Queens Chronicle South Queens Edition 03-17-22 by Queens Chronicle

C M SQ page 1 Y K SOUTH QUEENS EDITION Serving Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, City Line and JFK Airport

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. XLV

NO. 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

QCHRON.COM

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Senior centers reopening a step at a time • Life with the ever-evolving virus situation • Social Security COLA deflated by infl ation SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

Queens drivers cope with prices nearing $5 per gallon PAGE 8 SCHOOL STABBING Police seek two in John Adams incident

PHOTO BY GREGG COHEN

PAGE 4

ROCK AND SOUL Culture Lab LIC embraces spring with outdoor concerts

As gas prices rise to the highest level in years, Queens residents are seeking alternatives to ﬁlling up the tank. While some are opting for public transportation, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon and ways to save on trips to the gas station.

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Efficiency is key in Adams economic plan Blueprint aims to streamline city agencies and aid small businesses

by Sophie Krichevsky

Associate Editor

ayor Adams unveiled his economic blueprint for the city at Hunts Point Market in the Bronx on March 10. Formally named the “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” the plan focuses on investing in the city’s business districts, job preparedness, infrastructure and supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities. As he has for weeks now, Adams emphasized his desire for the city to move past the Covid-19 pandemic. “It’s time to recover and move towards restarting our economy from businesses to Broadway,” he said last Thursday. Fittingly, Adams notes throughout the 63-page document that from crisis comes opportunity. As such, one of the mayor’s major points of interest is to spur life in the city’s retail corridors and tourism industries. In pursuit of that goal, Adams uses the blueprint to give additional lip service toward the Open Restaurant program, which played a crucial role in keeping res-

taurants open during the pandemic and has been the subject of debate in the City Council as of late. On top of that, the blueprint floats the idea of making a bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, among other events, arguing that it would both create jobs and bring tourists to the Big Apple. The blueprint does not note what venues could be used for the tournament. Similarly, the plan also calls for art installations and cultural events in order to support city artists. Adams also proposes that the city invest in its business improvement districts, paying close attention to supporting smaller BIDs with subsidies and fostering new ones. Ted Renz, executive director of the Myrtle Avenue BID in Ridgewood, was pleased with the mayor’s focus on small BIDs. “I’m glad that he sees the necessity for campaigning for — or advocating for — small businesses,” he said. “They’re the economic engines of the city — and for the country, for that matter.” Not only does the plan take BIDs into consideration, it also looks at how many centers of industry in the city have, in some respects, become

Among several infrastructure projects in his economic blueprint, Mayor Adams calls for the redevelopment of Hunts Point Market, the site of his announcement last week. NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO outdated during the pandemic. Adams therefore proposes that office buildings be converted into schools, labs or other public spaces. In growing business areas (he mentions Long Island City specifically), Adams notes the need to explore new infrastructure. On that topic, the blueprint pro-

poses several infrastructure projects that Adams believes would create more jobs and prepare the city’s students for the workforce. Perhaps most significant is his plan to build a Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island, where environmentalists will research the climate crisis and come up with green- and blue-

tech solutions. The plan estimates that the Center would create 7,000 new jobs while also edging the city closer to carbon neutrality. It also calls for redevelopment at Hunts Point, the site of last Thursday’s event. Another aspect of Adams’ plan to revitalize business corridors is to reinvigorate public space and prioritize clean streets. In his preliminary budget proposal, Adams docked significant funding from the Department of Sanitation, causing concern from environmentalists both Queens and citywide. Indeed, at Monday evening’s Queens Borough Board meeting, Borough President Donovan Richards advocated for increased cleanup in commercial areas and for additional funding for waste prevention, reuse and recycling programs, among other things. In addition to bringing traffic to commercial areas, the blueprint also emphasizes the need to aid small business, especially ones that are owned by women and minorities, as the plan notes the deep roots of syscontinued on page 12

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Ukrainian relief off to refugees in Poland Donors at Queens Council offices fill two trucks of food and supplies by Michael Shain Chronicle Contributor

On a frigid Sunday morning, Tony Di Piazza — owner of Fosdick Reality in Ridgewood — was giving directions in Italian to several young men loading trucks with relief supplies for Ukrainian refugees. Two U-Haul trucks parked outside his off ices on Fresh Pond Road f illed up quickly with food, bags of donated clothing, tents, bedding, dog food and toiletries. The goods are bound for Poland to help the hundreds of thousands of mostly women and children who are pouring over the border rapidly from wartorn Ukraine. Di Piazza, a longtime community leader and president of Federazione ItaloAmericana di Brooklyn and Queens, and leaders of other g roups had pledged $100,000 to relieve what has become the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the end of World War II. “We’re far away, but we’re glad to help in any way we can,” Di Piazza told reporters last Sunday. The supplies will be flown to Finland this week, then trucked to Warsaw for distribution to the border areas, Di Piazza said. If all goes according to plan, “they should be there by the end of next week,” he said. The supplies from Sunday’s Ridgewood

Tony Di Piazza, at podium, president of the Federazione Italo-Americana di Brooklyn and Queens, details the relief effort that has collected food, clothing and personal care items for Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland. Councilmen Jim Gennaro, left, and Bob Holden have PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN been spearheading a massive collection effort by city lawmakers. load-up are earmarked for Rzeszow, a large Polish city about an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border. The train station there is now a make-

shift medical center for fleeing families. Rzeszow is also the first stop in Poland where refugees can apply for visas to travel elsewhere in Europe.

A youthful diplomat from the Polish consulate in Manhattan, Consul General Adrian Kubicki, arrived early Sunday to thank the volunteers and praise the effort. O ver t he last t wo week s, several Queens councilmembers — including Francisco Moya (D-Corona), Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), Selvena BrooksPowers (D-Laurelton), Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens), Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) and Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) — used their district offices as Ukrainian donation centers, according to Councilmen Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) and Jim Gennaro (D-Kew Gardens Hills) [see separate story in some editions and at qchron.com]. “And it doesn’t stop here,” said Holden, who spoke to reporters as trucks were being loaded. The next big drive will be for medical supplies, Holden said. Not sur prisingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reputation did not fare well on the sidewalk outside Di Piazza’s real estate office. Holden painted the Russian leader as the arch villain of the unprovoked war in Europe that began three weeks ago. Gennaro agreed. “I don’t usually wish death on people on Sundays,” he said, but he was making an exception. Q “But we wish much ill on Putin.”

Suspects in assault outside HS wanted Two students injured near John Adams; police seek help identifying by Deirdre Bardolf

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Associate Editor

A stabbing took place across the street from John Adams High School in Ozone Park on Tuesday and two people are wanted in connection to the incident, according to police. “Two of our scholars were assaulted and sought shelter inside the school,” Principal Pedro Cubero wrote in a letter to parents. “We immediately notified the NYPD, our Borough Safety Director and School Safety as well as trained staff who administered first aid.” The letter continued, “We assure you that every precaution was taken and will continue to be taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff members.” According to police, just before 10:30 a.m. an unknown male walking with an unknown female allegedly approached a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old and stabbed the two male students. The 16-year-old male suffered a stab wound one time in the leg and one time in the back, and was transported by EMS to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in stable condition. The

17-year-old male suffered multiple stab wounds to the abdomen and was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition. Both suspects fled the scene and are currently being sought by police. The first unidentified person, who committed the assault, is described as a male with a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and light colored slippers with dark-colored socks. The woman with him is described as having a dark complexion and is approximately 5 feet tall. She was last seen wearing a light-colored sweatshirt, light-colored sweatpants, and a red hat. She was seen carrying a purple jacket in a surveillance video. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577, or by going to @nypdtips on Twitter. All tips are Q strictly confidential.

The above individuals are wanted in connection with an assault that occurred outside of John PHOTOS COURTESY NYPD Adams High School.

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Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Borough Hall sets budget priorities

Richards, community leaders want projected cuts restored, new spending by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Members of the Queens Borough Board are not enamored with Mayor Adams’ call for austerity, voting last Monday to support a number of increases to departments where the administration is recommending cuts. Adams has proposed a $98.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Negotiations with the City Council already are underway. Borough Hall Budget Director Andrea Menichini presented Adams’ budget requests for numerous departments, and how proposed reductions for most of them might affect Queens. Richards and board members categorically opposed reductions proposed for education, environmental protection and even the offices of all five borough presidents. The board voted to support targeted spending increases; and requested that the City Council fund the top capital and expense priorities for Queens’ 14 community boards. Many of the boards are prioritizing more funding to upgrade or replace sewers, storm drains and drainage infrastructure that were overwhelmed last year when the remnants of Hurricane Ida came calling, with fatal results. Richards said, for example, that cuts to things like borough discretionary funds can have an impact on many services.

“We are obviously having conversations with the mayor over this,” he said. “We recognize, coming out of the pandemic, how important it is to ensure that our funding is either restored or enhanced so that we can make the many changes we’ve talked about.” Even with public school enrollment projected to be lower, Richards said he and members of the Council in Queens are pushing back against cuts to the Department of Education budget, specifically citing the challenges that need to be confronted after two Covid-ransacked school years. “Our children are trying to catch up,” he said. “So at this time we need to be enhancing dollars in the Department of Education, not relinquishing even a dollar at this point.” Richards also said he is concerned about potential cuts to school seats in Queens, though when asked for specifics afterward his office referred the Chronicle to the DOE. Other proposed cuts with which Richards and the board took issue included but were not limited to $31.5 million for senior centers and meals; and $108 million from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for disease prevention and treatment. Queens cultural institutions also have been targeted for cuts, including the Queens Botanical Garden ($395,976); the New York Hall of Science ($410,678); the Queens Museum of

Art ($310,225); Queens Theatre ($306,791); the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning ($311,619); the Museum of the Moving Image ($280,642); MoMA PS 1 ($266,723); and Flushing Town Hall ($423,376). Richards did say Adams appears willing to move forward on a city hospital for the Rockaways, something Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), chairperson of the committee on Health, applauded. She was less enthusiastic about the impact other cuts could have on the borough. “Queens seems to be at the bottom of the barrel for funding,” she said. “And when cuts come, we’re the first to be cut.” Richards also said cuts projected for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development can be self-defeating. “None of us want more shelters,” he said. “We need more permanent housing.” Aside from the board’s individual requests, the group voted to call for more neighborhood coordination officers for the NYPD, as well as replacement of patrol cars lost to Ida. They also requested reopening of FDNY Engine Co. 261 in Western Queens; a new ladder company in the Rockaways, an increase in the number of emergency medical technicians and new generators for New York’s Bravest. Richards’ office did not respond to what budget cuts he would recommend or what new

President Biden visited Queens after floods killed numerous residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida last September. PHOTO BY DON POLLARD / NYS / FLICKR / FILE

revenue streams he believes would be available to pay for restoring lost funding and adding new expenses, referring the Chronicle to the Q city’s Office of Management and Budget.

Donations needed for Drinks-to-go cut Ukraine relief efforts from budget plans by Deirdre Bardolf

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Associate Editor

Groups across South Queens and beyond are joining forces to gather supplies for Ukraine in the midst of war and invasion by Russia. Necessities, canned goods and medical supplies will be collected at the Living Word Christian Fellowship on Cross Bay Boulevard until Saturday, March 19. Among the items being collected are tourniquets, gauze, bandages and medicine, hygiene products, blankets, diapers and other baby supplies, pet food and kids toys. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer-Amato (D-Rockaway Park) partnered with organizations including the Kiwanis Clubs of Woodhaven and Ozone Park, the Lions Club of Ozone Park, Woodhaven and Howard Beach, Community Board 9, Living Word Christian Fellowship, the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, the Deshi Senior Center, the Pizza Dance Foundation, Our Neighbors Civic Association of Ozone Park, the Glendale Civic Association, the Howard Beach Observation Patrol, the Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services and more.

“In the 23rd District we are governed by the notion that we don’t sit idly by while others suffer, whether they be a neighbor down the street or a total stranger across the world,” said Pheffer Amato in a press release. “We have an opportunity to help victims of a horrific war and we are going to do everything we can to support them,” she said. Contributions may be dropped off at her office, too. The donations will be delivered to Ukraine by Solent Freight Services, a freight operator based out of Queens. Trucking, packing and shipping companies have also been secured for the operations. In a recent Ozone Park Residents Block Association meeting, President Sam Esposito introduced Dmitriy Gostev, a Forest Hills resident from Ukraine who is also helping organize the drive. Gostev has family in the besieged nation. “People are dying as we speak, so for the past two weeks I made it my purpose to help as much as I can,” he said. More information can be found at the Ozone Park Block Association Facebook page and questions can be directed to Sam Q Esposito at 1 (929) 233-8107.

by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

Local lawmakers are pushing back to get alcohol-to-go included in the final state budget plan after a setback. The Legislature left out making the program, which was thought to be widely popular, permanent. The newly released Assembly and Senate plans, which show the points both houses seek to negotiate before the budget is passed, did not include allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to go. The temporary legalization of to-go drinks in 2020, part of a lifeline extended to restaurants during the peak of pandemic shutdowns, lasted just 15 months and was abruptly ended. On Wednesday, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-Jackson Heights) was joined by state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights), Assemblymembers Nathalia Fernandez (D-Bronx) and Catalina Cruz (D-Corona), local restaurant owners and workers, the New York State Restaurant Association and the Latino Bar and Restaurant Association for a rally in support of alcohol-to-go at Mojitos in

Jackson Heights. They urged the state to make it a permanent feature in the final budget. The event also marked the two-year anniversary of New York State on PAUSE, the March 20, 2020 emergency order that shuttered restaurants in the beginning of the pandemic, according to a press release. “New York prides itself on having some of the greatest restaurants and bars in the world,” said González-Rojas. “These last two years have made it nearly impossible for many restaurants to stay afloat, and many small business owners had to close their doors. Despite these challenges, restaurants not only kept our communities fed but often went above and beyond what they could do. In my district, many struggling restaurants showed up for our communities by donating food to hospital workers on the frontlines.” She continued, “We owe these pillars of our communities a lifeline, and alcohol-togo proved to be just that. I urge my colleagues and the Governor to make the successful program a permanent feature of New York life by including it in the enactQ ed state budget.”

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Some relief but drivers still hurting

Coping with pain at the pump but not all ‘gloom and doom’ by Deirdre Bardolf Chronicle Contributor

Walking home from the 63rd Drive-Rego Park subway station on Friday afternoon during rush hour, Omar Horta stopped to snap a picture with his cell phone of the price of gas at the Mobil station on Queens Boulevard, where the regular cash price was $5.19, well above the current $4.46 average for Queens. “I have to send a picture to my boss,” said Horta, who is a delivery driver for RDS Same Day Delivery, which is based out of Long Island City. Horta used to drive to work every day but he has parked his Mazda CX-5 SUV at home for the time being and opted for public transit because it is cheaper. “I prefer to take the train now. I take the train because of that,” Horta added, pointing to an example of the highest gas prices seen in years. “We just eclipsed all the records that we set back in 2008,” said AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair about the New York prices. As of Wednesday, the average price in New York was $4.428 and nationally it was $4.30, according to AAA. The prices here have ticked down slightly since last week’s average of $4.431. Queens had the third-highest price out of the five boroughs; Manhattan had the highest at almost $4.60 and Brooklyn had the lowest at $4.41, according to GasBuddy.com Sinclair attributes it to the political instability caused by the Russian war on Ukraine. He said that the simple threat of something happening can cause

the prices at the pump to jump. “If the political instability that oil traders don’t like would come to an end, you would see the price of crude oil drop significantly,” he explained. If peace talks began abroad, for example, that could be enough to soothe the swelling prices. But, there are other upcoming events that could cause further pain at the pump for customers. Soon, companies will make the switch from winter-blend gas to s u m me r- ble nd , wh ich bu r n s cleaner. Summer-blend gas has a lower RVP, or “reid vapor pressure,” which prevents excessive evaporation in hot temperatures. It is more expensive to produce. And with those warmer temperatures come more road trips. Sinclair predicts it will be the busiest summer ever as people shake off the doldrums of winter and the Covid pandemic. As demand for gasoline rises, the price does, too. Despite the rise in prices, a AAA survey found that 52 percent of Americans have plans to take a vacation this summer and 42 percent said they would not consider changing their plans regardless of the price of gas. Sinclair notes that the June start of hurricane season could pose a further threat to fuel access as much of the area’s gas gets delivered to waterside terminals like those on Jamaica Bay and Newtown Creek. Luckily, Sinclair has some tips for maximizing what is in the tank. “The main tip is to slow down,” he said. “The ideal highway speed as far as fuel economy is concerned for a vehicle is 50 to 55 miles per hour. Once you start

Queens gas prices are at an average of $4.31 per gallon. At the Shell station on Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, above, it was $4.45.

Omar Horta, a delivery driver from Rego Park, was shocked by gas prices over $5 and has been taking the subway to PHOTOS BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF, TOP, AND GREGG COHEN work in Long Island City instead of driving and paying the high cost. going faster than that, the engine businesses that use commercial has to work harder to overcome the vehicles. “Ever yone wants what they increased wind resistance.” Brake gently and accelerate ordered online and everyone wants “like there is an egg between your their supermarkets well stocked and regardless of the price, it has foot and the pedal,” he added. Lighten the load in the car’s to get done,” said Miller. “Somebody will have to pay cargo area and note that although carpooling may seem cost effi- eventually.” In a recent blog post on New cient, it weighs the car down, too. York Truck Stop, Many people Miller and his son d r ive on u nderZach, who is from inf lated tires, too, Forest Hills and he said, which r u ns the site reduces fuel econoprefer to take along w it h h is my because about the train now.” fat he r, d iscu ss 30 percent of the state lawmakers’ energy of an engine — Omar Horta proposed suspenis used to overcome sion of Albany’s the rolling resisgas tax. tance of the tires. “Of course, you can make the Although drivers bear a lot of the burden, they are not the only argument that every little bit helps, but it really is just a little bit,” said people feeling the pain. Sinclair said the most astound- Zach Miller. “We do have concerns about ing aspect of the gas price crisis to him is the record-setting price of that money that is supposed to be diesel, which is used in trucking earmarked for infrastructure, not and was at its highest, not account- going to the infrastructure because ing for inflation, on March 12 at they gave a fuel tax holiday.” Instead, they would like to see $5.13. “Companies are passing the cost the elimination of the state highonto the consumer so even if you way tax. “New York is one of the few do not drive, and a lot of people in New York City don’t because we states left that has a highway use have such a viable public transpor- tax, and that would be a massive tation alternative, you’re paying relief to the trucking industry,” higher prices because of higher said Zach Miller. The trucking owners and operafuel prices.” Arthur Miller is an attorney tors are vocally upset, he said, from Rego Park who specializes in about the prices that often fall on transportation and trucking issues them. “It is just a continued two years and is the publisher of New York Truck Stop, an online community of supply chain problems ... not based out of Long Island City for getting supplies and not getting the

“I

equipment and the prices of the vehicles. It’s a continuation of two very difficult and shocking years,” he said. It does pose an opportunity, however, for fleets to make their operations more eff icient, the younger Miller said. “There are ways of maintaining the vehicle at a certain rate and making sure the drivers are really on top of the mileage. There are ways to get more out of each gallon of fuel and to drive more efficiently and emit less of these emissions,” he said. “There’s certainly an opportunity for some of these fleets to operate a little bit more efficiently here.” It is not all “gloom and doom,” though, the Millers said, as prices have already started to tick down. In the meantime, many who rely on driving to earn a living will continue trucking along, hoping prices become affordable again. Alejandro Perera is an Uber driver from Rego Park who has to pay for the gas he uses. “I need to be working and if I do not pay for gas, I’m not working and that’s not good,” he said. He has been driving for Uber and Lyft for four years and remembers coming to the United States when gas was still $2.09. He tries to save money by driving a fuel-efficient, four-cylinder SUV but his wife, who got a new car this year, does not get as good mileage. “It’s very expensive for her,” he said. “Hopefully, the government Q can do something soon.”

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 10

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P Absurdities from Albany — 2022 version

EDITORIAL

AGE

s if we’re not already subjected enough to a bombardment of ads for mobile sports betting, state lawmakers are looking to let more companies into the game. The Assembly wants to increase the number of vendors taking bets from nine to 14, while the Senate would go to 16, nearly double the number already operating. New Yorkers seem to like mobile gaming as much as pizza or bagels. We put $1.6 billion on the line the first month betting was available, more than the $1 billion that Nevada residents did in December or the $1.3 billion New Jersey residents did in October, their record month. The state allows this because it taxes the vendors at 51 percent. It’s sad that Albany leans more and more on gaming to fund government services, especially since it helps create problem gamblers — between 70 and 90 percent of whom relapse after they try to quit the habit, according to researchers. What an immoral way to run a society. But the state needs that revenue to feed its own insatiable habit, out-of-control spending. We’ve all heard how much more it costs to pave a mile of road, repair a stretch of subway track or educate a child in New York than it does anywhere else. And all that adds up to budget plans that are way

out of whack with the size of our population. Gov. Hochul proposed a fiscal year 2023 budget of $216 billion. That’s for a population of 19.8 million people. To put that in perspective, Florida’s population is now 22 million (it seems like just yesterday that it passed New York’s), and its budget is $112 billion. Texas, with a population of 29.5 million, has a budget of about $125 billion. So New York will spend nearly as much as two larger states combined, which together have 31.7 million more people. And if you think we get vastly superior services in exchange for that much greater funding, take a look at a fair, precise measure such as students’ scores on standardized tests. New York has less reason to be arrogant than it used to; no wonder we’re losing two more congressional seats. And while Hochul is proposing $216 billion in spending, the Assembly and Senate each want to tack on at least $6 billion more. They’re incredibly short-sighted. The state is flush with money from the federal government right now because of Covid. But that’s not recurring funding. Hochul at least would set aside $5 billion for a rainy day; the Legislature would only allocate $1.6 billion for that. And of course there’s no chance either house would give a

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Ready for opening day Dear Editor: Major League Baseball’s 100-day lockout is finally over. MLB and the Players Association have reached an agreement on a new bargaining agreement. As reported, spring training will start on March 17, and opening day is now April 7. We’ll get a 162-game season. As a lifelong Mets fan, I am extremely thrilled and full of joy. Let me mention how I became a Mets fan. My father was a Dodger fan but when they left New York he was most unhappy. Joy came again when the Mets became a team in New York in 1964. My dad, Frederick R. Bedell Sr., said to me, “Son, we will now be Mets fans.” I was 15 years old at the time. The rest is history and I’m proud to be a Mets fan. The Mets have had their highs and lows but a true fan sticks with them. I now have not been to a game in two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic but I will return with the rest of my fellow Mets fans. So, let the games begin. Let’s go Mets! Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

Gianaris holds kids hostage Dear Editor: Re Deirdre Bardolf’s March 10 report “Adams, Banks call for four more years”: Mayor Adams wants to maintain control of © Copyright 2022 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part thereof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the publishers. This copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. Reproduction of said advertisement or any part thereof without the express written permission of MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. is strictly prohibited. This publication will not be responsiblefor errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not necessarily in accordance with the views of the QUEENS CHRONICLE. This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objectionable. The Queens Chronicle is published weekly by Mark I Publications, Inc.at a subscription rate of $19 per year and out of state, $25 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid (USPS0013-572) at Flushing, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mark I Publications, Inc., 71-19 80th St., Suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385.

dime back to the taxpayers through either rebates on income taxes, a suspension of the gasoline tax during this inflationary crisis in fuel costs, or anything else. Nor will the budget include the kind of policy measures that would help the city out, though Albany often includes dramatic changes to the law in its spending plans. Renewing mayoral control of schools won’t make the cut, even when we finally have reformists in charge at City Hall and in the Department of Education. Neither will allowing restaurants to sell alcohol to go, despite their continuing suffering. Nor will we get any change to the insane bail “reform” law of 2019 that has aided and abetted the catastrophic rise in criminal violence we’re living through. No, instead of reducing spending as they should, and helping out the people, lawmakers are going to reach new heights of fiscal insanity — and do things like grant marijuana dealing licenses first to those people who have been convicted of drug charges in the past, and their relatives. So not only will the state start to rely on a new “sin tax” to operate, it will first give business rights to those who broke the law in the past. Maybe lawmakers have been enjoying some samples; that would help to explain a lot.

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NYC public schools for the next four years, a power that every mayor since Mike Bloomberg has enjoyed. It enables parents and voters to hold one person accountable for public school performance. Gov. Hochul supports Adams’ request, but he faces strong resistance in Albany from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) and Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria). In an editorial, the New York Post said they are blocking mayoral control of schools to “sideline Adams’ push to fix disastrous criminal justice reforms” (“Heastie’s Child Hostages,” March 8). Stewart-Cousins “might plead ignorance over how outrageous this delay is, since her district is in Westchester,” said the Post. “But her No. 2, Queens Sen. Mike Gianaris, has no excuse. Going along with this scandalous stonewall is an insult to his own constituents,

who also overwhelmingly support Adams on crime.” The Post said 12 Democratic senators want to change the bail reform law, but Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Deputy Leader Gianaris “are trying to quash the rebellion” (Post, March 13). As part of Albany’s toxic trio, Gianaris betrays his constituents by blocking effective administration of public schools and resisting measures to improve public safety. He also opposes giving New York judges discretion to detain dangerous repeat offenders before trial, a power that judges in 49 states have. He claims judges are “racist.” That’s untrue and insulting to every criminal court judge in our state. Gianaris faces re-election this year. I hope he is defeated either in the Democratic June primary or November’s general election. He dishonors his district and disgraces his office. Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

C M SQ page 11 Y K

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This is due to restrictive pandemic policies. Another factor in the high unemployment Dear Editor: rate is the paid sick leave law passed by the The Port Authority of New York and New city. Elementary economic theory states that Jersey’s plans cited in ”PA to show showcase if you increase the cost of an item (in this Air Train alternatives” (by Michael Gannon, case labor) you will have less of a demand March 10) overlooked one of the previous for it. NYC seven private franchised bus operators, Vogel also praised neighborhood policing Triboro Coach, which once operated the Q57 and a decreasing crime rate prior to the panexpress bus. It ran from the Queensbridge demic. Now, crime is soaring due to policies NYC Transit subway station at 21st Street and like eliminating the anti-crime police unit 41st Avenue served by the F train to LaGuarand the bail laws passed by de Blasio’s allies dia Airport in 1990. It was marketed as the in the state Legislature. Criminals who are “QT (Quick Trip) LaGuardia Express” bus arrested are released without bail and go on route. The service was discontinued in May to commit more crimes. Is it any wonder why 1991 due to lower than expected ridership. people do not feel safe anymore? The service ran every 20 minutes, arriving at By fiscal 2019, New York City’s unfunded the airport in 25 minutes, and stopping at all other post-employment benefits were underterminals. The route operated via 21st Street funded by over $100 billion. De Blasio and Astoria Boulevard to LaGuardia Airport. Service was provided from 21st Street increased the city’s payroll without doing between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and from anything about this future liability. One day the time will come when the money will not LaGuardia between 6:35 a.m. and 11 p.m. be there for the city’s retired workers. Restoration of this service might only At the time de Blasio left office, polls require 12 buses to maintain a 10-minute showed that he had only a 25 percent approvheadway along with operating assistance to cover deficits. Fare box revenue would not al rating. Obviously, the majority of New meet all operating costs. The MTA and air- Yorkers, including many Democrats, feel that lines would also have to market this new de Blasio’s failures outweigh anything good route along with other existing subway-to- he might have done. Lenny Rodin airport bus connections. Forest Hills This would save five or more minutes for those currently traveling to and from Manhattan to the Jackson Heights 74th Street Regulating Big Tech Roosevelt Avenue subway station who use the Dear Editor: Q70 LaGuardia Air Link connection. The Are you aware that Big Tech (Google, service could start within months versus Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is controlling you waiting up to 10 years for construction of a 24/7? When you search, write or talk on your new air train, light rail, subway or commuter digital device, it ends up in their data file. rail link. Larry Penner While downloading one of their apps, which Great Neck, LI they claim to be free, you sign their terms and The writer is a transportation historian, conditions, and you will unknowingly advocate and writer who worked for 31 become their product. In the early days of the internet, it was years for the U.S. Department of Transpormeant that these companies provide a plattation Federal Transit Administration form where everybody is able to communiRegion 2 New York Office. cate and advertise his or her product. This trend took off. In no time, Big Tech compaDe Blasio’s failures nies grew and enriched themselves exponentially. With all that power now on hand, they Dear Editor: In the March 10 issue Robert Vogel started to exercise increasing editorial control responded to my Dec 2 challenge for anyone over what could be published; also, there has to defend Bill de Blasio’s record (“De Blasio’s been a biased interference in politics by these companies. successes,” Letters). The successes that Mr. It has reached a point where Big Tech can Vogel mentioned were not successes at all. Vogel wrote that “in education, test drop anybody while furthering people they scores up, graduation rates up.” What was like. They have become hostile monopolists, on the one hand favoring our enemies, such not mentioned was that the standards were as the mullahs in Iran, Nicholas Maduro in dumbed down to make the results look betVenezuela, Hamas, China and Russia, and on ter. There are many neighborhoods (mainly the other hand eliminating some of our own minority) where the majority of kids are politicians and businesspeople. behind grade level in math and English. Last year alone, Big Tech companies spent That is why there is a 50,000-student waiting list for charter schools that de Blasio $65 million for lobbying Washington, Big opposed. Also, kids in the public system still Pharma and corporations to protect themselves. In short: They are ruling the world. had remote learning long after the parochial To save our country, anti-trust law schools returned back to the classroom due enforcement needs to kick in, break those to the undue influence of the teachers’ union. If the system were as good as Vogel companies up and make them liable for their misdeeds. Congress must update Section 230 suggested, why do so many parents want by also including data privacy reform and a their kids to be taught by someone else? Vogel wrote of “record job creation.” New comprehensive market approach. Heinz Mayer York trails the rest of the country in lowerGarden City, LI ing the unemployment rate post-pandemic.

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Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

LETTERS TO THE

OPINION

Post-mastectomy, ‘I am woman, hear me roar!’ by Stacey Pheffer Amato

“I am woman, hear me roar!” Helen Reddy said it best, “I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.” These lyrics hit me when I met with a group of women at Bungalow Bar this past summer. I want to celebrate these women here in March, Women’s History Month, and all the women who have and continue to do remarkable things for our community. Their strength inspired me to take on an important women’s health issue by introducing legislation to support women by changing the current laws that dictate how a woman’s body will look after having a mastectomy. Let us give women the full option of deciding what their post-mastectomy body will look like. By changing our insurance law, we will be giving women the opportunity to choose to have reconstruction of their breasts or to have a flat chest wall. About one in eight U.S. women (roughly 13 percent) will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the course of their lifetimes. We all know someone who has gone through breast cancer; and I will venture to say many of us know a woman who had a mastectomy. While many women pursue reconstructive surgeries, women also choose to “stay flat” and pursue aesthetic flat closure, rather than a breast reconstruction. Meaning a woman can have a flat chest wall, or no breasts. However, this option is not always covered by insurance. All women with breast cancer deserve to have their insurance cover their choice of surgery: either breast reconstruction, which is already covered by insurance, or aesthetic f lat closure, a f lat chest wall with no breasts, which is not always covered. Women who forgo breast reconstruction are most often done in one surgery, but about one in four will require revision to produce an acceptable aesthetic result (an aesthetic flat closure). Too often, these women are told that their revision surgery is “cosmetic”

and therefore will not be covered by insurance. I can promise you this is not cosmetic surgery. It is insulting to even say that this would qualify as such. In fact, to minimalize or trivialize how these women are left — with lopsided, dangling flaps of skin and scars, so disfigured after surgery — is just appalling. These are our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends, and they are entitled to flat chest wall or reconstructive surgeries. It’s their choice. We are now correcting that problem! As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us make history for women by being the first state that permits aesthetic flat closure and ensures women in New York have the right to decide how they want their chest to look. No longer will we allow any woman to be damaged and left in an unacceptable state. The way to support women is to ensure that insurance will cover a woman’s choice to have breasts or have a flat chest wall after a mastectomy. My bill, A8537, will give women, strong and beautiful women, that opportunity. As I go forward, I will continue to keep you all apprised of the developments and work being done. Every day we get more and more co-sponsors among remarkable Assembly members, and we have Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky leading the charge in our other house. As always, do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (718) 9459550 or by email at amatos@nyassembly. gov. It is a pleasure to serve you and I look forward to representing you for many more Q years to come. Stacey Pheffer Amato is New York State Assemblywoman for the 23rd District, in southern Queens and the Rockaways.

End to sudden Con Ed hikes? Last month, New Yorkers were shocked when energy bills doubled and even tripled. “Energy prices are volatile and can be affected by factors such as weather, demand and economic trends,” a Con Ed spokesperson wrote in an email back in February. New legislation could at least give customers a heads up before their bills spike. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) introduced legislation requiring utilities to give 60 days notice prior to any rate or service delivery increase. “My legislation will give customers ample notice prior to any utility bill increase, which

will help to avoid falling behind on bills or incurring penalties for missed payment deadlines,” Addabbo said in a press release, noting that his office received “numerous calls f rom st u n ned a nd d ist ressed constituents.” The bill is before the Energy and Telecommunications Committee but does not yet have a companion in the Assembly. Government entities are looking into the recent increases and Addabbo is hopeful that the bill will give residents time to challenge Q increases or better plan for them. — Deirdre Bardolf

PHOTOS BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 12

C M SQ page 12 Y K

OZPKRBA is back in person The Ozone Park Residents Block Association welcomed a crowd of more than 100 for its first in-person meeting since the start of the pandemic. The meeting honored Donna Maucere, a founder of the block association and an active member of the Ozone Park Community who passed away in 2021, as well as victims of Covid, the war in Ukraine, slain Police Officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera and Far Rockaway FDNY firefighter Jesse Gerhard, who died in February.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, top, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer-Amato and Councilwoman Joann Ariola attended and spoke. The NYPD’s 102nd, 106th and 75th precincts were also in attendance. President Sam Esposito introduced Dmitriy Gostev, a Ukrainian resident of Forest Hills who is helping to coordinate relief efforts to get supplies to the country. — Deirdre Bardolf

Adams’ plan

Specifically, the blueprint calls for the creation of a “one-stop-shop Business Portal,” enabling businesses to consolidate their conferring with city agencies. That approach is not unique to small businesses; throughout the plan, Adams proposes the creation of various task forces to take on a number of issues, such as innovation in public spaces. Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech praised the plan, emphasizing Adams’ focus on efficiency. “Overhauling how he does interaction with city small businesses is incredible,” he said. “In many cases, we hear that it takes 14 different ‘OKs’ ... to open up a restaurant or bar in New York City. That’s way too many.” Q

continued from page 2 temic racism in the city’s economy. Adams’ initial steps to combat that include “ramping up” the New York City Housing Authority’s MWBE program and investing in language access for immigrants through the Department of Small Business Services. Woven throughout the blueprint is a focus on efficiency. “You should not have to go from agency, to agency, to agency,” Adams said. “We should do the navigating for you so you can be inside your small businesses, serving your customers and providing the tools that are needed to move forward.”

C M SQ page 13 Y K Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

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C M SQ page 14 Y K

Demakos, famed judge, dies at 98

Convicted Crimmins as a prosecutor; tried Howard Beach case in 1987 by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Demakos, who was involved in some some of the most high-profile criminal cases in Queens history as a judge and a prosecutor, passed away on Feb. 22. He was 98, according to an obituary in The New York Times. Demakos prosecuted Alice Crimmins in her 1971 retrial on charges of killing her son, 5, and daughter, 4, in 1965; her manslaughter conviction for her daughter’s death would be appealed but upheld. He was the judge when Howard Beach teenagers John Lester, Jason Ladone and Scott Kern were convicted of manslaughter in the racially charged death of Michael Griffith, a black man struck by a car on the Belt Parkway as he ran from a white mob in 1986. He also sentenced the men convicted of the 1988 murder in Jamaica of NYPD Police Officer Edward Byrne, who was killed on the orders of a drug dealer. Former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. remembered his fellow attorney and Astoria resident fondly on Tuesday. “He was a wonderful man,” Vallone told the Chronicle. “A great jurist and an active member of the community. He was a friend and neighbor here in Astoria. And before he became a judge, he was an active member of the Regular

PHOTO COURTESY HOWARD BEACH KIWANIS

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Softball scores The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach has always come to bat for American Softball. Last week, Howard Beach Kiwanis President Saul Belsky, right, presented Randy Novick, the founder and CEO of American Softball, with a $600 check to aid the league’s upcoming 2022 season. American Softball is a special-needs program for people of all ages with autism and developmental disabilities. The league plays once a week in a fun, noncompetitive environment. Learn more at americansoftball.org. The Kiwanis Club has served Howard Beach since 1962 with charitable endeavors, efforts to improve the lives of children and other community initiatives. It can be found at howardbeachkiwanis.org.

Democratic Club, as I was for many years.” Vallone said Demakos was the right judge to handle the high-profile cases that came his way. “I think he was suited to handle them because he was from the community and he knew people, good and bad,” said Vallone, who still is in private practice. “He’s the reason why we should keep judges as elected officials rather than judges who are high in the sky with large Wall Street firms, people who don’t know what it’s like to try and make a living in the community; to have children and wonder where they will be going to school. He was a great example of why we should have elected judges.” Crimmins was originally convicted in 1968. Demakos’ manslaughter conviction initially was overturned but was reinstated by the state Court of Appeals. “It was a controversial case, a mother accused of killing her own children,” Vallone said, his voice still shuddering over it 57 years later. “He was great for that trial because he could not be influenced by outside factors, only by what happened,” he said. “And to this day, nobody really knows what happened. It’s a shame.” GreekNewsUSA reported that Demakos was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. The Times reported that he was at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, when a dying Lou Gehrig gave his “lucki-

est man on the face of the Earth” speech. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. One son, Dennis, noted that he had “a great mischievous sense of humor.” James Quinn, formerly the senior executive assistant district attorney at the Queens District Attorney’s Office, said Demakos left the DA’s Office for the bench shortly before he joined up. But Quinn did argue numerous cases before Demakos. “He was a great judge. A great judge,” Quinn said. “A great judge is someone who really understands the law and applies it. And he understood it. He understood the rules of evidence. He understood what could come into evidence and how it could come into evidence.” Quinn in 1998 prosecuted Queens’ first death penalty case in about three decades before Demakos. James Allen Gordon was accused of murdering three women and trying to kill another. Gordon would get life without parole. “It was a brand-new law,” he said. “He really understood it. He understood the importance of the law, the gravity of it. He understood the mechanics of the law. He was just a great judge.” He could be tough, Quinn said, if an attorney showed up in his courtroom without having done his or her homework. “He didn’t put up with stupidity,” Quinn said. “If you were prepared, you didn’t have a problem. If you weren’t prepared, you had a

Problem Gambling Awareness Month by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

Since mobile sports betting became legal in New York in January, the state has seen record-setting wagers, bringing in millions in revenue but also raising addiction concerns. March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), who fought to bring it here and heads the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, has emphasized the importance of helping problem gamblers. “By bringing mobile sports betting to New York we are able to allow New Yorkers to safely bet legally in their own state rather than heading to neighboring states or the illegal market,” Addabbo said in a prepared statement. “Through legalization, we are able to identify those people — and those who may be moving towards a gambling problem — and provide them with the resources they need to control their gaming,” he continued. The legislation allowing the mobile bets includes safeguards and addiction mea-

sures, he said. Problem gaming programs in the state will receive $6 million each year for education and treatment. Brick-and-mortar sites are training employees to spot the warning signs of problem gaming and how to help patrons with symptoms of gaming addiction. Procedures have been created for the mobile sports betting providers that allow customers to exclude themselves from gaming and limit wagers when customers raise a flag on their own habits. Sportsbook operators are required to freeze accounts and send a message to customers who have $2,500 in lifetime deposits and provide them with information about problem gaming resources, and they must inform customers about assistance for compulsive play and offer easy-to-find gaming assistance resources. Addabbo has been in contact with NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham to address the issue. Anyone struggling with gambling can call NYS HOPELINE at 1 (877) 846-7369 or text HOPENY (467369) for help and Q referrals to treatment.

problem. He didn’t suffer fools gladly.” Quinn said Demakos was the kind of jurist people would hope for if they knew they were innocent. “I think that’s actually a very good measurement for a judge Thomas Demakos FAMILY PHOTO — would you want to go on trial before him if you did not do it?” Quinn said. “And I think he was the kind of judge you could be comfortable going in front of if you did not commit the crime.” Quinn said future Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes visited Demakos’ Kew Gardens courtroom to observe him after Hynes was assigned as the special prosecutor in what would become known nationwide as the Howard Beach case. “[Hynes] was very impressed with him.” Demakos in the trial made news — and was upheld on appeal — when he prevented defense attorneys from excluding black jurors from the trial simply because of race. “If you could make a legal argument in front of him, he would listen to you,” Quinn said. “If you were right on the law, know how to argue the law, it was a pleasure to be in front of him.” Q

Choices after mastectomy Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Beach) is sponsoring a bill to allow women the option of getting chest wall reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy or partial mastectomy. The bill, A8537, would change insurance laws to mandate the coverage. Sponsoring the state Senate version of the bill (S7881) is Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing). Doctors would also have to discuss the option with patients and insurance coverage would have to include information about the option, according to the legislation. “This bill will protect women and ensure satisfactory aesthetic outcomes,” said the Senate version of the bill. One in eight, or roughly 13 percent of women, will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the course of their lifetimes, according to the assemblywoman, and they should have the option of either getting breast reconstruction or going forward with a flat chest or no breast. The latter choice is not always covered by insurance. “I can promise you this is not cosmetic surgery,” Pheffer Amato said in a statement. Q Both bills are in committee. — Naeisha Rose

C M SQ page 15 Y K

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he connected Ng with UAP, which creates public art and also liked the idea. Ng would like to see Spider-Man in MacLarry Ng wanted to do something for Donald Park. He estimates the cost his Forest Hills neighbors to somehow between $150,000 and $200,000, and offset the gloom of city and world plans private fundraising to cover it. events of the last two years or so. And “One, it’s centrally located n Forlike many before him, he decided that when in trouble, he could count on PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE est Hills, near the Continental AveVIA WIKIPEDIA nue subway stop,” he said. “When Spider-Man. people drive by you’ll see the statue. Young Peter Parker, as all know, was attending Forest Hills High School when There’s a lot of recognition. I personally think it’s going to attract a lot of interest in terms of that radioactive arachnid bit him in the science people just wanting to visit and take a picture lab. Ng is working with Community Board 6, with it. It’s going to boost community morale. the Department of Parks and Recreation and And I think it will help local businesses.” He members of the community to bring a statue of wants the statue to be life-size and on the the Marvel superhero to where it all began. ground, where children could touch it and have The idea actually had been bouncing around their pictures taken. before he decided to go into action. “I don’t want this on a 6-foot-high pedestal,” “It was primarily for the children,” Ng told the Chronicle. “Between Covid, the economy, he said. Ng said he would like to apply, when the the war going on right now, it’s just been time comes, for a one-year temporary permit depressing throughout. So when the last SpiderMan movie came out, I said it would be a great with Parks and Recreation, as it is faster and carries less red tape. He said Gulluscio and idea to have a statue of his hometown.” Beers-Dimitriadis suggested looking for a When he began researching the project, Ng, who has lived in Forest Hills for 39 years, was backup site as well, such as Yellowstone Park a few blocks away on 68th Avenue. encouraged further when he learned of a Cap“It is a children’s playground and is fenced tain America statue unveiled in Brooklyn for in,” Ng said. “It could eventually move there. the character’s 75th anniversary. “And it just so happened that Eric Adams [Gulluscio and Beers-Dimitriadis] want it staydedicated the statue,” Ng said of the former ing in Forest Hills; they don’t want the city moving it to Manhattan or Flushing Meadows Brooklyn borough president. Ng already has set up the website Corona Park.” State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard spidermanforesthills.com. He made a brief presentation to Community Board 6 on March 9, Beach) already is on board. “For over 60 years in the comics, the fictionand met the next day with Board Chairwoman Heather Beers-Dimitriadis and District Manag- al Peter Parker has lived in Forest Hills when he is not being Spider-Man and saving the citizens er Frank Gulluscio. Among the questions he received from board of New York City,” he said in a statement on March 7. members was whether Marvel, and its parent “To have his likeness right here in the town Disney, would permit a project to go forward. he calls home will be positive for the communiHe said they generally are amenable to public ty — like the Captain America statue in Brookart with no commercial intent. lyn — especially to the children of Forest Hills Ng contacted Brooklyn artist David Cortes, who can look at that work of art and hopefully it who designed the Captain America statue can inspire a new generation to do great things “Literally the next second he said, ‘Oh, great Q and become ‘superheroes’ in their lives.” idea!’” Cortes also designs action figures, and Senior News Editor

Prayers for peace and justice in Ireland Happy St. Patrick’s Day To All! JOSEPH P. ADDABBO, JR. New York State Senator - District 15

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Sheehan Memorial Scholarship Fund doubles with anonymous gift by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Fresh Meadows-based St. Francis Preparatory School announced March 10 that it had received a $1 million, anonymous donation to go toward the Thomas J. Sheehan Memorial Scholarship Fund. “St. Francis Prep has provided generations of students a place where they can grow, learn and develop in a religious, joyful school environment,” St. Francis Prep President Brother Leonard Conway said in a prepared statement. “This $1 million donation for the Sheehan Fund from a very generous alumnus will support students for years to come and is representative of the generosity and service enshrined in the St. Francis Prep education.” Conway told the Chronicle that the donor asked to be identified, if at all, as “one of the Brooklyn boys from the class of 1955.” Named for Thomas Sheehan — also of the class of 1955 — the scholarship is awarded to enrolled students entering their senior year who are in need of financial assistance. Conway said that while some students apply for the aid themselves, members of the school community make recommendations as to who might

benefit from the need-based fund. Asked why the scholarship is limited to seniors, Conway explained, “Senior year is an important year for [students] while dealing with college and stuff like that.” He continued, “So the money would help them get through their senior year.” With the recent donation, though, Conway said that the scholarship could become open to other students, not just seniors. The fund was created by some of Sheehan’s classmates in 1987 in order to honor their friend, who Conway says died at a young age. “When Tom passed, his friends knew it was important to honor his memory and how the Prep not only brought us together but prepared us to live fulfilling lives,” Jack Ward, who manages the fund and is a fellow class of 1955 alumnus, said in a prepared statement. “We’re incredibly grateful to our anonymous donor and his generous spirit that will help ensure more students have access to the Prep and its wonderful community.” Sheehan’s younger brother, Jerry, who graduated from Prep in 1962, also praised the donation. “As an alumnus myself, I know how valuable a St. Francis Prep education can

Educating our students to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners.

be, and our family is thrilled to continue to be a part of the journey that future generations of St. Francis Prep students embark on,” he said in a statement. A scholarship recipient himself, not only was Sheehan a strong student while at Prep, he was also a track star. He holds several of the team’s records to this day, a press release from the school notes. The donation more than doubles the scholarship’s previous, principal funding, the press release says. Conway said that with the new funding, the school will be able to assist twice as many students each year as it does now. “It’s really an excellent gift,” he added. This year, Conway said, four seniors received financial aid through the fund; the scholarship has supported more than 50 students since its establishment. The donation comes at a time when Prep is making a strong effort to increase its financial aid. During the pandemic, Conway said, the school created the Terrier Student Tuition Assistance and Relief program (or, “Terrier STAR”). It and the Sheehan fund are among the school’s 40 financial aid programs, Conway noted. Q

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

$1 million donated to Prep scholarship

Thomas Sheehan was a track star while at St. Francis Prep. PHOTO COURTESY SHEEHAN FAMILY

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Sensory program plants seed for kids As first session ends, supporters hope it expands to help all schools by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

The first cohort of a new special education program in schools throughout the city is nearing its end, and parents and therapists hope it can be continued and expanded to more students in need of the special services. As part of the Special Education Recovery Services from the Department of Education, the Sensory Education, Exploration and Discovery, or SEED, program sites support students with disabilities, special needs and IEPs from pre-K through eighth grade. Ten sites were opened in January, two in each borough, and are serving approximately 300 students in this first 10-week cycle. In early March, Schools Chancellor David Banks, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona) and Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona) visited the SEED program at PS 92 in Corona. Each SEED location has a sensory space and supports students with intensive sensory needs across areas of academic, social-emotional and behavioral functions. Angela Gilkes is a Queens mom whose kindergarten son, Tyler, attends the program on Saturdays. “We call it his special class and he thinks it’s just all fun,” she said.

Schools Chancellor David Banks, above, visits a Sensory Education, Exploration and Discovery site where therapists aid students with special PHOTOS COURTESY NYC DOE needs. “Well, it is all fun for him because it’s fun equipment like a trampoline, balance beam, rock climbing walls, tunnels to climb through. So we don’t refer to it as like a school ... and he looks forward to it every Saturday.” But Tyler has learned valuable skills in the small-group sessions, she said, like expressing his emotions. “He used the words, ‘I’m angry,’ and that might seem very simple but from a child like him, I’ve never heard those words before,”

she said. “I’m not happy that he was angry, but I was so happy to hear those words and that he was able to articulate and express himself instead of throwing a tantrum,” she said. Another part of the program’s focus is to engage parents and give them tools to use at home and perhaps at the child’s school, too. “I feel that the most important thing is the impact that we’re having both on the children and family,” said Natasha Nicome-Scott, super-

visor of occupational therapy for the Corona site. “Every Saturday, I am able to see how these students have grown. I hear the parents speak about the carryover that they do both at home with their families, and then they also carry it over in school with the teachers,” she said. The recovery services have also played an important role in helping children whose special services lapsed through the pandemic, she said. Now, parents send her videos showing continued on page 34

National Grid talks sustainable future Utility policy analyst gives guest lecture at York College in Jamaica

by Max Parrott

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Associate Editor

As part of an ongoing lecture series, York College hosted a policy strategist from National Grid to speak on the electricity and gas utility company’s transition into renewable energy. The guest lecture and questionand-answer follow-up with Sarah Basham, National Grid’s U.S. policy and regulatory strategy analyst, were part of the York College Executive Leadership Breakfast Series feature. In her talk, Basham walked students through her responsibilities to help National Grid, which acts as New York City’s main gas supplier, reduce its carbon emissions as part of a plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Over the years the college has cultivated a relationship with the gas company. A representative of National Grid is a member of the York College Foundation’s board of trustees. The March 9 event shied away from some of the recent controversies around National Grid’s operations in the city. The utility firm’s efforts to expand its Green-

One pillar of the approach atmosphere. point natural gas plant and build a Instead of buying gas from a fospipeline through east Brooklyn have involves building heating systems met complaints from environmental- with the hybrid system that uses sil fuel provider, the company could ists and federal and state regulators electric heat, geother mal heat potentially buy it from municipalipumps, direct geothermal heat and ties that own the aforementioned over the past year. treatment plants. “Many people have different gas heat on the coldest days. The third pillar of National Grid’s Another core aspect of the utiliinterpretations of what you should plan involves energy-efficient be doing to be sustainable, to improvements like extra insulaunderstand climate change, to and energy-efficient light be world citizens,” Berenecea successful decarbonized tion bulbs on the consumer side. Johnson Eanes, president of When it came time for the York College, said as she introheating system that’s question-and-answer part of the duced Basham. “Here at York series, one student asked about College, we are very, very dedboth reliable and how National Grid creates icated to the intersection of affordable will consist plans for natural catastrophes. that conversation.” Basham explained that the B a s h a m fo c u s e d o n a of electrified heating company has staff whose job it 10-point plan that the utility is to inspect where substations firm created on how to reduce systems.” and other equipment in the its carbon gas emissions to — Sarah Basham, National Grid U.S. policy firm’s electric and natural gas reach net-zero emissions, a and regulatory analyst network could be impacted by ter m describing a balance storms and how it keeps gas between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmo- ty’s plan is to start using renewable and electricity going to customers in natural gas, or RNG, rather than the those events. sphere with the amount removed. One of York College’s professors “A successful decarbonized heat- fossil fuel gas currently in use. ing system that’s both reliable and Basham said that renewable gas is asked Basham to expand on how affordable will consist of electrified mostly methane that’s captured from National Grid was planning to use heating systems alongside gas, and sources like wastewater treatment geothermal heating sources as part we call this a hybrid approach,” plants or agricultural biowaste plants of its hybrid approach. Basham said that are already emitting it into the that the utility is experimenting Basham said.

“A

Sarah Basham, National Grid’s U.S. policy and regulatory strategy analyst, was the guest lecturer at a renewable energy forum hosted at York College. PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL GRID

with geothermal heat pumps that circulate heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to warm homes. So far, the utility has been building pilot programs for geothermal systems that heat an entire community, Q she said.

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Some normalcy returns but needs remain by Deirdre Bardolf

cuisine. “The clients enjoyed a healthy, cultural lunch provided by India Home, and were able Maria Padilla’s Zumba classes resumed to mingle with rheir friends playing board back in person on Tuesday at the Rego Park games after lunch,” said Sarkisova of their Senior Center for the first time in two years. first lunch back in person. Since the pandemic started, Padilla, of “The older adults were very happy to get Middle Village, has taught the class outdoors, together and see dramatic positive changes at through all four seasons. Women pushing 90 the Kew Gardens Community Center,” she years old gathered in freezing temperatures added. for the Latin-inspired dance cardio exercise Although the city is rolling back some classes. mandates and regulations, senior centers still Padilla said about 85 percent of her usual have not been able to. attendees were present on Tuesday with about “We have yet to get a directive from the 20 people showing up, but that some are still Department for the Aging to roll back any of hesitant to transition back to indoor activities. the mandates they put into place back in June Padilla, who keeps up a regular group chat 2021,” Donna Atmore-Dolly, executive direcwith her students, reached out to all of them tor of the Allen Community Senior Citizens to let them know of the change. Center in Jamaica, explained in an email. While some were happy to be indoors “We continue to provide a hybrid of in-perbecause it was too cold outside for them to son and virtual activities at our centers. The work out, others opted out, and Padilla hopes virtual attendance is low as it is a challenge to be able to offer outdoor classes when the for seniors to keep up with technology,” she weather warms up to accommodate them, said. some of whom have pre-existing conditions “Several of our seniors who can’t get to the that increase the threat of Covid. The Kew Gardens Community Center reopened for congregate lunches in the beginning of March “They’re of age,” she explained of the and attendees were able to mingle and play board games with friends. PHOTO COURTESY IRINA SARKISOVA center or are not ready to return struggle with getting access,” Atmore-Dolly continued. seniors. “They have asthma, one has heart “DFTA has provided some seniors with In a recent hearing held by the City Counlearn new skills and explore new interests, problems.” a n d g i v e b a c k t h r o u g h v o l u n t e e r cil’s Committee on Aging and the subcom- tablets; however, we struggle to get them She is trying to be flexible and work with mittee on Senior Centers and Food Insecurity, trained on using the tablets to access our viropportunities. the directors of the center. City Department for the Aging Commissioner tual program activities,” such as chair aeroThe centers are still required to maintain “We don’t know what the CDC is going to bics and yoga, she added. say at the present time. For now, we are back 25 percent capacity and enforce mask wear- Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said the city is seeShe said another issue for the seniors is ing an increase in the need for meals and that inside. Things can change tomorrow and ing and social distancing. The one in Rego transportation. Throughout the pandemic, we’ll have to go back outside. At the present Park is only offering exercise classes for now the system is near capacity. “DFTA is projecting that once recovery there was a shortage of bus drivers and that time, we’re going to be indoors and they were and grab-and-go lunch remains outside. impact also affectEfforts to address food insecurity remain meals are disconmostly happy because some days there were ed senior centers. tinued ... we will an integral role for senior centers. The panzero-degree days and I had about 10 girls outThe center has see approximately demic-inspired GetFood NYC program was a side dancing with me,” said Padilla. e are hoping to get to at been trying to hire food delivery service for seniors and home- 3,000 of the recipiPadilla, the seniors and the Rego Park cenfor over a bound people but ended back in October. The ents of those meals ter, which is operated by Queens Community least 50 percent capacity.” drivers year, she said. will be eligible to 60+ Recovery Meals Service replaced GetHouse, is easing back into in-person State Attorney Food NYC but is set to end on June 30. Senior enroll in home activities. — Donna Atmore-Dolly General Letitia delivery meals,” centers and food pantries will play a critical Queens Community House’s five senior James recently visshe said. role in filling the gap for those who relied on centers provide opportunities to socialize, DFTA, which provides the meals at senior ited the Allen Community Senior Center and offer hot meals, provide exercise classes, such services. called for more services and emphasized the centers, helped transition to the grab-and-go model, she explained. Over 2 million to-go issue of housing insecurity for seniors. “We would like additional resources and and congregate lunches have been served additional services to seniors on a wide range since June 2021, she said. of areas,” said James at the event, which was In the beginning of March, the return to inperson activities meant bringing back congre- covered by the Chronicle. “Having case workers and social workers gate lunches to the Kew Gardens Community Center, which is also operated by Queens and activities here and checking on them from time to time is necessary.” Community House, instead of the grab-andAlong with some normalcy, the center go services it was were providing throughout hopes to return to better attendance. the pandemic. “We hope to receive news soon that we can For the first time, the Kew Gardens Comincrease the number of seniors allowed in the munity Center was awarded a contract from DFTA, said one of the directors, Irina centers at any one time,” said Atmore-Dolly. “We are hoping to get to at least 50 percent Sarkisova. capacity,” she added. Upon reopening, the funding has allowed The reopenings, which came after new the center more opportunities to expand, said guidance from the Department of Health and Sarkisova, and bringing on bilingual staff and Mental Hygiene as of last June, have been case workers. slow, in part due to the Omicron variant, said Services will include elder abuse support and resources for LGBTQ seniors and new Cortés-Vázquez in last week’s hearing. “It has not been a steady pace and older computers will also be available for them to adult clubs are not operating as we have hisaccess. torically known them prepandemic and I The lunch program at the center has been In-person Zumba classes returned to the Rego Park Senior Center this week, led by instructor don’t know when we can expect to see that expanded, too, offering diverse options Maria Padilla, center in green, for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Q projection again,” she said. including South Asian, Indian and Latin PHOTO COURTESY MARIA PADILLA Associate Editor

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QUEENS CHRONICLE • SENIOR QUEENSLIVING CHRONICLE, GUIDE,Thursday, Thursday,March March17, 17,2022 2022Page Page26 8

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SENIOR LIVING GUIDE

Queens seniors adjust to looser Covid rules by Sophie Krichevsky

in person for the first time in two years on Friday. On the other hand, her husband was forced into retirement after refusing to As mask mandates and requirements for return to work in person in the summer of proof of vaccination have begun to disap2020. The pandemic has — and still does pear in New York City, Queens residents — disrupted his routine, she said. are adjusting to a lifestyle that is becoming “He sits on the porch and schmoozes more reminiscent of prepandemic times. with whoever walks by,” she said. MermelBut for seniors, who have long been docstein added that her husband has taken to umented as being among the most vulneradropping her off and picking her up when ble to the coronavirus, the rapid changes in she goes out, so as to give himself someprocedure have been, in some cases, thing to do. daunting. Both Lipkowitz Brumer and Ceci said As Barry Klitsberg, president of the they have begun to attend Broadway shows Queens Interagency Council on Aging, again. Lipkowitz Brumer remained wary of pointed out, it’s impossible to make a blanthe possibility that theaters could potentialket statement about how Queens seniors are ly drop their mask and vaccine requireweathering this transitional period. ments in April, though. At the same time, though, he seemed to “I’m barely going now — I’m feeling think that seniors’ adjustments will stay brave going,” she said. She added that, within a certain range. should vaccine requirements stay in place, “I think some people are going to stay but mask mandates do not, she would still with being a little bit more restrictive on attend with a mask. their own personal space,” he told the On top of that, Ceci said she is strictly a Chronicle. “But I don’t think you’re going driver, whereas Lipkowitz Brumer takes to see people say, ‘Oh! I’m free! I can run public transportation to see those shows. around now without a mask.’” Ceci said that she has also begun dining Indeed, it seems that many seniors are As Covid-19 restrictions have begun to be rolled back in New York City, Queens seniors are adustindoors — though she has made a point of somewhat hesitant to change their behav- ing. However, most are doing so at their own pace — be that returning to Broadway shows or dining only sitting in bigger rooms where she can iors when it comes to Covid precautions — indoors once again. be far away from other guests, and she has albeit to varying degrees. Mark Lord, a retired teacher and long- points again,” he said. “I can’t say that my “Are we safe? I don’t know,” she said. only done it three times. She has also been taking her dog to the dog park as of late, but time Chronicle contributor, has been and “Now with China again seeing a rise in lifestyle has really changed. I still remain still is as cautious as they come with regard cases, I don’t know what would happen if it she still wears her mask there. pretty much holed up inside my apartment At the same time, seniors in the area are to Covid safety; he has hardly left the house as much as I can.” happened again here, because people are so still being cautious as they begin venturing in the last two years. That’s largely because In other words, to Lord, the pandemic is adamant now about not wearing masks.” his mother lives with him in his Forest Hills Judy Mermelstein, who lives in Hillcrest, out of their Covid comfort zones. Much of not over. “ I guess I’m waiting for some their behavior is dictated by the vaccination apartment. official announcement from someone that’s had similar feelings. status and health of their loved ones. And Both he and his mother have made use of going to say, ‘We are now over the pandem“We’re terrified of everybody just thinkwhile Lord is concerned about his mother, the moments when the virus has seemed to ic, this has now become an endemic,’” he ing everything’s over,” she said. wane, such as last spring. Debbie Lipkowitz Brumer of Forest Hills several other seniors mentioned concerns said. “Probably at that point, I would start, “We took advantage of those times for little by little, getting back into the swing of suggested that the city’s shedding of mask about their children and grandchildren. Ceci, for example, is particularly careful both of us to take care of our doctor visits, mandates happened too soon. the real world.” and my dental appointments — things that “I’m angry that they removed masks so when it comes to her interactions with her And while some New Yorkers may take adult son, who is immunocompromised. we had been putting off,” he said. Mayor Adams’ Times Square announce- quickly,” she said. As such, Lord views the current period She even went so far as to suggest that After each of her indoor dining adventures ment that New York is back as the sign and her trip to Broadof low virus numbers as he has viewed the she has lost faith in the Lord is looking for, he’s certainly not alone. way, she made sure not previous ones. Fresh Meadows resident Renee Ceci was CDC. to see him for five “We seem to be at one of those lower skeptical that the pandemic is on its way out. “I think the CDC said, ‘Enough already, m not listening to the days. “It all depends on people are going CDC anymore — I’m him, really, at this crazy.’ ... I think the point,” Ceci said. CDC caved,” she said. listening to myself.” Similarly, Mermel“I’m not listening to stein said that many of the CDC anymore — — Debbie Lipkowitz Brumer, her concerns surroundI’m listening to Forest Hills ing loosened restricmyself.” tions and her continued Mermelstein shared caution is due to her frequent visits with her those concerns about guidance from federal 3-year-old granddaughter, who is too young agencies. “We’re distressed at the messaging to get vaccinated. During the height of the pandemic, Merbecause the messaging has been so terrible. And the CDC and the NIH and the FDA melstein said she and her husband were very cautious. In fact, they didn’t even see have become very politically infiltrated,” she told the Chronicle. “They say stuff now their adult son and their now 2-year-old grandson for a year and a half. that people want to hear instead of being That changed, however, when her son honest with them about what’s going on.” said her grandson couldn’t remember who None of that means that Queens seniors have not attempted to regain some level of she was anymore: “It’s like, ‘Well, what’s more important: normalcy, though. Mermelstein, for one, works for the Cen- the miniscule chance of getting sick, or a Many Queens seniors, like Debbie Lipkowitz Brumer, left, and Renee Ceci, are hesitant to Q sus Bureau; she said she went back to work whole family relationship?’” COURTESY PHOTOS change their Covid safety habits. Associate Editor

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SENIOR LIVING GUIDE

High inflation gives seniors diet COLAs by Michael Gannon Senor News Editor

In October 2021, when the federal government announced the largest increase in Social Security payments since 1982, it was an admission that inflation had been driving the cost of living higher. Based on inflation as of the third-quarter of last year, the cost of living allowance kicked in at 5.9 percent on Jan. 1. But figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 10 said the Consumer Price Index was up 7.9 percent over 12 months at the end of February. Now many seniors are finding their COLAs are far more than offset by inflation. Barry Klitsberg, president of the Queens Interagency Council on Aging, said it has been a problem. “The actuaries figure out what the cost of living was for the previous year and make their estimates for the next year,” Klitsberg said in an interview. “Now the cost of living has gone up higher than the benefit from Jan. 1.” He said of all the factors wiping out the increases, the higher Medicare premium is not one of them. “Medicare is built into the COLA,” he said. “The premium went from $148 to $170, and nobody’s check went down as a result. There’s a ‘hold harmless’ provision in the Social Security law.” Klitsberg said if a recipient’s checks don’t go up the amount of a Medicare increase, the government caps the increase so that the amount of the checks doesn’t go down. “If you were getting $1,000 a month, with a 5.9 percent COLA you are getting a $59 increase; therefore, it more than covers the $22 increase in Medicare,” he said. The other things — fuel, which also is causing rent increases in some cases, especially if it isn’t a rent-stabilized apartment, yeah

Rising prices in many cases are wiping out monthly increases in PHOTO CREDIT Social Security payments. there’s a lot of folks who are getting hit. Food has gotten quite high, for many reasons. The cost of transportation, raw materials, all that stuff has gone up. “Anybody who goes to the supermarket — not just seniors — knows,” he said. “People are getting hit hard.” Mary Johnson is an analyst who has studied Social Security and Medicare for 27 years with the Senior Citizen League, a group that seeks to protect and expand SSI and Medicare for seniors, the disabled and veterans. By coincidence, January also was the first time Johnson herself was eligible for a check. She said the inflationary cycle began in 2021, and that it is now the worst inflation the United States has faced since 1981.

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Johnson recently tried to quantify the average dollar amount. She said in a telephone interview that seniors were behind the eight ball even before Jan. 1. “The COLA was announced in October, and you had three months before you actually received it,” Johnson said. “I wanted to find out how this inflation was going up between the time of the announcement and the time we got it. And that is what would bring a tear to everybody’s eyes. “Between October and December — three months — it was up nearly 2 percent.” In Johnson’s findings, published by the SCL this month, she took an average monthly benefit of $1,656.30, with an average monthly increase of $92.30 already factored in. Accounting for inflation, she said rising costs exceeded the new monthly check by $29.70 in January and by $36 in February. She is projecting an average deficit of $42.20 for March. Johnson, Klitsberg and others said there is help for seniors having difficulty getting by. Johnson said the National Council on Aging has much useful information at ncoa.org. The Eldercare Locator, at eldercare.acl.gov, can link any senior in the country with “area agencies for the aging” by entering a ZIP code. In the case of Queens residents, the link leads to the New York City Department for the Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging and the services they provide, such as rental assistance, help with reducing medical and prescription costs and more. Klitsberg said a wealth of assistance is available from the state Office for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program, or HIICAP, at aging. Q\ ny.gov.

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She is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens and was past President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association, past President of the Astoria Kiwanis Club, past President of the East River Kiwanis Club, and past President of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens.

Planning is the Key to Coping with Death By Donna Furey, Esq. As the old saying goes – “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” However, you can plan for both! Although it is not fun to think about death, planning it the key to coping with death. By planning properly, you can make it easier for your family and friends and make sure the proper people and/or charities receive your assets. Furthermore, your plan could help avoid court and taxes. The most common estate planning document is the Will. A Will is a legally binding document that instructs who will receive your property at your death and appoints an Executor to carry out your wishes. A Will only covers property in your name alone and not joint property, trust property, or any account that has a beneficiary including life insurance. A properly drafted Will can create a tax plan and/or plan for beneficiaries with disabilities so they don’t lose their government benefi ts.

Once the Executor is appointed, they collect the assets of the estate, pay the bills of the estate and distribute the assets of the estate to the beneficiaries. If you die without a Will, the process is called Administration. The laws of New York determine who can apply to become the Administrator of your estate and who is entitled to your assets. Unfortunately, your assets may end up in the wrong hands!

One way to avoid court is having beneficiaries on all your assets. Another way to avoid court is a Trust. A Trust is a legal entity where the trustee holds the assets in the trust for the benefi t of the benefi ciaries and disburses the assets when the creator dies. An irrevocable trust cannot be rescinded by the creator, while a revocable trust allows the creator to change or rescind the trust. Trusts are often used to tax plan, avoid probate, long-term care planning Probate is the name of the process of fi ling a Will with the court and to protect assets from Medicaid. and the appointment of the Executor. Start coping today and make a plan!

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Understanding Medicaid: Frequently Asked Questions What is Medicaid medical assistance?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state funded program, run by the state and local counties, providing medical insurance, home-care services (assisting with all activities of daily living) and nursing home medical assistance to the poor, elderly or disabled. However, individuals requiring home-care services or nursing home medical assistance, in addition to ﬁ nancial requirements, also will need to have a medical need for these services.

Who can apply for Medicaid? Medicaid is for anyone who meets the income and resources restrictions.

What services does Medicaid provide?

• Doctors • Hospitals • Prescriptions • Nursing Homes (room & board) • Home-care Services, such as home attendants, home health aides and nurses

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What is an MLTC?

MLTC stands for Managed Long-Term Care. One example: When an applicant has been approved for Medicaid home-care services, the applicant has to choose one MLTC from several approved Medicaid plans. Upon joining an MLTC a coordinator will be assigned and this coordinator will be the point person between the applicant/recipient and the MLTC.

Changes with Community Medicaid eligibility! Due to Covid-19 once again the new rule regarding transfer of assets for Community Medicaid has been extended from April 1, 2022 to possibly July 1, 2022; however, no written directive was given at this point in time.

What does the new regulation mean to the applicant? Once the new regulation is in place, applicants wishing to apply for community Medicaid and receive homecare services paid for by Medicaid will need to submit two and one-half years of bank statements. If there were any transfers during that period, other than spouse to spouse, the applicant will be disqualified for a period of time. Presently, applicants can transfer any amount of money one month and become financially eligible for Community Medicaid the following month. This window of opportunity is closing in fast. There is no time to procrastinate. The only way to avoid this issue is to apply before the new rule is enforced. Elder Care Services, Inc., offers Free consultations.

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The importance of good health is top of mind these days. Health insurance can protect us from health and fi nancial risks but choosing the right plan can be daunting. Knowing where to turn for health care that fi ts your needs can make all the difference. Whether you’re aging into Medicare or are eligible for a special election period, AgeWell New York offers Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans for those with Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid and a Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) program designed for people who have both Medicare and full Medicaid and need coordinated care at home. The Agewell New York Advantage Plus (D-SNP MAP) plan includes all original Medicare benefi ts (parts A and B), full prescription drug coverage (part D), and Medicaid coverage along with personal care, transportation, dental, hearing and vision, over-the-counter card, wellness and preventive services. Benefits include: • One ID card. • One plan for all Medicare, most Medicaid, prescription drugs, additional supplemental benefi ts and community based long-term care services. • One dedicated care manager to coordinate your benefi ts and services. For information on eligibility and enrollment in AgeWell New York’s Health Plans, call 1-866-586-8044 or TTY/TTD 1-800-662-1220 to speak with a licensed insurance agent or visit agewellnewyork.com.

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Jamaica needs hundreds of millions

Downtown facelift necessary, says BP by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Borough President Donovan Richards, joined by several other community leaders, led a walking tour of Jamaica Avenue from Parsons Boulevard to 165th Street to address quality-of-life issues in the rapidly changing downtown area. During the tour on March 11, business, crime, homelessness, drugs, busways and poor infrastructure were just some of the topics discussed by Richards, fellow elected officials, business owners and other community stakeholders. Richards said that Downtown Jamaica needs a facelift that may cost hundreds of millions of dollars. “The pavers got to go, new lighting, paving the boulevard over, planting new trees for clean air, but aesthetically this whole place needs an uplift,” said Richards. “The vacancy rate is 6 percent, because the customer base is so loyal. But imagine how much more of Southeast Queens would shop here if it felt safe, if it felt modern and if the city made a commitment in addressing many of the systemic issues here.” Richards, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), Mayor Adams, state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and new edition Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) all grew up in the Jamaica region, said the borough president. “What we have discussed is putting together a task force,” said Richards. “This can’t just be a one-day tour. We need to meet monthly, not to just talk, but to incentivize the agencies to do some improvements here as well.” Those agencies will have no shortage of issues to address. Property owners say that they have trouble trying to lease to quality tenants in Jamaica, according to Jennifer Furioli, the executive director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District. “One of the biggest issues that people are concerned about is the quality of retail here,” said Furioli. “We have property owners who are trying to lease to responsible tenants.” Mark Lucaj, the property manager of the retail building at 159-02 Jamaica Ave., which includes Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, said the landowner that he represents missed out on a

Leran Ruben, owner of Beverly Hills Furniture store, aired out his complaints with busways on Jamaica Avenue.

deal with a national retailer as a tenant. “They want a safe place to operate,” said Lucaj. “We had a national retailer come in for one of vacant spaces, which was vacant for some time ... they saw someone peeing on the side of the building and said that this is not for us.” Lucaj said that retailers who come to Jamaica want to see a clean, safe and walkable area. “You got the traffic at least,” Richards said, as dozens of people walked by the corner of the movie theater. The building where the movie theater, eateries and other retail outlets reside used to be a parking lot over 20 years ago, Lucaj told the Queens Chronicle. “The landowner here was one of the first people to invest in this area 20 years ago and saw what Jamaica could be,” said Lucaj. “They built this building and it now it’s a landmark to a certain extent ... People reference the movie theater and say, ‘That building. Got it.’” Samantha Champagnie, who co-owns the Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant with her husband, Conrad, at 92-21 Parsons Blvd., said that a man pulled down his pants in front of the place on March 6. “We had to get him out of the store because he was dealing with a mental health issue,” said Champagnie. “We have people with those issues, but it doesn’t seem like there is any place for them to go.” Champagnie, Conrad and Beverly Hills Furniture storeowner Leran Ruben also had issues with the new busways that were implemented on Jamaica Avenue, a major shopping corridor. “These busways have impacted my business,” said Ruben. “It’s decreased foot traffic from more than 50 to 75 percent. Passenger vehicles from Sutphin Boulevard all the way to 168th Street can’t stop by for business.” The new signs that were put up to accommodate the busways divert car traffic away from Jamaica Avenue blocks away and have made it difficult for consumers interested in shopping in the downtown area, according to Conrad. “I’ve had people say that they are not coming to shop here anymore,” said Champagnie. “They get ticketed for going on the avenue nowadays.” They have lost 20 percent of their business, according to Champagnie. Richards said that he is a big proponent for busways and that he was fine with one on Archer Avenue, which is near a bus depot and the E, J and Z subway station but was against former Mayor de Blasio throwing Jamaica Avenue into the bus pilot program in the last minute. He also agreed with Ruben that there shouldn’t be a 24/7 busway on Jamaica Avenue. “We are not Amazon or Wayfair,” said Ruben. “I’m relying on a person who goes to Golden Krust and later walks by my store for business.” While Richards understood the frustration of the entrepreneurs, he also wanted them to utilize online platforms like Amazon to help their business and his office is willing to help those who are seeking to do so.

Jamaica Center Business Improvement Executive Director Jennifer Furioli, city Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim and Borough President Donovan Richards tour Jamaica to highlight quality-of-life issues and discuss solutions to improving the downtown area. PHOTOS BY NAEISHA ROSE “Are you selling on Amazon?” Richards asked Ruben. Ruben said that he would if he could, but he does have his own website. Yaseen Rowzani, the owner of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 159-02 Jamaica Ave. on Parsons Blvd., said “for food service workers there is no place for Uber drivers or delivery drivers to park.” Furioli said she understands the need for speedier buses through the busway program and knows that Mayor Adams intends on expanding and improving the initiative, but business owners along the routes must be kept into consideration. “You just want more thoughtfulness,” said Richards. Furioli wants the Mayor’s Office to include entrepreneurs in the process of the expansion of the busway program in the early stages and will be conducting a study on the Downtown Jamaica route to get a better picture of the impact it has had on the stores. “This is a pilot and we learn from pilots,” she added. “We want to share what we learned and we want to make the system better. We all want better transportation, but we want it in a way that doesn’t hurt us.” Furioli said the JCBID is willing to work with the city as long as it is willing to tweak or customize the pilot so it won’t harm businesses. Vincent Barone, a spokesman for the city Department of Transportaion said that there will be outreach in the coming weeks, and that a recent analysis from the Bus Turnaround Coalition said the Jamaica Avenue busway has brought 34 percent faster speeds during the p.m. rush hour. “The Jamaica/Archer busways have significantly improved the commutes of roughly a quarter of a million bus riders who travel on these corridors,” said Barone. “DOT will be engaging with businesses and conducting a survey to determine how the busway has been working and what further adjustments

may be necessary.” Comrie, chairman of the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee, which also oversees the MTA, was at an earlier transit tour with Richards and said that results from the busways are negligble. “The streets need to be redesigned,” Comrie said to the Chronicle. “The Jamaica busways are unfeasible. It is very difficult to widen Jamaica Avenue but there are other places that can be done. They are destroying commerce for a lot of these stores because you can’t do drop-offs and pickups.” There should be traffic enforcement of people permanently parking at meters, added Comrie. Williams, who was on both tours, was shocked about how the busways were impacting some businesses worse than Covid-19. “This is a commercial route that isn’t just for residents,” said Williams. “I hope we can make some changes to the busways.” Conrad Champagnie was also concerned about the proposed Parsons-Archer Pedestrian Plaza that will be next to the movie theater and Golden Krust. “The main issue is the guy peddling drugs,” said Conrad, who is not sure if adding a plaza will make it easier for drug dealers to sit around and sell their product. “I don’t know what to think.” The red brick sidewalks that line most of Downtown Jamaica have also been an issue in the area, according to Furioli. “These were installed by a separate organization nearly 40 years ago,” said Furioli about the bricks, which have been the cause of lawsuits over the years. “Somehow our organization has been stuck maintaining them.” As a nonprofit, the JCBID doesn’t have the resources to replace the bricked sidewalks. “The resources that we did have such as advertising revenue ... have been pulled from the city,” said Furioli. “Meanwhile, our liability continued on next page

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continued from previous page insurance has escalated to 30 percent of our budget. We can’t even afford a water cooler in our office.” Furioli wants the area to have infrastructure funding to have all the red bricks pulled out to remove the liability from the organization. Richards agreed with Furioli that the brick removal requires capital funding and further said that the sidewalk replacement should fall under the city DOT. A consultant with the cit y Small Business Services said he would help Furioli resolve the issue, according to the JCBID executive director. “We need infrastructure funds to fix this,” Furioli told the Chronicle. “I have noticed a high number of differently abled people trying to struggle to walk these sidewalks, probably because we have the courts and public service agencies here.” Derek Irby, the executive director of the 165th Street Mall Business Improvement Association, said that the infrastructure projects wouldn’t matter until the quality-oflife issues are tackled. To prevent crime in the area, he would like to have an open streets model on 165th Street, which leads

The red brick sidewalk pavers in Jamaica that get loose easily have led to many lawsuits for the business improvement districts in the area. Derek Irby, right, executive director of the 165th Street Mall Business Improvement AssociaPHOTOS BY NAEISHA ROSE tion. to the Jamaica Bus Terminal, from Jamaica Avenue to 89th Avenue. “People double-park there and they sometimes have a gun or a knife and go there to settle their disputes,” said Irby. “If they didn’t have their car there they wouldn’t have that access.” The bricks are also an issue for Irby, but he is more focused on having crime in the area solved first. “Aesthetically, they look nice, but they easily wear and tear,” added Irby. Inspector Vincent Tavalaro of the 103rd Precinct said that there

were supposed to be planters installed in the area since he took over the 103rd Precinct in 2019. “It was approved by FDNY and Sanitation so that there will be no entrance from Jamaica, which would solve a lot of issues,” said Tavalaro. “We will boot and tow the vehicles here, and we do, but in the interim we can’t have citywide traffic build in here all the time.” Richards said that planters are not enough and that a permanent form of infrastructure is necessary. Williams agreed that the main issue is public safety.

“That has been an issue across the city,” said Williams. “We need to work with the NYPD, but we also need to find alternatives so it isn’t just a policing response.” The homeless issue also needs to be addressed, she added. Comrie shared Williams’ sentiment and said there needs to be better permanent facilities and congregate housing in locations where the homeless would want to stay. He also believes it’s time to relocate some facilities that are creating problems for the area. “There are also some clinics that are servicing that community that are contributing to the loitering and may have to be moved,” Comrie said about drug rehab centers. He also agreed with the councilwoman and said that Tavalaro has been doing a commendable job. “We need to have a dedicated 24/7 unit in the Downtown Jamaica area that doesn’t drain resources from the rest of the 103rd,” said Comrie. “The merchants there feel afraid of the loiterers. Business workers are afraid of walking safely.” Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim, who was a part of the tour, said that he was

there to suppor t com mercial corridors. “Just walking the streets you can feel the energy,” said Kim. “People want to get back to prepandemic ways, but not in the exact same way. We want to come back stronger and more equitable.” The SBS commissioner is excited about having an open streets model on 165th Street. Small business owners will be the key to helping New York City bounce back, but listening instead of guessing what their needs are is what will help them succeed, he said. “The roads and the sidewalks need to be taken care of,” said Kim. “Our agency manages the 76 improvement districts in the city.” Thirty percent of their budgets shouldn’t go toward fixing streets, said Kim. “This is not only a DOT issue, this is going to really be a collaborative effort between property owners as well,” said Kim. “The key with this administration is that the interagency coordination is a top priority ... DOT, SBS and all the agencies that need to will be coordinating, not just amongst ourselves, but with the local stakeholders.” Q

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

Infrastructure, crime, drugs, busways and more hurting Jamaica

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C M SQ page 34 Y K

Vacancies still mar 108th Street strip Realtors and shopkeepers differ on how ‘Bukharian Broadway’ is faring by Michael Shain

“In general, that is happening all over,” said Sam Mizrahi, a commercial real estate Shopping districts can see their fortunes agent who represents several empty properties on the strip. change overnight. “A lot of neighborhood spaces are startTurns out the neighborhood stores people rely on for their dry cleaning, morning cof- ing to get leased up. That’s because rents fee and groceries are as vulnerable as the have come down. “Rents are being reduced 20 to 30 percent rest of us to traumas like the pandemic, in some cases and tenants are taking advannutty real-estate values and changing times. The four blocks of 108th Street between tage of it.” An indicator of how things are picking up 63rd Road and 65th Avenue that make up the main shopping area at the northern tip of is a vacant European delicacies store on the corner of 108th Street and 65th Avenue that Forest Hills were hit hard by Covid. Foot traffic dwindled to nothing during closed last month. Mizrahi found a new tenant, a convethe height of the lockdown. In recent years, three banks — TD, nience store, in just two weeks. “And,” he HSBC and Citi — closed their corner added, “I had multiple offers.” Among the new stores opening — or on branches for good, several fruit markets pulled down their gates, a big hair salon the verge of it — are a burger and falafel restaurant, Burger Spot, a nail salon, Lady went dark. Vacant storefronts began to look like Nail and Spa II, and a breakfast joint, Forest Hills Express Cafe. One recent move was by missing teeth on the streetscape. When people started to venture out again, Dunkin’ — from a spot on the west side of city and state government regulations made 108th to one just steps away on the east side. The new businesses coming in tend to be doing business a nightmare of petty fines the kind of places that sell services, not and immunization card checks. But in this immigrant-rich corner of For- package goods, said the brokers. “No more clothing stores,” said Mizrahi. est Hills, where the 108th Street strip is known to some as Bukharian Broadway in “Those days are over. The new places sell homage to the many area residents with food, vegetables, are pharmacies.” “It’s getting a lot more interest lately,” roots in Uzbekistan, things are starting to said Richard Senior, a broker for Ripco Real turn around, say the real-estate brokers. Estate who represents the nowclosed TD Bank on the corner of 108th and 63rd Drive. “But it’s going to take some time.” Store owners on the strip caution that the area is still not out of the woods. “It’s not the same as it used to be,” said Gabriel Ysupov, the young owner of a barbershop called Fresh Looks on 108th near 64th Road. “Businesses are still affected by the pandemic.” Under several owners, a barber shop has existed at Ysupov’s location for 75 years. He bought Three spaces on 108th Street recently held by major banks, it in 2019, changed the name and started catering to a youngincluding, above, HSBC, remain vacant. Chronicle Contributor

New president for CEC 24 After City Education Council 24 voted to remove its president, Ferdielynn Lee, ahead of her term set to end in June, it held a special election on Tuesday for a new president, voting in Michael Michael Conigliaro Conigliaro 8-1. The no vote came FILE PHOTO from Lee. Conigliaro said he plans to “hit the reset button and do what we were elected to do.”

He spoke of working as “one unit” and creating a “well-oiled” machine. “I look forward to rebuilding this CEC to great levels,” he said. He plans to formulate an agenda to share his ideas and visions for the role. Conigliaro was formerly the treasurer for CEC 24. Matt Crescio will take on that role and Henry Choi will continue as vice president. Conigliaro recently ran in the City Council race for District 29 and spoke of expanding gifted and talented programs and keepQ ing the SHSAT.

Dunkin’ recently moved into a new spot on 108th Street in Forest Hills, but only diagonally PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SHAIN across the street from where it had been before. strip to catch up. er crowd. Vacancies in the shopping areas of Rego “The first year was good,” he said. “The second year was bad. The third year, neu- Park and Jackson Heights, for instance, are rare these days, the brokers said. tral. No change. On 108th, they said, there is still more “A lot of people are moving out,” he said. supply than demand for retail space. “There’s nobody new.” The three big bank vacancies — TD, Citi “There used to be five nail places, two came back” after the pandemic restrictions and HSBC — on the street also present a were loosened, said Lenny Alaev, owner of problem particular to the revival of the corridor. A la i n De’L one The banks are Men’s Boutique, a still rent formalwear store. depend on the community ... underpaying old leases, “Five beaut y said a sou rce parlors, one left. Now, I’m busy.” familiar with the Five or six banks, — Lenny Alaev of Alain De’Lone area. only one left. Men’s Boutique Unt i l a new “ Bu si ne s s is business comes coming back? No, along and agrees to pay more, the property there is nothing new,” he said. Nevertheless, Alaev said, the end of the owner — the Malachite Group, a large compandemic has been a boon, releasing a wave mercial real estate firm headquartered in Mineola, LI — is unlikely to rent to new of pent-up demand for his inventory. “I depend on the community — wed- tenants. Messages left at Malachite’s main office dings, bar mitzvahs, celebrations,” he said. requesting an interview last week were not “Now, I’m busy.” Q It may take some time for the 108th Street returned.

“I

Sensory needs continued from page 18 their children’s progress. “The student now is learning how to regulate themself, learning strategies of what’s needed to calm themselves in order to focus,” she said. One week’s lesson was on how to calm the child, she said, and included yoga videos and therapeutic brushing techniques, and another week was centered on how to deal with reactions to a problem. Nicome-Scott and her team have been working on the programs since July of 2021, she said. “A lot of thought process went into

this program, right down to the equipment, down to the paint on the walls,” she said. “I would definitely love to see more SEED sites open in the future because it really impacts the students in a positive manner.” Gilkes would like to see more funding for this to have it in every school, too, she said, as it helps not just the students and their families but their school community as well. “It really is a must-have for [Tyler] to be successful academically,” she said. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have this type of support everywhere and every school for all parents with children who have special needs.” “It’s not a nice-to-have — although it is Q nice — it’s a must-have,” she said.

C M SQ page 35 Y K

Assembly has set aside $50M, but not guaranteed in final version by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Assemblymembers Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows), Gina L. Sillitti (D-Long Island) and Jessica González-Rojas (D-Jackson Heights), along with state Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside), gathered at the corner of Peck Avenue and Kissena Boulevard Friday morning to call for the Assembly’s $50 million-worth of funding for Hurricane Ida relief to be included in the state budget. The site is just across the street from the home of three of the borough’s 11 residents who lost their lives to the flooding. Specif ically, the funds would assist homeowners whose properties were damaged during September’s storm. “New Yorkers are still navigating the aftermath of the devastating storm, and need more financial resources, as they rebuild — not just their lives — their homes and their families,” Rozic said. Gov. Hochul shared her own state budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year at the State of the State in January. The Legislature, however, just shared its own proposals on Monday. While the Assembly version did include the Ida relief, that does not guarantee that it will stay in the final version come April 1 — hence the law makers’ calls for the gover nor to

Assemblywomen Nily Rozic, at podium, Gina Sillitti, left, and Jessica González-Rojas were joined by state Sen. John Liu, back, and Mitchell Wu of the Chinese American Planning Council in their PHOTO BY SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY call for Hurricane Ida relief funding on Friday. include the $50 million. “We are going to continue this push into the final state budget, hoping that both leadership and the governor hear our pleas and our calls to help homeowners, and help them now,” Rozic said Friday. Gon zález-Rojas recalled su r vey i ng her district with President Biden shortly

after the storm. “We went down alleyways in East Elmhurst, where we saw house after house after house destroyed. We saw cars overturned, we saw the insides of people’s homes that were completely f looded,” she said. “In Woodside as well, we saw a low-lying area that was totally destroyed — literally, a

vehicle ended up on top of a fire hydrant and was stuck there because ... the water had risen so high.” Liu, the lone state senator at the press conference, made clear that his Senate colleagues are on board with the proposal: “These assemblymembers and we in the Senate are looking to continue this fund to help sustain these families, their losses.” The lawmakers were adamant that, although the Federal Emergency Management Agency had provided some relief for their constituents, it was not nearly enough. “They have been to FEMA, they’ve been to the insurance companies, they’ve been run through the gauntlet. And in many cases, they came up with absolutely zilch — nothing,” Liu said. “In other cases where they were able to get some recovery, it was a fraction of the actual losses that they suffered.” Recognizing that, Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) told the Chronicle Monday that she is seeking out additional FEMA funding for Ida relief, and was pleased by her Albany colleagues’ efforts. State funding of the sort is not without precedent; following the flooding of Lake Ontario in 2017, the state created a disaster relief fund not unlike the one being proQ posed now.

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

State pols call for Ida relief in budget

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 36

C M SQ page 36 Y K

THE BROOKLYN UNION GAS COMPANY d/b/a NATIONAL GRID NY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY (“Company”) that it has fi led with the New York State Public Service Commission (“PSC”) tariff revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No. 12 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2022. These revisions have been fi led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0309. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2022) to rates effective April 1, 2022 by service classification. Effective April 1, 2022, $2.5 million has been removed from base delivery rates to be collected through the ‘Rate Adjustment Clause’. The Rate Adjustment Clause is a separate surcharge that will be included in the Delivery Rate Adjustment line on customers’ bills. S.C. No. 1B, 17-1B – Residential Heating Service S.C. No. 1BR, 17-1BR-Residential Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $21.55 $21.55 Next 47 therms, per therm $1.1710 Over 50 therms, per therm $0.4372

$1.2092 $0.4515

S.C. No. 2-2, 17-2-2 – Non-Residential Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $37.55 $37.55 Next 87 therms, per therm $0.6848 Next 2,910 therms, per therm $0.6105 Over 3,000 therms, per therm $0.4250

$0.7025 $0.6263 $0.4361

S.C. No. 3, 17-3 – Multi-Family Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $39.51 $39.51 Next 997 therms, per therm $0.4548 $0.4628 Over 1,000 therms, per therm $0.3558 $0.3621

S.C. 4A, 17-4A – High Load Factor Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $250.00 $250.00 Next 990 therms, per therm $0.2718 Over 1,000 therms, per therm $0.2718

$0.2696 $0.2696

S.C. 4A-CNG, 17-4A-CNG – Compressed Natural Gas Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $250.00 $250.00 Next 990 therms, per therm $0.2632 Over 1,000 therms, per therm $0.2632

$0.2643 $0.2643

S.C. 4B, 17-4B – Year Round Air Conditioning Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 1 therms or less $130.00 Next 199 therms, per therm $0.8587 $0.8797 Over 200 therms, per therm $0.4294

S.C. 7, 17-7 – Seasonal Off-Peak Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $39.51 $39.51 Over 3 therms, per therm $0.2163

$0.2074

S.C. No. 1A, 17-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service S.C. No. 1AR, 17-1AR Residential Non-Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $16.25 Next 47 therms, per therm $1.9845 Over 50 therms, per therm $0.8835 $0.9523 S.C. No. 1B-DG, 17-1B-DG – Distributed Generation Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $32.93 $32.93 Over 3 therms, per therm $0.1885 S.C. No. 2-1, 17-2-1 – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $37.55 $37.55 Next 87 therms, per therm $0.6259 Next 2,910 therms, per therm $0.4359 Over 3,000 therms, per therm $0.2986 $0.3037

$0.1913

$0.6369 $0.4435

$0.1011

$130.00 $0.4400

S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 2 – Equal to or greater than 1 MW but less than 5 MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $333.14 $333.14 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0991 $0.1011 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.1264 $0.1289

S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $771.69 $771.69 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0230 $0.0229 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.0319 $0.0319 Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $4,821.52 $4,927.82 S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 1 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily) Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00 Over 10 therms, per therm $0.1613/0.1346 $0.2325/0.1933

S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 2 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily) Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00 Over 10 therms, per therm $0.1290/0.1076 $0.1860/0.1547

These revisions have been ﬁ led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0309. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://ww tionalgridus.com/NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).

THE BROOKLYN UNION GAS COMPANY d/b/a NATIONAL GRID NY

w.na-

NAGR-080286

For the latest news visit qchron.com

S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 1 – Less than 1MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $235.61 $235.61 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0991 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.1264 $0.1289

$16.25 $2.0347

C M SQ page 37 Y K NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (“Company”) that it has fi led with the New York State Public Service Commission (“Commission”) proposed tariff revision s to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No.1 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2022. These revisions have been fi led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0310. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2022) to rates effective April 1, 2022 by service classification. Effective April 1, 2022, $2.5 million has been removed from base delivery rates to be collected through the ‘Rate Adjustment Clause’. The Rate Adjustment Clause is a separate surcharge that will be included in the Delivery Rate Adjustment line on customers’ bills. S.C. No. 1A, 5-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service S.C. No. 1AR, 5-1AR – Residential Non-Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $19.75 Next 47 therms, per therm $1.5459 Over 50 therms, per therm $0.3670 $0.3926 S.C. No. 1B, 5-1B – Residential Heating Service S.C. No. 1BR, 5-1BR – Residential Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $21.66 $21.66 Next 47 therms, per therm $1.2939 Over 50 therms, per therm $0.3046 $0.3163 S.C. No. 1B-DG, 5-1B-DG – Distributed Generation Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $33.04 Over 3 therms, per therm $0.1772 S.C. No. 2-A, 5-2A – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $37.66 $37.66 Next 87 therms, per therm $1.8007 Next 2,910 therms, per therm $0.3651 $0.3717 Over 3,000 therms, per therm $0.2346 S.C. No. 2-B, 5-2B – Non-Residential Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $37.66 $37.66 Next 87 therms, per therm $1.7779 Next 2,910 therms, per therm $0.4464 $0.4600 Over 3,000 therms, per therm $0.3082 $0.3175

S.C. 9, 5-9 – Uncompressed Natural Gas Vehicle Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $38.00 $38.00 Over 3 therms, per therm $0.5645 $0.6133

$0.2231

S.C. No. 16, 5-16 – Year-Round Space Conditioning Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $230.43 $230.43 Next 497 therms, per therm $1.6932 $1.7227 Over 500 therms, per therm $0.2903 $0.2953 $1.3435

$33.04 $0.1786

$1.8332

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 1 – Less than 1MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $180.61 $180.61 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.1506 $0.1506 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.1935 $0.1934 S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 2 – Equal to or greater than 1 MW but less than 5 MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $328.22 $328.22 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.1506 $0.1506 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.1935 $0.1934

$0.2390

$1.8319

$74.66 $0.2968

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $949.35 $949.35 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0373 $0.0373 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.0509 $0.0509 Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $6,252.00 $6,252.00 S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 1 Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00 Over 10 therms, per therm $0.0749 $0.1608 S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 2 Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00 Over 10 therms, per therm $0.0600 $0.1285

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a NATIONAL GRID

NAGR-080287

These revisions have been ﬁ led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0310. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Long-Island-NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).

For the latest news visit qchron.com

S.C. No. 3, 5-3 – Multi-Family Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 3 therms or less $74.66 Next 997 therms, per therm $0.4921 $0.5025 Over 1,000 therms, per therm $0.2906

$19.75 $1.6089

S.C No. 15, 5-15 – High Load Factor Service Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/22 First 10 therms or less $153.35 $153.35 Over 10 therms, per therm $0.2247

Page 37 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a NATIONAL GRID

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 38

C M SQ page 38 Y K

Five-point plan for NYC Parks unveiled Krishnan calls for new playgrounds and 1 million more trees citywide by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) gathered along with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmembers Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) and Mercedes Narcisse (D-Brooklyn) and more at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Unisphere on Monday to present his five-point plan for expanding New York City parks. Krishnan was appointed chair of the City Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee at the start of the term. At the time, he said, “Our parks are a matter of social justice.” That sentiment was abundantly clear as he presented the five-point plan on Monday. “The issue of parks in our city is a social justice issue. It is a public health issue, it is a racial justice issue and an immigrant justice issue,” he said in his remarks. “For far too long in this city, we have not invested in neighborhoods like mine — in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst — and immigrant communities and communities of color throughout our city that have some of the least amount of green space.” Krishnan added that, out of all 51 Council districts, his ranks 50th in terms of park space per capita. That notion was evident in one of the plan’s five points, all of which he outlined in a series of tweets later that day: Krishnan is pushing to provide waterfront access to all New Yorkers.

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, center, who chairs the Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee, was joined by Borough President Donovan Richards and Councilmember Mercedes NarNYC COUNCIL PHOTO / TWITTER cisse, right, at the Unisphere on March 14. “Like trees and green space, living shorelines provide critical health benefits and absorb and clean tidewaters,” Krishnan said in a tweet. “Yet the vast majority of them in NYC are inaccessible to communities of color or undermined by luxury development. We must protect our waterfronts.” Likewise, Krishnan called for every ZIP code in the city to receive a new or updated

playground within the next five years. “Playgrounds are essential outdoor community spaces. NYC has fewer playgrounds per person than 68 of the 100 largest cities,” he tweeted Monday afternoon. “Our playgrounds are often in disrepair, especially in NYCHA housing. We must invest in playgrounds in all zip codes. This is a racial justice issue.” Those updates and additions could be aided

by the creation of a Parks Construction Authority, one of Krishnan’s other proposals. “The average timeline to complete a typical park is 7 to 8 years,” Krishnan tweeted. “We must create a new Parks Construction Authority to build faster and more efficient[ly].” On top of that, the plan calls for 1 million additional trees to be planted citywide by 2030. Krishnan also proposed a $1 billion investment in park maintenance. “Most major U.S. cities spend between 1-2% of their city budgets on parks. NYC Parks receives even less now than it received during the ’70s financial crisis. That must change with this budget,” Krishnan said in a statement. In his preliminary budget, Mayor Adams set aside about $433 million for parks and recreation, less than 1 percent of the budget. Richards praised Krishnan’s plan. “Our parks are the anchors of our #Queens neighborhoods, and each community deserves a firstclass space to call their own,” he tweeted Monday. “@voteshekar‘s five-point plan for parks he unveiled today brings us closer to that goal, and I look forward to doing what I can to make it a reality.” Ung, too, was optimistic about the plan, and tweeted that she was “proud” to attend Monday’s unveiling. “The pandemic underscored just how important parks are to our well-being Q and that of our community,” she said.

You may be eligible for COVID-19 Treatment People who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to receive outpatient treatment to help symptoms and avoid hospitalization. Treatment works best if you begin it soon after you start feeling symptoms, so get tested right away.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Monoclonal antibody treatment is a one-time IV or injection to help ﬁght COVID-19 while your immune system produces its own antibodies. Oral antiviral pills are taken for ﬁve days and helps stop the virus and keeps it from replicating, which reduces the amount of virus in your body. There are currently two authorized pills - paxlovid and molunpiravir. Both monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral treatments can reduce your risk of becoming sick from COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization. COVID-19 treatments are not a substitute for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots remain the best protection against getting severely sick due to COVID-19. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have tested positive, talk to your doctor, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

Rs o u l by M by Mark arkk Lord ar Lord

For songwriter-musician Marlon Hurt, Culture Lab LIC, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local artists and bringing accessible, high-quality art of all genres to the community, was “a lifesaver.” Hurt and his band, Queens County Roots, were, like most performance groups, hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic. “All venues had shut down. We had to cancel all our summer gigs,” Hurt said in a recent telephone interview, referring to 2020. “It all just evaporated.”

Then, Cu C Culture u lt ltur ure e Lab La b LIC LI C ent en entered tere te red d th their eir ir lilive lives, ve es, s, and and they they found them th themselves em mse selv lves es back bac ack k on stage s ta tage — in an outdoor setting ti ng — ffor or the first time in months. “It was one spot of normalcy in a nightmare, nightmare such a relief,” Hurt said. And already he is looking forward to returning to that stage, with an upcoming concert in June. Bet ween now and then and continuing through the fall, the venue will be hosting an unusually wide-ranging assortment of live musical performances, all free, featuring artists hailing from both near and far. The next few weeks will feature bands as part of a series that happens on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.,

s t r e c n o c r o o d t u o with perforwith wi th p erfo er fo o rmances m anc nces ess taking t ak akin k ing place on an in indo indoor doo do or sstage or tage and also available ta

on online. nliline ne e. March 22 is the date for Bombzr, a jazz-soul band that has been described as the “newest, hippest trend-setting supergroup on the scene.” They will be followed on March 29 by Pre-War Ponies Ponies, known for bringing back to life obscure Tin Pan Alley tunes from the 1920s and ’30s. April 5 brings to the stage CreAr tBox, a group consisting of viola, flute and piano that pairs classical with new music and features what is described as “a crafted visual aesthetic.” Innovative composer Daniel Henri Emond brings his rock-folk-hip-hop sound to the venue on April 12, with Japanese composer Migiwa Miyajima bringing the series to a close on April 19. continued on page 41

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Cultu

C I L b re La

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ARTS, ARTS TS S CULTURE CULT C LTURE & LIVING

Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

d n a k c o

March arch 17, 2022 202

C M SQ page 39 Y K

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 40

C M SQ page 40 Y K LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT– QUEENS COUNTY In the Matter of the Application of MELISSA MARCELLE, Guardian of the Personal Needs and Property Management for MILDRED MARCELLE, An Incapacitated Person. PURSUANT TO AN ORDER OF THIS COURT DATED February 8, 2022, BY HON. WYATT N. GIBBONS, A JUSTICE OF THIS COURT, AN APPLICATION TO SELL THE PREMISES, LOCATED AT 115-11 126th Street, Ozone Park, New York 11420, being described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings or improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the borough and county of Queens, City and State of New York, bound and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of 126th St. (formerly Shoshone Street) distant 100 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of 115th Ave. (formerly Vistola Ave.) and the easterly side of 126th Street; thence easterly and parallel with 115th Avenue 100 feet; thence southerly and parallel with 126th St., 25.50 feet; thence westerly and part of the distance through a party wall and a garage party wall 100 feet to the easterly side of 126th Street; thence northerly along the easterly side of 126th Street, 25.50 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. SUBJECT to the Declaration of right of way effecting said premises made and dated 1/6/28. WILL BE MADE ON THE 5th DAY OF APRIL, 2022 AT 3:30 PM AT I.A. Part 25G, OF THE SUPREME COURT, via Microsoft Teams remote conference, accessible at www.tinyurl.com/QSCPart25Motions, No in-person appearance permitted; virtual appearance only. If you are unable to appear virtually contact the Court at (718) 298-1548 or QSCPART25@ NYCOURTS.GOV. SAID PROPERTY IS PRESENTLY UNDER CONTRACT, SUJBECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COURT, FOR THE PRICE OF $450,000.00 PLUS. CONTACT Kerry O’Shaughnessy Montaigne, Esq. ATTORNEY FOR THE GUARDIAN at 62-57 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, New York 11374, (718) 424-1233. Notice of Formation of MII SASSY LLC Articles of Organization were ﬁ led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/02/2021. Ofﬁ ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: MII SASSY LLC, 1372 DICKENS STREET, FAR ROCKAWAY, NY 11691-2304. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of NEW RONG BAO LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/18/22. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 118-12 29th Ave., Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of MOMNTUS LLC Articles of Organization were ﬁ led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/19/2022. Ofﬁ ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY, 4557 DAVIS STREET, APT. 809, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NF REALTY GROUP LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/8/2022. Office: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: Mr. Johnny S. Donadic, 42-25 39th St., Long Island City, NY 11104. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of MUTTS & MEOWS PET CARE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/20/2022. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 9522 63RD RD. #317, REGO PARK, NY, 11374. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTHING PROJECTS LLC, Art. Of Org. filed with SSNY 2/22/22. Office Location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent for process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: c/o The LLC, 43-01 22nd St., Ste 503, LIC, NY, 11101. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

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Purpose: any lawful. RGN 570 LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/10/2022. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: C/O Eric Firestone, 61-43 186th Street, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

King Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1 Soak up the sun 5 Joke 8 Sports figure? 12 Penne -- vodka 13 Playwright Levin 14 “Oops!” 15 Picnic spoiler 16 Vacuum’s lack 17 Novelist Jaffe 18 Chinese food assortment 20 Some mixologists 22 Docs’ org. 23 “Uh-huh” 24 Tousle 27 “Locksley Hall” poet 32 Year in Mexico 33 Sock part 34 Stop -- dime 35 Short recital piece 38 Uppity one 39 Spike’s warning 40 Three, in Rome 42 JFK’s vessel 45 Brother’s son 49 Leveling wedge 50 Jurist Fortas 52 “I did it!” 53 Antitoxins 54 “-- the season ...” 55 Ireland 56 Tiny amounts 57 Six-pack muscles 58 Head, to Henri

Notice of Formation of SHOPNO I, LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/05/18. Offi ce location: Queens County. Princ. offi ce of LLC: 10638 75th St., Ozone Park, NY 11417. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it DOWN 1 Poet of yore may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. offi ce. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of YAU.GURU CONSULTING LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/07/2022. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: STEPHEN HANMER DELIA, 37-32 80 ST, APT 51, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

ZIPI 57 LLC Articles of Org. ﬁ led NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/23/22. Ofﬁ ce in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 240-19 Jamaica Ave 2nd FL Bellerose, NY 11426. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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2 Jai -3 Slender 4 Sunflower State 5 “Billions” actor Paul 6 “Exodus” hero 7 Attire 8 “Oklahoma!” carriage 9 Oscar-winning actress Emma 10 Top-of-the-line 11 Com pared to

19 Hesitant sound 21 Objectivist Rand 24 More (Sp.) 25 Popular card game 26 Lark, for one 28 Very long time 29 Fastidious trait 30 Yoko of music 31 Collar 36 Scents 37 La-la lead-in

38 Music for seven 41 Concerning 42 “Hey!” 43 Ellington’s “Take -- Train” 44 “Toodle-oo!” 46 Aesopian also-ran 47 Tend texts 48 Fade away 51 Clothing protector

Answers on next page

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Diversity worked well for Ina Balin, as for Queens by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Ina Balin was born in Brooklyn on Nov. 12, 1937 into a family of Borsch Belt entertainers. Her parents were Samuel Rosenberg and Betty Friedman. Three years later a brother, Richard, entered the family. Sadly her parents Samuel and Betty divorced when she The childhood home of actress Ina Balin, The California at 64-20 was 9 years old. Ina and Saunders St. in Rego Park, as it looks today. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE; INSET 20TH CENTURY FOX PHOTO VIA EBAY her brother were placed in a boarding school, Montessori Children’s Village, in Bucks she played the Virgin Mary in the Nativity scene on “The Perry Como Show.” More County, Penn. In 1951 her life changed when her mother roles came her way as she had the ability to play Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Spanish and married wealthy shoe magnate Harold Balin. The family was reunited and moved into a Greek, perhaps reflecting Queens’ signature brand-new Sam LeFrak luxury building diversity. She acted opposite giants like John called The California at 64-20 Saunders St. Wayne, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis. She lost her beloved mother in 1976 and her in Rego Park. He adopted the children and career was cut short in 1990 when she passed their last name became Balin. Ina graduated away at age 52. Her brother Richard is still Forest Hills High School in 1953 at age 16. Q Her big break first came at age 15 when active as a actor, director and writer.

C M SQ page 41 Y K

by Sophie Krichevsky associate editor

In his seventh and most recent book, “Images of America: Douglaston-Little Neck (Arcadia Publishing),” Queens Historical Society Interim Executive Director Jason Antos takes up the mantle of documenting the area’s largely unexplored past. Though not told in chronological order, the book documents happenings in the area as early as 1637 and as late as 1978. Bringing untold history to light is something that Antos seeks to do throughout all of his work; this book was no exception. “I don’t like to really step on anyone’s toes, so to speak. So if there’s a place that’s uncharted — in terms of the historical aspect — I try to research it and see if there’s a book, or if there is really anything substantial,” he told the Chronicle. “And with ‘Douglaston-Little Neck’ I was blessed to find a lot of things that no one had really ever known before.” But not everything about the book will be unfamiliar to readers from the area — Antos made sure of that. “Doing this type of book ... you’re always trying to present the known, but also the unknown history,” he said. Perhaps the best example of that is the chapter on Udalls Cove, a wetland between

“You have to really pin Little Neck and Douglaston. down, ‘Is this more of a Little When the site had been slated Neck part of that saga, or is it for development in the late more closely related to Doug1960s, Douglaston resident laston?’” he said. He compared Aurora Gareiss founded the it to being able to determine a Udalls Cove Preservation Comperson’s relative age based on mittee to save it. She and felwhat they call the Triboroughlow resident Virginia Dent ralRFK Bridge. lied the community to protect Though a vast majority of the wetland from that developthe book is composed of phoment and made efforts toward tos, Antos said that local newscleaning up the site, where paper ar ticles were a vital dumping was common. Withsource base for him throughout out that movement, Udalls his research. Cove would not be the wetland “The only way to get those locals know and love today. A Native American cemetery is excavated in 1931 in Little Neck. little gems is through the newsAntos has lived in the area for QUEENS TOPOGRAPHICAL BUREAU PHOTO COURTESY JASON ANTOS papers. The newspapers back 35 years — in his mind, Udalls Cove had always been a wetland. “I didn’t Matinecock families that has remained in the then — as they do today — they talk about know that it was actually, like, a junkyard,” area for nearly 400 years. In 2015, Antos really important stuff, but there’s a lot of he said. He noted that Alley Pond Park has a and the Bayside Historical Society worked to minutiae,” he said. “Like, ‘Mr. Williams’ cow similarly surprising history: At one point, a co-name the intersection of Northern Boule- ran away, and it was found three miles down furniture store used the marsh to sell patio vard and Marathon Parkway “Matinecock the road, he’s safe.’ At the time, it was just, Way.” Members of the Water family live in ‘Oh, it’s cute. It’s quaint.’ But again, to us, furniture, some of which was left behind. Likewise, Antos learned quite a bit about the area to this day; Donna Gentle Spirit Bar- 150 years later, it’s hilarious.” Antos hopes readers will come away with the Matinecock, a subset of the Algonquin ron wrote the book’s foreword. Part of the reason the book covers both a new perspective on the area: “I want — Nation, who lived in the area prior to its development. In the late 1920s, the city Little Neck and Douglaston, Antos said, is for at least this book — for people to read it decided to widen Northern Boulevard, and that what is now Douglaston was, at one and to get excited about history, but also, to as part of the process in 1931 removed the point, part of Little Neck. Naturally, this know that all of the things in the book, they Q happened in their own backyard.” burial ground of the Water family, one of the proved a challenge during research.

Page 41 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

Antos book documents Douglaston-Little Neck

Indoors or out, Culture Lab LIC has a show for you

Crossword Answers

music and multiple art gallery shows featuring local artists. The opening musical act, Tilted Axes, a rock ’n’ roll band, will promenade through the streets of LIC, play an outdoor concert, and continue playing indoors later in the day. Jazz-funk-soul group Brawlik takes center stage on May 1, followed by the swinging Svetlana and the Delancey Five on May 6, with two groups scheduled for May 8: Frenchie and the Punk, billed as an alternative dark cabaret act, and Woodsiders Collective, a jazz group. Hurt, who describes his band’s sound as “blues pop — based in the world of blues but accessible like pop,” returns to the venue on June 5. An Atlanta transplant currently living in Sunnyside, he says, “I’ve come to love the borough. We feel really rooted here.” He’s looking forward to playing for the home crowd, which can look forward to an evening of Hurt’s original tunes, with covers “few and far between.” Sara McDonald heads The NYChillharmonic, a progressive rock-indie jazz group with no fewer than 18 musicians. McDonald points out, “It’s not big band; it’s just a big band!”

Queens County Roots will return to Culture Lab LIC in June. On the cover: The NYChillharPHOTOS COURTESY CULTURE LAB LIC monic, led by Sara McDonald, will be there in July. The group, which features all original music by McDonald, will mark its third appearance at Culture Lab on July 8. Margot Bennett, leader of Margot & the Midnight Tenants, will also be playing the venue for the third time, on a date to be announced. Bennett writes all the songs for the group, though she said the other members, all of whom are originally from Israel,

arrange the songs collaboratively. Like Hurt, Bennett was delighted to be able to appear there in the midst of the pandemic. “It was a very emotional experience,” she said. “People were so excited to see live music again.” Culture Lab LIC is located at 5-25 46 Ave. For information, visit culturelablic.org or call Q (347) 848-0030.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

continued from page 39 As the warmer weather arrives, things kick into higher gear beginning on April 30, with a new series of Live at Culture Lab concerts, set to take place through October on a n o u t d o o r s t a g e i n t h e ve n u e’s 18,000-square-foot parking lot and available only in-person, with varying days and times. According to Director of Events Tess Howsam, the series opening will involve “a big community focus” that will include live

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 42

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C M SQ page 44 Y K AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify the existing building wireless telecommunications To Advertise Call 718-205-8000 To Advertise Call 718-205-8000 facility located at 40-05 Hampton Street, Elmhurst, Queens County, NY 11375 ARE YOU BEHIND $10K OR MORE Notice is hereby given that a Beach, Mint AAA Cape. BLU WAVE LLC, Arts. of (N40° 44’ 50.7” and W73° EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New Howard ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage and Recently re-done. Featuring radiYork State and local laws probank levies, liens & audits, unfiled license number 1342298 for a Org. filed with the SSNY 52’ 57.5”). AT&T Mobility, LLC ant heated fls. Open flr plan, kit hibit discrimination because of w/granite countertops & SS appli, tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve invites comments from any on 02/17/2022. Office loc: race, color, sex, religion, age, renov bathrooms w/whirlpool tub, tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 Bar/Tavern On-Premises Liquor interested party on the impact national origin, marital status, washer/dryer on 1st fl, new (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST) License has been applied for by Queens County. SSNY has the proposed undertaking may familial status or disability in plumbing & electric, new pavers & been designated as agent B & E The Alibi Inc. under the connection with the sale or concrete, new roof & gutters, 3 have on any districts, sites, upon whom process against rental of residential real estate. zone heating, 1 car gar, solar panAlcoholic Beverage Control Law buildings, structures, or objects Happy Jack Skin Balm provided the LLC may be served. SSNY significant in American history, Queens Chronicle does not els. $880K, Connexion Real relief for dogs & cats from hot for premises located at 133-10 shall mail process to: Carissa archaeology, engineering, knowingly accept advertising in Estate, 718-845-1136 spots, flea bites, and food allerviolation of these laws. When gies without steroids. At Tractor Cross Bay Blvd., Ozone Park, Stein, 50-43 229th Street, or culture that are listed or Supply (www.fleabeacon.com) New York, County Queens for Bayside, NY 11364. Purpose: determined to be eligible for you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Howard Beach, Sun 3/20, on-premises consumption. listing in the National Register Any Lawful Purpose. Center (the Fair Housing 2pm-4pm, 159-29 92 St. Well Agency for the five boroughs of maintained Colonial, featuring 5 of Historic Places under National 3 baths, SS appli, solar panSection 106 Public Notice Notice of Non-Discriminatory CH Forever LLC, Arts of Org. Historic Preservation Action New York) at 212-941-6101, or BRs, els, pvt dvwy & above ground the New York City Commission Policy – This is to advise fi led with Sec. of State of Section 106. Parties interested of Human Rights Hotline at swimming pool. 1st fl has 2 BRs, T-Mobile Northeast, LLC in commenting on this Federal 1 bath & summer kitchen, 2nd fl the community that Chapin 718-722-3131. proposes to collocate NY (SSNY) 1/18/2022. Cty: main LR, DR, updated kit, 2 baths, undertaking or with questions The Queens Chronicle reserves antennas on a 87.8 foot Home for the Aging, located Queens. SSNY desig. as on the proposed facility should stand up attic. Close to shopping, the right to alter wording in ads public trans & parks. MOVE-IN in Jamaica, NY admits and tall building located at agent upon whom process contact Impact7G, Inc. at 8951 to conform with Federal Fair READY. Jerry Fink Real Estate, Housing regulations. Windsor Parkway, Johnston, IA 60-11 Broadway , Woodside, treats all patients regardless 718-766-9175 Queens County, NY 11377. of age, sex, creed, color, against may be served & 50131 or call 515-473-6256 Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Sun 3/20, 1pm-2:30pm, 85-10 151 Interested parties with national origin, sexual shall mail process to 10-11 and reference project #NE Ave, apt 2K. Mint AAA. Completely 905/CR. Comments must be comments regarding preference or source of 49th Ave., Long Island City, received within 30 days of the Borough Park, 1031 41 St, #2. 2 renovated, hi-Rise Co-op, 2 BRs/ BR/1.5 baths, $2,300/mo. Avail baths, bright corner unit, custom potential effects on Historic income. NY 11101. General Purpose date of this notice. NOW. HWF, SS appli, balcony, car- wood cabinets w/under counter

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NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 10-13-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000629-21/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assume the name of (First) ALEXANDRA (Middle) ELIZA (Last) COLLINS. My present name is (First) ALEXANDRA (Middle) GABY (Last) RAMOS AKA ALEXANDRA G. RAMOS AKA ALEXANDRA RAMOS. The city and state of my present address are Maspeth, NY. My place of birth is QUEENS, NEW YORK. The month and year of my birth are June 1999.

Notice of Formation of AGTUMN CONSTRUCTION LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/11/2021. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: OLIVIA NELSON, 18223 140TH AVENUE, SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of DARK HEALING LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/02/2021. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: CAROLYN MARIN, 11847 RIVERTON STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of ITEMS FROM SHARON LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/22/2021. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: SHARON CLEVELAND, 116-39 192ND STREET, 1LL, ST. ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

#TBA has been applied for by Kew Gardens Cinema LLC d/b/a Kew Gardens Cinema to sell beer, wine and cider at retail in a Movie Theater. For on-premises consumption under the ABC Law at 81-05 Lefferts Blvd.,

agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 132-05 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, NY

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Howard Beach, Hi-Rise Co-Op. Lg 1 BR w/window in kit. Mint condition. $199K Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136 Howard Beach/Lindenwood. Move-in cond. 1 BR Co-op, 4th fl. 20% down payment req! $169K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

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Notice of Formation of FOREVER 88 PROPERTY LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/11/2022. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: FOREVER 88 PROERTY LLC, 43-18 215TH STREET, BAYSIDE, NY 11361. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of CITYPHARMA HOLDINGS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/13/2022. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: MEDRITE PHARMACY, 73-16 ROOSEVELT AVE, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Tavern Wine license, Serial

of NY (SSNY) 1/19/2022.

lights, granite countertops, SS appli, high-hats, 2 new baths, 3 closets in foyer, lg master w/ensuite, new lobby & elevator. E Williamsburg, 16 Seigel Court, Reduced $318K. Connexion Real #1. 3 BR/2.5 bath Duplex, $5,500/ Estate, 718-845-1136 mo. Avail NOW. Ex-lg apt, W/D, backyard, 2 parking spaces included. Call Stellina Napolitano, OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best 646-372-7145, Capri Jet Realty selection of full/partial week Ridgewood, 1859 Madison St, rentals. FREE color Brochure. #3R. 2 BR/1 bath, railroad apt, Holiday Real Estate, Inc.: $1,800/mo. Avail NOW. HW fls, 1 1-800-638-2102 Online reservablock to Forest Ave M train sta- tions: www.holidayoc.com tion. Call Agnes Siedlik, $75 discount- new rentals. Code: 917-288-0660, Capri Jet Realty “ToTheOcean2022” (expires 05-01-2022)

Kew Gardens, NY 11415.

Notice of Qualification of 252 7TH AVENUE 11S LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/31/22. Office location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/04/21. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Zara Realty, 16607 Hillside Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432-4250. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity

Org. filed with Sec. of State

pet. Great condition. Can be used as a 3rd BR. Heat & hot water incl. Call Amberly Parnell, 607-239-0432. Capri Jet Realty

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Notice of Formation of DYNAMIC DUO ENTERPRISES LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/03/2021. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: DYNAMIC DUO ENTEPRISES LLC, 201-06 100TH AVENUE, HOLLIS, NY 11423. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

11434. General Purpose

CHOU HU ESTATES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/22/2020. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Jonathan Chou, 47-01 217th St Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a

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Sunday, March 20, 2022 2pm-4pm 159-29 92 nd Street

Well-maintained Colonial featuring 5 BRs, 3 baths, stainless steel appliances, solar panels, private driveway & above ground swimming pool. 1st ﬂoor has 2 BRs, 1 bathroom & summer kitchen, 2nd ﬂoor main living room, dining room, updated kitchen, 2 baths stand-up attic. Located in Howard Beach, close to shopping, public transportation and parks. This home is MOVE IN READY!!!

HOWARD BEACH

1st ﬂoor garden co-op, move in ready! Unit features large living room, galley-style kitchen with eat in dinette area, 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, hardwood ﬂoors throughout, updated bathroom, updated kitchen counters & cabinets. Close to shopping and transportation

HOWARD BEACH Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom co-op in Lindenwood. L-shaped living/dining room, hardwood ﬂoors, galley kitchen and terrace. Lots of closet space, move-in ready. Close to public transportation, and shopping.

HOWARD BEACH

Ready to move in 1 bedroom condo. Spacious living area, remodeled kitchen with under-counter refrigerator and freezer, updated bathroom, large bedroom with walkin closets. Private Parking! Close to shopping, dining, and public transportation.

HOWARD BEACH Nice Junior 4 co-op, L-shaped living room, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath galley kitchen. Centrally located, close to shopping & transportation.

HOWARD BEACH Well-maintained 2 bedroom, 2 bath co-op. Large L-shaped living/dining room, galley kitchen. Hardwood ﬂoors, lots of closet space. Move-in ready!

Jerry Fink Real Estate • 163-33 Cross Bay Boulevard • Howard Beach, NY • www.jfinkre.com

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HOWARD BEACH

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 46

C M SQ page 46 Y K Brooklyn & Queens Real Estat e Experts!

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69 Bay 11th Street, Bath Beach Double Lot 3 Family w/ 2 Private Driveways & 2 Car Garages! $1,925,000

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15 Broad Street, Unit 1002, New York Gorgeous 1 BR/1 Bath Loft in Luxury High-Rise FiDi Condominium! $1,150,000

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2024 LaFontaine Ave., Bronx Great Development Opportunity in Bronx! Total Buildable SF: 8,256! $1,249,000

• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, March 20th 2-3:30pm 50-18 46th Street, Woodside Beautiful 2 Family Home with Rooftop & Parking! $1,100,000

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718-835-4700 69-39 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385

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Manfred realizes his sport lags both the NFL and the NBA in terms of buzz. He smartly capiMajor League Baseball Commissioner Rob talized on a rare faux pas made by his NBA Manfred was the No. 1 villain for fans and the counterpart, Adam Silver. At the NBA All-Sta r media during the recent lockout. He didn’t help Game last month, Silver said he didn’t see the with deadline threats or when he seemed to be need for reporters to be in locker rooms to speak inappropriately smiling or laughing as he with players. Journalists lost that right when the pandemic began. Silver is clearly a fan of Winannounced another breakdown in negotiations. In retrospect, Manfred should be thanked and ston Churchill’s quote about never letting a good congratulated. All sports commissioners are crisis go to waste. As soon as an agreement was scapegoats for the owners who pay their lucrative reached, Manfred announced media would be salaries. Manfred had to deal with the egos of 30 allowed back into baseball clubhouses. In my experience, too many team PR types billionaires and their factions. Some wanted to roll back payrolls with salary caps. Others, like see themselves as gatekeepers who are happy to the Mets’ Steve Cohen, didn’t want any infringe- take Churchill’s adage to heart. If baseball is going to reverse its steep popularity decline, ment on their right to spend as they saw fit. While owners have always had divisions, the communication directors had best increase media conventional wisdom was the players were a access, whether they like it or not, and not just for solid bloc. Apparently, appearances were deceiv- reporters from outlets they deem important. The ing. The Major League Baseball Players Associa- days they can consider anyone who is not a memtion executive board, composed of some of the ber of the Baseball Writers Association of Amerihighest compensated players, including the Mets’ ca to be an irritant had better end now. Similarly, players must be accountable. Too Max Scherzer and the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, voted unanimously against the pact that was many hide in the team cafeteria or trainer’s room overwhelmingly approved by the rank and file. to avoid interacting with the media. Even when MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark had they sit by their lockers, you get unwelcome hardliners and moderates on his flanks and vibes. They had better realize if it weren’t for understandably didn’t want Manfred and owner- media coverage, they’d have the renown of proQ ship to discover that schism. All those factions fessional lacrosse players. See the extended version of Sports Beat make it almost miraculous an agreement was every week at qchron.com. reached.

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HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

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$938K

• Lindenwood •

Two bedroom, two bath Co-op selling as is. Needs TLC but is priced accordingly to make it exactly what you want. Corner unit on 2nd fl oor. Very spacious. Base Maint: $880.66, AC’s: $21.00, Guard fee: $35.00, Appliance fee: $8.00, Fios or Spectrum: $73.00= $1,017.66. 320 shares, $32/share flip tax. Parking is $20/ month (wait list). 25% down payment.

• Oakland Gardens •

• Lindenwood •

2 family semi detached home. 3 bedrooms & 2 baths on each fl oor, full fi nished basement with bath, private driveway, solar panels are leased with 14 years left, $180 for basement, 1st and 2nd floor.

No Flip tax! Sunny and spacious 2 BR co-op located in the heart of Oakland Gardens. Large living room/dining area, kitchen, primary BR plus 2nd BR which is being used as an offi ce. Spacious closets, full bath. Pull-down stairs to attic (storage), outdoor parking with permit is free. Plus plenty of street parking. Base maint: $915.62, security: $18.75, capital assessment: $57.20= $991.57

Mint AAA Cape - This Beautiful Home was recently redone. Featuring radiant heated fl oors. Open fl oor plan, kitchen with granite countertops & stainless steel appliances, renovated bathrooms with whirlpool tub, washer/dryer on fi rst fl oor, new plumbing & electric, new pavers & concrete, new roof & gutters, 3 zone heating, 1 car garage, solar panels for lower electric bills.

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$989K

CO-OPS FOR SALE HOWARD BEACH HOWARD BEACH/ High-Rise Co-op LINDENWOOD large 1 BR, with window Move-In-Condition, in kitchen, Mint Condition 1 BR Co-op, $199K 4th Floor. 20% Down Payment Required!

• Ozone Park •

Detached one family home with private driveway and separate garage. First fl oor has a formal living and dining room with an eatin kitchen. Second fl oor has three bedrooms and a full bath. Finished basement as well. Home is located near public transportation and highway.

HOWARD BEACH/ LINDENWOOD

Mint AAA - Completely renovatOPEN HOUSE ed, Hi-Rise Co-op, 2 BRs/Baths, Sunday, March 20th bright corner unit, custom wood 1:00 to 2:30pm cabinets with under counter 85-10 151 Ave., Apt. 2K lights, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, high hats, 2 new baths, 3 closets in foyer, large master with Ensuite, new lobby & elevator.

$880K

$169K

• Richmond Hill •

Welcome to this beautiful and sunny 1 BR co-op located in the heart of Richmond Hill. The apartment is very spacious with lots of closets and beautiful hardwood fl oors. It’s conveniently located near subway, buses, schools, shopping, & beautiful Forest Park. The building is pet friendly & subletting is allowed. There is no fl ip tax!!!! 320 shares.

Reduced $318K

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Mint Colonial 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, Brick / Stucco, Full Basement, In-Ground Pool with Pavers

• Broad Channel •

Waterfront Gem!! Stunning views of Jamaica Bay & beautiful sunrises. Recently elevated 1 family home. 2 BRs, 1 full bath & 1 half bath, large walk-in closet, offi ce, stunning large EIK with upscale appliances & center island. Living room has skylight. Sliding door to yard, storage room underneath the house, beautiful paved patio. Close to Rockaway Beach, Ferry to Manhattan, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, train & express bus.

HOWARD BEACH

All Brick Townhouse, 3 BRs, 1.5 baths, updated kitchen and bath 20x96 lot

$1.2M

OPEN HOUSE

Sun., 3/20 12:30-2 PM 86-10 109th Street, CC1

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MINT AAA 5 BR 3 bath EMPIRE hi ranch - ALL NEW Granite kit, stainless appliances, sunk-in living room, full master bath, vaulted ceilings, walk in 1 BR apt with separate entrance, trex deck, pavers, totally mint.

CENTURY 21 AMIABLE II

Page 47 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 17, 2022 Page 48

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Nu-Place Realty is proud to announce that it’s joining Keller Williams Realty Liberty! Nu-Place is a vibrant boutique agency based in Queens with a 50 year history in delivering the highest level of excellence to buyers, sellers and developers. To date, Nu-Place has sold over 10,000 cooperative and condominium units and has worked with thousands of clients to equip them with the tools to find or sell their properties. Over the years, it has also built a stellar reputation for working closely with developers in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn to convert its buildings to coops and condos. The focus of Nu-Place agents is learning about what it is that you want in a home or investment property. To that end they take extra care and attention to locate the right property tailored to your needs.

Nathan Fridman

Yael Goldman

Val Binamin

Emily Farr

Karyna Burgess

Alisia Ramlochan

If you are interested in forming a business alliance with KW Liberty, feel free to contact us to find out the benefits we have to offer.

96-10 101st Ave., Ozone Park, NY 11416

Tel: 718-848-4700 Fax: 718-848-4865

kwrliberty@gmail.com www.kwliberty.com

JOHN DIBS Broker⁄owner

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We look forward to our growth with Nu-Place!