32 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • NOVEMBER 26, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Free soccer program keeps Queens youth practicing skills at home
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Young immigrants, Latino youth and
unaccompanied minors once again have
the opportunity to keep their soccer skills
sharp throughout the fall as FIFA World
Cup champion and Queens FC co-founder
Neptune Diner to open on Bayside’s Bell Boulevard
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Neptune Diner, a popular establishment
in Astoria, is coming to Bayside.
Neptune Diner will replace the former
Jackson Hole site at 35-01 Bell Blvd. aft er
the eatery permanently closed its doors
earlier this year.
It is unclear when Neptune Diner will
be opening due to a possibility that indoor
dining in New York City might be banned
to help curb the spread of the coronavirus,
according to the manager of Neptune
Diner.
“By the looks of it, we’re all going to
be closed down soon,” a Neptune Diner
manager told QNS. “However, there’s an
idea that’s going around that the Astoria
location is closing, and that’s false. We are
just opening up another branch on Bell
Boulevard.”
Neptune Diner, located at 31-05 Astoria
Blvd., is a classic 24/7 spot underneath the
Astoria Boulevard N/W station serving
traditional diner food such as sandwiches,
burgers and fries, pastries, Greek specialities
and omelettes that are prepared
with home fries.
Th e establishment has another location
in Brooklyn and a high-end diner in
Manhattan under a diff erent name.
While there is no exact date as of now
regarding the grand opening of Neptune
Diner’s Bayside location, residents have
been sharing their excitement on social
media.
Pat Perulli, owner of the Bayside Milk
Farm next door, said he’s thrilled to have
a new neighbor soon, since the Jackson
Hole site closed.
“No one wants an empty store next door
to them and it will bring in more business.
Customers have been asking when
it will open,” Perulli said. “I’ve heard
good things from customers coming from
Astoria about Neptune Diner. We have a
lot of Greek customers.”
According to Perulli, like many others,
he’s looking forward to dining at the restaurant
when it’s opened.
“Sometimes you gotta get out of the
store and get yourself back together before
coming back into the mayhem,” Perulli
said. “Having the diner here will be great.”
David Villa, Councilman Francisco
Moya and Hispanic Federation launch
the third season of the Soccer Camp for
Immigrant and Latinx Youth.
Originally conceived in 2019 as an inperson
soccer academy for unaccompanied
minors living in New York City, the
program was forced to shift to virtual programming
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Th e change allowed the soccer camp to
open to a wider audience and move to a
two-season program, with a spring session
being planned for 2021. Th e soccer
camp, operated through a generous grant
and support from Moya’s offi ce, is open
to all Queens youth between the ages of 5
and 17 and is free of charge.
“Fútbol is the universal language that
unites us all and we need programs like
this soccer camp to combat the negative
eff ects of COVID-19 on our community,”
Moya said. “Th is new season of the soccer
academy will ensure that youth can build
social connections and stay healthy, all the
while learning from the best of the best
in soccer like World Cup champ David
Villa. I am grateful to David and the DV7
Academy for their commitment, and to
partners like Hispanic Federation that are
tirelessly working for the betterment of
our community.”
Th is year’s programming will be
off ered exclusively through an app called
OWQLO, allowing participants to use
mobile devices to access content rather
than relying on internet-enabled computers.
David Villa’s renowned DV7 Soccer
Academy has designed a seven-week curriculum
of interactive videos to improve
technical skills, fi tness training along with
quizzes about soccer, soccer players and
FIFA World Cup facts. All of the content
is off ered in both Spanish and English.
In addition to the DV7 Soccer Academy,
Villa is also committed to strengthening
the community with his ownership
in Queensboro FC. As co-founder of the
new United Soccer League professional
soccer club — the fi rst in the borough
— he will continue to maintain a presence
in New York City, support programs
that serve Hispanic youth and families
and help rebuild the city as it approaches
a post-pandemic reality.
“Children need to stay motivated, active
and connected during these diffi cult and
unpredictable times, and this soccer camp
is extremely important to me,” Villa said.
“I want to continue providing the youth
with my knowledge, experience and inspiration
so that they can train their minds
and bodies to always stay healthy and positive.
One camp can make a lifelong difference
for a child, and I am committed
to helping shape their overall growth and
development.”
As part of their immigration work,
Hispanic Federation has been a partner
of the program since its inception.
Th e social justice and service organization
has focused this year on strengthening
relations with existing partner foster
care agencies and reaching out to Queensbased
immigration organizations, schools
and other institutions to ensure the program
continues to predominantly serve
unaccompanied minors, immigrant youth
and other young people in marginalized
communities. Approximately 60 youth
have already enrolled in the program with
room for up to 200 more.
“Th is soccer program was created two
years ago to provide youth who have
been through hardship with a healthy
outlet, entertainment and the opportunity
to simply enjoy being a kid. It is more
important than ever that programs like
this not only continue but evolve to provide
a sense of relief during these turbulent
times,” Hispanic Federation President
Frankie Miranda said. “Th e Latino community,
the Queens community and
immigrant communities everywhere have
all been hit particularly hard by COVID-
19, and if this soccer program can provide
a sense of normalcy to a young person for
even a moment, we have all done our jobs.
I am truly grateful to all the partners who
helped make this happen once again.”
Th e fall season of the soccer program
runs through Dec. 19 and youth
are encouraged to register. For more
information and to register, visit the
academy website.
Photo via Facebook/Neptune Diner
Photo via DV7 Academy
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