Calendar

*Monday, Jan. 24th,

meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America, Whitestone Post 4787, at headquarters, 19-12 149th St.; tel. 746-0540.

*7 p.m., meeting of Community Board 4 to hear guest speakers from the New YorkCity Fire and Police Departments; meet at the Joseph Lisa MemorialCenter, 51-13 108th St., Corona; tel. 760-5971.

*Tuesday, Jan. 25th,

*Wednesday, Jan. 26th,

1 p.m., meeting of the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society at Emanuel United Church, 93-12 91st Ave.; tel. 846-1907.

*7 p.m., meeting of the Public Service Area 9 at the Ravenswood Community Center, 35-40 21st St., Long Island City; tel. 278-8161.

*7:30 p.m., meeting of Community Board 6 at the Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Rd.; tel. 263-9250.

*7:30 p.m., meeting of Community Board 8 for a public informational forum on a proposed 650-seat elementary school for Queens College; meet at P.S. 165, 70th Road and 150th Street, Flushing; tel. 263-1760.

*7:30 p.m., meeting of the Rego Park Coalition Against Crime at the Walden Terrace meeting room, 98-51 64th Ave.; tel. 896-5889.

*8 p.m., meeting of the United States Census 2000 Hellenic Steering Committee of New York State at HANAC, 31-14 30th Ave., Astoria; tel. 728-3586.

*Thursday, Jan. 27th,

*Friday, Jan. 28th,

Around The Borough

Of Queens

*Sidney Williams, principal partner at Axia Partners, LLC will be the workshop leader for the Queens County OverallEconomic Development Corporation (QCOEDC) Winter Business Speaker Series beginning Jan. 26th.

This business series, entitled "Creating Economic Value," consists of three workshops to be held on consecutive Wednesdays, Jan. 26th,Feb. 2nd and Feb. 9th in room 157, Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens. The first workshop "The Business Idea" focuses on developing business ideas, followed by "The Business Model,"which focuses on developing optimal marketing and operating strategies and last "The Financial Model"outlines tips on funding sources.

Participants should be prepared to perform some spreadsheet analysis. Individuals likely to attend these workshops have either started their businesses or are considering starting a business.

Persons interested in attending should call 263-0546 to register; there is no charge for the workshops.

The QCOEDC is the only borough-wide organization providing business development, technical assistance and capacity-building strategies and services to multiple neighborhoods in Queens. They offer a comprehensive array of high quality services designed to assist firms, individuals and business associations in areas critical to their success.

*The Flushing Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps has provided emergency and transportation ambulance service to community residents and visitors since 1959. The annual drive for volunteer ambulance personnel, dispatchers, clerical and others who have specialized skills has just begun. It also has openings in the YouthSquad for young people between the ages of 14 and 18.

For more information, call the membershipcommittee at 353-4965 evenings between 7 and 10 p.m.

*Community School District 30 is accepting nominations for the District’s Gifted Program for fall of 2000.District 30’s Gifted Program is housed at P.S. 122 in Astoria for grades one through eight and at P.S. 150 in Sunnyside for grades one through five.Questions regarding these sites may be directed to Stephanie Thier,Director of Evaluation and Assessment at 777-4641. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 18th.

*The Renaissance School is a K to 12 New Visions school, located in Jackson Heights.Seats will be opening in September 2000 for one kindergarten and one sixth-grade class.A few seats may be available in other grades. A small percentage of seats will be open to all New YorkCity residents outside of School District 30.

Families of prospective students must attend one of the open houses that are scheduled in January and early February.For more information, call the school at 803-0060.

Queens International Resource Center and the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre will present excerpts from "Teahouse of the August Moon,"by John Patrick based on the novel by Vern Sneider.

The play provides a look at post-World War IIJapan. The program will feature Obie Award winner Ernest Abuba.

Home ownership seminar at the above libraries, presenter Patricia Lavigne. Prospective purchasers can learn about mortgage programs, residential vs. commercial properties, closing costs and more. Admission is free.

*Teens 13 to 18 report, write, edit, design layout, photograph and produce the Eye Opener, the youth newspaper of Forest Hills CommunityHouse. The staff meets weekly on Fridays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

And teens 13 to 18 can join in the creative arts group also at the Forest Hills CommunityHouse, 108-25 62nd Dr. Meet on Mondays, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Artwork will be exhibited later in 2000.

Call Jennifer Fuqua at 592-5757, ext. 231 for information.

*Christine Roland, director of housing/community organizing at the Forest Hills CommunityHouse, will hold monthly housing clinics for tenants living in rental apartments on the first Wednesday of every month at the Beacon Center at J.H.S. 190, 68-17 AustinSt., 6 to 8 p.m and at the Rego Park Senior Center, 93-29 Queens Blvd., Lost Battalion Hall, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Bring a copy of your lease.

For information, call 592-5757, ext. 221.

*Andrew Chabot, career counselor, oversees the new OPTIONSCollege and Career Counseling Library at the Forest Hills Community House Beacon Program at J.H.S. 190. Chabot provides information about college programs and financial aid resources.

The Forest Hills BeaconOPTIONSLibrary is open Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7 to 10 p.m., and on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

For information, call 830-5233.

Events at the Ys:

*The Central Queens YM&YWHA, 67-09 108th St., 268-5011.

*Birthday parties— Basic party package, $200, features one and a half hours of party fun, party leaders, decorations and paper goods, games, coffee for parents as well as set-up and clean up. The deluxe party package, $260, includes all of the above, plus one of the following: sports, swimming or a multi-sport combination of your children’s favorites. For an additional fee we offer arts and crafts, gymnastics, karate or other choices. Includes pizza and drinks for each child. Parents are responsible for supplying the cake.

The party fee is based on one to 15 children, each additional child is $5. Non-members add $35 to the total fee. All food is certified kosher.

Call the Y for your next birthday party.

*Now to Mar. 25th, the Health and Fitness Department will open its doors onSaturday nights for women only swimming from 7 to 9 p.m. and men only swimming from 9 to 11 p.m.

The body shop, steam room and sauna will also be available at separate times for men and women.For more information, call Leah Schwartz, membership director.

*Basketball league games will be played on Jan. 23rd and 30th, Feb. 6th, 13th, 27th and Mar. 5th and 12th. The fee for a Y member is $80 ($70 for a member’s second child).The fee for non-members is $100 ($90 for a non-member’s second child). All non-members pay an $8 registration fee per child. All players, members and non-members,must pay a $7 insurance fee per player.The league fee includes uniform T-shirt, trophies and instruction in basketball techniques. Games are played on Sundays beginning at 1 p.m.

*Accident-prevention driving course approved under New York state insurance law.Completion qualifies motorists for a minimum 20 percent reduction on their liability and collision auto insurance premiums for three years and drivers who have incurred violation points prior to taking Defensive Driving will receive a reduction of four points upon completion.

The next session is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20th, Thursday,Feb. 10th and 17th, Mar. 9th and 16th and Apr. 6th and 13th. Sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 9:45 p.m. The cost is $40 for a member and $45 for non-members.

Meeting of the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support,Inc. ACES meets every third Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m.

The association, a non-profit, self-help organization of volunteers, assists disadvantaged children affected by parents who fail to meet legal and moral child support obligations.

If you’re having trouble collecting child support, or know someone who is join this new chapter on Jan. 20th. For more information, contact Claire May at the Y.