FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com may 1, 2014 • The Queens Courier 3 P.S. 117 FINDS ITS HEROES, $7K DONATED BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BAYSIDE POLICE CADET WHO DIED IN 9/11 HONORED WITH STREET CO-NAMING BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected]/@liamlaguerre When the 23-year-old Pakistani-American Salman Hamdani, who was an NYPD cadet and EMT, heard about the 9/11 attacks, instead of going to work he headed straight for the World Trade Center to help victims. He lost his life trying to help people and for his sacrifice, Community Board 11 and Councilman Paul Vallone honored him by co-naming 204th Street in Bayside, where he grew up, as “Salman Hamdani Way” on Monday, April 28. But his mother, Talat, believes it’s just the first step to getting the recognition he deserves. Hamdani, who was born in Pakistan and immigrated to America as toddler, was initially thought to be involved in the attacks, and still isn’t honored as a first responder on the 9/11 memorial. “The city of New York needs to recognize him officially as a cadet when 9/11 happened when he gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Talat said. “And the national 9/11 memorial cannot deny him his due place in history.” Instead of being listed as a first responder, Hamdani’s name is on the memorial as a civilian who was killed in the attacks. His family believes this bias stems from his Muslim faith, but they said he was an American in every way. As a child, Hamdani watched cartoons on Disney Channel, loved the Yankees, played football for Bayside High School, and was a truly dedicated fan of Star Wars — so much so that “his licenses plate read, ‘young Jedi,’” Talat said. “I asked him one day, what is Star Wars?” she recalled, and THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Salman Hamdani was honored with a street co-naming, but his family would also like to see his name remembered officially as a first responder. he replied, “Momma, you don’t know what Star Wars is, you’re not an American!” Talat added, “So in order to be an American you had to know the Star Wars saga.” His family is calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio to put Hamdani’s name among the first responders list to honor his memory. “The fact is that he was a cadet,” Talat said. “He should be properly acknowledged.” BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] @liamlaguerre P.S. 117 may not need to wait for Superman any longer to save graduation. The Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Briarwood Latchkey Generation Facebook group stepped up to contribute about $7,000 together to help save the cashstrapped school. Nearly 170 graduating fifthgraders were in danger of losing caps and gowns, yearbooks and a senior prom, which are usually sponsored by the school’s PTA, because the Department of Education is investigating $30,000 missing from the accounts of the school’s Parent Teacher Association. While the investigation is ongoing, the organization is not allowed to fundraise and is barred from all financial dealings. At a school meeting on Monday, April 28, Jack Friedman, the executive director of the Chamber, and Nick Tomizawa, who represented the Facebook group made of Briarwood residents and alums of P.S. 117, announced the donations to a room full of parents and teachers. “I feel ecstatic,” said Nicole Lopez, a parent from the school. “If I could go to the top of a mountain and scream, ‘Thank you,’ I would. I think it’ll get done in time for them to have a nice prom and ceremony.” The money will pay for expenses for the senior items and dance. Parents are currently creating a list of needs, which they will present to principal Paula Cunningham for approval. However, because of the short time the children may still not receive physical yearbooks. Instead, the school is considering CD yearbooks with class pictures, and getting autograph books for the children. The members of the Briarwood Facebook group donated more than $1,000 through the crowdfunding site Giveforward.com. The Chamber collected $6,000 in donations from Melrose Credit Union, New York Community Bank, TD Bank, Plaza College, Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and Thermos & Thomiavia, PC. The Chamber will hold a press conference to officially announce the donation on Friday. THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Jack Friedman of the Queens Chamber of Commerce told parents and teachers of P.S. 117 that the organization is planning to donate funds to help save the school’s graduation. EXCLUSIVE Nonprofit seeks new home after overloaded power strip fire BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 One nonprofit organization is already looking for a new home after a five-alarm fire, caused by an overloaded power strip, engulfed a Jackson Heights building last week. The Queens Community House, which provided four of its programs at the Bruson Building, located at 74-09 37th Ave., has been displaced after the third and fourth floors went up in flames the evening of April 21. Plaza College and various other organizations and businesses were also housed inside the building. The Jackson Heights site, which aided about 300 residents daily, was home to QCH’s Adult Education/ESOL program, which provides free intensive English and citizenship classes; immigrant services, providing assistance with citizenship and other legal residency needs; a CASP program, helping youth who have obtained a diploma through a non-traditional high school apply to and succeed in community college; and its Queens Center for Gay Seniors, a senior center primarily serving an LGBT older adult population. QCH has been able to secure some space at the Sunnyside Community Services for its Adult Education English classes. According to the FDNY, nine people sustained minor injuries as a result of the fire, including seven firefighters and a police officer. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical due to an overloaded power strip, according to the FDNY. Anyone interested in helping QCH can visit www.queenscommunityhouse. org. Photo by Riyad Hasan According to the FDNY, the cause of the five-alarm fire, which engulfed a Jackson Heights building last week, was determined to be electrical due to an overloaded power strip.
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