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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was at Queens Borough Hall last week and released a report that said the borough’s economy was experiencing an economic upswing.

“The Queens economy is booming,” said DiNapoli “Over the past decade Queens has seen a growing population and a rapid rise in jobs and in businesses and this is a historic time for the borough.”

Queens has a population of 2.4 million, which marks a 25 percent increase from 1980. Most of that was driven by immigration, according to DiNapoli. The immigrant population has doubled from 1980 and is nearly 1.1 million, or 47 percent of the borough.

The economic snapshot of the borough highlighted that its diversity and increase in private sector, health care, hospitality, retail and transportation jobs, especially in the aviation field, are responsible for its growth. Queens is also bringing in revenue from tourism.

“We have 190 countries and 200 languages represented here,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “Our diversity here is our strength… and 69 percent of our small business owners are folks who were born in other places.”

In 2017, private sector employment was on pace to reach a record of 567,800 jobs, a 24 percent increase from 2009, according to the snapshot.

Health care, leisure and hospitality, business services and retail were responsible for more than two-thirds of the jobs, according to the report.

“We are only second to Manhattan in bringing tourists in to the city of New York, right here in the borough of Queens,” said Katz. “We brought in over $1 billion in tax revenue a year ago just because of our tourist industry.”

Queens has many famous cultural institutions that have attracted tourists, according to DiNapoli.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park is home to the New York Mets baseball team, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Queens Zoo and the Unisphere.

South Ozone Park has the Aqueduct Racetrack and Resorts World Casino, the only casino in New York.

Western Queens has the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image and MOMA PS1, an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art.

The borough accounted for 58 percent of all transportation jobs in the city and 96 percent of air transportation jobs, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. John F. Kennedy and La Guardia airports employed 49,000 people, contributed $64.4 billion in economic activity, and $23 billion in wages to both New York and New Jersey in 2017.

The increasing appeal of Queens, however, has a few downsides.

Schools are overcrowded, there are transportation deserts and there is a lack of affordable housing, according to the comptroller.

“It’s imperative that we continue to fight for more schools, better access to transportation and an increase in affordable housing,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).

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 Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

It was a remarkable reunion for around 100 retired and current New York City Fire Department officials at the recent red-ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the rededication of the renovated EMS Museum at Fort Totten, which celebrates New York City’s paramedics and emergency medical service technicians.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, along with emergency medical service officers, used gold scissors to cut the red ribbon last Friday, reopening the EMS Museum located at Fort Totten in Bayside. The museum dates back to New York City’s pre-hospital care in 1869, with horse-drawn carriages carrying patients to the hospital to the advancement of motorized vehicles today providing 24-hour service care.

“Those who commit themselves to this noble career care for so many at their darkest and most vulnerable moments,” said Nigro. “This museum celebrates all of them for their hard work and it recognizes pioneers as well.”

“With each class of new EMTs and paramedics that come through this academy we continue to grow stronger, and as they walk these halls they will come here and learn about all those who came before them,” Nigro further added.

The idea of preserving the history of the EMTs and paramedics in New York City was spearheaded by FDNY Division Chief of EMS James P. Martin and Capt. Jack Quigley of the EMS Bureau of Training Academy at Fort Totten.

During National EMS Week (May 20-26), the museum will be open to the public for the first time from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The museum was established in 1992 by Martin and Quigley, but was closed in 2013 for renovations and expansion of the academy, which now includes upgraded computers, new monitors, and audio visual components in all classrooms for its students and staff.

Martin, who was a designer and paramedic, retired in 2010. He researched the history of the ambulance service and designed the concept on paper, while Quigley managed the construction of the 400-square-foot museum from the ground up.

“A lot of people don’t realize the EMS has a history just like the Police Department and Fire Department. We have our own history as well,” said Quigley. “It’s great to see where we came from and how things have evolved.”

During the period of construction, Martin and Quigley were already planning for the reopening. Martin said we “always knew the museum would come back, but were unsure of the shape.”

The museum, located on the first floor, includes artifacts such as uniforms, equipment, and a showing of advancement in technology since the 1800s. Visitors can expect to see display cases of EMS uniforms, medical equipment used over the years, radios, badges, and other artifacts utilized throughout the last century.

According to Martin, many of the artifacts were donated by retired EMS workers who saved the items for their personal collections but thought it would be better to share them with everyone else.

Michael Greco, vice president of Local 2507 — the union for Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Inspectors — has been a paramedic in the FDNY for seven years. Greco said being a paramedic is one of the greatest experiences in his life.

“This is a job where you don’t feel like you’re working, you’re helping the city of New York,” said Greco. “You get to people on their worse days, and you get to bring a little bit of relief. Someone says a prayer, and you’re the prayer that comes to answer.”

According to James Leonard, chief of department, “it’s important to remember the past to move forward, and for one to have an understanding of where they came from, to know where they are, and where they’re going to be.”

He added, “Twenty years ago we merged into the best Fire Department in the world with the best EMTs, paramedics and firefighters. Our goal is about treating individual people, saving lives, and serving the public.”

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) wants the city to install ATMs in all criminal courthouses where arraignments take place.

Lancman introduced the legislation for ATMs at a Council hearing May 9 to reform the process of bail payment which would reduce the population in jail, long lines and wait times for family members to pay.

“It is mind-boggling that the de Blasio administration could not do something as simple as install ATMs in every criminal courthouse,” said Lancman, chair of the Committee on the Justice System. “At a time when we are doing everything we can to reduce unnecessary incarceration, their incompetence made it more difficult for New Yorkers to pay bail in a timely manner. My bill will ensure that the city follows through on its promises.”

The New York Times had recently reported ATM machines were not installed, or inaccessible, at courthouses in three of the five boroughs. There are no ATMs in either the Bronx or Staten Island criminal court; and the ATM in Queens criminal court is not accessible after 5 p.m., even though arraignments run until 1 a.m.

“In the Bronx and Queens the ATMs were placed at locations within the courts that are inaccessible at night and will be moved to more suitable locations very soon,” said Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for the MOCJ. “Another is to be delivered to Staten Island as quickly as possible.”

According to the Center for Court Innovation 2015 report, “Navigating the Bail Payment System in New York City,” cash bail is difficult to gather in the short window available post-appearance, particularly at night and at courthouses with no on-site ATMs, which include courthouses in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Recommendation #2B in the report to “Establish easily accessible ATMs at the courthouses in all five boroughs of New York City to increase rapid access to cash from multiple sources.”

The Center for Court Innovation suggested allowing defendants to pay their own bail at the courthouse by installing “hand-held credit card machines in all the courtrooms, so that in-custody defendants with debit/credit cards could pay in the courtroom,” according to its study “Navigating the Bail Payment System in New York City.”Currently, defendants must remain in detention even if they have the means to pay the bail amount with their ATM cards or cash.

The city has advocated for an end to cash bail and has introduced a number of initiatives to mitigate the harms of the existing system until state legislation can abolish money bail for good, according to Gallahue.

The program is called the Online Bail Payment System , that allows bail to be paid without having to appear in court or at a detention facility. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration launched the program in April, to make it easier for New Yorkers to pay bail — including when a friend or relative cannot get to court or a Department of Correction facility to pay in person.Under the program, an online payment will be available for bail that a judge orders is eligible for credit card payment with a $2,500 cap. The city and Office of Court Administration (OCA) are working to lift the cap before the end of year to expand service to higher bail amounts.

The City Wide Bail Fund operates throughout the city to post bail for defendants with bail set at $2,000 and below, Gallahue said. Another initiative, Another initiative, The Bail Expediters program helps families pay bail before their relative goes to jail. The family members are then contacted notifying them when bail has been set, ensuring that defendants are held at the courthouse, so families can post bail.

“These interventions have helped reduce the number of people in custody by more than 20 percent since 2013, and the number of people held on bail of under $2,000 by around 60 percent, Gallahue said.

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

Dan Dougherty and his bother, Shaun — the owners of Crescent Grill restaurant in Long Island City — are proud to house local art in their eatery as part of the LIC Arts Open. The Crescent Grill — located at 38-40 Crescent St. — features its own art venue, known as Dougherty Gallery.

As part of the LIC Arts Open, the restaurant featured five large acrylic paintings by New York City artist Suzanne Pemberton, as well as oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings and drawings by other city artists, including Joseph Meloy, Mike Serafino, Brandon Sines, and Paul Zepeda. They also featured actual New York City parking meters that were modified by artist Conrad Stojak.

Dougherty said the May 16 event was a success and he was pleased to be participating in the LIC Arts Open for the fifth year as a gallery.

“It provides an opportunity for new people to come to Dougherty Gallery and Crescent Grill and further reach out to the community,” he said.

For the artists, there’s an opportunity to display your art and build a connection with the community. Serafino’s connection to Long Island City runs through his work as a studio manager and assistant at a long-time LIC artist’s studio.

“I’ve been working in the neighborhood since 2006,” Serafino said. “My personal work has been exhibited at Crescent Grill Gallery in at least 10 shows over the course of the last few years.”

He considers his style of artwork to be experimental and adventurous.

“Most of my work has an element of chaos and chance in which I will try to find a moment of clarity and order,” Serafino said. “The works are often searches for a feeling rather than executed preconceived ideas. I use virtually every type of paint in my studio; oil, acrylic, watercolor, gauche, enamel, encaustic and ink are all found splattered on the floors and walls.Each has their own strengths that can be necessary for a project or balanced against one another to bring material contrast into a piece.”

Two of his favorite pieces in the show are: “Antibes” and “The Whale Hunt.” Serafino cites traveling and a constant appetite for reading about science as the main two inspirations for his work.

“The visual component to travel impacts my subsequent art. Whether it is the new landscapes or the culture of the place I’m visiting, travel always affects a change in my mind which comes out in the studio upon return.”

As for being a part of LIC Arts Open, Serafino called it “an invitation to join and art community that isn’t captured by the commercial gravity of the nearby Manhattan art megalopolis.”

“There is a [do it yourself] aspect to the community — the sense that it is a place being created, with much opportunity available for whoever has the courage to seize it,” he said. “Additionally, I sense an esprit de corps among the Long Island City artists that we’ve all chosen this path for a good reason; that a life spent creating and expressing are worth the struggle in this city.”

Pemberton has been painting landscapes for many years moving to what she refers to as “more abstract interpretations of land and seascapes in the past few years.”

She said uses acrylic paint and acrylic inks to create layers that convey the atmosphere in and around the sea.

Pemberton has been working out of the Reis Studios in Long Island City for the past four years and said she is proud to be a part of the LIC Arts Open.

“The LIC Arts Open brings together fellow artists and the community which otherwise wouldn’t happen,” said Pemberton. “Arts should be an integral part of any healthy community.”

Meanwhile, Zepeda said that he considers his style of work to have roots in Modernism. He works in oil paint — often incorporating gold or silver leaf — and also dabs in watercoloring and an oxidation process that he says creates rust and patina on canvas.

“I am inspired by the beauty of the world around me which may be found in everything from the human form to flowers, seascapes and architecture,” he said

One of his pieces that he said he is particularly happy with is the rust patterns created in “Rusty Subway Car.” Zepeda has an “NYC Subway Token Series,” which he says has proven to be a popular one.

“Curating for and being a part of the LIC Arts Open for the last few years has given me exposure to the wonderful community of people in Long Island City as well as giving me the opportunity to meet and share the work of my fellow artists in the area,” said Zepeda. “The exhibitions I help put on at Crescent have grown to be a staple of the LIC events calendar with monthly receptions on every third Thursday.”

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

Flushing Town Hall received an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that will provide funding for its educational performing arts programming.

“The variety and quality of these projects speak to the wealth of creativity and diversity in our country,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Through the work of organizations such as Flushing Town Hall in Queens, NEA funding invests in local communities, helping people celebrate the arts wherever they are.”

Next year will be Flushing Town Hall’s 40th anniversary, and its new program series will examine the theme of “Journeys,” which will include global music, dance, international children’s theater, and multi-disciplinary family and school programs, according to Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. The theme of “Journeys” will resonate with the audiences of Queens, where a majority of residents have established new homes at the end of long journeys.

“Flushing Town Hall is deeply grateful for the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts” said Kodadek. “This grant will allow us to continue to bring global arts to a global community, and to provide a platform for diverse and talented local, immigrant, national and international artists.”

The $60,000 grant will serve approximately 140 artists from around the world; 17 public performances; 10 school group performances; 13 workshops; and one pop-up exhibition that will reach roughly 6,000 audience members — including 2,500 schoolchildren.

“We have artists coming from Colombia, India, Canada, China and other parts of the world,” Kodadek said. “Each artist, depending on their expertise or background, will have a unique expression of their home culture and the varied influences acquired through their journeys.”

Highlights from the series include a performance from artist Inkarayku, linking the past, present, and future of Andean arts, through the performance of indigenous music forms that have evolved into the contemporary mestizo music heard today. Another performance includes award-winning artist Feifei Yang, leading an ensemble of Chinese folk instruments with Western and popular music. Lastly, a global mash-up series: Five evenings, each featuring two dance lessons, two bands each with their own set, culminating in a third “jam” set.

Flushing Town Hall will look at specific examples of how cultures came together through migration and resulted in a new form, such as the emergence of the ukulele in Hawaiian music after its introduction by Portuguese sailors.

“The goal of the education arts program is to expose audiences to a wide range of cultures and celebrating the heritage of the community,” said Kodadek. “It’s about bringing people together through the arts.”

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) was joined by members of the advocacy group Elmhurst United last week outside the former Pan American hotel, where she announced legislation she recently introduced that would mandate homeless family shelter units to have working kitchens.

The measure, S7181 A, would require family homeless shelters for 10 or more families to have working kitchens within 60 days of the registration of the contract between the operator of the shelter and the city of New York.

Stavisky’s bill is in direct response to the recent and controversial uptick of repurposed hotels being used as homeless shelters. In Stavisky’s district, the city came under fire for turning the former Pan American hotel on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst into a family shelter without supplying functioning kitchens in each unit.

“Denying the residents of New York homeless shelters access to working kitchens is wrong,” Stavisky said. “A parent should be able to provide their family with a healthy, sustainable meal instead of resorting to fast food and snacks as many Pan Am residents were forced to do. I am calling on my colleagues in the state Senate and Assembly to pass this legislation to ensure our shelters are more humane and habitable places.”

Stavisky has remained a steadfast advocate in calling for improving the conditions at the Pan American as well as hotels across New York City. In response, the Pan Am is currently installing kitchens in each of the units. She has repeatedly called on the owners of the hotel, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city Department of Homeless Services to ensure that necessities such as functioning kitchens and play areas for children are installed in the hotel before they are repurposed and turned into shelters.

“Elmhurst United commends Senator Stavisky for her continued support in ensuring shelter providers are held accountable in providing the agreed-upon services and living quarters,” the advocacy group said in a collective statement. “This proposed law aligns New York state with New York City law requiring each unit to be equipped with the basic essentials of a cooking facility. Since 2014, the city has committed to decreasing the number of homeless, cease using hotels as shelters and ensuring that families are placed within their home base. Not one of these commitments have been met. Additionally, it is disgraceful that with billions spent to address this problem that the number of homeless continues to grow exponentially with no curtailment in sight.”

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 Carlotta Mohamed

TimesLedger Newspapers

A new dual language Bengali program will be implemented in September at PS 7, the Louis F. Simeone School in Elmhurst, Queens, after U.S. Reps. Joseph Crowley and Grace Meng (D-Flushing) urged the city Department of Education to create programs in South Asian languages.

“New York City has made great strides in offering a variety of language programs for our city’s schoolchildren, and I’m honored that Queens will be home to the first South Asian dual language program,” said Crowley. “By bringing Bengali into the classroom, we are creating new opportunities for students of South Asian descent to thrive.”

In 2015, former Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina added 25 new dual language programs and expanded an additional 15 existing dual language programs offered in the city’s public schools.

In a letter to Farina, Crowley and Meng called on the DOE to create South Asian language programs to be included in the city’s dual language programs, which are a form of education in which elementary school students are taught half in English and half in another language.

Crowley and Meng said the South Asian-American community is “ethnically and linguistically diverse with over 351,000 South Asian-Americans living in NYC, where 60 percent of the population reside in Queens.”

The city’s public schools boast 182 dual language programs: Spanish (153); Chinese (11); French (9); Haitian Creole (3); Russian (2); Korean (1); Arabic (1); Polish (1); and Hebrew (1), according to Meng’s letter.

Dual language programs are made available to students who are native speakers (whose parents want them to become bilingual) as well as to immigrant students who are native speakers of the second language.

“The South Asian-American community includes, but is not limited to, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, and Indo-Caribbean Americans. The most common South Asian languages spoken in NYC are also the languages with the most Limited English Proficient speakers,” Meng said in the letter.

Bengali was the most common language among the vastly diverse population with more than 84,662 speakers, according to the letter. Urdu, the second most common language, had 41,243 speakers.

“Dual language programs help immigrant students flourish in the classroom and provide them with opportunities to succeed in life,” Meng said. “I now call on the DOE to build on this important first step and expand dual language programs to other South Asian languages in order to meet the needs of students and parents in the Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, and other South Asian communities.”

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Community District Education Council 29 will present its 14th annual Science and Technology Fair at Renaissance Middle School (IS 192) in St. Albans June 2, with the deadline for pre-K to eighth grade students to apply May 25.

The school is located at 109-89 204th St. and the event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

“District 29’s Annual Science Fair is a standing-room-only event, which features an array of science projects from across the district,” said Superintendent Beverly Mitchell. “In District 29, we promote STEM education and the development of critical and creative thinking skills essential for success in the 21st century.”

From Springfield Gardens to Queens Village, there are 42 schools that are in CDEC 29 and each can send a maximum of three students per grade to exhibit science experiments that were not previously class projects at the fair.

“Participation in the District 29 Science Fair provides our students with opportunities to make real world connections to what they are learning while exploring new areas of study,” said Mitchell.

Students will receive one to four points on the strength of the questions they ask, on their hypothesis, the clarity of the step-by-step procedure they use to solve an inquiry, the results of the data and the conclusion, and the overall presentation of the exhibit, according to the CDEC 29 rubric.

A committee of science educators from schools across CDEC 29 will judge the presentations from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. followed by the award ceremony. From 11:30 a.m. to noon there will be a keynote speaker and some of the special guests expected to attend the event are state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and state Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens).

During the fair there will also be an interactive robotics display; a photo booth; giveaways; activities from Bricks 4 Kidz, a science program that uses legos to teach technology; and a presentation on augmented reality from a representative of Google. Augmented reality is technology that uses virtual reality and overlays it with real world technology such as graphics, sounds, and touch feedback to enhance a user’s experience in the virtual world, according to Reality Technologies, a company that provides free information on reality technologies.

First, second and third place winners will receive trophies and all participants will receive a ribbon, according to CDEC 29 representative Nakida Camille. First-place winners will also receive free tickets and certificates to attend the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park, the Brooklyn Robot Foundry, the DNA Learning Lab of Cold Spring Harbor, a Bricks 4 Kidz summer camp program in Jamaica, and much more.

“We encourage our entire District 29 community to come out and celebrate our budding scientists and to experience the power of STEM education!,” said Mitchell.

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 Tammy Scileppi

TimesLedger Newspapers

Modifying the bounty of ethnic comfort food options offered in the borough’s most diverse area may prove challenging for brave Elmhurst Hospital dieticians, but they’re trying nonetheless.

Healthier eating seems to be on most New Yorkers’ minds these days, but let’s face it, few people can say no to comfort foods. Luckily, everyone living in New York City — especially folks who reside in the World’s Borough — is truly blessed with a cornucopia of yummy, feel good eats from across the globe.

In Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and surrounding communities — where there are various delicious dining options — some residents and restaurant owners are asking: “Who says comfort food can’t be healthy?”

It seems these locals have been echoing the same sentiments felt by Leslie Ramos, the executive director of the 82nd Street Partnership, as well as those of nutritionists at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, who have recently joined forces with several local eateries to offer a new initiative called “Get Fit.”

The program will focus on helping locals make healthy choices when eating out, without giving up the dishes they love and comfort foods they crave from their native countries, all while promoting the area’s small businesses, most of which are owned by immigrants.

It seems like it’s a win-win for everyone involved and hopefully, the concept will spread to other restaurants throughout Queens, which traveling celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain described as “a stewpot of neighborhoods filled with the languages, cultures, traditions and flavors of many lands,” in a “Parts Unknown” television episode shot last year during his gastro tour across Queens.

“Our goal with Get Fit Menu is to show that healthy eating doesn’t mean foregoing favorites or restaurants we love. We hope that by highlighting healthy choices, we can make eating right an easy option,” said Ramos, pointing out that the program is 100 percent free for local restaurants. As an added bonus, it is expected to bring positive exposure to the area’s diverse food scene.

During the coming months, certified nutritionists from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Department of Food and Nutrition will review recipes and identify items within participating restaurants’ menus that are best suitable for people with dietary restrictions. They will then offer suggestions on how chefs can modify certain foods to make them lower in fat, calories, sugar and sodium. Other aspects of the meals — such as whether food is grilled or fried, and if high-calorie gravies or sauces are used — will also be reviewed.

These items will be added to the official Get Fit Menu, which will be available at the 82nd Street Partnership website and at participating restaurants and health facilities. Participating eateries and the approved items will be identified by a Get Fit Menu sticker, which will be displayed in windows and on menus, according to Ramos.

Participating restaurants include: Sabor Ecuatoriano Bakery in Flushing; Delicias Colombianas in Jackson Heights; Casa Rivera in Elmhurst; M 2 N Cafeteria in Elmhurst; Just Made 4 U in Jackson Heights; La Pequeña Colombia in Jackson Heights; Juquila Mexican Cuisine in Elmhurst; Cositas Ricas in Jackson Heights; Chiflez in Flushing; Seba Seba in Jackson Heights and Corona; Sompong Thai in Jackson Heights; La Boina Roja Steak House in Jackson Heights; VC Restaurant in Richmond Hill; Isa’s Restaurant in Woodside, Pico de Gallo in Jackson Heights; Delhi Heights in Flushing; and Mustang Thakali Kitchen in Jackson Heights.

“We have always strived to provide healthier options on our menu, so we are happy that now there is a program that will help us connect to community members seeking healthy foods. This program will be great for the community,” said Juan Carlos Segarra, owner of participating eatery El Pequeño Ecuadorian Kitchen Restaurant — located at 86-10 Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights, where a recent Get Fit launch celebration was held.

As part of an integrated health care system of hospitals, neighborhood health centers, long-term care, nursing homes and home care, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst serves an area of nearly one million people in a global community and makes every effort to alleviate cultural barriers to ensure that patients are provided with the quality healthcare they deserve.

“Many of the chronic illnesses we treat, such as heart disease, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, can be linked to diet, so we see this partnership as an opportunity to raise awareness about the selection of healthy menu choices when dining out,” said Israel Rocha, Jr., NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO and vice president of OneCity Health. “NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is proud to work with the 82nd Street Partnership and local restaurants to promote healthier eating habits in our community through the Get Fit program.”

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Source: Times Ledger