FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 • The queens Courier 43 SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS brought to you by SCOTT BARON & ASSOCICATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 star OF queens Carolina Peñafiel Founder and Director of Local Project Co-Owner of Fancy Fox COMMUNITY SERVICE: Ten years ago Carolina Peñafiel founded Local Project, a nonprofit arts organization. It has housed its headquarters and gallery space inside the warehouses of 5Pointz in Long Island City. Local Project gives back to the community by showcasing local artists and holding events with local groups. “It is a very welcoming space, it’s open and free to the public,” she said. “You walk in, you’re welcome and there is always someone talking to you. It’s an easy access space and we get to live in one of the hottest spots in New York City.” Peñafiel also co-owns an up-and-coming thrift shop called The Fancy Fox out of the space. BACKGROUND: Peñafiel also became a self-taught production assistant, helping behind the scenes on some shows. She was also a photographer taking selfportraits as a tool to express herself. Together with Local Project, she has worked with community groups such as the Queens Museum, Flux Factory, and many others curating art shows. INSPIRATION: Starting the organization at such a young age and not having much knowledge of the art world, Peñafiel said there was no big inspiration at first, but now the impact the organization has made serves as her motivation. “My inspiration to continue is the impact we have on the public and the people,” she said. “I get inspired by people, I like to be around them, that’s what keeps me going.” FAVORITE MEMORY: Peñafiel remembers the group getting its first grant from the Queens Council on the Arts and being able to continue serving the community and local artists. “When people tell me about their experience with Local Project, that makes me believe in what we’re doing,” she said. “When we see a result of all the work we put into things, there are always good memories to build.” BIGGEST CHALLENGE: One of the newest challenges Local Project and Peñafiel have had to deal with is finding a new home for the organization once it was announced the property owners were selling the warehouses to construct two high-rise apartments. Yet, the nonprofit received the help from a local supporter and found a new home. “The biggest challenge was trying to keep Local Project in Long Island City and then the angels came down to us,” she said. BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO Photo Courtesy Jason Artiga Legally Speaking By: Scott Baron, Attorney at Law THE MONSTER NEXT DOOR Q: My wife was a retired teacher. Two doors away, lived another woman. Her son had a history of substance abuse and psychiatric problems, taking him in and out of various drug-abuse and mental-health facilities. One day, officials at his latest facility gave him a pass to leave, just for a couple of days. The next morning, he forced his way into our home and attacked my wife. By noon, the crime had been discovered. He has since pleaded guilty to murder and burglary. I feel that both his mother and the mental-health facility are responsible for letting this person roam the streets and enter my building. A: Even if your neighbor’s admission to the facility was merely voluntary on his part, the fact that he needed a pass in order to visit his mother suggests that he was not completely free to leave. The facility had some degree of control and responsibility. Your attorney will contend that this facility had sufficient authority and control over his conduct to give rise to a duty to protect the general public. Accordingly, you have a cause of action in negligence against the facility and/or its employees. As for suing his mother, the facts as you tell them do not appear to give rise to an exception to the general rule – that a parent cannot be held liable for the actions of an emancipated adult child. Moreover, even though landowners generally have a duty to control the conduct of third persons on their premises, this tragedy simply did not occur at his mother’s home. Advertorial The law responds to changed conditions; exceptions and variations abound. Here, the information is general; always seek out competent counsel. This article shall not be construed as legal advice Copyright © 2013 Scott Baron & Associates, P.C. All rights reserved. 159-49 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, New York 11414 1750 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 718-738-9800, 914-337-9800, 1-866-927-4878 Our job is making sure no longer goes that waste to waste. Find out more at ThinkGreen.com Energy creation. Recycling programs. Closed-loop solutions. Those are just a few of the innovations we’re delivering for customers and communities alike. We live in a world where things can no longer go to waste. That’s why Waste Management is working to get the most from resources. It’s good for business and the environment. ©2012 Waste Management, Inc.
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