Misa (above right), selected as one of the Tribune's "Models of Queens," shows off to her friend, Nadia.

You remember her (see inset).

As the NBA Draft approaches at the end of June, St. John's point guard Omar Cook’s dreams will come true.

Cook, who played only one year at St. John's and is amid a public war of words with his former coach Mike Jarvis, over his decision to leave college early, is a lock to go in the first round according to NBA scouts.

In a draft class filled with forwards, many right out of high school, experts believe the Brooklyn-born, Queens-schooled hoop star may be the first point guard taken in the entire draft.

It is believed Cook will go to either the Golden State Warriors or the Orlando Magic, which would give him the chance to use his skills to dish the ball to players like Antawn Jamison, Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.

Cook has been one of a long line of hoops stars from Queens, a standout at Christ the King High School in Middle Village before going to St. John's.

Apparently, Marc Anthony, the legendary Latin song and dance man, has filial ties to Queens. This heartthrob may be a native of the Bronx, but he’s a lover in Queens, according to a recent no-show at Family Court.

He had a gig here over six years ago producing a daughter for whom he pays support.

That support, is apparently not enough for the singer’s police officer ex-fiancée and mother of his child. She’s asking for an increase from the monthly $450 in child support and $850 toward rent that he now pays.

While Anthony was rehearsing in Manhattan for a performance for the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, a Family Court Hearing Examiner ordered Anthony to show up next Thursday for another hearing.

No, not that kind.

When it comes to choosing their favorite models, Queens car thieves are bucking the national trend.

The Queens thieves chose the Nissan Maxima as their first pick. The car didn’t even show up on a national list of the 20 most-stolen vehicles, police sources said.

The Toyota Camry was a close second, followed by the Honda Accord, the Toyota Landcruiser and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 – each of which showed up in the "final quarter" of the national "100 Stolen Cars" chart, compiled by CCC Information Services, a major supplier of "tracking information" for the auto claims industry.

Will The Real Mayor Vallone Please Stand Up?

Could Speaker Peter Vallone be part of a vast conspiracy that brainwashes kids to get him elected as mayor of New York?

Students from Woodside's PS 11 had a chance to meet Mayor Vallone and share their experience at a recent School Board 30 meeting.

When a student talked of a recent school trip and referred to Mayor Vallone, Peter Vallone, Jr. – who was at the meeting – said, "That wasn’t a slip of a tongue."

Council candidate Vallone, Jr. is the son of Council Speaker Vallone.

Students from PS 11 actually had a school trip to Italy sponsored by Speaker Vallone. Students visited different parts of Italy and made a video presentation at the meeting. They went to Speaker Vallone’s Italian hometown of Prizzi, and guess what? The town’s mayor is Mayor Vallone – Luigi, a cousin of the Queens Vallone clan.

Vallone, Jr. said that next year he expects to celebrate in New York with Mayor Vallone of Prizzi and Mayor Vallone of New York.

Metalpecker?

If you live in eastern Queens, and you’ve been hearing a consistent, even-paced, annoying clanging noise coming from outside of your home, it just might be a disgruntled woodpecker, tired of banging on the same old trees.

It seems these woodpeckers have been broadening their horizons over the last few years, no longer limiting themselves to, well, wood-pecking. The birds have been spotted pecking on metal telephone poles and signposts instead of traditional trees.

"It’s so annoying," Michael Fried, a life-long resident of Glen Oaks, said. "They bang on the metal for hours. I can see them on the pole, just hitting it over and over. They make a really loud noise that really grates on the nerves — like a baby jackhammer. You think they’d realize that they’re hitting metal — stupid birds."

Woodpeckers, which are a common find throughout Queens, traditionally peck on trees to make nests, as well as find bugs, worms and other tempting treats to eat. So why are they hitting metal objects, which have no creepy crawlers residing inside of them and no potential for nest-building?

"It’s probably a territorial thing," said a spokesperson from New York City Audubon. "Woodpeckers don’t just peck to make nests, they do it to attract mates and mark territory. Metal is louder, so it’s more practical and covers more ground. It’s very interesting. They’ve adapted to their surroundings."

Woody Metalpecker? It just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Signs Of Love

In a moving tribute to a young man, known as Telly, tragically killed when his motorcycle collided with a truck on Francis Lewis Blvd and 35 Ave, family, friends and neighbors have created a memorial by placing memorabilia on a street pole at that location.

"We love you Telly, we miss you, watch over us, and see you soon," were among the messages decorated with hearts and religious medals.

 

 

 

 

You can reach us by email at conf@queenstribune.com Fax to Conf (718) 357-0972 Or you can reach us by mail: "Confidential" 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

 

Confidentially New York . . .

E-MAIL your items to: conf@queenstribune.com

Queens NYConfidential is edited by: Michael Schenkler and Tamara Hartman.
Contributors:	Nick Abadjian, Uzo Akujuo, Tom Allon, Steve Azzara, David Colby, Ira Cohen, Marcia Moxam Comrie, Barbara Jarvie, Stephen McGuire, Mike Nussbaum, Dee Richard and Richard Schack.