16 North Shore Towers Courier n July 2013 BY MAGGIE HAYES Danny Diaz is a handyman by trade, family man at heart. The Woodside native, now living in Jackson Heights, has worked at the North Shore Towers for seven years. He started working overnights in the arcade, then moved up to the morning shift and became a handyman for Building 1. “Every day is a different experience,” he said. “Every resident has a different story.” Diaz recalled one of his favorite stories in which a woman shared with him that she dated the original creator of the beloved Superman. She said he drew a sketch of the superhero and also drew one of her. During a typical day, aside from completing his work orders, Diaz also gets “in-between calls” to help residents. When he’s not helping residents fix anything and everything, he’s home in Jackson Heights with his wife and two children. His brother, sister, mother and grandmother also live nearby, and Diaz said he’s very “family-oriented.” The rest of his extended family is “still home in Nicaragua,” he said. He also coaches basketball for the Catholic Youth Organization for the same Jackson Heights church that he himself played for when he was younger. Every Monday night after work he coaches boys and girls aged 5 through 8. Diaz works Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He said the camaraderie amongst the staff is a big part of his day-to-day job. “Everybody is great. We’re a good team,” he said. “We all look out for each other. We back each other up pretty well. We share information, and the communication makes work a lot easier.” THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes Danny Diaz works as a handyman Sunday through Thursday in Building 1. Meet Your Handyman: DANNY DIAZ: A well-rounded Mr. Fix It WOMAN IS ‘CHAMPION OF CHANGE’ Jennifer Manley RECOGNIZED BY WHITE HOUSE BY MELISSA CHAN A Queens Library leader won a national honor last week for being a “Champion of Change” for cultural institutions in her community. Jennifer Manley, the vice president of government and community affairs for the Queens Public Library, was one of 12 people in the nation this year to be recognized as an advocate for museums and libraries. “Manley believes in the power of information and education to improve lives, one at a time, neighborhood by neighborhood,” the White House said in a statement. The 62 branches of the Queens Public Library circulate more than 13 million items and see more than 13 million visitors a year. It has become a leader in providing services to immigrants, who make up half of the borough’s population, library and White House officials said. “Jennifer’s work embodies what this program is all about — recognizing leaders who make a difference in their communities,” said Congressmember Steve Israel. “Queens Borough Public Library is fortunate to have leaders like Jennifer who contribute so much to the excellence of the institution.” Congressmember Joseph Crowley called Manley a “staunch advocate” for libraries. He said she “works hard to preserve this invaluable resource for the people who need it most.” The Champions program gives accolades to individuals and groups who do “extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities,” the White House said. “Jennifer has been a tremendous asset to the Queens Borough Public Library,” said Congressmember Grace Meng, “and this award exemplifies the outstanding work she’s done to make a difference throughout the many communities of Queens.”
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