8 The Courier sun • DECEMBER 10 , 2015 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Photo courtesy of State Senator James Sanders Jr. Senator Sanders is joined by panelists Arian Blanco, arts program director at NYS Council on the Arts; Hallie Bahn, executive assistant at Materials for the Arts; Lynn Lobell, grants and resource director at Queens Council on the Arts; and David Johnston, executive director at Exploring the Metropolis. JAMAICA GRANTS FAIR AIMS TO CULTIVATE NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS BY BROKE SMITH [email protected] @QueensCourier State Senator James Sanders Jr. recently hosted a Southeast Queens Grants Fair for Artists at the Jamaica Arts Center for Arts and Learning. The fair featured information on how to obtain grants funding, free materials for arts projects and available space to conduct work, in an effort to encourage and promote the growth of local arts and culture. “When we think of community, we think of vibrancy and life, and some of the things that say that a community is alive are its arts and culture,” Sanders said. “When we look at communities that are dying, one of the first things that goes is the arts. They don’t have the time, or they don’t invest the time, or they invest poorly, and we can say those communities may not last.” A variety of dancers, designers, poets and filmmakers in attendance took part in a panel discussion featuring representatives from the New York State Council on the arts, Queens Council on the Arts, Exploring the Metropolis Inc. and Materials for the Arts. The New York State Council and the Queens Council on the Arts both offer a number of grants each year for individual artists as well as acting as fiscal sponsors. Materials for the Arts provides free materials to nonprofit organizations with arts programming. Exploring the Metropolis assists performing artists and companies with finding affordable available spaces in which to rehearse and perform. “As we all know space has become more and more of a critical issue for some time here in New York City,” said David Johnston, executive director of Exploring the Metropolis Inc. “It’s very important to us as an organization that performing artists in New York have the space they need to do their work and that we have world-class artists working in every part of New York City wherever there is available space that is not being utilized.” While speaking to the attendees, Sanders said he was inspired to see so many artists actively seeking ways to pursue their dreams and accomplish their creative goals, and he encouraged them to continue on their path. “Art lets us understand that we are one. A true artist is one who shares, so I commend all of you artists for sharing, for ensuring that future generations will enjoy even more than we have had in days gone by,” he said. COPS SHOOT TWO, KILL DOG IN SOUTH OZONE PARK By The Queens Courier Staff [email protected] @QueensCourier Two men were inadvertently shot by police as officers attempted to break up an argument and a dog attack in South Ozone Park on Dec. 2, according to published reports. Officers from the 106th Precinct responded to a call of a man being attacked by a dog at approximately 10 a.m. Wednesday morning near the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard and 128th Street. The incident reportedly started when two men got into an argument with a third individual. The two men then allegedly ordered their dog to attack the other man, who suffered several bite wounds. When the dog turned toward the police, it was reported the officers allegedly opened fire, fatally shooting the dog. In the gunfire, one man was hit in the leg and sustained a non-life-threatening injury. A second man was also injured. Both men were taken to Jamaica Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. No officers were injured in the incident and an investigation is currently underway. Photo via Councilman Donovan Richards’ Facebook page COUNCILMAN DONOVAN RICHARDS AND WIFE WELCOME FIRST CHILD BY KIRSTEN E. PAULSON [email protected]/@QueensCourier City Councilman Donovan Richards and his wife welcomed their firstborn child into the world on Sunday, Nov. 29. Richards’ wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces. The child has been named Donovan Noah Richards III, after his father. “He wakes up at 3 a.m. every morning to eat and he sleeps, eats and cries every 30 minutes,” Richards said. “It’s a wonderful experience and I feel so blessed.”
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