Press epaper 081613

Volume 14 Issue No. 33 Aug. 16-22, 2013

GRADES GRIEF

F

City schools get bad marks on new statewide Common Core test. By Natalia Kozikowska.

Bill Thompson calls for stronger schools citywide. See page 8.

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

News Briefs SEQ Leader Bruce Brice Passes

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and prayers are with at this difficult time.”

Earlier this week, Bruce Brice, a long-time advocate, organizer and Teen Sexually Assaults leader in Southeast Queens passed Toddler in McDonalds away.

Last week, a 14-year-old was bust“For decades, Bruce A. Brice has ed for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old been a wise, influential, and sup- girl in the play area of a Jamaica Mcportive voice throughout Southeast Donalds.

Queens. Whether by being a memThe troubled teen was placed into ber of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, City custody after a family court the Robert Couche Senior Citizens judge said he posed a danger to his Center or through the United Black younger sister at home.

Men of Queens, Bruce’s knowledge According to reports, the susand opinion were always valued be- pect, whose name was not released cause everyone knew how dedicated because he is a minor, tried to force he was to helping people in our com- himself onto the little girl inside a munity,” Councilman Leroy Comrie tubular play structure at the McDon(D-St. Albans) said in a statement. ald’s restaurant located on Hillside When the redistricting process Avenue in Jamaica. took place 1979, Brice played a Prosecutors believe the teen may be major role in creating additional linked to a similar incident in March minority-majority State Senate and involving a 9-year-old who claimed Assembly districts, ensuring people she was touched by a stranger. of color would have a representaHe is due to appear in family court tive who could speak for them in on Friday, Aug. 16.

Albany.

He worked with many representatives such as Assemblywomen Cyn- Hollis Boy Goes Missing Police are still searching for a 12thia Jenkins and State year-old boy who went Sen. Andrew Jenkins, missing from his Hollis where he advocated for home last week. safer streets, education Donovan Heslop was and the youth. last seen at his home on For years, Brice 104th Avenue in Hollis. worked as an auditor for He is described at 5 feet the State of New York tall, weighing about 120 making sure taxpayer pounds. money was being spent Anyone with inforwisely and was going mation was asked to to worthy causes that call Crime Stoppers at helped people throughDonovan Heslop 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). out the State.

The public can also sub“No matter what Bruce mit tips by logging on to the Crime did, he was always fully dedicated to it, which helped him make a lasting Stoppers website at nypdcrimestopand positive impact on people’s lives,” pers.com or by texting tips to 274637 Comrie added. “He is survived by (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All tips are anonymous. his wife Beverly, whom my thoughts

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Presstime

Judge Rules Stop And Frisk Unconstitutional

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA On Monday, a Manhattan federal judge ruled that the New York Police Department’s Stop and Frisk policy violated the rights of New Yorkers and called for an independent monitor to watch over the police.

According to U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin, the policy has been systematically and unfairly targeting minorities, violating their Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures and their 14th Amendment rights, which guarantee equal protection.

Scheindlin has plans to install attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor, Peter Zimroth, to ensure the NYPD will comply with her new ruling. She added that the decision does not call for an end to the controversial policy, but rather a dire need for reform.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has since blasted the judge’s ruling, claiming that the Stop and Frisk policy has “saved countless lives” and Scheindlin “ignored the real-world realities of crime.” He vowed to appeal the “dangerous” decision.

“As guns continue to flow onto our

streets from other states, we have to take every constitutionally protected step at our disposal to keep them out – and to keep them from being used to kill innocent people,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Throughout the trial that just concluded, the judge made it clear she was not at all interested in the crime reductions here or how we achieved them.”

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly echoed similar sentiments, dismissing accusations that the crime-fighting tactic leads to racial profiling.

“What I find most disturbing and offensive about this decision is the notion that the NYPD engages in racial profiling. That simply is recklessly untrue,” Kelly said in a statement.

“We train our officers that they need reasonable suspicion to make a stop and I can assure you that race is never a reason to conduct a stop.”

Although the court decision was met with fierce skepticism by Bloomberg and Kelly, a majority of mayoral candidates seemed to be in favor of the ruling.

“The judge’s call for reforms must be heeded, and – longer term – the tactic should be abolished. It’s time

to put an end to Stop and Frisk once and for all,” said City Comptroller John Liu in a statement.

Liu has been the only candidate to argue the policy needs to be ridded entirely.

“The present Stop and Frisk policy violates the constitutional rights of all New Yorkers, but especially innocent Blacks and Latinos,” Bill Thompson said in a statement.

“Instead of treating our police and people with respect, the Mayor and Commissioner Kelly have imposed what are effectively quotas on the police and treated entire minority communities with suspicion.”

“The overuse and misuse of Stop and Frisk hasn’t made New York a safer City, it has only served to drive police and community further apart,” Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “The only way to end the abuse of Stop and Frisk in New York City is with real reform.”

“We do not need to sacrifice our civil rights to live in a safe city. You can reduce crime while increasing respect,” Anthony Weiner said in a statement.

Sal Albanese, a self-proclaimed ‘independent’ candidate, took a safer

approach, claiming Stop and Frisk is a legal police tool that keeps the City safe only when it is used properly.

“There was never any doubt that the City was casting too wide of a net and focusing on quantity rather than quality when numbers peaked in 2011,” Albanese said in a statement. “Since then, the NYPD has moved in the right direction by training officers better and reducing unnecessary stops. This ruling will accelerate that process.”

Although the landmark decision generated mixed feelings, Laurelton attorney Jacques Leandre, whose law office has seen close to 100 clients who have been searched and not given a summons, said the ruling is a victory for the minority community – which account for more than 80 percent of stops.

“I don’t believe that Stop and Frisk is on its way to a death but I think that racial profiling has taken a huge blow,” Leandre said. “Discriminatory practices have taken a huge blow when it comes to policing the communities of color.”

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @nkozikowska.

Aqueduct Subway Station Now Open 24 Hours

BY LUIS GRONdA Residents looking to spend their cash at the casino now have a more convenient way of traveling there.

The Aqueduct Racetrack subway station will now be open 24-hoursa-day for commuters taking public transportation to Resorts World Casino. Trains traveling from the Rockaways, going towards Manhattan, will now make daily stops at the Aqueduct station. Commuters traveling

in the other direction will have to get off at the Aqueduct-North Conduit stop and transfer over to a Manhattan-bound A train.

The now full-time train station coincides with the completion of the $15 million Resorts World SkyBridge, an indoor platform that connects the train station with the casino. The completion of the bridge, which has been in the works since before Resorts World opened almost two years ago, allowed for the train

station to be opened full time.

At a Tuesday morning press conference to commemorate the two events, Ed Farrell, the president of Resorts World Casino, said straphangers will be able to get to the facility quicker because of the new additions.

“We have about 12 million people a year visiting Resorts World and many of them will have a much easier time getting here,” said Farrell, who was named president last month, taking

Avella drops Out Of Beep Race With one month left before Primary Day, State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) announced late Wednesday that he was dropping his bid for Queens Borough President.

Avella, who lagged behind top contenders Melinda Katz and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria) in support and money, said in a statement that the decision was a difficult one.

“Queens is my home borough and I will never stop fighting

and advocating for all residents of Queens,” he said. “Yet, at this time, I believe I can best serve the people of Queens by remaining a State Senator.”

The State Senator noted that he hopes to take more of a leadership role in Albany addressing issues ranging from hydrofracking to preserving women’s rights.

Earlier in the week, another former Borough President contender announced his support in the race.

Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-

St. Albans), who dropped out last month, threw his support behind Katz in an email sent out Monday night.

“Melinda has the vision and determination to transform Queens into a more vibrant destination, while maintaining her dedication to preserving a quality of life,” Comrie said. “Melinda has a proven track record of advocating for better schools, the creation of affordable and senior housing and better jobs.”

over for Michael Speller, who has held that title since the racino’s inception.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo (DHoward Beach), Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) and Betty Braton, chairwoman of Community Board 10, all lavished praise on Resorts World for renovating the subway station and building the SkyBridge.

“In tough times, we look for economic partners who are going to commit to ensure that the money that is raised is put right back into the economy. Resorts World has done that time and time again,” Goldfeder said.

“By working with the MTA to make this safe and clean subway connection a reality, once again, Resorts World has demonstrated its ability to deliver on promises made – and we’re quite pleased it’s been done in a way that serves the community as well as casino patrons,” Braton said.

Farrell said that they have been in discussion with the MTA about renaming the train station after Resorts World and they hope to have that done in the near future.

Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda.

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Holliswood Hospital To Permanently Close

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA On Aug. 12, Holliswood Hospital in Jamaica became the sixth hospital in Queens to close its doors in the last decade.

According to Gay Hartigan, a member of the hospital board, the 127-bed private psychiatric hospital will close due to recent financial struggles. She confirmed that Holliswood has already begun to discharge patients and within the next two weeks, the hospital is expected to be permanently shut down.

Holliswood Hospital in Jamaica became “I definitely think it’s a loss for past decade. the community – especially for the behavioral healthcare community,” Hartigan said. “There has been In an attempt to prevent a closure, a large number of general hospitals the hospital officials began to negoticlosing and I don’t know what could ate with PSCH, a local nonprofit with have been done [to save the hospi- a similar mission to help individutal]. It’s a difficult time for health- als with mental health disabilities. care. A lot has changed throughout Hartigan said that PSCH expressed the State and country.” interest in acquiring Holliswood and According to Hartigan, Hollis- offered to provide interim financing wood Hospital, located at 87-37 Pal- before the acquisition. ermo St., began to see its first signs But the deal soon fell apart. of financial troubles in March/April “We were sort of going down the of last year when a payer had gone road with that financing deal and the bankrupt – a significant loss in fund- acquisition for the last few months ing for the facility. and then in July, we were notified

members to “make sure everybody is triaged into the appropriate level of care.” Most patients will be placed in the communities they came from.

The impending closure, however, does not only affect the 41 patients receiving psychiatric care at the facility. Approximately 375 employees, including a number of nurses, pharmacists and psychologists, must also leave.

Many will be left searching for new jobs, but Hartigan said that some of Holliswood’s employees the sixth hospital in Queens to close this have already begun to secure employment.

“We had a number of agencies come into the building over the that it was not going to occur – that last few days doing recruitment,” she they were not able to secure interim said. “A number of people have had financing and they were not going to job offers and then the union has be able to acquire the hospital,” she been very helpful in terms of their job security fund.” said.

Holliswood joins Peninsula, St. The two parties were unable to reach an agreement and without the Joseph’s, Mary Immaculate, St. interim funding, Holliswood could Johns and Parkway on the long list of hospitals that have closed in Queens not afford to keep its doors open.

Currently, Holliswood serves 41 within the last 10 years.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowspatients of all different ages and psychological disorders. Hartigan added ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or that the hospital staff is working nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ closely with all patients and family nkozikowska.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Central Library To Get First-Ever Café

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Library patrons from all across the Borough will soon be able to read their favorite books while sipping on some freshly-brewed coffee and snacking on their favorite baked goods.

Last week, Queens Library announced that its Central Branch in Jamaica will be the first branch to welcome a café, fully equipped with sandwiches, muffins and of course, coffee.

“We are hoping to bring a fuller customer service experience,” Joanne King, communications director for Queens Library, said. “The role of a library has evolved into more than a place for education and information.

The library is a destination as well and we want people to feel comfortable during their time here.”

Queens Central Library, which is undergoing a $9.8 million renovation, has increased its efforts to modernize the 47-year-old building. The café is just one of many renovations the Central Branch is expected to see completed within the next two years.

According to King, the multimillion dollar project was funded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall,

the Queens Delegation to the City Council, the State of New York and Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-Jamaica).

Once this expansion is complete, a 24-hour self-check-in kiosk will be in place at the exterior of the building and the plaza will have new furniture, f looring and light-

ing. In addition, the entire front of the entry will be redesigned to make it more visually appealing to booklovers.

“As libraries continue to play a significant role in Jamaica and throughout the Borough, I am pleased to have worked to convince the Queens Delegation to provide funding to help

make these renovations possible, and would like to thank my colleagues in government and the Queens Library for their efforts,” Comrie said in an emailed statement.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska.

Jamaica Hospital Treats Asthma

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Earlier this week, Jamaica Hospital became the only hospital in New York City to offer bronchial thermoplasty – a recently FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure to treat severe asthma in adults.

“Bronchial thermoplasty is unique. It is the first time asthma is being treated in a physical way,” Dr. Craig Thurm, director of Jamaica Hospital’s division of pulmonary medicine, said in a statement. “Previously, patients with severe asthma could only rely on medications such as high dose inhaled steroids, bronchodilators and xolair.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in 12 people suffer from asthma. There were 1.3 million

asthma-related hospital visits to outpatient departments and 1.8 million emergency department visits for asthma in 2010 in the United States.

When individuals suffer from an asthma attack, the airways to their lungs begin to narrow. Bronchial thermoplasty uses thermal energy to permanently heat and shrink thickened muscle that surrounds a patient’s airways. It is the first non-drug treatment to treat the condition in adults.

“The procedure comprises three different sessions, scheduled three weeks apart. The first and second sessions treat the lower lobes of lungs, while the third session treats the upper lobes,” Thurm explained. “Bronchial thermoplasty is offered to individuals with severe asthma, who are at least 18 years old and whose asthma is not well

controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists.”

While bronchial thermoplasty is not likely to cure asthma, it works as a complement to other types of therapies and treatments.

“Studies have shown that bronchial thermoplasty can reduce asthma symptoms and asthma attacks, as well as emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and days lost from work and school,” Thurm said. “We are truly excited to offer bronchial thermoplasty to patients who can benefit from it.”

For more information about bronchial thermoplasty at Jamaica Hospital, call (718) 206-8776 or (718) 206-7130.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska.

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Editorial Time For Smart Choices 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 Editor-in-Chief:

Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager:

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel

It has become a common theme in this space to decry the corruption – real or perceived – that has besmirched too many elected officials from Southeast Queens. But the cause is a just one. We need these officials to speak for us and fight for us, instead of lining the pockets of their own best interests.

Over the last few months, several elected officials have been arrested, but some of our more problematic representatives remain in office despite investigations and other questionable decisions. It is the responsibility of voters to make these changes come Election Day. Last year, amid a state investigation into $33,000 in member items to a nonprofit organization where he served on the board of directors, Councilman Ruben Wills was stripped of his ability to allocate funds, and he was also removed from a budget negotiating team. Before his election to the City Council, Wills served as chief of staff to former State Sen. Shirley Huntley, who was indicted on fraud charges last year and was later sentenced to jail time.

Good government goes with good elected officials, representatives who follow the rules and do not break the law.

Southeast Queens deserves better than a councilman who has had his authority to govern taken away. The only way to ensure you have responsible representation in government is to make smart choices at the ballot box.

Art Dept:

Rhonda Leefoon Lianne Procanyn Barbara Townsend Alan Goldsher Director of Marketing Maureen Coppola Advertising Administrator Advertising Executives Merlene Carnegie Shari Strongin Wazeer Ali

A Queens Tribune Publication © Copyright 2013 Tribco, LLC

Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller

changed drastically. We have people that think it’s alright to play their music so loud, you can hear it four blocks away. We can’t call the precinct directly, we have to call 311. The captain at the 106th is very helpful, but I think this is more than he can handle.

The Mayor talks about quality of life. In this part of Queens we don’t seem to have one. I know for a fact that they can’t do this on the Island. Why is it tolerated here? I know in other states you can get locked up for continually playing loud music.

Some of my neighbors don’t call and report this, because they are afraid. So they suffer in silence. That’s no way to live.

Something needs to be done about this. We need help!

Olga Addison, South Ozone Park

Say No To Casinos

Letters

Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Natalia Kozikowska Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Trisha Sakhuja

Letters

Lower The Music

To The Editor: My biggest beef is loud

music. I live in South Ozone Park, Queens. In the past 10 years, the neighborhood has

To The Editor: Repeating often enough that New Yorkers will prosper from casinos might cause some people to believe it.

What it won’t do is address the damage state-sponsored

casino gambling causes for our neighbors. I don’t just mean neighbors afflicted with gambling disorders, estimated to be more than 500,000 state residents, excluding adolescents.

I also mean their children and spouses, their friends and business partners, and anyone bearing consequences foisted upon them by out of control gamblers. And it won’t change the casino business model being promoted by our state government, one that preys upon the minority of gamblers with gambling disorders for an estimated 50 percent of casino revenues. If that business model strikes you as unworthy of taxpayer support, then vote NO in November to expand casino gambling.

And if it troubles you that in spite of the cheerleading to expand casino gambling, we still don’t have an accounting for what’s now estimated to be a $3.7 billion annual tab for New York’s gambling problem, you should vote NO in November to expand casino gambling.

Dave Colavito, Rock Hill

De Blasio Gives Thompson A Run For The Money A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE This is one of the most unpredictable election seasons we have seen in New York City in a long time.

Of the five most viable candidates vying to be the next mayor of New York, Christine Quinn and Anthony Weiner were the two battling it out for the two top spots. They were fluctuating until Weiner’s latest scandal tabled him.

But this week, someone who was lagging behind the entire season has suddenly risen to the top.

Bill de Blasio’s campaign had not garnered that much support in the past. He had consistently traded number three and number four back and forth with William C. Thompson. Now he has finally pulled away decisively as Anthony Weiner imploded.

Never underestimate de Blasio. One of my colleagues calls him “the sleeping giant” and warned us not to take his candidacy for granted. That

assessment has come to life as de Blasio is no longer competing with Thompson for second place. He is now leader of the pack, even beating out former frontrunner Quinn.

We are less than four weeks from the Sept. 10 Primary Election, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will enter that day as the frontrunner.

De Blasio must surely know that his new frontrunner status could be fleeting. He’s seen it happen to Quinn, then Weiner, then Quinn again. The polls are fickle, so we cannot be sure of anything until results start trickling in.

Of one thing we can be fairly certain though, you can stick a fork in Weiner, he’s cooked.

The second revelations of his sexting activities have ruined his second chance at making a first impression. Impressively, however, he’s still getting support, even beating out City Comptroller John Liu at 10 percent compared to Liu’s six percent.

Should Quinn recapture the lead and win the Primary, she would be the first council

speaker to do so. Her two predecessors with the title, Peter Vallone Sr. and Gifford Miller both failed to do that. Quinn’s opponents are beating her up with the Bloomberg stick.

Thompson, for his part will have to compete most with de Blasio. Officially, Thompson is seen as the only Black candidate in the race. But here’s the catch, he’s now competing with a Jackson 5 type ’fro on the head of de Blasio’s teenaged son, Dante.

The younger de Blasio has become his father’s best spokesperson via an impressive TV ad. And when Dante mentions how his father will look out “for people of color,” he has credibility, because he is a person of color courtesy of his Black mother, de Blasio’s wife. He also has much credibility when he mentions how his dad will end Stop and Frisk, because in this kid with the brown skin and towering afro, you see someone who could easily be a victim of that very practice. Good thing a judge just declared it unconstitutional, though proponents promise

to appeal that decision.

Now the fun part of this election is that only in New York can a white candidate be competing with a Black candidate for Black votes because the white candidate has a Black family. Whew! Ya gotta love it!

A generation ago this would not have been possible. The City was still white enough that it would not have sold. It speaks to the increased diversity of our city and how liberal New York has become.

Although Thompson is a man of color, he is past the age where police will likely see him as an automatic suspect.

Thompson also doesn’t seem to have a teen son to make the anti-stop and frisk point as powerfully as the de Blasio kid.

However, the ex-comptroller has great experience that would make him a good mayor. He has an impressive mix of public and corporate experience that would benefit our city. In fact, only he and Liu have worked in finance in addition to their public service.

It all bodes well for us.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

City Sees Low Marks On Common Core

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA The number of New York students who passed the rigorous and newly adopted Common Core math and reading exams has taken a dramatic plunge this year, further fueling the discussion for education reform among mayoral candidates.

In New York City, just 26.4 percent of students in grades three through eight passed the English test and 29.6 percent passed in math, according to a report released by the New York State Education Department last Wednesday. These numbers dropped from 47 percent in English and 60 percent in math last year.

For many educators and school officials, the result is no shock given the new and tougher standards under the Common Core curriculum – which have been changed to include more ‘critical thinking’ elements to better prepare students for college.

Former City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson took the opportunity to slam Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has often said he wanted education to be his legacy after 12 years in office.

“What we learned again today is that after 12 years of demonizing teachers, 12 years of teaching to the test and shutting out parents and communities, the Bloomberg administration’s efforts are headed in the wrong direction. Teaching to the test doesn’t even help on the test,” Thompson said in a statement. “And the kids who are being hurt the most

are the kids who need help the most - young people in Black and Latino neighborhoods where the opportunity gap is being compounded with a massive achievement gap.”

City Comptroller and candidate John Liu similarly blamed Bloomberg and “his Tweed cronies” for the poor performance of New York City students.

“He [Bloomberg] excoriated teachers and others who pointed out the flaws in his analysis. In fact, the regime of teaching to the tests pushed kids out the schoolhouse door, even if their diplomas were worthless and their skills did not permit them to succeed in college or jobs,” Liu said in a statement. “Mayor Bloomberg had 12 years to advance his so-called reforms and pad his educational legacy. He failed.”

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio echoed similar sentiments, claiming the City has been focusing on a handful of niche schools, but refrained from directing blame to the Mayor.

“This is a major wake-up call,” de Blasio said in a statement. “We need a game-changer to raise outcomes for kids across the board. Comprehensive early education is the only way to achieve it.”

Although Bloomberg was heavily criticized over the scores, during a press conference last week, he reportedly called the results “very good news,” citing that Black and Hispanic students, who make up two-thirds of the student population, had made progress – a fact he said was not widely reported.

Despite the rather unimpressive exam scores in the City, Queens’ students outperformed students in other parts of New York, with 31.9 percent scoring at or above average on the 2013 exams. The statewide average was 31 percent.

Queens’ District 26, which includes neighborhoods like Bayside, Oakland Gardens, Fresh Meadows, Hollis Hills and Jamaica Estates, scored best in the Borough, with 55.95 percent of students proficient in English and 66.6 percent in math.

District 25, which encompasses parts of Flushing and Whitestone, performed second best, with 40.75 percent of students proficient in English and 51.82 percent in math.

District 29, which encompasses the majority of Southeast Queens, had the lowest exam scores in the Borough. In English, only 21.65 percent of students were proficient and 20.16 in math.

School District

At PS 122 in Astoria, 71 percent of students were at or above proficient levels in math and 69.7 percent were at or above a proficient level in English – roughly 40 percent higher than both the City and State averages.

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria), whose district encompasses the school, held a press conference on Aug. 12 honoring the students and teachers for their achievement.

“It is ironic that the City wanted to make major changes at this school a few months ago, and now these kids have blown away the City averages,” said Vallone said in a statement.

“These scores are a testament to the hard work of the teachers, students and parents and they prove that the programs at PS 122 need to be mirrored in schools across the City.”

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @nkozikowska

Reading % passed

Math % passed

District 26

55.95

66.6

District 25

40.75

51.82

District 30

30.78

35.4

District 28

30.35

33.51

District 24

28.98

34.35

District 27

27.01

30.4

District 29

21.65

20.16

Creating Strong Schools Everywhere

BY BILL ThOMpSON My grandparents were immigrants from the Caribbean who came to New York for opportunity. They taught me about the value of a good education and how it could help me realize my dreams.

As a former president of the Board of Education and the son of a public school teacher who taught in Brooklyn for 30 years, I have seen how strong schools and great teachers can open up that promise of opportunity for all New Yorkers.

But last week, we were reminded once again that the Bloomberg Administration’s efforts are headed in the wrong direction. The latest city test scores found that only 16 percent of New York City Black and Latino students are proficient in reading and less than 20 percent of these same students are proficient in math.

Bill Thompson The focus on teaching to the test is not helping anyone but the testing companies. Our students are not pre-

pared, our teachers lack opportunity to teach critically and creatively, and our parents feel shut out. It’s wrong.

Sadly, the students who are hurt the most are the children who need the most help. The system is failing young people in Black and Latino neighborhoods as the opportunity gap grows and is compounded by a massive achievement gap.

Let me be clear: tests should not be gotcha moments. Not for teachers and not for students. Tests should be part of a feedback loop that identifies where students need help and where teachers can help students improve.

I’m sure that the Bloomberg Administration will spin things and say there’s been a reduction in the dropout rates. But let’s set the record straight: we accomplish nothing when we graduate more kids who are less prepared. Talk to college administrators and they’ll tell you exactly

that. Meanwhile, the cost of remediation both in time and dollars is severely impacting our students and our entire education system.

That is why I’m going to bring new leadership to City Hall. I’ll stop demonizing teachers and end the last 12 years of teaching to the test. I’ll bring communities together and make sure schools are open to parents. I’ll name an educator as the Chancellor, not a magazine executive without an education background. And I’ll make sure teachers have the support they need to prepare our students for college and careers.

As Mayor, I will deliver a new direction for our schools and students. and together, we’re going to bring the promise of opportunity back to every community in our City.

Bill Thompson is a former City Comptroller and a Democratic candidate for Mayor.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

new research institute Coming To Jamaica Bay

By Luis Gronda A new science institute established at Jamaica Bay will study how coastal areas can be more resilient in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

City and federal officials announced an agreement to create a science and resiliency institute that will cover the 10,000 acres of Jamaica Bay and the various parks in and around that region.

The new research center will aim to gain a better understanding of coastal ecosystems, as well as improve the Bay’s habitat and how it can be protected from future hurricanes.

It will feature a number of established universities who will use its resources to come up with a framework for these coastal areas and how it can be improved in New York and throughout the country.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel were among the officials to attend Monday’s announcement at Riis Landing in Breezy Point.

Bloomberg said that this was first created before Sandy hit last fall, but what happened to the coastal areas during that storm will be a huge part of this institute.

“We expect the work spearheaded by the institute will help mitigate the dangers of future storms both to the Bay and to the neighborhoods nearby,” the Mayor said. “Lessons learned here will also help cities around the world as they face the

challenges of a changing climate.”

“Jamaica Bay is going to be a perfect place for the whole country to learn about resilience and about science and how these natural ecosystems, in combination with the manmade ecosystems, are actually going to act,” Jewel said.

The City University of New York will lead the effort, as they won the bid to build the center after the City announced the initiative last year. Other colleges, including Columbia University, Cornell University and Stony Brook University, will also contribute to the institute.

A new Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Park conservancy will also be created to help fund the parkland in and around the Bay. Dan Mundy Jr., president of the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, a civic group dedicated to preserving the resources of Jamaica Bay, said both aspects of this project will be a huge boost to the wetland and the residents who have been calling for its improvement.

“All the stuff that we were fighting to do will be funded,” he said.

“They’ll be able to study it better and also for the local economy, you’ll have the opportunity to bring people in and spent money.”

Mundy also said residents of the area have been calling for the conservancy for over 20 years.

Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda.

Best In Queens 2013 The PRESS will publish a special edition showcasing the places, people and things readers love about Queens.

The editors will comb the borough to find that great slice of pizza, that phenomenal rib shack, that beautiful vista or building that is part of what makes living in Queens so special.

But we need your help.

Send in the form below, name your “personal bests” and we’ll print your entry. Need more room? Send as many pages as you'd like or e-mail bestofqueens@queenstribune.com.

YOur NAmE: YOur AddrEss: YOur EmAIl:

Mail To: THE BEST OF QUEENS 2013

C/O The Queens Press, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357 http://queenstribune.com/BestofQueens2013/BestofQueens2013.html FOOd & diNiNg Bagels: Bakery: Bar: Breakfast: Burgers: Butcher: Coffee Shop: Deli: Desserts: Diner: Ice Cream: Pizza: Seafood: Steak:

HEalTH & BEaUTY Hair Salon: Doctor: Massage Therapist: Day Spa/Nail Salon: Personal Trainer: Veterinarian:

ETHNiC FOOd Asian: French: Indian: Italian: Latin: Other Ethnic:

SERviCES Auto Repair: Cleaning Company: Contractor: Electrician: Handyman: Landscaper: Painter: Plumber: Roofer:

RETail Book Store: Clothing Store: Florist: Hardware Store: Jewelry Store: Liquor Store: Mall/Shopping Center: Pharmacy: Supermarket: Toy Store: Photo by Luis Gronda

PR WIN IZ ES

ENTERTaiNMENT Bar/Nightspot: Local Band: Local Musician: Movie Theater: Theater Group: Park:

YOUR PERSONal BESTS:

Please attach any additional comments, photos or information about your entries to this coupon.

Mayor Bloomberg speaks about the new research institute at Jamaica Bay on Monday.

For Advertising Information On "The Best Of Queens 2013" Edition Call The PRESS At (718) 357-7400

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

pix

Celebrating Diversity

Corn Roast SUKHI NY held its second annual six-day Ramadan and Eid festival last week in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights.

Caughman Honored

The Boodoo siblings of Jamaica enjoy some corn during the free annual Corn Roast sponsored by the Jamaica Market on Aug. 10. Pictured (back row) are Reshma, 10, Neela, 9 and Jarina, 7; (front row) Nandina, 3, and Chandres, 2. Photo by Walter Karling.

Manny Caughman, a candidate for City Council District 27, was recently honored by the Brinkerhoff Action Association during the group’s 40th anniversary celebration at Antun’s Catering Hall.

Pictured (from left) are Irving Hicks, president of Brinkerhoff Action Association; Caughman and Yvonne McCall, Brinkerhoff Action Association.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Borough Beat

Vallone And Katz Clash In BP Debate Responses and retorts went flying between two Queens Borough President candidates at a debate in Jackson Heights Tuesday night.

Hosted by the PRESS of Southeast Queens and Citizens Union, in partnership with Chhaya CDC and the Queens Civic Congress, the debate was held at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights on Aug. 13. Both Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria) and Melinda Katz answered questions fired by panelists, the audience and each other.

Both Katz and Vallone were given the opportunity to ask the other a question and each one decided to go after their rivals’ choice of endorsements.

Katz questioned Vallone about petitioning on the Conservative line, curious about how he could pursue that vote given its strongly differing views on gun control, abortion and gay marriage to the Democratic Party. Vallone responded that while he does accept support from all sides, he does not agree with every position of every endorser.

“It’s actually a silly over the NYPD,” Valaccusation to make,” lone said, adding that he said. “We agree on Katz was dodging the keeping our streets safe. question.

Also, we agree on less Another topic that harassment of our small was strongly discussed businesses. I have supwas how to increase port from all parts of the BP’s influence the political spectrum.” in making a differThe candidate menence for the people of tioned his strong apQueens. proval and pursuit of “Right now, we get stricter gun control less funding, we get laws as something that Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. and Melinda Katz discuss the issues less attention all over,” sets him apart from during a Borough President debate Tuesday night.

Katz said. “Build reConservative Party lationships with the views. Taking his turn, administration that’s Vallone asked Katz about how in- Court Judge Shira Sheindlin about coming in so that that administration dependent she would be as BP, Stop and Frisk and her recommenda- knows that if they ignore us, we’re gohaving gotten the support of the tion for the NYPD to have a federal ing to fight like heck to make sure we Queens Democratic Party. Katz re- monitor. get our fair share of funding.” plied that she had not always been “This office is what you make it,” “Any policy that over 98 percent the party favorite, running and win- of the time is not succeeding in the Vallone said. “With a strong, indening in the Assembly against the charge that was meant to succeed I pendent voice, not one that’s already Party’s wishes. think is an issue,” Katz said. “I am indebted to the county machine, this “The Councilman has gotten the glad that there is an acknowledge- office can stand up for the 2.25 milsupport of the Queens County or- ment that it needs to be revamped.” lion people of Queens who have not ganization all three times he’s run,” “No, I absolutely do not agree had a voice.” she added. with this decision with this judge, Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at The two candidates also clashed who was biased from day one. I am (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, jmarvilli@ on the new rulings by U.S. District one of the 10 monitors right now queenstribune.com, or @Joey788.

Photo by Natalia Kozikowska

BY JOE MARVILLI

Police Blotter is also described as a Black male in his 20s, between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot10, last seen wearing dark pants and a button-down shirt.

103rd Precinct

Homicide arrest

Grand larceny - the nyPd is seeking the public’s assistance identifying these suspects wanted for a grand larceny that took place on aug. 3 in front of 83-17 northern blvd., within the confines of the 115th Precinct. the suspects removed a cell phone from a 37-year-old man who was asleep on a bench.

102nd Precinct

robbery

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance locating two suspects wanted in connection to a robbery.

At 11:10 p.m. on July 29 in the vicinity of Jamaica Avenue and 134th Street, a 59-year-old male was approached by two suspects who demanded money. The victim handed over cash. The suspects demanded more money, but when the victim

said he did not have more money, the suspect punched the victim in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head.

The suspects fled with the cash and the victim’s cell phone. The victim was removed to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition.

The first suspect is described as a Black male in his 20s, between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, last seen wearing a black skull cap, black T-shirt and black pants. The second suspect

Police arrested two suspects on Aug. 7 in connection to a homicide that occurred on Aug. 3 in front of 89-32 163rd St. Police responded to a call of a male shot on Aug. 3 to discover one victim, identified as Martin Delrosario, 33, of Jamaica, with a gunshot wound to the chest, and a second victim with a gunshot wound to the ankle. Both victims were removed to Jamaica Hospital, where Delrosario was pronounced dead. The second victim was listed in stable condition.

Police arrested two individuals in connection to the incident. The first, Edwin Fernandez, 34, of Jamaica, was charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and assault. The second individual, Brunildo Guichardo, 28, of Jamaica, was also charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and assault.

114th Precinct

Grand larceny

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance identifying and locating four suspects wanted in connection with a grand larceny that took place at 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 3.

Four male suspects entered the AT&T retail store, located at 31-54 Steinway St., Astoria, and, acting in concert, removed three iPads and two Samsung Galaxy cell phones from the display wall. No injuries were reported at this incident.

robbery

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance identifying and locating the following three suspects wanted in connection with a robbery.

At approximately 7:18 p.m. on July 28, three male suspects approached a male victim, a Chinese food delivery man, in front of 27-16 12th St., Astoria, displayed a weapon and demanded property. The victim complied and the suspects fled with money, an electric bike and Chinese food. No injuries were reported at this incident.

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Profile Hon. Jeremy Weinstein:

Courts Persevere Despite Fiscal Challenges

Despite a reduction in the numA graduate of Jamaica High ber of judges and fewer court person- School and York College – where he nel at all levels, and while enduring was elected the first president of the slashed budgets and burgeoning case school’s student body – Weinstein loads, the courts of Queens seem said he never had sights on serving to be operating effion the bench. He ciently. served in the State “The courts are Senate for 14 years, essential for governwhere he was named ment operations,” the Minority Whip and Hon. Jeremy WeinAssistance Minority stein, administrative Leader. judge of the Queens “[Being a judge] County Supreme was not a career path Court’s civil division, I had anticipated,” said. “At one time or Weinstein said. “But another, most people when it was broached find themselves in the to me, I pursued the court system, whether The Hon. Jeremy Weinstein opportunity.” as a litigant or as a ju- has served as administrative Now, Weinstein ror.” judge of the Queens County oversees the day-toAfter serving six Supreme Court’s civil division, day operations of the years as a Civil Court based in Jamaica, since 2007. civil division of the judge, Weinstein was Queens County Suelected a Supreme preme Court. He is in Court judge in 1999. In 2007, he was charge of case assignment to judges appointed as administrative judge, a and non-judicial staff in the civil diviposition he said is his most satisfying sion. Weinstein serves as the superin his long career in public service. visory authority of civil and hous-

ing court judges, along with more than 400 employees.

The court, Weinstein said, has roughly 32,000 cases currently pending. The judge said once a case is filed within the court, statewide standards and goals set by the Office of Court Administration require courts to hear the case within 15 months.

Weinstein touted the court’s success in meeting the statewide standards, noting that 92 percent of cases in his division are heard within 15 months.

“Queens County’s numbers are some of the best in the state,” he said.

Ensuring that cases are heard in a timely manner has become a greater challenge in recent years, Weinstein said, because of budget cuts to the court system since the recent financial crisis.

He noted the court system has experienced two straight years of significant cuts.

As the Borough’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of cases the court expects to hear. In

2012, there were more than 18,000 cases filed within the civil division.

Based on year-to-date numbers, Weinstein said he expects this year’s numbers to be around 20,000.

“The volume we deal with is staggering,” he said. “And having the ability to deal with it is more of a challenge with fewer resources.”

Despite the rising fiscal challenges the courts are facing, Weinstein said he appreciated the opportunity to serve as an administrative judge.

“It’s a very rewarding position,” he said. “Very challenging, but rewarding.”

People Grand Opening

State Sen. Joe Addabbo recently helped the owners and workers at STS Tire and Auto Center, 123-11 Rockaway Blvd., in South Ozone Park celebrate the store’s grand opening.

Local students received degrees during spring 2013 commencement ceremonies at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. They include: Cambria Heights: Ashley Davis.

Holliswood: Samantha Weltz.

Laurelton: Marie Edwards, Vladimir Simeon.

Queens Village: Ana Molinar, Hidalgo Montano.

Rosedale: Stephanie Myers.

St. Albans: Michael Telesford, Gefferson Henriquez.

The New York Army National Guard has released the names of members who have reenlisted. They include: Sergeant Christina Schloss of Jamaica, 152nd Engineer Support Company.

Sergeant Jeremy Lee of Cambria Heights, Company A (Distribution), 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Sergeant Trevor Darrell of Jamaica, Division Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

Sergeant Jeremy Diaz of Hollis, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-69th Infantry.

Specialist Herbert Tudor of Queens Village, 133rd Quartermaster Support Company.

Specialist Perry Batts of Jamaica, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-258th Field Artillery.

Staff Sergeant Jermaine Hope of Queens Village, 719th Transportation Company.

Staff Sergeant Martha Greene of Laurelton, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 369th Sustainment Brigade.

Local students received degrees during spring 2013 commencement ceremonies at Morrisville State College.

They include: Jamaica: Kane Frazier, individual studies.

Queens Village: Abimbola Otesile, nursing.

Rosedale: Roshell Ross, individual studies.

Local students received degrees during spring 2013 commencement ceremonies at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. They include: Cambria Heights: Chinyelu Fafowora, Marjorie Grey, Melinda Carroll, Anita Sherald.

Jamaica: Stacy Toriola, Gloria Nelson, Ranjit Singh, Adrienne Whaley, Stanwick Daniels, Ebere Osu, Senese Veira-Wilson.

Laurelton: Theron Grinage.

Queens Village: Jamie Hendrickson, Ayesha Rushdan, Melissa Amos.

Rosedale: Lawrence Knight.

St. Albans: Sonia Hurdle, Novelette Anderson-Green.

South Ozone Park: Jackie McAllister.

Springfield Gardens: Michelle Bodden-White, Angela Smith, Sharline Bryan.

Amani Tatum of Cambria Heights will enroll at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., for the fall 2013 semester.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

A&E

jackson heights artist raps at 5Pointz

By Trisha sakhuja

Photo by samantha Ghali

JS-1 and many more.

The iconic site also attracts graffiti Growing up in Jackson Heights, artists, DJs, Emcees, break dancers, Vakas Khan, 31, would pass the col- filmmakers, photographers, locals orful walls of 5Pointz in Long Island and tourists from around the world.

City while riding the 7 Boston, like many train with his family. other artists who were inBut never did he think trigued by 5Pointz, grew a that he would shoot a muliking to the site because sic video at the same “maof its urban cultural phejestic site” for one of his nomena. tracks, “The Krylon” off “It is an environment his hip-hop album, “Enof respect and equality,” ter the 36 Tentacles,” as Boston said. “The whole an underground hip-hop essence of graffiti culture artist, known as Mic-Key is inclusion.”

Boston Kovaks, alongside Boston’s passion for emcee, graffiti and visual hip-hop, graffiti art and artist, Regimental Oneurban culture thrived ton. because of rapper Nas, “Living that and doCompany Flow, an uning that is something derground hip-hop group, that I cannot explain,” and Bollywood films that Mic-key Boston said. “It was desdepicted heroes fighting Boston kovaks tiny.” for the peasant workers.

Over the past decade, the FlushHis lyrics stem from his experiencing native and curator of 5Pointz, es as an indigenous activist, who raps Jonathan Cohen, best known by his about the struggle for land, freedom, tag name, “Meres One,” has watched dignity and self-determination. his outdoor graffiti gallery flourish “My love and passion for graffiti by attracting many hip-hop and R&B came about because the music and stars like Doug Fresh, Kurtis Blow, its sub-culture was what I connected Grandmaster Kaz, Mobb Deep, DJ to the most,” Boston said. “Hip-hop

Forest hills Community Center offers Breakdancing Program

By Luis Gronda Local kids are getting a chance to hone their dancing skills.

The Queens Community House in Forest Hills has been hosting a program that allows boys and girls to practice breakdancing at its facility.

The program started more than a dozen years ago and now has 100 kids, or b-boys and b-girls as they are commonly called in the breakdancing community, registered to hone their skills.

“On any given night, you can find a number of youth from not only NYC, but from across the U.S. and other parts of the world at the QCH Evening Teen Center,” Program Director Mike Zevon said.

Earlier this month, two people from different countries, Denmark and Columbia, visited the program in Forest Hills.

Rasmus Gravesen, from Copenhagen, said he did not realize how few spaces there are to breakdance in the United States.

“The biggest difference is the amount of free space available for practices in Europe,” Rasmus said.

“You would think that there would be more space available in a place like NYC, the place where breakdancing originated, but that just isn’t the case.”

Julio Acevedo, a native of Cartagena, Colombia, said breakdancing creates a sense of community.

“Dancing creates an instant family. You can find b-boys from around the world and know you share a common interest,” said Acevedo, who has been performing for over 10 years and opened a school to teach younger kids in his country.

As it turns out, Acevedo and Gravesen will be on the same flight to Columbia and they said they plan to network during their time in New York and South America.

Zevon was not surprised when he heard that the two strangers from different continents connected because of break dancing.

“It’s really a small world, and in the breaking community, it’s a closeknit, smaller world,” he said.

Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda.

and art is my therapy.”

The owner of the iconic 5Pointz site, located at Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, David Wolkoff, has legally allowed aerosol artists from all over the world to paint colorful pieces on the walls of his 200,000-squarefoot factory building for years.

The Wolkoff family has planned to demolish the site to construct two apartment buildings, totaling 1,000units. Wolkoff said his family would like to keep the urban culture of the site alive by allowing for open artist space and collaborating with local art organizations, like MoMA PS1.

The development project was recently approved by the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and it waits for the City Council’s approval.

“Everyone wants to preserve 5Pointz and keep it as a ‘heritage

site,’” Boston said, because “people have built bridges here.”

“The owner of the land would like to profit by taking something away, which would be culture, art and identity, and replace it with a new development,” said Boston.

In terms of Wolkoff’s new development, Boston found it difficult to choose between the tourists or local residents because he said “both possibilities offer economic benefits, but I would not know which one is best.”

Boston said the culture associated with 5Pointz is “like religion for many of the artists,” who might disagree with Boston when he says the compromises Wolkoff made with the artist community “might even work for the better.”

Reach Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 3577400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

oratorio society holds auditions in sept.

By joE MarViLLi Queens vocalists, listen up. It is time to try out for the Oratorio Society of Queens.

Under the artistic direction of Maestro David Close, who has been the artistic director and conductor for 40 years, the group is preparing for their annual holiday show, taking place on Dec. 22. The concert will take place in the Queensborough Performing Arts Center. To help make the night a great one, the society is looking to add new talent to its ranks.

Auditions will be held on Sept. 9 and Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required to try out. For those who pass, they can start immediately with that Monday’s rehearsal.

OSQ practices every Monday evening from 7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Temple Beth Sholom’s FSG Hall at 172nd Street and Northern Boulevard in Flushing.

The chorus has more than 120 members, but is still looking to add altos, sopranos, tenors and bass singers. Members come from many different backgrounds, ages and singing ability. While there are a few spots in every section, Close will not turn away talent if a great vocalist walks through the door.

“Certainly, if we find an outstanding voice, we’ll open up the

quota a little bit,” he said. “They go directly into rehearsal that night.

For many of them, it’s a lot of new and unfamiliar music.”

The OSQ is open to singers who can both read music and those that cannot. What Close wants most is a strong performance and a strong desire to improve.

“We’re looking for quality of sound, willingness to work hard.

They don’t have to read music,” he said. “We take the idea of community chorus very seriously.”

In addition to many traditional Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs, OSQ will be performing Part 1 of Handel’s “Messiah,” which goes over Jesus’ birth, the annunciation to the shepherds and some of his deeds.

“It’s so embedded in the culture.

To not do it is to risk not drawing an audience,” Close said. “It’s a cultural phenomenon and tradition we hooked into.”

For more information or to schedule an audition, call (718) 279-3006 or visit www.queensoratorio.org.

“Don’t be afraid. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain,” Close said. “Singing in a chorus is one of the more outstanding experiences one can have on the planet.”

Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, jmarvilli@ queenstribune.com, or @Joey788.

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Faith

Hollis church Hosts Annual Men’s Day Services

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA On Sunday, Aug. 25, the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Hollis will hold their annual Men’s Day services in an effort to encourage men in the community to come together and stop the violence.

“This year, we wanted to focus on bringing father, sons, young men and older men together to really stop the violence that is taking place in our neighborhood,” said Rev. Michael Corley, pastor at Gethsemane.

According to Corley, it is particularly important for the clergy and church community to host services like these for its parishioners.

“It is a problem that we cannot

just rely on other organizations and elected officials to really address,” the Reverend said. “If it takes a village to raise our children, then the village must come together. Everybody knows the church plays a vital role in the community in terms of gathering families and young people.”

“Churches should have services centered on stopping the violence in the community,” he added. “We need to do this periodically because this issue is ongoing. It’s not an isolated issue. We’re seeing too many of our young people die before their time.”

Corley, who also happens to be the program director for Arches Mentoring Program, a program in Jamaica that mentors young men in the criminal jus-

tice system, hopes that these services inspire men to stand up to violence.

“I’m hoping they can take away that we all have God-given potential that we need to use to help to empower those in our community,” he said. “The main message is that guns and gang violence is not the answer.

We can’t sit idly by – we have to do something to let our community know that we are concerned.”

The services, which will be centered around the theme, “We are our brother’s keepers,” will be hold at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rev. Corley will speak at the morning service and special guest Rev. Phil Craig, of the Springfield Community Church in Springfield Gardens, will speak at

the afternoon service. Craig is also president of the National Action Network Queens Chapter.

“We are hoping that many young people and fathers come to this service, because I think its time we all come together and support each other,” Corley added.

Gethsemane Baptist Church is located at 88-48 St., Hollis. For additional information, call (718) 4640391 or email gethsemanebaptist@ gmail.com or visit the church’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ gethsemanebaptistchuch1.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska

Notebook

King Manor Museum

King Manor Hosts Annual craftsman Day Event This weekend, the Rufus King Manor Museum will hold their fourth annual Craftsman Day event, featuring a number of demonstrations of crafts from the 1800s.

The event, which began in 2010, is meant to help educate locals of all ages about the time period, with a focus on Rufus King – a prominent American lawyer, politician and diplomat who once lived in the home now transformed into the museum.

“The period we interpret at King Manor Museum is the first-half of the 19th century. These are crafts that would have been done commonly in the early-to-mid 1800s,” said Emily Melchin, manager of public programs at the museum. “It appeals to both kids and grown ups.”

Although it is not required by the museum, many of the demonstrators have dressed up in costume from the era and interacted with the children.

“Last year, a woman demonstrated spinning and she was great about making it very interactive. Last year, she let people sit down at her spinning wheel and try themselves,” Melchin said. “Similarly, the man who demonstrates traditional broommaking – he is especially great with kids and there are a lot of hands-on components to his demonstrations.”

According to Melchin, it has always been a mission of King Manor Museum to offer programs that help

educate school children in the community. This is especially important, she said, considering many schools in Southeast Queens are not performing well.

“The majority of our activities are serving school children – especially from Southeast Queens,” she said.

“That’s a major component of our programming. It’s so important nowadays because some schools aren’t doing that well. Students are doing less and less and they need enrichment like this.”

“This is a really unique thing. Normally, people don’t come King Manor Museum in Jamaica will hold their annual craftsman Day this weekend. chilacross or have access to dren and parents alike will be able to see demonstrations in crafts such as tinsmithing, spinthese types of events,” ning and broommaking. she added. “You’re gested donations are $2 for adults within history. This house is over children working together.”

The demonstrations are free and and $1 for children.

200 years old. It’s really making the For more information about this will be held at the King Manor Musehistory come alive.”

In addition to educating the youth, um on Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, and future events, visit www.kingMelchin said she hopes that the event Aug. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. There manor.org or call (718) 206-0545.

King Manor Museum is located at will be demonstrations in crafts such will help bring families together.

“It’s something we like to focus as spinning, tinsmithing and broom- 150-03 Jamaica Ave., at Rufus King on,” she said. “We try to design the making. Traditional and live music Park.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowsprograms so it’s about the families will also be performed.

King Manor Museum will also of- ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or working together and not parents just coming and dropping off their fer discounted suggested donations nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ kids. It’s about the family and the for guided tours all weekend. Sug- nkozikowska

Photo provided by King Manor

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

Queens Today Section editor: reGinA VoGeL

Send announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14 Road, Whitestone NY 11357. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina or email to queenstoday@ queenstribune.com Yearly schedules and advanced notices welcome!

tALKS UrBAn Fiction Monday, August 19 “The Eleventh Commandment” discussed at the Arverne library at 5.

BooK GroUP thursday, August 29 East Flushing library at 11.

PArentS KidS MUSic cLASS We d n e s d ays n ew b o r n to 4 with guardian at the JCC in Jackson Heights.

609-0066.

PSYcHoLoGicAL ctr Family and child therapy, parent management training and more. 570-0500 sliding scale.

KidS Korner Weekdays Central Queens YM-YWHA in Forest Hills.

For K-6. 268-5011, ext.

203.

entertAinMent BALLetS Saturday, August 17 2-3 and 4-5 at the Flushing library. nU UrBAn cAFÉ Saturdays live jazz, r&b, open mic 8-midnight. Free.

188-36 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. 917-817-8653.

SALon SUndAY Sunday, August 18 artists working in any medium are invited to bring in slides, CDs or samples of their work. Flushing Town Hall at 2. 463-7700, ext. 222. trAVerS PArK Sunday, August 18 Calpulli Mexican Dance Company at 3.. Sunday, August 25 City Parks Puppet Show at 11. Travers Park, 78th Street between 34th and Northern Blvd.

BinGo tuesdays 7:15 American Martyrs Church in Bayside.

464-4582. tuesdays 7:15 (doors open 6) Rego Park Jewish Center. 459-1000. $3 admission includes 12 games.

MeetinGS P-FLAG Sundays, August 18, September 15 P-FLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays meet in Forest Hills. 271-7773. creAtiVe WritinG Mondays, August 19, 26 Hollis library at 5:30. cHeSS cLUB Monday, August 19 Woodhaven library at 2:30.

Knit & crocHet Mondays, August 19, 26 Douglaston library at 4. tALK oF toWn tuesdays, August 20, September 3, 17 learn the art of public speaking in St. Albans at 7:15. 640-7092.

Knit & crocHet tuesday, August 20 Steinway library at 5:30.

AMer. LeGion tuesdays, August 20, September 17 American Legion McKee Post 131 at 8 at 10-20 Clintonville Street, Whitestone. 767-4323.

BereAVeMent tuesdays, August 20, September 17 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows.

7:30. 969-2448. cAMerA cLUB tuesdays, August 20, 27 Southeast Queens Camera Club meets at t he Roy Wilkins Family Rec. Center.

347-528-7178.

Knit & crocHet tuesdays, August 20, 27 Whitestone library at 2 and Windsor Park library at 2. cHeSS For ALL tuesdays, August 20, 27 Rosedale library at 4. cHeSS cLUB tuesdays Windsor Park library at 5:30.

SUMMer SeWinG Wednesday, August 21 Central library at 11:30.

ALUMni BLAnd HoUSeS Saturday, September 7 reunion of former Bland Houses residents. 8156697.

dAnce iSrAeLi FoLK Mondays 7:15-9:45 at Hillcrest Jewish Center, 182-02 Union Turnpike. $10 session. 380-4145.

Line dAncinG M o n d ay s 6 : 3 0 - 9 : 3 0 a t Kowalinski Post 4, 61-57 Maspeth Avenue. $7. Cake and coffee. 565-2259. coUntrY Line Wednesdays 7-10 at the STARS Building, 8 Coleman Square, Howard Beach. $10.

Knit & crocHet Wednesdays, August 21, 28 Sout h Ozone Park library at 1.

WritinG cLUB thursdays, August 22, 29 Peninsula library at noon.

JAMAicA KiWAniS t h u r s d ays , Au g u s t 2 2 , September 12, 26 Kiwanis Club of Jamaica.

527-3678. cHeSS cLUB Fridays, August 23, 30 Woodside library at 4.

BLoGGinG cLUB Friday, August 23 Peninsula library at noon.

GArdeninG cLUB Saturdays in the Steinway library courtyard at 4. orAtorio SocietY Mondays at 7:45 at Temple Beth Sholom in Flushing.

279-3006. Auditions required.

Find furry friendship!

Tickets on sale now.

TM/© Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

eXHiBit Li ArcHiVeS L aGuardia and Wagner Archives display various exhibits exploring the history of NYC. LaGuardia Community College. 4825709. Free.

KinG MAnor Pre-Hampton 19th century get-away Village, Jamaica Village, at King Manor Museum, in the middle of King Park. $2 adults, $1 children.

By appointment only. 2060545.

BoWne HoUSe Original 17th, 18th and 19th century furnishings.

37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing. 359-0528. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students and children.

PoPPenHUSen Kindergarten room, Victorian Hall, old village jail cells and current exhibits.

10-2. 358-0067.

BotAnicAL GArden 38 acre garden provides recreation, formal and informal educational opportunities. Queens Botanical Gardens, 43-50 Main Street. 886-3880. coUntY FArM Tours available of historic 1772 Adriance Farmhouse.

Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park. 347FARM. MoVinG iMAGe Understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the art, history, technique and technology of film, television and digital media. TuesdayThursday 10:30-5:00, Friday 10:30-8:00, Saturday-Sunday 11:30-7:00. $12 adults, $9 students, seniors 65+, $6 children. 777-6800.

Sept. 13–15 Sept. 21 & 22

Oct. 18–20

TM/©2013 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. 62634 7/13

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Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Queens Today YoUtH QUeenS LiBrArieS M a ny b ra n c h e s o f t h e Queensborough Library offer toddler and pre-school programs and more. Contact local branches.

SUMMer reAdinG Contact local libraries for Summer Reading Programs for all ages. crAFt WorKSHoP Saturday, August 17 Hillcrest library at 2. cHeSS cLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2.

SUMMer crAFtS Monday, August 19 Howard Beach library at 2.

BABY & Me Monday, August 19 Bayside library at 11.

MAGic oF ActinG Monday, August 19 Pomonok library. Register. cHeSS cLUB Monday, August 19 Woodhaven library at 2:30. cHeSS cLUB Monday, August 19 Poppenhusen library at 3.

PHoto cLUB Monday, August 19 South Ozone Park library. Register. tHeAtricKS M o n d ay, Au g u s t 1 9 Pomonok library at noon.

Wednesday, August 21 Fresh Meadows library at 2.thursday, August 22 Hillcrest library at 1.Friday, August 23 Hollis library at 3. crAFternoonS Mondays, August 19, 26 Rosedale library at 4. reAd to A doG tuesday, August 20 North Hills library at 4.

BooK BUddieS tuesday, August 20 South Ozone Park library. Register. nAtUre KidS tuesdays, August 20, 27 Woodside library at 4:15. diG into reAdinG tuesdays, August 20, 27 Rosedale library at 2. cooKinG cLUB tuesday, August 20 2:30 at the Pomonok library. tWeen/teen cLUB tuesday, August 20 Bayside library at 4. drAMA cLUB tuesday, August 20 Corona library at 5.

ArtS & crAFtS tuesdays at the North Hills library at 2:15. nAtUre KidS tuesdays Sunnyside library at 3:00.

FAMiLY FUn tiMe Wednesdays, August 21, 28 Broadway library at 11:30. diG into reAdinG Wednesday, August 21 Lefrak City library at 2:30.

BooK cLUB Wednesday, August 21

Wo o d h a ve n l i b r a r y a t 2:30. reAd to Me Wednesdays, August 21, 28 Rosedale librar y at 10:30. diG into reAdinG Wednesday, August 21 Arverne library at 11. eco crAFtS Wednesday, August 21 Sunnyside library at noon. crAFtS & FUn Wednesday, August 21 Windsor Park library. Register.

SUMMer reAdinG Wednesday, August 21 Peninsula library at 11:30.

BULLetin BoArd Wednesday, August 21 Auburndale library at 3.

WritinG cLUB Wednesday, August 21 Corona library at 3.

MAnGA cLUB Wednesday, August 21 Corona library at 5:30.

FAMiLY StorYtiMe thursday, August 22 Bay Terrace library at 11:30.

BoArd GAMeS thursday, August 22 Auburndale library at 3. eco crAFtS thursday, August 22 Sunnyside library at 4.

Word FUn thursday, August 22 Pomonok library at 11:30. nAtUre KidS thursdays, August 22, 29 Astoria library at 1:30.

MAnGA drAWinG thursdays South Ozone Park library at 4.

GAMe on thursdays at the Central library at 3:30. cHeSS cLUB thursdays Rochdale Village library at 4:30.

BoArd GAMeS Friday, August 23 Windsor Park library. Register.

GAMe dAY Fridays, August 23, 30 South Ozone Park library at 2:30 and 4..

MAd LiBS Friday, August 23 Corona library at 3.

BooK BUddieS Friday, August 23 Bayside library at 4. teMPorArY tAttoo Fridays, August 23, 30 Peninsula library at noon.

StorY & crAFt Friday, August 23 Forest Hills library at 11:30.

StorYtiMe Fridays South Hollis library at 11:15. crAFt cLUB Fridays Peninsula library at 3.

GAMe dAY Fridays at 3:30 Queens Village library.

ArtS & crAFtS Fridays Briarwood library at 4. East Flushing Register.

Ozone Park at 3.

teenS GAMe dAY Fridays Windsor Park at 4. cHeSS cLUB Fridays Auburndale library at 3:30 and Windsor Park library. Register.

cUrrent HeALtH ZUMBA Saturdays, through August Ridgewood library at 10.

YoGA Saturdays through September 8 9:30-10:30 and 11-12 and Sundays 10-11.

Socrates Sculpture, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC. tAi cHi Sundays through September 9 11-12 at Socrates Sculpture, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC. MetAStAtic BreASt Mondays 1:30-3:00 at Adelphi School of Social Work. 516-877-4314.

YoUnG BreASt Mondays young women with breast cancer meet 7-8:30 at Adelphi School of Social Work. 516-877-4314.

ZUMBA tuesday, August 20 Corona library at 6.

BereAVeMent tuesdays, August 20, September 17 Bereavement Support Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows.

7:30. 969-2448.

YoGA StretcH tuesdays, August 20, 27 Richmond Hill library at 5:30.

YoGA cLASSeS through thursday August 22 yoga class at the Hillcrest Jewish Center. 646250-5379.

SHAPe UP nYc Friday, August 23, 30 Briarwood library at 11:30. dAnce FitneSS Fridays, August 23, 30 Richmond Hill library at 5:30.

AnGer MAnAGeMent Wednesdays and Saturdays Classes, individual, family, couples therapy in Briarwood. 374-6765.

SUPPort GroUPS Alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, martial issues, depression, anxiet y, phobia, etc. Woodside Clinic.

779-1234. doMeStic VioL. 24 hour Domestic Violence Hotline. 657-0424.

PSYcHoLoGicAL ctr Individual and group counseling, family and couple therapy and more. 5700500 sliding scale.

ScHiZo. Anon.

Sundays in Rego Park. 8963400.

crAFt WorKSHoP Saturday, August 17 Hillcrest library at 2. cHeSS cLUB Saturdays Flushing library at 2.

SUMMer GAMeS Weekdays Peninsula library at 4:30. cHeSS cLUB Monday, August 19 Woodhaven library at 2:30.

Green crAFtS Monday, August 19 Woodside library at 2:30.

BLoGGinG cLUB Monday, August 19 Peninsula library at 6:30.

PHoto cLUB Monday, August 19 South Ozone Park library. Register.

Knit & crocHet Mondays, August 19, 26 Douglaston library at 4. crAFternoonS Mondays, August 19, 26 Rosedale library at 4.

MAKinG MoVieS Monday, August 19 Woodhaven library at 4. cHeSS cLUB Mondays, August 19, 26 Bayside library at 6.

QUiLtinG tuesday, August 20 South Ozone Park library at 2.

Knit & crocHet tuesday, August 20 Steinway library at 5:30. teen/tWeen cLUB tuesday, August 20 Bayside library at 4. cHeSS For ALL tuesdays, August 20, 27 Rosedale library at 4.

BooK BUddieS tuesdays, August 20, 27

South Ozone Park library at 4. diG into reAdinG tu e s d ay, A u g u s t 2 0 Arverne library at 5. drAMA cLUB tuesday, August 20 Corona library at 5.

GAMe tiMe Wednesday, August 21 Pomonok library at 4:30.

Knit & crocHet Wednesdays, August 21, 28 South Ozone Park library at 1.

MAnGA cLUB Wednesday, August 21 Corona library at 5:30. diG into reAdinG t h u r s d ay, A u g u s t 2 2 Rosedale library at 3.

Knit & crocHet thursday, August 22 Corona library at 5:30.

MAnGA drAWinG thursdays South Ozone Park library at 4. cHeSS cLUB thursdays Rochdale Village library 4:30.

BooK BUddieS Friday, August 23 Bayside library at 4. cHeSS cLUB Fridays, August 23, 30 Woodside library at 4.

SUMMer GAMeS Fridays, August 23, 30 Peninsula library at 4:30. recordinG StUdio Friday, August 23 Recording Studio Workshop: Audio Engineering, Editing and Mixing at the Far Rockaway library at 2:45.

BLoGGinG cLUB Friday, August 23 Peninsula library at noon.

SeniorS BAYSide SeniorS Movies, health presentations, Zumba, chair yoga, Wii bowling, strollers, line dancing, duplicate bridge, S e n i o r S i n g , d u p l i c a te Bridge and more. CCNS Bayside Senior Center, 221-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Bayside. 2251144. deFenSiVe driVinG Monday, August 19 Laurelton library. Register. cLeArVieW Senior Wednesday, August 21 A m e r i g ro u p re p a t 1 1 .

Friday, August 23 Current Events at 12:45 and craft sale 10-2. tuesday, August 27 Music Appreciation at 12:45. Mondays Qi Gong at 10:45, card playing at 12:30. tuesdays and thursdays Wii Time at 12:45. tuesdays and Wednesdays drawing and painting at 9:30. Wednesd ay s b i n go a t 1 2 : 4 5 , tai chi at 2. thursdays scrabble at 12:45. Fridays dance f itness at 10:45.

Movies, computer classes, discussion groups, more.

Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 224-7888. driVer SAFetY Friday, August 23 Glen Oaks library. Register. onGoinG eVentS SoUtH ASiAn Alternate Saturdays Selfhelp BR-PS Senior Center in Flushing. Indian-style activities, lunch. 886-5777. dUPLicAte BridGe Mondays Lunch, lesson and congenial play. Pride of Judea. 423-6200.

StAY WeLL Mondays at the Central library at 10 and Wednesdays at 10:15 at the East Elmhurst library. Learn how special exercise and relaxation techniques make a difference in life. cAreGiVerS tuesdays Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886.

edUcAtion/ GAMeS/crAFtS JoB SeArcH Saturday, August 17 Job Search Strategies and Resume Writing Far Rockaway library at 2.

Line dAncinG Saturdays, August 17, September 7, 21 ongoing mixed level, coed line dance classes at Cambria Heights Community Church. $10.

646-229-0242. crAFt cLUB Monday, August 19 Broadway library at 12:30.

BLoGGinG Monday, August 19 Peninsula library at 6:30.

JoB reAdineSS Mondays, August 19, 26 South Jamaica library at 2.

BALLrooM dAncinG Mondays, August 19, 26 Forest Hills library at 6:30. crAFternoon Mondays, August 19, 26 Rosedale library at 4.

JoB reAdineSS Mondays Job Readiness and computer assistance 2-6 at the South Jamaica library.

JoB SeArcH Mondays free job search and computer help every Monday 11-2 at the Astoria library.

BridGe Mondays except holidays 12-4 at Pride of Judea in Douglaston. Lesson & play $10. Partners arranged.

423-6200.

AdULt cHeSS Mondays and thursdays Queens Village library at 5:30.

BeGin coMPUterS tuesdays, August 20, 27 Rosedale library at 11.

WAtercoLor cLASS tuesday, August 20 Flushing library. Register. tecHnoLoGiSt iS in tuesdays, August 20, 27 Pomonok library at 2. onLine JoB SeArcH tuesday, August 20 Far Rockaway library. Register.

GUitAr LeSSonS tuesday, August 20 Woodhaven library. Register.

BeGin GUitAr tuesdays, August 20, 27 Central library. Register. cHeSS tuesdays Rosedale library at 4.

SMALL BUSineSS tuesdays Small Business Workshop at the Central library. Register.

Get YoUr YArnS oUt! tuesdays after evening Minyan at 8, knitters, crocheters, needlepoint-ers, and others meet at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

263-7000, ext. 200.

BeGin coMPUterS Wednesdays, August 21, 28 Hollis library. Register.

Aug. 16-22, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

What’s Up AUG. 16 Sewing Circle for Women

AUG. 17 Coed Mixed Level Line Dance

Learn how to turn sewing skills into a career and earn money working for yourself. Bring your friends!

Space is limited; first come, first served.

Registration is not required. The free sewing circle will begin at 10 a.m. at the Queens Central Library.

Cambria Heights Community Church is offering line dance classes. These low impact, calorie-burning line dance sessions are designed to address the lack of recreational and social outlets in Southeast Queens.

Taught in a relaxed manner, participants will experience the joy of line dances such as the Electric Slide, Wobble, as well as non-soul line dances. Ongoing, this mixed level line dance series requires no dance experience. For additional information, contact Barbara at (646) 2290242 or bof115@yahoo.com.

Networking Event Networking is the development of professional relationships and is in today’s competitive job market one of the best ways to find a job. Through networking, you can exchange information with others about job opportunities, interesting organizations and up-and-coming industries. For more information about this free workshop, call (718) 990-8625 or visit the Job Information Center. The class code is JR190. Registration is required. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. at the Queens Central Library.

Metrix Learning Metrix Learning is a self-directed online learning program offering multiple learning tracks in a single platform. In this free orientation session, you will learn about training through Metrix, including certifications in Microsoft Office, QuickBooks and Adobe. Register online, by phone at (718) 990-8625 or at the Job Information Center. The class code is CC230. The program is free and will begin at the Queens Central Library at 1 p.m.

Open Lab At open lab practice, you can search for a job, practice your computer skills or edit your resume. For more information, visit the Job Information Center or call (718) 9908625. The lab is free and will be held at the Queens Central Library at 2 p.m.

Classic Film Fridays – “Casino Royale” A Better Jamaica will host a free screening of “Casino Royale” at the Rufus King Park at 8 p.m. Rufus King Park is located at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street.

This Bond film takes us back to the beginning. James has a freshly stamped 00 status and he is going to establish the reckless style that will make him famous. Bond’s mission is Le Chiffre, banker to the world’s terrorists. 007 needs to find all aces in a high stakes poker game with Le Chiffre at the Casino Royale.

Intermediate Word Build upon your basic knowledge of Microsoft Word by learning how to format documents and bibliographies and insert tables, charts, headers and footers. Basic computer skills and knowledge of Word are required.

Preregister online, in person at the Job Information Center or by phone at (718) 990-8625. The class code is CC200. The free workshop will be held at Queens Central Library at 10:30 a.m.

Craftsmen Days Watch demonstrations of crafts from the 1800s, like spinning, tinsmithing and broommaking. Enjoy traditional music performed on hammered dulcimer and fiddle. Take advantage of discounted guided tours of King Manor. Craft demonstrations are free. The demonstrations will be held at the Rufus King Manor Museum from noon to 4 p.m. King Manor Museum is located at the intersection of 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue.

Intermediate Excel Improve your productivity by learning how to generate formulas and functions, create a home budget and store your personal and professional data. Preregister online, in person at the Job Information Center or by phone at (718) 990-8625.

Basic computer skill and knowledge of Excel are required. The class code is CC210. The free workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library at 2 p.m.

AUG. 19 Skin Cancer Prevention and Education Anyone, regardless of skin color, can get skin cancer. Mitchell Chorost, M.D., F.A.C.S. and director of surgical oncology at New York Hospital Queens, will present information on

ways to protect yourself and your family from this disease. The workshop is free and will be held at the Queens Central Library at 6 p.m.

AUG. 20 Beginning Guitar Tad Schaefer, graduate of Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA and Queens College M.A. Jazz Performance, brings expertise and an innovative approach to teaching guitar. Bring your guitar and make some music. Space is limited and registration is required. This class meets every Tuesday for eight weeks.

Customers are required to attend all sessions of this program. Registering for this event will reserve your spot for the entire program. The lessons are free and will be held at the Queens Central Library at 6:30 p.m.

AUG. 21 Learning About LinkedIn LinkedIn is a social networking website that allows you to manage your professional identity, build and engage with your professional network and access knowledge, insights and opportunities. Learn how to use it to network, look for employment and keep up with colleagues. Basic computer skills and knowledge of the Internet are required. To register, call (718) 990-8625 or visit the Job Information Center. The Class code is JR210. The workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library at 6:30 p.m.

AUG. 22 Do it Yourself Business Cards Business cards can be a great way to stay in a new contact’s mind.

Learn how to create them with Microsoft Publisher and leave with 10 of your own cards. Basic computer skills are required. To register, please call (718) 990-8625 or visit the Job Information Center. The class code is CC240. The free workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library at 10 a.m.

AUG 24 Ride 4 Justice “When It’s Real, It’s Forever” is pleased to present “Ride 4 Justice,” a motorcycle, car and SUV motorcade.

All auto clubs are welcome. Registration starts at 10 a.m. at Baisley Pond Park Extension, located at the intersection of 150th Street and North Conduit Avenue. Tickets are $5. For more information, contact Susan Parker at susanparker@wirif.org or (516) 924-2902.

AUG 25 St. Albans Annual Picnic Bring your family and friends at the St. Albans Veterans Domiciliary and New York State Veterans Home, located at the intersection of 179th Street and Linden Boulevard. The picnic includes food, fun and refreshments. Entertainment is

by The Wrenditions. The picnic will take place from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m. To RSVP, call (718) 746-3160.

ONGOING SUMMER PROGRAMS 9th Annual Jump and Ball Tourney State Sen. Malcolm Smith (DJamaica) announced that he will be kicking off the 9th Annual Jump and Ball summer tournament. The event, a basketball and double-dutch tournament, will take place every weekend from Sat., Aug. 3, through Sun., Sept. 1.

In addition to basketball and double-dutch, there are a number of other activities for children. The program will also have golf, chess and tennis competitions and a karate showcase. For the younger children, there will be demonstrations featuring area wildlife, a bouncy castle, face painting and a clown. Cowboy Curly Hall will also be on hand with his horses on Aug. 17 and will demonstrate western rope tricks. Winners of the tournaments will not only receive trophies, they will also get a free backpack filled with school supplies. For more information, call Smith’s office at (718) 454-0162.

Early Exposure to Tennis Tryouts Youth and Tennis Inc. will present their “Early Exposure to Tennis Program” for children ages 4-8. Tryout dates are on Aug. 17, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. The tryouts will be held at the Roy Wilkins Tennis Courts located at the intersection of 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard.

Scholarships and partial scholarships will be available for the talented youth. For more information, call (718) 658-6728.

WhAT’S UP WITh YOU? Send your community events to the PRESS for a free listing at 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357.

Call (718) 357-7400 or email editor@queenspress.com.

All events will be considered for publication, without a fee.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Aug. 16-22, 2013

Just When You Thought It Was Safe...

Marc Antoine Montfleury

Shark, was created soon after news broke of the fish riding the subway. It has over 900 followers and counting and its tag line is “Just another New Yorker trying to make it.”

One Tweet made fun that it was outside its natural habitat.

“Living in the ocean was much easier than living in Queens,” the account tweeted, with the hashtag “#confessyourunpopularopinion.”

MTA's Spelling Fail

One straphanger even posted pictures of the dead animal with a beer, a cigarette and a Metrocard.

Q

CONFIDENTIAL

Someone on a Queensbound N train took the concept of Shark Week a little too seriously.

A dead sand shark was found riding along with straphangers on an N train going to Astoria last Wednesday morning.

According to published reports, the fish was first found at the 34th Street station in Manhattan.

Once a train conductor was notified of the deceased shark, the train was evacuated at the Queensborough Plaza stop. It continued its run on the line until the last stop at AstoriaDitmars Boulevard. The dead shark was discarded in the trash at that stop.

An MTA inspector made sure the train was clean before it returned to its normal service, according to the reports.

A Twitter account for the sea creature, @NYCSubway-

Who's Who

We can add spelling to the list of things the MTA can’t do.

Earlier this week, Cheryl Tse of the 82nd Street Partnership tweeted out a photo of a rather embarrassing mistake on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – “Roosevelt” was misspelled on not one, not two, not even three, but four signs at the 82nd Street 7 train subway stop in

Jackson Heights.

“What a disappointment to see incorrect spelling of @MTA signage in #jacksonheights #queens,” Tse tweeted.

But don’t worry New Yorkers – the spelling error was quickly fixed the day after it was reported, replaced with the proper spelling.

Now if only the MTA was as proactive about fixing that A train…

Senior Smart Phone Seminars Old age doesn’t mean a thing for seniors at Emblem Health Neighborhood Care Center in Cambria Heights.

They are learning how to text and make use of their smart phones through monthly workshops that teach them how to use abbreviations, like LOL and use the “app store” to buy new apps.

The workshops are being offered free by the health center.

The health center decided to offer these tech-friendly

Musicians OF QuEEns

courses after learning about an elderly woman who could not use her phone when she was locked out of her home.

Seniors come in with a handful of questions that may sound easy-as-pie to their grandchildren, but they are right for asking like, “what makes a phone ‘smart’?” or “why are phones talking to people now?”

We here at QConf wonder if elderly people will start to make the same awful mistake we make, by sending the wrong text to the wrong person.

QConf is edited by: Steven J. Ferrari Contributors: Luis Gronda, Natalia Kozikowska, Joe Marvilli, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Michael Nussbaum, Trisha Sakhuja, Michael Schenkler.

Great Food While some folks may still be smarting over the recent TripAdvisor list giving the nod of best pizza in the country to San Diego - with New York coming in fourth! - at least someone is giving our fair Borough its due.

Lena Dunham, star of the HBO hit "Girls," was quoted in an interview saying she believed Queens had the best food in the City, citing the Borough's diverse selection.

We here at QConf can't argue with that. Hopefully, though, someone points Lena in the direction of our "Best of Queens" poll, so she can let us know her favorite places.

After spending a few years jumping around the country, Marc Montfleury decided to settle down in New York City - he calls Astoria home now - and get his career moving forward.

The guitarist/songwriter has put his varied skills to good use already throughout his growing career. He played as the frontman for the post-punk, experimental rock band Black Pearle and as the guitarist for the metal/ska fusion group A Broken Code.

Now, he performs both as a solo artist and as a member of The Kids, a rotating set of musicians where a different member takes the lead and the rest of the musicians become his or her backing band.

“The Kids was an idea I spawned a couple years ago. Everyone in the band has their own thing going,” Montfleury said. “The Kids would be a backup band for all of us.”

Over the last few years, Montfleury said his own songwriting has evolved quite a bit, going from a haphazard style to actually crafting and putting a tune together.

“My songwriting’s changed quite a bit actually.

I didn’t really know how to write a song until about six years ago,” he said. “Before

that, I was just making noise and hoping it worked.”

Montfleury’s work can be seen on his EP, “Locksmiths and Lawyers,” a seven-track effort released at the end of 2012. According to Montfleury, the recording process was very low-budget, mainly consisting of a guitar, an iPad and a friend’s dive that he was able to compose in.

Although he comes from a hard rock background, some of his favorite music is also experimental in nature, like Bad Brains and Deftones.

“They morph into these weird things, but they still have a punch to it. I’ve always been experimental like that,” he said. “I realized energy could be put into music without distortion.”

While he has enjoyed the high level of exposure the City offers, along with all of the musical opportunities and inspiration, Montfleury calls Astoria home because it gives him a chance to relax and get away from Manhattan’s busyness.

“Here, it’s almost like a suburb. I kind of forget I’m in New York sometimes. I think it’s awesome because of that,” he said. “After all the hustle bustle, I can come back here and it’s very quiet.”

For more information about Montfleury, visit www.reverbnation.com/marcsmusic.

Who's Got Talent Got Talent? Talented individuals of all kinds should email editor@queenstribune.com to be featured in a future edition of QConfidential.

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

718-225-8585 Lic. & Ins.

VISIT US ONLINE QueensPress.com Construction

NUNEZ CONSTRUCTION

We Specialize In Crack Repairs also Ceiling, Wall Repairs & Painting

EXPERT WORK ON STOOPS BRICK, BLOCK & CONCRETE

7 Days, Lowest Prices Free Estimate Licensed & Insured

718-219-1257 nunezforu.com Member of Angie’s List A Rating

Boiler Service

BOILER MAN

Installations • Water Heaters Repairs • Basement Heat Conversions • Separarte Zones Oil Tanks • Air Conditioners Household Renovations

516-815-8510 Floors

J&S FLOOR SERVICE •Scraping •Polyurethane •Staining •Bleaching White Floors •Waxing •Stripping •Repairs & Installation We also do Painting, Wallpaper Removal, Tiling & Dry Wall Reasonable Prices • Free Estimates

9 1 7 -4 5 9 - 2 4 2 1 7 1 8 -4 6 4 - 4 5 3 5 24/7

CLASSICAL CUSTOM

AWNINGS ALUMINUM • LEXAN RETRACTABLE

FREE ESTIMATES SINCE 1980

718-528-2401 CLASSICAL-IRON.COM

LIC#1069538

Immigration

Immigration

IMMIGRATION

All your immigration needs Real Estate and Other Legal Matters BROOKLYN LOCATION AVAILABLE Call and inquire about IMMIGRATION REFORM UPDATES

516.374.5467

718.851.4521

Cedarhurst - 575 Chestnut Street, NY 11516 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT

H. ZALCMAN-ATTORNEY AT LAW

Legals

Sealed bids are requested for Merrick Academy Charter School: FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM OPERATIONS at 207-01 Jamaica Avenue, Queens, NY 11428 for September 2013. A copy of RFP can be obtained by emailing geoff@schoolfoodmarket-

Legals

ing.com. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for 9:30 AM, August 23, 2013. Bidder questions will be accepted only through email and due on August 26, 2013. Sealed bids will be received by mail only, until 11:00 AM, August 29, 2013.

CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: Monday Before 5 P.M.

Unless Otherwise Specified Press of Southeast Queens Policy: All advertisers are responsible to give correct advertising as it will appear. The 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 after the first week but no refund will be issued!

Choosing Parker means you will receive superior medical care, nursing, therapy and social work services...every day.

Parker’s staff provides skilled and attentive adult health care, while extending the hand of reassurance, the comforting smile, and the words that say everything will be okay. At the forefront of innovations in patient-centered care and medical technology, Parker is proud to be your choice for care.

Sub-Acute Care/Post-Acute Care • Short Term Rehabilitation Nursing Home • Medical Model Adult Day Health Care Social Model Alzheimer Center • Long Term Home Health Care Community/Inpatient Hospice

Parker Jewish Institute for HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION

271-11 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, New York 11040-1433 www.parkerinstitute.org A New York State Authorized Managed Long Term Care Plan:

Medical Transportation provided by:

(877) Parker3 (877-727-5373)

On-Site Dialysis provided by:

Where Excellence Is the Standard