Author: Dan Rose

Queens College honored one of its most famous alumni last week at its annual gala.

Fran Drescher, an Emmy-nominated actress, author and cancer-awareness advocate, was recognized with the college’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Begun in 1990 to honor alumni whose professional success and dedication to philanthropy and public service embody the college’s motto – discuss ut serviamus, or we learn so that we may serve – the gala also serves as the college’s main fundraising event.

The gala also honored philanthropist Muriel Sapir Greenblatt andactivist Evelyn M. Starch. Alumna Juliet Papa, a radio reporter with 1010 WINS, emceed the event.

Last Friday, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein announced the winner of his annual Women’s History Month Art Contest, where students are asked to draw a picture of a photo they admire.

The winner this year is 6th grader Tiffany Zheng from IS 25 Adrien Block School in Auburndale. Zheng drew a portrait of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license.

Zheng received a gift card from Amazon. Her portrait of Bessie Coleman will appear on the cover of next year’s contest brochure.

“Nearly 250 students from schools in Queens participated in my Women’s History Month Art Contest,” Braunstein said, “and I was extremely impressed with their talented drawings.”

The Asian/Asian American Center at Queens College is hosting its “Honoring Our Heritage” event for Asian American Heritage Month, which is celebrated nationally every May.

The celebration, which begins at 12:15 p.m. at the Patio Room, will present five scholarships to Queens College students.

The keynote speaker is Elizabeth OuYang, Esq., former executive director of the Organization for Chinese Americans (OCA)-NY.

The speech, “Race, Equality, & Asian Americans in Higher Education” will be followed by a discussion with professors Madhulika Khandelwal, Nathalis Wamba and Alpana Bhattacharya.

To RSVP, contact the Asian/Asian American Center at 718-997-3050 or email qc.aac@qc.cuny.edu.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic was among the many elected officials who met the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets last week at City Hall.

The celebration was held for Dwight “Doc” Gooden, former pitcher for the Mets, who helped the 1986 team clinch the club’s second World Series win.

Mayor de Blasio presented a key to the city to Gooden, who missed the celebration decades ago.

After the ceremony, Rozic met with Gooden, former right fielder Darryl Strawberry and former catcher Barry Lyons.

State Senator Tony Avella announced last week that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has installed two all-way stop signs at different intersections in his district.

The first all-way stop is at Smedley Street and Coolidge Avenue in the Jamaica Hills area. The sign was first requested in November 2015.

The second all-way stop was placed at 263rd Street and Williston Avenue in Bellerose. The request for that stop was made in August 2016.

“The addition of an all-way stop at these intersections will go a long way in improving traffic safety in our neighborhoods,” Avella said.

The Queens Solidarity Coalition is organizing a health care town hall at Townsend Harris High School on Sunday, April 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The panel will feature policy experts, providers, hospital executives and advocates to discuss the state of healthcare in the borough.

Congresswoman Grace Meng will participate in Sunday’s meeting.

The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is looking for a Communications Associate who can commit to working a minimum of 20 hours a week.

The associate will contribute to projects like developing and implementing a community outreach strategy, coordinating peacemaking initiatives that bring people together and managing volunteers.

See more of the job’s responsibilities and qualifications here.

Associates are unpaid, but may be able to get college credits. Monthly MetroCards will be provided.

To apply, send resumes to john@flushingchamber.nyc with the subject “Community Organizer.”

The 11u Queens Pythons AAU basketball team has made their mark early in this year’s AAU basketball circuit by winning 4 out of 5 tournaments.

Most recently they beat the RENS, a top ranked team, at the St. Robert’s Invitational tournament.

They won the AAU Super Qualifier in Brewster, the AAU Empire State Zero Gravity, the March Madness Tournament at Variety B&G Club, and lost in the finals at the AAU Real Skillz tournament.

“We are 1 team, 1 family, 1 mission,” said Junior Oliviera, head of the Queens Pythons program.

The 11u Queens Pythons team consists of:
Anthony
Jayden
Jalen
Jalen
Amar
Sean
RJ
Gabe
London
Jordan
Myles

The Pythons are participating in Heroes Basketball League, which starts the first week of May. You can watch them play at Crowley Park (Elmhurst) or Frontera Park (Maspeth) on weekdays for the next 8 weeks.

If you want to see what the Pythons are up to, here is their Instagram Page.