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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 8, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3 Photos courtesy of Councilman Vallone’s offi ce Whitestone public school auditorium gets modern renovations and tech upgrades BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76 Students at a Whitestone school have a fresh space to learn and play. Th e auditorium at P.S. 184, which educates students in pre-K through fi ft h grade, now features new fl ooring, fresh paint, refurbished seating and a brandnew lighting and sound system thanks to funding allocated by Councilman Paul Vallone and the School Construction Authority (SCA). Th e fresh space, which is now handicap accessible, was celebrated at an offi cial ribbon cutting on June 1, where third- and fourth-grade students put on a dance performance for the school community. Principal Anna Dimilta said the space is used by students and teachers for a variety of activities, including modern and ballroom dance programs and aft er-school drama and theater programs in partnership with Flushing Town Hall. Th e space is also used for school assemblies, Parent- Teacher Association meetings and indoor recess time. Dimilta said the refurbished space and technology upgrades will eventually foster more frequent and higher quality productions at the school, located at 163rd Street and 21st Road. “P.S. 184Q focuses on providing authentic engaging activities connected to rigorous academic standards that are essential in today’s world,” the Councilman Vallone helps cut the ribbon on the renovated P.S. 184 gym. principal said. “Th is upgrade will give us a venue for future performances that showcase the talents of our staff and students.” Vallone also presented apple pins to the student government president, vice president and student representative at the ribbon cutting. Nominate food cards & trucks for Vendys Is your favorite street cart or food truck ‘Vendy’-worthy? Help your favorite Queens street vendor reach foodie fame by nominating them for Th e Vendy Awards — a competition honoring the best street eats in the fi ve boroughs. Nominations for this year’s competition are being accepted now through their website, http://www.vendyawards.streetvendor.org/ newyorkcity/. Th e World’s Borough was well-represented during last year’s competition. Cachapas on Wheels, run by the Villalobos family from Maspeth, took home the 2016 People’s Choice award. Food truck Traditional Chinese Cuisine, which is run by a family from Flushing, was one of four contending fi nalists for the top prize. Th e annual Vendy Awards also serve as a fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project — a membership-based nonprofi t organization that helps vendors grow their businesses and stand up for their legal rights. Th e 13th Annual Vendy Awards will take place on Sept. 16 at Governor’s Island in an allday food and fun aff air. Suzanne Monteverdi RFK Bridge tolls go cashless on June 15 Drivers crossing the RFK Bridge in Astoria next Th ursday will not be able to pay with cash and will instead, get a bill in the mail. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in October a plan to make all 7 MTA-owned bridges and tunnels cashless. Th e Queens Midtown Tunnel transitioned in January and in April the Cross Bay and Marine Parkway Bridges in Rockaway went cashless. Sensors and cameras known as gantries will be suspended above the highway to take photos of license plates and E-ZPasses. Drivers who do not have an E-ZPass will receive a bill in the mail. Th ose who do not pay their bill will be charged a fi ne. Th e governor argues that cashless tolling will reduce congestion emissions because drivers no longer have to stop and wait on cash-only lanes. Angela Matua Hateful vandal fi nally busted in Astoria At long last, the hateful vandal who has been leaving anti-gay graffi ti on offi ces in Astoria has been caught. On Friday, June 2, police arrested Yaacov Shemesh, 53, of Newtown Avenue in connection to these crimes. He was charged with 22 counts of aggravated harassment, criminal mischief, criminal mischief intent damage property, and making graffi ti. It was originally reported that on March 20, graffi ti was found in two places at Senator Michael Gianaris’s and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas’s Astoria offi ce, located at 31-19 Newtown Ave. Th e words “Obama f—-t” were written in blue marker on the outside of the building. Shemesh allegedly struck again one week later by leaving the exact same message at the same location. Emily Davenport


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