Author: Dan Rose

State Senator Tony Avella introduced legislation on Thursday to bar elected officials who were convicted of felonies from collecting pensions accrued during or after the date of their crime.

The bill would still allow those elected officials to collect pensions amassed before the criminal conduct was committed.

“Allowing convicted felons to collect five or six-figure pensions at the expense of the State ruins the very integrity of this legislative body,” Avella said. “My bill, which is part of my ethics reform package, fixes this oversight and, I think, very fairly draws a line in the sand: If you’ve committed a felony, the pension which you have accumulated since you’ve broken the law becomes forfeit.”

The legislation comes as part of an ethics reform package Avella announced earlier in the year. His former colleague, former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, was convicted on federal corruption charges last year. Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was also convicted on corruption charges.

Both will still collect a “hefty” pension, according to Avella’s office, including $95,000 this year for Skelos.

Charles Tola, owner and head baker of Lulu’s Bakery of Fresh Meadows, won first place on “Cake Wars” last night.

A Fresh Meadows local, and part of the St. Francis of Assisi family, Tola shined on the Food Network TV show.

His unique story begins at the age of 10. Tola, also known as “Charlie”, began working at his uncles’ bakery as a cleaning boy. As time passed, Charlie’s interest & passion for the bakery business flourished. With the help of his uncle, former employers, & most of all, self-motivation, Charlie went on to learn how to bake & decorate cakes professionally specializing in all types of whipped creams, butter creams, and rolled fondant cakes. By the young age of 23, Charlie was absolutely convinced that baking was his ultimate passion and wanted to share it with his community.

Here’s Lulu’s Facebook page & website www.lulusbakeryshop.com,

Flushing’s elected officials and community members braved the cold Saturday for the annual Lunar New Year parade.

State and local politicians attended the celebration for the Year of the Monkey, including: Congresswoman Grace Meng, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Assemblyman Ron Kim and Councilman Peter Koo.

The Flushing Chinese Business Association, led by its president Liu Tee Shu and executive director Peter Tu, organized the parade.

This year was also the first year students had the day off from school to celebrate the holiday. Public schools observed Lunar New Year on Monday, February 8.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Councilman Barry Grodenchik celebrated the opening of a new computer technology lab at P.S. 46 in Oakland Gardens.

The new lab will go toward furthering the school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programs and help students develop their presentational and group collaboration skills.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a student performance at the elementary school.

Grammy-winning singer Beyonce joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars on stage at Sunday night’s Super Bowl 50 halftime show in Santa Clara, California.

Now she’s taking her talents around the globe. Beyonce announced her new Formation World Tour immediately after the performance. One of her stops will be Citi Field in Flushing, and she’s set to perform on June 7.

This will be her first time playing at the home of the New York Mets.

Tickers go on sale Tuesday, February 16 at 10 a.m. Buy tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a 49-year-old victim last week as she was getting out of her car.

Police say the man approached the victim after midnight as she was getting out of her car in front of 132-05 Avery Avenue. After a struggle inside the car, the suspect punched her in the face several times and took about $2,000 and credit cards from her purse. The suspect then ran toward College Point Blvd.

The victim was treated at Elmhurst Hospital and has been released.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or visiting www.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.com

Gone are the days that you’d have to trek all the way to Manhattan or Western Queens for some good stand-up comedy. Tonight, Flushing Town Hall will be hosting the Laff Lab Comedy Club from 7 p.m.

Come down and listen to some local up-and-coming comedians perform such as Andrew Lee, Howard Newman, Derrick “OC” Reid, Michael Young Cho, Mel Garlick and Michael Young Cho. Tickets are free with RSVP.

You can RSVP at www.laff-lab.com/

If you have experience in singing in a high school, college or church choir, and you’d like to get involved with a local church choir once more, you can check out the Lutheran Church of the Messiah.

The church is getting ready for their May concert and are holding rehearsals every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Those who are interested can attend rehearsals and see if joining the choir is something you’d like to do.

In a statement, the choir wrote, “Our director is most capable of bringing out the best in people who like to sing and have some knowledge of written music. Aside from our love of singing, we have a good time. After all, we are beginning our 56th year – we must be doing something right!”

For more information call 718-326-1922 or 718-224-0204, or email csofq@aol.com.