4 The Courier sun • september 18, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Sandy-stricken trees to be cut down BY SALVATORE LICATA slicata@queenscourier.com/@Sal_Licata1 Dead trees are a common sight in Howard Beach — a constant reminder of the devastation the neighborhood faced nearly two years ago when Hurricane Sandy ripped its way through the area. But the neighborhood will now witness an arboreal upheaval as the Parks Department moves to uproot and replace a virtual forest of trees. “Several hundred street trees damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Community Board 10 are slated to be removed and replaced,” said Meghan Lalor, a representative from the Parks Department. “Any tree that was marked for removal was considered to be dead or in such decline that it would not be able to recover to full health.” The trees and their stumps will be removed entirely and will later be replaced by new trees. Each tree that is slated for removal has an “X” marked on its trunk. The removal process for many of them is taking place from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19. Soon after Hurricane Sandy, the Parks Department went out to survey the storm’s effect on the city’s trees. The Parks Department looked at about 48,000 trees citywide, and categorized each of them by their leaf coverage. Since then, the department has been monitoring the trees’ leaf coverage and behavior throughout the growing seasons, which has helped identify which trees should be axed. The exact number of trees to be cut down in Community Board 10 has yet to be determined. Parks is still surveying the neighborhoods to make sure all of the problematic trees are reached. Jamaica cultural center diversifies programs BY ASHA MAHADEVAN editorial@queenscourier.com The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning is making a conscious attempt to diversify its programming. During the 2014-15 season, the center will be hosting concerts of Latin music, gospel music and doo-wop, and performances Sponsored by Providing comprehensive end-of-life care in the home, nursing home, and in-patient setting throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Nassau County. For referrals or information call 718.472.1999 or visit www.hospiceny.com of Brazilian dances, nutcracker ballet and William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Cathy Hung, who joined the center as its executive director in April, said it has always been the aim of the 42-yearold organization to support the community and serve its needs. “Diversity is key,” Hung said. “The society is changing so we have to evolve and support the evolving society. We try to honor the different genres, but they are not planned for specific communities. We don’t want to send anyone out. We want to blend everyone in, support every community.” There is something for everyone — children, adults, seniors — in the 2014- 15 season. Putting the lineup together has been a learning experience for Hung, who worked at the Flushing Town Hall before she joined the center. “I am new to the community and learning about the community organizations,” she said. Her first step is “to inject meaningful content so that the community can talk about the center and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center.” Hung is working with educational institutions and tying the center’s programming to the school curriculum. The Brazilian dances and the Nutcracker ballet performances are for grades K to 12 while “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is for grades 3 to 12 and a puppet show about Greek mythology is meant for grades 3 to 8. “If teachers want more, we are here to offer it,” she said. Hung’s aim is to work more closely with other cultural institutions that can make best use of the center’s space. This aim is evident in the exhibition that is ongoing at the center, “Titled Women of the Diaspora,” which portrays art related to women of color. An exhibit within the exhibition is called “We Be Rational” and features fashion illustrations of black women. Stephanie PhaFar Roy, a self-described “artivist” — artist who is an activist — worked almost a year to put together the 60 illustrations to show women of color in a way they are not represented in fashion. The outfits are inspired by street fashion and African garb but they are not traditional African outfits. “Some of the prints mimic African art,” said Roy, who is of Haitian descent. Collaborations and co-presentations are the way to “slowly push the organization where it should be,” said Hung. And where is that? “It can be anything,” she said. “It can be the BAM or Lincoln Center of Jamaica. The sky is the limit.” THE COURIER/Photo by Asha Mahadevan Cathy Hung (left) and Stephanie PhoFar Roy discuss the latter’s fashion illustrations at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. THE COURIER/Photo by Salvatore Licata
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