NAMI meeting
The Queens/Nassau chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will hold its March meeting in the Sloman Auditorium of Zucker Hillside Hospital, located at 76th Avenue and 266th Street in Glen Oaks.
Guest speaker Brooklyn College Assistant Professor Deborah J. Walder, Ph.D. will discuss “Stress and Depression: Early Detection and Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments.”
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. A support group for families meets at 6 p.m.
Walder holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and had postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School in neuro-psychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy and behavioral neuroscience.
Her research focuses on early developmental risk factors such as stress and protective factors like social support in relation to mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.
This meeting is open to the public, and there is no charge. For directions call 718-470-7100.
109th Precinct council meets
The 109th Precinct Community Council welcomes the public to their upcoming monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the precinct command, 37-05 Union Street in Flushing.
This month’s guest speaker will be Jennifer Manley, Queens Director of the Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit. He office is Mayor Bloomberg’s direct link to the community. She will discuss any local issues or community concerns you may have.
A member from the NYPD Transit Police will be on hand, to offer pertinent safety information concerning public transportation.
The agenda will also include recognition of and presentation of Awards to our 109th’s “Police Officer’s of the Month” and ample time for “Q&A.”
Refreshments will be served.
To get on their emailing list, contact 109precinctcc@gmail.com.
Shabbat dinner
The Jewish Center of Oak Hills invites the public to join their membership for a celebration of Shabbat on Friday evening, March 13. Shabbat services will take place at 6:45 p.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a catered Latino/American dinner in the ballroom.
The Center is located at 50-35 Cloverdale Boulevard, in the Oakland Gardens section of Bayside. It is handicap-accessible and has a Sabbath elevator with access to all floors.
Admission to the dinner is $25 per person, and reservations must be made by March 9. For more information or reservations for the evening, call the Center at 718-631-0100.
Ball and chain
In a move to bring back “old-time fun,” the management of JIB Lanes in the Electchester section of Flushing has brought back a summer bowling league once called “His and Hers.”
The new league, which will meet on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the bowling alley, located at 67-19 Parsons Boulevard, will go by the name “Ball and Chain,” homage to a wifely reference long out of fashion.
“It will be organized, competitive at all levels and a lot of fun,” said spokesperson Jim Santora. The league will have both handicap and scratch brackets, doubles, “pins over average” pool and other prizes, jackpots and competitions, Santora said.
The league will hold its registration meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. and begin league competition on Tuesday June 2 at 7 p.m. according to Santora. “Summer is on the way and why not spend it in a fully-renovated JIB Lanes,” he said.
“And don’t forget our regular ‘Friday Night Bash’ charity bowling nights to help support Saint Mary’s Hospital for Children and Saint Robert Bellarmine School,” he added.
For more information, contact Santora at 917-502-4128 or by email jim.santora@jiblanes.com.
Autism parent workshops
The Samuel Field Y’s Center for Helping Individuals with Learning Differences (CHILD) is offering parent workshops and training sessions at their Little Neck location at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway.
Held on Thursday, March 12 and Thursday, March 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. the two-hour sessions are designed to help parents and caregivers to manage the behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders.
The sessions will be presented by Ramapo Training, a program of Ramapo for Children, a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit organization serving children with special needs since 1922.
Registration is required for the free sessions, which are funded by the NYC Autism initiative.
Call Gerrie Mayerhoff at 718-225-6750, Ext. 262 for more information.
Poets resume meetings
The Performance Poets’ Association will resume a schedule of meetings at the Douglaston-Little Neck Branch of the Queens Public Library, according to Community Library Manager Elizabeth Shinouda.
The group will meet on the second Saturday of the month at 2 p.m., starting on March 14. Meetings are scheduled on April 11, May 9 and June 13.
“Come share your poems in a relaxed, informal setting,” said Sylvia E. Weinstein, who has hosted the gatherings at the local library for some time.
The branch is located at 249-01 Northern Boulevard in Little Neck. It is open Mondays and Thursdays, from 1 to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, 1 to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This neighborhood library is closed on Sunday. Call 718-225-8414 or visit www.queenslibrary.org.
Candidates’ night
The Jefferson Democratic Club of Northeast Queens will hold their Candidates’ Night for the City Council 19th District race on Thursday, March 5, starting at 8 p.m.
The club meets at the American Legion Hall located at 198-09 33rd Avenue in Auburndale. The candidates scheduled to attend are Steve Behar, Tom Cooke, Jerry Iannece, Debra Markell and Paul Vallone.
If you have any questions, email jeffersondems@gmail.com.
