74 The Queens Courier • buzz • NOVEMBER 17, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com buzz Queens Center mall in Elmhurst opens new digital Santa HQ experience just in time for the holidays By Anthony Giudice [email protected] /@A_GiudiceReport Santa Claus has gone digital! This year, the Queens Center mall, in partnership with HGTV, is giving visitors a unique holiday experience with their new Santa HQ, which allows families to experience Santa’s workshop in today’s digital and social media age, right in Elmhurst. This new interactive version of a visit to Santa’s workshop uses digital tools to offer an augmented reality environment and a brand-new, enhanced social media experience for all members of the family. According to the Queens Center mall, children will be “scanned” when they arrive at the Santa HQ to determine if they’ve been naughty or nice. They will then enter an observatory where they will use special tablets to view Santa’s world, including looking up at the night sky above the North Pole, checking in on Santa’s elves making toys, and more. Kids and their families will also be able to take an “Elfie” — taking a photo as a dancing elf — and much more. Traditional photos with Santa Claus will still be available. “Our goal at Queens Center it to enhance the customer experience in every way possible, and we are delighted to have a partner like HGTV that shares our passion about delivering exciting opportunities guests can’t find anywhere else,” said John Scaturro, senior marketing manager of the Queens Center mall. “Visits and photos with Santa at the mall are a well-loved holiday tradition, and this year we are ramping up the digital and social experience with Santa HQ.” Visitors to Santa HQ will experience “a jinglefilled sensory overload, in which the sights and sounds of the season will be immersive and involving.” The nearly 1,600-square-foot Santa HQ set was handcrafted in Atlanta and “Santa’s elves” helped install the new scenery for Queens Center mall shoppers. The Santa HQ officially opened on Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 24. It is open seven days a week. Bayside veteran honored for his military and civic service By Suzanne Monteverdi [email protected]/@smont76 In honor of Veterans Day, a Bayside resident was recognized by a local organization for his all-around, lifelong dedication to serving to his country. A resident of Bayside Hills, Specialist 4th Class Sebastiano D’Agostino was honored by the Jefferson Democratic Club on Thursday, Nov. 10. D’Agostino enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959 and was stationed in South Korea from 1959 until 1960 and at Fort Dix from 1960 until 1961. He is the recipient of military awards including the Good Conduct Medal and a Korea Defense Service Medal. Today, D’Agostino continues to actively serve his community. He serves as the Post Commander of the Little Neck-Douglaston American Legion Post #103 and board member of the Bayside Hills Civic Association. He serves on the executive committee of the Queens County American Legion and the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committee. D’Agostino was presented a New York State Assembly Proclamation by Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, a New York City Council Citation by Councilman Barry Grodenchik and a citation by Councilman Paul Vallone. “We chose to honor Sebastiano not only because of his service to our nation, but also for his decades of tireless service to our community,” said David Fischer, president of the Jefferson Democratic Club. The Jefferson Democratic Club was incorporated in 1910 and represents the 26th Assembly District, including areas of Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck. Photo courtesy of Jefferson Democratic Club Veteran and Bayside resident Sebastiano D’Agostino (second from left) honored alongside local politicians and leaders. Photo courtesy Queens Center mall The new digital Santa HQ experience is now open at the Queens Center mall.
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