38 THE QUEENS COURIER • QUEENS BUSINESS • JULY 12, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
queens business
Upgrades coming to Flushing
Library after $135k donation
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Th e Flushing Library celebrated a special
milestone in a big way last weekend
aft er a nonprofi t group made a sizable
donation to the community center.
Th e Iris & Junming Le Foundation
presented a $135,000 check to the
Queens Library’s Flushing branch
during its 20th anniversary celebration
on June 30. Th e event also featured a
dance performance, poetry reading and
re-dedication ceremony with remarks
from Congresswoman Grace Meng
and former Queens Borough President
Claire Shulman.
According to Queens Library spokesperson
Elisabeth de Bourbon, the funding
will be used to improve and increase
the center’s programming, library collection
and technology and better serve the
neighborhood’s Chinese community.
Th e Queens Library Foundation plans
to purchase 30 laptop computers and
install soft ware in the dual languages of
English and Mandarin, as well as add a
user interface in the Chinese language
to two existing desktop computers.
Th e library also plans to expand its
collection of foreign language materials,
information workshops and cultural
programming, which an emphasis on
well-known musicians and performers
from China.
“With approximately 1.7 million visitors
attending hundreds of programs at
the branch each year, from ESOL classes
to Tai Chi demonstrations, it’s clear
how important the Flushing library is
to our patrons in the neighborhood,”
Queens Library President and CEO
Dennis M. Walcott said. “Th is state-ofthe
art building provides a stimulating
space where people are inspired, grow
and become successful in their lives.
We are grateful to the Le Foundation
for their tremendous support in helping
us deliver even more quality resources,
programs and services to the community.”
Th e three-story, 77,000-square-foot
building at the intersection of Main
Street and Kissena Boulevard was completed
in 1998 and replaced a library one
quarter the size. Th e Flushing branch is
one of the largest and most active standalone
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Jim.henderson
libraries in the United States.
“I was only a teenager when the new
Flushing Library location was fi rst
established two decades ago, and have
been lucky enough to witness its inspiring
growth and expansion these last 20
years,” Assemblyman Ron Kim said. “It
has become an essential pillar of our
community, an invigorating oasis for
children, seniors, students and readers
of all ages, as well as a central community
gathering spot for all of our
residents. I congratulate the Queens
Flushing Library on its 20th anniversary
and commend all of its directors, staff
and volunteers, whom we can thank for
their countless hours of hard work over
the years in bringing us to this special
moment.”
Talking business at Myrtle Avenue BID meet
The Myrtle Avenue Business
Improvement District held its 30th
annual meeting on June 27 at the
Ridgewood Savings Bank main branch
at the corner of Myrtle and Forest avenues.
Captain John Mastronardi, commander
of the 104th Precinct, served as
the guest speaker and updated attendees
on crime in the area. Additionally, City
Councilman Antonio Reynoso was on
hand to honor the Myrtle Avenue BID
with a service award honoring its 30
years of work. Shown at the ceremony
are (from left to right): John Perricone,
designee for Queens Borough President
Melinda Katz; Antonetta Binanti,
Myrtle Avenue BID secretary; Giovanni
Mistretta, Myrtle Avenue BID board
member; Ted Renz, Myrtle Avenue
BID executive director; Herman
Hochberg, Myrtle Avenue BID president;
City Councilman Reynoso; Peter
Aigner, Myrtle Avenue BID treasurer;
Jose Trucios, NYC Department of
Small Business Services; and Valerie
Wornian, Myrtle Avenue BID vice president.
Photo courtesy of SLT
SLT workout studio
coming to Long
Island City next week
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/ @jenna_bagcal
A new, celebrity-approved workout studio
is coming to Long Island City next week.
SLT, which stands for “Strengthen-
Lengthen-Tone” is coming to the fast-growing
neighborhood on July 16, at 42-15
Crescent St. Th e location is the 22nd studio
overall, with locations in New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
A spokesperson for the studio said that
acclaimed athleisure designer, Zara Terez,
has designed commissioned wallpaper specifi
cally for the LIC location.
Founder and CEO Amanda Freeman
started SLT in 2011 in order to combine all
the things she was looking for in a workout:
results-oriented—stylized as reSuLTs on the
website—challenging, effi cient, eff ective and
fun. Th e workout is described as a hybrid of
cardio, strength training and Pilates.
For 50 minutes, participants use a
Megaformer machine, which has been
described as a “Pilates reformer on steroids”,
to complete a high-intensity, low-impact
workout. Classes at SLT consist of slower
movements, fast transitions and constant
core-engagement.
Th e studio off ers classes based on individual
fi tness levels, ranging from beginner to
more advanced options.
According to SLT, the workout has transformed
the bodies of celebrities like Sofi a
Vergara, James Franco, Alicia Keys, Emmy
Rossum and Vanessa Hudgens.
SLT Long Island City is centrally located
by Queens Plaza, and can be accessed by the
N, Q or 7 trains.
Th ose interested in taking classes can book
one on the website at sltnyc.com/studio/
long-island-city/#class. A single class goes
for about $36, but there are options to purchase
class packages and monthly unlimited
passes. For more information, call 718-361-
5200 or email longislandcity@sltnyc.com.
Photo courtesy of Myrtle Avenue BID
The Flushing Library on Main Street in Queens
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