6 DECEMBER 15, 2016 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM Glendale vets bury an indigent brother BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT In keeping with their pledge to make sure the country’s indigent veterans are given a proper burial, the Queens County Committee of the American Legion are holding a funeral service in Glendale for indigent veteran Larry Johnson on Wednesday. When a veteran dies with no known next of kin, the Queens County Committee of the American Legion takes on the responsibility of performing a military-grade funeral service, and burial in a national cemetery, rather than having the veteran put in an unmarked grave in City Cemetery on Hart Island, commonly known as Potter’s Field. On Dec. 14, Johnson will be given a funeral service at George Werst Funeral Home in Glendale, located at 71-41 Cooper Ave., at 9:30 a.m. Following the ceremony, Johnson will be buried at Calverton National Cemetery at approximately 11:15 a.m. The American Legion is also expecting a motorcycle escort from Patriot Guard Riders. “The New York City Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs has made every eff ort to ensure that all qualifi ed unclaimed veterans are given a proper military burial in a National Cemetery rather than in an unmarked grave in Potter’s Field,” said Paul J. Schottenhamel, Adjutant, Queens County American Legion Unclaimed Veteran Burial Committee in a press release. “They have designated the Queens County Committee of The American Legion as an Organizational Friend of Unclaimed Veterans and tasked us to perform this honorable duty.” Not much is known of Johnson. According to the American Legion, he was born on May 15, 1938, in Brooklyn, and served in the U.S. Navy during the Cold War Era, from Nov. 15, 1955, to Aug. 6, 1957. He died on Aug. 6, 2016, in Brooklyn. Queens lawmaker fi ghting to protect NYC women’s access to HPV vaccine & birth control BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT Many women are concerned that their reproductive rights might be in jeopardy aft er the new president takes offi ce in January, and one Queens lawmaker is fi ghting to protect women’s health here in the city. The New York City Council’s Committee on Health took a look at three health related bills introduced by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley on Wednesday, Dec. 7. These bills are aimed at addressing vaccination rates for the human papillomaviruses (HPV), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and maternal mortality. “Too oft en in New York City, women’s health services are not prioritized. This can adversely aff ect our communities — because women’s health lends to the family’s health, which lends to our city’s health,” Crowley said. “These three bills will increase reporting to key pieces of the puzzle for a woman’s health. If the city is more transparent and we have information on vaccination rates, use of LARCs and maternal mortality, we can better determine how to move forward with the best resources for all New York City women.” The fi rst of the three bills — Introduction 1161 — would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to provide the Council with an annual report on HPV vaccination rates for all New York City residents, both men and women. HPV is listed as the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the country. It has infected about 79 million people nationwide and aff ects 14 million more each year. In New York City, an average of 2,375 Photo via Shutterstock Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley has introduced three bills on women’s health. Notre Dame Catholic Academy visits Harvard University Notre Dame Catholic Academy of Ridgewood recent had eight of its students participate in an NBA Math Hoops Competition at Harvard University. The students took a tour of the Harvard campus and then competed against three other academies from the Diocese of Brooklyn in a friendly competition. NBA Math Hoops is an educational game that focuses on M ath skills and the rules of basketball. It was a fun and educational day. Notre Dame Catholic Academy is looking forward to the next competition this coming March in Washington D.C. people are diagnosed with HPV-related cancer each year, nearly twothirds of whom are women, and half of these new infections occur among those aged 15-24, Crowley said. Data collected through this bill can be used by the DOHMH to determine the best ways to reach the groups most susceptible to this disease and where early prevention resources are most needed. “Every New Yorker deserves access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care services,” said Christina Chang, vice president of public aff airs at Planned Parenthood of New York City. “We look forward to continuing to work together to improve access to contraception, stop the spread of HPV, reduce maternal mortality rates, and improve the health of all New Yorkers.” Introduction 1162 would require DOHMH to report on the use of LARCs by New York City residents, including the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, which are the most eff ective forms of reversible birth control. Most women, however, opt for another form of birth control because of misinformation or high costs. The fi nal bill, Introduction 1172 would require DOHMH to annually report maternal mortality rates to the City Council Speaker, including the number of deaths by women who were pregnant or recently pregnant at the time of death, the rate of these deaths per 100,000 births, the leading causes and recommendations regarding actions the city can take to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality. Currently the Mayor’s Management Report does not provide any data on the rates of maternal mortality, Crowley said. Instead, the Department of Health issues a report every fi ve years. “While all three issues are important, we are especially pleased that this proposed legislation will highlight maternal mortality, which continues to have a devastating impact on women of color and immigrant communities,” said Cheryl Hall, executive director of the Caribbean Women’s Health Association. “We will continue to work with the City Council and the NYCDOHMH to develop strategies to improve the overall health of women and eliminate maternal mortality in New York City.” Photos courtesy of Norte Dame Catholic Academy Photo by Anthony Giudice/QNS The Queens County Committee of the American Legion will once again hold a funeral service at George Werst Funeral Home in Glendale for an indigent veteran.
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