18 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Artist-run performance space in LIC
asks for help to renovate new building
Photo courtesy of Chocolate Factory Theater
Dozen Queens schools get their ‘reward’ for high marks
BY WILLIAM HARRIS
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
The New York State Education
Department has identifi ed 155 schools
as Reward Schools, including 12 in
Queens. Reward Schools are awarded
for their high academic achievement as
well as those who progress the most in
the State.
In order to receive the recognition of
being called a Reward School, a school
must be in the top 20 percent of all
schools in NYS for both the English
Language Arts (ELA) and Math assessments.
In addition to the students’ performance,
the schools must make signifi cant
progress in the 2016-17 school year, compared
to 2015-16. High Schools also have
to make sure that they have graduation
rates that are above 80 percent.
Out of the 12 awarded in Queens, 10 are
public schools. Th ey include the Academy
of Finance and Enterprise in Long
Island City; the Baccalaureate School for
Global Education in Astoria; M.S. 358
in Jamaica; P.S. 173 in Fresh Meadows
P.S. 2 in Flushing; P.S. 213 in Oakland
Gardens; P.S. 26 in Fresh Meadows;
Queens College for Math, Science, and
Technology in Flushing, Queens Gateway
to Health Science Secondary School in
Jamaica; and Queens High School Science
at York College in Jamaica.
Two charter schools in Queens also
earned Reward Schools recognition: Th e
Academy of the City Charter School in
Woodside and Rochdale Early Advantage
Charter School.
Commissioner MaryEllen Elia of the
NYSED announced the Reward Schools
on Th ursday, Feb. 1. Each school will also
receive a certifi cate of recognition from
the commissioner.
“Th e teachers and administrators at
these Reward Schools work hard each day
to raise the bar and give their students
opportunities to achieve their dreams,”
Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A.
Rosa said. “Th e proof is in the results
these schools have obtained and I am
thrilled to celebrate their success.”
Photo via Pixabay
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @
angelamatua
The Chocolate Factory
Th eater, a performing arts
space in Long Island City,
solved its space woes in 2017
aft er purchasing a one-story
building to house its programs
and performances.
But the nonprofi t organization
needs $25,000 to turn the
new 7,500-square-foot building
at 38-29 24th St. into “a
safe, functional, unique and
permanent space” and has created
a Kickstarter to raise the
funds. Th e Chocolate Factory
Th eater has been operating
since 2005, but rising rents
in the neighborhood led the
founders to conclude that by
2019, it would have to permanently
close when the lease
ended.
Co-founded by Sheila
Lewandowski and Brian
Rogers, who have lived in Long
Island City for more than 20 years, the
organization provides salaried residences
and access to space and equipment to
performance artists. Currently, it operates
out of a building at 5-49 49th Ave.
Th e duo took steps to garner government
and community support so that
the organization could thrive beyond
2019. With the help of Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer, Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz, former Queens
Borough President Helen Marshall, the
Department of Cultural Aff airs and the
Economic Development Corporation,
Th e Chocolate Factory secured a $3.8
million grant to move into the new space.
Lewandowski said the organization is
doing minimal work so that artists can
have rehearsals and workshops while they
make “bigger plans for the larger and more
permanent public performance space.”
Th e building will be renovated to
include necessary building code improvements;
electrical, plumbing, fi re safety
and HVAC upgrades; restrooms; and the
installation of a performance fl oor. Th ese
improvements will cost $1.2 million and
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan has
pledged $350,000 toward the upgrades.
So far, 97 people have donated $8,990
and the deadline to fully fund the goal
is Feb. 28. If the money is not raised by
the deadline, the donations will be given
back. Lewandowski said she feels “really
good” about how much money they’ve
been able to raise in six days.
“In the fi rst few days we got up to 30
percent of what we’re looking for,” she
said. “Th is is mostly from artists so there’s
nothing that means as much to
us as when an artist contributes
to us.”
Supporters will receive a
number of gift s depending on
how much money they pledge.
For $10, a supporter’s name
will be included on the theater’s
website. Th ose who
donate $50 will be invited to
a toast for the new theater on
March 3 and all people who
donate will have their names
listed on a hand drawn poster,
which will be hung in the
new space.
Other prizes include a T-shirt,
private movie screening and a
garden party at Lewandowski’s
Long Island City home with
catering.
Th ough the organization
would like to move into the
new space by the time their current
lease ends, Lewandowski
said that a construction accident
involving their neighbor
will push the date back.
“We hope to be able to get in
there on time for this lease end but it’s not
looking likely,” she said.
In addition to providing residencies
and programs for artists, the organization
helps run the annual LIC Halloween
Parade, the Taste of LIC, planting trees
in the are and working with local Girl
Scouts troops.
“We’re building this so that it outlives
me and Brian and all of us and it will be
a permanent service to Queens,” she said.
“It belongs to Queens. We do hope that
people invest in that.”
The Chocolate Factory Theater is asking for help to fund renovations for their new building.