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Christmas Without CTE?

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

MIKE PORCELLI

What’s Christmas without tool-skills?

At Christmas two years ago, I wrote about the many skilled workers who make the holiday season possible and the ways their skills are essential, not only during holidays – but every day. For example, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the most popular attraction of Christmas in this city since it was first erected almost a hundred years ago. It takes thousands of skilled workers to produce that iconic symbol. Think about what this and every holiday would look like without the skills those workers bring.

Imagine Dicken’s classic Christmas Carol with a focus on skilled trade workers. In this version, the Tradesman-of-Christmas-Past is the Jack-of-All-Trades, who can build and repair every piece of technology. He can grow the tree, cut it down, transport it, install it, decorate it, light it, and then remove it when the season ends. He learned his skills from generations of craftsmen who came before and passed their skills onto their children. Each successor improved their skills, as they used them to make life more enjoyable for their contemporaries, particularly during the holidays.

Now, think about two versions of the Tradesman-of-Christmas-Present. The first one learned his skills from a parent, or one of the excellent public school vocational programs of the last century, or both, as I was privileged to do. Next, there’s the Non-Tradesman-of-Christmas-Present, educated by a school that removed shop classes from the curriculum. This person grew up without tool-skills and is virtually helpless in dealing with anything requiring their use. So sad! These unskilled individuals are the butt of Christmas morning horror stories about the most dreaded words found as children unwrap their gifts and find on the boxes – ASSEMBLY-REQUIRED. Deprived of shop classes growing up, they struggle to allow their children to enjoy their gifts. Some must even pay others to provide those required assembly services. How embarrassing!

Lastly, imagine what life would be like in the future if we continue to lose skilled workers at growing rates. This bleak scenario is represented by the Non-Tradesman-of-Christmas-Future, who’s not only incapable of assembling toys, but symbolizes a future without enough skilled workers to provide all the services modern society is dependent on. Life, as we know it – will cease to exist. Scary!

Children believe their presents are built by Santa’s Elves in his North Pole workshop. Elves with tool-skills. At some point, they begin to comprehend those elves are really the skilled tradesmen working in factories, and the products they produce with their trade skills, are not delivered on Santa’s sled propelled by reindeer, that are led by one with a red nose. They come to understand that those packages are really delivered by other skilled workers in the supply chain, particularly those ever-present blue Amazon trucks.

Let’s prevent the unskilled version of Christmas future, and other holidays, by… expanding CTE in all schools!

That’s the best present of all… for all!

JJ: A Holiday Wish List For NY Sports

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

JOHN JASTREMSKI

I hope that the 2024 holiday season has treated you well. 

We all have our wish lists every year for Santa Claus and what he may bring us under the Christmas tree. 

Maybe it’s that apple watch or the newest video game console, but I have my wish list for Santa Claus for some of the New York Sports teams. 

For some of the New York teams, this past year brought a lot of presents. 

For some others, a whole lot of coal. 

Mets: Re-Sign Pete Alonso

Yes, the Mets are coming off one of their best seasons without a championship. A feel good ride to the NLCS. To cap off the year, the Mets signed Juan Soto away from the Yankees to become the next franchise cornerstone. 

The Mets added Soto, brought back Sean Manaea, but still have one more major need to address. 

They need to bring back Pete Alonso to round out the middle of their lineup. 

The power, protection for Soto and the idea of Alonso being a Met for life all should make the Mets fans spirit bright. 

Giants: Find And Draft a Franchise Quarterback

The Giants are in the middle of the worst season in the 100 year history of the franchise. 

The season thankfully ends in two weeks, but now the stage is set for a great present in late April.

If the Giants lose their final two games of the season, they end up with the # 1 pick in the draft.

Of course it’s not a given, but the idea of the next hope at quarterback come April and the entire draft to choose from, at least gives 2025 a chance at a promising start. 

Jets: End the longest playoff drought in professional sports! Hire Mike Vrabel! 

The Jets have the longest playoff drought in professional sports. They’ve hired plenty of GM’ and head coaches since 2010. 

They brought in Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall Of Fame quarterback, yet here we are. 

No playoffs since 2010.

The franchise needs a program and culture builder. 

There is no better place to start than to look at Mike Vrabel to be that guy. 

Vrabel thrived for years as coach of the Tennessee Titans. His teams were always prepared, tough minded and successful. 

This is the perfect choice to change the culture. 

Yankees: Become More Fundamentally Sound in 25! 

The 2024 Yankees ended a 15 year drought without an American League pennant. 

They were also a team that was fundamentally flawed all season long. 

They ran the bases terribly and the team’s defense left a lot to be desired. 

The Yankee defense was responsible for one of the worst defensive innings in the history of the Yankees and the World Series in a 5th inning of Game 5 of the World Series that will live in infamy. 

I am hopeful that the Yankees can be a more fundamentally sound team next season. 

Adding Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt who are two terrific defensive players should help the overall team defense. 

It will be needed with the addition of weak contract machine Max Fried joining Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation. 

There are a few of the things I listed for New York fans to wish for under their trees for 2025. 

To all a Merry Christmas and to all a good night. 

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York on the Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple podcasts every Sunday & Thursday. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sports Nite at 11 PM on SNY.

Greek Americans Defeat Pancyprian Freedoms 3-1 in Hellenic Derby

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

First defeat faced by Pancyprians in EPSL as we head into the winter break

NOAH ZIMMERMAN

noah@queensledger.com

The NY Pancyprian Freedoms suffered their first loss of the EPSL season, dropping the Fall finale to the NY Greek Americans in the “Hellenic Derby” at Hofstra University.

NY Pancyprians were near perfect in league play, with 9 wins and a draw heading into the rivalry matchup. They boasted a division-leading 33 goals and 7 goals allowed (+26 GD) with 5 consecutive wins since their 2-2 draw to Lansdowne Yonkers prior to the final contest.

Right behind the Pancyprians were the Greek Americans, who had gone 7-1-1 since their Week 1 loss to NY Athletic Club. They sat just behind the leaders in points and goals scored entering the final week.

Under the lights at Hofstra, the Greek Americans put their rivals to the test. In the 28th minute, a deflected free kick gave them a 1-0 advantage heading into the half.

In the 64th minute Brian Saramago doubled the Greek lead, going on to complete his brace with their third goal just minutes later.

The Pancyprians were able to pull a goal back in stoppage time, but ultimately fell 3-1 in the derby. They maintain a three point advantage in the EPSL Metro Division as we await the second half of the season following the Winter break.

Timeline: New Queens Police Precinct, Terrorist Attack in Germany

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

New Queens Precinct Opens in Southeast Queens, First in 10 Years

For over forty years, residents of the neighborhoods of Rosedale, Brookeville, Laurelton, and Springfield Gardens have called for a police precinct for their community. Now, activists like Bess DeBetham have finally reached their goal. What is now the first new police precinct since 2013, the 116th precinct will represent a region of Southeast Queens. Previously covered by the 105th precinct, community leaders felt they needed their own precinct to protect and serve them. Now, with officers closer to home, a safe community has never been more achievable. 

 

Mass Scooter Seizure Crackdown in Queens

This month, the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in collaboration with the NYPD, have cracked down on scooters in the borough. Along Roosevelt Avenue alone, 24 illegally parked scooters were removed from the streets. These scooters being parked illegally is not the only way they can be seized, however. Over 1,000 scooters have been taken from the streets by the NYPD for reasons of lack of insurance or registration. Often when they are illegally parked on busy streets, pedestrian safety is risked. 

 

Manhattan Man Sentenced to 29 Years in 2010 Murder of Glendale Woman

In the early morning hours of March 27, 2010, Rasheen Everett of Manhattan entered the apartment of 29-year old transgender woman Amanda Gonzalez Andujar. Everett strangled Andujar in her Glendale apartment, killing her, before pouring bleach on the body and stealing two bags worth of her belongings. Though Everett fled to Las Vegas, he was arrested within weeks after law enforcement recovered his DNA under the victim’s fingernails. When tried, Everett was found guilty, but his sentence was overturned due to a judge’s judicial error in 2021. Now, the office of the Queens District Attorney has retried Everett and secured a 29 year sentence for the murder. “This defendant callously took the life of a young woman and then tried to hide the crime. After a prior reversal of his conviction due to judicial error, we retried the defendant and the jury returned a guilty verdict. I hope today’s sentence brings a long-awaited measure of solace to the victim’s family,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz. 

 

Queens Man Indicted in Kew Gardens Shooting

Alan Rodriguez has been indicted for a shooting that occurred in November in Kew Gardens, with charges including attempted murder, assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. Jignesh Patel and Vijay Patel were standing outside their double parked car in front of Rodriguez’ residence when he pulled up and began a verbal dispute with them. Arguing about their car being double parked, Rodriguez pulled out a firearm and shot the two men, with authorities later finding five shell casings at the scene. Both men suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital. Now, Rodriguez could face up to twenty-five years in prison for the alleged crimes. “This was a completely senseless act of violence, and the two victims will now carry injuries for the rest of their lives. My office is committed to removing illegal guns from our communities,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.

House Ethics Committee Finds “Substantial Evidence” Former Trump Cabinet Pick Had Sex with Underage Girls While in Congress

Matt Gaetz, who was formerly chosen by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General in the next administration, has been under fire for allegations of statutory rape. While he had previously been investigated on sex trafficking charges in 2021, they were resumed after Trump’s controversial pick. The Ethics Committee released their report this week, after probing into past evidence and court statements. The committee found “substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” Although they did not find evidence of sex trafficking, the rest have been substantiated by the committee. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, and has made comments regarding the Committee’s choice to file a report instead of bringing Gaetz to court to present his own evidence. 

 

Alleged CEO Killer Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year old Ivy Leaguer who has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in furtherance of terrorism this week in a Manhattan court. Along with the New York State charges, federal charges have been brought as well, which could carry a death penalty sentence if Mangione is convicted. Thompson was shot twice in the back in front of his hotel, causing a massive manhunt by the NYPD to catch the shooter. Days after the killing, Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. He was brought back to New York City and will face trial. Many people have spoken out for the young man, believing he did a good deed in making a statement against the corruption of the American healthcare industry. His last court appearance was attended by supporters and protestors outside. His next appearance is scheduled for February 21st. 

 

Terrorist Attack in Germany Leaves Five Dead, One a 9-Year Old Girl

Last Friday, the world experienced another tragedy when a 50-year old Saudi Arabian man plowed into a busy Christmas market in the German city of Madgeburg. The identity of the man has not been released, but law enforcement reported that he is a psychiatrist and has lived in Germany for over twenty years. He described himself online as a lapsed Muslim and subscribed to far-right ideologies. He drove his van into the large crowd, resulting in the deaths of five people, one of them only a 9-year old child. German authorities have reported over 230 injuries due to the attack, with the number growing as days go on. A large crowd of mourners gathered near the site on Monday to pay their respects to those affected. 

 

Woman Burned Alive on Subway 

In the morning hours last Sunday, a sleeping woman was brutally murdered on a Brooklyn-bound F train. Through security footage, law enforcement found that an unidentified man calmly approached the woman and set her clothing on fire, causing her to burst into flames and die. NYPD apprehended the man within hours of the attack, and have not yet released his name. Authorities did provide that he was a Guatemalan immigrant, and are trying to ascertain the reason for the senseless killing. This was the second subway murder on Sunday, with a stabbing earlier in the day.

St. John’s Opens BIG EAST Play with Pair of Wins

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

Rick Pitino’s Red Storm improve to 10-2 with wins over DePaul and Providence

NOAH ZIMMERMAN

noah@queensledger.com

The St. John’s University Red Storm improved to 10-2 last Friday night as they capped off a pair of wins to open conference play in the BIG EAST, 89-61 over DePaul and a 72-70 victory in Rhode Island.

The Red Storm overcame a 16-point 1st half deficit in Providence, taking the lead with 4 minutes remaining in the 2nd half. A three from Bensley Joseph knotted the game up at 70 with 20 seconds remaining to keep the Friars in the game, but St. John’s carried the ball back down court with a chance to win.

Breakout Jr. Zuby Ejiofor pulled down an offensive rebound in the dying seconds, bailing out a miss by Sr. guard Deivon Smith. Ejiofor floated home the game-winner at the buzzer, leading St. John’s to victory with a game-high 19 points and 10 boards.

“Obviously, it was good to be on the good side of a buzzer beater and just win on the road,” said the forward following the game.

“Showing your toughness, fighting through adversity, coming back in the second half and taking care of business. Everybody can go home and enjoy Christmas.”

An extra gift for Ejiofor this holiday season is his third consecutive appearance on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll and 4th honor this season. He maintains a Division 1-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds, with the most recent setting up his game winning shot.

“My philosophy and Coach [Pitino] says every shot is essentially my rebound. I have pride in going and getting my team a second chance. That’s exactly what I did, find a way to get an offensive rebound and put it in the rim,” said Ejiofor.

Despite the early deficit in Providence, Coach Pitino ensured the Red Storm remained confident in the face of adversity.

“I told the guys in one timeout, ‘This is nothing. I’ve been down 30 points with 15:30 to go on the road. It’s nothing. You’re going to come back and win this game. Just be patient, take your time, one possession at a time.”

St. John’s head into their final non-conference matchup this Saturday as they host Delaware at Carnesecca Arena in Queens. The Red Storm return to BIG EAST play on December 31, wrapping up 2024 in Nebraska as they visit Creighton.

 

Zuby Ejiofor has water poured on him in the locker room

Breakout junior Zuby Ejiofor was celebrated following his game-winner in Providence (Photo from @stjohnsbball on Instagram)

 

The Red Storm poured onto the court to celebrate the buzzer-beater as they began BIG EAST play 2-0. (Photo from @stjohnsbball on Instagram)

Check Out The Oasis at The Brooklyn/Queens Border

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

Ridgewood Reservoir Turned Hidden Gem, Thanks to Project NYCH20 and a Parks Partnership

A hundred and fifty years ago the Ridgewood Reservoir served as the water source for Brooklyn, when it was its own city. The three basins in a 50-acre space in Highland Park have since been dormant. Two bogs and a basin of water was overrun by human vandals as well as invasive species of plant life, effectively choking the ability for the area to be a useful ecosystem for plants and animals. Well that’s changed.

We attended one of the early meetings of NYCH20, run by founder Matt Malina, nearly a decade ago when he and his team started leading the charge to change the area at the basins and make it an ecosystem. It seemed to us like an ambitious goal that might have been impossible to accomplish, but a worthwhile exercise nonetheless.

We Took A Stroll Last Week

We took a walk to the three basins last week after understanding that NYC H20, along with the parks department have had an eye-popping amount of success. Could they actually make the area beautiful so people could walk, run, play and enjoy the nature of the spot? Well, we were blown away by the transformation of the space. Birds, frogs, turtles and other critters frequent the area, and it’s not a stretch to feel like you are in the far reaches of upstate NY, with plant life and nature just oozing. Hats off the NYCH20, along with hundreds of volunteers and some contractors hired by the parks department, have, over the last decade, created something we all can be proud of. They admit there is a lot more to do, and maintaining this part of the park takes thousands of hours of work every year, but we have to recommend our readers visit this site for running, walking or just gazing.  Park in the lot at the Highland Park Greenway, along Vermont Place, just south of the Jackie Robinson Parkway.

Albany Dems Gift Themselves Taxpayer Money for Christmas

BQE Admin on December 23, 2024

By Robert Hornak

There is nothing that spreads the Christmas spirit for Albany Democrats all year round more than spending taxpayer dollars for their political gain.

Now they have figured out how the game the state’s new campaign matching funds program to fund their political operations, in a major violation of the spirit of the law they screamed was needed to level the playing field and dilute the influence of special interests. 

The state program was inspired by NYC’s successful matching funds program, which for more than two decades has provided candidates with taxpayer funds for their campaign but with very strict rules on how that money can be used. Candidates accepting public funds in NYC must agree to use the money only for legitimate campaign purposes, to adhere to strict donation limits (including the candidate’s personal contributions), to spending limits, and to return public funds that have not been spent at the end of the campaign. 

The NYC Campaign Finance Board – whose members are still mostly democrats – is overseen by an independent board that takes it mission, to level the playing field for municipal races and make the money raised and spent very transparent and accountable, very seriously.

The state’s version of the Campaign Finance Board does not seem to share that same commitment, creating multiple loopholes for the states taxpayer funded system that makes the system more like a straight money-grab.

While the match is just as generous at around $8 of public funds for every matchable dollar raised, the system allows many ways for big dollars to still flood into the system and party committees can still make large committee to committee transfers (legally a transfer and not a contribution, exempt from all rules and limits), giving them undue power and influence that this new system was supposed to curtail. 

And now, as if the better funded democrats in NY couldn’t already stuff enough money into the campaign of any race they targeted, they have just passed a new rule that creates a revolving door of funding for state democrats with, of course, taxpayer money.

Even though state campaign finance rules require unspent money to be returned to the treasury, Albany Democrats muscled through a new rule that at the end of the campaign candidates can now give unspent taxpayer funds to party committees, to then use however they like and in contradiction to the original rules.

While these party committees are still required to disclose their spending, there are no rules on how they will spend that money or how they might transfer it to other campaigns. 

This now completely blows up the original rationale for creating this system, to level the playing field and to reduce the influence of special interests, wealthy donors, big corporations, and outside money in the political process. 

Albany politicians, who for decades have used government funding for a wide variety of special interest projects to prime the donation pump from those interests, now have a way to cut out the middleman and just stick their hands directly into the public trough to fund their political machines. 

Albany Democrats have shamelessly managed to take this program, which has worked well in NYC for many years, and turned it into nothing more than a sham that will use to stuff unlimited amounts of taxpayer dollars into their political committees, ensuring that their endorsed candidates will always be the most well-funded and competitive, regardless of what the voters might actually want. 

They have created a very merry Christmas for themselves while leaving nothing but coal in taxpayer’s stockings. 

 

Robert Hornak is a professional political consultant who has previously served as the Deputy Director of the Republican Assembly Leader’s NYC office and as Executive Director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail.com and @RobertHornak on X.

 

 

CHRISTINE BUDZYNSKI

webadmin on December 23, 2024

Christine Budzynski, died Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the age of 72. Beloved sister of Stephen M. Farrell, sister-in-law of Teresa, loving daughter of the late Stephen and Mary Eileen Budzinski, cherished aunt of Gillian and dear great-aunt. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Our Lady of Hope Church on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 9:45 AM. Interment followed at St. John Cemetery, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue Maspeth, NY 11378 www.papaverofuneralhome.com

JOSEPHINE SAVINO

webadmin on December 23, 2024

Josephine Savino, died Monday, December 16, 2024 at the age of 79. Beloved wife of Francesco Savino, loving mother of Cono Savino and Raffaela McKenna, mother-in-law of Virginia and Robert, cherished grandmother of Adriana, Mia, Nicholas and Joseph, and dear sister of Anthony Natale and the late Maria Vitale. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Our Lady of Hope Church on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 9:45 AM. Entombment followed at St. Charles Cemetery Christ the King Mausoleum, Farmingdale, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue Maspeth, NY 11378 www.papaverofuneralhome.com

SUSANA LUCIO PERICON

webadmin on December 23, 2024

Susana Lucio Pericon, died Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at the age of 42. Beloved mother of Susana and Jasmine, loving daughter of Sonia and Jorge Pericon, cherished granddaughter of Justina and Jaime, dear sister of Sylvia Pericon, Sally Pericon and George Pericon, and dearest aunt of Isabella. Funeral Services held at Papavero Funeral Home on Monday, December 23, 2024. Private Cremation followed at Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue Maspeth, NY 11378 www.papaverofuneralhome.com
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