Disney's Aladdin on Stage at St Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park this Weekend

What:  Disney's Aladdin

Directed by Frank Gulluscio and Vinny Napolitano

When: Friday, May 7th and Saturday, May 8th

Time: 7:30 pm

Where: Saint Mary Gate of Heaven,  103-12 101st Avenue, Ozone Park

News From Assembly Member Mike Miller (38th Assembly District)

Assemblyman Helps Raise Pennies for Patients

Assemblyman Miller (D-Queens) joined PS 239 in Ridgewood for their “Pennies for Patients” initiative. The program encourages students to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. PS 239 has participated in this fund-raiser every year since 2004 and has raised over $1,000 every year.

“I am glad that in PS 239 we have a school dedicated to civic responsibility” Assemblyman Miller said. “It really is impressive what these students are capable of doing and I wanted to ensure they were properly congratulated.”

Pictured Left to Right: Principal Robin Connolly, Kate Gordon representing the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Assemblyman Mike Miller, Robert Monahan, and Parent Coordinator Gloria Morgenstern.

Assemblyman Miller: Sales Tax Exemption a Welcome Relief for Consumers, Businesses

As the state grapples with passing a difficult, on-time budget, one marked by painful cuts to close a $10 billion budget gap, cash-strapped families and clothing retailers will get needed relief. Beginning April 1, clothing, footwear and related items sold for less than $55 each will be exempt from the state’s 4 percent sales tax, as well as the 0.375 percent sales tax for the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District.

The tax-free status applies to all relevant items purchased on or after the April 1 start date, whether they’re paid for in person, over the Internet, by phone or by mail. The exemption, which was set in motion last year to help taxpayers, will grow to include apparel costing less than $110 on April 1, 2012.

And the relief can’t come soon enough for our working families, who have struggled to keep afloat amid a down economy and a rising cost of living. The sales tax cut – which will save a family of four an estimated $90-$100 per year – will give those hardest hit by the regressive levy a much-needed break, helping them to better afford vital clothing and footwear.

The exemption will re-energize our economy and keep more dollars in taxpayers’ pockets at a time when it’s most critical. While this is sure to be a help for New York, particularly our communities that border New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we have more work to do if we’re to put the state back on the road to prosperity. That’s why I’ll continue exploring ways to ease the burden on hardworking taxpayers and clear a path for businesses to flourish.

For more information on the sales tax exemption, visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s website at www.tax.ny.gov.

Assemblyman Miller Holds Essay Contest for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Queens) put a challenge out to local school children, asking them to write an essay about influential women in history. Essay submissions included a wide spectrum of influential women, including Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. 


Winners were presented with official citations from the Assemblyman congratulating them on their work. Schools that submitted essays included PS 108, PS 97, PS 91, PS 113, IS 77, Saint Pancras, Saint Mary Gate of Heaven, and Sacred Heart Academy.

Picture Caption, AM Miller with Saint Mary Gate of Heaven: Assemblyman Miller stands with faculty and students from Saint Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, who participated in the Women’s History Month Essay Contest.

Picture Caption, AM Miller with Saint Pancras: Assemblyman Miller stands with faculty and students from Saint Pancras in Glendale, who participated in the Women’s History Month Essay Contest.

Advisory: Miller Announces Staff Change

Assemblyman Michael Miller (D-Queens) announced today his appointment of Nicholas Roloson as his new Chief of Staff.

Nicholas previously served as Director of Communications for Assemblyman Miller as well as campaign manager for the Assemblyman’s re-election campaign. Both roles have provided him with a deep understanding and appreciation of Assembly District 38

“Nick is young and extremely capable” Assemblyman Miller said. “He has proven through hard work and dedication that he both cares about our community and has the know-how to serve us well."

In addition to his work in government, Nicholas currently serves as president of the College Democrats of New York, which includes over 30 chapters in every region of New York State.

Assemblyman Miller Calls for Cooperation in Sex Offender Case

In response to a request from police to help identify any additional potential victims of accused child molester David Hartshorn, Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Queens) called upon Hartshorn's former employer, ex-Assembly candidate Joe Fox, to begin assisting in the investigation. Hartshorn had served as Fox's campaign manager, and had brought children to campaign events with Fox.

Miller said that Fox should immediately provide police with a list of all children brought to campaign events by Hartshorn, so they can be interviewed by police and counselors to ensure that they were not also victims of abuse, and receive proper counseling if needed.

”Since I was elected to the Assembly, I have made it a priority of mine to protect our children from the dangers of sexual predators. “Miller said. “I am asking that Mr. Fox cooperate with the police in this matter to ensure that all victims receive proper treatment, and that justice is served. We must ensure the protection of our children.”

Statement from Assemblyman Miller Regarding Census Count

The 38th Assembly District is full of immigrants from the Caribbean, European, South Asian and Latin American communities. I find it to be an outrageous claim that the population of our entire borough has only increased by a thousand people when I have seen that level of growth just in my district alone. I stand with the Mayor in his call to revisit these numbers to ensure that immigrant communities receive the adequate level of services they deserve.

Clipping Coupons for a Good Cause by Bryan Yurcan - Queens Chronicle

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The Ozone Park Senior Center was recognized for its good work clipping coupons for troops in Europe to use at base commissaries.PHOTO BY BRYAN YURCAN

The phrase “support the troops” is often bandied about or plastered on bumper stickers without much thought paid to it, but the members of the Ozone Park Senior Center have truly taken it to heart.

Seniors there have been gathering coupons to send to troops stationed overseas in Germany so they can purchase much-needed goods.

This is done through the Army Community Service Coupons Program, in which service members and their families are able to use donated coupons to purchase food and supplies through commissaries located on military installations. The military stores sell a variety of products, including food, personal hygiene items, pet supplies and cosmetics. The commissaries accept domestic coupons up to six months after their expiration date for their products.

On Friday, the seniors were recognized for their good work during a ceremony at the center, located in the basement of the St. Mary Gate of Heaven Church in Ozone Park.

The event was organized by the Richmond Hill South Civic Association, which has worked with the senior center in the effort. Civic members mailed out the coupons clipped and collected by the seniors.

Civic association President Margaret Finnerty said the seniors had clipped coupons totaling more than $175,000 for troops over the last two years.

“With Veterans Day coming, this is a great time to recognize the good work these seniors have done for our troops,” Finnerty said.

In addition to clipping coupons, members of the senior center, which is operated by Catholic Charities and receives funding from the city Department for the Aging, have crocheted nearly 100 hats and scarves to send to servicemen and women, according to Rosemary Heggers, the site manager for the senior center.

“This is something we’re very proud to do,” she said.

Heggers said the seniors decided to crochet the clothing items after the center received a large donation of yarn in the colors of the American flag.

“This way, every time they receive a scarf or hat they can see the red, white and blue,” Heggers said.

Also recognizing the good work of the Ozone Park Senior Center were elected officials including state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) and Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park). All of them issued certificates of appreciation to the senior center.

Addabbo, who along with Miller won re-election to the state Legislature Nov. 2, said voting is a reminder of the sacrifices members of the armed services have made to protect American freedoms.

“We would not have an Election Day at all if it wasn’t for veterans,” he said.

Addabbo said it is important for citizens to recognize the importance of what veterans and seniors have done for the country, and that both are groups, “that we have to take care of.”

Miller also thanked the seniors for their good work.

“It’s nice to be able to give the troops something back,” he said.

Ulrich praised senior center members who clipped coupons for giving back to the men and women serving overseas.

“We want to make sure we can do as much as possible to help them,” Ulrich said.

Neverland Comes to St Mary Gate of Heaven - Queens Chronicle

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A cast of talented students from Saint Mary Gate of Heaven delighted an audience of all ages on May 15 and 16 with a classic story chockful of magic, luck and pixie dust, of course.

The staging of Peter Pan, the tale about a happy-go-lucky boy who refuses to grow up, was made possible thanks to the support of the show’s Producer Frank Gulluscio, Executive Director Gina Scollo, Creative Director Vinny Napolitano and Choreographer Melissa Planty.

The production starred Justin Vega as Peter Pan and Emily Vazquez as Wendy Darling, his level-headed and mature best friend.

(photos by Theodore Parisienne)

Peter Pan at St Mary Gate of Heaven, Ozone Park on May 15th & 16th - 7:30 pm...

Press Release

A cast of 70 performs the musical adaptation of the play by Sir James M. Barrie...

"Peter Pan"

Produced and Directed by Frank Gulluscio and Vinny Napolitano

Friday May 15th and Sat May 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm

St Mary Gate of Heaven School Gym

St. Mary Gate of Heaven School
101-20-105th Street Ozone Park , NY 11416

For additional info and tickets: 718-846-0689

Catholic School Crime Spree - Burglars Steal Cash from 7 Sites in 4 Months by Leigh Remizowski - NY Daily News

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THIS CRIME spree started at the Gate of Heaven, but whoever is responsible may be heading straight to hell.

A burglar, or burglars, have ransacked seven Catholic schools in Queens during the past four months, using similar methods to break in and making off mostly with cash, police said.

The unholy spree began at St. Mary Gate of Heaven School in Ozone Park on Nov. 22, when an undetermined amount of cash was looted from the administrative office, police said.

The most recent burglary was on Feb. 10 at Holy Family School in Flushing. The school's safe was carried off.

"The safe had to have weighed three to four hundred pounds," said Principal Mary Scheer. "Needless to say, it was a little shocking."

Because the safe was so hefty, Scheer believes the heist was the work of more than one burglar.

The safe contained $2,000 to $3,000 cash and more than $16,000 in tuition checks, she said. Parents were notified immediately and told to cancel the checks, Scheer said.

Hours earlier, thieves had broken into Our Lady of Lourdes School in Jamaica, but nothing was stolen, police said.

Each time, the burglar or burglars break in through a window or door, police said. All of the heists have occurred during late night or predawn hours.

Our Lady of Grace School in Howard Beach was hit twice, police said. The burglars stole cash from the main office on Dec. 14, said Principal Barbara Kavanagh. The second break-in occurred Jan. 15, but no money was taken.

"The worst part wasn't missing a few hundred dollars," Kavanagh said. "It was the damage that was done and the mess that was left."

Since the burglaries, Our Lady of Grace has installed surveillance cameras.

Sunday Porcelli, a mother of two students there, said she has received memos assuring parents there is no cash kept in the school.

St. Helen School in Howard Beach, Sacred Heart School in Glendale and Our Lady of the Snows in Floral Park also were burglarized.

Porcelli said she hopes this is "a wakeup call to the Diocese" to keep schools secure. But her biggest concern is that the culprits be caught before they disrupt more schools.

"There is a special place in hell for people who rob churches," she said.

Disney School Production A Smash Hit by Lee Landor - Queens Chronicle

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The cast and audience applaud play director and revered member of the St. Mary community Frank Gulluscio

The students of Ozone Park’s St. Mary Gate of Heaven School put on a hit show last weekend for at least a thousand community members, which included teachers, alumni, parents and area residents.

Running two nights — May 16 and 17 — the play raised several thousand dollars for the school, as it has for the last 12 years. None of this came as a surprise to Frank Gulluscio, a former teacher who has been part of the St. Mary community for 35 years.

As director of this year’s play, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Gulluscio worked with the students for four months, practicing and rehearsing dialogue and songs. Dozens of volunteers turned out to assist the effort: several alumni choreographed dances and helped with lighting and sound equipment, while parents sewed colorful and intricately designed costumes.

Dedicated students and volunteers rehearsed regularly to bring to life the characters and plot. The play’s dialogue — the same as that used in the Broadway version of the show — added a real theaterical dimension to the school play, according to Gulluscio. St. Mary’s was one of the only schools to receive permission from Disney to use that dialogue.

Everyone involved in the play production, and the audience that has come to expect phenomenal performances, awaits next year’s show. “It’s hard to compete with ourselves,” Gulluscio quipped. But, they always do and they always win.