Queens Chronicle - Celebration of Queens 2021 by Queens Chronicle

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Celebration of Queens 2021

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24TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF QUEENS • 2021

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Pizza sales great when reheated ................. 4 Bookstores tell their own tales .................... 6 Manhattan the key: biz leader ..................... 8 Bowling alleys not on strike ....................... 10 Comic’s mission was no joke .................... 12 Historical homes survived again................ 14 Outdoor sites were open all along ............. 18 Gyms were fit to try new routines ............. 20 QPAC and APEC: already in flux ............... 22 Physical therapists kept in touch ............... 24 JCAL went to digital entertainment ........... 26 BIDs seeing fewer vacancies now ............. 28 One dance school kept its ‘Edge’.............. 30 Black Spectrum challenged at 50 ............. 31

Kew & Willow Books photo, above, by Michael Gannon; Supplement editor: Peter C. Mastrosimone; Supplement designer: Jan Schulman; Editorial layout: Gregg Cohen

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Pizzeria owners finally feel a slice of relief Shopkeepers survived by neighborhood’s support by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

What is New York City without its pizza? Luckily — even through the pandemic — we don’t know. And shop owners are continuing the fight to keep it that way. “When the pandemic first hit, it was a big ‘wow’ factor for all of us: ‘What’s going on, what are we going to do?’” said Vishee Mandahar, owner of Krave It Pizza & Sandwich Joint in Bayside. Mandahar shut down operation for two weeks to keep his employees and their families safe from the virus, but spent the time off crafting a plan to return. When he did, he focused on making pies for area hospitals as thank-you’s to their essential workers before opening back up to the public. The joint, famous for its creative take on pizza, suffered a revenue drop like so many other eateries. Mandahar said the decrease was exacerbated by the 10 p.m. curfew the governor had placed on restaurants in the first few months of the pandemic — Krave It was open until 4 a.m. and benefited from Bell Boulevard’s nightlife. “It’s like having two businesses. We have a daytime business and a nighttime business,” he said.

But over a year later, Mandahar said business is almost back to normal. He extended the restaurant’s hours back to 4 a.m. last week, and its revenue reflects its pre pa nd e m ic nu mb e r s. Eve n through one of the hardest years, he was able to open a second location in Astoria in April. Mandahar attributes his survival and success to his and his employees’ hustle, but that determination wasn’t enough to see ple nt y of o t h e r r e s t a u r a nt s through. Even just a few blocks away, Pete’s Pizza, which had been operating on the strip for 40 years, closed its oven for good last year. According to a report from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the cit y rest au ra nt i ndust r y lost 226,000 jobs because of the pandemic, and sales dropped an average of 71 percent during the threemonth period of March, April and May of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The Queens Chamber of Commerce estimates that of the 6,000 Queens small restaurants that existed before the pandemic, roughly 1,000 have closed their doors for good. Flushing was among the first in the area to feel the effects of the pandemic. In February 2020, busi-

A line forms outside Lucia Pizza in Downtown Flushing, one of the few pizzePHOTO BY KATHERINE DONLEVY rias in the neighborhood.

Vishee Mandahar, owner of Krave It Pizza and Sandwich Joint in Bayside, said his business is finally seeing prepandemic revenue after a year of struggle, capacity and hour limitations and concern for public safety. The hard work PHOTO BY KATHERINE DONLEVY paid off, and Mandahar opened a second location in Astoria several weeks ago. ness dropped by 40 percent in the Asian-dominated neighborhood, according to an estimate by the Flushing Chinese Business Association. The sudden decrease prompted a visit by Mayor de Blasio, who declared city Chinatowns “open for business” — one month later, Gov. Cuomo shut business down throughout the state. Marc Sarwari’s pizzeria suffered in those weeks before other restaurants did. He’s owned Lucia Pizza in Downtown Flushing for 26 years and said it was the first time he’d ever seen the neighborhood empty. “We were the only [open] business on the whole block. There was nothing going on. It was a ghost town,” Sarwari said. With restaurants reduced to takeout, Sarwari said an increase in delivery orders helped sustain his business. It also helped that his pizzeria is one of the few games in town, but that alone wasn’t enough to cement his conf idence. For approximately six months, Sarwari was unsure his business would survive. With the help of government grants and higher foot traffic, Lucia Pizza is nearly out of the woods. Sarwari said the business is not back at 100 percent, but stable. “We just have to keep doing what we do best: Make great pizza,” said Sarwari. Though so many shops were lost during the pandemic, many

neighborhoods were lucky to see new ones crop up in their places. In Springfield Gardens, The Pizza Shop opened in April after longstanding L’amici Pizza & Pasta closed its doors last year. Though sad to see the older, 30-year-old pizzeria close, the com mu nit y was ecstatic that another had come to take its place, said the new joint’s manager, who asked to be referred to as J. “You want to cater to the building, to the community,” he said, adding that the neighborhood’s proximity to the airport has been an advantage to the budding business. “JFK is a unique community.” The Pizza Shop’s revenue has increased with every week in operation, mainly due to an increase in flights at the airport. J has served pilots, flight attendants and tour-

ists in addition to his new neighborhood regulars. Welcoming new faces is a phenomenon even established pizzerias are enjoying — Sal of Joe and John’s Pizzeria in Ridgewood said it’s been a delight getting to know the voices from the phone from the past few months. “We had an increase in deliveries,” the owner said. Fewer people are traveling into Manhattan for work and more have been spending their money in their own neighborhoods, Sal theorized. Plus pizza is generally cheap and customers can order one pie and spread it out for multiple meals over multiple days. “We have so many new faces now because people [are] looking up what else is in their neighborQ hoods,” Sal said.

The Pizza Shop opened in Springfield Gardens in April after another pizzeria THE PIZZA SHOP PHOTO / INSTAGRAM closed its doors.

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New tech, old friends boost bookstores Net brought new clients; regulars kept on coming by Michael Gannon Chronicle Editor

Bookstores were made for browsing; but even when a pandemic made that impossible, ingenuity and technology kept readers occupied , a nd book stores i n business. Kew & Willow Books, on Lefferts Boulevard in Kew Gardens, last week already had begun welcoming people back inside; its twolevel display area having tables and racks to augment the shelves on the walls. It could be a large, inviting living room where owners Vina Castillo and Holly Nikodem could welcome Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss and Alice Walker and all could feel at home — there also seems to be a bit of the magic from the world of Harry Potter, if you’re attuned to look for it. One woman was purchasing a gift card; a father kept pace as a young girl made a beeline to the children’s section. “I think with a small business you always worry a little,” Nikodem said, when asked about deciding how to handle Covid-19. Both women said they were able to adjust on the f ly while putting together long-term plans. “Our online orders picked up immediately,” Castillo said. “And we offered $1 shipping.” Nikodem said once people were ba n ned f rom t he store, t hey adjusted, offering curbside delivery service for online or telephone

orders out front. “We also offered delivery in Queens,” she said. “Once we had to keep people out this functioned as a warehouse.” And while they soon began taking orders from across the country, and winning over legions of new customers, they are convinced that it was old friends who made the difference. “I think we survived because our regular customers wanted us to,” Nikodem said. Grouped in a corridor of small businesses on Lefferts Boulevard, they saw a lot of their neighbors, such as a small restaurant and other shops, struggle. “Then the 7-Eleven closed — not overnight; closed down for a while,” Nikodem said. “That was strange.” The 7-Eleven reopened. But Nikodem and Castillo said the first sign that things were going to be all right was a call they received from Alex Segura, a mystery author who has participated in some of their inperson events bringing customers together with local authors. “He asked if we could do an event virtually,” Castillo said. They did, and it worked, initiating an ongoing series of virtual events. “I think that was the first sign,” she said. People can come in to browse, though appointments are requested. The wall of shelves at the checkout desk is filled with orders awaiting

Ray Harley’s jersey reflects his love of baseball, a subject which is one of the more popular offerings at his Austin Book Shop.

Vina Castillo, rear, and Holly Nikodem mixed costumer service with improvisation to shepherd their Kew & Willow PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON Books through the Covid-19 crisis. it something a reader is looking for, pickup by area bibliophiles. A few changes, they said may be something unexpected or an older, permanent, such as their layout. forgotten hardcover or paperback More tables are in the ground-level that was an old friend. Inside, the f loor-to-ceiling main browsing area, as the elevated section to the rear of the store was shelves are as organized and precise closed off once state regulations as any library — albeit with boxes of books waiting to be sorted allowed people back inside. through or shipped The children’s secout to customers. tion is there now. A br ief gla nce “This is the first oday, you around one portion of day we’re opening the store shows Winthis area back up, have to ston Churchill’s six“Castillo said last volume “History of Thursday. be on the the Second World I n for m at ion on internet.” War” about equidisappointments, spetant from women’s cials, bestsellers and — Ray Harley studies around one upcoming events can corner and a biograbe found on their website, kewandwillow.com. They phy of former New York Yankees a l s o a r e o n Fa c e b o o k a n d catcher Thurman Munson around another. Instagram. “We have our biography cataRay Harley, owner of the Austin Book Shop on Jamaica Avenue in logue, American history catalog. Richmond Hill, said he has been And we’re probably best known for online for years; and that it was a our baseball catalogue,” he said. He said he also is expanding necessity even before Covid-19. “Today, you have to be on the other catalogues in subject areas internet,” said Harley. “You have to such as the arts. When Covid struck, Harley had be on book exchanges like Alibris, Barnes & Noble; you have no the advantage of ow ning his building. choice.” “I have a great relationship with He is on Facebook at facebook. the landlord. He’s a terrific guy,” he com/austinbookshop. But as much as he has done busi- said. His online business expanded ness online, he’s glad to have peogreatly, with many new customers, ple coming back in person. A visitor is greeted by mobile he believes, soon on their way to bookcases out front, ones that becoming regulars. Harley’s neighbors on the comrequire time, care and an eye for detail if one is to look them over to mercial corridor are at least holding see what might be of interest — be out, he says.

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“The barbershop next door is doing very well,” he said. “So is the barbershop around the corner that I use. Everyone who was here before Covid is still here.” The relaxed regulations now allow Harley to welcome walk-ins rather than having to schedule appointments. But he said he still is considering cutting his in-person hours from Thursday through Sunday to just weekends. And he offers one slight correction when asked if his baseball catalogue covers everyone from players David Aardsma to Paul Zuvella. “I prefer to say Aaron to Zink,” Harley said. “We go by authors Q here.”

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For Queens to recover, Manhattan must by Thomas J. Grech It’s been a very difficult 14 months for Queens. New York Cit y and Queens in particular were the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, and our neighborhoods were amongst the hardest hit. Not only did Covid take the lives of thousands of our friends and neighbors, but it also took a tremendous toll on our local economy. A year ago, unemployment was at levels we had never seen in our lifetimes. The small businesses that create jobs and opportunity and add to the character of our neighborhoods struggled to survive, with many sadly closing their doors to customers for good. Thankfully, we’re turning the corner. Over 70 percent of adults in New York are now at least partially vaccinated. Restrictions are being lifted and people are returning to their prepandemic routines. But the small businesses we lost won’t magically reappear, and those that survived are still hanging on by a thread. There is still work to do to get our economy back on track. As the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in Queens, it’s my job to advocate for our borough and the businesses that call Queens home. But in times like these, it is important to take a look at the bigger picture as a New Yorker. Queens is vitally important to our city, state and regional economy. At the same time, however, Manhattan is the hub of our regional economy. If businesses in Manhattan are struggling, it will be nearly impossible for businesses in our

borough to recover. Here’s why: According to a 2017 report released by the New York City Department of City Planning, of the 1.1 million employed Queens residents, 36 percent worked in Manhattan. That’s a huge number. Folks who work in Manhattan come back to their neighborhoods and spend money in local restaurants, stores and other businesses. This allows local Queens businesses to grow and employ more workers. While a plurality of Queens residents (43 percent) work in their home borough, many of these jobs are tied to Manhattan. Industries that are major drivers of economic activity and jobs in Queens rely on their proximity to Manhattan. Service industries like plumbers, electricians, HVAC specialists, elevator service companies and similar providers. Take for example the aviation industry. Queens is home to two airports, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International. They employ over 50,000 people and contribute $64 billion in economic activity to the region. Without travelers visiting Manhattan for business or tourism, the airline industry, and the jobs and economic activity they bring to our borough, will struggle. Queens is also home to residential real estate development that creates middle-class, union construction jobs. But if Manhattan doesn’t regain its status as the country’s preeminent economic hub, will developers want to build more housing here? Queens has everything a business needs to grow and thrive. We have world-class institutions of higher education. We have a diverse workforce that speaks nearly every language on earth. We have a thriving arts and culture scene. For businesses that know they want to employ the most talented workers, Queens is the place to be. That’s

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LaGuardia Airport is a key part of Queens’s economy, but it relies on people going to and from Manhattan, and as the regional business hub, that borough must recover in order for PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN this one to do so. why companies like Altice, Resorts World, WeWork, Delta Air Lines, NY Presbyterian, Northwell, JetBlue and thousands of others want to be here. But another one of our major assets is our proximity to Manhattan. Queens residents rely on Manhattan for employment, and the success of Queens businesses will largely depend on Manhattan’s success. There can be no recovery for Queens unless our neighbor to the west returns to promiQ nence. Our futures are intrinsically linked. Thomas J. Grech is President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

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Bowling alleys try to get on a roll Flushing owner targeting September for pins to go fully flying again by Michael Gannon

“On rainy days we do get sparks of business. Older people are still apprehensive. It would take a lot to keep John LaSpina Probably the mask thing is about 50-50. and his family from the bowling industry — Those of us who are inoculated are a little bit braver.” not that Covid-19 didn’t try. He said JIB Lanes and Maple Lanes RVC LaSpina, whose family operates multiple alleys, including JIB Lanes on Parsons Bou- in Rockville Centre do not have a mask levard in Flushing, spoke last week about an mandate for bowlers. “It’s the honor system,” he said. article about their first one in Brooklyn, Casual traffic picks up on rainy days. which opened in 1960. “But we’re seeing more casual bowlers “I threw out the first ball,” he said. “The article was about my father and his two than before they ended the mandates,” partners — entrepreneurs who took a risk. LaSpina said. Overall it has been a better And here we are at Covid and we’re back to month than last month. Overall, business is day 1. Because we don’t know what lies slowly beginning to come back — emphasis on slowly.” ahead.” And LaSpina said the cleaning precauThey had to close for several months last year. Then Gov. Cuomo announced in tions required after reopening weren’t August that bowling alleys could reopen impossible to meet — and in some cases with restrictions; curfews were lifted in already were common practice. “We’ve always been known to have clean April. “A lot of the diehards came back,” facilities — I’m a maniac about the bathLaSpina said in a telephone interview. rooms,” he said. “So we were always ahead “Some of our colleagues hung shower cur- of the curve on cleanliness. Our staff has tains between the lanes ... I don’t think any- been great. “When we first reopened, people would one got in trouble for that, but we chose in all our New York centers, and there are four come in to bowl, and we’d ask them to leave of them, to utilize social distancing. Twice the equipment on the lane when done. And the space for half the people. We’d be at 40 we’d take the equipment, the rental shoes or 50 percent. We’d have them play on the and the bowling balls and we would sanitize same pair of lanes, but spread out over four them all. When you needed equipment, we lanes of seats. We adhered very carefully to would actually bring sanitized equipment to you. You tell me your shoe sizes — you’re the social distancing aspect. “We probably could have stuffed more an eight, your wife is a 6 and your kids are 2 people in ... It’s just that we like to operate apiece and we’d deliver them to you in a box with a moral compass. If we didn’t think it or a cart, depending on the location.” Following games, lanes are oiled and surwas the right thing to do, we just didn’t do faces are cleaned with sanitizing solutions. it.” “That part I want to continue,” LaSpina It’s been a process getting back the parsaid frankly. “Maybe not sanitizing the ties and the casual bowlers “We’re looking for our traditional busi- bowling balls, but we want to be mindful of ness to come back by September, because that.” League bowlers, who have no need to people will be comfortable,” LaSpina said. rent balls or shoes, also are coming back, LaSpina said. “But leagues that used to have 20 teams right now have nine or 11,” he said. “That’s why I’m focused on Se pt e mb e r. Pe ople will be accustomed to being without masks, and with fewer restrict ions. I t h i n k t hat would start to be our sweet spot.” A nd , of c ou r s e, there were some bu re auc r at ic headaches. W hile the initial easing of state regulations allowed all bowli ng alleys to open John LaSpina said his family members and their staff are ready to throughout the state at welcome yours to help Queens residents get out of the house for the same time, their Maple Lanes RVC site some indoor fun. Chronicle Contributor

The bowing industry took a hit like most others during Covid-19, but the regulars and some casual players at JIB Lanes in Flushing are beginning to head back to the alleys. Queens has several FILE PHOTO BY STEVE FISHER bowling alleys welcoming customers back and ready to book events. across the Nassau County line in Rockville puter relationships with. I can’t wait to see Centre could prepare and serve food, JIB some of them.” JIB Lanes is located at 67-19 Parsons Lanes, under stricter indoor dining regulations that applied to New York City at the Blvd. Information on hours, prices and spetime, could not until the guidelines were cial events is available on its website at maplelanes.com/jib or by phone at (718) loosened. LaSpina had a more drastic experience 591-0600. There are a handful of other bowling alleys when he went to Florida’s Gulf Coast, where in Queens. Whitestone Bowling Lanes sits at the family also owns bowling alleys. “They were so far ahead in terms of both 30-05 Whitestone Expwy. Information on business and the lifting of restrictions,” he hours, costs and bookings is available on its website at white said. “I went back stonebowlinglanes.com; t h e r e i n M a r ch , by phone at (718) 353after my quaranverall, business is 6300; via email at info@ t i ne, a nd I wa s slowly beginning to whitestonebowlinglanes. amazed to see how com; or by dropping in open it was. The come back — with an to visit in person. infection rate was Bowl 360 at 98-18 low and business emphasis on slowly.” Ro ck away Blvd . i n was good. — John LaSpina, second-generation Ozone Park also has a “It was the best bowling alley owner r e s t au r a nt , ba r a nd of times and the gaming arcade. Its webworst of times for a business owner. I was like ‘What’s going on site at bowl360.nyc features information on in New York?’ [Gulf] Coast folks are rene- prices, menus and booking information for parties and special events as well as its gade people!” Another aspect of the business he was Covid precautions. The phone number is anticipating this week was the International (718) 843-5553. Bowlero Lanes at 69-10 34 Ave. in WoodBowling Expo, in an industry-wide convenside can be reached at (718) 651-0440. Its tion being held in Louisville, Ky. “It’s our first convention in two years,” he website is bowlero.com. Astoria Bowl at 19-45 49 St. also is open said as one could almost hear him smiling for leagues, casual bowlers and events. It has over the phone. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I miss my a bar and cafe. Its website includes prices, colleagues. Think about this — I was 11 in event planning information and a list of its of 1960. I’ve been involved with the trade asso- Covid protocols at astoriabowl.com. Emails ciation since 1975 and I have lifelong can be sent to contact@astoriabowl.com. The Q friends who I’ve only had phone and com- phone number is (718) 274-1910.

“O

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The stand-up who stood up QED owner Crews brought back laughs after year of tears by Katherine Donlevy

Comedy clubs were not barred from putting on outdoor shows, howWhen New York City shut down ever. They just couldn’t charge for last year, many business owners them. “It was mind-boggling,” Crews decided to hunker down and weather the storm. But the storm raged for said, because New York State was much longer than anticipated, and allowing private events, outdoor thousands of homegrown storefronts dancing, bingo nights and other events where groups could gather. shut down for good. Despite suffering an astounding With comedy shows, guests typically 80 percent revenue loss, QED Astoria stick to their seats and don’t fraterwas one of those that made it nize like in those other events, she through. And though owner Kambri pointed out. Furthermore, restaurants and bars Crews makes it clear the fight is not over, she feels a certain level of relief were permitted to hire live musicians to have made it over the hump while to serenade customers as long as they could produce appropriate State so many others were left behind. “It’s been a terrible year for lots of Liquor Authority certification and people for lots of reasons,” Crews can keep a 12-foot distance between performers and the audience. Comereflected. QED is a lot of things — Crews dy shows, which can also accommorefers to it as a performance venue date those metrics, were not extended and learning center. Though lectures, that right, however. With the mentally of “thinking classes and workshops are offered at globally, but actthe locale, comei n g l o c a l l y,” dy shows have hinking globally, Crews turned to been at the foreSen. Deputy front of Crews’ but acting locally.” state Majority Leader battle during the Mike Gianar is pandemic. — Kambri Crews, comedian (D-Astoria) for Gov. Cuomo’s and QED owner help. reopening proCrews wrote a five-page plan for cess began last June and reached its final phase in mid-July. Phases stag- the safe reopening of not just comedy gered reopenings for outdoor eating, clubs, but for the arts. The plan was then indoor eating, hotels, schools approved by the SLA and the state and more. Comedy clubs were Department of Health, but it died when it reached Cuomo’s desk. He excluded from each phase. did n’t reject it, he just never That’s when Crews got involved. “When Phase Four hit, I, along addressed it. “To this day I’m astounded at Cuowith a lot of other venues, started doing outdoor comedy shows,” she mo’s willful neglect and ignorance in said, adding that other counties addressing it,” Crews said. She continued to work with Giathroughout the state had begun doing the same. “Six or eight weeks after naris — who called Crews a “trusted Phase Four unrolled, [Cuomo] actu- leader in our small business commually said, ‘No you can’t charge tickets nity and a relentless advocate who for comedy.’ And he specifically approaches advocacy with a resilient spirit and a smile for all” — in craftcalled out comedy.” Associate Editor

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Kambri Crews, left, owner of QED Astoria, not only kept her performance venue alive during the pandemic, but advocated for other entertainment business owners to earn a living. Her husband, Christian Finnegan performs PHOTOS COURTESY KAMBRI CREWS at one of QED’s outdoor shows, right. ing a bill that would ease the financial burden many small businesses have shared over the last year: the inability to pay rent. The legislation relieves certain commercial leaseholders from paying rent, utility expenses, taxes or any other fees owed during the pandemic if they we re requ i red to shut dow n operations. The bill passed the state Senate before the legislative session ended, but did not get Assembly approval. “Rent is really the key issue here because it is so astronomical,” Crews said. Crews threw herself into researching small business grants and writing applications, which she said turned into a full-time job in itself. Then she was hit with another tragedy: the death of her deaf father inside a Texas prison. Now in addition to battling Cuomo, Crews was battling the state of Texas for continuing to detain her father even though he had qualified for parole. “I don’t even feel like I’ve had a

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moment to breathe,” Crews said. But persevere she must. To keep her business alive, Crews tried a few Zoom shows. While fun at first, the attendance began to teeter until producing the shows became more work than reward. During the holiday season, she rented out a corner of her venue and operated as a gift shop where local vendors were encouraged to sell their wares. The pop-up bazaar featured shopkeepers who couldn’t afford their own venue or didn’t have the inventory to sustain their own space. The project proved successful — the neighborhood sought out the locally crafted products to show support for small businesses during an especially trying year. Now, QED is finally back with a full house — well, sometimes. Certain restrictions are still in place to maintain the spread of the virus. The venue can support 100 percent capacity if all of the audience members and performers are vaccinated. If not, QED can only accommodate 33 per-

cent capacity. To capitalize on the loosened capacity, but to welcome all guests, Kambri has separated shows: some are all vaccinated and some are for “mixed company.” Luckily, Crews has been approved for funding from the Shuttered Venue Grant program, which is being run by the federal Small Business Administration and administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants can qualify for as much as 45 percent of their gross earned revenue. Despite the incredibly tough year filled with “rage and grief,” Crews says there’s been a silver lining: seeing her neighborhood come together to support and stand up for one another. Though not out of the storm yet, Crews is optimistic for the future. And a lesson she took away from the ongoing fight is to stand up for yourself. “Be aware and try to be part of solution and not the problem,” she Q said.

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Staffing and support vital to landmarks Historical houses survive yet another turning point by Deirdre Bardolf Chronicle Contributor

Queens is home to many historical landmarks and some of the oldest homes in the state. They have survived wars, fires, industrialization, threats of demolition and now, another pandemic. The Covid-19 crisis closed the historic sites to the public for months and they are still navigating how to serve the public in-person and at increased capacities. The pandemic altered how they do business and posed new challenges for the nonprofits, but also inspired improvements and versatile, inclusive prog r a m m i ng. M a ny ke pt s t a f f employed to work behind the scenes and keep up with the changing times. Historical homes such as the Kingsland Homestead, the Bowne House, the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House and the Louis Latimer House transitioned to online programming, and overwhelming participation from the community surprised organizers and kept the places up and running for over a year. Jeran Halfpap, education and outreach coordinator for the Queens Historical Society at the Kingsland Homestead, says the QHS started virtual programming using Google Meet, then transitioned to Zoom and quickly reached the 100 people maximum, so it started streaming on YouTube. “I’ve gotten pretty good at broadcasting,” said Halfpap. “We’ve kept our programming going because we want to stay present in the community,” he said. Although the society is still gauging how comfortable the community is to gather in person, it is continuing virtual events including a tour of the Queens Pride parade route in Jackson Heights and a “Historic Houses of Queens” book talk with author

Rob MacKay. Flushing’s Bowne House, which was built in 1649 and is the oldest building in Queens, kept all of its staff in place throughout the museum closures, working to create a stronger online presence, said Grace Friary, a PR consultant for the house. “A new website was initiated and programs for people of all ages,” said Friary. “Portals that had not been in place before gave people a chance to experience the richness of the Bowne House.” The success of online programming doesn’t mean it has been easy to stay afloat, as many programs are free or cost only $3 to $5, like at the Kingsland Homestead. “It was very difficult to secure funding,” said Jason Antos, president of the QHS, the nonprofit that owns the Kingsland Homestead. “We did our best to not lay off or fire any staff members because we did not think that that was appropriate to do, especially during a national crisis,” he said. At the King Manor Museum in Jamaica, home of anti-slavery advocate and signer of the Constitution Rufus King, the executive salary was cut to maintain the other staff and even hire some new people: a bookkeeper and a bilingual education specialist to assist the education director. Thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program and small-business loans, as well as the extra time allotted while being closed to the public, King Manor invested in some new office equipment and finally began drafting an official strategic plan, something that didn’t exist in the museum’s 121-year history, said Executive Director Kelsey Brow. Since reopening, it also has a renovated upstairs space that is open to the public for the first time and fea-

The Onderdonk House in Ridgewood, left, and the Bowne House in Flushing.

Rufus King was an American Revolution veteran, a framer and signer of the United States Constitution, a U.S. senaPHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF tor, ambassador to England and vocal anti-slavery advocate. tures contemporary art exhibits, importance of the surrounding comincluding one presented by the South munity, especially this past year. “It was so important that commuQueens Women’s March. Brow says she focuses on making nity partners supported each other,” King Manor a community center said Monte. “We had to reinvent all where staff is paid a living wage, of our events to make sure our staff and the public were which she says is lacksafe,” she said. ing in museums. Even Monte said the socipart-time staff at King t’s safer ety had to dip into its Manor can opt in for reserves to support retirement benefits, to move staff and operating which the employer expenses. About half matches. “I think the gradually.” of its funding is covmuseum should be — Ran Yan, Latimer ered by the cit y what the people around House Museum Department of Culturit want it to be,” said al Affairs but the rest Brow. During the pandemic, they hosted giveaways of PPE is from admissions and fundraising. and menstrual products and offered a “Thank goodness we had been preparing for the last 10 years for confood pantry. Linda Monte, president of the tingencies,” said Monte. The society Greater Ridgewood Historical Soci- increased the cost of programming ety, which operates the Vander-Ende slightly but was assisted by the city, Onderdonk House, also stressed the partnerships and sponsors, including local banks. Now the Onderdonk House is booked almost ever y weekend through the summer for special events and weddings, even some that were booked for last year and were canceled or postponed. Staff had returned deposits and money to patrons and are happy to see some rebooking their events. “We see people coming back and excited and now booking into 2022,” said Monte. The Bayside Historical Society, which operates out of the Castle in Fort Totten Park, also offers space to rent. “Hopefully we start to get the PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF, LEFT; COURTESY PHOTO

“I

bookings again from schools and we start to get the rental space used,” said Paul DiBenedetto, president of the society. The BHS is using the summer months, typically a slow season, to plan fall events like this year’s 20th annual Totten Trot 5K Run/Walk, which will return on Oct. 31. Like many of the historical societies, it will continue looking for sponsors and fundraising opportunities. Kingsland Homestead is trying to do the same. “One of the challenges we are facing right now is that we are looking for board members. It’s absolutely necessary for cultural institutions to have people who are able to support us with more than just attendance, but also skills, passion and a desire to advocate for us,” said Halfpap of the QHS. “Membership is also an important factor in making sure that cultural institutions like ours are supported by the community, and postCovid, that has been difficult.” As a public relations specialist for nonprofits, Friary emphasized the need for private support in addition to state and federal funding because the latter can’t be relied on monthly. “Donors and members are people that you can rely on and if they’re happy, you’re seeing them renew memberships, you’re seeing an uptick in their giving,” said Friary. She attributes some of the piqued interest in the historical sites to the growing popularity of ancestral and continued on next page

C M CEL page 15 Y K Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021

Historical houses hang in continued from previous page genealogical research and at-home DNA tests. She said that people have recently discovered that they are descendants of the Bowne family and links that to the “good fortune” the site has seen. Onderdonk, too, has received inquiries about Queens ancestry and has a resource room full of index cards that provide information on former residents and books that detail all the old roads, residents and businesses of Queens throughout decades. It also offers a digitized German Genealogy Index on their website. Many of the historical houses are keeping up with virtual programming and offering tickets in advance so that they can maintain crowds, inching towards accommodating walk-ins. In the meantime, those with outdoor space are taking advantage of it. At the Louis Latimer House in Flushing, one outdoor installation in the gardens is inspired by the African-American inventor’s blueprint for the light bulb and it actually illuminates when people approach it. A second exhibit, named after Latimer’s poem “My Soul will be a Star,” honors the resiliency of immigrant communities throughout the pandemic and times of racial reckoning. Latimer House Museum Executive Director Ran Yan says the staff are looking forward to reopening the house on July 2 and operating on Fridays and Saturdays. “It’s safer to move gradually,” she said. They will

Rufus King opposed slavery and employed his staff, whose tasks are depicted in some PHOTO BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF parts of his home. also be launching another fundraising campaign on July 4 for the Friends of Lewis Latimer House Museum. “For a small museum like ours, especially celebrating a Black inventor, we need more support and investment,” said Yan. “Not just for the Latimer House, also organizations similar to us.” Antos of the Queens Historical Society said they, too, are getting ready for the big reopening, of the Kingsland Homestead in September. “There’s a lot of historical sites across the borough that need attention and support and sponsorship, and that’s where QHS is going to try and help out as best we can,” he said. Information on upcoming events, protocols and more can be found on the websites Q for all the houses.

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The great outdoors is waiting for you From Jamaica Bay to the Queens Farm, open spaces provide escape by Deirdre Bardolf Chronicle Contributor

After a year of virtual programming and canceled events, outdoor oases in Queens are welcoming people back in old and new ways for a summer everyone hopes will look very different from last. Even as the city Parks Department copes with budget cuts, crowds are still flocking to open spaces and other outdoor recreation sites that provide solace and an escape from urban settings. The Queens County Farm Museum has tripled attendance in its summer camp program for the second year, thanks to a partnership with Commonpoint Queens, and for the first time, it will be operating three different farm stands through the fall: one on site, one at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and another at Queens Borough Hall. “I think agrotourism had a real burst of energy,” said Jennifer Waldrin Weprin, executive director of the farm museum. The Queens Botanical Garden is hosting outdoor graduation ceremonies for the first time and experiencing an increased demand for its wedding rental space. The garden’s revamped farm volunteer program has transformed its agricultural space, and it will be welcoming about 50 interns across different departments as part of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program. “Our mission is to create as many opportunities as possible so that we can give the people the opportunity to come and enjoy the garden,” said Er yn Hatzithomas, community engagement manager at the QBG. The positions get filled immediately and they see people return again and again, she said. “We’re hoping to inspire the next generation of people who want to work at nonprofits and support them,” said Hatzithomas.

Terry Rogers examines a specimen during a Wildflower Wednesdays walk, right, at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, led by Park Ranger Audrey Bartow. More events are held on weekends. PHOTOS BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF The botanical garden was closed for four months last spring, halting events and school trips. The education department there typically sees upwards of 30,000 students in a normal year, providing a huge amount of revenue, according to Dylan House, public programs manager at the garden. Education staff instead adapted their programs to provide virtual options three to four times a week. During the QBG’s peak season, it typically has around 100 employees, including educational staff, the horticulture team, admissions and other seasonal staff, but because the shutdowns landed around the same time, it was down to just about 35. “All those people that were either onboarded already or were about to be on-boarded couldn’t be because we closed in March,” said House. Over the summer, though, the garden offered nutrition education programs to families, partnered with the La Jornada and Together We Can Food Pantry at the Queens Museum,

and partnered with the Elmhurst/ Corona Recovery Collaborative, donating 7,500 pounds of food to local organizations. Partnerships spurred by the pandemic also helped the Queens County Farm Museum keep up its farm operations, like the apiary, the largest in New York City. “We received funding from Richmond County Savings Foundation and also from the Clif Bar Family Foundation. Those were new funders that aligned with our organization to help us carry on the important environmental work that we do,” Weprin said. At Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, 20 percent of income was lost with the cancellation of the annual fundraiser at founder Mark di Suvero’s art studio. “I think many organizations experienced this,

Astoria residents Alex Mitchell and Anna Cherubin enjoy a sunny day at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, left, while Queens Botanical Garden farm interns Mikaela Charalambous of Astoria and Theo Piccone of Brooklyn get some work done.

A lt houg h overall v isit at ion but we saw a slight dip in funding from foundation funders as well,” throughout the federally run Gateway said Julia Metro, director of develop- National Recreation Area declined, ment and communication at Socrates. the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge saw The park did remain open to the pub- increased visitors, said public affairs lic throughout the pandemic, featur- specialist Daphne Yun in an email. In ing art exhibits that are created pri- 2019, almost 150,000 people went to the park and in 2020, almost 260,000 marily on-site. Socrates is now displaying Guada- visited. “The [Centers for Disease lupe Maravilla’s “Planeta Abeulx,” Control and Prevention] has noted that being physically wh ich d raws on active is one of the ancestral and indigebest ways to keep the nous healing rituals, am in New mind and body and Paul Ramírez York City and healthy,” Yun pointed Jon a s’ “ Et e r n a l out. Flame,” a monument I could be Li m it e d r a nge r that offers five functours have resumed at tional barbecue grills anywhere.” the wildlife refuge, that are open to the and it offers a Wildpublic and surrounded — Terry Rogers f lower Wednesday by picnic tables. The park also offers socially distanced walking tour for up to 10 people. events like yoga and healing sound Kew Gardens resident Mary Holdampf was happy to attend the in-perbaths, all free to attend. “Socrates just has a lot of different son walk after months of taking a stuff for different people,” said Anna flower essence course that included Cherubin of Astoria, who breaks up Zoom participation. “I tried to do the Zoom thing, her work-from-home days by going to because that’s the only way I kept in the waterfront oasis. Even as the city Parks Department touch with anybody. I don’t like it,” budget was cut by $84 million for the said Holdampf. Terry Rogers travels from Manfiscal year that began in July 2020, people still wanted to get outdoors. hattan to the wildlife refuge to someWeprin said the Queens Farm saw times learn from the workshops but increased visitation last fall, which most of the time likes to take walks mirrored the fall of 2019. “That and meditate by herself. “You’re in this kind of a place and helped keep our organization healthy for the rest of the fiscal year,” she it’s quiet and you say to yourself, I said. “It gave us a solid base to am in New York City and I could be scramble from once Covid abruptly anywhere,” said Rogers. “It’s very Q healing and stabilizing to me.” ended our business activities.”

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Gyms went to the mat for their clients Retaining memberships and rediscovering fealty by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

W hile some establish ments involved in the fitness industry were knocked out cold by the Covid-19 pandemic, others, in true survival-ofthe-fittest form, have lived to see another round. Among the Queens establishments that have emerged intact — some newly invigorated, in fact — are several venues that are part of a far-reaching health club chain, a bodybuilding mecca that had only recently reopened at its new location, and a family-owned and run training center. Each, in its own way, made it through the seemingly endless dark days when gymnasiums were strictly off-limits, doing what had to be done as restrictions slowly eased and, just days ago, were lifted across the state. Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano noted in a telephone interview that the fitness industry was among the first to be shut down and among the last to be allowed to reopen. Prior to the mandate to close, he sensed its imminent arrival. With 120 franchises already open or in development, including 14 in the city and five in the borough, he knew something had to be done to save as many as possible. One of his first moves was to set up a webinar, a web-based video conference, with the owners of the individual franchises, letting them know that “if the worst was to occur we were going to go through it together.” He told them to stop spending money on marketing, that he would take care of that for them. And, perhaps most importantly, he said he

waived all fees until the gyms could reopen. “We kept our commitment,” he said. For members, he said he put into effect a “no-stress, no-call freeze,” letting them know there was no need to worry about their memberships. Once the gyms would reopen, they could unfreeze their memberships with a simple telephone call. Alfano is proud of his contributions to New York State’s guidelines for health and safety in gymnasiums. “I want to believe we were one of the influences” on the regulations put into effect by the state, he said. In late August of last year, the state began to lift some restrictions and the gyms were given permission to partially reopen. “We worked in advance with the state and were not caught off-guard,” he said, unlike many businesses both in the fitness industry and elsewhere. Over the past several months, restrictions were slowly eliminated further. “Once we reopened, we never had to close” again, he said. Even during the closure, Alfano said, the company used technology “to stay engaged with our members,” even allowing nonmembers “to participate in our app for at-home fitness.” Still, the pandemic did take its toll on the chain. With no financial relief from either the state or federal governments, private owners “took it on the chin,” Alfano said, adding that about a dozen franchises were lost in New York State alone. But, he said, membership is now up 76 percent for the year to date compared to what it was in 2019, prior to the pandemic. In addition, he

Pushups are part of a workout at Retro Fitness, owned by Andrew Alfano, COURTESY PHOTOS inset, with several locations in Queens.

A judo class at the International Training Center of New York — “more than just a fight gym” — with founder and head COURTESY PHOTO coach Greg Gutman at center right in the middle row, in white. said, there has been an increase in seven days a week. According to Rizvi, things are interest on the part of investors looknow pretty much back to normal, ing to open new franchises. “We look forward to getting peo- with Coliseum’s 15,000 members ple back on the fitness journey,” he returning in large numbers. In fact, the gym, which said. had long catered Coliseum Gym primarily to hardhad been a maine relied on the core bodybuilders stay in Middle Viland weightlifters, lage for some 20 loyalty of our is now welcoming years before shutstudents.” “a w h ole n e w ting its doors at c r owd ,” R i z v i that location and — Danny Gutman of the said. reopening in 2018 International Training Center T he I nter naon Jamaica Avetional Trai n i ng nue in Woodhaven, under a slightly altered name, Center of New York, a mixed martial Coliseum Gym 2.0, and with a new arts academy located in Astoria, which offers classes in fitness, judo, general manager, Shabeer Rizvi. It didn’t take long for the newly Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reopened establishment to close, in faced similar challenges, but was March of 2020, courtesy of Covid- able to overcome them with support 19. The gym remained completely from what some might consider to be shut down until the following Sep- a remarkable source. The center’s web page indicates tember, but managed to stay afloat, according to Rizvi, through finan- that “it’s more than just a fight gym cial assistance from the Small Busi- — it’s a community.” And it was that ness Association. And, he said, “The community — the center’s students landlord was kind enough to freeze — who came to its rescue in its time of need. the rent.” According to one of the instrucRizvi — whose Facebook page is filled with inspirational messages, tors, Danny Gutman, son of founder like, “Work hard for you and your and head coach Greg Gutman, “We own goals. Progress will come,” and relied on the loyalty of our students “Always be the hardest worker in the to the staff and school.” He explained room” — made it clear in a recent in a recent telephone interview that telephone interview that “We had to “over 50 percent decided to not cut hang in there no matter what,” their memberships.” A glance at the ITC’s Facebook admitting, “It was a tough time.” Beginning last September, the page reveals a close relationship gym began to open little by little, between the center and many of with limited capacity and limited those st udents, with whom it hours. It is now open 24 hours a day, remained in constant communication

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throughout the pandemic. On March 11 of last year, the center put out the following message: “We want everyone to know we are taking precautions to keep everyone happy and healthy. We will continue to monitor the situation and do whatever we can to ensure people can still come and train while staying safe.” The very next day, it announced, “In light of the recent outbreak, we have decided to prioritize the health and safety of our students and those around them. The academy will temporarily be closed beginning Friday, 3/13 until Monday, 3/16.” Of course, the closure extended well beyond that. Greg Gutman opened the center in 2000, with the goal in mind of getting adults in shape and instilling confidence and life skills in children. As its name implies, it has a diverse student body, with members hailing from all over the globe. While the facility was closed, the center began offering socially distanced outdoor classes, while sticking to the guidelines set by the state, Danny Gutman said. “We wanted to open as soon as possible,” he said, while acknowledging that “gyms are among the top ways to spread” viruses like Covid19. “We were wary about opening up too quickly.” Now that all restrictions have been lifted, he expects the academy to make a full comeback. And there is even a teaser on its Facebook page that suggests, “The Parkjitsu era might be over, but we will be back Q next year. Stay tuned.”

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This is one of many awards Jamaica Hospital has received for delivering high-quality care

Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to be named one America’s Best 250 Hospitals by Healthgrades

Other recent awards include

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Serving our patients and the community in a way that is second to none

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021 Page 22

C M CEL page 22 Y K BACK TO BUSINESS

Centers shared a pre-existing condition QPAC and APEC were doing major renovations when Covid hit by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

Over the past 15 months, countless businesses of every sort and variety struggled to remain afloat while dealing with the difficulties imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some were ultimately forced into oblivion by obstacles they simply could not overcome. Imagine, then, what it would be like to have to deal not only with the virus but also with the prospect of being caught in the middle of a major renovation at the same time. Two of the borough’s prime destinations for families seeking respite from the daily grind, Queensborough Performing Arts Center and Alley Pond Environmental Center, found themselves in just such a situation. But thanks to the foresight and determination of their respective guiding lights, both QPAC and APEC made it through and are now looking forward to the future with renewed optimism. For QPAC, the journey through the dual challenges began in November 2018, when the theater complex, located on the campus of Queensborough Community College in Bayside, was completely shut down for reconstruction, according to Executive and Artistic Director Susan Agin. “We looked at it as a good opportunity to expand and for the community to enjoy the arts,” she said. “Other places would just shut down, but we got busy. We took our shows on the road. We put on our turbo jets to keep the music playing.” Performances that would have been offered at the theater were spread out to venues across the borough, from Jackson Heights and Astoria to St. Albans and Jamaica. According to Agin, it was estimated that construction would last until May 2020. “We knew it wasn’t going to be ready in the time originally expected,” she said. “We knew it

would take at least a few more months.” So, she said, “I started planning for the lack of accessibility years before” the project actually began. “I began to cultivate a culture of going to different places to experience QPAC on the road,” she said. “We try to bring communities together through live music.” When the pandemic broke, reno- able to reopen its doors in December, vations were already underway and Agin decided, for the time being, the ongoing until the authorities halted best way to resume live performances all construction sometime last spring, was by holding them outdoors. Thus was born QPAC’s Drive-In Agin said. All live performances had come to Summer Concert Series, which held a sold-out doo-wop concert at the Bay a halt on March 6, she said. By April, the theater reinvented Terrace Shopping Center on May 23. itself as an online attraction. “It took “It was so hopeful, it brought tears to me two weeks to convert my apart- our eyes,” Agin said. Coming up next, on June 27, will ment into a studio,” Agin said. “And it took me two weeks to learn to be The Sensational Soul Cruisers, which Agin describes as a high enertransmit virtually.” And she only got better at it as gy Motown/disco/R&B group. Attendees must arrive in automotime went on. “If you watch, you can see the progression from when we biles. They will be given a spot for started virtually until today — it’s their car, from which they may see and hear the convery sophisticatcert, and a second ed,” she said. spot, right next to But for Agin, e put on our it, for those who the virtual proprefer to set up a grams were not turbo jets to picnic-style viewenough. “I knew we weren’t reachkeep the music i ng opt ion . A number of restauing some of our playing.” rants in the shops e n io r s ,” w h o ping center are make up a large — Queensborough Performing participating in portion of the cenArts Center Executive and the event and will ter’s in-person Artistic Director Susan Agin deliver orders to audiences. “They the cars. needed u s t he It will be “a special, special time,” most.” So, she “started working with QPTV and I was able to upload our Agin promised. For further information and to programs so they’d air on TV.” With a tip of the hat to theatrical order tickets, go to visitqpac.org or artists, she said, “I strongly believe if call (718) 631-6311. One could say the saga for APEC you can’t count on the creatives, who can you count on? When the theater began about a year later, in December went dark, I had to figure out another 2019, when, according to Executive way to serve our mission. The same Director Irene Scheid, the center temporarily left behind its headquarters was true with the pandemic.” Estimating that the center will be in Douglaston and began operating

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One wall activity at the Alley Pond Environmental Center allows kids (of all ages!) to compare their arm spans to the wingspans of several large birds that live in New York. (No, your reach will not match that of a bald eagle.) The new PHOTO AND RENDERING COURTESY APEC center, right, in its old location, is expected to open about this time next year.

The first show in the Queensborough Performing Arts Center’s summer-long drive-in concert series drew crowds to the Bay Terrace Shopping Center May PHOTOS COURTESY DOMINICK TOTINO 23. The next will be June 27. out of a new home in Oakland Gardens as construction got underway. The locations are at opposite ends of the sprawling park. An opening day celebration at the new site was held in January 2020. Two months later, the doors had to be closed because of the outbreak. Along the way, construction had to be interrupted twice because of pandemic restrictions. Scheid indicated that the entire job was to have taken 18 months, providing new geothermal heating and cooling systems for the center as well as opportunities for expanded classes and events. Reopening was scheduled for “just about now,” Scheid said. Instead, it will likely happen around this time next year. Following the closure, the center “switched very quickly to virtual — Facebook — then we caught on to the Zoom train,” Scheid said. And so it went through this past September when the center reopened its doors for in-person visits on a limited basis. Since then, it has offered a combination of virtual and on-site events. Because of the circumstances, APEC was forced to let go of twothirds of its staff, cutting down from a total of 40 to the current 16, including eight full-timers, who remained employed throughout, and eight additional staff members who have since been brought back, Scheid said. The pandemic also took a financial toll. “We lost two galas,” Scheid said, referring to the center’s major fundraising events that take place each April, costing the organization an estimated $100,000. In their place, she plans to hold an outdoor folk music concert on Sept.

18 “to raise some of our much-needed funds.” With details forthcoming, the event will be open to the public. And school trips, which often brought 150 students to the center each day, had to be canceled. “We’re hopeful next school year we’ll be back on track again,” Scheid said. The virus has actually had some positive effects on the center, too. Whereas its visitors had previously been limited almost entirely to New Yorkers, its virtual programming has widened its reach, with followers from as far away as Michigan and Florida. And, when the new center opens, the electrical mechanics will be visible to visitors, becoming part of the center’s lessons on sustainability, Scheid said. Now located at 224-65 76 Ave. in Oakland Gardens, the center, a nonprofit environmental educational organization, is gearing up for a summer filled with attractions for both children and adults. Among those are both indoor and outdoor activities, including the ongoing Sunny Bunnies Program, part of APEC’s early childhood curriculum, aimed at nurturing a love of science and nature in 3- and 4-year-olds. Adult programs include Bite the Buzz, a multimedia presentation on how to develop mosquito-reduced home zones (July 8, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., $5) and a guided walk under the full moon on July 23, from 8 to 9:15 p.m. ($10). The center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 on weekdays and at varying hours on weekends. For further information, visit alleypond.org or call Q (718) 229-4000.

C M CEL page 23 Y K

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C M CEL page 24 Y K BACK TO BUSINESS

Physical therapists had the right touch Telehealth visits were one answer for patients who stayed home by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

As many businesses, particularly small, privately owned ones, struggled to stay open during the Covid-19 pandemic, that time-honored proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention” began taking on increasingly meaningful relevance. Witness the cases of Dr. David Jung, owner of Lion Physical Therapy, and Dr. Teddy Neamonitis, owner of Millennium Physical Therapy. As specialists offering hands-on healthcare services, they faced certain pandemic challenges that some other business people did not. Jung opened his office in Long Island City just two and a half years ago. He prides himself on working one-on-one with each patient, with treatments that range from deep connective tissue massage and joint mobilization to deep muscle therapy and therapeutic exercise. Overnight, all that seemed to change, and Jung, known to his patients familiarly as Dr. David, had to come up with ways of staying connected to them, eventually relying to a large extent on the telehealth approach. “I helped guide the assessment and self-treatment,” he said, admitting, “It was very hard to diagnose because I wasn’t physically there.” Poor lighting and camerawork in patients’

Dr. David Jung works with a patient at Lion Physical Therapy in Long Island City, left. At right, the equipment at Millennium Physical Therapy, COURTESY PHOTOS owned by Dr. Teddy Neamonitis, inset. homes often added to the challenge. In addition, many patients simply didn’t have space in which to do their exercises. So, Jung became what he described in a recent telephone interview as “super-creative.”

He advised his patients on how to use items found around the house to help them with their workouts: fruits, particularly heavy ones, became their makeshift dumbbells; heavy boots were used as ankle weights.

Jung said his office never fully closed during the pandemic, though for a time it was open only two days a week as opposed to the usual six. continued on next page

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continued from previous page “I did everything I could to keep the ship afloat,” he said. He admits it wasn’t easy. He found himself dipping into his savings to pay the rent, while also receiving some financial help from family. Jung recognizes that, during the pandemic, “I had too much time on my hands.” So, he “studied a lot of marketing and listened to podcasts,” which he found very helpful in his line of work. “We all shared what we were going through,” he said. And he also took some online courses. “I had to make a lot of changes,” including “getting the word out to my patients to help them feel a little more at ease” about returning to his office, he said. “People were scared to come out of their houses,” he said. “It took awhile. Now, the business is fully open again. Looking back on the past 15 months, Jung said, “It was a period of growth. I came up a little stronger.” Neamonitis, like Jung, offers one-on-one care to his patients. He provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy, treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, fitness and strength conditioning and other services. He faced similar obstacles during the past 15 months and has, likewise, emerged from the pandemic seemingly unscathed. “One of the biggest challenges was being able to stay open and available to our com-

munity,” he said in an email interview. Dr. Teddy, as he is commonly referred to by his patients, has two offices, one in Astoria and the other in Brooklyn. “We saw a decrease in clients, as many refrained from coming in for the treatment they needed” during the pandemic, he said. Naturally, that “affected our cash flow.” The financial burden was at least partially relieved when the business was approved for a Paycheck Protection Program loan “to help maintain our staffing needs.” In addition to the cash crunch, Millennium Physical Therapy had some trouble obtaining enough personal protective equipment early in the crisis, Neamonitis said. Nonetheless, the business persevered. “We knew how important it was to stay open, especially in the beginning,” he said, with patients who were dealing with postsurgical issues or injuries in need of immediate attention to prevent their conditions from worsening. But many patients were reluctant to appear in person, he said. What to do? “We offered teletherapy to patients who were able to be guided to perform exercises remotely,” Neamonitis said. The approach captured approximately 50 percent of his patients during the first few months of the pandemic, he said. “In the past few weeks we have seen a significant increase in our visits,” as patients feel more comfortable being out, he said. Q

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Hybrid model is the future for an arts center To stay afloat during Covid, JCAL went digital

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021 Page 26

C M CEL page 26 Y K

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Like many cultural hubs, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, an organization founded in 1972, had to figure how to recalibrate its programming last year after the government shut it down due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We immediately pivoted to all things digital,” said Leonard Jacobs, the interim executive director of JCAL. “Our annual dance festival, which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts — that’s federal money and we didn’t want to give that back, so we pivoted it to something online.” JCAL used some of its funding to get camera equipment to film 11 choreographers for its dance festival, according to Jacobs. “We said, ‘We know you are not filmmakers, but we are going to provide you with technical assistance that we can and try to find in your bubble a way to rehearse outside in a park.’ We got all those pieces recorded and we uploaded it to our YouTube page and promoted it.” There was a lot of hand-holding, according to Courtney Ffrench, the interim artistic director at JCAL. “Dance choreographers don’t think of themselves as film directors,” said Ffrench. “We had to give them whatever tools or whatever time that they needed effectively to capture dance.” Some of the choreographers practiced their dance moves in their bedroom, in a garage or in their apartment stairwell. “We allowed for any idea,” said Ffrench. “We were like ‘Go for it.’ Once we did that, it opened up everything for everybody else. If you wanted to do something, it

didn’t really matter if you didn’t have the stage you needed, we were accepting of it. I think it worked out rather well.” Every aspect of JCAL, including its visual arts, performing arts and educational platform, went digital, according to Jacobs. “Coming into last summer, into the fall and really accelerating around the turn of this year we have very slowly started to open up in a hybrid way,” said Jacobs. “Where we can have an audience, whether it was outside or inside with masks at 20 percent, we started doing that while preserving everything by capturing it on livestream on YouTube.” At a board meeting on June 17, Jacobs spoke with other JCAL members who felt they have “been making lemonade for a year,” because not only was the art center able to retain its current visitors through the hybrid model, it was able to attract a new audience online. Just on YouTube, JCAL went from 100 to 1,100 subscribers with the help of Tyrel Hunt, the marketing manager at the arts center, within nine months. “We realized that not everybody wanted to be inside this year, even if it’s at a limited amount,” said Ffrench. “We erected a semi-permanent stage outside the [Jamaica Performing Arts Center] in front of the building that is 24 by 24 with rails.” The stage at JPAC, a performing arts space a few blocks away from JCAL, has been used for rehearsals, dance performances and concerts, according to Ffrench. “We have an afternoon performance by the Bartlett Contemporaries every Thursday this June and we have other festivals like a jazz festival, like a children’s festival and

JCAL Interim Artistic Director Courtney Ffrench, left, and Interim Executive PHOTOS COURTESY JCAL Director Leonard Jacobs.

The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning went digital this year by having some performances without an audience. It later had hybrid performances indoors at limited capacity with socially distanced outdoor events. PHOTOS BY TYREL HUNT more,” said Ffrench. “Now people its own arts center located at 161-04 f rom doi ng thei r work,” said are walking out by JPAC expecting Jamaica Ave. It had live and hybrid Jacobs. “It forced everybody to be to see something on stage every performances in April 2021 at JCAL inventive, resourceful, brave, smart weekend. It has become somewhat and JPAC, which is located at 153-10 and strategic.” Jacobs became JCAL’s executive of an attraction and that is one of the Jamaica Ave. Ffrench and Jacobs learned a few interim director last year too. He had best things that we have done.” a career as a playwright, theater The outdoor events are such a things from the experience. “For people in the arts, this was director, theater critic, arts and culsuccess that there are sometimes the most devastating ture journalist and director of the upward of 200 peothing they had ever Cultural Institutions Unit at the city’s ple at JPAC on a seen,” said Ffrench. Department of Cultural Affairs. He Thursday. The arts rtists are “I’m essentially a was raised in Kew Gardens Hills and center has also dancer and dancers is an alum of Jamaica High School. gained an audience never going couldn’t dance. For He currently lives in Astoria. from people in Calito be kept JCAL will be restar ting its our industry, it was fornia, New Delhi more catastrophic School of the Arts for the summer and even Myanmar down.” than we could ever on July 13. It runs through Aug. 21. online. imagine. We always The school has 40 different classes “We’ve had peo—Leonard Jacobs, JCAL thought not getting for children, teens, adults and ple standing and funding would be seniors that range from theater and dancing outside,” said Ffrench, who is prepared to the thing that was horrendous. This dance to ceramics, cartoon animation and more. keep the hybrid model going even totally surpasses that.” “Make a donation,” said Jacobs at Before becoming the interim after the restrictions are lifted. “We Q believe that more than likely there artistic director at JCAL last year, jcal.org. will another jump or spike [in Ff r e nch wa s a Covid-19 cases] and I think other c o n t e m p o r a r y businesses should have that as well. dancer for artists These are lessons and I think we like Lisa Lisa and need to learn them, and the surest Mariah Carey. He way to learn them is to be prepared.” also per for med Another factor to consider is if an m o d e r n d a n c e artist gets ill earlier in the day and overseas. He is would prefer to perform from home f rom K ingston, until they get better, according to Jamaica, and lived in Jamaica Hills Jacobs. “If we have the technological f o r a d e c a d e capability to deliver [a performance] before moving to from to a person’s computer, why Westbury, LI. “A r t i s t s a r e shouldn’t we do that?” said Jacobs. “It’s part of our mission to serve the never going to be kept down. Artcommunity.” In October 2020, JCAL started i s t s a r e n e ve r PHOTO BY TYREL HUNT streaming without an audience from going to be kept A pop-up dance class.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021 Page 28

C M CEL page 28 Y K BACK TO BUSINESS

A year of taking care of BIDness Biz organizations report vacancy rates have returned to normal by Max Parrott

“It was throughout the pandemic here and there, as a business closed, a new business The post-Covid business resurgence is came in,” Renz said. A similar narrative has played out along the underway in southwestern Queens. Executives of business improvement dis- Woodhaven BID area on Jamaica Avenue, tricts to the north and south of Forest Park where not only have many restaurants proven said that though many had expected cata- their hardiness, but new storefronts have strophic losses during the peak of the pan- sprouted in vacant properties at a fast clip. “The businesses are so incredibly resilient,” demic, their vacancy rates have stayed largely said Raquel Olivares, the Woodhaven BID’s consistent a year later. Myrtle Avenue BID Executive Ted Renz executive director. While the commercial strip’s elevated subsaid that though between 65 and 70 percent of way line and limited the businesses had to street and sidewalk temporarily close down space were not as condu r ing the peak of s a business closed, ducive to outdoor dinlockdown, a year later ing over the summer as the vacancy rate for the a new business the environ ment of district has returned to other neighborhoods 7 percent — almost came in.” was, most of the BID’s exactly what it was — Ted Renz, of the Myrtle Avenue BID restaurants began relyprior to quarantine. ing predominantly on In the course of the pandemic, the BID lost 30 businesses, Renz takeout. With restaurant owners by far the said. And while the cultural loss of a familiar most affected on the strip, Olivares described eatery or retailer is often incalculable, Renz with pride how many were able to adapt and said turnaround for the vacant properties was stay alive by completely changing their menus much faster than he would have imagined. In in order to cater to the new restrictions. She added that about five restaurants that their place, 30 more have opened up over the committed to outdoor dining and built up past year. Associate Editor

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Ted Renz and Raquel Olivares, executive directors of business improvement districts in Ridgewood and Woodhaven, respectively, say new business openings have kept up with the rate of COURTESY PHOTO, LEFT; FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN pandemic-related closures over the past year. sidewalk structures have kept them in place, with no immediate plans to downsize the new seating arrangements. “For them, it’s win win,” Olivares said. The appearance of the new structures created a need for BIDs to act as a liaison between the Depar tment of Transpor tation and restaurants. “We walked the district and talked with businesses to prevent them from getting tickets — like what distance from the street do tables need to be?” said Olivares. Last May, Olivares told the Chronicle that she had begun tallying reopenings in order to keep residents aware as businesses began to resume business during quarantine. As of May 2020, nearly two-thirds of businesses were still closed down, according to Olivares’ biweekly reporting. Though she did not have exact numbers to provide the Chronicle as of Monday, Olivares said the vacancy rate had returned to prepandemic levels. Olivares and Renz said that their BIDs’ weekly newsletters began to see greater readership over the past year, for both lists of new businesses and reopenings as well as up-todate information about the city and state’s phased-in approach to easing restrictions on rest au ra nts, ba rs a nd other t y pes of businesses. Renz also described his role as an envoy between city agencies and the district’s businesses, but said he was focused on making sure that shops had a plentiful stock of personal protective equipment. In all, the BID coordinated with the Department of Small Business Services to hand out over 35,000 masks to businesses. He and Olivares both described an uptick in graffiti within their districts, which raised concerns that for them that it would deter food traffic by giving off the perception of an increase in street crime. “So we spent considerably more money on that because of that vandalism issue,” Renz said.

In addition to vandalism, Olivares said that the BID had to make a concerted effort to fight a surge in illegal dumping along Jamaica Avenue. When the city cut $106 million from the Sanitation Department’s budget last June, it reduced pickups for public litter baskets in neighborhoods around the city. Queens West 9 Sanitation garage, which covers Woodhaven, had to reduce its pickups along the Jamaica Avenue business corridor from seven days a week to around three, and the trash began piling up. In response, the BID has regularly organized volunteer cleanups along Jamaica Avenue for the past year. Overall Olivares expressed her gratitude for Woodhaven’s electeds and civic organizations like the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society and the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, which have continued to partner with the BID to promote cultural events like the Make Music New York concert it held on Monday, which brought dozens of patrons out to the strip’s central plaza. “Having their support made it much easiQ er,” she said.

Two volunteers clean up Jamaica Avenue during an event the Woodhaven BID organized in FILE PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT August.

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Edge School of the Arts goes virtual Dance school loses studio, but intends to find new one in the fall by Naeisha Rose

years, ESOTA had to shut down its dance studio located at 217-12 MerEdge School of the Arts in Laurel- rick Blvd. after it sat empty for six ton has its 25th anniversary on the months following the government horizon for June 27 at 7 p.m. But it shutdown in March 2020. “I would say we paid $70,000 in took a lot for the school to bounce back after having to shut down dur- rent during that time,” said Edge. ing the pandemic in March 2020 and “We got a small [Paycheck Protection lose not just its dance studio, but also Program] loan, but it didn’t help much.” a dance mom. ESOTA received $33,000 in PPP, “She was one of our baby class moms and she was also a member of but because of the lack of revenue the legacy,” said ESOTA Artistic due to the coronavirus pandemic, it Director Kerri Edge about Sharon no longer made sense for the artistic Green Garrett, the Fresh Meadows director who operates the dance dancer and dance mom who died school with her older sisters, Donna from Covid-19 in March 2020. “We Edge-Rachell and Wendy Edge, and come from Bernice Johnson’s Dance their mother, Beverly Edge. “We were studio and she not bringing in was from e n o u g h there as well.” e got a small PPP income to pay Bernice the bills,” said Johnson was a loan, but it didn’t Edge. “We did legendary keep the staff.” dancer from amount to much.” T h e the Cotton — Kerri Edge, Edge School of the Arts ESOTA staff Club era (1923 regrouped and to 1940), who broke color barriers as one of the first spent the months of April through Black dancers in the famed nightclub. June 2020 offering free virtual classShe went on to humbly open her own es so students could take the classes dance studio from her home’s base- via computer from the safety of their ment in Jamaica in the 1940s, and it homes and stay active, according to would later grow into a cultural arts Edge. “The loan helped us keep our staff center located at Sutphin Boulevard near the old Loew’s Valencia Theatre, on board and we received a donation which is now the Tabernacle of for five computers,” said Edge. “The whole thing was very strange. We are Prayer for All People church. The cultural arts center closed in used to being full to capacity at the 2000 when Johnson’s health declined. studio ... not seeing the students left The prolific dancer died in 2005, but me emotional.” The school usually has approxishe inspired former students from her school to go on and open their own mately 400 students a year, but operdance studios, including Edge who ating at 25 percent capacity virtually has helped to usher in a new genera- did make it easier to teach dancers tion of dancers at ESOTA since 1996. online, according to Edge. “It’s tougher to teach a larger However, for the first time in Associate Editor

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“W

class,” said Edge. “The smaller classes worked in that sense, but we are missing our people.” The dance school also had to cancel its 24th annual recital, a June money-making program students started practicing for last March that helps to provide for operating costs for the school for the following dance season, which is in the fall. The school fully paid for costumes, which never arrived last year because the Edge School of the Arts dance students perform at Agawam Park on Long Island for a Juneclothes shops went teenth celebration in West African inspired costumes. PHOTO COURTESY EDGE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS out of bu si ness, short dance films for the songs they concert, with tickets on sale for $25 according to Wendy Edge. via bit.ly/ESOTA-MOTOWN-25. “Things weren’t quite the same,” had practiced in March 2020. “We had rehearsals and classes During the Black Lives Matter Wendy said. “The kids didn’t have the usual opportunity to showcase protests, Councilman Daneek Miller online virtually and we have locatheir talents. And we missed seeing (D-St. Albans) reached out to tions where we rehearse and then ESOTA for a dance performance that shoot at Springfield Park,” said the end result.” In July 2020, ESOTA launched a would unveil a Black Lives Matter Edge. “We are also shooting all five-week summer session. The first mural in Jamaica in July 2020. over parks in Queens, which is “We wanted them to be a part of cool because a lot of the kids and four weeks the students were in practice mode and in the fifth week stu- the experience,” said Edge of the the parents have never seen some dents were filmed for a virtual short BLM performance. of the parks we are going to.” Later the dance school was comconcert, which included students The other parks in Queens either filming themselves at home missioned by Councilwoman Adri- i n clu d e Roy Wi l k i n s Pa r k , with the help of their parents or being enne Adams (D-Jamaica) for “The Socrates Sculpture Park, Athens filmed in-person as they gathered Free to be You and Me” concert in Park, Astoria Park, Queensbridge safely at outdoor locations wearing November 2020. This was followed Park, Gantry Plaza State Park and by a Kwanzaa performance earlier Roosevelt Island Park. Valley masks and socially distanced. “The kids had done short films this year, a little after the holiday. Stream State Park was also a locaMost recently, ESOTA students tion shoot for the concert. before. We did a dance movie we called ‘Four Little Girls,’ before, performed at Juneteenth events at The dance school is in the prowhich tells the 1963 bombing in Ala- Agawam Park on Long Island and at cess of opening a new studio. bama where the four little girls lost Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans. The “We have a new exciting parttheir lives,” said Edge, about the new dance school will be closing out its nership for September 2021,” said Q dance recital that became a series of 25th season with a virtual Motown Edge.

Dance teachers David Sincere Aiken, left, and Omar Edwards along with ESOTA Students at the unveiling of the Jamaica Black Lives Matter mural. Students of the Edge School of the Arts took virtuPHOTOS BY ROMAN GONZALEZ, LEFT; AND COURTESY EDGE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS al dance lessons online.

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Black Spectrum looks to past for future by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Black Spectrum Theatre, a professional theater company in St. Albans that caters to artists from the Black diaspora, was one month away from celebrating its 50th anniversary milestone when it shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and like many arts organizations last year, its festivities had to ground to a halt. “We were planning for that in March 2020 and it was to take place in April,” said Carl Clay, the founder of Black Spectrum Theatre. “Lou Gossett Jr., Leslie Uggams and Ben Vereen were all supposed to appear for our 50th, and all of that had to be canceled because of the pandemic.” Clay was disappointed by the cancellation of the golden anniversary of the theater, but knew he could not rest on his laurels. “We then proceeded to try to pivot and try to do different kinds of programming that would take advantage of the things we established over the years,” said Clay. “We created the ‘At Home Video Series.’” Clay went through years of archival footage of concerts, plays, comedy shows and more over the last 20 years and put together a video series online for Black Spectrum Theatre’s patrons starting in October 2020. It went on for 20 weeks. “That allowed us to put on some semblance of a program for people who frequent the the-

Theater pivots and perseveres ater,” said Clay. There were approximately 300 viewers each week, according to Clay. Another series in January 2021 went on for 10 weeks. Clay considered doing theater performances online, but it was not feasible. “It is hard to present a theater performance on Zoom,” said Clay. As Clay tried to come up with more ideas to prevent any gaps in material for his audience, he decided to use the pandemic to his advantage. “We created social programming about Covid and wearing a mask,” said Clay. “We did about four PSAs that we created that were very effective in making people knowledgeable about what is going on.” Unfortunately, he had to lay off three of his eight staff members. “Then we created some new programming and hoped and prayed that this thing would be over,” said Clay. He hopes to rehire his former staff in the fall. “We ultimately decided to do a program for the children of first responders,” said Clay. “It’s known as the Learning Lab.” Overseeing the Learning Lab at Majority Baptist Church in Jamaica was Stephanie Alcide, the site director of the Riverton Street

Charter School in St. Albans, according to Clay. She had worked throughout the pandemic. The Learning Lab, however, is to come to an end next week now that Covid-19 positivity rates are at an all-time low. “We served the parents of first responders and parents who had to go to work but their kids could not go to school in-person, but they didn’t want them at home doing hybrid learning,” said Clay. Clay used the theater to promote the importance of vaccination, and now that the staff is vaccinated, the theater has started doing outdoor programming. To celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month, Black Spectrum had a steel band and Dominican comedian Ruperto Vanderpool performing in the theater’s outdoor space on June 12. “People want to go outside and do things,” said Clay. For the month of June, there has also been a café series on Thursdays and Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m., also in the outdoor space at the theater. The event included spoken-word artists, the Gentlemen of Soul and other performances. “We also expanded our library of films for urban teens,” said Clay. “We created videos for teens as a response to the Learning Lab.” The videos address interactions with the

Black Spectrum’s outdoor cafe series perPHOTO BY TYREL HUNT formers.

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021

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police and handgun violence, and a series of animations explaining what Covid-19 is and how to prevent oneself from getting it. This year he hopes to incorporate parts of the 50th celebration plans into a jazz festival, on July 17 at St. Albans Park. “We have a stellar cast of celebrities and performing artists,” said Clay. “Last year’s celebration was supposed to be an evening of performances and awards at a Queens hotel.” Alyson Williams, Angie Stone and Norman Connors are just a few of the artists expected at the event. “It is a blessing to be able to do what we do Q and exist and survive,” said Clay.

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Queens Chronicle - Celebration of Queens 2021

Articles inside

Black Spectrum challenged at 50

Gyms were fi t to try new routines

JCAL went to digital entertainment

One dance school kept its ‘Edge’

Manhattan the key: biz leader

QPAC and APEC: already in fl ux

Physical therapists kept in touch

Bookstores tell their own tales

Pizza sales great when reheated