22 The QUEE NS Courier • FEBRUARY 18, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Photo via Wikimedia Commons Retired United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills will be grand marshal of the 2016 Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day parade. LOCAL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN CITYWIDE LEGO ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT Students at M.S. 216 in Fresh Meadows are gearing up to compete in the New York City First Lego League robotics tournament after a recent triumph against other teams in the borough wide competition. Youth who participate in First Lego League teams are tasked with finding a solution to a realworld problem such as food safety or recycling. As part of the challenge, they must also design, build and program a Lego robot. More than 233,000 children from more than 80 countries participated in this year’s tournament — dubbed “Trash Trek.” The challenge examined the process in which consumer waste is handled, from collection, to sorting, to smart production and reuse. Robotics teacher and coach Peter Xanthus said the subject hits on every academic standard, including language arts, math and science. “The kids are learning so much and they do not even realize it,” Xanthus said. “Seeing our students’ hard work and effort paying off with the Queens First Lego League win was phenomenal,” Principal Reginald Landeau, adding that all students begin robotic training in their first year at the school. “That foundation leads our students to great accomplishments like this.” The New York City League tournament will take place on March 12 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The winner of the event will go on to compete in the national tournament held in St. Louis this April. Three-star general to lead Little Neck/ Douglaston Memorial Day Parade BY KARINA CASTILLO editorial@qns.com/@qns Preparations for the 89th annual Little- Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade are underway. Three-star United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills will lead parade as the grand marshal. General Mills led the highly recognized First Marine Division and served as the head of all NATO forces in Afghanistan. The Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committee will also recognize several notable individuals including Queens Borough President Melinda Katz as Woman of the Year; Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Robert F. Sweeney as Man of the Year; and Mohsen Zandieh, who will receive the Community Service Award. This year’s parade marks the anniversary of two pivotal moments in Armed Forces history: the 100th anniversary of the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC), which has been responsible for 30 percent of officers in the Armed Forces; and the 50th anniversary of the extension of the U.S. bombing raids in North Vietnam. A new parade tradition has started in honor of the soldiers drafted into the military 50 years ago. Future soldiers that have volunteered at recruiting stations throughout Queens will take their enlistment oath during the parade in remembrance of the nearly 400,000 who were drafted in 1966. The Memorial Day events will begin at 10 a.m. on May 30 at Zion Episcopal Church in Douglaston, where the names of hometown soldiers who’ve fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan will be read. The parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Past parades have attracted a bevy of elected officials, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Letitia James, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark- Viverito and Senator Charles Schumer. The parade route is more than 1 mile long, longer than parades held in major cities such as Chicago or Washington, D.C. Parade organizers will provide greater amounts of transportation opportunities for the elderly and disabled veterans. Live streaming will also be made available throughout select senior citizen residencies in Queens for those who are unable to attend. NOMINATE ‘KINGS OF LONG ISLAND’ NOW! BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAF editorial@qns.com/@qns Some businessmen in Long Island will truly feel like royalty this spring. Nominations are being accepted for the Star Network’s inaugural “Kings of Long Island” awards and networking event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Leonard’s Palazzo, 555 Northern Blvd. in Great Neck. The event recognizes top businessmen in Nassau and Suffolk counties for their professional and community contributions. Along with dinner and an awards ceremony, the evening also features a business expo with networking opportunities. The event concludes with the proceeds from the raffle prizes benefiting a local charity. Star Network, along with Schneps Communications (publishers of The Queens Courier), have held similar networking events in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. This event marks the network’s second foray into Long Island; back in December, Star Network hosted the first Long Island Power Women in Business event, also at Leonard’s Palazzo. To nominate someone as a King of Long Island, visit www.qns.com/nominations. For tickets, visit www.qns.com/upcomingstar networking-events. For information on sponsorship opportunities, call Amy Amato at 718-224- 5863, ext. 201, or email aamato@starnetwork.com.
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