The sun never made an appearance at Saturday’s annual Christmas parade in Woodhaven, but judging by the number of residents who turned out for the event — and the countless smiles that appeared up and down Jamaica Avenue — holiday spirit trumped ideal weather.
   The parade, which was sponsored by the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, kicked off at the new Cordon Bleu restaurant on Jamaica Avenue and ended at Dexter Court, where children were greeted with candy and refreshments.

   The 102nd Precinct has warned residents in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park to be on alert for two men who have been going door to door, posing as workers from a utility company.
   The men, who wear uniforms and carry badges, reportedly pretend they need to inspect homeowners’ basements because major leaks have been reported in the area. After giving the men access to their homes, the suspects distract residents just long enough for their accomplices to sneak in and steal their possessions.

   The Jamaica Rotary Club held its annual Christmas party at Villa Russo in Ozone Park on Saturday evening.
   The club welcomed Somraj Harichand, center, a child from Guyana who is undergoing open heart surgery this week. The organization often brings sick children from around the world to the United States for medical treatment.

   Recently, the mortgage foreclosure bill, sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), passed both houses in Albany.Foreclosures have ravaged many neighborhoods in New York and Queens. Not only have property values decreased, but the security and beauty of our communities have been affected.
   The bill makes homeowner and tenant protection top priorities, requiring maintenance of foreclosed properties by lending institutions and tenant notification before a home goes into foreclosure. It also seeks to protect the American dream of home ownership from predatory and fraudulent rescue scam artists.

   If the attendees at Tuesday night’s last-minute meeting with the Department of Education are any indication, rapid fire school phase-out announcements are accompanied by three stages of grief: shock and dismay, anger and bargaining and, for some but not all, acceptance, hope — and more bargaining.
   Parents, education advocates and elected officials — including hosts Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) and Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) didn’t agree on every aspect of the inevitable Jamaica High School phase-out, the topic of discussion at the invitation-only meeting, held at the Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica.

   Children gather around the Christmas tree to marvel at its ornaments and lights. PHOTO BY MICHAEL O’KANE
   On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Saint Helen’s hosted a spectacular Christmas tree lighting, sponsored by the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation.

   Many south Queens residents and leaders have weighed in on the trial of Sept. 11, 2001 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other alleged conspirators and the overwhelming majority polled agreed: Keep the trials out of New York.
   “I think that it is a mistake to have it in the city,” said Max Stern, 96, who was interviewed at the Howard Beach Senior Center, along with others who frequent the facility. Stern added that he also objects to giving the terrorists’ a platform to express their views, which they would have in a civilian trial.

   While Gov. David Paterson remains tight-lipped — and slow on the draw — when it comes to both vocalizing his preference and selecting a winning bidder for Aqueduct Race Track, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) did not hold back at last week’s Community Board 10 meeting in South Ozone Park.
   After she and other officials met with the five bidders to hear their proposals for video lottery terminals at the track, Pheffer emerged feeling positive about both Manhattan property owner SL Green Realty and Aqueduct Entertainment Group, which is made up of several partners that include the Navegante Group, GreenStar Services Corporation and Turner Construction.

   Good news for those south Queens residents who are in a giving mood, but unable to make the trek to the Queens Chronicle’s Rego Park office.
   Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) has offered to collect toys at his Ozone Park office to assist the Chronicle in its 15th annual holiday toy drive, which takes place until Dec. 17.

   Woodhaven residents and community leaders of all ages and religious backgrounds gathered Friday evening at Forest Parkway Plaza and Jamaica Avenue to celebrate the start of the “Holidays in Woodhaven” weekend with a spectacular menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
   Maria Thomson, executive director of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, which sponsored the event, welcomed the crowd. Other speakers and guests included Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) and Father John Francis of St. Thomas the Apostle, who reminded the crowd that midnight Mass will take place at St. Thomas Church this year.

   The sun never made an appearance at Saturday’s annual Christmas parade in Woodhaven, but judging by the number of residents who turned out for the event — and the countless smiles that appeared up and down Jamaica Avenue — holiday spirit trumped ideal weather.
   The parade, which was sponsored by the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, kicked off at the new Cordon Bleu restaurant on Jamaica Avenue and ended at Dexter Court, where children were greeted with candy and refreshments.

   Prosecutors postponed the opening hearing in the case against Barbara Sheehan, the Howard Beach woman who fatally shot her ex-NYPD husband last year after allegedly sustaining almost two decades of physical and emotional abuse.
   The hearing, which was set to take place Wednesday morning, has been rescheduled for Tuesday in Queens. According to sources, Sheehan’s attorney, Michael Dowd, has until the end of the week to decide how to proceed after Justice Arthur Cooperman ruled that the defendant, 48, would be restricted from including psychiatric testimony as part of her defense.

   Although summertime fun is months away, Community Board 10 has announced its requirements and time frame for filing for 2010 block party permits.
   All applications must be filed with the board no less than 90 days prior to the planned event. A petition, on a form the board will provide, must be signed by all residents or commercial establishments on the block of the event.