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FIDELITY The firefighter is always there. When the alarm bell rings, he springs to action. When the call goes out, the truck is on its way. For the last 41 years, that is the model we have sought to emulate. When news is happens, we are there to cover it. We are at the community boards, the rallies, the hearings and yes, the blazes. For 41 years we have faithfully served the people of this great borough. We will continue to do so, always at the ready; always looking for the next big story. This firefighter is our motivation, but only one of many. Turn the pages and see the people, places and events that continue to inspire us year in and year out.
Photo by Michael Lanza
B
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Achievement .............................................................. Page 6 Journey ........................................................................ Page 7 Commitment .............................................................. Page 8 Believe .......................................................................Page 10 Perseverance............................................................Page 11 Sacrifice ....................................................................Page 12 Challenge ..................................................................Page 14 Imagination ..............................................................Page 15 Possibilities ..............................................................Page 16 Respect .....................................................................Page 16 Vision .........................................................................Page 18 Knowledge ................................................................Page 18 Success ..................................................................... Page 21 Balance ..................................................................... Page 21 Ambition ...................................................................Page 22 Persistence ...............................................................Page 23 Triumph ..................................................................... Page 24 Teamwork .................................................................Page 26 Effort.......................................................................... Page 27
Cover Design By Candice Lolier Cover Photo By Ira Cohen
Opportunity ...............................................................Page 29 Goals..........................................................................Page 29 Determination ..........................................................Page 30 Originality..................................................................Page 32 Diversity ....................................................................Page 34 Greatness.................................................................. Page 37 Service.......................................................................Page 39 Character ..................................................................Page 39 Dreams......................................................................Page 40 Grow ..........................................................................Page 40 Communication .......................................................Page 42 Destiny ......................................................................Page 42 Motivation .................................................................Page 68 This Week’s Tribune Queens Deadline .....................................................Page 45 Leisure....................................................................... Page 51 Not For Publication ..................................................Page 52 Edit & Letters ...........................................................Page 53 QConfidential ...........................................................Page 64
Sometimes, inspiration comes easily. The only player number retired by the New York Mets is that of Tom Seaver, who inspired generations of Mets fans. Finally, just for a moment, we can say we have something in common with Tom Terrific.
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Queens Explores The Final Frontier BY JOSEPH OROVIC
Photo by Ira Cohen
the same year. The two-week, 5.8 million mile jourFor some locals, a long trip constitutes any route ney was NASA’s Return to Flight mission, following involving the Van Wyck Expressway. And while in the Space Shuttle Columbia’s disastrous 2003 rentry no way diminishing the epic, patience-testing ordeal, that cost seven astronauts their lives. A year after his flight, there was a touch of conthree borough natives have outdone the rest of us troversy over Camarda’s tenure in the flight proby several millions of miles. Ellen Shulman Baker’s jaunt into the final fron- gram, after he was demoted from his position as tier was the first ever by a Queens native. The daugh- Chief Engineer on the Discovery’s Mission Manageter of then-Borough President Claire Shulman took ment Team to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. off aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis The demotion was reportedly due on Oct. 18, 1989. Nothing can stop the to his questioning of the shuttle’s “I’m overwhelmed by the experi- man with the right safety status. ence,” her mother said as she Another kinda-Queens native to watched the launch from Cape mental attitude from achieving his goal; make his mark on outer space is Mike Canaveral. Massimino, who took several flights Baker stuffed her space-travel nothing on earth can into outer space, logging 571 hours carry on with lots of borough good- help the man with the and 47 minutes in the oxygen-less ies, including a CD containing a wrong mental attitude. copy of the Tribune (remember, it was Thomas Jefferson vacuum. He was on the fifth and final Hubble-repair mission, fixing 1989, well before Flash drives and frozen bolts and stripped screws Dropbox) as well as a Queens flag and messages from visitors at the borough’s Hall of while refurbishing the famous Telescope. Massimino counts himself as the first to fire off a “Tweet” from Science. Baker rode into space again in 1995 as part of a outer space, and he took Shea Stadium’s home plate mission in which Russian cosmonauts and Ameri- into outer space. Even some of the borough’s more pedestrian have can astronauts switched places between Atlantis and set foot into the great beyond. Among them is the Mir for the first time. In 2004, Baker continued her legacy as Queens’ first space tourist, Forest Hills native Dennis Tito, resident astronaut when she spoke at the grand re- who in April 2001 dished out $20 million to take a jaunt into outer space. opening of the Hall of Science’s Rocket Park. The multimillionaire paid Space Adventures to Following Shulman was Dr. Charles Camarda, who took more than one try to get into outer space. be launched aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-32 and The Archbishop Molloy High School alum’s first trip moonlight as a cosmonaut for eight days in the Into the International Space Station, scheduled for July ternational Space Station, orbiting the planet 128 14, 2005, was shelved after a flaw was discovered in times. While their stories collectively add a dose of ina sensor on the orbiter Discovery. He was slated for a 12-day mission, which he more than fulfilled with spiration to our mundane lives, the road to space is a jaunt into space lasting from July 26 to Aug. 9 of rife with difficulty. Should you not have the guts,
ACHIEVEMENT Mike Massimino, on a stop by the New York Hall of Science, picks up some light reading. time (or doctorate degree) necessary to send NASA your resume, you can always visit the HOS’s Rocket Park. Just don’t take the Van Wyck. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
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A First Step Leads To Long Strides BY GARY ACKERMAN
never found their way into the big time press. The It was 1969 when a 27-year-old school teacher paper would take bold stands and would fight for finished teaching his eighth grade social studies the community. Local people could write letters for class and rushed to Main Street in Flushing where the whole neighborhood to read. The publication grew while still having an allhe'd seen an ad in a window that said "desk space for rent." It was there, in the back of the then-Shalda volunteer army - except for the hundreds of paid Real Estate storefront, that for $50 a month - which youngsters who soon brought the monthly-turnedmerely included an old metal desk and a limpy weekly newspaper to 50,000 doorsteps in Flushing old four-drawer file cabinet - that the Queens (then alone. In addition, the Tribune's fabled "Beautiful Baby Contest" found its way into Flushing) Tribune was born. national prominence, featured on Starting out as a monthly, volun- To travel hopefully is a Archie Bunker's All in the Family. teer-staffed community newspaper, better thing than to The paper, currently printed in the first issue hit the streets in Februnine local community editions and ary 1970 with news stories close to arrive, and the true covering most of Queens, pioneered the hearts of the people of Flushing, success is to labour. Robert L. Stevenson local urban-crusading community who were then (and sometimes now) journalism in a way not envisioned mostly undiscovered by New York's previously. The paper's demise was many citywide daily newspapers. The Tribune heralded itself as a place where sto- predicted by the editors of many dailies that are ries near and dear to community residents could no longer in print. Successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams, that find their place in print. It was also a spot that local advertisers, who could not afford the still-enor- tiny paper has evolved into the huge success that mous prices to advertise their merchandise to mil- you now hold in your hands and read, hopefully lions of people, could find a place to market their with delight. Fortunate to have been there at its conception goods to 50,000 doorsteps at an affordable price. The first issue was eight pages. The Flushing Boys and birth, relishing in the fact that for 41 years its Club, operating from the back of Hy Segal's dry promise has been met, I now look forward as the cleaning store and looking for a permanent home, most professional of staffs take on more promises made the front page. Jack's men's and boy's cloth- to keep. Many thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and ing store boasted that it could outfit any man or boy regardless of his size. It also told the story of a new staff, some of whom have made news and history plan for the decentralization of the Board of Educa- themselves, and all of whom over the years have made The Trib the quality journalistic product that tion which was soon to come and now has gone. In addition, it promised local residents a place it is today. Editor's Note: In the 41 years since Gary started to find the score of their son's high school basketball game, a space to promote the church bake sale the Trib, we have seen hundreds of staff come and and it covered local politicians whose decisions go, been located at a handful of offices and watched helped shape local everyday life but whose names our cut-and-paste newsroom develop into a tech-
JOURNEY The 41-year journey of the Queens Tribune started with this first step. nological wonderland. It's been one hell of a ride. Gary Ackerman, the founder and original publisher and editor of the Queens Tribune, represents New York's Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 7
A Focus On Stand Firm, Aiding Others BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
Page 8 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
through 1971, he was Chief Urban Designer for the The average worker today changes jobs every few prestigious Regional Plan Association, helping preyears and even changes entire career paths almost pare planning and development analyses for New twice during their time working. Part of that is at- York's Lower Hudson Valley and for Jamaica Center. tributable to the rise and fall of specific industries; He was a member of RPA's design team which prepart can be attributed to simply seeking out the pared Urban Design Manhattan, a pioneering effort. A key element in RPA's proposal to revitalize Jabetter paycheck. Whatever the reason, commitment seems to be a maica Center was the formation of a non-profit orword less often associated with a job than it used to be. ganization of local business and community leaders that would work with government ofFor some, that is simply not the ficials to execute specific projects to case. Ta ke, for example, Tony To win takes a halt economic decline and position Avena. His father opened a shoe complete commitment Jamaica for growth. This group of shine shop under the Long Island local leaders formed Greater Jamaica Rail Road in 1922, but died while of mind and body. Development Corporation and enyoung Tony was a student at St. When you can’t make gaged Towery as the organization's John's. Tony took over the shop in that commitment, they first Executive Director; he subsethe mid 1930s and operated it ev- don’t call you a quently was appointed President. ery day until his death in 1998. champion anymore "When he was 7 years old, he Rocky Marciano GJDC's founders include Lawrence Cormier and Lawrence Bailey, promiwent to work as an apprentice to his nent local businessmen. father in his Flushing shoeshine The GJDC has, with many partners, been acshop. Years later, when he was enrolled in St. John's College and planning to go to law school, his fa- tive and instrumental include: removing the Jather died of a stroke. Tony had to leave college, maica Avenue El and building the Archer Avenue give up his plans, and support his mother, sister subway line; the decision to locate CUNY's York and six younger brothers," Mayor Rudy Giuliani College in Jamaica and constructing its campus; said of Tony, whom he called a "role model for all building major new regional headquarters for the U.S. Social Security and U.S. Food and Drug AdNew York" in 1996. When the MTA tried to force Tony out from his ministration; recycling vacated department store spot, as a small shoe shine shop didn't fit in with buildings for new uses; fostering the creation of the MTAs plans, the City interceded and ensured three local business improvement districts and a that he would be able to keep his spot until the small business loan fund; developing parking favery last minute rather than close down years be- cilities; establishing an art center and improving fore construction. The shop finally closed in 2001, local cultural institutions; site selection and the decision to locate in Jamaica the Queens County three years after Avena's death. That sort of commitment to a neighborhood is Civil Court and Queens Family Court; fostering also shown by Carlisle Towery, the executive director housing renovations; and development and opof the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. From 1969 eration of the City's first farmers's market. GJDC
COMMITMENT Carlisle Towery’s commitment to Jamaica has been a great asset to aid in the neighborhood’s redevelopment. participated in supporting development of the light rail project connecting downtown Jamaica to JFK Airport. Reach Editor Brian Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
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In Our Hearts, As Law Of The Land BY JASON BANREY
Page 10 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Photo by Ira Cohen
The citizens came to draw up a document called the No matter how arduous the journey or difficult Remonstrance, declaring that Flushing would not the task, the residents of Queens have always made tolerate religious persecution and that the town would great efforts to fight to the end for what they be- be open to all faiths to fully worship as they choose. The document read, in part, "Ye have been lieve in. This borough led the fight for religious freedom in the New World, and ensured its rel- pleased to send up unto us a certain prohibition, or command, that we should not retaine or entertaine evance in a growing new land. Religion, both an intensely private part of our any of those people called Quakers . . . We cannot lives and a very public one at the same time, is the condemn them . . . neither stretch out our hands against them, to punish, banish or inner spirit that drives us to believe persecute them . . . We are comor not to believe. More than 350 years manded by the Law to do good to ago, one man's conscience, faith, and The thing always all men . . . That which is of God traditions moved him and a group happens that you will stand, and that which is of man of Flushing believers to take a stand, really believe in; and will come to nothing . . . Our only defying death and imprisonment to the belief in a thing desire is not to offend one of these establish the strong spirit which still makes it happen. little ones, in whatsoever form, name exists within the residents of Queens. Frank Loyd Wright or title he appears." The struggle for Freedom of ReThe Remonstrance was signed on ligion began in the borough when Dec. 27, 1657 by 28 freeholders of the brave citizens of Flushing risked their lives and fortunes over this principle more Flushing and two from Jamaica, on the site of what than 100 years before the signing of the Declara- today is the Flushing Armory on Northern Boulevard. Four years later, John Bowne purchased land in tion of Independence. Then, the area which is now called Flushing was Flushing and built a home where he invited Quakpart of the Dutch controlled New Amsterdam, ruled ers to practice. After the governor's officials found under the iron hand of its Governor, Peter out, he was arrested in 1662 and shipped overseas Stuyvesant, who dictated that only the Dutch Re- to depart "wherever he may land." Ending up in Ireland, Bowne made his way to formed religion could be publicly practiced. When members of a group called the Society of Holland where he was given an opportunity to state Friends (better known as the Quakers) came to his case to the directors of the burghers. SuccessVlissingen (Flushing) to practice their faith, they fully convincing the burghers of his firm belief in were banned. Moved by the group's plight, English- the importance and necessity to practice one's reliman Henry Townsend opened his home to the gion within the town of Flushing, Bowne was reQuakers where they held religious services in his leased and exonerated of any wrong doing. "The conscience of men ought to remain free kitchen. When government officials found out, Townsend was arrested and banished from the town. and unshackled. Let every one remain free," the Angered by Stuyvesant's edict, leading citizens Burghers decided. The principles established by both the signing of the town united in an effort to defy the governor and the religious repression he imposed on them. of the Remonstrance and the tireless efforts of
BELIEVE The Flushing Remonstrance during its 350th anniversary visit to its home borough. Bowne and other religious followers who chose to openly believe, regardless of their religion, became enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution more than a century later. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Despite The Pain, We Move Forward BY JASON BANREY
Photo by Ira Cohen
been raised across the borough, from Long Island On Sept. 11, 2001, Queens residents stood on City to Springfield Gardens, bearing the names of the shoreline staring at the images across the river Queens’ brave, never to be forgotten. After she lost her husband that fateful day, 52that would forever change the skyline of Manhattan. Strangers and family members wept, praying year-old Flushing resident Mary DiMarco felt like for the innocent victims who would lose their lives she had no place to go to remember him. Scared on that fateful day. Men and women, many of whom and alone, DiMarco would visit her husband Hector’s made up the borough of Queens’ police and fire grave in Flushing Cemetery to talk to him about the department as well as emergency service units, risked devastation of the 9/11 attacks. “It made me feel better,” said their lives in an effort to save others DiMarco. “It sounds really silly, but they had never met. Great works are it gave me some peace of mind.” Since then, many of these heroes performed, not by She continued to visit his grave have been honored throughout the every morning, “following the same borough for their ability to persevere strength, but old routine,” until on one chilly Febin the face of danger. Through dire perseverance. Samuel Johnson ruary morning, she noticed someand dangerous circumstances, these thing new up the cemetery’s middle honorable men and women stared in road. the inevitable face of uncertainty, “When I first saw it, I thought I was going crazy,” making the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow New said DiMarco. “But it was there. It was a memorial Yorker. Honoring these fallen heroes and their valiant to the World Trade Center.” The memorial, installed at the cemetery at the stories became an important duty undertaken by the city’s citizens and our elected officials following the request of the Cemetery Board in February 2002, attacks. In the years since Sept. 11, the City has paid included three granite pieces standing side-by-side. tribute to numerous victims of the terror attacks, The middle section contained a piece of black granhonoring their lives with either a street bearing their ite with the Twin Towers diamond-etched into it. The two other smaller white pieces sit on both name or with memorials inside Queens cemeteries. On the second anniversary of the attacks, then- sides of the black piece. Each of the three pieces of Councilman John Liu honored the memory of Po- granite honors one group affected by the terrorist lice Officer Clinton Davis with a street renaming in attacks – the victims, the rescue workers and AmeriFlushing. Davis was born and raised in the Bland can democracy. To this day, DiMarco visits the memorial to reHouses in Flushing. One day later, then-Councilwoman Melinda Katz flect, a ritual, Charles Helly, the cemetery’s manhosted a ceremony to change a Forest Hills street to ager, says is also done by a “steady stream” of people. “[The memorial] is very unique,” said Helly. honor Richard Allen Pearlman, an 18-year-old volunteer paramedic for the Forest Hills Ambulance “People like coming here to see it. They come and they pray, they cry and they think. Sometimes, it just Corps. Since then, more than 60 more street signs have helps to look at something like that and think.”
PERSEVERANCE The families of the Maspeth firefighters from Squad 288 and HazMat 1 gather in the firehouse on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
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Determined To Keep Memories Alive BY JASON BANREY
Page 12 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Photo by Ira Cohen
war memorials in Queens parks honor individuals, The courage to sacrifice is not a quality easily our armed forces collectively, important moments in developed. Staring in the face of danger, as con- history, and the important roles that Queens residents flict erupts either overseas or on home soil, resi- have played over history." These memorials were designed and erected dents of Queens have never ceased to lend a helpostensibly so that no veteran would ever be forgoting hand. The men and women who have given their lives ten. Considering the times in which we find ourand demonstrated the fortitude to stand up against selves, it would seem quite difficult to overlook aggressors who challenged American ideals are hon- fallen servicemen's continued sacrifice. Now, more than ever, these meored throughout the borough. morials are treasured as symbols of On the home front, the duty of history and valor, instead of overcivilians has always been to support, It’s not the size of the looked as simple tree markers, park reflect on and pay tribute to the brave dog in the fight, but namesakes or geographical landmen and women who for centuries the size of the fight in marks. have defended - many at the cost of the dog. One of the most anticipated tribtheir own lives - our way of life. Mark Twain utes yet to be erected is the Queens One of the more enduring ways Vietnam Veterans War Memorial set in which civilians and veterans in Queens, and throughout the five boroughs, honor for the new park on the old KeySpan gas tanks site those that have served is through war memorials. in Elmhurst. Vietnam Veterans of America Queens Chapter These memorials serve as an inspiration for future generations who will one day choose the same President Pat Toro, Jr. promised it will be a "very path to serve our country, continuing a long tra- fitting memorial" dedicated to the unique role the dition of sacrifice that has always been intertwined Vietnam veteran has played on the American historical landscape. with the borough. "The Vietnam War brings a lot of history to it, a According to the City Dept. of Parks and Recreation, there are more than 50 monuments across lot of negativism to it - the unpopularity of the war, Queens dedicated to veterans in general, or spe- the way the soldiers were treated when we came cifically recognizing those who fought in conflicts back," said Toro, a Marine who served one tour, or 13 months, in Vietnam. "We weren't given parades, ranging from the Civil War to the Korean War. "Monuments are created to remind us of the people we were spit at, we were called 'baby killers,' we were and events that should never be forgotten. Parks are insulted in public and all that. So this is a way to often places for quiet reflection and over the last two honor those [veterans]." Toro explained this to the Parks Dept. when he centuries they have served as locations for war memorials," Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said. "The met with the agency to discuss plans for the memomonuments act as daily reminders of the sacrifices rial that will also honor the approximately 450 our citizens have made to preserve our freedom and military personnel from Queens that never made it fight tyranny around the world. The more than 50 home from Southeast Asia.
SACRIFICE Jeffrey Calero of Queens Village, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, is laid to rest. There are many war memorials in Queens, with even more on the way. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
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www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 13
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Bloodstains Remain 25 Years Later BY DOMENICK RAFTER
been badly beaten by bats and pipes, ran through a On Dec. 20, 1986, at around 1 a.m., police re- fence onto the Belt Parkway. As he tried to run across sponded to a call of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle on the highway, he was hit and killed by a car. Sandiford, the Belt Parkway in Howard Beach. Upon arrival, dazed and bloodied, was spotted by police walking police discovered the body of Michael Griffith, 23, along the Belt Parkway back toward Brooklyn and was initially suspected in Griffith’s death. of Brooklyn on the side of the highway, dead As the sun rose, the news of the incident spread. Further investigation unearthed a series of events that cold, dark December night that would try the Mayor Ed Koch condemned it, comparing it to a relative racial harmony that existed in diverse New lynching. The city’s black community was enraged at the incident, prompting the Rev. Al York City and brought unwanted Sharpton to organize several protests notoriety to the affluent Southern The ultimate measure in Howard Beach. Other leaders, inQueens community. of a man is not where cluding Howard Beach’s CongressGriffith was one of four black man, U.S. Rep. Floyd Flake, who had men, the others being Cedric he stands in moments just won an election replacing the late Sandiford, 36, Timothy Grimes, 20, of comfort and U.S. Rep. Joseph Addabbo, Sr., who and Curtis Sylvester, 20, who were convenience, but was white, called for a boycott of passing through Howard Beach that where he stands at white-owned businesses in the neighnight. Their 1976 Buick stalled on times of challenge and borhood. Former KKK leader and Cross Bay Boulevard, and Griffith, controversy. Sandiford, and Grimes walked into Martin Luther King, Louisiana politician David Duke staged a counter rally in the neighHoward Beach to seek help. They Jr. borhood. The incident led to a racial were immediately met by a group of war of words that stained the reputawhite pedestrians who confronted tion the diverse borough had for tolerance. them with racial slurs, telling them to leave. Queens DA John Santucci wanted to bring murIgnoring the taunts, the three men walked into New Park Pizzeria on Cross Bay Boulevard. Hungry, der and manslaughter charges against the 12 assailthey grabbed a quick slice of pizza before continu- ants, but Sandiford initially refused to cooperate. Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed a special prosecutor, Charles ing on their search for help. When the three left the restaurant at 12:40 a.m., Hynes, who brought manslaughter, second degree a mob of 12 white youths awaited them with base- murder, and first degree assault charges against four ball bats, tire irons, and tree limbs. Things quickly leaders of the mob, John Lester, 17, Jason Ladone, escalated. The mob attacked Griffith and Sandiford. 16, Scott Kern, 18, and Michael Pirone, 17. On Dec. 21, 1987, almost a year to the day after Grimes defended himself with a knife. “God, don’t kill us,” Sandiford said to the crowd, the incident, the jury found three of the four leadbut John Lester knocked him to the ground with a ers guilty of second degree manslaughter and first bat. The mob chased Sandiford and Griffith north degree assault, but innocent on attempted murder on Cross Bay Boulevard toward the neighborhood’s and riot charges. They received prison sentences of border with Ozone Park. Griffith, who had already between 5 and 30 years. Hynes would later be elected
PLANTING FIELDS FOUNDATION AND PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM STATE HISTORIC PARK PRESENT
Buffalo Bill, Wyoming and the Coe Family Page 14 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
EXHIBITION AT COE HALL APRIL 1ST – SEPTEMBER 30TH Open everyday 11:30am – 3:30pm Free with $3.50 admission to Coe Hall Mansion. Members and Children under 12 are free
The exhibition is about William Robertson Coe’s passion for the West. He first visited Wyoming in 1908 to hunt big game. It was there that he met the internationally famous William Frederick Cody, known as “Buffalo Bill”. In 1910 Mr. Coe bought one of Buffalo Bill’s ranches, the Carter Ranch and Lake Irma in Wyoming, where he eventually owned over 200,000 acres.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Breakfast with Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley Sunday April 3rd, 9:00am – 11:00am, Coe Hall
Bring the family to a fun breakfast at Coe Hall and to visit Wild West pioneer, Buffalo Bill. Enjoy a hearty frontier land breakfast while learning about the life of Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. Actors playing roles. $ 20 for non-member adults/$10 for non-member children $ 15 for member adults/$5 for member children. Children under 3 are free Please call (516) 922-8682 for reservations or further information. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF SPRING AND SUMMER EVENTS
CALL JENNIFER LAVELLA FOR MORE INFORMATION: (516) 922-8678 OR EMAIL JLAVELLA@PLANTINGFIELDS.ORG PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM STATE HISTORIC PARK 1395 PLANTING FIELDS ROAD, OYSTER BAY, NY 11771
(516) 922-8678
WWW.PLANTINGFIELDS.ORG
CHALLENGE We never know the scene of our life’s greatest challenges until it is upon us. Brooklyn DA, a job he still holds. Howard Beach, meanwhile, still bears the scars of the night that gave it an unwelcomed reputation. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
Where Expression Meets The Streets BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Panorama of New York City designed by Robert Situated along the Grand Central Parkway, act- Moses. The inviting model of all five boroughs, ing as a barrier between the busy thoroughfare and which includes small airplanes being pulled along the quaint World's Fair Grounds in Flushing Mead- a string to and from the runways of JFK and ows Corona Park, is the Queens Museum of Art, LaGuardia, has been updated three times since its first unveiling; in 1970, 1992 and most recently with the borough's signature art institution. Even before the museum opened, the building that the addition of CitiField in 2009. The 1992 renovahouses it has its own exciting history. Originally built tion was the most significant, with more than 60,000 to house the New York City pavilion during the 1939 structures in the model being changed including the addition of the Citicorp BuildWorld's Fair, it later became a tempoing in Long Island City. In 2006, a rary home to the United Nations for Your imagination is new lighting system was installed to four years during the late 1940s. It allow the Panorama to be displayed was in this building that Israel be- your preview of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in different lightings. Along with the came a nation, where the Korean Pen- coming attractions. Albert Einstein Panorama, the museum houses a 700 insula was divided and where square foot relief map of the New York UNICEF was created. The UN moved City watershed created in 1937 for out in 1950, and in 1964 the building once again became home to the New York City the 1939 World's Fair, but never shown. In 1995, the museum became home to a collecPavilion for the 1964-65 World's Fair. In 1972, the north side of the building was trans- tion of Tiffany Glass items, including lamps. Louis formed into what would later be named the Queens Comfort Tiffany once had a workshop in Corona Museum of Art. It houses 10,000 items in its per- not far from the museum. The museum is currently in the middle of a manent collection, most of which come from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. Recently, the museum massive expansion that would double its size. The has acquired art from artists such as famed Span- ice skating rink that occupied the south side of the building has been moved elsewhere in the park and ish surrealist Salvador Dali. The Queens Museum of Art prides itself on its the museum will take over the entire building, bringmission to match its exhibitions with the borough's ing the grand total of space to 100,000 square feet. The new expansion, expected to be complete diverse population. The museum was the first to hire "art therapists" to work inside classrooms and next year, will allow the museum to show more of does public outreach into Queens neighborhoods its collection in storage, add more space for speto help with local improvement. Over the years, cial exhibits, classrooms and other public events. When the bids were awarded for construction, the museum has had numerous special exhibitions featuring art from Korea, India, and Greece, and Museum executive Director Tom Finkelpearl was in 2002, began a biennial "survey" of artists living hopeful for the future. "It might not be the worst time in the world to and working in the borough. The museum's crown jewel was the icon of the be a smaller museum," Finkelpearl admitted, say1964 New York City pavilion, the 9,300-square-foot ing he is confident that by the time the renovated
IMAGINATION Inside the expanded lobby of the new Queens Museum of Art, expected to be complete next year. museum opens, the economy will have rebounded. "Two to three years from now will be a good time to re-open," he said. That's our optimistic scenario." Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 15
From Here, We Can Go Anywhere BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Photo by Ira Cohen
planes skidding off the runways led to questions on Perhaps because it was the largest borough or LaGuardia's runway length. The rise in aviation travel maybe it was because it was so sparsely populated, yet made LaGuardia notorious for delays during the late so close to Manhattan, when the jet age commenced. 1990s and early 2000s, a problem that was partially Whatever the reason, Queens was bestowed the honor, rectified by Congressional action and the dip in air or depending on who you talk to, the curse, of being travel after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Still, the airport has consistently been ranked among the worst home to both of New York City's major airports. Almost acting as the North and South Poles of in the nation ever since. LaGuardia's flight path often leads to jets flying the borough, the two airports have grown substanlow over or adjacent to Citi Field, tially since their opening, are among making the sight and sound of dethe busiest in the country, and bring The difference parting and arriving flights a staple to the borough thousands of jobs. of Mets home games. LaGuardia Airport was the first between the John F. Kennedy International commercial airport within the five impossible and the Airport, located in the south part boroughs. The idea for the airport possible lies in a of the borough on the shores of Jacame from its namesake, Mayor Fiorello personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maica Bay, opened in 1948 as H. LaGuardia, who famously refused determination. Idlewild Airport. The airport to depart in an aircraft at Newark AirTommy Lasorda quickly grew during the 1950s to be port, the area's only commercial airNew York, and the United States', port at the time, because it was in New major international gateway. During the 1960s, the Jersey and not New York. He forced the plane to fly to Floyd Bennet Field airport's iconic terminals opened, including the in Brooklyn. His actions led to popular support for futuristic TWA Flight Center in 1962, now JetBlue's a new airport within city limits, and the city chose main terminal, and the Pan Am Worldport, now the site in Northern Queens, then a private airfield occupied by Delta Airlines, in 1960. The airport called North Beach Airport. In 1937, with help from was renamed after President John F. Kennedy a the Depression-era jobs program Works Progress month after his assassination in 1963. During the 1970s, residents of neighborhoods Administration, construction on the airport started in the Rockaways and elsewhere in Southern Queens and it opened in 1939 for the World's Fair. The Marine Air Terminal, on the far west end fought unsuccessfully to keep the supersonic, and of the airfield served seaplanes during the 1940s. loud, Concorde jet from flying into and out of JFK. Between 1945 and 1951, the airport served transat- The Concorde did eventually come to JFK in 1977 lantic flights, until transatlantic service was moved and rattled windows during its flights to and from Paris and London until its retirement in 2003. over to larger Idlewild Airport (now JFK). Since 1998, the Central Terminal zone has unThe aviation industry quickly outgrew LaGuardia and the airport underwent expansions with new ter- dergone a massive renovation, with half the termiminals in 1964, 1983 and 1992. On Dec. 29, 1975, nals being rebuilt or renovated. In 2003, a state-ofa bomb exploded in the airport, killing 11. A series the-art light rail system, AirTrain JFK, opened beof incidents during the 1980s and 1990s involving tween the terminals to Jamaica and Howard Beach,
POSSIBILITIES Above Queens, our skies are the limit. connecting the subway and LIRR directly to the airport. In 2010, the Port Authority resurfaced and widened the airport's main runway along Jamaica Bay to equip the airport for the newer, larger commercial jets of the future. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
For Some, The Title Comes From Fear vard in South Ozone Park and in a vacant lot in "The Sopranos" may take place in New Jersey. the Lindenwood section of Howard Beach, where "The Godfather" may have been set in Brooklyn some prominent victims of the mob were exhumed and Long Island, but any Queens native knows that by Federal officials in 2004. After ordering the assassination of Gambino famin the 20th century, our borough was a capital of ily leader Paul Castellano, who was murdered in the mafia world. Neighborhoods like Ozone Park, Howard Beach, public outside Sparks Steakhouse on Manhattan's Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, West Side on Dec. 16, 1985, Howard Beach's John Rosedale and Springfield Gardens became hotbeds Gotti took over the Gambino family, basing his of mob activity between the 1950s, when the "in- operations out of the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club dustry" moved out from Manhattan and Brooklyn, at 98-04 101st Ave. Known as the "Teflon Don" for the until the turn of the century. Feds' failure to make charges against Ozone Park was the base of the him stick, Gotti was a staple in South Gambino Crime Family, one of the It is better to deserve Queens during the late 1980s and "Five Families" of the New York honors and not have managed to frustrate prosecutors mafia. Along with the Lucchese them than to have when he was repeatedly acquitted of family's operations in the neighbor- them and not deserve charges against him. Gotti was finally hood in the 1970s and 1980s, South them. Queens was given the reputation for Mark Twain convicted of more than a dozen murders and a slew of other felonies being a mob haven. in 1991 thanks to information proIt was the mob, in Queens, who conducted the largest cash robbery in American vided to prosecutors from his former associate Sammy history. On Dec. 11, 1978, a group of associates of "The Bull" Gravano. Gotti was sentenced to life in Jimmy Burke, head of the Lucchese family, stole federal prison, where he died in 2002. His son, John around $5 million in cash and nearly $1 million Gotti Jr., and later his brother Peter, took control of in jewelry from a vault at JFK Airport. The money the Gambino family until they, too, landed in prison. Still, despite the crimes of which they were achad just been flown in from Germany on Lufthansa, the German national airline, giving the robbery its cused, mobsters like Gotti remain popular in comname: the "Lufthansa Heist." The disorganized and munities like Ozone Park to this day. During the chaotic aftermath of the robbery led to the mur- 1980s, Gotti would host a large Fourth of July celders of 10 associates involved over the next few ebration along 101st Avenue that would climax in years. The robbery was a central storyline in the a spectacular fireworks display that would bring in 1990 Oscar-winning movie "Goodfellas." Much of spectators from all over Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. After his imprisonment, t-shirts and the film took place in Queens. The mob "hits" during the 1970s and 1980s gave hats reading "Free Gotti" were often seen in South rise to legends of "mafia graveyards" in Southern Queens, especially around the Fourth of July. AtQueens, including in the basement of the now-de- tempts by local residents to gain permits to host molished South Side Inn bar on Lefferts Boule- those events during the 1990s were denied by Mayor
Photo by Ira Cohen
Page 16 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
BY DOMENICK RAFTER
RESPECT Deserved or not, John Gotti was given a hero's send-off at St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village when he died. Rudy Giuliani, who as U.S. Attorney targeted the mafia, causing a near rebellion among ItalianAmericans in Ozone Park in 1996. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
An Ability To See Dreams Come True BY DAVID OATS
historic World's Fair. In 1936, Moses and reformist Mayor Fiorello He had a name of almost Biblical connotations. A name that to this day confronts urban plan- LaGuardia (who had named Moses as the city's ners and historians with conflicting images of a first city-wide Parks Commissioner) began an enpast and future of a great metropolis that was largely deavor that would turn this desert into a garden, shaped - and a vision that still shapes - not only a carefully planned axis and park design that would rise like a phoenix out of the despair of a the city of the last century, but of the 21st. In the early part of the 20th century, Robert Depression-era dust bowl into an international Moses burst on the scene as a reformer with a burn- exposition that would give a world in fear of an upcoming war and economic deing and single-minded vision to transform and shape both the city Vision without action is spair a sense of hope and optimism and the region. From the spectacuabout a new future - The World of a daydream. Action lar and artistic creation of Jones Tomorrow. Beach on Long Island to the park- without vision is a A fter the great Fair ended in ways, parks and playgrounds, the nightmare. 1940, the planet plunged into the Japanese Proverb s e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r a n d a n e w majestic bridges, and structures such as Lincoln Center and the world of unspeakable destruction United Nations, Moses became one and holocaust. When the post-war of the most important figures in New York his- world looked for an instrument to prevent such tory. devastation in the future, it again turned to FlushBut out of all of these momentous projects one ing Meadows. Moses, who was in charge of the seemed to consume Moses almost more than any project to bring a permanent headquarters for a other. He had looked out at the bleak expanse of fledgling United Nations to New York City, chose 1,200 acres in Queens and had seen a once fertile the N.Y. City Building (only one of two strucand ancient expanse of tidal marshes and mead- tures remaining from the '39-40 Fair) to be its ows that had become blight almost unprecedented first site. in its ugliness and environmental degradation. It Moses, though, always dreamed of completing was best immortalized in "The Great Gatsby" as the his initial vision for a great city park - twice the "valley of ashes." size of Central Park - at Flushing Meadows. That Where most had given up on this depressing chance emerged in the early 1960's, when Moses landscape, Moses envisioned a different scene - a gave up his job as Parks Commissioner to head up fertile expanse of green in the very geographic and the chance for a second New York World's Fair and population center of Greater New York. He sought complete his work. As President of the exposition, in the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah, to give Moses presided over a space-age, pop-art extravathe city "beauty for ashes." It seemed like an impos- ganza that brought more than 60 nations, major sible dream until a great idea came about - con- corporations, 55 million visitors and even, as he demn this massive eyesore and lay the ground for proudly boasted, everything from Walt Disney to a future great city park through the creation of an Michelangelo to the fair.
V I S I O N Robert Moses stands before a map of the landscape he changed. When it was all over, on June 3, 1967, he turned a restored fairgrounds to the city as a beautiful 1,258-acre oasis in the heart of New York - Flushing Meadows Corona Park. This piece was written by longtime Queens Tribune Editor David Oats before his passing in 2008.
Schools Quench Our Scholarly Thirsts vides under-achieving students with a second The recent threat of multiple school closures chance to earn the necessary credits needed to throughout the borough and the looming specter graduate on time. Long-considered a top high school in Queens of teacher layoffs have cast a gloomy shadow on the educational system. Despite concerns of loom- and ranked No. 33 on a list of 1,000 nationally ing alterations to the borough's schools, teachers ranked high schools in 2008 (according to U.S. News are working harder than ever to provide the chil- and World Report), Townsend Harris High School, in Flushing, has continued to aim for the stars. dren of Queens with the best education. The magnet school, although highly selective, From overcoming the challenges of overcrowding to dealing with budget deficits, the borough's is significantly focused on the humanities. Among educators continue to provide future generations traditional languages studied within their curriculum, students also study Greek, Latin and Hebrew. with the necessary knowledge needed Familiarizing students to the colto progress to the next level. lege experience, the school's curSome schools in Queens have Knowledge itself is riculum also offers a senior "bridge become exemplary models in tri- power. umphing over challenge, setting Francis Bacon year" program. Students are given the opportunity to engage in a colexamples for other institutions to legiate curriculum, earning up to 12 follow throughout the city. Francis Lewis High School continues to churn college credits at Queens College. This enterprisout academically savvy pupils in the face of a ris- ing program provides students with a head start ing student population. With the addition of por- rarely offered at other schools throughout the city. With more than 5,000 students competing for table classrooms, the adoption of a creative scheduling system, numerous sessions and "annualized" approximately 270 seats in the freshman class each courses, Francis Lewis High School has remained year, Townsend Harris High School has become a popular choice for students seeking significant a popular choice of pupils in Fresh Meadows. Offering a wide array of specialized programs educational advancement within the borough. Honoring its namesake, Benjamin Cardozo High and extracurricular activities, Franny Lew students are academically and physically challenged in an School prides itself of its offering of the Mentor Law inviting environment which promotes success in and Humanities program. Offering students real insight in to Constitutional law, the program combines many endeavors. Open to all students, the Jacob K. Javits Law In- the study of political science with the study of the stitute provides dedicated learners with a selection of case law surrounding the U.S. Constitution. Culmilaw-related courses. The school's more than 30 ath- nating in an internship, students are also given the letic teams and outdoor facilities give students an opportunity to experience the practicalities of a career in law, serving in various settings which may inopportunity to participate in supplemental sports. Students at risk of dropping out are capable of clude court, a law office or governmental agency. Despite recent setbacks, schools in our borough re-establishing themselves academically through the Return to Success program. This opportunity pro- will continue to strive for educational excellence,
Photo by Ira Cohen
Page 18 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
BY JASON BANREY
KNOWLEDGE Our boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers instruct a growing range of diverse students in ever-tighter quarters. imparting in our borough's youth the wisdom and knowledge needed to carry Queens into the future. Reach Reporter Jason B a n re y at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Page 20 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
LEGAL NOTICE NORDIC-UBS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/11/2011. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 56-01 Maspeth Ave., Maspeth, NY 11378, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF E-File With Ease LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: E-File With Ease LLC SECOND: The county, within this state, in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: Queens THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: E-File With Ease 163-10 Northern Blvd Suite 310 Flushing, NY 11358 USA Cristian Stanescu (signature of organizer) ________________________________________________________________ Notice of formation of SJ Capital LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on January 13, 2011. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 213-02 73 rd Avenue Apt 2C, Bayside NY, 11364. Purpose: any lawful purpose. _______________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of 149 Place Condominium LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/8/ 11. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/ o Seungho Kim, 43-01 37 th St., Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF WALKWITHU, LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: WALKWITHU, LLC SECOND: The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: QUEENS THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: SUNGHYE HAN 211-18 45 DRIVE, 2FL BAYSIDE, NY, 11361, USASUNGHYE HAN (signature of organizer) _______________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF XMAC, LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited
LEGAL NOTICE Liability Company Law FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is: XMAC, LLC SECOND: The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is: Queens THIRD: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: 67-57 Ingram Street, Forest Hills, NY 11375 Chin H. Huang (signature of organizer) ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: RIGHTEOUS CONVICTION MANAGEMENT, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/25/11. 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, c/o Kate Chan, 8446 56 th Avenue, Elmhurst, New York 11373-4814. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Bottom Line Construction & Development LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST. The name of the limited liability company is Bottom Line Construction & Development LLC SECOND. The county within this state in which the limited liability company is to be located is Queens. THIRD: The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process accepted on behalf of the limited liability company served upon him or her is: 255 West 148 th Street, #5B, New York, New York 10039. FOURTH: The name and address in this state of the registered agent upon whom and at which process against the limited liability company may be served is: Alexis McSween, 255 West 148 th Street, #5B, New York, New York 10039. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed these Articles of Organization on the date below. Date: November 22, 2010 LegalZoom.com, Inc., Organizer /s/ Imelda Vasquez By: Imelda Vasquez, Assistant Secretary 101 N. Brand Blvd., 10 th Floor Glendale, CA 91203 ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of URI Total Care Management LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 11/13/ 07. Office location: Queens County. Princ. bus. addr.: 35-05 Farrington St., Flushing, NY 11354. Sec. of State designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall
LEGAL NOTICE mail process to: 1 Maiden Lane, 5th Fl., NY, NY 10038, Attn: Spiegel & Utrera, P.A., P.C., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. Purpose: any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF Arbor Close Rental LLC Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law FIRST. The name of the limited liability company is Arbor Close Rental LLC SECOND. The county within this state in which the limited liability company is to be located is Queens. THIRD: The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process accepted on behalf of the limited liability company served upon him or her is 111 14 75 th Ave., Forest Hills, New York 11375. FOURTH: The name and street address in this state of the registered agent upon whom and at which process against the limited liability company may be served is: Mary T. Brown, 111-14 75 th Ave., Forest Hills, New York 11375. ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION of STRATEGIC PHYSICAL THERAPY, PLLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/14/2011. 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: Strategic Physical Therapy PLLC, 84-54 250 th Street, Bellerose, NY 11426. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of Zervoudis Associates, LLC, Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 12/16/10. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Vasiliki Troianos, 5-30 150th St., Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful activities. _______________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: ANAF HOLDINGS, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/15/11. The latest date of dissolution IS 12/31/2061. 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, 104-66 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, New York 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. _______________________________________________________________ SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 8596/09 WELLS
LEGAL NOTICE FARGO BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF SASCO 2007-MLN1 Plaintiff, vs. ANGELA LOGAN, ET, AL. Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 240-02 CANEY ROAD ROSEDALE, NY 11422 SBL #: BLOCK 13550 LOT 62 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(s) within twenty 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 case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 24th day of February, 2011, TO: ANGELA LOGAN, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. DAVID ELLIOT of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 24th day of February, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by NORRIS REID A/K/A NORRIS ROY REID (who died a resident of the State of New Jersey on the 28 th day of May, 2008) dated the 9th day of August, 2006, to secure the sum of $419,760.00, and recorded at Instrument No. 2006000519788 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 14 th day of September, 2006; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 31 st day of March, 2009, and sent for recording in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York. The property in question is described as follows: 240-02 CANEY ROAD, ROSEDALE, NY 11422 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Caney Road with the Easterly side of Brookville Boulevard; RUNNING THENCE Southerly along the Easterly side of Brookville Boulevard, 100.274 feet; THENCE Easterly parallel with the Southerly side of Caney Road, 21.94 feet; THENCE Northerly at right angles to Caney Road, 100.00 feet to the Southerly side of Caney
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Road; THENCE Westerly along the Southerly side of Caney Road, 29.34 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877-BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: Febru-
ary 24, 2011 Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228 The law firm of Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. ________________________________________________________________ ISTS Brains LLC. Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 2/15/11. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 29-17 34 th Avenue, Apt. 4A, Long Island City, NY 11106. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ________________________________________________________________ SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS Index No. 2776/2011 Filed with Queens County Clerk on February 4, 2011. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. The basis of the venue is the residence of the plaintiff. SUMMONS Plaintiff resides at: 61-10 218 Street, 1 FL Oakland Gardens, Queens County New York 11364 JENNIFER YOON, Plaintiff, -against- UNCHUL KO a/k/a KO UN CHUL Defendant. ACTION FOR A DIVORCE To the above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to service a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys 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); and in case of your failure to appear, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the notice set forth below. Dated: New York City, New York January 25, 2011 SHIM & GHIM, LLC by: Young Kon Nah Attorneys for Plaintiff 1261 Broadway, Suite 201 New York, New York 10001 Telephone (212) 532-1004 Notice Under DRL Section 255: The Defendant is advised that he may no longer be covered by the Plaintiff’s health insurance plan once a judgment of divorce is signed. _____________________________________ Notice is hereby given that License Number 1251564 for On Premises Retail Liquor License has been applied for by TIERRAS CENTROAMERICANAS RESTAURANT CORP. Located at: 87-52 168 Street, Jamaica, NY 11432. For the sale of beer & liquor at retail price. ________________________________________________________________ Name: 3-D KIDS, LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. Of State of NY 01/12/2011. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to THE LLC, C/O Eric A. Lichtenstein, M.D., 192 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.
Hard To Define, Easy To Recognize BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
Photo by Ira Cohen
real estate is Lester Petracha, who as president of Success is not stumbled upon - it is earned Triangle Equities, the developer of the College through a series of calculated steps. Even failures, Point retail area, knows a thing or two about success. when learned from, can turn into success. "On a personal note, helping to raise and supThe people of Queens know a thing or two about success. From captains of industry to real estate port a family is an incredible challenge, and being moguls to bankers and businessmen, we have a great able to provide for them in a way that ensures their happiness and well-being is something I consider habit of creating success in Queens. Richard Braddock, CEO of Fresh Direct, the a great success," he said. "On the business side of things, not only being able to give online food delivery service based back to the community, but actually out of Long Island City, has a simple doing so, is a true sign of achieveThe talent of success definition for success. ment." "It's being really dedicated to what is nothing more than Petracha's perspective on success you're doing, and enjoying it enough doing what you can being something achieved outside to put out the extra effort," he said. do, well. the workplace is shared by many "And to do so in a balanced way." For Joe Ficalora, president and Henry W. Longfellow others deemed "successful." For Musa Sharma, principal of CEO of New York Community Francis Lewis High School, success Bancorp., the answer is different, yet is not just about wealth or business. equally simple. "Success in my eyes is being able to hold my head "I'd say it's accomplishing what you set out to do, whatever that may be," he said. "It is achieving up high, acknowledging that I did my best with the what is expected of yourself, not expected of you things I have committed to in life," he said. "It is knowing that I have worked hard, with sincere inby someone else." For Robert Knakal, success is more of a Zen per- tentions, to make sure I do everything in my power to help young people have a better future. Success is spective. "Success to me is not defined by how many hours enjoying life with my family and making contribuyou work, how many buildings you sell or how much tions to this great city that I live in." For Donald Hendler, president of Leviton manumoney you make," he said. "Success to me is based upon the deep sense of peace that someone is able facturing, North America's largest private manufacto find in their life. A major component of this turer of electrical and electronic wiring devices and peace is derived from time spent with family and systems, the bottom line is not what matters. "Being able to look at yourself in the mirror and friends." A real estate mogul for the last 17 years, Knakal feel that you have conducted yourself fairly and teamed up in November 1988 with Paul Massey and ethically and maybe made the world a little better started their own business, Massey Knakal Realty place is what defines success." Whether the perspective is that of a seasoned Services. Another person intimately familiar with Queens business pro, an educator or just a guy on the street,
SUCCESS The Queens County Savings Bank may be one of the boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best examples of success. we all identify success as something we know when we see it. Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
Tempering Growth With Preservation
BALANCE The fight to retain the Victorian homes of Richmond Hill is one of the hallmarks of the borough's preservation battles. ing act we have comfortably become accustomed to over the years. Reach Reporter Jason B a n re y at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 21
divided, giving real estate developers an opporSerenely sauntering the tightrope, balancing tunity it create new towns and housing for imbetween urban development and historic preserva- migrants and settlers. After assimilating into the rest of New York City tion, Queens has struggled to maintain its monuin 1898, officially becoming a borough of the City mental and infrastructural features. Through the balancing act, the efforts to sus- of New York, Queens' eclectic mix of residents betain the borough's rich history and architectural gan to establish their own roots. Astoria gradually established itself as a sumgems have become a main event for most. Drawing the attention of historic and preservation societies mer resort to some of New York's wealthiest famiwho have tirelessly resisted redevelopment to re- lies. Residents of the newly adopted town of Long tain Queens' heritage, the structural evolution of Island City began building churches and schools for their community's residents. our global village of nations and Wilson Rantus, a black leader, purneighborhoods has continued. chased lots on Douglas Avenue in From the development of the larger You may have to fight Jamaica, establishing an area for than-life-link that connects borough a battle more than him and his neighbors to develop residents to Manhattan, the once to win it. Queensboro Bridge, to the upcoming Margaret Thatcher a civil rights movement in the State. restoration and construction above Once known as the beer capiFlushing's RKO Keith's Theater, the borough's ageless charm has always seemed to shine tal, Ridgewood's ethnic mix of settlers from Slavic through, forever promising future generations with a origins began settling into the neighborhood which still primarily retains their descendants. glimpse of the past as the future develops. The Industrial Revolution marked a turning Glendale saw a building boom in the early 20th point in the development of the territory that would century after the areas last farm was sold, paving become Queens County. From farmlands to fran- the way for houses which are now worth significhises, from crops to corporations, Queens began cantly more. To this day each of the borough's neighborhoods flourishing as an economic machine. Establishing warehouses and factories that would still holds a piece of that past as developers seek to forever change the face and landscapes through- take advantage of idle spaces that have become neout the neighborhoods, the ironclad movement laid glected over the years. With the help of historic and preservation sothe foundation for what was to come. Serving as a catalyst this momentous occasion cieties throughout Queens, many historic sites have sparked the development of what was once entirely either been recently rescued or preserved. From farmland and eventually led to the exponential the facades of once-famous world class theaters to banks boasting character; from elegantly estabgrowth of the borough. The opening of the Queensboro Bridge lib- lished churches to selectively sectioned-off historic erated the isolated territory. Linking with mid- districts, the borough still shows an interest keepManhattan, the farms and estates became sub- ing a piece of the past, in the present - a balanc-
Photo by Ira Cohen
BY JASON BANREY
Queens Shows How Power Corrupts BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Page 22 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
unions. He pleaded guilty in 2008. Among those he Being home to some of the most dynamic poli- admitted to stealing money from an Electchester little ticians in the country, Queens is no stranger to league team. He is serving a 10-year prison term. political scandal. Over the years, some of Queens’ State Sen. Ada Smith was convicted of battery most powerful elected officials and rising stars have against a staff member in 2006 after one of many fallen from grace. reported incidents against her staff members. Smith, City Councilman Matthew Troy was elected to who represented Jamaica, had a history of harassthe council in 1964 representing Eastern Queens. ing her staff and as early as 1996, verbally taunting The Queens Village Democrat rose to become chair them and even threatening one with a knife. She of the Finance Committee and chair of the Queens also acted erratically outside of office. In 1998, Democratic Party before falling out police were forced to mace her after of favor with the Democratic leadershe became belligerent during a trafship and losing his seat in the City Only through fic stop in Brooklyn. In 2004, she was arrested after she allegedly Council in 1977. In 1979, he was experience of trial nearly ran over a state trooper at a convicted of grand larceny stem- and suffering can the ming from a tax evasion charge from soul be strengthened, traffic stop. She was defeated for rea few years earlier and served six vision cleared, election in 2006. months in prison. He died in 2004. ambition inspired, Former Forest Hills AssemblyThe man who replaced Troy as man Alan Hevesi rose to statewide and success achieved. leader of the Queens Democratic office as State Comptroller, but was Helen Keller forced to resign in 2006 after pleadParty later went down in one of the most spectacular and bizarre politiing guilty to defrauding the governcal scandals in New York history. Shortly after be- ment when he used state employees and state veing sworn in for a fifth term in January 1986, Bor- hicles for personal use to care for his sick wife. He ough President Donald Manes was found in his admitted last year to accepting money in exchange car on the side of the Grand Central Parkway, his for access to the state’s pension fund. He is awaitwrists cut. After initially stating he was carjacked, ing sentencing, and is expected to serve jail time. he later admitted to attempting suicide. Within a Longtime Richmond Hill Assemblyman Anmonth, Manes found himself at the center of a thony Seminerio was forced to resign in 2009 after political firestorm, with allegations of kickbacks being convicted of taking bribes from hospital ofinvolving city agencies like the Parking Violations ficials and others through a fake “consulting firm.” Bureau and cable companies wiring the borough. He died in prison 18 months later. Manes resigned in February and on March 13, 1986, State Sen. Hiram Monserrate was expelled by Manes plunged a knife into his heart in his Ja- his colleagues in February 2010 after being conmaica Estates home. victed of misdemeanor assault charges against his Assemblyman and former labor leader Brian girlfriend Karla Giraldo in 2008. Monserrate atMcLaughlin was arrested in 2006, accused of steal- tempted to get a court to overturn the expulsion ing more than $3 million from the city and labor and be reseated in his Jackson Heights Senate seat,
AMBITION Donald Manes was perhaps most ambitious of all. but the court refused. He later had federal corruption charges brought against him, accusing him of using employees from an organization receiving state money as campaign workers. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
Exposing The Flies In Our Ointment BY JOSEPH OROVIC
Photo by Ira Cohen
Sometimes the effectiveness of civics can be meaWhen contested projects stop dead in their sured in smaller feats. From organizing volunteer tracks, who garners the credit? When development works to bringing in elected officials at meetings, the borough's civics have grown accustomed to a cozy is felled, who do you thank? The answers may be simple: your local legisla- place between the government and populace. A recent notable exception happened at a Fortors and/or community board. But the oft-overlooked truth is many community causes are born at est Hills Civic Association meeting. A scheduled a much deeper level, within the more than 100 civic visit by Mayor Mike Bloomberg dovetailed with a associations that pepper our borough. Time and mounting controversy surrounding a planned Muslim community center near Ground again, they serve as the Petri dish Zero. The Mayor's comments that for looming controversy, point out Many of life’s failures night were among his first public disproblems repeatedly, hoping the are people who did cussions about the matter. The civic, proverb about the squeakiest wheel not realize how close commonly fielding complaints about getting the grease proves true. traffic and safety, became the center The successes garnered by our they were to success of a national news discussion. civics are numerous, and often dif- when they gave up. The lead fight against overdevelThomas Edison ficult to see. Their most frequent opment, and namely "McMansions," purpose, it appears, is to stop unbegan at the civic association level. popular projects, overdevelopment and generally dumb ideas. It makes their failed It was only after hundreds of civic association members held a rally on the steps of Borough Hall that, battles easy to spot. Certainly many have stared at Cunningham Park two weeks later, Bloomberg chose the same venue and thought "This would be a splendid location to announce his support for rezoning. The prevalence of civics goes back decades, as for an ice skating rink." No? The West Cunningham Park Civic Association was prescient enough to they were instrumental in opposing a planned new know as much, and quickly raised a storm around use for Flushing Meadows Corona Park - for automobile racing. then-Borough President Claire Shulman's plan. But successes of community civics can be The planned expansion of the Queens Museum of Art called for the closing of its neighboring matched by some of their prominent losing battles. Probably the most notable recent battle was World's Fair Ice Rink. In an effort to replace the facility, Shulman pushed to have a new rink built over St. Saviour's Church. In a preservation fight, in the park's parking lot, which concerned neigh- Juniper Park Civic Association fought for the church's survival as a developer sought to build bors said was becoming a haven for gay trysts. "All of our members are against it," said Bob housing on the Church's site. Their success can Harris, president of the West Cunningham Park be measured by the barren land resting at St. Saviour's old site, at 57-40 58th St., though the Civic Association. The plan's ultimate success lies in the borough's new jigsaw puzzle pieces of the structure sit in boxes, ice skating home - in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. waiting for a time when interest and funding can
PERSISTENCE Bob Holden of the Juniper Park Civic Association praises Mayor Mike Bloomberg for the Elmhurst gas tank park, but tore him apart mere months later over the St. Saviour’s project. put the church back together once again. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 23
Let There Be Dancing In The Streets! BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
Page 24 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
light in a year carved into the history of baseball They said it couldn't be done. They said that folklore like none other that had come before it. The year was 1986. The date was Oct. 25. The this upstart team that posted the worst record in baseball history a scant seven years earlier could batter was Mookie Wilson. The Mets came out charging in 1986, not looknot possibly do it. But they beat the odds and they beat the Ori- ing back when they got into on-field brawls, when oles one lovely October night, bringing the World they were arrested in a bar in Houston, when they Series trophy to place it had never before been - clinched the division on Sept. 17. They fought like mad against the the field of Shea Stadium - as the Houston Astros in early October, loveable New York Mets were including what at the time was the crowned world champions. The harder the longest post-season game in history During the summer of 1969, the conflict, the more - 16 innings - to face the Red Sox in Mets carried a 56-win, 44-loss glorious the triumph. Series. record - neither spectacular nor Thomas Paine theAWorld young upstart named Roger horrible. But the last 62 games of Clemens and a team of veterans from the year they went an astounding 4418, including 17 shutouts, blowing out the league- Boston seemed to push the Mets to the brink of colleading Cubs and walking into the first-ever League lapse - with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Championship Series, where they soundly thrashed down two runs and on the verge of giving up the World the Atlanta Braves in three straight and rolled over Series. The champagne was about to pop in the Red Sox locker room when the miracle hit again. the Orioles 4-1. Gary Carter singled to left, Kevin Mitchell But the Mets? The only person on the team with a batting average over .300 on the season was Cleon singled to center, Ray Knight singled to center (scoring Carter), and veteran pitcher Bob Stanley Jones. But it wasn't the bats that got them through. The threw a pitch in the dirt as Wilson stood at the Mets had one of the most talented pitching staffs plate, allowing Mitchell to run in, tying the game. And then it happened; Stanley threw the damnthat season, with Tom "Terrific" Seaver going 25-7 with 18 complete games, a 2.21 ERA, 208 strikeouts ing pitch. Wilson swung… "Little roller up along first…behind the bag! It and only 82 walks in 280 innings pitched. Relative newcomer Jerry Koosman mirrored Seaver's gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the ERA with a 2.28 of his own - slightly higher than Mets win it!" Game Seven was an afterthought. The miracle his 2.08 of the last season - while rookie relief pitcher Nolan Ryan came out strong in his games, had already repeated. That was 25 years ago. A lot has changed with our setting up for Tug McGraw and Ron Taylor. The Mets have made it back to the big dance a team since those days. We have new owners, a new few more times, losing in 1973 to the Orioles and ballpark and almost entirely new faces - except one. Mookie Wilson, the most notable hero of that 2000 to the Yankees. But there was a golden moment - the biggest high- Game Six, has returned to our fold to resume the
TRIUMPH The joy of Jesse Orosco was felt in waves extending from Queens and headed into space - which is where some think his glove landed. . role he held in the 1990s as first base coach. Can his be the inspiration we seek? Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
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Page 26 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
Tribune Professional Guide
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BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY neighborhoods throughout Queens," Brown said. And that presence may be the DA at a meeting Spotlight hogs be damned, some of the borough's best work is being done through networks, or perhaps at the wake for a young child killed by collaboration and sharing. Nothing exemplifies the a drunk driver. spirit of teamwork more than DA Richard Brown's "The DA was involved from the beginning" on the Vasean Allyene case. A drunk driver who was not office, which handles 75,000 cases a year. When police make an arrest, the DA knows within breaking any other law besides DWI killed Vasean. the hour - on bigger cases within minutes. An ADA State law at the time prohibited the driver's prosecuis already working on the case, helption for young Vasean's death. "The DA spoke the night before the ing get a sworn complaint from the There may be times funeral with the family," Executive police as quickly as possible so that when we are the DA can bring the defendant be- powerless to prevent Assistant DA Jesse Sligh said. "He was fore the court for arraignment. sympathetic and responsive. All we injustice, but there did was go there and put our arms For Brown, there is no such thing must never be a time around [Vasean's mother] and hugged as an off day. After all, crimes will always occur, victims will need help, when we fail to her and told her we would prosecute." assailants must be prosecuted and protest. The DA and a local Assemblyman Elie Wiesel later took Vasean's mother up to Albany justice must be served. so she could testify about the need for But the DA is not alone in this process. legislative action. Vasean's Law was born from that first Sure, he has a staff of hundreds of assistant DAs, meeting the night before the young boy's funeral. That may be part of the reason that Brown is as well as support teams to match, but he has an even often honored by local civic and social organizabigger network - the 2.2 million people of Queens. "The community plays a significant role," said DA tions for the work he does. Counsel Lois Raff. "The DA is out at meetings and Brown was recently named Man of the Year by reports back to answer the questions the community the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and he also steps up beyond the honor, breaking down barriraises. He responds in extraordinary fashion." From community boards to police precinct coun- ers that seem to keep kids from living along the cils, Brown is sure to attend every organization's straight and narrow. Every year the DA takes 1,000 kids from the meeting at least once a year, and has his assistants attend all the rest. In short, there isn't anything Rockaways to Arthur Ashe tennis stadium. "It's the that gets out from under his watchful eye. first time that many of them have the opportunity "He will just stop and talk with residents about to get off the Peninsula," Sligh said. "That's just their life, what's happening," Raff said. "They thank the kind of community man he is." The DA's office runs court tours for schools, fahim for prosecuting quality of life crimes, which he does on a consistent basis." cilitates mock trials and has a speakers' bureau for "We have a presence in virtually all the diverse schools and all kinds of organizations.
TEAMWORK Surrounded by staffers, DA Richard Brown admits that he would not have success as a prosecutor if not for the team of dedicated people in his office. "We are always out there," Sligh said. Joseph Orovic contributed to this article. Reach Editor Brian Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
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When A Push Is Made, People Succeed
Tribune Professional Guide
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vice maintained the boundaries that city government BY JASON BANREY The way borough residents receive their mail would and could not. For nearly three decades, our from the U.S. Postal Service has always been unlike mail arrived at our doorsteps properly addressed. Then, with the advent of mainframes, mass mailany other county in the city. Within Queens, residents have always long cherished their short space ing, and the U.S. Postal Service’s National Zip Code reserved on a piece of post for their neighborhoods. database, Mr. Zip and the neighborhoods of Queens Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens, St. Albans and were betrayed. As a result, all neighborhoods with a 113- zip code Jackson Heights have their own identities, and so were to become “Flushing;” the neighborhoods with do their zip codes. a 114- zip were deemed “Jamaica;” But not long ago the two-inch space It’s the constant and and all neighborhoods with a 111- zip on people’s addresses became the cencode are called “Long Island City.” ter of a battle which pitted the post- determined effort that While this did not affect personal man against the borough, its residents, breaks down all correspondence between friends and the Tribune and a couple of local poli- resistance, sweeps relatives, the new labeling procedure was ticians. With a bit of wit and a wallop away all obstacles of effort we were able to keep the neighClaude M. Bristol enforced on mass mailings, like magazines, credit card bills and junk mail. borhood brands we have always kept After reading a series in the Tribune in which residear, forever putting a stamp on the borough’s ability dents and elected officials criticized the disappearto always fight for what is important to them. According to the postal boundary lines, which ance of Queens neighborhood names from the mail, were drawn as part of the U.S. Postal Service’s 1963 Flushing Postmaster Bill Rogers said he was going Zoning Improvement Plan (ZIP), Queens was divided to “punish” the paper by pulling all of the Postal into three numbered districts, each with their own Service’s advertisements from the publication. Despite Mr. Rogers’ insistence that Queens neighsub-codes. With these new zip codes came the promise of the more rapid completion of carriers’ ap- borhoods be relegated to the land of make-believe, pointed rounds. However, there was also a strange a group of residents and elected officials joined in the fight to preserve the borough’s heritage. by-product– numeric nationalism. Residents bombarded the Tribune with dozens of In Queens, zip codes were the last remnants of our past. Created out of a group of distinct villages, letters – addressed to Fresh Meadows, not Flushing Queens was a collection of separate towns and vil- – and the message was clear: “A Rosedale by any lages until 1898, when the borough was consolidated other name would not smell as sweet.” In August 1998, the Tribune completed its nearly into Greater New York City. It is for this reason, that unlike the other four year-long crusade to put the names of Queens boroughs, residents did not think of themselves as neighborhoods back on the envelopes of our corresidents of “Queens, NY” but rather Woodside or respondence. With the help of U.S. Rep. Gary Forest Hills or Jamaica or Astoria. Zip codes, ini- Ackerman and Weprin, we were able to convince tially, provided the license to do this; the Postal Ser- the Postal Service to cease its policy of clustering
E F F O RT Would a letter delivered to Rosedale but called “Jamaica” smell as sweet? Thanks to a combined effort to challenge the Postal Service, we may never know. all of Queens’ neighborhoods. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
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Page 28 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
The percentage of people who can even understand this problem is becoming a problem.
America needs more engineers. Simple as that. And as a company that depends heavily on engineers, National Grid has invested more than three million dollars in our “Engineering Our Future” Program. Every year, we’re creating paid internships, mentoring programs, and job shadow opportunities that allow high school students in our region to get hands-on engineering experience. And with programs that build technology, science, and math skills, engineering feats like building smart grids and next generation delivery systems will be in very good hands. For more about what we’re doing, visit www.nationalgridus.com/commitment
©2011 National Grid
Boro Entrepreneurs Make The Big Time BY JASON BANREY
Photo by Ira Cohen
food after sharing the kitchen with his family, he An opportunity can sometimes be overlooked or decided to take his skills to the next level and enpassed by. Recognizing its presence and grabbing rolled in the Culinary Institute of America at the a hold of it can be the difference between becom- young age of 16. ing a success or mellowing in mediocrity. As his appetite for the 'back of house biz' inMany in the borough's long line of entrepre- creased, DiSpirito earned a bachelor's degree at neurs have recognized an opportunity when it Boston University, sparking an entrepreneurial knocked at their doors. Finding achievement in all expedition that never looked back. facets of life, these daring pioneers were never afraid In 1997, Rocco opened Union Pacific in to take risks, riding their first breaks straight to Gramercy Park. He was awarded three stars in the New York Times in a 1998 rethe top. Now the third-richest figure view. In 1999, he was named One who fears failure limits in hip-hop, Russell Simmons Food & Wine's Best New Chef, his activities. Failure is only and in 2000, Gourmet magazine did not always have it that easy. called him "America's Most ExOvercoming the temptations of the opportunity to more the salacious street corners of his citing Young Chef." intelligently begin again. Southeast Queens neighborWhere he succeeded in the Henry Ford kitchen, Donald Trump has suchood, Simmons decided to proceeded in the boardroom. mote concerts. Intrigued by the "move makin'" music exuding from the clubs and Trump's demeanor is just as tough as his distincconcerts, he decided to form his own management tive hair style, a quality that some say he earned growing up as one of five children in Jamaica Estates. As company for music artists: Rush Management. Introducing some of the first rap songs to ever the son of a multi-millionaire real estate developer, hit the airwaves, Simmons came to manage a Trump learned the family business early in life, lengthy list of artists who would eventually help moving in to the family business at the age of 13. Trump's first opportunity to make it big came in him develop the foundation of Def Jam Records. Since then, the Queens-born businessman has the 1980s. Taking over the floundering Wollman branched into various entrepreneurial endeavors, Rink project in Central Park, he completed the from his creation of a clothing line to the develop- development in only four months, accomplishing a feat the city had been unable to finish in six years. ment of an advertising agency. For some, opportunity came from the streets; From then on, Trump's empire slowly swallowed for others, it came in through the kitchen door. up strategic spaces from New York City to Los AnRocco DiSpirito has risen to the top, conquer- geles, making him one of the few bountiful billioning cuisine both in the kitchen and between the aires to ever come from the borough. Today, he is mulling the possibility of runpages. Born in Jamaica to immigrant parents from ning for president in 2012. If he does, he will be southern Italy, DiSpirito began honing his skills at the second from Queens to seek the office on a a young age. Instilled with deep appreciation for national ballot - the first was Rufus King, whose
OPPORTUNITY Low-budget foodies meet at Long Island Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Entrepreneurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Space to learn how to make their businesses grow. home still stands in Jamaica. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
Zoning Advocates Kept Eyes On Prize
G O A L S The rezoning push in Queens was led by people seeking to stop this type of home from being built in small neighborhoods. just takes time, patience and, often, months (if not years) of pushing. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 29
Together, the four helped change the developIn the last decade, terms such as "out-of-charac- ment game in Queens, and were instrumental in ter," "variance" and "tax lots" have become ubiqui- the implementation of an R2A zoning designatous at Community Board meetings around the tion designed to curb high-density residential deborough. Since the major successful push to reform velopment in areas more accustomed to single-famdated zoning in the early 2000s, the civically vocal ily homes. The overlay was debuted in Bayside, which members of the borough have become well-versed in the intricacies of zoning laws. They had to if sought to protect the character of a neighborhood comprised of thousands of homes. The they wanted to save their communities. At the same time, rezoning has been used for community was skeptical about the new plan at the opposite effect, as a means to encourage change the outset, citing flaws in the plan which could allow out-of-character homes to and growth where it was stymied in sq u eak thro u g h. A vella fo u g ht the past. R2A's opponents until the desigC o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s h a d Obstacles are those nation was ultimately adopted. plenty of time to learn the intrica- frightful things you see In the time since, R2A has, for cies and glossary of terms. Before when you take your the most part, served as a bulwark changes to rezoning laws, some eyes off your goal. overlays had stayed in place for Henry Ford against the kind of development community members had decried four decades in some cases. The for so long. lack of changes to the borough's Another major change occurred zoning map left smaller communities open to overdevelopment, with little recourse. in Southeast Queens, when the 368-block rezonThe plague of "McMansions," large, out-of-char- ing of Downtown Jamaica passed by a 45-3 vote in acter homes, grew to a fever pitch. Residents de- the City Council. The improvements mapped out in the Jamaica cried the gaudy houses with massive driveways and columned entrances being built next door Rezoning Plan include preserving lower-density to small Cape Cods, but had little opportunity to residential neighborhoods while developing the area surrounding the AirTrain and LIRR station fight back. The major push to rezone wholesale chunks of with hotels and offices on industrial land. The plan Queens began in earnest in 2004, when Mayor Mike also called for the Hillside Avenue corridor to be Bloomberg declared, "The longer we go without zon- rezoned to R6A, which would allow 70-foot aparting review, the harder it is to stop a process of neigh- ment buildings to be constructed. And while protective rezonings have subsided in borhood character change that nobody wants." The declaration ran tandem to the formation of recent years, Community Boards have used new zona four-headed rezoning hydra, consisting of then- ing laws to try to keep out-of-character development chairman of the City Council zoning committee at bay. "Try" being the operative term, since their Tony Avella, Queens City Planning Director John role is still only as an advisory arm of the process. Frustrating as that may be, the community Young, urban planner Paul Graziano and City Planboards do have the ability to influence policy - it ning Project Manager Frederick Lee.
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BY JOSEPH OROVIC
Groups Stand Firm In Fight For Home BY JOSEPH OROVIC
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Page 30 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
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fought for the structure's survival after years of disFrom a seat on Flushing Town Hall's porch, one repair left it a nearly-lost cause. The City's Dept. of could have witnessed the neighborhood's transfor- General Services asked the group to submit a promation from a pastoral outlet of weekend homes posal for Flushing Town Hall's next incarnation. Following a study assuring the building was and estates to its place as one of the City's most important intersections of culture, commerce and structurally sound, Jones proposed a multicultural arts center, bolstered by testimony from elected ofimmigration. Built during the Civil War, the Town Hall un- ficials and other city agencies. The City, in turn, derwent transformations from a Union Army re- gave FCCA a long-term lease for the property. With the guidance of architeccruiting spot, to a police station, tural firm Platt and Byard, FCCA municipal courthouse to its current Determine that the undertook the job of stabilizing and incarnation as one of the borough premiere cultural hubs as the home thing can and shall be reshaping the Town Hall. It opened of the Flushing Council on Culture done, and then we its first floor galleries in 1993 and shall find the way. its second floor theater opened six and the Arts (FCCA). And to think, it almost did not Abraham Lincoln years later. In the time since, Town Hall has survive. blossomed into a regular home for It was built by a local carpenter in the Romanesque Revival style. It went through cultural events for residents of all ages. It is primaseveral restorations, most notable its 1995 revamp- rily known for its jazz performances, though its multicultural offerings bring world-renowned pering, which largely brought it to its current state. The structure was designated a landmark in July formers to its stage regularly. Jones stepped down from FCCA's helm in 2003 1968. It was leased to Stephen Phillips, who reopened it as a restaurant with a dinner theater in and current director Ellen Kodadek has promised at least another three decades of quality program1976. The Town Hall's revitalization and current state, ming. The organization that saved Flushing Town Hall though, is largely attributed to JoAnn Jones and Aaron Weiss, who together founded what would celebrated its Pearl Jubilee with a gala on April 7, eventually become FCCA. The group held its first 2009. Shulman, who often get ample credit for FCCA's ever meeting in the Town Hall in August 1979. For more than a decade, FCCA lead a nomadic life, success, attributed all of the Council's growth to switching locations and having roving exhibits Jones. "Jo-Ann was just incredible. She built an orgaaround the borough. In 1989, the City fought to repossess the Town nization out of nothing," she said. "And Carol Hall from leaseholder Metro Club, under whose Conslato. She held that organization together. She tenure the historic structure had fallen victim to is queen of the day." From Union Soldiers to jazz cats, Flushing Town neglect. FCCA, a longtime champion of Town Hall, Hall continues to survive a legacy of upheaval to
DETERMINATION If not for the determination of a handful of people Flushing Town Hall would have been lost to history. remain an icon within the neighborhood, borough and City. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
They Move To A Beat All Their Own BY JOSEPH OROVIC
Page 32 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
Woody Guthrie, the original American folkie and Browse through your music collection. Go Dylan's hero, called Queens home, and died here ahead. Try to spot how many artists in your CD at Creedmoor Hospital in 1967. library, iPod playlists or (gasp!) vinyl collection are Other musical luminaries, such as Oscar the progeny of the borough you call home. Hammerstein, James Brown, Irving Berlin, Harry Whether it was calling Queens home in their Belafonte and Madonna all called Queens home at youth, or moving here after their success, our one point or another. borough's musical pedigree includes some of the But more than the passing artists, our homemost influential and original inventors in modern bred talent boasts an illustrious list. Simon and American music. From jazz to heavy metal and hip Garfunkel? You can thank our borough for both. The jeans-and-leather quartet the Ramones hop, we have all genres covered, while also housing some of the pivotal moments of the last 40 years f o r m e d i n Fo re s t H i l l s , a n d c a l l t h e of music. neighborhood's eponymous high school their alma mater. We'd be remiss to not start with The borough is as connected to probably the most influential quartet in modern music history, the Every artist was first the main-stream breakthrough of Beatles. The Fab Four first set foot an amateur. hip hop as the Bronx is with the on American soil in Queens, when Ralph Waldo genre's origins. Rap's first mass-selling artists they landed at JFK Airport on their Emerson way to their pivotal Ed Sullivan Show came from Queens. Run DMC performance two days later. The kept their Hollis roots forefront broadcast launched Beatlemania in the United in their music. And LL Cool J has not neglected States. his home, coming back often enough for charBut arguably one of the greatest moments in ity events. concert history happened around Shea Stadium's Since their early founding, other stars have base paths, when the Beatles played to a sold emerged. Artists like 50 Cent and more recently out crowd of 56,000 people. At the time, it was Nicki Minaj, have kept Queens' presence in modthe highest grossing and most-attended concert ern music alive. ever, and set in motion a revolution in the tourBut one titan of American music intentionally ing business, which has since consistently more connected with our borough. Louis Armstrong transthan doubled the concert's record-shattering fig- planted his signature warbled voice and soulful ures. trumpet to Corona, calling the neighborhood his Another American music legend, Bob Dylan, home well after success could have put him anycalled Queens home briefly, living near Reeves where else. Avenue and 150th Street by Queens College. He His home stands today, a museum to the artist also played a pivotal concert at the West Side Ten- and his place in our borough. nis Club in Forest Hills. But the main source of Good thing it is the only one. If we adopted the Dylan's visit called Howard Beach home. habit of lauding the homes of Queens' musical art-
ORIGINALITY The Rev. Joseph "Run" Simmons shares his originality with the crowd. ists, there would not be many places left for Queens residents to live. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
Changing Faces Define Us As A Boro BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Rooted in the Community, Growing to Meet Your Needs
Page 34 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
F
irmly rooted in the community and committed to the needs of our patients, Flushing Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is just one of the many services branching out to better serve you.
Over the past 125 years, Flushing Hospital has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. Even with our recent growth, this is one thing we refuse to change
To find out more about Flushing Hospital’s Department of OB/GYN services, please call 718-670-5540 or visit www.flushinghospital.org
Photo by Ira Cohen
in population of Asian-Americans. The Chinese-American community in Flushing Queens has long taken pride in calling itself the most diverse county in America. Whether it is liter- shares the neighborhood with a substantial Koreanally true or not depends on what metrics you use; American population as well. Their presence can be that title is also often claimed by Miami, Los Ange- seen along Union Street. Two-thirds of the city’s les, and even our neighbor to the southwest; Brook- Korean population lives in Queens. Richmond Hill plays home to the largest Sikh lyn. But Queens’ cornucopia of cultures, each of which population in the country outside of California. has added to the flavor, sometimes literally, of the Gujarati and Punjabi, two languages spoken mainly by Sikhs, are among the most widely borough, allows us to use that monispoken languages in the borough. ker proudly. No-one can make you In Southeast Queens, a growing Queens’ diversity came with its feel inferior without West Indian population can be found population growth; our borough’s your consent. in South Richmond Hill, South Ozone population grew almost 90 percent Eleanor Roosevelt Park, South Jamaica and Laurelton. between 1910, when it was a mostly Southeast Queens is also a major hub rural white Protestant borough, through the present day. The first bridge from Man- of African-American culture in the city and in the nahattan to Queens, the Queensboro Bridge, opened tion as a whole. Numerous black musicians and athin 1909, the subway followed in the 1920s and in letes made their homes in St. Albans, Addisleigh Park, the 1940s, the two airports opened and expanded, and Hollis. Cambria Heights, Laurelton and Rosedale bringing immigrants directly into the borough, are among the most affluent black neighborhoods in where they stayed and created enclaves that still sur- the country. Some of Queens’ most prominent neighborhoods vive today. Astoria is home to the largest Greek community are known for being an eclectic mix of cultures themoutside of the Balkan Peninsula. Irish brogues can still selves. While Jackson Heights developed a reputabe heard in pubs in Woodside, Maspeth and in the tion for being a Hispanic neighborhood, it is also Rockaways, the beachfront community sometimes re- the center of LGBT culture in Queens, has a growferred to as the “Irish Riviera.” Latin American cul- ing population of young professionals and is also ture has come to define Corona and Jackson Heights.. home to a large population of South Asians. Rego Park is home to a mix of cultures stemming Queens is home to three out of every four ColombianAmericans living in New York City as well as the ma- from the dominant Eastern European population to the long-settled Irish, Italian and Hispanic groups jority of the city’s residents from Peru and Ecuador. Italian-Americans still dominate in Howard Beach, as well as recent arrivals from Iran, India and the Ozone Park, Middle Village, Bayside and Whitestone, Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. while Jewish culture is prominent in Forest Hills, Kew The remnants of Ridgewood’s old German and ItalGardens Hills, Hillcrest and Oakland Gardens. Flush- ian populations share the densely-populated neighing is fast overtaking Lower Manhattan as the city’s borhood with its large Hispanic and growing Polish main “Chinatown” and even rivaling San Francisco and Russian groups.
DIVERSITY The color of our skin is less important than the pride of our home. As hipsters begin to get priced out of Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn, they are also finding a home in our neighborhoods. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
The OB/GYN department boasts several subspecialties, including: • Maternal-Fetal Medicine • Gynecologic Services • Gynecologic Oncology • Reproductive Endocrinology
Congratulations to the Queens Tribune on 41 years of outstanding community journalism
Paid for by Ackerman for Congress, Bob Barnett, Treasurer
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 35
CONGRESSMAN GARY ACKERMAN
Millions Come To See What We’ve Got BY ELLEN THOMPSON
later and stood in awe, staring at the shining 12With two airports situated right here in Queens story high stainless steel model of the earth, the and trains running routes throughout the borough, Unisphere, which sat at the center of the 1964 it’s no surprise that millions of visitors arrive in World’s Fair during the fair’s two six-month season Queens each year. But throughout history, there have runs. Thoughts of an economic boom to a borough that been times when visitors simply didn’t pass through the borough – instead, they joined the masses of was growing more diverse day by day brought the “Peace Through Understanding” themed fair dediQueensites ready to take on the next big event. Warm spring breezes were wrapping around cated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe” to Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Queens. April 30, 1939 when 200,000 people Visitors got a taste of growing embarked on “The World Of Tomor- You don’t have to be corporate America as they glided great to start, but you row.” past what life might be like in the Through a roaring crowd bits and have to start to be near future while sitting in General pieces of French, Italian, Chinese great. Motors’ three-abreast moving armand languages from around the Zig Ziglar chairs, not to mention a site of the world could be deciphered as visitors wondrous new contraption – the caught a glimpse of the first televicomputer. The fair closed on Oct. sions and a keyboard-operated 17, 1965. speech synthesizer. But just before the fair closed its gates, a group The fair, which was the brainchild of a group of New York City businessmen at the height of the Great of four young men from Liverpool snuck their way Depression, brought more than 45 million visitors in. John, Paul, George and Ringo emerged from a into Queens during its two-season run. Generating roughly $48 million in revenue, the fair was, in fact, tunnel and onto the stage positioned at second base an economic failure and disappointment to the busi- at Shea Stadium as 55,600 screaming fans helped nessmen who invested $67 million and additional make rock and roll history, shelling out $304,000 in ticket sales for the Aug. 15, 1965 concert – at resources into the festivities. As the fair’s gates closed on Oct. 27, 1940 and the time the biggest gate sale ever. For the thousands of other fans in Queens who millions of visitors left the borough, visions of tomissed the sold out concert, they got the chance to morrow were still alive and running. Kids from across the country were marveling over view the hysteria March 1, 1966 when it aired on their first roller coaster ride and parachute jump, television with the help of Ed Sullivan Productions. Nowadays, each summer for two weeks, 650,000 while parents wondered what exactly the people of 6939 would think when they dig up the time cap- tennis fans put on their visors and flood into the sule to read Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann’s National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the annual U.S. Tennis Open. writings. The tournament, which the United States Tennis More than 51 million people returned 24 years
GREATNESS The 1964-65 World’s Fair helped put Queens on the map. Association premiered in 1881 at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, has transformed into a worldwide sporting event. In 1968 the men’s and women’s tennis tournaments were combined, opened to professionals, and renamed the U.S. Open.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 37
Dedicated Servants Rack Up Years BY DOMENICK RAFTER
Photo by Ira Cohen
for the Delaney clause, which disallowed the Food Many of Queens' elected officials have endeared and Drug Administration from approving food or their constituents so much that they became un- chemical additive that includes a known carcinotouchable in elections, serving multiple terms in gen. Delaney retired in 1978. office in one form or another, some dedicating their U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman has served in Congress representing Flushing since 1983. Before that, life to service. State Sen. Frank Padavan represented Northeast he spent four years representing Central Queens Queens for nearly four decades. During his career, in the State Senate. Ackerman is currently the seche represented neighborhoods from Jamaica to ond highest ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Whitestone. Before he left office in 2011, he was the longest-servU.S. Rep. Tom Manton repIf a man is called a ing state legislator in both resented Sunnyside and streetsweeper, he should Queens and New York State. Woodside on the City Council For 30 years, Assemblyman from 1970 until he won a U.S. sweep streets even as Ivan Lafayette represented JackHouse seat in 1984. He served Michelangelo painted, or son Heights in the State Assemin Congress until 1998 and was Beethoven composed music, bly, eventually rising to the poor Shakespeare wrote poetry. head of the Queens Democratic sition of Deputy Speaker before Party until his death in 2006. He should sweep streets so retiring in 2008. U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley was well that all the hosts of Assemblywoman Nettie elected to the State Assembly heaven and earth will pause Mayersohn was first elected to representing Woodside in 1986 and served there until his elecher district in Kew Gardens to say, here lived a great Hills in 1982. She became streetsweeper who did his job tion to Congress succeeding known for her Baby AIDS bill Manton in 1998. He has been well. in 1996, which mandated HIV Martin Luther King, Jr. reelected every two years since. testing in newborns. AssemblyU.S. Rep. Joseph P. woman Catherine Nolan has Addabbo Sr. served as a membeen representing her district based in Ridgewood ber of the House of Representatives from 1961 unand Long Island City since 1984. She became chair til his death in 1986, representing Jamaica and of the Education Committee in 2006. neighboring areas of Southern Queens. The Ozone Assemblywoman Barbara Clark has represented Park resident rose to become chair of the Defense the neighborhoods of Queens Village, Hollis and Appropriations Subcommittee in the 1980s. Cambria Heights since her election in 1986. She Queens' current borough president, Helen has risen to be Deputy Majority Leader. Marshall, has nearly three decades of experience U.S. Rep. James Delaney represented a signifi- serving the borough in government. She was elected cant portion of Western Queens for more than 30 to the State Assembly representing East Elmhurst years. First elected in 1944, the Long Island City and Corona in 1982 and 10 years later was elected native faced a few tough reelections. He is known to the City Council representing the same neigh-
S E RV I C E Long-serving officials Morty Povman, Helen Marshall, Claire Shulman and Nettie Mayersohn have more than a century of elected service among them. borhoods. She served there until her election as Borough President in 2001. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
Times Change, And So Does The Cast
CHARACTER Frank Skala is our modern interpretation of the community crazy… or character. those weird adjectives and all those wonderful things that one thinks about when you think 'civic leader.'" Reach Editor Brian Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 39
riving by the busload from across the country and Sure, we've got outrageous civic groups and mad- Canada. By 1975, the vigils grew loud and botheras-a-hatter politicians all over Queens. We won't some to residents of Bayside Hills. As the number name names, but you know who you are. They may of worshippers grew, so did complaints voiced by be pushy, persnickety and impolite, and the pale local homeowners. Veronica was asked to move the vigils elsewhere in comparison to some of the individuals who have because of the noise, and because worshippers were lived in our midst who really take the cake. The characters made a name for themselves well ruining the church lawn. Leuken rebuffed the rebeyond the placard holders or petty pilferers of quest, describing the site as "sacred ground" chosen by The Lady for the vigils. today. The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens denounced Take, for example, Veronica Leuken. To put it the vigils as "the product of a fersimply, she saw the Virgin Mary and tile mind," and the Queens DA was brought the whole world to her asked to investigate the situation. Bayside doorstep to see the visage The highest reward By the end of May 1975, Leuken for a man’s toil is not for themselves. said she had received "instructions" Leuken said her visions began in what he gets for it but June 1968, when she noticed the what he becomes by it. to move the vigils to the former site scent of roses as she prayed on the John Ruskin of the Vatican Pavilion in the park. We, of course, don't want to take day U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy was away from the community characassassinated. The scent returned, along with visions of St. Theresa the Little Flower, ters around today, but we're sorry, Frank Skala, who appeared "on numerous occasions" in the Veronica's got you beat. Who's Frank Skala? Why, he was the inspiration kitchen of her home, Leuken said. St. Theresa told her to prepare for a vision of of a special edition we initiated in 2004, Commuthe Virgin Mary on the night of June 18, 1970, by nity Characters. Check out what Publisher Mike gathering the faithful under a statue of the Virgin Schenkler had to say about Frank back then. "I first met Frank Skala when I was a student in Mary at a Bayside church. A small group of worshippers joined Leuken on Campbell Jr. High (JHS 218). Frank Skala was a that day, praying and chanting outside the church teacher. He was young and bizarre. A decade later, of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Bayside Hills. I was steering the Trib and we were occasionally Leuken said she received a vision that day, from writing about Skala the teacher. And not too long Our Lady of The Roses, Mary Help of Martyrs. It after, it was Skala the civic activist. For the past was the first of hundreds of visions Leuken said umpteen years, Frank has served as president of she received over the years, which conveyed mes- the East Bayside Homeowners Association, written sages of hellfire retribution - portraying mankind us letters, led causes, stopped by our office and as heathens, sinners who would pay a heavy price been Santa Claus at our holiday parties. "Frank has been a thorn in the side of an awful lot for living in a modern world of sin. Before long, the faithful grew in numbers, ar- of people and a rose blossom to a few. Frank is all
Photo by Ira Cohen
BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
They See More Than What Is On Paper BY BRIAN M. RAFFERTY
Photo by Ira Cohen
Far Rockaway in 1918, he became a scientist and Our borough is filled with dreamers. Whether teacher who jointly won the 1965 Nobel Prize in they are the immigrants newest to our shores, seek- Physics for his work in quantum electrodynamics. ing the “American Dream,” or those who see a big- He is credited with inspiring the concept of quanger and better life for themselves, we’ve got ’em all. tum computing and introducing the world to For some, their dreams have taken them from nanotechnology – two keys to today’s infinitely small Queens mediocrity to world renown – even if their computing systems. Perhaps no computing system stands on par yet names aren’t exactly household-known. Perhaps the most famous scientist to come out of with the human brain, and for Alfred Mosher Butts, an out-of-work architect living in Queens is Jonas Salk. The discoverer Jackson Heights who had a penchant of the polio vaccine was a product of You see things; and for board games and crossword Townsend Harris High School. Salk you say, “Why?” But I puzzles, the brain worked very well. was also the first one in his family to He combined his two hobbies to go to college. After eight years of dream things that create Lexico, renamed Criss-Cross research, he discovered the vaccine never were; and I say, Words, which was later renamed for polio and, just as historically, re- “Why not?” fused to patent it. George Bernard Scrabble. Ever wonder why there are only Though today polio is all but Shaw two Ks but 12 Es? You can blame the eliminated worldwide, a recent push New York Times. Butts said that he to avoid inoculation over misguided fears of autism has threatened to reverse the progress would count the number of times a letter appeared on the front page of the Times, and then, using a of Salk’s vision. Another name – perhaps known best by musicians formula, decided on the final count for tiles. Oh, and why are there only four of the letter S? – is Robert Moog. The former Flushing resident built his first electronic instrument at age 12. A few years To avoid the pluralization that makes the game too later, in 1964, he built a device named after himself easy. Of course if reading and words are a little too that altered the sound of the 80’s. If you had hairspray and pink highlights, you were rocking out heavy for you, you can always sack out in front of the TV. Marvin Middlemark, a resident of Rego Park on a Moog synthesizer. To put it simply, the Moog allowed a person to who was frustrated by his low signal quality out in compose and perform music, and then loop it elec- the boondocks, came up with a way to help boost tronically instead of splicing pre-recorded tape. Not the signal emitted from the giant transmitter atop only did this save bands like the Cars and Duran the Empire State Building. His solution? Two long metal antennas that could Duran a little fingerwork on the keyboard, but it also opened the door to sampling, which has become the be manipulated to specific tolerances in order to hone in on a signal at a particular wavelength. We foundation of hip-hop. Less known, but certainly more influential out- know them as rabbit ears. This invention, which side the arts world, is Richard P. Feynman. Born in Middlemark smartly patented and made millions
DREAMS A future scientist studies a slide at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows. from, is single-handedly attributed to the boom in television sales from the mid-1950s through the 1960s. Reach Editor Brian Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.
New Icons Dominate Queens’ Skyline town Tunnel, Long Island Expressway and the No. In a city where success is measured in hard num- 7 subway line, the area has slowly become a haven bers, one of the biggest indicators of growth is sto- for business and higher-end real estate development. ries – the kind you climb, not tell. The Citicorp Building was sold in 2005 to For a long time, our borough had been a haven for photographers, gazers and thoughtful types, Melville-based Reckson Associates Realty, though keen on viewing the Manhattan skyline from a dis- Citicorp continues a 15-year lease on the property. The building was followed by dual high-end contance. The view changed over time, as new skyscrapers competed for the prominence in post cards, dos created by Queens West, known as Avalon aerial shots and the general national conscience as Riverview and Riverview North. The buildings brought Manhattan couture (or snobbery, if you will) New York City’s definitive building. to Queens. It has since sprouted brethren in the same But since the mid-1980s, our bormold, making the area behind the ough has seen its own boom, adding Pepsi Cola sign seem more than a bit many stories and giving Move out of your crowded. Manhattanites a view worth photo- comfort zone. You can Now property adjacent to the curgraphing. only grow if you are rent developments will become the It began in 1990, when what was willing to feel next addition to the skyline. The then known as Citicorp completed a awkward and Hunters Point South development, $250 million headquarters at One uncomfortable when spearheaded by the City, will become Court Square in Long Island City. the largest affordable housing develThe 658-foot, 50 story structure re- you try something new Brian Tracy opment in all five boroughs. mains the largest building in the borThe first phase of the proposed ough, indeed, the largest east of Manhattan, and has become a trademark for the development will include two mixed-used buildings company and borough’s continued growth. Its con- compromising more than 900 housing units – 75 struction hailed the arrival of Long Island City as a percent of which will permanently target low-, moderate- and middle-income families – and around hub for business. As with any major development that was built 20,000 square feet of new retail space. A number of higher-end, and higher-floored, completely out of scale to the neighborhood it serves, controversy existed during the building’s four-year developments rest within the borough’s bowels. Noconstruction period. At the time of its development, table among them is Parker Towers in Rego Park, nearby residents feared that building the tower would which also promised to bring the same haute livvastly transform the scope of Long Island City. Quite ing, close to the subway, at a deeply discounted a few elected officials, such as then-Borough Presi- price. It should be noted, in all deference to that other dent Claire Shulman, however, hailed the building’s expectations and posed for photos atop the borough, that their brochures all tout wonderful views of the – you guessed it – Manhattan skyline. structure’s highest point. Sitting at the intersection of the Queens-Mid- But with waterfront projects galore and more devel-
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Page 40 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
BY JOSEPH OROVIC
G R O W The Citicorp building in Long Island City was the catalyst for all other LIC growth that has come since. opment coming to some parts of the borough, we may not be far from the day when a view of Queens becomes a major selling point. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
Rooted in the Community, Growing to Meet Your Needs Flushing Hospital has been serving the community for over 125 years, and just as the neighborhood has grown, so has our commitment to it. Over the past few years, we’ve taken several steps to ensure that we’re providing the most advanced and comprehensive care. At Flushing, qualified doctors have been added, allowing new programs and services to bud and existing ones to branch out. Even with our recent growth, we want you to know that our interests are still firmly rooted in this community.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 41
To find out more about the services offered at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5000 or visit www.flushinghospital.org
• Emergency Services • Ambulatory Care • Pediatrics • Psychiatry and Addiction Services • Obstetric & Gynecology • Rehabilitative Services • Radiology • Dental • Department of Medicine • Surgery • Wound Care Center • Geriatric Medicine
We Can Reach Out And Touch Someone BY JOSEPH OROVIC
Photo by Ira Cohen
also among the first to offer a full, digital copy of From rotary to touch screen, dial-up to Wi-Fi and our physical paper online. Running simultaneous to the information revoone television channel to hundreds, our borough has been hardwired, re-wired and de-wired several times lution was a communications and television revampover the last four decades. Its residents have ridden ing that, to this day, has yet to subside into a new an information wave that has seen institutions like normalcy. Cable TV quickly went from a quirky libraries, newspapers and banks detach from physi- luxury to damned-near mandatory, and cell phones were niche items, the domain of the rich for nearly cal constraints. The true behemoth we’re speaking of, to be frank, a decade before having reserved space in a majority of pockets and purses in the counis the online world we inhabit today, try. which was merely a diversion in Within the borough, the laying of 1970, as this paper’s founder Gary Any sufficiently cables for what would eventually be Ackerman sat at a desk in Flushing advanced technology subscription and pay-in TV content rethinking the possibilities of a lo- is indistinguishable happened with some fanfare and a cal weekly. from magic. An often-forgotten band of MasArthur C. Clarke dose of controversy. Then-Borough President Donald Manes, it was sachusetts Institute of Technology found, faced scandal over his selecresearchers launched ARPANet, the predecessor for today’s Internet, in 1969. The ini- tion of companies that would lay down the wiring tial web connected a select group of academics, and for the new service. The new cable television world eventually gave eventually branched out into libraries, gaining wider characters like Archie Bunker, CBS’s trademark usage in the 1980s. Still, the modern incarnation of computers as Queens bigot, a second home on classic TV rehash mandatory home appliances did not come quickly. networks like TV Land. It also launched the career Though desktop set-ups were available, they were of many Queens natives, who saw their musical star still very pricey and largely difficult to use, with rise faster than imaginable. Just ask Run DMC, LL seemingly illogical commands and virtually no user Cool J, Madonna and many others where they would interface. It was not until the introduction of Win- be were it not for MTV. Call them on their cell dows 95, along with the semi-cheap mass produc- phones. The technology itself was a mere touch of scition of computers, that the Web was able to take off. ence fiction, a joke for Maxwell Smart, who answered And the Tribune hopped aboard immediately. This paper joined the online party in 1995, and his shoe in the series “Get Smart.” Yet today, we’re now more than 2 million readers respond to the e- finicky about ringtones, quick to snap photos and vite of community news at the site every year. The doubly fast in sharing them online before switching web has changed how we share our news in general. over to YouTube or Hulu to watch new TV shows or The Tribune has continued its online expansion in read the news on the bus ride home. The communication overload and availability of recent years. You can now friend us on the social network Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. We are endless information is enough to make you feel like
COMMUNICATION The nest of wires and range of satellite dishes on houses across the borough have moved from being the rarity to the norm. a demi-god. And at times, it’s enough to fuel a retreat to a manual typewriter or the local library. Reach Deputy Editor Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.
From Our Boro To A National Stage tenant Governor and, after an unsuccessful run for Queens is no stranger to the powerful. Numer- mayor, was elected Governor of New York in 1982. Cuomo gained national prominence after his keyous national political figures, their names known far from the borough, walked on the same ground as note address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention and topped his party’s list of potential presiwe. Among them are a presidential candidate, Rufus dential candidates in 1988 and 1992. Mario’s son Andrew, raised in Hollis, graduated King. The first U.S. Senator from New York, King ran for President against James Monroe in 1816. from Archbishop Molloy High School the same year While campaigning for president, King resided at his father was appointed Secretary of State for New his farm in Jamaica. His manor, where he lived for York. Cuomo later served in the cabinet of Presimore than 20 years, still stands today at Jamaica dent Bill Clinton as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and was elected New York State Avenue and 150th Street and is open Attorney General in 2006. In 2010, as a museum. Andrew Cuomo was elected the 56th King was not the only Queens Ideals are like stars; Governor of New York. resident to appear on a national you will not succeed in Queens is also the childhood ticket. More than a century and a half touching them with home of U.S. Supreme Court Assoafter King, Geraldine Ferraro, who your hands, but like ciate Justice Antonin Scalia. Though represented Western Queens in Con- the seafaring man on originally from New Jersey, Scalia, gress for six years, became the first the desert of waters, who was appointed to the U.S. Suwoman chosen to run as a Vice Presipreme Court in 1986, was raised and dential candidate when 1984 Demo- you choose them as attended public school in Elmhurst. cratic Presidential nominee Walter your guides, and U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, born and following them, you Mondale chose her. raised in Maspeth and Woodside, is Ferraro was elected to Congress in reach your destiny. 1978, defeating a popular RepubliCarl Schurz the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a large group of moderate can state legislator to represent a Democrats in Congress. U.S. Rep. Republican-leaning district that stretched from Richmond Hill to Astoria. She lived Gary Ackerman, a Flushing native, is a high-ranking in Forest Hills Gardens during her time in Congress, member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Other national political figures hailing from her vice-presidential campaign, and for two decades later where she twice tried, unsuccessfully, to run for Queens include Whitestone’s Francis Lewis, one of New York’s signatories to the Declaration of Indethe U.S. Senate in the 1990s. Queens is also the political base of the Cuomo pendence; U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), family. Former Gov. Mario Cuomo was born and chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, raised in South Jamaica and came to prominence as who grew up in Sunnyside; U.S. Attorney General a lawyer representing homeowners in Corona and Eric Holder, who is from East Elmhurst; U.S. Rep. Forest Hills in disputes against city government. He Sheila Jackson Lee, a high-ranking Democrat from later served as New York’s Secretary of State, Lieu- Houston, a Jamaica-native and graduate of Jamaica
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Page 42 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
BY DOMENICK RAFTER
DESTINY Justice Antonin Scalia returns to New York to serves as Grand Marshall of the Columbus Day Parade. High School; and U.S. Rep. Debbie WassermanSchultz (D-Florida), a Forest Hills native and vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party. Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 27268/09 METLIFE HOME LOANS, A DIVISION OF METLIFE BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, vs.(s). MD M A M T A Z U D D I N MAJUMDER A/K/A MD UDDIN, ET, AL. MORTGAGED PREMISES: 189-32 113TH ROAD SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 SBL #: 4510431-6, FORMELY PART OF 19 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(s) within twenty 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 case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 7th day of March, 2011, TO: MD M A M T A Z U D D I N MAJUMDER A/K/A MD UDDIN, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. DAVID ELLIOT of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 16th day of February, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by MD MAMTAZUDDIN MAJUMDER A/K/A MD UDDIN dated the 3rd day of September, 2008, to secure the sum of $454,500.00, and recorded at Instrument No. 2009000287199 Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 4thday of September, 2009; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 28thday of September, 2009, and sent for Office of the City Register of the City of New York; The property in question is described as follows: 189-32 113TH ROAD, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the Northerly side of Murdock Avenue and the Easterly side of 113thRoad at a radius of 46 degrees 55 minutes 05 seconds; RUNNING THENCE in
the Northeasterly direction along the Easterly side of 113thRoad, 142.17 feet parallel with 113thRoad; THENCE Easterly to the Northwesterly side of Murdock Avenue, 81.25 feet; THENCE Northerly, 20.00 feet; THENCE Southwesterly, 81.25 feet to the Easterly side of113thRoad; THENCE Southerly, 20.00 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. MEANING AND INTENDING TO DESCRIBE THAT PREMISES KNOWN AS BLOCK 10431 NEW LOT 6. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. &sect; 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your
property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.DATED: March 7, 2011 Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228 The law firm of Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. _______________________________________________________________ NAME: INTERIORS BY FRANCESCA LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. Of State of NY 01/ 03/2011. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to THE LLC, C/O Frances Herrera, 9945 67th Rd., #520, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity. _____________________________________ SB HOMES LLC, a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed with the Sec of State of NY on 1/27/11. NY Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to The LLC, 108-50 172 nd St., Jamaica, NY 11433. General Purposes. ________________________________________________________________ SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 13348/10 FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACQUISITIONS LLC Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF EDNA SNYDER A/K/A EDNA WHIDEMAN, ET, AL., Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 10036 197TH STREET HOLLIS, NY 11423 SBL #: BLOCK 10863 LOT 24 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(s) within twenty 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 case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 3rd day of March, 2011, TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF EDNA SNYDER A/K/ A EDNA WHIDEMAN, Defendant(s) In this Action.
The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. MARGUERITE A. GRAYS, ESQ., of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 15th day of February, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by EDNA SNYDER A/K/A EDNA WHIDEMAN (who died November 12, 2008 a resident of the County of Queens and State of New York) dated the 15th day of January, 2004, to secure the sum of $435,478.50, and recorded at Instrument No. 2004000453598 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 22nd day of July, 2004; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 29th day of September, 2009, and recorded on the 19th day of October, 2009, in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York at Instrument No. 2009000340306; which mortgage was further assigned by assignment dated the 19th day of May, 2010, and sent for recording in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York; The property in question is described as follows: 10036 197TH STREET, HOLLIS, NY 11423 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION Block 10863 and Lot 24 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, shown and designated as Lot Nos. 100, 101 and Parcel “G” on Map of Hollis Estates entitled “Map of Hollis Terrace, Addition No. 1, belonging to the participating Realty Corporation in the 4th Ward, Borough of Queens, City and State of New York, surveyed by John Middleton, C.E. & C.S.” and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Queens county on May 21, 1907 as Map No. 1163, which said lots according to said map, are more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Westerly side of 197th Street, (formerly Fishkill Street) distant 220 feet Northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Northerly side of 104th Avenue (formerly Beaufort Avenue) with the Westerly side of 197th Street; RUNNING THENCE Westerly and parallel with 104th Avenue, 100 feet; THENCE Northerly parallel with 197th Street, 52 feet; THENCE Easterly on a line forming an interior plot angle of 81 degrees 43 minutes 05 seconds with the preceding course, 101.05 feet to a point on the Westerly side of 197th Street, distant 37.44 feet Northerly from the point of beginning; THENCE Southerly along the Westerly side of 197th Street, 37.44 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. Premises known as 10036 197th Street, Hollis, New York. DATED: March 3, 2011
Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228, The law firm of Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation of 16804 LIBERTY AVENUE LAUNDROMAT, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/18/10. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 95-25 Queens Blvd., 10th Fl., Rego Park, NY 11374. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Laundry Capital Co., LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. _______________________________________________________________ Mishi2x Designs LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/10/ 11. Ofc in Queens Cty. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to C/O United States corporation agents, Inc, 7014 13 th Ave Ste 202, Bklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: General. ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: 18-32 LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/08/11. 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, 18-32 127th Street, College Point, New York 11356-2334. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Slimarous World Music LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/ 27/11. Ofc in Queens Cty. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 138-30 233 St, Rosedale, NY 11422. Purpose: General. ________________________________________________________________ Notice of Formation Losana LLC art. of org. filed Secy. of State NY (SSNY) 9/16/10. Off. Loc. in Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 48-07 30 th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any lawful purpose, managed by members. ________________________________________________________________ NOTICE (PURSUANT TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW 100.7) SERIAL #: 1252085 APPLICANT: CabMed Corp. ADDRESS: 9017 31 st Avenue, East Elmhurst, NY 11369 TYPE OF PREMISES: ON-PREMISES FOR RESTAURANT, TAVERN, HOTEL, ETC. AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE TO SELL LIQUOR AT RETAIL HAS BEEN FILED BY THE ABOVE APPLICANT. ANY PERSON WISHING TO FURNISH INFORMATION TO COMMENT ON THIS APPLICATION MAY DO SO IN WRITING, AD-
DRESSED TO: NEW YORK STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY 317 LENOX AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10027 (THIS NOTICE SHALL REMAIN POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PROPOSED PREMISES WHILE THE APPLICATION IS PENDING. ________________________________________________________________ Nello Realty LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/15/06. Ofc in Queens Cty. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 7963 68 Rd, Middle Village, NY 11379. Purpose: General. ________________________________________________________________ File No.: 2009-1067 CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT TO: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR QUEENS COUNTY, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK STATE Heirs at law, next of kin and distributees of Helen Courtney a/k/a Helen Eileen Courtney, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence. A petition having been duly filed by MICHAEL TURCK and MOIRA TURCK, who are domiciled at 29-38 166 Street, Flushing, NY 11358. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court Queens County, at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on April 21, 2011 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of HELEN COURTNEY a/k/a HELEN EILEEN COURTNEY, lately domiciled at 79-10 34 Avenue, Jackson Heights, New York, United States admitting to probate the Will dated May 10, 2007, as the Will of HELEN COURTNEY a/k/a HELEN EILEEN COURTNEY, deceased, relating to real and personal property and directing that: Letters Testamentary issue to MICHAEL TURCK and MOIRA TURCK. HON. PETER J. KELLY, Surrogate, Queens County. MARGARET GRIBBON, Chief Clerk. Dated, Attested and Sealed, March 8, 2011. CROWLEY & KAUFMAN, P.C. 84-56 Grand Avenue, Elmhurst, New York 11373, (718) 457-8585. This Citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief request. You have the right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney.
To Place Your Legal Advertisement, Call the Tribune at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 149 or E-Mail Your Copy to the Tribune at: legals@queenstribune.com
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 43
LEGAL NOTICE
Page 44 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ www.queenstribune.com
Queens Deadline
Council Robs Queens Of Its Name Photo by Walter Karling
By JASON BANREY Queens residents seeking to travel to Manhat tan will soon get a glimpse of another name before crossing the Queensboro Bridge. On Wednesday, after a blunt debate during a lengthy legislative session, the City Council voted 38-12 to rename the only bridge that bears the borough’s name after former Mayor Ed Koch. In a vote that altered the way future generations will forever address the bridge, the so-named Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, City Council members voiced their opinion in one last opportunity to sway the majority vote. Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) and Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) made one last stand against the proposition to rename the bridge. Holding more than 1,000 petitions received from his constituent s, Vallone stood in opposition to renaming the only bridge that bares the borough’s name. “This has nothing to do with Koch,” Vallone said. “It’s about the pride in our borough and in our bridge. Don’t do this. The people don’t want this.” Van Bramer, whose district is at the east terminus of the bridge, touted the tone of his constituents as well, while also paying tribute to the former mayor. “Ever yone in Queens can honor a life of service that spans a lifetime such as Koch’s,” said Van Bramer. “But without any doubt, 100 percent of the people in my district have
The plaque is no longer valid. said they are opposed to this.” While introducing the proposition, Council Speaker Christine Quinn fumbled the b r i d g e ’s n a m e , u t t e r i n g Wi l l i a m s b u r g Bridge instead, before lavishing a lengthy analogy fit for the proposed honor. “Today we can look a New Yorker in the eye and add their name to the city they love,” said Quinn. “In the midst of the City’s worst fiscal crisis, [Koch] was the bridge that brought us back to greatness.” Many other outer borough councilmen were also vocal in opposition to the proposed co-naming. Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) delivered a rousing monologue, criticizing both those in favor of the renaming and its honoree. The person being honored “is not the Koch the black community remembers. It’s the Koch that shut down hospitals in Brook-
lyn and Harlem,” said Barron. “I hope the bridge doesn’t come as shaky as his past did, endangering us all.” As an alternate, Barron suggested plastering the former mayor’s name on one of the city more notorious sites. “You should name Rikers Island after Koch,” said Barron, “for sending many of the city’s young black youth there.” Unhappy about the process by which the proposition made its way onto the City Council’s agenda, Councilwoman Leticia James (D-Brooklyn) opposed the renaming despite being endorsed by Koch in her run for City Council. “With respect to the wishes of the people of Queens,” said James. “I hope we could revisit this issue in the future.” Earlier t his mont h, after the Tribune polled Queens City Council members, it was evident that the borough’s local officials favored the name change. Ignoring 70 percent of Queens residents who wanted to keep the previous name (according to a Quinnipiac University poll), the council’s Parks Commit tee approved the renaming of the Queensboro Bridge earlier this week before the City Council vote. Initially proposed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg at Mayor Koch’s 86th birthday last December, the co-naming drew the attention and outspoken rhetoric of multiple civic associations and some elected officials in Queens. This is not the first time there was a battle over the bridge’s name, as the century-old
structure struggled with an identity crisis. Many Queens residents may have forgotten that the bridge’s original name, while it was being built, was Blackwell’s Island Bridge, named after the earlier name of Roosevelt Island. Historians debate how the bridge ultimately came to bear the borough’s name. City officials and real estate developers, from both Manhattan and Queens, allegedly disputed over the bridge’s initial name. But On March 20, 1909, at its ceremonious grand opening, the bridge was christened the Queensboro Bridge. Over the decades that followed, the bridge has taken only one other name. Known to many Manhattanites and some Queens residents as the 59 th Street Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge was thought to be eternally coveted as the borough’s sole eponymous structure. Mayor Koch oversaw the beginning of the rehabilitation of the Queensboro Bridge. Despite the fiscal crisis of the 1970s, the City regained control of the bridges from the State and began revitalizing the metropolitan area’s transportation infrastructure. Developing the fully funded Bureau of Bridges within the Dept. of Transportation, Koch helped spearhead a cit y wide project which eventually reduced the number of bridges in poor condition in the city to zero. Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 128.
nity staple, gaining support from the community and public officials. “Twenty percent of the staff is alumni,” Evans said. “They have a vested interest in this school” He also has a bone to pick with the [New York Post], which recently ran a story that Evans said used as sources students who were no longer at the school. He said the paper has been harassing students, trying to get them to say inflammatory things. “How is it that the [Post] is coming here and asking students, ‘Why are you going to a school that is going to close?’” In a united stand, students and teachers broke up last Friday’s midmorning lull by walking their own picket line. The fading morning dissipated with passing cars and trunks honking their horns in support of the protest. “What we are trying to do is keep the programs that are doing well,” Bryan said. “We are taking a proactive stance. We are going to invite the Dept. of Education to see what we can do to save this school.” The school’s most notable programming is its Aviation Academy, which is the only of its kind in the City, and the Culinary Academy, where students prepare food that is then made available for purchase by teachers. The school also operates the Business and Law, Media and Technology, and Communication Arts academies. Fodaor Sheriff, 17, stood outside with his colleagues fighting for a school that he will soon leave behind. “This school meant a lot to me,” the senior said. “Everyone achieves in this school.” He said though he “messed up” as a freshman, the staff, especially Principal Anthony Cromer, himself a graduate of August Martin, helped him right his failing high school career. Sheriff said he took part in Cromer’s Young Men’s Leadership Group. Jaime Kneutt, 15, said she choose August
Martin because of its Aviation Academy. Kneutt is also enrolled in the College Now Program, which allows her to obtain up to 12 college credits prior to graduation. “This school means the world,” she said. Zarin-Rosenfeld said he is unsure if the school’s programming would remain after the alteration. A teacher who has been at the school for eight years said it would be unfortunate if the school closed. “Students come from two hours away to [enroll in] the Aviation Academy,” he said. Reach Reporter Sasha Austrie at saustrie@queenstribune.com, or (718) 3577400, Ext. 123.
A poster shows the concern for potential loss of the school’s specialized programs.
Willets Point United Files Suit Against EDC By JOSEPH OROV IC As promised, opponents of the Willets Point Redevelopment plan filed a lawsuit to stop the City’s project on March 21. The suit, filed by attorney Michael Gerrard on behalf of Willets Point United, challenges the recently introduced phased-in procedure for the project, pointing out the gulf between the NYC Economic Development Corp.’s promises to the court in a previous suit and its subsequent actions. The suit’s crux lies in the often ballyhooed ramps to be built off the Van Wyck Expressway, which the Federal Highway Administration has yet to approve. In oral arguments before the court during a prior lawsuit, the agency promised the redevelopment would not move forward until the ramps gained approval. The initial decision in the first case
relied “in significant part on [the EDC’s] commitment to obtain necessary approvals for the proposed ramps” the current suit states. “At oral argument, counsel for respondents stated that if the ramps are not approved, the respondents cannot ‘proceed with the plan as conceived and approved.’” The EDC has claimed the ramps remain outside the bounds of the project’s 20-acre Phase 1 area and have promised their pending approval. “We feel confident that we are on strong legal footing and look forward to resolving this matter as quickly as possible so that this project, which will create thousands of jobs in Queens, can move forward without further delays,” said EDC spokeswoman Julie Wood. Reach Reporter Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 3577400, Ext. 127.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 45
By SASHA AUSTRIE For months, there have been whispers in the reeds where August Martin High School is concerned. Closure, restructure, reorganization are all words carried by the buzz floating around the school. “We don’t know if they are going to close it or restructure it,” said Ruth Bryan, August Martin High School Advisory Commission chairwoman. Unlike other City schools embroiled in a phase out process, August Martin High School is on the New York State Dept. of Education Persistently Lowest Achieving List. Jack Zarin-Rosenfeld, New York City Dept. of Education spokesman, said the state identified 57 schools as persistently low achieving, with 11 of them, including August Martin, slated for transformation. Just what form of transformation that would be remains a mystery. There are four intervention models: turnaround, which includes phase out or redesign; restart, which would either convert or replace August Martin as a charter school; transformation, which would keep the school on the PLA List until it demonstrates an ability to rebound; and the most drastic measure – school closure, which would transfer existing students to neighboring, higherachieving institutions. With this model, the school would be closed within a year. August Martin will know its fate by April 30. The school community said August Martin is undeserving of the flak it is taking from the DOE and media reports. According to a DOE fact sheet, the school graduation rate during the last five years has hovered below 50 percent and in 2009, it was 49 percent. Cleavon Evans, August Martin Alumni Association president, contends that the school’s 2009 to 2010 graduation rate was 61 percent. He said the 11-point increase shows that the school is a thriving commu-
Photo by Sasha Austrie
Students, Staff Rally To Keep Martin Open
Page 46 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX NO.: 5305/10 CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS REALTY CORP. Plaintiff, vs. KEHINDE ANIMASHAUN, 3101 SEAGIRT CORPORATION, ALADE R. ANIMASHAUN,ET, AL., Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 3101 SEAGIRT AVENUE FAR ROCKAWAY, NY 11691 SBL #: BLOCK 15808 LOT 109, (FORMERLY P/0, LOTS 1, 6) 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(s) within twenty 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 case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. Dated this 10th day of March, 2011, TO: ALADE R. ANIMASHAUN, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. DUANE A. HART of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated the 24th day of February, 2011 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Queens County Clerk, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by ALADE R. ANIMASHAUN and KEHINDE ANIMASHAUN, dated the 15th day of February, 2006, to secure the sum of $315,000.00, and recorded at Instrument No. 2006000138986 in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York, on the 13th day of March, 2006; which mortgage was duly assigned by assignment dated the 1st day of March, 2010, and sent for recording in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York; The property in question is described as follows: 3101 SEAGIRT AVENUE, FAR ROCKAWAY, NY 11691 SEE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION Block 15808 and Lot 109 (f/k/a p/o lots 1 & 6) ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Seagirt Avenue, distant 142.02 feet Easterly from the
corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Seagirt Avenue and the Easterly side of Beach 32nd Street; RUNNING THENCE Southerly parallel with Beach 32nd Street, 100 feet; THENCE Easterly 17.673 feet along a course to from an interior angle of 89 degrees 54 minutes 42 seconds; THENCE Norther 100 feet along a course to a point on the Southerly side of Seagirt Avenue to form an interior angle of 90 degrees 05 minutes 18 seconds; THENCE Westerly 17.75 feet along the Southerly side of Seagirt Avenue to the point or place of BEGINNING. Premises known as 3101 Seagirt Avenue, Far Rockaway, New York. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the department’s website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mort-
gage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: March 10, 2011 Steven J. Baum, P.C., Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s), 220 Northpointe Parkway Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228 The law firm of Steven J. Baum, P.C. and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County, on the 14th day of February 2011 bearing Index No. NC60/ 2011, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York, 11435 in room 357, grants minor Shihab Rahman the right, effective on the day of compliance, to assume the name of Shihab Rahman Shapnil. The date of his birth is December 23, 2001; the place of his birth is Elmhurst Hospital Center, Queens County. His present address is 41-17 Vernon Boulevard, Apt. 5B, LIC, NY 11101. ________________________________________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an order entered by the Civil Court , Queens County on 3/ 14/11, bearing Index Number NC-000143-11/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Bouelvard, Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me the right to: Assume the name of (First) Amy (Middle) Li (Last) Hatch My present name is (First) Weiping (Last) Zhou (infant) My present address is 158-19 45 th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11358 My place of birth is China My date of birth is August 14, 1996 ________________________________________________________________ Name of LLC: When We Grew Up: The Documentary, LLC. Arts. Filed with NY Dept. of State: 12/13/10. Office loc.: Queens Co. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Sarah Spencer, 23-35 Broadway, Apt #5G, Astoria, NY 11106. Purpose: any lawful act.
To Place Your Legal Advertisement, Call the Tribune at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 149 or E-Mail Your Copy to the Tribune at: legals@queenstribune.com
Queens Today RELIGIOUS
SECTION EDITOR: REGINA VOGEL
WOMEN MOVERS Saturday, March 26 Women Making Moves: The Three Ps: for Success: Platform, Power, Publishing at 10:30 at the Langston Hughes library. DIE FREE Saturday, March 26 Cheryl Wills speaks about her book “Die Free: A Heroic Family History” at 1:30 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows.
FREE LUNCH Saturday, March 26 at Church of the Resurrection in Kew Gardens. 847-2649 reservations. TAI CHI CLASSES Mondays at 9 at the Pomonok Senior Center, 6709 Kissena Blvd, Flushing. 591-3377. TAX HELP Monday, March 28 free individual income tax counseling for low-income older adults at 1 at the Sunnyside library. CLEARVIEW Monday, March 28 Music Appreciation at 12:45. Tuesday, March 29 Trip to the 99 cent store. Register. Thursday, March 31 Jokercise at 1 and “HSBC: Maximize What You Leave Your Loved Ones” at 10:15. Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 224-7888. CAREGIVERS Ever y Tuesday Caregivers Support group at 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. TAX HELP Tuesday, March 29 A ARP free individual income tax counseling for low-income older adults at 1 at the Bayside library. STAY WELL Wednesdays at 10:15 at the East Elmhurst library for exercise and other health related programs. WOMANSPACE Wednesdays Womanspace, a discussion group devoted to issues concerning women, meets 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue. New members welcome.
REGO PARK JC Sunday, March 27 light brunch, make collage art, appreciate poetry and join in singing Yiddish songs. $5. 11:30am. Saturday Shabbat Services at 9. Wednesdays 12:30-2:30 Yiddish Vinkel. Wednesday evenings at 6:30 Torah Discussion after evening Minyan Service. Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 4591000. SHOLEM ALEICHEM DAY Tuesday, March 29 celebration of Yiddish culture at the Central Queens Y in Forest Hills. 268-5011, ext. 151. ST. THOMAS March 29-31 Lenten Parish Mission. April 16 Annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. May 7 Mother’s Day Concert. May 14-15 Homecoming Mass, brunch and t o u r s . 1 0 0 th A n n i v e r s a r y Events for St. Thomas the Apostle, 87-19 88 th Avenue, Woodhaven. LUTHERAN REDEEMER Wednesday, March 30 Midweek Lenten Service at 7:30. Sundays regular worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30. Sunday School, Adult Bible Class and Friendship Hour at 9:30. Yo u t h G r o u p a t 1 2 : 3 0 . Wednesday prayer group and Bible Study at 7. Lutheran Church of the Red e e m e r , 1 5 7 - 1 6 6 5 th A v enue, Flushing. 358-2744. CULTURAL JUDAISM Saturday, April 2 the Queens Communit y for Cultural Judaism will present the story of one man who found h i s J ew i s h i d e n t i t y a t th e Unitarian Congregation of Queens, Ash Avenue and 149 th Street, Flushing. At 2. %4 non-members. EMANUEL UNITED Saturday, April 2 “ Voices of Victory,” a gospel choir will perform at 4. $10 suggested donation. Sunday, A p r i l 3 L e n te n Ve s p e r s Prayer Service at 5. Emanuel United Church of Christ, Woodhaven Blvd. and 91 st Avenue. 849-1153. WOMEN’S SEDER Sunday, April 3 at 12:30 at Temple Tikvah of New Hyde Park. 516-746-1120.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: BLOCK 2281 LOT 1, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of Sate of New York (SSNY) on 01/24/11. 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, c/ o Cosmopolitan Associates, LLC, 58-47 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Suite 201, Bayside, New York 11364. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. ________________________________________________________________ Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil
Court, Queens County on 3/ 9/11, bearing Index Number NC-000120-11/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) Eleesa (Last) Kissoon My present name is (First) Lisa (Middle) Hiravati (Last) Kissoon aka Lisa H. My present address is 107-55 1 1 8 th S t r e e t , S o u t h R i c h mond Hill, NY 11419 My place of birth is Guyana My date of birth is June 03, 1984 ________________________________________________________________
an order entered by the Civil Court , Queens County on 3/14/11, bearing Index N u m b e r N C - 0 0 01 4 7 - 1 1 / 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) Thomas (Last) Martelli My present name is (First) Thomas (Last) Martelli aka Constantino Martelli aka Coni T. Martelli aka Constantino Tomasino Martelli My present address i s 1 3 2 - 4 5 6 0 TH A v e n u e , Flushing, NY 11355-5246 My place of birth is Italy My date of birth is May 23, 1946
Send typed announcements for your club or organization’s events at least TWO weeks in advance to “Queens Today” Editor, Queens Tribune, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Send faxes to 357-9417, c/o Regina. IF YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SEND ALL DATES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
PARENTS COLLEGE LOANS Monday, March 28 College Prep: Loans, Scholarships and Grants at the Pomonok library at 5. YOGA FOR PARENTS Thursday, March 31 at the Ridgewood library. Register. SYLVAN LEARNING Saturday, April 2 parent workshop from Sylvan Learning Center at 2 at the Central library. S TORY T I M E Saturday, April 2 at the Ridgewood library at 11.
SINGLES SINGLES SOCIAL & DANCE Sundays, March 27, April 10, June 12 singles social and dance from 2-6. $10. Over 45. Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd., Rego Park. 459-1000.
TALKS
GLENN MOHR CHORALE Sunday, March 27 at 4 at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston. Sunday, April 10 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills. Glenn Mohr Chorale presents an original production highlighting the events of the Lenten Season. 516488-0600.
SENIORS
Nottice is hereby given that
Queens Today YOUTH
the Woodside library at 3. FUN READING Wednesday, March 30 Bay Terrace library at 3:30. CROCHETING Wednesday, March 30 at the Bayside library. Register. CHESS CLUB Wednesday, March 30 at the Ridgewood library at 4. FAMILY STORY TIME Wednesday, March 30 Queensboro Hill library at 11. BABY CRAWL Wednesday, March 30 Forest Hills library at 1:30. WEATHER ACTIVITY Wednesday, March 30 East Flushing library. Register. CRAFTS Wednesday, March 30 at the Seaside library at 4. DISCOVER SCIENCE Thursday, March 31 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5. AFTERSCHOOL TIME Thursday, March 31 at the Arverne library at 3. SKATEBOARD CRAFT Thursday, March 31 Mini Skateboard Craft at the C a m b r i a H e i g h t s l i b ra r y. Register. YOGA FOR YOUTH Thursday, March 31 at the Ridgewood library. Register. CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Poppenhusen library at 3:30. GAME DAY Fridays at 3:30 at the Queens Village library. GAME PLAYERS CLUB Fridays Hillcrest library at 4. GAME TIME Fridays at the Windsor Park library at 4. CHESS CLUB Fridays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library. Register. ACTIVITY TIME Fridays at the Briarwood library at 3:30. FAMILY STORY TIME Friday, April 1 at the Seaside library at 11. CRAFTERNOONS Friday, April 1 at the Ridgewood library. Register. GAME DAYS Friday, April 1 at the Bay Terrace library at 2:30. RAISING READERS Friday, April 1 at the Peninsula library at 10:30. FAMILY PLAY TIME Friday, April 1 Queensboro Hill librar y. Register. S TORY T I M E Friday, April 1 Family Story timeSeaside library at 11. PRESCHOOL CRAFTS Friday, April 1 at the Sunnyside library. Register. YUGI OH Friday, April 1 at the Queensboro Hill library at 4. ARTS & CRAFTS Friday, April 1 at the McGoldrick library at 5. FAMILY STORY TIME Saturday, April 2 at the Flushing library at 11. POETRY Saturday, April 2 Poetry in your Pocket Story time at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 176-60 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows. SCIENCE Sunday, April 3 Science and Structures at the Noguchi Museum. 204-7088.
FUTURE WRITERS Saturday, March 26 book club at the LIC library at 11. CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2. TEEN TUTORING Saturday, March 26 at the Bayside library at 10. TEEN TUTORING Monday, March 28 at the Bayside library at 3:30. LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Monday, March 28 at the Hollis library at 4. CHESS CLUB Monday, March 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. TEEN CHESS Monday, March 28 at the Bayside library at 6. SAT STRATEGY Monday, March 28 SAT Free Strategy Session with Princeton Review at the Richmond Hill library. Register 800-273-8439. TEST FEST Monday, March 28 Test Fest with Princeton Review at the Queens Village library. Register 800-273-8439. CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 28 at the LIC library at 6. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at the Douglaston/ Little Neck library at 4. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, March 29 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. LAPTOPS FOR TEENS Tuesday, March 29 at the Hollis library at 4. TEEN GAME DAY Tuesday, March 29 at the Rochdale Village library at 4. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesday, March 29 at the Baisley Park library. Register. CATS Tuesday, March 29 Council of Advisory Teens meet at the Flushing library at 4. CRAFT Tuesday, March 29 at the Queens Village library at 4. SHSAT PRACTICE Thursday, March 31 practice test with Kaplan at the Bayside library at 3. TEEN POETRY Thursday, March 31 corny teen poetry craft at the Flushing library at 3:30. DUCT TAPE WALLET Thursday, March 31 at the Windsor Park library. Register. YOGA FOR YOUTH Thursday, March 31 at the Ridgewood library. Register. TIME TRAVEL Thursday, March 31 talk at the Hillcrest library at 6. POETRY SLAM Friday, April 1 Poetry Slam Workshop at the Pomonok library. Register. TEEN HAPPY HOUR Friday, April 1 at the Flushing library at 3. COOL CROCHET Friday, April 1 at the East Elmhurst library at 3:30. TEEN DRAMA Friday, April 1 Teen Drama Club at the Central library at 4. LEARN MAGIC Friday, April 1 at the Pomonok library at 4. WII SPORTS Friday, April 1 Wii Sports Challenge at the Lefrak Cit y library at 4:30.
www.queenstribune.com â&#x20AC;˘ March 24-30, 2011 Tribune Page 47
S TORY T I M E Saturdays, March 26, April 2 Ridgewood library at 11. TEEN TUTORING Saturdays, March 26, April 2 Bayside library at 10. SCIENCE LAB Saturdays, March 26, April 2 Central library at 11. TALONS Saturday, March 26 at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. CHESS CLUB Saturdays at the Flushing library at 2. KNIT & CROCHET Mondays at 4 at the Douglaston/Little Neck lib ra r y. B r i n g n e e d l e s a n d yarn. AFTERSCHOOL TIME Monday, March 28 at the Arverne library at 3. CRAFT KIDS Monday, March 28 at the Flushing library at 3. TEEN TUTORING Monday, March 28 at the Bayside library at 3:30. CUDDLE-UP TIME Monday, March 28 Russian Cuddle-Up Story Time at the Forest Hills library at 3:30. CHESS CLUB Monday, March 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. CUDDLE UP STORY TIME Monday, March 28 Chinese Cuddle-Up Story Time at the Forest Hills library at 2. WRITING WORKSHOP Monday, March 28 at the C a m b r i a H e i g h t s l i b ra r y. Register. LITTLE TOT Monday, March 28 at the Hillcrest library at 4. SPRING ARTS Monday, March 28 at the Hillcrest library at 6. CHESS CLUB Monday, March 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Tuesday, March 29 at the Glen Oaks library at 11. BOOK BUDDIES Tuesday, March 29 at the Hillcrest library at 3:30. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tuesday, March 29 at the Baisley Park library. Register. READING CLUB Tu e s d ay, M a r c h 2 9 w i t h BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5. AFTER SCHOOL Tuesday, March 29 at the Bellerose librar y. Register. CHESS CLUB Tuesday, March 29 at the LIC library at 4. ELA PREP Wednesday, March 30 6 th Grade ELA preparation workshop at the Cambria Heights library. Register. MATH ACTIVITY Wednesday, March 30 with BOOST at the McGoldrick library at 5. CHESS Wednesdays at the Queens Village library at 3:30. CRAFTS Wednesday, March 30 at the Steinway library at 11. First come, first served. FAMILY COLORING Wednesday, March 30 at the Queensboro Hill library at 11:15. CHESS & CHECKERS Wednesday, March 30 at
TEENS
Queens Today
Queens Today
EDUCATION/GAMES/CRAFTS JH ART CLUB Classes in all art forms days and evenings for children and adults. 454-0813. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, March 26 at the Knights of Columbus in Valley Stream. 341-0452. Also at St. Margaret’s Church in Middle Village. 326-1911. Also at Holy Family Church in Flushing. 631-360-9720. INTERVIEW PREP Saturday, March 26 Interview Preparation Workshop
Page 48 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
MEETINGS ST. ALBANS CIVIC Sunday, March 27 St. Albans Civic Improvement Association meets at St. Albans L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 2 0 0 th Street and 199 th Avenue in the undercroft at 1:30. JEWISH VETS Sunday, March 27 Jewish Wa r Ve te ra n s o f t h e U SA Lipsky/Blum Post meet at the Garden Jewish Center. 4634742. VFW 4787 Monday, March 28 Whitestone VFW Community Post meets. 746-0540. MENS CLUB SOCCER Tuesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 2637000. FRESH MEADOW CAMERA Tuesdays the Fresh Meadows Camera Club meets. 917-612-3463. WOMANSPACE Wednesdays Womanspace, a discussion group devoted to issues concerning women, meets 1-3 at the Great Neck Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue. New members welcome. FLUSHING CAMERA Wednesday, March 30 Flushing Camera Club meets at Flushing Hospital at 7:15. 479-0643. WOODHAVEN CULT. Wednesday, March 30 Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Societ y, Inc. meets at Emanuel United Church of C h r i s t , 9 1 st A v e n u e a n d Woodhaven Blvd. 845-3385. ADVANCED TOASTMASTER Thursday, March 31 learn the art and science of public speaking in Queens. 5256830. QUEENS CENTRAL ROTARY Thursdays 6:30-8:30 Come learn if Rotary is for you. 465-2914. WOMAN’S GROUP Fridays the Woman’s Group of Jamaica Estates meets at noon. Call 461-3193 for information.
MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING DRIVE Through April 24 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 2637000. WALK-A-THON Sunday, March 27 Forest Hills Jewish Center walk for their shul. 263-7000. TAX PREP Saturday, April 2 free tax preparation at the Langston Hughes library at 11.
for Adults at 3 at the Broadway library. FM POETS Saturday, March 26 Fresh Meadows Poets meet to discuss and critique their work at 10 Forest Hills library. BECOME A CITIZEN Saturday, March 26 at the LIC library. AN ARTIST IN YOU Saturday, March 26 917494-3572. All ages. CRAFT CLASSES Saturdays 11-3 at Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454. SCRABBLE CLUB Saturdays at 10 at Count Basie Jr. HS, 132 nd Street and Guy R. Brewer Blvd. 8865236. PET OWNERS Sundays (not on holidays) from 1-4 free workshops on pet behavior at Crocheron Park in Bayside (weather permitting). 454-5800. BOAT SAFETY Sunday, March 27 About Boating Safet y with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Fort Totten. 917-952-7014. Also Wednesday, March 30 at Queensborough Communit y College. 281-5538. DRAWING CLASS Mondays at the National Art League in Douglaston. 3610628. ADULT CHESS Mondays and Thursdays Queens Village library at 5:30. BALLROOM DANCE Monday, March 28 Ballroom Dancing with Jing Chen at the Forest Hills library at 6:30. CHESS CLUB Monday, March 28 at the Lefferts library at 6. LIC CRAFT CLUB Monday, March 28 for adults at the LIC library at 1 and 6. CREATIVE WRITING Monday, March 28 creative writing workshop at the Seaside library at 2. JOB INFORMATION Monday, March 28 Middle Village library. Register. POWERPOINT Monday, March 28 Introduction to PowerPoint at the Maspeth library at 6. BASIC COMPUTER Tuesday, March 29 at the Astoria, LIC and Glendale libraries. Register. SCRABBLE CLUB Tuesdays at the East Flushing library at 3:30. COMPUTER CLASS Tuesday, March 29 at the Arverne library at 10. INTRO COMPUTERS Tuesday, March 29 at the Peninsula library. Register. MICROSOFT EXCEL Tuesday, March 29 at the McGoldrick library. Register. COMPUTER BASICS Tuesday, March 29 Queens Village library. Register. CHESS CLUB Tuesday, March 29 at the LIC library at 4. MEDITATION Tuesday, March 29 Finding Inner Peace Through Meditation at 4 at the Richmond Hill library. GET YOUR YARNS OUT! Tuesdays after evening Minyan at 8, knitters, crochet-
ers, needlepointers, and others meet at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 263-7000, ext. 200. DUPLICATE BRIDGE Wednesdays 10:30-3:00 at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. $12 session, includes light lunch. 261-2900. WATERCOLOR CL ASS Wednesdays at 9:30 at NAL. Traditional and contemporary, all levels. 969-1128. INDOOR SOCCER – DADS Wednesday evenings at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. 263-7000. SCRABBLE Wednesday, March 30 at the Forest Hills library at 2. GOOGLE TIPS Wednesday, March 30 Google Tips and Tricks at the Central library. Register. JIC ORIENTATION Wednesday, March 30 career resources at the Central library at 11. QUILTING CLASSES Thursdays 10-2 at the Maria Rose Doll Museum in St. Albans. 276-3454 or 917817-8653 to register. COMPUTER CLASS Thursdays at the Queensboro Hill library. Register. EXCEL Thursday, March 31 Introduction to Excel at the Pomonok library. Register. FINANCIAL SEMINAR Thursdays, March 31, April 7, 14 at the Central library at 10:30. CAREER POTENTIAL Thursday, March 31 at the Central library at 1. JOB SEARCH Thursday, March 31 Job Search and Networking Strategies at the Lefferts library at 6. FINANCIAL SEMINARS Thursdays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28 at the Steinway library at 6. KNIT & CROCHET Thursdays at the Fresh Meadows library at 6. KNITTING CLUB Fridays at the Maspeth library at 10. KNIT & CROCHET Fridays at the Fresh Meadows library at 10:30. SCRABBLE Fridays Bananagrams and Scrabble at the Windsor Park library at 2:30. GAME DAY Friday, April 1 chess, checkers and other board games at 2:30 at the Bay Terrace library. COMPUTER CLASS Friday, April 1 at the Middle Village library. Register. BASIC COMPUTER Friday, April 1 basic computer lessons at the Auburndale library. Register. SILENT LIBRARY Friday, April 1 play games on being “Silent In Our Library” at the Cambria Heights library at 4. IMPROV WORKSHOP Saturday, April 2 learn the basic techniques involved in improvisational theater at the Rochdale library at 3. PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturdays, April 2, 16, 30 learn to communicate effectively at Elmhurst Hospital. 646-436-7940.
ENTERTAINMENT ABBAMANIA Saturday, March 26 at Queensborough Communit y College. 631-6311. DOO-WOP Saturday, March 26 annual fundraising Doo Wop concert at Beach Channel HS. 755-6262. RUSSIAN FESTIVAL Saturday, March 26 at the Flushing library starting at noon. WOMEN’S HISTORY Saturday, March 26 celebrating Women’s History Month with New Voices in Fiction at the Langston Hughes library at 1. SYMPHONY 101 Saturday, March 26 at 1 at the Lefferts library and at 3 at the Bayside library. MERCER Saturday, March 26 tribute to Johnny Mercer at the Forest Hills library at 2. ART IN EUROPE Saturday, March 26 Provocative Fin de Siecle: Art in Europe at the End of the 19 th C e n t u r y a t t h e F r e s h Meadows library at 3. LATIN/AFRO-CARIBBEAN Saturday, March 26 at the Langston Hughes library at 3:30. PET THEATRE Sunday, March 27 Gregory Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre at Queens College. 7938080. KAROAKE Sunday, March 27 at the Community House in Forest Hills. 279-3006 for ticket information. Fundraiser for the Oratorio Society of Queens. RAGTIME Sunday, March 27 Paragon Ragtime Orchestra at Flushing Town Hall. 894-2178. STAMP SHOW Sunday, March 27 at the Ramada Inn, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside. Free. 104:30. THE MUSIC MAN Monday, March 28 Carl “The Music Man” and TeriAnn perform at the Laurelton library at 6:30. JAZZ FESTIVAL Monday, March 28 Latin Jazz Festival at the East Elmhurst library at 7. MOVIE & TALK Mondays the Friends of Pomonok present a movie and discussion. Bring lunch. 1 at the Pomonok library. BINGO Tuesdays at 7:15 at American Mart yrs Church, church basement, 216-01 Union Tu r n p i k e , B a y s i d e . 4 6 4 4 5 8 2 . Tu e s d ay s at 7:15 (doors open 6) at the Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd. 459-1000.$3 admission includes 12 games. LOVE STORIES Tuesday, March 29 Long Island Love Stories from Beyond at 1:30 at the Bay Terrace library. GREAT MUSIC Tuesday, March 29 great music from the 30s to 70s at the Douglaston/Little Neck library at 2. DINO ROSI Wednesday, March 30 at 2 Concert of International Songs with Dino Rosi at the
Briarwood library. SONGS OF 60S Thursday, March 31 at 3:30 at the Ozone Park library. MOVIE BASED ON BOOK Friday, April 1 “To Kill a M o c k i n g b i r d . ” Wa t c h a movie based on a book at 2 at the Flushing library. FLAMENCO & INDIAN Friday and Saturday, April 1, 2 at 8 and Sunday, April 3 at 4 the Thalia Spanish Theatre in LIC presents Flamenco and Indian Music and Dance. 729-3880. COOL BEATS JAZZ Friday-Sunday, April 1-3 at LeFrak Concert Hall. 5442996. LIVE JAZZ Fridays through December 13 at 180-25 Linden Blvd.., St. Albans. 347-262-1169 ticket information. BRAZILIAN DOC. Saturday, April 2 film screening of Brazilian documentary “Rhythmic Upris-
ing” at the Broadway library at 2:30. SYMPHONY 101 Saturday, April 2 performance workshop for the entire family at the Lefferts library at 1 and the Bayside library at 3. ROB CROWE Saturday, April 2 Rob Crowe Situation performs at the Flushing library at 2. CHARMED CIRCLE Saturday, April 2 Pablo Picasso and Paris in the Early 1900s at 2:30 at the Forest Hills library. IRISH CONCERT Saturday, April 2 f o r t h e benefit of the People of Haiti with Mary Courtney and Morning Star at Our Lady of Mercy in Syosset. 454-9804. GREEK CULTURE Sunday, April 3 at the Central library at 3 with Grigoris Maninakis and the Mikrokosomos Ensemble.
HEALTH NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 7 days a week. 962-6244. WAITANKUNG Sundays at 2. Waitankung is a great total-body workout. Join these ancient Chinese exercise classes in the Flushing Hospital/Medical Center auditorium on 45 th Avenue between Parsons and Burling. Free. Jimmy 7-10pm 347-2156 information. TAI CHI Mondays and Thursdays at 11 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 670-1695. $5 a class. ZUMBA Monday, March 28 at the St. Albans library. Register. MARROW REGISTRY Monday, March 28 join the Marrow Registry at the Flushing library at 2. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT E ve r y Tu e s d a y We ste r n Queens Caregiver Network in Sunnyside. 5:30-6:30. 784-6173, ext. 431. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Every Tuesday 3:30-4:30 at the Selfhelp Clearview Se-
ALUMNI ST. AGNES Saturday, April 16 St. Agnes Academic HS in College point for all years, especially those ending in 1 or 6. 3536276.
DANCE SQUARE DANCE Saturday, March 26 Alley Pond Environmental Center’s square dance. $12. 2294000 to register. ISRAELI FOLK Mondays 7:30-10:00 at Hillcrest Jewish Center, 18202 Union Turnpike. $10 session. 380-4145. LINE DANCING Mondays 6:30-9:30 at Kowalinski Post 4, 61-57 Maspeth Avenue. $7. Cake and coffee. 565-2259.
nior Center, 208-11 26 th Avenue, Bayside. 631-1886. CHAIR YOGA Tuesday, March 29 Woodhaven library. Register. CHAIR YOGA Tuesday, March 29 at the Rego Park library. Register. YOGA Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at the Cardiac Health Center in Fresh Meadows. 6701695. $10 class. ZUMBA Wednesday, March 30 at the Flushing library at 6. OA Thursdays at the Howard Beach library at 10:30. COOK WITH SPICES Thursday, March 31 at the Flushing library at 6. HATHA YOGA Thursday, March 31 at the Queensboro Hill library at 6. Mat, comfortable clothing. CHAIR YOGA Saturdays, April 2, 16, 30 Chair Yoga Fresh Meadows library. Register.
ENVIRONMENT GOING GREEN Saturday, March 26 greening, educational and networking conference in Flushing. 341-1395. BIRD OF PREY Saturday, March 26 hawks, falcons and owls at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $15. 2pm. FREE TREES Sunday, March 27 free trees to the first 200 people at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000 to register. T WILIGHT WALK F r i d a y, A p r i l 1 Tw i l i g h t Spring Peeper Walk at Alley Pond Environmental Center. 229-4000. $5 members, $7 others. WORK IN WETLANDS Saturdays, April 2, 23, 30 help eradicate invasive plant species from the wetland of Alley Pond Park with a volunteer crew. 229-4000.
Leisure
Queens’ Leguizamo Back On B’way By ELYSE TREV ERS The 7 Train was one of actor John Leguizamo's first theaters. As a teenager, the former Jackson Heights resident kicked open the conductor's "boof" and "riffed" on t he subway PA syst em, befo re he was brought to the 110th Precinct. In his latest Broadway offering, Ghet to Klown at the Lyceum Theatre, Leguizamo mines his life and experiences for material. Starting with his upbringing in Queens, he talks quite freely about his stoic, non-demonstrative father and focuses on the effects his dad had on him. He enters onstage wearing sweatpants, a warm up jacket, T-shirt and backwards Mets' cap. (Unsurprisingly, several in the mixed theater audience were dressed in the same way.) Later the workout clothes prove useful as he dances, hustles and runs around the stage, even climbing up the fire escape. This is an R rated show, hardly appropriate for children, and while many per formers in one-man shows have bot tles of water
John Leguizamo performs on Broadway in “Ghetto Klown.”
nearby, Leguizamo drinks openly from beer bot tle s. His language gets quite colorful at t ime s and par t icularly humorous is his interpretation of the U.S. map, as he details events where he lived and worked. (Queens gets a particularly vivid description and those of us who lived and worked in Queens laughed the hardest of all.) He proves himself a master of voices and accents. Each character has his or her own distinctive mannerisms, postures and voice. Leguizamo's first acting teacher, who he affectionately refers to as "Tweety," sounds like Katherine Hepburn in "On Golden Pond." When he discussed some of the movies in which he acted, he began to impersonate several familiar actors, including Steven Seagall, Al Pacino and Kurt Russel l. Many of the encounters were a bit aggressive, but Leguizamo mastered the voice and mannerisms of the familiar stars. The show includes some touching moments, especially when he lovingly imitated his Socialist grandfather. He is able to inject humor even into poignant moments. After telling of the passing of his beloved grandfather, he recalls being told that when an elder dies, the grandson should put his ashes into his etch-a-sketch so he's always with him. The show is liberally sprinkled with Spanish, much of which is clear even to the nonSpanish speakers. Not all, however. And cognizant of this, Leguizamo focused on one woman in the audience asking if she understood. When she said no, he replied, "Call your bank and press two." He has had other one-man Broadway shows, some of which received critical acclaim. He got a nomination for best solo performance, but he was up against Elaine Stritch and Bea Arthur, both octogenarians. He said he thought he'd win since he was the only one
of the three able to climb onto the stage to receive the award. He didn't win; Stritch did. The show is a bit cathartic as Leguizamo discusses his inability to connect emotionally and form a strong relationship. However, these revelations make the second act a bit overlong and perhaps overly sentimental. Leguizamo has an avid vocal following and after seeing him for the first time, I can easily see why. He is energetic, charming
and incredibly talented. And well wor th the price of the ticket. Ghetto Klown ends where it begins: with the Queens boy, now a successful family man and performer, back riding the 7 train where it all began. Ghet to Klown is playing at the Lyceum Theater, 149 W. 45th St. Call (866) 2764887 or go to ghettoklownonbroadway.com for tickets.
Swinging Guitar Licks To Flit Through QPAC Guitar vir tuoso and vocalist John Pizzarelli will perform an evening of jazz standards and American popular song with the Swing Seven Orchestra at Queensborough's Per forming Art s Center (QPAC) on Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m. John Pizzarelli - the son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli - is known by those in our area as the face and voice of the popular Foxwoods television commercial. He has earned the distinction of being one of the only "second generation" musicians responsible for preserving the legacies of many great American composers and musicians. In his recording work and concer t appearances, John has paid tribute to great singers such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, and great American composers such as Richard Rogers and George Gershwin. Tickets are $40 and are available online at visitqpac.org or by phone at (718) 6316311. Tickets are also available online at visitQPAC.org. The center is located on the
John Pizzarelli is ready to rock QPAC. Queensborough Community College campus in the hear t of Bayside, with ample free parking and 24-hour security.
Boro’s Burger Crown Harry Potter, City Sites Through Tourist Eyes
REVIEW
The New York Pass, New York City’s premiere money saving attraction card, will soon open up a special exhibit on everybody’s favorite boy wizard, Harr y Potter. Opening April 5 at Discover y Time s Square, “Harr y Potter, The Exhibition” will give visitors an up close and personal look at the official ar tifacts a nd props that were used throughout t he Har r y Pot ter fi lms, from Quidditch uniforms, Mandrakes and Hagrid’s hut to Har r y’s wand and signature glasses. “The New York Pass is thrilled to add ‘Harr y Pot ter, The Exh ibit’ at Discover y Time s Square to its list of at tract ions. This highly anticipated exhibit is sure to be a favorite with Ne w York Pass holders, bot h children and adults,” said Brian Scullin, spokesman for New York Pass. The New York Pass grants access to more than 50 of the top sites and attractions across the Big Apple for a single price, many with exclusive “fast-track” entry privileges, allowing card holders to whiz past long lines. Most of the time, tourists are the ones who enjoy the pass, but folks from Queens and the other borough who want to spend some time living like a tourist can also get a great taste of what Mahat tan has to offer with the Ne w York Pass. Some of The New York Pass attractions
include Top of the Rock; T he Metropolitan Museum of Ar t; T he Guggenheim; T he Whitney; The Museum of Natural History; the Museum of Television and Radio; and MOMA. NBC studios; Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hal l as well as free entr y to parks and gardens, and places of interest like Madam Tussaud’s; The Empire State Building Observat ion Deck; New York Skyride, the Statue of Libert y and the El lis Island ferry. The New York Pass also includes shopping discounts at stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s-it even includes discounts on New York City helicopter rides. New York Pass offers single-day passe s regularly priced at $80 for adults, $55 for children; two-day passes, $125 for adults, $105 for children; three-day passes, $155 for adults, $135 for children; and seven-day passes, $200 for adults and $160 for children. Every New York Pass comes with a free 175-page guidebook that includes detailed maps, hours of operation, tips and directions to ever y New York Pass attraction. The pass can be purchased online at newyorkpass.com or picked up in person at Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Madame Tussaud’s, New York Skyride, NBC Experience Store, Planet Holly wood, Bike and Roll NYC Bike Rentals and Radio City Music Hall.
www.queenstribune.com • March 24-30 2011 Tribune Page 51
and chips plat ter. DONOVAN’S PUB Yeah, we could have had the soup or 54-24 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside ordered off the short menu of specials, but (718) 429-9339 we have come to love Donovan’s, consisCUISINE: Ir ish Pub – Burgers HOURS: 11 a.m. to midnight, 7 days tently rated as the best burger in the borough, for its hot off the griddle meaty madPARKING: Street ness. We were not disappointed. CREDIT CARDS: Cash only The burgers were thick, weighty, juicy It was an unusually warm Monday night for this early in March, and having just come and delicious. The y have that perfect balance with the tenderness of the back from Manhat tan at an event, we were looking for some place RESTAURANT beef, the crisp snap of the seared exterior and the juiciness that, by to go that was easy to get to and the time you’re done, has turned where we knew we’d have a good your napkin translucent. time. The fish was light and butOur first choice was obvious tery, its crust simultaneously ten– Donovan’s. der and crisp, served with lemon Arriving just after 7 p.m., we and just the right amount of targot a parking spot right in front tar sauce – malt vinegar is availand headed inside this dimly lit able if you ask. haven for local Irish rogues and Both the burger and the fish those seeking out the finest were served with thick, hand-cut fries that burger in Queens. Passing through the bar, as the Irish eyes are nearly wedges, well browned and crisp smiled upon us, we headed down a couple on the outside, soft and steamy in the of steps to the dining room and were middle. Following our dinner, we sat over cofhanded the simple menus. Irish favorites – from Shepherd’s Pie to a house special fee and were never rushed. People came flounder stuffed w ith crab meat – dot ted and went, all greeted by the hostess, all havthe menu. But really, mostly we were there ing a great time. It’s a simple meal, a friendly place and for the burgers. In her thick brogue, our server took great spot to enjoy a quick bite – or to our drink order and hurried off to place linger and enjoy the evening. And for that her or der at the bar. By the time she re- Best Burger title? The crown still resides in turned, we were set – two burgers, an Woodside. —Br ian M. Raffer ty order of onion rings to share and a fish
Kent State, The Beatles Disband & The Trib Is Born By MICHAEL SCHENKLER The year was 1970 and some of you may remember the world into which the Queens Tribune was born:
The first episode of US soap opera All My Children is broadcast on the ABC television network. Diana Ross & The Supremes perform their farewell live concert together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas Biafra capitulate s, endi ng the Nigerian civil war. The Mov ie s: M*A*S*H, Patton, Love Story, Airport, Catch 22. Pan American Airways offers the first commercially scheduled 747 service from John F. Kennedy
Internat ional Air por t to London Heathrow Airport. A jur y fi nds the Ch icago Seven defenda nt s not gui lt y of conspiring to incite a riot, in charges stemming from the violence at the 1968 The Beatles release their 12th and final album, Let It Be. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect, after ratification by 56 nations. United States Postal Service workers in New York City strike; which spreads to 210,000 out of 750,000 U.S. postal employees who walk out. President Nixon assigns military units to New York City post offices. The strike lasts two weeks. The fir st Ear t h Day is celebrated in the United States.. The Concorde makes its first supersonic flight The Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act is enacted into law, banning cigarette television advertisements in the United States. The Beatles disband. By yearend, al four members release solo albums. Apol lo 13 splashe s dow n safely in the Pacific.
A first-class stamp costs $.06 Tina Fey, Uma Thurman, Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell, Gabrielle Giffords and Matt Damon are born. The U.S. invades Cambodia to hunt out the Viet Cong; widespread, large antiwar protests occur in the U.S. Four students at Kent State University in Ohio are killed and nine wounded by Ohio State National Guar dsmen, at a prote st against the incursion into Cambodia. The median household income in current dollars: $8,734. In Washington, D.C., 100,000 people demonstrate against the Vietnam War. President Richard Nixon signs a measure lowering the voting age to 18. The United States gets its first female generals. The Women’s Strike for Equality takes place down Fifth Avenue. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacks four passenger aircraft from Pan Am, TWA and Swissair on flight s to New York from Brussels, Frankfurt and Zürich.
Elvis Presley begins his first concert tour since 1958. The first Ne w York Cit y Marathon begins. The songs: Layla, Derek and the Dominos; Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel; Let It Be, The Beatles. Monday Night Football debuts on ABC. The Cleveland Browns defeat the New York Jets 31-21. Gamal Abdal Nasser dies; Vice President Anwar Sadat is named temporary president of Egypt. The U.S. Congre ss give s President Richard Nixon authority to sell arms to Israel. The Public Broadcasting Service begins broadcasting -- hey Congress. Earl Stanley Gardner, Walter Reut her, Vince Lombardi, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin die -- the last two of drug over doses. On Oct 12, 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon announce s that the United States will withdraw 40,000 more troops before Christmas. A Chinese nuclear test is conducted in Lop Nor. U.S. unemployment was at 3.5%.
Salvador Allende is elected President of Chile. Democrats sweep the U.S. Congressional midterm elections; Ronald Reagan is re-elected governor of California; Jimmy Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Books, Fict ion: Love Stor y, Erich Segal; The French Lieutenant’s Woman, John Fowles; Islands in the Stream, Ernest Hemingway. Books, Non-Fiction: Ever y th ing You Always Wanted To Know About Sex but Were Afraid To Ask, Dav id Reuben, M.D.; The New English Bible; The Sensuous Woman, ”J” Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai massacre. The United State s Environmental Protection Agency begins operations. The U.N. General Assembly suppor t s the isolat ion of South Africa for its apartheid policies. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is signed into law. IBM introduces the floppy disk. Gary Ackerman launches the Queens Tribune from the rear of a real estate office on Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills. MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com
Page 52 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Pensions For Crooks: Are They Justifiable? By HENRY STERN One of the perennial questions that arises in government is whether dishonest public officials, if convicted, should forfeit their pensions. There is considerable sentiment that a n officeholder, whether elected or apHenry pointed, who has betrayed the people he was paid to serve faithfully, should not be rewarded after he leaves government because he did not de serve the compensation he received from the state or the city while he was enriching himself. The pension for feiture has been a powerful incentive over the years to keep police officers honest. A crooked cop is one of the worst enemie s of good government, since physical protection is a basic service provided by local government, and officers who take bribes either to protect wrongdoers or to enforce the law not only violate their oath of office, but they undermine both the concept and the realit y of equal justice under law. The issue become s murkier when we consider the different varieties of criminal conduct. For example, some acts which are clearly cr ime s are unrelated to t he employee’s official duties. A city worker kills his wife, and is sent to prison. All during his career, he has been making contributions to the pension fund. Those savings should, in fairness, go to his chil-
dren, whose mother is dead and whose father is in jail. His crime should not impoverish the innocent children, who have already been victimized. This leads to questions of where to draw the line. The case of former Stern Supreme Court Justice Victor Barron of Brooklyn, who continued to collect an $89,094 pension during the two years he was imprisoned for demanding a substantial bribe from a litigant in order to settle a case that was before him, was considered particularly offensive. While the state was paying for his room and board in prison, it was also compensating him handsomely for what had been corrupt service. Who knows how many other bribes Barron received before one law yer complained to District Attorney Joe Hynes, who subsequently launched an investigation? Is a public pension a form of deferred income, which vests in the pensioner’s family, or is it a reward paid at the conclusion of one’s public service for faithful performance of duty? There is a provision under which cit y employees can defer income to 401(k) accounts, and that money is clearly theirs, except that it may be used to pay a fine. As to the justification for for feiture of a pension, which is primarily the city’s money, the case is perhaps murkier. One great advantage of the
city’s right to deny a pension to a dishonest employee is that it enable s le sser set tlement s to be made in cases of misconduct. There are some sins or indiscretions or serious errors of judgment for which a fine of thousands of dollars would be an appropriate penalty. That could provide for the recovery of misappropriated funds and serve as a deterrent to others not to engage in similar misconduct. If the pension were to be immune from recapture, there would be no incentive for the employee to pay or settle the claim against him; he could simply retire and collect his ill-gotten gains for the rest of his life, as could his wife, if she were his beneficiary. They could laugh all the way to the bank, or to Florida if they wanted their income to go farther. There is a great variet y of crimes that have been committed by public employees, both on and off the job. For instance, a social worker or HR A manager may wrongly certify someone as eligible to receive benefits. If this is done because the employee mistakenly believes the applicant is entitled to or worthy of benefits, whether food stamps, rent reduction, monthly subsidies, or enrollment in a particular program, that is one kind of error. If the employee himself receives personal benefit from that decision, whether cash, sex or unearned privileges of any nature, the situation is much more serious, and punishment should be more severe. If the case should justify
dismissal, the issue of pension forfeiture should be considered as a potential part of the penalty, depending on the circumstances. There should not be an ironclad rule in these cases, where the extent of the penalty should depend on the motive of the wrongdoers, the seriousness of the offense, the number of people victimized, denied their rights, or unjustly enriched or deprived, the length of time the conspiracy continued, the defendant’s willigness to co-operate with the authorities, the value of that co-operation, to whom pension benefits may be allocated if the defendant’s inter-
est in receiving those benefits is revoked, as well as other facts which may be unique to the situation. No one rule can cover all the cases, but pension forfeiture should be within the range of available outcomes, depending on its gravit y. Often cases of this sort deal with people who have already messed up their lives, one way or another. The rule, “Nobody does it once” applies here, and people who are apprehended for one specific offense have usually committed others which did not come to the attention of the authorities. StarQuest@NYCivic.org
Not 4 Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
Edit Page In Our Opinion:
Shame On Them The City Council voted Wednesday to steal our identity. We will not let them. The Queensboro Bridge is now and always will be the Queensboro Bridge. We love and respect former Mayor Ed Koch, but we refuse to use his name on our bridge. The fact that the majority of our own council members voted against the clear wishes of our residents shows the arrogance of their power and position. How dare you! To say that it’s already known colloquially as the 59th Street Bridge is a coward’s position. What happened to fighting to defend what is yours? The argument that other landmarks are named for historic icons is sham – they were never named for Queens in the first place. You have stolen the little that we have. Why not go ahead now and try to change Queens College and Queens Borough Hall. You have stolen our name, our spirit and our pride. Shame on you!
In Your Opinion: Take A Lesson To The Editor: The United States Postal Service will never issue a stamp honoring a living person. Other than a President, they will not issue a stamp until a person has been dead for at least 10 years. Someone should ask the City Council to follow this policy. Michael Tuchman, Ponciana, FL
King Hear ings
Protect Vets To The Editor: On Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly published an analysis of the extent of homelessness among our nation’s military veterans. The results were very troubling. The analysis reported that as of 2009 there were 76,000 veterans who were homeless on a given night and roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year. Veterans now make up 12 percent of our nations homeless population and Veterans are 50 percent more likely to become homeless compared to all other Americans. The risk of homelessness among our veterans is even greater if the veteran is under the poverty line. Our veterans deserve better from government. Queens County has a very large veteran population, and as a grandson of a World War II Navy Veteran, with a brother in-law to-be who is currently serving in Afghanistan, and as someone who works on a day-to-day basis helping find employment for veterans, I feel that we are shortchanging our veterans. A few weeks ago U.S. Rep. Gary
Michael Schenkler Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Zoning Riddle To The Editor: The recent release of a New York City Department of City Planning handbook designed to demistify zoning by NYCDCP Commissioner Amanda Burden is just the start of badly needed reform. The current New York City Urban Land Use Review Process including excessive zoning, land use, environmental reviews and historic preservation rules and regulations have stifled financial investments from the neighborhood homeowner or small business person up to major developers. It has generated a cottage industry of highly compensated lawyers, lobbyists and public relations people who know how to navigate this maze of rules and regulations that even a Ph.D would have difficulty understanding. Neighborhoods, boroughs and the city grew and prospered prior to the politically correct. Since the 1960s, these individuals have expanded the role of government rules and regulations. The result has been a decline in economic growth and prosperity. There has also been a relationship between pay-for-play campaign contributions from developers to elected officials looking for favorable legislation, private property condemnation under eminent domain, building permits along with direct and hidden subsidies from economic development corporations in exchange for zoning variances. Don’t forget the conflict of interest for senior staff and board members from City Planning as well as other municipal agencies and boards. Many leave in the twilight of any Mayoral administration after having written the very same rules
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and regulations that their new employers will want to get around. Excessive zoning is not “boring,” but a hindrance which needs to be seriously scaled back. Larry Penner Great Neck
Hear t Bill To The Editor: In May 2001, I was widowed when my 56-year-old husband, Joel Drillings, died of sudden cardiac arrest. He was a high school math teacher who was also a trained volunteer firefighter. This devastating loss motivated me to get involved as an advocate for the American Heart Association. This past Monday, the AHA held its annual Lobby Day in Albany. I was part of a group of survivors, youth advocates, families affected by sudden cardiac arrest and other volunteers who traveled to Albany. We asked legislators to pass a bill that would make CPR and AED instruction a mandatory part of high school health education, a bill I’m sure Joel would have supported, both as a high school teacher and as a trained firefighter. The bill (A3980/S2491) would require that students learn the basics of CPR and operating an automated electric defibrillator (AED) before they graduate high school. Why is this so important? EMS responders treat approximately 300,000 victims of out-ofhospital cardiac arrest each year in the U.S. This includes about 5,900 children 18 and under. The chance of survival from cardiac arrest decreases by 7-10 percent for every minute of delay until defibrillation. CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain until an AED and advanced care arrives. A person’s chances of surviving a sudden cardiac episode double if CPR is administered properly. Those chances triple if an AED is properly used. Of people trained in CPR, 35 percent offered help in a cardiac emergency. Of those not trained in CPR, only 5 percent offered help in a cardiac emergency. Unlike past versions, the current bill does not call for students to be certified, which could be costly for schools to purchase the needed equipment, like mannequins and training AEDs. The best part of Lobby Day was hearing the stories of people whose children had saved their lives because they knew CPR. Several of the over 2,500 students from Pierson School in Sag Harbor who have been trained in CPR came to demonstrate hands-only CPR. More than 24 Pierson stuJames Mammarella Director of Sales and Marketing Shelly Cookson Corporate & Legal Advertising Account Executives Joanne Naumann Elizabeth Rieger Shari Strongin
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dents have used their CPR skills and 14 lives have been saved. If all students had this life saving skill imagine how many more lives could be saved. I’m asking all NYS residents to urge our lawmakers to pass the CPR in Schools bill this year. Wendy Mono, Forest Hills
More For Seniors To The Editor: I just happened to notice that, of the announcements in your paper’s Queens Today listing, there are 33 items under the heading “Teens,” 75 under the heading “Youth,” and only 11 under the heading “Seniors” (three taking place in Senior Centers). Yes, of course, local Senior Centers often do have available many more scheduled programs, designed especially for seniors. And that’s why seniors go there – to take part in activities, eat nourishing meals in the company of friends, and simply continue to be involved, and a part of Queens life – not just sit and vegetate in a room somewhere, forgotten. But with so many Senior Centers in danger of closing, what is going to happen to seniors, especially those who even now struggle to simply get to and from their local Senior Centers for food and company! Where are they to go? What will they do? Expanding your Seniors listing could help – if programs elicited are free or low-cost, nourishing prepared meals continue to be offered, meeting space is available...somewhere...anywhere. So let’s save the Senior Centers. Let’s allow today’s Seniors, who have lived and contributed so much to New York’s vibrancy, livelihood, and economy in the past, continue to play a vital part in the New York City they have helped build. With their combined energy, free time, interests, acquired knowledge and past experience, seniors still have a lot to contribute and pass on to hearing ears, and are more than willing to play a meaningful part in bringing New York back to firm and frugal footing for their children and their children’s children. Claire Bazinet, Flushing
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To The Editor: The Hearings conducted by Rep. Peter King concerning Muslim radicalism in America are necessary and not part of any particular political agenda. As a result of the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the joint FBI-NYPD task force identified two mosques in Brooklyn and one in Newark as being part of a radical Muslim conspiracy to harm the United States. It is also well known that Muslim recruitment among prisoners is rampant within our penal system. That King seeks to investigate the depth and breadth of that situation is commendable and should be applauded. No one today doubts that a great wrong was done by the internment of West Coast Japanese-Americans in 1942. But, no one doubts that it was necessary to investigate the openly militant, pro-Nazi, GermanAmerican Bund in that same time period. Today we are at war with radical Muslim terrorism, be it the home-grown Louis Farrakhan-type
or the brand associated with Osama bin Laden. The more we know, the better we will be able to defend ourselves. Rep. King should be thanked for his interest in our safety. David Rivkin, Jamaica
Ackerman wrote a letter to U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki urging the Secretary to stop plans to redevelop the current VA Hospital in St. Albans. The Congressman suggested that instead of redeveloping the land privately, a new state of the art full service VA hospital should be built. I couldn’t agree more. As the war in Iraq and Afghanistan comes to an end our Veteran population is soaring and Queens will become home of many of these veterans. I urge all Queens residents to contact Secretary Shinseki and tell him not to leave any veteran behind. Let’s honor our Veterans by building a new facility that will serve the Queens County Veteran population for years to come. Matthew Silverstein Democratic State Committeeman, 26th AD
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Red noses invaded East Elmhurst as a Clown Convention came to Queens.
Clown Convention up design and shoe sizing.
Clowns – you either love ’em or hate ’em. We’ve got least one person on staff here who’s petrified of them. Perhaps he saw “Poltergeist” one time too many. Good thing he wasn’t out covering the 2011 World Clown Convention last weekend at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel in East Elmhurst. From March 14-18 more than 200 clowns from across the country emerged from a tiny car parked outside the hotel to learn the latest techniques in pratfalls, make-
Seriously, though, we’re a little creeped out and unsure of just how LaGuardia Airport was able to handle the security when they arrived. Were the x-ray machine containers big enough to hold the shoes? Were they allowed to have their water-spraying flowers loaded as they boarded the plane? Perhaps for the TSA's sake, these questions are best left unanswered. Only a real Bozo would ask them anyway.
Viper Returns
Victor Mooney’s boat hits the water – at least for a little while.
Page 64 Tribune March 24-30, 2011 • www.queenstribune.com
Washed Up Mayday, mayday. The captain’s lost control again. Attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean for the third time, Victor Mooney, of Forest Hills, was rescued after only two weeks at sea. In an effort to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, Mooney believed his third attempt at crossing the treacherous waters, would prove to be successful. His first attempt, in 2006, ended when his handmade boat sank just hours after departing from Senegal, in West Africa. In 2009, the second attempt went bust when his water purification system broke down and ended in another sea rescue. Apparently the third time was not a charm. After his state-of-the-art rowboat wouldn’t stop taking on water, Mooney decided to bail on the 5,000-mile voyage back home. While floating aimlessly at sea, Mooney was ignored by the first ship that sailed by before eventually being rescued by a Greek merchant vessel. The dangerous rescue mission, which took nearly five hours, “saved my life,” said Mooney. Now bound to land, but not broken, Mooney vows to continue raising HIV/AIDS awareness. And promises his wife, his mission will stay as dry as possible.
We here are excited about the second installment of Kung Fu Panda. The cast for sequel to the goofy blockbuster was recently unveiled and Lucy Liu will once again reprise her role as Viper, a member of The Furious Five. The Queens beauty Lucy Liu is reprising a role that makes us will bring as much of her sexiness to the slithery squirm - in a good way. character that is allowable in animation. If you can not wait until May 26 to satiate your Liu appetite, you can hear voice on the Bullitts new single. The new song, dubbed “Close Your Eyes” is due for release April 18. The song is not part of your everyday conventional album. It seems, “They Die By Dawn and Other Short Stories” is a concept album that follows the narrative of Liu’s character Amelia Sparks. Sparks is a convicted murderer awaiting execution. Sounds interesting.
Terezia Revesova Home: Glendale Age: 24 Height: 5’ 4" Weight: 114 lbs
Glendale Gal Terezia, who hails from Slovakia, was first featured in our pages in 2008, and her sharp looks enthralled us enough to revisit this gal who is still making her impression in the modeling world. Since last we spoke, Terezia won second place in Miss Diaspora International, has worked on commercials and has done print modeling in a variety of places, including some work for the New York Giants. This past December she came back to the Miss Diaspora annual contest as a judge and was more of a knockout than some of the contestants. Speaking of knockouts, watch out – this gal is a master at karate, studying for a decade and entering in national competition, where in 2006 she was a world champion for her class. Great looks and a solid uppercut to boot.
No Love For Mets The season didn’t even start yet, and already one New York company has thrown in the towel on the Mets. In the their latest ad campaign, Manhattan Mini Storage, the company that brought New York such sarcastic ads as “Can’t Squeeze Another Thong in Your Closet” and “You’re Just Not Meant For The Suburbs” has unveiled their latest ad campaign aimed at convincing city dwellers it’s better to store their extra junk in their storage centers rather than buy a big house and paying astronomical property taxes. In it, they take a cynical swipe at the city’s lessstoried baseball team. On subways, bus shelters and The company’s caustic campaign telephone booths (the few that art left) around the city, you might have seen the ad that reads “Why leave a city that has six professional sports teams and the Mets.” Real nice Manhattan Mini Storage. Why don’t you just go ahead and hire John Rocker to be your celebrity spokesman?
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CHANGE
It is said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. That certainly holds true in Queens. We are on the verge of receiving new Census data that is expected to show that our borough – with greater than 40 percent immigrant population for numerous decades – may actually pass the 50 percent mark. Many would agree that we’re already there – we just haven’t had a good count. The truth of the matter is that the country of origin may have shifted, from Irish and Poles to Russian and Koreans to Chinese and Indian – and from all reaches of the globe. Though the source does not remain constant, the flow does. The same can be said of our newspaper. New owners, new reporters, new pages and new addresses – none of it has changed the way that we seek out and report on the news that matters to this great borough of ours. Just like the new people who call Queens home, we may change, but we will always stay the same.
Some of the borough’s most recent émigrés, the growing Hindu population, celebrate Holi at the Phagwah Festival in Richmond Hill this past weekend. Photo by Ira Cohen