PEOPLE MAKING A BUZZ

Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:38 PM EDT

COMPILED BY LOU PARAJOS and TONIA N. CIMINO

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

National Alliance on Metal Illness (NAMI) Queens/Nassau is looking for volunteers to take mental illness out of the shadows by joining the NAMIWalks 2010 Planning Committee. Meetings will be held monthly, beginning on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sloman Auditorium of NS-LIJ Zucker Hillside Hospital and will focus on planning for the May 16 walk. Participants will generate ideas for growing and promoting the walk and will chair and serve on committees such as sponsorship development, team building, food, entertainment and speakers. For information on NAMI, support and education groups and NAMIWalks visit www.namiqn.org or call NAMI Queens/Nassau at 718-347-7284.

CHARITY EVENTS

The 2009 Legislative and Major Donor Reception was a huge success at The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island (RMH-LI) on Friday, October 2. The event, in its 7th year, acknowledges many of those who have made generous contributions to the RMH-LI mission.

Long Island High School for the Arts senior Olivia Ashley Reed performed a rousing rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” to begin the short program, which was emceed by newly appointed RMH-LI director of development Matthew Campo.

Photo Courtesy of Ronald McDonald House of Long Island

At the reception were (left to right) RMH-LI director of development Matt Campo, RMH-LI executive director Joanne Reda and Councilmember David Weprin.

POLITICS

Photo Courtesy The Jefferson Democratic Club of Flushing, Inc.

State Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza welcomed Kevin Kim to The Jefferson Democratic Club meeting on Friday, October 1 and endorsed him for his race for the City Council seat in the 19th District. Attending were (left to right): Joe Bechtold, District Leader; Kevin Kim, Democratic candidate for the City Council, 19th District; Ann-Margaret Carrozza, New York State Assemblymember and David Fischer, President of The Jefferson Democratic Club of Flushing, Inc.

DONATIONS

Sinai Chapels, a family-owned funeral home serving the Jewish community for over three generations, has made a generous donation to The Kupferberg Yiddish Cinema at the new Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives at Queensborough Community College.

“Through our new Community Service Initiative, we’re extremely pleased to help support the Kupferberg Holocaust Center,” said Michael Resnick, President of Sinai Chapels in Fresh Meadows.

The Kupferberg Yiddish Cinema, which begins this fall, will feature “Der Purimshpeiler-The Jester”, “Yidl Mitn Fidel” and “Mamele-The Little Girl Who Found Happiness among Her Pots and Pans.”

STAR SIGHTINGS

Stuart Suna of Silvercup Studios in Long Island City and actress Sharon Stone were at the Hamptons International Film Festival recently.

HONORS & AWARDS

Councilmember Jim Gennaro visited with members of Thomas Edison High Schools MOUSE Squad on October 2. The councilmember presented the squad with a City Proclamation and individual citations to its graduates. MOUSE Squad, which completed its ninth year of operation with more than 150 sites in the city’s schools, prepares students to establish and manage technical support help desks in their schools and communities. Joining the councilmember and MOUSE Squad members are (from left) Assistant Principal Moses Ojeda and Principal Anthony Barbetta.

BUSINESS COMPETITION

Thomas W. Galante, CEO, Queens Library; Jamila Payne, Director of Business Services, Queens Economic Development Corporation and Rei Perez, Citi’s Vice President, Community Relations-Queens announced the 2010 StartUP! Business Plan Competition at Queens Library at Central. The competition is in its fourth successful year. It provides cash prizes for the best business plans for new and early stage businesses based in Queens. Nine winners will receive cash awards totaling $24,000, underwritten by the Citi Foundation. First prize is $12,000. Mandatory orientation sessions will be held during November. For additional information, or to register call 718-263-0546 or go to www.queensny.org.