22 The QUEE NS Courier • june 4, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Meet Queens County Clerk AUDREY PHEFFER Q: What do you do as county clerk? A: There’s really two jobs: I’m county clerk and the commissioner of jurors. I am the keeper of records for the Queens Supreme Court, such as judgments, decisions, divorces and other matters. I’m also a notary public so we notarize passports and veterans discharge papers. We also handle business certificates if you are starting an LLC (limited liability corporation). Q: What led you to become the county clerk? A: I was in the legislature for 24 years and, prior to that, worked for state Senator Weinstein and former City Council President Andrew Stein. After former Queens County Clerk Gloria d’Amico passed away and the position became available, I was very interested. It was a job completely different from what I did, but the one thing I knew was that it deals with people. I’m not a lawyer, but the fact is that I’ve dealt with many different people in many different situations as assemblywoman. I was interviewed by five appellate judges who made the appointment. I loved being in the Assembly, but I felt 24 years was a long time. You get to a point in your life when you say it’s time to change and do something different. Q: What has been a highlight of your job thus far? A: The federal government started filing all of their lawsuits electronically, and I wanted to do that here. It wasn’t mandated by the state court when I started, but since I’ve arrived, we have now mandated e-filing for two groups of lawsuits: medical malpractice and foreclosures. E-filing means anyone can file papers with a charge card at any time, 24 hours a day, instead of having to come into our office during business days. I think we’re moving into the 21st century by mandating it. We’re doing better, but there’s still a lot that has to be done. We’ve also modernized by scanning our records. We’ve also updated public computers so Queens residents can look up anything they want except sealed or closed cases. Q: What has been the most rewarding thing about being Queens County clerk? A: So far, it’s been the accomplishments we’ve made in modernizing the office and going around campaigning for residents to serve jury duty. People are learning what the county clerk is about. I did the same thing when I was elected to the Assembly. I made the assemblywoman a person by going to many places in my district. Certainly, most people have never met a county clerk. Q: What has been the most difficult aspect of your job? A: Getting people involved in jury duty. I have a wonderful staff and a wonderful reputation from them. We have an open door policy. But the fact is that we need people to serve on juries because if we don’t have the juries, we can’t have the trials. It’s as simple as that. Justice won’t be served. Q: What is your life outside of work? A: I love the theater and going into Manhattan. I have five grandchildren between my husband and myself, and they take up a wonderful part of my time. That was also part of my reason for changing jobs because it allowed me to spend more time with my family, which I wasn’t able to do as an Assembly member. I also have a group of lady friends who I like to go out with for dinner. I also enjoy relaxing and reading. BY ROBERT POZARYCKI Eagles tribute band to perform at Bayside Historical Society concert BY ALINA SURIEL [email protected] @alinangelica The Bayside Historical Society is hosting their annual outdoor concert on Sunday, June 7, on the sledding hill at Crocheron Park. The Desert Highway Band, a sextet whose music is largely a tribute to the classic rock group the Eagles, will be the event’s featured entertainment. The band regularly plays outdoor events and festivals attended by up to 6,000 people, and is set to travel this summer to perform in venues in West Virginia, Ohio and upstate New York. A testimonial on the Desert Highway Band’s official website said they have “a fabulous sound and true tribute to the Eagles, with superb on stage presence and energy.” Carl Bova, bass player and singer in the Desert Highway Band, said that he anticipates a lively event with the Bayside Historical Society and that summer events allow the band to truly connect with their audience. “You enjoy watching the people enjoy the music,” Bova said. “You feed off the people, let the people feed of you. The energy constantly builds, especially if it’s a beautiful night.” The concert is free and will run A six-piece Eagles tribute group will perform at Crocheron Park on Sunday, June 7. from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 7. Attendees and their families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to the event, which is co-sponsored by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The Bayside Historical Society was founded in 1964 to collect and preserve information concerning the history of Bayside and its neighboring communities. Since 1984, the Photo courtesy of the Desert Highway Band historical preservation group has been located at the Castle in Fort Totten, a NYC designated landmark which dates back to 1887 and was originally used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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