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for breaking news visit www.timesnewsweekly.com APRIL 23 2015 • times 31 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com APRIL 23, 2015 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 73 buzz Star Glendale student getting ready for next H Staff Shirts H Giveaways H Family Reunions H School/Camps H Organizations/Events POPULAR BRAND WHITE TEE SCREEN PRINTED (1 COLOR) MIN. 144* chapter at MIT 2013 THE QUEENS BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @timesnewsweekly Kevin Rodriguez, a senior at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, is poised to become one of the breakout EACH *SAME DEAL: SWEATSHIRTS $495 EACH of the (Screen Printed or Embroidered) CALL FOR FREE stars of the class of 2015. The Glendale native was accepted to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will begin working toward a mechanical engineering degree in the fall. “I want to focus on biomechatronics, which is exoskeletons and prosthetic Corporate Gifts Badges & Buttons Electronics Calculators Computer Accessories Eco Friendly Products limbs,” Rodriguez Pens (All Types) Bags (Plastic/Paper) Calendars Water Bottles Awareness Bracelets QueensCourier.com Full Color Magnetic Business Cards 10 ¢ each Minimum 1,000 Your Business Card Their Refrigerator said. “I’ve always been interested in exoskeletons, Food Gifts especially because I grew up on that whole video game culture, including Iron Man and things like that.” Last summer, Rodriguez had the honor of being selected to attend TIMES NEWSWEEKLY/photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso MOSTEC (MIT Online Kevin Rodriguez, a senior at Christ the King Regional High Science, Technology and School, will start at MIT this September. Engineering Community), a six-month online engineering program offered by MIT to exemplary high school seniors nationwide. MOSTEC allows students to conduct independent research online while sharing their observations and findings in a blog created by college. As part of the program, students get to spend one week at MIT presenting their research, as well taking classes and lectures. During his visit, Rodriguez spent time at the college’s biomechatronics lab, where he met associate professor and lab director Hugh Herr, PhD. Herr was injured during a blizzard while climbing Mount Washington in New Hampshire back in 1982 and became a double amputee from the waist down. In support of our Rodriguez was moved by Herr’s ability to overcome his personal City Council and representative, physical St. Michael’s is obstacles through feats of science. co-sponsoring with Costa Constantinides, “He was very inspiring in the way that he made his own powered a School prosthetics,”Supply Drive to raise much-needed school Rodriguez said. “Now he’s walking about just like anyone else.” supplies for the less fortunate in our community. Inspired by his passion for engineering and design, Rodriguez became the founder Please bring and president of a chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA),notebooks, a pens,national crayons, pencils, markers, etc., nonprofit organization, at Christ the King High School earlier in the school to the event. year. The club is currently focused on the task of building a website to share information, findings and blog posts. As a member of the Christ the King Mathematics Team, Rodriguez is currently tied for first place in the statewide league with a couple of fellow CTK students. He is also one of the rising stars on the school’s speech and debate team. The team will be competing in the state championships in Oneonta this week, as well as nationals in Florida the following month. In addition to his achievements in the fields of science and technology, Rodriguez has also enjoyed great success in the performing arts. He is a member of Christ the King’s musical theater club and will star as the Wizard in their upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz,” opening next week. For the past 11 years, Rodriguez has performed as part of a local competitive dance team. He is prolific in many diverse styles of dance, including jazz and contemporary, and has won awards for his performances. His experiences and triumphs as a competitive dancer inspired Rodriguez to help improve the lives of physically disabled people through his work in the field of biomechatronics. “One of the things that I realized when I got into what I want to study is that there are a lot of people who can’t experience those kinds of things,” he said. “I want to provide people with the ability to experience anything that they want to, whether it’s being onstage and performing or climbing a mountain. I want them to be able to do that.” BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @timesnewsweekly For a taste of authentic Greek cuisine without leaving Queens, visit the newly opened Gyro World, located at 66-57 Fresh Pond Rd., on the corner of Madison Street, in Ridgewood. Astoria native and Bronx Science alum Thanasi Petridis fi rst opened the family owned-and-operated eatery back in February. Petridis chose Ridgewood for its unique mix of trendiness and tradition. “It seemed like an up-and-coming neighborhood,” he said, “and the people that are here are very family-oriented.” Petridis also noticed a general lack of Greek restaurants in the neighborhood and was hoping to fi ll that gap. Petridis’ father opened Gyro World’s fi rst location on Northern Boulevard and 195th Street in Flushing back in 2005. The bustling eatery has served the communities of Flushing and Bayside for over a decade. The continued success of the restaurant allowed the Petridis family to expand into their second location in Ridgewood. “We may be new to the neighborhood, but we’re not new to gyro,” Petridis added. Gyro World’s menu features many classic Greek dishes inspired by Petridis’ heritage. His father immigrated to America from Serres, a city in Macedonia, Greece. “About 80 percent of our menu items are traditional Greek fast food with a Greek tavern feel,” Petridis said. Patrons can select from a diverse range of appetizers to start with. The homemade stuffed grape leaves ($5.95) are a tangy mix of rice, lemon and dill wrapped in tender grape vine leaves. Slices of spinach pie ($6.95) or spanakopita also makes for a great start to any meal. One of the more popular menu items is the Greek gyro sandwich ($6.95) made with hand-stacked, slow rotisserie pork served on a pita with tomatoes, red onions and tzatziki. The regular gyro sandwich ($6.95) contains hand-stacked slices of rotisserie beef and lamb instead of pork. The restaurant’s signature dish is the Gyro World Plate, available for parties of two ($23.95) or four ($37.95) people. This platter contains generous portions of seven different types of meat, including pork and chicken souvlaki, bifteki, GYRO WORLD chicken bifteki, Greek gyro, beef and lamb gyro, as well as loukaniko, a homemade Greek sausage. This fl avorful feast is served with pita and tzatziki. Gyro World also offers several vegetarian menu options, including the haloumi sandwich ($6.95). This dish features grilled haloumi, a savory Cyprian cheese, served with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Their Vegetarian Wrap ($7.95) is a smoky mix of grilled haloumi, lettuce, tomato, roasted sweet peppers, grilled eggplant and balsamic vinegar. The traditional Greek salad is a delicious mix of Greek olives, red onions, cucumbers, tomato, stuffed grape leaves, green peppers and feta cheese served over a bed of freshly shredded lettuce with a light house dressing. This Gyro World favorite is available in small ($6.95) and large ($9.95) sizes. In addition to traditional Greek dishes, Gyro World also serves American fare such as Buffalo wings ($6.95), mozzarella sticks ($6.95) and chicken fi ngers ($6.95). Their grilled specialties also include traditional burgers ($4.95), chicken burgers ($5.95) and a Greek burger ($6.95). One of Gyro World’s signature side dishes is their homemade fries ($3.95). Unlike typical fast-food venues, Gyro World’s fries are hand-cut and made fresh, never frozen or pre-packaged. Their lemon potatoes ($4.95) are another savory side dish. These slow-roasted potato wedges are bathed in fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of fl avorful herbs. Meals can be capped off with a sweet slice of baklava ($3.95) for dessert. In the coming months, Petridis hopes to add wine and beer to his menu, as well as a small sidewalk cafe. Patrons can chose take-out or delivery, or they can sit and dine in the Mediterranean blue and gold eatery surrounded by festive wall sculptures of Grecian gods with laurels leaf garlands, wine barrels and grape clusters. dining out 66-57 Fresh Pond Rd. Ridgewood, NY 11237 718-366-4976 View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com YOUR PROMOTIONS SUPERMARKET SINCE 1995 CORPORATE & TEAM OUTFITTING CUSTOM APPAREL H T-SHIRTS ONLY $295 H CAPS/HATS H UNIFORMS H JACKETS H BACK PACKS H BAGS H TROPHIES CATALOG 866.701.3263 H 718.969.3144 YOU NAME IT, WE GOT IT!!! (We can customize your art, logo, messages on anything!) 866.701.3263 H 718.969.3144 www.PROMOTIONALEMPIRE.com St. Michael’s is dedicated to the celebration of life. St. Michael’s continues to be an active participant in the lives of the citizens of New York as it has been since 1852. For further information contact Ed Horn, Director at (718) 278 3240. 72-02 Astoria Blvd. • East Elmhurst, Queens NY (off the B.Q.E.) 718.278.3240• www.stmichaelscemetery.com A ‘Gyro World’ of fl avor in Ridgewood


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