Founder’s Week at St. John’s
JAMAICA – St. John’s University is observing founder’s week between January 23 and January 29, in honor of St. Vincent de Paul.
Deogratias Niyizonkiza, a refugee from the war-ravaged African country of Burundi will present a lecture on Friday, January 29, at 3 p.m. in the Little Theater at the Queens campus, located at 8000 Utopia Parkway. It will be free admission and open to the public.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.stjohns.edu/about/vincentian/foundersweek.
Historical Queens
BAYSIDE – The Bayside Historical Society will be opening a gallery on February 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. where children can learn about life in Queens circa 1906.
They can take a trip back in time and learn from toys, photographs, tools, kitchen and literature from the period.
“The whole idea behind designating an area just for children stems from experiences I had with children who visited this building on class trips,” said Denise Johnson, BHS Vice President of Education.
After opening day, the children’s gallery will be open on select weekends in the spring. Call 718-352-1548 or visit www.baysidehistorical.org for the dates.
Vallo Transportation, Ltd. Seeks Federal Funds
COLLEGE POINT – A school bus company seeks federal funds to aid them in compliance with newest federal emissions standards.
If approved, Vallo Transportation Ltd., will receive a 25 percent grant for the purchase of seven new buses totaling $904, 825.
“Engine manufacturers and oil refiners have made tremendous progress creating equipment and fuel that cause much lower emissions than in the past,” said company president Linda DeSabato.
The new buses would also feature an independent heating system, separate from the engine, to reduce idling in the winter.
The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, a federal program intended to reduce air pollution, would provide the funding. The grant approval decision will be announced in the spring.
Local councilmember calls to remove toxins from schools
BOROWIDE – Councilmember Dan Halloran appealed to the mayor to take action regarding the discovery of toxins at a Staten Island school.
Parents at P.S. 36 recently released a study that showed elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at the school.
The Environmental Protection Agency has noted through its website that PCBs have been found to cause cancer and other ill effects on the body.
“I call for immediate abatement of public places where these toxins have been found,” Halloran said. “In the long term, we need a plan to remedy conditions where PCB’s have been found in schools within five years.”
Halloran congratulates Lincoln Tech graduates
WHITESTONE – Councilmember Dan Halloran offered praise for the new graduates of Lincoln Tech. The program’s 400 students will pursue careers in a technical college environment. He gave the keynote address at the ceremony, wishing luck to the graduates.
Sharing gallery space at Queens College
FLUSHING – A number of New York based artists will take residencies at a gallery space in the Queens College Art Center.
The project, called EXPRESS+LOCAL: NYC AESTHETICS, aims to determine what effect a Queens residency has on the artists’ work.
Curator Tara Mathison said, “EXPRESS+LOCAL will also try to learn whether a collective effort to explore Queens will reveal a regional New York City aesthetic.”
The first period of exhibition, which begins on Friday, January 28. will feature the work of Ellis Avery, a novelist from Manhattan; Becky Franco, a muralist from Brooklyn; Erin Hanke, a harpsichordist who will webcast her practice sessions daily; and Tommy Mintz, who will photograph the Queens College campus.
The gallery is free and open to the public. It is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is also open Fridays, April 18 to 22, 25 to 26, May 31 to June 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery will be closed on February 11 and 21, May 30, holidays and weekends.
It is located on the 6th floor of the Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library.
For future exhibits and more information, visit kupferbergcenterarts.org or call 718-997-3770.
