUMBA Thursdays, July 26, August 2, 9 at the Rochdale Village library and Woodside library. Register.

HEALTH FAIR Saturday, July 28 11-5 at the New Covenant Church of Christ (Baptist), 206-14 100 th Avenue, Queens Village. Blood pressure screenings, diabetes, arthritis, info, more.

SENIORS FREE LUNCH Saturdays, July 21, August 18, September 15 All Saints Church in Richmond Hill.

849-2352 reservations.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Wednesday, July 25 at the Windsor Park library. Register.

STARS Wednesday, July 25 STARS (Senior Theater Acting Repertory) meets at the Hollis library at 10:30.

60+ SINGLES Thursday, July 26 Mind Readings and more 1-2:30. $10, $2 discount CQY members. Central Queens YMYWHA. 268-5011, ext. 160.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING Friday, July 27 at the Laurelton library. Register.

MORE YOUTH MAGIC WORKSHOP Thursday, July 26 at the Kew Gardens Hills library at 4:30. Ages 5 and up.

COMPUTERS Friday, July 27 at the Hillcrest library. Register.

PEARLER BEAD KITS Friday, July 27 Middle Village library. Register.

DREAM BIG Friday, July 27 Broadway library at 2.

LEGO WORLD BUILDER Friday, July 27 at the Glendale library. Register.

MAGIC WORKSHOP Friday, July 27 Woodhaven library at 3. Ages 5 and up.

FAMILY BINGO Friday, July 27 at the Queens Village library. Register.

TEENS TENNIS PROGRAM Tu e s d a y s a n d T h u r s d a y s through August at Pomonok Park. 347-4178156.

MOVIE MONDAYS Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Flushing library at 2.

CHESS CLUB Monday, July 23 at the Bayside library at 6.

ECO JEWELRY Monday, July 23 at the Steinway library. Register.

EFFECTIVE TEENS Mondays, July 23, 30 7 Habits of Highly Effective Te e n s a t t he Po m o n o k l i brary at 3.

YU-GI-OH! Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Seaside library at 2.

NH GAZETTE Mondays, July 23, 30 North Hills Gazette newsletter at the North Hills library. Register.

DREAM IT Tuesdays, July 24, 31 East Elmhurst library at 2:30.

MASTER MINDS Tuesday, July 24 at the LIC library at 2:30. Brain teasers, puzzles, games.

JEOPARDY TRIVIA Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Seaside library at 3:30.

TEEN GAMING Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

ORIGAMI Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Seaside library at 4.

CHESS CLUB Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Woodhaven library at 2.

LIC CHESS CLUB Tuesdays LIC library at 4.

BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays Windsor Park library at 4.

KNIT & CROCHET Wednesday, July 25 South Ozone Park library at 1.

ANIME SUMMER Wednesday, July 25 at the Flushing library at 2.

GOOGLE DOCS Wednesday, July 25 at the Central library. Register.

ROLE PLAYING Wednesday, July 25 at the Bayside library at 3.

CLAY CREATIONS Wednesday, July 25 at the North Hills library. Register.

RESUME HELP Wednesdays at 3 at the Arverne library.

MOCK INTERVIEWS Thursday, July 26 at the C e n t ra l l i b ra r y. 9 9 0 - 5 1 4 8 register.

SAVE YOUR STUFF Thursday, July 26 at the Central library. Register.

RAP SESSIONS Thursday, July 26 at the Laurelton library at 5.

OPEN MIC

Thursday, July 26 at the East Elmhurst library at 6.

AMER. ANIMATION Thursday, July 26 at the Seaside library at 6.

MASTER MINDS Thursday, July 26 at the LIC library at 2:30. Brain teasers, puzzles, games.

GAME TIME Thursday, July 26 at the North Hills library at 3:30.

TEEN SPACE Thursday, July 26 at the Windsor Park library. Space limited. 3:30.

TEEN GAMING Thursday, July 26 at the Fresh Meadows library at 4.

GAME DAY Thursday, July 26 at the Woodhaven library at 4.

CHESS CLUB Thursday, July 26 at the F l u s h i n g l i b ra r y. L i m i t e d space.

GAME TIME Thursday, July 26 at the Bayside library at 3.

TEEN THURSDAYS

T h u r s d ay s Ba y Te r ra c e l i brary at 3.

CHESS CLUB Thursdays East Flushing library at 5.Sunnyside library at 5.

TEEN HAPPY HOUR Friday, July 27 at the Flushing library at 4.

BIG GAME DAY Friday, July 27 at the Broadway library at 3.

BINGO Friday, July 27 at the Queens Village library. Register.

READ & REVIEW Friday, July 27 Read, Renew, Return, Review at the Glen Oaks library. 831-8636 register.

READING CLUB Friday, July 27 at the Fresh Meadows library at 3.

BOOK BUDDIES Friday, July 27 at the Bayside library at 4.

GAME DAYS Friday, July 27 at the Seaside library at noon.

YOUTH READ TO A DOG Mondays, July 23, 30 at the North Hills library. Register.

BABY & ME Mondays, July 12, 30 at the Bayside library at 10:30.

READ TO ME Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Fresh Meadows library at 10:30.

ANT FARM IN CIT Y Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Steinway library. Register.

DINOSAUR STORY TIME Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Seaside library at 1:30.

READER BOYS Mondays, July 23, 30 at the St. Albans library at 2.

MAKE & TAKE CRAFT Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Central library at 3.

BOOK CIRCLE Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Ridgewood library at 3.

WII GAMES Mondays, July 23, 30 at 3 at the Windsor Park library.

CHESS CLUB Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Bayside library at 6.

PJ STORY TIME Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Central library at 7.

REPTILE ADVENTURE Monday, July 23 at the South Ozone Park library at 3:30. Ages 6 and up.

WIGGLY WORM BINS Monday, July 23 at the Sunnyside library at 4.

EXPLORING PLANTS Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Astoria library at 1:30.

DREAM BIG

Tu e s d a y, J u l y 2 4 a t t h e Broadway library at 2.

STORY & CRAFT Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Central library at 2.

MYSTERY BOOK CLUB Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Seaside library at 2.

ARTS & CRAFTS Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the North Hills library. Register.

READ TO ME Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Cambria Heights library at 2:30. Pre-school-K. ORIGAMI Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at 4 at the Seaside library.

READ TO A DOG Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Douglaston library. Register.

CHESS CLUB Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Woodhaven library at 2.

READING CLUB Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Douglaston library. Register.

STORY & CRAFT Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Central library at 3:30. Tickets available at 1.

DREAM BIG Wednesday, July 25 at the Broadway library at 2.

STORYBOOK Wednesday, July 25 make your own storybook at the Pomonok library at 3.

DREAM BIG Thursday, July 26 at the Broadway library at 2.

ORIGAMI TOYS Thursday, July 26 at the East Elmhurst library at 3:30. (continued)

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

LAURELTON Monday, July 23 “The Healing of America” discussed at 6:15 at the Laurelton library.

FINANCIAL HEALTH Tuesday, July 24 at 4 at the Woodside library.

POMONOK Wednesday, July 25 “The Year of Wonders” discussed at 2 at the Pomonok library.

BOOK DISCUSSION Thursday, July 26 at the East Flushing library at 10:30.

FRESH MEADOWS Thursday, July 26 “The Great Gatsby” discussed at 2:30 at the Fresh Meadows librar y.

AUTHOR TALK Thursday, July 26 Jason Antos speaks on “Queens Then and Now” at the Whitestone library at 4:30.

EAST ELMHURST Thursday, July 26 “Inner C i t y Fa c e s : C o n ve r s a t i o n Pieces: discussed at 6:30 at the East Elmhurst library.

HOLLIS Thursday, July 26 “The Marriage Plot” discussed at the Hollis library. Register.

PENINSULA Thursday, July 26 “A Night to Remember” discussed at 6:30 at the Peninsula library.

RELIGIOUS

Queens Today EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, July 21, 28, learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646748-8290.

BEGIN POWERPOINT Saturday, July 21 a t t h e Central library. 990-5102.

JOB SEARCH Saturday, July 21 a t t h e Central library. 990-0746.

INTER. POWERPOINT Saturday, July 21 at the Central library. 990-5148.

KNIT & CROCHET Saturdays, July 21, 28 at the Peninsula library at 10.

METRIX LEARNING Saturday, July 21 at the Far Rockaway library at 10:30.

Monday, July 23 at 5:30 at the Ar verne librar y. Saturday, July 28 at the LIC library at 4. Learn about free online training through Metrix Learning, including certifications in Office, Quickbooks, Adobe.

BEGIN EXCEL Monday, July 23 at the Central library. 990-5176.

JOB SEARCH Monday, July 23 social networking and your job search at the Central li-

Floors

brary. 990-5176.

KNIT & CROCHET Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Douglaston library at 4. Bring your own needles and yarn.

ONE-ON-ONE COMPUTER Mondays, July 23, 30 assistance at 1 at the Far Rockaway library.

COMPUTER BOOT CAMP Mondays, July 16, 23, 30 at t h e Fa r Ro c k away l i b ra r y.

327-2549 register.

BALLROOM DANCING Mondays, July 23, 30 at the Forest Hills library at 6:30.

METRIX LEARNING Monday, July 23, Friday, July 27, Monday, July 30 at 1 a t t h e C e n t r a l l i b r a r y.

Learn about free online training through Metrix Learning, including certifications in Office, Quickbooks, Adobe.

ECO-JEWELRY Monday, July 23 at the Steinway library. Register.

URBAN CHICKENING Monday, July 23 at 6 at the Woodside library and Saturday, July 28 at 10:30 at the Steinway library.

LEARNING LAB Tuesday, July 24 at the LIC

Floors

ENTERTAINMENT

library at 1:30.

INTRO WORD Tuesday, July 24 at the Central library. 990-0769.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Rosedale library at 10:30.

BASIC COMPUTER Tuesdays, July 24, 31 at the Arverne library at 10:45.

ONE-ON-ONE COMPUTER Tuesdays, July 24, 31 assistance at the Far Rockaway librar y. 3272549 register.

SMALL BUSINESS WORK. Tuesdays, July 24, 31 small business workshops at the C e n t ra l l i b ra r y. 9 9 0 - 5 1 4 8 register.

INTER. OFFICE Tuesday, July 24 at 10 at the Flushing library.

INTRO EMAIL Tu e s d ay, J u l y 2 4 a t t h e Queens Village library. Register.

COMPUTERS Tu e s d ay, J u l y 2 4 a t t h e Ozone Park library. Register.

BASIC COMPUTER Wednesday, July 25 at the Windsor Park library. Register.

Floors

WORLD CASINO 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone Park. Free admission.

GOLDEN DRAGON Through August 4 the Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at Queens Theatre in the Park. 760-0686, ext.

105.

STAGED READING Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 at 8 at Queens Theatre in the Park. 7600064.

ICE THEATRE Saturdays, July 21, 28 ice dancing ensemble at 7 at World Ice Arena in flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Free.

DANCE CONCERT Saturday, July 21 Malcolm Low Formal Structure Inc. at 8 at Queensbridge Park.

HAMMERSTEP Saturday, July 21 Hammerstep integrates traditional Irish step and tap dance with hip hop with band Deoro at 2 and again at 4 at the Flushing library.

BROADWAY SONGS Saturday, July 21 Broadway and nightclub songs at 2 at

Tele Serv.

the Fresh Meadows library.

MUSICAL TRIBUTE Saturday, July 21 tribute to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Bobby Darin at 2:30 at the Bayside library.

FLUTE & VIOLIN Saturday, July 21 Sonic Escape presents classical and folk for flute and violin at 2:30 at the Forest Hills library.

QUINTET Saturday, July 21 Bria Skonberg Quintet plays Louis Armstrong House Museum at 2. $15.

JAMAICA DRUM JAM Saturday, July 21 a t t h e Central library. Register.

LADIES TRIBUTE Saturday, July 21 tribute to Ella, Peggy, Doris and more at the Jackson Heights library at 3.

LIVE WILDLIFE Saturday, July 21 live wildlife discovery program at 2 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. $10. 229-4000 register.

JAZZ CONCERT Saturday, July 21 at Celebration Hall at the Center at Maple Grove at 8.

Construction

523-1876.

LIVE JAZZ & R&B Sundays, July 22, 29 live jazz and r&b 6-10 at Déjà vu, 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans.

PENNY SOCIAL Sunday, July 22 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. $12. 229-4000 to register.

NEW PLAYS Sunday, July 22 “The Bus Te s t . ” S u n d a y , J u l y 2 9 “The Perfect Bride.”

“The Ladder Series: A Staged Reading Series Aimed at Getting New Plays to the Next Rung” at the Creek and Cave, 10-93 Jackson Avenue, LIC. $7. www.ThePlat formGroup.org MUSICAL TRIBUTE Monday, July 23 tribute to Sinatra, Como and Haymes at 4 at the Briarwood library.

SOUL LEGENDS Monday, July 23 tribute to Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye at the Peninsula library at 6.

CHINESE PHOTOS Monday, July 23 Chinese Impressions at 6:30 at the Bellerose library.

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July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Floors

Off His Rocker John Rocker is at it again. The former Atlanta Braves pitcher who made headlines in New York for saying he wouldn’t want to play in the City regularly because he wouldn’t want to have to ride on the 7 train is back in the public eye – and it seems like he hasn’t learned his lesson.

With a new column on a conservative website, New York’s least favorite pitcher makes another attack on immigrants, going on an extended rant on how immigrants don’t assimilate as well as previous generations have.

With such an extensive immigrant population, we here at QConf

Models Of Queens

Queens remembers John Rocker think it’s safe to say that John won’t be adding Queens to his “Must Visit” list anytime soon.

P Diddy Goldilocks

Once upon a time there was a rapper named Sean Combs (PDiddy) who lived in a mansion in East Hampton. One afternoon a crazed fan named Quamine Taylor broke into P-Diddys home.

Taylor saw food on the table, and decided to try it. Taylor ate Sean Combs’s fried chicken, it wasn’t too hot. Then Quamine Taylor tried Combs’ Dutch Masters cigars and drank a can of orange soda. “My goodness I’m sleepy,” Taylor said entering Mr. Diddy’s bedroom.

Taylor then sat on Sean Combs’s bed, which was just right and Taylor fell asleep there. In a short while

Sean Combs returned home.

“Someone’s been eating my fried chicken!” said Sean Combs. Turns out, Mr. Quamine is a stalker who was apprehended by Police in Combs home not once, not twice, but for the third time. Not quite the fable in real life is it?

Elena Karavassilis Oakland Gardens Height: 5’4" Weight: 113lbs.

Stats: 34-26-36 Even years away from the modeling world couldn’t stop Elena’s love of conquering the catwalk. She first got into modeling at age five, when she joined the John Robert Powers agency. This didn’t last long, and Elena didn’t pick up modeling again until she was sixteen.

“A friend told me to audition for Shortstack. I got it, and I’ve been with them for about a year now. It felt good to start up [modeling] again,” she said.

A large part of Shortstack that appealed to Elena was their goal to work with shorter girls and change the conventional ways of modeling.

“When I was younger, I really liked the idea of modeling. But, I was never tall enough. My friend suggested Shortstack because of their work with shorter girls. It was very accepting.”

Starting up one of her passions again has Elena

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens July 20-26, 2012

For The Birds Right before a press conference on July 10 to address street cleaning in Woodside, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer had a little SNAFU of his own.

Bird poop had apparently plummeted from the heavens and struck his jacket.

Jacket off, Van Bramer still got the show on the road, and is now leading the charge to clean up bird droppings in Western Queens. One unfortunate Jimmy Van Bramer accident didn’t have anything to do with his long crusade against the feathered menaces though, and the residents of Western Queens can feel good knowing Van Bramer is keeping their streets clean.

That’s nothing to poo poo.

Water Sports As two QConf contributors strolled along 14th Road in Whitestone for a coffee run, we stumbled upon this makeshift water fountain. Apparently, a local resident decided to get a little crafty and attach a hose to siphon water from the hydrant. The hose spanned half a block and sprawled across several fences. Well, that’s one way to save money on your next water bill.

Beep Beep!

The Queens Zoo’s new roadrunner.

Taking leave of his usual home in the American Southwest, a road runner is now calling the Queens Zoo home.

The zoo’s new resident can reach a running speed of up to 25 miles per hour, the fastest running speed of any flighted bird. It’s brown and white plumage acts as camouflage from its predators.

The camo may come in handy, considering the zoo has a coyote exhibit not too far away. The Queens Zoo has yet to specify whether the coyote exhibit has received any packages from Acme.

looking to the future very confidently.

“I’d love to try and pursue modeling as a career.

It’s just so much fun to do every day,” she says eagerly.

The upcoming Benjamin N. Cardozo High School senior, aside from exploring colleges, adds swimming, basketball, and reading to her list of interests when she isn’t modeling. Hanging out with friends in Astoria and Bay Terrace shows love for her home borough.

“I like that Queens isn’t too busy. Everything is close to me, and my family and friends are here; what more could I want?”

And what advice does Elena have for models on the rise? “Just go out and try everything! I thought I couldn’t model because I was short, but I found what was right for me. Don’t let anything hold you back.”

QConfidential: Who We Are QConf is edited by: Michael Schenkler. Contributors: Ross Barkan, Steve Ferrari, Veronica Lewin, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Megan Montalvo, Wayne Dean Doyle, Mike Nussbaum. Email: Conf@QueensTribune.com

Confidentially, New York . . .

What’s Up are free drop-in programs deJULY 21 for families with children.

Walkers For Wellness Club signed Forget about computers and TV 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.

Line Dancing The Eastern Queens Alliance invites the community to join other dancers to learn fun line dances to all kinds of music, or just come for the exercise with instructor Barbara Fraser. No prior experience necessary.

For additional information or directions, call (347) 824-2301 or e-mail info@easternqueensalliance.org.

This free event will be held at Idlewild Cricket Field in Idlewild Park Preserve, 223rd Street and 148th Avenue, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Family Day

Jazz Festival Stacia Hobdy, Danny Mixon, U4ouria, Eddie Allen, Mike Flythe, Rome Neal, and The Jackson Brothers will make the 10th Annual St. Albans Jazz Festival a memorable one. If you would like to be a sponsor, or for more information, please call (718) 7231800.

This free event will be held at Saint Albans Park, Merrick Boulevard at Sayres Avenue, from 3 to 10 p.m.

JULY 22 Jamaican Jerk Festival Food, fun, culture, and family are all on the menu for the Jamaica Jerk Festival. This wonderful day will feature a jerk cook off and domino tournament with cash prizes, a kids’ zone, a cultural stage, cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs and vendors selling the best jerk dishes and Caribbean food. Tarrus Riley and others are scheduled to perform. Tickets are $25 in advance; $35 at the door. Children under 12 are free.

For tickets or additional information, visit www.jerkfestivalny.com or call (718) 425 1177.

This event will be held at Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick Boulevard at Baisley Boulevard.

JULY 23 World Rhythms

Mike Veny is a drum circle aficionado known for his highenergy grooves and ferocious backbeat. Participants will be given basic instruction and will play in a drum circle. Registration is required; space is limited.

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

Tony Vacca, an internationally renowned percussionist and composer, presents concerts that are visually stunning and musically astounding. Senegalese dancer, Abdou Sarr, brings Sabar and Djembe dance to life. Join the fun as Tony and Abdou perform at the park.

This free event will be held at Rochdale Park, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard at 134th Avenue, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Hands On History

Film Screening

Jamaica Drum Jam

Hands on History workshops

A Better Jamaica’s “Family

JULY 24 Walkers For Wellness Club See July 21 listing. At 7 p.m.

Recess Monkey Recess Monkey is the Seattle band of three elementary school teachers who have taken the country by storm with their highenergy, kid-driven songs. Jack, Drew and Daron blend genrebending uptempo songs with ideas about the universalities of being young. Parents and kids alike will dance, sing and laugh along with Recess Monkey’s unique take on “Kindie Rock.”

This free event will be held at Rufus King Park, Jamaica Avenue at 153rd Street, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Concert Enjoy a concert with a diverse group of performers. Brooklyn native R&B performers and producers, Full Force has been a major player in the music scene since 1984. New York born and bred, The Force MD’s began their climb to fame by singing and dancing on Greenwich Village street corners and the Staten Island ferry. With a clear vision and passion for music and performing, Jeff Redd has had a long, successful musical career. As a winner of Grammy, American Music, Soul Train and Billboards Awards, Redd has worked as both a performer and in the production field.

New York soul songstress Meli’sa Morgan began her professional career as a backup singer, working with a number of major artists including Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan.

This free event will be held at Springfield Park, Springfield Bou-

levard at 145th Road, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Film Screening A Better Jamaica’s “Family Movies in the Park” is presenting the movie “Up.” After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl flies away on an unbelievable adventure with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, unexpectedly in tow.

Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain.

Written and directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson.

This free event will be held at Cambria/Cabbell Park, Francis Lewis Boulevard at 120th Avenue at 8:20 p.m.

JULY 25 Concert Le’Andria Johnson’s voice has taken the gospel music scene by storm since her debut in 2010.

Catapulted into the spotlight by winning the third season of BET’s Sunday, this singer/songwriter’s journey has been on an upward spiral to the top. With her debut CD spending eight weeks at #1 on Billboard’s “Top Gospel Albums” chart, Johnson’s influence on the gospel music of today is undeniable.

This free event will be held at Springfield Park, Springfield Boulevard at 145th Road, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Film Screening A Better Jamaica’s “Family Movies in the Park” is presenting the movie “Remember The Titans.” The year is 1971, and the people of Alexandria, Va., are stunned when African-American Herman Boone is chosen to lead a newly integrated football team.

As the season progresses, their contentious attitudes begin to change. Written by Gregory Allen Howard. Directed by Boaz Yakin.

This free event will be held at Baisley Pond Park, Foch Boulevard at Long Street, at 8:20 p.m.

JULY 26 Walkers For Wellness Club See July 21 listing. At 7 p.m.

Marketing Yourself Whether looking for a job,

thinking of starting your own business, or working steadily for someone else, start now to think about marketing and “branding” yourself. Branding yourself is the key to standing out in today’s job market, whether you are selling a product, a service, or a skill. In this program, participants will learn the most efficient ways to market themselves and create a personal brand. This program will be held in the Central Adult Learning Center.

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

Tamia Concert GRAMMY Award-winning artist and R&B singer Tamia is performing in Southeast Queens.

With a velvet voice and sinuous, sexy tunes to accommodate her honest and heartbreakingly real lyrics, Tamia has continued to enchant audiences. Her newest album, Beautiful Surprise is set to grace the airwaves in 2012.

This free event will be held at Springfield Park, Springfield Boulevard at 145th Road, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Film Screening A Better Jamaica’s “Family Movies in the Park” is presenting the movie “Remember The Titans.” The year is 1971, and the people of Alexandria, Va., are stunned when African-American Herman Boone is chosen to lead a newly integrated football team.

As the season progresses, their contentious attitudes begin to change. Written by Gregory Allen Howard. Directed by Boaz Yakin.

This free event will be held at Baisley Pond Park, Foch Boulevard at Long Street, at 8:20 p.m.

JULY 27 Daycare Center Theatre Series Bring the whole daycare center to the Black Spectrum Theatre’s daycare center theatre series. This month’s offering is “The Friendship Express Train.”

Admission is $7 per person; $6 for 50 or more people.

This event will be held at Black Spectrum Theatre, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

July 20-26, 2012 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

Councilman Leroy Comrie is sponsoring a Family Day at St. Albans Park. Guests can enjoy jazz music, BBQ, face painting and rides.

This free event will be held at St. Albans Park, 173rd Place and Sayers Avenue, between noon and 4 p.m.

and enjoy an afternoon of games at King Manor. Learn how to play old-fashioned games.

This free event will be held at King Manor Museum, 153 Street at Jamaica Avenue, from noon to 3 p.m.

Movies in the Park” is presenting the movie “Up.” After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl flies away on an unbelievable adventure with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, unexpectedly in tow.

Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain.

Written and directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson.

This free event will be held at Cambria/Cabbell Park, Francis Lewis Boulevard at 120th Avenue at 8:20 p.m.

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