TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 • 22 Centennial For Forest Hills School Next Week Elected Officials, Alumni To Celebrate P.S. 101’s Growth In Gardens R’wood Banker Honored Anthony J. Simeone, executive vice president and chief lending officer of the Ridgewood Savings Bank, was honored as Institutional Member of the Year at the 90th Annual Banquet of the Bronx- Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMNAR). Held Thursday, Apr. 24, at Marina del Rey Caterers, the event was attended by hundreds of professionals active in the business and real estate communities. Anthony Simeone has more than 20 years of experience in the lending industry. At Ridgewood Savings Bank, which he joined in 2002, he manages and oversees all lending functions including its portfolio of residential, commercial and consumer loans. Pictured from left to right are Eliezer Rodriguez, BMNAR Executive Director; Anthony Simeone, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Ridgewood Savings Bank; and Richard T. Guarino, BMNAR President. P.S. 101 in Forest Hills Gardens, finished in 1927, has not undergone any changes to its exterior since it was built 87 years ago. The first school in Forest Hills Gardens, known colloquially as the “Little Red Schoolhouse” began as a four-room temporary school situated near what is now the current building’s gymnasium. The building in which the school is currently was completed in 1927. To mark the centennial occasion, a family representing four generations of students, one current, will attend the ceremonies, volunteer parent coordinator and school leadership team member Ann Kittridge said in an email. One alumnus participating in the ceremonies, Floyd Hasselriis attended the school when it first opened in 1927, and remembers his brothers going to school in the original building, he said. When Hasselriis began attending the school there were no other houses between his home, on Seasongood Road and P.S. 101, which is on Russell Place, he remembers In the early 20th century, much of Queens County was still farm country, though it was developing quickly. “Forest Hills was very much farm country” back then, Kittridge said. And there’s footage that proves it, as Kittridge made a video honoring the history of the school for its website that features shots of children standing next to farmers fields around 1916, she said. Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, Queens Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, District Superintendent Beverly Folkes- Bryant and aides to Rep. Grace Meng will attend the event. Principal of P.S. 101 and ceremony host Monique Paniagua underscored the centennial by quoting Confucius, one of history’s most revered and ancient philosophers, to illustrate the score of students educated at the school. “Confucius once said, ‘if you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people,’” she said. “As we celebrate P.S. 101Q’s centennial, we celebrate 100 years of teaching people and look forward to teaching for the next hundred years. We’ve grown generations of beautiful minds that have changed the world.” “I want to wish a very Happy 100th Birthday to the School in the Gardens,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said. “The school has been consistently high-performing and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere conducive to shaping young minds and preparing our children to lead successful lives and be outstanding contributors to our society. I commend the teachers, administrators and staff members of the School in the Gardens and wish their fine institution many more years of success.” The school has had several alumni with successful careers in entertainment, including six -time Grammy Award winner and threetime Oscar Award winner, Burt Bacharach; five-time Emmy Award winner Carroll O’Connor; three-time Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominated Jazz musician Chieli Minucci; Emmy Award nominated and three-time Oscar Award nominated actor and director John Cassavetes and Pulitzer-prize nominee for his ragtime compositions, William Ryden. Forest Hills Gardens is one of America's oldest planned communities, and was modeled after the English planned garden suburb community, Hampstead Garden Suburb. Founded in 1908, the neighborhood consists of about 800 homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., son of noted landscape by Noah Zuss To celebrate its 100th anniversary, P.S. 101 in Forest Hills Gardens will hold a special commemoration ceremony with early 20th century games and entertainement, the morning of Tuesday, May 20—the same date the school first opened its doors in 1914. -SEE SCHOOL ON PG. 56- Awarding Essay Winners In Glendale Assemblyman Mike Miller came to St. Pancras School in Glendale on May 9 to award certificates to students in recognition of their essays written on either St. Patrick or St. Joseph. The essay contest winners were Caitlin Hassan, Stephen Moloney and Angela Contorno. Among those pictured are Msgr. Gregory Wielunski, pastor of St. Pancras Church; Principal Joseph Venticinque; and Miller. The Times Newsweekly Is On Twitter! www.twitter.com/timesnewsweekly @timesnewsweekly Follow Us For Up-To-Date Info
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