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A Weekly Television Show Delivering Hope, Motivation & Inspiration

     ORGAN DONOR HONOREE

YESSENIA ESCANO (Family Services Coordinator, Live On NY) — Yessie never met AJ in life; her introduction to AJ was at his bedside in the hospital. She is the LiveOnNY Donor family advocate. Yessie felt an unexplained connection to AJ and was there to witness the hundreds of visitors who came to AJ's bedside. Yessenia has been serving the needs of donor families for 12 years. She is assigned to seven major hospitals in the NYC area where she counsels families regarding the process of donation, provides specialized support intervention services and offers families the opportunity to authorize organ donation. Currently, Yessie also serves in the AMAT Strategic Advisory Committee as Donor Family Advocate. In 2014 Yessenia received the DonorCARE award for ongoing Commitment to Excellence in Donor Family Support by Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.

     MASTER OF CEREMONIES

AMY PAFFRATH - was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. While attending the world renown University of Missouri School of Journalism, Amy completed an internship at Entertainment Tonight in Los Angeles alongside TV veterans Mark Steines and Mary Hart under the leadership of Executive Producer and fellow Mizzou alumni, Linda Bell Blue. After earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2005, she made her long anticipated move to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams.

In early 2007 she hosted her very own pop culture news show, Broadcaster News on broadcaster.com, which aired daily and racked up more than 300 episodes. Since then, Amy’s career has grown exponentially. She has served as the longtime host of E! News Now, a red carpet correspondent for TV Guide’s Hollywood 411, series regular on MSN's The Big Debate, and guest host on both G4’s Attack of the Show and Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit. She spent 2011 and early 2012 recapping the best moments from your favorite shows with Last Night on TV, airing daily on MSN.com. But it was a little show called Jersey Shore that really put Amy on the map. She held court with the guidos and guidettes of Seaside Heights as the host of MTV’s Jersey Shore: After Hours and Reunion specials.

Amy once again found herself in the middle of a pop culture phenomenon when she signed on to host VH1’s widely popular, Dating Naked. She returned for season 2 of the hit dating show in 2015. For now, she can be found hosting “What’s Good?!” a show she created and produces with Focus Magazine. It’s a positive, feel good show that features inspirational stories across the globe. She is a budding stand up comic and frequently performs her act in popular New York and LA comedy clubs. Amy is also a regular at Improv Olympics in Top Story! Weekly, a sketch comedy show skewering the latest news and pop culture. She is making a name for herself as a sitcom star, appearing in guest-starring in the CBS pilot Oh F***, its You!,” directed by James Burrows, as well as appearances on Hot in Cleveland, Sullivan & Son, and 2 Broke Girls. In addition, Amy played “Mayday Amy” in the wildly popular Amazon Kindle Fire commercial campaign. In 2017, you can find Amy on the big screen, saving the Los Angeles from a deadly volcano in LA Inferno. When she's not on set, she can be found volunteering, going on romantic dates with her husband Drew Seeley, or hiking the Hollywood hills with their dog Astro.

     VOCALIST

JAMES HARKNESS - is happy to be part of this wonderful event. Broadway veteran last seen on the NY stage in Beautiful The Musical, the Carole King story. Other NY credits include, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, The Color Purple (Original Broadway Production) Aida. Most recently, James had the honor to play the role of Paul Williams, one of the founding members of the legendary group The Temptations in the world premier musical Ain’t too Proud at the Berkley Rep. In addition to Performing he is also a songwriter who recently too his first step on that journey with his debut concert Fragements of Me at the Metropolitan Room.

     VOCALIST

DREW SEELEY is 6X platinum singer/songwriter and actor based in Los Angeles. Last year he finished Jersey Boys on Broadway as the final ‘Bob Gaudio.’ Other credits include Broadway’s The Little Mermaid as ‘Prince Eric,’ the North & South American tours of High School Musical: The Concert as ‘Troy Bolton,’ and Another Cinderella Story, starring as ‘Joey Parker’ opposite Selena Gomez. 

As a songwriter, Drew has written and performed on 10+ Disney soundtracks, penned singles for artists from Demark to South Korea, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for co-writing High School Musical’s ‘Getcha Head in the Game.’ His debut album ‘The Resolution’ is available online and at his website www.DrewSeeley.com. 

Drew lives in sunny California with his dog, Astro, and his amazing wife, actress & comedian Amy Paffrath!

    VOCALIST, CO-MUSICAL DIRECTOR

AMY RIVARD is a Canadian singer-songwriter based in NYC who has toured with Celtic Woman and Riverdance. She is frequently called upon to sing anthems for NASCAR, The NY Rangers and the NY Islanders. Other performances include Riverdance on Broadway, her one woman show on SilverSea Cruises, Tokyo Disney, commercials, voiceovers and Indie film. 

Most recently, she co-produced 'The Three Divas' Music Video with Kaufman Astoria Studios. 'The Three Divas' is a song that Amy wrote about the silent film star ghosts said to roam the hallways of Kaufman Astoria Studios and their restaurant, The Astor Room. Kaufman Astoria Studios is the original home to Paramount Pictures and was built in 1921. The ghosts are said to love Amy's song. 

Amy's albums, including, 'On Common Ground' by Subjects Of the Queen (the songwriting project of Amy Rivard and NYC based Australian singer/songwriter/double bassist Georgia Weber) can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and Tidal as well as other streaming services.

     BASSIST, CO-MUSICAL DIRECTOR

GEORGIA WEBER - A passionate and dedicated musician, Georgia Weber describes herself as “married to her bass”.  Her affinity to her instrument, style and genre has been inspired by jazz luminaries Scott LaFaro and Charlie Haden.  A musical open-mindedness allowed Weber to develop a unique sound, which has painted the lower register for some of the world’s most renowned jazz artists.
Weber graduated with a bachelor in Jazz Double Bass Performance from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Australia, in 2004.  She worked in Brisbane Australia as a performer, session musician and teacher until moving to Melbourne, Australia in 2010.  Here, she fronted pop-punk outfit A Date With Apathy.
Weber resided in Melbourne for three years where she performed most significantly with the contemporary jazz group, Ben Carr Trio.  This trio explores the amalgamation of free form group improvisation, odd time meter grooves and swing.

Weber moved to New York City in March 2013 where she continues to perform and record with artists such as Post Modern Jukebox's Robyn Adele Anderson, established comic and jazz vocalist Camille Harris, Subjects of The Queen (Music of Amy Rivard and Georgia Weber), and her own trio, Georgia Weber's Sleeved Hearts.  Weber was a finalist in the 2015 Australian National Jazz Awards.

     DRUMMER

ANDY MAC writes pop songs for people who don't think they like pop music. Although the hooks and harmonies are pleasurably addictive, the lyrical focus skews darker, speaking to an earnest melancholy familiar to fans of looking out windows late at night.A few bars into one of his songs, and more than a few surprised new listeners nodding both in time to the music, and in emphatic agreement with his starkly honest take on relationships, damage and salvation. Finishing days before he left, Andy brought his debut album, "Music for a Bright Moon Sky" (Stay Clean Music) to New York City from Buffalo, NY. A fully independent effort released on his own label, he played nearly every instrument himself. The album completely sold out of its first run, and music from that release was featured on FOX, MTV, and on XM Radio. His sophomore release, titled "Struggle Fantastic", is at once more positive and more introspective, and reveals a maturing artist working through increasingly complicated situations in an effort to find redemption. Funded completely by donations from Andy's fans, the album was released along with a complete surprise album entitled “410”, which was recorded in the empty home where Andy grew up. 2018 will have Andy back in the writing room focusing on songs for his new album, and working hard at his weekly live shows!For press and bookings: [email protected]

http://www.Facebook.com/AndyMacPage  http://www.Twitter.com/AndyMacMusic  http://www.YouTube.com/AndyMacMusic

For press and bookings: [email protected]

     PIANIST

JACOB FJELDHEIM - piano is a New York composer/lyricist, orchestrator, musician, and performer. His songs and musicals have been performed all over the U.S., including two readings at NYU, William Finn's "Ridiculously Talented..." series, various cabarets in the city, and a national tour (Ultimate Storytime). M.F.A., Musical Theatre Writing, NYU Tisch.

     GUITARIST

TY TUSCHEN is an in-demand freelance guitarist in the New York City area, known for his versatility and command of jazz, rock, funk, soul, blues, and country music. In October of 2017 he toured with soul singer-songwriter Numa Edema, opening for icons Stephen Stills and Judy Collins. As of December, 2017, you can hear him play every Monday (6-9pm) and Thursday (9-12pm) at The Grand Ole Opry's first home away from home in NYC, Opry City Stage, with talented singer-songwriter, Bobby McGrath!
For the past three years, Ty has held the guitar chair in Paul Loren's "One-Night-Only Band." With Mr. Loren, he has opened for James Hunter, The Temptations, and had the thrill of providing entertainment for Jennifer Lopez's 47th birthday party. Paul's moving and powerful song, "I Know a Place," the recording for which Ty performs the guitar parts, debuted in late October of 2017 on Huffington Post, to 250,000+ views. Other performers of note Ty has performed with include the stunning Ariana Savalas, of Postmodern Jukebox fame.

Aside from sideman work, teaching, studio recording sessions, and band-leading round out Ty's schedule. In the fall of 2016, Ty instructed acclaimed actor, Tristan Mack Wilds, on Delta Blues, helping Mack prepare for his role in a short film, "Last Fair Deal,"about the mythic Robert Johnson. As a bandleader, Ty's jazz ensemble, "The Ty Tuschen Trio," continues to receive many bookings for weddings and corporate events, including a performance at a star-studded gala at the Natural History Museum in New York City for the David Lynch Foundation, where speakers and honorees included Michael J. Fox and Arianna Huffington.
Please consider liking and following Ty on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tytuschenguitarist) to keep up with his latest events and projects, which include playing with Christina Alessi and the Toll Collectors, Higgins, The Silver Arrow Band, The Rob Nicholas Band, J Hacha de Zola, CC and the Boys, Aleo Productions, The Feridun/Tuschen/Kantor Trio, Amy Rivard, Case Garrett, Spinn, Darryl Joo, Maxwell Feinstein, James Calleo, and many others.

      DANCER

OWEN TABAKA - is grateful and honored to be part of the 2018 2nd Annual Friend Raiser for the AJ Project. After performing in last year’s Winter Show to create awareness for Organ and Tissue Donor registration, Owen became inspired by AJ’s passion for the arts and the way his lived his life to fullest every single day. Much like AJ, Owen's love of dance and his charming personality has landed him many exciting professional opportunities and he can't wait to share it with everyone. His most recent adventure was playing the role of Grover Dill in Broadway’s National Tour of A Christmas Story. Prior to that he was honored to play the role of Travis Younger in his professional theatrical debut in A Raisin in the Sun at Two River Theater. His natural ability and rhythm is enhanced by his level of training for his age. Owen's dance styles run the gambit but tap is his favorite. His love for tap lead to his television debut in Sesame Street where he had the privilege to tap with Elmo! When asked to perform in This Way To Broadway, Live! Jingle Jam - an off-Broadway concert/workshop series featuring Broadway veteran and children's coach Thommie Retter ('Billy Elliot') he was so excited. He loves the arts but also plays soccer and lacrosse, finds the time to work on his acrobatics (aerial, round off back handspring, back tuck and front walkover); enjoys swimming, basketball, golf, tennis and is great with impressions (he's a funny kid!). Owen was a member of the Washington Wizards Wiz kid - Hip Hop Children's performance dance team, is an award-winning dancer in The World Dance Pageant (Petite World Champion) and has been tapped (excuse the pun) as the assistant to the teachers. He has also participated in The Jam Youth Project which is a Pre-professional tap-dance Company in Washington D.C., won awards in dance as a soloist, partner work and group numbers. Owen and his family are grateful to have found The AJ Project as a support system. He is so excited to perform again this year for the AJ project and is proud to create awareness for Organ and Tissue Donor registration. He is managed by Connecting Talent Company and is represented by Carson-Adler Agency, Inc. and Abrams Artist Agency.

     VOCALIST

ERICH SCHUETT has been singing in front of crowds since he was five years old and competitively since the age of nine. Although he has appeared in performances in Europe and from cities spanning across the country from the West to East coasts, this grounded 13 year old has one mission - train properly, treat his voice like a well-tuned instrument and preferably just sing! Erich's hard work, four octave range and talent paid off when he was tapped to play Friedrich on the Broadway 50th Anniversary National Tour of The Sound of Music. Once off tour, Erich really began to focus on his love of music. He won the Junior Division NY Lyric Opera Competition, then performed on The Harry Connick Jr TV Show and sang Tosca, Macbeth and Cabarets all over NYC. Erich also had a 2017 Grammy consideration for his first professional recording “A Christmas Presence” and was given the honor of being the first and the youngest American artist to be invited to Italy to train in the art of Belcanto. He was honored to be invited to sing with the Belcanto Italiano Foundation in the home of Beniamino Gigli, who is a famous tenor and former student of Pavarotti. Erich has appeared on film, television, commercials and is currently the voice of Bazooka Joe and Scholastic Books on national TV ads. He has already been invited to study at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music and he is currently taking AP Music Theory and Piano at Julliard, and is writing original music. His next big performance will be at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium in June 2017 after winning the American Protégé International Vocal Competition.

Homicide for The Holidays to air Dec 2017 on Oxygen network - A Crime To Remember to air March 2018 on Investigation Discovery!- Watch for the Movie release of 18 To Party details to follow!

     VOCALIST

ALLY CARLSTEN - is 16 years old from East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Ally has performed at many Off-Broadway cabarets in Manhattan. One of her recent roles was playing Elle Woods, in Legally Blonde at Academy Players of Rhode Island. She received a Best Actress Regional Award from Broadway World for this role. She is currently part of  the NYC Tap Crew and she is excited to be here today to perform with her friends!!

     VOCALISIST

CHRISTIAN MUSTO- is 20 years old and from Long Island. He was recently in the National Tour of "The Lightning Thief" playing the lead role of Percy Jackson.When in NY you can find him regularly performing at The Broadway Comedy Club and The West End as part of the All Star Cabaret

     VOCALIST

MICHAEL PERRELLI - is a singer/songer-writer/guitarist and AJ's younger brother. Mike picked up the guitar at age 12, taught himself and has never stopped playing. He has traveled cross country performing in popular music spots as a solo acoustic singer as well as performed and recorded as the lead singer & co-produce an album for the Mississippi based alt rock band called Shapeless Enemy. You never know when you will run into Michael and his guitar in NYC. Lately he has been focusing on his writing, playing live music venues in Manhattan and Queens and often travels the N or Q train with guitar in hand playing for the riders.  Michael's acoustic style covers all genres of music. 

     VOCALIST

KITTY PERRELLI - singer, dancer, actor, model, sister of AJ Perrelli — "Cat Cat" or "Kitty Cat" was what AJ called her. Kitty conveys her relationship with her brother as soulmate and muse. He was her biggest fan and encouraged her in every way. Like her brother, Kitty is a "triple threat". Unlike most little girls, Kitty started dance because of AJ - not the other way around. She has studied dance, singing, theater and acting and is a wonderful french horn player. Kitty's life is the typical NYC grind which involves finding jobs in the arts that will help her grow while paying the bills.  She has performed in music videos, was a featured singer in a rock band, modeled for photographers and taught vocal lessons as a licensee of Badiene Magaziener Studios. Her current passion is training in the art of silks and studying yoga. She has performed in community theater, has been cast in several short student films, has been contracted as a studio singer and is currently working on a project that will take her overseas as a singer in the fall. Kitty works with various entertainment groups through out NYC as a party motivator and brand ambassador.   

     VOCALIST

NICK PERRELLI - Vocalist/ AJ's youngest brother. Nick loves to sing jazz. While most kids his age are listening to hip hop or pop if you open Nicks playlist you would find song from Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Gregory Porter and Jazzmeia Horn. Nick is a true musician training in French Horne since he was 9 years old and plays the piano by ear. Singing came as a second thought and quite by accident. Believe it or not his first influence for this genre of music was an episode of Family Guy where Seth McFarland was singing a Sinatra tune. He liked it so much he found it on the internet and bam he was hooked. At 17, Nick took a shot at the second season of X factor. He made it through to the televised auditions and gained 146,000 hits on his 36 second clip. He actually made it through to the 4th round when he had an ahh haaa moment.  Simon Cowell put him into a group of with five other guys (boy band thing) singing pop. It was a hot mess. After X factor, Nick trained under Badiene Magaziener, graduated high school and and graduated EMT school.  His goals are to pursue his career as an EMT/Paramedic/Firefighter and sing on stage again.

     OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

SAM JOSEPH grew up in DC and after traveling for a year after high school he moved to NYC to become an actor.  He attended NYU Tisch and after graduating spent years pounding the pavement as a ‘would be’ actor.

After working countless day jobs he picked up the camera his father taught him how to use when he was a kid. At first he was just shooting actor friends for free but as he read books and practiced more they kept insisting on paying him. Finally, after much encouragement from friends and family, he opened Sam Joseph Photography in 2011 and haven’t regretted it a bit. 

He simply loves the art of photography, but owning his own business has allowed him to be more of an actor than when he was waiting tables. And the best part is he gets to meet and work with actors almost every day. I 

"When it comes to capturing people on camera, I find that the most interesting shots always have bit of the personality of person being photographed.  Too often in this business the emphasis is put on how beautiful the person is - but when we think about the artists that truly inspire and deliver truth on stage or on film, it’s never about how pretty they are - but rather what they bring to a given character.  Whether I’m shooting headshots, events, or even products, I always strive to bring a bit of the inner beauty forward rather than just focusing on the superficial.  Believe me, I want your shots to shine as much as you do!"

     OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

CHARLIE KAYE - After a half-century career in broadcast journalism, Charles Kaye now pursues his life’s other passion, photography.

Kaye specializes in urban portraiture, using the streets, parks and waterfront of New York as the backdrop for glamour and beauty photography. He also has produced a series of New York cityscapes and often photographs New York’s jazz musicians at work in some of the city’s top clubs.

Kaye, who was born in Manhattan, retired from CBS News in 2016 where he spent 34 years as a writer, editor and then executive producer for network radio broadcasts heard across the country by more than 30-million listeners a week. His work there, with a host of CBS News correspondents including Walter Cronkite, Scott Pelley, Andy Rooney, Charles Osgood and other legends of broadcast journalism, earned him several of the profession’s highest awards, including the Peadbody, duPont-Columbia, Edward R. Murrow and Society of Professional Journalists honors.

Prior to joining CBS, Kaye was the news director of all-news WINS Radio in New York where he was the first journalist to report that John Lennon had been shot outside his Manhattan apartment building. Before WINS he was the news director of New York’s WHN Radio, where he also served as a news anchor, reporter, talk show host, and in the 1970s as producer of New York Mets radio broadcasts and the occasional voice of the Mets post-game program.

He started his broadcast career while a student at Hofstra University, where he was the news director of the college radio station, WVHC. In 2009 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Hofstra Radio Hall of Fame.

Kaye has lived in New York throughout his life except for three years of service in the military. He currently resides in Manhattan.

     AUDIO ENGINEER

ALEX FARON is an audio engineering with a deep understanding of electronics and acoustics. From robots to tube amplifiers, no circuit is safe from his probing mind. Circuitbending, PCB/schematic designing, coding, and dancing in the name of Audio. Faroutfaron.github.io

     CAMERA OPERATOR

MICHAEL SCHIAVO - Camera ,Screen Writer ,Actor, Director, Editor {All Around Good Egg}
C.E.O Hamster Pellet Productions

Acting Credits
Vendetta Games 2016, Tempted 2015, Gotham 2014, Comic Book Jones 2012

Writing Credits
Trapped In Time {on going series 2008- Present}, The Adventures Of Amy Mike and Dan {on going series 2014- Present},
The Cat And The Spider, Wonder Woman And Wonder Woman, Paper Boy Trailer, Redds Apple Ale Trailer {The Proposal, and The Spy}, The Clinic, With An Option To Buy, Voltron

     CAMERA OPERATOR

ANTHONY PERRELLI- AJ's father - Camera/Final Cut Pro 10 Editor -  After owning his own video production company for 25 years and overseeing the operations for several hotels audio visual departments for 5 years, Anthony now freelances as a camera man/editor. His market consist of corporate video production from concept to completion. He volunteers his talents The FAM Club after school program sponsored by The AJ Project at The Boys and Girls Club of Queens and to The St. Vincent DePaul Society/Catholic Charities through The AJ Project producing content on their 2017-18 hurricane recovery initiatives.  

    CO -FOUNDER AJ PROJECT

CHRISTINA NEUBRAND (Program Director) Christina met AJ in 2009 while visiting a friend in Spain who happened to be on the same Disney Live tour. They connected immediately and stayed in touch. Ironically, they both ended up in NYC in 2010. At The Looking Glass Theatre, Christina cast AJ in his first NYC play. From there, she continued to support AJ as he began working toward a life in New York in the arts. No matter how busy AJ was he made it a point to support her artistic endeavors, be there as a true friend and ultimately became a very important part of her life.

Christina holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from StephenF.AustinStateUniversity and an MA in Educational Theatre from New YorkUniversity’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development Department of Performing Arts Professions. She is currently a Community School Director with The Leadership Program for It Takes a Village Academy in Brooklyn where she uses her arts background to cultivate positive community and school culture. Christina is excited to be a part of The AJ Project and looks forward to its future!

     PRODUCER, CREATE FROM THE HEART, FOUNDER AJ PROJECT

CHRISTINE PERRELLI (Executive Director and AJ's Mom) aka "Momma" to many. It is with great pride that she leads The AJ Project and its endeavors to foster the life skills and the talents of emerging artists just as she did for her son. As a mother of four very artistic children and wife of a freelance cameraman and editor, Christine found that her Type A personality was a strong balance to the creative forces that surrounded her. Christine recognized and was fully involved in AJ's love for entertaining and encouraged him to try a variety of outlets and artistic disciplines.

Professionally, Christine owned a video production events company and was also the director of sales and marketing for a major corporation. She was one of the first females to land a position as a director of audio visual for a major NYC company overseeing the daily audio visual sales and operations of 5 major New York City hotels. Christine took a break from production for 10 years where she was an award winning Real Estate Agent and Mortgage Broker servicing the Central Florida area.

Currently she is the Founder and Executive Director of Operations for The AJ Project. She teaches film, arts and media programs at the Boys and Girls Club of Queens and is produces the concepts, graphics, web pages and manages all aspects of sales and marketing for the Create from the Heart annual Friend Raiser for the AJ Project. 

Sponsors

      www.Livonny.org 

LiveOnNY is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant in the greater New York metropolitan area. Established in 1978, LiveOnNY serves a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million.

We work closely with 10 transplant centers and more than 90 hospitals in the region to facilitate donation. Additionally, we strive to raise awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation, educate the public, and encourage residents to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

LiveOnNY is accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S.

        NICK THE BALLOONATIC - www.nicktheballoonatic.com

Award winning balloon artist, Nick the Balloonatic, can do just that! With over 30 years experience in balloon artistry, Nick has twisted balloons all over the world. At your next event, The Balloonatic will interact with your guests as he is sculpting balloons, laughing, joking, making everyone feel special.

Crazy hats, animals and your favorite characters will come out of his hands with amazing speed. What will he make next? So if you’re looking for a fun filled time at your next party, company picnic, night club event, family fun night, or if you just want to twist balloons in your living room, contact Nick the Balloonatic.

      www.astorroom.com

Generously sponsored our event bar. Located in the Kaufman Astoria Studios complex in Astoria, New York, the Astor Roomdraws in foodies both local and farther flung with its subtle twists on continental fare and inventive takes on classic cocktails.  Closed for renovations for the Winter. 

ZAMBRANA PRODUCTIONS -3145 14th St. Astoria, New York 11106

Audio and Video Production Services, Lighting, Staging, Event Management, Labor. Located in Astoria NY