On the brief side...
Vallone Offers Astoria Park To Philharmonic

In a letter to Zarin Mehta, the Philharmonic president, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said it had come to his attention the famed concert orchestra was seeking a permanent outdoor venue with lawn seating and a waterfront view.

He pointed out that for several years, in conjunction with the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition, he has sponsored a weekly summer concert series in Astoria Park which 15,000 people regularly attend.

"Large crowds are comfortably accommodated and the park is very close to public transportation, as well as many fine restaurants and eateries," the lawmaker wrote.

Vallone said he would reach out to City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to discuss his Philharmonic concerts idea with him as well. Markey Is Alumna Of The Year

Assemblymember Margaret Markey was honored recently as the 2006 New York Alumna of the Year by Berkeley College during the school's 75th anniversary commencement.

Markey (D-Maspeth), now completing her fourth term, was a community activist before becoming a lawmaker and has said she was most proud of leading the fight to save an abandoned building which now houses Maspeth Town Hall, a local landmark.

"I used all the skills I learned at Berkeley Business School-typing, grammar, presentation- when lobbying for that building," Markey recalled. The Manhattan school has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students, Markey said. Free Wireless Internet Access

City officials stated yesterday at a city council hearing that a wireless Internet access network will be installed over Flushing Meadows-Corona Park as part of the Bloomberg mayoral administration's plan to offer the free service to the entire city.

The three-year-old project, which will involve other parks in the city as well, has been moving slowly, but Department of Parks officials hope to have the network completed by July, they told a council committee.

New York City is one of many major cities creating free citywide wireless networks. On a related note New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic frontrunner in this year's race for governor, said at a CUNY forum on Monday that he would favor affordable, high-speed Internet access for all New Yorkers if elected governor. Council Celebrates Asian American Heritage Month

Led by Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember John Liu (D-Flushing), the city council celebrated Asian American Heritage Month at City Hall last Wednesday.

The celebration featured a recognition ceremony for young leaders throughout the city as well as artistic performances and cuisine illustrating the best of Asian American culture, Liu said. Members of the council Black, Latin and Asian Caucus participated in the event. Gennaro Unveils Mall Revitalization

City Councilmember James Gennaro announced a $500,000 revitalization of the Midland Parkway Mall on Monday at the Jamaica Estates Carriage House at the intersection of Midland Parkway and Hillside Avenue.

Accompanied by Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and Mike Bookbinder, president of the Jamaica Estates Corporation, and other area community leaders, Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) said a major part of the project would be the renovation of the historic Carriage House.. 2nd Arts School In Astoria: Maltese

At a discussion on helping students to pursue arts careers on his weekly cable television show, state Senator Serphin Maltese (R-C, Middle Village) cited the opportunities presented at the Frank Sinatra School in Long Island City and also discussed plans for a second such school in Astoria.

Maltese said the Sinatra School is a magnet school that offers programs in fine arts, drama, vocal instruction, music and dance. He said Queens is the most culturally diverse county in the nation and is fortunate to have such excellent schools. Winners In Statewide Environmental Contest

Five students from state Senator Frank Padavan's Northeast Queens district were recognized in Albany for environmental awareness in a statewide competition earlier this month. Students from grades one through eight competed, presenting ideas and solutions to problems of solid waste reduction and recycling.

The Queens winners were Lucia Agosti and Chris Kunkel from P.S. 94 and Eleanor Chapman, Andrew Rivera and Zane Zajowski from The Lowell School.

Padavan (R-C, Bellerose) said, "All of these children deserve our praise and congratulations for a job well done."