News Of The Neighborhoods
COMPILED BY LIZ GOFF

SJU Aids Military Families

Officials at St. John's University (SJU) last week announced a program designed to help military personnel and their families adjust to troop deployment in the Middle East. The program will help military personnel and their families adjust to stress and the psychological impact of deployment, Richard Morrissey, director of the St. John's Center for Psychological Services, said.

Morrissey said the program is designed to assist soldiers and their families as they face issues and stress before, during and after deployment. "We are especially interested in reaching reservists and members of the National Guard who are not covered under the Veteran's Administration."

He said he expects the program will serve dozens of individuals, including those serving, returning or who have returned from Iraq as well as veterans of Desert Storm. Counseling is free and will be provided by 35 graduate students at the St. John's Psychology Department- all of whom are trained to perform confidential assessments and assistance. All counseling will be supervised by personnel at the Center for Psychological Services, located at 152-11 Union Tpke.

For information, or to register, call 718-990- 1900. The center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lawmakers Call For Storm Aid

Queens Assemblymember Jose Peralta and City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate are sending out an urgent call to New Yorkers to help the victims of Tropical Storm Noel, which caused untold damage in the Dominican Republic on October 29.

Noel, dubbed the deadliest storm of 2007, hit the Dominican Republic with devastating consequences, leaving thousands of people homeless, Peralta said. Hundreds more are still missing and feared dead as a result of the storm.

Donations of water, rice, beans, cooking oil, powdered milk, canned goods, cereals, medicines, blankets, sheets, mosquito netting, cots, clothing and shoes may be dropped off at a trailer located at 104th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona.

Donations can also be sent to: Help For Victims of Tropical Storm Noel RD, c/o Hispanic Federation, 55 Exchange Place, 5th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005. All donations should be marked for account number 680-269-8299. Financial aid should be made in the form of a check or money order.

For more information call 718-458-5367 or 718-205-3881.

Blue And Gold Ball In February

Don't forget the date, Feb. 2, 2008, when officials at the 115th Precinct Community Council will be holding their annual "Blue And Gold Ball".

Honorees at the formal event will include the executive board of the 115th Precinct Community Council, officials said. Council members will also take time out at the gala to honor 115th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Douglas Rolston and Executive Officer, Captain Christopher Tamola as their "Cops Of The Year".

Everyone is welcome to attend the ball at Bruno's on the Boulevard, 88-25 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst, from 7 to 11 p.m. on February 2. (Look for a reminder in the Gazette Calendar sometime in January '08.)

For information, to purchase tickets to the affair, or to place a message or advertisement in the Community Council Journal call Lillian Kowalsky at 718-672-9194.