Press Epaper 022616

Transcription

Press Epaper 022616
Vol. 17, Issue No. 8 • Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
BLACK
HISTORY
MONTH
BREAKFAST
Pages 10-17
COMMUNITY MOURNS THE LOSS OF
ASSEMBLYWOMAN
PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen
BARBARA
CLARK
(1939-2016)
By Trone Dowd, Page 3
ONLINE AT WWW.QUEENSPRESS.COM
Page 2 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
News Briefs
Charter School Coming To
Queens Village
Councilman Barry Grodenchik
(D-Oakland Gardens) and State Sen.
Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) are having a press conference on Friday Feb.
26 to highlight parents’ concerns
about the possibility of a charter
school co-locating on the campus of
The Jean Nuzzi Intermediate School,
or 109Q, in Queens Village.
President of the Parent Teacher’s
Association Janice Berry said that
members of her association opposed
the plan for New Vision Charter
School, a High School, being placed
on the campus.
“Our main concern is safety for
our younger children being mixed in
with High School students,” she said
on the phone.
Berry also said there were concerns that the charter school’s placement could have a negative financial
impact on the Middle School.
“It changes everything for us,” she
said.
-Lynn Edmonds
Upgrades Coming To
Ocean Bay
The New York City Housing Authority is planning on upgrading
more than 1,000 public housing units
at Ocean Bay Apartments in the Far
Rockaways through the Rental Assistance Demonstration program.
NYCHA is receiving aid from RAD
for the first time. The program is
sponsored by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development
and will allow NYCHA to create a
public-private partnership to access
additional funding for this initiative.
Even though Ocean Bay is a site
impacted by Hurricane Sandy, it
was selected for RAD because of
its age and need for repairs. Built
in the 1960’s, Ocean Bay is one of
NYCHA’s older public housing de-
Ocean Bay Apartments
velopments. However, in regards to
Sandy-related damages to the Ocean
Bay complex, NYCHA received a
$3 million grant from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
last spring for the purpose of carrying out extensive repairs at developments that are still recovering from
the hurricane.
“NYCHA must use every tool
available to protect the affordability
of New York City’s housing stock
and strengthen public housing for
this and future generations,” said
NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye in a statement. “By leveraging
the RAD program, we will help improve the quality of life for residents
at Ocean Bay ensuring their apartments and buildings receive muchneeded repairs and upgrades while
preserving affordability and tenant
protections.”
According to a press release, 24
buildings and nearly 1,400 apartments at Ocean Bay need major improvements and upgrades over the
next 20 years, such as kitchen and
bathroom modernizations, roof replacement, boiler replacements and
safety upgrades. NYCHA estimates
that these renovations and improvements will cost approximately $174
million.
Councilman Donovan Richards
(D-Laurelton) has been a long-time
supporter of improving the conditions of public housing and is pleased
with this initiative.
“As NYCHA continues to find
creative plans to improve the lives of
its residents, I look forward to working with them to ensure that Rockaway residents get the most out of
programs such as RAD,” he said.
NYCHA is currently seeking proposals from developers for the financing, major rehabilitation and operations of Ocean Bay as a Section 8
property. Proposals are due April 29,
2016. A representative from the Authority said as of now there
is no fixed “beginning and
ending” date for the project,
but NYCHA is planning on
selecting a developer in the
third quarter of this year
and that the transition of
these units from NYCHA
to Section 8 is expected to
be complete by the end of
2016.
Currently, Ocean Bay is
the only development for
which NYCHA is leveraging the RAD program, but
the Authority is in the process of reviewing other developments that might also
benefit from the program.
-Kulshoom Khan
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 3
Presstime
Assemblywoman Barbara Clark Dies At 76
By Trone DowD
Assemblywoman Barbara Clark,
representative of the 33rd district
and a 30 year staple of the Southeast
Queens political scene, died Monday
night at the age of 76.
The news was formally announced
at the Press of Southeast Queens’
and Queens Tribune’s Black History
Event at the Greater Allen A.M.E.
Cathedral in Jamaica when U.S.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica)
shared the news with the audience
of constituents and elected officials
from all over the borough.
“One of our senior and legendary elected officials in Southeast
Queens has passed this morning,”
Meeks said. “That is the great Barbara Clark.”
The news was met with loud gasps
from the attendees of the event.
Meeks asked for a moment of silence
in her honor.
New York City Public Advocate
Letitia James spoke during the event
sharing her thoughts on the influential elect.
“My heart is very heavy this morning,” James said on stage solemnly.
“Assemblywoman Clark is a mentor
to me. I stand on her shoulders. She
taught me a lot in Albany, she protected me in Albany. All those years,
as you know, it was a ‘man’s zone.’
Barbara Clarke used to walk into
meetings that were filled with nothing but men, and then say ‘what is
this all about, you can’t have a meeting without a woman. [...] Barbara
Clark was not afraid to speak truth
to power and to challenge anyone
wherever she was.”
to her family and friends.”
As news of Clarke’s death made
“These grays skies have created
the rounds, politicos and elected of- a very somber background for us in
ficials throughout the
Southeast Queens toborough gave their conday, as we remember the
dolences, sharing their
life and gift of our Aswell wishes with family
semblywoman Barbara
remembering their colM. Clark, who passed
league and, for some,
away last night” said
mentor, with great esCouncilman I. Daneek
teem.
Miller (D-St. Albans).
“It is with great sad“For over a quarter cenness that we learned of
tury, she served in the
the passing of a wonderAssembly as a staunch
ful public servant, menadvocate for equity in
tor and friend, Assemfunding for health and
Barbara Clark
blywoman Barbara M.
education, and as a
Clark,” New York state Sen. Leroy fighter for the communities she repComrie (D-St. Albans) said. “Her resented with dedication and comindustrious style and fierce advocacy passion. I consider Assemblywoman
will truly be missed in Albany and Clark my mentor, my colleague, and
throughout Southeast Queens. She my friend, and I am absolutely devaswas always steadfast in her devotion tated to learn of her transition. I ask
to her family, neighbors, and our that everyone keep her family in your
community. My prayers go out to the thoughts and prayers during this difClark family and to our community ficult time.”
whom she served so ably throughout
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also shared
her nearly three decades represent- his condolences.
ing the 33rd Assembly District in the
“Over the course of her nearly 30
state legislature. Southeast Queens year career in the Assembly, Barbara
and New York State have lost a true Clark was a true legend of Queens –
champion, may she rest in peace a proud leader who worked tirelessly
knowing that she fought the good to support her community and betfight on behalf of all of us.”
ter the lives of those around her,”
“I am deeply saddened to hear Cuomo said. “She was an outspoken
about the passing of Assembly Mem- advocate on issues affecting schools
ber Barbara Clark,” Councilman and working families in her district
Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) and across New York, and she will be
said. “She was a guiding light for the greatly missed. On behalf of all New
new generation of Southeast Queens Yorkers, I offer my deepest condoleaders and a fierce advocate for bet- lences to her family, her friends and
ter education in communities of col- to the people she has served.”
or. My thoughts and prayers go out
U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens/
Bronx), chairman of the Queens
Democratic Party mourned Clark
and noted that they served together
in the Assembly.
“We were both elected to the
New York State Assembly 30 years
ago and it was an honor to serve
alongside her and see firsthand her
unwavering commitment to the people of Queens,” he said. “She will be
remembered as a tireless public servant and will be sorely missed by our
entire community.”
Assemblyman David Weprin said,
“The passing of Hon. Barbara Clark
is a great loss to the Assembly institution, but is also a great loss to me
personally. As the Assemblymember
seated next to Barbara in the Assembly chamber, I was fortunate to be the
recipient of her advice and guidance
on a regular basis. Assemblymember Clark’s wisdom, intellect, and
passion will surely be missed and
my condolences go out to her loved
ones, family, and friends.”
The alliance for Quality Education called Clark “a true champion
of education.”
“She was one of the earliest supporters of the Campaign for Fiscal
Equity and never stopped fighting
for every child’s constitutional right
to a sound basic education,” they recalled. “She was a wonderful woman
with a sharp mind and a bright smile
that could light up a room. Barbara
Clark will be sorely missed by AQE.
Her passing is a loss for all New
Yorkers.”
Reach Reporter Trone Dowd at 719357-7400 x123, tdowd@queenspress.
com or @theloniusly
Adrienne Adams Announces run for State Senate
By Trone DowD
leader’s career highlights as an active member of the community and
Community Board 12 Chair- record as a vigilant leader of Southwoman Adrienne Adams surprised east Queens were brought to the forethe media Thursday afternoon by front.
“Adrienne Adams is
announcing that she would
a dedicated community
be running for the State
leader and lifelong resident
Senate District 10 seat,
of Queens [...],” the mescurrently being held by
sage stated. “Ms. Adams is
state Sen. James Sanders
currently serving her secJr. (D-Far Rockaway).
ond term as Chairperson
The
announcement
of Community Board 12,
was made via e-mail. The
Queens – the 2nd largest
Press of Southeast Queens
community board in the
reached out to Adams who
then confirmed that the Adrienne Adams Borough.”
The message also highnews was accurate and has
already set up a press contact for lighted her ability to work with other
further inquiries regarding her cam- elected officials.
“In her capacity as Chairperson,
paign.
In the e-mail declaring her bid, Adrienne Adams works with elected
many of the community board officials, city agencies, law enforce-
ment and clergy members, giving
voice to the community-at-large,” it
continued. “Prior to becoming elected as Chairperson, Ms. Adams was
Community Board 12’s Education
Chairperson and stalwart advocate
for education equity for the children
of southeast Queens.”
The Press of Southeast Queens
contacted the office of Sanders but
did not receive comment on the matter in time for press.
Sanders announced in early January that he would be running against
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) this year. It is unclear whether
Sanders will be going forward with
his bid for Meeks’ seat or if he will
choose to run against Adams and try
keeping the seat he already holds.
That being said, with the Congressional primary on June 28 and the
Senate primary in September, it is
possible for Sanders to run for senate
if he loses the Congressional race.
Adams released an official statement on the matter explaining her
seeming sudden decision.
“The people of Queens are a diverse, vibrant community with distinctive needs,” Adams said. “Too often we
are ignored in Albany. We need proper
economic development, equal opportunities with regard to [Minority Women
Business Enterprise] contracts, education equity and criminal justice reform
if we are to thrive and prosper. I am
proud of my long-standing, committed
service in the borough of Queens and
look forward to furthering my good
work in the Senate.”
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, [email protected]
or @theloniusly.
Page 4 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Phagwah Fight Goes on Despite Approval
Board members of the Arya Spiritual Center Inc. and the Hindu Parades & Festival C’tee Inc. held an
impromptu press conference on the
stairs of Queens Civic Court in Jamaica this Monday, updating the
community on the latest happenings
concerning this year’s Phagwah Parade.
HPFC members President Dhanraj Singh, HPFC Director Herman
Singh and Treasurer Don Persaud
all spoke on behalf of the non-profit,
sharing the New York State court’s
ruling in favor of their cause.
“The Phagwah Parade is a tradition and has been for the last 27
years,” Singh said. “It’s a high profile
community event.”
Last year, the long running Richmond Hill tradition was cancelled
amidst a battle between two entities,
the HPFC and the Federation of Hindu Mandirs. Both parties applied for
permits from the 106th Precinct, who
then replied that the dispute needed to
be handled in court before either party moved forward with an event. They
were unable to come to an agreement
in time for the March deadline. This
year however, the HPFC is claiming
that they are the true heir to continu-
File Photo
By Trone DowD
Phagwah is on this year, but the battle between rival sects continues.
ing that tradition.
“The New York City Ordinance
on Parade Permits states that a parade permit should be issued to the
entity that has traditionally run the
parade,” Singh said. “This would
include the founders of the parade.
This has been a longstanding New
York City policy that essentially
grants perpetual permits to the traditional organizers of the events such
as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”
According to Singh, Mayor Bill de
Blasio and his administration have
stated that they have no desire to
change the rule and as such, the HPFC’s involvement in the parade since
its inception in 1988 guarantees them
the right to continue the tradition.
“As founders of the Phagwah Parade, we of the Arya Spiritual Center
have shown inclusiveness by inviting
other community groups to participate,” he continued.
Amongst these groups was the
Federation of Hindu Mandirs in
1995. The group continued to be a
part of the festivities until last year
when they applied for their own
permit, “in total disrespect to New
York City’s Parade Rules and Regulations,” Herman Singh said.
Just last week the Queens Tribune
reported that Federation of Hindu
Mandirs Inc. received a permit to
hold their parade and was moving forward with booking floats, locations
and vendors. Singh said otherwise.
After a ruling made in the New York
State Supreme Court, the permit was
overruled and a restraining order was
made against FHM, which will keep
them from further advertising or organizing a parade of any kind.
“This guarantees that the parade
will be happening under our watch
this year,” he assured.
The tradition of Phagwah, also
known as Holi, is a Springtime festivity usually celebrated the first Sunday
of the new season. Participants from
all over the city descent on Richmond Hill and color one another with
abrac, a powdered harmless dye, and
symbolically bring color back into the
world after a long dreary winter. The
Richmond Hill parade, which begins
at Liberty Avenue and 130th Street
and marches to 125th Street, then
south to Smokey Oval Park on Atlantic Avenue where post-parade celebrations are held, is the biggest Phagwah
celebration in North America and has
grown in popularity in recent years.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 5
By Trone DowD
Six months into the 113th Precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination
Officer program, the trust between
cops and the people they serve was
never made more apparent than
Wednesday morning’s Coffee with a
Cop breakfast event at the Radisson
Hotel in South Jamaica.
Coffee with a Cop, the last of
which was held last October, is a
quarterly event giving those residing in the neighborhoods covered
by the 113th a chance to meet the
officers that have been keeping their
streets safe. All residents are invited
to meet officers from the 113th, and
their higher ups, over breakfast and
coffee. The breakfast is meant to
further build lasting and meaningful
relationships with the officers that
are now patrolling their streets every
day, thanks to the NCO program, in
a more relaxed and friendly environment.
In attendance was Community Affairs officers Detective Dorrin Ferguson and Detective Tanya Duhaney,
Commanding Officer Captain Frederick Grover and all of the NCO’s of
the precinct.
One of the cops attending the
event, Officer Jermaine Washington
who works as a youth officer, spoke
with the Press of Southeast Queens
about the benefits neighborhood
policing has had on the rest of the
113th, including picking up the slack
where resources and manpower were
previously stretched thin.
“In my position as a youth officer,
I deal with anything involved with
the community’s youth,” he said.
“But if I have a youth situation pop
up elsewhere in the precinct, I can
defer them to the NCO’s because
there’s only one of me and I don’t
work 24 hours.”
Washington, who was a patrol officer in the 113th for six years, said
that having intimacy with different
issues in the community was a frequent problem in the precinct.
“The biggest problem was not having time to follow up,” he said. “We
were getting 30 to 40 9-1-1 calls a tour.
So there was no time to follow up
on anything. So what I noticed with
[NCO’s] and why I like it so much is
if I have a situation in the community
and someone say to me ‘hey, this car
keeps parking on my block’ or ‘these
guys keep hanging out on the corner,’
now I can just call the NCO and say
‘hey listen, this is the situation on this
block or corner.’ They’ve become a
big resources for us.”
The benefits have had their effect
on the neighborhoods as predicted in
September when first unveiled. Just
last week at the Community Board
12 general meeting, Capt. Bryan Bohannon said that 113th had the biggest drop in index crimes across the
entire city and attributed that success
to the NCO program. He also introduced the Ideascale, a social media
based way of instantaneously reporting quality of life issues, during the
meeting. It was also announced that
the NCO program would be coming
to the 109th Precinct in Northern
Queens fairly soon.
Residents young and old spoke
with the cops sharing laughs and asking questions about with they’ve seen
on the beat. Sheila Antwi, the Injury
Prevention Coordinator and Community Health educator at Jamaica
Hospital Medical Center was in attendance. The hospital which has
worked with the 113th in the past,
was at this event to build on the relationship they’ve established.
Jahi Rose, staffer with Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), said
the neighborhood policing has taken
Capt. Frederick Grover, commanding officer of the 113th Precinct speaks to
the crowd.
Photos by Bruce Adler
Cops, Community Meet Again For Coffee
Jahi rose, left, from Councilman ruben wills’ office and two officers speak
to a resident.
great effect in the 28th District.
“So far what I’ve seen is civic associations and individuals having the
ability to speak directly to police and
responding officers, and the responses are very quick,” Rose said. “So I
think that part helps circumvent that
process that was very long and impersonal. It’s allowed the people to
more embrace the presence of the
police department and not to some
extent feel like they’re being occupied by the police department.”
The Commanding Officer closed
out the event with positive remarks
on what his precinct has been able to
accomplish.
“These kinds of events are wonderful,” Grover said. “They’re good
for us [...] We put it out there as ‘Coffee with a Cop’ but it’s really much
more than that. To have everyone in
the community out here, it’s not just
coffee with a cop. We have our supporting agencies and our partners
[...] and it’s important that we get
together in this casual setting where
we can talk and we can throw some
ideas back and forth, forming new
bonds and friendships in this community.”
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, [email protected]
or @theloniusly.
Gang Member Gets
Prison Term
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced on Feb. 18
that the last defendant - one of four
members of the affiliated so-called
SNOW, Loyalty Over Everything,
Young Bosses and Mobbed Out
Bosses street gangs - convicted last
month of conspiracy to murder two
purported rival gang members has
been sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 years
in prison.
Jahmarley Jones, 21, was convicted last month of second-degree
conspiracy and was sentenced today to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.
The three other defendants, convicted with Jones, were sentenced
yesterday and last month to 8 1/3
to 25 years in prison as well.
According to trial testimony,
Jones, along with the other defendants operated generally in the
neighborhoods of Rosedale, Laurelton and Rochdale Village. Between March 30, 2014, and April
1, 2014, the defendants conspired
to kill two purported members of
a rival gang in retaliation for the
March 2014 shooting death of a
SNOW gang member. In furtherance of their plot, the purported
gang members gathered in Montbellier Park in Springfield Gardens on
April 1, 2014, for unlawful purposes
and that when confronted by police
they ran away but were quickly apprehended.
The long-term investigation –
which was spearheaded by the New
York City Police Department’s Queens
Gang Squad, the NYPD’s 113th Precinct’s Strategic Enforcement Team
and District Attorney Brown’s Career
Criminal Major Crimes Bureau – utilized various investigative techniques,
including the monitoring of conversations spread out on more than 1.1
million Facebook pages belonging to
gang members.
-Domenick rafter
Page 6 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS
150-50 14th Road
Whitestone, NY 11357
(voice) (718) 357-7400
fax (718) 357-9417
email [email protected]
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
Kulsoom Khan
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
Mitch Kronenfeld
Classified Manager
A Queens Tribune
Publication
© Copyright 2015
Tribco, LLC
Michael Nussbaum
Publisher
Ria MacPherson
Comptroller
Editorial
A Huge Loss For
Southeast Queens
Tuesday morning at our annual Black History Month event,
the audience that gathered gasped in surprise when U.S. Rep.
Greg Meeks announced that longtime-Assemblywoman Barbara
Clark had died.
We too were shocked to hear of her passing. It is a huge loss.
Clark had become a scion of Southeast Queens politics. She
represented Cambria Heights, Queens Village and Bellerose in
the State Assembly for more than a generation, serving under
five governors. She was a leading voice in the fight for equity in
education funding and making sure students in our community
got the support they needed.
Clark was no doubt independently-minded and was not afraid
to break with her party when she felt it was needed. When several
Assembly Democrats accused former Speaker Sheldon Silver of
hoarding power in Albany, a stifling debate and running what
one Democrat called “a virtual dictatorship,” Clark joined thenMajority Leader Michael Bragman to call for new leadership.
The attempt failed and Clark suffered the consequences, but she
wasn’t intimidated by the loss, instead renewing her focus on
equally funding education in the state.
Her biggest legacy may be her decades-long fight to see equality
in education funding. She testified in support of the Campaign
for Fiscal Equality lawsuit and pressured governors and legislatures to follow a court order to provide funds for New York City
schools. Clark was a vital piece of the coalition that pushed for
fiscal equity in our schools.
Clark’s passing leaves a big void in Southeast Queens political
leadership. The governor will likely wait until the regular November election to fill her Assembly seat, which will allow a primary
to be held in September. That will give voters the opportunity
to evaluate what is likely to be a large pool of candidates. Her
Democratic district leader seat is also vacant and will need to be
filled in the September primary.
Letters
Save Restaurant Row
To The Editor:
Please go away Crescent
Properties and your desire
to basically make 70th Rd.
Restaurant Row into a mudpit
construction site for the next
year or two for your proposed
apartment tower. Restaurant Row IS Forest Hills.
You have already made the
street a dead zone, scaring
away Sante Fe Steakhouse,
Pizzeria Uno...and soon Moca
Asian Bistro, Bangkok Thai
Cuisine, Mediterranean Grill
and our beloved Cabana’s.
Don’t put your real estate
developer profits over the
greater good and fabric of
this neighborhood. 70th Road
without outdoor dining and
Summer concerts really makes
Forest Hills pretty much like
everywhere else.
Tom Phillips,
Rego Park
Death Of A Fierce Leader And Advocate
A Personal Perspective
BY MARCIA MOXAM
COMRIE
Assemblywoman Barbara
Clark died this week and it is
ironic that she took her leave
of “this mortal coil” during
Black History Month as she
herself, was a history-maker
of sorts.
Clark was the first woman
elected to the 33rd Assembly
District and she gave it her
best effort.
A fierce education advocate, Clark became known
in her Cambria Heights community while serving on her
children’s PTA boards. She
then ran for and won the Assembly seat in1986.
Clark, who apparently was
deputy majority whip at the
time of her death, walked the
walk in Albany around the
issues of K through 12 education and senior citizen issues
among others.
The assembly woman,
whose own publicly-educated
children grew up to be “doctors and lawyers and such,”
was a fervent supporter of the
14- year court battle resulting
in a $5.5 billion increase in
funding for New York City
public schools.
She also sponsored legislation to strengthen schools
and give parents a say in the
governance policies of their
children’s schools.
A champion of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which
mandated support for underfunded schools, she was
particularly known for her
god-motherly love of the former
Andrew Jackson High School,
which she helped to transform
into four magnet schools, collectively known now as Campus Magnet High School.
Clark, reportedly 76 at the
time of her death on Monday,
Feb. 22, was a dedicated public
servant who always stuck to
her principle no matter the
professional cost. And indeed
it would cost her dearly in the
late 1990s and throughout most
of the 2000s.
The lawmaker was severely
punished by then-speaker
Sheldon Silver when she voted
against his plan to repeal the
commuter tax so crucial to
the New York City economy
and then again when she took
part in a coup to oust him as
speaker. Retribution against
Clark and about a dozen
other downstate assembly
members in the former incident, was swift and severe, as
the vengeful speaker revoked
their committee leaderships
and the lu-lus and power that
came with them.
He didn’t care that, in so
doing, he also punished the
constituents as those members under his whip were
also shorted on funding for
their districts. But rather than
giving up her seat due to her
marginalized status, Clark dug
her heels in and in recent years
Silver seemed to have taken
her out of the doghouse.
The action taken against
those lawmakers, who stood
against the most powerful
speaker in contemporar y
times, was an example of absolute power’s corruptive effect.
Clark’s stance also proved
that she was, to quote the late
Shirley Chisolm, “unbought
and unbossed.”
Silver, who was recently convicted in a kick-back scheme,
more or less, will never again
abuse New York residents and
their representatives.
But it wasn’t a professional
set-back that defeated the
tough-as-nails fighter.
Losing her daughter, Jan
Clark, in 2015, Assemblywoman Clark never seemed
the same. She appeared to
have lost her fighting spirit.
May she rest in peace; and
may her family take comfort
in the fact that their matriarch
made a difference not only in
their lives, but in the life of her
beloved community as well!
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 7
ALL ROADS LEAD TO
JAMAICA HOSPITAL
The many
roads that make
up our community are
the same roads that lead to
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
As your neighbor, our wide variety of
clinical services are always available to
you and your family.
Learn More About our Many Quality Services Including
Emergency Medicine • Cardiology • Pulmonary Medicine • Ambulatory Care
Advanced Radiology Services • Sleep Center • Obstetrics and Gynecology • Pediatrics
By Calling us at 718-206-6000 or Visit our Website at www.jamaicahospital.org
Page 8 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Health
By Trone DowD
The access to health based services
in Southeast Queens has been scarce
to say the least. While the issue is not
based on the quality of care, financial
troubles have led to a deficit in the
number of facilities and amount of
resources available to the residents of
these mostly minority areas.
In 2009, Southeast Queens saw the
closure of Mary Immaculate in Jamaica, a huge blow to those being served by
the small scale facility. Three years later,
Peninsula Hospital in Far Rockaway
suffered the same fate, leaving many on
the peninsula without a hospital and
emergency services closer to home.
These two areas and their surrounding neighborhoods are now being
served by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, which despite its name is
based out of Richmond Hill. This has
left a bit of an issue when it comes to
emergency response times and overburdening, even with the hospital’s immense size. The other major Southeast
Queens facility, St. John’s Hospital
in Far Rockaway, is also not ideal for
Queens residents due to its distance
away from the rest of the borough.
Representatives from Jamaica
Hospital told the Press of Southeast
Queens that there has been a noticeable increase in response and patients
for the facility, cases that would have
been cared for by other now closes
hospitals throughout the borough.
Southeast Queens elected officials
have tried their best to help the lack
of hospitals and help alleviate the situation. Two elected officials spoke on
the issue and are looking to get help
to their constituents that would have
benefited from the now closed hospitals.
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (DFar Rockaway) acknowledged that
health services has become an issue
in the area.
“The lack of access to quality
health care in southern Queens and
Rockaway is quite frankly a matter of
life-or-death,” Goldfeder said. “With
just one hospital here in the community, our families often face long rides
in ambulances in snarled traffic just
to get the care they need.
Goldfeder said that he hopes to
bring light to the situation through financial support. He vows to help constituents get the services they need.
“When every second counts, this
situation has the potential to put lives
in danger. I have fought to improve our
existing hospital facilities and expand
on our limited health care services. I
will continue to fight until our families
in southern Queens and Rockaway have
the services they need and deserve.”
Goldfeder secured a $500,000
state capital grant for St. John’s to
upgrade facilities and expand their
surgical unit. He also introduced legislation post-Sandy to reimburse the
hospital costs incurred during poststorm emergency operations, as well
as proposed improving traffic light
signal systems to speed ambulance
response times.
Councilman Donovan Richards
(D-Far Rockaway), who represents
Laurelton, Rosedale, parts of Springfield Gardens, Bayswater, Hammels,
Arverne, Edgemere, and Far Rockaway, has committed himself to the
File Photo
In Southeast Queens, a Gap in Providers
Mary Immaculate was one of the many hospitals to close in Southeast Queens.
issues as well. In a statement to the
Press of Southeast Queens, a representative outlined Richards plans for
his constituents.
“When a hospital closes it created a
big gap,” the representative said. “But
we’re working to improve St. John’s,
putting an emphasis on improving maternity wards and making sure women
have quality health care options.”
He mentioned that St. John’s has
been looking to move forward with
improvements to the emergency
room, something that the councilman
fully supports.
“We are also increasing funding
this year for the [Joseph P.] Addabbo
Health Center [in Far Rockaway],” he
continued. “We’ll be announcing that
fairly soon.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio and New
York City Economic Development
Corporation, who have been heavily
involved in the soon to be revitalized
Downtown Far Rockaway area, has
been in touch with the Richards and
St. John’s Hospital and are working
towards getting many of their resources further east on the peninsula.
So far, they have plans to make the
ground floor of a newly proposed senior housing center on Beach Channel Drive a satellite for St. John’s.
The Councilman also mentioned
Jamaica Hospital in hopes that funding will assist any troubles they may
have with overburdening of the facility.
“In the mainland, we just need to
make sure Jamaica Hospital is getting
improvements,” he said.
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, [email protected] or
@theloniusly.
Knitting for Hospice:
Making Comfy works of art For a Good Cause
By John DIaz-CherMaCk
Nothing says comfort like a soft,
warm fuzzy handmade afghan. And
for the past eight years four local
knitting groups have been diligently
knitting and crocheting one-of-a-kind
works of art to comfort patients and
families facing the final stages of lifethreatening illnesses.
Angela Purpura and Sandra Nielsen have been coordinating volunteer
efforts for Hospice of New York,
which has been serving New Yorkers
who are dealing with death and dying since 1997. Angela and Sandra
report that these crafty knitters have
supplied hundreds of comforting afghans to hospice patients since the
effort began in 2007. It all started
with one patient whose father was
cared for by Hospice of New York.
She knitted the first comforter given
to a hospice patient. It was so much
appreciated by the patient and cherished as a keepsake by the family after
the patient had died that this began a
whole new way for volunteers to aid
hospice patients. While the most
requested item is overwhelmingly
afghans, knitters have provided lap
blankets (great for those in a wheelchair!) hats and shawls all of which
keep patients warm and comfy at this
critical time in their lives.
Hospice Nurse and Patient Care
Coordinator Doreen Germain commented, “I’ve never seen a bigger
smile on my patient’s face than when
I gave her the afghan.” And Hospice Chaplain Fr. Hyacynth wrote
to the knitters, stating, “Thank you
for your time, energy and resources
spent on these beautiful blankets.
Your generous hearts, minds and
hands put unbelievable smiles on
the faces of our brothers and sisters
who are sick!”
The only problem with the knit
goods donation program is that the
number of patients in need of these
afghans far exceeds the supply. If
you or someone you know would
like to put your handicraft to work to
help comfort those facing the end of
life, please contact Hospice of New
York’s Volunteer Department:
• Angela Purpura: (Nassau and
Queens) angela.purpura@hospice.
nyc 347-226-4801
• Sandra Nielsen: (Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan) sandra.nielsen@
hospice.nyc 347-226-4821
If you’d like to help but do not knit,
you can donate yarn to the knitters’
groups already making these woolen
treasures. Hospice is also in need of
volunteers to visit patients in their
homes or in the in-patient setting, or
to assist with administrative tasks in
the office. The universal response
from hospice volunteers is that they
find the experience so rewarding it
almost feels like the patients help
them just as much as they help the
patients!
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 9
718.472.1999 | www.hospice.nyc
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITES
COMMUNITY HOSPICE NURSES (RN)
MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS (LMSW/LCSW)
Bilingual English/Spanish; English/Mandarin; English/Cantonese.
Reliable automobile & valid driver’s license are preferred.
Competitive compensation and benefits package.
Hospice of New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
FORWARD RESUME TO: JUDITH GAYLE
[email protected] or Fax: 718.784.1413
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
Come Make a Difference
New training groups each month!
Patient Care Volunteers
Support patients and their loved ones in your community
Bereavement Volunteers
Support families who have lost a loved one
Administrative Voluteers
Assist personnel in our Long Island City office
NASSAU & QUEENS
Contact Angela Purpura
[email protected]
or 516.222.1211
MANHATTAN, THE BRONX
& BROOKLYN
Contact Sandra Nielsen
[email protected]
or 718.472.1999
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Free bereavement support services for adults who have
had a loss (Loved one is not required to have had hospice care)
Contact our Bereavement Department at 347.226.4823
Page 10 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Black History Month
Black Communities’ Supportive Housing Burden
By TronE DowD
Photos by Bruce Adler
Weprin represents the
24th Assembly District, that
One of the biggest issues plaguing includes parts of Community
the Southeast portion of the borough Board 11, which infamously
of Queens is none other than the has zero supportive housing
placement of supportive housing fa- units compared to Southeast
cilities and accommodations in these Queens’ 53 percent of the
predominantly black neighborhoods. borough’s lot.
The Press of Southeast Queens has
“We do have the need
covered the issue extensively for the for services concerning the
last few years, as it remains a hot top- homeless,” he continued.
ic for community leaders throughout “But there certainly shouldn’t
the districts. That’s why a panel of be any saturation for any one
five community leaders, who are all particular neighborhood.”
too familiar with how this impacts
During the discussion,
their neighborhoods, used the topic Craig brought up the imas a jumping off point as to how they portance of keeping elected
believe constituents could address officials accountable and fothe issues and what to do moving cused on the job at hand.
forward.
“We have put these electThe panel discussion was held at ed officials in a position for
the Press of Southeast Queens’ Black them to serve a community,” Panelist (l-r): Bryan Block, Adrienne Adams, rev. Phil Craig, Assemblyman David weHistory Month event at the Greater he said. “To serve a commu- prin and Councilman rory Lanceman.
Allen A.M.E. Cathedral Tuesday nity of people that have electmorning, and featured community ed them in. One of the reasons why Craig said. “But I think one of the across Queens “outrageous.”
“Who is taking care of this vulleaders including Community Board Southeast Queens is visited by all the issues that we’ve been making a mis12 Chair Adrienne Adams, Commu- elected officials across the borough take on, is that we have been voting nerable population? We are. [...]
nity Board 13 Chair Bryan Block, and across the city is because South- for friends rather than voting for The core area of Jamaica houses
Rev. Phil Craig, leader of the Greater east Queens has a phenomenal vot- those who are actually going to make 53 percent of homeless people. [...]
They can come from Manhattan, the
Springfield Community Church and ing bloc.”
a difference.”
President of the National Action
Southeast Queens is a powerHis point was met with applause Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island. Anywhere somebody else does not want
Network Queens chapter, Council- ful commodity to political hopefuls by the panel and the audience.
man Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) come election time. It’s the largest
“This is a very serious crisis for them, guess who gets them? We get
and Assemblyman David Weprin voting bloc in all of Queens and one the entire City of New York,” Adams them. Because we are the dumping
(D-Fresh Meadows), all of whom of the largest voting blocks in the said. “Southeast Queens has been the ground of whatever every other comhad something to contribute to the entire country. The region can make dumping ground for these facilities munity does not want.”
Block called on the community to
conversation.
or break citywide elections and often forever and have gotten no notoriety,
“There’s no question that they have politicians scrambling to secure no attention, no media, no press, no be more active about vocalizing their
needs.
should be shared throughout the city the black vote.
care until now. Why?”
“When there’s a situation in our
of New York,” Weprin said.
“We have a lot of power here,”
She called the inequity of shelters
community, you have to beg for our
folks to come out. That’s why these
agencies are putting these facilities
into our communities. Because we
don’t say enough.”
Lancman, whose district consists
of parts of Jamaica, Jamaica Estates,
Jamaica Hills and Hollis as well as
Kew Gardens, Flushing and Fresh
Meadows vowed to look into legislation that could alleviate the issues
that are present in Southeast Queens.
“I will take up that challenge,” he
said. “I will look into what we can do
in the City Council, to either inquire
with the mayor’s office on the placement of homeless shelters and other
facilities in a more equal way throughout the city, or at the very least acquire
some sort of reporting mechanism on
where the mayor’s office is trying to
place these facilities.”
All of the panelists said they
would love to meet again and speak
more on the topic in the future.
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, [email protected]
Audience members filled the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral.
or @theloniusly.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 11
Metroplus
salutes
black
history
month.
HEALTH PLANS FOR $0 OR $20 PER MONTH
CALL 1.855.809.4073
METROPLUS.ORG
MKT 15.71vBH
Page 12 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Black History Month
honorees speak about
Importance of service
By Press of southeast
Queens staff
For the five honorees at this year’s
Press of Southeast Queens/MetroPlus
Black History Event, one theme
seemed to be service.
But another theme was having a
stake in the community.
Honoree Deputy Borough President Melva Miller used her time on
the microphone to single out homeownership as a critical way for Southeast Queens residents to feel empowered in their community.
“We like to have ownership of
where we live by the things that we
do. But sometimes it’s the dollars
and cents that make that investment,” Miller said.
The Deputy Borough President
said that the importance of homeownership was something that her
mother had imparted on her.
“I can never forget her talking
about the first time she made a big
real estate purchase which was her
home in Laurelton, Queens over 40
years ago. And I could see the disdain on her face when she used every
penny in her bank account to make
that very, very important investment
not only in her life but in my life. So I
understand and I thank her for making that sacrifice, because it showed
me what it takes to invest in the community,” Miller said.
Miller said that she would help
Southeast Queens residents to fight
against the threat of gentrification
and displacement that can accompany funding and investment initia-
tives like Jamaica Now by using all
the tools at her disposal as a public
official to do so.
“As this community changes, as
Jamaica changes, I vow that I will
work with each and every one of you
that are interested in making that investment, that financial investment,
so that we can stay here, so that we
can help grow here, so that we can
benefit from the development and
revitalization of this community,”
Miller said.
She stressed that change was hard
and required a lot of cooperation.
I’d like to think that I’m receiving this award today not because of a
title. I’d like to think that it’s because
of the work that I have been honored
to do with most of each and every
person in this room and the organizations.”
“It doesn’t happen overnight. As
we see transformation in our communities, we know, because we’re on
the ground, it doesn’t happen immediately,” she said. It’s a culmination
of years and years of work that we
all do. And for all of you out there
that that make a difference making
history every day, I want to congratulate you guys I want to congratulate
you guys as we celebrate black history month and thank you for allowing me to work with you so that I can
receive this award today.”
Valerie Stevens, director of Business Services and Operations at the
Jamaica Center Business Improvement District was honored for her
(continued on page 16)
Black History 2016.qxp_Queens Tribune 2/24/16 10:51 AM Page 1
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 13
Pride of New York
Hunter College
New York City Council Member; Chair, Higher Education
Committee; Former NYS Assembly Member
Lowell Hawthorne
�
�
Bronx Community College
President and CEO
Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill
Letitia James
Lehman College
Public Advocate for the City of New York
Colin Powell
�
�
Walter Mosley
City College of New York
Award-Winning Author
Founder, City College Publishing Certificate Program
City College of New York
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Former Chairman
of Joint Chiefs of Staff
The City University of New York Celebrates Black History Month
VISIT WWW.CUNY.EDU 1-800-CUNY-YES CUNY-TV CHANNEL 75
Baruch College
Founder, Chairman Emeritus
Mitchell & Titus LLP
Iyanla Vanzant
�
�
Kenneth Thompson
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
District Attorney, Kings County
Bert Mitchell
�
�
Ruby Dee
Hunter College
Award-Winning Stage, Film Actress and
Screenwriter
In Memoriam
Inez Barron
Brooklyn College
Former Congresswoman and Candidate for
Democratic Presidential Nomination
In Memoriam
�
�
Eric Adams
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Brooklyn Borough President
Former NY State Senator
Shirley Chisholm
�
�
Philip Berry
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Queens College
Vice Chairperson, CUNY Board of Trustees
Chief Human Resources Officer
Clinton Foundation
Medgar Evers College, CUNY Law School
Best-Selling Author,
Inspirational Speaker
Page 14 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 15
Press Black History Month Celebration
pix
Valerie Stevens of
the Jamaica Center
Business Improvement District, center,
with Hope Knight,
Executive Director
of the Greater Jamaica Development
Corp. and Press of
Southeast Queens
Publisher Michael
Nussbaum.
Photos by Bruce
Adler.
Borough President Melinda Katz
speaks at the event, co-hosted
by MetroPlus. Public Advocate
Letitia James (top right) speaks to
the audience. Gregg Bishop, right,
Commissioner of the Department
of Small Business Services speaks
to the crowd.
Queens Tribune Publisher Michael Nussbaum joins honorees NYPD Det. Dorrin Ferguson, NYPD Det. Tanya Duhaney, Cedric Dew of the Jamaica
YMCA, Valerie Stevens of the Jamaica Avenue Business Improvement District and Deputy Borough President Melva Miller with Sahirah Durrani,
MetroPlus associate director of marketing and Shanie Persaud, Queens Tribune’s Director of Corporate Events. Photos by Bruce Adler
NYPD Det. Dorrin Ferguson.
Emigrant Mortgage
NYPD Det. Tanya Duhaney.
Cedric Dew of the Jamaica YMCA.
Albee Dental
Deputy Borough President Melva
Miller.
AgeWell
Con Edison
AlphaCare
MetroPlus Healthcare
Parker Jewish Institute
Poet Delicia Davis recites her
poem “Within the Skin.”
Empire BlueCross/BlueShield
Page 16 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Black History Month
A SUBSIDIARY OF EMIGRANT BANK
honorees speak about
Importance of service
Residential Mortgages
Ask About Emigrant’s
Current Mortgage Incentives*
*Valid for properties located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk
and Westchester only. Available based on borrower income or census tract eligibility.
Commercial Mortgages
Underlying
Co-op Loans Under 5
Units
OK!
Inquire about our Commercial
FreeAppraisal Coupon**
**Valid for transactions made directly with EFC, without involvement or assistance of
broker or any person acting as, or accepting a fee as a broker. Appraisal fee will be
credited back to borrower at the time of closing.
Don’t Delay...Contact Me Today
Christopher Fritz, Mortgage Consultant
(516) 507-7914 / NMLS# 1011240
[email protected]
&RS\ULJKW ‹ (PLJUDQW 0RUWJDJH &RPSDQ\ ,QFRUSRUDWHG 10/6 (PLJUDQW$OO ULJKWV UHVHUYHG
(PLJUDQWLVDVXEVLGLDU\RI(PLJUDQW%DQN0HPEHU)',&$OOSURGXFWQDPHVFRPSDQ\QDPHVDQGORJRW\SHV
DUHVHUYLFHPDUNVRUWUDGHPDUNVRI(PLJUDQWLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVDQGRWKHUFRXQWULHV(PLJUDQWLVDQ(TXDO
2SSRUWXQLW\/HQGHUDQGDQ(TXDO2SSRUWXQLW\(PSOR\HU7KHLQIRUPDWLRQSURGXFWVDQGVHUYLFHVFRQWDLQHGLQ
WKLV DGYHUWLVHPHQW DUH EHOLHYHG WR EH FRUUHFW EXW PD\ LQFOXGH LQDFFXUDFLHV W\SRJUDSKLFDO HUURUV DQGRU
RPLVVLRQV (PLJUDQW GRHV QRW JXDUDQWHH WKH DFFXUDF\ RI WKH GDWD FRQWDLQHG KHUHLQ$OO ORDQV DUH VXEMHFW WR
VXEPLVVLRQRIDFRPSOHWHDSSOLFDWLRQXQGHUZULWLQJUHYLHZDQGFUHGLWDQGSURSHUW\DSSURYDOE\(PLJUDQW1RWDOO
SURGXFWV DQGRU SURJUDPV DUH DYDLODEOH LQ DOO VWDWHV DQGRU ORFDOLWLHV DQGRU IRU DOO ORDQ DPRXQWV 2WKHU
UHVWULFWLRQVDQGOLPLWDWLRQVPD\DSSO\(PLJUDQW¶VFRPPHUFLDOPRUWJDJHSURJUDPVSURGXFWVDUHRIIHUHGWKURXJK
(PLJUDQW)XQGLQJ&RUSRUDWLRQ10/6()&D6XEVLGLDU\RI(PLJUDQW%DQN()&¶VORDQSURJUDPVDUH
OLPLWHGWRORDQVWKDWGRQRWPHHWWKHGHILQLWLRQRIUHVLGHQWLDOXQGHUDSSOLFDEOHVWDWHODZV1HZ<RUN0RUWJDJH
%DQNHU/LFHQVH1HZ<RUN6WDWH'HSDUWPHQWRI)LQDQFLDO6HUYLFHV2QH6WDWH6WUHHW1HZ<RUN1<
1HZ-HUVH\/LFHQVHGE\WKH1-'HSDUWPHQWRI%DQNLQJDQG,QVXUDQFH5HVLGHQWLDO0RUWJDJH
/HQGHU /LFHQVH ZLWK D SULQFLSDO DGGUHVV DW :HVWFKHVWHU 3OD]D (OPVIRUG 1< DQG5HVLGHQWLDO0RUWJDJH/HQGHU%UDQFK/LFHQVHZLWKDSULQFLSDODGGUHVVDW5RXWH
(DVW )DLUILHOG 1- &RQQHFWLFXW 0RUWJDJH /HQGHU H[HPSWLRQ 6WDWH RI &RQQHFWLFXW 'HSDUWPHQW RI
%DQNLQJ &RQVWLWXWLRQ 3OD]D +DUWIRUG &7 0RUWJDJH %DQNHU DFWLYLWLHV
DXWKRUL]HGSHQGLQJLVVXDQFH
(continued from page 12)
work at the BID in helping bring
business and jobs to Downtown Jamaica.
“I’ve been working for the BID for
five years and as a director of business services I have grown a lot and I
see all that is changing in downtown
Jamaica. As long as I’m the director
of business services, I will continue
to forge relationships with city agencies and city officials and continue
to grow the conversation on all that
Jamaica is; a high-tier destination for
shopping, living and working,” she
said, adding that she was honored
for receiving the award.
Upon taking his award Black History Month Honoree Cedric Dew
of the Jamaica YMCA said, “This
award is dedicated to my mother.”
He had noted that her hard work as a
single working mother raising him in
the Bronx inspired him.
Dew said he was born in Birmingham, Ala. during the civil rights
movement. His grandfather was a
Pullman porter, a position that became popular after the civil war on
train sleeping cars that aided riders
with their luggage. He knew men
that played for five dollars a week
in Black basketball leagues in barns
that were sometimes raided by the
police because those leagues were
illegal.
Looking upon his wife, of 32 years
Marilyn and his sons in the audience,
he said, “They’re my best work.”
Of the men that inspired him Arlington Edinboro and Cecil Watkins,
he said, “I stand on their shoulders.”
Edinboro coached over 6,000 basket-
ball players throughout his tenure in
the Bronx with the Holcomb-Rucker
Community Basketball League and
Dew said he didn’t value just Edinboro’s aid, but the honesty that he
gave me.”
NYPD Det. Tanya Duhaney was
overwhelmed by being an honoree.
“Let me just catch my breath before I tear up a little bit,” she said as
she steps to the microphone.
She and partner Det. Dorrin Ferguson accepted their awards with
gratitude for the community, the police department and their families.
Ferguson shared how much she
viewed her work in community affairs as a calling.
“I always dreamt of becoming a
police officer, and I’m so glad I’ve
fulfilled this dream, working in this
community for the past 24 years,”
she said.
Duhaney, like Ferguson, also knew
very early on that she wanted to be a
police officer.
“I am now following my dreams
from five years old. Right mom? Five
years old I knew I was going to be a
police officer, when I was lost in the
streets of Brooklyn, following my bigger sister,” Duhaney said.
The detective said she didn’t plan
to leave the job anytime soon, either.
“I am going to continue my
dreams to be in this community as
long as I live, and as long as my family is still in Southeast Queens,” Duhaney said.
Before leaving the stage she added, “if you need anything you know
you can always reach out to me.”
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 17
Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the
greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto
the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off
against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. “Race” is
an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance,
and friendship, and an inspiring drama about one man’s
fight to become an Olympic legend.
OPENS FEBRUARY 19th
JAMAICA • 15902 JAMAICA AVENUE
COLLEGE POINT • 2855 ULMER STREET
SHOWCASECINEMAS.COM
Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Police Blotter
103rd Precinct
105th Precinct
Mta Worker Assaulted
Fatal Car Accident
The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual wanted for a robbery that
occurred in Downtown Jamaica.
On Sunday Feb. 14 at approximately 7:45 a.m., inside of the Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue subway station, the suspect approached
the 61-year-old male victim – an
MTA worker – and told the victim to
give him back his cell phone, which
the victim did not have. The suspect
then punched the victim in the face
and took his two-way radio. The suspect walked up to the mezzanine area
and smashed the radio before he fled
back into the station.
The individual is described as a
black or Hispanic male, five feet, eight
inches tall, 35 to 45 years old, he was
last seen wearing a black “Kangol”
style hat, a dark colored jacket and a
lime green hooded sweater. He had a
black bicycle with him.
On Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4:21 a.m.
in the vicinity of Laurelton Parkway
and 130th Avenue, in Laurelton, police responded to a 911 call of a vehicle collision.
Upon arrival officers discovered
the victim, a female passenger of
a 2007 Infinity G35, who was unconscious and unresponsive. EMS
responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that
the Infinity, driven by a 27-year-old
male, was traveling southbound on
the Laurelton Parkway just north
of 130th Avenue when the vehicle
struck the guardrail, became airborne, struck a tree stump and
went on fire.
The driver was transported to
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center,
where he was treated for injuries.
The Medical Examiner will determine the identity of the victim and
the cause of death. The investigation
by the NYPD Collision Investigation
Squad is ongoing.
107th Precinct
F Train Mugging
The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals wanted in connection to
a grand larceny that occurred in Jamaica Estates.
On Monday Jan. 18, at approximately 10:35 p.m., inside of the 179
Street “F” subway station, the 62year-old female victim was talking on
her cell phone when the three female
suspects ran past her. One of the
suspects grabbed the victim’s phone
from her hand and kept running. The
victim chased the suspects through
the station but lost them when they
boarded a South bound “F” train.
The first individual is described
as a black female, 16 to 18 years old,
five feet, six to five feet, nine inches
tall, 120lbs, last seen wearing a dark
colored coat, light colored pants,
light colored baseball cap and a
light colored scarf around her neck.
The second individual is described
as a black female, 16 to 18 years old,
five feet, six to five feet nine inches, 120lbs, last seen wearing a dark
colored hooded jacket, blue jeans,
tan boots carrying a pink and black
shoulder purse. The third individual
is described as a black female, 16
to 18 years old, five feet, six to five
feet, nine inches, 120lbs, last seen
wearing a purple hooded sweater,
dark colored jacket and dark colored pants.
111th Precinct
Wallet Stolen At Petco
The NYPD is asking the public’s
assistance identifying the individual
wanted for a grand larceny that occurred in Little Neck.
On Monday, Feb. 8, at 2:58 p.m.,
the victim a 29-year-old female left
her wallet in the back office of the
Petco located at 254-51 Horace Harding Expressway. The suspect entered
the location went into the back office
removed the wallet and left the location.
The suspect is a black man, approximately six feet tall, 220lbs,
dark complexion, last seen wearing a
light colored jacket, green and black
stripped shirt and a ski hat.
Borough Beat
Pols Lay out Agenda At QJCC Breakfast
A multitude of City Officials
spoke about issues concerning the
Jewish Community at the Queens
Jewish Community Council annual
legislative breakfast on Sunday at the
Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.
The room was packed with lawmakers, including U.S. Rep Grace
Meng (D-Flushing), Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller
Scott Stringer, State Sen. Leroy
Comrie (D-St. Albans), State. Sen.
Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing), Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing),
Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman
(D-Springfield Gardens), Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), Assemblywoman Nily Rozic
(D-Fresh Meadows), Councilman
Barry Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gardens) Councilman Rory Lancman
(D-Hillcrest), Councilman Peter
Koo (D-Flushing), Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills)
and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
Additionally present were three
individuals who were interested in
running for the seat of U.S. Rep.
Steve Israel (D-Queens/Long Island). They were Assemblyman
Photo by Bruce Adler
By Lynn EdMondS
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng speaks at the
QJCC breakfast Sunday.
Chuck Lavine (D-Nassau) former
County Executive of Nassau county
Tom Suozzi, and former Supervisor
of the town of North Hemptsead
John Kaima.
QJCC, headed by Executive Director Cynthia Zalisky, provides social
services to residents throughout the
borough regardless of their religion
or anything else.
Most notable, through Project
Chaim and the QJCC Kosher Pantry, QJCC distributes 1,500 packages
of food each month and additionally
delivers food to 130 homebound elderly through their meals-on-wheels
program.
They also work to combat anti-
Semitism and promote Jewish heritage and culture.
QJCC has been called the “311”
of Queens for their ability to help
residents with everyday concerns.
The elected officials praised the
work of QJCC, and some spoke
about the specific legislation that
they believed would be of interest to
members of QJCC.
Meng, whom QJCC named Woman of Valor at their 19th Testimonial
Dinner for taking a stand against
the Iran deal, something that QJCC
deemed vital to Israel’s security,
spoke about several ongoing aspects
of her work regarding Israel as well
as Iran.
The congresswoman said that this
week the Foreign Affairs Committee,
which she serves on, is recognizing
the importance of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and encouraging
new areas of cooperation.
“Making sure we keep Iran accountable is a big piece of this partnership,” Meng said.
Meng called for Congress to
continue to monitor which foreign
ships enter Iranian ports, and which
airports sanctioned airlines fly to.
The legislation requiring this would
expire at the end of 2016, and Meng
said she wanted to not only renew it
but also expand it.
Two citywide officials, James and
Stringer, addressed the crowd as
well.
James praised the work of the
QJCC in providing food for the hungry, care for the elderly and health
insurance for children.
Stringer did likewise and specifically referred to the organization’s
work in supporting Israel.
“The bond between our City and
Israel is as strong as ever – and organizations like the Queens Jewish
Community Council ensure that connection continues to grow,” Stringer
said.
Relatively new politicians to their
seats after they were elected in November, Grodenchik and Hyndman
were also invited to speak.
Grodenchik said he would advocate in the City Council for funding
for QJCC’s food pantry.
Hyndman spoke about the importance of working together to fight for
good education and other gains.
“In these last few days of Black
History Month, I think it’s important
to know that any major movement
in this country is not done alone,”
Hyndman said.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 19
Page 20 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
A&E
BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
Book Highlights Corona As Middle Class Black Community
BY LYNN EDMONDS
In the 1990s, when it was more
fashionable for social scientists to
speak about Black life and communities in terms of urban poverty and
even a dysfunctional culture, anthropologist Steven Gregory set out to tell
the story of one Black community,
among many, that did not fit that
mold.
In his work “Black Corona,” published in 1998, Gregory, formerly at
New York University and now at Columbia, records the legacy of several
generations of local activists whose
daily work made the neighborhoods
of Corona and East Elmhurst what
they are today. In part, his book was
an effort to challenge stereotypes
about African Americans and create a deeper, more complex narrative
about African American lives that
did their communities justice and
answered universal questions about
how individuals come together to advocate for their collective well being.
“This book sets out to challenge
and put to rest the trope of the Black
ghetto that has shaped what we know
and do not know about Black urban
life and that has strongly influenced,
if not defined, the terms of political
debates in the United States concerning race, social inequality, and the
changing political economy of American cities,” Gregory wrote in the
book’s introduction. “My general aim
is to restore both history and politics
to discussions of contemporary black
urban life through an analysis of community activism in Black Corona.”
For his research, Gregory delved
back into newspaper archives, the
memories of community members,
and other sources to extend the range
of his narrative all the way back to the
1890s, when Corona was home to a
“small but prosperous” black community, through the civil rights movements, when civics and churches organized voter registration drives and
fought to integrates schools, up unto
the time period when he conducted
his field work, from 1987 to 1990.
“I had not planned to do that much
historical research, but people would
always refer back generations, so it
was so clear that people who might
have been activists or were on the
community board in the late 1980s,
when they thought about what their
issues are or were, they would always
think about them in relation to that
longer history; so I realized that to
make sense of the present I would
have to go back,” Gregory said.
Doing in-depth historical research
on Corona and East Elmhurst was
not easy, Gregory said, due to incomplete archives. He said that in many
ways, Black urban life has been made
invisible.
“There was so little, nothing had been written about East
Elmhurst. The major
newspaper historically had not covered
Black communities,”
Gregory explained.
But nonetheless,
he was able to fill in
the gaps and highlight the strong institutions in the community, including the
Civic
Associations,
the churches, and political organizations,
that worked alongside
each other to help register voters, integrate
schools, protect the neighborhood
from unwanted development, and
make sure that the fair share of resources and public funding were being directed to the community.
One of the many initiatives and
individuals that Gregory focused on
in his fieldwork was Edna Baskin’s
work to make Lefrak City a better
place for youth.
Baskin was a Lefrak City resident
who moved into the apartment complex in 1979 with her husband and
two children. She started a small
daycare for other mothers within the
apartment complex and soon became
a point person for those mothers on
everything from the best places to
shop and the best schools to where
they could register to vote.
At the time Baskin became politically active, Community Board 4
was having meetings in which they
discussed kids from Lefrak City in a
negative light. Some board members
wanted Lefrak City security to keep
Lefrak kids out of the public library
nearby because they said their parents were using the library as a “baby-sitting” service and the kids were
loud and disruptive.
Baskin founded an organization
called Concerned Community Adults
that helped give youth in the community a voice. She was able to get those
same community board members
that had complained about Lefrak
youth to hear their side of the story
at a forum she organized.
Gregory recorded a teenager at the
meeting who explained why he was
not enchanted by ideas about going
on field trips that adults at the meeting had proposed.
“All this time people have been
talkin’ about ‘let’s go on this trip and
let’s go on that trip.’
Why get away from
the community? We
should concentrate
on having more fun
in the community.
They run us out –
you know, like from
the park or whatever. I…I mean they
say it’s late at night,
but think about it.
I recall last week
Thursday, they ran
us out of the park
at 2:30 in the afternoon. You see,
now there was
only five of us, I
mean sittin’ on a bench
– [they] said we couldn’t sit on the
bench. They run us out of Lefrak altogether. I don’t understand that,” he
said.
Gregory wrote how Baskin then
highlighted the teenagers comment
for the rest of the adults so they could
understand the importance of the
youth’s point of view. Her work in doing so, and in organizing the forum,
served a pivotal purpose.
“This eruption of frustration and
criticism over how black youth were
stereotyped and harassed by Lefrak
City’s security services and the police
challenged a central theme in white
activist ideology and practice. By inverting the familiar relation between
black teenager and security, so central to the ideology of black crime,
the testimony (and Edna’s marking
of its significance) raised the possibility that black teenagers who were often the targets of police action could
play a constructive role in neighborhood stabilization,” Gregory wrote.
Following this meeting, Baskin
continued to organize with Lefrak
City youth. She got together 12 teenagers from Lefrak to form a cleanup
team that would pick up garbage in
the neighborhood. Gregory wrote that
the cleanup team received a lot of attention from both community leaders
and press. He said Baskin knew very
well the symbolic significance of people witnessing black youth taking care
of their community in this manner.
“They image of black Lefrak City
youth removing rubbish from the
streets surrounding the housing complex undermined the construction of
Lefrak City as a site of danger and urban blight – images tied symbolically
to pollution and disorder as well as
to “blackness” and poverty,” Gregory
wrote. “Baskin and her organization
deliberately engaged in a politics of
representation that drew on and reworked deeply historical and massmediated discourses about the interrelation of race, place and urban
blight. The practice of constructing
black identity was an integral component of CCA’s strategy and tactics of
community mobilization.”
These two components of Baskin
and the youth’s activism were just
one of many initiatives that Gregory
wrote about in depth. He also, in
great depth, wrote about how Corona
and East Elmhurst activists organized
to fight a monorail, proposed by the
Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey that would have run from 59th
and Lexington in Manhattan through
their neighborhoods and to LaGuardia Airport.
Gregory said writing the book gave
him a new respect for unsung heroes
of community activism.
“I think the project made me appreciate all the hard work that people
do who don’t often make it to the
media or to the press,” Gregory said.
“They kind of are these silent heroes
that every community needs.”
Gregory said that’s why he used
people’s real names, even though
many anthropologists often do not.
“I just felt that these are people
who have made these contributions
that are typically overlooked and they
should get credit,” he stressed.
Though some of the issues that
block associations, civics, community boards and other organization
take up might seem minor to an outsider, Gregory said this work lays the
foundation for even higher stakes activism.
“It tends to be the people who
are involved in these tedious everyday activities, who are showing that
kind of concern in these details,
whether the Sanitation [Department] should pick up garbage two
times a week or three times a week,
that kind of everyday activism then
creates a platform for what really
become these much more important
issues. It’s those people who tend to
become the same people that fight
the civil rights battles or school desegregation,” Gregory said.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 21
QUEENS TODAY
FRIDAY 2/26
ANNIE CHEN SEPTET
Annie Chen is the only
female Chinese jazz
vocalist and composer in
the New York jazz scene.
Her original septet incorporates many different types
of music into a modern
jazz setting, with influences
from Chinese traditional,
gospel, classical, Middle
Eastern, and even alternative rock music. It features
extensive improvisation and
strong arrangements to support Annie’s beautiful compositions and her powerful
voice. Pre-show Members
Lounge at 7 p.m., show
begins at 8 p.m. The cost is
$16 or $10 for members at
students. The event takes
place at Flushing Town Hall,
137-35 Northern Blvd.
QUEENS HISTORY BOOK
SIGNING
A presentation and signing by Michael Perlman,
whose book, “Legendary
Locals of Forest Hills and
Rego Park,” has a foreword by Jerry Springer. 7
p.m. Free. Leonard Center, 86-13 112th St., Richmond Hill, facebook.com/
events/124918757894710.
SATURDAY 2/27
ENGAGING ARTISTS
CLOSING RECEPTION &
LIVE PERFORMANCE
The Engaging Artists exhibition features the work of 8
NYC-based first generation
and foreign born artists,
who participated in the Engaging Artists Residency. In
2015, More Art’s Engaging
Artist Residents developed
long-term projects to connect with aging populations
through multilingual artmaking projects, recreation
activities, and conversations at nursing homes
and community centers in
their home neighborhoods
— from Flushing to Crown
Heights, Brooklyn. Meet
the exhibiting artists for
a walkthrough of the
exhibit and enjoy a live
musical performance
exploring intercultural
exchange and cultural heritage by Alon Nechushtan
and Andrew Nemr. Location:
Community Partnership
Gallery at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows
Corona Park. The reception
is from 4 to 6 p.m.
VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE
Looking to volunteer?
Come learn about fun
volunteer opportunities at Queens Botanical
Garden. Meet department
representatives and seasoned volunteers to learn
firsthand what it’s like to
be a volunteer at Queens
Botanical Garden! Wrap up
with a winter tour of the
grounds. The event takes
place from noon to 2 p.m.
SUNDAY 2/28
MONKEY MASK CRAFT
& DANCE WORKSHOP
In this creative and engaging workshop, children
will discover the beauty of
Korean culture while crafting and dancing. After a
brief introduction about
Tal (Korean traditional
mask) dance, children
make their own Monkey
Tal to celebrate the Year
of the Monkey and
learn Tal dance moves.
This workshop will stimulate your child’s eye-hand
coordination, movement
skills, and most importantly, curiosity about new
cultures. This event starts
at 1:30 p.m. at Flushing
Town Hall and the cost is
$10 or $8 for members and
children. FTH is located at
137-35 Northern Blvd.
THE BEAUTY OF BALLET
This presentation demonstrates how students
develop into accomplished classical ballet
dancers. School of American Ballet faculty member
Katrina Killian and advanced
students are featured.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
TUESDAY 3/1
BIRDING: OWLS
New York City is home to an amazing abundance
of wildlife. Our Rangers will guide you to the best
wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. We
of fer birding programs throughout the year;
bring your own binoculars or ask a Ranger to
borrow a pair.
Birding programs are appropriate
for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
This program will focus on owls and highlight
their unique adaptations and behavior.
The event takes place at Alley Pond Park from 3 to
4:30 p.m.
1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Free.
Queens Theatre, 14 United
Nations Ave. S., Flushing
Meadows Corona Park,
queenstheatre.org.
MATERIAL/GENDER/
LABOR
A panel discussion on the
gender associations enmeshed within materials
and craft practices, moderated by Sharon Stratton,
chief curator of the Museum
of Arts and Design. Event
includes presentations by
Crystal Gregory (sculpture),
Michael Milano (artist and
writer), and John Paul Morabito (an interdisciplinary
artist working through the
intersection of contemporary art and hand weaving).
1 p.m. Free. Dorsky Gallery,
11-03 45th Ave., LIC, dorsky.
org.
JAUJA
Screened as part of the
Cinema Tropical Festival, “Jauja” begins in
Patagonia during the
late 1800s. Captain Gunnar
Dinesen arrives from abroad
with his 15-year-old daughter to take a
job with the
Argentine
army. When
Ingeborg
falls in
love with
a young
soldier and
runs away
with him, Dinesen ventures
into enemy territory, against
his men’s wishes, to find the
couple. 4:30 p.m. $12. Museum of the Moving Image,
36-01 35th Ave., Kaufman
Arts District, movingimage.
us.
FOREST HILLS
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
The Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra will be
holding a concert at 2
p.m. at the Forest Hills Jewish Center 106-06 Queens
Blvd. Forest Hills. The concert will feature Schubert’s
Overture in Italian Style
in C, Debussy’s Children’s
Corner Suite, Hummel’s
Adagio and variations, Joan
Dawidziak’s Oboe Solo, and
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
Suite. The price is $5 for
adults and $3 for seniors.
For more info call 718-3741627.
CONVERSATION WITH
ZHANG HONGTU AND
ROBERT LEE
Join us for an intimate
exhibition walkthrough
and interactive conversation with artist Zhang
Hongtu, whose first major
retrospective is on view at
the Queens Museum until February 28, and invited
guest Robert Lee, followed
by a QA with Luchia Meihua
Lee, Guest Curator. 2 to 4
p.m. The event will take
place at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows
Corona Park.
TUESDAY 3/1
Practice Queens MFA
Concentration at Queens
College invite you to join
artist Dread Scott for a
presentation and discussion of their work. Dread
Scott is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is
exhibited across the US and
internationally. For three decades he has made work that
encourages viewers to reexamine cohering norms of
American society. The event
will take place at Queens
College in Klapper Hall,
fine arts department room
672 on the 6th floor. The
discussion will take place
from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
YOGA AT THE CASTLE
Gentle and restorative
yoga for beginners. This
class is for students over 50.
If your doctor has cleared
you to do light exercise,
this is the class for you. It
is an ideal way to rejuvenate the body and revitalize the mind. Includes all
equipment: mats, blocks,
blankets, straps and bands.
January session runs every Tuesday of the month.
Pre-register and save $10.
Call us at 718.352.1548 to
sign up and reserve your
spot. The cost is $40 for the
entire March series; Walkins are $10 per session. Yoga
takes place at 208 Totten Ave
in Fort Totten Park, Bayside.
WOODHAVEN CULTURAL
& HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ARTIST TALK BY DREAD
SCOTT
The Queens Museum’s
Open A.I.R. Artist Services
Program and the Social
Monthly meeting
at 7 p.m. at the Avenue
Diner, 91-06 Jamaica Ave,
Woodhaven. It features old
photos, old news clippings,
and great memories!
GOT EVENTS?
Send all information to
[email protected] or mail to:
150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357
Page 22 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Profile
York College Athletic Director Steps Down
BY CHRiS KuMAR SiNGH
After 29 years as a Cardinal, Associate Athletic Director Jessica
Cherry has made the decision to
leave CUNY York College and take
on her new position at the University
of Colby, which is located in Waterville, Maine. Cherry, who was once
known as the only female assistant to
a Men’s Basketball team in the entire
NCAA, made her statement brief
when she spoke about the move.
“I have enjoyed my time at York
and being a Cardinal is something
that will always be with me despite
my move to Colby. I just think that
this move is the best thing for my career right now,” Cherry said.
With the loss of Cherry and former Athletic Director Ronald St.
John in the span of two semesters
York’s Athletic Department is in disarray.
York President Marcia V. Keizs
said of Cherry’s departure and stated
that she will be missed. She also said
that a search for her replacement is
With her experience the transition
underway.
for Cherry should be smooth for the
“It is a great oppormost part. With this
tunity for her I wish
opportunity she will
her all the best,” said
be able to know what
Keizs. “The timing of
it’s like to be a sports
her hire is unfortunate.
information director,
However we cannot be
a men’s and women’s
selfish and deny her of
coach, a trainer, and
this opportunity. That
an administrator.
wouldn’t be fair for
“Well they have
her. We hope she does
more athletic prowell with her new posigrams and I think I
tion.”
will get more of an opBefore Cherry was
portunity to grow and
hired by the University
learn about the other
of Colby, she was the
athletic programs that
Jessica Cherry
interim Athletic DirecYork does have,” Chertor and took over all personnel deci- ry said. “I think it is a great opportusions. With her departure York will nity and will help me get to where I
need to place someone in charge im- need to be with my career.”
mediately.
Over the years, Cherry has worked
Cherry’s hire does not take effect with all 17 of York’s men’s and womuntil April 1 and she will be Colby’s en’s varsity sports programs and
first full time associate Athletic Di- assisted in multiple championships
rector with sole responsibilities as an including the 2014 CUNYAC Men’s
administrator.
Basketball title. Along with the ac-
colades, Cherry has also assisted
with the molding multiple student
athletes into respectable men and
women. When speaking to current
York College Shooting Guard Ryan
St. John, he made it clear that Cherry has been vital to his growth as a
player and as a person.
“I’ve knew coach Cherry since I
was a little kid,” he said. “She always
puts her all into whatever she has
done whether it be helping me with
my game or just giving me advice on
anything. I think she has grown with
York and I think her new opportunity is just obvious that hard work pays
off. She’s going to just keep getting
better.”
Besides her assisting with coaching she was also responsible for
the leadership and oversight of
York’s business affairs, marketing
along with the promotion of York
College’s athletic program which
include Student Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC) and game management.
People
Wilkes University awarded 226
doctoral, masters and bachelors degrees to students graduating after the
completion of the fall 2015 semester.
Among them were Daniella Casimir
of Jamaica, received a Doctor of
Nursing Practice in Nursing.
Aria Rodney of Jamaica, from the
class of 2017 at Chapel Hill-Chauncy
Hall School, has been named to the
high honor roll for the 2015 fall trimester. Rodney received high honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.6 or above for the marking
period.
SUNY Canton’s deans are recognizing more than 500 students for
their exceptional academic success
during the fall 2015 semester.
“On behalf of the college’s deans
- and the entire SUNY Canton community - I’d like to commend each
and every one of you for your academic success,” said SUNY Canton
President Zvi Szafran. “Congratulations on a job well done. I hope you
continue this level of success in upcoming semesters and in your future
careers.”
Kenneth K. Johnson of Cambria
Heights. Johnson is a SUNY Canton
Sports Management major who graduated from Law, Government and
Community Service High School in
2012.
Romario Fletcher of Jamaica.
Fletcher is a SUNY Canton Criminal
Investigation major who graduated
from Pathways College Prep Academy in 2013.
Lorraine Honeyghan of Rosedale.
Honeyghan is a SUNY Canton
Health and Fitness Promotion major
who graduated from Jamaica High
School in 2012.
Nigel Lang of Springfield Gardens.
Lang is a SUNY Canton Mechanical
Engineering Technology major who
graduated from August Martin High
School in 2012.
Tina R.Thompson of St Albans.
Thompson is a SUNY Canton Law
Enforcement Leadership major who
graduated from Saint Francis Preparatory School in 2005.
Dean’s List recognizes full-time
students who earned least a 3.25 on
a 4.0 academic scale.
Nia Henry, a junior psychology/
sociology/criminology major from
Saint Albans, is spending winter
break tackling an Albright Creative
Research Experience (ACRE) project. Henry’s project is titled “How
Racial Stereotypes about Geographic Location Affect Implicit Racial
Bias.”
Nils Steinbuegl of Rosedale, made
the Dean’s List at Champlain Col-
lege for the Fall 2015 semester. Steinbuegl is majoring in Game Programming.
SUNY Canton is recognizing its
part-time student population for
their academic achievements during
the fall 2015 semester. Part-Time
honors are awarded to students who
earned at least a 3.25 GPA in 6 to
11 credits of course work. Stephanie N. Crawford of Queens Village,
a SUNY Canton Funeral Services
Administration major who graduated from Martin Van Buren High
School in 2012, is among those who
earned honors.
The following students have been
cited for academic achievement for
the Fall 2015 semester by achieving
the Dean’s List at the State University of New York College of Technology at Delhi.
Orlett Johnson of Rosedale –
Nursing; Nicole Jones of Cambria
Heights - Nursing-Dual Degree Program; Victoria Jones of Cambria
Heights - Nursing-Dual Degree Program; Lynn Rayder of Rockaway Park
- Liberal Arts - General Studies
To qualify for the Dean’s List,
students must have an academic average of 3.50 or higher within the
semester.
Kyle Credle of Jamaica made the
Dean’s List at Becker College for the
Fall 2015 semester. The Dean’s List
recognizes all full-time students (24
or more credit hours earned for the
academic year; 12 minimum each
semester September through May)
whose term grade point average is
3.50 or higher with no grade below
a B- and no incomplete (I) or withdrawal/failing (WF) grades.
Asia Weisgerber of Saint Albans
has been named to the President’s
List at Western New England University for the fall semester of 2015.
Weisgerber is working towards a degree in Accounting and Finance. Students are named to the President’s
List for achieving a semester grade
point average of 3.80 or higher.
The University of Hartford is
pleased to announce the following
local students have been named to
the Dean’s List for Fall 2015.
Seana Jean and Jordan Young of
Cambria Heights; Oluwatosin Ajirotutu, Tanaya Williams of Jamaica,
Caline Gin of Jamaica, Tanya Vohra
of Jamaica, Dana Barnes of Jamaica
and Shania Bignott of Jamaica; Danielle Spooner and Gia Vasquez of
Laurelton, Puja Bhardwaj; Benjamin
Cooley; Michael Knight-Allder; Tatyana McKelvey and Karun Bhardwaj of
Queens Village, Jacqueline Crockwell, Leora Philippe and Janelle Rhoden of Springfield Gardens
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 23
Faith
A Hard Head Will Make A Soft Behind
By Rev. PHiliP CRAig
Greater Springfield Community
Church
Ultimately this New Testament
writer reminds us in this scripture of
an Old Testament problem. A problem that has led an entire generation
of people to be removed from a great
destiny due to a hard heart. I would
challenge every reader today that if
you ever really look at what God has
done in your life and the battles he
has fought for you on your behalf you
will be utterly amazed. It is at this
crossroad when we continue to overlook the blessings God has placed
over our life we place ourselves in a
dangerous status regarding our relationship with God. The one person I
never want to be mad at me is God.
This scripture reminds us when
we doubt Him, when we stray away
from Him, and when we sin against
Him we have become hard hearted to
the love and obedience of God that
can very well result in catastrophic
outcomes on the lives of us and even
possibly our future lineage of children. Generational curses can be reversed by a changed heart today. In
the long history of this earth, no migration of any people started so well,
and with such great expectations, as
Israel’s Exodus from Egypt.
After being in slavery for 430
years, God led them out with a
mighty hand. Moses, God’s spokesman, delivered the ultimatum to
Pharaoh, “Let My People Go!”
(Exodus 5:1). And after a series of
deadly plagues, culminating in the
death of every first-born child among
the Egyptians, Pharaoh finally listened (Ex. 6-12). Don’t let a tragedy
get your attention, God will always
send you messages and warnings before He brings the wrath. Pharaoh
didn’t believe and so he suffered. As
soon as the Israelites left, Pharaoh
changed his mind and went after
them. Israel watched in amazement
as God opened the Red Sea and allowed them to cross over on dry land
and drowned Pharaoh’s complete
army (Ex 14). But what baffles me
the most is that God’s chosen people whom He freed from slavery in
their heart were not much different
than Pharaoh. No sooner had Israel
stepped into the wilderness to begin
their journey God provided a pillar
of cloud to lead the way by day, and a
pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21). Yet
no sooner after seeing their enemy
get crushed by the powers of God
and celebrated the victory over the
Lord’s mighty deliverance they be-
gan to grumble and complain.
died at an average of almost
Rather than having a grateful
ninety deaths a day, until all
heart for the astounding deof that generation that left
liverance and limitless proviEgypt (except Caleb and
sions of God, there became
Joshua) died out. Of the
an attitude of complaint
600,000 men who began
because everything did
the journey to the
not go exactly as they
Promised land,
desired.
only two men
Be reminded
ever got there.
even in the year
The rebelof 2016 with all
lious generathe advancetion of Israel
ments of life,
that died in the
everything is
wilderness
is
Rev. Phil Craig
not going to go
cited to the New
your way. They grumbled about the Testament Christians not to repeat
Manna so God gave them meat. They their sin.
grumbled about water so God gave
Without a personal relationthem wine. But the pinnacle of their ship with the Word of God, being
provoking of the Lord came when a church member is like wearing
with their catastrophic unbelief when a yoke, being forced to pay tithes
they got to the edge of the Promised and give money, and having to do
land. (Numbers 14). Twelve spies
were sent into the land to see what
they were up against. Ten spies came
back with a negative report that they
could not take the land. That night
unbelief was rampant in the camp.
All the people wept. There became
an uprising to demand new leadership and a return to Egypt (14:4).
And Caleb and Joshua gave a positive report and urged the people to
go up at once and possess the land,
the people sought to stone them. By JoHn SCARinCi
When they refused to obey the Lord,
York College womhe pronounced his judgment upon
them. In verses ten and eleven the en’s basketball player
writer tells us how Israel was pun- Jigcara Grant has
ished by God. Just as the Egyptians been named a City
got over their fear of God, the Isra- University of New
elites quickly got over their trust of York Athletic ConferSecond-Team
God. Their unbelief cost them every- ence
thing. As a result they missed out All-Star for the 2015on the blessing of God in the here 16 season.
Hailing from Clara
and now and eternally. The generation of Israel that came out of Egypt Barton High School in
doubted God, and because of their Brooklyn, the now coldoubt they never entered the land of lege senior was a key
part of the Cardinals’
Canaan (The Promised Land).
They did not have the faith to roster this season, avtrust God for the future. The writer eraging 8.2 points and 19.6 rebounds
of this Hebrew epistle is speaking to per game—the latter of which leads
those who are already saved but have all of NCAA Division III college basnot entered into the blessings of the ketball.
Grant took a major leap forward
Christian life. They doubt God, and
as a result they are having a wilder- this year as she improved in every
category. Last season, she averaged
ness experience.
Canaan does not represent heav- 11.8 minutes per game, while this
en; it represents the place of spiritual year it jumped all the way up to 33
blessing and victory. They believed minutes per game. She also improved
Him enough to come out of Egypt, her scoring and rebounding averages
but not enough to enter Canaan. by nearly triple in both categories.
The highlight of her season was
They didn’t believe God enough to
a 14-point, 38-rebound performance
enter into the land of promise.
The forty years in wilderness be- in a win over Medgar Evers College
came a forty-year long funeral. They on Jan. 20. Her 38 rebounds tied an
things without pay and volunteering for things you don’t want to volunteer for. These are the modern
day “hard heart” people where they
look at being a follower of Christ
or a member in a church as a burdened duty rather than embracing
the plan. It reminds me of what my
mother, Edna, use to always tell
me, “A hard head will make a soft
behind.” In this case a Hard Heart,
can Destroy a Promising Future.
This scripture should not only be
an example to heed but an instruction to implement. My name is Phil
Craig and I approve this message.
God bless you.
177-06 129th Ave, Jamaica NY 11434
718-527-0100
www.mygscc.org
Email Pastor Craig at Phil.craig@live.
com
Notebook
York College
york Women’s Basketball Player
Selected for Citywide All-Star
Jigcara grant
NCAA single-game record. She also
closed out the regular season on Feb.
16 with a dominant performance on
senior night in a 94-87 OT victory
over Hunter where she scored careerhigh 27 points, while grabbing 30
rebounds.
York finished the regular season
with a 5-19 record overall and 3-13
in CUNYAC play. They have earned
the eighth and final seed in the CUNYAC playoffs and will face eighttime defending CUNYAC champions and #5 seed Baruch College in
the first round on Friday, Feb. 19 at
5 pm.
Page 24 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Our Lives
The Impending Doom Facing SEQ
The Press of Southeast Queens was
the host of a Black History Month
event at the Greater Allen A.M.E.
Cathedral this Tuesday. Five individuals were honored for their work
in the community and rightfully so.
There have been so many individuals that not only this publication, but
many others have shined a positive
light on.
The second half of the event however, shifted focus to an issue that
many Queensites are familiar with:
the inundation of homeless shelters
and other forms of supportive housing in the majority black neighborhoods of Southeast Queens. The statistics, which has been repeated over
and over in this very publication, are
infuriating to many residents. The
current battle over the Hollis Properties, which has been raging on since
last November, has been the most recent struggle on this front. The fight
being led by local civic group People
of the Neighborhood has been met
with nothing but obstacles and legal
minutiae put up by the City.
So a panel discussion based upon
Photo by Bruce Adler
By TronE DowD
The crowd at Tuesday’s Black History Month event at Greater Allen AME
Cathedral.
an issue so close to home was a sure
shot in getting as many eyes on the
problem as possible. After all, the
awards ceremony just minutes prior
quickly filled the room to standing
capacity.
Unfortunately, the concern of the
panel, which featured an all-star line
up consisting of Adrienne Adams of
CB 12, Bryan Block of CB 13, Rev.
Phil Craig, Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) and Assemblyman
David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows),
didn’t quite match that of the audience’s engagement.
Within seconds, half the room
full of elected official and locals
walked out before the panel was
even done introducing themselves.
Several of those who stayed behind
a little longer spoke loudly to other
audience members, likely blocking
out the very important topic being
discussed on stage at the front of
the room.
The moderator of the panel asked
for attention several times before
those who seemingly didn’t care to
listen to their community leaders discuss the supportive housing epidemic eventually drifted out of the room.
But by then, the room was one-fourth
the capacity it was an hour before
when awards were being given, the
free breakfast was plentiful and the
coffee was still hot.
While this writer won’t speak for
the five leaders on stage, it wouldn’t
come as much of a surprise if feelings of frustration were setting in.
How an issue so prominent could
go ignored to such an extent by so
many people who are directly affected shows exactly why these issues prevail in Southeast Queens. No
one cares to care. It’s seems that sitting down for 40 minutes to discuss
why these neighborhoods are being
taken advantage of is just too much
for some.
To those who stayed, it was especially heartbreaking. Many of them
are those already aware of the issue
and have already been trying their
best to confront it. They are the faces
seen at late night town hall gathering and impromptu meetings trying
to fight this problem head on. They
are the ones heading to City Hall to
voice their frustrations to Mayor Bill
de Blasio. They are the small but dedicated group that desperately needs
the backing of every single elected
official and resident who chose to
walk out of that room Tuesday morning. They are fighting this battle on
behalf of what is the largest voting
bloc in the entire borough. And the
fact that that kind of power is only
being thrown around by a fraction
of the regions constituents is a crying shame and a failure on behalf of
minority voters everywhere.
While it may have its issues,
Southeast Queens as a whole is better off than many other black communities across the country. To see
that slip through the fingers of the
hard working men and women who
live here simply because they didn’t
listen when there was still time to do
something about it is a tragedy waiting to happen. Community members
said they are already being urged to
sell their homes in Southeast Queens
and the influx of supportive housing
is seen by many as another form of
pressure to sell.
That reality is right around the corner too. There’s a reason why real estate site StreetEasy is calling Jamaica
the “The Neighborhood to Watch in
2016,” grabbing the attention of a certain kind of people at a certain kind
of income bracket with new flashy
developments and hotels already
confirmed for Southeast Queens. All
the while, shelters, homelessness, infrastructure issues and quality of life
woes continue to plague the streets
for people who live here now.
The signs have never been clearer.
This can’t continue to go ignored.
These are issues that a very real and
very present. Southeast Queens can’t
afford to turn attention to it when it’s
too late. Things need to change soon.
The people need to be vigilant of
what’s happening around them. They
cannot ignore community’s cries for
equality and action no matter how
small it may be.
If Southeast Queens doesn’t get
its act together and unite behind this
cause, they will quickly end up like
the Park Slope, Bedstuy, Williamsburg and Harlem we see today.
The transformation has already
begun right under the noses of the
people.
Reach Trone Dowd at (718) 3577400 x123, [email protected]
or @theloniusly.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 25
What’s Up
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 photos, 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.
oN-GoiNG eveNtS
black history Month exhibition: black Royals
This exhibit, on loan from the African American Museum of Nassau
County, shows images of Queen Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, also known as the “grandmother
of European royalty” and 400 years
earlier, Queen Philippa of Hainault who was mother of the warrior
knight, Edward the Black. For more
info check our website www.jcal.org.
This exhibition is underwritten
by Philippa Karteron and Galleria
Noire.
The exhibit will run all-day from
through Thursday, March 31 at the
Jamaica Center For Arts & Learning
(JCAL) Community Gallery located
on 161-04 Jamaica Avenue. For more
information, go to jcal.org.
MeMoRY: A series of African
Masks Collection
The Ms. Hazel Louise WoodsSanders collection, curated by Mr.
Robert Craddock (former JCAL Curator, circa ‘90s) will adorn the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning as
she will be memorialized through this
contribution of art. The exhibition
highlights Ms. Sanders’, a Southeast
Queens native, and her artistic collection of over thirty African Masks
and artifacts in which she collected
throughout her journeys to different
regions of the African continent. The
display is up permanently at JCAL
until further notice.
Shape Up NYC
New York City is offering FREE
fitness classes at over 50 locations,
many of which are right here in
Southeast Queens. Join us at the Detective Keith Williams Field House
located at 106-16 173rd Street in Jamaica for the following classes:
Chair Aerobics
Scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to Noon
Low impact Aerobics
Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to
Noon
body training
Fridays 11 a.m. to Noon
All classes are free. All are welcome and no registration is required.
For more information, call (718)
523-6912. For other Shape Up NYC
locations across the city, visit www.
nyc.gov or call 311
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 [email protected] or
reach out to Greg Mays at (718)
657-2605 or [email protected]
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
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 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.
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 [email protected].
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.
WhAt’S Up
With YoU?
Send your community events to the
PRESS for a free listing at
150-50 14th Rd., Whitestone, NY 11357.
Call (718) 357-7400
or email [email protected].
All events will be considered
for publication, without a fee.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS U.S. BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CBASS MORTGAGE LOAN
ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-MX1,
Plaintiff -against- KATHLEEN
CANDIO, A/K/A KATLEEN
CANDIO, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of
Foreclosure and Sale dated
December 9, 2015 and entered on December 17, 2015,
I, the undersigned Referee
will sell at public auction at
the Queens County Supreme
Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin
Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on March 18, 2016
at 10:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens,
City and State of New York,
bounded and described as
follows: BEGINNING at the
point on the northerly side of
Hollis Avenue, distant 20.01
feet easterly from the corner
formed by the intersection
of the northerly side of Hollis Avenue with the easterly
side of 205th Street; being a
plot 95.61 feet by 20 feet by
96.27 feet by 20.01 feet. Said
premises known as 20503
HOLLIS AVENUE, SAINT
ALBANS, NY Approximate
amount of lien $ 485,880.26
plus interest & costs. Premises
will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and
Terms of Sale. Index Number
13368/2010. CATHERINE R.
GLOVER, ESQ., Referee Dorf
& Nelson LLP Attorney(s) for
Plaintiff 555 Theodore Fremd
Avenue, Rye, NY 10580
________________________
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME
COURT: QUEENS COUNTY.
NYCTL 2011-A TRUST AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON AS COLLATERAL
AGENT AND CUSTODIAN,
Pltf. vs. BMSL MANAGEMENT LLC, et al, Defts. Index
#14901/12. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale
entered Jan. 10, 2014, I will
sell at public auction at the
Queens County Supreme
Court, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd.,
Jamaica, NY in Courtroom
#25, on Friday, Apr. 1, 2016
at 10:00 a.m., prem. k/a 13109 Hillside Ave., Richmond
Hill, NY a/k/a Block 9252
and Lot 0028 on the Queens
County Tax Assessment Map.
Approx. amt. of judgment
is $89,477.90 plus costs
and interest. Sold subject to
terms and conditions of filed
judgment and terms of sale.
ZENITH TAYLOR, Referee.
LAW OFFICE OF JOHN D.
DELLO-IACONO, Attys. for
Pltf., 105 Maxess Rd., Ste.
124, Melville, NY. – File
No.12-019607 - #87744
Page 26 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
Photo Courtesy LaGuardia Community College
SportS
Press of southeast Queens
LaGuardia Red Hawks
Sweep Basketball Titles
By DaviD RuSSeLL
LaGuardia Community College
saw its men’s and women’s basketball teams win CUNY titles for the
first time on Friday at Borough of
Manhattan Community College.
Championships are always nice
to dream about, but even on day one
of the program it would have been
tough to imagine both teams winning
a CUNY title in only the third year
of the program. “I wish I could say I
said that, but I didn’t,” said athletic
director Brian Goldstein. “The first
two years were about stabilizing the
program. The third year was about
making sure the student-athletes had
a different focus than just basketball.
We worked with both coaches in the
preseason to talk about what it is that
is really important, and what’s really
important is them graduating.”
First, the women’s team led wireto-wire in a 65-54 win over Bronx
Community College in the title
game. It was Bronx that eliminated
LaGuardia from the CUNY playoffs
the previous two seasons. “To do it
against the Bronx, that is the best
feeling ever,” said CUNYAC Player
of the Year Kailyn Richburg. “It’s a
sweet revenge.”
“Kailyn has come a long way in
her career from where she was at the
beginning to where she is now,” said
head coach Anthony Alfaro. “She
only truly believes in what we told
her these last couple of months. Her
biggest turnaround was the last couple of months, where she began to
play better defense and realized that
her game has to be complete for her
to move on. And she bought in.”
Richburg was also CUNYAC
Tournament MVP. The guard had
10 points, five steals, and four assists against Bronx. Marika Gordon scored 15 points and added 17
rebounds. Sarah Edwards had 12
points and 13 rebounds. Lexis Valentine drained four three-pointers on
The Championship Men’s Team.
lead to three with seconds to go. Neil
Viera’s potential game-tying three
was no good and Laguardia held on
to win.
While the women’s team dominated the regular season, the men
had its ups and downs. “We had a
different starting lineup at least 20
times because we’re teaching young
student-athletes to be men, committed, on time, working hard every day
in practice,” Chobhaphand said.
Yearwood had 21 points, six assists, four steals, three blocks and
three rebounds. Matthew Newton
scored 16 points, Winston Egwu added 13, and Jordan Littlejohn added
10. Sonny Kadisha had 13 points and
10 rebounds.
“As soon as I stepped foot on
campus, I knew what we came to do,
I know what our goal was and we got
here,” Yearwood said.
her way to 14 points.
The men followed with a 75-72
win over BMCC. LaGuardia blew
an early 15-point lead but came back
from nine down in the second half. “I
wasn’t concerned,” said head coach
Ben Chobhaphand. “With the things
we went through during the season,
I knew we were going to prevail because we stick to the script.”
After squandering the lead, the
Red Hawks had to make sure to
maintain their focus. “Some of my
teammates had their heads down and
I just kept telling them to just keep
your heads up we got it,” said tournament MVP Ryan Yearwood. “This is
what we do. We’re always put in situations like this in practice. Just keep
pushing. It starts on the defensive
end, so get stops.”
The Red Hawks led by seven with
40 seconds to go, but BMCC cut the
Sons Make Film about Miracle Met Pitcher
By DaviD RuSSeLL
Courtesy Photo
Ron Taylor pitched for five teams
from 1962-72, but is best known by
New Yorkers as a member of the
1969 Miracle Mets. To younger baseball fans he’s more known for his
work as the Toronto Blue Jays team
physician for over three decades.
“A lot of the ballplayers didn’t
know I had been in baseball,” Ron
Taylor said. “I was throwing batting
practice and they told me I had a
good arm. They asked me how I got
it and I told them I pitched for 10
years.”
Ron’s filmmaking sons, Matthew and Drew, have directed, produced and Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball.
The 20-minute documentary will be
shown at the Winter Film Awards in
Manhattan on February 25. The film
has already won for Best Short Documentary at the Eugene International
Film Festival and Orlando Film Festival.
The modesty of the former
pitcher made him a good subject
for a movie. “That’s one of the real
reasons Matt and I wanted to make
this film,” Drew said. “Ron is
one of the most humble people
you’ll ever come across. He
doesn’t talk about his career
in baseball unless you ask him
about it.”
Baseball legends including
Ferguson Jenkins, Lou Brock,
Bob Gibson and Joe Torre talk
about Taylor as a pitcher and
a person. Ron’s life changed
when he visited Vietnam
with fellow Met reliever Tug
McGraw. Before that, Ron
hadn’t given any thought to entering the medical profession. Former Mets Pitcher Ron Taylor, seen here
“I knew I had gotten to the end with sons Drew and Matthew, went on to beof my baseball career,” Ron come a doctor and team physician for the Tosaid. “We toured Vietnam. We ronto Blue Jays.
were really in no danger, they
took pretty good care of us. When life and his decision to go into mediI met and talked to the troops that cine,” Matthew said. “I really didn’t
were injured and being taken out hear a lot of stories about Vietnam
of Vietnam, I realized it might be a and there’s a lot there. To me that
good career for me.”
was the big learning experience.”
Once retired, the former pitcher
Ron Taylor came to New York in
enrolled in medical school at 35 and 1967 and spent the first two seasons
became a doctor. “The one thing I pitching for losing teams before the
took away from this was how much Mets stunned the world by winning
his time in Vietnam impacted his the World Series in 1969. Ron led
the team with 13 saves, closing out
victories for Tom Seaver and Jerry
Koosman. “It was a young team, we
had a great manager in Gil Hodges,
and the young players began to develop and became stars after the first
couple of years,” Ron said. “We got
in the World Series, we won it and
we weren’t that surprised. We had a
good team and a good manager.”
Ron recorded arguably the most
important out of the World Series.
New York already lost game one,
and with the Mets leading game two
by one run in the ninth inning, Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson came to the
plate with two on and two out. Hodges called on Ron to relieve Koosman.
Taylor’s experience pitching for the
Cardinals in the 1964 Series against
the Yankees helped.
“I wasn’t really intimidated when
I went in to pitch to Brooks Robinson,” Ron said. “I was just completely focused. I didn’t worry about
anything.” Robinson grounded out to
third to end the game and even the
series. The Mets won the next three
games at Shea Stadium to win the
title.
Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016 PRESS of Southeast Queens Page 27
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
CERTIFIED
CDL DRIVERS WANTED
Immediate work for Live-In Aides in NASSAU COUNTY
If you are a caring individual & love working with
people, come join the “Best Home Care Team on LI!”
I m medi at e Fu ll Ti me Op en in gs
8 HRS GUARANTEED
HHAs • PCAs
$1,200 BONUS for LIVE-IN AIDES
Register & work before 12/31/15 & Earn $1,500 BONUS
Personal-Touch Offers:
• Full Medical Benefits • EOE
• FREE Uniforms • Paid Vacation
Work for the BEST!
516-227-3400 • Hempstead
ALLIED TRANSIT CORP.
EMPIRE STATE BUS CORP.
NOW HIRING
DRIVERS AND ESCORTS
2016-Higher Pay Scale
Call to Schedule an Appointment/Walk-ins Welcome
Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Contact: Lois or Maria
(718) 485-8002
Job Requirement:
Easy Within Brooklyn Routes,
$520 per week to start,
$1000 sign on Bonus,
401K Plan, Health Benefits,
Paid Holidays
Work Hours are 6AM-9AM
& 2:30PM-5:30PM
Monday thru Friday, take
middle of the day off or
earn $30-$40 per day extra
for avail. middle of the day work.
Must have CDL Class CP
or BP License
We Are Very Employee Friendly
Bring copy of this Ad
& apply in person
Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM
at 5015 Bay Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11230
off the corner of McDonald Ave
Tutor
Tutoring
Private In-Home
Cert./Prof. Teachers
All Subjects K-12 and
Test Prep.
718-423-2549
Union Benefits for steady positions
including Medical and Pension
DOE certified a plus but company will sponsor
House For Sale
HOWARD BEACH
OZONE PARK
OPEN HOUSE
3 Bedroom
Sat 2/27 1:30-4pm
Duplex Condo
Ultra modern,
With
Parking
real family pleaser.
2Brs, 2Bths,
$270
Oversized LR,
Maintenance
DR & KIT combo. All
Included
utilities included except
electricity. Pets OK.
CAMPIONE REALTY
Vinny 917-435-3035
Help Wanted
Must be 21 years old w/ valid NYS CDL Driver's lic. w/ PS endorsements
Apply in person 8am-3pm, Bring lic. & social security card.
TOTAL TRANSPORTATION CORP.
400 Stanley Ave, Brooklyn. 2nd Fl
(Ent. on Malta Street) 3 blocks from B20 Bus
718-647-5100 x3
HANDY HELPING
SERVICES
Looking for Certified
HHA's, LPN's
and Companions
Attorney
Positions available in
Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan
Live In Live-Out Positions Available
People Care is hiring
CERTIFIED HOME
HEALTH AIDES
REGISTER NOW!
Unlimited Job Opportunities
All hours, all areas
throughout queens.
LIVE-IN Assignments Avail.
Medical, Life Ins, Retirement
Programs, Paid Vacation
Additional Incentives
for Aides with cars
Jamaica/Hicksville
516-433-2600
Attorney
HARRY M. ALBERTS, ATTORNEY
Serving the Community Since 1990
IMMIGRATION
246-50 57th Drive, Douglaston, NY
HHA & CNA TRAINING
State Board Exam Onsite for
CNA, 15 Days for HHA
WORKERS COMPENSATION
REAL ESTATE CLOSING $585 FLAT FEE
718-353-HELP
HHA Class .........................3/7
HHA ClassWeekend........3/26
CNA Class Day ................ 4/11
CNA Class Weekend.........4/9
4357
516-424-8921
fax: 347-532-1322
EKG & PHELEBOTOMY TRAINING
Job Placement Assist. Avail.
EZ Payment Plan
Call Now To Register for
F/T & P/T Classes
N.Y. INSTITUTE OF
HEALTH CAREERS INC.
[email protected]
FREE CONSULTATION
• Immigration
• Divorce
• Wills & Estates
• Landlord/Tenant
89-44 162nd St. Jamaica NY 11432
718-206-1750
www.nyihc.com
Lic. by NYSED
Huge 1 Fam Used as 2 Fam
On 80x150 Lot (huge)
Sunday and evening appt.
UPPER GLENDALE
6Rms, 3 Full Bths,
3 Car Garage, Prvt Pk,
Quiet Tree Lined St.
Owner Motivated!
Any Offer Considered.
Call Attorney Abraham Chananashvili
646-704-1062
Conveniently located in Brooklyn, NY 11234
Vinny - CAMPIONE REALTY
917-435-3035
Majestic Southern
Heating Oil
Colonial with Fireplaces
5 Bedrm / 2.5 Bathrooms
128 acres with Pond and
borders the Delaware River.
List no. 102394
Price: $450,000
D.T. Ogden Real Estate
ogdenrealestate.org
Heating Oil
607-865-7000
Construction
privatehome
tutoringservices.com
NUNEZ CONSTRUCTION
Business Opp
We Specialize In
Crack Repairs
also Ceiling, Wall Repairs
& Painting
NEW COMPANY LOOKING
FOR SELF MOTIVATED
INDIVIDUAL,
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED,
TRAINING AVAILABLE,
COMM BASE.
CALL 347-388-8838
Help Wanted
Board of Education Certified Drivers Preferred
Company will sponsor certification for Board of Education
Employer Paid Life Insurance
Medical Coverage
Non-school work available
Paid Holidays
Attendance Bonus
Safety Bonus
Q30 bus to 61st Ave. & Douglaston Parkway
** Must be at least 21 years of age.
** Must hold a current New York State driver's license.
** Must possess a commercial driver's license (CDLA, B, C) w/ CDL "S"
(school bus) endorsement and "P" (passenger) endorsement.
** Able to pass a DOT physical, drug screen and background
qualification process.
School Bus Mini Van
Drivers Wanted
150-50 14th Road, Whitestone NY 11357
School Bus Company
718-279-3937
141 Hinsdale St.
Brooklyn, NY 11207
(Bet. Pitkin & Glenmore)
(East Brooklyn Industrial Pk.)
To Advertise in the Southeast Queens Press Classifieds
Call (718) 357-7400 • Fax (718) 357-0076
Storage
EXPERT WORK ON
STOOPS & BLOCK
STORAGE FOR
1 DOLLAR PER DAY.
5x5
7 Days, Lowest Prices Free Estimate
Licensed & Insured
718-219-1257
nunezforu.com
Member of Angie’s List
A Rating
10x10
NOW $195
STORAGE ROOM
ONLY $30 / $1 A DAY FREE 1 MONTH +
REGULAR RATE: $45 USE OF MOVING TRUCK
PLACE YOUR AD 718-357-7400 EXT. 151
OFFER EXPIRES: 3/15/2016
718-217-8900
184-08 JAMAICA AVE / HOLLIS QUEENS, NY
Wanted to Buy
Old Records
33s-45s-78s
• Doo-Wop
• Rock & Roll
• Heavy Metal
• Punk
• Disco
• Foreign Film
Soundtrack
• Latin
Charlie
• Reggae/Calypso
• Soul
• Blues
• Jazz
• Gospel
• Ethnic Music
• Blue Grass
• Classical
516-612-2009
Page 28 PRESS of Southeast Queens Feb. 26 - March 3, 2016
It’s a
new
day for
rehab.
Peninsula Nursing and
Rehabilitation is proud
to announce the grand
reopening of its updated,
state-of-the-art facilities.
Now under new ownership,
we’re ready to go above
and beyond.
State
of the Art
Rehabilitation
Center
24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care
Short Term and Long Term Rehab
Comprehensive Therapies
Pre and Post Operative Care
Sub-Acute Care
On-Site Amenities
Coming Soon: On Site Dialysis
Renew.
Restore.
Rehabilitate.
Peninsula
ĆĀƫāĆƫ!$ƫ$**!(ƫ.%2!Čƫ.ƫ+'35ČƫƫāāćĊāƫđƫĈāĉċĈăąċĂĀĀĀƫđƫ333ċ//!*.!ċ+)ĥ,!*%*/1(