4 AUGUST 6, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
104th Pct., GRYC team up to host Summer Get-Fit Camp
BY JASMINE PALMA
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The 104th Precinct Youth Coordination
Offi cers (YCO’s), along
with the Greater Ridgewood
Youth Counsel (GRYC), is hosting a
Summer Get-Fit camp for kids between
the ages of 10 and 16. Other precincts
in Queens – the 109th, 111th and 114th
precincts – are also hosting related
camps.
The 104th Precinct’s program,
which began July 6 and ends Aug.
21, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Rosemary
Park and I.S. 93.
Activities include recreational
sports, physical fitness, team building,
self defense and obstacle courses
among others.
The bureau’s community affairs,
as stated on the NYPD website, says
the vision for these programs is to
prevent drug abuse, decrease youth
violence, champion child safety, and
better the relationships between
police and the youth, with “a special
emphasis on at-risk individuals.”
The program is an initiative from
the 104th Precinct’s youth coordinating
officers, who are making a “big
effort to provide adequate services
to prevent kids from getting involved
with the police in a negative way,”
according to Youth Council Director
Bob Monahan.
“We’ve been working with the police
department for almost 40 years
as it relates to kids. We have been
partners with them addressing issues.
It is not just limited to this, but
other aspects,” he continued.
“It’s the program basically trying
to keep kids occupied during the
summer,” said Det. Sophia Mason,
from the office of the Deputy Commissioner
of Public Information
(DCPI). “To teach them a few things
– giving kids something to do in the
summer instead of doing nothing.”
Cognizant of the ongoing COVID-
19 health crisis, the program’s
flyer advertised that safety and
sanitation materials such as hand
sanitizer, gloves and masks are being
distributed and social distancing
is practiced.
“Because of COVID, we can’t have
everyone sitting inside a classroom
as we’ve had in the past,” Det. Mason
said. “So each precinct in Queens
North – there are about four or five
of them doing this type of program –
kids are doing a lot of the things kids
did inside but outside.”
As a precaution, the 40 registered
kids are divided into groups of 10
and the program will mostly operate
in an outdoor setting, according to
Monahan.
“Very conscious of social distancing
precautions, my staff is well
Photo via NYPD 104th Precinct/Facebook
trained in that. We’re going to do
present to enforce safety protocols.
everything we know works to protect
“These are exactly the types of
our kids and our staff,” he stated.
summer programs we need for our
Monahan ensured that staff are
children, especially during this
challenging year, and I am always
happy to support them!” Councilman
Robert Holden said in a Facebook
post.
Community leaders unite to launch “Friends Of Columbus” in an eff ort to preserve and protect Italian Heritage and Columbus and
keep statues and monuments erect. The group plans on expanding on this eff ort and seeks to promote the cause on multi media
platforms locally and further out to other regions in near future. From left to right:Giovanni Silvagni, VP ACINY; Joseph Baretta, Societa
Di Polizzi Generosa; Domenick Giampapa, VP Inter Soccer Club NY; Pat Gravino, Queens County Columbian Lawyers Association;
Frank Palmieri, B. O. D. Queensboro UNICO; Gaspare Mistretta, President Queensboro UNICO; Vincenzo Armano, President Societa Di
Polizzi Generosa; Michael Addeo, Mt Carmel Brooklyn San Paolino Di Nola; Cav. Tony Mule, President Concordia di Partanna; Ignazio
Terranova, Democratic community leader, Polizzi; Hon. Sen. Serf Maltese; Cav. Tony Di Piazza, Chairman ACINY, VP Palermo Calcio; John
Di Gangi, Chairman Societa Di Polizzi Generosa; Jospeh DiPietro, Astoria Italian community. (Photo by Dean Moses)
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