WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 30, 2017 43 SPORTS Good times roll for BWG soccer boys The BWG 2008 U9 boys team participated in the Silverback Gorilla Invitation Tournament last weekend in Pennsylvania. The boys had a great experience playing in this tournament fi nishing with 3 wins and 2 losses. Aft er their Pennsylvania trip, they participated in the New York Cup quarterfi nal game against Brentwood Soccer Club and successfully advanced to the Semifi nal round with a 9 -1 victory. Photo courtesy of Ovid Cusu ORTHODONTICS WWW.GLENRIDGEORTHODONTIST.COM Est. 1976 FREE* Consultation and Exam WWW.GLENRIDGEORTHODONTIST.COM Medicaid Approved Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Vincent J. Bilello, D.D.S., ABO Diplomate, Specialists in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 65-34 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385 Most Insurance Accepted As Partial or Full Payment 1-718-381-2965 ‘Hail Mary’ needed to fi x St. Sebastian’s Center in Woodside St. Sebastian Parish Center needs to raise money to purchase a new de-humidifi cation system for its pool. BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected]/@ANGELAMATUA A Woodside parish center that provides a space for hundreds of school sports teams, senior citizens, prayer groups and self-help groups is looking to raise money to make some much-needed repairs to its building. St. Sebastian Parish Center at 39- 60 57th St. is asking the Woodside community and those who grew up using the center for money to replace the de-humidifi cation system of its popular swimming pool. According to the center’s director, Harry Connor, the system is about 15 years old and on its last leg. “It’s done, it’s shot,” he said. “We’ve been Band-Aid-ed it for many years. Without it working properly it makes an unsafe environment to the structure of the building.” Connor said only two companies make the specifi c system they need; the cost of it, along with installation, is $300,000. The center has started a crowdfunding page on YouCare and has set a goal for $1,000,000. “If that goes we can’t run a pool and the building itself been undergoing fi - nancial issues that the church has been so generous,” Connor said, “We’re so lucky to have pastors that have always supported the center just off of church monies. But things are changing; the neighborhood has changed and the money doesn’t come in as much over there.” St. Sebastian’s Parish Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year and Connor said any additional File photo money would help replace other parts of the three-story structure, including the roof and boiler. Any extra funds would also be used to help pay their “astronomical” monthly bills for heat and air conditioning. Along with the swimming pool, the parish center also features a basketball court, weight room, exercise room and several meeting rooms. Most of the center’s income comes from memberships. The space is used for the church’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports teams, weekly senior citizen bingo nights, Girl Scout meetings, prayer meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, among other functions. According to the YouCare page, competition from other health clubs popping up in the neighborhood has hurt the center and in 2015, it ran on a defi cit of $294,000. With this fundraiser and new ideas to bring in money, the director hopes to reduce the annual operating defi cit to $99,000 or less. Connor said the center is also hoping that people who no longer live in Woodside but have fond memories of the space feel compelled to give. “Woodside has a history of coming through when things are needed,” he said. “We’re throwing up a Hail Mary and hoping people come through for us. I just hope that Woodside will, as they always have, come through one more time. That’s what I’m counting on.” Donations can be made online and the center is also accepting checks made payable to: St. Sebastian Parish Center, c/o Harry Connor, 39-60 57th St., Woodside, NY 11377.
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