INSIDE - Queens Press | Southeast Queens News
Transcription
INSIDE - Queens Press | Southeast Queens News
Volume 16, Issue No. 2 • Jan. 9-15, 2015 INSIDE: Queens Real Estate Marketplace Special Pull Out Section PRESS Photo by Bruce Alder ALL TOGETHER The 113th Precinct hosted police officers from across the country, flown in by Jet Blue for the funeral of NYPD Officer Wenjian Liu over the weekend. By Jordan Gibbons … Page 4. ONLINE AT WWW.QUEENSPRESS.COM Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 NYC’s Only Place To Play Over 5,000 Games. Minutes Away! News Briefs DOT’s Borough Commissioner Replaced According to a DOT spokesperson, Dalila Hall, who has served as Borough Commissioner since April 2013, has been reassigned. Jeff Lynch, the DOT’s assistant commissioner for intergovernmental affairs and community relations, will serve as acting Borough Commissioner until further notice. On Wednesday, sources told the Tribune that some members of the City Council’s Queens Delegation had met with City DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg to express their disappointment with Hall’s performance. Hall was appointed Queens Borough Commissioner in April 2013, after having served as Deputy Borough Commissioner, beginning in October 2011. The DOT spokesperson confirmed that meeting. The spokesperson added that Hall would be reassigned within the agency “to continue serving in a critical role.” When asked about the situation with Hall, one Queens Council member noted that it was important to address issues regarding local transportation. “As always, I am fully committed to working with our City’s agencies and advocating for our local transportation issues,” Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) said in a statement. “If those issues are not recognized, then a change becomes necessary.” NYPD Saves Lives With Naloxone 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11420 rwnewyork.com • 1-888-888-8801 In Queens Near JFK Airport. Off the Belt Parkway. Minutes Away. MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-hour Problem Gaming Hotline: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369). On New Year’s Eve and New Years Day, NYPD police officers saved the lives of two people suspected of suffering from heroin overdoses in separate incidents in Queens. Just before 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, police responded to a 911 call from a St. Albans apartment for a 51-year-old man lying on his back in bed, losing consciousness and barely breathing. A female friend of the man told cops he had just snorted heroin and then quickly became unresponsive. Officer Brett Devine and Lt. David Goldstein immediately administered a single dose of naloxone nasal spray. When Emergency Medical Services arrived at the scene, the man had regained consciousness and his breathing was nearly at full strength. He was speaking coherently and opted to walk down the stairs from the second floor apartment and step into the ambulance. He was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition. At 8:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, an 18-year-old woman was also saved in a building in Pomonok. After NYPD administered the nasal spray, she was transported to Queens Hospital Center in stable condition as well. Naloxone, which is administered nasally, is an extremely effective medication that can instantly counteract the effects of an overdose from narcotics like heroin and some prescription drugs. Hollis Library Re-opens Councilman Mark Weprin (DOakland Gardens) joined Queens Library interim president Bridget Quinn-Carey, Marc Haken of Community Board 8 and residents of Eastern Queens this week to mark the re-opening of the Queens Library Hollis branch. The library has been closed since mid-September for the installation of a new roof. Weprin supplied $730,000 in discretionary funds for the renovations. “The library provides a tremendous service to the residents of Eastern Queens and I know that it will continue to do so,” Weprin said. Rebuild Begins On Ozone Park Apartment Clean up is ongoing at the Ozone Park building where a five-alarm fire took place last month. A vacate order placed on the property, located at 103-45 97th St., was partially lifted late last month except for the fourth floor and parts of the third floor. This gave the green light for repair and recovery to begin at the badly damaged building. According to a spokesman for Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), Redmond Haskins, the property owner, is working with an architect and a project manager to file the necessary paperwork with the DOB. They have also replaced the windows on the top floor to make the building watertight. The spokesman said the owner plans to submit that paperwork by the end of this week. The blaze started in the cockloft of the building and spread to the roof. The fire broke out around 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 18 and became a fivealarm fire less than an hour later, just after 5 p.m. Firefighters got the fire under control at 6:42 p.m. according to the FDNY. Nobody was killed as a result of the incident, but the hundreds of people who live there have been forced to relocate elsewhere while the long rebuilding process begins. Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3 Presstime Jamaica Center Bid Finds new director By JoRdan GiBBons Growing up in Jamaica, Rhonda Binda said she always felt that the area had a lot of potential. After working in the White House and the Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of State, she has come back to work towards bettering her old neighborhood as the new executive director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District. She officially stepped into her role on Dec. 1, but began working earlier to help local businesses with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Binda said that this is an exciting time to start working in Downtown Jamaica, especially with the recent announcements by StreetEasy, a real estate website, projecting Jamaica to be one of the top five hottest neighborhoods in the City among renters and buyers in 2015 and Lonely Planet naming Queens the best travel destination in the U.S. “These are things that I knew about Queens, being a resident,” she said. “But, I’ve always known that there’s more we can do in terms of marketing and telling that story louder.” While working in intergovernmental affairs, Binda said she helped forge sister-city relationships around the U.S. and around the globe. She was also the vice president of P3 Global Management, a public-private partnership management company, which helped to finance smart city technology and infrastructure improvements, such as LED lighting, bike share and touch screens, to cities around the country. She said some of these improvements are something that she is looking to bring to the Jamaica Center corridor. Another element in the area that Binda said she would like to tap into is the fashion industry. She said that she would like to build events around specific retailers to highlight the best Jamaica has to offer in terms of clothing, sneakers and tattoos. In May, the BID is organizing an event called Jamaica Revealed, which will invite investors, developers and small business owners to take another look at Jamaica as a can be done and she plans to destination, Binda said. work with Riders Alliance “We’ll hopefully bring and the Dept. of Transporto bear the best of what tation to improve the opI’ve seen,” she said. tions for commuters. Another goal for “The transportation hasn’t Binda is to make the necessarily caught up to connection with John the growth,” she said. “We F. Kennedy Interneed more express sernational Airport vice so people can get and Downtown Jaaround quicker.” maica. The Hilton With an increase Garden Inn that is in hotels and resiin the works across dents, Binda said for the AirTrain is she thinks it will Rhonda Binda a start, but she said create a higher conshe plans to work sumer demand for with the Queens Tourism Council to more businesses, especially in the organize free airport tours for travel- food and beverage industry. ers with long layovers to expose them One way that she would said could to rich history and people the com- help stimulate businesses to come to munity is proud of. Jamaica is by working with city agen“We should make that connection cies to provide tax credits for owners. with a lot of these diverse enclaves… so “It’d be great to have more dining they can appreciate their world here in and nightlife,” she said. “It’s time to the American way,” Binda said. come back.” Even though Jamaica is already Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at known as a transportation hub, Bin- (718)357-7400, Ext. 123, jgibbons@ da said that there is more work that queenspress.com or @jgibbons2. 2014: Lowest Crime Rate in City’s History By Luis GRonda The year 2014 was the safest New York City has seen in its history. Last year saw the fewest recorded murders in City history, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who made the announcement outside of 1 Police Plaza on Monday. According to police data, there were 332 murders in NYC last year. This is three murders fewer than 2013, and continues the downward trend of that type of crime in the five Boroughs. Murder, robbery and burglary rates are also the lowest in the past decade, according to the statistics compiled by the NYPD. Robbery was down 13.6 percent in 2014 compared to the previous year, the biggest decrease out of the crime categories compiled in CompStat. Burglary was down four percent from 2013 and grand larceny auto decreased by 3.7 percent in 2014. The overall crime index was down 4.6 percent from last year. Marijuana arrests also dropped 10.5 percent compared to 2013. Police said the specific break- down of those numbers by borough were not available when asked by a reporter. The announcement was made just as tensions between Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD have spiked due to incidents involving police including the murder of Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu last month as well as protests following the Eric Garner verdict just a short time before those officers were killed. De Blasio said the reduction in crime shows that its possible to reduce crime in a big city like New York even as crime was already decreasing before he took office. “Now, again, this is not just about numbers. The numbers are so important, but every number indicates a human life or a family, and every number that we show that’s made progress means a family or an individual who didn’t go through the pain of a crime,” he said during the press conference. Commissioner Bratton said that while 2014 was successful in terms of reducing crime in New York City, 2015 will be significant for the police depart- ment because of new technology the department will begin to use, including body cameras. “It will be the year of technology, in which we literally will give to every member of this department – technology that would’ve been unheard of even a few years ago,” Bratton said. Both the mayor and police commissioner have been big proponents of the broken windows theory of policing, which is reducing smaller type of crimes in order to prevent bigger crimes from occurring. When asked if the recent events call into question that type of policing, Bratton said that their view remains unwavered. “Sorry, broken windows is here to stay,” he said. “Stop, Question and Frisk is here to stay. But it will be done in appropriate amounts. So, even the broken windows policing-we are very selective in terms of looking at areas where we can reduce the need for that.” De Blasio said that crime has reduced dramatically compared to the 80s and 90s in part due to the proactive approach police need to take in enforcing that theory. Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda. Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 113th Precinct Welcomes Out Of Town Officers For Funeral The 113th Precinct opened its arms to fellow officers from out of state for the second time this past weekend. To honor the service of NYPD Officer Wenjian Liu, officers from all over the country flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport for his funeral in Brooklyn over the weekend. Jet Blue offered officers free airfare, the offer was also extended for Officer Rafael Ramos’ funeral in December. Ramos and Liu were sitting in their police car on Dec. 20 on the corner of Myrtle and Tompkins Avenues when Baltimore native Ismaaiyl Brinsley walked up behind the car and shot and killed the two officers without any warning. Minutes later, he took his own life in a nearby subway station. The Jamaica-based precinct, which is the closest precinct to JFK, offered rides to visiting officers as well as providing hospitality with whatever they needed. Jet Blue flew in officers from all over the country to attend the funeral of Officer Wenjian Liu this past weekend, with the 113th Precinct hosting the officers. Photos by Bruce Adler BY JORDAN GIBBONS BE A HERO! VOLUNTEER TODAY. AmeriCorps needs you for a caregiving respite program called Willing Hearts, Helpful Hands Volunteer to help older adults and their families, and make a difference by helping to ease the burdens of family caregivers of older adult loved ones. And receive a $110 monthly s�pend for 10-12 hours per week. You can also qualify for a $1493 Educa�onal Voucher. Spaces are limited. To find out how you can be a Hero, contact us today. (718) 289-2103 willingheartshelpfulhands.org A PROGRAM OF Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5 BBBS Pairs kids & artist For 151 Mural Condo? Co-Op? Rental? To you it’s simply “Home.” (ZR TL HIV\[ [OL RPUKZ VM WVSPJPLZ (SSZ[H[L VMMLYZMVY*VUKVTPUP\TVY*VVWLYH[P]LV^ULYZ HUKYLU[LYZ ;/,>90./;(.,5*@ X'-,0/07XccjkXk\%Zfd _kkg1&&X^\ekj%XccjkXk\%Zfd&Xek_fep$ Policy issuance is subject to qualifications. Allstate Indemnity Co. Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Co. 116830 The hallways at PS 151 became a canvas on Tuesday afternoon. As part of a “day of service” organized by the mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, artist Don Rimx visited the Woodside school to collaborate with its students on a hallway mural. The event was the first in a series for National Mentoring Month, which will take place throughout the City with the primary goal of recruiting volunteer mentors to work with the hundreds of young people waiting for a match through BBBS of NYC. Joined by PS 151 Principal Dr. Samantha Maisonet, members of BBBS and Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), a group of PS 151 students took turns adding color to Rimx’s colorful, curving design. Maisonet said she was glad for the opportunity to partner with BBBS of NYC and Rimx. It offered her students an opportunity to meet a successful artist and accomplish something themselves, she noted. “We’re trying to teach kids that no matter what it is that you enjoy doing, you can do it if you set your mind to it,” Maisonet said. She added that she hopes the event will spark a long from all the world are term partnership with connected.” BBBS of NYC, which He went on, “you see the organization’s CEO the elements like bricks, Hector Batista said was because it’s New York, a goal of the day of serand then the wood bevice. cause it’s more Latin “I want to serve more America, other counkids in the Borough. I tries like that. You see think it’s a borough that bright colors combined could use our services,” with grays – kind of the he explained. weather here but trying Batista said that only to bring in a little bit about 12 percent of the of summer from other more than 3,500 kids countries.” served by BBBS of NYC “I saw kids passing by come from Queens and and they were applauding he hopes to expand councilman costa constantinides (back, second from right) joined and some of them were that number. PS 151 in PS 151 Principal Samantha Maisonet and artist don rimx (front) cheering,” Batista said. particular was an ideal in a mural painting organized by BBBS of Nyc. “I think that it makes setting for the day of them feel good that the service, Batista noted, because its sented the diverse backgrounds of school is taking an interest to make the students represent the demographic PS 151’s students and the school’s school look nice and special.” of kids the organization serves: kids commitment to globalism. National Mentoring Month will from immigrant communities or in PS 151 is the Global Communica- culminate in the Seventh Annual single-parent homes, for example. tion and Foreign Language magnet Tournament of Champions Pong on For his part, Constantinides said, school. Its focus as stated by Mai- Jan. 23, according to BBBS of NYC. “we need more organizations like Big sonet is on drawing connections The table tennis tournament will take Brothers Big Sisters in Queens.” between international communities place at Grand Central Terminal’s “To have that mentorship to help and building a globally-minded com- Vanderbilt Hall and will benefit the give children another leg up towards munity among the students. organization’s mentoring programs. their future would be a great partnerAccording to Rimx, bridges and Reach Reporter Jackie Strawbridge at ship,” Constantinides added. paths comprised a main element (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, jstrawbridge@ Rimx’s mural design itself repre- of his mural design, “so the people queenstribune.com or @JNStrawbridge. Photo by Jackie Strawbridge By Jackie StrawBridge Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 Editorial OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS 150-50 14th Road Whitestone, NY 11357 (voice) (718) 357-7400 fax (718) 357-9417 email news@queenspress.com The PRESS of Southeast Queens Editor-in-Chief: Steven J. Ferrari Contributing Editor: Marcia Moxam Comrie Production Manager: Shiek Mohamed Reporters: Jordan Gibbons Joe Marvilli Luis Gronda Jackie Strawbridge Letters We Are Charlie Hebdo No To CB Limits Those of us who work at newspapers in the United States, like many who are not in this profession, sometimes take for granted the protections of Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression guaranteed in the First Amendment. These rights are the most important tool in any journalist’s repertoire. It is a promise to readers that all views can and should be expressed without fear of reprisal, no matter if we agree with the sentiment. We are saddened to hear reports of Wednesday’s deadly attack on a French satirical publication called Charlie Hebdo. This is not the first time the magazine has been attacked by those who have taken offense after the staff has poked fun at the Prophet Mohammad, as the Charlie Hebdo offices were firebombed in 2011 after a similar issue. Despite these frequent attacks, the staff of Charlie Hebdo never backed down to appease those who opposed its right to expression. We hope that even in light of the vicious murder of 12 people – including editors, cartoonists and even police officers – that the magazine does not change its ways, does not lose its voice and continues to express views that some would find unpopular. Wednesday’s attack was one orchestrated by extremists, terrorists who would deny people the right to express themselves unless it agrees with their own views. We stand by our brothers and sisters who we lost this week in France, as we celebrate their determination to defy those who would try to subdue the freedom of expression in all its forms. We will honor the memory of those killed in the attack by continuing to pursue the truth and by living up to the freedoms guaranteed to us by the First Amendment. Just like the staff of Charlie Hebdo, we will not back down. We Are Charlie Hebdo. To The Editor: Councilmen daniel dromm and Ben Kallos have proposed legislation to limit Community Board members to six two-year terms; in other words, 12 years max service. While I agree with them on several other issues, I think this legislation, if passed, would be bad for the communities and the City. Community Boards are made up of volunteers, except for the district Managers and small staffs, who are paid City employees. I gladly volunteer my time and effort to review BSA applications and other topics, and rarely miss a meeting. Councilman dromm says our communities are changing, and so should the makeup of community boards to bring in new ideas, new cultures, backgrounds and ideas. This is already happening and doesn’t require a law. Board membership changes every year due to retirements, job changes, families moving out of the area, and new appointees coming to the board. The core of each board is the long-serving seasoned members, who are the target of this legislation. If you get rid of these folks, you weaken the board. To weaken the board is to weaken the voice of the people. Notify your Council members not to weaken your voice, and tell them to vote NO on this legislation or to have it withdrawn. Tyler Cassell Member of CB7 Flushing Art Dept: Rhonda Leefoon Lianne Procanyn Karissa Tirbeni Maureen Coppola Advertising Director Howard Swengler Major Accounts Manager Shanie Persaud Director Corporate Accounts/Events Advertising Executives Shari Strongin Karyn Budhai A Queens Tribune Publication © Copyright 2014 Tribco, LLC Michael Nussbaum Publisher Ria McPherson Comptroller The Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Of Mario Cuomo A Personal Perspective BY MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE I have often quoted Gov. Mario Cuomo’s line, “you campaign in poetry and govern in prose.” And while the reality of public service requires that one adjusts one’s expectations based on the reality of the economy and the representatives with whom one has to negotiate, the original Governor Cuomo never lost his eloquence. It served him well for three terms until he lost his campaign for a fourth. Mario Cuomo, unlike his son, Andrew, our current governor, had experiences his children were not privileged to have had. As the son of Italian immigrants, he understood the immigrant experience of seeing his parents try to achieve the American dream and of feeling the sting of the put down from other immigrant groups. I recall him speaking out against discrimination against African-Americans during one of the many painful experiences in our state. In doing so, he expressed the hurt he felt as a child when some Anglo immigrants and first generation Americans wrote ethnic slurs on his family’s garbage cans. I remember there were those who scoffed at the comparison to what African-Americans have been through. I agree it pales in comparison, but to him, it was hurtful and I never denigrated his right to feel or express that. The important thing is he was trying to say no one deserves to be mistreated. He was trying to connect in a personal way. He wanted to be a governor of all the people. Since his passing, everyone has spoken about his way with words. They have invariably bemoaned the fact that he never ran for president despite pressure to do so. The media at the time dubbed him, “Hamlet on the Hudson” for not making up his mind to jump into the 1992 race. They assumed he was having some “to run or not to run,” soliloquy like the Shakespearean character’s “to be or not to be,” crisis. Some even dared to suggest that the governor might have chosen not to run due to some imagined “mafia connection.” The truth is, not everyone wants to be president; and the truth is not everyone should be president. As a society, we are seduced by eloquent speeches. Every time some guy gives a good speech, we want to crown him president. There is a shallowness about us when it comes to that sort of thing and it is understandable. There was a time when the American president was an inspiring figure – think FdR and JFK. And across the pond, we had Churchill. And in the 1950s and ’60s, we had MLK, who, had he not been Black, would also have been encouraged to run for president. Ronald Reagan was dubbed “the great communicator,” and when Barack Obama addressed the democratic National Convention in 2004, he was immediately encouraged to run. The guy was only running for a senate seat, but he had a compelling personal narrative and mesmerized with it. The truth is, Gov. Mario Cuomo loved New York and chose to stay here and serve his state. For him, that was legacy enough. His death has left a void in our City and State. At 82 years of age, he still had a lot more to give. The death of the former governor is a loss. We know the current Governor Cuomo is trying to be as good a governor or better than his father was. We wish him well with that because his success is our gain. We know he’s hurting and we share his loss in a non-personal way. We will miss Mario Cuomo as a part of our political history. We are honored to have “known” him. He served us well, so good night Governor Cuomo, “and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7 This is what it’s all about. Self-serving politicians and cynical pundits think that New York City police officers are more worried about settling a contract than mourning our fallen brothers. Real New Yorkers know better. You’ve stood with us. You’ve grieved with us. You’ll work with us to protect our city and hold accountable all those who have stirred up hatred and violence against police officers. Thank you for your support. Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association of the City of New York 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10004 • 212-233-5531 Patrick J. Lynch, President www.nycpba.org Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 New York Honors The Life Of Mario Cuomo BY JORDAN GIBBONS Former Governor Mario Cuomo died of natural causes due to heart failure on Jan. 1 in his Manhattan home at the age of 82, hours after his son Andrew Cuomo was inaugurated for his second term as governor. The Holliswood and South Jamaica native served as governor from 1983 to 1994 and was known for his inspirational speeches and being a bastion of progressive values. District Attorney Richard Brown said he would be forever grateful to Cuomo for appointing him twice as a Justice of the Appellate Division and his current position as Queens’ DA. “He was a great friend and advisor who greatly influenced my life and the lives of a generation of young lawyers,” Brown said in a statement. “A son of Queens, he will be missed by all for his wise counsel, heartfelt compassion for the downtrodden, fierce advocacy for justice and inspiring oratory.” Cuomo became known as a defender of the downtrodden early in his career as an attorney in Queens. In the late 1960s, he represented “The Corona Fighting 69,” a group of 69 homeowners who were in danger of being displaced by the City’s plan to build a new high school. The group successfully averted the demolition of all but 22 of the 69 homes. He also represented another Queens residents group, the Kew Gardens-Forest Hills Committee on Urban Scale, who opposed Samuel J. LeFrak’s housing proposal adjacent to Willow Lake. The spotlight shined even brighter on him in 1972 when Mayor John Lindsay appointed him to conduct an inquiry and mediate a dispute over low-income public housing slated for the upper-middle class neighborhood of Forest Hills. Cuomo worked closely with former Assembly Speaker Saul Weprin in Queens, years before they both became prominent political figures in New York. Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) said that Cuomo used to blame his father for getting him into politics. “When other families went on vacation, we spent time running Mario Cuomo’s campaign,” Weprin said. “He never forgot his Queens roots. He would use it as a weapon. He never embraced the trappings of being in power. He was a humble man in a very important position.” During a time when liberal views were disparaged, Cuomo strongly opposed the policies of Ronald Reagan, particularly during his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, which Weprin said was one of the most prideful moments of his life since the speech made a Queens native one of the most important political figures in the country. His speech brought him to national attention and was considered a frontrunner to get the Democratic nomination for President in 1988 and 1992. He came close to filing for candidacy in 1991, but since he could not come to agreement with Republicans in the New York State Legislature on the budget, he declined running, because he said that Borough and City officials remember former Governor Mario Cuomo, who died of heart failure on Jan. 1. he swore to put New Yorkers first. Borough President Melinda Katz credited Cuomo with devoting his life to public service and offered condolences to his family on behalf of the Borough. “As governor, he used his considerable intelligence and leadership to advance an agenda to help all New Yorkers live better, more prosperous lives,” she said in a statement. “Governor Cuomo was an inspiration to me and to many borough residents who entered public service in the hope of following his example and building on his legacy of achievement.” While New York was experiencing an era filled with crime in the 1980s and early 1990s, Cuomo stood by his opposition to the death penalty despite the unpopular opinion. He vetoed several bills that would have re-established capital punishment in the State. Cuomo, a Roman Catholic, also strongly believed that the State did not have a right to ban abortion, even though he was personally opposed to it. In a speech at the University of Notre Dame in 1984, he pronounced that there can be different approaches to abortion besides absolute prohibition and unyielding adherence. Cardinal John Joseph O’Connor, former Archbishop of New York, considered excommunicating him after the speech. Considering he knew his father the best, Gov. Andrew Cuomo provided the eulogy at the funeral, which covered his father’s background, his biggest speeches and even his basketball prowess. “At his core, he was a philosopher. He was a poet. He was an advocate. He was a crusader. Mario Cuomo was the keynote speaker for our better angels,” he said. He finished the eulogy by promising to follow in his father’s footsteps. “We know what we have to do and we will do it. We will make this State a better State and we will do it together,” he said. “On that, you have my word as your son.” Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at (718)357-7400, Ext. 123, jgibbons@ queenspress.com or @jgibbons2. Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9 It’s a good day for rehab. Peninsula Nursing and Rehabilitation is proud to announce the grand reopening of its updated, state-of-the-art facilities. Now under new ownership, we’re ready to go above and beyond. State of the Art Rehabilitation Center 24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care Short Term and Long Term Rehab Comprehensive Therapies Pre and Post Operative Care Sub-Acute Care On-Site Amenities Coming Soon: On Site Dialysis Renew. Restore. Rehabilitate. Peninsula ĆĀƫāĆƫ!$ƫ$**!(ƫ.%2!Čƫ.ƫ+'35ČƫƫāāćĊāƫđƫĈāĉċĈăąċĂĀĀĀƫđƫ333ċ//!*.!ċ+)ĥ,!*%*/1( Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 Police Blotter 102nd Precinct p.m. on Nov. 24 inside of a Capital One Bank, located at 74-11 MetroHomicide arrest politan Ave. in Middle Village. The On Dec. 29, police arrested two suspect entered the location, passed individuals in regards to a homicide a demand note and fled on foot with that occurred on Christmas Day. approximately $750. According to an incident report, The second incident occurred police responded to a call of a person at 11:26 a.m. on Dec. 9, inside of a shot in the vicinity of 126th Street Capital One Bank located at 70-01 and 89th Avenue at 2:34 Forest Ave. The suspect enp.m. on Dec. 25. Upon artered the location, passed a rival, officers observed a demand note and fled with 20-year-old male, identified approximately $2,617. as James Bryant of Jamaica, The third incident ocunconscious and unresponcurred at 11:35 a.m. on sive with a gunshot wound Dec. 30 inside of an Astoria to the neck and being tendBank, located at 75-25 Meted to by EMS. The victim This individual is ropolitan Ave. The suspect was transported to Jamaica wanted in connec- again entered the location, Hospital, where he was protion for three bank passed a demand note and nounced dead. robberies within fled on foot with approxiOn Dec. 29, police arthe confines of the mately $7,400. rested Abu Quick, 23, of Anyone with information 104th Precinct. the Bronx, and Jamar Alexis asked to call the NYPD’s ander, 25, of Kew Gardens, Crime Stoppers at (800) and charged both men with second- 577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestopdegree murder and criminal posses- pers.com or text tips to 274637 sion of a weapon. (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential. 104th Precinct Bank robbery Pattern The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying and locating the following suspect wanted for three bank robberies within the confines of the 104th Precinct. The first incident occurred at 3:10 107th Precinct Homicide At 2:34 a.m. on Jan. 2, police responded to a 911 call of a male shot inside of 155-11 71st Ave. in Pomonok. Upon arrival, police observed a 30year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS also responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. 109th Precinct investigation At 11 a.m. on Jan. 1, police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious male inside MacNeil Park. Upon arrival, officers identified an unidentified male in his 30s, unconscious and unresponsive. EMS also responded to the location and pronounced the male dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. 110th Precinct Fatal Fire At 11:46 p.m. on Dec. 31, police responded to a 911 call of a residential fire inside of 96-02 57th Ave. in Corona. Upon arrival, officers observed three adult residents of the apartment, unconscious and unresponsive. The residents have been identified as Louise JeanCharles, 59; Nadia Donnay, 37; and Napoleon Michel, 69. All three residents were removed to local hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. 112th Precinct Forcible Touching The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying a suspect want- ed for forcible touching within the confines of the 112th Precinct. At 7:40 a.m. on Dec. 30, the victim, a 38-year-old female, was walking on the southbound F line platform at the Queens Boulevard and 75th Avenue station when the suspect grabbed her from behind, touching her buttocks and private parts before pushing her to the ground. There were no reported injuries. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 5-foot-9 with a stocky build, last seen wearing a dark colored jacket, a dark colored backpack and a green or possibly camouflaged hat. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, visit www. nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential. 112th Precinct Fatal Fire At 3:39 a.m. on Jan. 5, police responded to a 911 call of a residential fire inside a single-family private house, located at 168-37 118th Road in Jamaica. EMS removed two aided residents from the location to area hospitals. An 89-year-old female was removed to a local hospital, where she was listed in stable condition, and a 64-year-old male was taken to another hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Borough Beat Food delivered To river Fund By Luis Gronda Assemblyman David Weprin (DFresh Meadows) delivered more than 350 pounds of food to the River Fund food pantry in Richmond Hill on Monday. The food was collected as part of an ongoing holiday drive at Weprin’s office. The drive was held for the last six weeks before the holiday season and many residents stopped by to donate food, according to the Assemblyman’s office. Among the food donated to the pantry were cereal, pasta, canned meat, soup and much more. “We are thankful for today’s donations, which will come in handy to our seniors that are disabled and homebound. We are also thankful for the community for their support for the River Fund,” said Shirley Rice, the Fund’s Chief Operation Officer. The River Fund is a food pantry that serves food and other needed items to residents at its Richmond Hill location as well as its satellite locations in Rockaway and Coney Island. Swami Durga Das, who heads the non-profit organization, said they will likely use the food for the River Fund’s home delivery service. Das said they deliver food to the homes of about people disabilities and who cannot make it when they host their weekly food pantry drives on Saturdays. “The City, overall, has been doing well, but there is still a large number of people living in poverty and are hungry,” Weprin said. “The River Fund really does an extraordinary job year after year in making sure that the people and children with needs are well served especially during the holiday season.” Reach Reporter Luis Gronda at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127, lgronda@ queenstribune.com, or @luisgronda. a holiday food drive resulted in 350 pounds of donations for the river Fund food pantry in richmond Hill. Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11 pix Adopt-A-Family Hollis Library Reopens The Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District last month held its annual Adopt-a-Family program at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. The program provided clothes, toys, shoes and household items to 110 families in need in the downtown Jamaica area during the holiday season. Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) joined Queens Library’s interim president Bridget Quinn-Carey (right), Marc A. Haken of Community Board 8 (center) and residents of Eastern Queens to mark the reopening of Hollis Library following the installation of a new roof. The library, which had been closed since mid-September for the renovations, received $730,000 in funding from Weprin and the New York City Council Delegation. Adopt-a-Family program participants included (from left) Randall Duperval (volunteer), Kate Ofikuru (volunteer), Melvin Bennett (volunteer), Jerome Roberson (Sutphin Blvd. BID board member), Tyasia Chestnut (volunteer), Bernie Brown (sponsor – President of the Rosedale Little League), Tearah Chestnut (volunteer), Joel Chestnut (volunteer), Simone Price (Executive Director, Sutphin Boulevard BID), Xandrea Lancaster (volunteer), Sandhya Sheth (volunteer) and Karym Price (volunteer). Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 A&E Kupferberg Center Sets Lineup For 2015 BY JOE MARVILLI With a new semester comes new shows at Queens College. The school’s Kupferberg Center for the Arts is set for a packed winter/spring season. With performances at Colden Auditorium and LeFrak Concert Hall, both students and Queens residents will have the chance to enjoy everything Kupferberg has to offer. One of the biggest guests of the year for the Kupferberg Center is Carol Burnett. The legendary comedian will perform off-the-cuff, impromptu banter with the audience for an enjoyable, reflective and funny evening. Tickets cost between $39 and $85. The show starts at 8 p.m. on May 8 at Colden Auditorium. Other performances include the Dance Theatre of Harlem, which will take the stage at Colden Auditorium on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. This troupe is made up of 18 racially-diverse dancers, known worldwide for bringing a contemporary touch to classical and neo-classical ballet repertoire. Tickets are $35. The Atlantic Theatre Company will swing by Colden Auditorium on Feb. 4 for “Ivy + Bean, The Musical,” a children’s performance. Bean and Ivy knew they would never like each other, but when the two become a team, there’s mischief and laughter at every turn. Appropriate for ages 7 to 11, the show starts at 10:30 a.m. On Feb. 18, two of South Africa’s musical icons will join forces to honor the 20th anniversary of the start of democracy and the end of Apartheid in the nation. Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela will pay homage in “20 Years of Freedom,” featuring South Africa’s Freedom Songs. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at LeFrak Concert Hall. Tickets range from $20 to $55. For those of you who are not fans of “Fifty Shades of Grey” and have no intention of seeing the movie, you should look into this comedic performance on March 5 at Colden Auditorium. “Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody” will cost between $25 and $45 and starts at 8 p.m. On April 19 at 3 p.m., dog lovers can head to Colden Restaurant Review A Culinary Melting Pot Bistro Etc. 43b Main St. Port Washington (516) 472-7780 Cuisine: New American Credit Card: Yes Reservation: Yes Hours: Tue-Sat 5 p.m.-Close www.bistroetc.com The contemporary atmosphere and eclectic cuisine at Bistro Etc. place an emphasis on the etcetera in the title of this intimate, upscale, yet casual dining experience just over the Queens border in Port Washington. The warm, dim lighting provides a comfortable environment that has vintage décor including old photos of John F. Kennedy and Jerry Lee Lewis adorned on the wall. But, the main attraction of any restaurant is the menu and Chef Karen Melanie ensures that diners are treated to a variety of menu choices that pull from cuisines across the globe. Chef Karen refers to her menu as New American, since it blends cooking techniques and flavors from France, Mexico, Argentina, Asia and more. The wine and bar menu follows that trend by offering cocktails, wine and a selection of craft beer to pair with the concise starter and entrée options. This evening, Chef Karen served my dining partner and I vastly different starters that piqued our interest and pleased our taste buds more and more as each plate was placed in front of us. The Denver lamb ribs were cured in mint and garlic and perfectly cooked. The tender meat slid off the bone and matched perfectly with the two dipping sauces on the plate: honey lemon black pepper and jalapeno mint. Another great starter was the shrimp tortilla, which featured ancho chile rubbed shrimp with a housemade corn tortilla, avocado crema and fresh tomato salsa. The ancho chile rub was subtle, but gave a nice pinch of spice that blended with brilliantly with the creamy avocado and salsa. The most impressive entree we were treated to this evening was the wild striped bass fillet, which was presented artfully on a tower of wilted spinach, roasted grape tomatoes and a crisp risotto cake as the base. The star of the dish was the bass, rightfully so, as Chef Karen merely topped it with some fresh lemon to allow the natural flavor of the fish to accentuate the entrée. Another great choice for the main course is the skirt steak, which was cooked to a perfect medium rare and topped with an Argentinean chimicurri sauce that packed a powerful punch that brought the steak to life. On the side was a warm potato salad mixed with bacon, hard-boiled egg and celery that paired brilliantly with the protein. Just when we thought we could not find any more room in our stomachs, a warm apple strudel with dried cranberries and a scoop of vanilla gelato appeared in front of us and our stomachs magically grew to fit in the crispy, flaky warm dessert that was the perfect end to our trip into Port Washington. -Jordan Gibbons Auditorium for a live show by Cesar Millan. The well-known dog trainer will share his philosophies and methods. Attendance costs between $35 and $69. The spring season will end with the 74th Annual Spring Concert by the Queens ColThe Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform lege Choral Sociat Colden Auditorium on Jan. 18. ety. The concert will take place at Colden Auditorium on May You can also call the box office at (718) 793-8080. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Reach Reporter Joe Marvilli To see the complete Kupferberg schedule, to buy tick- at (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125, ets or to get directions, visit jmarvilli@queenstribune.com, or @Joe Marvilli. http://kupferbergcenter.org. Red Storm Struggle In Big East Play After a blistering 11-1 start in non-conference play, the Red Storm have gone winless in three games against Big East opponents, although they find different ways to get it done. They’ve lost one on the road, one at Carnesecca Arena and one at Madison Square Garden. They’ve lost two games by double-digits and one by four points. D’Angelo Harrison and Sir’Dominic Pointer have fouled out of two games. Ballyhooed guard Rysheed Jordan has more turnovers than assists in the two conference games he played in. After losses to Seton Hall and Butler, the Johnnies took on No. 8 Villanova at MSG. “This is the biggest game of my career right here,” said senior guard Phil Greene IV, the day before the game. “We’re already 0-2, we don’t want to start off 0-3 and dig ourselves into a hole.” Greene would score 14 points to go along with Harrison’s 25, but the Red Storm gave up 56 second-half points to the Wildcats and lost 90-72. “There are no easy games in this conference, so unless you play at a high level for 40 min- utes, you are not going to be in position to win,” Steve Lavin said after Tuesday’s loss. St. John’s led 54-52 in the second half before the wheels fell off. “They just went on a run and that’s just Villanova basketball,” Harrison said. Rysheed Jordan finished the game with two points on 0-for-6 shooting, no assists and three turnovers. He missed the Butler game because of a death in the family, although his absence has also been attributed to disciplinary action. Despite being a non-factor, Jordan played 26 minutes because of the lack of depth on the Red Storm. Lavin, who has been using a six-man rotation, may go to Myles Stewart off the bench, who has impressed the coach. Lavin admitted that he didn’t “want to mess with the recipe or the formula” that led to the 11-1 start, but losing three straight will lead to some changes. “You don’t want to be so far in the rearview mirror that when those games come our way, those games aren’t even meaningful,” Lavin said. –David Russell Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13 Queens today SaTURday 1/10 pearance are Wally Backman and Mookie Wilson. Tickets for the event at $35. NEW KID’s MusICAL ‘PLEAsE MR. PANDA’ Head to the Barnes and Noble in Bay Terrace at 11 a.m. for a special storytime event. Children will listen to a reading of “Please Mr. Panda,” written by Steve Antony. In the process, they will learn about manners from the picture book. The store is located at 23-80 Bell Blvd. Call (718) 224-1083 to learn more. The Secret Theatre is pleased to announce a brand new, hilarious, original children’s musical: “Katz ‘N’ Dogz!” Very loosely based on “Romeo and Juliet”/“West Side Story,” it follows a female dog, Joolz Muttleycrew, and a tomcat, Romeow Katuletz, whose two friends Bones and Tab try to stop them from becoming friends. Packed with jokes, songs and audience participation; the show starts at noon. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for kids. For more information, call the Secret Theatre box office at (718) 392 0722. SUnday 1/11 DRoP-IN WoRKshoP ThE WATERshED RELIEf MAP NYC H2O Director Matt Malina will host a slide show telling the colorful story of a major Queens Museum treasure, “The Watershed Relief Map.” Built in 1939 for display at the World’s Fair, it was restored by the Dept. of Environmental Protection in 2008. This event will take place in the Watershed exhibition on the Museum’s first floor at 1 p.m. and is free with regular museum admission. The Queens Museum invites children 5-12 and their adult companions to explore different works on view through a variety of fun hands-on art making activities. Children with special needs welcome, adaptations available. No fee or advance registration required. Just show up and stay for as long as you like. Call (718) 592-9700 for more information. E-WAsTE RECYCLING EVENT Join the Queens Botanical Garden for the 12th Annual “After the Holidays” E-waste Event in partnership with the Lower East Side Ecology Center and sponsored by TekServe. It is the perfect way to responsibly dispose of all of your unwanted or broken gadgets. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go to the parking garden entrance on Crommelin Street. Call (718) 8863800 to learn more. BAuER houR BAsEBALL CoNVENTIoN Queens Baseball Convention at McFadden’s Citifield. Attend the second annual winter baseball convention next door to Citifield. Among the Mets legends scheduled to make an ap- Bauer Hour is an experimental talk show, variety show, parlor show, all or none of the above. Performer and choreographer Eleanor Bauer invites guests to join her at MoMA PS1 from 5 to 6 p.m. and create a space and time for whatever seems most important now and not later. Each performance of Bauer Hour is unique, according SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK SUnday 1/11 GINGERBREAD LANE GIVEAWAY Take a piece of the New York Hall of Science’s GingerBread Lane home with you. Houses will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis until every piece of GingerBread Lane is gone. Limit of one house per person, while supplies last. The line opens at noon and the giveaway starts at 1 p.m. Free with NYSCI admission. to the current time, place, guests and interests. For more information, visit http://momaps1.org/calendar. 1876 CENTENNIAL ExhIBITIoN At Astoria’s Q.E.D at 4:30 p.m., the Greater Astoria Historical Society and the Nineteenth Century Society present a lecture on the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, which was held in Philadelphia. Join us to learn about the celebration of America’s 100th birthday, the inventions that debuted at the exhibition and the lasting impact the event had on our nation. Tickets are $7. For more information, visit www.qedastoria.com. the personal and poignant narratives of several of the residents of the notorious Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex in St. Louis. The film begins at 2 p.m. and finishes at around 3:30 p.m. monday 1/12 AuThoR TALK ThREE KINGs DAY CELEBRATIoN Council Member Julissa Ferreras and Congressman Joseph Crowley invite you to celebrate Three Kings Day, starting at 2 p.m. at IS 61 Leonardo Da Vinci, 98-50 50th Ave. in Corona. Join for an afternoon of musical performances, gift giving and holiday cheer. CLoThEs sWAP The Ridgewood YMCA is hosting a clothes swap beginning at 10 a.m. Come swap old clothes with your fellow residents. Entry for the event is $5. The YMCA is located at 69-02 64th St. fILM PREsENTATIoN Reviewing Renewal Film Presentation: “The Pruitt-Igoe Myth at the Queens Museum.” “The Pruitt-Igoe Myth” explores the social, economic and legislative issues that led to the decline of conventional public housing in America, and the city centers in which they resided, while tracing cold and ruthless Sicilian Mafia hitman on assignment sneaks into a house and discovers Rita, an innocent young blind girl. The library is located at 193-20 Horace Harding Expy. fILM sCREENING AND DIsCussIoN Head to the Flushing Library for a film screening and conversation. Queens resident Robertson Tirado wrote, directed and produced “The Lost Interview of Carlina La Salle.” The 18-minute fictional docudrama explores the life of a prominent German-born actress who comes to New York in the early 20th century to act in the “talkies.” Tirado will discuss the making of the film and his inspiration as a filmmaker. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at 41-17 Main St. ‘sALVo’ The Fresh Meadows Library will hold a film screening and discussion, starting at 2 p.m. In the award-winning “Salvo,” in Italian with English subtitles, directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza, a solitary, Slim down and get healthy for the new year! In his new book, health coach David Zulberg will appear at the Central Queens Y in Forest Hills to discuss timeless health principles pioneered by ancient physicians such as Maimonides and Hippocrates—basic wisdom that can help all of us engage in a healthier lifestyle today. The suggested donation for this event is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers. TUESday 1/13 MITCh KAhN Singer and pianist Mitch Kahn celebrates the legacies of Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer and others at this free concert. The performance starts at 2:30 p.m. at the East Flushing Library, located at 196-36 Northern Blvd. If you have any questions, call (718) 357-6643. Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15 Profile Construction Slated For Armstrong Annex By JACkiE STRAWBRiDGE An expanded Louis Armstrong House Museum is ready for its downbeat. A curving, glassy annex to the Corona museum is expected to break ground this spring or summer, director Michael Cogswell said. The project has support from Community Board 3 and local officials, and the Board of Standards and Appeals granted variances permitting its construction last year. Construction plans were filed on Dec. 26 with the Dept. of Buildings. About $20 million in funds have already been raised for the project, according to Cogswell. “It’s a game changer for the museum,” Cogswell said of the planned twostory, 14,500 square-foot building. “It’s going to allow us to present a full array of programs and services that we just can’t do in the little historic house.” Located at 34-56 107th Street in Corona, the landmarked Louis Armstrong House Museum preserves Satchmo’s home that he Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East settled in with his wife LuElmhurst), who called the cille. Visitors can tour the planned center “a maghouse as it was while the nificent addition to the couple lived there, while a Borough’s increasingly vicollection of memorabilia brant cultural scene.” and archival material are “The center will be also on view. a glittering jewel in the However, due to space Queens crown, another and climate constraints, compelling attraction to many of the legendary what is already recogtrumpeter’s artifacts renized as the country’s side four miles away at Construction plans have been filed for a new annex to the best tourist destination,” Queens College. Many of Louis Armstrong House Museum. he added. Armstrong’s manuscripts, Assemblyman Franrecorded tapes and a goldcisco Moya (D-Jackson the annex, other important features plated trumpet are among the items include a Jazz Club for live music Heights) said, “expanding the Louis that museum visitors have been un- performances and rehearsals and an Armstrong House Museum will enable to see on-site. courage tourism in Corona and inspire energy efficient roofing system. With the introduction of the anThe annex will also help the mu- our young people to learn about a culnex, these artifacts will return to seum address its growing visitorship, tural icon who chose to make his home 107th Street. which Cogswell said expands 12 to in Queens. Louis Armstrong was a “They’re coming back to Corona,” 15 percent each year. beloved Queens luminary, an artistic Cogswell said. “The entire second “Not a week goes by that we don’t trailblazer and an important part of floor of [the annex] will be a re- have visitors from Brazil and Europe African-American cultural history.” search archives.” Reach Reporter Jackie Strawbridge at and Japan and you name it,” he added. According to Caples Jefferson This project has broad support (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128, jstrawbridge@ Architects, the firm that designed from local officials, including State queenstribune.com or @JNStrawbridge. People Muath Almuhaysin and Abdulhamid Altheyab, both of Springfield Gardens, received degrees during spring 2014 commencement ceremonies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Fayoni Olusesi of Jamaica, a member of the Pomfret School class of 2017, participated in a course entitled “Saving Private Ryan: World War II, History, and Hollywood.” The program was part of Project: Pomfret. In place of structured class time and homework, students were instead tackling one of 27 innovative exercises in learning that saw plenty of overlap between academic disciplines. Assemblyman Edward Braunstein and the Law Offices of Ann-Margaret Carrozza are sponsoring the 19th annual Valentines for Vets gift drive. The drive will collect cards, candy, toiletries, and new clothing items such as pajamas, robes, slippers and socks for the hospitalized and disabled veterans at the St. Albans VA Community Living Center and the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans. Deadline for donations is Feb. 11. Donations can be dropped off at Braunstein’s office, 213-33 39th Ave., Suite 238, Bayside; the Law Offices of Ann-Margaret Carrozza at 21338 40th Ave.; Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance Service at 12-15 150th Street; or the Community Board 11 office at 46-21 Little Neck Parkway. For information, call (718) 3573588 or (718) 224-4746. mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills. Hunter is the daughter of Deborah Hunter of Cambria Heights and is a 2014 graduate of William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City. Municipal Credit Union is accepting applications for the 2015 Scholarship Program. This year, MCU will award $66,000 in scholarship grants to college-bound graduating high school seniors: eight memorial scholarships worth $5,000 each and 13 grants of $2,000 respectively. Applications are available at MCU’s Queens branches at 90-15 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst and 13466 Springfield Blvd. in Springfield Gardens, on MCU’s website, www. nymcu.org, and also at any MCU branch. The deadline for completed applications to be submitted is Jan. 31. MCU will hold a special awards reception in the spring to recognize the eight $5,000 scholarship winners. Army Pfc. Danielle Hunter has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills. Hunter is the daughter of Deborah Hunter of Cambria Heights and is a 2014 graduate of William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City. Army Pvt. Gabrielle R. Hunter has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army Jonathan Ghansiam of Hollis was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2014 semester at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. Local students have been named to the Dean’s List and President’s List for the fall 2014 semester at SUNY Potsdam. They include: Jamaica: Ahniel Gowie, Dean’s List, Lisa-Marie Joseph, President’s List. Queens Village: Michelle Trumpet, Dean’s List. The Oratorio Society of Queens, under the artistic direction of maestro David Close, will hold auditions on Jan. 12 and 19 at 7 p.m. at FSG Hall at Temple Beth Sholom. OSQ rehearses every Monday from 7:4510 p.m. Audition listening are prerehearsal on the dates listed above. Reservations are required. If you pass the audition, you will go directly into rehearsals. For additional information, call (718) 279-3006 or visit www.queensoratorio.org. Dorian Weekes of Rego Park, a member of the Pomfret School’s class of 2015, participated in a course entitled “99 Problems But a Story Ain’t One of Them,” in which the students studied the impact of Hip-Hop music on American culture, culminating with each participant writing and performing his or her own highly personal Hip-Hop narrative. The program was part of Project: Pomfret. In place of structured class time and homework, students were instead tackling one of twenty-seven innovative exercises in learning that saw plenty of overlap between academic disciplines. Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 Faith Celebrating Three Kings Day BY JORDAN GIBBONS Epiphany is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of the son of God as a human being in Jesus Christ. It is also known as Three Kings Day. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally the visit of the Magi to the Christ child and Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the son of God. In some Western Christian denominations, especially in the past and also in the present day Church of England, the feast of the Epiphany also initiates a liturgical season of Epiphanytide. The traditional date for the feast is Jan. 6, however, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after Jan. 1. In the Church of England, the eve of the feast used to be celebrated as Twelfth Night. The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday. The observance of the holiday had its origins in the Eastern Christian Churches and was a general celebration of the manifestation of the In- carnation of Jesus Christ. It included the commemoration of his birth, the visit of the Magi to all of Jesus’ childhood events, up to and including his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist and even the miracle at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in 361 A.D. by Ammianus Marcellinus. Until 1955, when Pope Pius XII abolished all but three liturgical octaves, the Latin Church celebrated Epiphany as an eight-day feast, known as the Octave of Epiphany, beginning on Jan. 6 and ending on Jan. 13. Prior to 1976, Anglican churches also observed an eight-day feast, beginning on Jan. 6. Today, The Epiphany of our Lord, classified as a Principal Feast, is observed in some Anglican provinces on Jan. 6 exclusively, but in the Church of England, the celebration is on Jan. 6 or transferred to the Sunday falling between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. Epiphany is celebrated with a wide array of customs around the world. In some cultures, the greenery and nativity scenes put up for Christmas are taken down at Epiphany. In other cultures, these scenes remain up until Candlemas on Feb. 2. In countries historically shaped by Western Christianity, these customs often involve gift giving, “king cakes” and a celebratory close to the Christmas season. In traditionally Orthodox nations, these celebrations typically center around water, baptismal rites and house blessings. In Louisiana, Epiphany is the beginning of the Carnival season, during which time it is customary to bake “king cakes.” They are round in “Adoration of the Magi,” by El Greco, 1568. shape, filled with cinnamon, glazed white and coated in traditional carnival color sanding sugar. Whoever recovers the cross is said to In Colonial Virginia, Epiphany be blessed for a full year. The celebrawas an occasion of great merriment tion then moves to the Sponge Docks and was considered especially appro- where food and music are part of the priate as a date for balls and dancing, festivities. Tarpon Springs has given as well as for weddings. itself the nickname Epiphany City. Tarpon Springs, Fla. is known for In Manitou Springs, Colo., Epiphelaborate religious ceremonies related any is marked by the Great Fruitcake to the Greek Orthodox Church, the Toss. Fruitcakes are thrown by parmost notable being the Epiphany cel- ticipants dressed as kings, fools, etc. ebration. The Metropolitan of Atlan- and competitions are held for the farta usually presides over the blessings. thest throw, the most creative projecThe blessings conclude with the cer- tile device and more. emonial throwing of a wooden cross Reach Reporter Jordan Gibbons at into the city’s Spring Bayou and boys (718)357-7400, Ext. 123, jgibbons@ ages 16 to 18 diving in to retrieve it. queenspress.com or @jgibbons2. Notebook Hillcrest High School Junior Takes Over As School Newspaper Editor Junior Zainab Tahir is in the Academy of Media, Arts & Music at Hillcrest High School. This is one of nine Small Learning Communities into which Hillcrest High School has been divided in order to make education there more intimate, while retaining the positive aspects of a larger school. As editor of the school newspaper, she edits articles written by other student journalists, and requires that she has writing abilities, knows grammar and works to help her staff manage their time. She works with Mr. Panepinto, the school paper’s advisor and director of the Academy of Media, Arts & Music. Tahir is president of the Media, Arts & Music junior class and also vice-president of the SLC’s Student Council. She participates in major decisions of her SLC and represents the Junior class of her SLC within Hillcrest High School. She is also on the Executive Board of the Muslim Student Hillcrest Junior Zainab Tahir Association within the high school, where they discuss Islam and what it means to be a Muslim, as well as interact with non-Muslims in order to give them a better understanding of their religion. They work to give people a better understanding of the Muslim faith and correct any misunderstandings created by the media. Another activity she is involved in is the Model UN. Working with Model UN teacher Mr. Shult, the class prepares students to attend the annual Model UN sessions in Manhattan. Each group of students acts as if they were a specific United Nations member country. Tahir’s team won the Best Delegate Honorable Mention Library Conference Award at the 2014 event. Tahir attended the Mondel New York City Council Project at Guttmann Community College in the fall. She is also a member of the GirlUp club, which raises awareness about issues that women deal with around the world, and helps raise money for various charities. GirlUp is a campaign of the United Nations Foundation and is designed to bring about global change through youth in the United States. It is currently raising money to buy bikes for girls in Ethiopia so they can get to and from school safely. Tahir does Peer Tutoring with students in English, science and math who are referred to her by teachers who know her, assists various teachers with grading tests and organizing their materials and filing papers. Tahir is on the Principal’s Honor Roll, has taken College Now English and is currently taking Medical Anthropology, and would like to study medicine to become a general practitioner to work with Doctors Without Borders. - Bob Harris Jan. 9-15, 2015 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17 What’s Up JAN 10 Meet And Greet JAN 13 Networking Spend a Saturday afternoon with The Queens Chamber of Coma rock radio legend at the Queens Li- merce is hosting its first networkbrary Central branch ing event of the new year at 2 p.m. Meet Ken at Thomasina’s Catering Dashow, who worked Hall in St. Albans from at WNEW-FM for 17 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admisyears and then joined sion is free and is open Q104.3, where his afto members and nonternoon show is rated members. Space is limited. number one in the Register at www.queenCity. He also hosts schamber.org/events/ a popular Sunday Queens-Chamber-of-Commorning show, Breakmerce-Business-Card-Exfast with the Beatles. change-at-Thomasina%27sKen Dashow The event is free. The Catering-Hall-1143/details. branch is located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica. For JAN 14 more information, visit www.queenJob Fair slibrary.org. A free job fair that is open to the public is being held at the Southern Breast Cancer Screening Queens Park Association GymnaThe American-Italian Cancer sium. Come prepared with multiple Foundation mobile, No-Cost Breast resumes and wear professional atCancer Screening Program, which tire. There will be opportunities for provides mammograms and clinical full-time, part-time and apprentice breast exams to uninsured and medi- positions. Candidates of all ages, cally underserved City women is experience levels and industries are scheduled to conduct screenings in a welcome. The fair is located at 177variety of areas in Southeast Queens 01 Baisley Blvd., Jamaica. For more over the next few weeks. There will be information, contact Margaret Densone at the Elohim Christian Church, en at (718) 776-3700, A. Felton at located at 87-47 111th St., Richmond (212) 669-4127 or Timothy Tapia at Hill. To schedule an appointment, (212) 669-4102. call (877) 628-9090. Men’s Night The Rev. Phil Craig is hosting a Men’s Night with his church, Greater Springfield Community Church and the National Action Network. Men from the community will be coming together to praise, pray, talk politics and watch football. Men of all ages are encouraged to attend. you can dress however you would like and you do not have to be a member of the church. The event starts at 3:30 p.m. at Greater Springfield Community Church and will go until the end of the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens game. The church is located at 177-06 129th Ave., Jamaica. Please RSVP at communications@greaterspringfieldchurch.org. For more information, call Scott Wright at (718) 551-2309. JAN 12 Discretionary Funding Councilman I. Daneek Miller’s office is hosting a discretionary funding training workshop at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center from 6 to 9 p.m. A second meeting will be held on Jan. 24 at the same location from 11 to 2 p.m. The center is located at 172-17 Linden Blvd., St. Albans. JAN 16 Breast Cancer Screening The American-Italian Cancer Foundation mobile, No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening Program, will also be offering free mammograms and clinical breast exams at Haitian Americans United Progress, located at 221-05 Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights. To schedule an appointment, call (877) 628-9090. JAN 17 Winter Ball The Friendship Center is having its Friendship Winter Ball from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dress to impress. There will be a live DJ and food and refreshments will be provided. Tickets cost $5. The center is located at 92-33 170th St., Jamaica. For more information, call (718) 657-6500, Ext. 1561. ONGOiNG Exercise Classes Every Tuesday and Friday at Theodora G. Jackson Adult Center offer exercise classes. Seniors are invited to get in shape, stay in shape and be in shape with “The Tommy Experience” starting at 10:15 a.m. The center is located at 92-47 165th St., Jamaica. For more information, call the program office at (718) 6576500, Ext. 1581. Flea Market Go down to the Rockaway Blvd. Senior Center to discover “Rockaway’s Closet Treasures” at a flea market with Rockaway’s Treasure Finders. The flea market is every first and third week of the month on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The center is located 123-10 143rd St., Jamaica. For more information, call (718) 657-6752. Soup Kitchen Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New york opens their doors for a soup kitchen and food pantry twice a week all year long. On Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the church hands out food, including fresh vegetables, canned goods and frozen meat. On Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there is a sit-down dinner with hot food and a clothing station. Greater Allen is located at 110-31 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica. For more information, call (718) 206-4600. Cultural Capsules The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning invites everyone to view its upcoming exhibition, Cultural Capsules, which runs through Jan. 15. Cultural Capsules is an international exhibition featuring artworks that tell the human stories of urban societies, which is often shadowed by the glittering electronic lights of modern cities. JCAL is located at 161-04 Jamaica Ave. Neighborhood Grant Applications Through its Neighborhood Grants, Citizens Committee for New york City awards micro-grants of up to $3,000 to resident-led groups to work on community and school improvement projects throughout the City. The organization prioritizes groups based in low-income neighborhoods and Title I public schools. It supports projects that address issues that communities identify as important to them - anything from community gardens to tenant organizing. Applications are open up to Jan. 26. Visit www.citizensnyc.org to apply. Email grants@citizensnyc.org or call (212) 822-9563 if you have any questions. Participatory Budgeting Now that Councilman I. Daneek Miller’s Neighborhood Assemblies are complete, his office is in need of facilitators and budget delegates, so contact the office to get involved. District 27 has $1 million to spend and your input is needed. Budget delegates are the worker bees who will be tasked with turning project ideas into full-fledged community infrastructure improvement proposals that will be voted on in the spring. For more information, contact Jessica Douglas at (718) 776-3700 or district27@council.nyc.gov. Food Pantry Greater Springfield Community Church distributes food every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m., while supplies last, at the church located at 177-06 129th Ave., Jamaica. For more information, call (718) 527-0100. Free Tutoring First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica offers help on Saturdays preparing for the SAT, the Math, English, History or Living Environment Regents or 9th and 10th grade Math and English exams. Tutoring is offered 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Homework help is also being offered. For more information contact Dr. Cicely Rodway at (646) 334-2677 or email cicely.rodway@gmail.com. First Presbyterian is located at 89-60 164th St., Jamaica. Beautiful Music, Beautiful Writing In the first half hour of this weekly one-hour session, children in grades 1-8 will practice their penmanship and cursive writing while listening to jazz and classical music. In the second half hour, we will learn simple phrases in Spanish, French and Japanese. The class is held every Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Queens Library Rochdale Village branch located at 169-09 137th Ave., Rochdale Village. Sewing Lab Come down to the Queens Library Central branch every Friday, except holidays, to explore a variety of sewing techniques in a creative space while visiting, inspiring and helping one another. Several sewing machines are provided. Adults and teens at all levels of experience are welcome. The lab is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Central branch is located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica. Homework Zone Children up to age 12 can get homework help with a teen tutor Monday through Friday at the Queens Library Central branch from 3 to 6 p.m. The Central branch is located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica. Panda-monium Running Wild Q CONFIDENTIAL Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Jan. 9-15, 2015 Musicians OF QuEEns Jeneen Terrana QConf is edited by: A Queens Congress member has brought light to the obviously important issue of bringing pandas to New York City. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, making an appearance on John Catsimatidis’ radio show, said that Mayor Bill de Blasio does not support her initiative to bring two pandas to the Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo. Maloney said she went over to China last summer to scout the pot-bellied creatures in her pursuit of bringing them to New York. Her argument is that other major zoos around the country are home to pandas but that is not the case for New York. She went on to say that de Blasio does not support her initiative despite support from other officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “The Mayor was not interested. He doesn’t like horses and I guess he doesn’t like pandas,” she said, taking a shot at de Blasio’s plan to ban horse carriages. De Blasio’s office has reportedly responded by saying there are more pressing issues going on in the City right now than pandas. While the Pandas are low on the priority list for the Mayor, for Maloney, the issue is black and white: There should be pandas in NYC. New Technology, No Problem Who said senior citizens aren’t any good with new technologies? Flushing resident Adele Lerner celebrated her 108th birthday last week, but could not make it to her local synagogue for her birthday blessing. Thankfully, Lerner has kept up with technology while it has progressed from radio, to television and now the Internet. Lerner used her computer to livestream the blessing while she relaxed safely in the confines of her own home. But, this is not the only skill she has picked up in the latter half of her life. She began painting at the age of 60, graduated from college at 83 and in her 90s, she studied to become a Bat Mitvah and learned how to use a computer. She even created her own video blog and uses a web cam to communicate with her family. We here at QConf want to wish her a happy birthday and commend her on her efforts to continue to learn as the world rapidly advances around her. Mazel tov, Adele. Maybe Next Year, Mike Mets fans who hoped that Mike Piazza would be headed to Cooperstown were disappointed this week, as the catcher failed to get the 75 percent of the vote needed for induction. Piazza, who played for the Mets from 1998-2005, was instrumental in getting the Amazin's to the World Series in 2000, came very close this year, managing close to 70 percent of the vote. This year's Hall of Fame class, announced on Tuesday, includes Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez (who played for the Mets from 2005-2008), John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. Steven J. Ferrari Contributors: Bruce Adler, Jordan Gibbons, Vladimir Grjonko, Luis Gronda, Walter Karling, Joe Marvilli, Marcia Moxam Comrie, Michael Nussbaum, Michael Schenkler, Jackie Strawbridge. Follow us on Twitter: @QueensTrib @SEQueensPress Barely Making The Grade? Queens singles, take note: it could be worse. A new mobile app called The Grade has released a map grading each Borough on its date-ability. Queens scored a B- overall, which may sound bleak to all those Borough residents on the hunt for Prince or Princess Charming, but is nevertheless better than the C+, C and F that Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx scored, respectively. “A user’s grade ranges from ‘A+’ to ‘F’ and is determined by an algorithm that analyzes three factors: a user’s profile, responsiveness, and message quality (spelling and grammar mistakes, use of slang/offensive words, etc.),” The Grade wrote in a statement, “Each factor receives an individual grade and is then combined to form a user’s overall grade, stamped on the user’s profile for all to see.” So, Yelp, but for human beings. Within Queens, women in the dating scene scored higher than men (B compared to C-), despite apparently using “inappropriate language or slang” 2.5 percent more often. Manhattan scored an A – but of course, if you’re paying $17 for a cocktail, you better enjoy your date. Since elementary school, Jeneen Terrana knew she wanted to become a singer. “I remember telling my mom when I was in 7th grade that I wanted to be a singer,” she said. “In high school, I started auditioning for things and getting in! I was in the select choir, the musicals, and a few bands. Then, I auditioned for University at Buffalo and got into their music program.” Terrana’s experiences at the University of Buffalo, studying classical voice for five years, would prove invaluable for the musical path that lay ahead. After earning her BA, the musician moved to Queens and started releasing work as a singer/songwriter. Her first album, “Just Me,” came out in 2002. “As the title suggests, I was the only one working on the album so it got a little maddening but it was also a lot of fun,” she said. “I felt like every time I went to record, something amazing and unexpected would happen (usually by accident) and it made for some very unique moments in the songs.” As the only person recording her album, Terrana had to program the drums and bass, play the guitar and keys and do all the vocals from a small room in her apartment. The process took eight months to complete. Terrana followed that release with “My Creation” in 2007 and “See The Light” in 2011. For the latter album, she actually traveled to Lawrence, Kan. and worked on her demos with producer Mike West. “In one week, he trans- formed them (with the help of some great musicians) to what you hear on the album,” Terrana said. “I had to completely trust him and his ideas so it was a little scary, but I was so thrilled at how it turned out. He added beautiful instrumentation and really brought the songs to life.” For her upcoming album, “Fallin’,” Terrana found another collaborative partner in Nick Howard. They spent a few months in his Queens studio, assembling the vocal performances and then built the tracks around them along with some rough sketches. “I wanted something that was still me, but with a fresh, fun approach,” she said. “The songs started as a throwback to the 80’s but evolved into something current yet familiar.” Terrana will hold a prerelease full-band show on Jan. 25 at The Living Room in Brooklyn. Joining her are several other local musicians, such as Brian & Silbin, Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party, and Xavier Cardriche. You should also keep an eye out for new episodes of JT’s Artist Oven, a cooking show on YouTube hosted by Terrana and featuring local Queens artists. For more, visit www.jeneenterrana.com. - Joe Marvilli For more information on this artist, including an audio clip, check out the TribCast, our new podcast, posted Fridays exclusively on queenstribune.com. Help Wanted CLASSIFIEDS Help Wanted Attorney Attorney IMMIGRATION All your immigration needs Real Estate and Other Legal Matters BROOKLYN LOCATION AVAILABLE Call and inquire about IMMIGRATION REFORM UPDATES 516.374.5467 718.851.4521 Cedarhurst - 575 Chestnut Street, NY 11516 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT H. 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