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Sliwa aims to ‘Save the Senate’

glendaleregstg on December 8, 2021

His bid for mayor fell short, but that doesn’t mean Curtis Sliwa is going to sit on the sidelines in 2022.
Sliwa announced this week that he is forming the “Save the Senate” Super PAC aimed explicitly at defeating Senator Chuck Schumer. First elected to the Senate in 1998, Schumer is seeking a fifth term.
“I am more committed than ever to advancing our Republican values and priorities and holding liberal elitists accountable for failing New York and America,” Sliwa says on the website’s mission statement. “Next up: Senator Chuck Schumer.”
Sliwa says he plans to raise millions of dollars through the political action committee, which will in turn be used to promote and help elect a Republican challenger to the Senator Majority Leader. Schumer has not faced a serious challenger in the last three elections.
“As senator, Schumer has delivered nothing more than Sunday press conferences with empty promises,” the website continued. “Between the rising cost of living, a broken healthcare system, struggling public schools, and lack of affordable housing, it is clear that Senator Schumer’s primary concern is keeping himself and his cronies in power.”
Bronx attorney and Albanian immigrant, Aleksander Mici, announced recently that he would seek to challenge Schumer on the Republican line. And Sliwa hasn’t totally ruled out throwing his red beret into the ring, but said he would only run as a last resort.
When Schumer was elected in 1998, he defeated Republican Al D’Amato. D’Amato is now a lobbyist, and recently told the Post that Schumer is virtually unbeatable. The senator visits every county in the state every year, and is a fundraising powerhouse.
Heck, D’Amato even endorsed the man who replaced him during the 2016 election.
As for the aforementioned Siena College poll, voters were also asked how they feel about Schumer. Among Democrats, 70 percent said they had a favorable view of the job Schumer was doing, while only 20 percent of Republicans polled could say the same.

Futures in Education Dinner raises $2.1 million for Diocese

glendaleregstg on November 9, 2021

Will go towards scholarships for students in Brooklyn, Queens

The Proprietor of The Brass Owl

glendaleregstg on November 5, 2021

ASTORIA CHARACTERS

THE KEW-FOREST SCHOOL

glendaleregstg on October 7, 2021

119-17 Union Turnpike
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 268-4667
kewforest.org
Independent, Co-ed, K-12

Head of School: Carla Jantos MacMullen
Head of Middle/Upper School: Tiffany D. Trotter
Head of Lower School: Karin Bernstein
Admissions Director: Soraya Diaz Tamayo (718) 268-4667, [email protected]
Students: 225
Teachers: 45-plus
Average Class Size: 8
Top 5 or Most Unique Extracurricular Activities: Model United Nations (UN), Mock Trial, Athletics, Community Service, Student-run Clubs
Unique Academic Programs: Fully in-person for the 2021-22 school year, Project-Based Learning, and advanced coursework through AP classes at the School and One Schoolhouse.
Open House Dates: Virtual on October 7 for Lower School and October 28 for Middle & Upper School. On campus on November 13 for Lower School and December 4 for Middle & Upper School
Notable Alumni and/or Programs: Kew-Forest has a robust Class Ambassador program, in which alumni help to promote the mission of the school by strengthening communication among classmates and bridging the relationship between alumni and the School.
Notable graduates of The Kew-Forest School include:
• David Arabov (‘08), Entrepreneur; Former CEO & Co-Founder, Elite Daily
• Hank Azaria (‘81), Emmy award-winning actor, comedian & producer
• Alessandra Galloni (‘91), Global Managing Editor, Reuters
• James Gray (‘87), Film director & screenwriter
• Bonnie Hammer (‘67), Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group
• Casey Heeg (‘69), Mission Architect, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Catherine W. Skinner (‘48), Senior Research Scientist, Yale University
Top 2021 Seniors Attending: MIT, Northeastern University, Williams College
Most 2021 Seniors Attending: Boston University, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Trinity College
College Credit Courses: Yes – Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered in Biology, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition, Modern World History, Physics 2, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Studio Art, US Government and Politics, and US History
Admissions Requirements: Kew-Forest is always looking for students who will contribute to the vibrant and collaborative environment in its classrooms. To assess suitability, they ask applicants to submit their academic records, as well as to present themselves by way of an interview and a student statement.
Scholarships/Financial Aid Availability & Requirements: Kew-Forest offers need-based tuition assistance to qualified families based on a review of the financial aid application submitted through FAST. Tuition assistance decisions are made separately from admissions decisions.
Percentage of Students on Academic Aid: For the 2021-22 school year, over $1 million in need-based tuition assistance was awarded to 50 percent of high school students.
School Motto: Ad Summum (To the Top)
What makes Kew-Forest a Top High School? The Kew-Forest School nurtures lifelong learners from around the world. Its educators inspire young people to think boldly and find their voices. Its students support each other and explore thoughtfully as they shape the future.
What makes your school stand out as a top institution (i.e., % of students going to college, ratio of college advisors, % of students playing sports, faith-based activities, ETC.).
• The strength of its students: Nearly all AP students earned scores of 4 or 5 over the last two school years despite pandemic-related disruptions to their education.
• The strength of its faculty: Faculty eagerly seek professional growth opportunities to further deepen and refine in-person teaching and learning.
• Close faculty-student connections: A low student:teacher ratio allows faculty to get to know students individually.
• Globally minded and culturally competent graduates: Alumni consistently report feeling well prepared for life beyond Kew-Forest.

Off-Broadway in the Boros holds first festival-style series

glendaleregstg on October 7, 2021

Oh, what a night!
To celebrate Broadway’s official reopening since the pandemic, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment presented the Off-Broadway in the Boros event for the first time as a five-day festival.
This year, the stage traveled to audiences across all five boroughs to connect them to theater and live performances just off the Great White Way.
“A couple of years ago, we put together a small study that showed theaters smaller than Broadway generate $1.3 billion in economic activity for the city,” said Anne del Castillo, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.
“We thought bringing these performances to the boroughs would be a great way to connect people to the resources in their communities,” she added. “It’s really important to remind people of what’s so inherently unique about New York and how we have talent in every nook and cranny.”
Various acts performed throughout the five days, including the Gazillion Bubble Show, Hell’s Kitchen Happiness Krewe, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and the cast of “TORCHED!” from Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.
Deni Yang of the Gazillion Bubble Show kicked off the Jackson Heights event in a way that was whimsical enough to make a person of any age feel like a kid again.
The Gazillion Bubble Show was started in New York in 2007 by the Yang family. Ever since, they’ve found ways to make it better.
“At first, my parents and I were traveling around in a circus act, which then developed into bubbles because we got more into the science side of things,” said Yang.
The Gazillion Bubble Show holds two Guinness world records, one for the world’s largest bubble and another for the most people put inside a bubble, which is 181.
Yang said that he was delighted to perform at the Off-Broadway in the Boros fest and see so many families and children having fun.
Folks who attended the festival had the opportunity to enjoy a preview of the musical “TORCHED!” performed by Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.
Writer and director Rosalba Rolón said the musical is still in development and will make its debut on December 2.
“TORCHED!” is a story about what Bronx residents went through during the infamous fires in the ‘70s, and much of the soundtrack is influenced by Latin music.
“I think the idea of Off-Broadway in the Boros is that we need to honor multilingualism, not only bilingualism,” said Rolón. “Artists have a way of communicating so that if someone doesn’t understand a word in a specific language, there is the imagery and the music so they do.”
Guests then got to sing along and tap their feet to tunes of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and Frank Sinatra sung by Hell’s Kitchen Happiness Krewe, and were kept on the edge of their seats by the sword swallowers and contortionists of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.
Castillo said that one of the best parts of her job is being able to see all of the different parts of the city, but it has also been a privilege to bring the performances of Off-Broadway in the Boros to places hardest hit by COVID-19.
“Arts and culture are what make the heart of New York City beat,” she said. “It’s a global parameter and what makes it the greatest city in the world.”
Regarding last week’s sudden closure of Broadway’s “Aladdin,” Castillo said that it was caused by the few cast members who were affected by the virus, combined with a lack of understudies to perform those roles at the time.
“Being in the creative community means that you come up with creative solutions every time,” she said. “From what I’ve seen across all of the creative community, they’ve been really diligent about the protocols and being safe.”

The Paw Partners

glendaleregstg on October 1, 2021

ASTORIA CHARACTERS

Restaurant workers from Twin Towers recall experiences

glendaleregstg on September 15, 2021

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the restaurant staff at Windows on the World went about their business as usual on the top floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. They prepared food in the kitchen, served breakfast to the tourists and businessmen outside, and started getting the lunch menu ready.
Within the next few hours, 73 members of the restaurant staff would be dead.
The impact of 9/11 on the Windows on the World restaurant workers has not been forgotten. Every year since the attack, a dedicated group of survivors and organizers has held a vigil to remember their fallen coworkers and friends.
On the 20th anniversary this past weekend, a special vigil was held on the roof of 110 William Street. With a perfect view of One World Trade Center, approximately 45 Windows on the World workers were joined by politicians, dignitaries, and friends for speeches, a candle lighting, and moments of silence.
“Today we honor the 73 restaurant workers who died on September 11,” said Fekkak Mamdouh, an East Elmhurst resident and former worker at Windows on the World. “We should never forget them, their struggle, and their sacrifice.”
Former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the event’s keynote speaker. She discussed the ongoing sacrifices that restaurant workers make during times of hardship, including 9/11 and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m here today to thank all of you for honoring those who were lost and who continue to work and serve,” Clinton said. “People who are working in service, restaurants, and hospitals are always working to make this a better country, and today we remember those workers who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
A number of local politicians were also in attendance, including State Senator John Liu. Speaking to our paper, Liu discussed the ways in which essential workers continue to be a source of inspiration for their communities.
“Twenty years seems like a long time, but I know we all remember September 11, 2001, like it was yesterday,” Liu said. “But as terrible as that day was, in the coming days and years it brought out the best in people across New York City and beyond. We remember the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice, but we must remember all the service workers that died that fateful day. No one was collateral damage. Every death mattered.”

New park opens under Kosciuszko Bridge

webadmin on June 9, 2021

Under the K Bridge Park, a new public park built beneath the overpass of the Kosciuszko Bridge, officially opened last week.
The new park is seven acres and comes equipped with bike paths, greenspace, and skate park.
“The Kosciuszko Bridge project continues to reap benefits not only for motorists, pedestrians and the cycling community, but for a North Brooklyn community craving for more open space in the midst of a worldwide pandemic,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “Under the K Bridge Park is living proof that the Kosciuszko Bridge project didn’t just connect two New York City boroughs, but is helping to transform an entire community.”
The bike lanes at Under the K connect to North Brooklyn’s growing bike lane network and to Queens via the shared-use path on the Kosciuszko Bridge.
The new Kosciuszko Bridge officially opened in August 2019 and included pedestrian walkways and bike lanes. The project represented the first major bridge crossing built in New York City since the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened to traffic in 1964.
Under the K also features more than 20,000 trees and plants, bringing a much needed touch of color to the largely industrial Newtown Creek waterfront.
“With the addition of this truly innovative urban park, DOT is expanding those benefits to further integrate green, open space for the enjoyment of all New Yorkers,”. “The COVID-19 public health emergency underscored the need for outdoor recreational opportunities and that’s exactly what Under the K Bridge Park provides,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation. “With expansive walkways, innovative design and landscaping, this bridge truly connects people through infrastructure and greenspace.”
The new park will be open daily from dawn until dusk, with COVID-19 health and safety measures in place to ensure park visitors comply with the state’s guidance on masks, social distancing, and gatherings.
“North Brooklyn has been historically underserved with its amount of parks and open space,” North Brooklyn Parks Alliance founding board member Joseph Vance explained. “Under the K Bridge Park opens the door for innovative transformation of underutilized public land for open space.”