86 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 22, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com sports MIDNIGHT ICE ROWING TOWARD SUCCESS ROWING FOR ‘EXCELLENCE’ BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] For the past 11 years, Row New York has helped local teens row their way into a positive future. Now, the program has made it as a semi-fi nalist for the Nonprofi t Excellence Awards. Long Island City-based Row NY was founded in 2002 and has helped enable young people from under-resourced communities in New York City gain strength and confi dence, and pursue excellence through competitive rowing. For the past nine years, Row NY had focused its attention on Queens girls ranging from seventh graders to seniors in high school. Last year it expanded into Manhattan to begin its fi rst boys program out of the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse. On August 13, Row NY was announced as one of the 10 semifi nalists for the 2013 New York Community Trust-New York Magazine Nonprofit Excellence Awards. In the fall, three of the semifi nalists will be selected as winners and respectively receive cash awards of $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000. “By showcasing inventive, innovative management at several nonprofi ts, we can help inspire hundreds of others to learn from best practices,” said Lorie Slutsky, president of The New York Community Trust. Row NY was started after Amanda Kraus, founder and executive director, was inspired to begin a rowing program in Queens after working for Girls Row Boston as a graduate student, where she helped bring rowing to girls from underprivileged communities. “I was like ‘this is amazing,’” said Kraus. “The idea was that I was from New York City and I thought this would be so amazing to have in my city.” The program, which began with one boat and eight girls, now has 110 girls rowing six days a week on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. There are also 110 participants in Manhattan. The students compete in an average of 12 races a year in the northeast and mid-Atlantic. Along with competitive rowing, Row NY also offers summer camps and rowing sessions for children with disabilities. The program also conducts SAT and Regents prep, fi nancial aid information sessions, and organizes college visits through the Long Island City offi ce at 10-27 46th Avenue. Kraus said the majority of the students stay in the program and graduate from high school and go onto college. Some even receive scholarships to continue their rowing. “It makes them very attractive to college,” said Kraus. “The big focus is going to college and staying in college.” Photo Courtesy of Amanda Kraus/Row New York After 11 years of dedication, Long Island City-based Row New York has been chosen as one of 10 semifi nalists for the 2013 New York Community Trust-New York Magazine Nonprofi t Excellence Awards. MIDNIGHT HOCKEY: It’s a culture BY CHARLES OSBORN [email protected] While most people are getting ready to settle in for the evening, Mark West, 35, checks his pads and tape, and laces up his ice skates for an 8:30 p.m. hockey game. West, a graphic designer by day, plays ice hockey with the Red Hawks, one of the many adult hockey teams that play late at night at the City Ice Pavilion in Long Island City. West lives in Brooklyn, but has been playing hockey since he was a teenager in Hillsboro, New Jersey, where rinks are not nearly as diffi cult to come across as in the city. So he goes at night once a week to enjoy the sport of his youth, despite the awkward timing. “If you put on skates and try it, you know why,” West said. “You fall in love with it instantly.” long as you fi t into the accepting, on development and ice time.” The adult hockey leagues bring men respectful culture. Most of the players’ backgrounds are of all ages and backgrounds, almost all The players’ rabid desire to skate, completely different. But when they of whom work full-time, to play night pass and shoot is what binds them, and are on the ice they all become hockey ice hockey, with games that start as late is what keeps a fraternal atmosphere in players. as 10 p.m. the facility. “It’s interesting to see investment Teams are broken into divisions “Everyone who plays in the league is bankers playing on the same team with according to relative skill level, with friends with almost everyone else,” said guys who can hardly afford equipment,” Division 1 representing the facility’s Patrick Jones, the adult hockey coordinator Jones said. “Everyone feels at elite and Division 4 catering to those at the facility. “Each division home here.” who are not as competitive. is highly competitive, some more than The league costs $4,845 for a 10-game But experience doesn’t matter so others, but everybody is mostly focused season, which includes a single elimination playoff for those teams skilled enough to make it. The matter of equipment is as fraternal as the sport itself -- much of it is donated and shared throughout the hockey community. “We make this gear available to customers at no cost and encourage brand new players to come skate in our gear before committing to the sport,” Jones said. The men play for the fun of it, and for the opportunity to prove to themselves that they are the best in their division. There are no big contracts and at least on most nights, no fans. But occasionally a girlfriend may appear. Nina Iyala, whose boyfriend, Steven Williams, plays on the Red Hawks, recently attended a game to cheer on her man. The couple is from Rockland County, but Williams was asked to play in Queens by a friend. “They love hockey so much they jumped at the chance,” she said. Nick Raz, an electrician who also plays for the Red Hawks, came to play midnight hockey from Rockland County as well. He returns home at 11:30 p.m. after games. “We all try to play as much as we can, which usually works out to about four times per week,” Raz said. “I’m going to play until my knees give out.” Midnight hockey is a culture at City Ice Pavillon in LIC for guys who love the sport enough to play well into the night. THE COURIER/Photos by Charles Osborn
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