Senate committee passes unemployment bill State Senator George Onorato, the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, announced that legislation he sponsored to permit New York to receive more than $600 million in federal stimulus funds for unemployment benefits and administration has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
As part of this legislation, an additional 13 weeks of extended benefits will be provided to jobless New Yorkers already receiving aid, and funding will be provided to support benefits for newly-unemployed workers.
The legislation, which was passed by the Senate Labor Committee in April, is now expected to head to the Senate floor for a vote by the full house after unanimously passing the Finance Committee last week. The funding is being made available as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
“I could not be more pleased that this vital legislation, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for New York’s jobless, is now moving swiftly towards becoming law,” said Onorato. “Unemployment benefits for some 61,000 jobless New York residents are slated to begin running out soon. Passage of this legislation will provide unemployed New Yorkers with critically-needed financial assistance during very difficult economic times.”
All told, the extended benefits will ultimately aid some 120,000 unemployed workers now receiving assistance.
“This is a win-win for unemployed workers in need of aid, as well as for local economies that will benefit from the money these New Yorkers will spend on food, rent and other basic needs in their communities,” Onorato said.
Free fitness in Astoria City Parks Seniors Fitness, a free, eight-week long program that encourages New Yorkers (60+) to get active in city parks, recently kicked off. Each Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m., there will be free tennis in Astoria Park on the Tennis Courts located at 21st Street and Hoyt Avenue South.
The Seniors Fitness program, funded in part by Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr., encourages seniors to get fit and have fun in the beautiful park right in Astoria’s backyard. All equipment and instruction is provided free of charge.
Registration is required. Call the City Parks Foundation at 718-760-6999 or visit www.CityParksFoundation.org.
Benefit concert The Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Queens is inviting the public to a special Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Fund benefit concert, “A Tribute to Love,” starring Giada Valenti.
The concert begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, in the Auditorium of St. Joseph School, 28-46 44th Street in Astoria. Tickets are $20; $35 for premium seating. All are invited to make additional donations at the concert.
More information is available at www.italianfederation.com or by email from FIAO@juno.com.
For concert information and tickets, call 718-204-2444.
Knitting in Public Day in Astoria Astoria knitters will take to Astoria Park to celebrate the fifth annual World Wide Knit in Public (KIP) Day on Saturday, June 13 from noon to 4 p.m. in Astoria Park.
Local knitters and other crafters will gather to enjoy an afternoon of being creative together in the sun. This year the focus of the event is community-inspired learning from one another.
There will be short demonstrations throughout the day in knitting and crochet techniques from active community members.
Organized by two local craft groups, Astoria Crafty Knitty (ACK) and Steinway Astoria Craft Crochet & Knit (SACK), Astoria KIP will host this World Wide Knitting in Public.
“This year is a great year to try something new and expand your craft in exciting ways,” said Rosemary Cabanillas, who heads up ACK.
The group will be meeting on the lawn area near 23rd Avenue and 19th Street – easily located after walking into the park at 23rd Avenue.
In the event of rain, the KIP will be moved indoors to the Lefkos Pirgos Café located at 22-85 31st Street, on the corner of 23rd Avenue in Astoria.
For additional information on the Astoria KIP event, contact astoria.kip@gmail.com or visit https://astoriakip.blogspot.com/. For additional information on World Wide Knit in Public Day, visit https://www.wwkipday.com.
CB8 hearings Community Board (CB) 8 is holding public hearings concerning two auto-related businesses on Wednesday, May 27, at Hillside Manor, 188-11 Hillside Avenue in Jamaica Estates.
At 7:30 p.m., the subject will be the application of Auto Services Management Corporation, 84-12 164th Street. This is Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) calendar number 194-97 BZ.
At 8 p.m. the subject will be the application of the Shell Service Station located at 175-22 Horace Harding Expressway, BSA calendar number 8-96 BZ.
For speaking time, please call the CB8 district office at 718-264-7895, during normal business hours (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. 5 p.m.)
