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By Angelica Acevedo

TimesLedger Newspapers

Ladies and gentlemen, damas y caballeros, if you’d like to experience a play quite unlike any other, look no further than Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, playing in the Thalia Spanish Theatre until Feb. 25.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the show, other than the interactive second act where the play suddenly becomes a drag show, was the use of Spanish and English — or as some call it, Spanglish.

The mix of the two languages, however, wasn’t an intentional aspect of the play. Txemi Parra, the writer of Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, said the bilingual theme happened organically among the cast and crew.

“I wrote it in Spanish and I wrote that some characters spoke Spanglish, but not all,” Parra said. “But some of the actors said ‘this is a good idea,’ and it would be great to open it to more audiences.”

Parra said he drew his inspiration for the production from New York.

“Living here in New York, I’ve learned a lot about the Spanish language,” he said.

The exuberant actors complemented their impeccable comedic timing with a dash of Spanish phrases and cultural references throughout their performances. The music and costumes were so vibrant that viewers could overlook the very serious undertones of the play if they weren’t paying attention.

Some of the actors and actresses had never performed in a play before, according to Soledad Lopez, who starred as the main character, Lupe, and is the managing director of the Thalia Spanish Theatre.

“We wanted to do a type of play where they would be able to demonstrate their talents because, realistically, sometimes they just work in clubs, not in a theatre where people come to sit down and watch them,” Lopez said.

The not-so-subtle jabs at the current president of the United States, some of which reference his comments about Mexican immigrants, drew great laughs from the audience as well.

Other subjects of the play — including abusive relationships, the hardships of adopting children when one is transgender and acceptance of who one truly is — gave it an authenticity that kept the audience responsive in the already intimate setting of the Thalia.

The director, William Lopera, stressed that the underlying intention of the play is to raise awareness about the prejudices members of the LGBTQ community still face.

“There is a need to create consciousness and to promote tolerance without making it dramatic,” Lopera said. “This is a fun way to give that information and people will realize how fun and wonderful diversity is.”

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Thalia Spanish Theatre, the executive director of the theatre, Angel Gil Orrios, said that they strive to bring important messages to their audience.

“We’ve always been interested in promoting social justice, in doing things and themes that are really contemporary and important for the community,” Orrios said. “We always wanted to do an LGBTQ musical because we knew that many artists that have worked with us in the past were gay and were very proud of it.”

During the Valentine’s Day performance of Queens of the Night/Reinas de la Noche, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and his partner went to show their support for the play. At the end of the show, he was invited to the stage where he praised the story and the Thalia.

“I am so proud to represent this theater in my district and I’m so proud that this was brought to Sunnyside,” Van Bramer said. “I fell in love with every single person on this stage for many reasons… All of you inspire me, all of you are so beautiful in every single way. This was a great way to spend Valentine’s Day. Thank you all so much, muchisimas gracias.”

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police wanted to question a man who allegedly committed an act of public lewdness aboard a moving Queens R train Wednesday morning.

The suspect took a seat across from a 20-year-old woman and “manipulated his private parts in front of her,” police said. The man exited the train at Queens Plaza and fled in an unknown direction.

Police described the suspect as a black man who was last seen wearing a blue hooded coat, a black seater, blue jeans and black and white sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The NYPD was looking for several men who are believed to be involved in nearly a dozen burglaries across a swath of north-central Queens in the past two months.

In the first incident, Jan. 28, police said an individual forced open a rear window to get inside a home near 24th Avenue and 97th Street in East Elmhurst around 5:30 p.m. The suspect made off with nearly $5,000 in cash, according to police.

Two nights later, unidentified individuals forced open the front door of a home in the vicinity of 52nd Drive and 74th Street in Maspeth where they removed jewelry belonging to a 27-year-old woman, police said.

The third incident occurred the night of Feb. 2 at a home near 24th Avenue and 99th Street where individuals forced open a rear window on the second floor and removed a 46-year-old woman’s jewelry and nearly $1,000 in cash, police said.

After a six day lull, the burglars went back to work, hitting a home near 97th Street and Northern Boulevard in Corona Feb. 9, but police say they were unsuccessful.

The next night, the burglars returned to Corona where they forced open a second floor window of a home near 101st Street and 32nd Avenue, according to authorities. This time they came away with a 28-year-old woman’s backpack, credit cards and $4,000 in cash, then they hit a second home nearby stealing a 28-year-old-man’s jewelry, a laptop and $8,200 in cash, police said.

Then came a string of break-ins in Maspeth, beginning with a big score Feb. 10.

The individuals gained entry to a residence near Borden and Perry avenues, police said. A 28-year-old woman discovered her front door had been forced open and two suspects had removed jewelry, clothing, her passport and nearly $28,000 in cash, according to the NYPD.

Two nights later, they broke into a home near 69th Street and 52nd Avenue through a basement, but came away empty handed so the suspects moved on to another home belonging to a 59-year-old woman near 52nd Avenue and Calamus Avenue, where they forced open a second floor window, police said. The individuals were forced to flee empty handed when they tripped an audible alarm, according to authorities.

The 10th incident in the burglary spree occurred later that night at a home near 67th Street and 50th Avenue in Woodside, where two suspects forced open a rear window and removed a 62-year-old man’s jewelry and $300 in cash, according to the NYPD.

The men were each wearing dark colored clothing with masks over their faces and each had backpacks, police said.

Anyone with information in asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Police from the 111th Precinct responded to the scene of a collision involving an SUV and a pedestrian on the Long Island Expressway late Tuesday night.

On the westbound side of the expressway near Springfield Boulevard, officers said they found an unresponsive 35-year-old male in the road with trauma to the head and body. The victim was transported to North Shore University Hospital by EMS responders where he was pronounced dead.

NYPD said a preliminary investigation found that the man had attempted to cross the westbound lane of the LIE at 219th Street when he was struck by a 2017 Toyota Rav4 with a 52-year-old female behind the wheel.

The driver was not injured in the incident and remained at the scene, according to police.

No arrests have been made at this time.

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

U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) hosted his 19th annual Black History Month celebration at Bruno’s on the Boulevard in East Elmhurst Tuesday night.

The event provides an opportunity to discuss legislative priorities for the African-American community, with Senate Minority Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appearing as the guest of honor.

“Black History Month allows us to celebrate the vibrant African-American communities in New York and across the country,” Crowley said. “It was a privilege to be joined by Senator Stewart-Cousins, whose historic accomplishments are a model for all Americans. Importantly, Black History Month allows us to visualize a future beyond the Trump administration’s agenda of bigotry and fear and come together for progress.”

Stewart-Cousins is the first woman in New York State history to lead a legislative conference in Albany.

“Black history is American history, and wonderful events like this honor the legacy, culture, sacrifice, and achievements of black pioneers, who have worked so hard to achieve so much.”

During the event, Crowley presented Stewart-Cousins with a portrait of the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, one of the borough’s most iconic monuments and a symbol of community. Past guests of honor include President Bill Clinton, U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder and civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis.

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 Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The unprecedented growth of Long Island City could include a multimillion-dollar life-sciences campus and the neighborhood’s development organization is aiming to make that happen.

The Long Island City Partnership issued a formal request for ideas earlier this month seeking consultants to produce a strategic plan for developing a feasibility study that would help lure New York’s Life Sciences Cluster to the fastest-growing neighborhood in the nation.

“We want people to have the best information about why Long Island City is the best place to invest in creating a life-sciences cluster in New York,” LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin said. “The more information and strategy we can offer potential investors the better. It’s an enormous sector of the economy and we think it definitely belongs here in Long Island City, which is fertile ground for such a cluster.”

When the city’s Economic Development Corporation issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for creating an applied life sciences hub last month, Long Island City was specifically referenced as a possible location. The neighborhood’s extensive residential development, planned office development and its nexus with a home-grown tech industry make it the perfect candidate for the hub, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said would spur an estimated 16,000 new, good-paying jobs.

The life sciences and biotechnology industry includes a wide array of disciplines focused on developing cures, treatments and technologies. Its companies work to develop new vaccines and pharmaceuticals, build advanced prosthetic devices, and design software that make diagnostics more accurate and with a 16 percent growth in jobs since 2009, the life sciences sector is among the fastest growing in the city

“We offer a strong labor pool and we have LaGuardia Community College as a partner for training people for many levels of jobs such as lab techs, accounting departments, maintenance staff and payroll and other support services,” Lusskin said. “Plus, with the expansion of NYC Ferry and the opening of the 2nd Avenue subway, LIC offers true accessibility to the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island and 1st Avenue and York Avenue, where the majority of the city’s premier academic medical institutions are located.”

In addition, the city has the world’s largest concentration of academic institutions with nine major academic medical centers, including Weill Cornell Medical College and The Rockfeller University located on the Upper East Side.

When the EDC released its Request for Expression of Interest last month, a large city-owned building at 44-36 44th Drive was listed as a possible location for the hub, but Lusskin is looking at the bigger picture.

“The city said that site might be made available for use, but LIC has so much going for it it’s not the only place in Long Island City where you could do something great in,” she said.

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 Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Queens native was among the high school students killed during a mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. last week. At age 14, Alyssa Alhadeff was one of the youngest victims and the first to be laid to rest after Nikolas Cruz, 19, allegedly opened fire with his AR-15 at his former school, leaving 17 dead and 15 injured.

Nearly 400 people attended her funeral in North Lauderdale Friday, where she was remembered as a talented soccer player who was smart, had an amazing personality, was a great creative writer, and “all she had to offer the world was love,” according to her mother, Lori.

“I wish I could have taken the bullets for you, Alyssa,” she said at the service. I would have protected you.”

The night before the funeral, Lori Alhadeff attended a candlelight vigil with more than 1,000 other mourners, where she gave an emotional interview on CNN imploring President Trump to take action on gun control and stop the killing of children in schools.

“Do something. Action. We need it now. These kids need safety now,” she said. “The gunman, a crazy person, just walks right into the school, knocks down the window of my child’s door, and starts shooting… shooting her and killing her. President Trump. You say what can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these children’s hands.”

On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) revealed the Trump’s budget proposal released last week would cripple the gun background check system. Schumer says $12 million would be slashed from federal programs that help state and local governments maintain records on who is ineligible to purchase firearms.

“In the wake of the tragedy in Parkland, Fla., and on the heels of now 30 mass shootings that have taken place this year alone, it is downright dangerous that the president’s budget would seek to undermine the gun background check system,” Schumer said. “No child should have to live in fear of mass shootings and no parent should have to worry about the fate of their child after school drop off in the morning. While we are in dire need of an even stronger background check system in this country, like one that closes the Gun Show Loophole, the White House’s proposal would hurt one of the only firewalls we have in place to stop dangerous people from legally purchasing guns.”

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) Monday urged the state Legislature to pass his Effective Background Check Act, which would extend the waiting period for background checks from three days to 10. Gianaris renewed this push after learning of the proposed budget cut.

“This is the worst time in our history to further erode responsible measures that keep guns away from dangerous people,” Gianaris said. “Improving background checks was necessary before the Trump funding cuts and is even more important now.”

There is currently a three-day waiting period for a background check to be completed before a seller can transfer a firearm to a purchaser. If the check is not completed in that time, the firearm may be sold without a background check at all. Over 300,000 background checks were not concluded in the three-day period in 2016 alone. Gianaris’ proposal would extend the waiting period to 10 days so that proper background checks could be completed in all cases.

Gianaris’ bill would also require firearms dealers to report to the police any attempts to make illegal gun purchases and would require employees of gun manufacturers and dealers to also undergo background checks.

“Improving background checks was necessary before the Trump funding cuts and is even more important now,” Gianaris said.

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 Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Anti-choice protesters who allegedly harassed women who approached the Choices Women’s Medical Center in Jamaica between 2012 and 2017, were in federal court in Brooklyn for the past two weeks, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman brought a suit against 14 anti-choice protesters on June 20, 2017 after surveillance video depicted one of the demonstrators advancing toward a woman who had her child with her as she tried to enter the center at 147-32 Jamaica Ave.

The individuals are charged with violating the New York City Clinic Access Act.

Pearl Brady, a volunteer for Choices, was on the stand as a witness for eight hours at one of the hearings.

According to Emily Kadar, a representative for National Institute for Reproductive Health, Brady recounted specific incidences with protesters from her time at the center from 2015 to 2017.

“One of the people she spoke about was Ron George, a pastor at Church of the Rock,” said Kadar. “She said when he followed patients he would ignore their requests to go away. She said another defendant was Patricia Muscom who was often recording patients and taking notes about them.”

Public Advocate Letitia James, Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) and state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) publicly condemned the protesters for the alleged harassment.

“As we witness attacks on women’s rights at the federal level and in state legislatures across the nation, I applaud the attorney general for demonstrating a steadfast commitment to protecting reproductive health-care rights in New York state,” said Comrie.

According to Schneiderman’s lawsuit, “protesters have subjected incoming patients to a barrage of unwanted physical conduct as well as verbal abuse, threats of harm and lies about the clinic’s hours and its services.”

The lawsuit contends that Pastor Kenneth Griepp of Church at the Rock, located at 1288 East 92nd St. in Canarsie, Brooklyn, was leading some of the protests by gathering up to 23 people outside the center every other Saturday from 2012 to 2017.

Current and former members of the church who are also being sued are Randall Doe, Osayinwense Okuonghae, Anne Kaminsky, Brian George, Sharon Doe, Deborah Ryan, Angela Braxton and Jasmine Lalande, according to the suit.

Dorothy Rothar, a Sister of St. Joseph, who works with Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, an anti-abortion religious organization in Brooklyn, is also being sued.

The remaining defendants are Prisca Joseph and Scott Fitchett.

Joseph allegedly colluded “with clinic escorts in an effort to get close to patients as they approach the clinic,” according to the suit. Fitchett was accused of standing outside the clinic chanting “murderer, murderer” at approaching individuals and filming patients.

Lawyers for members of Church at the Rock contend that their clients were exercising their right to assemble and were offering women options outside of abortion.

“Members of the Church at the Rock peacefully counsel women who are considering having an abortion,” said Andrew Bath, of the Thomas More Society General Counsel. “They conduct themselves reasonably and compassionately, and offer information about abortion alternatives to those willing to listen. This is the exercise of their core First Amendment rights, and is an activity that takes place on the public sidewalk, the traditional venue for expression concerning important ideas and societal issues.”

Choices Women’s Medical Center provides gynecological, reproductive and behavioral health services. It was one of the first clinics in New York City to provide abortions since it was legalized in New York state in the 1970s, according to the center’s founder, Merle Hoffman.

“I am still here because I made a vow to my first patient and to myself—that I would always be there for women and girls who came to me for services,” said Hoffman. “I stand with A.G. Schneiderman and his staff—and with all abortion providers and patients—to say that this injustice must stop.”

Judge Carol Bagley presides over the case.

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

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