46 The QUEE NS Courier • business • october 31, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶business ▶Elias Roman, Marleen Vogelaar, Ben Wei, Dave Yang, Jukay Hsu, Sasha Pogrebinsky ,Natasha Pogrebinsky, Dion Ridley RESORTS WORLD: Celebrating, giving back BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com Resorts World Casino celebrates two milestones: it’s two-year anniversary, and over $900 million generated for New York State’s revenue. “While we never doubted this would be a successful venture, not only for Resorts World A limousine company with a personal touch BY JOHAN HAMILTON White Star Limousines is a family-owned limo company founded by James Ragusa in 1952. After moving to the United States from Italy in 1940, Ragusa entered the funeral business, and from there, began running a car service based on Metropolitan Avenue in Ridgewood. Ragusa’s son, Tony Ragusa, later took over the business with his wife, Rosemary. Although the couple initially ran the service from their house, they eventually moved the business out to its current location in New Hyde Park. After Ragusa passed away in 2009, Rosemary’s two sons helped her keep the business going, and they are still in charge of it today. “We originally took over the business for sentimental Casino New York City, but for the Queens community proud of how far we’ve come,” said Edward Farrell, president of Resorts World Casino New York City. Of the generated $930 million, nearly $600 million have gone directly to the state’s education fund. Additionally, in 2010, the casino paid BUSINESS in the NEWS reasons,” said Jimmy Ragusa. “I’d say what separates us from other limo services is that we hire and New York State, we are incredibly mostly family members and close family friends, so we all have some sort of attachment to each other. In that way, we bring more of a personal touch when handling each of our affairs, whether it’s a birthday party, a wedding, or even a funeral.” “One of the best compliments I always get is when a client tells us that they feel as though we’re a part of their family,” he added. “They feel that way because we’re personal and we care.” White Star Limo covers funerals, corporate events, Sweet 16s, birthday parties, bachelor parties, sporting events, and many others. It is particularly popular with weddings in the five boroughs and in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. White Star Limo has two locations: 20 Jericho Turnpike and 46-10 197th Street in Flushing. More information on specials, pricing and limousines can be found on its website, www.whitestarlimousine.com. a $381 million licensing fee, totaling the casino’s contributions to the state to be roughly $1 billion. “We believe strongly that our success is in large part due to the hospitality shown to us by the residents of Queens. This borough is our home, and as part of this community we are committed to doing everything we can to support it,” Farrell said. Queens Tech Bash Over 250 guests gathered on October 16 for a night of music, drinks and food celebrating the Coalition for Queen’s first annual Queens Tech Bash, which serves as a fundraiser and celebration, at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. The event celebrated the growth of the borough’s tech community, the coalition’s Access Code program and honored some individuals who have contributed to and achieved in the local tech community. This year’s honorees were Elias Roman, co-founder and CEO of free streaming music service Songza; Marleen Vogelaar, co-founder of Shapeways; Dion Ridley, vice president of engineering for Creativeworx and Coalition for Queens volunteer of the year; and Ben Wei, community director for Coalition for Queens. Guests were also provided with a digital visual presentation of artwork by the online community of creatives known as See.Me. The selected pieces were displayed within the PS1 performance dome, while guests enjoyed light refreshments and danced to music provided by local DJs Himanshu Suri and Large Professor. Photos Courtesy Coalition for Queens Dave Yang, Elias Roman, Marleen Vogelaar, Dion Ridley, Jukay Hsu, Ben Wei Members of Coalition for Queens and Bash planning Committee
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