40 The QUEE NS Courier • business • october 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶business Five Towns College: Programs to cater to a wide variety Five Towns College is a small school with big aspirations. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, the school boasts one of the best music programs in New York, according to Director of Distance Education Stephen Gleason. “Our music program caters to a wide range and a diverse set of interests,” Gleason said. “The program itself really focuses on jazz and commercial music, and lately it’s been getting more into classical and gospel. Because of our location, we attract students from all over New BUSINESS York City, which is great for diversity.” in the The Distance Education program is relatively new at Five Towns College, and this is Gleason’s NEWS first semester as its Director. After working as a performing musician for about 15 years and traveling as a guitar player and vocalist, he became an adjunct professor at Five Towns after a recommendation from a former professor. Twelve years later, Gleason is not only a program director, but also a full-fledged professor and involved in the vocal jazz ensemble. “The college has quite a few online courses, and is really starting to move into the technological field,” he explained. “That’s what the Distance Education program is all about. As technology’s role in higher education becomes more integral, Five Towns is trying to stay up and current with the times, and really start to improve and develop a more detail-oriented online program. The Distance Education program is for students who are taking our courses, but who aren’t necessarily on our campus.” What sets Five Towns’ music program apart from others in its field is the quality of its teachers and broad spectrum of content. Many of the college’s professors are staples in the New York City jazz scene, and have been in the business for many years. Five Towns College is located at 305 N Service Road, Dix Hills. More information can be found at www.fdc.edu. Five Towns offers a monthly Open house. The next one is November 9 at 1 p.m. Farenga & Sons buys R.P. Drago Funeral Home Gus Antonopoulos, owner of the Farenga & Sons Funeral Home, Inc., located on Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, has announced the acquisition of the R.P. Drago Funeral Home, Inc. “The Astoria community is very important to me; the primary reason for the acquisition of R.P. Drago Funeral Home, Inc. is to assure Astoria families, particularly the members of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, the Most Precious Roman Catholic Church and the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church and its surrounding parishes, have the high quality and value services that only a family-owned business can,” said Antonopoulos. He has negotiated the purchase of the business, which will continue to serve families from the facility under the name of Drago Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc. The facility will be renovated and redecorate both inside and out and will continue serving families during the refurbishing. “Many of the costs associated with providing quality funeral services, such as vehicles, caskets and professional staffing have increased over the past several decades and even though funeral costs have not increased as much as food, utilities and automobiles, the funeral profession has made every effort to keep funeral costs within the budget of American families,” said Antonopoulos. He continued, “The cost of operating any business in the New York metro area is greater than other parts of the country. The best way for us to control costs is to combine businesses. Both the Drago Funeral Home and Farenga & Sons Funeral Home have long histories in Astoria, having served the community since the early 1900’s. “ Antonopoulos himself has been involved in the Astoria Community his entire life, both professionally and through his community endeavors. He is a member of the Catholic Cemetery Board, the New York State Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He is active in the Kiwanis Club and the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, and works closely with the Ronald McDonald and St. Mary’s Children’s Hospitals. As a licensed funeral director, he founded the Antonopoulos Funeral Home, and acquired ownership of the Joseph A. Farenga & Sons Funeral Home, Inc. in 1998. Over the years, many local families have prearranged and pre-paid funeral services with the R.P. Drago Funeral Home, Inc. These funds have been invested in state approved financial institutions either as insurance policies specially developed for pre-funding funeral arrangements, or in bank trust accounts. In either case, these trust funds and insurance policies will remain intact. “The staff and I know what an important decision this is,” said Antonopoulos. “It is important that you know the funds you set aside to meet your funeral expenses are secure. Please visit with myself or any of the funeral directors at Joseph A. Farenga & Sons Funeral Home, Inc. at your convenience to review your pre-arrangements, and to discuss any changes you may want to make.” To make an appointment to review pre-arrangements, or to simply tour the facility and to get answers to questions concerning funeral costs, personalized funeral services and funeral planning,contact the Drago Funeral Home at 718- 278-0089 or visit the R.P. Drago Funeral Home at 43-10 30th Avenue, Astoria. Flushing Town Hall’s ‘Music Mix’ THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan Queens jazz artists will headline a new “Music Mix” series at Flushing Town Hall, starting October 25 and ending December 20. The traditional and new jazz concert features drummer Brian Woodruff, bassist Mark Wade, trumpet player Josh Deutsch and Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Amanda Monaco, among others. The borough has a rich history in the jazz community, according to Jazz Producer Clyde Bullard. “What they’re doing is continuing that legacy by bringing music here,” he said. For tickets and more info, visit www.flushingtownhall. org or call 718- 463-7700 Ext. 222.
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