Author: metanet

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Queensborough Community College President Diane Call is closing the book on a 47-year career with the Bayside-based CUNY branch.

Call made the official announcement June 1 during the college’s graduation commencement, waving goodbye as the first female leader at QCC with recognition for bringing the school to national acclaim for its “student-centered” academic programs.

The commencement where call made the announcement saw over 2,300 graduating that day, many of whom will go on to study at other CUNY and SUNY institutions and with 78 native tongues being spoken in the audience, translators into Spanish, Korean, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu and many other languages were provided.

“The accomplishments achieved over the decades have been realized because of collaborative efforts made by the extraordinarily talented and dedicated individuals who make up our campus community,” Call said. “To support their potential and success has been my greatest point of pride.”

Call is recognized for creating what is known as the Queensborough Acadamies, a program which serves full-time students and is known to raise graduation and retention rates as well as integrate curriculum, pedagogy and advisement.

QCC is only one of a few colleges that offer this program, according to a news release from the school.

“For nearly a half-century, President Call has been devoted to Queensborough Community College and its surrounding community – a remarkable achievement by any standard,” CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita C. Rabinowitz said. “Time and again, she has exhibited her commitment to academic excellence, innovative practices and finding student-centered solutions. She has successfully built a strong foundation at Queensborough and established a legacy of which we can all be proud.”

Before Call was president, she served as provost, leading the Academic Affairs Division of QCC where innovative academic programs were formed along with community partnerships that won students internships and a place in the job market.

“I am first in my family to go to college, I proudly consider myself Mexican American born to immigrant parents who came to the U.S. to give their kids a better future,” President of Student Government Association said Mabely Salvador Vasquez, president of the student government, as she addressed the graduating class during commencement June 1. “My story is not unique. “Out there, we have students from 127 different countries.”

Call is also credited with bringing High Impact Practices to the school, which helps educators assess cumulative learning in students, and for obtaining an historic $11.5 million grant from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY CUNY 2020.

This grant connects academic excellence with entrepreneurship and local economic development.

QCC has achieved record enrollment in recent years with up to 16,000 students each year and full-time faculty is also at a high of about 400, with about 83 percent holding the highest level degrees in their fields.

A graduate of Columbia University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Call was recognized as the 2018 Woman of Distinction by state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing).

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are returning to the East River for the fourth year in a row as once again Long Island City will be showcased in the national broadcast. This year’s pyrotechnic spectacle will mark the largest display of Macy’s fireworks since the Millennial Celebration, with more than 75,000 shells and effects launched from seven barges positioned on the East River.

“I’m thrilled that once again the greatest fireworks show in the country will be viewable to all in western Queens,” City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said. “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show is a national event and it’s great to have it based right here in Long Island City for all to enjoy.”

For the third time in four years, NBC’s national broadcast, with 12 million viewers expected across the country, will be based in Hunters Point South Park, which will be closed to the public. Gantry Plaza State Park will host a huge crowd of spectators.

“We are excited that Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will stay in Long Island City,” Hunters Point Parks Conservancy President Rob Basch said. “The fireworks are an amazing event that tens of thousands can enjoy and Gantry Plaza State Park provides the perfect setting to view this event. This is also a great opportunity to visit many excellent restaurants and breweries and enjoy everything Long Island City has to offer.”

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) agreed.

“Long Island City deserves the recognition that comes with being New York’s most dynamic neighborhood, and the return of the fireworks show is a great way to show off all Long Island City has to offer,” he said.

This year’s 25-minute spectacle gets underway at 9:25 p.m. and will be 25 percent larger than last year’s presentation, according to Macy’s, with more than 3,000 shells and effects per minute. The 42nd annual event will feature a host of new shells in 25 colors and effects including neon pinwheels, swirling water fountains, brocade horse tails, ghosting fans, blooming ring chases, and pulsing hearts.

“Macy’s fireworks continues to grow in artistry as we ignite the nation’s premiere Independence Day celebration,” Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Producer Susan Tercero said. “This year’s showcase will be one for the record books as we create dazzling scenes expertly timed and choreographed to a rousing and moving patriotic score featuring the West Point Band and Glee Club and the stunning voice of superstar Kelly Clarkson. We are excited to celebrate the holiday with a jaw-dropping display of colorful firepower delighting millions of spectators across the nation.”

Celebrators are encouraged to experience the full design of the extravaganza by tuning into radio station 1010 WINS to hear the musical score to which the entire show is choreographed. Check macys.com/fireworks for the most up-to-date information.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Zach Gewelb

TimesLedger Newspapers

As the Mets’ season continues to spiral into chaos, there was reason for optimism this week.

With the No. 6 pick in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft, the Mets selected high schooler Jarred Kelenic out of Wisconsin, hoping he can rise through the system and eventually become a star player the club desperately needs.

“He was the best player on the board and we felt really strong about him,” Mets vice president of amateur scouting Tommy Tanous said after the pick. “It didn’t have a lot to do with high school or college at that point.”

The Mets have generally steered clear from high school players at the top of the draft, but believe Kelenic has the potential and make-up to thrive. The lefty-swinging outfielder helped USA Baseball’s under-18 team win gold medals each of the past two years in the 2016 Pan American Games and the 2017 Baseball World Cup.

Kelenic, though, elected not to play high school ball, instead choosing to play in a travel league, where he excelled.

Leading up to the draft, scouts have said Kelenic is one of the top high school hitters in the class of 2018 and is an above-average defender in the outfield.

“One of the things we were looking for picking this high was a position player that has two-way value,” Tanous said. “We feel that Jarred is a young man that possesses tools to give him a well-rounded game. We think he’s going to hit, play defense and add value on the bases. That was something that was attractive to us.”

With their second pick of the draft, the Mets again went with a high school prospect, this time a pitcher. New York selected Simeon Woods-Richardson with the No. 48 pick. Woods-Richardson is just 17, but has a big arm and a fastball that touches 97 miles per hour.

The Mets hope their top of the 2018 draft class can make a good first impression like last year’s first round pick, David Peterson.

Selected 20th overall in 2017, Peterson has emerged as the Mets’ No. 2 overall prospect, per MLB.com. He has thrived on the mound in Low-A Columbia this season, pitching to a 1.93 ERA with 47 strikeouts against 11 walks in his first 51.1 innings pitched. Those numbers show Peterson, 22, has the ability to move quickly through the system. If he continues throwing well, he could earn a promotion to High-A this season and potentially start the 2019 campaign in Double-A. If that’s the case, he could be a big league option in late 2019 or early 2020.

The Mets have struggled to develop their draft picks into stars. Michael Conforto, the team’s first round selection in 2014, earned a trip to the All-Star Game during last year’s breakout season. Steven Matz — drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft — has emerged as a solid, but injury-prone starter for the Mets, who turned Jacob deGrom — drafted in the ninth round of the 2010 draft — into one of the best pitchers in the game.

Most of their other key players — Amed Rosario, Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Zack Wheeler, etc. — were not acquired through the draft.

But there is hope in Queens that the organization has turned a corner and is well on its way to developing a new generation of stars.

Reach reporter Zach Gewelb by e-mail at zgewelb@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4539.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Gabriella Nuel, 19, of Queens Village died in a hit-and-run last month in Jamaica after a car crashed into the livery cab in which she was riding, according to authorities.

A second vehicle that was speeding, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, struck the woman; the 20-year-old male operator of the cab and a 23-year-old male passenger, at the intersection of Archer Avenue and Guy R. Brewer Boulevard May 24.

“This was a horrible collision that could have easily been prevented,” said Brown.

The defendant is Alfaheed Odesanya, 19, of Ozone Park, who has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of the crime, according to the criminal complaint, which said he admitted speeding.

The complaint alleged that the defendant said he “was driving between 55 and 60 mph,” and “saw the light was yellow and then turned red and continued driving through the intersection.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero View website depicts the area in question as having a 25 mph speed limit.

Odesanya was operating a 2018 white Mercedes Benz at about 11:05 p.m. on May 24 and was going northbound on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard toward Archer Avenue, according to the complaint. While traveling at a high rate of speed, he drove through a steady red light and struck the passenger side of the cab, a 2015 Hyundai that was traveling eastbound on Archer Avenue, it said.

After the collision, the defendant tried to flee the scene but was apprehended shortly thereafter and also admitted he “was scared and didn’t know what to do, so [he] took off running,” according to the complaint.

“The defendant in this case is alleged to have exceeded the speed limit and then continued through a solid red light. The car crashed into another vehicle – killing the passenger in that car and injuring the driver and another passenger,” said Brown.

The second passenger and the cab operator were taken to Jamaica Hospital for possible spinal fractures, and for neck and back injuries, but both were in stable condition, according to the NYPD.

Nuel, who was a rear seat passenger in the cab, as taken to Jamaica Hospital for head trauma, but died from her injuries, according to police.

Odesanya could face up to seven years in prison if convicted, according to Brown.

“The defendant now faces a lengthy term of incarceration,” said Brown.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

York College held a celebratory 48th commencement ceremony in Jamaica with a record-breaking 1,206 graduates receiving their degrees Friday.

Margaret MacNeil, a biology professor, was the chief faculty marshal and initiated the event by raising a ceremonial staff for the graduation to begin and Thomas Marion, a professor of fine arts served as the master of ceremonies.

Marcia Keizs, the president of York College addressed the graduating body and highlighted the diversity of the class of 2018 and the new programs at the 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. school.

“You hail from 80 nations of origin,” said Keizs. “You speak over 50 languages. You range in age from 20 to 60. You also come from all of the boroughs and across the nation. You are a determined group of people.”

This year was the first time students graduated with degrees for the master’s in the physician assistants program and the Pharmaceutical and Business program, according to Keizs.

Graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade point average was Clinton Chibuike Ehidom, 20, a Bronx resident from Nigeria who came to pursue the American dream in 2010 and had 19 relatives at the graduation boisterously cheering him on.

“I am extremely humbled to stand before you today as the valedictorian of the greatest York College graduation class ever — the class of 2018,” said Ehidom.

Despite disappointing his family by having a lackluster tenure at Frederick Douglas High School in the Bronx as a C-plus student, flunking his SATs, and not making the basketball team, Ehidom decided after high school that he would work harder if he got into college.

“People hear about my success and jump to some conclusion and think I’m some type of genius,” said Ehidom. “I stand before you today, because I turned my biggest failures into motivation to succeed.”

After passing his admissions test to York College by a few points, Ehidom doggedly pursued a degree in biology and would stay at school for up to 15 hours for five to six days a week.

“I woke up at 6 in the morning to get to school at 9 a.m., and I would stay at school until 11 p.m. or 12 a.m.,” said Ehidom. “Trials and tribulations will come, but remind yourself that they will last only for a moment, because if you can endure, if you can fight and keep pushing forward success is inevitable. What I’m saying to you is when you fall, fall forward.”

Ehidom announced at the end of his speech that he was accepted into seven medical school programs.

“I am very proud of him,” said Stella Chinedo, Ehidom’s aunt. “We abandoned everything today to be here today, because he made all of us proud – he worked so hard.”

Elected officials at the event included U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and City Councilwoman Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica).

Schumer knew exactly how Chinedo felt, because he and his wife watched their daughter graduate a few years ago.

“One of the greatest days of your lives is to watch your children become adults before your very eyes,” Schumer told the parents and relatives in the crowd.

Adams praised the students for overcoming obstacles to get to this day.

“The first day of the rest of your lives is culminating in this wonderful service,” said Adams. “A lot of you have come through financial hardship. A lot of you had come through health challenges. A lot of you came through domestic issues, but you made it. You made it… Welcome to your future.”

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A former Cardozo High School basketball player will be returning to New York, not as a player, but as a coach.

Royal Ivey, formerly of the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers, has moved from his assistant coaching position with the Oklahoma City Thunder to work with the New York Knicks.

According to Ron Naclerio, Cardozo’s hoops coach and Ivey’s former mentor, the Harlem-born and Hollis-raised assistant coach may be able to cultivate the best from Knicks players.

Naclerio remembers March 14, 1999 clearly, a day when Ivey was named the MVP of the City Championship game against John F. Kennedy High School.

“He was wearing royal blue and orange colors that day and now he’s going to be coaching royal blue and orange,” Naclerio said, comparing Cardozo’s colors to those of the Knicks. “He’s got some good young guards — one of which I know and I’ve coached, Emmanuel Mudiay — and right now they’ve not achieved the level they think they can achieve. I think Royal with his coaching and his psychological part of it can actually take these guys up another notch or so and have them reach their potential.”

Ivey led his Cardozo team to the Class A championship before transferring to Blair Academy in New Jersey and went on to play for the University of Texas in Austin.

Ivey played 11 seasons in the NBA before beginning his coaching career in 2014.

“It’s a dream come true. So many kids grow up dreaming of trying to play for the Knicks, but he might have topped it — he’s coaching them,” Naclerio said.

Naclerio is a local legend himself with his coaching sending many of his charges up the ranks to play college ball and beyond. In 2016 he became the all-time public-schools wins leader in New York state after Cardozo beat Springfield Gardens.

This put Naclerio at 755 victories in his decades-long career coaching at the Bayside school.

In February, Naclerio won his fourth NYC PSAL Basketball Championship

Ivey will work alongside Keith Smart and Pat Sullivan on newly appointed head coach David Fizdale’s coaching staff.

The 36-year-old has ties to Fizdale through their mutual time with the Hawks, when Fizdale was assistant coach.

The NBA season starts in October.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

In the wake of another fatal traffic crash in Long Island City, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) is urging action, calling on the Assembly to pass his legislation to penalize reckless motorists.

The collision occurred May 29 around 3 p.m. as a cyclist identified as Aaron Padwee, 45, was traveling on 21st Street and 46th Avenue when a car door suddenly swung open in front of him. Padwee crashed into the door and fell into the street, where he was struck by a box truck driven by Agustin Osorio, 32, and later died of his injuries, police said.

Paramedics rushed Padwee to New York-Presbyterian/Queens Hospital in Flushing, where he was pronounced dead. Both the truck driver and the operator of the parked vehicle remained at the scene and Osorio was arrested by the NYPD and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the third degree, a misdemeanor, for allegedly driving his vehicle without a valid license, police said.

“While we are still learning the details of this horrific crash, we know that not enough is being done to deliver justice to the victims of traffic crashes,” Gianaris said. “Dangerous, suspended drivers pose a threat to public safety due to laws that do not treat these offenses seriously enough. If this driver’s suspension was due to reckless driving, we face another preventable tragedy. We must be serious about strengthening our laws to keep these menaces off the road.”

Gianaris introduced legislation that would increase the penalty to a class E felony for seriously injuring a person and a class D felony if the collision resulted in death, with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. The most severe penalty a distinct attorney currently can seek in such instances is a misdemeanor, according to Gianaris. Convicted drivers are rarely sentenced to any jail time at all and they are free to commit additional offenses. Over the last few years there have been numerous deaths at the hands of reckless drivers in western Queen alone,

Gianaris’ bill unanimously passed the New York State Senate in April and is awaiting action in the Assembly. Meanwhile, Rego Park attorney Peter Beadle, a street safety advocate with Transportation Alternatives and a member of Community Board 6 pointed out the driver of the vehicle that “doored” Padwee off of his bicycle should have been issued a ticket for violating a code which mandates that drivers not open their doors until it is safe to do so. Another prohibits drivers from exiting their vehicle in a way that would interfere with an approaching vehicle or bicycle.

“Drivers absolutely have a legal responsibility to look before opening their doors and attempting to exit their vehicle,” Beadle said. “This is one of the most common ways for cyclists to be hurt, and in this case tragically killed. So yes, the police should have issued tickets for violating the Vehicle and Traffic Law and the Rules of the City of New York, and for violating the cyclist’s right of way. Moreover, as it contributed to the cyclist’s death, I would hope the DA investigates to determine whether the opening of the door was so reckless that even higher charges might be appropriate.”

The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to look into the case.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger