40 The QUEE NS Courier • december 11, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com HELP THE KIDS! QUEENS COURIER TOY DRIVE TO HELP LOCAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB Help bring joy to the youngest members of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens this holiday season. Once again, The Queens Courier will be collecting toys for its annual holiday gift drive. The Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens is asking for donations of new toys for 83 girls and 83 boys between the ages of 5 and 10. The Courier will wrap and deliver the toys. The organization’s elementary school program introduces children to a range of topics such as robotics, astronomy, video game development, visual arts and sport activities. They emphasize STEM enrichment and provide homework assistance and tutoring for young people. Also, cultural understanding is highlighted as children are led to explore various cultures through food, music and dance. Donations can be dropped off at The Courier’s office, located at 38-15 Bell Blvd., or at Flushing Bank branches at 144-51 Northern Blvd., Flushing; 159-18 Northern Blvd., Flushing; 44-43 Kissena Blvd., Flushing; 136- 41 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing; 188-08 Hollis Court, Auburndale; 61-54 Springfield Blvd., Bayside; 42-11 Bell Blvd., Bayside; 31-16 30th Ave., Astoria; and 107-11 Continental Ave., Forest Hills. Visit www.flushingbank.com for individual branch hours. Toys are also being accepted at Christie Salon & Co., in The Bay Terrace Shopping Center, 23-64 Bell Blvd., where anyone who drops off a toy will receive 15 percent off any nail service and all retail products. Visit www.metroqueens.org for more information on the Boys and Girls Club. Photos courtesy of Boys and Girls Club Help bring joy to the youngest members of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens this holiday season. Christmas tradition returned to Neponset with 19th annual “Little North Pole” BY SALVATORE LICATA slicata@queenscourier.com/@Sal_Licata1 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Rockaway. The “Little North Pole” came back to Neponset on Dec. 7 and was a huge success, said Joseph Mure, who hosted the event at his home for the 19th year. He always does it for a good cause, and every penny that is donated at the event will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). “Juvenile diabetes is something that is very close to me as it runs through my family,” Mure said. “I love giving back to the foundation and getting the whole community together for a good cause.” The street was lit up with Christmas bulbs and filled with people who were singing and dancing, along with other entertainment. Special guests included Tony Sirico and John Ventimiglia from “The Sopranos” along with Joe Causi from CBS radio, among others. And of course, Santa Claus made his way down for all the children. Local schools and children also put on performances for the crowd during the night. Mure has not been able to tally the amount of money the event raised for the JDRF yet but said from first glance they did very well. “The only way I can describe the Little North Pole this year was a huge success,” he said. “I do it to put a smile on every child’s face that comes to the event and to help those special children who suffer with diabetes.” Food was donated from local businesses, many of which were from Howard Beach. Every single child at the event got a present that was donated from Toys for Tots and United Airlines. Mure was happy so many people came out for the event and supported the JDRF. “Children need to be able to enjoy life the best they can,” Mure said. “And when you can provide them with some happiness, there is no reason not to do it.”
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