By Britney Trachtenberg britt@queensledger.com

Despite the rain on the morning of Sun., May 12, Run Hustle Run hosted their 4th Annual Queens in Queens Mother’s Day 5K Run/Walk at Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village. Forty people attended the event, which is their biggest total yet. This is also the first year that Run Hustle Run hosted the event at this park.

Run Hustle Run is one of the only running groups based in southeast Queens. Wil Pierce of Richmond Hill, Charlie Mercado from Richmond Hill, and Jason Nazryk from Briarwood founded the group in 2016 after they coincidentally signed up for the following year’s New York City marathon. Pierce said, “We figured we should train together and through that, we were like ‘let’s open it up and invite other people to run with us and see who comes.’ It was a cold Feb. Tues. night when we started and it was kind of beyond our wildest dreams that people showed up and we’ve been growing ever since.”

“We were founded just to offer health and wellness to the southeast Queens neighborhood,” said Erin Clarke, captain.

In previous years, the running crew gathered at Alley Pond Park and Cunningham Park for this event. The running group chose to meet at Forest Park because it is closer to where they typically run. “We heard from the people in our group that they wanted something a little closer to home so we thought it would be a little bit nicer to have it here,” said Clarke.

Attendees gathered under tents near the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot. Clarke checked each person’s registration and gave them a number. The adjacent table had Dunkin’ coffee, munchkins, BJ’s wholesale kosher cookies, Wellesley Farms water bottles, and Wellesley Farms black-and-white cookies. 

Thanya Valdobinos of Flushing started running in June 2023 and heard about the 5K event through Instagram. She said, “I got the Brooklyn half coming up so I figured it’s a great experience.” When asked what inspired her to start running, she said, “To be honest, to keep myself healthy, but also for my mental health. It really does wonders, like, the endorphins after a run, and it brings the community together.”

The event participants gathered for a group photo at the starting line. Credit: Britney Trachtenberg

At 9:00 a.m., Pierce thanked everyone for coming out despite the rain. He said, “The flowers need water and we’re all flowers.” Mercado added, “We appreciate the women out here and the ladies and the mothers who are doing what they do.”

Clarke led the participants in a series of stretches. She encouraged mothers and daughters to lean on each other for balance during the first exercise. They raised each leg and rotated it in both directions for five seconds each. Then, they brought each leg back and held it above the ankle for ten seconds. Next, the attendees walked for ten seconds to work out their calves. They squatted ten times to stretch their glutes and did toe touches and high knees for ten more seconds. Clarke said, “Now that we’re a little warm and we’ve stretched out, it’s time to get this run on!”

The participants split into two groups: people who ran and people who walked. Jenny Reyna from Ozone Park led the walking group. Since 2019, Reyna has participated in runs with Run Hustle Run.

The course started at the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot. Attendees went past the PFC Lawrence Strack Memorial Pond and turned onto Woodhaven Blvd. Then, the participants made a right on Forest Park and moved past the Ed Salvinksi Promenade and the George Suffett Bandshell Park. During the course, the walking group stopped to take a selfie on the trail. The path looped around to the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot for the finish.

The walking group stopped to take a selfie on the trail. Credit: Britney Trachtenberg

People who completed the 5K received a pink medal that read “Queens in Queens.” 

Attendees wore their Run Hustle Run t-shirts and medals for a group photo. Credit: Britney Trachtenberg

Cynthia Rodriguez from Jamaica attended the event with her family. Though she volunteered with Run Hustle Run, she ran part of the course with her relatives. Amy Rodriguez heard about the running crew while en route to Cynthia’s house. Amy said, “I saw a bunch of people running so I stopped by and asked them what that was about so that’s how I heard about Hustle. They told me to come to the barber shop on Tuesdays.”

Run Hustle Run meets every Tues. at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Hustle Barbershop in Richmond Hill. The running crew gathers every Sat. at 9:00 a.m. near Sweet Leaf in Long Island City and every Sun. at 8:00 a.m. at the Hustle Barbershop. Clarke said, “Our runs are open to walkers [and] runners of all fitness levels.”

By Britney Trachtenberg britt@queensledger.com

St. John’s Evangelical Church in Glendale is approaching their 180th anniversary. Led by Pastor Matt Staneck, the parish has delivered the gospel of Jesus Christ through three themes: education, human care, and music. Throughout its history, the church has seen changes in locations and initiatives, but that has not stopped the parish’s momentum.

In 1844, the church opened its doors at 10 Eyck St. in Williamsburg as the German Evangelical St. John’s Church. In the 1920s, many congregation members moved to Glendale. The Brooklyn parish began a relationship with the Glendale parish. In 2013, the congregation moved to 88-24 Myrtle Ave. in Glendale. The move helped to revive and change the congregation.

Pastor Staneck said, “When we talk about changing the church that means still holding onto the gospel. Even if those things look different, we have to find ways to do things that are important to our identity as Christians and people who are a part of St. John’s.”

St. John’s has three main themes: human care, education, and music. Pastor Staneck said, “The word ‘evangelical’ comes from Greek, which means ‘good news’ or ‘gospel.’ The reason for the themes is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The parish helped food insecure community members through a hot breakfast served on Sunday mornings. The initiative stopped due to volunteers passing or moving away. In recent years since the pandemic, the church has operated an edible garden in the summers. From June until August on Wed. nights, parishioners plan to harvest and give produce to their neighbors. Pastor Staneck hopes to expand the garden in the future and get more people involved.

The church used to operate Christian day schools in Queens and Brooklyn that served students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2013, the colloquial schools closed. However, the parish is searching for new ways to educate Christian children.

St. John’s has a pipe organ through which they play music. Pastor Staneck hopes to develop a more active music ministry that incorporates the main messages from his sermons.

He said, “A big part of the gospel message is the daily dying and rising based on Jesus Christ’s rising. This means getting out of your own way and into the spirit of having God lead. Even in times of trouble, we die and rise each day as people of hope.”

When asked about advice for people in general, Pastor Staneck said, “There’s a lot of wisdom in moving one day at a time.”

By Britney Trachtenberg britt@queensledger.com

The families of the Challengers Division of W.O.R.K.S. Little League gather for a group picture. Credit: Britney Trachtenberg.

Baseball players from John Adams High School visited the Challengers Division of W.O.R.K.S. Little League on Sat., May 4 to teach children how to play the sport in Tudor Athletic Field.

John Adams High School students Yanko Pineda, Braylin Matteo, Kenny Perez, and Chris Polo helped the Challengers learn the fundamentals of baseball during three innings of play. Topics included catching the ball in the outfield. 

Chaluisant stands with Pineda. Credit: Britney Trachtenberg.

In 2011, Walter Chaluisant and Terrence Flanagan founded the W.O.R.K.S Little League Challengers Division, which gives children a sense of community. The division is open to children with physical or developmental conditions. The kids enrolled in the program are split into two teams: the Bulldogs and the Wildcats. The Kiwanis Club of Ozone Park-Woodhaven sponsors the Bulldogs while The Kiwanis Club of Maspeth sponsors the Wildcats.

Chaluisant said, “A lot of these children when we originally started thirteen years ago were from New York Families for Autistic Children. Now, we got different kids from different places.” Then, he said, “We know all the kids here. It’s all about kids getting out and playing baseball. It’s really about the interaction for a lot of these parents with other children. Other parents too.”

The Challengers practice on Sat. mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Tudor Athletic Field. “This field used to be dirt. Every time it rained at night, me and my partner would come and make the field playable. Four, five in the morning, we’d get here. The best thing that happened to us was making the field turf,” said Chaluisant.

The division does not have outs, strikes, or keep score during practice. Instead, the division focuses on the joy of playing baseball. Chaluisant greeted each family by name as they arrived at the field.

The practice started with the Bulldogs at bat and the Wildcats in the outfield. Lisa Kruger called each batter up to the home plate. She coached the Wildcats along with her husband, John. Each player swung their bat until they hit the ball. Afterward, their parents helped them run to each base.

The last batter gets a home run to end that team’s turn at bat. The high school students lined up to give each Challengers player a high five.

Chaluisant said, “This way, somebody gets a hit or a home run every at-bat. There’s no winners. There’s no losers. You know what actually, the winners are the kids.”

Players in the outfield do not have specific positions. Instead, players can try each position and see which one they enjoy most.

Rosanne Honan-Delgado of Forest Hills found out about the Challengers through a Facebook page called Queens Special Kids. “A couple of the parents had posted about W.O.R.K.S. Little League, so we were really interested. We were looking for more socialization, having Riordan get out there, and so we’re looking forward to it.” When asked if Riordan has a preference for a specific position, Honan-Delgado said, “he seems to gravitate towards first and second because he likes talking to other kids. I think it’s teaching him a lot of patience. I think it’s also teaching camaraderie, like working with other kids [and] working with adults. I think he’s learning, besides the fundamentals, [how to] be part of a group.” She discussed how the Challengers Division has helped her as well. “It’s nice to have a community. It’s nice to be with other people who understand your child.”

Kruger’s twin sons played in the Challengers. “My husband and I used to chase them all around until the morning because they were inattentive [and] not focused. [They] just wanted to run, run, run, run, run. We just kept bringing them back year after year.”

Chrissy Gibson of St. Albans said that her son, David, made progress during his time with the Challengers. She said that it taught him hand-eye coordination, participation, social skills, and self-resolve. 

Right-handed pitcher Pineda can throw at ninety miles per hour at eighteen years old. He earned a full-ride scholarship to Dominican University. He learned to share love by helping out with the Challengers.

By Britney Trachtenberg britt@queensledger.com 

Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven hosted a community block party on Sat., Apr. 27 to celebrate their Queensmark Historic Designation, given to the bar by the Queens Historical Society. 

Previously, the New York City Landmarks Commission denied Neir’s Tavern landmark status. According to community bar owner Loycent Gordon, the commission said that the bar did not meet the necessary level of significance. Gordon said, “Today, we are going to change that.” Attendees met his words with car honks and applause. 

The speeches started at 2:00 p.m., given by Neir’s Tavern Ambassador Club President Richie Salmon, Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society President Ed Wendell, Gordon, Queens Historical Society Board President Rob McCay, Executive Director of the Queens Historical Society Jason Antos, Councilwoman Joann Ariola, and a representative from Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr.’s office.

First, Salmon thanked the attendees for coming out to support the community bar. “We’re all here because of [Loycent],”. He said. “Neir’s would not be here …[if not for] him. We wouldn’t be having this [if not for] him. Everybody says that DeBlasio saved Neir’s. Loycent’s the one that saved Neir’s.”

In 2009, Gordon bought Neir’s Tavern to save the historic bar from closing down. As of Apr. 27, the bar is halfway to their 195th Anniversary, which will happen in October.  

After approaching the stage, Gordon asked for his son, Evan, and wife, Aeisha. Evan’s birthday occurred on Sun., Apr. 28, one day after the celebration. Gordon commented, “First, he was in the stomach and then we had him in the basket, all right here at Neir’s Tavern. Now he’s running around Neir’s Tavern.” In true community spirit, he invited the crowd to sing happy birthday to his son. Evan thanked the attendees for the birthday wishes.

Gordon referred to the Woodhaven community throughout his speech. He said, “Neir’s Tavern is not mine. Neir’s Tavern is yours. I did this to help save one of America’s oldest taverns because it needed help, but I always tell people ‘I can’t eat all the burgers and drink all the beer.’ I need your help. We need your help.” He spoke about the community’s role in the bar’s success.

He said, “Neir’s is what you decide to do with it, not just what I decide,” Gordon said. A driver honked his car horn in approval. He continued, “You see something wrong, you see something needed, you say ‘We don’t have to wait for someone else to save us.’ We have the ability to stand up to what we see is wrong and say ‘No. Not this one. Not Neir’s Tavern.’” He added, “I’ve witnessed people like Richie [and] I’ve witnessed people like Swim Strong Foundation who are doing good work in the community and I’m so happy I have an ability to actually create a vehicle for you guys to do all your fundraisers, all your family get-togethers, and it makes me smile because it makes me believe that community in the sense of taking care of each other still exists today.”

Gordon thanked supporters of the bar. He thanked the Neir’s For Years community members, Neir’s Ambassadors, and customers for their support. Then, he gave shout-outs to government officials: Queens Community Board 9 Chair Sherry Algredo, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office and State Senator Joseph Addabbo’s office, State Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.’s office.

Previously, the Senator gave Neir’s Tavern the first Empire Business Award of New York. 

Then, Gordon expressed his gratitude for the Woodhaven Residents Block Association, Forest Hills Hospital, Gotham EMS., the Jamaica Hospital, and the Kiwanis Club of Ozone Park-Woodhaven. He mentioned Queens Civil Court candidate Shairfa Nasser-Cuellar as well. 

Lastly, Gordon said “I want to just thank the Neir’s Tavern team who’s inside right now working very hard, so give them a round of applause so loud they can hear you.”

McCay and Antos stepped onto the stage to give Gordon the Queensmark Historic Designation plaque. Initially, the Queens Historical Society used to give the award to buildings and homes with architectural value. Recently, the organization started giving the award to local businesses with historical value. Antos said, “We hope that these plaques help preserve the business, bring awareness to the business, and help it in its quest to achieve some sort of landmark status.”

Councilwoman Ariola said, “In the last round before this past election day, Neir’s was one block out of my district. Now you’re in the heart of my district.”

A representative from Congresswoman Velazquez’s office gave Gordon a congressional record. The representative read a section of the record aloud for attendees, which said that Gordon immigrated from the country of Jamaica to Queens at ten years old.

The representative from Senator Addabbo’s office thanked Gordon for contributing to the community.

After the speeches, members of Gotham EMS gave CPR demonstrations on adult and infant mannequins. They educated the crowd on the signs of a stroke.

The event featured a bouncy house, face painting, and a raffle. Attendees lined up outside the bar to receive free hotdogs, chips, and bottles of water. 

Gordon said “At least once a year, we have a block party and invite everyone to come out. Our advertising is this. Being a community gathering place, we help people eat and drink and have a good time.”

Neir’s Tavern hosts community events throughout the year such as food drives and cancer awareness events. The bar has karaoke nights, trivia nights, open mics, and even a writers’ circle that meets once a week.