FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com DECEMBER 10, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 3 New club in Howard Beach takes ‘Aktion’ to help disabled adults By Robert Pozarycki [email protected]/@robbpoz Two Howard Beach-based organizations have answered the call for action to help improve the lives of developmentally disabled adults. The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach and New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) announced this week the formation of the Aktion Club of Howard Beach, an affiliate designed to “provide adults living with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and to serve their communities,” as noted in the club’s mission statement. Much like the Forest Park Aktion Club — which the Kiwanis Club of Glendale co-sponsors — the Howard Beach Aktion Club is sponsored by the Howard Beach Kiwanis, a chapter of the international fraternal organization of businesspeople and community-minded individuals dedicated to charitable public service. Tonia Cimino of NYFAC explained that the Kiwanis Club nominates and elects developmentally disabled adults to serve with the Aktion Club. The club members then meet together twice a month at NYFAC’s Howard Beach office to discuss club activities and select ways to help the community, such as making senior center visits or organizing food drives. Forming the Howard Beach Aktion Club was the brainchild of two local Kiwanians — Stephen Sirgiovanni, currently the New York Kiwanis governor-elect, and John Spagnuolo, immediate past president of the Howard Beach Kiwanis. They, in turn, reached out to NYFAC, which agreed to host Aktion Club activities. “NYFAC is an organization that affords us the opportunity to establish the Aktion Club because of who it serves,” Sirgiovanni said. “Since both organizations are from the Howard Beach community, it’s a perfect fit.” “This is a perfect opportunity to teach our individuals the value of giving back,” added NYFAC President and CEO Andrew Baumann. “There’s nothing more important than giving of yourself.” The Howard Beach Aktion Club’s 10 charter members were formally installed by retired New York State Supreme Court Justice and Howard Beach Kiwanian Augustus C. Agate at a Nov. 25 ceremony. QUEENS RESIDENTS ARRESTED IN CITYWIDE HOUSING BENEFIT FRAUD STING BY BROOKE SMITH [email protected] @QueensCourier The New York City Department of Investigation arrested four Queens residents in a citywide sting on Dec. 4 for allegedly obtaining housing assistance fraudulently. Richmond Hill residents Deonandan Singh and Tarametee Singh, Jamaica resident Susan Jarrett and Queens resident Ethel Evans were arrested with 13 other individuals from surrounding boroughs in a housing fraud sweep that took place over the last five weeks. The schemes involved collecting public housing subsidies for a section apartment while illegally renting out the apartment to a friend and residing elsewhere. Under Section 8 rules, it is illegal to collect subsidies and fail to report the income and presence of spouses and friends. The DOI has been working with prosecutors such as the Queens District Attorney and the Office of the City Comptroller on these investigations. “This pernicious fraud undermines government’s efforts to ensure affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable in New York City,” said DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters. “Working with our law enforcement partners, DOI is finding these schemes and shutting them down, as demonstrated in the more than three dozen housing fraud arrests made this year.” The DOI has arrested 39 individuals this year on charges of housing fraud involving both Section 8 subsidies and conventional public housing subsidies. The New York City Housing Authority and the City Department of Housing and Preservation provide these housing subsidies associated with the theft of more than $1.4 million in public funds. “These fraudsters engaged in the most reprehensible kind of conduct – stealing scarce housing resources from our most vulnerable citizens, while at the same time lining their own pockets,” City Comptroller Scott M. Stinger said. Upon conviction, each suspect could face between five and 10 years behind bars. Photos courtesy of New York Families for Autistic Children Members of the Aktion Club of Howard Beach with members of the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club and the New York Families for Autistic Children. Aktion Club members are sworn in by retired Judge Augustus C. Agate, who is an active member of the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club.
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