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QUEENS WEEKLY, JANUARY 26, 2020
International soccer star David Villa, a lead investor on Queensboro FC, will give away a pair of signed boots to a
sweepstakes-winning fan. Photo via Wikipedia Commons
BY BILL PARRY
Have you always wanted
to walk in a soccer legend’s
shoes?
Queensboro FC, the new
professional soccer team
that will begin playing their
home games in the borough
next year, is holding a
sweepstakes for one lucky
participant to win a pair
of boots signed by QBFC
founding partner David
Villa, one of Spain’s most
accomplished soccer stars
and the national team’s top
scorer with 59 goals.
Villa, who will return to
New York City on Jan. 29,
spoke of his love for Queens
when the team announced
last fall that it would play
at York College in Jamaica,
with a few games at Citi
Field. Villa played with
the New York City Football
Club, which played its
games at Yankee Stadium.
“I lived and played in
New York for four years. I
know what a special place
Queens is,” Villa said. “I
love the cultures, the food,
the people and their passion
for life, and of course,
soccer. There is no other
place like it in the world.
It’s a dream to help build
this football club in Queens,
and I couldn’t choose a better
location.”
The club plans to operate
a youth academy with which
Villa will work closely. QBFC
is also looking to build its
foundation with local talent
and partner with local businesses
and officials to promote
the diverse culture and
identity of the borough.
Villa will personally
give the boots to the winner
at a fan event on Feb.
5. Queensboro FC’s ownership
group is led by asset
manager Jonathan Krane,
founder and CEO of Krane-
Shares.
“With only a few weeks
left to go, we hope all soccer
fans in Queens will enter for
the chance to win this pair
of boots signed by World
Cup winner David Villa,”
Krane said. “We are excited
to continue growing our fan
base here in Queens, and to
bring the world’s game to
the ‘World’s Borough.’”
Villa’s career highlights
include a Champions
League title with F.C. Barcelona
in 2011, contributions
to the Spanish team
that won Eurocopa 2008,
and the World Cup in 2010,
the first in the nation’s history.
Participants can visit
www.queensborofc.com/
VillaBoots to enter for the
chance to win the contest,
which is open until Feb. 3.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Bieber snacks at
Bellerose pizzeria
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A Bellerose pizzeria got
an unexpected visit from
Justin Bieber last weekend
in the singer’s quest
for gluten-free pizza.
Hi-Class Pizza owner
Dominick Onesto told
Page Six that the “Yummy”
singer stopped by with
another person on Jan. 19
and “asked if we had anything
gluten-free.”
Onesto told QNS that
he and his staff was unsure
Bieber was doing in
the Queens neighborhood,
though he surmised the
singer was on Jericho Turnpike
“passing through” before
the pitstop.
According to Onesto,
one of his staff members
was taking an order and
realized that he was talking
to Bieber. The owner
said that the singer got a
“plain gluten-free pie.”
“You wouldn’t expect
Justin Bieber to walk
through your doors on
a Sunday. He was really
cool,” said Onesto who
added that Bieber took
photos with the staff before
leaving.
The singer, who is
originally from Canada,
posted the photo on his Instagram
page and tagged
@hiclasspizza in the caption.
The photo has garnered
over 2 million likes
to date.
Back in October 2019,
Bieber announced his allergy
to gluten, a protein
found primarily in wheat,
barley and rye. Individuals
with gluten intolerance
often deal with uncomfortable
digestive symptoms
including abdominal pain
and gas.
Onesto said that business
has increased since
the news of Bieber’s visit
spread. Since Sunday, he
said that patrons come in
asking questions about the
star’s visit.
“It’s crazy. The kids
come in asking what he ordered
and where he sat.
They ask to take pictures,”
Onesto said. “It was a nice
‘gift’ he gave to us.”
The pizza restaurant
opened its doors in 1969 at
246-11 Jericho Tpke. and
Onesto has been the owner
for the past 20 years.
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone
at (718) 260-2583.
Queensboro FC holds sweepstakes for
signed pair of soccer legend’s boots
Owner Dominick Onesto with
Justin Bieber
Photo courtesy of Hi-Class Pizza
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER
FRESH MEADOWS TIMES
JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
LAURELTON TIMES ■ LITTLE NECK LEDGER
QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER
WHITESTONE TIMES
38-15 Bell Boulevard
Bayside, New York 11361
Advertising: (718) 260-4537
Classifieds: (718) 260-4590
Editorial: (718) 260-8303
www.QNS.com
PROUD MEMBER OF NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION
BRIAN RICE
Publisher
ZACH GEWELB
Editor
RALPH D’ONOFRIO
V.P. of Advertising
ADVERTISING
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Account Executives:
David Strauss
Sherri Rossi
CLASSIFIED
Classified Director:
Celeste Alamin
Classified Sales
Manager:
Eugena Pechenaya
EDITORIAL STAFF
Reporters: Bill Parry, Angelica
Acevedo, Carlotta Mohamed, Jenna
Bagcal, Jacob Kaye
Max Parrott
Photographers: Nat Valentine,
Ellis Kaplan, Robert Cole
Copy Editors: Katrina Medoff
Contributing Writers/Columnists:
Tammy Scileppi, Robert Cole
ART & PRODUCTION
Production Manager: Deborah
Cusick
Art Director: Nirmal Singh
Layout: Zach Gewelb
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