18 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 2, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com BOYS & GIRLS CLUB DEDICATES CENTER TO MARSHALL BY KATELYN DI SALVO editorial@queenscourier.com Helen Marshall’s 12 years as borough president were topped off on Friday, December 27, when the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens dedicated a new learning center in her honor. A ceremony was held to show off the Helen M. Marshall Learning Center, and attendees took a hard hat tour of the progress in the newly constructed clubhouse. Boys & Girls Club Chairman-Emeritus Joseph Ferrara presented Marshall with a plaque that will hang in the new learning center. This is in recognition for all of Marshall’s support in the expansion of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens, including donating $4.75 million to the capital campaign. At the ceremony, Marshall reminisced over her times in the Bronx House as a child, and believes that investing in the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens is necessary for the children of the community. The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens dedicated a learning center to outgoing Borough President Helen Marshall. “My experience in the Bronx House taught me to get along with others, and taught me wonderful things about life and happiness,” she said. Carol Simon, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens, is excited about the new expansion, saying that they will be able to reach out to many more kids in the community. Pouran & Company A HIDDEN TREASURE AT THE NORTH SHORE TOWERS THE COURIER/Photo by Katelyn Di Salvo Happy New Year To All My Wonderful Clients And Friends We’re Having A Fabulous Post-Holiday Sale IN THE BOUTIQUE Up to 50% Off Regular prices North Shore Towers Arcade Level in Building 1 • 272-84 Grand Central Parkway • Floral Park Salon: (718) 423.8800 MedSpa: (718) 225.4100 Boutique: (718) 423.8989 www.pouranandco.com In the SALON Color & Blow Reg. $81 Now $72* *Tuesday & Wednesday Only IN THE SPA 10% Off All Packages OPEN SUNDAYS STARTING JANUARY 19TH * All Offers Good January 1, 2014 thru February 28, 2014 The new learning center will include educational programs like homework help, tutoring, and the new iReady literacy and math programs. “Basically, we’re enhancing the educational experience for young people,” Simon said. “We can’t just be a local gym and swim organization anymore, we need to work with the local schools and make sure our kids are doing better.” BIG CHANGES COMING With a new year, many middle class workers and employers can expect improvements in basic state services. Changes are coming to the state unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems, and there will be an increase in minimum wage. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the passage of the state budget in March, 2013, which included raises in the minimum wage to $8 per hour from $7.25, effective December 31, 2013. Previously, New York lagged behind 19 other states in minimum wage levels. By the end of 2014, the minimum wage will increase to $8.75 and then $9, by the end of 2015. “Thanks to the persistence of the Assembly majority, this budget ensures that tens of thousands of hardworking, minimum wage-earning New Yorkers will be receiving much-deserved and badly needed raises in each of the next two years,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said. Reforms coming to New York State unemployment insurance include enhancements to prevent fraud and aggressively require claimants to look for work, among other improvements. Also, there will be an increase in wage bases. Currently, employers pay unemployment insurance contributions on each worker’s earnings up to a certain point called the wage base. The current wage base for 2013 is $8,500. The wage base will be adjusted on January 1 each year and increase to $13,000 by 2026. After 2026, the wage base will be adjusted annually on January 1 to 16 percent of the state’s average annual wage. The workers’ compensation system is under repair as well. The system is under a business process re-engineering, focusing on improving the system’s processes, performance management and upgrading technology. Right now over 30 states use a national electronic standard for worker’s compensation injury reporting. New York will join this growing trend of electronic injury reporting in 2014. The state hopes that this move will reduce paper forms and duplicate fi lings, provide greatly expanded access to injury and payment data, simplify and speed up case processing, and allow the workers’ compensation board to better regulate the workers’ compensation system.
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