Friends of Maple Grove hosted a Queens Symphony Orchestra Concert presented by New York City Council Member Karen Koslowitz.on Saturday, June 18, 2016.

Greetings! The Queens Symphony Concert - Broadway Tribute at Maple Grove Saturday June 18! Tanya Broschart the President of the Board of Directors was there! I had already purchased 25 bottles of Sparkling Pink Lemonade and four trays of assorted pastries and cookies, enough for 70 which is what I told were coming! Tanya and Jennifer arrived as well as the five musicians! I gave Tanya a private tour and she LOVED the Center and thought it was a beautiful and elegant building.

Bonnie had asked LaMarre to come in at 1:30 to help set up. Kathy and Jose from the office staff were there and Kathy was in charge. I am hard pressed for words to describe the GREAT admiration I hold for them. They were extremely helpful! Especially when over 165 people showed up!!!!

I was in shock as wave upon wave of people came pouring into the Center and many were faces we had never seen before. They packed the Hall and LaMarre and I went to the Victorian Building to pick up the extra 24 wooden chairs we used and Kathy even had some of the office chairs wheeled. BUT NOT A SINGLE PERSON COMPLAINED!!!! We filled the room and a few sat by the opened doors. What a grand performance! There was a surprise intermission, but luckily I had the food all on trays and was just getting ready to pour the pink lemonade. That is when Maria, Marco and Giovanni came and helped out! Also had the grateful help of Jo Anne, Helen and Andrea! We were saved! :) The food disappeared in a shark frenzy but we did have a few bottles of the lemonade left over :) Tanya also provide a raffle for the NYC Pops at Forest Hills Stadium ! 10 sets of 4 tickets and we had ten very happy winners! I can't tell you what a feeling it was to have a room filled with a wonderful group of people who loved the music and fell in love with the Center and what Maple Grove is doing for the community!:) Tanya asked that we thank New York City Council Member Karen Koslowitz for her support and ask her to continue the funding for more concerts. Helen sent out an email blast to everyone and attached the following link to contact Council Member Koslowitz and tell her what a great event it was and provide more funding! Please take a moment to do that! The more she gets the more likely she will want to help! http://council.nyc.gov/d29/html/members/contact.shtml I was speechless at what transpired this weekend!!!!

Carl Ballenas President of the Friends of Maple Grove

Click here to see the flier for this event