40 The QUEE NS Courier • SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters THE QUEENS Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan Tonia N. Cimino Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh Graziella Zerilli Stephen Reina Ron Torina, Jennifer Decio, Cheryl Gallagher Melisa Chan, Liam La Guerre, Cristabelle Tumola Maggie Hayes, Angy Altamirano Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Bill Krese Jan DiGeronimo Maria Romero Louise Cavaliere Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Daphne Fortunate Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor Co-Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-In-Chief VP, Events, Web & Social Media Art Director Assistant to Publisher Assistant Art Director Artists Staff Reporters Contributing Reporters Web Editor Editorial Cartoonist Director, Business Developm ent Events Manager Senior Acc ount Executive Classified Manager Controller Office Manager President & CEO Vice President Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441 website: www.queenscourier.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2013 by The Queens Courier All letters sent to THE QUEENS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AS WELL AS OP-ED PIECES IN NO WAY REFLECT THE PAPER’S POSITION. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE QUEENS COURIER. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE QUEENS COURIER within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold The Quens Courier and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. Fix the system There are many reasons why our education system is in crisis. Prospective educators are subjected to a trendy, oppression-obsessed, feel-good and esteem-ridden curriculum with little emphasis on mastery of subject matter. Some educators prefer to be called “facilitators” and consider themselves bystanders as they guide the self-educating child. Requiring and abiding by a curriculum is considered “cramping the human spirit.” Another factor in the decline of our schools was the elimination of music education programs. Learning to play an instrument is an unforgiving endeavor: you can’t hide a wrong note or a missed beat. Demanding rigorous, disciplined, repetitious drills is indispensable for the development of a variety of skills, musical or otherwise. However, such drills are frowned upon and, in some schools, considered corporal punishment. But there is evidence of the efficacy of this approach: just ask any student to perform the latest rap hit. The National Commission on Music Education reported “in 1987-89 students taking music courses scored an average of 20-40 points higher on both verbal and math portions of the SATs…” I respectfully suggest that all education professors as well as prospective educators begin learning how to play an instrument, perhaps the violin. The benefits of disciplined repetition will soon become apparent to them… as well as their neighbors. Ed Konecnik Flushing Not worth it The answer to “Do you think that an election runoff is worthwhile, considering the cost?” (Street Talk By Johann Hamilton -- September 19) when it comes to the NYC public advocate is no. Most public opinion polls indicate little use for the public advocate. Many taxpayers would support abolishment of this office. The city comptroller, city council speaker, councilmembers, along with the borough presidents and municipal agencies have full-time staff dedicated to performing the very same functions as the public advocate. Larry Penner Forewarned is forearmed There is no question about it -- our area needs to be even better prepared for any future storms that may threaten our coastline. Sandy tested all of the emergency services and they all came through with flying colors. Our police, fire, EMS and other agencies were really prepared to deal with the havoc that Sandy caused, and they all rose to the occasion and met the fury of the storm very well. But there is always room for some improvement and it is important that these be in place before the next major storm strikes our area (there will most certainly be a next time, given the extreme climate changes that have and continue to occur throughout our country and throughout the rest of the world). Extreme and violent weather is now the rule, rather than the exception. Forewarned and forearmed is the best way to be to deal with the wrath of nature. John Amato Fresh Meadows Embrace diversity As a Member of Congress who represents a large population of Americans of Indian descent, I am deeply troubled by the outrageous remarks aimed at the winner of the 2013 Miss America Pageant and a fellow New Yorker, Nina Davuluri. Davuluri embodies the American Dream—the daughter of immigrants who graduated from a prestigious university and plans to pursue a medical degree. She is American in the truest sense, and the fact that this would be questioned is despicable. Embracing diversity is an American value, and one that I have always cherished. I am the product of grandparents who fled Russia due to persecution and found an accepting home here in America. I have spent my life honoring their memory by fighting against hatred, bigotry and persecution. When I heard of the vitriol being directed toward Davuluri, I felt compelled to respond. I join with the voices of the many Americans who have cried out against these hateful remarks. And I will continue to work in Congress to fight against hatred. Congressmember Steve Israel THE GOOD . . . Good food, great prices . . . great for business. The 10th annual Queens Restaurant Week kicks off on September 30. And what better way to say “we love Queens” than to patronize the restaurants that highlight our borough’s diversity by serving up the delectable fare of different countries? As Seth Bornstein, executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, put it, “Every neighborhood has its own unique specialty. That’s the beauty of Queens. We learn about each other through each other’s food.” From September 30 to October 3 and October 7 through 10, diners can enjoy three-course dinners for $28 and three-course lunches for $14 at most of more than 50 participating Queens eateries – with more signing up every day. The long list of participating restaurants this year features all sorts of Mexican, Cajun, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. “You can find your hometown cooking right in Queens,” said Borough President Helen Marshall. “Queens Restaurant Week allows diners to enjoy some of the tastiest dishes from around the world without having to spend a lot or travel very far.” So ready your palate for Restaurant Week and take a gastronomic trip – without having to pack a bag. For a full list of participating restaurants, visit www.itsinqueens.com and click “Restaurant Week.” THE UGLY . . . At least Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. These guys allegedly stole from the kind-hearted to give to . . . themselves. Last week, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that Daniel Dominguez, 37, Daryl Adeva, 31, and David Moretti, 41, were arrested for stealing from bank accounts of the Corona Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CCAC). An investigation found that while Dominguez served as a board member and treasurer of CCAC, he stole more than $300,000 from the non-profit’s bank accounts by transferring funds directly to his personal accounts. He then allegedly used the money to go on trips to Disney World and Niagara Falls, and purchased luxury car service trips and expensive meals. Dominguez allegedly helped Adeva, another CCAC board member, make an unauthorized transfer of $8,960 to his own account. Moretti, who served as a board member and president of CCAC, was charged for stealing more than $11,000 from the non-profit between September 2008 and May 2011. This is reprehensible. As it is, community groups have to fight for funding, of which there is never enough. And with volunteer ambulance corps providing – literally – life-saving services to the community, the alleged actions of these three are that much more ghoulish.
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