FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com MAY 16, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 9 Two more from Francis Lewis JROTC are . . . WEST POINT BOUND BY MELISSA CHAN [email protected] The country’s largest Junior Reserve Offi cers Training Corps (JROTC) program will send two more cadets to West Point. Aaron Lin, 19, and Brian Nepogoda, 17, have been accepted to the U.S. Military Academy. The JROTC program at their high school, Francis Lewis, has sent more than 20 cadets to West Point since 2003. Five of Francis Lewis’ JROTC alumni graduated from the prestigious military academy last year. “I really, honestly can’t even describe my feelings. It’s an extreme honor,” Lin said. “It was my goal since I was a little kid. I’ve always wanted to be a soldier. It’s my highest personal achievement.” Lin, a former cadet captain from Flushing, recently completed a one year preparatory program at Marion Military Institute after graduating from high school. He said his “extreme patriotism” for his country and his Chinese-American pride pushed him to start a life of service. “Since I’m here, I might as well fight for everyone who lives here,” he said. “I want to show that Chinese-Americans are not any less than anyone else. We’re just as strong. We can become great officers and leaders. I wanted to make my family proud.” Nepogoda, a senior from Bellerose, said he was inspired to continue in the footsteps of his veteran grandfathers. “They used to tell me stories about their service, stories about honor and how they were THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan Brian Nepogoda and Aaron Lin, both of Francis Lewis High School, will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. heroes. That really inspired me,” he said. Nepogoda, a cadet fi rst sergeant, is currently third in charge of a company of 200 students. He was also part of a Francis Lewis team that won fi rst place in a recent Fort Dix competition that tested their mental and physical abilities. “He gives 200 percent,” said coach and retired Master Sgt. Peter Rompf. “I’m proud. They were both good role models for the team.” The pair leaves for six weeks of basic training in July before they begin their academic year. They will spend fi ve years in active duty and four years in the reserves after graduating in 2017. “I’ve wanted to go to West Point since about eighth grade,” Nepogoda said. “When I got accepted, I just couldn’t help but think how weird it is how quickly dreams can come true.” Walcott weighs in on school controversy BY MELISSA CHAN [email protected] The city’s schools chancellor chastised a community board leader after residents allegedly threatened his employees at a rowdy Bayside meeting last week. “I would never allow anyone to be treated in this manner and would expect that you have the same standard,” Dennis Walcott said. The head of the city’s public education system expressed his “extreme dismay” at a heated Community Board 11 meeting last Monday, when one male and one female resident allegedly verbally threatened two School Construction Authority (SCA) offi cials. An older man approached Chris Persheff, the SCA’s Queens site selection manager, called him a liar and threatened to break his legs, The Courier reported last week. After that, an unidentifi ed person allegedly followed Persheff’s partner, Monica Gutierrez, by car until Gutierrez pulled into an empty lot, city reps said. The SCA officials were pitching a plan to build an elementary school for 416 students at 210-11 48th Avenue when the May 6 meeting grew contentious. They plan to fi le a police report and might take legal action against the alleged belligerents, Gutierrez said. In a letter, Walcott said Community Board 11 Chair Jerry Iannece “enabled this behavior by not drawing any boundaries to the abuse.” He said the proposed new school would alleviate overcrowded facilities in the area. But enraged residents said it would lead to dangerous crossing conditions for students, among other concerns. Iannece fi red back in a letter, defending his decade-long, “impeccable” reputation for fairness and order. “As an uncompensated volunteer who has spent countless hours for the betterment of my community, I take personal offense by your remarks,” he said. “It is an affront to me and to all community board chairs, who do so much for our city.” The community board’s education committee said bringing P.S. 130 back to their district would relieve area school congestion. The 200-01 42nd Avenue school is located within District 26, but has mostly served students from District 25 for at least two decades. Moving the school back to its original district has long been deemed unviable by education offi cials. The two residents’ identities were not known as of press time. “Although I can appreciate your desire to protect the staff,” Iannece said, “misplaced anger, compounded by erroneous accusations, doesn’t help.” Business Checking with a little something extra. 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And $50 for the completion of 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal. Each debit card purchase and each online bill-payment must be $25 or more and must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about 75 days after the account is opened. The offer is subject to change and early termination without prior notice at any time. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Speak with a branch representative for more information. 2 New account with new money only. For purposes of the promotion, a new business checking customer is defined as any new business checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). You must deposit a minimum of $100 to open this account. No minimum balance is required to avoid a monthly maintenance fee. New Free Business Checking account customers will receive a Google Nexus 7 32GB wifi tablet for an opening balance of $15,000 or more. Valid business documentation must be provided at the time of account opening. The cost of the promotional item of $285 (including sales tax and delivery charge) will be reported as interest income in the form of a 1099. The new account must remain open, active and in good standing for six months. If the account is closed prior to six months, the cost of the promotional item will be deducted from the balance. Flushing Bank reserves the right to make promotional item substitutions of comparable value and assumes no liability for any defects in, or direct or consequential damages relating to promotional items. The warranty is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer. Google, Android, and Nexus are trademarks of Google Inc. Google is not affiliated with, or sponsor of, this promotion. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more information about minimum balance requirements and certain fees that may apply to the business checking account. The promotion and offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more information. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark Business Checking • No monthly maintenance fees • No minimum balance required $15,000 or more2
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