4
QUEENS WEEKLY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020
Bayside bookstore celebrates milestone anniversary
Turn the Page Again hosts celebratory luncheon in honor of 10 years on Bell Boulevard
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Since 2010, the Turn the Page
Again bookstore on Bayside‘s
Bell Boulevard has been challenging
the stigma associated
with having a mental illness.
On Feb. 6, the affirmative
bookstore celebrated its 10th
anniversary with a luncheon
hosted by its founding organization,
Transitional Services for
New York Inc. (TSINY). Since
its inception, Turn the Page
Again has employed adults with
mental illnesses while teaching
them transferable skills including
punctuality and customer
service.
“This is a celebration of success.
It’s not a destination; it’s a
journey,” said TSINY CEO and
Bayside resident Larry Grubler.
“I’ve never been as accepted in
a community as I was in the
Bayside community when we
opened up the bookstore.”
TSINY first approached the
city two decades ago about the
possibility of opening a business
that employed people with
psychiatric disorders. The organization
aimed to hire and
train these individuals, many of
whom had never been employed,
and help them transition to other
employment opportunities.
Founded in 1975, TSINY is
nonprofit, multifaceted mental
health agency that provides integrated
services and housing
for adults with psychiatric disabilities
and others in need.
It opened Arts and Crafts
Cafe in Jamaica but learned
that many of its employees were
not transitioning to other jobs.
So Grubler proposed his idea for
Turn the Page Again and opened
up shop at 39-15 Bell Blvd., with
annual funding provided by the
city’s Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene and New York
state.
Turn the Page Again’s transitional
model allows people 18
and older to work at the store for
six to nine months. A job developer
then works with each person
to set career goals, write a
resume and move on to another
job. According to Grubler, 39
percent of the people who have
worked at the bookstore are
employed part time or full time
currently.
“Not only does it provide a
great opportunity for people to
learn the skills to go back out
into the workforce, but it’s an
important part of our community,”
said Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein. “We’re losing a lot
of brick-and-mortar bookstores
in our neighborhoods and a lot
of people miss that.”
In the beginning, Grubler
and his wife supplied books
from their personal collection
as the store took off. But now,
the store gets donations largely
from the Queens Public Library
and local residents. Patrons
can purchase books for $1 to $5
apiece.
“Without Queens Library
and all the books that they give
us and supply us, we definitely
wouldn’t have a bookstore,” said
bookstore manager Elle Fliegel.
During the luncheon, Acting
Queens Borough President
Sharon Lee declared Feb. 6 to be
“Turn the Page Again Day.”
“Here in Queens, we think of
ourselves as the borough of families
and the work that TSINY
does truly uplifts, strengthens
and empowers so many families,”
said Lee.
For more information, visit
turnthepageagain.com.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.com or
by phone at (718) 260-2583.
From left: Councilman Daniel Dromm, Larry Grubler, Acting Queens
Borough President Sharon Lee and Assemblyman Edward Braunstein
Photo: Jenna Bagcal/QNS
F i g h t i n g f o r C h i n a ’ s H u m a n R i g h t s D u r i n g t h e C o r o n a v i r u s O u t b r e a k
Being a human rights attorney in modern-day
China may not be the easiest or safest career
path to endure as of late. However, Mr. Qionglin
Miao, a renowned human rights attorney in
China, is following and fighting for his beliefs
despite what the Chinese government’s agenda
may entail.
A Human Rights Activist on a Mission
Before venturing into the human rights field, Miao
worked as a real estate and financial lawyer. His focus
dramatically shifted towards the harsh reality involving
the Chinese population once he experienced that
reality first-hand.
“The spread and out-of-control of the epidemic has
turned into a real human disaster,” explains Miao of
the deadly Coronavirus. “This tragedy is the result of
a combination of factors such as the great regression
of Chinese human rights, the collapse of the group of
human rights lawyers, the non-freedom of the news
media, and the decay of China’s authoritarian system.
“
Miao is now devoted to helping give a voice to the
Chinese people during this terrifying time. He has
founded an organization, the Chinese Lawyers Advocacy,
who has raised awareness and donated items to
those in critical condition. Masks, protective goggles,
and other medical supplies continue to be sent to Hubei
Province Sui County Chinese Medicine Hospital
in China. Chinese Lawyers Advocacy also supports
human rights and freedom of religion for lawyers in
China. For donation contact Chinese Lawyers Advocacy
on Twitter @jamesmiao10.
A “World-Shaking Manhunt” for Human
Rights Lawyers
Speaking outside of governmental lines is forbidden
in China. Therefore, those who come forward acting
upon their personal beliefs are often seen as “picking
quarrels and provoking trouble.”
“There is no press freedom in China, so there is no
media oversight,” says Miao. “The Chinese govern-
By: Jennifer Aline Graham
ment launched a world-shaking manhunt for rights
lawyers and nearly 400 human rights lawyers across
the country were hunted and sentenced for ‘inciting
subversion of state power.’”
This dangerous truth is one Miao genuinely takes to
heart. He too has found himself smack in the middle
of these unfortunate circumstances when it comes to
the ongoing search for human rights professionals in
China.
“I have personally experienced this persecution
of lawyers,” Miao admits. “I have personally been
charged by the Chinese authorities for helping advocacy
groups. It is not surprising that the denial of freedom
of expression, the absence of human rights lawyers,
the lack of media accountability, and the lack of
government power has turned into a global disaster.”
Trying to Control the Uncontrollable
What can an attorney do to control the rights
of the Chinese people during a time when speaking
out about your beliefs can be just as damaging as
the disease being discussed?
Though there is not direct answer, Miao is still
diligently fighting for the rights of his people as well
as fight for some kind of answer to the rapid spread
of the Coronavirus.
“The source of the virus has not been determined,
but the outbreak went from the very first few to outof
control within just over a month,” Miao says.
“Today’s tragedy would not have happened if doctors’
warnings were not investigated as ‘rumors’
and if people could freely disseminate information
about the outbreak.”
Human Rights Attorney : Mr. Qionglin Miao
link
/turnthepageagain.com
link
