38 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JANUARY 27, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Astoria resident appointed QBG’s new executive director
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Evie Hantzopoulos, an Astoria resident
who serves on Community Board 1, has
been appointed the new executive director
of Queens Botanical Garden (QBG)
and will assume the role on Jan. 24.
Hantzopoulos succeeds Susan Lacerte,
who retired in September 2021 following
a 27-year tenure in the position. Her
appointment comes as QBG prepares to
break ground on its new, state-of-the-art
Education Center this year.
“Queens Botanical Garden is such a
unique and special place,” Hantzopoulos
said. “Now more than ever, access to public,
open space is essential to our wellbeing.
I am honored to have the opportunity
to build on the authenticity and
expertise of the institution’s staff and community
members and lead the garden in
reaching its full potential — as a place
where people of all backgrounds and abilities
can appreciate and learn about the
environment, engage in the arts, experience
innovative programming, celebrate
culture, build community and make their
own lasting connections.”
Hantzopoulos has been an Astoria resident
since 1999, and has been actively
involved in community affairs.
Hantzopoulos co-founded Frontline
Foods Queens in March 2020, which has
provided over 60,000 meals from local
restaurants to frontline hospital workers,
food pantries and NYCHA residents
across Queens.
She is also a founding member of
Astoria Mutual Aid Network, the Astoria
Urban Ecology Alliance and the 31st
Avenue Open Street. Th is past
election cycle, Hantzopoulos
ran in the District 22 City
Council Democratic primary,
fi nishing second in a sixperson
race.
Hantzopoulos is an awardwinning
educator and nonprofit
leader with extensive experience
in organizational leadership,
strategic planning, fundraising
and program development.
Until recently,
she served 11 years as
executive director of
Global Kids Inc., a
nonprofit organization
that develops
youth leaders
through dynamic global education
and leadership development programs.
During her tenure, Hantzopoulos led the
organization to unprecedented programmatic
and fi nancial growth — expanding
its programs to Washington, D.C.,
and Houston; growing the organization’s
budget from $3.6 million to $7.6
million; and receiving the Non-
Profi t New York Excellence in
Overall Management Award
in 2020.
Prior to this role,
Hantzopoulos served as the
Global Kids deputy director/
director of programs
for 14 years, overseeing the
development, supervision
and expansion of programs in
New York City as well as
professional development
programs for teachers
and youth workers
nationally and internationally.
Rebecca Wolf,
QBG interim executive
director/
assistant director
and director
of education
and garden
operations, said
Hantzopoulos’
“dedication to
building exclusive, equitable and sustainable
organizations and communities
completely aligns with the mission of the
garden as being the place where plants,
people and cultures meet.”
Upon her appointment, the QBG
board of trustees say they’re thrilled to
announce Hantzopoulos as the garden’s
next executive director.
“Evie’s proven leadership commitment
to Queens is the perfect fi t for our garden.
As we prepare to break ground on
our Education Center later this year, we
are confi dent that Evie will be the right
person to lead our organization into
this exciting new era and keep Queens
Botanical Garden on the cutting edge of
what it means to be an urban ecological
garden in today’s world,” said Raymond
Jasen, QBG board chair.
Th is fall, QBG will begin construction
on the education center. With an innovative
design, four classrooms, a teaching
kitchen, an education solarium, a
green roof and space for indoor and outdoor
programming, the center and its
surrounding landscapes will allow for
increased visitation to QBG and create
exciting new educational opportunities.
Th e building is scheduled to open
in late 2024.
“Th e garden is an exceptional place
and the new education center is a game
changer,” Hantzopoulos said. “I can’t
wait to get started.”
Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade marches on this year
BY JENNA BAGCAL
from the community. Th e committee canceled
the Saturday. Please share and pass on this
jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com
the scheduled parade in 2020 and
information to all your friends and family.
@jenna_bagcal
again in 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns
We could all use a great day out aft er
but brought back the festivities in
everything we’ve all gone through in the
Th e Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
September 2021.
last two years!” the parade committee
is making its return in March aft er the
As in years past, the Saint Patrick’s Day
wrote on its offi cial Facebook page.
pandemic derailed the event for two years.
Parade will march down Bell Boulevard
Honorees for the annual tradition
On Tuesday, the parade committee
from 35th Avenue to 42nd Avenue.
include Rita Lydon Lenz as the 2022
announced its decision to maintain the
“Aft er speaking to members of the community
grand marshal and Kevin Cadigan, Sister
parade’s original date of March 26, 2022,
and receiving lots of feedback, the
Kathleen Masterson, Brian McGuinness,
at 1 p.m. “aft er receiving lots of feedback”
committee decided to keep the parade on
Rory McCreesh and A. Warren Scullin as
aides to the grand marshal.
Th e popular Bayside event got its start in
2018 as a way to showcase the community’s
strong Irish pride. Past parades have included
participation from dozens of local groups
including schools, civic organizations, dance
groups, bands and elected offi cials.
To learn more about the parade, visit
baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org and
facebook.com/baysidestpatricksday
parade.
Photo courtesy of Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
From left: A. Warren Scullin (aide), Brian McGuinness (aide), Rita Lydon-Lenz (2022 grand marshal),
Fran McLoughlin (president of the Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade), Kevin Cadigan (aide), Rory
McCreesh (aide).
Photo courtesy of Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Halfway to Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in September 2021.
Photo by Wichuda
McConnell
Astoria resident Evie
Hantzapoulos has
been appointed as
the new executive
director of Queens
Botanical Garden.
/baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
/baysidestpatricksday
link
link
