American Muslims or Flooding

Good morning, Bayside. The first of your Friday Five Things today is a tragic story on both a local, and national level:

1. Recounting the story of a firefighter from Bayside who perished on Sept. 11 2001 reportedly brought Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota, to tears yesterday. Mohammed Salman Hamdani, who was only 23-years-old when he died, was  a Muslim-American, as is Ellison.

The first Muslim elected to Congress, Ellison was rendering testimony at a hearing examining the possible radicalization of American Muslims. The controversial proceedings were initiated by Rep. Peter King, R- Massapequa Park. Hamdani was falsely connected to the planning of the attacks, said Ellison, but vindicated when his own body was found among the World Trade Center remains.

“He should not be remembered as a Muslim, but as an American who gave everything for his country,” Ellison said. See here for the full video clip.  

2. An American Idol-like contest for burgeoning writers will take place in Brooklyn on March 30. See .

3. We have two competing theatre performances locally. Theatre Time Productions, based in Whitestone, will be performing today.

4. Meanwhile, Queensborough Communtiy College will .

5. The Bayside Hills Civic Association is to keep sewer openings on their block clear from litter, to help stave flooding.