The Flushing Blog

The Jefferson Democratic Club celebrated the 137th anniversary of its founding at Douglaston Manor last week.

More than 200 attendees, including local, city and state elected officials, labor unions and community leaders, all turned out for the event.

The gala honored the following leaders:

• Thomas Jefferson Leadership Award – State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
• Labor Leader of the Year – Joseph McDermott, executive director of Consortium for Worker Education
• Nonprofit of the Year – Korean Community Services (KCS) of Metropolitan New York
• Business Leader of the Year – Giuseppe Oppedisano of Il Bacco Ristorante Italiano
• Hon. John J. Clabby Award – Ann Jawin, founder of Center for Women of New York.

Queens Poet Laureate and Queens College alumna Maria Lisella will return to her alma mater on Wednesday for a literary reading.

A travel writer for three decades, Lisella has authored three books of poetry. Born and raised in Queens, she derives her inspiration from the borough’s diversity.

“My work continues to follow the threads of immigration, of inclusiveness, of empty and reminders of where we all came from,” she said.

The event will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Benjamin Rosenthal Library.

It’s free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Elected officials in northeast Queens are calling on the MTA to restore service to the Q75 bus that connects Oakland Gardens to Jamaica.

The route, which was eliminated in 2010, provides a one-seat ride to and from Jamaica’s subways for local residents who lack public transit options.

Some Oakland Gardens residents have to take two buses just to reach a subway station.

“In my district, we have no subway service and rely on MTA buses to get around,” said Councilman Barry Grodenchik. “It’s the MTA’s duty to prioritize restoration in areas where bus service is so critical. More transit options for the people of Eastern Queens need to be funded to ensure our borough continues to progress.”

Congresswoman Grace Meng is holding a congressional app competition for local middle and high school students in her district.

The “2017 Congressional App Challenge” is part of a nationwide challenge by the House of Representatives where students compete by creating an exhibiting an app for mobile, tablet or computer devices.

The winning app in each congressional district will be featured on the House website (www.house.gov) and displayed in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol.

The deadline to enter is November 1 at 12 p.m.

Participants may compete individually or in a team of up to four students.

Each student must submit a video of their app and explain what they’ve learned from the competition. All entries must be original in concept, design and execution.

The winner of the contest, judged by a panel of experts, will be announced by the end of the year.

“This contest is a great opportunity for Queens students to highlight their technological skills and show the rest of the country how much tech talent exists right here in our borough,” Meng said.

Students can register for the contest at www.congressionalappchallenge.us.

Bayside Assemblyman Edward Braunstein is sponsoring his annual Halloween Essay and Drawing Contest this year.

Students in his district grades 2 through 5 are invited to participate. The essay OR drawing should have a Halloween theme, such as your favorite trick-or-treat experience, or why you picked your Halloween costume.

The contest deadline is Tuesday, October 31. See the poster above for tips for trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Submit your essays in person or by mail to Braunstein’s office at 213-33 39th Avenue, Suite 238 Bayside, NY 11361. Or you can email it to braunsteine@nyassembly.gov.

Drawings should be mailed or dropped off.

As part of National Audiology Awareness Month, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic is pushing for the appointment of a local audiologist and business owner to the New York State Hearing Aid Dispensing Advisory Board.

Since 1997, Dr. Zumpone-Weibley has served the Flushing community at her practice, Totaling Hearing Care. Her business conducts audiological tests on-site and offers multiple styles of hearing aids.

She also worked with the Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of New York PC for 23 years, establishing their Audiology department.

“Throughout her career, Dr. Zumpone-Weibley has worked in numerous capacities across Queens – each one strengthening her expertise while being of service through education and volunteer work,” Rozic said. “Her appointment to the New York State Hearing Aid Dispensing Advisory Board will be a valued addition for alL New Yorkers.”

The advisory board is made up of 13 members who are appointed by the New York Secretary of State. They oversee the licensure, registration and regulation of occupations.

According to state law, four of the 13 board members must be audiologists who have dispensed hearing aids for at least five years prior to their appointment.

“I have been privileged to spend my career as an audiologist at a time where technological advances have greatly enriched our lives,” Dr. Zumpone-Weibley said. “Hearing aids are an integral part of the remediation of hearing loss and the role of the Advisory Board is to safeguard the needs of the hearing impaired consumer.”

“I am honored to be representing my home town of Flushing on the Board and I hope my efforts will make a difference for the community.”

Her appointment to the board will be confirmed in the next few months, Rozic said.

It’s time to get smart about the technology on our streets.

Department of Transportation Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia joined State Senator Tony Avella, Councilman Paul Vallone and community leaders to unveil a new “smart” turn signal and wireless seniors at 26th Avenue and Corporal Kennedy Street in Bay Terrace.

The signal uses roadway sensors embedded in the left turn lane to detect the presence of a left-turning vehicle. The wireless sensor, known as a “puck” for its shape, is drilled into the roadway.

When a car drives over the puck, the sensor surveys traffic in the area and signal is changed (or not changed) depending on traffic conditions.

According to DOT, the sensors are deep enough to survive milling and paving. They’re battery-powered and last seven to 10 years.

“This signal is now activated only when there are vehicles waiting in the left turn lane – if no one is waiting, the left turn phase is skipped,” Garcia said. “That cuts unnecessary delays for pedestrians and drivers making other movements, which not only enhances efficiency, but also safety, since people subject to excessive delay can drive unpredictably.”

Avella said this new on-demand technology should be replicated throughout the borough.

“Combined with the additional safety enhancements that DOT will be installing along the Corporal Kennedy and 23rd Avenue corridor, we have made great strides towards improving pedestrians and motorist safety in Bayside,” Vallone said.

This Friday at 5 p.m., Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) is hosting its 20th annual Silent March against Domestic Violence in Flushing.

The “Break the Silence, End the Violence” march will begin at the 109th Precinct, located at 37-05 Union Street. The march will conclude at Flushing Library, located at 41-17 Main Street, where a press conference and rally will ensue.

More than 30 community organizations will participate in the silent march.

“KASFC is very excited to celebrate the past 20 years of our movement against domestic violence to mark an important milestone with our beloved community,” said Bomsinae Kim, KAFSC’s executive director.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

KAFSC is also launching its “31 Days of Action” social media campaign during the month and post photos of march participants holding up signs expressing why they break the silence.

Former Comptroller and City Councilman John Liu will headline the third anniversary gala for the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce on Friday, October 13.

The celebration, from 6 to 9 p.m., will take place at Daedong Manor, located at 150-24 Northern Boulevard.

In addition, the chamber will honor the following business leaders:

• Danny Lye, CEO of Abacus Computer Company and Danny’s Steakhouse & Oyster Bar,
• Jerry and David Antonacci, owners of Crown Container,
• Gary Hu, president of the Flushing Chinese Business Association,
• Rev. Wilfredo Benitrz, rector of St. George’s Church,
• John Hong, president of HanMi Realty.

“The Gala is our biggest networking event of the year and we’re so fortunate to have such a lineup of speakers and honorees, including political superstar John Liu, to participate this year,” said John Choe, executive director of the chamber and former chief of staff to John Liu. “Attendees will learn about our accomplishments this year – including the launch of our Flushing Fantastic district marketing campaign as well as the inaugural Tour de Flushing – and also get a preview of our plans for next year.

Event registration and information is available at www.flushinggala.eventbrite.com.