8 The Courier sun • FEBRUARY 4, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Photos by Robert Stridiron Carly Rose Nieves (left) and Lisa Horner at The Carly Rose Foundation Blood Drive. Two-time cancer survivor hosts community blood drive at Middle Village school By Anthony Giudice agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com/@A_GiudiceReport After beating cancer twice, Carly Rose Nieves helped to give back to those who are still fighting during her foundation’s blood and bone marrow registry drive, held at Christ the King High School (CTK) in Middle Village. The Carly Rose Foundation (TCRF) hosted the blood drive and bone marrow registry on Saturday, Jan. 30. Seventy-eight pints of blood were donated, and 12 people signed up with the bone marrow registry. “It went well. I honestly think the blizzard the week before slowed us down because a lot people probably had to fulfill commitments from the weekend before,” said Lisa Horner, Nieves’ mother. “The 78 pints of blood we did collect will save 234 people.” Nieves was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2003, at the age of 7, and again at the age of 12. TCRF was created as a way for Nieves to thank all those who helped her throughout her battles with cancer and to help those who still need important blood and platelet transfusions. Nieves was on hand at CTK and was grateful for everyone who helped her cause by either donating blood or registering with the bone marrow registry. TCRF is currently working with blood center at the high school to set up future dates for more blood drives. For more information on TCRF, visit carlyrose.org. GOP leaders considering local councilman as mayoral candidate in 2017 By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Queens’ only Republican City Council member may be under consideration among party leaders as a potential challenger to Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017. The New York Post reported on Feb. 1 that several Republican leaders — including Queens County GOP Chairman Robert Turner — are encouraging Councilman Eric Ulrich to make a run for the city’s highest elected post. The 30-year-old lawmaker, whose district covers much of southwestern Councilman Eric Ulrich Queens and the Rockaways, was first elected in 2009 to succeed current state Senator Joseph Addabbo. But a spokesperson for Ulrich said in a statement on Feb. 2 that the councilman is currently focused on his present job at City Hall. “While he appreciates the encouragement of friends and supporters alike, he is not a declared candidate for mayor at this time,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. “His primary focus remains serving the needs of his constituents and fighting for New York City’s large and diverse veterans community.” Ulrich is one of only three Republicans serving in the City Council. He won re-election to his seat in 2013 while, at the same time, de Blasio was swept into the mayor’s office with 70 percent of the vote citywide. Whether it’s Ulrich or someone else, the Republican nominee for mayor in 2017 faces some stiff odds considering Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by a 6 to 1 margin. Even so, Ulrich has been known to work closely with Democrats at City Hall; he supported Melissa Mark- Viverito’s successful campaign to become City Council speaker in 2014 and serves as chair of the City Council’s Veterans Committee. Turner was quoted in the Post article as saying that Ulrich has the ability to re-energize the Republican Party citywide while also appealing to outer borough residents who aren’t satisfied with de Blasio’s leadership: “We need a dramatic, different direction, and Eric provides that,” Turner said. The Courier reached out to the Queens County GOP for comment and is awaiting a response.
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