Press Epaper 012216

Transcription

Press Epaper 012216

Photo by Trone Dowd
Vol. 17, Issue No. 3 • Jan. 22-28, 2016
A SUCCESS
STORY
GRADUATION
RATES
CONTINUE TO
RISE AT CITY
HIGH SCHOOLS
BY JON CRONIN
Mayor Bill de Blasio and School Chancellor Carmen Fariña came to the High School of Arts and
Business in Corona last week to announce that for
the first time in New York City’s history, the graduation rate is above 70 percent.
“70.5 percent to be exact – and that is a twopoint gain over last year, and a 4.4-percent gain over
the last two years since I’ve been in office and this
team has been in office,” said de Blasio.
He added, “You go back a few years ago, that
would’ve been considered impossible in this city. But
we know not only can we break 70 percent, we have
set our goal on 80 percent, and we’re going to do
everything we can to get this school system, get our
kids to that point – where 80 percent are graduating
within four years – and by the way, a reminder, with
the toughest standards in the entire nation.”
The drop-out rate in 2015 also fell nearly a full
percentage to land at nine percent over last year.
That’s a drop of 13 percent since 2001.
The rates among the black community graduates
also rose. In 2005 the graduation rate for black high
school students was 54.3 percent graduating within
four years. In the past 10 years it has risen to 64.5
percent.
(Continued on page 8)
ONLINE AT WWW.QUEENSPRESS.COM
Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 22-28, 2016
News Briefs
Grodenchik Announces
Fixes for Jamaica Avenue
Councilmember Barry Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gardens) payed
a visit to Community Board 12
Wednesday night to share some good
news with his constituents.
“I know that one of the major
concerns that came up in my race is
something that affects Board 12 and
also affects a big swath of Eastern
Queens, and that’s Jamaica Avenue,”
he said.
Grodenchik said that he met with
Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St.
Albans) and Department of Transportation Borough Commissioner
Nicole Garcia in trying to get the
torn up roads repaired.
Last year, the condition of Jamaica Avenue was one of the many hot
topics brought up during the special
election for the city council’s 23rd
district. The uneven streets caused
many accidents and car damages in
the area, impacting business along the
commercial strip.
“I’m hoping very soon to get a
commitment from DOT to start repaving Jamaica Avenue from Downtown Jamaica all the way to the
Queens line,” Grodenchik said. “It’s
long overdue and I want to thank
Councilman Miller for starting that.
Grodenchik also addressed the rumors of a casino coming to Belmont.
“It’s something CB 13 has taken a
very long look at that,” he said. “My
initial reaction is we don’t need another casino.”
Grodenchik called casinos “the
worst form of economic development.”
“They create more issues than
they do jobs, and we don’t need that
for our community,” he concluded.
-Trone Dowd
Confusion Over New
Shelter In So. Ozone Park
A family shelter on Rockaway
Boulevard in South Ozone Park at
the Econo Lodge location recently
popped up on the radar of residents
and local officials.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (DHoward Beach) noted that it is temporary housing and it is not the entire
Econo Lodge that is being used, but
he believes not telling the community or local officials that a shelter is
coming shows a lack of communication by the mayor’s office.
Addabbo said he and Mayor Bill
de Blasio have been having conversations about those sites, and wonders
why he would fail to communicate
about this one. “No one knew about
it,” he said.
Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff,
commanding officer of the 106th
Precinct, said the family shelter is
not even on their radar. Schiff said
that in the past “you had prostitutes
going into that location,” and added,
“It’s a neighborhood motel on par
with others in the area.”
He said when it was operating singularly as a motel they received infrequent calls, explaining that there
was a couple of times where his precinct set up prostitution stings at the
Econo Lodge, but they checked out
the management and they were never
involved. Regarding prostitution, he
said, they usually set up somewhere
for a week and move on.
“There was nothing that was a consistent chronic problem,” he noted.
Schiff said the shelter opened
around six months ago.
“It was a surprise when it converted,” he said. Schiff added that
people in the area didn’t realize it
was there until about three months
after it opened.
Emails to DHS were not returned
as of press time.
-Jon Cronin
Brief Us!
Mail your news brief items to:
PRESS of Southeast Queens
150-50 14th Rd.,
Whitestone, NY 11357
Jan. 22-28, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3
Presstime
In state of The Boro, Katz Touts Progress
Borough President Melinda Katz
rung in a celebratory State of the
Borough address on Thursday, complete with elements of fun like Mr.
Met and a joke newspaper headline
suggesting that Queens was becoming “too hot” and Brooklyn borough
president wanted a merger.
A group of students from Edge
School of Arts performed a choreographed dance to introduce Katz to
the song “One,” from “A Chorus Line”
with lyrics “one singular sensation,
every little step she takes/one thrilling
combination, every move she makes.”
With the celebratory and lighthearted performances, the borough
president’s office projected an image of confidence in what they’d
achieved during Katz’ two years in
office. When Katz took the stage,
she pointed out the initiatives that
she was most proud of: rooting out
corruption in the Queens Library
system, fostering growth in Jamaica,
getting rid of trailers in schools and
the construction of thousands of
units of affordable housing.
Permeating every aspect of
Katz’s speech was also a pride
in the Borough’s uniqueness and
its increased brand recognition
Photo by Lynn Edmonds
By Lynn EDmonDs
melinda Katz made her state of the Boro address at Queens College on Thursday.
throughout the country and the entire world.
“There is a distinct character about
our borough. A certain attitude, a
global identity. They say Queens is
a personality, and you know it when
you see it. Together, we’ve embarked
upon a new chapter of Queens’ identity, and we are the place to be. Folks
increasingly want to visit here, build
here, spend their money here. In fact,
some say Queens has become almost
‘too hot,’” Katz said.
wills relative Pleads Guilty
By TronE DowD
A close confidant of Councilman
Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) pleaded
guilty last week to charges that he
took part in an allegedly corruption
scheme involving the councilman
which alleges he took part in stealing thousands of taxpayer’s dollars
under the cover of a non-profit.
Jelani Mills, the individual who
accused Wills of his involvement
in the scheme, said the councilman
was involved shortly after Mills
plead guilty to a misdemeanor for
falsifying records.
Mills, who has been in court
since Tuesday, caused a bit of a stir
when he did not return to Queens
Supreme Court after being dismissed for lunch when his case was
called before Judge Barry Kron.
“He was here this morning,” said
Judge Kron in court. “There is no
reason for him not to be here this
afternoon. There is no excuse for it.
So I’m issuing a bench warrant.”
After the judge issued the warrant on Mills, he showed up the
next morning, stating that he fled
the court room because of an emer-
gency situation concerning his
9-year-old daughter.
The judge did not believe his
case.
Wills, who represents Jamaica,
Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village,
Ozone Park and South Ozone Park,
was charged in 2014 with stealing
over $30,000 of government money
using sham companies and nonprofits. In 2015, New York Attorney
General Eric Schneiderman brought
additional charges against the councilman for filing the bogus financial
forms.
Mills admitted in court that he
was responsible for moving funds
from Wills’ campaign and moving
them into the fake company as a
way for the Councilman to withdraw the fund for his personal use.
This included purchases at clothing
department stores Century 21 and
Nordstrom.
For cooperating in the case, Schneiderman is asking the judge that
Mills be given ten days of community
service and one year of probation.
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, tdowd@queenspress.com
or @theloniusly.
Her case in point was that Lonely
Planet had just named Queens the
number one travel destination in the
country.
Katz also insisted that in this era
of globalization, Queens’ diversity
made in a model for the entire country to learn from.
“What is only in Queens today,
I believe, is the norm for the future
of our country. And we are creating
an unbelievable template,” she said.
“We are leading the way in turning
our challenges into opportunities.”
One of those domains where challenge and opportunity met was education. Katz mentioned that the borough had three of the top 10 public
schools in New York State, according to the 2015 U.S. News and World
Report: Queens High School for the
Sciences at York College, the Baccalaureate School for Global Education and Townsend Harris.
Katz celebrated those schools’
achievements as well as her legacy
work to get trailers like those at PS
19 in Corona out of the picture.
“The trailers at PS 19 are now
slated for removal by the end of this
year,” she said, adding that 15 classroom trailers had been removed from
six different elementary schools in
her first two years. In 2016, she said
she planned to remove 59 more trailers across 20 Queens schools.
Katz also praised Mayor Bill de
Blasio for adding Eid and Lunar New
Year to the Public School Calendar,
and celebrated the fourfold increase
in pre-K enrollment in Queens to
19,870, as well as touting the capital allocations that she provided to
schools for technology investments
and to the CUNY system for construction projects.
Katz also invested heavily in Queens
Library, allocating $13 million to capi-
tal investments in the last year.
But her administration will perhaps be best known for putting an end
to corruption in Queens Libraries.
When the former CEO allegedly embezzled at least $100,000, the board
of trustees refused to remove him, so
Katz had state law changed to allow
her to remove board members.
“This past year, the Library has refocused full energy back to where it
matters most: our families, especially
children and seniors who rely on its
services and deserve nothing less
than a world-class library system,”
Katz said.
She also commended Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside)
for pushing to get library hours extended to six days a week.
Katz’ administration is also known
for its work in parks. Over her two
years in office, Katz allocated $44.5
million to 44 parks across Queens.
One of her trademark projects in the
parks has been her work to save the
New York State Pavilion.
“Yes, this national treasure in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is well on
its way to being restored into a visible
icon. And it will befit ‘the World’s Borough’ for generations of families and
visitors to enjoy,” she said.
She also spoke about Mayor Bill
de Blasio’s precedent-setting decision
not to allow a large music festival in
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park until a policy to assess applications had
been put in place – something that
Katz had advocated for strongly.
“It was the right thing to do,” she
said of the Mayor’s decision, “and we
look forward to further open discussions.”
But Katz wasn’t far into her speech
when someone in the crowd shouted
“what about Jamaica?”
Katz responded that she was glad
the subject of Jamaica came up.
The Jamaica Now Action Plan, to
bring smart development to the community, is another trademark of her
administration.
“It’s aggressive. It’s holistic. It’s
the first of its kind. And it’s designed
to stimulate smart growth and improve livability in Jamaica’s downtown core,” Katz said, adding that
the plan had been crafted with heavy
community involvement.
Jamaica Now includes 26 strategic actions, 16 of which will launch
within three years, including free
high speed wi-fi by the end of July.
The total cost of the project will be
$153 million project.
Reach Lynn Edmonds at (718) 3577400 x127, ledmonds@queenstribune.
com or @Ellinoamerikana
By Trone DowD
The first meeting of the year
started off with major disappointment for residents of the Community
Board 12.
Chairwoman Adrienne Adams
broke the news that despite the moratorium CB 12 placed on supportive
housing in the district and the restraining order that the local civic
group People For the Neighborhood
placed against the city, the much
disputed Hollis Property located between 202nd and 204th streets, would
become a shelter as soon as Jan. 21.
“Tonight I stand here to share
my extreme disappointment and utter frustration,” Adams said sternly.
“[It is] a slap in the face to this community that has continued to bear
the burden of the most vulnerable of
our population. Not just those from
Queens mind you, but from other
boroughs as well.”
The Hollis Property has made
headlines since the Press of southeast Queens was first told about the
plan to make the long vacant property a shelter for the homeless. The
tip was given by Anthony Rivers,
head of the People For the Neighborhood civic group. Since the initial
rumblings of the plan, several meetings were held at the Mount Olivet
Baptist Church just across the street
from the property updating residents
on the progress the community made
against the city, the Bluestone Group
and Rita Stark Properties LLC. Despite the community-wide opposition
to housing more homeless than they
should be able to handle, plans kept
moving forward over the last month.
Southeast Queens alone currently holds 53 percent of the homeless
shelters in the borough, 32 percent
of which are in the district of CB 12.
“Our resolution was distributed
to every elected official with jurisdiction over this community board, from
Mayor [Bill] de Blasio on down,” Adams said. “And although no elected
official provided a letter of support
in favor of our unprecedented resolution, we were yet hopeful that the
wishes of this community, the largest
voting bloc in the entire borough of
Queens, would finally be heard and
respected.”
Many residents, unhappy with
the outcome, audibly scoffed at the
news. Rev. Charles Norris expressed
his displeasure with the Mayor and
his administration, shouting “Don’t
vote for de Blasio!” before Adams
asked everyone to settle down.
Councilman Barry Grodenchik
(D-Oakland Gardens) told CB 12
that he too was outraged.
Photo by Trone Dowd
Supportive Housing Is Coming To Hollis
Adrienne Adams, CB 12’s chairwoman, announces to the board wednesday
that supportive housing was coming to Hollis, despite their opposition.
“I think that the people of eastern Queens, Southeast Queens especially, are doing more, they’re doing
their fair share for the entire borough,” Grodenchik said.
Grodenchik detailed that he was
in touch with the Gov. Cuomo’s office on more than one occasion making sure that Creedmoor wouldn’t
convert into a campus for the homeless. When the issue arose again late
last year, he received backing from
Borough President Melinda Katz
ensuring that the move wouldn’t happen, and that the property would be
used for things like playgrounds and
affordable senior housing instead.
Adams, hearing the councilman’s
story, pointed out that while his district received the backing of Katz
who was able to get in direct contact
with the governor’s office, Southeast
Queens civic groups did not receive
the same backing.
“It would be nice to have that
same fight and that same energy,”
she said.
Adams told members of CB 12
that the community’s theme for 2016
will be “perseverance.”
She quoted Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow, saying “perseverance is a
great element of success. If you only
knock long enough and loud enough
at the gate, you are sure to wake
somebody up. Board 12, we’re going
to wake something up in 2016.”
or @theloniusly.
Mulling The Future of A Depressed Downtown
Councilman Donovan Richards
(D-Laurelton) and the New York
City Economic Development Corporation held a public meeting at the
MS 53 lunchroom in Far Rockaway
on Tuesday, giving residents of the island a chance to give input and help
reshape the future of the neighborhood’s long abandoned downtown
commercial area.
According to Richards, the public meeting was organized with
five goals in mind; To re-establish
Downtown Far Rockaway’s status
as a commercial hub, to make the
area an efficiently used district with
mixed income housing, to revitalize
the neighborhood with new connections and open space, improving the
quality of life for residents with community services, education, transportation improvements and building up
the capacity of community organizations and making sure local businesses are supported. Between residents
and city agencies, the meeting was
extremely well-attended, with people quickly filling designated round
tables.
Richards established a taskforce
with Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen to
tackle and address these issues, with
representatives from different city
Photo by Trone Dowd
By Trone DowD
Concerned Far rockaway residents shared their ideas for revitalizing the long
abandoned downtown area.
agencies and elected officials, including the NAACP, Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital,
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (DRockaway Park), Assemblywoman
Michele Titus (D-Far Rockaway)
state Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Far
Rockaway) and Borough President
Melinda Katz’s office, the Queens
Library and a few others.
“When you walk through this
neighborhood, you see a lot of blight.
But you also see opportunity. There
is so much opportunity for such underutilized space,” Richards told the
Press of southeast Queens.
Richards was referring to the
area’s many vacant lots, stores and
properties, despite the area showing
promise in the past as a legitimate
area of commerce in recent years.
He recalled that during Hurricane
Sandy, Downtown Far Rockaway
became a hub for those looking for
food and assistance, and he believes
that progress has been held up due to
mismanagement of land and lack of
investment.
“For years, Rita Stark, who also
owns the Hollis Property, has held up
40 years of progress here,” Richards
said, noting that the real estate mogul did not support a 10,000 squarefoot vacant mall. “For 40 years, we’ve
had a vacant mall site, when we had
the unemployed walking past that everyday. So today is really about the
resurgence of Far Rockaway.”
Through the use of eminent domain, the city has been able to reclaim the property from Stark and
move forward in making Far Rockaway thrive as it once did four decades ago.
Revitalizing Far Rockaway has
been a top prioritiy for Richards
since he was elected in 2013. Just
last month, the City Department of
Transportation hosted a workshop to
get community feedback as part of a
multi-year long $1.1. million study. It
is one of the many issues Richards
believes will help his constituents
and local businesses thrive. He also
(continued on page 14)
Editorial
OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS
150-50 14th Road
Whitestone, NY 11357
(voice) (718) 357-7400
fax (718) 357-9417
email news@queenspress.com
The PRESS of Southeast Queens
Editor-in-Chief:
Domenick Rafter
Contributing Editor:
Marcia Moxam
Comrie
Production Manager:
Shiek Mohamed
Reporters:
Trone Dowd
Lynn Edmonds
Yvette Brown
Jon Cronin
Contributors:
Carmine Carcieri
Ariel Hernandez
David Russell
Marissa Collado
Art Dept:
Lianne Procanyn
Lorraine Milano
Nalini Boodnie
Maureen Coppola
Advertising Director
Howard Swengler
Major Accounts Manager
Shanie Persaud
Director Corporate
Accounts/Events
Shari Strongin
Advertising Executives
A Queens Tribune
Publication
© Copyright 2015
Tribco, LLC
Michael Nussbaum
Publisher
Ria MacPherson
Comptroller
A Success Story
In Our Schools
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that for the first
time in recent history, the city’s high school graduation rate has
surpassed 70 percent for those graduating in four years. It’s great
to hear some excellent news about our schools.
Credit should also go to de Blasio’s predecessor, Mayor Mike
Bloomberg, who single-handily restructured the entire school
system and brought Career and Technical Education schools
to the city for the first time in decades. Though we are opposed
with some of his policies – notably the closing of Jamaica High
School just as its graduation rate rose to around 50 percent – we
acknowledge that the success Bloomberg had was his ability to
gain total control over the educational system, something no
mayor was able to secure.
The fears that de Blasio’s new policies would roll back successes
have proven to be unfounded. We’re still on an upward trajectory.
Notably, the graduation rate among black students has gone up
nearly 20 percent since 2005.
However the city still lags behind the state and national averages, though the gap has narrowed dramatically. Among black
students, the rate is still lower than average – at about 64 percent.
De Blasio’s goal is 80 percent, but the city should be reaching even
higher – 100 percent graduation rate. How do we get there?
We should learn and expand on the current policies now being
implemented. First, we need to make sure all schools, especially
the struggling ones, are adequately funded and given the resources
they need. If a school is still failing, the mayor should reevaluate
the situation and explore closure as one option.
We also need to tackle the overcrowding problems throughout
the system. We should also continue the growth of CTE schools.
Giving students a chance at professional development at a young
age, should they choose it, will improve their chances at getting
a good job after graduation.
If you had asked New yorkers two or three decades ago if they
thought we’d ever be in a place where we’d be talking about 70
percent graduation rates within four years in our high schools,
cynicism would have probably reigned supreme. But we did, and
now we should reach for 100 percent and not accept anything
less. It can be done.
‘Clueless’ Star Lives
Up To Movie Title
A Personal Perspective
By MARCIA MOXAM
COMRIE
There is a Hollywood actress from the Bronx who now
makes more appearances as a
commentator on Fox News
than in any sort of acting role
and she is one scary chick.
Stacey Dash’s breakout
role was in the aptly-titled
“Clueless” released some 20
years ago. The film, starring
Alicia Silverstone as the lead,
is about a group of Beverly
Hills high school girls whose
“only direction is to the mall.”
To state the obvious, these
girls are well, clueless.
Dash, was never able to
parlay that opportunity into a
meaningful career so she has
spent the last several years posting negative comments about
President Obama (Hence the
job offer from Fox).
Not that Blacks shouldn’t
criticize Obama where it is
warranted, of course. But
Dash’s criticisms were never
based on any real fact or policy
differences. It just pandered to
the Obama haters. So she has
spoken again and this time it’s
not about Obama. This one’s
a doozy.
Because the actress Jada
Pinkett-Smith has called for
Black performers to boycott
the 2016 Oscar telecast since
absolutely no one of color
has been nominated this time
around, Dash took the opportunity to call out Hollywood as
well. She jumped from decrying
the Oscar snub of Will Smith
(Pinkett-Smith’s husband) and
Idris Elba just to name a few, to
calling for the abolishment of
Black History Month.
Yep, Stacey dashed from
calling for fairer treatment in
Hollywood to calling for the
end of Black History Month
“Because there is no White
History Month.” Huh?
“We are Americans. Period,” she said clearly clueless
about why there is a Black His-
tory Month to begin with. So
as we approach Black History
Month, let’s take a look at why
there had to be and will always
be a need for Black History
Month.
African-American accomplishments were left out of
the history books used in our
schools. There is no White
history month because Whites
were never left out of history.
Their accomplishments are
well documented.
Author and Historian
Carter G. Woodson (18751950) who is acknowledged as
“The Father of Black History
Month,” wrote the seminal
book, “The Mis-Education of
the Negro,” to set the record
straight on our history. Had
it not been for him and many
others afterwards, our early
contributions would have been
completely forgotten.
Woodson, one of the First
Blacks to graduate with a PhD
from Harvard University, was
instrumental in the establishment of Black History Week,
from which grew Black History Month. Black History
Week was in February so it
made sense that if it were to
become a Month, then it
would remain in February.
We weren’t “given the shortest
month” by conspiracy.
So why is it still important to have a Black History
Month? Because it gives us
the opportunity to celebrate
past accomplishments and
reminds us we cannot sit on
our laurels.
We cannot afford to make
our history stagnant. We must
continue to achieve, to give and
to grow. James Weldon Johnson
(1871-1938) wrote the poem,
“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” later
set to music by his brother, John
Rosamond Johnson (18731954) and now known as “The
Black National Anthem.”
So get rid of Black History Month because there is
no White History Month?
Hell no!
WRITE ON:
Submit your letter to the editor to:
The PRESS of Southeast Queens,
150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357
or email: news@queenspress.com
fax: (718) 357-9417
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MKT 15.71v2
Mayor Touts Highest
Grad Rate In NYC History
(continued from page 1)
In 2005, the graduation rate for
Hispanics has been more erratic over
the past 10 years. The percentages of
Hispanic students graduating in four
years varied between 46.1 and 55.6
percent. Hispanic students graduating in 2015 had a four year graduation rate of 46.8 percent.
For the first time, the High School
of the Arts and Business’s graduation
rate is 90.4 percent.
During a student round table event
before the press conference announcing the historic graduation rates, de
Blasio and Fariña sat with students
from the high school.
The school’s Principal Ana Zambrano-Burakov, is also a success
story. She emigrated from Argentina
as a child and learned English while
growing up in East Harlem. To makes
ends meet, her mother cleaned apartments while her father sold paintings
in Central Park. She said if her father
sold a painting for $150, they would
be able to afford rent, if not her mother would have to clean an extra apartment. “I got my green card senior
year [of high school],” she said.
“You are a role model,” de Blasio
said, adding that the Principal was
“an example of what you can do.”
During the round table, students
described their experience there as
“like a second home,” and one said
one his favorites things about the
school is bonding with the teachers.
Fariña noted, “School should feel
like an extension of home.”
The school doesn’t require a high
grade point average or any kind of
portfolio upon applying, only a willing-
ness to take part in the program and
attend classes. Fariña said the school
attracts not only students that already
show talent, but who they know they
can help cultivate their own talent.
De Blasio congratulated the students for speaking so eloquently with
him and Fariña. “You can’t build
that unless you’re in an environment
where you’re being respected,” he
said.
Fariña noted that after school
hours the campus should still be an
active place for students. She said
students at Arts and Business talked
to her about not only how they are engaged scholastically, but individually.
“Schools need to be community
hubs,” she said.
Zambrano-Burakov noted that a
community like theirs succeeds because they performed as one team.
Photo by Jon Cronin
Mayor Bill de Blasio and School Chancellor Carmen Fariña speak to students at the High School for Arts and Business
last week.
She said when attendance drops
for a student who usually comes in on
time, “That cannot be ignored.” She
noted they will then meet and discuss
what social and emotional challenges
the student faces and handle that
first, “then when you get them back
to school and get that settled, instructions can take place.”
Fariña said, while fighting tears,
“because I have the best teachers in
the world,” and added, “It’s a community of effort that makes it happen.”
Zambrano-Burakov believes their
90 percent graduation rate is because
they give every student the opportunity to take Advanced Placement and
college credit courses.
“We do not care what their average is coming in, we rank kids based
on attendance…we just want to know
they have a passion for the arts,”
Zambrano-Burakov said.
Her father told her, “if you take a
small tree, put it in the right soil, you
give it the proper care, that tree will
grow and give it the fruit you expect
it to”. I believe our school treats every
student with that love and that passion
to give them the highest potential that
they can give. I believe all students
with the right support can actually
achieve maximum potential.”
State Sen. Toby Stavisky (DFlushing), a former teacher, and
member of the Senate Committee
for Higher Education asked, “What
is happening to your remediation
rate?” She said the rate at CUNY is
78 percent, which means students
need to take extra courses in order to
be prepared for college level classes.
Stavisky said she believes the rates at
SUNY to be comparable. “Parents
are suffering, because they’re paying
for the education twice.”
She noted that change will come
from schools like Arts and Business,
“because the assumption is that a
child can learn.”
Reach Reporter Jon Cronin at (718)
357-7400 x125, jcronin@queenstribune.com or @JonathanSCronin
Data Courtesy DOE/Charts by Domenick Rafter
Graduation Rates for all high school seniors citywide and in Queens, left, and for black students citywide and in Queens, right. After 2007, rates are for students
who graduated in both June and August after four years.
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Police Blotter
103rd Precinct
Man Murdered In Home
Homeless Man Dead In
Park
On Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7:31 a.m.,
inside of Major Mark Park, 175
Street and Warwick Crescent in Jamaica, police responded to a 911
call of an unconscious male. Upon
arrival, officers discovered Edwin
Ramkhalawan, 60, who was homeless, unconscious and unresponsive.
EMS responded and pronounced
the male deceased at the scene. The
Medical Examiner will determine the
cause of death, and the investigation
is ongoing.
106th Precinct
Photo Courtesy NYPD
Police are looking for this vehicle,
which they say the suspects in the
murder of an Ozone Park man last
week drove away from the scene in.
On Monday, Jan. 11 at approximately 7:56 a.m., police responded
to a 911 call of a male shot at 133-32
Peconic St. in Ozone Park.
Upon arrival, officers discovered
Frankie Nieves, 51, who lived at the
location unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest. EMS also
responded and transported the male
to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center,
where he was pronounced deceased.
The investigation is ongoing.
The investigation revealed that the
suspects in this homicide pushed their
way into the household. Once inside,
they began fighting with a male who
was able to escape the home. The victim then confronted the suspects who
shot the victim and then fled in what
is believed to be a 2012-2015 white
BMW 528i with no front plate.
The suspects, one being tall and
stocky and one being thin and short,
were wearing dark clothing, hoods
and ski masks.
Anyone with information is asked
to call the NYPD’s Crime Stopers at
(800) 577-TIPS, visit nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637
(CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All
calls are confidential.
110th Precinct
Cop Arrested
On Friday, Jan. 15 at around 12:30
a.m., NYPD Police Officer Brayan
Terrazas, 29, of Corona, was charged
with endangering the welfare of a
child, criminal mischief and harassment.
According to published reports, Terrazas was arrested for allegedly hitting
his girlfriend while she held a threemonth-old baby in her apartment.
Terrazas has had previous run-ins
with the law. In July 2012, he was arrested for driving drunk after he hit
a divider on Jackson Avenue in Long
Island City.
113th Precinct
Thief Nabbed At Burger
King
On Saturday, Jan. 16, at approximately 9:31 a.m., at the Howard Johnson Inn, 153-95 Rockaway Blvd. in
South Jamaica, police responded to a
911 call of a larceny. Upon arrival, police were informed that a 32-year-old female customer left her purse unattended and a male suspect removed $2,000
and fled the location. Police obtained
surveillance footage of the incident
and canvassed the area for the suspect,
observing him inside of a Burger King
at 154-05 Rockaway Blvd. The suspect,
identified as Richard Diaz, 45, of Briarwood, was taken into custody without
incident and $1990 was recovered.
Diaz was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree bail
jumping and harassment.
114th Precinct
Astoria Burglaries
The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the following individuals depicted in the attached surveillance video in regards
to two burglaries in Astoria.
On Dec. 16 at 9:45 p.m., an individual entered the European Wax
Center, located at 30-19 Steinway
St., and removed a purse which contained credit cards. Several individuals then used the credit card to make
purchases at a nearby pizzeria.
On Jan. 6 at 12:30 a.m., several individuals entered a building located at
30-62 Steinway St., and entered an office belonging to the Astoria Computer
Solutions, where they removed a computer and five iPhones before fleeing.
Borough Beat
MTA Will Close Seven Boro Stations For Fixes
BY JON CrONIN
The Metropolitan Transit Authority says that the 67th Avenue
station on the Rego Park/Forest
Hills border will be shut down
completely for as much as two
months while it is revamped and
brought into the 21st century.
Kevin Ortiz, an MTA spokesperson, said it is one of the stations that will be renovated as
part of the Governor’s Station
Enhancement Initiative. He noted that right now, “It is too early
to get into the scope and schedule of the project.”
He said that they couldn’t tell
when the work would be done,
but it will take between six to 12
months to complete and there is a
possibility that there will be a full
station closure of approximately
six to eight weeks.
Some of the updates seen in
this initiative will be the installation of Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile
payments and ticketing to replace
the MetroCard. The new station
will also provide USB ports on
subway trains, buses and in sta-
tions to allow customers to charge
their mobile devices.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo released
this information in a press conference last week in Brooklyn. A
statement from his office said it
is his goal to “modernize and fundamentally transform the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, dramatically improving the
travel experience for millions of
New Yorkers and visitors to the
region.”
At last week’s press conference Cuomo said, “You know
what the future is? Mass transportation. You want this region
to grow? The answer is not more
people getting in cars and getting
on the road and driving. That is
not the answer. We’re not building any more roads. The roads
are congested. Gasoline is expensive. We’re polluting the environment. You can’t park. The traffic
is terrible. The gridlock is terrible. That’s not the future. The
future is mass transit. Now how
do we get people out of the cars,
into mass transit? Mass transit
has to work.”
Cuomo added that they will
shut down 30 stations all at once
and “design and build a whole
new station, let people walk in
there and say, ‘Wow, this is the
MTA.’ This is the train station –
amazing. Yes, we can.”
“The transportation system
determines the economic growth
of the future. When they designed
this system originally, they had 1
million riders, they designed it
for 10 million riders,” said Cuomo. He noted that he wanted to
expound on their foresight with
these updates.
The seven subway stations that
will be closed in Queens are:
• 30th Avenue in Astoria
• Broadway in Astoria
• 36th Avenue in LIC
• 39th Avenue in LIC
• Parson’s Boulevard in Jamaica
• 67th Avenue in Rego Park
• Northern Boulevard in
Woodside.
Reach Reporter Jon Cronin at
(718) 357-7400 x125, jcronin@ Jamaica’s Parsons Boulevard station is one of the
queenstribune.com or @Jona- seven borough subway stations slated for a renovation.
thanSCronin
Op-Ed
Continuing Dr. King’s legacy
By CounCilman
RoRy lanCman
Over the past weekend, many in
our community and throughout the
world took the time to reflect on the
legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. I joined volunteers at Pomonok Houses to clean-up the grounds
and work to make real Dr. King’s
vision of a “Beloved Community,”
built through community action and
nonviolence (see story on Page14).
I went to LaGuardia Airport to see
fourteen Queens College students
leave for the “In the Footsteps of Dr.
King” trip, which was funded in part
by my office. The students will be
led to several historically significant
sights in Atlanta, Georgia and Alabama by Rabbi Moshe Shur, the former Queens College Hillel director
when I was a student, who marched
with Dr. King.
The ties between the American
Jewish community and the civil rights
movement are strong. Rabbi Shur
was not unique in
any people by others
his commitment to
an impossibility.”
seeing a world where
This is a unity
African Americans
that is clearly felt
had the same rights
today. When I was
as white Americans.
in Jerusalem for
Dr. King was also
my daughter’s bat
a strong supporter
mitzvah a few years
of the state of Isago, who did I bump
rael, and stood up
into at the Western
for the Jews against
Wall? None other
discrimination that
than Congressman
was still common
Charles
Rangel!
in America at the
Charlie has been a
time. In a speech to
great friend of Isthe American Jewish
rael and the Jewish
Councilman Rory lancman
Congress in 1958,
community over the
King noted the simiyears, and he was
larities between the plights of Jewish leading a delegation of Congress
community and African-Americans, members on a trip to show solidarity
stating, “My people were brought into with Israel. As we honor Dr. King,
America in chains. Your people were I think back on moments like these
driven here to escape the chains fash- and how we all must come together
ioned for them in Europe. Our unity to fight against injustice. My commitis born out of our common struggle tee in the Council, Courts and Legal
for centuries, not only to rid us of Services, works on several criminal
bondage, but to make oppression of justice reform issues to create a court
system that is fair to everyone, and to
stop the over-incarceration of people
of color. I’ve worked with many of
my colleagues to push for a bail system that won’t keep people in jail because they don’t have $500. I pushed
for changes to summons court, announced last spring, that will reduce
the consequences of minor violations
like riding a bicycle on the sidewalk
or being in a park after dark.
This is the work we must do to
continue Dr. King’s legacy and create the world he dreamed of. Together, we can make a safer and more just
world. As we reflect on Dr. King’s
life, let us remember his calls for
unity and peace, and let us come together to create a better community.
Council Member Rory I. Lancman
chairs the Committee on Courts & Legal Services and represents the 24th
Council District, which includes Downtown Jamaica, Briarwood, Jamaica
Hills, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens
Hills, Queensboro Hill, Hillcrest, Utopia and Fresh Meadows.
pix
Merrick Boulevard Magic
Photos by Bruce Adler
Firefighters Yezzi, Horigan, and Gavigan of Engine 275 / Ladder 133,
the “Merrick Blvd. Magic”, display food spread prepared for members
of SATCOM Queens South as part of a ceremony showing the mutual
support for the Police and Fire Departments.
Members of SATCOM Queens South, and Engine Company 275 / Ladder 133 display plaque in recognition of the FDNY’s, and particular the
“Merrick Blvd. Magic” support to the NYPD during 2015.
In particular, on Oct. 28, 2015, E275/L233, the “Merrick Blvd Magic”
opened their doors of their firehouse and their hears to NYPD members
who were standing for hours in the pouring rain outside, and providing, shelter, coffee, food, or just a smile to members of the NYPD, both
active and retired.
Assistant Chief David Barrere, Commanding Officer of SATCOM Queens
South, present FDNY Chief of Department James E. Leonard, FDNY
Chief Edward Baggott, and FDNY Captain Saccente of Engine 275/Ladder 133 with with a plaque in recognition of this particular firehouse’s
support shown over the past year in both physically and spiritually
with four very difficult NYPD funerals.
A&E
Ashley Chambers playing the saxophone.
Jahzeel Campbell performing his poem “Buffalo Solider.”
In Memory of the King:
An evening of Poetry and Song Honors Civil rights Hero
By Trone DowD
Meaningful rhymes and rhythmic
voices to the tune of jazzy and soulful instrumentals played by the community’s talented youngsters filled
the air of the Bethany French Baptist Church on 160th and Jamaica
Avenue Friday night, honoring the
memory and the words of the great
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Martin Luther King Poetry
Slam was hosted by Franck Joseph II,
Chief of Staff to Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) and
leader of the Bethany French Baptist
Church Youth Ministry Group, and
local author and civic leader Delicia
Davis. Joseph said that the idea for
the event was just one of many coming out of the young minds who call
Southeast Queens home.
“We wanted to give young adults
and young millennials a platform,”
Joseph told the Press of southeast Queens. [...] We came together
along with my youth ministry group
because we’ve been trying to make
my church, especially my youth ministry, more engaged in community
activity.”
Teaming up with Davis, and her
company Precise Publishing Group,
as well as youth activism and empowerment group VOYCE (Voices of the
Youth Changes Everything) and the
Jamaica Business Improvement District, the community’s young people
were able to make the event a reality.
But it didn’t stop there.
“For a long time the elected officials have been saying that they want
to support us and we’ve been saying
we want support from them,” Joseph
said. “We wanted to take that initia-
tive and reach out to them on this.”
Elected officials did just that,
coming out in bulk to help spread
word on the event. Among those
who sponsored the event were state
Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans),
Councilmembers I. Daneek Miller
(D-St. Albans) and Rory Lancman
(D-Hillcrest), Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-St. Albans) and
former councilmember and “Dean of
Southeast Queens” Archie Spigner,
who was one of the most prominent
figures on the front of civil rights in
the borough years ago. Both Davis
and Joseph said it was extremely
important to honor those who have
paved the way for tomorrow’s leaders
with their work in public office.
Comrie said that it “was a pleasure
to work with Franck and Delicia [...]
to make sure that this happened,”
and was happy to see so many of the
community’s young people coming
out to celebrate King and his doctrine.
Spigner, a trailblazer in Southeast
Queens politics, told a story reminiscing on his days as the first African American member of the City
Council. He recounted the kind of
injustice and racism that both he and
his constituents faced in the ‘70s.
Performer after performer of all
different ages impressed the more
than 200 community members in
the audience with their talent both
as poets and as artists, speaking on
a variety of different topics related
to the legendary civil rights activists
and how it both affects their lives to
day and how it could better the world
some 50 years after his tragic assassination.
State Sen. Leroy Comrie stands with the young and talented performers of
Southeast Queens.
Some of the standouts included
young saxophone player Ashley
Chambers who has been making quite
a name for herself in the Southeast
Queens area with her many performances, sixth grader Jennifer Darlene
Joseph who recited her poem “Hate,”
and hip-hop artists John Garrison aka
Jon-Jon and Cliffe Cenezir, who also
performed a poem. Other standout
performances included groovy spoken
word from Megan Gloria, who goes by
the name Messenger One and a dazzling and heartfelt poem by Prophet
Smith from New Jersey. Closing out
the performances was Queens County
Young Democrats leader Jamal Wilkerson who told a moving story about
the future and one’s ability to influence it.
“We were open to all forms of
art,” Joseph said. “But poetry to us is
a way that people can string together
words and express themselves. We
think that looking at speech in the
past, from Dr. Martin Luther King
to Malcolm X, these great people
were able to use their words to convey messages. Poetry is that ultimate
form that does that.”
Joseph expressed that he was “definitely hoping” to do more events
like Friday’s Slam Poetry event in the
community.
“We hope to make this an annual
thing, and we are looking to do more
things like this throughout the year.
It’s something we’ve been discussing
with other organizations from different parts of Queens and cultural
backgrounds and demographics,” he
said.
or @theloniusly.
Queens today
FRIday 1/22
QuinTET Of THE AmEriCAS
PrESEnTS CrYSTAL
WinTEr PrOGrAm
Quintet of the Americas, Queens’ renowned
woodwind quintet,
will present a program
including music by W.A.
Mozart and his father
Leopold, Prokofiev, Sammy
Cahn, early music composer
Thomas Arne and contemporary American composers
Lev Zhurbin, David Dzubay
and Adam Schoenberg.
Free. 3:30 p.m., Beacon
Rehabilitation and Nursing
Center, 140 Beach 113th St.,
Rockaway Park.
TAkE rOOT PrESEnTS
mErSiHA mESiHOviC
CirCuiT DEbriS AnD
unDErGrOunD WOrkS
Mersiha Mesihovic /
CircuitDebris: Presents
VOID, from a three
part Suite entitled The
Trilogy (of Survival).
The Trilogy examines the
struggle against social conformity and the individual
struggle for self-determination in our vastly standardized society that makes a
constant effort in shutting
down what is different or
uncommon.
Underground DanceWorks:
In a collection of diverse
pieces, Artistic Director
Charles Tyson Jr, seeks
to embark on a journey
through the soul and society - continuously searching, exploring forgiveness,
regret, escape, acceptance,
truth and answers - all
things we as a society struggle with on a daily basis.
Through his signature
movement style known as
EclectiFunk, Underground
DanceWorks (UDW) shows
that “in order to truly move
forward, we must learn to
acknowledge respect and
embrace the differences
that make our society such
a unique one - make intelligent commentary without claiming to know the
answer.
Being Quiet doesn’t get the
point home. Just because
the truth isn’t pretty,
doesn’t make it any less the
truth.”8 p.m. $15, Green
Space Studios, 37-24 24th
St., #301, Long Island City.
Also Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8
p.m. Tickets are available at
the door or online at greenspacestudio.org/TakeRoot.
html
SaTURday 1/23
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
TUESday 1/26
YOGA AT THE CASTLE
bOO! SPOOkTACuLAr
EnCHAnTED fOrEST
Follow the breadcrumbs
and meet us at the
Spooktacular Enchanted
Forest! This year our
spooky circus will take
place among the trees.
Wear a costume and have a
hoot! in a winter woodland
created by our friends at Circus Amok. Side show chills
and circus thrills include
Apple Pickers Jamboree
with the Circus Amok Band,
Stump to Stump Highwire
and Ring Toss Tree, Forest
Canopy Stilt Walkers and
Merry Maids Painting Faces,
Enchanted Beer Garden for
adults, Spellbound Snacks
for kids, and much more!
This event takes place at the
Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park
from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are
$20 each or $75 for a family
of six. For more information
visit queensmuseum.org/
events
THE rEPrESSiOnS
PrESEnTS THE brOkEn
rESOLuTiOn SHOW!
Join Astoria’s art therapy weirdo band The
Repressions for a free
evening of music and
revelry at Irish Whiskey
Bar, 28-38 31st St., Astoria.
Special Guests: Ben Absurdo
(philosophy punk) from 8
p.m., Dolly! (acoustic surf
rock) at 9 p.m., and The
Repressions at 10 p.m..
Irish Whiskey Bar features
spacious tables, a patio, full
bar plus coffee and tea. The
Repressions have already
broken their resolution to
be zany, and they can’t wait
to be your friend!
SUNday 1/24
ETHnObOTAnY
Learn the many everyday
uses of plants by people,
past and present. This
program will also include
a short walk highlighting
and identifying common
plants in parks. Registration
required. This free event
takes place at the Forest Park
Join certified yoga instructor Stephaine
for Gentle and Restorative Yoga for
Beginners. This class is for students over
50. If your doctor has cleared you for light
exercise, this is the class for you. It is an ideal
way to rejuvenate the body and revitalize
the mind.Walk-ins: $10 per class. Includes
all equipment- mats, blocks, blankets, straps,
bands. Class begins at 12:15 p.m. at the Fort
Totten Castle, 208 Totten Ave., Bayside.
Visitors Center, on Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest
Park Drive. The program
starts at 11 a.m.
DiSCOvEr THE nYC
WATErSHED mODEL
New York City hosted the
1939 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens. To show off
the city’s water system that
tapped mountain springs as
far as 100 miles away, the
Cartographic Survey Force,
a branch of the Works
Progress Administration,
constructed a 3-dimensional
model of the system out
of wood and plaster for
$100,000 (about $1.5 million in today’s dollars).
Measuring 32 feet by 20
feet, it never made it to
the Fair and instead was
put into storage, some said
because it was too big, but
others have said it was to
protect the City’s Water
system from spies as the
country was beginning to
contemplate war. You can
now see the map for
yourself and hear about
its story from NYC H2O
Director Matt Malina. A
question and answer session
will follow with Bryan Diffley and Peter DiSpensa, both
civil engineers who worked
on the water system. This
event is from 1 to 2 p.m. at
the Queens Museum in
Flushing Meadows Corona
Park.
fErTiLE GrOunD nEW
WOrkS SHOWCASE
Fertile Ground is a new
works showcase for emerging and established artists
now in its 10th season,
producing the work of over
50 choreographers each
year. This non-curated
performance event features five or six choreographers each evening
and includes a postperformance discussion
with wine and cheese,
moderated by Green Space’s
Artistic Director, Valerie
Green. $12 7 p.m., Green
Space Studio, 37-24 24th St.,
#301, LIC Featuring: Cassandra Cotta Humanistics
Dance Company Kathleen Kelley Dance Megan
Christine Dance Collective
Titilayo Majoyeogbe Tickets
are available at the door or
online at greenspacestudio.
org/FertileGround.html
MONday 1/25
ing competition is for
anyone with a five-minute story to tell on the
night’s theme: “Gossip”.
Here’s how it works: When
the doors open, participants
throw their names into The
Moth “hat”. A half hour
later, names are drawn to
determine the order slammers take the stage. A team
of judges – selected from
the audience – will pick a
winner from 10 featured
stories. Sign up to join, or
simply enjoy the show! The
story slam will take place at
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35
Northern Blvd, Flushing,
at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.
WEdNESday 1/27
12 infAmOuS nYC CrimE
SCEnE LOCATiOnS
THE (knOT OnLY)
kniTTinG CirCLE
Welcome knitters, crocheters, or crafters of any
kind. Come to show off
a new project, share
some snacks, or just
knit with friends. While
this is a meeting for adults
who know how to knit,
not a class, beginners are
welcome and members
will do their best to help
you get started. 6 p.m., $5.
Pre-registration required.
Admission: Alley Pond Environmental Center 228-06
Northern Blvd., Douglaston.
Email: ewhalen@alleypond.
com or call 718-229-4000
THE mOTH STOrYSLAm:
GOSSiP
This open-mic storytell-
The Woodhaven Historical Society hosts retired
NYPD Detective Ike
Ilkiw, who will walk
us through some of the
most infamous crimes in
NYC’s history and tell us
what it was like to be a police officer and a consultant
for movies and TV shows.
Ike grew up in Cypress Hills
and is the founder of NYC
Adventure Tours. 1 p.m.,
Emanuel United Church
of Christ: 91st Avenue and
Woodhaven Boulevard,
Woodhaven.
GOT EvEnTS?
Send all information to
editor@queenstribune.com
or mail to:
150-50 14th Rd.,
Whitestone, Ny 11357
Profile
QC Students Honor Dr. King With Day Of Service
BY LYNN EDMONDS
With the temperature hovering
around 24 degrees, a dedicated group
showed up outside Pomonok Houses
to volunteer in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. on Monday to clean
up the campus by removing leaves
and debris.
The event was hosted by Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest),
Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz
(D-Kew Gardens Hills) and state
Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing), in
coordination with President of the
Pomonok Residents Association
Monica Corbett. The brave volunteers included Officer McLeod from
PSA9 and two committed individuals from Queens College, Sharice
Richards and Darren Fignole.
Richards, who will graduate in
May with a Master’s degree in Childhood Education, said “her whole life
just went on a different trajectory” after she spent last Martin Luther King
Day in Atlanta learning about the
leader through a program CUNY offers, “In the Footsteps of Dr. King.”
“I know the importance of today,
being out here,” Richards said. “It’s a
small price to pay, compared to all he
did. He paid the ultimate sacrifice,
so to sacrifice two hours in the cold,
you know.”
With the volunteers huddled close
for warmth, the politicians spoke
briefly about their reason for doing
community service on the holiday
that honors Dr. King.
It “is an embodiment of Dr. King’s
message and spirit, and in that way we
both remember him but also continue
to fill his legacy,” Lancman said.
“I can’t think of a better way to
honor his memory than to help other
people,” Stavisky said.
“I want to commend Monica
[Corbett] and the Queens College
students, Pomonok Residents Association for really demonstrating in
the best possible way what Dr. King’s
legacy meant for our community here
in Queens,” Simanowitz said.
In turn, Corbett thanked all those
who came out for helping to make
the housing development more beautiful.
The volunteers then got to work
shoveling fallen leaves into garbage
bags.
Reach Lynn Edmonds at (718) 3577400 x127, ledmonds@queenstribune.
com or @Ellinoamerikana
Photos by Lynn Edmonds
(Left): left to right: Darren Fignole, state Sen. Toby Stavisky, Councilman Rory Lancman, Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz, Sharice Richards and President of
the Pomonok Residents Association Monica Corbett. (Right): Simanowitz, left and Lancman, center, stuff some leaves into a garbage bag.
People
The following area students have
earned honor roll distinction at Pomfret School for the 2015 fall term. A
student earns honors with a grade
point average of at least 3.33 and no
grade below a B-:
John Patrick Long of Addisleigh
Park and Fayoni Olusesi of Jamaica.
Frederick Wilmot of Far Rockaway, NY, whose major is Psychology, made the President’s List at
SUNY Potsdam in the Fall 2015
semester. To achieve the honor of
being on the President’s List, each
student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average
of 3.5 or higher.
The State University of New York
at Potsdam recently named 375 students who excelled academically in
the Fall 2015 semester to the College’s Dean’s List.
The students included:
Erica Burkett of Jamaica, who is
majoring in Liberal Arts; Nagnouma
Camara of Jamaica, who is majoring
in Liberal Arts; Danielle Mattis of Jamaica, who is majoring in Psychology
and Eddy Olibrice of Hollis, who is
majoring in Speech Communication.
To achieve the honor of being on
the Dean’s List, each student must
have satisfactorily completed 12
numerically-graded semester hours,
with a grade point average of between
3.25 and 3.49 in the given semester.
The Press of Southeast Queens
“People” is accepting obituaries,
birth announcements, wedding
announcements, and other
milestone announcements to
publish in our weekly section.
Send all information to:
editor@queenspress.com,
subject “People” or mail to:
Press of Southeast Queens, People,
150-15 14th Rd.,
Whitestone, NY, 11357
Depressed Downtown
said that he made it his “mission to
fight tooth and nail” to make sure
Far Rockaway’s business district
was established, securing $500,000
for improvements in the area and
getting Mayor Bill de Blasio on
board to invest another $12 million.
Other improvements the neighborhood has seen are the new Q114
line which gets Rockaway residents
to Jamaica quicker, mixed income
housing in Edgemere and the opening of Dunkin Donuts and a Baskin
Robbins at the long vacant Stark
property which Richards said he
saw as “a start.”
Maria Torres-Springer, President
and CEO of the NYC EDC was in
attendance and told the Press of
southeast Queens about her vision
for Far Rockaway.
“Having spent quite a bit of time
in this area, [...] one of the things
I find pretty astounding is the
commitment and participation of
residents and businesses here,” she
said. “This is the kind of thing we
want to harness.”
Torres-Springer said that she
hopes that the feedback will help
“improve the business environment, quality of life and the future
prospects for people here.”
In the past EDC has played a
major part in the revitalization of
several key areas across New York
City, including Coney Island’s
historic Amusement District and,
more recently, their part in the
Jamaica Now Action Plan first
revealed in April 2015 with Katz.
Those who were unable to make
the meeting are encouraged to
check out Richards’ website or Facebook for more information.
or @theloniusly.
Faith
“Built To Bounce Back”
By Rev. PhiliP CRaig
Greater Springfield Community
Church
Scripture: Psalm 92:12
“The righteous shall flourish like a
palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”
I always recommend people to
read the Bible because it contains
a long list of promises that God has
placed over our lives. When we lack
knowledge, we are placing ourselves
in a position to perish. To know is to
be empowered. When God informs
us of our make up, design and what
we are able to do, we must not doubt
but know that whatever He says is
true and it is our job to walk
to wrap around for stabil- seasons and bad ones. They bend
with the faith. If He made
ity and a strong foundation. but they don’t break. In the book of
us, then only He knows best
God has planned for us to James, he writes it this way in chapabout us.
grow deep roots in His ways ter 1 verses 2-4.
In this scripture, the
and wrap our lives around
“Consider it pure joy, my brothpsalmist was inspired by God
Him so we can have a solid ers and sisters, whenever you face
to let us know when we are
foundation in a pur- trials of many kinds, because you
righteous in His eyes,
pose driven life. know that the testing of your faith
there are two promHe wants us develops perseverance. Perseverance
ises we should be
to grow like must finish its work so that you may
aware of: that we
a
Cedar, be mature and complete, not lacking
shall grow like a
and that is anything.”
cedar tree and
to grow tall
It’s like the Marvin Sapp song, “I
flourish like a
and strong Never Would Of Made It” He says:
palm tree.
in the Lord I’m stronger, I’m wiser, I’m better.
The cedar
with a deeply Many times God has us to go through
Rev. Phil Craig
trees usually
rooted knowl- the storm to prepare us for the next
grow at least 40 feet in height with edge of His desires for our lives.
level of life. The reason why God
an eight foot circumference base. Its
In life at times we will have to face says you will flourish like a Palm tree
roots grow deep and search for rocks low points. We will sometimes be is because He’s letting you know you
challenged from every angle of life. have the ability to bounce back from
However we must keep in mind that every challenge, every trial and every
the word tells us that the righteous dilemma, and just like the Palm tree.
shall flourish like a Palm tree. But He built you to bend and not break.
let’s be clear what the promise says,
What’s even more interesting is
it says the “righteous”
that when the Palm
will flourish. That “Keep God first in
tree goes through a
means the requirestorm and its roots
ment to this promise everything you do or
are moved, the roots
is that you must first think and make sure
automatically shift
be righteous before
deeper
into
the
you keep a loving
you reap the benefit.
ground. God wants
In other words this heart for everyone at
you to become deeply
promise is for mem- all times.”
rooted through every
bers only. In order
storm knowing that
to become a member
every storm will make
you must live a righ–Rev. Phil Craig you stronger, better
teous life.
and wiser.
People many times
When
people
ask me “what does it means to be doubt you, betray you, or even hate
righteous?” My answer to them is on you, remember to bend with the
simple: keep God first in everything storms, the challenges and the push
you do or think and make sure you backs, knowing that when it’s done
keep a loving heart for everyone at all you will without a doubt bounce
times. This will keep you away from back with more vigor, power and demalice, anger, animosity and other termination to reach the stars God
character traits that will lead you to has put in your reach. Nothing can
an unrighteous life style and a sinful hold you down, you have been Built
nature.
to Bounce Back!
What does it mean to flourish
like a Palm tree? How do Palm trees
email Pastor Craig at Phil.craig@
flourish? It’s amazing that God
live.com
compares us to Palm trees because
Website: www.mygscc.org
Palm trees themselves are amazing.
Phone: 718-527-0100
Singh has taken College Now A palm tree can flourish in all types
courses in Medicine, Anthropology, of conditions: Cold, hot, deserts and
Health Professions and Success in even during hurricanes.
Palm trees are also known for
College. In Hillcrest High School,
Then it’s time to share...The PRESS
she did peer tutoring in her Ad- their flexibility. During a hurricane
they
bend,
even
to
the
ground
but
wants to hear about special programs
vanced Placement American History
class. Prior to entering high school, they don’t break. After a storm, the
in your faith community. Send your
she volunteered at the Meadow Park palm tree straightens back up and
thoughts, stories, prayers and photos to:
Nursing and Rehabilitation Cen- it’s even stronger than it was before
The PRESS at 150-50 14th Rd.,
ter and still goes back to volunteer the storm happened. It continues to
Whitestone, NY 11357.
sometimes. She had also worked in flourish after the storm.
Followers
of
Christ
who
are
plantAll
stories will be considered.
the Beacon Center of M.S. 226 two
ed
in
the
house
of
the
Lord
floursummers ago.
Photos cannot be returned.
-Bob harris ish during all seasons of life. Good
Notebook
Hillcrest High School
hillcrest Senior eyes honors
Program at hunter College
Elita Singh sat down for coaching
on how to do well in an interview
from Hillcrest High School College
Advisor Ms. Gordon because she is
a candidate for the Macaulay Honors College in Hunter College and
has been called in for an interview.
Acceptance into this honors program provides a scholarship, honors
classes and study abroad oppurtunities. She is in the Pre-Med Institute
in Hillcrest High School, Jamaica,
Queens, and has a weighted average
of 99-percent.
Keep’n The Faith
Our Lives
Hollywood Shows How Ignored Black Community Is
By Trone DowD
Earlier this week, actress Jada
Pinkett-Smith took to social media to
announce her boycott of this year’s
Academy Awards due to the fact
that neither her husband Will Smith
nor any of his minority peers were
nominated for any of the best actor
awards.
“We can no longer beg for the love,
acknowledgement or respect of any
group,” Pinket-Smith said in her video. “Maybe it’s time we pull back our
resources and we put them back into
our communities, and we make programs for ourselves that acknowledge
us in ways that we see fit, that are
just as good as the soly depict black lives,
called mainstream.”
struggles and success
Some of Hollyon the big screen.
wood’s biggest names,
While it may be a
including Idris Elba,
little hard to sympaSpike Lee, and even
thize with long-time
George
Clooney
millionaires who can
joined Pinkett-Smith
afford the luxury of
criticized the Acadnot having to deal
emy for Motion Picwith the everyday
ture Arts and Scistruggles of the avences for the lack of
erage black man or
Jada Pinkett-Smith
diversity in the talent
woman, the actress
they recognized, especially in such a does make a great point.
momentous year when we saw a tour
Regardless of how one feels, it
de force acting showcases in movies can’t be denied that often times the
like “Creed,” “Straight Outta Comp- black community will go ignored unton” and “Concussion” that accurate- til they speak out against their lack of
recognition.
It happened in 2001 when both
Denzel Washington and Halle Berry
won lead acting Oscars for performances in their prospective roles,
but only after years of criticism from
both the media and the NAACP.
In 2015, critically acclaimed artist Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap
Song just a year after the Grammy’s
received intense criticism for awarding Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Rap
Album of the Year to white artist
Macklemore. In 2016, it seems as
though the Grammys are still making
(continued on page 17)
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
INDEX NO.: 704115-2015
DATE FILED: 4/24/2015
SUMMONS SUPREME
COURT OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK COUNTY OF
QUEENS NYC TL 2014-A
TRUST AND THE BANK OF
NEW YORK MELLON, AS
COLLATERAL AGENT AND
CUSTODLAN FOR NYCTL
2014-A TRUST, -againstPlaintif fs, GUI LLERMO
C. ZAVALA; PATRICIA A.
VELIZ; UNITED SATES OF
AMERICA; NE W YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TAXATION AND FINANCE;
STEVEN KOLITCH; BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.;
CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA)
N.A4 “JOHN DOE # 1”
through “JOHN DOE # 100”,
the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiffs, the persons or parties
intended being the owners,
tenants, occupants, persons
or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in
or lien upon the premises,
described in the complaint,
and if any of the aforesaid
individual captioned defendants, if any, be dead, their
respective heirs-at-law, next of
kin, executors, administrators,
trustees, devisees, legatees,
assignees, lienors, creditors,
and successors in interest,
and generally all persons
having or claiming under, by,
or through any of the aforesaid individual captioned
defendants, if any, if they be
dead, whether by purchase,
inheritance, lien or otherwise,
including any right, title or
interest in and to the real
property described in the
complaint herein, all of who
and whose names and places
of residence are unknown to
the plaintiffs, Defendants, TO
THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY
SUMMONED to answer the
complaint in this action, to
serve a copy of your answer,
or, if the complaint is not
served with the summons, to
serve notice of appearance,
on the plaintiffs’ attorney
within twenty (20) days after
the service of this summons,
exclusive of the date of service (or within thirty (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 failure to appear
or answer, judgment will be
taken against you by default
for the relief demanded in the
complaint. TO THE ABOVE
NAMED DEFENDANTS: The
foregoing Summons is served
upon you by publication
pursuant to an Order of the
Hon. Timothy J. Dufficy, a
Justice of the Supreme Court,
Queens County, dated Dec.
11, 2015 and filed with the
complaint and other papers
in the Queens County Clerk’s
Office. The object of the
action is to foreclose a Tax
Lien recorded in the Office of
the City Register of Queens
County on Aug. 20, 2014 as
Tax Lien Certificate number
4A and dated Aug. 6, 2014
and was duly recorded as
CRFN 2014000278031,
along with interest, surcharges, penalties, additions,
expenses, attorney’s fees, and
the costs and disbursements
of this action, less any payments made on account on
premises k/a 94-17 112th
Street, Richmond Hill, NY
a/k/a Block 9398, Lot 46.
Plaintiffs designate Queens
County as the place of trial,
The basis of venue is the
location of the subject property. 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 tax lien holder 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 the tax lien holder will not
stop this foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY
SERVING A COPY OF THE
ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF
(TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND
FILING THE ANSWER WITH
THE COURT. Dated: April
22, 2015 LEVY & LEVY
Attorneys for Plaintiff
12 Tulip Drive Great Neck,
NY 10021 (516) 487-6655
BY: Joshua Levy, Esq. File
No. 476237 #87470 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 Department of Financial
Services at 1-800-342-3736
or visit the Department’s
website at www.dfs.ny.gov.
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.
________________________
S U P P L E M E N TA L S U M MONS AND NOTICE Index
No. 708312/2015
Date
Filed: 1/5/2016 SUPREME
COURT OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK COUNTY OF
QUEENS U.S. Bank, N.A.,
successor trustee to LaSalle
Bank National Association,
on behalf of the holders of
Bear Stearns Asset Backed
Securities I Trust 2007-HE2,
Asset-Backed Certificates
Series 2007-HE2, Plaintiff,
-against- Leonard Murphy;
Mercylyn Bryce; Dorothy
Palmer, if she be living or
is she be dead, her spouse,
heirs devisees, distributees
and successors in interest, all
of whom and whose names
and places of residence are
unknown to Plaintiff; City
of New York Environmental
Control Board; City of New
York Parking Violations Bureau; City of New York Transit
Adjudication Bureau; State
of New York, “JOHN DOE”,
said name being fictitious, it
being the intention of Plaintiff
to designate any and all occupants of premises being
foreclosed herein, and any
parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming
an interest or lien upon the
mortgaged premises, Defendants, PROPERTY ADDRESS:
145-54 232nd Street, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 TO
THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY
SUMMONED to answer the
complaint in this action and to
serve a copy of your answer,
or a notice of appearance on
the attorneys for the Plaintiff
within thirty (30) days after
the service of this summons,
exclusive of the day of service. The United States of
America, if designated as a
defendant in this action, may
appear within sixty (60) days
of service hereof. In case
of your failure to appear or
answer, judgment will be
taken against you by default
for the relief demanded in the
complaint. TO THE ABOVE
NAMED DEFENDANTS:
The foregoing Summons is
served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order
of the Hon. David Elliot, a
Justice of the Supreme Court,
Queens County, entered Jan.
5, 2016 and filed with the
complaint and other papers
in the Queens County Clerk’s
Office. NOTICE OF NATURE
OF ACTION AND RELIEF
SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the
above captioned action is to
foreclose a Mortgage to secure $450,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Queens
County Office of the City
Register on January 12, 2007,
in CRFN 2007000025457
covering premises known
as 145-54 232nd Street,
Springfield Gardens, NY
11413 a/k/a Block 13489,
Lot 111. The relief sought
in the within action is a final
judgment directing the sale of
the premises described above
to satisfy the debt secured
by the Mortgage described
above. Plaintiff designates
Queens County as the place
of trial. Venue is based upon
the County in which the
mortgaged premises is situated. 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:
Dec. 1, 2015 Frank M. Cassara, Esq. Senior Associate
Attorney SHAPIRO, DICARO
& BARAK, LLC Attorneys for
Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing
Boulevard Rochester, New
York 14624 (585) 247-9000
Fax: (585) 247-7380 Our File
No, 15-044969 #87492
What’s Up
January 23
JCaL art Center Workshops
Give a gift that will last a lifetime
by starting your child’s artistic journey at JCAL! Sign them up today
for our 18-week art workshops, from
Jan. 23 to June 4, 2016, followed by
an annual student recital on June 11.
There are nearly 40 different classes
available for all ages, in every major
artistic disciplines including dance,
drama, music, visual arts and movement! Those interested can register
online at jcal.org
February 16
Jazz Concert at york
On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the York
College Cultural Diversity Center,
Student Government, and the Male
Initiative Program will present “Compositions,” a Black History Month
Jazz celebration.
The concert will feature original
compositions performed by the Sean
Juan Project and the GMT Express
featuring a surprise guest artist.
The performance will take place in
the Small Theatre of the Milton G.
Bassin Performing Arts Center. The
event is free and open to the public.
February 25
In the Shadow of the Mountain
Lou Del Bianco in “In the Shadow
of the Mountain” portrays his grandfather Luigi Del Bianco and tells the
story of his unique contribution to
the carving of our nation’s greatest
memorial. Lou uses authentic pho-
Our Lives
up for their controversial decision,
quickly nominating Lamar for 11
categories, including the prestigious Album of the Year award.
While there are years when our
great works are recognized as such,
they are few and far between, with long
stretches of being ignored by the often
times majority white academy. Even
when Cheryl Boone Isaacs, an American film marketing executive, became
the first black American to head the
Academy in 2013, black talent was
still being ignored after 12 Years A
Slave swept the Oscars in 2014.
And while validation for our art
shouldn’t be found in the decisions
of a select few, it shows just how far
we have to go until we are on equal
footing with the rest of Hollywood.
The fact that not one African-American has been nominated for individu-
tos, maps and timelines to bring Luigi’s story to life! The performance
starts at the Jamaica Performing
Arts Center at 10 a.m. Visit jcal.org
for more information.
OngOIng eventS
airtrain Jazz Festival
The Sutphin Boulevard Business
Improvement District, A Better Jamaica, and the Jamaica Arts Council
present The AirTrain Jazz Festival.
Scheduled every Thursday Evenings
from October 2015 through May
2016, join us and enjoy the smooth
crooning and instrumentals played by
the community’s best as we provide
a cultural hello to AirTrain travelers.
The grooving begins at 5 p.m. and
goes on until 7 p.m., with two sets
and a break in between. The event
takes place on the Mezzanine Level
of the Jamaica AirTrain Station (9340 Sutphin Blvd. 2nd Floor)
For more information, please contact Sutphin Boulevard BID at sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net or reach out to
Greg Mays at (718) 657-2605 or greg.
mays@abetterjamaica.org
the Queens Council on the
arts Presents Chapter 2
Chapter 2 is a group show featuring
the work of High School to Art School
program alumni. HS2AS is a scholarship-based portfolio development program for high school students run out
of Queens Council on the Arts. This
exhibition showcases the impressive
talent of our students, as well as the
al roles in two years paints the picture
of the lack of diversity in Hollywood as
well as the total obliviousness to our
stories. With entire productions ignoring history and whitewashing historically black characters in films like the
upcoming Gods and Kings, it seems as
though recognition is something that
is put off to the side until someone
speaks up. It is then and only then that
the powers that be tend to course correct for a short period of time until the
criticism dies down.
The same thing that we’ve seen
happening in Hollywood is weirdly
reflected in the lives of everyday
black America. No one seems to pay
us any attention until absolutely necessary and on their terms.
The Academy won’t recognize us
until big name stars speak up the
same way elected officials won’t
recognize us until they realize we
hold one of the strongest voter blocs
in the city. Until that rude awakening, we are just left out to fend for
ourselves. Our desperate calls for
diversity of their interests.
In the HS2AS program, students
acquire the knowledge and skills that
allows them to work successfully with
a variety of media and subjects, and
create an impressive and technically
skilled portfolio. Having served high
school students of all backgrounds
in the greater NYC area for over a
decade, HS2AS has helped over 800
students, including many here in
Southeast Queens, reach their goal
of being accepted into the best art
programs and colleges throughout
the country.
The show starts at 6 p.m. at the
Edison Price Lighting Gallery located at 41-50 22nd Street in Long
Island City. The show is expected to
run until June. Admission is free.
Jamaica Flux: Workspace
& Windows
Not confined by gallery walls, Jamaica Flux is a contemporary public art project in which visual and
performance art are displayed at a
variety of locations along Jamaica
Avenue in Queens. The locations—
banks, stores, restaurants, street corners, phone booths, parks, and other
public spaces—are as diverse as the
art. JCAL’s presentation of Jamaica
Flux challenges traditional assumptions about where art should be
displayed and explores the relationship between art, commerce, urban
renewal, and community. To view the
latest Open Call for Jamaica Flux, go
our website, jcal.org or follow us on
Facebook for instant updates.
help and equality when our neighborhoods are bearing 32 percent of
the supportive housing burden in the
borough are met with inaction from
political figures who choose to ignore us. When our children are being
killed by police, we are only noticed
when our frustrated young men and
women take to the streets in protest
and take a stand. When gun violence
is plaguing our areas, it is up to our
select few leaders who can relate to
these issues to find solutions.
Those outside of the black community don’t seem to pay attention to us
until we’re in absolute shambles, and
even then we are met with criticisms
before we’re met with helping hands.
What we’ve seen in the last month
concerning the lack of diversity in
Academy Awards is the continuation
of a long-lasting trend in America:
The neglect of the black community’s successes and general well-being
until we’re needed as a way to show
just how progressive a group or individual can be. Only then do they
Jamaica Flux 2016 is supported,
in part, by the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The
Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
teen PaSS after School
Program
Teen PASS offers FREE, exceptional clubs that focus on the areas of
NYC Parks, arts, environmental science and sports that are tailored to
the interests and talents of students
grade six through eight. We create a
safe space for young people to grow
as scientists and artists, nature lovers
and healthy individuals alongside our
gifted staff. Located at the Detective
Keith Williams Recreation Center.
Time: Mondays through Fridays
from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more
information please contact Chrissy
Word, Director of Youth Development, at (212) 360-2787 or via email
at cword@cityparksfoundation.org.
Para más información en español,
llame al (212) 360-2765.
High School equivalency
exam Prep
Looking to receive your high school
equivalency? Then you should start by
taking the High School Equivalency
Prep program at the SUNY Queens
Educational Opportunity Center.
Classes are held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Evening
classes are held Monday through Friday 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
feel it is necessary to pander to
our needs. We see it in every form,
from employment, to the city politics to the Presidential Election to,
most recently, Hollywood.
While not every individual has
the same sort of public pull as a Jada
Pinkett-Smith, is it is fair to say that
many of these deserving artists in the
black community may have continued to go unnoticed unless someone
spoke up. Boone Isaacs has since
come forward and said that she was
“both heartbroken and frustrated
about the lack of inclusion.”
“This is a difficult but important
conversation, and it’s time for big
changes,” Isaacs said. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter
the makeup of our membership.”
Here’s to hoping those big changes
aren’t in the form of one off wins for a
few black actors in 2017 just to show
how progressive the Academy can be.
or @theloniusly.
SportS
Press of southeast Queens
Red Storm Drop Two More As Lull Continues
By DAviD RuSSeLL
The Red Storm losing streak has
hit nine after a pair of 20-point losses
to Georgetown and Butler.
“It’s tough because you feel like
the world is coming down on your
shoulders, but hey, you live and you
learn,” said graduate transfer Ron
Mvouika after a 93-73 loss to Georgetown on Wednesday.
Chris Mullin jokes that players
don’t care about his playing years,
but if they ask he has some stories to
tell them. “My first few years in the
NBA we lost 60 games, so as far as
failing, I’ve got experiences, playing
experiences,” Mullin said. “That’s
not going to be an issue whatsoever
for me. For these young kids it is.
And it’s always the balance of pushing them, letting them know where
the improvement is being done and
progress is being made, and competing. And we have to do all that.”
The St. John’s matchup against
Georgetown fell short of the clas-
sic 1985 battles with the Red Storm
coming out with little energy. “We
came out, we were sleepwalking to
tell you the truth, and those guys got
comfortable and they started making
shots,” said graduate transfer Durand Johnson.
The Johnnies traveled to Butler
on Saturday looking for an upset,
but were handed a 78-58 loss. Butler
scored the final 10 points of the first
half and held off St. John’s in the
second half.
St. John’s is still looking for its
first win since Dec. 13. Expectations were low for the team, but after
beating Syracuse, St. John’s was 7-3.
Then came two losses at Carnesecca
Arena to Incarnate Word and NJIT,
and a neutral site defeat to South
Carolina.
Picked to finish last in the Big
East, St. John’s has lost its first six
conference games.
“We knew this is going to be a
tough year,” Mullin said after the
Georgetown loss. “Look at our ros-
ter, that’s what it’s going to be. But I respect
the game, I respect the
players. They deserve
that. They deserve to
come out and compete
and try to win. That’s
going to be when we
get more experience
and all these things
are going to come
back and be valuable
to us when we look
back on them and say,
‘you know what, it was
worth it.’”
PHOTO COuRTESY ST. JOHN’S
uNIvERSITY ATHLETIC
DEPARTMENT
The tip-off at St. John’s
Jan. 13 game against
Georgetown, which the
Red Storm would go on
to lose 93-73.
Queens-native Helps Beat Brooklyn At Barclays
By DAviD RuSSeLL
Portland’s 116-104 win over the
Nets at the Barclays Center meant a
little more to Blazers forward Maurice Harkless, who played at Forest
Hills High School and St. John’s.
“This is where I’m from, it’s
where I grew up,” said Harkless after Friday night’s game. “I love this
city, so being able to come here and
seeing my family and just playing in
front of people I grew up in front of,
it’s always special.”
The 6’8’’ Harkless developed
playing on the streets and gyms of
New York City. “It influenced me
a lot. It’s pretty much all I did. It
helped me develop that toughness,
that grit and all of that stuff you need
out there. If you can make it from
here you can make it anywhere. It’s
cliché but it’s the jungle.”
Harkless was a fan of the Knicks
and the guard that led New York to
the 1999 NBA Finals. “I really liked
Allan Houston growing up. I spent
some time with him which was pretty
cool.”
As a sophomore in high school,
Harkless was on the Forest Hills
in August 2011 and was part of a
team that upset Cardozo in overteam that went 13-19 in his freshtime for the 2009 PSAL Queens
man year. After being named Big
borough championship. “Mo is a
East Rookie of the Year, Harkless
great character kid, very respectdeclared for the NBA Draft.
ful,” said Ben Chobhaphand,
“Everything happens for a
Harkless’ high school coach and
reason, but I admit to daydreamnow the head coach at LaGuardia
ing about the possibilities had he
Community College. “It wasn’t
returned for his sophomore seahard coaching him.”
son,” Lavin said. “Had Mo choHarkless transferred from Forsen to return for his sophomore
est Hills to South Kent Prep in
season he would have been a preConnecticut where he played as
season All-American candidate.
a senior. He had already commitThe possibilities for achievement
ted to uConn but fortunately for
tantalizing yet he had an opportuSt. John’s, Harkless decommitted
nity to realize his dream of playfrom the school.
ing in the NBA. Who can fault
Steve Lavin first saw Harkless
him for seizing the moment?”
in June 2010 at a skills camp that
He was selected with the 15th
was held on campus at St. John’s.
pick by the Philadelphia 76ers but
“It was immediately evident that
was traded to the Orlando Magic
PHOTO COuRTESY PORTLAND TRAIL BLAzERS
he played the game with a certain Maurice Harkless , a South Jamaica native, before ever playing in the City of
grace, ease and fluidity that was plays for the Portland Trail Blazers and played Brotherly Love. After three seaunique for a player his size,” said basketball for Forest Hills High School and sons in Orlando, Harkless was
Lavin, the Red Storm coach from St. John’s university.
traded to Portland.
2010-15. “I recall coming away
“New York, Orlando and Portfrom our initial conversation being that stood out when compared to land are three completely different citimpressed Mo’s mature bearing and the vast majority of 17 or 18-year-old ies but I think I adjusted well and I
temperament. He was definitely a prospects I had recruited.”
like it out there, so it’s cool,” Harkless
gentleman and had a regal presence
Harkless committed to St. John’s said.
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