The candidates for Queens Borough President headline Legislative Forum 2001, Sunday, March 18, 2001 - 23 Adar 5761 announced Dr. Sandra Alfonsi, President of the Queens Jewish Community Council ["QJCC"], and Joseph M. Varon, President of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council ["NEQJCC"]. "Our Councils are pleased to showcase the candidates who seek to succeed Queens Borough President Claire Shulman," stated Corey B. Bearak, Chair of the NEQJCC�s Executive Committee and a QJCC Vice President, who arranged the program. The event, hosted by the two councils and co-sponsored by the Samuel Field/ Bay Terrace YM&YWHA, takes place 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the "Y", 58-20 Little Neck Parkway in Little Neck. The event is free and open to the public. A light breakfast will be served. People wishing to attend are advised to make reservations by March 16. Call the QJCC at (718) 544-9033 or the NEQJCC at (718) 225-6750 extension 247.

Legislative Forum 2001 invited the candidates for Queens Borough President announced as the year began, including Councilman Michael Abel, former NYC Board of Education President Carol Gresser, Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, Councilman Sheldon Leffler, Councilwoman Helen Marshall, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio and Councilman Alphonse Stabile and looks to those who candidacies subsequently became known including Haydee Zambrana. As the time of this news release, Koslowitz, Pheffer, Gresser, Leffler and Marshall confirmed.

The Forum begins with the serving of a light breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and usually concludes in about two hours (about 12:00 noon). The special nature of this year�s forum, and the number of candidates for borough president expected to participate, necessitate that each speaker limit their remarks to 8 minutes. Questions, to the extent time permits would follow after all of the candidates speak. In the past years, the breakfast attracted many community and civic leaders in addition to members of the Councils� member-organizations.

Dr. Alfonsi said: "This year�s forum departs from the usual format of one keynote speaker to feature each of the candidates for Queens Borough President in the upcoming municipal elections.."

Mr. Varon stated: "Our Councils enjoy a special partnership and we look forward to working cooperatively to present this Legislative Forum and other events to benefit the Queens and Northeast Queens communities."

QJCC Executive Director Manny Behar added: "This forum presents an important opportunity to show decision-makers the strength and unity of the Queens Jewish community." NEQJCC Executive Director Sharon Nadel noted: "By coming out on March 18, we can be sure that our voices will be heard when critical decisions that impact on our community are made."

An association of 23 synagogues and other religious, education, fraternal and community organizations, the NEQJCC covers Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village (north). A UJA-Federation beneficiary, it works closely with the QJCC, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York, Metropolitan N.Y. Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty and the Samuel Field Y. Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council projects include neighborhood development, Jewish continuity, Lay Leadership, social action, fostering intergroup understanding and building a multi-cultural coalition. The Council combats anti-Semitism and discrimination, sponsors forums with major public figures, Jewish cultural events, open discussions with local Rabbis and represents community concerns. The Council publishes a (4-fold 8.5 by 14-inch) brochure, You Can Have It All, touting life in northeast Queens Communities, including a map locating its member synagogues and institutions. It also maintains a community website, The Council holds its Installation of Officers each fall. Its Neighborhood Development program includes a unique pilot program to bring the resources of UJA-Federation agencies to NEQJCC member synagogues. The Council also collaborates with UJA-Federation to encourage residents to undergo cancer screening through workshops and the availability of mammography screenings.

The QJCC is an umbrella organization for more than 90 synagogues and institutions throughout the borough, as well as five regional Jewish community councils. The Queens Council provides a wide range of legal and social services which include benefits counseling, distribution of security devices to senior citizens, employment placement for new immigrants and distribution of food and emergency assistance to the poor. The Council has sponsored educational and cultural programs and mobilizes the Jewish community's response to issues of concern such as support for Israel, combating anti-Semitism and local issues which impact on the Jewish community.

The Samuel Field YM-YWHA, a not-for-profit Jewish social service organization, provides a comprehensive program of social services and education, recreation and Jewish culture for families, children, teenagers, single parents, adults and seniors, primarily residing in northeast Queens and Great Neck, regardless of race, creed or religion. The Y's commitments to the needs of special populations include quality programs for the mentally retarded, the learning and developmentally disabled, people suffering from dementia and related memory disorders and a mental health service for older adults experiencing emotional and psychological disorders.

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