Vol. 42, No. 11 March 15-21, 2012
Page 34
Turner To Run For U. S. Senate Seat Page 3
EDC Blocks Willets Point Developer List
Spring Cleaning
Page 13
New Bills Call For BSA Accountability Q
Page 15
F B E S
A J W
Download our iPad App from
The NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection issued a Request For Proposals for green infrastructure projects to help prevent runoff pollution in Newtown Creek (pictured) and Flushing Bay. By Domenick Rafter …Page 9.
Or Go To queenstribune.com/iPad
From Your Device
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen
H
I N S I D E Deadline....................................................................3 This Week.................................................................5 Editorial....................................................................6 Not 4 Publication.....................................................8 Police Blotter.........................................................10 Closeup..................................................................12 Focus......................................................................14 Leisure....................................................................17 Queens Today........................................................19 Classifieds..............................................................23 Trib Pix....................................................................33 Confidential............................................................34
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TIMELY IRA OFFER! Page 2 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
Bump-Up For A Better Rate!* 3 YEAR BUMP-UP IRA CD
1.35%
APY**
Enjoy A Shorter Term! 18 MONTH TRADITIONAL IRA CD
5 YEAR BUMP-UP IRA CD
1.85%
APY**
1.00%
APY**
Minimum Deposit is $500 WHEN YOU OPEN AN IRA OR COVERDELL EDUCATION ACCOUNT WITH $1,500 OR MORE BEFORE APRIL 17TH, YOU MAY
A+1.(- <AB<:@H IHP>K MHHEL
A/.+/A:FBEMHG ;>:<A
A.1,/0&(/ LNG;>:F
a* a*-*)0 IKH<MHK&LBE>Q I
ALGGD(*/. LNGL<HI>
AO AO>+(0 P>:MA>KQ P JJY\ag >dYk`da_`l
O]l'<jq HgjlYZd] NY[mme
Kmj][mlLE =pljY%LYdd ;Yf Gh]f]j
<mjYfl /%Ha][] ;mld]jq K]ll
CHOOSE EITHER A STYLISH MEN’S OR LADIES’ WATCH, OR RECEIVE 100 REWARD POINTS*** REDEEMABLE FOR EXCITING
;g ;gehY[l ?jadd
*0%Ha][] Lggd K]l
GIFTS LIKE THOSE SHOWN!
Visit www.ridgewoodbank.com * You have the one-time option, at any time during the term of this CD, to change the interest rate to the rate then offered by the Bank for the same term for the balance of the original term. **Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are effective February 1, 2012 and are subject to change without notice. Other terms and rates available. FDIC regulations apply. Minimum deposit is $500. There is a substantial penalty and IRS penalty for premature withdrawals. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. ***Limit 100 Reward Points per IRA account. Check www.RidgewoodRewards.com for latest rewards item selection. All items subject to change. The Bank has the right to substitute gifts of comparable value and quality. Offer available for IRA contributions only. Offer is good through April 17, 2012. Minimum deposit to qualify for Reward Points or Watch is $1,500 and CD term must be at least one year.
Member FDIC
Queens Deadline
Lines, Amendment Called An ‘Epic Fail’ By DOMENICK RAFTER The now-year-long drama over new district lines entered another act this week as the state legislature tweaked the new proposed districts and added an amendment to the state Constitution to take the power to draw the new lines mostly out of their hands in 2021 - if it passes. The proposed lines, which faced votes in the state legislature on Wednesday, will still have to face approval or rejection from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has long threatened to veto lines drawn by legislators, but seemed all but resigned to the reality that independent redistricting was not going to happen this year - if at all. That sense of resignation seemed to be shared by independent redistricting advocates including former Mayor Ed Koch and State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), whose home was placed back into the district he represents under the second round of lines after he was initially thrown into the same district as State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst). The proposed constitutional amendment to change the way the state redraws its lines would create
State Senate Distric t 16 proposed under the second round of redistricting maps released Tuesday. an independent commission to draw new lines after the 2020 Census. The commission would include two members each appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Majority Leader and two members each from the minority leaders. A final two members would be appointed by the other eight, with at least five of the eight agreeing to the appointments. The commission would then draw up maps that would need to be approved by the legislature by majority vote- or two-thirds vote if one party controls both bodies. If they fail approve
two sets of commission-drawn maps, the legislature would draw them up themselves. Opposition to the new lines and the proposed constitutional amendment ran deep, including members of the Assembly Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucuses- all Democrats- announcing they opposed the bill, but refusing to say if they would ultimately vote no. A “no” vote from the minority caucus would cause the bill to fail in the Assembly if the Republicans are united in opposition as well. Though some, including Citi-
zens Union, praised the amendment, reformers like Koch and Gianaris were unimpressed by it. Gianaris called the amendment “an epic fail” and said it “is still hyper-political and does not create a truly independent commission.” Other local legislators were also unmoved by the bill. “We had an opportunity this year to really do reform with redistricting, and our legislative leaders dropped the ball,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) told Community Board 9 on Tuesday. Gov. Cuomo, called the bill “progress” and refused to say if he would sign or veto the current bill and the constitutional amendment. The new Assembly maps made little to no changes to the maps that were originally proposed in January, but the Senate maps saw some big changes. Gianaris and Peralta were “decoupled” and the 12th district - currently represented by Gianaris - picked up a few blocks in the Steinway section of Astoria while shedding some of its Ridgewood and all of its Howard Beach areas. The district, however, still stretched from Astoria to Con-
duit Boulevard in Ozone Park. The 15th district, represented by Addabbo, was slightly altered from its January form. It would still stretch across Jamaica Bay to the Rockaway Peninsula but would now include coastal sections of the eastern half of the peninsula and parts of Arverne and Far Rockaway. The Asian-majority 16th district created by Senate Republicans in January remains, but without Bay Terrace which was drawn into a more compact 11th district. That means State Sens. Tony Avella (DBayside) and Toby Stavisky (DFlushing) remain in the same district, one that includes almost all of Northeast Queens and stretches through Hollis to include parts of Jamaica. Stavisky may run in the 16th district, which includes parts of Flushing, Forest Hills and Rego Park she previously represented. If the maps hold, John Messer, who ran against Stavisky in the 2010 Democratic primary, has said he would run in the new district. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
Turner Declares U.S. Senate Intentions ber after winning a special election in 2010 to finish the term of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had not been previously eyed by national Republicans as a potential target, but that could change now that Turner is in the race. “I will travel to the Republican State Convention in Rochester later this week and humbly ask for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate,” Turner said
U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, who won a longtime Democratic House seat in Queens in September, announced Tuesday he would run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November.
on Tuesday. “I ran for the House six months ago as a private citizen fed up with what is happening in Washington. I could not sit and watch career politicians sink my nation deeper into economic crisis. Brooklyn and Queens voters, of all political parties, graciously responded by sending me to Congress. It now appears that their district has been eliminated. There is serious work to be done to get this economy back on track, and I will not walk away from that work now. I will run for the Senate, and I will run to win.” Turner, whose district was dismantled by Judge Roanne Mann the special master appointed to redraw the state’s congressional lines after the state legislature failed to agree on a map - had previously said he would run in whatever district his home ended up in, but according to the map, that would force him to face off against U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) in a district that is much more Democratic and majority black. At least three Republicans have been eyeing the U.S. Senate race: Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin and Manhattan attorney Wendy Long, but in early polling all
three badly trailed Gillibrand. State Republican officials were worried a divisive primary would prevent a candidate from making any leeway against the incumbent who won 62 percent in 2010. However, none of the other three candidates have hinted that they would step aside for Tuner and Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long has said he would, for now, stick with Wendy Long- no relation- as their preferred candidate against Gillibrand. Turner has already received the endorsement of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Re-
publican Parties, as well as the GOP in Rockland County, but even after Turner’s announcement, several upstate county Republican parties, including Erie County, which includes Buffalo, endorsed Long meaning Turner could face still face a primary. Queens GOP chairman Phil Ragusa has already endorsed Maragos for Senate and has not indicated that he’ll switch to Turner now that he’s in the race. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125
Services Announced For DenDekker’s Stepdaughter In a statement, Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights) said “it is with deepest regret that we inform you of the passing of Elizabeth Delaney, daughter of Angela DenDekker and step-daughter of Assemblyman Michael DenDekker.” Viewing will be held at Edward Lynch Funeral Home, 43-07 Queens Blvd. in Long Island City, on Thurs-
day, March 15, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 16, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2502 80th St. in East Elmhurst. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cooley’s Anemia Foundation — Queens Chapter, P.O. Box 140059, Howard Beach, 11414, or to your favorite charity.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 3
By DOMENICK RAFTER Six months- almost to the dayafter shocking the political world by winning the Congressional seat of former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (RMiddle Village) announced that he would be seeking to challenge U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for the United State Senate seat. Gillibrand, who is running for her first six-year term this Novem-
Cemetery’s Events Give Life To Its History
Page 4 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
By DOMENICK RAFTER When one hears “Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery,” you might think of an organization that focuses on raising money to keep the century-and-a-half old Kew Gardens cemetery in good shape. But that’s only a piece of the story. Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery, a non-profit membership organization, lists their mission statement as “supporting and enhancing the operation of Maple Grove Cemetery.” The organization’s president, Carl Ballenas, said their focus is not only the cemetery itself but to support and nurture the memory of those who were laid to rest there by using “the artistic, historical and horticultural resources of the cemetery.” “As a teacher, I’ve come to the realization that our cemetery is an enormous and fantastic source of historical research,” Ballenas said. Running off a list of famous names buried in the cemetery, including Sutphin and Archer - namesakes of notable Jamaica streets Ballenas said cemeteries like Maple Grove have a wealth of history and stories that could be told through cultural events.
hall, celebration hall and community and classroom space, Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery filled their calendar with a variety of cultural events, including from the Lhevinne Classical Concert Series, dedicated to Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, classical piaThe Center at Maple Grove Cemetery, nists buried at Maple which includes classrooms and a con- Grove. The concert secert hall, is the site of many of the cul- r i e s , f e a t u r i n g T h e tural event sponsored by Friends of L a u t r e a m o n t S t r i n g Maple Grove Cemetery. Quartet will be held on Saturday, March 31, at 8 “The cemetery has all these his- p.m. with a wine and cheese retoric people, but what do you do ception at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are with them?” he said. He referenced $25, $20 for seniors and $15 for the saying “Say the name of the members. More events are also scheduled dead and they shall live again.” So that is what they did. through the spring. Influenced by Ballenas and the organization, Irving Rapper, an early 20th Cenwhich has 13 volunteer members, tury film director buried at Maple have sponsored numerous events Grove who directed Bette Davis in aimed at honoring the legacy of “Now, Voyager,” some local docuthose buried in the 65-acre cem- mentary filmmakers have volunetery near Queens Borough Hall, teered to teach a seven week prooften by using the names of those gram for kids called “Kids With buried there in event titles. Mak- Cameras.” The children got a ing use of the Center at Maple chance to film their own movies Grove; a multipurpose center on and will show them off at an event Kew Gardens Road with a concert scheduled for April 4. Further, on
April 28, the group, in coordina- which Ballenas would like to see tion with the Richmond Hill His- built. He said the group was torical Society, will conduct an working with artists to have a event to commemorate the centen- bust built at the cemetery in nial of the sinking of the RMS Johnson’s honor. Titanic. What’s the connection to Beyond that, Ballenas said the Titanic at Maple Grove? The Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery cemetery is the final resting place will do a slew of other events. He of members of the Lang family of said the group learns more about Fuchs and Lang, a the history in the lithograph company cemetery all the time from the early 20th “I’ve come to and are constantly C e n t u r y w h o l o s t the realization unearthing new facts. cargo when the ship that our cem“Our calendar is hit an iceberg and full and we want to sank in the North At- etery is an add more to it,” he lantic Ocean. They enormous and said. “If we can res u c c e s s f u l l y s u e d fantastic source spect the dead and White Star Lines in a learn from them, we well-known lawsuit to of historical can learn from misresearch,” recover losses. takes of the past. It The group aims -Carl Ballenas, allows us to appreto pay homage to President- ciate what we have some of the people Friends of Maple now and appreciate buried there who Grove Cemetery w h a t w e h a d b e have been forgotten, fore.” like late 19th-century For more informusician George W. Johnson, mation on Friends of Maple Grove who is buried in an unmarked Cemetery, visit their website grave at Maple Grove. Johnson, friendsofmaplegrove.org one of the first black men to have Reach Reporter Domenick his voice recorded, and famous R a f t e r at for his whistling songs, has no drafter@queensitrbune.com or memorial to him at the cemetery, (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
Queens This Week Fundraiser To Fight Hunger Kew Gardens will unite to fight hunger this weekend- one empty bowl at a time. The fundraiser will be at the New Homstead Home at 82-45 Grenfell St. on Sunday, March 18 from 4-6 p.m. and will feature painted bowls made by local artists at The Potter's Wheel. The donation for the event is $15 per bowl and all the proceeds go to the Food Bank for New York City to help feed the hungry. Attendees will enjoy music and poetry and will be served soup by a local Girl Scout troop in the bowls they will get to keep as mementos of the event. There will also be celebrity bowl auctions featuring bowls signed by Anderson Cooper, NY1 reporter Pat Kiernan and others. The event is also sponsored by the Kew Gardens Improvement Association, Inc. and the Kew Gardens Council for Recreation and the Arts. It is the latest in Kew Gardens community building events that have occurred in the last few years. Last winter, local residents created personalized painted tiles at The Potter's Wheel, which were later framed and are not on permanent display at the Kew Gardens LIRR Station. For more information on the Empty Bowls event, visit potterswheelny.com/ workships.html or call (718) 4416614. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125. -Domenick Rafter
134th Street in South Ozone Park is a street with an identity crisis. The residential block is a twoway street barely wide enough to deal with one car plus curbside parking. Its design forces passing cars to duck into driveways and in front of fire hydrants to avoid each other. Yet, the street - the first one west of the Van Wyck Expressway that directly connects Rockaway Boulevard with North Conduit Avenue and the Belt Parkway - has seen a dramatic growth in traffic in the last decade and the Dept. of Transportation has tracked at least 17 injuries at the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard and 134th Street due to automobile accidents between 2006 and 2010. Much of the speeding traffic heads northbound toward Rockaway Boulevard, putting
Parks Slow In Fixing Playgrounds City playgrounds are intended to be a safe place for the borough's children to enjoy themselves. While playground injuries are often synonymous with being a kid, parents usually don't expect the playground itself to be the cause of accidents. A recent Comptroller's Office audit contended the Parks Department has been sluggish in repairing dangerous infrastructure at two borough parks, a finding the agency called misleading. City Comptroller John Liu announced last Thursday that various audits found the Parks Dept. was too slow in fixing hazardous conditions at Highland Park's Lower Highland Playground in Cypress Hills and Hammel Playground in Far Rockaway, among other playgrounds in the City. The Parks Dept. said that out of the 107 sites that were inspected by Liu's auditors, almost all of the conditions identified were nonhazards, such as peeling paint on a bench or cracked paved surfaces. All the reported condit ions were addressed, except for non-hazardous conditions that can be resolved when capital funding is available. At Highland Park, a March 2011 inspection reported that a section of the safet y surface was missing on the playground. When auditors visited in July, pieces of the safety mats were overturned,
scattered or missing. According to the Parks Dept., the mats were replaced between March and July, but fell apart again due to weather and playground at tendance. "The Comptroller's 'difference in days' suggests that conditions were left unaddressed for a long period of time," the Parks Dept. said in a statement. "However, many of these conditions were not considered unacceptable when they were noted in the original Parks Inspection Program inspection and were, in fact, fixed within extremely reasonable timelines." At Hammel Playground, a May 2011 inspection did not initially repor t a ny safet y hazards. Two months later, an additional inspection found a protruding metal bracket at the playground's entrance that was not previously reported. The Parks Dept. randomly inspects 205 of the City's playgrounds ever y two weeks, with each site usually inspected twice a year. Inspection report s are forwarded to the Parks Dept. for review and correction of unacceptable conditions. Hazardous conditions are supposed to be repaired within two to four weeks. Inspectors then revisit those playgrounds to verify if the problem has been corrected or not. Re a c h Re p o r t e r Ve r o n i c a Lewin at vlewin@queenspress.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 123. -Veronica Lew in
Firehouse Closed For Renovations Some temporary changes are coming to firefighting in Eastern Queens. FDNY Engine 320/Ladder 167 in Auburndale will close for nine months for renovations. Located at 36-10 Francis Lewis Blvd., the firehouse will move its operations to the Murray Hill Firehouse. Murray Hill currently houses Engine 274 at 41-20 Murray St. Ladder 167 will also go to the Bayside firehouse, home to Engine 306, at 40-18 214th Place. According to Susan Seinfeld, Community Board 11's district manager, community members are most concerned about what difference these temporary changes will make to response time. A quick response time for fires is of great concern to people living near the Ladder 167. "You're taking out a major, thriving centrally located firehouse," said Jerry Iannece, chair of CB 11. "You're relocating services and personnel that are there. Every second counts. Again, it's temporary, we understand. The building needs to be renovated."
"It is what it is," Iannece added. "We don't have much choice in the matter." Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127. -Ross Barkan
Workers Continue Contract Fight Hospital workers at the Bayside-based St. Mar y's Healthcare System for Children have been locked in intense contract negotiations since last October, and now they contend that virtually no progress has been made in that time. The workers, represented by Local 1199 SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, unionized last summer. They do not yet have a labor contract and are seeking one from St. Mary's. The goal of the 300-member union is to raise wage levels to a point where they are competitive with other Queens hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Benson Matthew, a former nurse and organizer for 1199, would not disclose the exact figures the union is seeking, but said wages are stuck at "1996 levels" and workers now need their pay to catch up with inflation. "They're actually put t ing $114 million behind an existing building, but at the same time, they cannot pay or respect their workers," he said. "Workers right now don't have a real pension." Mat thew criticized the hospital for contributing only 1 to 2 percent to the workers' health care plans. Magna Care, their health care provider, is not accepted by doctors nearby, he added. St. Mar y's was founded in Manhat tan in 1870 and moved to Queens in 1951, joins a long list of New Yorkarea medical facilities that have recently experienced labor strife. "When your salary for a director is 30 times what people in the trenches are making, you have to do something," said Frank Skala, president of the East Bayside Homeowners Association. Skala, a former teacher and organizer for the United Federation of Teachers, lives near St. Mary's and has become a community advocate for the workers. "I told them to keep the topic alive. It took us, as teachers, a year or more for a first contract. Then a strike that went with it." Aboar d a pur ple 1199 RV, nurses and maintenance workers said that condit ions at St. Mary's have improved since they organized, but that intimidation, harassment, and low pay makes a contract absolutely paramount. "You ask for supplies, not for
us, but for the kids, and it's a problem," said a nurses' assistant who did not want to be identified. "How are we going to provide care for these kids if you're being yelled at for using supplies for the kids?" Leslie Johnson, a spokeswoman for St. Mar y's, issued a statement in response. "St. Mar y's continue s to negotiate in good faith with 1199. Our end goal is to make cer tain that we continue to provide care for New York's sickest children while we remain financially sustainable." Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127. -Ross Barkan
Mormons Seek Church Variance The only higher power that will be deciding the fate of the proposal for a new Mormon church in Flushing is the Board of Standards and Appeals. Concerned civic leaders and State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) rallied on March 8 outside of a vacant property at 145-15 33rd Ave., owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Known colloquially as the Mormon Church, the Utah-based religious group owns a church nearby on Sanford Avenue. Arguing that their current church is too small to accommodate their needs, the congregants have appealed to the BSA to be granted a variance to build a larger church on the 33rd Avenue property they also own. The BSA, a five member panel of mayoral appointees, will soon decide whether the proposal, which currently violates the area's zoning code, can become a reality. The variance application, opposed by Community Board 7 and Borough President Helen Marshall, proposes a chapel that is 50 feet tall with a 94 foot steeple. The church building would be 23,000 square feet, instead of the 12,000 square feet permit ted under the current zoning. Its height would dwarf neighboring houses, though church members claim a nearby apar tment building is of a height similar to the church. David Duffy, Stake President of the Queens New York Stake - he presides over 11 congregations in New York - said that he did not anticipate the opposition that the church building would receive. "This is not people occupying the building 24/7, having parties, and disturbing the neighborhood," Duffy said. Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127. -Ross Barkan
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 5
Speedbump Eyed For 134th Street
southbound cars, residents pulling out of their driveways and customers leaving a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot in perilous situations. The parking lot also includes a drivethru that uses 134th Street as an outlet only a few feet from the corner. Cars exiting the drive-thru often speed southbound on 134th Street toward Sutter Avenue and the Belt Parkway, at least one neighbor said. On March 1, Community Board 10 voted unanimously on a plan by the DOT to install a speed bump along the stretch of road between Rockaway Boulevard and Sutter Avenue to control speeding. Cars speeding on residential blocks are a common problem in some South Queens neighborhoods, especially on long blocks leading to traffic lights or long stretches of road with no stop signs or lights, especially close to schools. The speed bump is expected to be placed close to Rockaway Boulevard along 134th Street within a month. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125. -Domenick Rafter
Edit Page In Our Opinion:
Let The Sun Shine In How ironic that the New York State legislature chose this week to go behind closed doors to make back room deals on the proposed State Senate and Assembly lines. Since 2005, the second week of March has been recognized as Sunshine Week, a national initiative used to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. The initiative began as “Sunshine Sunday” in Florida in 2002, in response to efforts by Florida legislators’ efforts to create a great number of exemptions to the state’s public records laws. With zero transparency and no accountability, LATFOR’s Senate and Assembly lines proposal is politics as usual in what is most likely the least transparent legislature in the country. Gov. Cuomo promised that he would veto the district lines if drafted in such a partisan manner. We hope that the governor is a man of his word and sends a message that it’s time for the legislature to stop playing the same old political games.
In Your Opinion:
Page 6 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
Where Are You Now? To The Editor: Dear Glass-Steagall Act (GSA), where are you now when we need you so badly? In 1933, Senator Carter Glass (D-Va.) and Senator Henry Steagall (D-Ala.) introduced the legislation which bears their name. Due largely to unregulated bank market speculation, we suffered the Great Crash of 1929. The GSA legislation limited the conflicts of interest created when banks are permitted to underwrite stocks or bonds and it established the FDIC. In 1956 the Act was further strengthened in order to prosecute banks engaging in non-banking activity. It also disallowed them to buy banks in another state. From that time on it has been the lobbyists’ field day and their efforts were not in vain, for they had begun the dilution of the Glass-Steagal Act. In the 60s, banks
were allowed to enter the municipal bond market and in the 70s they were allowed money market accounts, allowed check writing and to offer credit and debit cards. In the 80s, with the help of Alan “Deregulation” Greenspan and the Federal Reserve Board they allowed banks to underwrite businesses’ mortgage backed securities and allowed, beginning with Travelers and Citibank, the merging of banks, security firms and insurance companies creating the huge financial conglomerates which we have today bringing about the “Too Big To Fail” dilemma. There were numerous other neuterings of the GSA, but the death knell came on Oct. 22, 1999. After 12 tries in 25 years of a non-stop lobbying blitz spending hundreds of millions of dollars, Glass-Steagall, or what was left of it, was repealed placing our trusted banks in the same position they were in precipitating the Great Crash of 1929. Clichés such as, “History repeating
Michael Schenkler Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
itself” and “The more things change, the more they stay the same” are certainly apt. Although it was two Democrats with foresight back in 1933 who realized the danger in allowing banks to set the rules by which they play, the repeal was jointly agreed upon by both parties, as well as President Bill Clinton. On Nov. 4, 1999, the final version of the bill was passed by the House, 362-57, and the Senate, 90-8, and was signed into law by President Clinton on Nov. 12 as the toothless (GLBA) Graham-Lesch-Billey Financial Modernization Act of 1999. Although not surprisingly, it was the Democrats who initialed bank control and Republicans that gave the control back to the banks, there is enough blame to go around. They jointly repealed GSA. If we do not regulate and control the banksters, they will control us. Diametrically opposed, both Newt Gingrich (R) and Clinton (D) now say it was a mistake to repeal the Glass Steagall Act. Indeed it was and we have and are witnessing and living that mistake. Nicholas Zizelis, Bayside
Opp osing Viewpoint To The Editor: On Feb. 23, I read a letter in the Trib by Eddie Riechs of Howard Beach, contesting an earlier letter relative to well known infamous White Supremacists and Jew-hating speakers being invited to conference at the recent Conservative CPAC conference in Washington DC, a letter I also read. It was led by Republican Representative Steve King of Iowa. For obvious reasons, the writer claimed that this was racist. Not a particularly astute observation, but he should have added, prejudiced toward Jews as well. Mr. Riechs countered with the fact that blacks were also racist because some have isolated and insulated themselves from whites with “black” entertainment programs, “black” beauty contests, black colleges, “black”newspapers
Marcia Moxam Comrie, Contributing Editor Reporters: Harley Benson, Domenick Rafter, Veronica Lewin, Ross Barkan, Jason Pafundi
Queens County's Weekly Newspaper Group
Steven J. Ferrari, Managing Editor
Founded in 1970 by Gary Ackerman Published Weekly Copyright © 2012 Tribco, LLC
Shiek Mohamed, Production Manager
Photographers: Ira Cohen, Michael Fischthal, Lee Katzman
Ira Cohen, Photo Editor
Contributors: Tom Allon, Melissa Hom, Michael VonDerLieth, Barbara Arnstein
Queens Tribune (718) 357-7400 E-mail Address: news@queenstribune.com 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 www.queenstribune.com
Regina Vogel Queens Today Editor
Interns: Brianna Ellis, Joanna Gonzalez
Executive V.P./Associate Publisher
Where’s The GOP? To The Editor: There is still more to the insightful thoughts of “What Comes After The John Liu Legacy?” (Michael Schenkler — March 8). Notice that there is no potential Republican candidate to succeed Liu. The last effective GOP challenger for City Comptroller was businessperson Richard Bernstein, who ran with former Mayor Ed Koch in 1981. This also applies to former Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman Jules Polenetsky who ran for Public Advocate with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1997. The last Republican was NYC Council President Sanford Garelick, who won in 1969. The last Republican Comptroller was Joseph D. McGoldrick who served from 1938 to 1945. NYC Council Finance Committee Chairman Domenic Reccia, based upon recent history, has a difficult task ahead should he desire to run for NYC Comptroller. Past NYC Council Finance Committee Chairpersons Herb Berman from Brooklyn lost to Bill Thompson and David Weprin from Queens lost to John Liu in their respective Democratic Party primaries. Democrats are going to support one of their own to end the GOP’s
Shanie Persaud Director of Advertising and Marketing Shelly Cookson Corporate Advertising Account Executives Donna Lawlor Elizabeth Rieger Shari Strongin
Merlene Carnegie Tom Eisenhauer Charles Galluccio
Art Department: Sara Gold, Rhonda Leefoon, Candice Lolier, Barbara Townsend Webmaster: Shiek Mohamed
Michael Nussbaum
and “black” social circles so as to create venues that represent their race and not just those of the predominant Whites. As many times that I have been up to Harlem for either dinner at Sylvia’s or the Apollo for a particular show, I’ve yet to see a “black only” drinking fountain or a “black only” hotel, toilet, restaurant or anything else. They have good reason for tending to keep to themselves, since we have done such a great job through the years to indicate that we would rather they do so. I doubt if Howard Beach does not recognize the social disparity between the races, for its ugly head has often raised itself. Anthony Giordano, Floral Park
Assistant to the Publisher: Ria MacPherson
Maureen Coppola, Advertising Administrator Accounting: Leticia Chen, Stacy Feuerstein
20-year control of City Hall. The result will be one party control of all three citywide offices along with the City Council. This is a recipe for a return to municipal corruption. Those who assisted Bloomberg in 2009 by actually endorsing fellow Democrat Bill Thompson for mayor and then sitting on their hands and going through the motions by nominally campaigning for him will not do the same in 2013. Yesterday’s old friends of Bloomberg have become strangers, having no incentive to help him groom a successor. Democrats will all rally around their own party’s nominee for mayor in 2013. They want a friend in City Hall when running for reelection in 2014. Bloomberg abandoned the Republican Party, whose ballot line he “rented” for convenience in winning a third term. He has continued his past track record of doing little to help finance and run serious Republican challengers against incumbent Democrats. Bloomberg’s 2009 reelection strategy was deliberate in not spending any significant time campaigning or fundraising for GOP challengers. He didn’t want to increase turnout of registered Democrats or offend incumbent Democratic Party public officials. As a result, he has virtually no GOP allies or minor league bench in City Hall to develop candidates for Mayor, City Comptroller or Public Advocate in 2013. Larry Penner, Great Neck
Got A Beef ? WRITE THE TRIB! 150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357 Or you can e-mail the Trib at news@queenstribune.com Mitch Kronenfeld: Classified Manager
We reserveMance: the right to edit for length. Elizabeth Administrative Assistant
Mitch Kronenfeld: Classified Manager Elizabeth Mance: Administrative Assistant Classified Ad Representatives: Nadia Hack, Peggie Henderson, Fran Gordon, Marty Lieberman, Chris Preasha, Lorraine Shaw, Sheila Scholder, Lillian Saar
An Award Winning Newspaper
New York Press Association National Newspaper Association The Tribune is not responsible for typographical errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the advertisement.
The Queens Tribune (USPS 964-480) is published weekly every Thursday for $12 per year by Tribco, LLC, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone, NY 11357. Periodical Postage Paid at Flushing, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Queens Tribune, 150-50 14th Road, Whitestone NY 11357.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
J Coco Realty LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/7/11. Office in Queens County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 28-60 31 st St, Astoria, NY11102. Purpose: General. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation of Common Sky LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on 1/24/2012. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 3545 32 nd ST. #1F, Long Island City, NY, 11106 SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Common Sky, LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ___________________________________ NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: QUEENS COUNTY Astoria Federal Savings and Loan: Plaintiff(s) vs. ABDUL RAHIM GURMOHAMED A/ K/A ABDUL R. GURMOHAMED; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about May 23, 2011, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at Queens County Supreme Court located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, in room #25, Jamaica, NY 11435. On March 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM Premises known as 92-32 213 STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428 Block: 10625 Lot: 15 All that certain lot piece or parcel of land with the building and improvements thereon erected situated, lying and being at Queens in the Fourth Ward of the Borough of Queens of the City of New York County of Queens and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $71,968.54 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 7903/09 Joseph J. Risi, Esq., REFEREE ___________________________________ NOTICE OF SALE OF COOPERATIVE APARTMENT matter of Renee Hadida, an Incapacitated Person. Pursuant to an Order of this Court dated February 9, 2012, by Hon. Lawrence V. Cullen, A Justice of this Court. An application to sell 461 shares of stock of LANE TOWERS
OWNERS CORP, together with all right, title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease between said Corporation and Renee Hadida for apartment 16D in the building known as 107-40 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, New York, together with all fixtures and articles of personal property now or hereafter affixed to or used in connection with said apartment will me made March 20, 2012, at 9:30 A.M., at an I.A.S. Part 25G, Courtroom 44A of the Supreme Court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York 11435. Apartment is sold AS IS and subject to the consent if necessary of LANE TOWERS OWNERS CORP. The purchase for the Shares and Lease of the Apartment is presently under Contract, subject to the approval of the Court, for the price of $250,000. Contact VIVIA L. JOSEPH, ESQ., Attorney for Guardian at 22922 Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights, New York 11411 (718) 977-4132. ___________________________________ CRESPO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICE PLLC, a Prof. LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/13/2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 70-18 57th Dr., Apt 1, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: To Practice The Profession Of Lic. Mental Health Counselor. __________________________________ File No.: 2010-4392/A SUPPLEMENTAL CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT To: Pamela Roberts Harold Wilson, Jr. Leslie Richard Wilson Mary Elizabeth Fulton Carolyn White Attorney General of the State of New York The unknown distributees, legatees, devisees, heirs at law and assignees of JAMES KEYE, deceased, or their estates, if any there be, whose names, places of residence and post office addresses are unknown to the petitioner and cannot with due diligence be ascertained. Being the persons interested as creditors, legatees, distributees or otherwise in the Estate of JAMES KEYE, deceased, who at the time of death was a resident of 11401 127 Street, S. Ozone Park, NY 11420, in the County of Queens, State of New York. SEND GREETING: Upon the petition of LOIS M. ROSENBLATT, Public Administrator of Queens
County, who maintains her office at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York 11435, as Administrator of the Estate of JAMES KEYE, deceased, you and each of you are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate at the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Queens, to be held at the Queens General Courthouse, 6th Floor, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, City and State of New York, on the 29 th day of March, 2012 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon, why the Account of Proceedings of the Public Administrator of Queens County, as Administrator of the Estate of said deceased, a copy of which is attached, should not be judicially settled, and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow a reasonable amount of compensation to GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., for legal services rendered to petitioner herein in the amount of $10,627.04 and that the Court fix the fair and reasonable additional fee for any services to be rendered by GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., hereafter in connection with proceedings on kinship, claims etc., prior to entry of a final Decree on this accounting in the amount of 6% of assets or income collected after the date of the within accounting; and why the Surrogate should not fix and allow an amount equal to one percent on said Schedules of the total assets on Schedules A, A1, and A2 plus any additional monies received subsequent to the date of this account, as the fair and reasonable amount payable to the Office of the Public Administrator for the expenses of said office pursuant to S.C.P.A. §1106(4); and why each of you claiming to be a distributee of the decedent should not establish proof of your kinship; and why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship, or deposited with the Commissioner of Finance of the City of New York should said alleged distributees default herein, or fail to establish proof of kinship, Dated, Attested and Sealed 16th day of February, 2012 HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate, Queens County Margaret M. Gribbon Clerk of the Surrogate’s Court GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ. (718) 4599000 95-25 Queens Boulevard 11 th Floor Rego Park, New York 11374 This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not
obliged to appear in person. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested unless you file formal legal, verified objections. You have a right to have an attorney-at-law appear for you. Accounting Citation ___________________________________ “Notice of Formation of The Tejas Group LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on 1/3/2012. Office Location: Queens County. Princ. Office of LLC: 87-52 108 th S t r e e t , R i c h mond Hill, NY 11418. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o The Tejas Group LLC c/o Deepan Bajwa, Esq. at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.” ___________________________________ POST NATURE ART, LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/ 28/2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Marica Cooper, 104-20 68th Dr #B37, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation of Amapola, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on1/13/2012. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 102-25 46 th Ave., Corona, NY 11368. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Amapola, LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation of 15055 14 ROAD LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/26/12. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 12-40 Clintonville St., Lower Level, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. ___________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF PRINCESS NEHA, LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/30/ 2011. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: PRINCESS NEHA, LLC-34-33 75 th
Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation of WTDF Now, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/24/12. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: National Corporate Research, Ltd., 10 E. 40 th St., 10 th Fl., NY, NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful activity. ___________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: MUGA LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/13/12. The latest date of dissolution is 12/31/2112. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 147-04 8th Avenue, Whitestone, New York 11357. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. __________________________________ Notice of formation of AURALNATION LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 11/25/ 2011. Office located in QUEENS. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 11554 220 STREET QUEENS NY 11411. Purpose: any lawful purpose. ___________________________________ Notice of formation of THE H U M M I N G B I R D RISTORANTE LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 03/28/2011. Office located in Queens. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 34-75 Carey Lane, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Purpose: any lawful purpose. __________________________________ JANUS ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/14/2012. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 144-42 Jewel Ave, Flushing, NY 11367. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation of Jamaican Website LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on 12/08/2011.
Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 13752 174 th Street, Springfield gardens, NY 11434 SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/ o Jamaican Website, LLC. At the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 411 (718) 977-4132. ___________________________________ 85-10 123 RD ST LLC a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/9/11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 85-08 123 rd St., Richmond Hill, NY 11418. General Purposes. ___________________________________ Notice of formation of WM BILLING CONSULTANTS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 8/13/10. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC. 31-16 87 th st. Jackson Heights NY 11369. Purpose: any lawful purpose. ___________________________________ Notice of Formation, Basicroot LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/19/2011 Office loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of process served against LLC to: Basicroot LLC c/o Business Filings Incorporated, 187 Wolf Road, Suite 101, Albany, New York 12205 Purpose: all lawful activities. __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that a license, number 1259642 for wine and beer has been applied for by the undersigned to sell wine and beer at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 39-07 Prince Street, #1A & MA, Flushing, NY 11354 for on-premises consumption, JD Restaurant (NY) Inc. d/b/a A Taste of Shanghai. __________________________________ NOTICE of formation of Triple Win Healthcare Management, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY SSNY on January 30, 2012. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o 133-18 41 Road, Suite 1R, Flushing, NY 11354. Triple Win Healthcare Management at the princ. office of LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 7
LEGAL NOTICE
Fred Wilpon At The Helm By MICHAEL HOWARD SCHENKLER With apologies to: Ernest Lawrence Thayer, Casey At The Bat The Outlook isn’t brilliant for the New York Mets this year, The courts took all the dough from the Wilpons we do fear, And then when the Madoff receiver, goes another round, A sickly silence replaces cheering as Citi Field’s only sound. A straggling few fans already left in deep despair. The rest Cling to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast; They think, if only Casey, could buy the baseball team, They’d put up even money with a new owner of their dreams. But Fred Wilpon he is stubborn, a man of ego and pride, His Sterling Equities empire, was once so high and wide, But upon his mighty empire, now grim melancholy sat, Madoff was the money, and the courts ended all of that. And soon they’re back for another round of the Madoff money game, Three hundred million more and the team will never be the same, Win or lose the next round, really doesn’t matter The Wilpon team finances can’t afford a first class batter. From a city filled with fans, there rose a lusty cry, It rumbled from Citi Field; it rattled in Queens skies, It knocked upon LaGaurdia and recoiled off Flushing Bay, If only there were a Casey, to buy the team today. Casey could be Bloomberg, a mayor with wealth and grace, A superb team manager setting his sights only on first place, And now he’s really term limited; he’s gotta find a new game. Baseball, yes it’s baseball, the World Series is the aim. Or Casey could be “The Donald,” Mr Trump who hails from Queens, A rather flamboyant fighter, who wants to win by any means, He too may have the money, but please don’t change the name, It’s the Mets and not the Trumps so maybe he won’t play the game.
Page 8 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
Or maybe Casey is an unknown, a bond trader or techie geek, A Facebook, Apple, Microsoft billionaire so bright and meek, Or could he be a family heir with enough money to build a team, Oh where, oh where is Casey, the New York baseball dream? But from the stands not-so-filled with people, goes up a muffled roar Like the take–off of a jet plane o’er Queens and Long Island’s Shore. “Sell em’, Sell the Mets” shouted someone; the price will be so pretty. Make Fred Wilpon sell ‘em, he can’t afford a team in New York City. But with a thought of Wilpon legacy, no Casey will appear, Nor will Jose Reyes or any big name player we do fear. For Fred he cut $50 million in salary, as we enter a new season, If the Mets don’t get far enough to collapse, we all know the reason. “Fraud” cried the Flushiing maddened crowds; an echo answered “Fraud.” We need to find a Casey, and we need to find the lord, We need to find a hero, and tell the Wilpons it is time We need to find New York’s Casey, before the fans all lose their minds. Who Who Who Who
can can can can
afford to deal with Wilpon? Who can step up to the plate? win back all the fans who are quickly turning love to hate? afford the pitcher, the batter and the ball? afford the big Apple and have a team that’s best of all?
Oh, somewhere in this favored city, the sun is shining bright, The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children scream. But there’s no joy in Queens, New York, mighty Casey is just a dream.
Drawing The Line(s)! Republican seat – and above all -- drawn independently of the ugly legislature and its LATFOR political poison, has made the Special Master’s effor ts a welcome democratic gift to the people. Bet ween th is writ i ng, and your reading, the State Legislature still has the opportunity it has had for the many months – almost a year – since the 2010 census data was released, to draw and pass new lines for t he CongresJudge Mann’s Congressional Lines sional seats as well as their two houses: the Assembly and Senate. They also would need the writing, couldn’t even cut a deal to Today (Sunday, March 11), we Governor’s signature. save their own seats. We hope that have Congressional lines drawn Well, the Legislature, in spite the four days this column gets to with the speed of the gods, by U.S. of some positive leadership of age, did not see any new deal-makMagistrate Roanne Mann, ing by the Legislature to a court appointed Special approve redistricting Master – independent of maps. Their self-serving the Legislature – in a manpolitical participation will ner that seems to meet consider no one but the needs of just about evthemselves. er yone – e special ly the And our Governor, people of New York State. who for those many The near magical months, said he would strokes of judge Mann’s not accept anything that pen have been received by was not drawn by an inall as a calm elixer in the dependent commission, middle of a chaotic, hopefully served as the corruptable legislative proinsurance that no lines Judge Mann’s Congressional Lines cess. passed by the legislature Fairness, geographic would see the light of consideration, protection day. He did f lir t w ith of ethnic minorit ies, considering Governor Andrew Cuomo, has con- deal-making and using a promised but not catering to incumbents, tinued to demonstrate that it is the Constitutional Amendment to rid even-handedness, favoring neither most dysfunctional in the nation. the State of the Legislative involveparty – eliminating one Dem and These jokers, at least until this ment forever. In any event, we expect that the Cuomo leadership after redistricting is over will provide us with that Constitutional Amendment. It would be, for him, an historic step closer to the White House. Assuming the Legislature and Governor do not come to an agreement, the court master’s lines will go to the three federal judge panel which appointed her, and likely be approved and take effect for the next ten years. I’ll live with the court-drawn Congressional map and blindly anticipate and accept U.S. Magistrate Roanne Mann’s efforts on the Legislative lines. An independent effort in just about anything is preferable to participation of the New York State Legislature, which lost its way decades ago. MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato By MICHAEL SCHENKLER By the time you read this, Redistricting may have a different face.
N.Y .S. N.Y.S.
N.Y .C. N.Y.C.
By DOMENICK RAFTER In their next step toward cleaning the city’s notoriously polluted waterways, the NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection is aiming to cleanse the city’s water before it even enters the creeks, rivers and bays. DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland announced on Monday that the agency is issuing a Request for Proposals for three separate engineering and design service contacts to create “green infrastructure master plans” in three combined sewer watershed areas, two of which include areas in Queens. The areas include Newtown Creek - which straddles the Queens/Brooklyn border - and Flushing Bay. The third location is Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. The selected contractors will design “cost-effective” green infrastructure projects on city-owned buildings, streets and sidewalks in the areas where sewer overflows and runoffs drain into these three bodies of water. Among the borough locations included in these areas: Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale, Middle Village, Sunnyside and Dutch Kills - which are all included
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen
DEP Calls For Sewer Watershed Plans
The Dept. of Environmental Protection is soliciting ideas for green infrastructure projects to help prevent runoff pollution for Flushing Bay (l.) and Newtown Creek (r.). in the Newtown Creek sewer watershed - and East Elmhurst, Corona, Elmhurst, College Point, Rego Park and Forest Hills in the Flushing Bay watershed. The designers will create plans for projects like bioswales - specially designed landscape elements
aimed to remove pollutants from runoff water - as well as rain gardens and special pavement that can allow water to pass through. DEP says the goal is for the projects to
manage at least one inch of rain on 10 percent of impervious surfaces within the combined sewer areas. “This RFP represents the next phase of building green infrastructure in our sidewalks, streets and city-owned buildings at significant scale, and is the most significant step to date to saturate the Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek and Flushing Bay drainage areas with green infrastructure,” Strickland said. The RFP’s are for three separate contracts. The Newtown Creek contract is combined with the contract for Gowanus Canal and will cover 775 acres of land. The total cost of that project is $4 million. Flushing Bay is split into two contracts, one worth $5.5 million and covering 1,000 acres, the other a $2.5 million contract covering 450 acres. Proposals are to be submitted on March 19 and DEP expects to award the contracts by the summer, when the agency estimates the selected contractors will begin the process of identifying bioswale locations and producing designs for public
building. Construction will begin in about a year. Several other City agencies, including the Parks Dept. and the Dept. of Design and Construction, are also involved in other locations in the city to build green infrastructure projects. The RFPs are part of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s larger NYC Green Infrastructure Plan - a $2.4 billion investment in private and public green infrastructure announced by the Bloomberg administration in September 2010 aimed at reducing sewer overflows by 40 percent by 2030. The plan aims to use vegetation, soil and other structure elements, like bioswales, to control sewer overflow and prevent pollution from seeping into the City’s waterways. Last January, the City broke ground on a $730,000 green infrastructure project on Conduit Boulevard in Ozone Park that aimed to keep sewer overflow from combining with rainwater that eventually empties into Jamaica Bay. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 9
Compiled by JASON PAFUNDI
100th Precinct FATAL ACCIDENT: On March 10 at approximately 7 a.m., officers responded to a single vehicle accident in the vicinity of Crossbay Boulevard and East 1st Road. Upon arrival, the officers found that the solo occupant of a 2005 Nissan Altima — a 23-year-old Hispanic male — had been ejected from the vehicle after striking a tree and utility pole. The vehicle was traveling southbound on Crossbay Boulevard. The aided was removed to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The identity of the deceased is pending proper family notification.
Page 10 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
105th Precinct MISSING MAN: The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Rupert West, who was last seen at his residence, 13518 218th St. in Laurelton, on March 9, at approximately 7 a.m. West is 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, with blue eyes, black hair and a full beard. He was last seen wearing plaid shorts. He is in good physical but poor mental health. Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. 109th Precinct PEDESTRIAN KILLED: On March 8 at 8:12 p.m., police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck at 149th Street and 45th Avenue. Upon arrival, police determined that a 65year-old male was crossing the intersection eastbound at 45th Avenue and was struck by an unknown vehicle traveling southbound on 149th Street. The vehicle fled the scene. EMS responded and transported the victim to NY Hospital Queens where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The identification of the deceased is pending family notification. ROBBER SOUGHT: The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect wanted for a robbery that took place on March 7. At 1:30 p.m., the suspect, armed with a knife, entered an apartment in Flushing. Once inside, the suspect asked for money, but before the victim, a 22-year-old female, could comply, the suspect removed a set of car keys from a table and fled the location. There were no reported injuries. The suspect is described as a 22-year-old Asian male, 5-foot-7 and weighing 160 pounds. Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime Stop-
pers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. 110th Precinct ROBBER WANTED: The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating and identifying a suspect who is wanted in connection with two robberies. The first incident took place on Feb. 12 at 11:56 p.m. The suspect entered a Papa John’s restaurant located at 43-04 National St., pulled out a silver firearm and demanded money from the register. When the victim did not respond to his command right away, the individual discharged one round into the wall of the establishment. The suspect then removed cash and fled to parts unknown. There were no injuries. The second incident occurred on Feb. 26 at 7:22 a.m. The suspect entered a 7-Eleven located at 107-24 Corona Ave., pulled out a silver firearm and demanded cash. The suspect removed cash and fled on foot to parts unknown. The individual is described as a Hispanic male, dark skinned, mid 20s to early 30s, with a stocky build and a thin mustache. Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). 113th Precinct MAN KILLED: On March 8 at approximately 12:06 a.m., police responded to a 911 call of a male shot in front of 172-40 133rd Ave. Upon arrival, officers observed a 24-yearold black male with gunshot wounds to the head. EMS also responded to the location and pronounced the victim dead on the scene. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. The deceased has been identified as Maurice Johnson of 140-63 161st St., Apt. 2. His family has been notified. 114th Precinct BURGLARS WANTED: The New York City Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects wanted a burglary. On Feb. 4 at 1:55 a.m., the two suspects entered the basement parking area of 22-14 Astoria Blvd., removed two mountain bicycles and then fled the building. Suspect No. 1 is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 16-22 years old with dark hair. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and beige pants. Suspect No. 2 is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 16-22 years old with short, dark hair. He was wearing a black jacket, black shirt and black pants. Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking By JASON PAFUNDI Queens DA Richard Brown announced on Thursday, March 8, that a 22-year-old Ozone Park man has been indicted by a grand jury on kidnapping, sex trafficking and other charges for allegedly raping and prostituting a 15-year-old Long Island girl in a house that was unlawfully occupied by the defendant and others. Five other defendants have also been indicted in connection with the case. T h e l e a d d e fe n d a n t , G a r y Council, has been indicted on charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, first- and third-degree criminal sexual act, second-degree kidnapping, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, second-degree burglar y, second- and third-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree attempted grand larceny, third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison. According to the allegations, Brown said that on Feb. 6, the 15year-old victim was with a friend on Jerome Street in Brooklyn when they were allegedly picked up
in a vehicle by co-defendant Jun- tures of herself on backpage.com Council grabbed her hair and told ior Goldring and another man — with the same callback number as her to get back downstairs and make his money. who has not been apprehended — the victim. Furthermore, allegedly on Feb. It is alleged that between Feb. and taken to a house on 101st Street in Ozone Park, where she 6 and Feb. 11, the victim was 8, Council and co-defendant Omari met Council and co-defendant Roy forced to have sexual intercourse Millington together forced the vicand oral sex with numerous men tim to take two Ecstasy pills, and McMillan. When the victim, whose name inside of the location in exchange the victim was then tied up and is not being released, tried to leave for money and that all of the raped and sodomized by Council, Goldring, McMillan and the house with her friend, Renardo Williams while Council allegedly grabbed her Millington and another by the arm and said “You’re unapprehended man were in not going any where. You’re “This is a horrific case in the room. going to stay here and make which the victim, a young Brown said that on Feb. me money.” girl, is alleged to have sur 12, Council told the victim to Council then allegedly vived a nightmarish ordeal go across the street and get pulled her back inside the him something from the house and introduced her to that included being store, but when the victim left, co-defendant A n d r e a drugged, gang raped and she ran away and did not reFurlonge and told Furlonge forced to work as a prostiturn. that the victim was a “new The actual owner of the g i r l ” w h o “ w a s g o i n g t o tute. She is fortunate to house, 63-year-old Tsung make a lot of money” for him have escaped.” and instructed Furlonge to -DA Richard Brown Chen, arrived at the location on Jan. 21 and found take the victim and “do what that the locks had been broshe had to do.” Brown said that, according to money was collected by Furlonge ken off and a new lock had been the investigation, Furlonge took and given to Council. It is alleged installed. He put a new lock on nude and part ially clothed pictures that Furlonge told the victim to the house and returned on Feb. of the victim with a cell phone and obey Council or he would get vio- 5 only to find that the new lock posted them on backpage.com to lent and told her not to cry or he had been broken. A woman who adver t ise prost itut ion ser vice s. would get angr y. Also, when the the homeowner later identified Furlonge allegedly also posted pic- v ict im tr ied to take a shower, as Furlonge was living on the
first floor and two men later identified as Council and McMillan were living on the second f loor. Chen called the police and alleged that none of the occupants had permission to be there. The occupants showed Chen and the police lease agreements allegedly between Council, Furlonge, McMillan and the leaseholder, identified in the papers as “Raymond Kelly.” On Feb. 10, Chen returned to the location and asked Council, McMillan and others to leave. He was apparently told by Council and McMillan that they would only leave if he paid them $6,000 each, and Council said that if Chen did not pay them, he would have big problems. “This is a horrific case in which the victim, a young girl, is alleged to have survived a nightmarish ordeal that included being drugged, gang raped and forced to work as a prostitute,” Brown said. “She is for tunate to have escaped.” Reach Reporter Jason Pafundi at jpafundi@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 11
Queens CLOSEUP Photos On Display “Receipts,” a solo exhibit of black and white photographs by Greg M. Stowell, will be on display in the Maram Windows Gallery at Maram Pharmacy, 77-01 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, through April 20. Photographs will be visible from the sidewalks. For information, visit www.frankfrdgallery.net.
Film Director To Hold Q&A Session Queens’ independent queer film and video series, Cinemarosa, will continue its monthly spring screening program with the presentation of award-winning filmmaker Tami Gold’s documentary “Passionate Politics: the Life and Work of Charlotte Bunch,” 3-5 p.m. March 18 at the auditorium of the Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. “Passionate Politics” traces Charlotte Bunch’s lifelong work for social justice, from her early years as a civil rights activist to her engagement with feminist and political theory as a member of the lesbian separatist group The Furies and on to her induction to the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Director Tami Gold will be in attendance for a question and answer session with the audience, moderated by Hector Canonge, director of Cinemarosa. For information, visit www.cinemarosa.org.
Page 12 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
New School Opening In Elmhurst Central Queens Academy Charter School, a new district 24 middle school, will open this fall in Elmhurst. The school will start with 100 fifth-grade students, growing to grades 5-8, and will feature college prep and career readiness. Priority will be given to District 24 and English language learners. The academy will have a longer school day – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and a 190-day school year. CQA will hold open house sessions noon to 4 p.m. March 17 and 31 at 55-30 Junction Blvd., Elmhurst. To apply or for information, visit www.centralqueensacademy.org.
Council Discusses Personal Safety The 110th Precinct Community Council will hold its next meeting 7 p.m. March 19 at the VFW Hall, 51-11 108th St., Corona. Guest speaker Keith O’Donnell will give a presentation on personal safety. Deputy Inspector Ronald D. Leyson, commanding officer of the 110th Precinct, will also be on hand to discuss crime and quality of life issues. Police officers from the 110th Precinct will also receive awards for their achievements. For information, call (718) 426-9112 or email edecoursey@live.com.
Club To Discuss Taxes The Ridgewood Democratic Club will
hold its regular membership meeting 7:30 p.m. March 23 at 6070 Putnam Ave., Ridgewood. Guest speaker Nancy Ortiz-Gonzalez, a tax specialist with H&R Block, will give insight on the benefits to planning for a future retirement. For information, call (718) 821-9807.
Student Ar t On Display Evangel Christian School will present its inaugural student exhibition of art 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 3 in Fellowship Hall, 39-21 Crescent St., Long Island City. Students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8 will have work on display and a panel of judges will pick winners from each grade. Winners will go on to compete in the annual Tristate Art Fair, an art competition for Christian schools in the Tristate area. For information, visit www.ecsnyc.org.
Museum To Show 24Hour Film The Museum of the Moving Image will present a non-stop screening of Mary Ellen Carroll’s “Federal,” 9 a.m. March 24 to 9 a.m. March 25 in the museum’s Celeste and Armand Bartos screening room, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria. The 24-hour twin-screen movie was made by shooting the north and south facades of the Federal Building in Los Angeles for an entire day in 2003. Mary Ellen Carroll and others will participate in a panel discussion 4 p.m. March 24 as well. Tickets are free with museum admission from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 24. From 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day, admission is free, but museum galleries will be closed. For information, call (718) 777-6888 or visit www.movingimage.us.
Quintet Performs Heavenly Concer t Quintet of the Americas woodwind ensemble will present The Heavens – The Cosmos, a concert, 2 p.m. March 31 at Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing. Repertoire for this concert includes the premiere of Winter Music by Adam Schoenberg, who was commissioned by Quintet of the Americas for this program. Schoenberg is the 2010-12 guest composer for the Aspen Music Festival and School’s M.O.R.E program. The program will also include Queens composers Xinyan Li and Mo Suo’s “Burial Ceremony” and Dylan Glatthorn’s “The Stuff of Comets.” Chicagoan Yao Chen will present “Sfumato,” a wind quintet arrangement. The concert is free and open to the public. For information, call (718) 661-1200 or visit www.quintet.org/concerts.html.
Ensemble Retur ns To Museum The Con Brio Ensemble returns as a trio to the Voelker Orth Museum Bird Sanctuary
and Victorian Garden 2 p.m. March 24 in the museum’s parlor, 149-19 38 th Ave., Flushing. Diana Mittler-Battipaglia (piano), Alan Hollander (oboe) and Alexander Meshibovsky (violin) will perform a musical selection featuring works by Haydn, Saint-Saens, Sarasate and compostions featuring the oboe by Henrique and Sargon. Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call (718) 359-6227 or visit www.vomuseum.org.
‘World of Animals’ Comes To APEC Alley Pond Environmental Center will host the “World Of Animals” 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 13 at the center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston. The event is for children ages 2-10 with parental participation. The spring break program will take kids on a trip around the world without ever leaving the center. APEC’s educators will introduce kids to animals from Australia, South America, North America and Africa and will give kids the opportunity to touch live animals, make animal crafts and spend some time learning about the creatures of the world. Cost is $10 for members, $16 for nonmembers. For information, or to register, call (718) 229-4000.
Temple Announces Seder The Reform Temple of Forest Hills will hold a Passover Seder, conducted by Rabbi Mayer Perelmuter, Rabbi Elizabeth Wood and Cantor Cary Schwartz, 5:30 p.m. April 7 at the temple, 71-11 112 th St., Forest Hills. Cost of the dinner is $63 for adults and $24 for children ages 12 and younger. The dinner is free for children younger than 3 years old. For information or to make a reservation, call the Temple at (718) 2612900.
Outdoor Sports Leagues Forming The Central Queens YM&YWHA has announced its instructional Co-ed leagues for children. New this year is a T-ball program for children ages 3-6. This instructional and recreational program was developed to teach the fundamental skills of throwing, catching, fielding, base running and hitting. Children will participate in game play as they develop skills. The program runs for 8 Sundays beginning April 1 from noon to 12:50 p.m. Fee is $165 and includes a T-shirt, participation trophy and insurance. Youth Soccer League for children ages 31/2 to 12 years old will be held outdoors at Forest Hills High School. The program begins April 1 with an evaluation/skills clinic
and runs for 8 Sundays. Children will be evaluated and placed on teams based on age and ability. Skills will include passing, trapping, shooting and offensive and defensive alignments. Sportsmanship and fair play are taught and the emphasis is on learning, not winning or losing. Fee is $165 and includes a T-shirt, participation trophy and insurance. For information, call Adam Ostroff at (718) 268-5011, Ext. 500, or email aostroff@cqy.org.
Council Discusses Personal Safety The 110 th Precinct Community Council will hold its next meeting 7 p.m. March 19 at the VFW Hall, 51-11 108th St., Corona. Guest speaker Keith O’Donnell will give a presentation on personal safety. Deputy Inspector Ronald D. Leyson, commanding officer of the 110 th Precinct, will also be on hand to discuss crime and quality of life issues. Police officers from the 110 th Precinct will also receive awards for their achievements. For information, call (718) 426-9112 or email edecoursey@live.com.
Comedy Night At Nativity Nativity BVM and St, Stan’s Parish will present a night of comedy 8 p.m. March 24 at Nativity Church Hall, 101-41 91st St., Ozone Park. The event will feature three comedians. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Hot dogs, snacks and bar will be available. Tickets cost $20. The event is sponsored by the Nativity BVM Knights of Columbus. For information, call Steve Jasiak at (718) 551-2333, Don Curran at (718) 843-1046 or Jimmy Monforte at (646) 610-3546.
CitiField To Host Anniversar y The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island will celebrate its 25th anniversary during a gala March 24 at CitiField, home of the New York Mets. The evening will feature an exclusive cocktail hour in the Delta Sky 360 Lounge, followed by a full night of entertainment. Tickets start at $250 and several sponsorship opportunities are available. For information or to purchase tickets, call Jeanne Ellis, director of fundraising operations, at (516) 775-5683, Ext. 140, or email jellis@rmhlongisland.org.
Church To Hold Flea Market Trinity United Methodist Church, corner of 86th Avenue and 108th Street in Richmond Hill, will host an indoor flea market March 31. Vendors are welcome; tables cost $25. For information or to reserve a table, call (347) 251-8583.
EDC Denies Request For Willets Proposal Names
Tribune Photo by Ross Barkan
By ROSS BARK AN New York City’s Economic Development Corporation has not yet disclosed the names of developers seeking to transform the auto repair shop oasis that is Willets Point, infuriating its opposition, Willets Point United. This year EDC will reward a contract to a private developer to turn the 62-acre Iron Triangle into what some hope will be a hub of commercial activity; the most ardent supporters of the development dream that the cratered streets that wend among the dizzying number of repair shops, scrap yards and waste processing sites will be swapped for retail outlets, hotels and perhaps a convention center. EDC denied WPU’s Freedom of Information Law request for names of the developers, though the deadline for proposals to be submitted was Sept. 9, 2011. Opponents of the planned Willets Point development have said they believe the City is actively misleading its citizenry about multiple facets of the project, including its potential paralyzing impact on Van Wyck Expressway traffic flow and a “living wage pro-
Willets Point workers protest problems in the area during a rally in February. vision” that was promised to be a part of any development proposal but has not been specifically stipulated by EDC in the development’s first phase. The development is currently chopped into phases, with a Phase 1 developer planned to be announced within several months. The property owners of Willets Point also contend that their sewer-free, sidewalk-free neigh-
borhood has been neglected by the City for decades and is only now targeted for upgrades so City government can ultimately force them off their land using the power of eminent domain. Eminent domain refers to the ability of a governmental body to transfer land from one private property owner to another for the sake of “public use,” in this case economic development. WPU has filed multiple
lawsuits against the City for allegedly abusing its use of eminent domain in the first phase of the project, which is 12 acres. “It’s important to disclose the names of the developers because EDC clearly cannot be held to its word,” a spokesperson for WPU said. “The need for transparency is paramount.” Those who answered EDC’s request for proposals should be known to the public, WPU argues, because EDC itself is a public corporation. An EDC spokeswoman, Jennifer Friedberg, said the EDC is still negotiating with respondents. According to a 2011 report in Crain’s Business New York, a source disclosed four of the developers that had submitted proposals for Phase 1. They are The Related Companies, Silverstein Properties, mega-REIT AvalonBay Communities Inc., and TDC Development & Construction Corp. Related has partnered with Sterling Equities, the real estate firm controlled by Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz. EDC, however, will not confirm any of the names, and since the deadline has passed for applicants to respond, there is no good reason
for the names to be kept from the public, said Robert Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government. “The developers are on equal footing if the deadline is reached,” Freeman said. “I don’t see any conceivable basis for withholding these names.” An exasperated Jake Bono, a Willets Point property owner and member of WPU, agrees with Freeman. He said EDC’s lack of disclosure perplexes him. “We shouldn’t even have to ask for the names,” Bono said. “They should be there on the website instead of a bio of how great they are. It should say what they’re doing.” In the case of eminent domain, a bill just passed in the House of Representatives may present a future obstacle for EDC. The “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2011” would curtail the powers of eminent domain nationally. Its ultimate passage is still far from assured, however, and any curtailing of eminent domain would require the overturning of a Supreme Court decision. Reach Reporter Ross Barkan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 13
Queens Focus PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE. . .PEOPLE Flushing House, 38-20 Bowne St., will hold a spring flea market and open house March 31. The flea market will be held in the large game room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of goods will be on sale, including jewelry, arts and crafts, collectibles, clothing and white elephant items. Admission is free. A portion of the proceeds will support the Flushing House activities fund. The open house will be held 24 p.m. For information, visit www.flushinghouse.com.
Page 14 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
New York Air National Guard announced the completion of training for members of the New York Air National Guard at FS Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. Airman 1st Class Frank Belcore of Flushing completed training for the aerospace maintenance apprentice course at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Airman 1st Class Jose Clavijo of East Elmhurst completed training for the electronic principles, communication/navigation course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Airman 1st Class Oscar Perez of Queens Village completed training for the security forces apprentice course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The Milken Family Foundation recently awarded Rafal Olechowski, an English and language teacher at Townsend Harris High School, with a Milken Educator Award. The award comes with a $25,000 cash prize. “Rafal Olechowski is an education game-changer who empowers students and teachers to exceed their own expectations of what is possible,” MFF chairman and co-founder Lowell Milken said. “He is an inspiration and example for communities, policymakers, and students who may be inspired to enter the profession, and for all of our nation’s K-12 educators.” The following local students graduated from Binghamton University during fall 2011 commencement ceremonies: Shahdrick W. Samson of Flushing earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Kyung Y. Kim of Flushing
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Lin Yin of Flushing earned a Bachelor of Science degree in financial economics. Yuanju Tsai of Flushing earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Brandon Woo of Flushing earned a Bachelor of Science degree in integrated neuro molecular track. Andrew Cho of Flushing was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Michelle Lee of Whitestone and Jiali Yu of Flushing were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Cornell University in Ithaca. Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Syracuse University. They include: Bayside: WingTing Chiang, Hanna Chung, Molly Karow, Yejin Bin, Maggie Chen, Priscilla Kim, Elizabeth Larkin, Tina Lin. Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Syracuse University. They include: Howard Beach: Olivia Dibs. Ozone Park: Rosie Herrera. The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings March 410. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more. Nir Barak of Far Rockaway won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing March 2. Barak’s winning ticket was purchased at AK Newstand, 322 Ave. M, Brooklyn. Fernando Corrales of Rego Park won $10,002 on the Quick Draw drawing March 5. Corrales’ winning ticket was purchased at the Mini Mart, 97-02 Queens Blvd., Rego Park. William Lewis of Jamaica won $10,130 on the Take Five drawing March 6. Lewis’ winning ticket was purchased at the C-Town Supermarket, 142-36 Foch Blvd., Jamaica. Sandra Bors of Woodside won
$30,115 on the Take Five drawing March 3. Bors’ winning ticket was purchased at the Green & Clean, 44-06 48th Ave., Woodside. Mario Sabatino of Astoria won $37,417 on the Take Five drawing March 4. Sabatino’s winning ticket was purchased at the M&R Newsstand. 30-09 36th Ave., Astoria. Maksim Golishev of Jackson Heights won $17,550 on the Take Five drawing March 8. Golishev’s winning ticket was purchased at Shaha, 82-06 37th Ave., Jackson heights. Gladys Hernandez of Jackson Heights won $10,130 on the Take Five drawing March 6. Hernandez’s winning ticket was purchased at Junction Convenience, 34-60 Junction Blvd., Jackson Heights. Air Force Airman Jonathan R. Rodriguez graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is the son of Zoriada Figueroa of Richmond Hill and is a 2010 graduate of the High School For Construction Trades in Ozone Park.
Free Screening:
Councilman Dan Halloran poses with staff at a free mammography screening this weekend, provided by the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. Screenings were provided for dozens of female residents and took place outside the councilman’s office in Whitestone. 2011 graduate of Newtown High School in Elmhurst. Local students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Syracuse University. They include: Forest Hills: Rachel Gerwitz, Alexander King, Natalie Sarmiento. Kew Gardens: Siddra Shah. Rego Park: Aaron Mackey, Saloni Mayani.
Major General Patrick A. Murphy recently announced the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capabilities for additional responsibility and leadership. Orlando Caholo of Ozone Park, serving with the Company B (maintenance) 427th Brigade Support Battalion, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Marta Eggers of Rego Park was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Emory College, the undergraduate liberal arts college of Emory University, in Atlanta, Ga.
Ronald Howe Jr. of Corona and Shannon Luckey of Glendale were inducted into the Lambda Beta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica.
New York Air National Guard announced the completion of training for members of the New York Air National Guard at FS Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. Airman 1st Class Frank Belcore of Flushing completed training for the aerospace maintenance apprentice course at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Airman 1st Class Jose Clavijo of East Elmhurst completed training for the electronic principles, communication/navigation course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Airman 1st Class Oscar Perez of Queens Village completed training for the security forces apprentice course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Air Force Reserve Airman Gladielle Z. Cifuentes graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. She is the daughter of Rosalba Cifuentes of Woodside and is a
Zainab A. Sulaiman of Queens Village was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Drew University in Madison, NJ.
The combined Queens Alliance-Queens Kiwanis Baseball League invites youth teams to register now for the 2012 season. Divisions of play include 12&U, 14&U, 16&U and 18&U. For information, call Mike Rizzo at (718) 366-7717 or (718) 821-4487 or Bill Bellas at (917) 751-2682. The New York Lottery announced the names of area Lottery players who claimed a winning ticket from one of the Lottery’s live drawings Feb. 26March 3. The following winners each received a cash prize valued at $10,000 or more. Alex Villagran of Rego Park won $10,000 on the Win 4 drawing Feb. 27. Villagran’s winning ticket was purchased at Get Liquor From Us, 47-31 Junction Blvd., Corona. Izdehar Alghazali of Ridgewood won $25,000 on the Win 4 drawing Feb. 27. Alghazali’s winning ticket was purchased at Yasmin’s Deli, 818 Onderdonk Ave., Ridgewood. William Chang of Woodside won $10,000 on the Mega Millions drawing Feb. 24. Chang’s winning ticket was purchased at the Rockville Centre Newsstand, 40 Front St., Rockville Centre. Christopher Reese of Long Island City won $10,000 on the Quick Draw drawing March 1. Reese’s winning ticket was purchased at Resorts World Casino NYC in Jamaica. Send your people news to: Queens Focus Queens Tribune 150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone, NY 11357
Not-So-Standard Appeal
BSA Under Fire Over Concerns Of Accountability And Bias
“Manhattan-Centric”
People call on the Board of Standards and Appeals to deny a variance to a church proposal in Flushing. ferently — can be granted if a developer claims there is a “hardship” that requires such a variance. Hardships can be related to the physical nature of the property, such as an oddlyshaped lot, environmental contamination or a high water table. They can also be economic; the BSA stipulates that property owners are entitled to a “reasonable” economic return. Developers can be adept at using — or exploiting — this hardship. “The BSA has a Manhattancentric view,” said Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone). “Manhattan is completely built up. The BSA does not appreciate subtleties of communities like ours with one or two family homes on larger parcels of land with a lot of green space.” The chief problem with the BSA, assert critics like Halloran, is its lack of accountability. Board members are not elected and once they issue a decision, only a court order can overturn it. Though the board, which consists of one city planner, one architect and one engineer, will take community concerns into account when rendering a decision, they are not obligated to do so. Halloran and Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) have co-sponsored legislation that would give community board members and the Borough President the power to
appeal a BSA decision. “The Board takes the recommendations of the community ver y seriously,” said Jeffrey Mulligan, a spokesman for the BSA. “Ultimately the Board decisions must be legally defensible and are therefore based on the applicant’s ability to make the findings as identified in the zoning resolution, New Yor k State case law and the Board’s previous decisions.” Mulligan said the BSA does not publicly comment on specific cases.
members of the BSA. According to data from his bill, between 2005 and this month, the BSA approved 778 variances and rejected 21 in Queens. Since they offer little public explanation for their decisions, Van Bramer said the BSA “lacks transparency” and represents an “abuse of the system.” “The problem is the BSA is still not the way it should be, a 50-50 way of looking at something from a neutral perspective,” said Graziano, a Flushingbased urban planning consultant who, along with State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), designed a zoning designation to prevent the construction of unusually large single-family homes known as “McMansions.” “Prior to Bloomberg getting in here, something like 94 percent of all variances were granted. Now, it’s about 72 percent. At least we have a chance, but before it was really skewed against the people.” Skewed is a word that BSA opponents use often — it implies that BSA decisions are often handed down in favor of developers looking to build lucrative and larger projects against the wishes of neighboring residents. In Bayside Hills, an application for a variance was submitted by an architect, Paul Bonfilio, who was once the vice chair of the BSA. Bonfolio wanted to squeeze a second home on a narrow, subdivided lot that locals believed could not possibly hold another structure. Bonfilio’s application was approved, sparking Halloran and Weprin’s reformation efforts.
“Skewed” Judgment?
Go West, Young Developer
C o u n c i l m a n J i m my Va n Bramer (D-Sunnyside) has also introduced legislation that would expand the BSA to 16 members, including five members from City Council, five from City Hall, one from the Public Advocate, and one from each borough president’s office. Van Bramer would also like to see City Council approve all
Civic leaders in Northeastern and Western Queens seem to dislike the BSA’s decision making the most. In the more suburban quar ters of Nor theast Queens, residents are very protective of what they repeatedly call their neighborhood’s “character.” Any affront to quiet suburbia, where Western Nassau County and Easter n Queens
blend harmoniously, will be contested. Western Queens continues to evolve as a commercial and residential hub, attracting developers who want to profit on land rapidly spiking in value. In 2011, the Dept. of City Planning rezoned Sunnyside and Woodside to protect the lower-density milieu of the residential neighborhoods. Residents rejoiced. Moderate increases in residential and zoning density were permitted along main arteries like Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue. Despite the rezoning efforts, Van Bramer and community activists have blasted the BSA for recently render ing decisions that would allow for larger, mixed-use developments that would violate the new zoning code. Dutch Kills residents, reacting to Long Island City’s hotel boom, sued developer Steven Bahar and the BSA in 2010 over a proposed hotel at 39-35 27th St. Residents contended Bahar, who opened Hotel Vetiver on 39th Avenue, had not made enough progress on the hotel’s foundation to warrant a variance. The BSA also ruled last year that an eight-story apartment building could be constructed at 64-01 Woodside Ave., despite its lack of conformity with City Planning’s rezoning effor ts. Community Board 2, representing Maspeth, Sunn yside, Woodside and Long Island City, fought the variance and Van Bramer has used that decision as an impetus for a reform bill. And contrary to the wishes of CB 2, Ravel Hotel was granted a variance to expand to a lot that is adjacent to its current location at 8-08 Queens Plaza South. “The BSA has a total lack of understanding of the neighborhood,” said Joseph Conley, the chair of CB 2. “Time and time again we’ve seen everywhere that the BSA votes against the community.” Reach Repor ter Ross Bar kan at rbarkan@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 15
New York’s zoning code, established in 1916, rigidly defines what kinds of buildings can be built and where. It is the reason a structure the size of the Empire State Building does not loom over Parsons Boulevard. The BSA’s function is to allow for sensible exceptions to the established zoning code in a particular area. Individual parcels of land could lie in a certain type of zone, and a developer or the community may feel a structure that violates the established zoning code could exist without disrupting the community. The BSA will not hear applications unless another City agency like the Dept. of Buildings has rendered a decision first. Therein is the word “appeal.” Developers appeal to the board to be allowed to build beyond what the land was originally zoned for. Variances — an exception that allows land zoned for one particular use to be utilized dif-
Tribune Photos by Ross Barkan
By ROSS BARKAN Outside a vacant property in suburban Flushing, civic group members were not protesting the Board of Standards and Appeals. Their colorful signs and cutting slogans were saved for a potential church that, they argued, would be too massive to confor m to the single-family homes on the block. Rather than protest the BSA, they were asking for its mercy. The BSA is one of the most influential agencies in New York City, and perhaps the most influential one that no one has heard of. Despite zoning guru Paul Graziano’s assertion that dur ing Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decade-long reign, the BSA has listened more to the concerns of City denizens than in the past, verbal and legislative volleys continue to be fired at its Manhattan office. Made up of five members appointed by the mayor, the BSA can grant a developer “relief ” from the City’s stringent zoning code.
Page 16 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
Leisure
New Book Praises Queens’ Diversity By DOMENICK RAFTER In the late 1990s, a h istory teacher told her class at a Queens high school during a discussion about race, “In Queens, ever yone is a minority.” For the last few decades, that has been technically true. There is no majority ethnicity in Queens, one of the few places in the country and indeed the world - where that is true. Often it’s a sense of pride for Queens residents, sometimes it has led to minor strife, but the borough’s ethnic diversity has given it a reputation that has gone global. Journalists and authors Karl
Meyer and Shareen Blair Br ysac are just the latest to write about that reputation. In their new book, “Pax Ethnica,” the duo explores Queens and other places around the world where different cultures live together in relative harmony like the religious diversity of Muslims, Hindus and Christians living together in Keralta, India, and the large Muslim population of Marseilles, France - a country that banned the wearing of Islamic headscarves. Although their travels took them all over the world, both say Queens definitely stands out as unique. “There is no place on Earth as
More Than Just A Pie
REVIEW
bers. They interviewed Richard Italiano, the late chairman of Community Board 4 who passed away in January, and spoke about how many immigrants do not get involved in community board and civic positions because they tend to work multiple jobs and have lit tle time to be involved in civic activities. They also took note of the “potpourri of ethnic groups” that ride the 7 train and the cultural events that often bring together large groups of different people, including the Phagwa Parade in Richmond Hill, which was held this past weekend. “The Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Jews, to a degree that’s really quite impressive, generated an general inter-communal feeling,” Meyer said. Queens’ diversity can be seen even in its healthcare system, Meyer and Br ysac said. Pharmacist s in local small pharmacies gear toward the immigrant community and help customers not only with medicines, but also immigration and tax issues. At Elmhurst Hospital, there are 10 full-time translators because of the number of foreign language
speakers in the community. But what stood out above all else in the borough, the duo said, was its libraries. “If you go to your local library in Manhattan and compare it to the librar y in Flush ing, t here is no comparison,” Br ysac said, she went on to describe the borough’s libraries are “ver y people directed” and are not only places to check out books, but fully-functioning community centers that played host to organizations, community meetings and events; something that is not in Manhat tan librarie s. In many ways, Meyer said Queens was what communities, faced with a future full of diversity, will evolve into. “We felt we were visiting the future,” Meyer said. “Queens was pioneering a new type of cosmopolit ism.” Pax Ethnica hit the shelves this week and can be found at publicaffairsbooks.com Reach Reporter Domenick R aft e r at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.
Wopat Brings B’way To Boro By TAMMY SCILEPPI As part of it s Celebrit y Concert Series, Queens Theatre’s upcoming production on March 24 will fe a t u re a c o n c e r t o f d a z z l i n g Broadway hits and nostalgic standards of the 40s and 50s performed by TV and stage star Tom Wopat. Wopat says jazz is his passion, but he’s also into rock and country. As a youngster, he recalls learning all about different genres from his music teacher, wh ile growing up in Madison, Wis. The talented lad began singing and dancing in school musicals from age 12. Following high school graduation, he pursued music as a viable profession. Studying at the University of Wisconsin, Wopat dropped out to front a rock band, as both guitarist and lead singer, and later gained onstage experience in such musicals as “South Pacific,” “West Side Story” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” From 1979 to 1985, Wopat’s freewheeling Luke Duke character was considered a hero and heartthrob for a generation of teens who watched him every week on the CBS TV series, “The Dukes of Hazzard.” But Wopat never let that role define his career – no sir. After the cancellation of the
popular series, he reverted back to his first true love - music - successfully refocusing as a recording artist and musical leading man of Broadway and regional shows. Wopat per formed in the Tony Award-winning “City of Angels” and “Guys and Dolls.” In 1999, he received a Tony nomination for his role in the Broadway revival of “Annie Get Your Gun,” opposite Bernadette Peters. Then, in 2008, the star returned to Broadway as Tom Hurley in “A Catered Affair,” with Faith Prince and Harvey Fierstein. The star spent much of 2011 on Broadway again, starring as Frank Abagnale Sr. in the adaptation of “Catch Me If You Can.” Never one to let grass grow under his feet, Wopat was in the spotlight again as Cybill Shepherd’s exhusband/stuntman, on her own sitcom series “Cybill,” in 1995. Other credits include a recurring role on Home Improvement, the critically acclaimed NBC movie “Just My Imagination,” HBO’s “Taking Chance,” alongside Kevin Bacon, and most recently, a spot on CBS’ “A Gifted Man.” In 2012, Wopat will star in ABC’s first-ever movie musical, “Elixir,” alongside Ja ne Seymour, Chelsea Kane, Sara Paxton and more.
Tom Wopat Tom Wopat WHERE: Queens Theatre, Flushing Meadows Corona Park WHEN: March 24 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. TICKETS: $44 or $60 for Producer’s Circle. ht tp://queenstheatre.org
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 17
venturous; a Hawaiian pizza, with ham and pineapple. Like most Italian takeout places, Vincent and Andrea’s offers a wide selection of pasta dishes and heroes. But they go far beyond the spaghet ti in an aluminum plate or messy sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil. The selection of dishes and heroes is endless, there’s almost one for ever y day. Tr y the tor tellini with vodka or alfredo Vincent and Andrea’s, located at 113-07 Jamaica RESTAURANT sauce for a creamy treat. In the mood for Ave. in Richmond Hill, may a hero? Vincent and appear to be just another Andrea’s has the pizzeria in a borough laundry list you’ll find soaked in pizzerias, but as in an Italia n eater y: its extensive - almost restaumeatball, sausage, rant-sized - menu shows, it’s eggplant, veal cutlet, much more than just a pie. chicken cutler and Ordering from Vincent peppers and egg. But and Andrea’s is almost like they take it one step talking to your waitress by phone. What comes a half an hour further. Beyond the traditional heor so later is a smorgasbord in a roes, Vincent and Andrea’s has a box. For our meal, we ordered a selection of wraps added to their multitude of dishes, including menu, as well as burgers and steak sides. I had a personal supreme sandwiches. Even when enjoying your delipizza. Barely big enough for someone starving to finish in one set- cious and filling meal, don’t miss ting, this pizza is probably bet ter out on Vincent and Andrea’s exoff shared with a significant other. tensive appetizer menu. I recomThe pizza was topped with sau- mend the New Zealand mussels in sage, pepperoni, olives, onions garlic and white wine sauce. The and peppers. Though it may seem mussels are exceptionally meaty and like a lot going on for one pizza seasoned in a mouth-watering slice - and it was - the mix of fla- sauce. The mussel shells have a vors made it a delight. It’s easier unique and hypnotic rainbow color. to eat it with a fork and knife than If you get that far, Vincent and the typical folding of the slice way. Andrea’s also has a selection of desWant different toppings? You can ser t s includi ng chocolate a nd get a buffalo chicken or barbecue- cheese cakes and tiramisu cakes. Ready to order? Visit Vincent chicken-topped pizza. For those Andrea’s website, who don’t eat meat, there’s a veg- a n d etarian pizza topped with broc- w w w.vapizzany.com, for coucoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms pons and menu information. -Domenick Rafter and olives and for the more adVincent and Andrea’s 113-07 Jamaica Ave. Richmond Hill (718) 846-7070 w w w.vapizzany.com CUISINE: Italian DELIV ERY: Yes HOURS: Mon-Thu, Sun 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. CREDIT CARDS: All Major
diverse as Queens,” Br ysac said, noting 138 languages are spoken in the borough. “Queens sets the standard.” She and Meyer “handled Queens a lit tle differently” t han they did in other areas they visited and profiled and noted that its location - directly across the river from where they lived in Manhattan - made it a much less time consuming place to research. “It was easier in many ways because we had the luxury of t ime,” Brysac said. Ever y week dur i ng their research, the two of them would visit different part s of Queens and see how different communities lived. They read local newspapers - including Queens Tribune - and visited with community boards and parent-teacher associations. “Communit y boards and PTAs are ver y impor tant,” Meyer said. “They provide a forum for different ethnic groups to get together and try to solve problems” Meyer said they took note of some of the borough’s quirks, such as the aging of the community board mem-
Some Choice Stops For Spring Dining Bourbon Street Café 40-12 Bell Blvd., Bayside bourbonstreetny.com This Bayside favorite offers a wide variety of Cajun cuisine in authentic New Orleans fashion. For an appetizer, tr y the North Carolina lump crab cakes or Lucifer’s mussels. Bourbon Street Café serves a delicious New Orleans shrimp bisque that you can follow with a po boy sandwich. If that does not touch your inner “Voodoo Chile,” try the seafood gumbo, or chicken and shrimp jambalaya.
Flintstone” prime rib chop, USDA beef dry aged 21 days. If you yabba dabba do not want a steak, Uncle Jack’s does proudly present an eclectic menu, uniquely prepared by the executive chef, featuring free-range chicken and fresh seafood. The restaurant prides itself on offering the finest organic produce, herbs and spices, grown to their specifications on one of Long Island’s top rated organic farms.
spring DINING
Page 18 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse 39-40 Bell Blvd., Bayside unclejacks.com This popular steakhouse, which also has locations in Manhat tan, brings its mouth-watering, juicy meat to Queens. Try the Little Neck clams on the half shell or the Panamanian jumbo shrimp — not an oxymoron here. And then feast on the 16 ounce filet mignon — served in its own juices — or the “Fred
Papazzio 39-38 Bell Blvd., Bayside papazzio.com If Italian is your bag, baby, there are few places in Queens better than Papazzio. For an antipasto, you can do worse than the calamari frit t i or Ne w Zeala nd steamed mussels, served in a fennel and white wine broth. For your next course, if there is any, try the insalata di spinaci — or spinach salad for those who do not speak Italian. If you are not a fan of
Popeye’s power source, then order an insalata e pomodoro mozzarella — chopped tomato and mozzarella with basil over a bed of greens with a balsamic vinaigrette. For your main course, you m i g h t w a n t to t r y t he v e a l scaloppini with eggplant and proscuitto and mozzarella or the pollo Tuscany, sautéed chicken breast with sausage, onions and peppers in a light garlic sauce over a bed of fet tuccine. Bann Thai 69-12 Austin St., Forest Hills bannthairestaurant.com With a menu featuring 96 — yes, 96 — different items, Bann Thai sets the bar high when it comes to Asian cuisine in Forest Hills. If you like Thai food — and if you don’t, why are you at this restaurant? — you cannot go wrong with the Thai style fish cakes or seafood glass noodle salad. Follow that with either the roasted duck with pineapple, sautéed chicken with ginger or the pla chu chee with coconut milk. Agora Taverna 70-09 Austin St., Forest Hills
Bourbon Street Café in Bayside agorataver na.com In Ancient Greece, the Agora was a gathering spot in city-states, and the literal translation of the world means ‘gathering place’ or ‘assembly’. The Agora Taverna is a perfect after-work place to meet with friends and enjoy some fine Greek cuisine. Star t with some blue point oysters or Greek chicken soup. Spanokopita - fresh spinach, leeks and Feta cheese wrapped in phyllo dough - is another solid appetizer choice, though if you want to be
more adventurous, try the octopus. For your entrée, t he Nor t h Carolina black sea bass — which goes well with the soup of the day — is a fine choice for your entrée. Or tr y the Florida red snapper — and the Sunshine State is filled with fine snappers — which is a moist, sweet white fish. End your evening with loukoumades, Greek honey dumplings sprinkled with walnuts and cinnamon or galactoboureko, milk farina custard wrapped in phyllo with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL
Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 150-50 14 Road, Whitestone NY 11357. Send faxes to 357-9417, IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
SINGLES SIMCHA SINGLES Friday, March 16 for those 40-60+ at the Little Neck Jewish Center, 49-10 Little Neck Parkway at 8. Services followed by discussion: “Jewish Humor: Its Place in Jewish History and Its Role in our Contemporary Lives.” 516-487-0674.
THEATER FUNNY THING Through March 25 “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum” at Marathon Little Theatre in Little Neck. $18 adults. 229-4644. RENT April 11-14, 18-20 at LaGuardia Performing Arts. 482-5151.
TALKS
ACT TEST Saturday, March 17 take an A C T p ra c t i c e t e s t a t t h e F l u s h i n g l i b ra r y. 800-2738439 register. JOB SEARCH Saturday, March 17 at the Central library at 10:30. CHESS CLUB Saturdays Flushing library at 2. TEEN STUDY Mondays through Thursday s at the Lefrak Cit y library at 4. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays Douglaston/Little Neck library at 4. TEEN CHESS Mondays at 6 Bayside library. HOMEWORK & GAMES Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays homework help and teen gaming at the Fresh Meadows library at 4. EGG BALANCING Tuesday, March 20 Spring Solstice Egg Balancing Challenge for Teens at the Far Rockaway library at 4. 3D ECO ART Tuesday, March 20 create an environmentally themed painting at the Middle Village library. Register. DANCE & LITERACY Tuesday, March 20 interactive workshops using literacy to explore the roots of contemporary culture. Cambria Heights and LIC library at 4. Wednesday, March 21 at the Ridgewood library at 4.Thursdays, March 22, 29 at the Cambria Heights library and the LIC library at 4. Fridays, March 23, 30 at the Ridgewood library at 4. LIC CHESS CLUB Tuesdays LIC library at 4. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesdays Windsor Park library at 4. DANCE & LITERACY Wednesday, March 21, Fridays, March 23, 30 at the Ridgewood library at 4. RESUME WRITING Wednesdays 4 Arverne library. GAME DAY Wednesdays Howard Beach and St. Albans libraries at 4. CHESS Wednesdays at 3:30 Queens Village library. KNIT & CROCHET Wednesdays South Ozone Park library at 1. Knit at the Bayside librar y. Register. KNITTING CLUB Wednesdays at the Bayside library. Register. 3D ECO ART Thursdays, March 22, 29 create an environmentally themed painting at the Astoria librar y. Register. MOTIVATIONAL WORK. Thursdays, March 22, 29
motivational workshop for teens at 5 at the Laurelton library. KARAOKE NIGHT Thursday, March 22 at the Arverne library at 5:30. OPEN MIC Thursday, March 22 at the East Elmhurst library at 6. TEEN THURSDAYS T h u r s d ay s B ay Te r ra c e l i brary at 3. CHESS CLUB Thursdays 4-5:30 Douglaston/Little Neck library. East Flushing library at 5. WII GAMING Fridays, March 23, 30 wii gaming at the Astoria library at 4:30. TEEN HAPPY HOUR Fridays at 4 Flushing library. CHESS CLUB Fridays Auburndale library a t 3 : 3 0 . Tu t o r i a l a t t h e Woodside library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Fridays Briarwood library at 4. GAME DAY Fridays Woodhaven library at 4:30. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Every Friday at 4 Hillcrest library. TEEN FRIDAYS Fridays Seaside library at 4. LIVE WOLF Saturday, March 24 wolf conservation center at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.
FLEA MARKETS SPRING FAIR Saturday, March 24 9-3 at UUCQ, 147-54 Ash Avenue, Flushing. FLEA MARKET Saturday, March 24 9-4 at Plattduetsche, Renken Apartments Great Room, 1140 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square. SPRING TREASURE Saturday, March 24 9:303:30 and Sunday, March 25 11:30-3:30 at Church of the R e s u r r e c t i o n , 8 5 - 0 9 1 1 8 th Street, Kew Gardens. FLEA MARKET Saturday, March 24 9-4 at O u r L a d y o f H o p e , 7 8 th Street and Eliot Avenue, Middle Village.
MISCELLANEOUS MARCH FOR EARTH Sunday, March 25 celebrate the first day of spring, Earth Day, at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. 886-3800. 10-1. Free. METROCARD VAN Tuesday, March 27 1-3 at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 19
ELDER LAW Sunday, March 18 “Elder Law for Yourself and Your Parents” at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 7111 112 th Street at 10:30. . ISTANBUL Wednesday, March 21 Cit y of Cities: Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul at 12:15 at Campbell Dome, Queens College. 997-5597. SELLING CRAFTS Wednesdays, March 21, 28 learn how to sell your handicrafts online at the Central library. 990-5102. CALLIGRAPHY Thursdays, March 22, 29 appreciation of classical Chinese calligraphy at the Flushing library at 6:30. SON OF APOLLO Saturday, March 24 “Revelations 911: Sun of Apollo” discussion and signing at 1:30 at Barnes 7 Noble, 17660 Un i o n Tu r n p i ke , Fre s h Meadows.
TEENS
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Queens Today
Page 20 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of Kerosene Studios LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on December 16, 2011. County: Queens. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served, SSNY shall mail copy of process toKerosene Studios LLC, 4705 Center Blvd #1904, Long Island City, NY 11109. Purpose: to engage in any and all business for which LLC’s maybe formed under the New York LLC Law. __________________________________ YALGAM ASSOCIATES, LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/7/ 12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 76-33 167 th St., Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. General Purposes. __________________________________ BZ CONSTRUCTION OF NY LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/ 12/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 75-15 35th Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372. General Purposes. __________________________________ Notice of Formation of Career Outcomes Matter, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on January 24, 2012. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 25-70 37th Street, Long Island City, New York 11103. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Career Outcomes Matter, LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. __________________________________ 221-75 BRADDOCK AVENUE LLC a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/ 24/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Law Offices of Marvin Evan Schiff, P.C., 1 Country Rd., Ste. 125, Carle Place, NY 11514. General Purposes. __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 1/ 9/12, bearing Index Number NC-001217-11/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Jackob
(Last) Datashvili My present name is (First) Yakov (Middle) Malkhazovich (Last) Datashvili aka Jackob Datashvili, aka Yakov Datashvili (infant) My present address is 112-20 Jewel Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 My place of birth is Russia My date of birth is August 09, 1994 __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 3/ 5/12, bearing Index Number NC-000087-12/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Amir (Last) Ali My present name is (First) Colin (Middle) Navendra (Last) Persaud aka Colin N. Persaud My present address is 11-40 31 st Drive, Apt. #3L, Astoria, NY 11106 My place of birth is Guyana My date of birth is August 12, 1981 __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 12/ 15/11, bearing Index Number NC-001180-11/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Leelove (Last) Schulman My present name is (First) Lilove (Last) Moas aka Lilove Schulman aka Leelove Schulman aka Leelove Moas My present address is 1139 Neilson Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 My place of birth is Brooklyn, NY My date of birth is November 26, 1981 __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 3/ 5/12, bearing Index Number NC-000076-12/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Tara (Middle) Cristina (Last) Whiteman My present name is (First) Tara (Middle) Cristina (Last) Smith aka Tara SmithWhiteman, aka Tara Smith My present address is 115-107 226 th St., Cambria Heights, NY 11411 My place of birth is Manhattan, NY My date of birth is November 14, 1976 __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on the 9 day of February, 2012, bearing Index Number NC001211-11/QU, a copy of which may be examined at
the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, New York in Room 357, grants Petitioner’s infant child the right to Assume the name of: Nickol Maoz Her present name is Nickol Khaimova Her present address is: 98-50 63 rd Drive Rego Park, NY 11374 Her Date of Birth is: August 15, 2007 __________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County, on the 8th of February, 2012 bearing Index Number 33NC2012, a copy of which may be examined at the office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, in room number 357 grants Adelfo Rosario aka Adelfo V. Rosario and Adelfo Valdez Rosario the right to assume the name of Adelfo Valdez Rosario. The petitioner’s present address is 80-06 Little Neck Parkway, Glen Oaks, NY. The date of birth is August 29, 1950. The petitioner’s place of birth is Philippines. The petitioner’s names are Adelfo Rosario aka Adelfo V. Rosario and Adelfo Valdez Rosario __________________________________ SUMMONS AND NOTICE– SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS –GALAXY ASSETS CORP. against VANESSA WILLIAMS AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF RITA MUNGIN A/K/ A RITA D. MUNGIN A/K/A RITA SINISTERRA, Defendants-Index no. 42842/10. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial situs of the real property. To the above named Defendants–YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or , if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable David Elliot filed on March 5,
2012. The object of this action is to declare the interests of the parties concerned and for sale of the premises and partition of the proceeds in accordance with the declared interests against real property situated in the County of QUEENS, City and State of New York: 137-55 234th STREET, ROSEDALE, NY located at Block 12658 and Lot 16.0. Dated: October 12, 2011 Berkman, Henoch, Peterson & Peddy, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Jonathan M. Cohen, Esq., 100 Garden City Plaza, Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 2226200. __________________________________ Notice of Formation of Kollabo Media LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY SSNY on 1/24/12. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 214-43A Hillside Avenue, Queens Village, New York 11427 SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Kollabo Media., LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. __________________________________ SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF QUEENS SUMMONS WITH NOTICE Index No. 1911/12 Assigned To Hon. GAGENDRA KAMPTA & BIBI HACKIRAN KAMPTA Plaintiffs, -against- RUTH STENERSON, Defendant. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. The Plaintiff reside at 45-15 156 th Street, Flushing, New York 11355. County of Queens. Queens County is designated as the basis of venue because the realproperty which is the subject of this action is located within the County of Queens. The relief sought in this action for a discharge of a mort-
gage of record for real property located at 45-15 156 th Street, Flushing, New York 11355, County of Queens and more particularly described in the complaint herein. The nature of this action is for a discharge of a mortgage of record pursuant to Article 15, RPAPL §1501(4). Dated: January 12, 2012 New York, New York Annie Ma, Esq. Attorney for Plaintiffs Fine, Olin & Anderman, LLP 39 Broadway, Suite 1910 New York, NY 10006 Tel: (212) 267-1650 __________________________________ Crown Castle USA (Crown) is proposing to modify the cellular installation at this site: Creedmoore #801074 located at 80-45 Winchester Blvd in Queens. Crown invites comments from any interested party on the impact of the proposed tower on any districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments should be addressed to Julie Aker, 2000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317 or by phone at 518-433-6241 and must be received by 4-8-12.
HEALTH
MEETINGS
RELIGION WHY AM I A JEW Saturday, March 17 Queens Community for Cultural Judaism presents a group participation on “Why I Am A Jew” at the Unitarian building, Ash Avenue and 149 th Street, Flushing. Free for first timers. Others $5. 2:30. 380-5362. MITZVAH DAY Saturday, March 24 following the Shabbat service at 10 at the Reform Temple of F o r e s t H i l l s , 7 1 - 1 1 1 1 2 th Street. 261-2900. WOMEN’S SEDER Sunday, March 25 at Te m p l e T i k va h . 5 1 6 - 7 4 6 1120.
FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesday, March 21 at Flushing Hospital. 479-0643. BARBERSHOP Wednesdays Jamaica Chapter of the Societ y for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet in Flushing. 468-8416. CDEC 26 Thursday, March 22 at MS67 in Little Neck. 6316927. Business meeting at 7, public meeting at 8. LEADD CLUB Thursday evenings and one Saturday afternoon. Recreation Socialization Program for Learning Disabled Adults. 18+, able to travel on public transportation. Arn310@aol.com information. WOMEN’S GROUP Fridays Woman’s Group of Jamaica Estates meets at noon. 461-3193. IAAP Saturday, March 24 Queens chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals meet. 516-437-7038 evenings. ST. ALBANS CIVIC Sunday, March 25 St. Albans Civic Improvement Association meets at 1:30 at St. Albans Lutheran Church, 200 th Street and 119 th Avenue in the undercroft. JEWISH VETS Sunday, March 25 Jewish War Veterans of the USA Lipsky/ Blum Post meet at Garden Jewish Center. 463-4742.
DINNER EMPTY BOWLS Sunday, March 18 at the New Homestead Home in Kew Gardens. 441-6614. Includes silent auction and more. REPUBLICANS Tuesday, March 20 Rego Hills Republican Club Annual Dinner. 275-6005. IAAP Saturday, March 24 Queens chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals meet. 516-437-7038 evenings.
ENVIRONMENT MARCH FOR EARTH Sunday, March 25 celebrate the first day of spring, Earth Day, at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. 886-3800. 10-1. Free. TALONS Sunday, March 25 learn about hawks, and more at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $10.
WAITANKUNG Sunday s at 2. Total-body workout. Flushing Hospital/ Medical Center. Free. Jimmy 7-10pm 347-2156. CANCER ACTION Monday, March 19 Northern Queens Regional Cancer Action Council at the Langston Hughes library at 1. 990-5197 info. WILLING HEARTS Monday, March 19 at the South Jamaica library at 5. Saturday, March 24 at the Cambria Heights library at 3. Wednesday, March 28 at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 2. Willing Hearts, Helpful Hands workshop show how to provide your elderly fair loved ones with the care needed. TAI CHI Mondays and Thursdays at 11 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1695. $5. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Tuesdays Western Queens Caregiver Network in Sunnyside. 5:30-6:30. 7846173, ext. 431. Also, 3:304:30 Selfhelp Clearview Sen i o r C e n t e r , 2 0 8 - 1 1 2 6 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. AUTISM Tuesdays Qualit y Services for the Autism Communit y holds workshops for families and friends of autistic children and adults. 7-AUTISM, ext. 1219. DAY TOP Tuesdays support for family and friends of those affected by substance abuse. 1-8002Daytop. MENTAL ILLNESS Wednesday, March 21 National Alliance on Mental Illness meets at 7:30 for “How to Work and Still Keep Your Benefits.” Wednesday, April 18 “Planning for Exceptional Families” at 7:30. 6pm caring and sharing. Zucker Hillside Hospital, Sloman Auditorium, 266 th street and 76 th Avenue, Glen Oaks. 3477284. ZUMBA Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1695. $10 class. OSTOMY SUPPORT Friday, March 23 8-11 at New Hyde Hospital Queens. 516-317-6817. CO-DEPENDENTS ANON. Fridays 10-11:45 at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral C e n t e r , 8 5 - 1 8 6 1 st R o a d , Rego Park. Women only. ALZHEIMERS Tuesdays, March 27, April 10, 24 Caregiver Support Group in Forest Hills. 5925757, ext. 237.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 21
PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, March 17, 31 learn how to communicate e f f e c t i ve l y. 1 0 - 1 2 : 1 5 a t Elmhurst Hospital. 424-9754. P-FLAG Sunday, March 18 P-FLAG, a support group for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, meet in Forest Hills. 271-6663. BRANDEIS Monday, March 19 Brandeis National Committee Nassau North Chapter will meet at the Great Neck library at 10:30. Bayview Avenue. AMERICAN LEGION Tuesday, March 20 American Legion 131 meets at 8 at 10-20 Clintonville Street, Whitestone. 767-4323. AUBURNDALE CIVIC Tu e s d a y, March 20 Auburndale residents meet at St. Kevin’s, 45-21 194 th Street at 7:30. TALK OF THE TOWN Tuesday, March 20 learn the art of public speaking at 7:15 in St. Albans. 640-7092. BEREAVEMENT Tu e s d a y, M a r c h 2 0 B e reavement Support Group at Holy Family in Fresh Meadows at 7:30. 969-2448. 102 PRECINCT Tuesday, March 20, 102 nd Precinct Communit y Council meets at 8 at Moose Hall, 87-34 118): th Street. FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tu e s d ay s Fre s h M e a d ow s Camera Club. 917-6123463. TOASTMASTERS Wednesday, March 21 learn the art of public speaking at the Voices of Rochdale To a st m a s t e r s C l u b i n J a maica. 978-0732. KNIGHTS OF PY THIAS Wednesday, March 21 Queensview Lodge 433 in Whitestone. 917-754-3093.
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Queens Today
Queens Today
Page 22 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS JOB SEARCH Saturday, March 17 job search boot camp at the Central library. Register. PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, March 17, 31, April 7, 21 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, March 17 in Franklin Square. 516-8728062. SEWING CLASSES Saturdays 12-3 at Maria Rose International Doll Museum in St. Albans. 2763454. VICTORIAN FLOWER Sunday, March 18 “Dried Pressed Art.” Sunday, March 25 “The Victorian Bouquet and the Language of Flowers.” $20. Bayside H i s to r i c a l Societ y in Bayside. 352-1548 to register. BALLROOM DANCING Mondays, March 19, 26 at the Forest Hills library at 6:30. INTRO COMPUTERS Mondays, March 19, 26 at t h e C e n t r a l l i b r a r y. 9 9 0 5102. RESUMES Monday, March 19 at the Central library. 990-5102. POETRY WRITING Monday, March 19 at 7:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 U n i o n Tu r n p i ke , F re s h Meadows. ACING THE INTERVIEW Tuesday March 20 at the LIC library at 1:30. LEARN TO DRAW Tuesday, March 20 learn to draw or learn to draw better at the Hillcrest library. Register. MOCK INTERVIEW Wednesday, March 21 at t h e C e n t r a l l i b r a r y. 9 9 0 5102. NOOK NIGHT Wednesday, March 21 at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 U n i o n Tu r n p i ke , F re s h Meadows. SOCIAL MEDIA Thursday, March 22 “”Twitter Tutorial.” Thursday, April 19 “Google plus Tutorial.” Central librar y. 990-8501 to register, CIVIL SERVICE Thursday, March 22 Civil Service Exam Basics at the Central library. 990-5102. RESUME WORKSHOP Thursday, March 22 at the Arverne library at 5:15. QUILTING CLASS Thursdays 11-3 Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454 East Elmhurst library at 12. CHESS & CHECKERS Fridays, March 23, 30 at
the Astoria library at 3:30. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, March 24 at Holy Family in Flushing. 631-3609720. TALONS Sunday, March 25 learn about hawks, falcons and more at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000.
$10. HONEY BEES Sunday, March 25 learn about the honeybee at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $8. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Sunday, March 25 at the 109 th Police Precinct. 917841-7827.
ENTERTAINMENT PROSODY 400 Friday-Tuesday, March 1620 spoken word with live band at York College. $7. 262-2412. TANGO Through March 18 world premiere musical at Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. 729-3880. BLUES BROTHERS REVUE Saturday, March 17 at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311. THOUSAND LAUGHS Saturday, March 17 Thousand Laughs at the little Neck Jewish Center. 224-0404. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Saturday, March 17 at the Langston Hughes library at 2:30. EMPTY BOWLS Sunday, March 18 at the New Homestead Home in Kew Gardens. 441-6614. Includes silent auction and more. LIVE JAZZ & R&B Sundays, March 18, 25 live jazz and r&b 6-10 at Déjà vu, 180-25 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. CHICAGO SOUL Monday, March 19 at the South Ozone Park library at 6. READINGS Tuesday, March 20 Nicole Krauss. Tuesday, March 27 Chimananda Ngozi Adichie. Tu e s d a y , A p r i l 2 4 EL Doctorow. 7pm at the Queens College Music Building, Concert Hall. $20. 997-4646. BINGO Tu e s d a y s 7 : 1 5 A m e r i c a n Mart yrs Church in Bayside. 4 6 4 - 4 5 8 2 . Tu e s d ay s 7 : 1 5 (doors open 6) Rego Park Jewish Center. 459-1000. $3 admission includes 12 games. SCRABBLE Tuesday s Fresh Meadows library at 1 and East Flushing library at 3:30. CHESS Tuesdays 4:30 Rosedale library and 4 at LIC library. PLAY SCENES Wednesday, March 21 Senior Theater Acting Repertory will kick off their 22 nd
spring season at the Bellerose library at 1. OPEN MIC Thursday, March 22 at the East Elmhurst library at 6. BIG BAND Friday, March 23 York College Big Band spotlight series with a tribute to Stevie Wonder. $10. 262-2412. GAME DAY Fridays 4:30 Woodhaven librar y. BANANAGRAM/SCRABBLE Fridays Windsor Park library at 2. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays 2 Hillcrest library. CON BRIO ENSEMBLE Saturday, March 24 at 2 at Vo e l ke r O r t h M u s e u m i n Flushing. $12. 359-6227. CASINO NIGHT Saturday, March 24 casino and buffet 7-11 at the Comm u n i t y H o u s e i n F o re st Hills. 268-7710 reservations. TALONS Sunday, March 25 Talons at Alley Pond Environmental Center. $10. 229-4000. CINDERELLA Sunday, March 25 Moscow Festival Ballet at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311. BEAUTY OF BALLET Sunday, March 25 at 1 and 3 free lecture-demonstration of the School of American Ballet. 760-0064 reservations. HONEYBEES Sunday, March 25 honey and honeybees at Alley Pond Environmental Center. $8. 229-4000. STAMP SHOW Sunday, March 25 Bayside Stamp Show at the Ramada Hotel, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside 10-4:30.
DANCE SQUARE DANCE Saturday, March 24 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $15 non-members. ISRAELI FOLK Mondays 7:15 at Hillcrest Jewish Center. $10. 3804145.
Happy Phagwah
Revelers enjoy the colors and pageantry of the annual Phagwah celebration and parade, held this past weekend in Richmond Hill. Photos by Ira Cohen.
Budget Meeting
pix
Queens Events Edited By Harley Benson
Supply Delivery
Continued Support
Lotto Winners
Councilman Daniel Dromm recently held a toiletry drive for the homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth at Metropolitan Community Church of New York. The toiletry supplies were collected at his community office in Jackson Heights over the course of two weeks and delivered on Wednesday to Sylvia’s Place, MCCNY’s emergency shelter serving over 1,000 homeless LGBTQ youth each year. Sylvia’s Place is often the first stop for New York City’s LGBTQ youth in crisis. Pictured (from left) the are Legislative Director Sebastian Maguire, Dromm, Rev. Pat Bumgardner with Lily, MCCNY Charities Executive Director William Moran-Berberena and MCCNY Charities Administrator Frances Wood.
The U.S. Coast Guard recently presented Queens DA Richard Brown with its Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Patriot Award in recognition of his outstanding support of QDA Detective and Coast Guard reserve John J. Keeley. Pictured (from left) are QDA Chief Investigator Lawrence J. Festa, J. Adler, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, District Attorney Richard A, Brown, Special Agent-in-Charge William P. Hicks, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (Mid-Atlantic Region), QDA Detective John J. Keeley and Chief Assistant District Attorney John M. Ryan. Photo courtesy of the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
www.queenstribune.com • March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 33
Konstantinos Arhakis of East Elmhurst and Angel Delgado of Ridgewood were among the nine lucky New Yorkers given their “Pot o’ Gold” in a pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Resorts World Casino New York City. Arhakis won $1 million on the Feb. 15 Powerball drawing. Delgado won $1 million on the Feb. 4 Powerball drawing. Photo by Ira Cohen.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and members of the Borough Board go over almost $259 million in Budget Priorities before voting to approve the package, which now goes to the Mayor and City Council, at the Borough Hall meeting March 12th. At left are City Councilmen (L-R): Peter Koo, Eric Ulrich and Mark Weprin.
Models Of Queens
Irene Elle Home: Elmhurst Age: 20 Height: 5’2’’ Weight: 127 lbs. Stats: 37-32-32 NYPhotoByNick
Med School Model Irene started modeling this past August because she wanted to try a new art form. The 20-year-old St. John’s University student is a double major in psychology and biology and doesn’t view modeling as a full-time job. Medical school is on her mind, but modeling is in her heart. Her modeling interest was piqued by an advertisement she saw from St. John’s fashion club. They were looking
for models, and Elle signed on. “The reason I like modeling is that I’m an artsy person,” she said. “It’s a way of creating art using your own body.” Elle enjoys drawing and painting, and practiced ceramics in high school at Christ the King. She wants to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist, and views modeling as a fun side project. Right now she is focused on build-
ing her portfolio. When she’s not studying hard or modeling, she’s hanging out with her friends in Manhattan or Flushing. Queens will always be her favorite, though. “Queens is a combination of the suburbs and big city. You have some areas where it’s busy, and some that are residential and quiet.”
Nails Heading to Jails Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra was sentenced to three years in a California state prison after a judge rejected a last-ditch effort to change his no contest plea and fight the charges. Dykstra, who went by the nicknamed “Nails” was nailed for grand theft auto and filing a false financial statement in connection with a scheme to use somebody else’s paperwork to steal or lease several new cars. When handing down her sentence, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig said the effort to steal cars showed “sophistication, planning,” and prosecutors had argued that he did not exhibit Lenny Dykstra isn’t this excited about his recent sentencing. any remorse toward his victims. Judging by what Dykstra said, that’s not hard to believe. “Did I do something I’m not proud of? Yes,” he said. “Am I a criminal? No.” During his statement, he apologized to his family but not to the victims, including the person whose identity he stole as part of his effort to steal the cars. Clearly he was better at stealing bases.
Ike’s Got The Fever
Page 34 Tribune March 15-21, 2012 • www.queenstribune.com
Vallone Goes Hollywood
Peter Vallone isn’t too happy with ABC
After calling for a boycott of the new ABC show “GCB,” Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (DAstoria) appeared on TMZ Live to discuss his opposition to the show, based on a book called “Good Christian Bitches.” Vallone said the show is a disgrace to Walt Disney, founder of the company that owns ABC. “I think Disney would be turning over in his grave looking at what’s been done to his legacy.” The network has said that the show is called “Good Christian Belles” but Vallone doesn’t buy that. “I don’t have idiot written on my forehead. You cannot name it after a book and then later say that
Music To Our Ears There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but Queens residents can definitely find free music. The Queens Public Library recently announced it would offer library card holders three free music downloads per week. Just log on to www.queenslibrary.org/freegal with your library card number and
you’ll be given the option to download any three songs available on the website – including brand new releases. Spend the week enjoying your new songs and come back next week for three more. The best part? Unlike a library book, you don’t have to return the music once you’ve listened to it.
it actually means something else.” Despite his objections, Vallone doesn’t want the show taken off the air. He just wants the title changed and an apology from ABC. Good luck with that.
The Mets' Ike Davis has a fever.
Confidentially, New York . . .
Mets first baseman Ike Davis may have something called Valley Fever. Only a Met would have something called Valley Fever. Valley Fever is not something you get from living in Valley Stream or California. It is a fungal infection found in desert regions in the Southwest. Davis, who is a Met, is also susceptible because he plays for the Mets, a team that can’t really catch a break. May the fungus stay away on opening day, Ike.
Muy Bien Following along at municipal meetings can sometimes be tough, even when you speak the language. If English isn’t your first language, however, the task can be even more of a challenge. A recently-introduced pilot program will help change that. Community Board 3 meetings – covering the heavily-Hispanic section of Corona – will give attendees a headset, which will provide a Spanish translation done by an on-site interpreter. The initiative is being run by New Immigrant Community Empowerment and was funded by Councilman Daniel Dromm. If the meetings get boring, hopefully they will provide some suitable music alternative.
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 15-21, 2012 Tribune Page 35
Pride of New York Shirley Chisholm
®
®
®
Brooklyn College Former Congresswoman and Candidate for Democratic Presidential nomination In Memoriam
Martina Arroyo Barbara Boxer Hunter College International Opera Star
Brooklyn College United States Senator
Ruby Dee Rita DiMartino Hunter College Award winning actress on stage and screen, Writer
College of Staten Island CUNY Trustee; Chair, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Board; Former AT&T VP of Congressional Relations
®
®
®
® Gertrude Elion Augusta Kappner Hunter College Nobel Laureate in Medicine In Memoriam
Rosalyn Yalow
®
®
®
Hunter College Nobel Laureate in Medicine In Memoriam
Helen Marshall Iyanla Vanzant Queens College Queens Borough President; Former New York City Council Member and New York State Assembly Member
Medgar Evers College, CUNY Law School Best-selling author, Inspirational Speaker
The City University of New York celebrates Women’s History Month
VISIT WWW.CUNY.EDU 1-800-CUNY-YES CUNY-TV CHANNEL 75
Hunter College NYU Steinhardt Institute for Higher Ed. Policy Former President, Bank Street College Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education