Volunteers Urged To Provide Gifts Of Life The chapter is looking for as many donors as possible to participate in the drive, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Apr. 15 at the VFW Community Post 4787, located at 19-12 149th St. According to the chapter, a minimum of 40 blood donors are needed. As noted, the drive will help and honor Pat Toro Jr., former VVA Chapter 32 president and a life-long member, who is currently battling myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disease known as a precursor to leukemia. For the last several months, according to daughter JoAnn Marie Toro, he has been undergoing numerous blood transfusions, chemotherapy and other treatment at Orange Regional Medical Center in upstate Middletown. A retired detective with the Port Authority Police Department, Pat Toro has been a long-time advocate for veterans in Queens for many years. He was active in bringing the Moving Wall—a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.—to Middle NYS Honors Svce. Of Cold War Vets Certificate Available To Those Who Participated State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Committee, annonunced that thousands of Cold War veterans in New York State will be recognized with the recently announced New York State Cold War Certificate, created to honor those who served in all branches of military during the 46-year standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Glendale Teens Accepted To Top H.S. P.S./I.S. 119 in Glendale announced that 70 percent of eighth-graders who took the Specialized High School exam were either accepted to one of those nine schools or got into another elite public high school in the city. As noted, 25 made it to Brooklyn Tech, 22 into Stuyvesant Tech, 12 to Bronx Science, eight to Brooklyn Latin, two to the High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College and one to the Queens High School for the Sciences at York College. The remaining students were accpeted to Bard High School, Townsend Harris High School, the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 • 24 Whitestone Blood Drive To Aid Ailing Vet Leader by Robert Pozarycki Looking to aid its ailing former president, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 32 will hold a special blood drive in Whitestone on Tuesday, Apr. 15. -SEE BLOOD ON PG. 58- Shadowing Lawmakers Students from Maspeth and Corona had the honor of serving as “Council Members for a Day” last week during an event held by the City Council Women’s Caucus. Bryanna O’Connell, 15, was chosen by City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley to shadow her on the job. O’Connell is a student at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education in Astoria and volunteers after school at Crowley’s Middle Village office. She was one of 15 high school students who participated in the “Council Member for a Day” event from across the city. Crowley is shown in the top photo with O’Connell during a stated meeting. In the photo at bottom, Hazey Barros, 14, of Corona was selected to shadow City Council Member Julissa Ferreras. Barros is a student at the Louis Armstrong Middle School and has volunteered at a number of events Ferreras hosted. Have Any Good Community News For Us? Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 • Email info@timesnewsweekly.com Pat Toro, former Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 president, is currently battling a serious blood disease and is in need of donations. “The Cold War was a edgy time for Americans, and those in the armed forces were the ones charged with protecting us and protecting the country,” Addabbo said. “This recognition will further validate their hard work, bravery and selflessness.” The New York State Cold War Certificate is available to any New York resident who served in the military and was honorably discharged between the end of World War II on Sept. 2, 1945 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union on Dec. 26, 1991. The certificate states, “In recognition of your service during the period of the Cold War, 2 September 1945-26 December 1991, in protecting peace and stability for this Nation, the people of the state of New York are forever grateful.” “Those who grew up during the Cold War remember the fear and anxiety it inspired,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The tens of thousands of New Yorkers who served during that time deserve our heartfelt gratitude. The United States Congress formally recognized these veterans in 1991, and it is time New York State does the same.” While the certificate can be obtained directly from the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, which is responsible for administering New York State military awards, Addabbo stated constituents can contact any of his three district offices for assistance. Applicants can prove their service -SEE COLD WAR ON PG. 59-
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