8
VOL. 78, NO. 52 WOODSIDE, L.I.C., N.Y. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 FREE Photos by Joe Gurrado SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITY Special Delivery To Bread Of Life Food Pantry On December 20 th , CM Van Bramer delivered food collected from his 3rd Annual Holiday Food Drive to Bread of Life Food Pantry in Queensbridge. The food items collected during Van Bramer’s annual drive will help address the urgent need for food at pantries in the district. During 2012, Bread of Life Food Pantry has experienced a significant drop-off in the number of food items being delivered to their location. At the same time, the pantries face a decrease in support from state and federal governments as the cost of food increases. The food items were received by Reverend Bishop Mitchell Taylor of Center of Hope International, which coordinates Bread of Life Food Pantry, and Dorothy Williams a coordinator at the site. The Queensbridge food pantry has also seen an increase in the number of individuals coming forward for donations. This year, the Food Bank of New York City reported 50 percent of Queens pan- tries were running out of food, or particular types of food required to produce adequate pantry bags over the past 12 months. 76 per- cent of food pantries in the bor- ough also reported an increase in visitors. Later in the day, the Coun- cil Member also dropped off food items to Hour Children’s food pan- try in Ravenswood. CM Van Bramer hands out a bag of food to a local Queensbridge resident. Gun Violence Prevention Press Conference Response to Newtown, CT Shooting Senator Gianaris spoke at a gun violence prevention press con- ference, hosted by Assembly Members Michelle Schimel and Brian Kavanagh, to show broad support for the need to immedi- ately pass more sensible gun laws. In August Senator Gianaris intro- duced five sensible gun laws of his own which, if passed, would make New York the nation’s toughest state on guns. His package of bills include: Limit the purchase of a firearm to one per month; Establish a universal back- ground check for all gun sales; Require prospective pur- chasers to obtain a firearm safety certificate; Impose a 10-day waiting pe- riod to the sale of a firearm in order to give law enforcement officials enough time to perform a thor- ough background check of the pro- spective owner; Close several gaps in the regu- lation of firearms and sale of am- munition, including mandating dealers to report all firearm and ammunition sales within 24 hours to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. Records of all sales must be kept on file by the state for at least ten years. “How many atrocities are needed before we stand up and take action against the gun culture plaguing our nation? Newtown is only the latest of such avoidable horrors to visit our nation. The sensible gun proposals put forth today, which would make New York State the nations toughest on guns, are the kinds of measures that must be passed to save the lives of innocent people. I join my col- leagues in calling for immediate ac- tion on these proposals to make us safer from gun violence and keep such senseless, heartbreaking trag- edies from repeating themselves time and again,” said the Senator. A Very UNITED Holiday Party (continued on page 5) CM Van Bramer joined by Bishop Taylor and Ms. Williams. CB2 Regular Monthly Meeting SCS Speakers: Presentation by Shahir Erfan LGA VP of Admin. to discuss the Center C Facade Project Presentation by Joe Raskin on MTA’s proposed new bus route. Thursday, January 3 rd @ 7p

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Page 1: SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITYwoodsideherald.com/uploads/Woodside_Herald_12_28_12.pdf · sunnyside, n.y. 718-729-2117 new podiatry medical and surgical services dr

To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 1

VOL. 78, NO. 52 WOODSIDE, L.I.C., N.Y. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 FREE

Photos by Joe G

urrado

SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITY

Special Delivery To Bread Of Life Food PantryOn December 20th, CM Van Bramer delivered food collected from

his 3rd Annual Holiday Food Drive to Bread of Life Food Pantry inQueensbridge. The food items collected during Van Bramer’s annualdrive will help address the urgent need for food at pantries in thedistrict. During 2012, Bread of Life Food Pantry has experienced asignificant drop-off in the number of food items being delivered to theirlocation. At the same time, the pantries face a decrease in support fromstate and federal governments as the cost of food increases. The fooditems were received by Reverend Bishop Mitchell Taylor of Center ofHope International, which coordinates Bread of Life Food Pantry, andDorothy Williams a coordinator at the site. The Queensbridge foodpantry has also seen an increase in the number of individuals coming

forward for donations. This year,the Food Bank of New York Cityreported 50 percent of Queens pan-tries were running out of food, orparticular types of food requiredto produce adequate pantry bagsover the past 12 months. 76 per-cent of food pantries in the bor-ough also reported an increase invisitors. Later in the day, the Coun-cil Member also dropped off fooditems to Hour Children’s food pan-try in Ravenswood.

CM Van Bramer hands out a bagof food to a local Queensbridgeresident.

Gun Violence Prevention Press ConferenceResponse to Newtown,

CT ShootingSenator Gianaris spoke at a

gun violence prevention press con-ference, hosted by AssemblyMembers Michelle Schimel andBrian Kavanagh, to show broadsupport for the need to immedi-ately pass more sensible gun laws.In August Senator Gianaris intro-duced five sensible gun laws of hisown which, if passed, would makeNew York the nation’s tougheststate on guns. His package of billsinclude:

Limit the purchase of a firearmto one per month;

Establish a universal back-

ground check for all gun sales;Require prospective pur-

chasers to obtain a firearmsafety certificate;

Impose a 10-day waiting pe-riod to the sale of a firearm in orderto give law enforcement officialsenough time to perform a thor-ough background check of the pro-spective owner;

Close several gaps in the regu-lation of firearms and sale of am-munition, including mandatingdealers to report all firearm andammunition sales within 24 hoursto the state Division of CriminalJustice Services. Records of allsales must be kept on file by the

state for at least ten years.“How many atrocities are needed

before we stand up and take actionagainst the gun culture plaguing ournation? Newtown is only the latestof such avoidable horrors to visit ournation. The sensible gun proposalsput forth today, which would makeNew York State the nations tougheston guns, are the kinds of measuresthat must be passed to save the livesof innocent people. I join my col-leagues in calling for immediate ac-tion on these proposals to make ussafer from gun violence and keepsuch senseless, heartbreaking trag-edies from repeating themselves timeand again,” said the Senator.

A Very UNITEDHoliday Party

(continued on page 5)

CM Van Bramer joined by BishopTaylor and Ms. Williams.

CB2 Regular Monthly MeetingSCS Speakers: Presentation by Shahir Erfan LGA VP of Admin. to discuss the Center C Facade

Project Presentation by Joe Raskin on MTA’s proposed new bus route.

Thursday, January 3rd @ 7p

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To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012THE WOODSIDE HERALDPAGE 2

Keep Your Teeth for a LIFETIME!For a FREE Exam & Consultation

REMBRANDT 1-HR. WHITENINGDR. ARTHUR H. KUBIKIANDR. LOUIZA PUSKULIAN

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43-34 43rd STREET, SUNNYSIDE, NY 11104

Call: (718) 786-3842

AVAILABLE:

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43-11 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104Telephone (718) 729-3772

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sue Baldock, Kimberly Clarry, Peter A. Ross, Rob MacKay

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERSJoe Gurrado, Robert Flanagan, Sue Baldock

Marlene Sabba ............................................................... Publisher

Sherilyn Jo Sabba ................................................................. Editor

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Guest: Nick LugoPresident of the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 3

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012THE WOODSIDE HERALDPAGE 4

Gianaris Elected As Deputy LeaderSenate Democratic Conference leader

Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced thatSenator Michael N. Gianaris will serve asthe new Deputy Conference Leader. Sena-tor Gianaris, from Astoria, Queens, repre-sents the 12th Senate District and success-fully led the Senate Democrats’ electionefforts during the 2012 elections. SenatorGianaris will also remain Chairperson of theDemocratic Senate Campaign Committee.

“Senator Michael Gianaris is an incred-ible public servant, and I am pleased that hewill serve as the Deputy Conference Leaderfor the Senate Democrats,” ConferenceLeader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “Dur-ing the past election, Senator Gianaris ledour conference to victories throughout NewYork State and helped ensure that Demo-cratic Senators were elected despite daunt-ing odds. I look forward to having SenatorGianaris as part of my leadership team.”

“I am honored to be chosen by Demo-cratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to

serve as her Deputy,” said Senator MichaelGianaris. “There is much work to be done toadvance the progressive goals the people ofour state demand. I am excited to be a part ofSenator Stewart-Cousins’s team and lookforward to working in partnership with Gov-ernor Cuomo to achieve these goals.”

Deputy Leader Gianaris was electedto represent the residents of westernQueens in the State Assembly in 2000and was elected to the State Senate in2010. During his time in office, SenatorGianaris has been a leading advocate inreforming state government and advanc-ing progressive issues.

Under Democratic Leader Stewart-Cousins’s leadership, the Democratic Con-ference will continue to advance progres-sive issues such as enacting common sensegun laws, raising the minimum wage, stand-ing up for women’s health, helping smallbusinesses, and providing real mandate re-lief for local communities.

Arbor Day ContestThe New York State Department of

Environmental Conservation is now accept-ing submissions for the annual Arbor DayPoster Contest. Fifth grade students, espe-cially in science and art, are encouraged todesign an original poster depicting the 2013contest theme, Trees Are Terrific in AllShapes and Sizes.

DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said,“Arbor Day is a national observance thatcelebrates the essential role trees play in ourenvironment. By participating in the annualArbor Day poster contest, students learnabout trees and how they promote a healthy,balanced ecosystem.”

School contest winners will be eligible

to compete at the regional level. Regionalwinners will then compete for the state title.The final winner’s artwork will be repli-cated as the official 2013 New York StateArbor Day bookmark distributed statewide.The winner will also receive an invitation tothe NYS Arbor Day event in Albany inApril, and a tree will be planted in thewinner’s name at his/her school.

For more information about the ArborDay Poster Contest for fifth grade students,including contest rules, submission applica-tion and a list of DEC regional offices, visitDEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/educa-tion. Entries are being accepted at DECregional offices until January 17, 2013.

College Students Had TopScore In NYS Math Competition

A team of LaGuardia Community Col-lege students solved a series of complexmathematical problems that added up tothe top scores in the team and individualcategories of the Fall 2012 New YorkState Mathematics Association for TwoYear Colleges Math League Contest(NYSMATYC).

Yifei Shen, who competed against 663number crunchers in the one-hour, 20-question exam that tested the students’creative thinking and mathematical in-sight, received the highest score in theindividual rankings.

In the team contest, Yifei’s and his

four teammates—Seung Hwan Oh, QingSheng Chen, Jason Fontaine and Ye JiLee—had combined scores that beat outthe 30 community college teams.

“This is wonderful news indeed for theMathematics, Engineering and ComputerDepartment and LaGuardia,” said Dr. KamalHajallie, chair of the department, who addedthat this was the first time LaGuardia stu-dents competed in this statewide competi-tion. “It goes to show that with properguidance and support, our students can com-pete with the best of them and come out ontop. The department is proud of the achieve-ment of the students and mentors.”

(continued on page 6)

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To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 5

A Very UNITEDHoliday Party

On December 12th, the United Forties Civic Association, Inc.(UFCA) held their annual holiday meeting/ party with a nice numberof community people in attendance. There was a report from the 108th

Precinct, a visit from CM Van Bramer to wish everyone a happyholiday, and numerous representatives from other elected officialsoffices in attendance. As usual, Pres. Donald McCallian did anamazing job, along with the other members of UFCA.

Many gifts were donated by local businesses in Sunnyside andWoodside for the door and raffle prizes and so many people wonterrific gifts.

Many wonderful gifts were brought by members and participantsfor needy children in the area, which was presented on Saturday,December 14th at the 108 children’s party.

Be sure to check back in an upcoming edition ofWoodside Herald for the next UFCA meeting.

Photos Supplied by Joe Gurrado & Don McCallian

(continued on page 6)

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To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012THE WOODSIDE HERALDPAGE 6

File No.: 2012-279/A CITATIONTHE PEOPLE OF THE STATEOF NEW YORK BY THE GRACEOF GOD, FREE ANDINDEPENDENT To: FrederickGallehr, Patricia Gallehr, RobertGerhardt, Michael Griffiths,Daniel Griffiths, Attorney Generalof the State of New York Theunknown distributees, legatees,devisees, heirs at law andassignees of Brian Griffiths,deceased, or their estates, if anythere be, whose names, places ofresidence and post office addressesare unknown to the petitioner andcannot with due diligence beascertained. Being the personsinterested as creditors, legatees,distributees or otherwise in theEstate of Brian Griffiths, deceased,who at the time of death was aresident of 135-18 78th Avenue,Flushing, NY 11367, in the Countyof Queens, State of New York.SEND GREETING: Upon thepeti t ion of LOIS M.ROSENBLATT, PublicAdministrator of Queens County,who maintains her office at 88-11Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica,Queens County, New York 11435,as Administrator of the Estate ofBrian Griffiths, deceased, you andeach of you are hereby cited toshow cause before the Surrogate

at the Surrogate’s Court of theCounty of Queens, to be held atthe Queens General Courthouse,6th Floor, 88-11 SutphinBoulevard, Jamaica, City and Stateof New York, on the 21st day ofFebruary, 2013 at 9:30 o’clock inthe forenoon, why the Account ofProceedings of the PublicAdministrator of Queens County,as Administrator of the Estate ofsaid deceased, a copy of which isattached, should not be judiciallysettled, and why the Surrogateshould not fix and allow areasonable amount ofcompensation to GERARD J.SWEENEY, ESQ., for legalservices rendered to petitionerherein in the amount of $8,175.06and that the Court fix the fair andreasonable additional fee for anyservices to be rendered byGERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ.,hereafter in connection withproceedings on kinship, claimsetc., prior to entry of a final Decreeon this accounting in the amountof 6% of assets or income collectedafter the date of the withinaccounting; and why the Surrogateshould not fix and allow an amountequal to one percent on saidSchedules of the total assets onSchedules A, A1, and A2 plus anyadditional monies received

subsequent to the date of thisaccount, as the fair and reasonableamount payable to the Office ofthe Public Administrator for theexpenses of said office pursuantto S.C.P.A. §1106(4); and whyeach of you claiming to be adistributee of the decedent shouldnot establish proof of your kinship;and why the balance of said fundsshould not be paid to said allegeddistributees upon proof of kinship,or deposited with theCommissioner of Finance of theCity of New York should saidalleged distributees default herein,or fail to establish proof of kinship,Dated, Attested and Sealed 17 dayof December, 2012 HON. PETERJ. KELLY Surrogate, QueensCounty Margaret M. GribbonClerk of the Surrogate’s CourtGERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ.(718) 459-9000, 95-25 QueensBoulevard, 11th Floor, Rego Park,New York 11374. This citation isserved upon you as required bylaw. You are not obliged to appearin person. If you fail to appear itwill be assumed that you do notobject to the relief requested unlessyou file formal legal, verifiedobjections. You have a right tohave an attorney-at-law appear foryou. Accounting Citation 12/28/12, 1/4/13, 1/11/13, 1/18/13

College Students HadTop Score In

NYS Math Competition

(continued from page 4)

• LEGAL NOTICE • LEGAL NOTICE • LEGAL NOTICE •

To prepare the students for the contests, math faculty volun-teered to hold weekly practice sessions. “This was a truedepartment-centric event,” said Dr. Reem Jaafar, a mathematicsprofessor. “Everyone did their part to get our students ready forthe competition.”

And they did. Yifei said the informal faculty sessions helped himto prepare for the “extremely difficult” problems.

In describing the competition, the contest winner said theone-hour time limit made the problems much more challenging.“Since you had only three minutes to complete each complexproblem, you not only had to have a solid mathematical under-standing, you had to be fast,” said Yifei. “You did not have timeto think about what principles to apply. You immediately had toknow how to tackle the problem.”

The fall contest, which was held on LaGuardia on November 9,was the first leg of a two-part competition that will stage the secondround in the spring. At the final competition the fall-spring scoreswill be added up and one college will be announced the victor.

Founded in 1967, NYSMATYC is a professional associationdevoted to the unique problems of teaching math at the freshman-sophomore college level. It has a membership of over 350 institu-tions representing more than 50 of the state’s community colleges.

Photo On Page 4: The LaGuardia Community College teammembers, front row, left, Seung Hwan Oh, Yifei Shen and Ye Ji Lee.Back row, left, Qing Sheng Chen and Jason Fontaine.

(continued from page 4)

YourTown,YourPaper

A Very UNITED Holiday Party

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 7

DIVORCE WITH CARE

THE LAW OFFICE OF

Jocelyn Ciechanov4141 41st Street - Suite 3E

or at a location convenient to you

Call: 917 995 5228 for an appointment

College Student Hurdles Over BarriersTo Become Student Of The Year

As LaGuardia Community Col-lege student Freda Raitelu reflectsupon the last two years of her lifeshe still finds it hard to believe howit has changed so dramatically.

In that short time, the 32-year-old single mother enrolled atLaGuardia as a liberal arts major;joined its Phi Theta Kappa HonorSociety; became an executivemember of the Honors Student Ad-visory Committee (HSAC), the stu-dent arm of LaGuardia’s HonorsProgram; and was elected the 2012-13 student representative on theNortheast Regional Honors Coun-cil (NRHC) executive board. Andto top it off she was the first com-munity college student to receivethe 2012 national Student of theYear Award from the National Col-legiate Honors Council (NCHC),the association of honors programsat two-and four-year collegesacross the country.

“My whole life has turnedup-side down,” an exhilaratedFreda exclaimed.

But before this period, thescholar and campus leader wholives in Ridgewood described herlife as stuck. At the age of 16 shebecame pregnant and had to dropout of high school. And five yearslater she was diagnosed withchronic kidney disease, a condi-tion that sentenced her to 10 yearsof dialysis.

While spending over 13 hoursa week attached to a dialysis ma-chine, Freda tried to pursue a col-lege degree after earning a GED,but the physical and mental effectsof dialysis took its toll and she wasforced to drop out. “I had alwayswished to pursue education, sodespite my illness I went for it, butit was impossible,” she said.

Then on December 30, 2010 at9:27 a.m. Freda received a phonecall that she had been waiting forover 10 years—there was a matchfor a kidney transplant. Whilerecovering from surgery, Freda saidshe realized that she had a secondchance at life. “The opportunity toreconfigure an identity outside ofmy illness was mine for the tak-ing,” she said.

Two months after the surgeryshe enrolled in LaGuardia and hap-pily immersed herself in the aca-demic experience. Despite a heavy

academic schedule that includesdemanding Honors Courses, Fredamaintains a 3.862 GPA. “I fell inlove with education and reallyembraced it,” she said.

With her solid academic cre-dentials she joined the College’shonor society, PTK, and became akey executive member of theHSAC, a student-led collective fo-

cused on enriching LaGuardia stu-dents’ college experience by pro-moting academic, civic engagementand scholarship opportunities.

As a member of the HSAC,Freda leadership skills blossomed.Along with her peers on the 20-member committee, she assisted infreshmen outreach activities, orga-nized workshops that provided stu-dents with information on transferand scholarship opportunities, andbuilt strong peer-to-peer networks.One event she is especially proudof was a mock vice presidentialdebate where she played the role ofVice President Joe Biden. Duringthe well-attended event, the issuesof education, immigration and uni-versal healthcare were coveredduring the lively exchange.

Freda also counsels studentswho come to the HSAC office seek-ing academic advisement and sup-port. “I find it really extraordinaryto be part of a committee that func-tions to inspire all students to aimhigh, stay informed and be pro-active in their academic pursuits,”she said.

She also helped spearheadevents encouraging students to takeadvantage of the Honors Program,which offers small, rigorousclasses, faculty mentoring, andscholarly and networking activi-

ties. “The Honors Program pro-vides students with the ability tosee beyond what they can see asregular students,” said Freda. “Wetry to convince students, many ofwhom are intimidated by Honorsclasses, that they should take ongreater academic challenges.”

“Freda is one of HSAC’s guid-ing voices and clearly understandsthe mission of the Honors Programto provide students with academic,leadership and civic engagementopportunities meant to cultivatethoughtful and engaged citizensand future leaders,” said Dr. KarlynKoh, English professor and theHonors Program director.

Her commitment to the HonorsProgram extended to the regionalcommunity when she was electedto the NRHC’s executive board.And last month the NCHC, a pro-fessional association of under-graduate Honors programs, pre-sented Freda with its 2012 Studentof the Year Award for her stellaracademic record and her contribu-tions to her college community,especially through her service onthe HSAC. The award comes witha $1,000 gift.

“Freda has turned her lifearound over a very short period oftime; she has overcome formidablelife adversities and has earned ev-ery achievement she has accumu-lated so far,” stated Dr. Koh in herletter of recommendation to theNCHC. “Her determination andwill to succeed are palpable, andare even more compelling becauseof her capacity and desire to in-spire her peers and give back to theprogram, the College and widercommunities.”

Freda will continue to be an ac-tive member of HSAC until she col-lects her diploma in the spring of2013 and goes on to pursue a degreein education or public administra-tion at one of the colleges on herdream list: Sarah Lawrence, Colum-bia, NYU, Smith and City College.

And after that? “I still want tobecome an educator on some level,but I also see myself in 20 yearsopening a non-profit in an urbancommunity, where I can help youngpeople cultivate their goals anddreams and help bring them intofruition.” said Freda. “It happenedto me and I am so grateful.

See Us Online

woodsideherald.com

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012THE WOODSIDE HERALDPAGE 8

Here’s the rundown on upcoming events:

Letters To The EditorThe following letters are the opinions of its authorand not necessarily those of the Woodside Herald.

Letters To

The Editor

Be Heard! Please send your Letters to the Editor to P.O. Box 7097

Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 or simply email them [email protected]

In Memory of Dr. Vishwa AgarwallDear Editor,

My daughter Susan and I were saddened to read in the Woodside Herald 11/16 edition, of the passingof Dr. Agarwall. Like the article said Dr. Agarwall was a very kind and caring, compassionate humanbeing. We will miss him. Our deepest sympathy to his wife, Mrs. Agarwall and family, and Gail his longtime office assistant. Dr. Agarwall will be greatly missed.

Sincerely,Lucille Fink-Planz

Gun ViolenceOpen Letter To Mayor Bloomberg,

You have campaigned against cigarettes, transfat, large sugary drinks, etc. Why not campaign againstgun violence in movies and TV, which influences our culture? Movies and TV made in NYC. Filmcompanies using our streets must get a permit from the City. The City’s permission should explicitlyforbid the use of guns in these movies and TV. That should help change the culture of violence.

Al Volpe,Woodside

Lucky Locals

Letter Writers are entitled to their own opinions, but not theirown facts. As with any letter, writers speak only for themselves

or their organizations: publication should not be taken as anendorsement of that view by Woodside Herald.

The aim is to stimulate discussion, not end it.

Nicole Pearl of Woodside won $10,000 in the Powerball drawing held onSeptember 19th. Pearl, purchased the winning ticket at the Kamlesh at 25-01Jackson Ave - Citicrp Sq in Long Island City.

Giovanni Delgado of Astoria won $17,461 in the Take Five drawing held onSeptember 27th. Delgado, purchased the winning ticket at the Nancy & David Deli

Grocery at 30-36 14th St in Long Island City.Maria De Sousa of Manhattan won $10,000 in the Lottery’s $5,000,000 Cash! scratch-off game.De Sousa’s winning ticket was purchased at the D K News & Lotto at 40-02 69th St in Woodside.Juan Yanes of Sunnyside won $10,000 in the Mega Millions drawing on November 2nd.Yanes’s winning ticket was purchased at the Vhm Enterprise at 48-17 43rd Ave #b in Sunnyside.Tashi Gurung of Woodside won $10,000 in the Mega Millions drawing on November 16th. Gurung’s

winning ticket was purchased at the Akota Grocery & Halal Meat at 40-04 73rd St in Woodside.Lucille Chasen of Woodside won $32,308 in the Take Five drawing on November 8th. Chasen’s

winning ticket was purchased at the New Rockline News at 60-19 Roosevelt Ave in Woodside.Md Masud of Woodside won $10,000 in the Lottery’s $5,000,000 Cash! scratch-off game. Masud’s

winning ticket was purchased at the D K News & Lotto at 40-02 69th Street in Woodside.

The Road to Recovery- Scouts in Action- Part II

It’s In Western Queens!

by Peter A. Ross

On Monday November 26th itwas the members of TomahawkDistrict that lent yet another help-ing hand to those affected bySuperstorm Sandy. Knowing thatmany did not have house, home, orpossessions with which to celebratethe Thanksgiving holiday as theywould have traditionally, the lead-ership of Tomahawk District ofthe Boy Scouts Queens Council,under the guiding hand of Assis-tant Cubmaster Thomas Curry(Pack 237 and Troops 237 and282) and a host of volunteers,planned and held a ThanksgivingDinner event for the displacedfamilies and friends of Scouts fromthe Rockaways, Broad Channel andother areas in the District affectedby Hurricane Sandy. Seven Scoutunits (Troops and Packs) totaling123 Cub Scouts, 51 Boys Scouts,and 71 adult leaders lost their meet-ing places and equipment, homesor suffered severe damage to thesame and are unable to meet cur-rently, their personal situationsnotwithstanding. Many of the vol-unteers at the Dinner event haveopened up their meeting spacesand nights to those units and mem-bers who have lost theirs but onthis night it was about food, fun,fellowship and a night away fromthe devastation for at least a fewhours with hopes of a small returnto normalcy. Held at the Parish

Cross (for assistance and supply-ing several emergency hot foodsupply containers which was partof the mainstay of the meal), andthe Corona Volunteer AmbulanceCorps and its members who it issaid have run their “rigs” to theground in doing everything theyhave been asked and can otherwisein assisting various groups andvolunteers since the storm.

There is a lot more to do bedone, much re-building to be ac-complished, lessons to be learnedand decisions to be made as to howto move forward from here andhow to minimize the effects of afuture storm as was seen with Hur-ricane Sandy. What cannot beminimized, though, is how we allcome together as neighbors to “Doour best” and to “Do our duty”,precepts Scouts know very well,along with being prepared and do-ing a good turn daily. Congratula-tions to the Troops and Packs notedabove and their community part-ners for not just professing butliving these ideals.

Center of the Nativity of theBlessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Ro-man Catholic Church located at101-41 91st Street in Ozone Park,Queens approximately 126 guestsarrived around seven o’clock tofind rows of tables lined up and afull array of food set up buffet/cafeteria style with a slew of smil-ing volunteers waiting to servethem. After some short openingremarks and announcements camethe benediction and opening mealprayer, recitation of the Boy andCub Scout Oath and Law afterwhich it was onto the eating. Fol-lowing the main course was a bevyof desserts from cakes to cookiesand pastries complete with tea andcoffee. In true Scout fashion anumber of people hung back toassist with clean up of the hallleaving “No Trace” as they aretaught in their training but mostimportantly the guests and fellowScouters went home content andwith hardier spirits to deal withtheir remaining recovery efforts.A special thank you goes out ALLthe volunteers who assisted withthe planning, food preparation, set-up, serving and clean-up at theevent especially Jim Bleakney,Troops 588 and 105, the Toma-hawk District volunteer leadership,Nativity BVM Church for provid-ing the venue for this event andothers to follow, Suanhacky Lodgeof the Order of the Arrow, the Red

Photo Credit: Tom Curry

Scouts line up for the delicious vittles to be hadduring the Tomahawk District Hurricane SandyThanksgiving Dinner for displaced residents.

Rockaway and Broad Channelresidents await their turn at thebuffet table as the event volunteersprepare to serve them.

The circus is coming to town. Squirm Burpee, that is.This troupe combines high-skill acts with Vaudevillecomedy routines and other zany slapstick antics. Andamong other activities, Queens will host the wide arrayof unique New Year’s Eve parties that one would expectin the world’s most diverse borough.

Dec. 30th, Snow White & the Huntsman @ 2pPart of the Central Library Sunday Movies series, this flick tells the PG-

13 story of an evil queen who sets out to destroy a young girl who is the onlyfairer person in the land. Free. Queens Library Central Branch, 89-11Merrick Blvd., Jamaica

Dec. 31st, NYE Radio Personality Reina, 7p–1aParty with pop sensation Reina, who broke through in 1998 with “Find

Another Woman,” which reached number 2 on the Billboard chart for dancemusic/club play. In 2004, Reina (aka Lori Gold) twice made top 10 onBillboard’s dance chart with “If I Close My Eyes” and “Forgive.” Dinner andopen bar. $125. Renaissance Event Hall, 27-34 21st St., Astoria, 917.468.3651Dec. 31st, Skyline Princess Gala Dinner Cruise, 8p–2a

The Skyline Princess sails through NYC Harbor. Free parking at themarina and DJ entertainment. Rain or shine. Reservations are required. Adultpackage (ages 13+, 21+): open bar, buffet, soda, juice, coffee, tea, water,$200. Child package (ages 0-12): buffet, tea, water, soda, juice, $155.Premium adult package includes private tables, $240. Premium child pack-age: $195. World’s Fair Marina Pier 1, Flushing, 718.446.1100,Dec. 31st, The Strand Smokehouse’s NYE Bash, 8p–12p

The new Astoria meat Mecca will host an all-inclusive New Year’s Evebash featuring open bar and open kitchen with live country rock andbluegrass music. Expect pitchers of locally brewed craft beer, whiskeypoured straight from the barrels that they age in and carafes of wine on tap.$95 per person plus tax and gratuity. The Strand Smokehouse, 25-27Broadway, Astoria, 718.440.3231.

Dec. 31st, NYE Bash in the Garden, 8p–2:30aComplimentary party favors and DJ Enzo spinning live. $15. Studio

Square, 35-33 36th St., Long Island City, 718.383.1001

The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens TourismCouncil with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s

wonderful attractions.