42 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • DECEMBER 29, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM buzz Flushing kids help brighten holidays for developmentally disabled BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@ smont76 Th irty-fi ve students and several teachers from a school in Flushing worked together to provide holiday gift s to children and adults with developmental disabilities this month. Students between ages 11 to 13 from J.H.S. 189 raised funds, shopped and donated to the Queens Centers for Progress (QCP) — an organization based in Jamaica that provides support and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. J.H.S. 189 teacher Teresa DiPietro, who has worked with the organization in the past, spearheaded this year’s campaign. “We were all excited to work with a local organization that provides so much support for a group of kids and adults that are oft entimes overlooked,” DiPietro said. “At this time of year, so many people are familiar with large charities — which are wonderful — but smaller organizations can really benefi t as well.” Students took to Target in College Point on Dec. 20 with $1,000 — raised through bake sales and other community eff orts — to purchase items on the organization’s wish list. “It was important for us to show our students that when you are committed to something and work hard, you can really make a diff erence in lives of others,” DiPietro said. Donated items included preschool aged toys used for therapy in QCP’s children’s center, a 32-inch fl at-screen television for the community connections café program — which caters to seniors in the borough with disabilities — and a DVD player to comfort children during physical therapy. “Our physical therapy department received a new DVD player, which they will use to entertain the children during their exercise sessions, which can be physically challenging,” said Nancy Glass, director of the children’s center, on delivery day. “J.H.S. 189 made our school very happy today.” In February, the students will again visit QCP to see the result of their eff orts. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ in LIC Dozens of joyful kids and their harried but happy parents are spending part of the holiday season at Secret Th eatre. Th e troupe’s current version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a family- friendly, poignant and pretty yuletide event. Director Ashley Gunsteens and producer Richard Mazda off er talented performers with some interesting backstories. As Lucy, Lauren Schaff el has played the role successfully in previous incarnations. She has numerous TV, movie and stage credits as well. Donnie Cianciotto in the title role is the forlorn but likable Charlie Brown. On stage he occasionally breaks the fourth wall to encourage delighted kids’ remarks during the show. His courageous personal struggles are the subject of an award winning documentary. Of course, all the cartoon characters make their presence known. Th ey wear their familiar costumes, accompanied by mellow jazz (Dan Garmon musical director/ keyboards, Oliver Sohngen bass, Matthew Feick drums). Th eir exuberant dog, Snoopy (Christopher Henry Young) wears his vintage pilot’s helmet as he runs and jumps—to the delight of one and all. Th e small set is maximized with clever choreography (Geena Quintos) and bright holiday decorations that extend over the audience. Other story staples provide comfortable nostalgia. Th ere’s Linus (Nick Magnanti) who cuddles his security blanket and Schroeder (Kyle Bary) who plays Beethoven on his toy piano. Sally (Claudia Smith) still has a crush on Linus. Pig Pen (Gavin Juckette) is still somehow surrounded by a cloud of dust. Th e rest of the “Peanuts” (Devin Conway, Dom Giovanni, Morgan Siobhan Green, Kimberly Wilpon) may criticize Charlie but they all come together to help create a classy Christmas tree. My personal favorite is Kim Wilpon as Frieda, who is blissfully ignorant while constantly bragging about her “naturally curly hair.” Backstage, well-earned nods to Michael J. Tosto (stage manager), Paul T. Kennedy (lighting and set design), Antonio Consuegra (costume design) and Reiko Yanagi (photography). Th e show runs about an hour. Th at’s just the right length for little kids and their grownups. Hopefully, this taste of childhood angst and universal friendship will encourage fi rsttime theatregoers to bring their parents and grandparents to more family-oriented productions in Queens. Th e Secret Th eatre is located on 23rd Street in Long Island City. Call 718-392-0722, visit secrettheatre.com or “like” them on Facebook. As always, save me a seat on the aisle. Thousands of gifts delivered through Bayside toy drive BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI gift drive. Living Center and the New York State smonteverdi@qns.com Th ousands of toys were donated by Veterans Home at St. Albans on Dec. 21 @smont76 civic and senior organizations, churches, by Braunstein, his staff and students from 20 schools and dozens of local residents Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. Th at’s a wrap on a massive holiday toy and given to needy or sick children, Toys were given to a variety of institutions drive led by a local lawmaker. along with hundreds of donated toiletries, and charitable programs, including Assemblymember Edward Braunstein candy, clothing items, playing cards and QSAC Day School of Whitestone, St. announced on Dec. 22 he received an puzzles for veterans. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside unprecedented number of donations All donations to the gift drive were delivered and the Ronald McDonald House. through his sixth annual toy and veteran to the St. Albans VA Community “I was overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of my constituents who helped bring holiday cheer to those in need,” Braunstein said. “I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to our community for continuing to make these gift drives such a success. Since we received so many donations, we were able to bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of hospitalized veterans, as well as thousands of needy children this holiday season.” Photo courtesy of Queens Centers for Progress Queens Centers for Progress receives a 32-inch fl at-screen television to be used by the center’s senior community. Photos provided by Assemblyman Braunstein’s offi ce Assemblymember Braunstein and students from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside deliver gifts to veterans. A VIEW FROM THE CLIFF BY CLIFF KASDEN
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