With top-notch performances from their concert and marching bands, robotics team, championship girl’s basketball team and a number of other programs, IS 318 in williamsburg has become the poster child for the vitality and necessity of afterschool programs. The school was most recently thrust into the limelight following a national championship for the IS 318 chess team. While the team has notoriously outmatched their opponents in middle school national championships, they became the first intermediate school team to win a national championship. They placed second in the 2011 competition. In the face of looming $130 million in cuts to child care and afterschool programs in the mayor’s proposed budget, students at the school have organized a “Bring Back The Music” benefit concert to help save the programs. The show will take place at Brooklyn Bowl, l61 Wythe Ave., on Sunday, June 23, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10, $5 for students. Performances will include performances by the school's Jazz Band, the Guitar Ensemble/Rock Band led by Ed Healy, Councilman Stephen Levin and Friends, Pat Mahoney (of LCD Soundsystem) and Friends , the Newtown Creek Ramblers, Hugh Pool and a special performance from the 2007 Legislative Idol winner, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol. Proceeds from the benefit concert will go to funding afterschool programs at the school, and is in memory of late principal and District 14 superintendent Fortunado “Fred” Rubino. “This is for the benefit of 318 and district superintendent Rubino, so it’s for a good cause,” Lentol said of the upcoming event. “It’s a good time to sing.” Jane Pool, community volunteer and parent of an IS 318 student, helped organize the concert. “These programs are amazing and a lot of them were cut completely,” Pool said. “We can either complain or try to get some interest on this issue and raise some money to help restore some of the programs.” Graduating 5th graders from PS 31, PS 34 and PS 110 have all been invited to the show free of charge thanks to Town Square, a volunteer community-based group, and donations from local businesses and organizations like Allstate, Au Gourmet, Bistro, Greenpoint Toy Center, Billy’s Locksmith, Gym Park, Imagic Studio, Josef & Sons, Lokal, North Brooklyn Development Corporation and Urban Rustic. “This is a great graduating present for the fifth graders,” said Susan Anderson, chair of Town Square. “The proceeds will go to the afterschool programs that many of these students will be going into.”

The parking lot of a Queens tanning salon was turned into an outdoor gym over the weekend. Music was blaring and tires were flipped as Force Fitness Gym, 63-60 Fresh Pond Road, hosted an outdoor event in Beach Bum tanning salon’s parking lot on Saturday. Residents took part in free zumba, kettle bell and Special Forces classes, and also watched a taekwando demonstration. There were also more challenging activities, including flipping a 300-pound tire three times and keeping a battle rope moving for 60 seconds. “I’m trying to raise awareness of the gym,” said owner Mike Romer. “We’re not the typical fitness pub, you’re going to come in and do a ton of crazy things. I also wanted to do something to help some of the local businesses.” For example, Gyro Village, 66-57 Fresh Pond Road, served food, and a local nutritionist and chiropractor, as well as a martial arts studio also participated. “I want to get the community out and see all the different options they have to get healthy and be fit,” Romer said. Four-year Force Fitness member Edward Ramos took part in the Special Forces class. “The one thing I really like about the gym is that it gets everyone involved,” he said. “It’s not about yourself, it’s about helping the community and that’s one of the reasons why I haven’t gone anywhere else, because the fact is I feel like I’m at home.”