To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 VOL. 79, NO. 20 WOODSIDE, L.I.C., N.Y. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013 FREE DRIVERS & DISPATCHER WANTED SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITY TOWN HALL MEETING Re: After-School Program Cuts Tuesday, May 21st 6-8PM Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St. Sunnyside Hosted By: Council Member VanBramer, Sunnyside Community Services and Woodside On The Move Murder Police Officers- Stay Behind Bars For Life QUEENS TASTE by Peter McKenna The young woman in the blue dress took the fork from her mouth and savored the morsel she had just consumed. After a second, she said to her friend, “Oh my God…you have to try this.” That sentiment was undoubt- edly repeated many times by the throng of food lovers who jammed Queen’s Taste 2013 on Tuesday evening, held at Caesars Club at spectacular Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. What exactly is Queen’s Taste? Imagine that you live in Queens and have a passion for fine dining. You could try a different restau- rant every few weeks, wasting time and money on the worst of them, or you could attend the annual Queens Taste and let the restaurants come to you. Chefs from dozens of the finest dining places in Queens pre- pare their best dishes and serve them at Queens Taste. All you have to do is bring an appetite. “I come here to find one or two restaurants that will provide the level of cuisine and service I want,” said Queens resident Mark Cullen. “It gives you the means to try before you buy; it’s a selection (continued on pages 4 & 5) process that you can’t find any- where else.” Mr. Cullen, a demanding con- sumer, said each of the dishes he sampled met his standards. “Ev- erything was well above average,” he said. He was particularly in- trigued by the pulled-pork with mac and cheese served-up by Bour- bon Street. “When I go back for seconds,” he said, “I know I’ve found a winner.” He also raved about the hard cider offered by Angry Orchard. “It was the best hard cider I have ever had,” he said. “It had an apple taste that did not knock you over, it was light and delicious.” Other food lovers applauded the meatballs, shrimp and Ravioli with Red Peppers prepared by the chefs at Sacramone’s Restaurant. “Our dishes have been in the fam- ily for a hundred years and we are very proud of them,” said a repre- sentative from the restaurant. As the evening wore on, the word passed that the Chicken Scarpariello at Pine Restaurant of Queens was particularly savory, and there were raves for the Pasta Bruschetta served by Magna Ristorante and the Flank Steak offered by Austin’s Steak and Ale House. There was a note of competi- tion to the evening as judges gave awards for the best appetizer, entre and dessert. McClure Pickles won the best appetizer award, best entre was a tie between Pine and Ottomanelli, and best dessert went to Take a Break & I’ll Beak. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer was delighted with the best entre award given to Ottomanelli. “They make absolutely the best burger you can get anywhere,” he said. “Such beef…” The event is sponsored by the Queens Economic Development Corporation and proceeds are used to support the organization’s ef- forts to attract jobs to the borough. “This night every year is about food, but is also about commu- nity,” said Seth Bornstein. “The QEDC works hard to bring life to this borough.” An example of the good work done by the corporation came near the end of the evening, when three winners of the Seventh Annual Queens StartUP Business Plan Competition were an- nounced. The winners received $10,000 from Citi Foundation to help start their businesses. Bill Closes Loophole In NYS Law That Can Let Killers Go Free Violent criminals who mur- der police officers and other law enforcement officials will have no other choice than to spend their lives in prison with no pos- sibility of parole under legisla- tion (S.4409) recently introduced by NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens). “While those who take the lives of police officers are sup- posed to be sentenced to life with- out parole in New York’s prison system, a loophole in the law makes it possible that these cold- blooded killers could wind up back on the streets in as little as 20 years,” said Addabbo. “While the chances of this happening are relatively small, I think we owe it to the families and friends of murdered law enforcement offi- cials to make sure that their kill- ers stay where they belong: be- hind bars for their entire lives.” Discussing the need for his legislation, Addabbo pointed to the fact that the four men who gunned down 22-year-old New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne in 1988 while he was guarding a Queens witness in a drug case came (continued on page 4) up for parole last November. “Of- ficer Byrne’s family should never have been subjected to that,” said Addabbo. “Those heartless killers brutally shot this brave young of- ficer five times in the head at close range while he was only trying to do his sworn duty. They don’t deserve a chance to regain their freedom and Officer Byrne’s loved ones shouldn’t have been forced to relive such a horrible, life-alter- ing crime.” Addabbo explained that the loophole in the law was created after the New York State Court of Appeals struck down the state’s existing capital punishment (death penalty) statute in 2004, finding it unconstitutional and thus unenforceable. Specifically, the old law contained language re- garding instructions that could be given to a jury if it became dead- locked and could not agree on either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The Court found a potential for coercion in the language since the jury would be informed that, in the case of deadlock, the trial judge would be empowered to sentence the defen- dant to as little as 20 years to life or as much as life in prison without parole.
Tuesday, May 21st 6-8PMSunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St. Sunnyside
Hosted By: Council Member VanBramer, SunnysideCommunity Services and Woodside On The Move
Murder Police Officers-Stay Behind Bars For Life
QUEENSTASTE
by Peter McKenna
The young woman in the bluedress took the fork from her mouthand savored the morsel she hadjust consumed. After a second, shesaid to her friend, “Oh myGod…you have to try this.”
That sentiment was undoubt-edly repeated many times by thethrong of food lovers who jammedQueen’s Taste 2013 on Tuesdayevening, held at Caesars Club atspectacular Citi Field, home of theNew York Mets.
What exactly is Queen’s Taste?Imagine that you live in Queensand have a passion for fine dining.You could try a different restau-rant every few weeks, wasting timeand money on the worst of them, oryou could attend the annual QueensTaste and let the restaurants cometo you. Chefs from dozens of thefinest dining places in Queens pre-pare their best dishes and servethem at Queens Taste. All you haveto do is bring an appetite.
“I come here to find one ortwo restaurants that will providethe level of cuisine and service Iwant,” said Queens resident MarkCullen. “It gives you the means totry before you buy; it’s a selection (continued on pages 4 & 5)
process that you can’t find any-where else.”
Mr. Cullen, a demanding con-sumer, said each of the dishes hesampled met his standards. “Ev-erything was well above average,”he said. He was particularly in-trigued by the pulled-pork withmac and cheese served-up by Bour-bon Street. “When I go back forseconds,” he said, “I know I’vefound a winner.”
He also raved about the hardcider offered by Angry Orchard.“It was the best hard cider I haveever had,” he said. “It had an appletaste that did not knock you over, itwas light and delicious.”
Other food lovers applaudedthe meatballs, shrimp and Ravioliwith Red Peppers prepared by thechefs at Sacramone’s Restaurant.“Our dishes have been in the fam-ily for a hundred years and we arevery proud of them,” said a repre-sentative from the restaurant.
As the evening wore on, the wordpassed that the Chicken Scarparielloat Pine Restaurant of Queens wasparticularly savory, and there wereraves for the Pasta Bruschetta servedby Magna Ristorante and the FlankSteak offered by Austin’s Steak andAle House.
There was a note of competi-tion to the evening as judges gaveawards for the best appetizer, entreand dessert. McClure Pickles wonthe best appetizer award, best entrewas a tie between Pine andOttomanelli, and best dessert wentto Take a Break & I’ll Beak.
Councilman Jimmy VanBramer was delighted with the bestentre award given to Ottomanelli.“They make absolutely the bestburger you can get anywhere,” hesaid. “Such beef…”
The event is sponsored by theQueens Economic DevelopmentCorporation and proceeds are usedto support the organization’s ef-forts to attract jobs to the borough.“This night every year is aboutfood, but is also about commu-nity,” said Seth Bornstein. “TheQEDC works hard to bring life tothis borough.”
An example of the good workdone by the corporation camenear the end of the evening, whenthree winners of the SeventhAnnual Queens StartUP BusinessPlan Competition were an-nounced. The winners received$10,000 from Citi Foundation tohelp start their businesses.
Bill Closes Loophole InNYS Law That Can Let
Killers Go FreeViolent criminals who mur-
der police officers and other lawenforcement officials will haveno other choice than to spendtheir lives in prison with no pos-sibility of parole under legisla-tion (S.4409) recently introducedby NYS Senator Joseph P.Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens).
“While those who take thelives of police officers are sup-posed to be sentenced to life with-out parole in New York’s prisonsystem, a loophole in the lawmakes it possible that these cold-blooded killers could wind upback on the streets in as little as 20years,” said Addabbo. “Whilethe chances of this happening arerelatively small, I think we owe itto the families and friends ofmurdered law enforcement offi-cials to make sure that their kill-ers stay where they belong: be-hind bars for their entire lives.”
Discussing the need for hislegislation, Addabbo pointed to thefact that the four men who gunneddown 22-year-old New York CityPolice Officer Edward Byrne in1988 while he was guarding aQueens witness in a drug case came (continued on page 4)
up for parole last November. “Of-ficer Byrne’s family should neverhave been subjected to that,” saidAddabbo. “Those heartless killersbrutally shot this brave young of-ficer five times in the head at closerange while he was only trying todo his sworn duty. They don’tdeserve a chance to regain theirfreedom and Officer Byrne’s lovedones shouldn’t have been forcedto relive such a horrible, life-alter-ing crime.” Addabbo explainedthat the loophole in the law wascreated after the New York StateCourt of Appeals struck down thestate’s existing capital punishment(death penalty) statute in 2004,finding it unconstitutional and thusunenforceable. Specifically, theold law contained language re-garding instructions that could begiven to a jury if it became dead-locked and could not agree oneither life in prison without paroleor the death penalty. The Courtfound a potential for coercion inthe language since the jury wouldbe informed that, in the case ofdeadlock, the trial judge would beempowered to sentence the defen-dant to as little as 20 years to life oras much as life in prison withoutparole.
We are pleased to be participating members with the following Dental Insurance Programs:• Empire Blue Cross/Shield • United Concordia • Horizon Health Care• Delta Dental USA • Dental Benefit Providers • Rayant• First Ameritas • Aetna • Qualident• MetLife Preferred • Guardian Dental • GHI-Pref Plus
43-34 43rd STREET, SUNNYSIDE, NY 11104
Call: (718) 786-3842
AVAILABLE:
Attorneys-At-LawMARC CRAWFORD LEAVITT
JOSEPH N. YAMANER*IRA R. GREENBERG
PAUL E. KERSON
JOHN F. DUANE
TALI SEHATI
THE BENJAMIN SHAW PROFESSIONAL BUILDING
45-29 47th Street - Woodside, New York 11377718-729-0986
MIDTOWN OFFICE: 228 E. 45TH STREET, 17 FL., NYC 10017
Serving the Community Since 1947*We speak Spanish, Hebrew & Turkish
43-11 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104Telephone (718) 729-3772
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sue Baldock, Kimberly Clarry, Peter A. Ross, Rob MacKay
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERSJoe Gurrado, Robert Flanagan, Sue Baldock
Dr. Guthrie,I am comfortable walking around blurry. I don’t feel the need for correction. Is that OK?
During my almost 26 year career in Ophthalmology I have had patients that are 20/20thinking that there vision is not good enough and at the other end of the spectrum patientswith 20/100 feeling that they see perfectly well. Of importance is what one’s daily life isall about. Of course if your occupation is all about driving good vision is important fornavigating and for the safety of those around you. Our computer oriented society putsunusual demands on vision. It is very important to have proper correction to minimizeeyestrain when working hours in front of the computer. For those that are casual readers itmay not be necessary to need “perfect” vision. At office visits with my patients I am alwaysasking what do you daily, what needs may you have for reading, driving, watching TV,sports, etc. Good seeing vision may be different for us all, but what isn’t different is makingsure you get annual comprehensive eye exams with your Ophthalmologist. It’s importantto be checked for glaucoma, macula degeneration, cataracts, dry eyes, and diabetic retinalexams. Making sure the eye is healthy helps maintain good vision. No pair of spectacles,contact lenses, laser vision correction can help a person who has already lost vision fromglaucoma or diabetes get it back. As we cruise through 2013 make sure to get acomprehensive eye exam. Enjoy the Spring!
Doughboy DilemmaHappiness & Outrage About
Doughboy Park ColorsDoughboy Park has recently been the
topic of controversy concerning its newpaint job. Resident and volunteer, EdgarCartagena spent his own money ($33) andchose a lime green color to repaint thegraffitied park. While Cartagena was tryingto match the Hunter Green of the ParksDepartment flag, many feel that he missedthe mark and made it look like a kids play-ground. What is clearly missed here is thatthese were volunteers that took their owntime and money and dedicated it to improv-
ing their community. Many people have notrouble walking by trash on the sidewalkwithout picking it up. But we make a hugedeal about a paint color when a hard work-ing person takes their hard earned moneyfrom their pocket and time from their fami-lies, to make our community a prettier place.
After all, these volunteers, some of themVeterans, even claimed to have contactedthe Parks Dept. about the paint beforehandand it was left up to them.
The Parks Department now has plansto repaint the park in time for the parks90th anniversary.
This might lead some jurors torecommend the death penalty, evenif they didn’t believe it was right,simply to avoid having the killereventually released on parole.
“Although the New YorkState Legislature never acted tore-impose the death penalty, thestate did adopt a new law in 2005,known as the Crimes AgainstPolice Officers Act, to recognizethe heinous nature of offensescommitted against law enforce-ment officers,” Addabbo ex-plained. Part of this law createdthe new crime of aggravatedmurder – deemed to occur whena person intentionally kills a po-lice officer, peace officer or anemployee of the Department ofCorrectional Services. The onlysentence which can be imposedunder this 2005 law for the crime
of aggravated murder is life im-prisonment without parole.
However, the earlier crimeof murder in the first degree, thecharge brought against those whointentionally killed law enforce-ment officers prior to the enact-ment of the 2005 Crimes AgainstPolice Officers Act, remainedon the books following the Courtof Appeals ruling on the deathpenalty statute. As such, statelaw technically continues to pro-vide for prosecutorial discretionin allowing those who murderlaw enforcement officers to beeligible for parole – in directcontradiction to the intent of the2005 legislation.
“My bill would address thisproblem with the law and makeit clear that, under any circum-stances, those who murder po-lice officers go to prison andstay in prison,” said Addabbo.“I hope that my colleagues inthe Senate and Assembly willjoin with me in ensuring thatjustice is done when guardiansof the public trust and safety –our law enforcement officials –tragically lose their lives at thehands of vicious, violent, unre-pentant killers.”
(continued from front page) Queens TastePatrice Lee, a Queens busi-nesswoman, between bites of beef,spoke about the efforts of the groupto stimulate business in Queens.“I took the QEDC’s course onwriting a business proposal yearsago, and it helped me enor-
mously,” she said. “This groupdoes a lot of good.”
On his way out the door, MarkCullen grabbed a chocolate madeby Little Bird Chocolates. “He sa-vored the sweetness for a secondand then he said…”Oh myGod…you have got to try this.”
Darren Shlisky and David Levi
Melinda Katz, CM Van Bramer,Rob MacKay (QEDC)
Winners of the Best Entrée Ottomanelli’s & Pine and Best Appetizer, McCLure’s PicklesCouncil Member Jimmy Van Bramer
On May 10th, CM Van Bramer was joined by Speaker Christine Quinn, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, State Senator Michael Gianaris, representatives from the NewYork City Economic Development Corporation, local residents and the Friends of Queensbridge Park to breakground on the restoration and improvement of the Queensbridge Park Seawall
CM Van Bramer helped secure the final $3.65 million in funding needed to initiate the project which isscheduled to be finished by the summer of 2014. This project will be managed by NYC EDC and includes thereconstruction of the seawall using rip-rap revetment. Rip-rap, made up of large rocks, will be used to protectthe shoreline by absorbing and deflecting waves while lessening the effects of erosion. The project will alsocreate a 6-foot wide waterfront promenade with benches and plantings, and a small wharf at its northern end.
I am proud to join the local residents of Queensbridge to kick-off the beginning of a project that will beginthe process of restoring this Western Queens park back to its original state, said Van Bramer. This projecthas been a top priority for me during my time in office and it is an honor to have secured the final $3.6 millionof funding needed to jump-start the process of reconnecting park goers to the East River waterfront. A yearfrom now, when the project is complete, thousands of families and local residents will be able to celebrate itscompletion and enjoy sweeping views of the New York City skyline together right here in Queensbridge.
CM Van Bramer, Dorothy Lewandowski (Queens Parks Commissioner), Elizabeth McQueen (Founder ofFriends of Queensbridge Park), Veronica White (NYC Parks Commissioner), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,QBP Helen Marshall, Bishop Mitchell Taylor and Senator Michael Gianaris.
by Rob MacKay
Sunnyside Reformed Churchoffered a different kind of spiritualexperience last Saturday. CarolSudhalter and her multi-pieceAstoria Jazz Band filled the
The Joint Was Jumping
Skillman Avenue house of wor-ship with beautiful music as part ofa tribute concert to three musicallegends from Queens: LouisArmstrong (Corona house is now amuseum); Dizzy Gillespie (buriedin Flushing Cemetery); and one-
time Jamaica resident GeorgeWalker Big Nick Nicholas. En-hanced by funding from the QueensCouncil on the Arts, the concertgot people dancing in the aisles,tapping their feet in the pews andclosing their eyes to relax.
CommercialCycling SafetyLaw Education
On May 14th, CM Van Bramer sponsored an interactive CommercialCycling Safety workshop at Sunnyside Community Services to educatebusinesses about the new safety laws. Van Bramer’s CommercialCycling Safety legislation, which took effect on April 23rd, seeks toincrease the safety of commercial cyclists throughout the City by havingthem wear a retro-reflective jacket, vest, or other apparel while riding onbehalf of a business. Businesses who participated in the workshopreceived free accessories for their commercial cyclists. The new law ispart of my efforts to make New York City’s streets safer for allpedestrians, vehicles and cyclists who share the roads.
Saturday, May 25th, 12 – 5PM(Rain Date Sunday, May 26)
Kick off your summer at the SunnysideGardens Park’ s Memorial Day Fair. Attend-ees of all ages, will enjoy Carnival gamesincluding Pluck a Duck, Bean Bag Throw,Ring Toss and Goldfish Bowl Ping Pong BallToss. Rides will include Bouncy Castles, a 4Sided Rock Climbing Wall, and an Obstacle
Course. There will also be Face Painting, a Kiddie Nail Salon, and aTemporary Tattoo Parlor. Crafts will include Sand Art, Spin Art, KiteMaking and Decorating Foam Crowns. Food and drink will beavailable for purchase, including hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn,cotton candy, desserts, soft drinks, wine and beer and more.
Admission is free (Rides/Activities/Refreshments not included.)
Commissioner VisitsSunnyside Chamber
by Luke Adams
On Tuesday May 14th theSunnyside Chamber held theirmonthly business luncheon atDazies Restaurant on Queens Blvd.Guest speaker Commissioner Rob-ert Walsh was greeted like a home-town boy at the luncheon, as manyattendees vividly rememberedwhen he came to the aid of localbusiness owners during the 2006blackout. Walsh also helpedSunnyside Chamber of Commercestart a BID, better known asSunnyside Shines, to Sunnyside,which today is one of 67 BIDs inNYC. |When Walsh said he wouldbe leaving office when his termwas up, everyone expressed theirdisappointment, one person statedWalsh was like a Guardian Angelto the Sunnyside business Area!Walsh stated even after leavingoffice he “will be coming back toSunnyside, after all their is onlyone Dazies Restaurant!”
Lily Gavin, VP Chamber. Commissioner Robert Walsh, Swain Weiner,Chamber President
Lily Gavin (VP Sunnyside Chamber), Joseph Conley (Chairman CB2), Sophia Ganosis (QueensChamber), Commissioner Robert Walsh, Swain Weiner (Sunnyside Chamber President), GerardThornton (Queens Chamber) and Bruce Bendell (Sunnyside & Queens Chamber).
Some of the Chamber Board Members in Attendance -Edgard Hernandez, Bruce Bendell, RigobertoCardoso, Laura Heim, Gregory Psitos, President Swain Weiner, Stephen Murphy, Commissioner RobertWalsh, Lily Gavin and Nicholas Murphy.
Plaque Attack
Feyzullah Turan, a member of the Torbali, Turkey Chamber ofCommerce, was visiting NYC and brought an award from their Cham-ber President Behcet Cinar, a replica of local historic statuary, in agesture of good will for Mr. Adams. Adams helped introduce his son toelected officials a few years ago.
Turan is the father of Oguzhan Turan, VP of the Turkish CulturalSociety, and his father and family met Luke when Luke attended anannual TCC Noah’s Pudding Event in 2009.
Mr. Adams had prepared a gift for Oguzhan, a photo of him and hisdaughter, not knowing that Oguzhan was bringing his father with him.So Luke gave the gift instead to Turan the elder, framed, he reports, inIreland’s bone china “Royal Tara.”
Feyzullah, who has seven grandchildren including the toddler in thephoto, laughed and said that he prefers them to his four children, likemost grandparents. He invited Luke Adams to Turkey, and hopes thatthe Torbali Chamber, boasting 2664 members, can become a “sister”chamber to Queens Chamber. Luke Adams is currently marketingdirector of the Sunnyside Chamber, and a former President.
(L-R): Oguzhan Turan, Luke Adams and Feyzullah TuranPhoto Credit: Patricia Dorfman
