By Bob Harris
Each school district has one or more Beacon Schools which are open after school, evenings and during the summer to offer programs for the youth and adults of the community.
The Fresh Meadows Beacon School is JHS 216. But due to construction at the school, the programs will be held this July and August in PS 173 at 174-10 67th Ave. There are no Saturday Beacon programs during the summer.
These programs are free to the community. They are sponsored by the Samuel Field/Bay Terrace YM-YWHA, the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development, Community Board 8 and School District 26.
There is also SAPIS Counseling for Youth ages 5-17. Ask for Felisa and Sara. For more information call 445-6983. Regina M. Eisenberg is the site director.
PS 173, which will house the Beacon Program this summer, will have activities from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. every evening. There are special hour-long sports activities for children grouped by ages 5 – 9 and 10 – 13, and there are open gym hours and Youth Leadership hours for youngsters.
On Wednesday afternoons there will be Fun with Books and Youth Leadership for ages 5 – 9 plus arts & crafts for 10 – 13 year olds,
Each summer evening from 7 to 10 there is an Open Gym for ages 14 – 17. On Fridays the younger children can take arts & crafts and Fun with Books during the day. On Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m. ages 7 – 9 can take Judo and from 8 to 9 p.m. ages 10 – 13 can learn Judo while adults can learn Judo from 9 to 10 p.m.
There is free tennis for ages 8 – 18 at Middle School 74 at 61-15 Oceania St. between 1 and 4 p.m.
For more information call 786-7110, ext. 26. There is no Saturday tennis.
The Beacon Program provides Behavioral Counseling and Family Counseling for Ages 5 – 17 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday by Don Sims. There is Mediation by MaryAnn Greene on Tuesdays. Call 445-6983 for information and to make an appointment for these services.
There will be several day school playground summer programs. One will be at PS 26. Call Community Board 8 at 591-600 for information.
Read the Times/Ledger, particularly the Qguide, for information about other summer recreation activities.
The Leaflet, the bulletin of partnership for Parks, tells of a new Anti-Litter Campaign. New signs are being up in parks. Home Depot has donated a million garbage bags which are being given to park users.
The Parks Department has many events for children and adults in the parks all over the city.
For a calender of events happening in parks and recreation centers throughout the city call 212-360-1339 or visit www.nyparks.org.
To volunteer or join your local parks group call 212-360-1357.
To report graffiti, vandalism, or crime call 8DO-201-PARK.
For recorded information about special events 888-NY-PARKS.
GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: I have recently read lists of students who had the highest grades in their high schools. It is very nice to see pages of stories about valedictorians who achieved so much in high school. This is a good thing to read about in our public and private schools.
BAD NEWS OF THE WEEK: I was recently pulling out of a parking lot during the afternoon rush hour. I had hand signaled a driver to let me out because there was a light which would make him stop anyway. I made the turn and suddenly there was a car right behind me. At the next corner I saw the young man in the car shaking his fist at me and yelling ethnic and religious curses at me. I guess he did not like me turning, although I had not noticed him before I turned. He probably had been driving fast and made a turn behind me.
I had never experienced this type of
