Petra Marrero passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at the age of 97. Beloved Mother of Carmen Minon and Mike Rudon and Motherin-Law of Wilson and Louella. Loving Grandmother of Gabriel, Erica and marc. Cherished Aunt of nati and Marta. Mass of Christian Burial offered at St. Bartholomew Church on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 10:15 AM. Interment followed at Maple Grove Cemetery, Kew Gardens, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY.
Jack Sam Lum passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021 at the age of 87. Beloved Husband of Lillian Chung Lum. Loving Father of Robert (Claudia) Lum, Shirley (Harry) King, Kenneth (Laurel) Lum, and the late Steven (Julie) Lum. Cherished Grandfather of Melissa King, Kevin King, Micahel King, Jeffrey Lum, Christopher Lum, Jonathan Lum, Brianna Lum and Lilliana Lum. Dear Brother of Betty & Michael Mele, Beatrice & David Shore, William & Elizabeth Lum, and Albert Lum. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Mr. Lum was a United State Air Force Veteran who served during the Korean Conflict. Funeral Services held at Papavero Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 10:00 AM. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.
Arlene Boyle (nee Becker) of 71-16 67th Place in Glendale was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School in Queens N.Y. Arlene, or Mrs. Boyle as she was called by her scouts, spent many years in Girl Scouting both as a scout herself and a long time Girl Scout leader. She gave endless hours to helping young girls grow in skills, ability and talent and making herself available as an advisor and confidant. She spent many years bringing a large number of young scouts on camping adventures and helping them to earn their scout badges.
Living out her faith in and love for God in Christ Jesus and for all the creation of God, she was involved long term at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Covenant in Ridgewood, N.Y. acting faithfully as a Council member. Choir member. Financial Secretary, and Sunday School student.
Wife of Cornelius Henry Robert Boyle, Jr, she was mother to Dawn Rose and Leslie Lorraine, and grandmother to Stephen Paul and Jason Christopher Suzuki and Ayla Nyriese Wilder. She was Great Grandmother to Gianna and Taylor Suzuki. She knew hardship and prevailed, she knew love and she shared it to the best of her ability. She lived a good and faithful life, giving her honest best. She is much loved and sorely missed. She is predeceased by her grandson Stephen Paul Suzuki, mother Margie Distler, her Father William Becker, and brother William F. Becker.
As per her request, her ashes will be scattered from a ship into the ocean where she will join her mother Matilda Kessler Distler and her brother WW II submariner to the USS Barbel, William Becker. A small group of family and friends will attend the ceremony. In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choosing in her remembrance.
Josephine Calabro passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at the age of 92. Beloved Wife of Melchiorre Calabro. Loving Mother of Domenick Calabro, Louie Calabro, Vita Cibelli and Nina Wernhammer, and Mother-in-Law of Rosemarie, Maria Tereza, Richard and Cliff. Cherished Grandmother of Domenick Mario, Elizabeth, Thais and Rosy, and Great-Grandmother of Domenick Michael and Aden. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial offered at St. Stanislaus Church on Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:00 AM. Interment followed at St. Raymond Cemetery, Bronx, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.
September 30, 2021 we lost a bigger than life man, Anthony “Tony” or “Skip” George. Born in Greenpoint Brooklyn, January 26, 1946, he was a proud Italian Polish New Yorker and a diehard Yankee fan. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved art, music, great Italian food, travel especially on the water and great wine. But above all, he loved those that survive him, his wife Cheryle, his daughter Jennifer, his family and his oh so many friends whom he often noted as his extended family. He served in the Navy during the Viet Nam war and was an accomplished business man. He was a man with many stories and never failed to leave everyone laughing. One day our tears of loss will return to those stories and we will remember the laughter. You are well loved Tony. RIP
A mass will be held on November 13, 2021, 11:00AM, at St Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, 84 Herbert Street Brooklyn, NY.
Hispanic Heritage Month ran from September 15-October 15, and although the festivities are ending, businesses around Queens are proving that it’s never too late to celebrate Hispanic culture.
Take for example Asadero La Fogata, which is located at 108-40 Corona Ave right in the heart of Corona. The Colombian restaurant is owned by Andrea Rendon, who aims to serve dishes that make people feel like they are at home.
“I think the way we make the food is the way we make people feel like they are in Colombia,” said Rendon.
Rendon was born in Colombia, but has lived in Queens for the past 27 years. Her older sister was the inspiration driving her to open a restaurant.
“Ever since I came to America, I have always worked in restaurants and I started working with my sister,” said Rendon. “She works hard and she has her own restaurant. She showed me that any woman can do anything when they work hard.”
There are many other great eats within walking distance from Asadero La Fogata. Primos Bakery at 47-20 Junction Boulevard serves up delicious treats that are made on the premises. Primos Bakery is owned by Ignacio Lucero and his cousin, Yaco Rincón.
“We’ve been in business for five years,” said Lucero. “We first started with the warehouse and selling wholesale, then we opened the storefront.”
Lucero also delivers bread to stores and restaurants in the surrounding area.
Primos’ must-buy pastry is the “conchas,” a well-known baked good popular in Mexico. Additionally, Primos sells handmade bags, keychains, and clothing right outside the store every Thursday to Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. All the items on sale come straight from Mexico.
Forest Hills was the backdrop for some recent scenes of “Armageddon Time,” a coming-of-age drama about being raised in Queens in the 1980s.
On October 8, some scenes was filmed along Burns Street between Continental Avenue and Tennis Place in Forest Hills Gardens.
Commuters exiting the Long Island Railroad might have noticed 1980s-style vehicles and young cast members.
The autobiographical drama was written and directed by James Gray and produced by Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira. The cast features Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Donald Sutherland, Oscar Isaac, and Cate Blanchett.
Gray is known for his films “Little Odessa,” “The Yards,” “We Own The Night,” “Two Lovers,” “The Immigrant,” “The Lost City of Z,” and “Ad Astra.”
Based on Gray’s childhood memories, it offers a window into loyalty and friendship, as well as racial tension and bigotry, at a time America was poised to elect Ronald Reagan.
Twelve-year-old Paul Graff is raised in a warm and raucous family, where his grandpa encourages his artistic goals. His best friend, John Crocker, is an African-American student.
“I’m anxious to make something that is very much about people, about human emotions, and interactions between people,” Gray told Deadline in 2020. “In some sense, yes, it’s about my childhood, but an illustration of familial love really on every level.
“I got in big trouble when I was around 11, and the story is about my movement from the public education that I got into private school and a world of privilege,” he added. “This film is about what that meant for me and how lucky I was, and how unlucky my friend was.”
After a drug-related incident, Paul’s parents transfer him to The Kew-Forest School, a private prep institution in Forest Hills. At that time, the best friends devise a scheme to escape their lives and flee to Florida.
“It’s symbolic about what the school represented at the time, entrenched in this white protestant ethic,” Gray said. “It’s about that transition, and how it reflects on what the American society was and sadly still is. How we are separated along the lines of class and ethnicity.”
Other shows that have recently filmed in Forest Hills include “Mildred Pierce,” “The Americans” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Rose Chin-Wolner nearly wandered onto the set last week.
“Forest Hills Gardens was modeled after an English village, and is therefore a desirable setting for many movies and TV series,” she said.
Queens DOT head asks for patience, says work to be done
New York City’s three public library systems will no longer charge late fees for overdue books and other materials. Additionally, all existing late fees were cleared immediately.
A number of other American cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle, and Dallas, have previously made the decision to go fine free. When combined, New York City’s three library systems represent the largest municipality to eliminate fines in the country.
The decision is meant to make libraries more accessible and welcoming to New Yorkers who may have been previously dissuaded by financial penalties.
“For far too long, late fines have generated fear and anxiety among those who can least afford to pay, preventing them from opening library accounts, checking out books, or even coming
through our doors,” said Queens Public Library president and CEO Dennis Walcott. “I vividly remember as a child having late fines on my card and hesitating about going to the library when I needed it.”
In Queens, the communities with the highest number of blocked cards — Corona, Jamaica, Far Rockaway, and Elmhurst — all have median incomes below the borough average.
By clearing all existing late fees, the Queens Public Library has freed approximately 25 percent of its cardholders from financial penalties. The library system hopes these new measures will spur an increase in membership and usage across its 66 locations.
“Late fines tell people they do not belong, and that shutting them out is simply the cost of doing business,” Walcott added. “This is not only unacceptable, but also totally inconsistent with our mission.”
The Queens Library will still have other measures in place to prevent property theft. Library cards will be blocked from borrowing physical materials if patrons accrue $50 in replacement fees or have 20 or more overdue items.
Even with a blocked card, patrons will still be able to access computers, e-books, and other digital services.
The Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL) new policies closely align with those of the Queens system. BPL has eliminated all late fees, both new and existing, and will instead temporarily suspend patron’s access to certain library materials if they exceed a certain threshold of overdue materials.
Brooklyn Public Library president and CEO Linda Johnson said the majority of BPL’s patrons are either children, who predominantly use library services to assist with school work, or older adults, who may be less equipped to handle late fees and the anxiety associated with them.
BPL launched a pilot amnesty program for children in 2017, and saw a 60 percent increase in the percentage of previously blocked children and teens who checked out materials, especially in low-income neighborhoods.
“Public libraries strive to be the most democratic institutions in our society, providing all people access to the resources they need to enrich their minds and improve their lives,” said Brooklyn Public Library president and CEO Linda Johnson. “Eliminating late fines means providing truly equitable access to everything the library has to offer.”
Over 40 vendors and 1,000 people gathered in an outdoor backlot of Kaufman Astoria Studios for the Queens Comes Back event this past weekend. The event was hosted by the Queens Economic Development Corporation.
QEDC executive director Seth Bornstein said it was gratifying to see people come together and support local businesses, especially after the last 18 months.
“When I look at this crowd, it represents the borough,” he said. “The vendors, the people here, there’s no majority and no minority.”
Bornstein said he wanted to give back, both to local businesses and to the public, resulting in the event not charging vendors a fee and no charge to the public to enter.
From plant-based and vegan cakes by Pudding Pan Desserts to Romanian sweets from Twister Cake Bakery, sweet tooths were left satisfied as lines formed outside each vendor booth throughout the day. Spanish cuisine from Sala Astoria was served and washed down with cocktails by QNSY Sparkling Cocktails.
“As an entrepreneur, it was an exciting and energizing networking opportunity,” said Tara Merdjanoff, co-founder of QNSY Sparkling Cocktails.
Performances were held throughout the day featuring Gotham Dance Theater, Chieh Hsiung, Manhatitlan Mexican Folkloric Dance Group and Greek American Folklore Society.
The original Queens Taste event is usually held annually on the first Monday of May, said Rob MacKay, director of public relations for QEDC. In past years, places like the New York’s Hall of Science and Citi Field hosted the indoor event.
MacKay said this year’s outdoor event exceeded his expectations.
“We’ve been through a lot as an agency that helps small businesses and they’ve been through a lot, but I feel like a lot of people have stabilized and found out ways to work around stuff,” said MacKay. “It’s a morale booster to show we’re going to make it.”
