The Flushing Blog

Today, Paul Simon announced that he was coming home to Queens for the final performance of his farewell tour.

“Homeward Bound — The Farewell Performance” will take place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, September 22.

However, the show is the first major concert in the park in decades and Borough President Melinda Katz isn’t thrilled about the idea of paid admission events in public parks.

“Queens adores the fact that Paul Simon has chosen to come home for the final concert of his Farewell Tour. As a lifelong fan, I am absolutely thrilled,” Katz said. “The news, however, is bittersweet. The City of New York could have – and should have – turned this long-anticipated homecoming of Paul Simon into a free concert for all in the park, not limited to those who can afford to pay concert ticket prices at the expense of the surrounding community.

“There are still several days before tickets go on sale. In fairness to all New Yorkers, the City should figure out a way to make this historic performance free and accessible to everyone,” Katz further stated.

In recent years, Katz has shared her concerns regarding for-profit companies running paid admission events in the city’s public parks.

During his announcement of the show, Simon also indicated that he will be donating all personal proceeds from the event to a cause that will be announced at a later date.

Ridgewood Savings Bank is hosting an open house for small businesses at their Whitestone location, located at 25-29 Parsons Boulevard.

Meet with their business banking relationship manager, Vanessa Baijnauth, and learn about the importance of business planning.

You’ll get to network with other small business owners as well!

RSVP by June 21  to jkilom@ridgewoodbank.com or to john@flushingchamber.nyc.

For more information, check out the Eventbrite page here.

In light of recent crimes happening around the borough, Patrol Borough Queens North has sent out the following flyers for crime prevention.

Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop will be the guest speaker at Queens College’s Business Forum Breakfast on Friday, June 15.

His speech will address economic sustainability and mobility for small businesses in the borough.

The forum will run from 8 to 10 a.m. at the fourth floor of the Student Union. Of course, it includes a hearty breakfast!

The event is free and open to the public.

As part of the borough president’s “Know Your Rights Week: Immigrants,” the MinKwon Center for Community Action in Flushing is hosting a clinic for DACA.

DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that shields undocumented young people from deportation. Right now, the Obama-era policy is stuck in legal limbo, and in need of a legislative fix.

That puts many DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants in a state of confusion. Minkwon is offering free and safe legal services on a case-by-case basis to help residents figure out their own path forward.

Make an appointment and drop by Minkwon Center, located at 136-19 41st Avenue, on Wednesday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And the following day, from 4 to 9 p.m., legal and social services organizations are hosting an Immigration Resource Fair at Queens Center Mall. Stop by for assistance there as well.

Volunteer ambulance corps are always in need of more resources, and thanks to a local pol, the Whitestone community is getting a new ambulance.

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein’s $125,000 grant will allow the Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance Service to obtain a new vehicle.

That means the residents of Whitestone will receive even faster aid when needed.

Head to Flushing Town Hall this Friday for a presentation of Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood Concerts: Red Baraat at 8 p.m.
This Brooklyn-based band combines rock, jazz and funk with scorching bhangra for a pulse-quickening experience.
Online RSVP for this free performance of Red Baraat is closed but Flushing Town Hall will have a stand-by line at the door. If they have any tickets not picked up by 7:15 p.m., they will give those tickets to people on the stand-by line on a first-come, first-served basis.
Red Baraat will be releasing a new album, Sound The People, on June 29.

Students and community members near JHS 189 in Flushing finally have their new playground.

The state-of-the-art, $1 million green space will serve 36,000 residents within a 10-minute walk. It includes an artificial turf field, running track, green roof gazebo, outdoor classroom, garden, bleachers, benches and a handball wall.

Green features include bioswales, trees and garden areas that will absorb 700,000 gallons of stormwater per year.

The park is open to the community after school hours and on the weekends.

This afternoon, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic is hosting her sixth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration at Townsend Harris High School.

This year, the following community leaders will be honored:

• Gabriel Hisugan, Asian Americans for Equality
• Bright Limm, Korean Americans for Political Advancement
• Julie Ae Kim, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
• Dr. Raj Bhayani, Hindu Center Temple

The celebration will include a discussion between Assemblywoman Rozic and Mrs. World 2018 and attorney Alice Lee Giannetta. Both are alumni of Townsend Harris HS.

It will also feature student performances and an award cermeony.

The event will run from noon t0 1:30 p.m. at Townsend Harris HS (149-11 Melbourne Avenue).

Local veteran Jason Kaatz has been inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Kaatz joined the U.S. Army in 1964, serving in Vietnam from November 1964 to December 1967 in the following:

• 161st Assault Helicopter Company
• 52nd and 14th Combat Aviation Battalions
• 17th Aviation Group
• 1st Aviation Brigrade

While in Vietnam, he was also assigned to the following:

• Republic of South Korea Tiger Division
• South Vietnamese 22nd ARVN Division
• 5th Special Forces
• Special Operations Group in Bhin Dhin Province

Kaatz was honorable discharged in March 1970. He is a highly-decorated veteran, with medals including the Vietnam Service Medal with three battle stars, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 50 Devices, Aircraft Crewman Badge, Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Service Award.

Upon his return, Kaatz served on the national executive committee of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, as the Queens County Commander and commander of the Bell-Oak Post 648.