Press epaper 090514

Volume 15 Issue No. 36 Sept. 5-11, 2014

A LOVE FOR LABOR Queens officials promote this weekend’s Labor Day Parade.

By Luis Gronda … Page 3.

Photo by Luis Gronda

Special Section: Union leaders discuss labor movement. Pages 8-12.

ONLINE AT WWW.QUEENSPRESS.COM

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

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News Briefs St. John’s Earns Top Environmental Ranking

St. John’s University has once again been named to the Sierra Club’s 2014 “Cool Schools” top 100 list, which recognizes the country’s greenest schools.

This year, the school is ranked 86th in the nation.

Their entry featured a number of the University’s programs including energy and water conservation, waste diversion, student engagement in food waste recovery and energy conservation in the residence halls.

St. John’s has taken several measures to reduce its carbon footprint through the work of its Office of Sustainability. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency serves as a pledge

by St. John’s and its students for continuous improvement in environmental stewardship through eight voluntary EPA programs.

“Sustainability is about promoting and living a more just and sustainable way of life,” Tom Goldsmith, director of energy and environmental conservation, said. “At St. John’s, we achieve this through education, environmental stewardship and service to others.”

St. John’s has also been awarded a gold rating by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is featured in The Princeton Review’s “Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition” and has been named one of the nation’s Tree Campus USA institutions of higher learning, conferred by the Arbor Day Foundation.

The “Cool School” list is judged on a rubric of 70 categories adding up to a potential 1,000 points. The rubric emphasizes the Club’s environmental priorities and rewards schools that do a good job of measuring and mitigating their impact.

Criteria for the rubric include having an organic garden, peer-to-peer sustainability educator programs and renewable energy sources.

Fracking Reality Tour

www.ridgewoodbank.com

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

Member FDIC

Councilman Donovan Richards and Food and Water Watch New York have partnered to host an onsite tour of Susquehanna County, Penn., where extensive hydraulic fracturing takes place.

Hydraulic fracturing, informally known as hydrofracking or fracking, is an increasingly controversial extraction process that injects a combination of water and chemicals into the ground at a high pressure to release natural gas deposits.

Considering its location along the Marcellus Shale, the county has a number of communities experiencing the negative effects of living near fracking sites.

The tour will offer an opportunity to visit sites and engage a community experiencing the full impact on their environment and their health.

“For the past six years, New York has maintained a ban on hydraulic fracturing due to initial uncertainty of risks associated with this process,” Richards said. “I believe we can safely conclude that increasing our reliance upon natural gas or any other fossil fuel is a step away from building a truly sustainable and environmentally sound future. I strongly urge my fellow members and concerned citizens to join us on this tour to experience firsthand what will happen if we continue to gamble with the environment.”

As our neighboring state, New York officials look to Pennsylvania as an example of what could happen within our borders if fracking were permitted.

“New Yorkers are hearing more and more about the alarming health and environmental hazards of fracking, which is why so many of us are so opposed to it. But to see the effects of fracking firsthand and to speak with those whose lives have been upended by it, really magnifies the urgency of the movement to ban fracking New York,” Eric Weltman, senior organizer with Food and Water Watch, said. “We are grateful that Councilman Richards is leading this Fracking Reality Tour and optimistic that the City Council will do all they can to keep our City and State safe from the inherent dangers of fracking.”

Hollis Library Closing

After an initial delay, the Queens Library Hollis branch, located at 202-05 Hillside Ave., will close temporarily at the close of business on Sept. 12 to install a new roof.

While the library is closed, limited service will be provided by the Mobile Library every Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The library is expected to reopen in November.

During the temporary closure, customers are invited to use other locations in the area. The closest branches are located at 94-11 217 St., Queens Village, 187-05 Union Turnpike, Hillcrest or 79-50 Bell Blvd., Windsor Park or visit www.queenslibrary.org for additional information and resources.

Councilman Mark Weprin funded this library improvement.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Presstime

Queens Pols Remember Importance Of Labor Workers Several Borough elected officials championed the benefits of labor unions at Queens Borough Hall Thursday afternoon.

Ahead of this weekend’s Labor Day parade in Manhattan, several Queens officals, including some from Southeast Queens, and labor leaders held a press conference to honor labor workers for their contributions to Queens and the rest of the City.

The event was co-hosted by Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans), who was president of the Amalgamated Transit Union prior to being elected as Councilman, and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

The officials held what amounted to their own mini-labor day parade, heaping praise on what labor unions have done for New York City and saying that more needs to be done for workers wages.

“The struggle that working people have undertaken have earned this day along with the rights and benefits that we all enjoy in this modern era,” Miller said.

Katz said the labor union workers help keep New York City running on a daily basis.

“Our economy in the City of New

Photo by Luis Gronda

BY LuIS GRONDA

Kyle Bragg of 32BJ (left) discusses contributions labor workers have made to New York City.

York relies heavily on the contribution of these members. Their hard work, both at their jobs and during their union activities are hugely beneficial to people in New York City,” Katz said.

Labor Day itself dates back to even before it was officially declared a holiday in 1894, when the New York State Legislature was the first in the United States to recognize a day to honor the labor workers about 10 years prior.

There were four labor representatives standing with the elected officials

at the press conference: Kyle Bragg, the secretary treasurer of 32BJ; Dermot Smyth, a Queens Political Action Coordinator from the United Federation of Teachers; John Lyons, the legislative director of the New York State ATU Conference Board; and Mark Henry, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union.

They echoed Miller and Katz’s sentiments about the importance of remembering the work of labor unions.

“The labor movement keeps our community growing and keeps it strong,” Bragg said.

He also made reference to fast food workers protesting for fair wages in Manhattan and in other parts of the country earlier that day. Thousands of fast food workers went on strike around 7 a.m. Thursday, asking to be paid more. Nineteen workers were reportedly arrested outside of the Times Square McDonald’s who refused to move from the area.

“Some brave young men and women are about to submit themselves to civil disobedience and be arrested to push forward a wage rate that they need to survive in New York City,” Bragg continued.

Lyons said there is a need for more investment on public transportation, especially in Queens.

“An investment in public transportation is an investment in community, labor and the City of New York,” he said.

Among the officials to also speak at the event were State Senators Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) and Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis), Assemblymembers Michael DenDekker (D-East Elmhurst) and Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) and State Senate candidate Leroy Comrie.

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

Small Business Incubator At Central Library

BY JORDAN GIBBONS In 2012, Sheila Washington was contacted by the Job Information Center at the Queens Library Central branch in Jamaica to start a small business workshop to help residents in Southeast Queens create and develop ideas for their own business.

Now, Washington said that the facility is a virtual incubator that helps attendees turn their ideas into something marketable in the commercial industry.

“They need the incubation process,” she said. “I try to get them to see the ‘how’ part. I give them the education to learn how to go about creating a successful and profitable business.”

During the last decade or two, Washington said the job market has changed so much that it is harder for the older generation to start up a business once they leave their job.

She said it is better to keep an old job while starting the business.

A major hurdle is the fact that many jobs from the past are not around anymore and they are not coming back. Washington said she tries to help people make the change

in this new generation.

“The culture has to change enough that the individual can turn their ideas into a business they can make a living off of,” she said. “Last month, we focused on creating a nonprofit.”

The workshop meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and anybody can attend simply by walking into the library.

Tuesday night’s class was centered on figuring out a tagline for your business to help get the attention of a new business owner’s target audience entitled, “Does the world know what your product or service is?”

Washington helps people create a feasible working plan and business plan. The course goes over the outline for these plans and will continue this week’s lesson next Tuesday as well, by going into necessary marketing components and how to “Energize and Strategize Your Marketing Plan.”

One important point that Washington said she has to remind people is figuring out the population you are trying to market to and the best ways to get their attention.

“You have to mix that service with who it is for,” she said. “You want to have the most reach.”

Keeping your target audience in mind when planning your business strategy is necessary.

Washington also offers one-on-one mentorship meetings on Wednesday afternoon for dedicated and engaged pupils. She also follows up with them to help them build on their ideas as they get further along in the process.

“It’s just a matter of being able to sit down and walk them through the steps,” she said. “And there are other ways to accomplish the same thing. I show them how to edit an idea, add to it, delete from it and how to refresh an idea.”

The program always has space for more prospective business owners

as there are about 20 attendees for the courses this year. In past years, there have been 25 people and their biggest turnout was about 40 for a franchising workshop last year.

Washington has hopes to get more people involved to help grow the program, which is free to attend and is funded by the Queens Library.

Washington said that next month, they are going to focus workshops on Facebook to help people use social media to grow their business.

“We’re working on getting the word out in a big way,” she said. “We want a robust, live virtual incubator in Jamaica, Queens.”

The Queens Library Central branch is located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica.

Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123, jgibbons@ queenspress.com or @jgibbons2.

When attending the small business workshop, come prepared with pen and paper, along with a thought out idea for a small business. Having a specific business plan already worked out will help attendees get more out of the program.

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

Smith: ‘I Know How To Navigate Albany’ With the primary election approaching on Tuesday, State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) said he believes that his experience in the State Senate speaks for itself.

During an interview at the PRESS of Southeast Queens office this week, Smith said he is never overly optimistic about his chances in the election for the 14th District, but he referred to himself as an expert in the State Senate, citing his time as Minority Leader, Majority Leader and acting Lieutenant Governor.

“Our community cannot afford to wait another five or 10 years for someone to gain the experience that I have,” Smith said. “That’s the biggest stark difference.”

Smith said jobs and education are his two most important issues for the upcoming year. For the next legislative session, he wants to focus on the DREAM Act, Campaign Finance Reform and pay equity.

But he added that the main issue with working in Albany is knowing who you talk to and when you need to talk to them to gain enough support for legislation.

“You can’t go there and just say, ‘Oh hi, I want to introduce myself,’” he said.

“We don’t have that kind of time.”

Photos by Luis Gronda

BY JORDAN GIBBONS

State Sen. Malcolm Smith said Southeast Queens cannot wait for another candidate to gain experience in Albany.

Smith made reference to a recent forum with his challengers in the upcoming primary, Leroy Comrie and Munir Avery, where he said that he had a “stellar year.”

“With my legal issues, and I don’t ignore them, I still managed to get quite a few things in the budget,” Smith said. “I got legislation passed.

Some people think that’s an easy thing. It’s not easy.”

In June, Smith was in court for an alleged corruption scheme to bribe his way onto the mayoral ticket in 2013. A mistrial was declared because of undisclosed and untranslated Yiddish recordings. His trial resumes in January.

When he was asked about the effect his impending trial in January will have on his ability to maintain his seat during an important session, Smith said not much happens during that time in Albany.

“The first two weeks of session, this is not knowing Albany, those are the lightest times for session,” he said. “I’m already working on next year’s budget. My two-week trial is not going to get in the way. We start in June. My opponents, who aren’t even in Albany yet, they don’t even know that process.”

Smith said that the people of Southeast Queens who he has spoken to believe he was treated unfairly. He continued by saying that he is not the only legislator from the area who has been inspected by the government.

“It’s very interesting that every elected official in Southeast Queens has had some kind of investigation,” he said. “I can’t answer why.”

Smith also said that only snippets of his case have been published.

“I’ve heard all my tapes,” he said.

“I know what’s on there.”

He said that the idea of him running as a Republican was an outright lie.

“What I said was I would be running as a Democrat and trying to get the Republican line” Smith said. “Ev-

erybody wrote the story, Malcolm Smith was going to run; he was going to change his party, he was going to be a Republican. That wasn’t true.”

Smith said that his “claim to fame” is working well with everybody in Albany from all party lines and that is what has allowed him to be successful as a politician.

“The reason why I accelerated so fast in Albany wasn’t because everybody just loved Malcolm,” he said.

“It was because I worked so well with people.”

He also noted the Rev. Floyd Flake’s endorsement as a tipping point for his campaign along with his own reputation in the community and the endorsement of DC 37.

He said that the community will support him for his track record and because they do not believe everything that is written about Smith’s corruption charges.

“The people of Southeast Queens are very smart,” he said.

“They know how to read between the lines, they know how to read and understand what is going on.

At the end of the day, I’ve worked very hard for that community all my life and still do.”

Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123, jgibbons@ queenspress.com or @jgibbons2.

The New York City Labor Movement is proud to support

LEROY COMRIE

New York State Senate Leroy Comrie has proven his commitment to Queens, and to helping to create and maintain good jobs in the 14 th Senate District.

Leroy has worked hard to ensure that working people are able to secure the wages, benefits, and workplace protections they need to get by in New York City.

Leroy Comrie has consistently stood with working men and women, and that is why labor is standing with Leroy Comrie.

On September 9th, Vote Leroy Comrie for Senate.

It’s the right thing to do!

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Community Boards React To Lower Age Restriction

BY JOE MARVILLI

late and the new members would have to participate on the board’s A new law affecting the age restric- committees, which come with meettions for community board members ings of their own. has created a range of reactions from “It’s not just coming to a meetQueens’ community boards. ing. These kids have school, they On Aug. 12, Assemblywoman Nily have exams. They can’t leave at 10 Rozic (D-Hillcrest) p.m. if something comes and State Sen. Andrew “...the basic feeling up,” Marilyn Bitterman, Lanza (R-Staten IsCommunity Board 7’s land) announced that is that 16- and 17district manager, said in Gov. Andrew Cuomo year-olds don’t have an earlier interview. “I signed their legisla- the maturity.They love the input of kids. I tion that dropped the think they should get inminimum age of ap- have a responsibilvolved. But on the other pointment to a New ity to get the best side of the coin, it may York City Community education they can to not always work.”

Board from 18 years Christine Haider, old to 16 years old. further their goals in chairperson of CB11, The bill has created a life.” added that teens at that mixed reaction among -Christine Halder, age may wind up attendQueens’ community college out-of-state, chairperson of CB 11 ing boards. therefore limiting their Each board is made term to only a couple of up of 50 volunteer members, who are years before they leave. appointed by the Borough President.

“Our board has discussed it and Half of the members are nominated the basic feeling is that 16- and 17by the district’s City Councilmember year-olds don’t have the maturity. or Councilmembers.

They have a responsibility to get the A couple of the community best education they can to further boards’ leadership said that 16- and their goals in life,” she said. “After 17-year olds have too many responsi- high school, they go to college and go bilities in terms of schoolwork to ful- out-of-state. They’ll be on the board ly dedicate themselves to the board. for two years and then go to Indiana The monthly meetings can often run or wherever. We think it’s important

to have continuity in service on the Board at Elmhurst Hospital. board.”

“The same thing on the hospiOn the other hand, some commu- tal board, to get an outlook differnity boards in the Borough said they ent from some people who’ve been welcomed the fresh perspective that around for a while,” he said on the younger members could bring to the positives of youth involvement. “I table. would see them just taking their “Overall, the board place, listening, voting is in favor of a low- “I think our youth and stating their view.” ered age. It’s very imA representative of portant that young would bring a new Community Board 6 teens get involved in perspective, their said the board would civil service as early as perspective, which we discuss the measure possible,” CB12 chaironce summer recess person Adrienne Ad- don’t get a lot of in ends. While the PRESS ams said. “I think our that formal setting. of Southeast Queens youth would bring a We’re very interested reached out to the othnew perspective, their community boards, in the concerns of the er perspective, which we none of them responddon’t get a lot of in that youth.” ed to multiple requests formal setting. We’re -Adrienne Adams, for comment as of press very interested in the chairperson of CB 12 time. concerns of the youth.

All five Borough We can hear things ruPresidents said they are mored or second-party, but there’s in support of the measure. nothing like having an individual Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli at there to give their thoughts and rec- (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, jmarvilli@ ommendations.” queenstribune.com, or @JoeMarvilli.

Community Board 1’s chairman, Vinicio Donato, agreed that young Mail your Southeast Queens people should be able to serve on news items to: the community boards if they wish.

PRESS of Southeast Queens, He mentioned that former Assembly150-50 14th Rd., man John Sabini got his start as a 16Whitestone, NY 11357 year-old on the Community Advisory

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

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

Reporters: Jordan Gibbons Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Jackie Strawbridge

Editorial Time To Get Out The Vote On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Democratic voters will be asked to go to the polls to make a decision as to who will represent them during the primary elections for state offices. In the case of the State Senate District 14 race involving incumbent State Sen. Malcolm Smith and his opponents, former Councilman Leroy Comrie and attorney Munir Avery, the primary will decide who goes to Albany, as there are no challengers in the Nov. 4 General Election.

The PRESS of Southeast Queens has spoken frequently about the need for a better class of elected officials, especially in Albany.

For too long, New York’s Capital has been a breeding ground for a culture of corruption, dysfunction and disharmony. With no term limits for State Senators or Assembly members, the only way to replace those that are causing the problems – short of a prison sentence – is to vote them out of office. On Tuesday, voters have a chance to do just that.

Last week, we stated our support for former Councilman Leroy Comrie in the District 14 State Senate race, and this week we reiterate that support. The incumbent has touted his legislative experience in Albany, and his knowledge of how the system works, as the main reason why he should be re-elected.

We believe, however, that Comrie’s legislative experience within the City Council – along with the allies he has made during his career – will help guide him through the differences between the City Council and the State Legislature.

Tuesday’s primary election is an important one, not just for the district, but for the state as a whole. We urge our readers to be sure to go out to the polls and vote for a better Southeast Queens.

Art Dept:

Rhonda Leefoon Lianne Procanyn Karissa Tirbeni Maureen Coppola Advertising Director Howard Swengler Major Accounts Manager Shanie Persaud Director Corporate Accounts/Events Advertising Executives Shari Strongin Karyn Budhai

A Queens Tribune Publication © Copyright 2014 Tribco, LLC

Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller

Letters No Negative Comments

To The Editor: I watched with great interest the debate between the candidates in the 14th State Senate District. I was pleased to see everyone take the high road as rumor and innuendo have no place in our community. We should judge our candidates on their fervor to serve their constituents and their records.

And anyone who engages in dirty finger-pointing and negative campaigning should be ashamed.

PJ Williams, Jamaica

Go Out And Vote

To The Editor: Vote! It’s not only a privilege, it’s a duty and shame on those too lazy to avail themselves of it; the very ones so eager to complain about our President’s inability to move parts of his agenda forward due to the fact that we allowed

an ignorant regressive congress to be voted in; one proudly pledged to obstruct any motion put forth by President Obama.

The importance of that vote was never more pronounced than in the 2010 midterm election. Our self congratulating Progressive Democrats were so busy patting themselves on the back for having initiated one of the proudest, almost inconceivable achievements in our country’s short history, the election of a Black person as President of the United States, that they sat on their priggish progressive posteriors and neglected to follow through and vote for an equally perspicacious Congress. As a result the most ill-equipped, nonproductive, pro-obstruction (to list just a few applicable derogatory prefixes) House of Representatives our country has ever had the misfortune to experience, was installed…or more accurately, afflicted.

Although not part of the

Letters 2010 Congressional Infection but rather the previous, one Regressive Republican Representative, Louis Buller “Louie” Gohmert Jr., unshockingly of Texas; stands out like a wart on a boil. This ignorant congressman makes Gomer (Jim Nabors) Pyle of Andy Griffith seem a genius. Words cannot do justice. Only seeing/hearing this imbecile, is believing. This is the quality of representation we can expect from today’s degenerate Conservlican Party.

Pity; they once were actually a Grand Old Party.

We now have the upcoming opportunity to make our country incredibly proud once again with the election of the first woman President of the United States. Let’s hope that the progressives outnumber the regressives at the voting booth come the midterm election.

Nicholas Zizelis, Bayside

Successful Event

To The Editor: I enjoyed Senator Addabbo’s barbecue letter in the Aug. 29 copy of your paper.

Senator Addabbo’s barbecue is a big success every year because he has always been a champion of veterans rights and issues.

In all the years I have known Joe Addabbo, as a politician and friend he was always there for me, my veterans organization and all veterans organizations.

Thank you Senator Addabbo for all you do.

Paul Narson, President Chapter 32, Queens Vietnam Veterans of America

Who’s the Bum?

To The Editor: The damage created by the vindictive actions of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz is reaching into the fundraising arm of the Queens Library. Katz’s assault took with it major donors from the Library Board.

Trustees who have donated generous amounts of money to support programs in every community have been unceremoniously dumped. At least $300,000 had been committed for this year’s gala from these very people.

And why would any of them care to contribute after a public dismissal, and the fact that Katz’s mouthpiece newspaper has called these people “bums”!

Perhaps she plans to make it up to the Library and provide public funding so that these programs, primarily for children, can continue.

Unlikely!

Her power trip to insult community leaders and dismantle the library after 118 years must leave the public wondering. All this because these trustees voted their consciences instead of taking her orders to remove the Director so that she could put her people in jobs and promote her politics.

Who’s the bum now?

Constance Wingate, Garden City

Freedom For Who?

To The Editor: Republican Conservatives and their Libertarian pseudonym scream, “freedom, freedom, freedom!” When are they going to concede some of that “freedom” to women even concerning their very own body?! Inconceivable that it also includes their female contingent, who have been so subjugated as to be made blind to the obvious. Shame on those prideless puppets.

Arlene Philomena, Bayside

A Good Record?

To The Editor: The New York City Police Dept. made 150,000 arrests in 4 years. I believe that in that time, there is only one arrest where the perpetrator died.

I am sure that many of these arrests involved a fight were the perpetrator and the police were hurt as a result of the perpetrator’s refusal to surrender peacefully.

How can anyone claim police brutality?

How can anyone not admit that this is a fantastically good record?

John Procida, Flushing

WRITE ON: The PRESS of Southeast Queens, 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357 email: news@queenspress.com fax: (718) 357-9417

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

Have a Happy and Safe Labor Day!

Congressman

Gregory W. Meeks U.S. House of Representatives 5th District-New York Washington D.C. Office Jamaica District Office Rockaway District Office 2234 Rayburn House Office Building 153-01 Jamaica Avenue 67-12 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Washington, D.C. 20215 Arverne, NY 11692 Jamaica, NY 11432 PH: (202) 225-3461 PH: (718)230-4032 PH: (718) 725-6000 Paid for by Friends for Gregory Meeks

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

SALUTE TO LABOR

A Case Made For Queens Transit Alternatives

By HowArD HeCHT, MUP

what Should we Do Now? Our political leaders and planning professionals should question what is best for the public, City and region. And, perhaps we need a new paradigm. We should stop thinking of ourselves as customers but rather as stakeholders and owners of the system that we pay for and use.

We know we have traffic and transit problems and that without action, these problems in the future will dwarf those of today. We need to recognize that the current transit system, as wonderful as it is, cannot meet our current or future transit needs without a truly massive investment of capital and operating funds and, right now, we seem barely able to operate and maintain the existing system, let alone make a significant expansion of this system in the outer boroughs or the metro region.

We should all be curious to see what the futurists think; what designs are developed; where they would be built; and how much the alternatives cost (and, according to the financial sections of our major newspapers, there seems plenty of global money waiting for investment at even the current low-interest rates provided by tax-free bonds should the MTA be given the authority to issue such bonds for the development of an expanded transit system). An evaluation team should be organized

Image provided by skytran.us

One has only to look at a subway map to see that Queens has a limited distribution of subway transit lines, all with the exception of the Air Train and the E-line extension, developed prior to 1930. These lines terminate in five of Queens’ 14 Community Districts defined as the Astoria, Jamaica, Flushing, Middle Village and Rockaway communities. If you follow the train lines, you will find that public transit usage exceeds the Citywide average of 58.3 percent, as noted in the NYU Furman Center’s report, “State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods in 2013.”

Due to easy train access in these communities, public transit use rate in 2012 was impressive. However, in Ridgewood-Maspeth, Flushing-Whitestone, Hillcrest-Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens-Woodside, S. Ozone Park-Howard Beach, Bayside-Little Neck, Jamaica-Hollis, Queens Village and Rockaway-Broad Channel, use rates were below the Citywide average. It is interesting to note that

having a transit line terminus in your community does not necessarily result in high public transit usage as the lines do not always penetrate into the larger community.

This lower transit use might result from a notion, posited in the Furman Center’s report, that higher Design renditions for the personal rapid transit sysincome groups used tem in Tel Aviv. public transit the least (although in an increasing amount). congestion, usually in residential arHowever, it might have also resulted eas, or waiting for a bus that will take from a lack of direct subway access. them to a train or directly to work.

These transit-deprived neighbor- While the Center’s report notes that hoods experience transit inequality, between 2000 and 2012, the mean requiring them to use an additional Queens commuting time has deor secondary mode of transportation creased by a half minute, to 41.6 min(cars or buses) to access their pre- utes, in my experience, commuting ferred, primary means of transit - a to Lower Manhattan by bus and train subway or elevated train line. from eastern Queens is most likely a Residents in these areas are con- 90-minute ordeal each way. One can fronted with the choice of driving only wonder how much community directly to work or to a train station, development and commerce is lost, contributing to traffic and parking not to mention the time loss entailed, due to our transit inequality.

to include planning and transit professionals, locally elected officials and the public. Mayor de Blasio’s transition tent provided a wonderful model for this effort, except that forums should be scheduled in each of the outer boroughs where the need for this new service is greatest. The evaluation team should avail itself of Internet technology to further involve the citizenry.

It might also make sense that an organization like the Furman Center, with its interest in good government process, be charged by the Mayor’s or Governor’s Office to coordinate this effort and bring the planning process to fruition. Ultimately, it is up to us, the residents of our City and region, to demand an equitable, affordable and sensible transit system.

An example – Personal rapid Transit One transit approach that might be considered is Personal Rapid Transit or PRT. Today, PRT could be developed as a completely automated, fast, efficient transit system and costing only a fraction of the dollars required for an expanded rail system.

It would be available on demand (when you need it – via your cell phone) and will whisk you, 20 feet or so above the ground on its own track, point to point without stopping at intermediate stations.

A pre-fabricated PRT system could be installed on any local or arterial street and expanded as demand dictates. It would basically provide each of us with the convenience of our own personal auto in a mass transit model. There are different iterations of PRT, starting the system built for Morgantown, West Virginia in the 1960s, designed to be more of a Group Rapid Transit system (more like the Air Train) to one currently being designed for Tel Aviv by Sky Tran (a NASA Act company).

In the past, PRT was limited by capacity constraints, however, today, due to improvements in computer automation and systems design, its capacity has been greatly improved.

Sky Tran indicates that it can provide transit services for the Tel Aviv metro area, with a population of about 2.5 million residents, using 5,000 transit cabs. PRT would not replace our current transit system but could supplement it in our lower-density transit deprived areas.

Is PRT the answer for Queens and our more suburban communities maybe not, but it opens up an interesting debate.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

SALUTE TO LABOR Op-Ed:

Labor Day Puts Workers Back In National Spotlight

By ANthONy SPEELmAN Each Labor Day, we celebrate all amazing accomplishments and progress that organized labor has made for all American workers: the weekend, the five-day workweek, child labor laws, holiday pay, the 8-hour workday, just to name a few that come to mind. Looking forward, the fight for workers’ rights and respect is never over and there is still much work to do. As the gap between the wealthy few and the rest of America continues to grow, more must be done to address the many Americans who are struggling to survive in parttime, low-wage jobs. Raising the minimum wage is a good place to start.

And while Congressional Republicans have decided to turn their backs on American workers everywhere by failing to advance legislation to raise the minimum wage, states and cities are taking the matter into their own hands.

This year, states and localities from California to New Jersey will be raising their own minimum wage to levels higher than the current federal rate of $7.25 per hour. Seattle recently raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour, and the San Diego City Council just voted to raise its minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2017. In Los Angeles, activists have submitted a proposed ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for workers who work at least two hours a week, including tipped workers. San Francisco will be voting on $15 per hour this year.

That is why our union is proud to lead the local and state efforts to raise the minimum wage. The UFCW’s 1.3 million members stand together for fair wages, and decent benefits and working conditions on the job. Union members know as well as anyone that rising tides lift all boats and, right now, millions of workers are drowning in their lowwage, part-time jobs.

Here in New York, too many hard working men and women are struggling to stay afloat in a fragile economy. New York flaunts itself as a progressive capital, yet our laws protecting workers and wages don’t compete with states like Vermont, Washington and Rhode Island. All will have higher minimum wages

than ours (New York’s) by January 1, 2015. This is unacceptable since we all know firsthand how expensive it is to make ends meet living in New York.

Movements like the “Fight for 15” and “Fast Food Strikes” have brought workers wages and conditions to national discussion. McDonald’s was just at the center of a very important National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) ruling, where they argued they weren’t responsible for their 14,000 franchises’ treatment of workers. The Labor Board disagreed, and found McDonald’s liable for the treatment of their workers across their franchises in America. This was sadly an unsurprising move from today’s corporation, trying to pass the buck, make an excuse and not take responsibility for its treatment of workers.

What’s disappointing is an enormous corporation like McDonald’s has tried to hide behind its franchisers and not do the ethical and right thing for people. Movements like these are integral to our respect and progress in organized labor. The national opinion on these issues is in our favor. America wants better treatment of workers, better jobs and higher wages. Why can’t we get it?

Congressional Republicans and their corporate backers have stuck to the same old, tired argument that raising the minimum wage will be bad for businesses. However, a recent study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research found that states that raised the minimum wage experienced faster employment growth than the states that didn’t. While the states and localities that have raised the minimum wage should be lauded, too many working Americans are falling out of the middle class — a problem that calls for a federal solution. This is an election year, and UFCW Local 1500 urges all our elected officials to think (and take action!) about the many voters who are struggling to make ends meet and raise the minimum wage. Please remember this and while you’re enjoying your Labor Day, discuss this with your family, coworkers and friends. Happy Labor Day! Anthony Speelman is secretary-treasurer for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11

Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

SALUTE TO LABOR op-ed:

celebrating All Working Men And Women

By Vincent AlVArez And JonAthAn Westin Every Labor Day, our nation pauses to celebrate the contributions of working men and women to the fabric of our society. Whether you work in education, food service, construction, healthcare, or any other field, if you work hard to make a living, Labor Day is meant to applaud your hard work, dedication and skill.

One iconic way we honor workers here in New York City is through the Labor Day Parade. For over 130 years, thousands of proud union members have marched up Fifth Avenue with their union brothers and sisters, and we expect nothing less this year. This year’s parade will be different, though, because for the first time, the parade will include groups of low-wage workers employed at car washes, airports, supermarkets and fast food restaurants, and who are organizing with labor unions.

All around the country, low-wage workers have been standing up and fighting back against employers who

insist on paying poverty-level wages, enough money to make ends meet providing inconsistent scheduling because too many of them lack the and refusing to provide workers ability to collectively bargain, and with the respect and benefits needed collective bargaining rights are under to sustain themselves and healthy attack because unions are under attack. This is a cyclical families.

Low-wage problem that can only workers have walked “our well-being be remedied if workoff the job, and they’ve and the future of ers continue to band held rallies in places worker protections together to fight. Our like Times Square and Union Square to make are undoubtedly tied well-being and the future of worker protectheir voices heard. And to worker solidarity, union workers have been which is the only real tions are undoubtedly front and center with way we can grow our tied to worker solidarity, which is the only low-wage workers every economy from the real way we can grow step of the way, stressing the importance of bottom up and middle our economy from the bottom up and middle fair wages, benefits and out.” out to ensure that evthe right to unionize.

Over the last few years, our na- ery day working New Yorkers share tion’s crippling income inequal- in a broad based prosperity.

Over the last year, nearly 150,000 ity problem has made it harder and harder for workers to cover the cost workers have been added to New of rent, bills and other expenses York’s union ranks. This growth can needed to raise healthy families in be partially attributed to the work New York City. Income inequality is of groups like the New York Hotel at record levels because workers are Trades Council, which organized not making enough money to make and helped secure family-sustaining ends meet. Workers are not making wages for casino workers at the Aq-

ueduct racino, and the RWDSU, which is continuing to organize car wash workers -- one of the most exploited groups of workers in our city.

Because of victories like these, the dream of overcoming poverty-level wages is much closer for many hardworking men and women.

So on Sept. 6, municipal employees, building service workers, transit workers and Broadway performers will gather with carwasheros, baggage handlers and supermarket workers to show the breadth and depth of the labor movement.

Whether you have a union card and benefits, or whether you are fighting for them, Saturday, Sept. 6 will be a day to show our determination, unity and pride in being a part of the New York City labor movement.

Vincent Alvarez is the President of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which represents over 300 unions and 1.3 million working men and women in the New York City area.

Jonathan Westin is the Executive Director of New York Communities for Change.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Police Blotter 105th Precinct

Investigation

At 6:33 p.m. on Aug. 29, police responded to a report of an injured infant at 146-12 228th St. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 14-month-old female, identified as Daniella Okoye, unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded and transported the female to Franklin General Hospital in Valley Stream, where she was pronounced dead.

107th Precinct

Reckless Endangerment

At approximately 5 p.m. on Aug. 30, officers from the 107th Precinct responded to several reports of a large group of dirt bikes and ATVs driving recklessly along the Van Wyck Expressway in the vicinity of Hillside Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers observed

numerous motorbikes in both the northbound and southbound lanes.

One four-wheeled ATV rode along Park Drive east and entered the Van Wyck northbound via the exit ramp and continued to drive south against the flow of traffic. As traffic slowed to avoid striking the ATV, which caused a blue Yamaha four-wheeler to stop, officers were able to apprehend the motorcyclist without further incident.

Officers also observed another large group of motorcyclists riding recklessly heading southbound on the Van Wyck and slowed traffic down in an effort to stop the riders. The motorcyclists lifted the bikes over the median and fled the location heading north on the Van Wyck., leaving behind a black Yamaha ATV, an orange Yamaha ATV and a blue Yamaha dirt bike. While traffic was stopped, one of the riders attempted to ride a red Honda motor-

cycle southbound past the stopped vehicles and was apprehended at the scene without incident.

Police arrested Omid Bedi, 30, of Flushing and charged him with reckless endangerment, criminal nuisance, reckless driving, unregistered motorcycle and improper license violation.

Police also arrested Equilla Ross, 39, of Mount Vernon and charged him with two counts of criminal nuisance.

109th Precinct

Assault

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance with the whereabouts of Robert Sasso, wanted in connection with an assault within the confines of the 109th Precinct.

According to a police report, at approximately 2 a.m. on Aug. 29, a 39-year-old male was with Robert

Sasso on the shore line, near 141-36 Boulevard St. A dispute between the two ensued when the suspect shot the victim four times about the body and then fled the location in a white Ford Fusion. The victim was transported to New York Hospital Queens

by EMS in critical condition.

The suspect is described as a white male, 33, 5-foot-9 and 180 lbs. with tattoos on his face, neck and arms.

On his face, under his right eye, is the tattoo “SMM.” Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-tips, visit www. nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Got info?

Call Crimestoppers at

1-800-577-tiPS (8477) or text tips to CRiMES (274637) then enter TIPS577

Borough Beat

State Races Set For tuesday Primary Senate District 14 MAlcolM SMIth Incumbent State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) has been in the State Senate since 2000 and was the first African American to be selected as Majority Leader of the Senate in 2009. Smith has secured funding for a health clinic in Hollis, a toxic waste cleanup project in Jamaica and a three-bill package to combat child sexual abuse.

He has also helped launch a series of forums for the prevention of foreclosure. He created and chaired the TriLevel Legislative Task Force to curb gun violence in the wake of the Sean Bell shooting.

Platform Campaign finance; DREAM Act; Fair wages; Education funding Key Endorsements Rev. Floyd Flake; Rev. Phil Craig; DC 37; Local 371 lERoy coMRIE Former City Councilman Leroy Comrie served on the Council for 12

years before a short stint as Deputy Borough President. He was the chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee and the Land Use Committee on the Council and served as Majority Whip.

He worked to pass City budgets without property tax increases, eliminating sales tax on clothing under $110, installing security cameras in high crime areas and securing funding to improve, construct and expand schools in Southeast Queens.

Platform Economic development; Green jobs; Voter rights; Against hydrofracking; Address climate change Key Endorsements Queens Democratic Party; Working Families Party; 32BJ SEIU; 1199 SEIU; Public Employees Federation; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 MunIR AvERy Attorney Munir Avery was the legislative attorney for Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) and former Assistant District Attorney in the Borough. He is also a former

Community Board 8 member, former member of the Queens DA’s Star Track program and a former member of the 107th Precinct’s Auxillary Police.

Platform Education funding; Job creation; Senior services; Fair wages; Small business incentives Endorsements Alliance of South Asian American Labor; Muslim Democratic Club of NY; UNITE HERE! Local 100

Senate District 10 Senate District 10 JAMES SAndERS Incumbant State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) broke into politics in 2001 when he became a Councilman for District 31. He held that seat through 2012 when he ran to replace former State Sen. Shirley Huntley after her seat was vacated due to her criminal charges and imprisonment. Sanders is running his first re-election campaign as State

Senator and he will also be on the Working Families Party ticket.

GIAn JonES Real estate professional Gian Jones has worked on U.S Rep Gregory Meeks’ (D-Jamaica) City Council, State Assembly and U.S Rep. campaigns and served as community liaison during Meeks’ first term in the Assembly. He is currently a member of the Council of Urban Professionals.

Platform Improved transportation; Job creation; Reducing recidivism EvERly BRown Coming off his attempt to win the Borough President race last year, real estate developer Everly Brown has set his sights on Sanders’ State Senate seat. He has previously run for the City Council, the State Assembly and the State Senate.

Platform Workplace bullying

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

pix Scholarship Winners State Senator Malcolm A. Smith (D-Hollis) presented scholarship checks in the amount of $250 each to two deserving students in his district - Brittney Ross and Elisha Saukhra.

Brittney Ross is seen with the Rev. Phil Craig of the Greater Springfield Gardens Community Church and Patricia Washington-Ross.

Brittney was awarded her GED in April 2014 and will be attending Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York.

Angel Saukhra, above accepted the check on behalf of her sister, Elisha, and is seen with Pastor Lal Singh of Holy Family Assembly Church.

Elisha will be attending Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.

Track & Field Champions

Queens kids compete in the City Parks Foundation’s annual Track & Field Championships at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. More than 2,000 kids throughout the City competed in the games.

Photo by Bruce Adler

Return Service During the opening round of the U.S. Open, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard defeated Olga Govortsova in two straight sets. Bouchard made it to the fourth round of the tournament, before losing to Ekaterina Makarova.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

A&E

Kupferberg Center Set For The Fall

BY JOE MARVILLI With the start of the new semester at Queens College, the new season of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts is just around the corner.

The cultural campus, made up of LeFrak Concert Hall, the Colden Auditorium and the Goldstein Theater, will host six different performers over the course of the next three months. These acts range in every factor except for one. They will all offer a top-of-the-line experience for attendees.

All the following shows take place at Colden Auditorium.

The fall season will kick off with one of the bestknown singer/songwriters of the 2000s. Jason Mraz will play at Queens College as part of his five-borough tour, in support of his new album,

“Yes!” Expect to hear tunes from that record, along with some of his famous hits, like “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” and “I’m Yours.” For this album and tour, Mraz worked with his friends, the rock-folk band Raining Jane.

You can see them on Sept.

19, with tickets ranging between $25 and $75.

One month later, on Oct. 26, pop and jazz singer Johnny Mathis will bring his vocal chops to Colden.

Dubbed “the world’s most romantic singer,” Mathis will sing standards like “Chances Are,” “It’s Not For Me To Say” and “Misty.” With songs from every genre, such as jazz, traditional pop, Brazilian music, Spanish music, soul, R&B, Broadway theatre and Tin Pan Alley, Mathis offers an evening of variety that is hard to match. Tickets

Johnny Mathis (left) and Gladys Knight (right) are a couple of the performers that will grace the stage of Colden Auditorium at Queens College this autumn.

range from $35 to $115.

On Nov. 1 and 2, “Leonard Bernstein’s Mass: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers” will take place. Known as one of the composer’s most controversial works, “Mass” uses the

Restaurant Review

Taste Of A Fairy Tale SALuTE 63-61 108th St., Forest Hills (718) 275-6860 Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Cuisine: Russian/uzbek Delivery/takeout: Yes Alcohol: Full bar Any experienced traveler is familiar with the simple fact – if you like to try authentic food in a new country, you have to find the place where local people eat. This is still true if we are talking about our melting pot of Queens.

In other words, when I decided to have a taste of real Central Asian food, I lay aside the idea of wellknown fancy restaurants and went to most recommended by my local friends: a small Bukharin kosher restaurant called Salute.

I don’t know what Aladdin and Genie had for dinner, but when I smelled the

combination of flavors searing off the dishes brought in by my smiling waiter, I realized – the fairy tale had begun.

At first look, tomato, onion and eggplant are all very usual and simple vegetables.

Salad Achik-Chuk (thin sliced tomatoes and red onion) and Ochor (marinated mini-eggplant) made me think otherwise. I ordered Shurpa – lamb soup with carrot and peas - and looked forward to the coming Samsa (pirozhki with chopped lamb) and Shish-Kebab prepared on charcoal.

I can talk about shish-kebab over and over again. At Salute, I found 18 kinds: specially-marinated lamb, veal, chicken and fish. I couldn’t

try all of it, but those I had, without exaggeration, melted in my mouth.

And then came the Pilav! Pilav is the real king of Central Asian cuisine. Pilav is more than simply food – it contains a significant ritual, art and even philosophy. Each region and even small village has their own secret recipe.

Salute is the restaurant where you can became familiar with these cooked and seasoned wisdoms of Central Asia, and to experience food prepared to create a culinary fairytale for us. If you are consider yourself a specialist of Asian cuisine or you’ve just decided to discover new tastes and flavors, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised after visiting Salute.

Oh, and don’t forget to order fresh national bread – it would take the whole article to describe the way it had been baked on the wall of special oven – Tandir.

- Vladimir Grjonko

Roman Catholic Church’s Sunday ceremony to investigate faith and doubt in the social upheaval of the late 1960s/early 1970s. You can buy tickets for $15 to $25.

A few days later, the college will host the “Empress of Soul,” Gladys Knight.

The seven–time Grammy winner has had hits in pop, gospel, R&B and adult con-

temporary. Take advantage of this opportunity on Nov. 7 to enjoy hits like “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” “Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me,” “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “That’s What Friends are For.” Tickets cost anywhere from $35 to $109.

Take in some classic music on Nov. 15 when the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra brings its renowned performance to Queens. It is led by celebrated conductor Pavel Kogan and features violin soloist Nadja SalernoSonnenberg. Tickets range from $25 to $45.

Get yourself in the mood for the holidays on Dec. 7 with the Vienna Boys Choir.

To learn more about these shows and to buy tickets, visit http://kupferbergcenter. org or call the box office at (718) 793-8080.

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

Astoria Restaurant week Starts Sept. 19

BY JACKIE STRAwBRIDGE Think of it as a “foodie celebration.”

This is how David Paxton, co-founder of Eats In NY, described the restaurant week coming to Astoria from Sept.

19 to 28. Called “Eats In Astoria,” the event is presented by the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Eats in NY in association with Triangulum Servics.

The goal, according to Paxton, is to showcase and celebrate the multicultural cuisines and star chefs available in Astoria. Participating restaurants include Arepas Grill, the Sparrow Tavern, De Mole and the Thirsty Koala.

“We’re excited about bringing culinary recognition to Astoria where it belongs,” Paxton said. “We’re reaching into primarily Manhattan because a lot of people go to Manhattan to eat and they don’t realize what’s in Astoria.”

According to Paxton, res-

taurants were chosen with the help of Heather Dollard of All The Tastes of New York food crawls, and were picked based on both quality and name recognition within the neighborhood, as well as to highlight the neighborhood’s diversity.

Katherine Fuchs, native Astorian and co-owner and chef at the Thirsty Koala, said, “I think that it’s a very exciting time for us in the industry.

We’ve got some great restaurants and I think it’s really fun to be able to showcase the variety of businesses that are available in this community.”

The restaurant week kicks off with a launch party featuring tastings and live music on Sept. 16 at Astoria Bank on 30th Avenue. Interested diners and vendors should visit www.eatinastoria.com.

Reach Reporter Jackie Strawbridge at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, jstrawbridge@queenstribune.com or @JNStrawbridge.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Queens today

THURsday 9/4 ORATORIO GOLF OUTInG

The Oratorio Society of Queens, a community-based chorus, will hold its first golf outing at Clearview Park Golf Course at noon.

Support the ensemble by taking part in a putting contest, a round of golf and/ or dinner. Call or email Joe Conforti at (718) 279-3006 or golf@queensoratorio. org for more information.

Tickets can be bought at www.queensoratorio.org/ golf.php.

LO QUATTRO VOLTE

The LOT LIC Music & Film Series brings Michelangelo Frammartino’s “Lo Quattro Volte” to 43-29 Crescent St. in Long Island City. Music, food and drinks lead up to the film screening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a free, all-ages event. For more information, visit thelotlic. com.

FRIday 9/5

by the Max Fleischer Studio, including Koko the Clown, Betty Boop and Popeye, which will be represented in the program. Admission is $5, with popcorn included. In the event of rain, the program moves indoors.

Five Boroughs Music Festival is coming to Flushing Town Hall for a special celebration at 8 p.m., in honor of the 200th birthday of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Caitlin Lynch, Leah Wool, Michael Slattery and Sidney Outlaw will join pianist Spencer Myer and track the progression of American song over the last two centuries. Tickets are $25. Call (718) 463-7700 to learn more.

saTURday 9/6

CLASSIC CARTOOnS nIGhT

A family-friendly program consisting of several early animated cartoon films produced in the 1920s-1930s, will be shown during the evening in the garden of the Voelker Orth Museum. The evening highlights films produced

saTURday 9/6

ASTORIA MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL Head to Astoria Park between noon and 10 p.m. for a day of music. More than a dozen bands, including Lancaster County Prison, Bad Buka, Jeanne Marie Boes, Beecher’s Fault and Jump For The Sails, will be spread out over five stages for the festival.

Visit www.astoriamusicandarts.org for more information.

TREAT And TEA

Join the Queens Botanical Garden for an afternoon featuring tea demonstrations, moon cakes for sale, storytelling, children’s crafts and a teabag making workshop (additional fee applies; supplies limited). The event runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free with garden admission. Call (718) 886-3800 to learn more.

WARM Up WRAp Up

It’s your last chance to enjoy MoMA PS1’s outdoor experimental music series. Saturday marks the last concert, with performances by Evian Christ, Lone, Sophie and Forest Swords, all hailing from the UK. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 day-of. For more information, visit momaps1.org/calendar.

months and older and will be held in the museum’s Maker Space from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is an $8 materials fee. For more information, visit nysci.org/little-makers or call (718) 699-0005.

9/11 MEMORIAL COnCERT At 1 p.m., a concert in remembrance of the Sept.

11 terrorist attacks will take place at The Poppenhusen Institute. The program includes words of hope and renewal by local clergy, other community leaders and Sister Ave Clark, as well as a performance by Tarumi Violinists. To learn more, call (718) 358-0067.

COMMUnITy dAy AT ThE nOGUChI MUSEUM

Jesse Jams Sing Along will host two shows on the same day at the Forest Park Carousel. Attendees will get to jam along to her varied mix of children’s music, popular music and original songs. It is sure to get the crowd dancing. The first show is a 2 p.m. and the second follows at 4 p.m.

The Noguchi Museum invites friends and neighbors for free admission and a variety of programs this Sunday. “Open Studio” art making will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A free public tour begins at 2 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., a special “Center of Attention” conversation focusing on a single work of art will take place. For more information, call (718) 204-7088.

sUnday 9/7

SWEET AFTOn MInI MARkET

SInG ALOnG A BAnnER BICEnTEnnIAL

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

BLOCk pRInTInG

Carve groovy designs into foam blocks and use colorful ink to create a one-of-a-kind print at the New York Hall of Science.

This workshop is recommended for children ages 18

Neighborhood bar Sweet Afton is hosting a fall market with local artists and vendors Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Full list of vendors TBA. For more information, call (718) 7772570.

FOOTBALL kICkOFF AT kATCh

Katch Astoria is as excited as you are for the start of NFL season. To celebrate, they’re throwing a kickoff party for Broncos vs.

Colts during the first Sunday Night Football contest, featuring a chicken and beer deal that will run throughout the season. For more information, call (718) 777-2230.

ground is located at Myrtle Avenue and 80th Street in Glendale. For more information, please email Harold Mecabe atharoldmecacbe@ msn.com or Dori Capace at capaced@aol.com.

hEALTh FAIR

Wyckoff Hospital will host a health fair at Rosemary’s Playground in Ridgewood. There will be free school supplies handed out as well as music, food, and arts and crafts. The fair will begin at noon and finish at 4 p.m. The playground is located at 752 Fairview Ave.

monday 9/8

MOndAy nIGhT FOOTBALL FAShIOn ShOW

Join the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District for a Back-toSchool Fashion Show, starting at 4 p.m. at the Rufus King Park gazebo, near 153rd St. It will promote Downtown Jamaica fashions, styles and urban wear.

Cookies Department Store, The GAP Outlet, Old Navy, Claire’s and K&G are the sponsoring and participating retailers. CH Martin also donated free back to school supplies and there will be live dance performances by Alicia Hutchinson Dancers and music by DJ Mastermind. For more information, call (718) 526-2422 x.

100 or email info@jamaicacenter.org.

9/11 CEREMOny

A 9/11 ceremony will be held at Dry Harbor Playground in Glendale to remember and honor the 42 residents of Glendale, Middle Village, Ridgewood and Woodhaven who lost their lives during the World Trade Center attack. The ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. Dry Harbor Play-

Resorts World Casino will host its first Monday Night Football event starting at 7 p.m. ESPN’s Bill Daughtry will host the festivities. There will be two games to kick off the MNF season, including the New York Giants facing the Detroit Lions at 7:30 p.m.

Come watch the games at Resorts World giant TV screen at Bar 360. The Casino is located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. in South Ozone Park.

TUEsday 9/9

“pATCh AdAMS”

The Bellerose Library is paying tribute to comedian and actor Robin Williams throughout September, with free screenings of his films.

At 3 p.m., it will air “Patch Adams,” a semi-biographical comedy-drama film about the live story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams. Bellerose Library is located at 250-06 Hillside Ave.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

Profile

Christopher Erikson Leads Labor Day Parade

BY JOE MARVILLI A Queens union leader has been selected as the Grand Marshal for next week’s Labor Day Parade.

Christopher Erikson, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 3, was picked to lead the City’s working men and women up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Sept.

6. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Fifth Avenue and 44th Street, working its way up to 64th Street.

Erikson said he was thrilled to be chosen as the parade’s Grand Marshal, expressing gratitude that his union received recognition with this distinction.

“It’s quite an honor. I am a fourthgeneration member of Local Union No. 3. My grandfather was president of the council, as was his son,” he said. “Local 3 has a great history in the labor movement in New York City.”

Erikson has been a member of Local Union No. 3 for nearly 40 years, moving from an apprenticeship to become an electrician, a foreman and then a business representative.

Starting in 1989, Erikson negotiated more than 150 collective bargaining

agreements. In 2006, the unions for what’s the union board sebeen happening. lected him to fill in the Our adversaries have unexpired term of the been very effective last business manager, in demonizing the who retired. Erikson union movement for has held the position much of the trouble ever since. we’ve been having in For Erikson, Labor America today.”

Day is a time to look Erikson added closely at the labor that he was honored movement and how to have U.S. Sen. it is affected by the Tom Harkin (D-Iogovernment and big wa) march alongside business. He said that them as he is a strong this year’s parade is a advocate for unionchance to get people to ized labor. Since Christopher Erikson pay attention to workHarkin is retiring ers’ rights, which are under attack this year, the parade is a chance to like never before. recognize all he has done on behalf “A lot of people think of Labor of working men and women. Julie Day as a day off, a barbecue with Kushner, director of United Autothe family. That’s always great, but mobile Workers, Region 9A, will this Labor Day parade is an oppor- also march this weekend as the Patunity. The middle-class lifestyle the rade Chair. labor movement has brought for Another change in this year’s paso many men and women is at risk rade that Erikson is excited about is today like it never was before,” he the addition of workers from nonsaid. “We look forward to sending traditional employments, who will a message, to encourage others to march alongside the unions. Car vote in their economic interest and wash workers, costume workers and to pay attention to what’s happen- fast food employees will join in the ing in this country and to not blame parade as part of their push for im-

proved rights. Erikson said Local Union No. 3 is looking forward to doing what it can to help these new marchers.

“Our mantra has always been to help the less fortunate. We continue the hard work,” he said. “Eternal vigilance is the price of good unionism.

The only purpose of the union is to serve the membership.”

Local Union No. 3 is closely tied to Queens and its surroundings, as its headquarters is in Flushing on Parsons Boulevard. Erikson added that the union’s organization and success helped the budding Westchester community to thrive after World War II. Today, the union remains just as active, understanding the importance of voting in local City and State elections.

“We are at a turning point where labor is coming back from a long, long steep decline. People are recognizing that the forces against us are well-prepared,” Erikson said. “The only thing between us and them is organized labor and we’re not going to let them down. We’re not going away and we’re going to make that message clear on Sept. 6.”

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

People Shadane Franklin of Jamaica and Kollyns Scarbrough of Queens Village will attend Siena College in Loudonville for the fall 2014 semester as members of the Class of 2018.

Sherice Gayle of St. Albans and Stephan Gbaguidi of Springfield Gardens have transferred to SUNY Oneonta for the fall 2014 semester.

Local students have enrolled at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. for the fall 2014 semester as members of the Class of 2018. They include: Laurelton: Ashley Omoma.

Richmond Hill: Samuel Minick.

Rockaway Park: Kevin Kenna.

Claribel Paulino of South Richmond Hill will attend SUNY Potsdam for the fall 2014 semester.

Yuan Yue of Jamaica received an MBA degree in fashion management and entrepreneurship and Keri-Ann Hutchinson of Jamaica received an

MPS degree in fashion merchandising and retail management from LIM college in Manhattan.

Come sing with the Lady Queen of Martyrs Choir. The group is looking for new singers in any voice category who is interested in a highlevel worship and a fabulous choral experience. In addition to the Sunday Masses and the major festivals and holidays, the group also presents an annual Christmas Concert with full orchestra and professional soloists.

For information, call David Close, director of music, at (718) 279-2939 or email davidwclose@gmail.com.

The Howard Beach Senior Center offers the following exercise classes: Tai Chi with Elaine Fleischman, Mondays at 9:30 a.m.

Learn to Tap Dance with Lois, Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.

Calypso-Cardio by ShapeUp NYC, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15 a.m.

Project Staywell exercises with Irma Mains, Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.

Stretching, Balancing & Aerobics with Elissa Garcia, Fridays at 1:15 p.m.

Yoga with Charlie Roemer, Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

The Howard Beach Senior Center is located at 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach.

Local students received degrees during spring 2014 commencement ceremonies at Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. They include: Jamaica: Khan Shoieb, political science; Azza Bakkar, psychology; Danielle Dunkley, Spanish.

Air Force Airman Fernando A. Benavides graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San AntonioLackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies,

Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Benavides is the son of Angie and Fernando A. Benavides of Bay Shore, and grandson of Al Fuentes of Far Rockaway.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women will hold registration for classes the week of Sept. 8. Classes are held Mondays through Fridays at the center, 87-04 88th Ave., Woodhaven. Registration will take place Sept. 8-9 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and classes begin on Sept. 11. Cost is $30 per class. For information, call (718) 738-0588 or email ssndec@aol.com.

Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, etc., to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

Faith

richmond Hill Church Turns 100 This Month

By Luis Gronda A Richmond Hill church will turn a century old later this month.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 129th Street and 102nd Avenue, plans to celebrate its 100th birthday by hosting a Sunday service similar to those performed in the early 1900s, as well as another service one week later featuring relatives of bishops that have been a part of the church.

Pastor David Gerber, who has been head of the church since 1980, said the milestone is an important moment for the church, because it will give them a chance to remember its mission that has been the same since day one: helping the community it is based in.

“St. Paul’s ministry in Queens has long been interwoven into this community,” he said. “From the beginning, this church has served this neighborhood and those who have

come to make Richmond Hill their home. Our ministry has always been to present the grace and love of Jesus to those who are in our community.”

Since its inception, only three pastors have led the church, the Rev. Carl Toebke from 1916 to 1954, the Rev. Robert Arnold from 1954 to 1977 The photo above shows how st. Paul’s Church looked like in 1914. (right): a picture of how and Gerber.

The birthday celebra- the church looks today. tion will largely focus on the facility’s history.

The following Sunday, Sept. 28, On Sept. 21, there will be a histori- will be its main celebration. It will cal reenactment of a service similar host a service in a canvas and woodto what it was like back in 1924. It en structure that the church first will be based on the Service of Dedi- called home. The Rev. Robert Alan cation, which was used during that Rimbo, Bishop of the Metropolitan year.

New York Synod of the Evangelical Gerber said the church will en- Lutheran Church, will make a specourage its parishioners to dress like cial appearance at that ceremony. they would have in that year, if they Gerber said that the church has plan on attending the ceremony. about 150 members that visit it every

week and they hope to attract more parishioners as part of the celebration.

The Sept. 21 ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the Sept. 28 event will start at 3:30 p.m.

For more information about the ceremonies or about the church in general, call (718) 849-5681.

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

Notebook York College

york initiative Builds skills Through s.T.E.M. robotics

By Jordan GiBBons The York College Male Initiative partnered with One Hundred Black Men of Queens to host a S.T.E.M. Initiative-Robotics program to teach college, high school and middle school level students how to build and program robots.

Shazif Shaikh, a rising senior at Stuyvesant High School, was the instructor during the program’s summer session, which featured high school and middle school students from Southeast and Eastern Queens.

Shaikh has been involved with competitive robotics for seven years, including being a referee. He was the first student who was chosen to be an instructor.

“They came in not wanting to do electrical engineering,” Shaikh said.

“But at the end they said, ‘I want to go into electrical engineering, mechanical engineering.’”

Students were separated into two teams that competed verbally and eventually with the robots themselves.

Jonathan Quash, director of the

Male Initiative, started the program through state and federal funding that provided the space and materials.

One Hundred Black Men gave them T-shirts to help the group get a sense of identity with the program, the Robotics 100.

“The overall plan was really to introduce the S.T.E.M. discipline of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to high school, juniors and seniors,” Steven Board, executive director of One Hundred Black Men, said. “It’s also about exposure within this community to the S.T.E.M. discipline and that’s where the sixth graders come into play and introducing to them; hopefully this is something they will find to be fun and gravitate to engineering, architecture or mathematics.”

Quash said they reach out to local high schools, such as the Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, to get students involved with the program.

There are 25 seats for each session, but a growing interest in the program has caused around 45 students to apply recently. Quash said that word of

mouth among the participants has helped get more students involved.

“They get excited about it and tell their friends,” he said. “They market it themselves.”

This is a free program, because they wanted to break down as many barriers to allow more kids to have an opportunity to enter the program, Board said.

The summer program was from 9 a.m. to noon, but Shaikh said that some dedicated students were showing up at 8 a.m. when he was getting in to prepare for the day.

“Some even earlier than me,” Shaikh said. “That was fantastic.”

Jaivar Anderson, a sophomore at York, immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica and will be participating in the program during the fall semester.

“Opportunities like this never really came up much, to be honest,” he said. “You open your eyes, and say this is an opportunity I want to take up and I could get a great experience out of it.”

Anderson said he is looking into electrical engineering and computer science, so he expects the program

to be a great step for him since it is a combination of both.

Adrian Chamorro, who is also a sophomore at York, had two years of experience with robotics when he was in high school.

“I remember how much fun I had as a junior and a senior and seeing how they’re bringing the program to more kids and integrating it with college,” he said. “I’m just happy to be able to share something that I really enjoyed and then to be able to bring it back to them.”

Quash said the students can build whatever they can think of and kids with different skills can focus on what they are good at such as programming, building and managing.

“They can build as far as their imagination can take them,” Shaikh said.

The summer program lasts for five weeks and the fall session lasts through the entire school year. To sign up for the program visit www. york.cuny.edu.

Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123, jgibbons@ queenspress.com or @jgibbons2.

Page 20 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

What’s Up Sept. 5 Senior Appreciation State Sen. Malcolm Smith is kicking off the 12th Annual Senior Appreciation Month with a breakfast at the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in Jamaica on Friday at 10 a.m. The month long festivities recognize the accomplishments of seniors. A kickoff press conference will be held at the start of the breakfast. Luncheons, movie screenings, comedy shows and a bus tour are some of the numerous activities planned from Sept. 9 to 24.

Roy Wilkins Park Recreation Center is located at 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica.

Sept. 6 Fashion Show Jamaica Center Business Improvement District is hosting a fashion event that will take place on Saturday and it will be held at the Rufus King Park gazebo near 153rd Street. It will promote Downtown Jamaica fashions, styles and urban wear. Cookies Department Store, The GAP Outlet, Old Navy, Claire’s and K&G are the sponsoring and participating retailers. CH Martin also donated free back to school supplies and there will be live dance performances by

Alicia Hutchinson Dancers and music by DJ Mastermind. The event is from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more information, call (718) 526-2422 x. 100 or email info@jamaicacenter.org.

Clergy Breakfast The Rev. Phil Craig and Greater Springfield Community Church is hosting its first Change of Plans clergy only breakfast on Satuday at 8:30 a.m. All clergy in the Queens area are invited to a morning packed with information, inspiration and revelation. This is an RSVP only event with limited space. Keynote speakers for the event are the Rev. Floyd Flake and State Sen. Malcolm Smith.

Greater Springfield is located at 17706 129th Ave., Jamaica.

For more information or to RSVP, call Lydia Turley at (347) 698-1698 or Patricia Ross at (347) 856-9111.

Sept. 7 Annual Sickle Cell 5K The Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network, Inc. invites all to attend the QSCAN Annual Sickle Cell 5K Run/ Walk-A-Thon on Sunday. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the Walk begins at 10 a.m. at 160th Street be-

tween Liberty and Archer Avenues (near the last stop of the ‘E’ train, Jamaica Center and York College) and ends at Roy Wilkins Park. Registration will be $25 on the day of the event. Early Registration is available for $20 online at http://www. eventbrite.com/e/qscan-annual-sickle-cell-5k-runwalk-a-thon-2014-tickets11386311765. For more information and Team Leader Packets, call (718) 712-0873 or email sicklecellwalk@ verizon.net.

Sept. 8 Senior Luncheon State Sen. Malcolm Smith is holding his annual senior luncheon on Sept. 8 at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Center in St. Albans. Those interested in attending must make a reservation by calling the Senator’s District Office at (718) 454-0162.

Robert Ross Johnson Family Center is located at 172-17 Linden Blvd.

Sept. 12 Classical Concert The New York Classical Quartet is having a concert at the King Manor Museum next Friday, featuring violinsits Judson Griffin and Margaret Ziemnicka, violist Chiu-Chen Liu

and cellist David Bakamjian. Their mission is to share the riches of the string quartets of Joseph Haydn, the first master of the form in the 18th century, a giant of Western culture, a musical Shakespeare, the Michelangelo of his era and art. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information or for reservations, visit kingmanor.org/events/concert. php, email programs@kingmanor. org or call (718) 206-0545 x13. King Manor is located at 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica.

ONgOiNg Farmers’ Market The Jamaica Farmers’ Market opened on June 20 and will run every Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 20. The market is held on 160th Street just outside the entrance of the Jamaica Market between Jamaica Avenue and 90th Street. Free one hour parking is provided for Farmers Market customers only.

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.

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One Billion Dollars, Please Donald Trump, business magnate and multimedia personality, is the focus of a billion dollar lawsuit in what is only the most recent in a string of high stakes suits brought by the little-known but quickly infamous real estate salesman Jody Kriss. Kriss, a collaborator in the $450 million Trump Soho project in 2009, is currently involved in at least five such expensive legal battles.

It should be mentioned that Kriss also promptly sued Trump for $100 million before upping the stakes to a billion in this latest attempt.

Trump, a Queens native, is obviously no stranger to tabloids or ridiculous public behavior (“The Apprentice” television show alone...), but this romantic-sounding ploy of "a billion dollars" might be a notch beyond that. The case falls in with a series of other

Musicians OF QuEEns

The Green Gallows

QConf is edited by:

less-than-legitimate suits, including a $20 million libel suit against a New York City blogger and a shill lawsuit in which Jody Kriss used dead Holocaust survivors as plaintiffs in his place.

While our justice system is a mess, and the real estate market perhaps more so, this story sounds like fiction; but this is the reality of our world.

So who knows? Maybe one day someone will sue you for a billion dollars!

Executive Scapegoat Watching the Mets the last few years has been difficult for fans, which has resulted in poor ticket sales and their senior vice president of ticket sales and services paid the price.

Leigh Castergine, who had been with the organization since 2010, was let go by the team during Labor Day weekend and no replacement has been announced yet.

The Mets sold fewer tickets than all but two other clubs in the National League, averaging 26,631 per home game. Only Arizona and Miami had worse sales, but in much smaller markets.

In New York City, fans show up for winning teams and the

Q

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Sept. 5-11, 2014

Mets have not been in that category for too many seasons.

Here at QConf, though,we feel that placing the blame on the sales staff is a bit unfair.

No matter how good of a deal the Mets offer for a ticket, nobody wants to show up to the stadium and watch their team lose time after time.

Unfortunately for Castergine, she took the heat for the front office, which continues to fail at putting a competitive team on the field.

We can only hope that if the team struggles next year, the pink slips will get handed to the folks who control the quality of the product on the field that the sales staff is responsible for selling.

Driving For Jesus

We love seeing vanity plates here at QConf, and here's another license plate a QConf reporter came across travelling westbound recently. We're not sure if the person driving the car was a gospel singer or if the driver was another kind of "Diva" - but we hope that the driver refrained from typical acts of frustration on the Grand Central at rush hour...

Have you seen a great vanity plate around Queens? Take a pic and send it in to editor@queenstribune.com.

Steven J. Ferrari

Contributors: Bruce Adler, Jordan Gibbons, Vladimir Grjonko, Luis Gronda, Walter Karling, Joe Marvilli, Marcia Moxom Comrie, Michael Nussbaum, Michael Schenkler, Jackie Strawbridge.

Follow us on Twitter: @QueensTrib @SEQueensPress Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ QueensTrib facebook.com/ QueensPress

Playground Cleanliness

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder wants to clean up the streets – of the playground.

Goldfeder wants Toys 'R' Us to ban a new toy called Kidffiti, which he believes has the power to turn a generation of would-be Da Vincis towards a life of crime.

The toy packages stencils and spray chalk cans, designed to look like a tagger’s spray paint, to kids who want to channel their inner street artist. Stencils include the roughest and the baddest that a six-year-old could imagine – a racecar, a fire breathing dragon and a masked wrestler, for example.

Goldfeder penned a letter to Toys 'R' Us asking them to remove the product, and has said he will also be working with Consumer Affairs.

He said he believes the toy is a gateway to graffiti, which then “oftentimes leads to drug abuse and drug sales,” as he told the Daily News.

If that’s the case, we here at QConf ask, why stop at stencils? A whole litany of kids toys could create delinquents. Hot Wheels could lead to drag racing. Action figures could lead to street fighting. And don’t even go near the paste aisle.

“Americana-SouthernGothic-Folk-Rock.”

That is how guitarist and vocalist Erv Detroit, AKA Adam Steiner, described The Green Gallows, an Astoria band that first came together a few years ago. Percussionist and vocalist Bobby Lou, also known as Cara Cooley, and Detroit are engaged and have been friends with multi-instrumentalist Rivers Jackson (Sean Ryan Donnelly) for years.

They started jamming and playing a few open mics, settling on The Green Gallows as their name in August 2013. That is when they got serious.

“We started with a good amount of material Adam had written over many years and started adding vocal harmonies and instruments,” they said. “We met Blake [Adam Smith, who plays harmonica and sings] at a place in Brooklyn in November and the rest is history.”

When you listen to numbers by The Green Gallows, like “Dead Emily” or “Hummingbird,” the lyrics and vocal harmonies grab you tightly and don’t let go. Each song takes you on a journey, with the band’s voices guiding you along.

Many of the songs came from Detroit’s six years of traveling all over the country and the world. “Dead Emily” is inspired a woman in London that was murdered.

“Onie Wheeler” is based on an old folk singer that happened to die the day Detroit was born.

“We really want people to go on our journey. We want people to connect to our music through these stories,” Detroit said. “The harmonies are a way of us to really amp

up the passion and feel of a song. It gives us opportunity to give our music a climactic moment.”

The Green Gallows use their passionate singing and performance backgrounds to get the strength of their songs across to an audience when playing live. Of course, it helps significantly that the band has the backing of the Astoria community.

“Astoria is more than where we live,” Detroit said.

“The opportunities we have been giving through this neighborhood have been endless. We've performed at about every bar in town and the local support has been amazing.”

The studio is a different scenario entirely though. They bring a professional, pieceby-piece attitude when they record a song, making sure that all the individual musical pieces fit together, throwing in sounds that make the track stand out to the listener.

“Recorded music is always a much bigger beast to conquer. You can't rely on the live entertainment aspect of a live show. Songs need to read on a much more intellectual level,” Detroit said. “As stupid as it sounds, we wish we could just play our music into a microphone and press record.

Each song takes 10 hours to record. It's a slow process.

But hey, mastery knows no shortcut.”

The Green Gallows will spend September writing new material, before heading out on the road with Meghann Wright in November, for a 30-plus city tour. Before they leave though, you can catch them at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Sept. 27. To keep up with the band’s latest moves, visit www.thegreengallows.com.

Sept. 5-11, 2014 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NE W YORK COUNT Y OF QUEENS Index No. 22641/2013 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Plaintiff designates Queens Count y as the place of trial. Venue is based uponthe County in which the Mortgage premises is situated. RECEIVED 7/18/2014 COUNTY CLERK QUEENS COUNTY Capital One, N.A. –against- Charis Sachtouris, if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, m0ligagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributes, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributes and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff, Fleet National Bank, New York City Environmental Control Board, New York City Parking Violations Bureau New York City Transit Adjudication Bureau United State of America-Internal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice

of Appearance on the attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons if not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgement will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $100,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of QUEENS on June 30, 1992 in Book 3346, Page 906, which was consolidated with the mortgage recorded on October 15, 1996, in Book 4443, at Page 1523 in the amount of $38,750.00 by a Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement dated August 20, 1996, recorded October 15, 1996 in Book 4443 at Page 1535, which created a single lien in the amount of $138,750.00, covering premises known as 149-35 12th Avenue, Whitestone, NY 11357. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described

above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the Mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case if pending for further information on how to answer the Summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your Mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: WILLIAMSVILLE, New York JUNE 26, 2014 By: Stephen J. Wallace Esq. Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100 Our File No.: 01-033536-FOO TO: Charis Sachtouris 149-35 12th Avenue, Whitestone, NY 11357 and/or 116 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028 United State of AmericaInternal Revenue Service New York State Department of Taxation and Finance