Facebook Twitter Instagram
718 426 7200
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Seneca Stroll Returns

BQE Admin on October 31, 2024

By: Nova M Bajamonti

Rudy’s Bakery & Cafe celebrated a huge milestone on Saturday, October 26 with the Ridgewood community – its 90th Anniversary during the return of the Seneca Avenue Stroll. The high energy of the festivity was palpable, as owner Antonetta Binanti, who goes by “Toni,” greeted all her enthusiastic, and loyal customers with a warm embrace and hearty smile.

The bakery offers a special touch, and one that you don’t experience often – it provides feelings of attending a wholesome, and cheerful family gathering. Rudy’s is also a foodie’s dream come true, by offering a huge plethora of delicious options, ranging from its old-fashioned jelly doughnuts, signature Black Forest Cake, to its Homemade Dark Hot Chocolate. “Everyday I walk into Rudy’s, I never feel like I’m going to work,” Binanti said. “I feel like I’m going to a happy place and my customers are just amazing, and today, the love and the support that I’m getting from all my customers, from every age – I mean I got a two-year-old this morning, telling me ‘Toni, congratulations,’ and then I got a lady coming in, and she’s 94 years old, and she told me she’s been coming to Rudy’s since the 60s. That just inspired me.”

Binanti’s uncle Ralph DiFonzo purchased the store in 1980, and as a young baker, she learned from him. Her uncle inspired her to take cooking classes in high school, and to then attend a trade school for baking. Her love for the delicious craft grew while working under him, and it stayed with her, long after his passing 22 years ago. Binanti’s uncle offered her the gems of his wise advice when he told her, “Stay focused, love what you do, and be honest and be true to your customers, and they’ll never fail you.” In the ever-changing and challenging economic times, especially in a huge metropolis such as New York City, Binanti thinks that the secret behind Rudy’s longevity is adaptation.

The bakery shop has created gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan pastries to ‘please’ Rudy’s customers of all needs, who have a sweet tooth. Binanti also believes that it’s the team-mentality that is the special ingredient to the bakery’s success. “The main thing [is], I think the way I run Rudy’s,” Binanti said. “First of all – I have an amazing staff. Anybody that joins me – they become my team and I tell them, ‘you’re Team Toni, and you’re Team Rudy’s, and we need to focus only on these two things, and we need to work on us.’

Pastry Chef Cristina Nastasi, who graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education, has been on the bakery’s talented team for the past 14 years. Her first high school job at 17 years old was at Rudy’s, and she’s known Binanti for over 20 years. Nastasi shares the same ‘passion for food, desserts and sugar,’ with Binanti and she’s inspired by the owner’s enthusiasm. “[Toni] loves what she does,” Nastasi said. “I love what I do. When you wake up every morning, and you’re excited to go to work and help customers – Toni loves her customers. She loves her business. She lives for this. So I know what gets her through every day is her love and her passion for her business. This is her baby. Seeing a woman like that, who wakes up everyday and loves what she does – I actually followed in her footsteps too when I wake up every day, and I love the same thing.” Nastasi holds dear the insight that Binanti once told her. “If you don’t love what you do, you will never make it, and you will not be happy,” Nastasi recalled.

Binanti’s daughter-in-law Giuseppa Capritto-Binanti, who works at Rudy’s believes that it’s Binanti’s bright aura that keeps customers coming back. “I think it’s her personality and just the way she talks,” Capritto-Binanti said. “She’s so strong and warm at the same time, because her caring demeanor is what attracts people here. I think it has to do with the warmth of everyone here, and everyone feels like family with customers. We know each other’s life stories and we know your order. We could just look at you, and we don’t have to ask certain people what they want. We just know it. It’s crowded like this, all the time honestly [on] some days, and it has to do with her mainly.” As for Binanti’s plans for Rudy’s future, she hopes to pass the torch. “My hope is one day, I could sell this to a young couple that have the same dream that I had when I first started 43 years ago,” Binanti said. “If you love what you do, it’s not a job.”

From Brooklyn to Queens: Two Runners Unite in NYC Marathon Spirit

BQE Admin on October 31, 2024

Courtesy New York Road Runners

An 88-year-old former dentist, Danil Farkash, is set to run his first marathon since 2009, inspired by his children’s participation and cherishing the shared experiences.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

With just days to go before the TCS New York City Marathon, the nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR) has unveiled Team Inspire, a group of 26 runners chosen for their remarkable stories—one for each mile of the race. Among the team members are local runners Danil Farkash from Forest Hills, Queens, and Larry Lewis from South Slope, Brooklyn.

Since its inception in 1970, more than 1.4 million people have completed the TCS New York City Marathon, which is expected to attract over 50,000 participants from all 50 states and more than 150 countries this year. The marathon is renowned for its inclusivity, with both the first and final finishers navigating the same course on the same day.

NYRR aims to foster healthier lives and stronger communities through running, serving nearly half a million New Yorkers annually via races, community events, youth initiatives, and school programs across the five boroughs. Over its nearly 70-year history, NYRR has evolved from a local running club to the world’s leading community running organization, producing over 60 races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon, held on the first Sunday of November.

Danil Farkash, at 88 years old, is among the oldest participants in this year’s marathon. Originally from Ukraine, he immigrated to the United States in 1979 but did not take up running until his 70s. Since 2009, he has completed every TCS New York City Marathon.

Farkash, who is a retired dentist, shared insights into his marathon journey, which began after his daughter inspired him to run her first marathon. He and his children have since participated in several New York City marathons together, cherishing those shared experiences.

Farkash emphasizes that every part of the marathon experience holds significance for him, from the start to the finish. He trains primarily on city streets, favoring routes like the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Boulevard. Currently, he practices about two to three times a month.

A standout memory for Farkash is the time he ran the marathon alongside his children, relishing the moments spent together, including their ferry ride to the event. Having also completed marathons in states like New Jersey and Florida, he appreciates the camaraderie and excitement surrounding each race.

“Each part of all parts from the first race to the last one, it’s difficult to say what my favorite part is,” Farkash said. “When we all ran it together, that was probably a very good memory, because we went together in the morning to the Staten Island Ferry. We got to enjoy all of the activities before the marathon.”

For first-time marathon runners, Farkash advises them to enjoy the experience and the vibrant atmosphere of New York City, noting the numerous musical performances along the route. He highlights the health benefits of running, encouraging newcomers to embrace the journey.

Courtesy New York Road Runners

Larry Lewis, a seasoned marathoner, is returning to the race after overcoming a stroke, emphasizing the importance of community and support in his running journey.

Larry Lewis discovered running in 1982 when a colleague invited him to run the Boston Marathon as a bandit. He became captivated by the sport and ran his first New York City Marathon in 1983, completing it for 33 consecutive years—earning him Streaker status for those who have participated 15 times or more. However, his 34th marathon in 2018 was interrupted by a stroke, which required extensive rehabilitation and relearning to walk. Despite challenges, he is set to return to the TCS New York City Marathon this year, competing as part of a duo team with a guide from Achilles International, an adaptive sports nonprofit. For Lewis, the marathon is a cherished event filled with memories, and he currently trains regularly in Prospect Park.

Lewis reflected on his long-running history with the New York City Marathon. This year, with support from Achilles International, he is set to complete that milestone.

Achilles International helps athletes with disabilities take part in endurance events. Living near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Lewis became involved with the organization after observing their athletes in local races. He now trains using a Hoyt running chair, participating in long runs with Achilles volunteers to prepare for the marathon. 

A Hoyt running chair is a specially designed racing chair that allows athletes with disabilities to participate in running events, featuring a lightweight frame and safety harness for the seated athlete, while being pushed by a partner.

Lewis began his running journey in 1982, inspired by a colleague who suggested he join the Boston Marathon. After completing his first marathon in 1983, he continued his passion for running and registered for the New York City Marathon the same year.

What motivates him to run the New York City Marathon is the community he has built over the years, with friends and family cheering him on along the course. He finds the atmosphere exhilarating, noting how even strangers in the crowd support the runners.

“Even though there’s thousands of runners in this particular race, it’s a small community that I have built over the years,” Lewis said. “Complete strangers are out there screaming your name, cheering for you to complete this task of 26 miles.”

In preparation for this year’s marathon, Lewis has been training primarily in Prospect Park, taking advantage of familiar routes like the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. He emphasizes the importance of mental preparation, offering insights from his extensive experience to his training partners.

For first-time marathon runners, Lewis advises starting slowly in the first half to conserve energy for the latter part of the race. He warns that the initial excitement can fade, leaving runners to face the mental challenge of the later miles.

Lewis hopes to highlight the importance of community among athletes, particularly through organizations like Achilles International, which foster connections and support among endurance runners.

“The hope and possibility of doing this event for me is about building a community of athletes who I have come to know over the years of participating in endurance events,” Lewis said. 

Team Inspire includes a diverse mix of first-time marathoners, experienced runners, and charity participants, all united by the transformative power of running. Representing the spirit of New York City, the team reflects the marathon’s essence and the city’s vibrant community. For more information, visit nyrr.org.

LaGuardia Community College Expands Support for New Yorkers with New Fund

BQE Admin on October 31, 2024

Courtesy LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College is boosting support for non-citizen students with the new $1.5 million Friedman Fund, offering scholarships, stipends, and emergency aid.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

LaGuardia Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY), is enhancing access to higher education for New Yorkers seeking college degrees and workforce training.

In recent years, the LaGuardia Community College Foundation has provided over $4 million in financial assistance annually to approximately 3,000 students. With the introduction of the Friedman Fund for New New Yorkers, the college will increase its financial support for students regardless of their citizenship status.

“The Friedman Fund provides more dedicated funding to individual non-citizen students within existing programs of aid of almost every kind – scholarships, stipends and emergency aid,” Jay Golan, Executive Director of the LaGuardia Community College Foundation said. “In addition, the Fund inaugurates a program, the Friedman Fellows, for non-citizen students to get paid positions helping other LaGuardia students on campus in academic work, peer counseling and mentoring. “

The Friedman Family established the Friedman Fund for New Yorkers at the Community College out of a deep commitment to improving the quality of life for New York City students. Their grant for non-citizen students was inspired by visits to the LaGuardia campus, where they met students and evaluated existing support programs, reinforcing their desire to contribute meaningfully to the community. 

Funded by the $1.5 million commitment from the Friedman Family, the new initiative aims to address the diverse needs of the city’s immigrant population. The Friedmans, who have had notable careers in New York, recognize the integral role education plays in fostering aspiration and achievement, contributing to a stronger city and region.

“When we stepped back from our professional careers,” the Friedmans said, “We were interested in giving back to New York City. Our interests led us to CUNY and to LaGuardia Community College for its diversity and critical role in working with immigrants, old and new, in degree, literacy and career-building initiatives. We were gratified to find partners at LaGuardia who shared our vision for a great city.”

Courtesy LaGuardia Community College

This initiative aims to enhance educational access and community integration for immigrants.

The Friedman Fund will enhance support for non-citizen students at LaGuardia Community College by offering increased financial aid through scholarships, stipends, and emergency assistance, as well as creating paid positions for students to help their peers in academic and mentoring roles.

“It is extremely gratifying to LaGuardia Community College that its mission to give every students avenues to achieve their dreams to build careers and fulfilling lives, has been validated by the Friedman Family,” Golan said. “Their partnership with the LaGuardia Foundation expands participation of private philanthropy in this mission and focuses on the particular needs of the substantial non-citizen segment of the LaGuardia student body.”

LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams expressed gratitude for the Friedmans’ commitment, emphasizing the importance of providing quality education to all students. The support from the Friedman Fund will enable scholarships, experiential learning stipends, and emergency aid through LaGuardia CARES, which connects students with resources to help them overcome financial barriers and remain in school.

“Our conversations with the Friedmans were fascinating,” President Adams said. “This family has a passion for helping in ways that feel right to them, and this led them to focus on new New Yorkers and their needs. They, like all of us at LaGuardia, believe that it is possible for New York to address the challenges of integrating all kinds of aspiring New Yorkers by public education and workforce development. What LaGuardia’s donors add is invaluable privately funded quality-of-life student aid.”

“The Friedman family brings a lifelong concern for New York City students and their quality of life, and a commitment to give back to New York in a substantial way,” Golan said. “The Friedman Family grant for non-citizen students followed visits to the LaGuardia campus to meet students and a review of existing programs to aid students.”

LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, offers more than 50 associate degrees and over 65 continuing education programs. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, LaGuardia has played a significant role in advancing the socioeconomic mobility of its diverse student body since its founding in 1971.

LaGuardia Community College hopes to inspire other universities to integrate non-citizen students into campus life and encourage increased private philanthropy to support these initiatives.

“It is LaGuardia’s hope both that other universities recognize the potential that exists for integrating non-citizen students into the life of the university and the surrounding community, and that more private philanthropy can be tapped into their support,” Golan said. 

Queens Residents Indicted in Major Gun Trafficking Operation

BQE Admin on October 31, 2024

Courtesy the New York Attorney General’s Office

Firearms and ammunition recovered by the investigation.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

The New York Attorney General’s Office has announced the indictment of three individuals from Queens for their alleged involvement in a significant gun trafficking operation that illegally transported 184 firearms from North Carolina to New York City. 

The defendants—Deundre Wright, 22, Abner Sparkes, 31, and Ethan Charles, 22 are facing a wide array of charges, including Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree.

The indictment, which consists of 579 counts, was unsealed in Queens County Supreme Court and underscores the serious nature of the offenses. Among the firearms recovered were numerous assault weapons, semiautomatic pistols, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The operation reportedly spanned several months, from March to July 2024, and involved a network that facilitated the illegal sale of these weapons in New York City.

“The majority of guns used in crimes in New York City are illegally trafficked from other states with lax gun laws along the Iron Pipeline and are fueling deadly gun violence in our communities,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation shut down a major gun trafficking operation that brought a flood of dangerous weapons, including assault weapons, from North Carolina into New York City in the span of just a few months. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to keep New Yorkers safe and get illegal guns off our streets. I thank our partners in this investigation for their work to stop gun violence.”

According to the investigation, Wright was the key figure responsible for sourcing firearms in North Carolina, where gun laws are comparatively lax. He allegedly transported the firearms back to New York by traveling on buses, hiding the weapons in luggage. Once in Queens, Wright stored the firearms at various locations, including friends’ homes and parked cars in Jamaica, Queens. Reports indicate that he set prices for the weapons, which ranged from $1,000 to $2,500 each.

Courtesy the New York Attorney General’s Office

The rocket-propelled grenade launcher and one of the assault weapons seized by the investigation

“Often times we see drug and gun violence go hand in hand. The indictments of these three individuals are thanks to the hard work of our DEA Strikeforce, New York’s Attorney General, and our law enforcement partners, when targeting those who pose a threat to our communities through the sale of illegal firearms,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “The removal of over 150 firearms, which includes numerous assault weapons and semiautomatic pistols, just made the streets of New York City and our neighborhoods safer. The DEA remains committed to protecting our communities, reducing gun violence, and enhancing public safety.”

Sparkes played a crucial role in facilitating the sales. He reportedly met with customers at designated locations, conducting transactions discreetly from his vehicle. After each sale, he would return the cash to Wright, who monitored the transactions from a nearby location.

The investigation, a collaborative effort led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), also involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Law enforcement officials employed a combination of controlled purchases, physical surveillance, and covert video monitoring to gather evidence over several months.

“Today’s charges are a stark reminder that high-powered, illegal firearms continue to proliferate and circulate in our communities, and that NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners are doing the dangerous work of preventing them from getting into criminals’ hands on the streets,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon. “Disrupting and dismantling gun trafficking networks is a top priority for our city. I thank everyone at Office of the Attorney General and all of our local, state, and federal partners for their hard work on this important case and for their ongoing commitment to our shared public safety mission.”

On August 8, 2024, authorities made a significant breakthrough when they detained Wright and Charles in Manhattan as they were disembarking from a bus carrying multiple suitcases. In the course of this operation, investigators seized 41 firearms, including four shotguns and an inoperable rocket-propelled grenade launcher, which were hidden in their luggage. This seizure highlights the alarming nature of the operation and the types of weapons that were being trafficked into New York City.

Each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by illegal firearms in urban areas and the interconnectedness of gun and drug violence.

The Attorney General’s Office expressed gratitude to its law enforcement partners, including the DEA and NYPD, for their collaborative efforts in addressing this pressing issue. The investigation illustrates a commitment to dismantling illegal gun trafficking networks, which are believed to contribute significantly to the rise in gun violence in the city.

The investigation was led by DEA New York Strikeforce’s Task Force Officer, NYPD Detective Ryan Foy, with oversight from NYPD leadership. The Attorney General’s Office also highlighted the contributions of various agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement partners in North Carolina.

Arts4All Foundation Hosts Diwali and Navaratri Festival

BQE Admin on October 31, 2024

By: William Ruben Helms

Arts4All Foundation, a New York-based non-profit that is “committed to educating, advocating and empowering individuals and communities to be artists of change,” hosted a free and open to the public Diwali and Navaratri Festival near Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s Unisphere on Oct 5.  Celebrated by Indians of many different faiths, cultures, ethnicities and social backgrounds across the world, including some seven million folks across the US and nearly 150,000 of our neighbors here in Queens, Diwali and Navaratri are two holidays that are deeply connected with one another. Both holidays celebrate the light of knowledge removing ignorance and despair and righteousness triumphing over injustice. They’re also anchored in the oncepts of upholding and preserving inalienable, universal human rights, and protecting the planet and the universe. Depending on the lunar calendar, both holidays take place during October and November – with Navaratri kicking off the holiday season and Diwali closing it out. 

Festival attendees enjoyed a variety of musical and dance performances highlighting South Asian culture, high-quality, vegetarian meals and snacks, educational and cultural games and toys for kids, a henna station, yoga, books and other arts and crafts because “all people deserve access to high-quality food, entertainment, the arts and education,” Arts4All Foundation’s founder Dr. Sumita SenGupta says. According to SenGupta, the festival’s specific focus was to showcase, “the rich artistic techniques of Indian music and dance, and the diversity of Indian art forms.”  Of course, as expected, a gorgeous array of brightly colored traditional celebratory clothing.  And when the sun went down, there was a parade and Diya lighting ceremony at the Unisphere, for the first time ever. 

The location near the Unisphere was symbolic. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was the site of the 1964 World’s Fair. That event, which celebrated innovations in arts, culture and sciences through exhibitions, activities, performances, films, art and food presented by 80 nations, 24 US states and roughly 350 American companies had a central theme – peace through understanding. And the centerpiece of the 1964 World’s Fair was the Unisphere.  According to SenGupta, the site was chosen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the World’s Fair and “to inspire future generations to continue to advance global human rights and world peace.” 

© – All Rights Reserved – Queens Ledger
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Fill the Form for Events, Advertisement or Business Listing