On the brief side...
Crowley Hosts Subway Hero At Bush's Address
Nolan: 'Review Handcuffed Student Incident'

When President George W. Bush made his annual State of the Union address Monday night, subway hero Hassan Askari from Bangladesh, who rescued several Jewish subway passengers from a hate crime, was in the audience as the guest of Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx). Askari poses with President Bush and Congressmember Crowley after the address.

Assemblymember Catherine Nolan (D- Ridgewood) has called on school authorities to immediately review the reported handcuffing of a five-year-old child at P.S. 81 in Ridgewood by school personnel, who then took the child to the hospital for mental evaluation.

Nolan had contacted Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly after hearing the report.

"I have serious concerns regarding this situation," Nolan, chair of the Assembly

Education Committee, said. More Inspections, Safer Sushi

In an effort to ensure the safety of seafood-consuming Americans against too much mercury intake, Congressmember Anthony Weiner (D- Queens/Brooklyn) will introduce legislation to triple fish inspections by the federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The bill would increase from $2.25 million to $6.75 million the amount spent by the FDA to restore 40 percent more seafood inspections.

Weiner stated, "People should not be afraid to continue eating sushi, but they should also know the government is doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of their

food. Padavan Addresses P.S. 21 Q Parents

After parents of children attending P.S. 21 expressed concerns, state Senator Frank Padavan (R- C, Bellerose) announced that he had been assured by city school authorities that there will be no new school or school programs coming to the Flushing school.

"After expressing our shared concerns and working with Schools Chancellor [Joel] Klein's ofice, I am pleased to inform the entire school community that there will be no

changes made at P.S. 21 Q," Padavan announced. 3 Lafayette Lifesaving Bills Pass

Three bills introduced by Assemblymember Ivan Lafayette (D- Jackson Heights) to improve the quality of life of state residents were passed on the same day recently.

The first establishes training requirements for anyone performing kidney dialysis to assure patient safety; the second requires seatbelt use for all rear seat passengers in motor vehicles, and the third grants a worker unpaid leave to become a donor of an organ or bone marrow. The bill requires that the donor's wages must be paid by the transplantee's insurance company. Vallone's 2nd Annual B-Ball Tourney

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. will sponsor the second annual Winter Recess Basketball Tournament February 19 to 21 at the Variety Boys and Girls Club, 21-12 30th Rd., Astoria.

Vallone (D- Astoria), who raised $500 to support the event, said the tourney is open to boys 11 to 13 who reside in Astoria, Ravenswood, Queensbridge or Woodside Houses. Practice date is February 18.

To sign up call P.S.A. 9 Officers Elock or Chandra at 718-969-9454 and leave name and contact information. Maltese, Community Anti-Crime Program

Responding to complaints of poor lighting conditions in the Doran Avenue, 88th Street area of Glendale which may have given rise to some burglaries, state Senator Serphin Maltese contacted the Department of Transportation to install additional lighting, which will be completed by spring, he reports.

Maltese (R- C, Middle Village), said he hoped the additional lighting will deter burglaries. He urged residents to contact his office at 71-04 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, 718-497- 1800, or the 104th Police Precinct to report crimes. Legislation To Prevent Antifreeze Deaths

In hopes of preventing children and house pets from ingesting antifreeze, resulting in death or serious injury, Congressmember Gary Ackerman (D- Bayside) has filed legislation that requires a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze to make it unpalatable.

Ackerman said children and pets could come into contact with the antifreeze if it spills onto a driveway or garage floor. He said his bill, if enacted, could prevent possible tragedies. Markey Leads Opposition To 'Cell' Towers

Assemblymember Margaret Markey hired a bus to take her and opponents of a cellphone rooftop tower in Maspeth to a Board of Standards and Appeals public hearing yesterday in Manhattan.

Markey (D- Maspeth) and residents wanted to block Omnipoint Communications (TMobile) from installing "this ugly structure" on the roof of a residential building at 53- 37 72nd St. Helping to organize the opponents, Markey said, were Diane De Silva, June Osnan and Hope Stancati, Maspeth community leaders. The Gazette was unable to learn the outcome of the hearing at press time.