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Career Girl
Janice Twenty-four-year-old
Astoria model Janice is as focused as the lens pointed at her. The
Connecticut native and Boston University graduate came to Queens just last
year, to pursue her modeling and public relations careers. The
tall, dark and pretty Western Queens transplant said she likes her new
neighborhood, noting its value and convenience. “It’s
great,” she said.
“You can’t beat the location. You get more bang for your buck as
far as how much space you get.” The
novelty of Astoria’s dual-identity endears Janice, too. “I
have the excitement of the city and at the end of the day I can come back to
my own little neighborhood,” she said, noting “all the little coffee
shops,” “great food” and “even better dessert” available in
Astoria. Janice,
who got her degree in public relations, is currently freelancing around the
city. Her
modeling endeavors began at age 16, and have been keeping her busy as of
late. Represented by UModels.com, her more recognizable work includes runway
walks for Macy’s, a WWF commercial for the USA cable television network
and catalog shoots for companies like Bright Side and Cordillera Imports. “It’s
always something different,” Janice said about modeling.
Her favorite thing: “You’re always meeting new people.” When
Janice isn’t hustling to get her public relations career off the ground,
she’s at home with her only roommate – her cat – and dreaming about
where modeling may take her. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to travel
internationally, and she thinks that modeling is her ticket. “I’d
like to model for as long as I can,” Janice said. “I wanna see the
world.” The
'B' Word
When
someone says “Department of Education” these days, people are learning
that they’re talking about the latest and supposedly greatest incarnation
of the city’s public school system.
The
one formerly known as the “Board of Education,” right?
Wrong!
It
turns out the term “Board of Education” is more formal than former.
We
recently got a letter from the school system — whatever it’s called —
on Department of Education letterhead.
We were confused when it came in a Board of Education envelope,
though.
We
were also confused when people who supposedly work for the Department of
Education have email addresses that end in “@nycboe.net.”
Note the “b.”
Yet
you never hear Education Chancellor Joel Klein or Mayor Mike say the “B”
word.
So
which is it?
A
spokesman for what he calls the Department of Education said the term Board
of Education isn’t gone forever.
It’s State law, he said, and the Department isn’t allowed to
completely abolish it. Even though it’d like to.
In
the war of words that’s underlying all the changes, you’ll hear Klein
and Bloomie portray their “Department” as the antithesis of the former
“Board.” It’s
new vs. old; good vs. evil.
Perhaps there’s a lesson for the kids after all: words are
powerful.
Harry
Potter – No Thanks
Harry
Potter hype has meant millions of sales for book giant Barnes & Noble,
after the latest edition in the hit series hit shelves. But
not every book store is cashing in on the success. Even
though Barnes & Noble expects Harry Potter to be the highest selling
book in its history, nearby Pastimes Book/Gift store on Continental Ave. in
Forest Hills won’t be carrying it. What’s
so ironic is that Pastimes actually does carry some Potter-esque
paraphernalia (like magic wands and wizard apparel). But that’s only a
small part of Pastimes’ business. And its owner, Shelly Jacobs, doesn’t
think Harry Potter really fits the image she’s going for. Pastimes
carries a large selection of books “you won’t find at Barnes &
Noble,” says Jacobs. Most deal with spirituality, and the shelves are kept
stocked with books on a wide variety of different religions and ways to
spiritual enlightenment. “We
just want to show people different ways to get to the same place, which is
universal peace inside yourself,” said Jacobs. “Harry Potter is neither
here nor there.” Touché. Feelin'
Groovy
Overheard on the Manhattan-bound 7 train, by the 33rd Avenue stop (where MoMA QNS is):
Female
Tourist: “What a beautiful bridge, what is it called?”
Male
Companion: “That’s the Queensboro Bridge.”
Female
Tourist: “Is that the same bridge we came in on?”
Male
Tourist: “We came on the 59th
Street Bridge.”
Of
course, our friends from out of town aren’t the only ones confused about
the real name of the bridge.
New Yorkers are, too.
So
which one is it?
If
you ask the Department of Transportation, they’ll tell you the
cantilevered steel structure is the Queensboro Bridge, “often referred to
as the 59th
Street Bridge.”
If
you ask Queens songwriter and singer Paul Simon, or his friend Art Garfunkel,
they’ll just name one of their hit songs: “The 59th
Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”
Just
don’t ask a tourists visiting the MoMA!
The
Mets Get Some Help
Let’s
face the cold hard facts. This year’s NY Mets team is bad. How bad are
they? So bad, elected officials introduce legislation which will protect
them. Well,
sort of! Councilman
Peter Vallone Jr. and Speaker Gifford Miller introduced
legislation that would increase the fines for fans who run onto the field
during professional sports games. The legislation would protect players like
Mo Vaughn,
Roger Cedeno, and other players who may live in fear of
disgruntled fans. Vallone
Jr. who held a recent campaign fundraiser at Shea, admitted that by removing
the threat of violence, maybe the Mets can turn around their dismal season. He
said the legislation increases fines for “publicity seeking punks” to
one year in jail and a $25,000 fine. Play
ball! Finding
Nemo on Northern Blvd.
When
Robert and Mary Phillips of Fresh Meadows asked their
six-year-old daughter Danielle what she wanted as a pet, they
expected her to ask for a puppy or a kitten. “I thought she’d want
something cute like that,” Mary said. “Something furry that would be
very expensive.” Boy,
were they pleasantly surprised when she responded, “I want a fish. One
just like Nemo.” Standing
inside of Fish Town USA on Northern Boulevard in Flushing, the pair told QConf
that their daughter saw the hit Disney film “Finding Nemo,” and
decided that she wanted an orange and white clownfish as a pet. The two lead
characters in “Finding Nemo,” Marlin and Nemo, are clownfish.
Danielle
carefully searched the clownfish tank at Fish Town USA, and picked out the
exact orange and white fish that she wanted. Of course, she excitedly told
her parents that she planned on naming it Nemo. She
also told Conf, “I like Nemo in the movie. He’s cute . . . My
Nemo is also cute. I love him already.” According
to a manager at Fish Town USA, the Phillips family isn’t the only one that
has come to the store searching for clownfish. He said, “We always sold
them, but now people want them because that movie came out. They’re really
big now. We’re selling them like crazy.” Clownfish
sell for $4.99 and up, and he said, “Disney did a good job on this movie,
I think.” Danielle
agreed, and told Conf, “It was the best movie I’ve ever seen.”
As her father handed the cashier a measly $30 for the fish, tank and filter,
he smiled and said, “Me, too.”
E-MAIL your items to: conf@queenstribune.com
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