QUEENS — A new magazine slated to start publishing this spring, will try to capture various achievements of the community living in Central Queens, the organizers said.
The publication, called “District 29 — Rego Park-Forest Hills-Kew Gardens,” is meant to “highlight the beauty, grace and spirit of the community,” said Yvonne Shortt, executive director of the Rego Park Green Alliance Studio, a nonprofit promoting community-oriented initiatives, who came up with the idea.
The magazine will include descriptions of the neighborhoods and profiles of about 35 people “who are helping to shape and impact our community in the hope that it will inspire others,” Shortt said.
The profiles will include neighborhood artists, business owners, school principals and activists, Shortt said, adding that she's wanted to write about the community for a long time.
When she moved to Rego Park more than a decade ago, she said, she didn’t know any of the people who were involved in the community. But over the years she has met dozens of creative and talented residents who want to make a difference in the neighborhood.
“So I felt that it was really important to capture the story of our community in a very positive way,” she said. “And then people who are shaping and impacting the community will see that there are so many other people and will get to know who they are.”
The group is planning to publish the first issue of the free magazine sometime this spring and hopes it will become an annual publication.
It will be available on the group’s website, and at a number of stores throughout the neighborhood.
Residents will also be able to get a copy during a "collaborative build" event, which will take place by the end of April or early May, Shortt said.
During the event residents will build phone booths out of large LEGO blocks at three locations — 63rd Drive in Rego Park, Austin Street in Forest Hills and Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.
Inside the booths they will be able to try virtual reality headsets.
“We like to teach the community about new technologies that are coming out,” said Shortt, whose group organized numerous art and technology-related events. It also trained local teachers and students in 3-D printing techniques.
The first edition of the new magazine will be about 96 pages.
