24 The Queens Courier • juLY 23, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com First-ever Queens NYC Lit Festival to take place at LIC Bar BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com/@aaltamirano28 Long Island City will celebrate the literary community of Queens next month during a two-day festival — the first of its kind in the borough. The Inspired Word, founded by journalist Mike Geffner, is presenting the first-ever Queens NYC Lit Fest on Aug. 1 and 2 at the LIC Bar, located at 45-58 Vernon Blvd. The event, which is free and will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, will celebrate the literary arts in Queens with a mission to bring together the diverse community through days filled with “heart, soul and love.” “I think this is wonderful. I think that not enough events like this occur,” said Megan DiBello, one of the organizers and performers for the Queens NYC Lit Fest. “It’s really lovely to be a part of this community and grow. It’s nice to be part of a community.” DiBello will also serve as one of the hosts during the festival together with Audrey Dimola. During the event, there will be an open mic in LIC Bar’s private room where artists will perform 5-minute-long poetry, prose and spoken word. The days will also feature works from writers Paolo Javier, a former Queens poet laureate, and newly named Poet Laureate Maria Lisella. Queens-based reading series, groups and organizations will also take part in the two-day event with some of them having vendor tables selling books and other items in the bar’s backyard garden. The main bar section will be selling drinks along with featuring musical performances by Queensbased musicians. Image courtesy of Queens NYC Lit Fest “So many people are using spoken word, poetry and music to channel all their thoughts to create something beautiful,” DiBello said. All money generated at the event will go to the performers and artists taking part in the festival during the two days. Donations of $1 and up will be accepted, and sponsors are still being accepted. THE COURIER/Photo by Alina Suriel Barry Grodenchik in front of the Bayside Hills clock with some of his supporters. Barry Grodenchik receives support from female pols BY ALINA SURIEL asuriel@queenscourier.com/@alinangelica Several prominent female politicians in Queens threw their support to Barry Grodenchik in his bid for a City Council seat at a press conference on July 21 in Bayside Hills. “It is my delight to stand with some of the great women leaders of this county, my wife included,” said Grodenchik, who has served as an assemblyman and deputy Queens borough president. He is running as a Democrat for the District 23 City Council seat vacated in June by Mark Weprin, who left to become Governor Andrew Cuomo’s deputy secretary of legislative affairs. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz was the most high-profile name at the event to support Grodenchik, which was held at the Bayside Hills clock on 50th Avenue and Bell Boulevard. Grodenchik is currently on leave from working in the borough president’s administration as an aide, and the two were once rivals on the 2013 campaign trail, which Katz ultimately won. The two Democrats also worked side by side in the office of former Borough President Claire Shulman, who served from 1986 until 2002. “He is committed, and he is strong, and is a great advocate for the people of Queens,” said Katz, adding that Grodenchik has the experience to have a real impact in city politics. Two local councilwomen who would be Grodenchik’s colleagues, if elected, also spoke highly of his career of service to the city. “Barry is someone who knows what to do and how to get it done,” said Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, who represents Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill in District 29. “I have seen him in action not just with me, but with many of my colleagues in government.” Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley of District 30, which encompasses Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, and parts of Woodside and Woodhaven, pointed to Grodenchik’s efforts to aid victims of domestic violence as part of his wealth of experience, as well as other important initiatives in which he has taken part. Grodenchik is one of six Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for the 23rd Council District seat in the September primary. The winner of that race will face presumptive Republican nominee Joe Concannon in the November general election for the right to serve the remainder of Weprin’s term, which expires in 2017.
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