newsbriefs

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 7:30 PM EDT

COMPILED BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Coast Guard boating classes

Experienced instructors from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-01 will conduct the “America’s Boating Course” class and the more advanced “Boating Skills and Seamanship” course of classes at their Fort Totten facility in Bayside, starting in September.

On Sunday, September 21, the boating class will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 611 Little Bay Road, 2nd Floor. The one-day Americas Boating Course class will also be given on two other Sundays this fall, on October 19 and November 23.

The class covers various aspects of safe boating for power boats, sailboats and personal water craft, boat maintenance and navigation rules.

On Tuesdays, starting September 23 and continuing through November 25 the Boating Skills and Seamanship classes meet from 7:30 to 10 p.m., and are a good follow-up for people who have taken the one-day class.

Interested parties should contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary at 718-352-3764 (leave a message) or email 12-01@verizon.net. For more information, visit their web site at www.a0141201.uscgaux.info.

NY Cares

Since 1987, New York Cares has enabled 40,000 New Yorkers to serve on hands-on volunteer projects each year, benefiting schools, social service agencies, homeless shelters, and other deserving organizations. Becoming a New York Cares volunteer is easy; simply attend a one-time Orientation, and then choose from more than 900 citywide projects offered each month.

Orientation for new volunteers will be held in at the following locations during September:

On Monday, September 8, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at the Queens Library branch in Rego Park, located at 91-41 63rd Drive.

On Wednesday, September 10, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Queens Library branch in Briarwood, at 85-12 Main Street.

Tutor children, feed the hungry, help adults develop job and language skills, revitalize community gardens, take homeless children on recreational outings, visit the elderly, provide coats to those who would go without, and make real differences every day in the lives of New Yorkers in

Ask the hospital

New York Hospital Queens has a hotline in place to enable the public to ask questions or report an issue.

The number is: 718-670-1713. All calls that include a call-back number will be returned as soon as possible, the hospital said.

End it now

The Partner Abuse Counseling Program at the Samuel Field YM&YWHA in Little Neck offers free individual counseling and support groups to women who have been, or are currently in an abusive relationship.

The program, at the Samuel Field Y’s facility at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway in Little Neck, also offers victims information and referrals to support services, such as shelters, legal and psychological counseling.

They ask that if you or someone you know is a victim of physical or verbal abuse, contact the program at 718-225-6750, Ext. 248, and get the help you need.

Blood Drives

In this election season, the candidates are out for it, but the New York Blood Center really needs blood donors.

Almost any healthy person over the age of 16 (under-17s need a parent’s note, over-76 needs a doctor’s note) who weighs more than 110 pounds can give the gift of life. Here are some blood drives:

On Monday, September 8, from 3 to 8:30 p.m. at the Poppenhusen Library in College Point, located at 121-23 14th Avenue.

On Thursday, September 11, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Queens Center Mall, Queens Boulevard and Woodhaven Boulevard in Elmhurst.

On Saturday, September 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Church on the Hill, 167-07 35th Avenue in Flushing.

For more information, call 800-933-2566 or visit the web site: www.nybloodcenter.org.