FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com APRIL 10, 2014 • THE COURIER SUN 25 SNAPS QUEENS The New York State Pavilion seen from a paddle boat on Meadow Lake What are your plans for Easter? “I’m going to my daughter’s house in Yonkers. We do a lot of eating and loving life.” Lori Scolaro “Working in the morning, and then I’m going to going to my grandfather’s for dinner.” Andrew Raskin “I’m going to be on vacation at Universal Studios with the kids.” Dominick Bruccoleri “The whole family gets together down in Rockaway. We make Jell-O eggs and have an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It’s a great holiday that is underrated.” Ryan Rosen “We roast a lamb, drink, make spinach pie and paint eggs — we’re Greek.” Gregory Amentas “I’m going to my inlaws’ out on Long Island. They do the whole Greek thing — roast the lamb on the spit and all.” Tim Downing oped street talk “We go out to my brother’s every year. I guess it’s a family tradition since we’ve been doing it for 12 years. I’m most looking forward to the dessert and spending time with my family.” Rose Virga “I am going to my girlfriend’s best friend’s house, and we’re going to have dinner and wine.” Eugene Liberman Photo courtesy of Jonathan Silverman Send us your photos of Queens and you could see them online or in our paper! Submit them to us via our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/QueensCourier by tweeting@queenscourier or by emailing them to [email protected] Our Children Win With Universal Pre-K BY COUNCILWOMAN JULISSA FERRERAS After months of rallying for the future of our children, our voices have fi nally been heard! Last week, our state legislators approved $300 million in funding for universal prekindergarten programs in their fi nal budget. This is historic. We are now poised to ensure every child has access to highquality, full-day pre-K. The City’s plan is moving forward, and in less than six months, a new school year will begin, giving tens of thousands of our children access to full-day pre-K and thousands more middle-schoolers access to a safe, educational place to go after school. Imagine the difference this will make for kids who will now start learning a year earlier. Imagine what it means for working parents! As a former director of a Beacon program at P.S. 19 in Corona, it was my privilege to watch the effect of high-quality programming on young people who would otherwise be falling behind. Just as early education, including pre-K, is vital to a child’s success later in life, after-school for young adolescents is a bridge that helps them maintain momentum—or, in the case of struggling students, a way to regain lost time and get back on track. Studies show that children who participate in these programs behave better in school, do better in class and on tests, and have improved attendance records. With this new, dedicated funding from Albany, the people who win here are parents and children. New York City is ready to move forward. We’ve been moving aggressively to put all the pieces in place to be ready for the fall. Thanks to the work of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and my colleagues in our city and state government, we are making history. As a new mother, I cannot tell you how excited I am about this momentous change. These are game-changing solutions that will reach every child. They’re the kind of solutions that unite communities and improve our schools. If you live in New York City and your child is turning 4 years old in 2014, it’s time to think about applying to pre-K. Here’s what you need to know: • Children turning 4 years old in 2014 who live in New York City are eligible to attend pre-K programs. • Pre-K is free. You do not have to pay to attend programs offered by the NYC Department of Education. • Programs can be half-day (2 hours and 30 minutes) or fullday (6 hours and 20 minutes). Half-day programs may take place in the morning or afternoon. • Programs are available at public schools and communitybased organizations (CBOs). There are separate application processes for public schools and CBOs. The pre-K application period has been extended to April 23. The online application for pre-K is currently available in English and Spanish on www.schools.nyc.gov. You can also apply in person at your nearest Queens Enrollment Offi ce, which are listed on the website. If you have any questions or need further information, please call (718) 935-2009. Our children’s future begins today. Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras represents the 21st Council District encompassing Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights. She is also the Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Finance. BY HARVIND JAPRA AND SOPHIA ROSENBAUM
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