66 The QUEE NS Courier • buzz • APRIL 14, 2016 FOr breaking news visit www.qns.com Hillary Rocks in Queens Victoria’s Secrets Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 The congregants clapped, cheered, stood and waved their hands as Hillary Clinton made her way through southeast Queens churches. She began at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica and ended at the New Greater Bethel Ministries in Queens Village. I got a call from Congressman Greg Meeks that Hillary was coming Sunday morning at 8:45 to Floyd Flake’s Cathedral. Would I like to be there? I immediately said yes even if I would be missing my favorite TV show, “CBS News Sunday Morning,” and my precious lazy Sunday morning reading the newspapers and chilling out. But, with the primary April 19, I knew it is critical to her victory to get a big turnout in her own state. I wanted to see what it felt like being a part of the press pool, too. These folks follow Hillary around the country in a small van waiting for her to arrive, getting into position to photograph and cover her visit. I got to meet Ebony Meeks Laidley, who is the press liaison for the Hillary campaign. She is also the proud daughter of Simone and Greg Meeks. We had a chance to chat before the candidate’s arrival and she told me she’s on leave from her position as Assembly leader Carl Heastie’s deputy press secretary. Although the newlywed has been working 24/7, she said the roller coaster of the campaign included “fun times” when she met the energetic, beautiful and talented Debra Messing and legendary songwriter Carole King who were enthusiastically supporting the candidate. Ebony also got to see that she had married a romantic when, after a grueling week, her new husband brought to her office a beautiful, colorful bouquet of flowers. After giving Floyd Flake, head of the Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, hugs of hello, I followed the press pool up three flights of stairs to wait for Hillary in the balcony. What I didn’t anticipate was the spectacular 100-person choir singing, clapping their hands and tapping their feet. The five-piece band made the church rock! The packed congregation danced at their seats and I felt like I had dropped in at a rock concert. Hallelujahs filled the enormous cathedral and when the lead singer began “Amazing Grace,” I felt tingles up my spine – I felt like I was at the Metropolitan Opera! What a surprising bonus. A few minutes later, when Hillary was introduced by Reverend Flake, he recalled meeting Bill and Hillary over cookies and coffee at their home 25 years ago. And when Bill was elected president, he called Flake to the White House and asked him what he needed for his community. Jobs was the answer and, in a short time, the federal building in Jamaica was built and ultimately thousands of jobs were created. Hillary, he continued, “is someone we can trust.” To cheering voices, she walked up to the podium and with no notes spoke for 15 minutes about knowing the need to make sure your family can stay ahead and build on the progress made under the Obama administration of providing more jobs, universal health care and taking on the powerful gun lobby. The congregants of the churches were enthusiastic about everything Hillary said, particularly to go to the polls and vote for her! From the response of the people, she was a rock star in their midst and they mobbed her after she spoke to take a photo. Love abounded and I saw how Hillary seemed elevated by it. She left the church to take a plane to Maryland, her next contest, and then back to New York tonight, then a week of campaigning and appearances, and the debate with Bernie Sanders on Thursday. Stay tuned! Museum Mobbed As a member of the Queens Museum board, I knew there was great interest in the new Ramones exhibit, but when I passed the revolving doors, and saw the wall-to-wall crowd of people lined up to see it, I was thrilled. The punk rock group came from Forest Hills and our curator put together a collection of their memorabilia, from playing their music to their guitars and clothes and posters promoting their group to ... you get the idea. There are obviously huge numbers of fans for the group, although all the members are dead, and they waited patiently for over an hour and half to enter the Ramone gallery. There is also another unique exhibit of Gropper political cartoons and paintings from the ’30s to the ‘50s. It’s fascinating how the issues of those years are still relevant today. In addition, the museum features the Lockwood gift store newly opened by Mackenzi Farquer. It features Queens-centric collectables. The store was mobbed, too. Stop by. You, too, will be impressed with what’s happening at the museum strategically located in Flushing Meadows Park facing the Unisphere. Try it. You’ll love it! Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com see more photos at QNS.com The New Bethel congregation offers a blessing for Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton with the family of Congressman Greg Meeks Reverend Floyd Flake and Hillary Clinton at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral
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