Community Corner

This past Sunday, lifelong Kew Gardens resident Avi Cyperstein, 35, stood in front of Queens Borough Hall to declare his candidacy for the 29^th City Council District, covering Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, and Forest Park. The district is presently represented by Karen Koslowitz, who is term-limited. “We stand here today amid a pandemic of unprecedented proportions. I am a first responder and healthcare professional for over ten years,” he said. “I felt that I could and should do more for the people that I care about and the community around us.”

On June 24, Mayor Bill de Blasio postponed the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon, which was set to take place this Sunday, November 1, marking its 50^th event. The 50^th running of the TCS New York City Marathon will now take place on November 7, 2021. New York Road Runners (NYRR) would not allow the world’s largest marathon, with 53,640 finishes last year, to go on this year due to coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for runners, spectators, volunteers, staff, and the many partners and communities that support the event.

With an open seat race, a crowd of 12 candidates are seeking to succeed Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz. In the past, the support of Queens party leaders for a primary candidate usually ensured that person winning the race, but in recent years, the “County” endorsement has not been as effective, as leftist candidates successfully ran with grassroots campaigns that used social media for funding, volunteers, and votes.

Activist Dr. Paul Brody, a practicing dermatologist from Great Neck, who grew up in Kew Gardens Hills, has launched a campaign entitled “Jewish Democrats for Trump - It’s Incumbent Upon Us To Keep The Incumbent! A Man of Action: He Ain’t ‘Biden’ His Time!” (Artwork of placard by graphic artist neighbor, friend, and staunch Trump supporter Orly Steinberg)

Joann Ariola is a longtime Queens civic leader, wife, mother, and grandmother, whose career has always been focused on forging positive relationships between her neighbors and government agencies to promote peace and public safety. There is no quality of life without safe streets. To that end, she has actively supported the NYPD for decades as a civic activist, member of Community Board 10, and President of the Howard Beach/Lindenwood Civic Association, as well as serving on the 106^th Precinct Council. Previously, Joann worked under Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, and now is the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for MediSys Health Network in Queens, working closely with Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals. Other former career paths included work at the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Queens Criminal Court, and the NYC Council, serving as the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to Council Members in both Queens and Brooklyn. Joann also serves as the Chair of the Queens County Republican Party since 2017, and Republican State Committee Member for the 23^rd Assembly District.

We are all looking forward with great anticipation to the annual Erna Lindenfeld Hachnosas Kallah Tea to be held on Tuesday evening, November 10, at 8:30 pm. The Tea has been a Queens hallmark event for decades, providing our community with the opportunity to give tz’dakah to a most worthy local cause while enjoying a delicious buffet, heartfelt speeches, an entertaining play starring local actresses and musicians, and an incredible raffle selection.