Press epaper 111513

Volume 14 Issue No. 46 Nov. 15-21, 2013

PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

NATURE NURTURED The City has approved $5.3 million for a new nature center at Idlewild Park, which will be used for educational programs.

By Natalia Kozikowska ‌ Page 3.

Online at www.QueensPress.com

Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

News Briefs Many Donation Options For Typhoon Relief

Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines on Nov. 7, causing the deaths of thousands of people.

Survivors are in desperate need of food, medicine and other resources.

Queens residents can assist in the relief efforts by contributing to one or more of the charity organizations below.

The Afya Foundation of Yonkers afyafoundation.org or call (914) 9205081.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - JDC.org, (212) 687-6200 or by check at JDC, P.O. Box 4124, New York, NY, 10163.

The American Jewish World Service - AJWS.org or by mail at 45 West 36th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY, 10018.

American Red Cross Greater New York Chapter - 520 West 49th Street, New York, NY, 10019.

AmeriCares - Americares.org.

Catholic Relief Services - crs.org, (877) 435-7277 or P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303.

Doctors Without Borders - DoctorsWithoutBorders.org/donate.

Filipino American Human Services, which represents the Filipino community in Queens - www.fahsi. org and by mail at FAHSI, 185-14 Hillside Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432.

The International Rescue Committee - www.rescue.org/donate.

Lutheran World Relief - LWR.org/ donate or mail Lutheran World Relief, P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City - nyc.gov/fund.

Mercy Corps - MercyCorps.org/ typhoon.

The National Alliance For Filipino Concerns - www.nafconusa.org.

The Salvation Army - text TYPHOON TO 80888 to donate $10

through your phone bill.

Team Rubicon - teamrubiconusa. org.

The United Nations Children’s Fund - UNICEF.org/support.

The World Food Programme, a UN organization - www.wfpusa.org.

World Vision - worldvision.org.

Sutphin Boulevard BID Hosts Toy Drive

The Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District will hold its first-ever Annual Toy Drive.

Donate toys and support the Sutphin Boulevard BID’s Annual AdoptA-Family program. Your donation will go to a child in need.

Only brand new toys will be accepted for donation. All toys must be unwrapped and in their original packaging. Donations must be received by Dec. 13.

There are two drop-off locations.

The first is the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, located at 16104 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica. Drop-off hours for JCAL are Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. through 6 p.m.

The second drop-off center will be the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, located at 153-10 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica. Drop-off hours for JPAC are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the toy drive, call the Sutphin BID office at (718) 291-2110.

Brief Us! Mail your news brief items to:

PRESS of Southeast Queens, 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3

Presstime

Housing For Grandparents To Break Ground This Year

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Last week, a report surfaced that a one-of-a-kind housing project intended to help the growing population of grandparents raising their grandchildren in Southeast Queens has been delayed until next summer. But Peter Florey, principal of the managing local development group D&F, denied the claim, saying the project will break ground close to schedule.

The $15.6 million project, which will be built at the intersection of Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and 112th Road in Jamaica, encountered a minor setback while trying to obtain permits from local and State agencies, but the legal issues have been resolved and construction will begin in December.

“I’m not too sure where it [the report] came from, but it’s not true,” Florey said. “We are expecting to close before the year ends and it’s not being delayed. We are hoping to have a ground-breaking before the end of the year and everything is going along very well.”

“As is always the case, there are always little delays that you run into when you put something of this magnitude together,” he added. “We were hoping that it was going to close a little earlier, but it is certainly not being delayed until the summertime.

It’s going forward.”

“It is [a growing trend],” he said. “It’s particularly prevalent in Queens, as well as the rest of the City. We are seeing more and more grandparents with sole custody that are caring for their grandchildren.”

Grandparents and seniors living in neighborhoods encompassed by Queens Community Board 12 will be given first priority in the new low-income housing unit. The remaining units will be awarded through a lottery system.

D&F’s partner, the Cavalry A photo rendering of a new one-of-a-kind housing project intended to help grandparents Baptist Church in Jamaica, helped secure money for the raising their grandchildren. project and has been instrumental in spearheading the The five-story, 53-unit housing proj- Florey said. “This type of housing is complex. The initiative was first ect will provide free, on-site childcare, unique because it offers supporting proposed by a group of senior concounseling and handicap-accessible services to those grandparents and to gregants who believed there needed apartments. Although a majority of their grandchildren that are specifi- to be housing that addressed the the housing complex will be dedicated cally tailored to this group and their City’s changing demographics.

The project will be the first of for grandparents who are caregivers, a needs.”

According to the American Asso- its kind and is being funded by a number of units that will also be set ciation of Retired Persons, nearly 5.8 combination of public and private aside for seniors without kids.

“What’s important about the million children are living in a home sources. The State issued $11 milgrandparents’ residence is that the where grandparents are the house- lion in low-income housing tax credits. Queens Borough President grandparents who are caring for holders.

Florey said he believes that the Helen Marshall has also pledged their grandchildren don’t often fit well into traditional senior housing housing complex will play a vital role $500,000.

Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowsbecause those are all one-bedroom in New York City, where the number ka at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or units and often lack the kinds of of grandparents who take care of care that grandparents will need in their grandchildren has been steadily nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @ nkozikowska. taking care of their grandchildren,” increasing.

New Nature Center For Idlewild Park Approved By City

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Earlier this month, Borough President Helen Marshall announced that the City has approved $4.9 million in capital funds allocated for the construction of a nature center at Idlewild Park. An additional $400,000 was allocated by the offices of Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the project.

The nature center, which will be built in the park near 149th Avenue and Springfield Lane, will be used to conduct educational programs, primarily for students, about the flora and fauna of Idlewild Park’s surrounding habitat.

“The Idlewild Nature Center will be an extraordinary educational resource for children and anyone else who wants to learn about the rich variety of plant and animal life that can be found in Idlewild Park,” Marshall said in a statement. “I am pleased to have been able to allocate $4.9 million

toward construction of the nature center, which will soon be enlightening people about our valuable ecosystem and the need to preserve and protect it for future generations.”

For nine years, the Eastern Queens Alliance has been working tirelessly to bring a nature center to Idlewild Park. EQA president Barbara Brown said the group has already been meeting with the Parks Dept. to collaborate on the design of the building. The group is excited about the educational opportunities the project will bring to the area.

“Idlewild Park preserve is an excellent natural environmental resource and it’s a resource for the community as well as for the City,” Brown said.

“We’ve been pushing for environmental science research – it’s critical for the people of the community and it’s critical for everybody. We have not had that type of resource in Southeast Queens.”

The Idlewild Nature Center will

consist of two classrooms, an outdoor classroom/gathering area, an exhibition space, a reception lobby, offices and accessible bathrooms.

Minor landscape work will also integrate the building into the site ecology.

The new building will feature a surface drainage system being constructed by the Dept. of Environmental Protection, with a goal of being environmentally friendly. Construction is projected to begin in the fall of 2014 and is slated to be completed by fall 2015.

The 160-acre park, designated as a City park in 1956, is a nature preserve that contains freshwater and tidal wetlands, woodland, meadows and a grassland dune-scrub habitat. It contains two meandering tributaries of Hook Creek, which feeds in Jamaica Bay. Much of the marshland around Hook Creek is of high quality and is managed for the protection of its species.

The park’s many unique environ-

mental characteristics, Brown said, make it the perfect area to place a nature center for educational purposes.

“It will be an access point for the people of Southeast Queens, where people can just come in and enjoy nature and get information about the environment in the area,” Brown said. “They will learn about the important functions of wetlands and it will be a wonderful resource for the community.”

Construction of the nature center will cost approximately $5.3 million.

To supplement the difference allocated by Marshall’s office, the Mayor’s office allocated an additional $400,000 to cover the entire cost.

For more information about the project, you may visit EQA’s website at www.easternqueensalliance.org.

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

Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Union Upset With Queens Library Raises

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Queens Library has given some of its nonunion workers raises and promotions, further fueling tensions between the Administration and Local 1321.

In August, the PRESS reported that the Queens Library Administration was replacing its union workers with lower-paid private contractors to clean the Central Branch in Jamaica. Similar practices have since been confirmed at the Flushing Library Branch.

Joanne King, communications director for Queens Library, said the cash-strapped library made the decision to contract out in an effort to make room in the budget for additional resources.

“It [the money saved] is part of the library’s operating budget and is used to provide public service,” King wrote in the August email. “Every dollar is either allocated to books, to staff, to utilities or similar.”

With the news that the Queens Library Administration has given many of its private contract workers promotions and raises retroactive to July 1, 2013, John Hyslop, president of Local 1321, said union workers are becoming increasingly frustrated.

“They claimed they did not have enough money to hire union custodians, however, they have enough money to give raises to their non-union staff retroactive to July 1, 2013,” Hyslop said.

“Morale is at an all time low. We are very stressed out and we feel that when we see raises given to nonunion staff, we see our jobs undermined,” he added.

King did admit the Administration had given many of its nonunion workers raises but noted that the library has staff whose jobs are not part of the collective bargaining agreement.

“Wages for those staff had been substantially frozen for almost five years due to budget shortfalls. Wage freezes did not apply to union staff, who did get raises as was stipulated in the union contract,” she wrote in an email. “Non-union staff also had some of their benefits cut due to the budget shortfalls.”

She also noted that nonunion staffers were only given raises if they merited them.

King, who said the library’s financial predicaments have remained unchanged since the summer, said it was standard practice to contract out custodial work.

“It is expressly permitted in an

agreement between the union and the library, and was agreed to by the union,” she wrote. “We have contracted out some custodial for many years in several locations.”

By contracting out, King said, Queens Library is able to keep its buildings clean and safe.

“It is about having enough people to keep buildings clean and safe, as library customers and staff deserve.

And it is about having the flexibility to deploy custodial staff where they are needed and when they are needed,” she wrote. “One of the reasons we recently created new promotional opportunities for custodians was to give them an upward career path. Something like 30 percent of our custodians will be promoted into the new job classifications, and given higher salaries as a result.”

But Hyslop disagrees and believes that contracting not only impacts the quality of work but also takes away from public service.

“By hiring nonunion staff and giving them raises, it translates into less public service,” he argued. “You have fewer librarians doing programs, you have fewer clerks circulating books, you have fewer custodians keeping the branches clean.”

As a result of the ongoing contrac-

tual dispute, last Friday the union took its firsts steps in bringing the Queens Library Administration to the State Public Employment Relations Board.

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

Raising The Flag

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo helps raise the U.S. flag at the Medisys Health Care building, the former site of the Lalance Grosjean factory on Atlantic Avenue and 91st Street in Ozone Park, on Friday.

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5

Israel, Meng Ask For School Soundproofing

BY JOE MARVILLI Two members of the House of Representatives are calling on the Port Authority to soundproof schools affected by airplane noise.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (DMelville) sent a joint letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s executive director, Patrick Foye, asking the agency to look into soundproofing schools in northeast Queens against airplane noise.

New flight patterns from La-

Guardia Airport have created what is now known as the TNNIS climb.

This path has led to planes regularly flying over Flushing, Bayside, Douglaston and other eastern Queens neighborhoods at low altitudes. That procedure, which has created an almost continuous stream of plane noise, was approved against the community’s wishes.

Multiple efforts to put an end to the TNNIS climb have had no luck so far.

The two elected officials are urging the Port Authority to work with Community District Education

Council 26, which covers northeast Queens, to identify schools impacted by plane noise and to finance the soundproofing.

“The barrage of increased aircraft noise over Queens continues to impact the quality of life in the Borough, but it is imperative that we not let it affect our kids,” said Meng. “Our children should not be forced to attend schools where they need to wear earplugs during class. They deserve to be taught in quiet classrooms that are conducive to learning.”

The Port Authority has already

soundproofed 77 other schools in the New York and New Jersey area due to airplane noise, costing $286 million total.

“We must ensure that our children in Queens are able to learn without constant disruption from airplane noise,” Israel added. “It’s bad enough that the quality of life for many Queens residents is suffering due to new flight patterns; it’s even worse that it’s now affecting our children’s ability to learn.”

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

Mets Open Auditions For Anthem Singers

BY TRIShA SAkhuJA Looking to showcase your voice at Opening Day for the New York Mets in 2014 at Citi Field?

The auditions will take place on Nov. 21, starting at 10 a.m. For Season Ticket holders, auditions will start at 9 a.m.

According to a Mets spokesperson, this is the first time they are holding auditions for the opportunity to sing The National Anthem on such a prestigious day like Opening Day. In the past, it has been multiple

winners for regular season games.

The first hundred performers are guaranteed an audition to sing a song of their choice at Citi Field’s Hodges V.I.P. All participants will have approximately 60 seconds to sing any song of his or her choice, excluding the National Anthem. Prepare to sing without any musical accompaniment, but instrumental performances are allowed.

Judges will select finalists to advance to the final round of auditions, which will take place at Citi Field in

the weeks leading up to the start of the season. During the final round, the finalists will sing the anthem at Citi Field over the sound system.

In general, the judges will be looking for someone with the voice and range to sing a song as difficult as the National Anthem.

Lastly, the Mets staff will select one winner to perform the National Anthem on Opening Day, March 31, when the Mets play the Washington Nationals.

All children auditioning under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a

parent or legal guardian.

Previous singers who have sung on Opening Day include Marc Anthony, Kristin Chenoweth, Wyclef Jean, Billy Joel, *NSYNC and Rihanna, among others.

There is no fee to audition and all participants should arrive at Citi Field’s Hodges VIP entrance.

For futher information on the Anthem Search, visit www.Mets.com/anthemsearch or call (718) 559-3115.

Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@ queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Editorial OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 (voice) (718) 357-7400 fax (718) 357-9417 email news@queenspress.com The PRESS of Southeast Queens Editor-in-Chief:

Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor:

Marcia Moxam Comrie

Think Of The Children Too often, reports come out of a fatal accident involving an out-of-control automobile striking a pedestrian. Even more heartwrenching is when that pedestrian is a child or teenager struck down well before their time.

As is the case with a number of issues, the City is frequently reactive when it comes to combating pedestrian deaths, jumping in to help only after it has become a problem. But when it comes to keeping its citizens safe, there is no excuse for not being proactive, creating more Slow Zones, installing more traffic signs and cameras and finding any possible measure to keep drivers under control.

Families should never have to suffer the loss of someone because of a speeding car or an unattentive driver. With a new administration ready to take office in the coming months, we hope that our officials start to take a proactive stance on the issue, and hopefully in the coming year we can see less senseless death.

Production Manager:

Letters

Shiek Mohamed Queens Today Editor

Regina Vogel Photo Editor: Ira Cohen

Reporters: Natalia Kozikowska Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Trisha Sakhuja

Art Dept:

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

A Queens Tribune Publication © Copyright 2013 Tribco, LLC

Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller

Learn About Hydrofracking

To The Editor: Hydraulic Fracturing (also known as Fracking) is a relatively new process of natural gas drilling and its raising eyebrows on weather its safe for our environment or not, especially the quality of our drinking water.

As we speak, New York is facing a huge debate of wheth-

er or not to allow fracking in the state and it can jeopardize millions of peoples cleaning in the process. Companies like Exxon Mobil are looking to make profit by exploiting these natural resources and taint water supplies. They have also been spending millions on advertisements to influence New Yorkers. Unfortunately, this process is dirtier than they like to admit.

While the product, methane

Letters might burn cleaner than coal saying the technology is clean is a dirty lie. Huge amounts of water, sand and over 750 chemicals are then pumped underground to dissolve, stabilize and extract natural gas from shale deposits.

As students, we must educate ourselves about this process because it can affect our drinking water and the lives of millions though out the state. As Governor Cuomo begins to make a final decision about the issue, he needs to know New York Students are against Fracking.

Please give him a call today: 1-800-566-5020 and say No Fracking Way. Zulfiqar A. Soomro, Queensborough Community College Student, Jamaica

Congress Out Of Line

To The Editor: Eric Cantor wants Congress to work just 113 days in 2014. Out of 261 business days in a year. That comes out to about two days a week.

Meanwhile, some people have to work two and three jobs just to pay bills. Congressmen

don’t actually have to “work” to earn a living. Lobbyists take care of that. 113 days.

Why not less? It doesn’t take Republicans 113 days to cut funding for veterans, over 900,000 veterans just lost funding for their food stamps.

Job training for Vets - cut.

Housing vouchers for Vets cut. Mental health counseling for Vets - cut. Over 246,000 Vets out of work! 986,000 Vets live in poverty! 62,000 Vets are homeless! 20,000 Vets lost their homes in 2010!

I guess the GOP figures it would be useless to give Vets food stamps. After all, they don’t have a home with a fridge to keep the food.

Robert La Rosa, Whitestone

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

Gracie Is New Mayor’s First Housing Question A Personal Perspective

By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE It seems a silly topic but everyone has been interested in whether or not Bill de Blasio and his family will move into Gracie Mansion when he takes office as our 109th mayor in January.

They have been asking that question since he won the Primary in September and he demurred throughout the campaign for the General Election. Now that he is officially Mayor-elect, he has answered the question up to a point. He is not certain whether or not they will leave their Brooklyn home for the mayor’s mansion because it is far from his son’s high school in Brooklyn.

One can also imagine it to be a question of security for the very recognizable teen.

Dante de Blasio has had a lot to say and do throughout

his father’s campaign for our City’s top job, but will he be the one deciding whether or not they give up Park Slope for Yorkville for the next four years? I doubt it.

Gracie Mansion is the Mayors’ home. A few years ago, current mayor, Michael Bloomberg said no one else should live there because “it’s the people’s house.” I chided the Mayor then and suggested in this space that since he’s so wealthy, if he does not want future Mayors to live in the official residence, then he should fund the establishment of an alternate one.

He chose not to live there because he preferred his own Manhattan home over the old Gracie house. That is his prerogative. He would fund an extensive renovation of Gracie Mansion and used it as an events venue rather than as a residence. That was not a bad thing. This also made the

place more open to tourists and that was nice.

Built in 1799 by Archibald Gracie, father-in-law of American founding father, Rufus King, whose own home in Jamaica is also a historical house and museum in Rufus King Park, Gracie Mansion became the official residence of the sitting mayor in 1942 under Mayor LaGuardia. No other Mayor before Bloomberg passed on the honor and convenience of living in that residence.

The mayor will be required to host visiting dignitaries and be in a location where at nights he can be found and easily transported in times of emergency. We need to get over the petty policies and envy that would make us not want to see this mayor and his family take up residence where they are entitled to live by the fact of this election.

So here goes: Bill, live where you want to live, but

do not succumb to pressure of whether moving into Gracie Mansion is the politically correct thing to do. Later for that!

Move in if you wish and enjoy the extra bathrooms and the magnificent views. Everyone who does not want you to live there wishes he or she could live there.

Shoot, if that were me I’d be packing like the Jeffersons “moving on up” to the East End. Let’s not kid ourselves.

We have governors’ mansions and the mansion to end all administrative mansions, the White House. Why should our mayors not be given the same benefits? There are far more important issues awaiting the new mayor’s immediate attention. The decision on housing should not be one of them.

So move in, enjoy, be grateful and be gracious and most of all, be the greatest mayor you can be. We are counting on it.

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7

PUT CARE ON YOUR CALENDAR IN NOVEMBER Visit us at the Neighborhood Room 206-20 Linden Blvd.

Cambria Heights

At EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care you’ll find new programs every month to help you stay healthy, get well and live better. All classes are FREE and open to the public.

13 Wednesday

18 Monday

22 Friday

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

Low Impact Zumba 10:30–11:30 am

14 Thursday

Cell Phone Literacy for Older Adults 10:30–11:30 am

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

Understanding Diabetes Meds 12:00 Noon–1:30 pm Caregivers Support 2:00–3:30 pm

15 Friday

Come Talk With Greg— One on One Support for Caregivers 11:00 am–4:00 pm Low Impact Zumba 11:30 am–12:30 Noon

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

16 Saturday

Healthy Living Diabetes Class 10:30 am–1:00 pm Fall Fitness Workout 5:00–6:00 pm

Low Impact Zumba 10:30–11:30 am

Sitting Exercise 12:00 Noon–1:00 pm National Alliance on Mental Illness 4:30–7:00 pm

19 Tuesday

Healthwise Handbook—Self Care for you and your Family 11:30 am–12:30 pm (EmblemHealth members only)

20 Wednesday

Low Impact Zumba 10:30–11:30 am

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

A1C Champions Diabetes Class 1:00–2:00 pm

21 Thursday

Medicare 101 10:30–11:30 am Managing Blood Pressure Meds 12:00 Noon–1:00 pm

Low Impact Zumba 11:30 am–12:30 pm

Affordable Care Act— Obama Care 101 2:00–3:00 pm

23 Saturday

Affordable Care Act— Obama Care 101 2:00–3:00 pm Fall Fitness Workout 5:00–6:00 pm

25 Monday

Low Impact Zumba 10:30–11:30 am

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

Sitting Exercise 12:00 Noon–1:00 pm National Alliance on Mental Illness 4:30–7:30 pm

27 Wednesday

Low Impact Zumba 10:30–11:30 am

(Space limited–must call to reserve)

28 Thursday *HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP) is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Group Health Incorporated (GHI) is a Medicare Advantage organization and a standalone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. HIP and GHI are EmblemHealth companies. Y0026_123535 Approved 5/29/2013 Group Health Incorporated (GHI), HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP), HIP Insurance Company of New York and EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC are EmblemHealth companies. EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC provides administrative services to the EmblemHealth companies.

Neighborhood Care is a division of EmblemHealth. ©EmblemHealth Inc. 2013, All Rights Reserved.

For a full calendar of events and to RSVP visit us at ehnc.com or call 1-866-539-0999

Closed Thanksgiving

30 Saturday

Fall Fitness Workout 5:00–6:00 pm

Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Senior Center Welcomes Exercise Program

BY JOE MARVILLI At first glance, exercise may seem counterintuitive for seniors with arthritis or joint pain. But a yoga program coming to a Flushing senior center looks to be just what the doctor ordered.

A yoga exercise series is being offered this winter to members of the Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Prince Street Senior Center in Flushing.

The course comes from the Hospital for Special Surgery, located in Manhattan. The hospital also has a physician office in Fresh Meadows.

In December and January, yoga classes will come to Selfhelp, after meeting a great amount of success at other centers in Flushing and Manhattan’s Chinatown. One of the main issues the Hospital for Special Surgery hopes to address with this program is the aging Asian population, which grew by 64 percent between 2000 and 2010.

“This population is at risk for arthritis and osteoporosis,” Laura Robbins, doctor of social work and senior vice president of Education and Academic Affairs at Special Surgery, said. “They are more than twice as likely to have no health insurance coverage compared to other major race and ethnic groups.”

To help out this population, the hospital created the Asian Community Bone Health Initiative, which holds bilingual education and exercise classes.

The program was offered between November 2011 and September 2013, with a total of 199 participants taking part in 80 sessions. According to a survey taken by 119 of those participants, 48 percent less reported having daily pain. Eighty-three percent said they were able to bend, kneel or stoop easier.

“Yoga helps relax stiff muscles, ease sore joints and helps build strength,” Sandra Goldsmith, MA, MS, RD, director of Public and Patient Education, and Huijuan Huang, MPA, program coordinator, said. “The yoga program also covers range-of-motion movements, stretching exercises and deep breathing relaxation techniques.”

The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is mainly made up of chairbased exercises and beginner’s yoga.

It will take place on Dec. 5, 12, 19 and Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. The program will be taught in English. There are plans for a Chinese-language course at the center and around the same dates, but at different times.

“If it is the first time a senior is

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Seniors exercise in an Asian Community Bone Health exercise class at a senior center in Chinatown. A similar program is coming to Selfhelp Senior Center in Flushing.

trying yoga exercise, we encourage her/him to try one class first and see whether she/he likes it. We also encourage them to consult with their doctors to see whether yoga is the right exercise for them,” Goldsmith and Huijuan said. “Sometimes, there are people on the waiting list. We will

take those members who are able to commit for all eight weeks first.”

The senior center is located at 45-25 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing. For more information, call (718) 886-5777.

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

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9

Wyckoff Heights Medical Center proudly serves as the hospital of choice for residents of Brooklyn and Queens

The Hospital of Kings and Queens

Wyckoff Heights Medical Center • 374 Stockholm Street • Brooklyn, NY 11237 www.wyckoffhospital.org • (718) 963 7272

Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Floral Park Doc Finds Useful Glaucoma Treatment According to a study by a Floral Park doctor, there is a long-lasting treatment for glaucoma.

Dr. Lawrence Jindra, an ophthalmologist and Chief Emeritus of the Division of Ophthalmology at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island, said a “cold” laser has been proved to be an effective procedure for dealing with glaucoma, eliminating the need for daily eye drops. The study, based on 10-year follow-up data, found that Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is both safe and has a long-lasting effect on patients.

Jindra’s study found that the SLT was successful for the long-term in lowering pressure inside the eye, the goal in treating glaucoma. Studying almost 2,000 eyes treated with SLT as the primary therapy, the chance of success at 10 years was 90 percent.

His research was presented earlier this year at the Annual Scientific Symposium of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

“The laser treatment takes only a few minutes in the doctor’s office and causes little to no discomfort, nor side effects to speak of,” Jindra said. “It is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.”

SLT was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001. Jindra

Dr. Lawrence Jindra examines a patient who had a successful laser treatment for glaucoma. was an early adopter of the new technology, becoming one of the first doctors in the U.S. to acquire the SLT laser. It is often called a “cold laser,” because of its ability to focus on specific pigment-containing cells and lower pressure in the eye caused by a buildup of fluid. The treatment is gentler when compared to the traditional argon laser used in the past.

“SLT has less energy than the average laser used to scan groceries at the supermarket checkout,” Jindra said.

Improved treatments for glaucoma are greatly needed, as it is a leading cause of blindness. It affects one in 200 people under the age of 50 and one in 10 over the age of 80. Individuals can live for years without symp-

toms, only to realize the problem once irreversible damage has happened.

In the most common type of glaucoma, the drainage system in the eye fails to function properly, leading fluid to build up and increase pressure in the eye. This pressure can eventually damage the optic nerve.

“In this day and age, it’s a tragedy for anyone to experience vision loss or go blind because of glaucoma,” Jindra said. “Regular eye exams, timely diagnosis and early and effective treatment are the best ways to preserve one’s precious sight, especially if someone has risk factors for the disease.”

Although prescription drugs can be used to fight glaucoma, they are not as efficient as SLT and could have noticeable side effects.

“Although prescription eye drops are also effective in controlling glaucoma, patients must remember to use them every day for the rest of their lives,” Jindra added. “The medications may cause side effects and can be costly. Studies show that up to 40 percent of patients do not use the eye drops as prescribed.”

Adults over the age of 65 are recommended to have an eye exam every one or two years, to make sure glaucoma is found before it has time to progress.

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Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

speaker seat discussions Begin To Heat up

By LuIs Gronda

(D-Brooklyn).

While the Council Speaker is elected by other members of the City Council, serving as head of the Council during meetings, County leaders generally play a significant role in pushing a candidate. According to a source within the Council, Queens leaders have in the past eschewed selecting a Queens member as Speaker in order to keep top committee posts for other Queens members of the Council.

Currently, Queens Council members chair six committees in the Council, including Land Use (Leroy Comrie), Public Safety (Peter Vallone Jr.) and Immigration Services (Daniel Dromm). If the Queens delegation wants to keep those chairmanships, as Vallone and Comrie are term-limited, a deal to back another candidate may be required.

How involved de Blasio would want to be in choosing the next Speaker could also be an issue. A political insider noted that de Blasio needed to tread lightly, as the next Speaker could be accused of being too close to the Mayor.

Current Speaker Christine Quinn was widely criticized during her final term as being too close to Mayor Mike Bloomberg, a fact that hurt her significantly during the Democratic Mayoral primary.

“He runs the risk of blurring the lines of checks and balances both bodies have,” the insider said.

While Mark-Viverito has stood out as a front-runner for the position, the decision is far from made, as other

For the first time in 20 years, a Democratic Mayor has the opportunity to play a leading role in selecting a new City Council Speaker.

When Bill de Blasio takes office as Mayor in January, it will mark the first time the City’s chief executive shares affiliations with the party in power at the City Council. The new Mayor is expected to be heavily-involved with selecting a Speaker that will be looking to push de Blasio’s progressive agenda.

The leading candidate for the position right now, according to sources close to the Council, is Melissa MarkViverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx), a Latina Councilwoman who took office in 2006.

According to one political insider, she picked up a lot of momentum for the seat after attending the SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico last week.

She also was reported to have significant contact with de Blasio during the conference.

Mark-Viverito reportedly met with a number of Hispanic legislators during the conference, giving her significant support for her candidacy.

Several members of the Council have declared their interest in the position, including Queens Councilmen Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) and Jimmy Van Bramer (DSunnyside). Other elected officials who have thrown their hat in the ring include Councilmembers Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan), James Vacca (D-Bronx) and Jumaane Williams

dan Garodnick

Jumaane Williams

Council members are still vying for the spot.

A source said that of the two Queens delegates seeking the spot, Weprin would be a more likely candidate, because of his ties to other Council members and his history within the County organization.

Another potential factor, the source said, in the race is the amount of time the potential speaker can serve. With Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio potentially serving two terms as Mayor, the Council could select a speaker with two terms left as opposed to one. This would promote continuity with having the same Mayor and Speaker for eight years, the insider said.

Both Weprin and Van Bramer are eligible to serve two more terms in the Council. They were grandfathered in when Mayor Bloomberg changed the term limit rule to allow him to run for a third term.

When reached by phone, Weprin said he is “uniquely qualified” to be Speaker because he would be the longest serving councilmember be-

Jimmy Van Bramer

Mark Weprin

James Vacca

Melissa Mark-Viverito

ginning next year and he represents the most diverse district in the City.

He also noted his ability to work with his colleagues as well.

“I have a very good ability to bring people together,” he said.

A source close to Van Bramer said the Councilmember is interested in the position and is speaking with everyone involved in the process for the seat.

There are several public forums coming for the Speaker candidates to talk about their candidacy.

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

General Election Turnout Lowest In decades Last week’s General Election was historic for New York City in more ways than one, but one of those statistics is not a positive. The 2013 voter turnout for mayor was the lowest in at least six decades.

According to the Board of Elections’ website, only 1,026,169 New Yorkers voted for mayor in November’s General Election. The City has 4.3 million registered voters, meaning that only about 24 percent of those eligible voted in this year’s election.

The BOE said those numbers are not final, as affidavits and absentee ballots have yet to be counted.

Many reasons have been suggested for the low turnout, from the one-sided nature of the polls in favor of Mayorelect Bill de Blasio, to the increasing inconvenience of voting on a Tuesday.

“Voting is driven largely by the contest at the top of the ticket. When

Photo by Ira Cohen

By JoE MarVILLI

an election site in Forest Hills awaits voters during last week’s election, which had the lowest turnout in decades. polls predict a lopsided election, the incentive is diminished,” Don Capalbi, the president of the Queensboro Hill Neighborhood Association, said. “To increase voter turnout, let’s try a Saturday election, and see what happens. The Saturday polls would

be open late to accommodate Jewish voters. It deserves a try-out.”

In the last mayoral race, in 2009, only 28 percent of registered voters went to the voting booths. The mayoral elections have not topped 50 percent since 1993, when 1,898,437 out of the

3,301,683 registered New Yorkers voted to elect Rudy Giuliani to his first term.

In 1953, 93 percent of registered voters turned up on Election Day. That number of 2,244,146 is higher than those who voted in this year’s mayoral election, despite the number of registered voters doubling.

Since then, the number of voters has continued to drop. The ratio of voters compared to those registered to vote dropped below 50 percent for the first time in 1985, coming in at 41 percent.

“It has been steadily on a downward [slide]. It’s very distressing. It’s bad for the City’s civic life,” New York Public Interest Research Group director Gene Russianoff said. “It’s a crisis for the State and they have to make it easier for people to vote.”

The BOE could not be reached for comment as of press time.

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

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13

Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Borough Beat

By TrIsha sakhuja More than 100 mothers, fathers, community organizers, elected officials, children and neighbors marched in solidarity on Nov. 12, holding up signs with the names of loved ones lost due to pedestrian fatalities.

The march started at 100th Street and Northern Boulevard in Corona and continued to make stops along the way with a moment of silence for the victims of traffic accidents in front of a post office on 37th Avenue.

After three children were killed by automobile accidents in Jackson Heights and Corona this year alone, outraged mothers and neighbors formed a group, Three Children Too Many, to raise awareness for pedestrian safety and demand safer streets from City agencies.

The newly-formed group’s goal is to shift the current ambivalence about street safety into a strong lobby where they honor those who have died or been injured, and fight for stronger enforcement of traffic laws so future deaths can be prevented by less reckless driving.

“We are here because it just got to the point where we can’t just sit back and watch children getting killed by cars,” Laura Newman, one of the organizers of Three Children Too Many, said.

Newman, a mother of two children said, since the group formed about a month ago, they have educated themselves on the plan, Vision Zero, which is based on the refusal to accept that human death or lifelong suffering from injury is an acceptable result of road traffic.

Keegan Stephan, organizer of Right of Way, a group that works to bring light to the City’s traffic fatalities through street art and demonstrations, said people are starting to get angry with the number of children dying because of reckless driving.

He said both groups support the Neighborhood Safe Streets bill that gives cities the authority to set speed limits to 20 miles per hour.

Other efforts the groups will work towards is increasing police investigations of fatal crashes to bring criminal charges against the driver.

Sarah Bravo, 12, the sister of 19-year-old Luis Bravo, who died in September after a hit-and-run driver struck him while he was walking east on Broadway in Woodside, said her brother was an average teenager, who enjoyed playing video games and loved his new dog.

During the traffic safety march, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (DEast Elmhurst) said she stands with the community in asking for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, more

Photo by Ira Cohen

Neighbors March For Pedestrian safety

Children rallied with signs to raise awareness about pedestrian safety.

slow zones and continued traffic safety education for the local youth.

“Safe streets are not a luxury, it is what we deserve,” Ferreras said.

Ferreras said when they ask the Dept. of Transportation for more stop signs, stop lights or slow zones, they respond by saying there have not been enough accidents reported.

State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) said he is proud to have cosponsored a bill that will provide 20 speed cameras in various school zones.

Michelle Kaucic, a community coordinator from the DOT, met rally-goers on the corner at Northern and Junction Boulevards to highlight their shared goal of making streets safer for everyone using them.

According to a DOT spokesperson,

in the near future, the agency will look at signal timing at Northern and Junction Boulevards to determine if adjustments can be made to further enhance safety.

Richard Furlong, a resident of Jackson Heights and an avid cyclist, said he took part in the rally, because he wants to celebrate his four-year-old son’s fifth, sixth and seventh birthday without having to worry about his safety while crossing the street.

“I place the blame largely on the NYPD for not enforcing the existing laws because people are flying down Northern Boulevard at 70 miles per hour when the speed limit is 30 miles per hour,” Furlong said.

Reach Reporter Trisha Sakhuja at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, tsakhuja@ queenstribune.com, or @Tsakhuja13.

Police Blotter 103rd Precinct

assault

Police are asking the public’s assistance locating a male wanted in connection with an assault that occurred at around 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 in front of 88-09 148th St. The suspect discharged a firearm at the victim, who was struck three times in the left torso. The suspect fled on foot and the victim was transported to Jamaica Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The suspect was wearing a black baseball hat, a black jacket and a red scarf.

108th Precinct

Investigation

At 11:52 a.m. on Nov. 5, police responded to a report of a foul odor inside of 43-33 46th St. Upon entry, officers discovered two individuals unconscious and unresponsive inside

the living room. The first victim was identified as Diana Rodriguez, 47, and the second victim was identified as Kevin Flannelly, 59, both of the above address.

EMS responded to the location and pronounced both individuals dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner’s office will determine the cause of death.

110th Precinct

Fatal Collision

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, police responded to a vehicle collision in the vicinity of Queens Boulevard and Broadway.

Upon arrival, officers determined that a yellow 2014 Chevrolet Camaro with a single occupant was traveling westbound on Queens Boulevard when he lost control of the vehicle.

The driver proceeded to jump the curb where he hit two pedestrians,

identified as Man Chit Cheng, 59, and Mu Wang Lin, 41, both of Flushing.

EMS responded and pronounced Cheng dead at the scene. EMS also transported Lin to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing.

111th Precinct

Bank robbery

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying the following individual wanted for a bank robbery that took place on Oct. 25 inside of Flushing Savings Bank, 188-08 Hollis Court Blvd. The suspect passed a demand note and fled with an undetermined amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male wearing a white hat, grey sweat-

shirt and a black backpack.

114th Precinct

Grand Larceny

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect wanted in connection with a grand larceny.

At 2:37 p.m. on Nov. 6, the suspect entered Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located at 3011 30th Drive, Astoria, and removed jewelry and cash before fleeing the location.

Burglary

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying the following individual wanted for a commercial burglary that took place at 3:55 a.m. on Nov. 4 inside the Coffee Pot restaurant, 28-19 23rd Ave. The suspect entered through a window and removed several cartons of cigarettes and scratch-off lotto tickets.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall exchanged greetings with Julius Freeman, an original member of the Tuskegee Airmen, during the York College Executive Leadership Breakfast held at the college on Nov. 8. Marshall and Freeman were both honored during the breakfast.

Annual Food Drive Mr. Met helps to load nonperishable food donations on a truck as part of a food drive sponsored by the New York Mets and City Harvest at Citi Field on Tuesday.

Photo by Ira Cohen

Photo provided by the office of the Borough President.

Leadership Meeting

Photo by Ira Cohen

pix

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15

JSPOA Gala Councilman Leroy Comrie speaks during the 41st anniversary gala for the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, held on Nov. 7 at Russo’s on the Bay. JSPOA honored Comrie and Borough President Helen Marshall for their service to the community.

Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

A&E

Queens native Making impact as Wrestler

By Steven J. Ferrari Growing up in Queens, Mark LoMonaco always knew what he wanted to do with his life.

“I knew I wanted to be a pro wrestler, even as a little kid,” he said.

After 20 years in the business, LoMonaco, better known by his ring name of Bully Ray, has performed all over the world and has been in the ring with some of the most famous wrestlers in the business.

Next month, Bully Ray will come back to the area with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling for an event at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury on Dec. 28, as part of the Impact Wrestling World Tour. The two-time former TNA champion said he was looking forward to the show.

“We’ve been to Westbury a couple

of times now and it’s always been a really great event,” Ray said. “The holidays are a really great time for pro wrestling in the northeast.”

Ray established himself as a tag team wrestler, holding championships in promotions in both the U.S. and Japan. About three years ago, Ray became a singles competitor.

The success he has had once he went out on his own – including holding the TNA championship twice in the last year – surprised him.

“The singles run has been really cool. I never expected to do it,” he said. “I always wanted to be a tag team wrestler.”

Over the last two years, Ray has performed with some of the most well-known wrestling stars, including former WWF champion Hulk Hogan.

Despite being a focal point of the TNA

Restaurant Review

O’neill’s is Back and Better than ever O’neiLL’S reStaurant 64-21 53rd Drive, Maspeth (718) 672-9696 oneillsrestaurant.com HOurS: 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m.

CuiSine: Pub Fare/Steakhouse/ Seafood CreDit CarDS: yes DeLivery: yes take-Out: yes Catering: yes The many facets of O’Neill’s restaurant were on full display last week.

The Maspeth-based eatery, which reopened last month after a five-alarm blaze took it out of business for more than two years, offers a wide variety of experiences for its customers.

If you’re looking for a place to watch the games and down a couple of brews, like spending a Sunday watching the NFL, O’Neill’s has you covered with several televisions surrounding the bar area.

There are also several tables adjacent to the bar if you choose to sit down for a burger or finger foods.

If you prefer a finer dining experience, O’Neill’s has a separate area where it serves its more expensive food and provides customers with a quieter place to eat.

The restaurant offered a sampling of its menu during a taste testing last week.

We started off with their roasted

garlic bread covered with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. The sauce covered the bread, giving it a creamy taste that normally would not be the case with garlic bread.

Another highlight of the appetizers was the lobster bisque. The pieces of lobster complement the creamy, buttery taste of the soup very well.

According to Danny Pyle, the restaurant’s co-owner, one of their chefs, Richard Burns, buys lobster bones and uses it to get more flavor out of the lobster. Pyle said Burns is the only one in the United States buying lobster bones for that purpose.

After trying a slew of appetizers, it was time to try their main courses.

They served us Porterhouse Steak, Alaskan King Salmon and Prime Rib Lamb Chops.

Although I enjoyed sampling all three entrees, the steak was the absolute highlight for me. Chopped into easy-to-eat slices, the steak was cooked to perfection, but still juicy enough to keep its flavor when you take a bite.

Overall, the food at O’Neill’s is terrific. The taste-testing event left my stomach stuffed and put me into a food coma of epic proportions. If you’re in Maspeth or the surrounding area, I can’t think of a better place to eat and watch sports games than O’Neill’s.

- Luis gronda

promotion for most of the last couple of years, Ray said he does what he can to have fun with the role.

“I’ve been a pro wrestler and entertainer for so long, there isn’t much that stresses me out,” he said. “It’s all been a great ride.”

Having performed in front of small audiences in independent promotions like the defunct ECW to sold-out stadiums with the industry-leading WWE, Ray said he has always focused on the positive and found ways to enjoy working for every promotion.

“I try not to dwell on any of the negatives,” he said.

The former St. John’s University student said that after all he has accomplished, his goals have evolved into trying to have a great match with whoever gets in the ring with him.

Having faced the majority of the TNA roster, Ray said there was one name he would like to have a longterm program with: Kurt Angle.

Ray said he has been in the promotion with the 1996 Olympic gold medalist for several years, but has never worked an extended program with him, which is something he wants the opportunity to do.

“I look forward to just being in there with everybody and bringing that guy

Queens native Mark LoMonaco, better known as Bully ray, will be part of the impact Wrestling World tour on Long island next month. to the next level,” Ray said. “But working with Kurt would be pretty cool.”

Tickets for the show at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury are on sale now and are available online at ticketmaster.com.

Reach Editor-in-Chief Steven J. Ferrari at (718) 357-7400, sferrari@queenstribune.com or @stevenferrari.

‘after Midnight’ recreates Jazz era Famous Queens resident trumpeter Louis Armstrong was one of the talented jazz musicians who performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem between 1923 -1940, the nightclub’s heyday. Although it was a whites-only establishment, the Club featured the best Black performers of the time.

To recreate that musical era, Wynton Marsalis, artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, handpicked a 17-piece big band and 25 performers for “After Midnight” at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

The Cotton Club often had “Celebrity Nights” on Sunday and, similarly, “After Midnight” will feature celebrities in each performance. The first in a series of name performers is American Idol winner Fantasia, last seen on Broadway in “The Color Purple.” Fantasia is excellent, performing four familiar songs, including “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” and “Stormy Weather.” The most enjoyable number is the spirited Cab Calloway hit, “Zaz Zuh Zaz.” Although all the performers were

wonderful, Adriane Lenox, winner of the Tony and Drama Desk award for “Doubt,” stands out. Not only is she a fine actress, but here she proves how well she can deliver a song.

She sings “Women Be Wise” and later, reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, she performs “Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night.”

The Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars, conducted by Daryl Waters, are 17 incredible musicians who accompany the singers and dancers and then get to play independently.

On stage the entire time, they are not only consummate professionals but they actually enjoy what they are doing.

I had feared that “After Midnight” would be a mediocre jukebox musical with performers imitating famous singers and telling a story that bogs down the music. Happily, I was wrong and finally this season we have a musical that’s all music! Tickets would be a wonderful gift for the jazz lover on your shopping list.

-elyse trevers

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17

Queens today

FRIDay 11/15 HOLiDAy ARts AND CRAfts COuRsE

As the holidays are approaching, attend the first ever arts and crafts holiday preparation workshop by the New York Iris Center, located at 10-40 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City. The course will focus on working with various artistic mediums such as modeling clay, paint and beads.

The free workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served. For bookings or more information, call (718) 482-0909.

tHEAtRE fEstivAL

The fourth annual Harvest Theatre Festival will open with readings from the Minor Variations Play Series at the Chain Theatre, 21-28 45th Rd., Long Island City and running through Nov. 24. Shows are held Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. For information, visit www.variationstheatregroup.com.

saTURDay 11/16

LiBRARy CONCERt

Forest Hills library will host a concert with the Jacob Teichroew Group starting at 2:30 p.m. The band will play music from their new album “Tableaux,” as well as covers of classic Jazz artists such as John Coltrane. The library is located at 108-19 71st Ave., Forest Hills.

CHE MALAMBO

The Queens Theatre will present this company of 13 performers, who will perform the malambo dance, a gaucho tradition. These well-trained dancers will put on an energetic performance that includes a heavy rhythm section. As the beat goes on, the dancers throw themselves fully into their performance, creating a very physical, competitive spirit. The show will take place at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. It will also repeat on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $46 for standard seating and $25 for rear seating. Call the box office at (718) 760-0064 for information.

HEARtBEAt Of LAtiN AMERiCA

DECONstRuCtED fLOwERs

The opening reception for Queens Botanical Garden’s “Deconstructed Flowers” exhibit will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The series of photographs taken by H. David Stein are on display at the Visitor & Administration Building Gallery until Jan. 25. His works are known for their immensely detailed looks at flowers, using a technique that layers several photographs into a single picture for a view of amazing depth.

The exhibit is on display from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to the public.

The Thalia Spanish Theatre pays homage to 15 Latin American countries with the Mestizo Dance Company, alongside Harold Gutierrez and his Band. Tickets for the musical dance show are $35 and $32 for students and seniors. On Fridays, tickets are $30 and group rates are available. For more information, visit www. thaliatheatre.org/pages/ Event.cfm?EventID=167 or call (718) 729-3880.

“Guys AND DOLLs”

Theatre By The Bay, the community theatre group of Bay Terrace Jewish Center, will hold a production of “Guys and Dolls” at 8 p.m. This adaption of the Broadway musical will be directed by Lawrence Bloom.

Alan Kingsley is serving as musical director and Michele Mazzocco is serving as choreographer. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and children under

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

saTURDay 11/16

COLOR ME BADD/ALL-4-ONE Queensborough Performing Arts Center will hold a concert featuring two reunited pop acts from the 1990s.

The R&B group Color Me Badd became famous in the early 90s for their hit, “I Wanna Sex You Up.” All-4-One hit the top of the pop charts with hits like “I Swear” and “Someday.”

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $45. For more information, call (718) 631-6311.

12. The Bay Terrace Jewish Center is located at 13-00 209th St., Bayside. The show will also take place on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m.

City viBE

Reformed Talent will present an open mic night for poetry art and music starting at 8 p.m. at 48-03 Skillman Ave., Queens. Admission is $3.

For information, visit www. reformedtalent.com.

speak at the Hillcrest Jewish Center. At 12:30 p.m., she will discuss recent events in Israel and the impact they are having on communities in Judea and Samaria. The program is free and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by calling (718) 3804145. The Hillcrest Jewish Center is located at 183-02 Union Tpke.

WEDNEsDay 11/20

sUNDay 11/17

A HANukkAH stORytiME

The Hillcrest Jewish Center and The Israel Center of Conservative Judism will present a Hanukkah storytime session at Barnes and Noble in Fresh Meadows. Starting at 1 p.m., the event will celebrate the season of Hanukkah, which begins the evening of Nov. 27. The store is located at 176-60 Union Tpke. Please RSVP to queenspj@gmail. com.

HuNGARiAN ENsEMBLE

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble will hold a 3 p.m. performance at Queensborough Performing Arts Center. Established in 1951, its mission is to collect and present folk music and dances from Hungary.

For information, call (718) 631-6311.

TUEsDay 11/19

RApHAELLA sEGAL

Raphaelle Segal, a founder of Kedumim, the first modern Jewish community in Samaria, will

tHE BiRDs Of isRAEL

The Queens County Bird Club will host a presentation on the birds of Israel at 8 p.m. at the Alley Pond Environmental Center.

Eric Salzman, a composer who is also an active writer on birds, will discuss how Israel is located on one of the world’s greatest bird migration courses. Many birds that travel between Africa and Eurasia pass through Israel. The free event will include light refreshments. Alley Pond Environmental Center is located at 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston.

MADELiNE LOvALLO

The Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society will host artist Madeline Lovallo starting at 1 p.m. at 93-34 91st Ave. Lovallo is a prominent artist who has painted many local relics in

southern Queens including the Forest Park Carousel, shoreline images at Jamaica Bay and views from the sidewalks on Jamaica Avenue. She also has her work displayed in Councilman Eric Ulrich’s office.

LiLi ROquELiN

Music & Film Event presents multi-award winning singer-songwriter LiLi Roquelin, as she features the premiere of her new music video,“The Only One,” directed by Kyle Lavore. She will perform at the Hell Gate Social, located at 12-21 Astoria Blvd. at 7 p.m. The show is free to attend. For more information, visit www.weheartastoria.com/astoria-eventscalendar/#sthash.cjRiOiKR. dpuf.com. For a profile of Roquelin, see QConfidential on page 42.

THURsDay 11/21

GEstuRE AND BEyOND

Queens College’s GodwinTernbach Museum will open its latest exhibit, “The Art of Ink in America 2013/2014: Gesture and Beyond, An East/West Exhibition of Contemporary Calligraphy.” The abstract pieces will demonstrate the different forms and innovative techniques available to contemporary ink painters. The opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum.

Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Queens Today Section editor: reGinA VoGeL

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

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

Line dAncinG Mondays 6:30-9:30 at Kowalinski Post 4, 61-57 Maspeth Avenue. $7. Cake and coffee. 565-2259. coUntrY Line Wednesdays 7-10 at the STARS Building, 8 Coleman Square, Howard Beach. $10.

edUcAtion GMAt PrActice Saturday, november 16 Central library. Register.

MAtH For AdULtS Saturdays, november 16, 23, 30 LIC library at 10.

Pre-Ged cLASS Saturdays, november 16, 23, 30 Cambria Heights library. Register.

BASic cHineSe Monday, november 18 Laurelton library. Register. oFFice SUite Mondays, november 18, 25 Poppenhusen library at 1.

JoB SeArcH Mondays, november 18, 25 Astoria library at 11.

MAtH For AdULtS M o n d ay s t h r o u g h n o vember 25 LIC library at 5:30.

MAc LABS Mondays Central library.

Register.

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

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

AdULt cHeSS

Mondays and Thursdays Queens Village library at 5:30. intro coMPUterS Tuesdays through November 26 Laurelton library.

Register. tecHnoLoGiSt iS in Tuesdays through November 26 Pomonok library.

Register for 30 minute appointment. coMPUter cLASS tuesdays, november 19, 26 Woodside library at 5:45.

PoetrY WritinG tuesdays, november 19, 26 Langston Hughes library at 5:30. cHeSS Tuesdays Rosedale library at 4.

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

WAtercoLor We d n e s d ays a l l te c h niques and subjects at the National Art League.9691128. citiZen cLASS thursday, november 21 Broadway library at 11:30.

LeArn cHineSe thursdays North Forest Park library at 6.

YoUtH FAMiLY MoVie Monday, november 18 South Ozone Park library at 5:45.

BABY And Me Mondays, november 18, 25 Bayside library at 11.

FAMiLY StorYtiMe Monday, november 18 Auburndale library at 3:30. crAFt tiMe Mondays, november 18, 25 Steinway library at 11. oriGAMi Tuesdays Richmond Hill library at 5.

LeArn to crocHet Tuesdays through November 26 Rochdale Village library at 5.

ArtS & crAFtS Tuesdays at the North Hills library at 2:15. nAtUre KidS Tuesdays Sunnyside library at 3:00 and Woodside library at 4:15. cHeSS Tuesdays through November 26 Rosedale library at 4.

BooK BUddieS Tuesdays through November 26 Windsor Park library at 4.

AFterScHooL crAFt Wednesday, november 20 Pomonok library at 4:30.

SiGn & reAd

Wednesdays, november 20, 27 Douglaston library at 1:30. reAdinG For FUn Wednesdays through November 27 Laurelton library at 3. crAFtiVitieS Wednesdays through November 27 East Flushing library. Register.

KniGHtS oF QUeenS Wednesdays at the Queens Village library at 3:30.

ArtS & crAFtS Thursdays through November 21 Auburndale library at 4. circLe oF FriendS thursdays through november 28 Glen Oaks library at 11:30.

MAnGA drAWinG Thursdays South Ozone Park library at 4.

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

BooK BUddieS Fridays through november 22 Bayside library at 4.

BoArd GAMeS Fridays through November 29 Windsor Park library at 4.

HeALtH ZUMBA Mondays, november 18, 25 Bayside library at 6:30.

MetAStAtic BreASt Mondays 1:30-3:00 at Adelphi School of Social Work. 516-877-4314.

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

PiLAteS tuesdays, november 19, 26 Queens Village library at 5:45.

YoGA StretcH Wednesdays, november 20, 27 Richmond Hill library at 5:30.

GentLe YoGA Wednesdays, november 20, 27 Woodside library at 5:45.

ZUMBA Wednesday, november 20 at Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park. $10 per session.

516-746-1120.

ALZHeiMerS tuesdays, november 26, december 10, 24 Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 592-5757, ext. 237. doMeStic VioL. 24 hour Domestic Violence Hotline. 657-0424.

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19

Faith

Hollis Church To Hold ‘An Evening of Jazz’

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA On Nov. 22, legendary jazz artist Bill Jacobs will return to his hometown of Southeast Queens to perform with his ensemble for a special concert, “An Evening of Jazz,” at the Hollis Presbyterian Church.

“I started out performing in Queens and as my career progressed and I started recording, it was an avenue to the world for me,” Jacobs said. “I raised my family in Hollis, so to come back to my own community and be able to do what I do at the level that I do it – it’s exciting because it’s where it all started.”

In his early years, Jacobs said he was always surrounded by famous jazz musicians and immersed in the genre. His father, Clarence Jacobs, was a music teacher and was friends with jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lena Horn.

“I was so blessed to grow up in a community with world-renowned jazz giants,” Jacobs said.

But Jacobs admits that at that time in his life, he did not realize what a true blessing his musical background was.

“As a child, I was just in the atmosphere a lot, not thinking I was going to be a musician. Actually, I thought I was going to be an archi-

Bill Jacobs will return to his home town of Southeast Queens to perform with his ensemble for a special pre-Thanksgiving jazz concert at Hollis Presbyterian Church. tect,” he said. “When I was young, these guys were a bore to me because all I wanted to do was play baseball, but as time grew on, I realized I had been blessed in that way.”

It was not until Jacobs was about 21 and in college that he realized that his true calling in life was jazz. So, rather than pursuing a field he was not truly passionate about, Jacobs decided to go back to New York to formally study music.

Upon his return, Jacobs was afforded the opportunity to study with Billy Taylor’s jazz-mobile in Harlem and at Barry Harris’ Jazz Cultural Theater. Both his studies and experiences with African American music inspired him to form the “Bill Jacobs Ensembles,” – a jazz group that sought to educate the public about the genre.

“That’s what I do. I think it’s very important to educate people. I know

it’s my duty and my responsibility to bring it [jazz] to the forefront,” he said. “I want to start the conversation. We need these other elements in life. Music is a gift to humanity.”

As Jacobs began to perform in venues across the world, he began to make a name for himself. He is best known for his talents as a percussionist, skilled at playing the vibraphone and the African drums.

In 2000, Jacobs released his first CD, “One,” which was independently produced and met with critical acclaim. Among his professional recordings and appearances, he has worked with alto saxophonist James Spaulding, Najee, the Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble, Sarah Vaughn, Tito Puente and Stanley Turrentine.

The Bill Jacobs Ensemble will perform at the Hollis Presbyterian Church. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. There is a suggested donation for $20. For more information, call the church office at (718) 776-4646 or visit the church’s website at www.hollispresbyterianchurch.org.

The Hollis Presbyterian Church is located at 100-50 196th St., Hollis.

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

Notebook

Martin Van Buren High School

Van Buren, Other Co-Locations Approved

BY JOE MARVILLI After a tumultuous mixture of community protest, input and support, the Dept. of Education approved a co-location for Martin Van Buren High School.

With the vote taking place on Oct. 30, the DOE’s Panel of Educational Policy went forward with co-locations for eight schools in Queens, including Van Buren. The co-location will add a Career and Technical Education early college and career high school (also known as P-Tech) inside the walls of Martin Van Buren, starting in the 2014-2015 school year.

During the public hearing about the co-location on Oct. 23 and its subsequent analysis, the DOE addressed many of the concerns the public had. While many said the ad-

ministration needed more resources, the DOE said MVB’s graduation rate had fallen from 71 percent in 20092010 to 56 percent in 2011-2012. It added that the co-location will increase educational options.

“Co-locations allow us to use our limited facilities efficiently while simultaneously creating additional educational options for New York City families,” the DOE said in the hearing analysis.

The DOE also said the new school will not drain resources from MVB, but the budget is based on student population, which is going to be reduced over a period of four years, dropping from 2,176 to between 1,585 and 1,625 students by the 2017-2018 school year.

While some commented that the new school should offer priority to

students in the district, the DOE said it will prioritize Queens students as a whole, adding that it will not impact Van Buren’s ability to accommodate all of the zoned students who apply to its zoned program.

While elected officials, faculty members, students and the United Federation of Teachers are against the co-location, nine civic groups are in favor of the new school.

“Decades of decline have basically killed the Martin Van Buren brand.

Parents in our community will simply not send their kids there. The promise of P-Tech as a co-location is the catalyst needed for change,” Bob Friedrich, president of Glen Oaks Village, said.

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) disagreed, feeling the co-location would harm the work Martin Van Bu-

ren principal Sam Sochet has been doing to turn the school around.

“The co-location puts a knife right in the back of all of that, and destroys everything we’ve been working for. Any time you have a co-location, it takes away from the regular school,” Avella said. “The parents and students are against the co-location.”

Besides MVB, Long Island City High School, Corona Arts and Science Academy, August Martin High School in St. Albans, PS 40 and MS 72 in Jamaica, IS 59 in Springfield Gardens and JHS 226 in South Ozone Park will have another school within their walls in the next couple of years.

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

Page 20 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

Profile

Jamaica Nonprofit Seeks to Resolve Conflicts

BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA For more than seven years, Mark Kleiman worked as an attorney for the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division. It was during this time he began to notice how damaging the court system could be for families and their relationships.

“I felt there must be better ways to deal with these social problems than in the court. The adversarial process was very unhealthy for families and children,” he said “Where a family needed support and understanding and healing, they got an adversarial system which was polarizing and antagonistic and judgmental – the worst you can do with family problems.”

Kleiman whole-heartedly believed that the court system, although necessary, should only be used as a last resort to settle a conflict. Recognizing the value in fostering communication, in 1980, he began to develop programs to divert people from the court system.

The first program, Queens Adolescent Diversion Program, served as a mentoring program for juvenile delinquents. Thrilled with its success, QADP continued to add mediation service programs and in 1983, Kleiman founded a new nonprofit.

For more than 30 years, Community Mediation Services has been providing Queens residents with a number of free and income-based services to help resolve conflicts without going into the court system.

Today, Community Mediation Services Inc., a nonprofit based in Jamaica, has more than 20 programs that seek to respect, educate and empower youth, families and community members. CMS has worked with community residents to resolve different types of disputes – from bullying to landlord-tenant conflicts to neighborhood disputes and even divorce and custody battles.

“I have found it to be an incredibly positive and important means of fostering a sense of community among people and people in conflict,” he said. “Mediation, and the elements

of mediation, is embedded in every program that we run.”

Most recently, CMS launched its newest program, which aims to help veterans who have issues reintegrating with their families.

“It’s been a very satisfying and powerful intervention in helping these veterans who are really struggling,” Kleiman said. “Many of these military service men and women have experienced a powerful change in their lives and [are trying to figure out] who they are.”

When asked what he found most rewarding about his work with the

nonprofit, Kleiman, who also works as the executive director, said he is just happy to be able to use his skills as a mediator and attorney to help members of the community resolve their disputes in a comfortable, caring and non-judgmental environment.

“When I was a lawyer, I had to argue. If I were a social worker, I’d have to analyze – there is always that kind of detachment,” he said. “But mediation is something that contains skills that you can not only use in your life effectively but by using it, you help transform situations into lessons and growth.”

“For me, this is a gift,” he added.

“To be able to develop programs creatively and utilize it to serve as substitutes for the court is a wonderful opportunity to do un-litigated good.”

For more information about Community Mediation Services and the programs it offers, you may visit www.mediatenyc.org or call (718) 523-6868.

CMS is located at 89-64 163rd St., Jamaica.

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

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

Escala is the son of Raquel Escala of Corona and Enrique Escala of Jamaica. He is a 2009 graduate of John Bowne High School of Flushing.

Army Pvt. Crystal E. Desselle has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Desselle is the sister of Sherita Desselle of Jamaica.

Hanniel J. Julien

Rafael Rodriguez

Air Force Airman Hanniel J. Julien 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.

Julien is the son of Carla Shurwin Julien of Cambria Heights and is a 2012 graduate of Holy Cross High

School in Flushing.

Air Force Airman Rafael Rodriguez graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San AntonioLackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Rodriguez is the son of Ana Rodriguez of Jamaica.

Air Force Airman Jonathan Escala graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military

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

Staff Sergeant Atasha Gurahoo of Queens Village has reenlisted to continue service with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 369th Sustainment Brigade.

Specialist Jermaine Waddell of Cambria Heights has reenlisted to continue service with the Company G (Forward Support Company, Field Atrillery) 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Sergeant Neketa Clarke of Laurelton has reenlisted to continue service with the Company C, 101st Signal Battalion.

Sergeant Clayton Smith of Jamaica has reenlisted to continue service with the Company A, 642d Aviation Support Battalion.

York College has announced the addition of Michele Chow-Tai, Hank Sheinkopf and Edson Edwards to its board of directors. Sheinkopf and Chow-Tai are also York College alumni.

Grequan Carter of St. Albans is a participating member of the SUNY Delhi men’s basketball team. Carter is pursuing an associate’s degree in recreation and sports management.

Tell The PRESS

Send notices of graduation, awards, anniversaries, engagements and honors to: PRESS of Southeast Queens 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357 All announcements will be considered for publication without fee.

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21

What’s Up NoV. 15 Smell the power All are cordially invited to a staged reading of “Smell the Power.” “Smell the Power” is a contemporary family drama set in Queens that explores the inherent generational and social problems in many of today’s Black families. For tickets and info, visit http://www.blackspectrum.com or call (718) 723-1800. Tickets are $30.

The event will be held at the Black Spectrum Theatre at 8 p.m. The Black Spectrum Theatre is located at 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard.

Rochdale Village Bash The Rochdale Village Board of Directors will present its 50th Anniversary Weekend Celebration. The first event on Friday will be held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Attire is casual dress. Drinks and hor d’oeuvers will be served. There will be a two-hour open bar. Tickets are $35 per person.

You must be 21 and over to attend.

The second part of the week-long celebration will be a gala on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The black tie affair will feature a cocktail hour with Levi Barcourt and the New York Jazz Quartet, a threecourse dinner, special guest Black Ivory and DJ Bob Lee. Tickets to the gala are $65 per person. If you attend both events, tickets are $90 for both.

Both parties will be held in the Rochdale Village Grand Ballroom, located at 169-65 137th Ave., Jamaica.

Stop by the Rochdale Village Board of Directors office to purchase your tickets or call (718) 276-5700 ext.

336 and ask for Ivette Hernandez.

NoV. 16 GMAt practice test The GMAT assesses a person’s analytical, writing, verbal and reading skills in preparation for admission to a graduate management program. Take this practice exam, see how you score and get a head start on getting into the business school of your choice. The practice exam is free to take and will begin at the Queens Central Library at 10 a.m. The test is two hours long.

NoV. 17 Veterans honored in St. Albans There will be a Semi Annual Memorial Service honoring deceased Veterans. The services will be held at the St. Albans Veterans Hospital, located at 179-00 Linden Blvd., St. Albans at 2 p.m. in the Chapel.

Queens Native and Veteran Sergeant Kaeshawn Do Adams will be recognized on that day. He served two

tours in Iraq, was part of the Third Battalion 13th Infantry Regimen and died stateside April 23, 2010.

NoV. 18 Medicare: Enrollment Awareness This interactive workshop sponsored by Councilman Leroy Comrie will explain changes in Medicare to take place in 2014, including Medicare Savings Programs and extra help for the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit, and how Medicare is affected by the Affordable Care Act. The program is free and will be held at the Queens Central Library at 11:30 a.m.

NoV. 20 Community Board 12 Meeting Community Board 12 will have its monthly meeting at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center at 7 p.m. The Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center is located at 17217 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. All are welcome to attend.

Madeline Lovallo Art Show The Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society will host artist Madeline Lovallo. Lovallo is a prominent artist who has painted many local relics in southern Queens, including the Forest Park Carousel, shoreline images at Jamaica Bay and views from the sidewalks on Jamaica Avenue. She also has her work displayed in Councilman Eric Ulrich’s office.

The event will start at 1 p.m. The group is located at 93-34 91st Ave.

Fifty Shades Book Club There is a new book discussion group at Central Library. They will meet on the third Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to discuss popular works of fiction, such as “Fifty Shades of Grey.” No registration is required. The book club will meet at Queens Central Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is free to attend.

NoV. 22 United Black Men of Queens Dinner Dance Save the date for the United Black Men of Queens Foundation’s 38th Anniversary Scholarship Awards Dinner Dance. Join them for a tribute “roast” for Lawrence Cormier. For journal sponsorship opportunities, please call UBM at (718) 276-1875.

NoV. 23 table Manners for thanksgiving Have you ever wondered which

way to pass food at a table or how to make a holiday dinner a delightful and festive occasion for everyone attending? Etiquette teacher and butler Nikolaus Christmann will teach basic table manners and tell instructive and humorous tales from his recently published book, “The Butler’s Dinner Stories.” This workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library at 2:30 p.m. It is free to attend.

NoV. 24 Free Craft table Event The Shops at Skyview Center will host a craft table event at the shopping mall on Sunday. While supplies last, people can make origami wallets.

The event will take place on Level D in the mall. It will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Skyview Center is located at 40-24 College Point Blvd.

NoV. 25 Resorts World Casino Job Fair Resorts World Casino will host a free New York City job fair. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.

The job fair will be located at 16825 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica. For more information, call (718) 557-6755 or visit www.nyc.gov/workforce1.

overview of Alzheimer’s Disease Speaker Ellen Ratner will present an overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and discuss programs and services offered by the Alzheimer’s Association of New York City. The free workshop will be held at the Queens Central Library in the Auditorium, C level. The event is free and will begin at 6 p.m.

NoV. 27 Bon Journey At Resorts World Bon Journey, a Bon Jovi and Journey tribute band, will perform at Resorts World Casino. The band will perform classic hits from both bands

like “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “It’s My Life,” “Don’t Stop Believin” and “Mother, Father.” The band will start performing at 8 p.m. Resorts World is located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd in South Ozone Park.

oNGoiNG Kickers Junior Soccer Club of SEQ Boys and girls ages 4-18, with or without skills, are encouraged to register for the free Kickers Junior Soccer Club of Southeast Queens.

The kids will not only receive great training in the game, but they will also have the opportunity to engage in cultural and educational activities.

Kickers offers a year-round program including indoor and outdoor seasons. Travel team opportunities are available. Experienced 12 to 13 year-olds interested in the travel program are being sought. Kickers coaches have received special training to work with youngsters and look forward to meeting you and your children.

To register, parents should bring two passport size photos and a copy of the young person’s birth certificate, or other documents, as proof of date of birth of participant. For additional information, contact: Fritz Casimir (718) 496-5013, Wilfrid Compere (718) 282-2291,Neville Barrett (718) 664-5187, Leslie Bourjolly (347) 279-4458 or Price Olivier (718) 723-0541. Registration will be held on Saturday mornings at Montbellier Park, located at Springfield Boulevard and 139th Avenue.

Jamaica Farmers Market Every Friday and Saturday the Jamaica Farmers Market will offer fresh fruit and vegetables from area farmers. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market is located at 90-40 160th St. The last day will be Nov. 23.

WhAt’S Up With YoU? Send your community events to the PRESS for a free listing at 150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357.

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

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

Political Hot Stove

A number of newly-elected officials are preparing to take office in January. But some officials who will be out of a job in two months are also looking to the future.

With term limits pushing them out of the public service l i m e l i g ht , a handful of officials have been making plans for life after City Hall, and it doesn't necessarily mean a life of playing golf and taking vacations.

Rumors have been swirling about Leroy Comrie since he dropped out of the Borough President's race this summer.

The popular Southeast Queens councilman has been thrown around as a potential deputy borough president, not just in

Queens, but in other Boroughs as well.

Despite the Borough-wide second-in-command slots he's been offered, we at QConf here think that Comrie may be hoping to play a part with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's administration.

Setting his sights a little further north, in Albany, is Councilman James Gennaro. We hear the outspoken environmental advocate has reached out to fellow Queens native Gov. Andrew Cuomo for a state-wide environmental role.

Following along with where these officials end up will probably make for more fun than figuring out who - if anyone - the Mets will look to sign this offseason.

Pieces of Banksy!

He may be gone, but his work will be remembered - and kept in a storage room at a police precinct in Long Island City.

It turns out the thief who stole Banksy’s balloon, which spelled out “Banksy!” on the side of a vacant building at Borden Avenue and 35th Street, was not looking to steal the artist's work.

He only wanted to cherish a piece of Banksy!

David Aguilar, a 25-yearold street performer and one of the suspects, was arrested while trying to steal the balloon with another man, Ronald Galarza, whom he met while standing on the ladder.

According to reports, Aguilar said he never meant to steal the balloon, because at first he only wanted to steal the exclamation

point and place it in another part of the City.

He also said he would have never sold the balloon, but he would have taken it to Union Square to show it off.

Aguilar spent a night in jail, and while no charges were pressed, a job opportunity fell through because the future employer was probably not too pleased with Aguilar’s antics.

Banksy might have left the country, but the hype continues.

“This guy is going to make your life a living hell,” he said last Wednesday. “…do yourself a favor, go do some research about what it was like to live in New York City before Rudy Giuliani.”

Perhaps Beck needs to take a rudimentary history or civics class, since it would be impossible for New York State to secede from the City – it can only work the other way around.

Here at QConf, we recommend our readers look to someone else for a civics lesson.

Perhaps a nearby eighth grade student could give you better advice.

Musicians OF QuEEns

LiLi Roquelin

Got Talent?

Talented individuals of all kinds should email editor@ queenstribune.com for inclusion in a future edition.

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

Look for us on Twitter: @QueensTrib

Government Lesson

Now that Bill de Blasio has been elected as New York City’s next mayor, one political commentator is calling for New York State to secede from the City.

Fox News Commentator Glenn Beck said last week that NY State should break away from New York City and become its own territory before it becomes “the next Detroit.”

During his radio show, Beck tried to make it through all of de Blasio’s victory speech before stopping it. He called de Blasio a “communist” and said New York City will go back to how it was before Rudy Giuliani was mayor.

Q

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Nov. 15-21, 2013

And Like Us on Facebook Facebook.com/ QueensTrib

Counting Chickens?

One Woodside man has made it to the Guinness World Book of Records - for collecting numerous Chinese restaurant menus.

Harley Spiller doesn’t just read menus when he wants to eat some Chinese food, he has kept them as part of his famed collection he has been stockpiling for more than three decades.

Spiller estimates he has more than 10,000 menus, with some dating as far back from 1879, from more than 100 different countries.

His collection, which earned him a spot in the Guinness World Record book for the largest menu collection, also serves a collection of historical documents, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of Chinese food.

Spiller hopes that someday, his collection can be archived at a museum.

LiLi Roquelin’s career came about as a mix of nature and nurture.

Raised in the French Riviera, she learned about music from her dad, a multiinstrumentalist who is also a fan of British rock bands like the Beatles. When she formed a band in school and performed on stage, her path was set.

“I had my first band when I was 13. I had my first live show in the school and it felt really special to me. I didn’t want to leave the stage,” she said.

From France, she moved to Cleveland, getting involved with local bands like Phizzy Lager and Hate Dies Hard.

Those experiences gave her the confidence to pursue her own solo work.

“I really proved to myself that I had more skills then I thought I did. That was very encouraging,” she said.

Five years ago, she moved to Astoria and launched her career.

“I’m not leaving Astoria. I take part in some live music events they have once in a while. I like the community feel of these events when they do them,” Roquelin said.

The neighborhood has played a large role in the creation and promotion of her latest album, “Beautiful Sun,” which came out in 2012.

Roquelin started the project by recording demos in her home studio. From there, she brought them to different studios in the City and had musicians track down what she had composed. Once all the pieces were assembled, mixing engineer Marc Urselli (Eric Clapton) put all the elements together.

The result is a cohesive album that radiates with strong, catchy melodies, both instrumentally and vocally. The music moves from

jazz to rock to minor key pop, with her voice guiding the various styles along. Unlike the electronic components of her past work, Roquelin wanted “Beautiful Sun” to be more natural.

“My piano playing has evolved as well as my singing. I used more real instruments on the tracks as opposed to the two previous solo works, which were much more electronic,” she said. “I felt the songs were so special. I’m really, really proud of this album.”

Astoria Park is now being used as a backdrop for the music video for “The Only One.” This one-shot piece has Roquelin walking down a path while various men that she does not know appear around her. At the end of the video, the guy she runs into turns out to be ‘The One.’ “I had originally written this draft for my friend’s wedding.

It’d been five years and he still hadn’t proposed to her. I took the song and made it a rock song. I changed the verses and made it a little darker,” she said. “When I released the album, two weeks later, he proposed to her.”

The video for “The Only One” will premiere on Nov. 21.

“Beautiful Sun” is now available through all major retailers. For more information about Roquelin and future tour dates, visit www.liliroquelin. com.

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LUDIE ALLIED INSTITUTE 718-558-4330

CNA HHA TRAINING Placement Assistance Available Easy Payment Vouchers Accepted PCA Upgrade to HHA Advanced CNA/PCT Phlebotomy & EKG/cpr classes CNA Wound Care Certification Email ludieallied@yahoo.com • www.ludiealliedinstitute.com

Funeral

Services

Construction

Want 2 Buy

Records ♫ Old 33s-45s-78s ♪

Nov. 15-21, 2013 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23

To Advertise in the Southeast Queens Press Classifieds Call (718) 357-7400 • Fax (718) 357-0076

150-50 14th Road, Whitestone NY 11357 Immigration

Immigration

IMMIGRATION

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

516.374.5467

718.851.4521

Cedarhurst - 575 Chestnut Street, NY 11516 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT

H. ZALCMAN-ATTORNEY AT LAW

Psychic

Psychic

Heating Oil

Heating Oil

Boiler Service

Tree Service

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

LOOK

Old Clocks & Watches Wanted

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

Construction

NUNEZ CONSTRUCTION

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

EXPERT WORK ON STOOPS BRICK, BLOCK & CONCRETE

7 Days, Lowest Prices Free Estimate Licensed & Insured

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

Tree Service

BOILER MAN

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

516-815-8510 Tree Service

ARNOLDO’S TREE SERVICE

• Pruning • Stump Grinding • Planting • City Permits Obtained • Prompt Storm Service

149-57 Beech Ave. Flushing NY 11355 Ph: 718-463-7829 Cell: 917-337-4062

Tree Service

UP TO

$

PLAN PREMIUM You must continue to pay your part B premium. Part D coverage is provided at no additional premium to you.

$

COPAY • • • •

$

Primary care office visits Routine eye exams All covered dental services Up to 24 one-way trips each year to plan-approved locations

PER MONTH Over-the-counter (OTC) Benefit for Members

Call us today to see if you qualify: 855.439.1660 TTY 1.800.662.1220 | 7 Days a Week 8 AM–8 PM Liberty Health Advantage HMO offers services to Medicare beneficiaries residing within the 5 boroughs of NYC and Nassau County.

Liberty Health Advantage HMO is an HMO Plan with a Medicare Advantage contract and a contract with the New York State Medicaid program. Enrollment in Liberty Health Advantage HMO depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information please contact the Plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network premium and/or copayment/co-insurance may change on January 1, 2014. Please contact Liberty Health Advantage HMO for details. You must receive routine care from Plan providers. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply.

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