32 The QUEE NS Courier • november 28, 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:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 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. Support “CPR in Schools” bill Cardiac arrest kills more than 360,000 people in our country every year. In 2001, my husband was one of them. Joel Drillings was only 56 years old when he died from cardiac arrest at his local health club. No one did CPR before EMS arrived with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). CPR is important because it keeps blood and oxygen circulating to the brain before an AED is used to restart the heart. Nationally, the cardiac arrest survival rate is less than 10 percent. However, if given quickly, bystander CPR can double or triple the survival rate! Since 80 percent of cardiac arrests happen outside a hospital, bystander CPR is essential for saving lives. This week at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, research was presented showing that even one minute of CPR video training can improve bystander responsiveness and CPR quality. New Yorkers have the chance to increase the survival rate in our state by supporting “CPR in Schools” legislation that would ensure there is a whole generation of bystanders who know CPR. This legislation would not require students to become certified in CPR; they would learn the basic skills, making it is easy and affordable. Think of how many lives could be saved if thousands of students learn CPR! You would think that NYS lawmakers wouldn’t object to schools taking minutes out of the school year to teach CPR, but this legislation hasn’t passed yet. I’m thrilled my representatives, Assemblyman Hevesi and Senator Addabbo, support this important legislation. Take a moment to let yours know you support teaching CPR in School at www.supportcprinschools. org/. Your action can save someone’s life. Wendy Mono Forest Hills Thankful for good politicians This year, we will give thanks for the restoration of our badly flooded basements and the loss of many important items stored there. We also are most thankful for our politicians in the New York City Council, State Assembly, State Senate, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, who have been very helpful in getting funds on all levels of government to help rebuild and compensate for severe losses from last year’s superstorm. More help is needed for the hardest hit victims of Sandy. With so many scandals cropping up daily of legislators’ wrongdoings, the enormous greed and stinginess of our Congress, people are so bitter about bad politicians that they don’t even vote in primaries and elections -- a huge mistake! The outcome of this year’s election is a hopeful sign that our city may have more equity for the struggling majority and more responsibility from the very well-to-do. We give thanks for a chance to be better off, healthier. B K Brumberg Howard Beach Rest in peace, Marjorie Ferrigno My good friend, Marjorie Ferrigno, passed away on November 14. She was in her upper 90s. A founding member of the Broadway- Flushing Homeowners Association, she was an indefatigable advocate for city landmark designation of her beloved neighborhood. She was also a community and city activist and had been a member of the Queens Preservation Council and many other organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Marjorie was extremely knowledgeable and articulate and knew how to talk to everyone in order to achieve her selfless goals and objectives. She had a twinkle in her eye and always expressed herself in assertive yet polite and charming ways. She was very successful in convincing elected leaders and other officials to take her position on a variety of issues. Together with her late husband Nick, they were a dynamic duo of energy and persistence. They were role models for all preservationists. They were loved by all. In 2010, the Queens Preservation Council presented Marjorie with the Nancy Cataldi Memorial Award for her dedicated service to her community as a civic leader and neighborhood advocate. Her husband and teammate, Nick, was also honored at that time posthumously. They will both be remembered for their work in preserving and protecting their community as well as their style and grace. May they both rest in peace and may Broadway-Flushing achieve the historic landmark status that so many have been working for over the years. What a fitting tribute that would be for the Ferrignos! Henry Euler Bayside IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is GIVE A LITTLE, HELP A LOT As you sit down to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with your family and friends, we just wanted to give you a simple holiday reminder. The Queens Courier has started collecting toys and clothing for our annual holiday gift drive. This year, the items will be donated to the Queens Centers for Progress’ Apple Preschool in Jamaica. The Apple Preschool program, which offers children with disabilities a large variety of educational and therapeutic services, is asking for new, unused and unwrapped donations for their students. The Courier is collecting donations for the program’s 31 girls and 52 boys, between the ages of three and four, who deserve that extra holiday cheer. Donations can be dropped off at The Courier’s office, located at 38-15 Bell Boulevard in Bayside, or at People’s United Bank branches at 8989 Union Turnpike in Glendale, 34-51 48th Street in Long Island City, or 7417 Grand Avenue in Maspeth. During this time, when the holiday spirit can be found through every window, we ask that you please take the time to bring some holiday joy to these young girls and boys. Whether it is a small toy or article of clothing, it’ll make a difference. HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES TIGHT At this time of giving thanks, our hearts and prayers are with the family of Avonte Oquendo, who has been missing since October 4, when he ran out of his Long Island City school. The NYPD and volunteers have been searching daily for the 14-yearold boy, who his family says loves trains. It is at this time that we hold our loved ones closer. We cannot imagine how heart wrenching it must be for his family to see an empty seat at the holiday dinner table — one that was just a year ago filled with the happiness of a unique child like Avonte. During this season, we ask our elected officials, the NYPD, supporters and everyone out there to increase the search and bring this young boy back home. Take some time to hang up extra posters, call in any tips and help end this family’s nightmare. As the days grow colder and nights grow longer, we wonder how this autistic boy, without the ability to communicate, is willing to manage. Especially at this time, it is not about the reward money, but rather about a finding a missing child, reuniting a family and making the holidays happy and jolly for all involved.
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