PEOPLE MAKING A BUZZ: Week of November 17

PETER JAY SHARP YOUTH ART FELLOWS ANNOUNCED

Ten Brooklyn students were awarded the Peter Jay SharpFellowship by the Brooklyn Community Foundation. These students arepromising young artists who were nominated by Brooklyn-basedorganizations.

The students and their organizations will receive $2,500 towardsscholarship support. The winners of the fellowship will gaininsight into the art field and visit such places as the BrooklynAcademy of Music and the Brooklyn Museum.

The students receiving scholarships are KyleGordon-Andall of Crown Heights,Bahati Barton of Flatbush,Gabriella (Gabby)Grafakos of Clinton Hill, TanyaKamenskaya of Brighton Beach, Bryan Lunaof Kensington, Christina Pineda of Ditmas Park,Isaiah Segarra of Williamsburg, WilliamSuarez of Bath Beach, Alyssa Venable ofWilliamsburg, and Anna Vomacka of South ParkSlope.

POLISH AMERICAN MONTH CELEBRATION

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitzhosted a celebration on November 3 at Brooklyn Borough Hall tohonor Polish American Heritage. He was joined by the consul generalof Poland in New York, Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka.

The celebration’s honorees were Barbara andEdward Blyskal for their community activism;Izabela Joanna BarryZofia KlopotowskaFrank Milewski

A LIBRARY FIRST

Richard Reyes-Gavilan is the first person to begiven the position of director of the library and chief librarianat the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL).

Reyes-Gavilan has an extensive career serving different aspectsof the public library system and has been at the Central Librarysince 2008. Reyes-Gavilan worked to create Spanish-language bookcollections at local branches in the Bronx.

He received his promotion from BPL President Linda E.Johnson. Johnson praised Reyes-Gavilan, saying, Hiscontributions over the past several years as central librarydirector have been extraordinary and give me great confidence thathis expertise and creativity will raise the library experience to anew level.

REPRESENTATIVE GRIMM AWARDED FOR SERVICE

Congressmember Michael Grimm has received theStanding Up for American Seniors award from RetireSafe, anonprofit organization that advocates for senior citizens on issuesof Social Security and Medicare, and which recognizes Congressionalmembers who work to protect health care benefits for olderconstituents.

RetireSafe singled out Grimm for the work he has done in keepingmedical assistance affordable and arguing against proposals toincrease premiums for seniors.

WORLD WAR II SURVIVOR SPEAKS AT ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE

John Guzlowski was born in a Nazi work camp,where his parents were slave laborers during World War II. In 1951,Guzlowski and his family came to the United States and settled inthe Humboldt Park area of Chicago.

As Guzlowski grew, he began to chronicle his parents’experiences of the war. Guzlowksi said that this was a difficulttask because his father would always speak of the war whereas hismother was more taciturn.

On October 11, Guzlowski addressed an audience in St. FrancisCollege’s Founders Hall and shared his parents’ plight and personalpoems. Guzlowski ‘s talk was part of a series of lectures beinghosted by the English Department at the college.

Guzlowski has authored several novels about his parent’sexperiences. He also writes a blog about the same subject. Visitthe blog at lightning-and-ashes.blogspot.com.

FRANZESE GROUP HONORS EMPLOYEE

The winner of the top producer award at the Weichert realtycompany once again goes to Janine Acquafredda.

This is the third time that Acquafredda has been given the awardin the past four months.

The owner of the Franzese Group, AnthonyFranzese

STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN CHURCH TURNS 98

The Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church recentlycelebrated its 98th anniversary.

On hand for the commemoration of the nearly century-old buildingwere State Senator Marty Golden and AssemblymemberNicole Malliotakis.

At the event, the president of the Cyprus Federation of Americaand Bay Ridge native, Peter Papanicolaou, was honored. Papanicolaourecently founded a trip to Cyprus, his hometown, for theArchdiocesan Youth Choir.

CHORUS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

The Brooklyn Chorus of Sweet Adelines International recentlywelcomed director Dale Gherman to the group.

Sweet Adelines International is an exclusively female barbershopharmony organization that has chapters worldwide. The BrooklynChorus is the only Sweet Adelines group in the five boroughs.

Gherman, a Brooklyn resident, joins the group with many years ofmusical experience. For more than a decade, she has held theposition of choral director and vocal music teacher at the ArthurW. Cunningham Middle School in Sheepshead Bay.

The Brooklyn Chorus states that it is always looking for newmembers, with or without musical experience or talent. The membersof the group rehearse every Monday night at 7:30 P.M. in DykerHeights. If interested contact Elizabeth at 917-656-6782 or Lucilleat 718-833-3399.