Kayla
Home: Howard Beach
Age:14
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 80 lbs.
Stats: 28-23-30  

This fun loving Queens girl doesn’t shy away from the spotlight – in fact, she says she  loves performing.

Part of her confidence comes from plays and drama classes at Howard Beach’s Middle School 220.

It’s there that she has honed in on her acting skills by appearing as Wendy in a Peter Pan play, Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” and a dancer and singer in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Kayla also explained that despite the fact she is 14 years young, she has already seen her fair share of photo shoots, has modeled at a Fashion Institute of Technology modeling show  and appeared on the “Sally” show as an extra.

She said she caught the modeling bug at age 11 and has admired those who work in the profession. She is a favorite at John Casablancas Modeling in Forest Hills, the agency that represents her.

But those who know Kayla note that there is more to the young woman than her presence in front of the camera.

She’s a really smart girl, her mom told us.

Currently her favorite subject in school is Earth Science.

“I study real hard and I have a great teacher,” Kayla said.

And when not studying to maintain her 97 average and keep up to speed with her Regents classes, Kayla likes to play basketball, run track, read novels, write poetry and put on informal shows with her two younger brothers.

When she finds a break from balancing modeling and schoolwork, Kayla enjoys shopping at Queens Center Mall and grabbing a slice from Howard Beach’s La Villa Pizzaria.

Like many youngsters, Kayla is concerned about her future. She stressed the importance of education and plans to put college before her modeling career but would like to be able to do both.

Mike's Bullpen 

The new Mayor and Council Speaker recently charmed a small group of children and their mothers when one of the new Queens Council members took them on a tour of City Hall.

Speaker A. Gifford Miller willingly posed for pictures in his office then led the group outside to the steps for “more official looking” photos.

The group was then led upstairs to see Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Bullpen-style. Having been told that the mayor wasn’t in, the party  was surprised when affable Mayor Mike walked up behind them. He showed them his desk in the center of the room surrounded by those of his deputies, commishes and support staffers.

“I wanted to remove the barriers,” the Mayor told them. “And if I could’ve gotten away with it I would’ve removed the titles as well. In my business I don’t believe in titles. People use those titles to look for other jobs or to feel that they are better than the people without the big titles. It also sends a message that the people without titles are somehow less than those with them.”

Mayor Mike then turned on the charm for the children asking each  name, age and school. He also posed willingly for photos – sitting on the floor of the stage area of the bullpen and gamely followed the kids’ lead by yelling out “Chicken!!” for the camera.

If this is the style of city government 2002, we’re charmed!

Jason Williams' Mistaken Identity

With all the money “The Today Show” is shelling out to host Katie Couric, it seems they’ve skimped on a few fact checkers.

A recent segment aired on ex-New Jersey Nets basketball star Jayson Williams, a St. John’s U. grad who is in big trouble after his limo driver was found shot to death inside of his Jersey mansion.

According to published reports, Williams was playing with a loaded gun while taking his driver on a tour of his large mansion, when the gun accidentally went off. An investigation is ongoing, but Williams has already been charged with manslaughter.

“The Today Show” segment gave all of these details while showing video of Williams playing basketball for the Nets. Video of him rebounding, getting injured in 1999, dribbling and shooting appeared during the story. And, a still photo of him winning the NCAA championship with Duke University.

Confused? You should be. Jayson Williams the accused ex-Net never played for Duke. But Jason Williams (above) the Duke junior and probable number one pick in this year’s NBA draft sure did. “The Today Show” ran a photo of Jason Williams, the Duke point guard instead of Jayson Williams, the alleged gunslinger during a story about a murder case that could ruin the reputation of the ex-Net. 

Not to be too confusing, there's a third Jason Williams in the NBA, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

He's doesn't look like either of the others. He's white.

Queens' Bey Won't Go Away

It may seem he’s faded into total and utter obscurity since his infamous talk show was cancelled in 1996, but Rockaway-raised Richard Bey keeps on going.

In recent months he could be heard on talk-radio WABC 77AM.

While he has toned down his act, his legacy of tasteless television lives on in cyberspace. In fact, there is an entire sordid subculture devoted to his 90’s TV show once named slimiest on TV by Entertainment Weekly.

Bey set new (or could it be low?) standards in the early 90’s with his show which set the stage for Jerry Springer with unfaithful boyfriends placed on a “Wheel of Torture” and robust women competing for the honor of “biggest booty.” 

Although an internet petition to have Rockaway Rich return to the air has not yet been successful, an award has been bestowed in his name.  

In tribute to Bey’s show, FadetoBlack.com has compiled a list of “Richard Bey Award” winners to honor those who were placed on this earth for no other reason than to lower our standards.

Those winners include RuPaul, Marion Berry, Jerry Springer, Tori Spelling, Arsenio Hall, Hulk Hogan, O.J., Anna Nicole Smith and Ed McMahon.

Whistle While You Work

A Queens woman who volunteered to assist with rescue dogs at Ground Zero told QConf recently how even a walk through the neighborhood surrounding the site became a lesson in the grim reality of the terrorist attacks.

The woman realized that several dogs who had been caged, awaiting their “partners” needed to “stretch their legs.” So she asked permission to walk them.

Given permission, she leashed the dogs and headed out to the streets around Ground Zero. But on her first walk, the woman was stopped by several firefighters who told her to be sure to carry a whistle while she walked the dogs.

Why the whistle? The dogs could have come upon some human remains as they walked. The whistle would be a signal to rescue workers to go to the location so they could be properly recovered.

Mayor Mike takes a break with the visiting Queens kids.

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, Steve Azzara, Ira Cohen, Marcia Moxam Comrie, Arlene Lewis, Stephen McGuire, Angela Montefinise, Mike Nussbaum, and Dee Richard.