November 2019 - The Flushing Blog

Tour six historic Queens houses during #HollyTour2019

November 28, 2019November 26, 2019Dan Rose

Here’s your chance to visit six Flushing landmarks all in one day.

Sunday, December 8 is #HollyTour2019, when the doors for these historic sites will be open to the public: Bowne House, Flushing Town Hall, Quaker Meeting House, Kingsland Homestead, Lewis Latimer House Museum and Voelker Orth House.

There will be family-friend activities, performances, displays and refreshments throughout the tour from 1 to 5 p.m.

All-inclusive tickets are $15 in advance, but $20 at the door. Children under 12 years old can attend for $5 each.

The tour is organized by the Queens Historical Society.

For more information, visit www.queenshistoricalsociety.org or contact Jeran Halfpap at 718-939-0647 ext. 14 or at jeranh@queenshistoricalsociety.org.

Nancy Shannon joins Queens Botanical Garden board

November 26, 2019Dan Rose

Portrait of Nancy Shannon. Photographed on April, 3, 2019 at 4 Irving Place

Queens Botanical Garden’s Board of Trustees has welcomed a new member.

Nancy Shannon, the vice president of human resources at Con Edison, joined the board this month.

A Queens resident, Shannon has over 30 years of managerial and leadership experience in human resources, environment, health and safety and customer operations.

She will play a big role in helping QBG advance its mission during her three-year term.

“The QBG is one of our city’s treasures because of its wonderful educational programs and dedicated environmental stewardship,” Shannon said. “I am honored, delighted and eager to help carry on such great work.”

Braunstein sponsors 9th annual Holiday Gift Drive

November 24, 2019November 19, 2019Dan Rose

Assemblyman Ed Braunstein is sponsoring his 9th annual holiday gift drive for hospitalized veterans and hospitalized children.

For the veterans, his office will collect donations of items such as:

Candy
Pajamas
Robes
Slippers
Socks
Sweaters
Shaving cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Playing cards
Puzzles

They will be distributed to the men and women at St. Albans VA Community Living Center, as well as the New York State Veterans’ Home.

For the toy drive for needy and hospitalized children, donate unwrapped new toys for children of all ages.

Gifts should be delivered by Tuesday, December 17 at Braunstein’s office, located at 213-33 39th Avenue, Suite 238.

They can also be dropped off at the offices of Dr. William M. Duke (35-01 202nd Street) or Community Board 11 (46-21 Little Neck Parkway).

For more information, call Braunstein’s office at 718-357-3588.

Kim, AREAA host Thanksgiving turkey giveaway

November 21, 2019November 19, 2019Dan Rose

On Tuesday, November 26, Assemblyman Ron Kim is teaming up with the New York East Chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and Flushing Town Hall for a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway.

The event will be held at the Garden of Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard at 1 p.m.

All those who are interested in receiving a free turkey and live in Flushing can pick up a voucher ticket at Assemblyman Kim’s office, located at 136-20 28th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

AREAA sponsored 275 turkeys this year. The giveaway is limited to one turkey per family.

The priority will be given to local residents, especially those living in Flushing.

Flushing Chamber to present marketing workshop for local buinesses

November 19, 2019Dan Rose

On Wednesday, November 20, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce will host a mobile marketing workshop called “5 Easy Ways to Use Your Phone for Marketing.”

The workshop for local business owners will take place at Kenvic Training Center, located at 36-57 Main Street, 2nd floor, from noon to 2 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration required here.

The workshop will be led by Giovanna Sun, a marketing expert with a decade of experience as a Google-certified search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search strategist.

Sun co-founded Sosokan Technology and is a minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE)-certified entrepreneur. Sun’s expertise includes digital media planning and buying, graphic design, project management, brand identity and social media.

At the end of the workshop, small business owners will understand how to use their phones for mobile app promotions, photography, videos and social media.

The workshop is organized by the Greater Flushing Chamber as part of its Flushing Fantastic digital marketing campaign, funded by the Department of Small Business Service’s Neighborhood 360° program.

Tangram House South to begin closings

November 16, 2019November 12, 2019Dan Rose

Tangram House South, the first residential tower to be completed at Tangram, has commenced closings and begun move-ins, the developers announced last week.

The building is already nearly sold out thanks to its “unprecedented new lifestyle offerings” that combine 192 luxury homes with amenities, the developers said.

Located at 133-27 39th Avenue, Tangram House South has homes ranging from studios to three-bedrooms and penthouses.

Household amenities include five-inch wide white oak floors, ceiling that go up to 10 feet Miele kitchen appliances, custom-designed Italian cabinets with LED lighting, spacious closets, a washer and dryer, and even a built-in wine cooler in some units.

Nearly all of the homes offer balconies. Some have fireplaces, outdoor barbecue grills and private terraces.

Residents will also enjoy a health and wellness club, space facilities with saunas and a salt room, indoor-heated saltwater lap pool and more.

The attended lobby will have a 24-hour doorman, concierge and residents’ manager.

Historian David Blight to speak at Flushing Library

November 14, 2019November 12, 2019Dan Rose

On Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m., historian David W. Blight will host an author talk at Flushing Library.

He will discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.”

The event is in partnership with the Lewis Latimer House Museum.

Blight is expected to discuss what prompted him to pursue the story of Frederick Douglass, who escaped slavery and became one of the leading orators, writers and abolitionists of his time.

The conversation will shed light on Douglass’ involvement to free George Latimer, the father of inventor and Flushing resident Lewis Latimer, who was arrested after he escaped slavery.

Queens Public Library CEO Dennis Walcott will introduce Blight, while Hugh Price, the great nephew of Lewis Latimer, will give opening remarks.

Get your free tickets to this event here.

Meng collects holiday cards for Queens veterans

November 12, 2019Dan Rose

For the second consecutive year, Congresswoman Grace Meng is sponsoring a holiday card drive for Queens veterans.

Meng’s office will collect cards from members of the public and local elementary schools, then personally deliver them to veterans at the VA St. Albans Community Living Center during the holiday season.

“The holiday season is a very important time of year,” she says. “Providing these special cards to the brave men and women who served our nation is an outstanding way to recognize their service, and make sure they know that we have not forgotten about them during the holidays.”

The holiday cards can be standard cards or simply made from scratch.

They can be dropped off or mailed to 40-13 159th Street, Suite C, in Flushing by December 2nd.

AAFE hosts free classes at new digital learning lab

November 7, 2019November 5, 2019Dan Rose

Asian Americans for Equality is offering a series of free classes at its new digital learning lab in Flushing.

The sessions will be conducted in Mandarin, and are designed for people interested in developing their computer and internet skills.

The lab was opened earlier this month with 30 laptop computers and a curriculum designed with Queens Public Library. The lab was funded through a Spectrum Digital Education grant.

The classes run on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 4 to 6 p.m. at 35-34 Union Street.

Here is the remaining class schedule for November:

Friday, November 8: Intro to Microsoft Word
Tuesday, November 12: Intro to Microsoft Excel
Friday, November 15: Intro to PowerPoint
Tuesday, November 19: Intro to the Internet Part 1
Friday, November 22: Intro to the Internet Part 2

Those interested in attending should call 718-961-2833 to make a reservation.

Parsons Community School Beacon program gets $25K

November 5, 2019Dan Rose

Last week, the Beacon program housed at the Parsons Community School received $25,000 in funding.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic presented a check to the principal with students looking on in the auditorium.

The Beacon program provides after school services and activities. The funding will help sustain programming such as enrichment activities in leadership and civics, college and career readiness and STEM.

Students can partake in sports and recreation, visual and performing arts and health and wellness at the program as well.

Rozic has also allocated funding for the Beacon programs at MS 158 in Bayside and MS 216 in Fresh Meadows.