Author: Dan Rose

For the first time in its 56-year existence, the gymnasium at Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows got a makeover.

The funding for the $1.2 million project came from Councilman Peter Koo’s office and the School Construction Authority (SCA). The state-of-the-art gym includes a new maple floor, new bleachers that are ADA-compliant and electric work.

“With over 30 PSAL teams, JROTC, numbers clubs and events , we know that our school community will enjoy the benefits of our new gymnasium for the next 56 years,” said Principal Marmor.

Francis Lewis HS opened its doors in 1960. Today, it serves approximately 4,500 students in New York City.

“More than 4,000 students now have daily access for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and other activities,” said Koo, who contributed $350,000 to the renovation. “These students work hard every day to make the most of their education, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to make sure they have the resources they need.”

Reliance Star Payment Services has been a top payment processing company in Queens & Long Island since 2004.

Reliance Star co-founder, John Kim, is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative that will help local nonprofit organizations and charities.

 

Reliance Star’s “Payments for a Cause” initiative allows businesses that use the company’s services to donate a portion of processing fees to a non-profit or charity of their choice.

“Local residents are either unaware of the non-profits in their area, or they don’t know what local non-profit companies actually do,” said Kim. “Queens is filled with good hearted people who love to give, so our payment processing company created an initiative where we help merchants make a bigger impact in their local community,” said Kim.

Once businesses sign up with Reliance Star to process their credit card payments, each business chooses which charity or nonprofit it wants to support and that group will then receive 10 percent of the monthly processing fees.

“If you are a local business leader, nonprofit leader, or charity leader, you should be enrolled in the program. If you are passionate about supporting a specific charity, let us know and we’ll contact the charity directly and set them up in the program,” said Kim.

Reliance Star’s website for the program, paymentforcause.com, lists charities that businesses can support.

Switching to Reliance Star requires no additional costs, and they offer a free assessment to a prospective business, explaining the processing cost and how much money can be saved.

 

 

The third annual Children’s Holiday Parade, sponsored by Councilman Paul Vallone and the Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID) took place last Sunday.

More than a thousand marchers and spectators filled the streets along Bell Boulevard from 36th Avenue to 41st Avenue.

The parade concluded with remarks from elected officials, a performance from the Landrum School of Performing Arts, songs from the PS 31 choir, PS 41, and finally, a Christmas tree and menorah lighting.

At the end of the parade, the Bayside-Whitestone Lions Club, Councilman Vallone’s Student Ambassadors and other volunteers distributed hot chocolate and bake goods, which were donated by Papazzio Restaurant and Martha’s Country Bakery.

“Sunday’s third annual Children’s Holiday Parade truly symbolized the spirit of every community, faith, holiday and beauty of this most wonderful time of the year!” Vallone said in a statement. “The countless children, families, friends and neighbors who came out were a true testament to the power the holidays have to bring a community together in shared celebration.

Here are photos from the parade, courtesy of Councilman Vallone’s office:

 

 

This past election season has been divisive and tough, but for northeast Queens residents,   here’s an outlet where they can express their thoughts, feelings and concerns.

Assemblyman Nily Rozic announced on Monday that her storefront window will be transformed into an interactive project, open to the public, that mimics the sticky note displays popping up across New York, such as the one at Union Square.

“People should have an opportunity to express themselves and remind everyone that we are a strong and united community,” Rozic said. “I want to give everyone a small outlet to express their post-election thoughts, grief, confusion and responses moving forward.”

Rozic’s office is located at 159-16 Union Turnpike in Flushing and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rosin’s office has previously been used to host seasonal artwork from local artists as well as elementary and middle school students in the area.

The Bayside Hills Civic Association is hosting its 2016 Holiday Festival on Sunday, December 18th at 5 p.m.

The event will be hosted at the Bell Boulevard and 53rd Avenue mall.

The festival will feature a Christmas tree and menorah lighting, musical performances by PS 203’s chorus and In Motion Dance Center, refreshments, invited elected and religious officials and more.

For more information, visit the civic association’s Facebook page and their website.

The Queens Botanical Garden is hosting a Christmas celebration at the garden on Sunday, December 4 from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

The celebration will include later and ornament making for kids, an a cappella performance by The Rough Dozen, photos with Santa and most importantly, a tree lighting ceremony.

At 5 p.m., participants will walk to the Cherry Circle, lanterns in hand, for the event’s tree lighting.

The entire event is free, except the photos with Santa.

Join the Whitestone community at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, December 1st) at 4PM in the Harpells parking lot on 150th Street.. The event is sponsored by Councilman Paul Vallone, The Queens Chamber of Commerce, and the We Love Whitestone civic organization.

Just in time for the holidays, the YWCA of Queens is hosting its first food giveaway to combat hunger in the local community.

Flushing has been identified as one of the top 11 neighborhoods with an unmet need for food in New York, and one of two in Queens.

The food giveaway is sponsored by the Flushing-based NewBank in honor of its 10th anniversary.

Donations are courtesy of City Harvest and H-Mart, the national supermarket chain that actually started in Woodside.

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assemblyman Ron Kim and Councilman Peter Koo are expected to attend.

The event will be on Saturday, December 3rd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 42-07 Parsons Blvd.

For more information, contact Yoon Hee Son at yson@ywcaqueens.org or 718-353-4553 ext. 27.

With Thanksgiving Day approaching, Councilman Peter Koo teamed up with Flushing-based organizations last Thursday to collect and distribute 300 turkeys.

The turkeys were given to community senior centers, public housing residents and faith-based institutions.

Sponsors of the turkey drive include Koo, the Flushing Chinese Business Association, Flushing Lions Club, H&Y Marketplace, and the principals of Epos Development, Henry Yeung and Michael Cheng.

State Senator Tony Avella will host mobile office hours this Sunday, November 20th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hillcrest Jewish Center.

Residents of Jamaica Estate, Fresh Meadows and nearby communities can meet with the senator and his staff to discuss any concerns.

“I look forward to meeting you and continuing to work together to improve our community,” Avella wrote in a mailer sent to constituents.

The event will be Avella’s sixth and final mobile office hours of the year. At previous mobile offices, constituents have brought up bioswales, the need for a supermarket in Whitestone and lack of traffic controls.

According to Avella’s office, each concern will be addressed.

Hillcrest Jewish Center is located at 183-02 Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows.