An International Fund for the Middle East designed to provide financial support for hundreds of non-governmental organizations working to promote economic partnership, peaceful coexistence and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians and other Arab nations has been proposed by Congressmember Joseph Crowley. The lawmaker, in calling upon U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to spearhead the creation of the organization, said […]
Paul Vallone To Seek City Council Seat In 2009
Following in the tradition of public service and community involvement displayed by his father and brother, Paul Vallone has announced that he plans to run for the City Council in 2009. Surprisingly, however, the 40-year-old attorney will seek the 19th District seat covering Eastern Queens presently held by Tony Avella, rather than the Astoria-Long Island City seat now held by […]
CUNY Law Has Highest Bar Pass Rate In School’s History
CUNY School of Law posted the highest New York State Bar Exam pass rate in its history, with 82.75 percent of students passing the July 2007 exam on their first try. Also, for the first time, Law School graduates’ performance beat the statewide average of 79.1 percent for first-time Bar Exam test-takers. Eighty-seven CUNY Law graduates were authorized to sit […]
Christ The King Food Drive Benefits St. Matthias Church
The 2007 annual canned food drive sponsored by Christ the King Regional H.S. was a huge success, with the collected food donated to the food pantry at St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church in Ridgewood. Shown (standing, l. to r.): Brian Espinal, Student Activities Assistant Joanne Vinci- Castellino, Estefania Jimenez, Rev. Father Kevin Abels, Geleisa George, Principal Peter Mannarino, Student Council […]
8 Queens Community Groups Get Improvement Grants
Eight Queens-based community groups were among more than 50 citywide to receive New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods grants to support programs that will improve the quality of life in local communities all across the five boroughs. The grants of $500 to $3,000, awarded by Citizens Committee for New York City, will help fund a wide variety of local grassroots projects […]
Workshop Grads Hear Stories From Entrepreneurs
Those who would be business entrepreneurs are often advised that they need fiery passion about what they want to do and the toughness to endure setbacks and unforeseen events that would curtail or even destroy their intended achievements. The autumn session of the entrepreneurship workshop at the Artisan Baking Center, 36-46 37th St. in Long Island City, was concluded with […]
Vallone Bill Would Limit Homework Hours For Public School Kids
Taking a stand to “just let children be children”, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. wants the city Department of Education to place a limit on the amount of homework that grade school teachers in the city’s public schools are permitted to assign to their students each night. Vallone believes that large amounts of homework, sometimes approaching four to five hours […]
Community Outreach Lessens Construction Impact
“Dust, noise, and heavy equipment are intrusive but common elements of construction,” warns an advisory concerning work on the reconstruction of 47th Avenue posted on the New York City Department of Design and Construction Web site. It’s a fact of life in New York City- infrastructure is constantly under repair. Sewer, water main and roadway work all have major impacts […]
Chanukah
A Spiritual HolidayThere have been many times that oppressive nations have sought to destroy the Jewish people, who were miraculously saved from their designs. Upon two of these occasions, the rabbis saw fit to establish an annual holiday commemorating the miraculous salvation, providing an opportunity to remember Hashem’s (the Lord’s) kindness and thank him for saving the nation. These holidays are Purim […]
Shin, Hey, Gimel, Nun
One of the best known symbols of Chanukah is the Dreidel. A dreidel is a four sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side. The four letters are: These letters mean “A Great Miracle Happened There” In Israel the dreidel is a bit different- their letters mean ” A Miracle Happened HERE!” Dreidel is also a popular game played […]