Community Corner

Faces Up To 25 Years In Prison

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced this week that Laurence Gendreau has been convicted of attempted murder, assault, and other crimes for picking up a 6-year-old boy and slamming him into the pavement headfirst on October 10, 2019.

• State Anti-Hate in Education Center and Annual Convening will partner with institutions and organizations to combat hate and focus on anti-Semitism
• State Division of Human Rights will take action to improve hate and bias incident data collection
• Office of Victim Services to expand support for victims of anti-Semitism by simplifying the victim compensation application
• Re-Launch of NYS Police law enforcement focused on hate crime investigative seminars
• Office of Mental Health creates campaign to recognize unique issues surrounding Jewish Americans’ mental health

Assemblymember Sam Berger (D-Queens) announced that he was officially sworn into office on Thursday, September 14, to represent the 27^th Assembly District, encompassing Pomonok, Kew Gardens Hills, Electchester, College Point, Whitestone, as well as portions of Forest Hills and Briarwood.

 On Wednesday, September 20, First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella visited the Kew Gardens Hills community where she spoke of a partnership with the Jewish community and made it clear that we have a friend in her. During her visit, she spoke of a recent trip to Israel alongside Mayor Eric Adams, where she learned of sacred Jewish traditions. 

Congregation Bet El of Fresh Meadows held its annual pre-Yom Kippur cantorial selichos concert on Motzaei Shabbos, September 23, to a standing-room-only crowd.

Boulevard ALP Assisted Living Community, based in the heart of the Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens, and Flushing neighborhoods, had a special visit from elected officials ahead of the Yamim Noraim. On Friday, September 8, the facility hosted Congresswoman Grace Meng for a tour of their community. Meng met and greeted the residents alongside New York State Assembly Member Sam Berger. The meeting was a smashing success, as the electeds were very impressed with the hard work of the staff at the facility and how happy the residents look and sound. As the Congresswoman put it: “You can feel the good energy here.”