Queens Chronicle South Edition 03-28-13 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. XXXVI

NO. 13

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013

QCHRON.COM

FUNDS FOR

PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER; ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA JIPESCU

FIXING City to put Sandy aid money toward home, business repairs

PAGE 5

Mayor Bloomberg announced that he would allocate $1.77 billion in federal hurricane relief funds toward helping homeowners and business owners pay for rebuilding costs beyond what FEMA and insurance offered.

ALL ABOARD

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Reps. Jeffries, Meeks endorse Rockaway rail plan

Centreville sewer project slated for 2014 start

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CONNECTING CULTURES Sunnyside nonprofit travels to India with NYC teens, to create a documentary

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FMCP’s incredible shrinking trust fund by Joseph Orovic Assistant Managing/Online Editor

uring contentious votes on the United States Tennis Association’s proposed expansion in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, five out of six community boards suggested the creation of a multimillion-dollar trust fund for the park in their recommendations. A fund of that size would generate some degree of growth and interest, which would be used to fund annual improvements and upkeep in the park. Or so the thinking goes. But that not-so-novel means of funding has been tried before in the park in the form of an $8 million trust created with the USTA’s first expansion. The result? Nearly $7 million in usable assets bled dry by a laser-like focus on one facility within the park, rather than the entirety of Flushing Meadows as originally intended 15 years ago. Now some are worried they’ll see a repeat if a final agreement between the USTA and the city is structured similarly to the first deal. At its peak, the fund grew by over $700,000 annually. Difficult financial markets and rock-bottom interest rates began stymieing that growth in 2008. Toss in over $2 million spent annually on maintaining a new $66.3 million pool and ice rink, and the trust’s usable assets had dwindled to around $177,000 by the end of 2012, from a peak of $6.8 million in 2008. (As part of the original deal, the principal $8 million cannot be touched for park expenditures.) A nonprofit called the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Improvement Fund was incorporated to manage the money. It actually sat largely untouched for a decade, accumulating interest. The interest garnered from the $8 million then almost entirely disappeared in the course of four years. How? Turns out the city’s most expensive facility within a park — the pool/rink — is expensive to maintain as well. It has received $9.28 million in funding from the trust fund’s usable

Over $9 milllion of money meant for the whole park was spent since 2008 on just maintaining the pool and ice skating rink. FILE PHOTO

monies since opening in February 2008. The fund was established in 1998 for “benefitting, improving and enhancing Flushing Meadows Corona Park and for the improvement and development of the park.” The directors of the fund, as stated by the certificate of incorporation, are the Queens borough president, city Parks Department commissioner and city Comptroller. The principal outlay funded by the USTA would remain untouched as part of the agreement. Both the Borough President’s Office and Parks Department did not respond to questions as of printing on who decides when to spend the money and how. The comptroller’s office said it essentially serves as an accountant. “The comptroller’s role is limited to fiscal custodian and investment advisor,” said Scott Sieber, a spokesman for Comptroller John Liu. The fund took on a semi-mythical status during the most recent community board hearings regarding the USTA’s planned expansion. In some respects, it served as a model for

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the boards, with Community Board 7 Vice Chairman Chuck Apelian first introducing a stipulation for a $15 million fund for the park, along with $300,000 in annual upkeep funding provided by the USTA. “You always look back and you say in retrospect it should have been spent differently,” Apelian said of the original fund, adding he did not have suggestions for how any potential new fund would be set up. The prospect of a similar deal appears in the offing, as the USTA’s plan navigates the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), whose district includes the tennis center, has called for establishing such a fund as part of any deal. Yet some are leery the fund could be mismanaged or misused or offer the city a reason to bypass funding the park itself. Some explored the idea of using the $15 million entirely on improvements, then using the annual payments by the USTA to maintain those upgrades. “To me the $15 million would be better spent now,” said Community Board 3 member Donovan Finn, who is also with the Fairness Coalition of Queens, which opposes a series of projects being slated for the park. “I’m not an accountant but spend it now. Spend it on projects we need today.” Yet some see a sustained investment in the park as the key. New Yorkers for Parks has advocated a “public-private partnership,” pointing to Prospect Park and Central Park as models (the FMCP fund wasn’t named as ideal). A fund overseen by a mix of public employees and local residents is ideal, said NY4P executive director Holly Leicht. “It’s a system of checks and balances where you want to make sure there’s public oversight,” she said. Finn took a more practical stance. “The idealist in me says this all ought to be the city’s responsibility,” he said. “The pragmatist in me says the city isn’t going Q to do it. I hate making that tradeoff.”

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QUEENS NEWS

City to invest aid in home reconstruction $1.77B will go to rebuilding, but only to those who haven’t yet by Domenick Rafter

post-Sandy market values and redevelop the property. The city may assist homeowners who are temporarily relocated by Mayor Bloomberg announced last week his administra- redevelopment work in certain circumstances. In some areas, the city will focus the money on redeveloption’s specific plans for some of the $1.77 billion in federal ment measures aimed at bringing homes or buildings up to aid money for Hurricane Sandy. The city released its proposal — Partial Action Plan A — code after the storm. In limited cases, the city will use some of the $720 million aimed at helping homeowners and businesses recover beyond what was given to them as aid from the Federal Emergency dedicated to housing recovery to make up any differences in cost homeowners have after insurance and FEMA money. Management Agency and homeowner insurance. Bloomberg also announced that the The plan for the $1.77 billion allocity was seeking to create a rental assiscated from the federal government for tance program for renters who have Hurricane Sandy relief includes $720 he idea is to make been displaced by the hurricane. Under million for housing recovery, $325 milthe program, the city will help houselion for business recovery and $400 people whole again.” holds find affordable apartments. They million for infrastructure. — Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder will be responsible for renting costs up In Partial Action Plan A, the city (D-Rockaway Park) to 30 percent of income. For anything will use the federal money to redevelop more, the city will use the funds to make devastated communities along the coast and assist renters needing assistance and some home- up the difference. Part of the action plan includes referring homeowners who owners in the process of rebuilding with supplemental funds beyond what was already available to them through FEMA, wish to take part in the state buyout plan to the appropriate state agencies. Earlier this year, Gov. Cuomo announced the insurance and personal savings. “The idea is to make people whole again,” said Assembly- state would seek to buy out properties near the coast if homeowners should choose to leave rather than rebuild. The land man Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park). As part of Partial Action Plan A, the city will consider will then be used to be developed into parkland or leave it acquiring properties to develop a home or cluster of homes undeveloped. The action plan also includes help for businesses damaged for residents who have damaged houses, but do not want to leave. The city will use the money to purchase properties at in the storm. Three hundred twenty-five million of the $1.77 Associate Editor

“T

Centreville sewer work starting soon? DDC says work will commence in 2014 by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

Mayor Bloomberg, joined by Comptroller John Liu, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Councilman Eric Ulrich at PS 207 in Howard Beach in November. Last week, Bloomberg announced the city’s plan for $1.77 billion FILE PHOTO in federal hurricane aid. billion allocated will be put toward business recovery projects, including loans, grants and programs aimed at helping businesses prepare for future disasters. continued on page 34

NYC Parks shutters Cedar Lane Stables Cites horse deaths, poor conditions by Michael Gannon Editor

The Department of Parks and Recreation has suspended operations at a stable being run by the Federation of Black Cowboys in Howard Beach. Cedar Lane Stables, located in Tudor Park in Howard Beach, could be closed for six months or longer as the city investigates the deaths of six horses at the site since last summer and works with the Federation of Black Cowboys to improve some of the physical conditions at the stables. In a statement issued by the Parks Department, spokesman Philip Abramson said the federation has operated Cedar Lane Stables under a license agreement with the city since 1998. The federation was permitted to lease space out to horse owners under a so-called “rough-board” arrangement. Under such an arrangement, individual horse owners and not the federation were responsible for the care, feeding and maintenance of their horses. “Unfortunately, there have been an

alarming number of horse fatalities and health issues at this site, as well as problems with the physical condition of the facilities, making it clear that a ‘rough board’ arrangement can no longer work,” Abramson said. Neither the Federation of Black Cowboys nor the New York City off ice of the Humane Society returned calls seeking comment on the matter. Abramson added that Parks and the federation have been working together to relocate horses that have been staying at Cedar Lane. Owners have been given lists of other stable operations in the region, and they have contacted rescue and adoption organizations that would be willing to take on a horse that might be abandoned by its owner. Abramson said that, if within six months, the federation can bring the stables to compliance with all laws, it could once again resume operations under a “full board” arrangement, under which the Black Cowboys would assume responsibility for the Q horses’ welfare.

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When the city first proposed the massive sewer replacement project for the Centreville section of Ozone Park, the councilman who currently represents the neighborhood wasn’t even born yet. Now, Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park) and the Department of Design and Construction are saying the work will f inally begin one year from now. The long-delayed project would replace sidewalks, streets, curbs, street lights, traffic signals and sewer and water mains in a section of Ozone Park bordered by Linden Boulevard to the north, Albert Road and North Conduit Avenue to the south, Cross Bay Boulevard to the west and the A train subway line to the east. The work also includes better draining systems in the area, some of which is notorious for flooding during rainstorms. The project, known by its designation HWQ411B, was first proposed in 1982, but never commenced.

Now the DDC says the $45 million project is in the design phase, which is expected to be finished by June 2013. Work is slated to begin in March 2014 and take three years. But some are still skeptical. “Seeing is believing,” said Howard Kamph, president of the Ozone Park Civic Association, who noted that the last time the city announced the project was about to start, in 2009, the 2011 start date came and went with no work commencing. “As things went on, rules and laws have changed. So it took them an extra three years from the last time they said they’d start,” he explained. The delay was due, in part, to lack of funds and the city’s need to use eminent domain to take property in order to construct sidewalks, specifically along Bristol Avenue, a dead-end street adjacent to the Ozone-Howard Little League fields where new sidewalks and curbs are being proposed, and a number of side streets off Albert Road near North ConQ duit Avenue.

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Trains to the left, parks to the right Two competing projects for old Rockaway rail line move forward by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

Even as opponents of both projects keep their voices in the mix, proposals to reactivate the Rockaway Beach Long Island Rail Road line, or convert the right of way into a park similar to Manhattan’s High Line, are both moving forward. The plan to bring trains, or some form of transit, back to the line, which was abandoned in 1962, got support from two highranking officials last week. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) and Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica), who both represent portions of southern Queens, gave firm endorsements to the rail plan and sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood asking that a portion of the $60 billion in the relief bill for Hurricane Sandy be put toward studying rail reactivation along the right of way. Why that money? Jeffries said some of it was earmarked specifically toward studying infrastructure and transit development for communities affected by the storm, and since the rail line would serve Howard Beach, Broad Channel and the Rockaways — all hit hard by Sandy’s storm surge — it would meet the criteria. “This falls squarely within that,” he explained. “These communities are recovering

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, left, with Reps. Gregory Meeks and Hakeem Jeffries in Ozone Park last weekend where the two Congress members formally endorsed a plan to bring rail service back PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER to the abandoned Rockaway Beach Long Island Rail Road line. from the storm and this would be part of that recovery.” Though a train is the most common idea proposed for the line, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) noted that there were a number of options, including light rail and even bus service, similar to the Transitway system in Ottawa, Canada, where buses run along a dedicated route that con-

nects the downtown portion of the city to neighborhoods farther away. “We have a number of options we could look at,” he said. “That’s why we need a study done.” Goldfeder said reactivating transit would not just be a boon for the Rockaways and southern Queens, but for the entire borough because it would better connect those areas to other parts,

such as Astoria, Flushing and Bayside, which are typically more difficult to get to. It would also take some cars off congested Woodhaven Boulevard, supporters argue. “We want to get out of our cars,” said Dolores Orr, chairwoman of Community Board 14, which includes the Rockaways. “The mayor wants us to get out of our cars. But we need an alternative.” Orr, who has lived in Rockaway all her life, said she remembers when the LIRR ran along the line. “It took 40 minutes to get to Manhattan,” she said. In the meantime, The Trust for Public Land, the parks advocacy group given money from the state to study the potential for a High Line-like “Queensway” project, has moved ahead with those plans. Marc Matsil, New York State director for TPL, said more than 40 firms responded to a request for proposals to conduct a feasibility study for the Queensway. “We are looking for firms with ecological expertise,” Matsil explained. “The goal of the study is to look at the structures in place, their stability and test ground water and soil samples.” TPL and the firms interested will be visiting the rail line for a tour this week. continued on page 28

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EDITORIAL

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Help make Sandy aid plan fair magine if you were one of those people struggling with a mortgage after the housing market collapse, but making your payments. Maybe you cut back heavily on expenses. Maybe you took out an informal loan from a friend or relative. But you managed. Meanwhile your neighbor down the street let his house go into foreclosure and just waited for the government to ride to his rescue. You weren’t happy about that. Something similar to that is about to happen in South Queens and other areas where people were hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. The city just announced that it will provide $720 million to rebuild housing and $325 million to rebuild businesses damaged by the storm. The funds come from aid allocated by the U.S. government, and are designed to cover whatever insurance and grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency do not. But there’s a catch — one nobody was warned about. The money will only go to those home and business owners who have yet to rebuild. So if you already spent, say, $50,000 to repair your house, and FEMA covered maybe $30,000 — and you had already been dropped by your insurance company, as many people in the Sandy zone

were before the storm hit — you’re out of luck. But if the guy next door has somehow been living with the damage and the mold for the last five months, he’ll get the money. That’s not fair. And it’s just like what the city did with its Rapid Repairs program. If you went out and bought a new boiler, for example, to replace the one in your flooded basement, and Rapid Repairs knocked on your door the next day, you were out of luck. But if they came by the day before you were going to buy it, boom — free furnace. We understand that one concern the federal government, which set the rules, has is the potential for fraud. Yes, there are people out there who might have gotten their roof done a couple years ago and will claim that they just did it after the storm. But that’s what requiring receipts is for — and not everyone is so crooked that they’ll just create fake ones on their home printers to get the cash. The good news is that we may be able to change the rules. A public comment period on the proposal, “Action Plan A,” is open until April 4. We urge all our readers to go to nyc.gov/html/cdbg/html/home/home.shtml and suggest also giving grants for work that’s been done. That’s only fair to all our neighbors who’ve suffered enough already.

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Let USTA expand Dear Editor: In preparation for the recent Community Board 7 meeting about the U.S. Tennis Association expansion plans, I had read several news articles and opinion letters in local papers. Most letters condemned the plan. There were horror stories floating around about the United States Tennis Association cutting down 400 trees, how kids who play there would suffer due to lost park space and how the plan would set a bad precedent for future takeovers. I had been asked to join stop-the-expansion groups who promoted fear: Save our parks! Halt the giveaway! After seeing the presentation given by the USTA at the board meeting, I’m no longer afraid of any consequences to Flushing Meadows Park. The USTA plan calls for rebuilding and a new small stadium on a corner of their currently leased 42-acre property. They want to move some tennis courts to accommodate a larger walkway area between stadiums. The move would only involve a 20- to 30foot strip of land, currently a pathway in disrepair next to the Grand Central Parkway. They say only about 40 trees would be cut down, and 40 or more would be replanted. Renderings show a much improved area. Several of the speakers opposed were very emotional about not giving one inch of parkland away. Some even drew lines in the sand as if the decision was equal to the life-or-death battle of the Alamo in Texas. Those in favor © Copyright 2013 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 responsible for 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., 62-33 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, N.Y. 11374-7769.

Marriage equality now udging by the dialogue at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, it looks as if the justices are highly skeptical of DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, the misguided 1996 law that should be struck down in the name of equality. DOMA wrongly defines marriage as only the union of man and woman, denying loving same-sex couples of all the benefits that come with being wed. The law is not just symbolic, because those include financial benefits and protections such as the right to not testify against one’s spouse in a criminal case. The law was passed at a time when the drive for marriage equality was gaining steam but had yet to be accepted by most Americans. Since then the tide has turned, and more and more states are allowing gay marriage, including New York. And the U.S. Constitution says each state must recognize the “public acts” of other states, a phrase that should include the recognition of marriages. So for reasons of equality, fairness and the law, we believe same-sex marriage should be allowed in all states, which requires that DOMA be struck down.

EDITOR

spoke highly about tennis and how the community benefits from the USTA. It all made good theater. But the truth is the Tennis Association is not asking for valuable “parkland” at all. The strip is nothing but a pedestrian and bike path. It probably should have been given to the USTA years ago. We in Flushing have gained national recognition due to the annual US Open tennis tournament held here. When we travel and we tell others we’re from Flushing, most say “Oh, that’s where the US Open is held.” CB 7 made the correct decision by voting yes on the plan, and thus being able to put in some recommendations in hopes the USTA would listen, and provide some money for the maintenance of the rest of the park, which is direly in need of funding and renovation. I ask those who opposed this plan so vehemently to save their arguments for the proposed soccer stadium. That would involve the taking of recreational parkland. It is then when we should have the fight about keeping precious parkland in the hands of the parks. Tyler Cassell Member, Community 7 Flushing

Clean up Willets Pt. Dear Editor: At a recent meeting of the Queens Housing Coalition, a major developer outlined a commitment to privately finance the cleanup of a massive 23-acre brownfield at Willets Point. Amazingly, there were some who questioned the existence of contamination and the need for remediation. The hard truth is that Willets Point has been a toxic dumping ground for nearly 100 years. In addition to a lack of sewers, there is widespread petroleum contamination, with additional potential contamination from paints, cleaning solvents and automotive fluids. Some of the problems persist today, as existing businesses operate with almost no regulation. Imagine people spray-painting cars without taking air quality precautions, or changing oil with no regard for safe disposal procedures! Further exacerbating these environmental hazards is a high water table that spreads pollution throughout the Willets Point site. This means that as contaminants continue to fester in the soil and groundwater, nearby Flushing Creek and Flushing Bay become dirtier and

SQ page 9rev

Willets no; Avella yes

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Dear Editor: We would like to address a number of inaccuracies in your March story “Why Queens Pride House lacks city funding.” The central issue of the news story was the question of why Queens Pride House currently receives no discretionary funding from the Council members quoted in it, despite having received discretionary funding from other City Council members from 2003 through 2010. The reporter simply failed to explain that discretionary funding is just that — purely discretionary — instead leaving readers with the misleading impression that the two Council members quoted in her article rejected our funding requests based on objective standards of the sort that state and city agencies use to award contracts. The reporter also asserts that one of the two Council members who blocked funding for Pride House through the Council’s LGBT Caucus in 2010 did not fund the Bronx Community Pride Center when in fact he did — through the Caucus — as clearly documented in public records. She also failed to note that the same Council member who funded BCPC was a disgruntled QPH board member who left our board in 1999 after losing the support of his board colleagues. Nonetheless, those Council members are welcome to tour our site and meet our staff and volunteers and see for themselves what we are providing the community. The article also prominently featured inaccurate assertions from a disgruntled former employee who worked for Queens Pride House until he was dismissed at the end of December 2012, but the writer denied us an opportunity to respond before filing her story. In fact, Queens Pride House provides various services including health education, health promotion and disease prevention and mental health counseling, but your reporter failed to mention our universitybased mental health counseling program, advertised in the very same issue of the Chronicle. Queens Pride House programs and services are funded by competitively won and renewed contracts from the city and state of New York and foundations, as well as from corporate and individual donations. Those programs and services are required to be evidence-based and continued on page 10

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Dear Editor: At a forum held in Astoria on March 14, as the Queens Chronicle reported in its March 21 edition (“Schools, jobs top boro pres forum”), the six Democratic candidates for the office of Queens borough president said small businesses must be nurtured if they are to provide the jobs needed for the borough and the city. On the small business issue alone. the only credible candidate is state Sen. Tony Avella. The others, Councilman Leroy Comrie, former Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik, former Councilwoman Melinda Katz, state Sen. Jose Peralta and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., not only lack credibility but exhibit hypocrisy that negates qualification for the office they seek. Only Avella has come out against Mayor Bloomberg’s ill-advised Willets Point proposal, the others all support the proposal, and therein lies the hypocrisy. For decades the city collected sewer rent and real estate and other taxes from Willets Point owners notwithstanding there were no sewers and a failure to address the area’s infrastructure needs. Ignoring its own culpability, the city declared the area a blight that must go. The development will require millions of dollars in cleanup and infrastructure costs, most of which will be borne by taxpayers and not the developer chosen by the city. The city could of course do the cleanup for the benefit of the current businesses in the area, but that would not fit with Bloomberg’s romance with fat-cat real estate developers. Implicit in the Willets Point proposal is the

destruction of 225 small businesses — that is correct, 225 small businesses — the loss of jobs for 1,000 employees and the fallout on their thousands of dependents. The development will not include a mom-and-pop grocery store or small manufacturing business. It may well include a Gucci store and all kinds of upscale establishments. It will also destroy the small businesses on Northern Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue, 108th Street and the 20th Avenue and Rego Park malls. To support redeveloping Willets Point does not make one interested in small businesses, but on the contrary a supporter of big business and an enemy of the small business owner. For most of the above candidates, claims to care about the importance of small business are empty words. There is a real choice, and if one cares about small businesses, the choice should be Avella. Benjamin M. Haber Flushing

BRADY & MARSHAK, LLP

more dangerous by the day. Brownfields are a serious impediment to redeveloping a property, making them the target of a number of federal and state programs. But their potential to endanger public health and contaminate groundwater, surface water and soils is a far greater concern. Without action, Willets Point will in all likelihood remain an unusable, contaminated public health hazard. The time has come to transform Willets Point from a toxic wasteland into an environmentally conscious, 21st-century community. In an area clamoring for open space and recreational opportunities, the cleanup and redevelopment means that the waterfront on Flushing Creek and Flushing Bay will finally become safe and accessible to the community. This is also a great opportunity to redesign Willets Point in a smarter and more holistic manner. It is close to the 7 train, so people can leave their cars at home more often. And it’s near major highways, so people can get in and out of the neighborhood quickly without further straining traffic in downtown Flushing. The development will also create approximately 12,000 construction jobs and 7,100 permanent jobs, as well as lead to a $3 billion private investment. This is clearly a redevelopment project where the economic and environmental benefits work hand-in-hand to improve the health, well-being and vibrancy of the neighborhood — and the entire borough of Queens. Marcia Bystryn President New York League of Conservation Voters Manhattan

EDITOR

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 10

SQ page 10

Letters continued from page 9 meet standards set by our funders. In failing to describe the full range of programs and services that we provide to the community — including 4,900 individual client services a year — your reporter helped create an inaccurate picture of the organization; unfortunately, her story does not measure up to the high standards of journalism the Chronicle is known for. Pauline Park, president Audwin Edwards, vice president Sara Gillen, secretary Charles J. Ober, treasurer Kleber Jalon Itala Ruttter Queens Pride House Board of Trustees Jackson Heights

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Another Sandy cost Dear Editor: From everything I have read homeowners will have to get an elevation certificate in order to see where they stand in regards to the new base flood elevations that will be adopted (which, according to FEMA, could take up to two years). This would mean having a survey made of your property at a cost of between $350 to $500 just to find out if and how high your home may have to be raised. I think that with the FEMA money that both the state and city have received ($1.7 billion each), some should be used to provide elevation certificates to every home that was damaged during the storm. I call on our local elected off icials to help us with this. The money that a survey would cost can go along way to the rebuilding of our homes. Roger Gendron President New Hamilton Beach Civic Association Hamilton Beach

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Dear Editor: Why was 78th Street between Northern Boulevard and 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights closed to traffic? As I understand it, it was closed and turned into a “play street.” Who instituted this ridiculous move? I think they are completely incorrect for introducing this asinine policy, which they claim is a “significant victory.” It will, for one thing, lower the property values of the co-op apartments in this area. I can imagine what people will think

when they come to view my co-op for sale. This will not help us sell it. I remember last year that many times on Sundays there was a very small number of children using the “play street,” and sometimes none at all. The only people there were street peddlers selling all kinds of junk. There is a large park on 78th Street between Northern Boulevard and 34th Avenue. Why isn’t the park used for the purpose intended? It’s almost always empty. Why have a “play street” right next to a large park? And now I’ve heard that a politician wants to make the park larger and extend it to encompass the entire area of 78th from Northern to 34th. For what? Teenagers bring their boom boxes to the “play street” and no one tells them to turn the music down. Who is going to patrol this area? Who is going to make sure it is used by neighborhood children and not gangs of unruly teenagers, as has happened in the past? This is just another city government waste of power and money to disrupt the daily life of citizens and to seek kudos for doing something supposedly worthwhile and positive for the neighborhood. Many of the people who live in this area have not been asked to give their comments about closing the street to traffic and parking, etc. Shouldn’t the people who live here have a say? I wonder how many of my neighbors have the same concerns as I do about this ridiculous idea. James Solomon Jackson Heights

No bathroom, no way Dear Editor: The Forest Park Carousel opened up for the 2013 season on March 23. My daughter enjoyed riding it and it was inexpensive. The operators were very friendly. The only problem was there were no public restrooms to use. I had taken my daughter to Dry Harbor Playground on Myrtle Avenue earlier. When we had to go to the bathroom both public restrooms located in the building that used to house the play school were locked, so we decided to walk down to the part of Forest Park where the carousel is located. I said to myself, the bathrooms have to be open since this is opening day for the carousel. Well, I was wrong; both the men’s and ladies’ rooms were locked and so was the park ranger’s office. After we rode the carousel, the operators told me the Parks Department knew they were opening that day so he didn’t understand why the restrooms were not open. Ed Wendell of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association and others fought so hard to reopen the carousel and urged people to bring their children there. Without open restrooms, I don’t know many parents who would want to go there. Small children and adults need to use the bathroom when they are out for the day. Not only were the park bathrooms locked, the Gulf gas station on the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue has a sign on the door: No Restroom. My daughter and I could not find one until we got to Five Guys Burgers on Woodhaven. Thank God both of us could wait. This can’t be standard for all public parks because the restrooms are open all year round in Flushing Meadows Park. If my daughter wants to ride a carousel I will take her there. I won’t be going back to Forest Park’s. What a shame after the fight to get it back in business. Charlene L. Stubbs Maspeth

C M SQ page 11 Y K

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In the midst of shared kitten pictures and snarky political comments, a Howard Beach resident’s quest for information appears on a Facebook News Feed: “Hearing some of my neighbors have had their insurance policies dropped, anyone else?” Within minutes, comments popped up responding to the question. “Heard it too, a shame.” “Yes, my parents were dropped.” “Not surprised.” Dozens, perhaps more, homeowners in Howard Beach, have had their home insurance policies dropped since Hur ricane Sandy, leaving many concerned about whether they will be able to get coverage now that the neighborhood has been added to a flood zone. Judy Close, a spokeswoman for state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), said the issue even predated the storm. “It has been a problem we’ve seen since Irene,” she said, noting that some homeowners had their policies dropped right before Hurricane Sandy hit. State Farm has dropped several of its customers in Howard Beach and sources say it will no longer write policies in the neighborhood. Arlene Lester, a spokeswoman for State Farm, could not confirm if the company will stop writing policies in Howard Beach, but said it continually assesses the risk situation in coastal communities. “Doing so helps keep the promises we’ve made to our customers and assists our efforts in

maintaining financial stability,” she explained. Insurance companies and Howard Beach residents have had an acrimonious relationship since Sandy. At a town hall meeting in November at PS 146, residents berated insurance companies, allegeding that their carriers withheld checks or found loopholes to avoid making payouts. “I worked for an insurance company and I’ve never been more disappointed in the industry,” said one Howard Beach resident at that meeting. One of the central arguments at the time was whether the damage caused by Sandy’s storm surge was from a flood, which is not covered by homeowner’s insurance, or by wind, which is. Though most of the damage was deemed to be flood-related, some structural issues, such as missing shingles and broken windows, were covered, and homeowners filed claims for that damage. Representatives from the Department of Financial Services, who were assisting homeowners in Howard Beach last week, said they had heard of homeowners being dropped by insurance companies in other hard-hit areas, including in coastal Long Island communities. But even though damage from Irene and Sandy appear to be the cause for insurance companies to be dropping policies, it may not be the only reason. A DFS representative said the agency would need to look at the letters sent to each specific homeowner by his or her insurance company notifying them of their decision to not renew a policy in order to understand continued on page 36

C M SQ page 13 Y K

PHOTO COURTESY NYPD

A woman was killed after being hit by a motorcycle while crossing the Belt Parkway between Ozone Park and Howard Beach just before noon on Tuesday. Police responded to calls of a pedestrian struck on the Belt Parkway near the Nor th Conduit Avenue exit — between Cohancy Street and Cross Bay Boulevard — at 11:54 a.m. The responding off icers found a female in her 50s, whose identity they have not yet released, unconscious and unresponsive in the road. EMS declared her dead at the scene. Police say that the woman was attempting to cross the westbound lanes of the Belt Parkway when she was struck by the motorcycle, which then crashed. The driver of the motorcycle, a 41year-old man, was also injured in the incident, was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and was listed in serious condition as of Wednesday morning. Police say they do not know why the woman was on the Belt Parkway but suspect she was trying to cross the highway. The investigation is ongoing. Q — Domenick Rafter

Police search for burglars The NYPD is looking for three suspects wanted for a burglary at a cellular phone store on Cross Bay Boulevard in Ozone Park earlier this month, including one caught on camera. On Thursday, March 7th, at around 5:30 p.m., three suspects entered the Verizon wireless store located at 107-12 Cross Bay Blvd. and removed numerous cell phones and laptops and an undetermined amount of cash. The burglars entered the location through a rear window.

One of the suspects was caught on surveillance video. He is described as a Hispanic man, around 35 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a sweatshirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Missing man The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in locating a missing Richmond Hill man. Jesus Perez, 26, was last seen at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 in his residence at 95-06 120 St. He was wearing a striped jacket, dark blue hat and blue jeans. Perez is described as being 5-foot2 and weighing 130 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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Trees get cut down for new mall plaza Atlas Park redesigning Center Green, announces two new clothing stores by Tess McRae Reporter

About a dozen trees were being chopped down as patrons and passersby at The Shops at Atlas Park mall in Glendale looked on, on Tuesday morning. The outdoor shopping center is redesigning its signature Center Green and taking in two new clothing stores. “This community is looking for a retail, dining and entertainment destination that feels modern, comfortable and family friendly,” said Lisa Diaz, property manager for the shopping center. But what caught people’s eye this week were the trees in the center plaza being shaven down by chainsaws on Tuesday morning. About three men sawed each tree down and proceeded to break apart the larger branches and place them into bundles along the center plaza. A large green fence surrounded the entire area but holes throughout the boundary allowed those walking by to catch a glimpse of the fallen trees. “I don’t know what they’re doing but the whole thing is kind of ridiculous,” one gentleman said. “I heard from the security guard that these trees cost $3,000 a piece. What a waste of money.” Macerich, the company that acquired the troubled Atlas Park mall in 2011, could not

Trees that have been cut down, lying on the Center Green at The Shops at Atlas Park Mall in Glendale. The company that owns the mall said each tree lost will be replaced in the redesign of the PHOTO BY TESS MCRAE center plaza. confirm the price of each tree but did say that every tree would be replaced so shoppers shouldn’t worry. “New landscaping is part of the overall plan,” a Macerich spokeswoman said. “The healthy trees will be replanted.”

The design for the Center Green, which currently is a cement plaza where occasional events are held in the summer, includes new, moveable glass kiosks for seasonal and specialty merchandise and a 10,000-square-foot area designed to host community events and

live performances as well. A Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, both clothing retailers geared towards young adults, will be opening their stores along the concourse. The Atlas Park mall website also mentions the addition of 100 upfront parking spaces to accommodate shoppers. “I really don’t know how I feel about cutting down trees for parking spaces,” Chelsea Higgins, who was shopping at the mall, said. “I hope they at least put some new ones up when they finish but it just looks kind of sad with all of those trees lying on the ground.” The Shops at Atlas Park mall currently features more than 375,000 square feet of retail and office space, a New York Sports Club and retailers and restaurants including California Pizza Kitchen, Shiro of Japan, Chico’s, Gymboree, Chili’s Bar & Grill and Starbucks. “Maybe adding new stores will be a good thing,” one patron said. “I don’t really come here because I don’t find the stores so great, so maybe new stores will make this a better place to come. It’s very beautiful in the spring and summer, it just needs some better shopping.” Macerich said construction will continue through the spring. Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and the new Center Green are slated to Q open in the summer.

AG: Drug scam targeted Three nabbed in JFK Richmond Hill pharmacy drug smuggling case Six charged with trafficking OxyContin by Domenick Rafter

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Associate Editor

A Bronx man has been charged with more than 30 counts for allegedly being the ringleader in an OxyContin trafficking ring that stretched from Richmond Hill to Orange County, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced last week. John Bland, 49, of the Bronx faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on 32 counts including operating as a major trafficker; 16 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree; nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree; six counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree and conspiracy in the second degree. Five others: Carl Canty, 49; Paul Perez, 42; Mario Aragona, 49; Michelle Kaplan, 42; and Kimberly Augustus, 31 — all of the Bronx — were arrested and each charged with four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree; two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and

conspiracy in the fourth degree. According to the charges, the f ive accomplices each allegedly used forged prescriptions from Bland to purchase OxyContin from drug stores across the state that Bland later allegedly sold illegally. Among the businesses that were targeted by Bland was Dale Pharmacy and Surgical on Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, where he allegedly had Perez acquire OxyContin via a false prescription on March 22, 2011. Schneiderman said a law passed by the New York Legislature unanimously last summer — the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act, or ISTOP — could have prevented Bland from using fraudulent prescriptions to acquire the drugs. The law requires doctors to review a patient’s prescription drug history and update it through a real-time database when writing prescriptions for certain controlled substances, and eliminates most paper prescriptions by Q August, 2014.

‘Mule’ allegedly ate 80 coke pellets Three men were arrested Friday in what Queens and Port Authority officials are calling a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States from the Dominican Republic with the aid of a drug “mule.” In a statement issued by his off ice, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Jar rol De La Cruz, 20, Pedro DeLeon, 34, and Edward Rivera, 30, all of the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, were facing arraignment on charges including first- and second-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance; second-degree conspiracy and fourthdegree criminal facilitation. A fourth defendant, Sergio Feliz Feliz, 19, of the Dominican Republic, has been held on $200,000 bail since his arraignment on Dec. 5 of last year. His next court date is April 9. Feliz allegedly has admitted to authorities that he swallowed 80 pellets containing cocaine. The pellets, which Feliz subsequently passed at a Queens hospital, are alleged to have contained about eight

ounces of the drug. If convicted on all charges each of the four could face up to 10 years in prison. Brown said the arrests were the result of a lengthy investigation by the Port Authority Police Department, which has jurisdiction over Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. The investigation included both physical and court-authorized electronic surveillance. Authorities allege that Rivera had a conversation with an unknown man on Nov. 26 of last year indicating that a shipment of drugs was coming in through the airport. Four days later they allegedly spoke with Feliz, instructing him where to go upon arriving in New York. At about 6 p.m. on Dec. 1, Port Authority police allegedly stopped a burgundycolored Chevrolet Impala on the Van Wyck Expressway near the Federal Circle exit from Kennedy Airport in which De La Cruz, DeLeon, Rivera and Feliz were riding. Brown’s office said Monday that the case against all three required further Q investigtion following Feliz’s arrest.

C M SQ page 15 Y K

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site formerly had a large open asphalt surby Domenick Rafter face. The renovations will include an Associate Editor The $1.7 million renovation of London extensive skate park, which the communiPlanetree Park in Ozone Park is ahead of ty requested because of the number of schedule and may open by the fall, the youths using the nearby parking lot at the Pathmark shopping center for skateboardParks Department said last week. The park, located at Atlantic Avenue and ing and rollerblading. There will also be an adult fitness center, 88th Street on the Ozone Park-Woodhaven border, is getting a complete overhaul. The a walking path and sitting areas, and two existing basketball courts will be reconstructed. Trees and shrubs will also be planted. The project was originally due to last 18 months, but is currently a few months ahead of schedule, Parks Department spokesman Zachary Feder said. The project was funded by Borough President Helen Marshall, who allocated $1 million, and by Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who alloLondon Planetree Park under reconstruction. Q cated $723,000. PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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DOE co-location proposals approved Most plans OK’d with four boro PEP members voting against them by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

The Panel for Educational Policy, the policy-making body of the city Department of Education, approved seven alterations to schools in Queens on March 20, in a meeting that was far less contentious than the one earlier this month in which two borough high schools were closed. The seven changes that were made included the placement of a new transfer high school in the August Martin High School building in South Jamaica; new co-located middle schools at JHS 226 in South Ozone Park and JHS 8 in South Jamaica; the truncation of PS 156 in Laurelton from a K-8 to a K5 school and a new middle-school co-located there; the movement of the Academy of Careers in Television and Film High School from its co-located site at JHS 204 in Long Island City to its new Dutch Kills home, where it will share space with a new middle school, and a new colocated high school in the JHS 204 building. The seven changes were among more than two dozen made citywide

by the PEP at its meeting, held at Brooklyn Technical High School. Representatives from the United Federation of Teachers and other groups opposed to Mayor Bloomberg’s education policies attended the meeting to protest the changes, but their chants were less numerous than at the meeting on March 11, during which protesters shouted down Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg while the officials defended the city’s policy of colocations and school closures. Queens PEP representative Dmytro Fedkowskyj said he opposed most of the changes voted on last week, but supported the new transfer high school co-located at August Martin. “The transfer school collocating in a building that is 50 percent utilized benefits the surrounding communities, not just the August Martin school community,” he said. “This opportunity gives hundreds of students a second chance to earn a high school diploma and move on to college or the workforce.” Fedkowskyj also supported the changes at JHS 204, including the

relocation of ACTvF to its new building and the co-location of a new six-year high school there. He said the new school at JHS 204 will benefit the borough as a whole. The March 20 meeting isn’t the last time co-locations in Queens will be discussed this year. Two items will be discussed at the PEP’s April 17 meeting, including moving a portion of PS 143’s kindergarten into PS 330, which is already colocated in the new PS 287 building on Northern Boulevard in Corona. The other Queens proposal being considered would move grades 4 and 5 from PS 176 in Cambria Heights into IS 59 in Springfield Gardens while PS 176 is expanded to accommodate more students. The recent votes are the final policy moves for the Bloomberg administration, which leaves office at the end of the year because anything proposed later would not be voted on until next year. Fedkowskyj suggested there could be changes in education policy this time next year. “It all depends on who is mayor,” he said. “But I think there will be some changes.”

JHS 204 in Long Island City will host a new six-year high school, while the Academy of Careers in Television and Film High School, which had been co-located in the school, will move to a new building in Dutch Kills. FILE PHOTO Whether Fedkowskyj is there for those depends on who the next borough president is. He was appointed to the PEP by current Borough President Helen Marshall and serves on the panel until he chooses to resign or is removed. A new borough president could choose to reappoint him or select his or her

own appointee. Fedkowskyj said he has not had any discussions with the borough president candidates about education policy and he does not have a favorite in the race. “They are all good candidates and I wish them the best of luck on Q their campaign trail,” he said.

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This is a tale of two agencies, both of them suffering constant criticism from those they serve, both of them suffering constant meddling by those who think they know how they should be run. Both of their most recognizable employees wear blue, both do their work in all kinds of conditions, both have a well-known motto, both are absolutely crucial to civilization, both are being forced to make do with less. But there most comparisons must end. For while one of these agencies has shown it can do more with less, racking up a more successful record of late than it has since reliable records were kept, the other seems perennially on the verge of disaster. The two agencies are, of course, the New York Police Department and the United States Postal Service. The NYPD, you may have noticed, has brought violent crime to record lows. That’s its primary job. The murder rate has fallen 80 percent — 80 percent! — in the last 20 years. If you know of another societal malady cut by 80 percent in a generation, hit me at peterm@qchron.com. I don’t. The Police Department has done this while taking on a whole new line of work, counterterrorism, where it’s also had great success, thwarting more than a dozen serious attacks against the city since Sept. 11, 2001. And it’s done all that with a force that’s been cut from 41,000 officers at its peak to about 34,500 today. Yet those who think they know how to run a police department better than Commissioner Ray Kelly, among them some wouldbe mayors and a federal judge, would cut the cops off at their proverbial knees. Meanwhile the Postal Service, while adhering to its creed vowing mail delivery in all weather, has been hemorrhaging cash year after year. Its administrators periodically release plans to save money by closing down some postal stations, only to have Congress — which makes the rules for the USPS but doesn’t answer for it — kill the measures. Apparently not a single substation can be shut down, not here in Queens and not in the most rural corner of the country. So last year the Postal Service lost just under $16 billion. The agency’s latest plan to stay afloat is to end Saturday mail service. Can’t have that either. Last Sunday postal workers, civic activists, elected officials and regular old citizens held a big rally against the plan, set to take effect in August, outside the majestic James A. Farley Post Office Building in Manhattan. Among them were Queens Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who’s running for mayor. State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who’s

running for Queens borough president, had wanted to be there but was stuck in Albany, his spokesman said. “New Yorkers for 6 day” read the ralliers’ grammatically incomplete signs, and “Don’t dismantle our Postal Service.” That’s great, but what are the protesters’ ideas for putting the USPS back in the black? Certainly not layoffs; these are the unions. Not the closures of underutilized stations. The only substantive idea critics of postal cutbacks ever offer is repealing the 2006 law that forces the agency to fund retiree healthcare 75 years into the future. That’s probably worth doing, but would only save about $5.5 billion a year. What about the other $10 billion the USPS lost last year? Mail service is one of the few government functions actually mandated by the Constitution, though in true Constitutional fashion, the wording is brief and open to interpretation, only giving Congress the power “to establish Post Offices and post Roads.” What is now the Postal Service had been the U.S. Department of the Post Office until 1971, when President Nixon — prompted in large part by a postal strike in New York City — created the quasi-independent USPS. Now there are calls to privatize the agency to economize, but those seem misguided, given the Constitutional mandate for Congress. Maybe instead the answer is to resurrect the old Department of the Post Office to make clear who has authority over mail delivery and who should be held accountable for financial failings. There’s no reason that could not be done simultaneously with modernization and cutting of the bureaucracy, as well as amendment of that 2006 law. What doesn’t need amending is oversight of the NYPD, which answers to the mayor and is already subject to investigation by the city’s five district attorneys, the Civilian Complaint Review Board and the City Council. Yet some, such as mayoral candidate and Council Speaker Christine Quinn, want to create a redundant inspector general’s office to monitor the department. That’s mostly due to complaints about the NYPD’s stop, question and frisk policy, which is a big part of why crime has fallen but is the subject of federal lawsuits brought before Judge Shira Scheindlin. Though she has yet to rule, Scheindlin seems sympathetic to the argument that police step on the rights of minorities because they’re the people most often frisked, and could order the practice stopped. But minorities are also the people whose lives have been saved the most. The last thing we need is outside micromanagement of the police. Cops work under enough bureaucracy as it is. We don’t need the NYPD to be further hamstrung by another layer of administration — like, say, Q the Postal Service.

SQ page 19rev

Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders are poised to complete a state budget before the April 1 deadline, getting it done on time for the third year in a row after years of failing to do so under previous governors. The roughly $135 billion budget will increase the minimum wage, provide subsidies to employers to help pay for it, give a new tax rebates of $350 to families earning up to $300,000 a year and extend a “temporary” tax rate of 8.8 percent on individuals making more than $2 million a year, which had been set to drop to 6.85 percent, the rate on those making $300,000 to $2 million, according to published reports. The minimum wage would rise from $7.25 to $9 an hour in steps over the next three years. Companies employing teenagers at the new minimum will get reimbursed for $1.35 of the $1.75 per hour difference and only have to pay another 40 cents per hour themselves, the Associated Press reports, but will not be subsidized for workers over 19. The budget reportedly includes $300 million in new state aid for city schools, following the city’s loss of $250 in state Q funding earlier this year. — Peter C. Mastrosimone

FEMA application deadline extended 426 NY households remain in hotels by Domenick Rafter Associate Editor

At the request of the state government, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended its deadline to apply for aid as well as its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels. The new deadline to apply for help is April 13 and the new checkout date for those in the TSA program is April 14, extended from the previous deadline of March 24. FEMA announced the extension last Thursday and called applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the new checkout date that day. Debra Young, a spokeswoman for FEMA, said there are 426 households still utilizing TSA help in New York; that includes people in New York City and Long Island. At its peak in January, more than 2,200 households took part in the program. The extension was approved to help

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those applicants still eligible for the program to remain in hotels as FEMA and its state and local partners work to identify longer-term housing solutions. All TSA applicants cur rently staying in hotels are evaluated for continued eligibility, the agency said in a press release. Many of those people who are no longer taking part have either moved back to their homes after repairing them or found new homes or temporary housing if they are to be displaced long term. Young said FEMA will continue to coordinate with state, local and voluntary agency partners to assist applicants through outreach and comprehensive casework to identify and transition them to more suitable temporary or long-term housing. According to FEMA, meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered by the TSA program, and applicants are responsible for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance. The program also does not reimburse previously incur red hotel Q expenses.

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The NYPD is searching for a teenager who has gone missing in Ozone Park. Jamiel Savizon, 19, was last seen leaving his home at 101-25 104 St. on Saturday, March 23 at around 10:30 p.m. He is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black winter coat, a red and blue flannel shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

Correction The March 21 article “Absent school crossing guards worry parents” (3/21/13) slightly misstated when and where a crossing guard was absent. She was not at 84th Street and 153rd Avenue on Thursday, March 14. Q We regret the error.

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Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 20

SQ page 20

JOHN ADAMS SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

NYU-sponsored neuroscience program begins B

by Bob Harris onnie Lestz, director of the Environmental & Science Small Learning Community at John Adams HS in South Ozone Park, announced that in February the New York University Center for Neural Science started a 3-year program which introduces neuroscience to high school students. The reason this program has come to John Adams HS is because Martin Walsh, the assistant principal and data analyst, came to the school last fall with Principal Dan Scanlon, and brought his contact with NYU with him. He had been the assistant principal of science at Hillcrest HS. Lestz explained that the program consists of a series of regularly scheduled visits by members of NYU under the direction of

Professor Andre Fenton of the Center for Neural Science, who is currently working on three related problems: how brains store information in memory, how brains coordinate knowledge to selectively activate relative information and suppress irrelevant information and how to record electrical activity from brain cells in freely moving subjects. The program at John Adams HS is being taught on-site by Dr. Kally O’Reilly, a neuroscientist trying to understand how the brain develops structurally and functionally, and Dr. Jason MikielHunter, also a neuroscientist, who has been studying how mammals are able to locate and track sounds in their natural environment. Some presentations will be in person and some will be via Skype. The program was launched with an on-site orientation to two

anatomy classes of John Adams’ juniors, totaling about 45 students, on February 15th. There was an overview of this outreach initiative, an explanation of what the students were expected to see and learn, an explanation of the field of neuroscience, areas of current research and ideas for classroombased projects. It is expected that the students will learn about the scientific discovery process, develop workplace skills, develop an understanding of scientific concepts, become analytical thinkers and learn about cutting-edge research in the field of neuroscience. There are plans for a group visit for the students to Professor Fenton’s lab at NYU in the spring. Next year, Ms. Lestz plans to incorporate the NYU visiting neuroscientist program into the science research course.

Teacher and Small Learning Community Director Ms. Lestz is all smiles that a new and exciting neuroscience program, sponsored by New York University, is in place at John Adams High School.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Teachers, students celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday

Teachers at the John Adams Jumpstart Academy Annex in South Ozone Park, including Mr. Pearce (far right), Ms. Kroeger and Ms. Wallace (above), put their hearts and creative souls into a lesson that commemorated the birthday of author Dr. Seuss.

March 2nd is the birthday of one of the most famous and beloved children’s authors, Dr. Seuss. That day is also recognized as “National Read Across America Day.” To acknowledge and celebrate both events, teachers at the John Adams Jumpstart Academy Annex in South Ozone Park conducted various activities with their students. After exploring some of the many quotes that have come from some of the most popular Dr. Seuss stories, the kids were introduced to one of his books that contains an inspiring theme which fits very appropriately with where the students presently are in their education careers, entitled, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Students were asked to participate by wearing black, white and red — colors worn by the beloved character, “The Cat in the Hat.” Ms. Wallace, a social studies teacher and, shared her idea for the lesson with fellow teachers, and they all taught the same lesson, which started off with each student writing down either a short-term or long-term goal that they have. They viewed a video in which the story, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” was read to them, and then they were instructed to interpret what the message of the story was. This was followed by a collaborative group effort to review facts concerning past global history topics, and the completion of a writing piece. At the conclusion of the class, students were given six inspirational Dr. Seuss quotes, and they were asked to choose the one quote they felt would most inspire them to do well. As a parting gift, students were given a bookmark containing a Dr. Seuss quote, as well as books that they were able to take home and read.

Following a vote, students chose the following quote to serve as the motto of the Jumpstart Academy: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go...” “The celebration was a great success, and the students were really excited to learn and be inspired by such an interesting story,” Ms. Wallace, director of the John Adams Jumpstart Academy Annex, stated.

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SQ page 21

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OPINION

Revised sick leave mandate on tap by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Efforts to legislate how much sick leave most employers in the city must provide to workers were renewed over the last week as lawmakers held a hearing on the bill and two mayoral hopefuls blasted opponent Christine Quinn, the City Council speaker, for blocking the measure for the last three years. The measure would require smaller companies to provide employees with five paid sick days a year and larger firms to give them nine. Violators would face f ines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 and be liable to lawsuits for 18 months after denying sick leave. Though the bill was co-sponsored by 37 of the Council’s 51 members when introduced in 2010, Quinn (D-Manhattan) has used her power as speaker to keep it from coming up for a vote, saying it would impose too great a burden on businesses at a time when the economy is weak. Other critics say it would be an illegitimate government intrusion into private business in good times or bad. Proponents say it is only fair to require that workers be given time off when they or their family members are sick, and that forcing peo-

City Councilman Dan Halloran, foreground, boasted that he was “the last man standing” at last week’s hearing on the sick leave bill, criticizing his PHOTO COURTESY NYC COUNCIL colleagues for leaving before it was over. ple to come to work when they are ill reduces productivity and spreads contagions such as the flu. Advocates have periodically held rallies featuring people who say they lost their jobs due to illness, and cite studies of the impact of similar bills in other cities and states that claim they do not hurt businesses. A hearing on the bill was held last Friday, and NY 1 reported on Tuesday that a deadline to reach a compromise on an amended version has been set for this Friday. The new proposal reportedly

would raise the threshold for companies subject to the law from those with at least five employees to those with at least 10. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who along with Quinn, City Comptroller John Liu and former Comptroller Bill Thompson is a leading Democratic candidate for mayor, criticized raising the threshold to 10 employees, saying that would leave out 164,000 workers covered under the original plan. Raising it to 50 would leave out 685,000. “We don’t need ‘Paid Sick

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This year marks 50 years since Christ the King Regional High School’s campus on Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village held its first classes, only eight months after the school f irst opened its doors. The school, which now has an enrollment of roughly 1,000 students, will hold its Golden Jubilee celebration next month. The festivities will kick off with a gala dinner dance at El Caribe, located at 5945 Strickland Ave. in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, on Friday, April 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. The celebration will continue throughout that weekend with musical performances and a celebratory Mass on Sunday, April 21 at Christ the King’s campus. Tickets are on sale for $125 per person and include the dinner dance on April 19, one ticket to any performance of Christ The King’s musical theater group’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” and one ticket to the continental breakfast following the 11 a.m. Mass on April 21 at the school’s cafe. The reservation deadline is Friday, April 5. Tickets can be purchased at ctkny.org or by calling the Christ the King Alumni Office at (718) 366-7400 Q ext. 272.

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Leave-Lite,’” de Blasio said in a prepared statement. “And we won’t allow hundreds of thousands of hardworking people to be denied a fundamental right because of political expediency.” Thompson also blasted Quinn, saying last week she has blocked the bill “with an iron fist,” according to The New York Times. Among the bill’s opponents is Councilman James Gennaro (DFresh Meadows), who penned an op-ed against it in the March 21 New York Post. Gennaro said the revised bill would not provide any support to businesses bearing increased costs and would be “a litigator’s dream.” Councilman Dan Halloran (RWhitestone) “has serious doubts about the bill” due to the risk of hurting businesses and killing jobs, according to his spokesman, Kevin Ryan. But Halloran did issue a press release noting that he was the only Council member who stayed for the entire hearing last Friday. “On this critical issue, shouldn’t we all listen to both sides before going back to the same rhetoric?” he asked, saying that if someone goes to the trouble of testifying before the government, the government Q should take the time to listen.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 22

SQ page 22

SQ page 23

by Joseph Orovic Assistant Managing/Online Editor

Early signs in the Democratic primary for borough president point to a love-fest. Not necessarily among the candidates, but between the six Democrats and Queens itself. Five of the six candidates vying for the seat attended last Thursday a candidates’ forum at the Hollis Hills Jewish Center, co-hostby the News analysis ed Saul Weprin and Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic clubs. Each touted experience in at least one niche where government intersects with life, pointing to personal experience and past work as part of his or her bona fides. State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), former Deputy Borough President and Assemblyman Barry Grodenchik, former Councilwoman Melinda Katz, state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) and City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) stopped by to deliver their stump speeches. Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) did not attend. The race, still months away from the planned primary, has devolved into a contest over who will love the

borough harder. And the limited scope of power emanating from Borough Hall didn’t stop some from making veiled promises the job wouldn’t allow them to keep. Peralta’s stump speech included promises to “streamline rules and regulations that govern small businesses.” Grodenchik lamented the state of the borough’s healthcare system, saying, “We’re caught between two goliaths of healthcare in Nassau and Manhattan.” Avella — as you may have guessed — deplored developers’ ability to run roughshod over the “character of the borough.” Katz promised to “knock heads” and “effectuate change at the city level.” “Experience is going to matter in this race,” she added. Vallone, to his credit, fell short of promising to leap beyond the very high walls set around borough presidents in the City Charter. To be clear, the six Democrats are engaged in a race for a position that has been largely neutered after the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989 declared the city’s Board of Estimate unconstitutional. A revision to the City Charter in 1990 reduced the position of borough president to a largely ceremonial one

Candidates for the Democratic primary for borough president: state Sen. Tony Avella, left, former Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik, former Councilwoman Melinda Katz, state Sen. Jose Peralta and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. PHOTOS BY JOSEPH OROVIC

with a limited advisory role, the nominal ability to introduce legislation and a bit of taxpayer lucre to dole out. The nominal allusion to legislative power at the Council level — a legislature in which its own members can’t introduce legislation with any ease — has not been practiced in any sort of substantive way by Borough Hall’s current occupant, Helen Marshall. And so five of the six candidates for borough president came before two of northeast Queens’ Democratic clubs to essentially argue why they’re most suited to spend at least four years in Borough Hall holding a figurative megaphone and purse. None spoke to specific budgetary priorities or programs that would benefit from their election. They did, however, give Queens a big verbal hug.

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Peralta set the tone for the proceedings, blowing the expected kisses to the borough. “I want to make sure Queens becomes a destination,” he said, later adding “This is the greatest borough in the world.” The line was repeated ad nauseam by nearly all the candidates, along with the expected Queens bona fides. And for good reason. The presence of departing Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz loomed large over the discussion. Mr. “Fugghedaboutit!” has become the de facto model for the post-charter revision borough president: brash, eloquent, omnipresent, loud and a total ham in front of news cameras. Our borough, it seems, needs its own Markowitz. Someone who will

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stand on the Queensboro Bridge with a megaphone and shout “Welcome to Queens” during a blackout, as Markowitz did for Brooklyn in 2003. (We assume our borough president will still call it the “Queensboro” Bridge.) One finds it hard to imagine any of the candidates declaring Yankees fans in Queens “treasonous,” the way Markowitz ribbed Manhattan Knicks supporters hailing from Brooklyn. Some of the candidates said Queens needs an advocate at the city level and beyond — presumably one who shows emotion beyond the dopey grin on Mr. Met’s face. The quintet in Hollis Hills tried. There were moments when some reached for that level of outsized personality. Katz came closest. She supports mayoral control of schools (not that she’d have an iota of a voice in the matter). Why? “I like having someone to yell at.” Zing. So if not a show of megawatt character, what’s being offered to the people of Queens? The candidates would do best to check the City Charter’s fourth chapter, labeled “Borough Presidents” and come back more versed in the Q job they’re applying for.

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

BP forum: no lack of boro love and resumes

SQ page 24 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 24

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Classroom improvements, such as computers and smartboards, are up against curb installations, security cameras, park facilities, library upgrades and a new roof and windows for the Queens County Farm Museum. Through Participatory Budgeting, residents of City Council districts 19, 23 and 32 can each vote to decide how to spend one million dollars from the city budget. Each resident can select five items from a pre-vetted list of projects and the winners will be included in next year’s city budget. “Participatory Budgeting gives the community an unprecedented opportunity to make decisions on how city dollars get spent in our community,” said Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens). Weprin held a series of neighborhood assemblies last fall, at which local residents brainstormed ways to spend the million dollars. Community members then volunteered to serve as budget delegates and worked in committees for three months to turn the project ideas into full proposals that were vetted by the

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relevant city agencies. This year eight districts are using Participatory Budgeting. Voting will take place April 1-7 at multiple locations in eastern Queens. Anyone who is at least 16 years old can vote. Residents can obtain absentee ballots by contacting Mark Weprin or Councilman Dan Halloran’s (RWhitestone) offices. District 19 residents can vote at Community Board 11, the College Point Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Maggie Moo’s on Bell Boulevard, the Community Church of Douglaston, Chabad of North East Queens and Temple Beth Shalom. District 23 residents can vote at Weprin’s district office, Community Board 13, the Fresh Meadows Library, Community Board 8, the Bellerose Library, the Cross Island Y, the Samuel Field Y, the Bayside Senior Center, and the SNAP Senior Center. Voting locations for district 32 are to be Q determined. — Laura Shepard

A 19-year-old man from Springfield Gardens was sentenced to 25 years in prison last Wednesday for the March 2012 shooting death of an 18-year-old youth near the South Jamaica Houses. Sean Barnhill, who has pleaded guilty to f irst-degree manslaughter, also will serve a concurrent two-year sentence for assaulting a Corrections off icer at the Queens Criminal Courthouse last June while in custody. According to a statement issued by the off ice of Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Barnhill and codefendant Alexander Burgess shot and killed Daryl Adams at about 12:30 p.m. on March 2, 2012. Burgess was sentenced to a 16-year term in December after he too pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. Of Barnhill, Brown said “The defendant has proven himself a threat to society even behind bars. As such, the lengthy prison sentence imposed in this case is more than warranted and punishes the defendant for senselessly shooting an

unarmed teenager and injuring an on-duty correction officer.” Brown said that in their pleas both men admitted being armed with semiautomatic pistols on 107th Street between 159th and 160th streets when they each fired one shot at Adams, hitting him twice and killing him. The district attorney also said that Barnhill, who has been held without bail since his March 2012 arraignment, has admitted to punching a correction officer in an incident that took place at the courthouse in Kew Gardens on June 13 of last year. The officer sustained a laceration to his mouth, according to the District Attorney’s statement. Barnhill was sentenced by Acting Supreme Court Justice Dorothy ChinBrandt. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Barnhill also will face three years of postrelease supervision in connection with the first-degree assault charge upon compleQ tion of his sentence.

SQ page 25

Local politicians and advocates fight to protect threatened IBZs by Tess McRae Reporter

In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg announced that specific areas of city land would be preserved for industrial purposes solely and called Industrial Business Zones. To go along with the IBZ, the mayor also created the Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses to support the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ailing industrial sector. But eight years later, the OIMB has been dismantled and slowly, more and more of the IBZs are losing manufacturing businesses, which are being replaced by residential buildings and superstores. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creating these zones was the correct strategy for the city,â&#x20AC;? Adam Friedman of the Pratt Center for Community Development said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The mayor recognized that manufacturers needed stability and said they would discourage nonindustrial uses and even created an office and conducted studies on the infrastructure of the industrial areas to better implement discouraging of nonindustrial uses. Those groups have gone steadily down and now have been eliminated.â&#x20AC;? Since Bloomberg took office, the city has lost 1,800 acres of M-zoned industrial land. In 2009, the New York Industrial Retention Network, which has since been consolidated to the Pratt Center, studied commercial uses invading IBZs. The 10-page document lays out every commercial superstore or chain hotel to move

The Knockdown Center is one of many nonindustrial groups using space in city-designated space PHOTO COURTESY KNOCKDOWN CENTER for manufacturers called the Industrial Business Zone. into each of the eight zones over several years. Using files from the Department of Buildings, NYIRN determined that from January 2005 to August 2007, there were 587 cases in IBZ and Ombudsman zones (areas adjacent to IBZs that receive services but do not guarantee against residential development) where the plot changed to nonindustrial use. The most recent nonmanufacturing organization to move into the Maspeth IBZ is the

Knockdown Center on Flushing Avenue. The glass factory-turned-art gallery has hosted several events this year. The art gallery is technically within its rights to reside in the area. Anyone is allowed in most cases without any special permission to build a hotel, a big box store, an office building and even an art gallery in an IBZ. The Pratt Center, an organization affliated with the Pratt Institute that works to advance a

sustainable city economy has accused city offices, including the Bloomberg administration, of only committing to manufacturers as a public statement. Amanda Burden, the City Planning commissioner, has also been criticized for not standing up for manufacturers despite declaring the IBZs to be an â&#x20AC;&#x153;iron-cladâ&#x20AC;? commitment to industrial businesses. Technically, there are no legalities that would prevent the next mayoral administration from turning existing IBZs into residential and commercial developments. Those uncertainties have left IBZ advocates uneasy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe the city is doing everything the can to protect these companies,â&#x20AC;? Councilwoman Diana Reyna (D-Maspeth) said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In my tenure as a council member, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had a specific interest in the industrial sector which dates back to the fact that my mother was a seamstress when the textile industry was predominately immigrants. She eventually had to change careers because of the shrinking industry buildings.â&#x20AC;? Reyna and others cite real estate prices as one of the key reasons that more and more buildings are becoming residential. Building owners have found that commercial and residential companies are more likely to pay higher prices than manufacturers. So when leases come up, the continued on page 34

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Commercial uses invade industry zones

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SQ page 26

Mr. Meeks talks about Washington Breakfast chat touches on Sandy relief, gun control, budget sequester by Michael Gannon Editor

The last time he hosted a legislative breakfast for community leaders and the clergy, Congressman Gregory Meeks (Queens, Nassau) represented the 6th District, the Rockaways had electricity and infrastructure, and the term “sequester” was not on the evening news on a nightly basis. “I wanted to have this a lot sooner, but a lot of things have happened since the last time,” Meeks told a crowd of about 200 community leaders at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center in St. Albans. “First we had Hurricane Sandy,” he said. “Then we had Sandy Hook. Now we have the budget sequester.” Meeks now represents the 5th District, with the Rockaways and parts of Nassau County, because of redistricting as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census. And he spoke very frankly about the challenges facing the district and the city in the coming months and years. He first castigated his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives for their delays on approving Hurricane Sandy relief. “It used to be that when we had a disaster, we approved the aid,” he said. “Hurricane Sandy didn’t hit just Democrats or Republicans, and there are still people without

Congressman Gregory Meeks brought residents up to date last Monday on the goings-on in Washington, DC, from gun control legislation to the budget sequester, and just how hard it could PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON hit New York City. electricity. Why did it take three months?” He did single out GOP members Peter King (R-Long Island) and Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island) as being part of a united front in Congress to get the funding through. Meeks said he and Grimm are working on

legislation for a second bill. “We knew when Sen. [Charles] Schumer asked for the $60 billion that it would not be enough,” Meeks said. “We’re going to need more.” In regard to the budget sequester, which

triggered nearly across-the-board spending cuts this month when Congress and the White House could not agree on a deficit reduction plan, Meeks acknowledged that he voted for the sequestration trigger. “The idea behind the sequester is that it would never happen. It would force people into a room to talk so it wouldn’t go into effect. That’s how terrible it is.” He said if it continues throughout the year the city and state stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars for education, social programs and law enforcement. He is encouraged that the Senate, for the first time in four years, has floated a budget proposal, one he supports and says is the polar opposite of the House GOP-approved budget written largely by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis). “Now both sides can come to the table,” he said. While Meeks is pleased that the Senate seems set to vote on gun control legislation that includes stricter background checks, he is disappointed that the Senate is unlikely to support an assault weapon ban in the wake of December’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that resulted in 20 children and six adults being killed. The measure was not expected to get much more than 40 votes in a body where Democrats have 54 seats with Sen. Bernie Q Sanders (I-Vt) caucusing with them.

Maryland man arrested in wrong way car crash

Common-law husband charged with murder

Driver hit van full of teens on Van Wyck

Woman found in water at Idlewood

A Maryland tow truck owner has been charged with reckless endangerment and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol for allegedly driving the wrong way on the Van Wyck Expressway early Sunday morning and slamming head on into a van filled with teenagers coming from a party. The driver of the van, 34-year-old Jose Chimbo of Baltimore, was allegedly driving a 2004 Nissan Murano the wrong way on the Van Wyck Expressway near Northern Boulevard in Flushing shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, when his vehicle collided head on with a 2007 Ford Econoline van. In the van were the driver and thirteen teenagers being driven home from a party. When police arrived at the scene, Chimbo allegedly admitted to officers that he had a few drinks. Chimbo was taken to a local hospital, which Queens DA Richard Brown’s office did not name, where a blood test was administered to him. The results are pending. The defendant remains hospitalized with a broken left leg, severe deep

wounds to his side and injuries to his arm, shoulder and back. The driver of the van and the teenagers were also taken to the same hospital, where they were all treated for minor injuries and later released. “The defendant is accused of getting behind the wheel of his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving the wrong way on one of the city’s major highways, endangering not only his own life but that of other motorists – including a van filled with young people which he hit,” Brown said. “It is a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or killed.” Chimbo is presently awaiting arraignment on a criminal complaint charging him with first-degree reckless endangerment, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and unlawfully driving his vehicle in a direction other than the one designated on the roadway. Chimbo faces up to seven years in Q prison if convicted.

A 30-year-old South Jamaica man has been charged with murdering his common-law wife on March 19 and dumping her body in the water at Idlewild Park in Rosedale. The NYPD and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown in press releases said Carlos Evelyn of Foch Boulevard has been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. Kadie Ann Chambers, 27, was found floating in the water just after 10:30 a.m. that day. A statement issued by the NYPD said she was unconscious and unresponsive when found. She was pronounced dead at the scene by personnel from the FDNY’s Emergency Medical Services Unit. Brown’s office said the medical examiner determined that she died as the result of asphyxiation due to strangulation. The district attorney said Evelyn is accused of choking and strangling Chambers during an argument that became physical. Brown’s press release refers to Chambers

as Evelyn’s common law wife. The investigation is being handled by detectives in the 105th Precinct. Brown said Evelyn faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. “His actions leave their young son without a mother and a father who faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison,” Brown said. Authorities are alleging that Chambers was killed in their home sometime that Tuesday morning when, during an altercation, Chambers grabbed Evelyn’s shirt and he responded by choking her with one hand and repeatedly punching her in the face with the other until she fell to the floor unconscious. Evelyn then allegedly transported her body to the Idlewild Park Reserve, located in Rosedale, and put her in the water. Law enforcement also is claiming that Evelyn cleaned Chambers’ blood from a carpet in their bedroom and disposed of the clothes he was wearing both at the time of her death and when he allegedly Q dumped her body.

C M SQ page 27 Y K

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Rockaway LIRR line plans PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 28

C M SQ page 28 Y K

A new light Traffic on Cross Bay Boulevard was a little rough southbound last Thursday morning — but for good reason. City Department of Transportation crews were installing a new traffic light at the intersection of Cross Bay and 159th Avenue in Howard Beach. DOT spokeswoman Nicole Garcia said the workers were out replacing a temporary traffic light that had been installed at the corner, but did not say why the light needed to be replaced. Community Board 10 District Manager Karyn Petersen said the board has no record of any complaints about the light. — Domenick Rafter

continued from page 6 Matsil dismissed talk of reactivating the railway, pointing to studies from the 1990s, when the line was eyed for the JFK AirTrain, that argued transit was not financially feasible and would not be used by residents in southern Queens. But supporters of the rail said those studies are out of date and the situation is different now, especially since the opening of Resorts World New York City Casino and increased development in the Rockaways, such as Arverne By The Sea. Meeks also believes Sandy changed everything. “The biggest difference now is Sandy,” he explained. “Restoring the rail line would speed up the pace of recovery for residents and local businesses and create hundreds of jobs while laying the foundation for a transportation network that accommodates future growth.” Opponents of the rail line noted the cost of reactivating service would be astronomical and is part of the reason it isn’t feasible. Meeks said the cost could not be determined yet. “A study will tell us that,” he said. The right of way that runs through Forest Park, adjacent to Victory Field, is actually parkland, and any reactivation of transit would require the city to alienate that section of the park, with state approval. Doing so will require the city go through a process similar to that currently being

undertaken by the United States Tennis Association in its plan to expand its Flushing Meadows campus. That process has led to a number of contentious debates on community boards including CB 9, which includes a significant section of the Rockaway line. Outgoing CB 9 Chairwoman Andrea Crawford, who supports the Queensway concept, noted her board would have to take a vote on alienating parkland for it. That, especially after the tough USTA vote the board took last month, would be a hard push, she said. But community board votes are only advisory, supporters of the rail plan point out. In the meantime, opponents of both ideas are trying to keep their voices heard as both plans moved forward. Neil Giannelli, a resident of 98th Street in Woodhaven, which runs alongside the Rockaway LIRR right of way, said most of his neighbors are opposed to any development along the line. At a meeting of CB 9 earlier this month, Giannelli said 230 signatures were collected from residents age 18 and older along the street between Park Lane South and Atlantic Avenue. Of those, four people supported the Queensway idea while 226 were opposed to any development along the old Rockaway line. Q Nobody wanted a train.

Arts org. calls Astoria home The Queens Council on the Arts has settled into its new home. The nonprof it, founded in 1966, left its old location in Forest Park f o r t h e 1 , 7 0 0 - s q u a r e - f o o t a n n ex building at Kaufman Astoria Studios at 37-11 35 Ave. in Astoria. The organization, which supports Queens-based arts across all disciplines through g rants and workshops, moved because of an inaccessibility to public transportation. The old space was also owned by the Parks Department, which gave the nonprof it little say over the building’s use. The new location was found after a long process that included a failed attempt in 2008 to move into Long Island City and a survey of Queens artists. “[It’s] fabulous, scary, OMG, [and I feel] excited, thrilled, impatient, over caffeinated, under-slept and so happy to be part of the Astoria art scene in the Kaufman Astoria creative community,” Executive Director Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer Q said in an email about the move. — Josey Bartlett

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Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 30

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SQ page 31

Residents asked to participate in survey monitoring lifestyle choices by Ramiro S. Funez Chronicle Contributor

The American Cancer Society is launching a borough-wide cancer prevention study aimed at identifying the lifestyle factors that cause the disease. The group hosted a recruitment drive at Queens College last Friday, urging students and community leaders to promote cancer research by participating in the study, Cancer Prevention Study-3. Surveys will be available for completion at enrollment sites across the borough beginning May 21. The group is hoping to collect information from at least 500 residents who are between the ages of 30 and 65 and who have never been diagnosed with cancer. “Queens is one of the most diverse regions in the country and we’re hoping to get as much participation as possible from a diverse population,” said ACS Queens Regional Vice President Cathleen Garry. “I hope that we are able to find out why some people get cancer and why some people don’t.” The American Cancer Society teamed up with New York Hospital Queens, the North Shore-LIJ Health System and St. John’s University to host CPS-3 in Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the world, in an effort to focus on the cultural, ethnic and lifestyle factors that are related to cancer diagnosis.

Representatives of the American Cancer Society and North Shore-LIJ Health System at a kickoff recruitment event at Queens College on Friday, promoting a prevention study aimed at studying PHOTO COURTESY NORTH SHORE-LIJ HEALTH SYSTEM local causes of cancer. According to the group, there are 196 cases of cancer diagnosed each week in Queens, 64 of which end in death. The organization also reports that Queens has one of the highest rates of cancer diversity — the appearance of different forms of the disease — in the country.

“Letting people know that this is going on and that we can’t do any research if people aren’t enrolled at sites is what is important now,” Garry said. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to narrow down where cancer is coming from in Queens.” The state Department of Health and the

state Cancer Registry conducted a study on cancer incidence and mortality in Queens from 2005 to 2009 that reported over 3,000 deaths annually. The report also showed that malignant tumors found in the lungs, colon and breasts were the most common forms of cancer and that women encountered a higher risk of dying from the disease: 1,688 deaths per year compared to 1,615 among men. Myra Barginear, an oncologist at North Shore-LIJ’s Monter Cancer Center, said she helped organize the study because she believes it is an excellent way to receive information on the root causes of cancer in the area. “This is an opportunity to find associations between social behaviors and environmental exposures and how we can implement recommendations to prevent cancer,” Barginear said. “Our hospitals diagnose about 16,000 new cases of cancer every year and about a third of those are in Queens —that’s another reason why the Queens community should support this study because it has an enormous impact.” CPS-3 is the third cancer prevention study organized by the American Cancer Society. The last two studies were focused on the lifestyle choices that lead to lung cancer and obesity. For more information on CPS-3, visit Q cps3ny.org/queens.html.

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Cancer prevention study hits Queens

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Cleaner engines for freight trains Funding from state set to begin locomotive upgrades in community by Tess McRae Reporter

Three million dollars will be secured in the state budget for a freight locomotive engine upgrade to combat pollution, area lawmakers say. “This is the first win in what will be an ongoing fight to protect the health of countless families in Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island,” Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) said. The $3 million, a $1.3 million increase from what was originally proposed for this year by Assembly members, will go toward purchasing the first in a number of new, cleaner motors for antiquated high-emissions locomotives owned and leased out by the Long Island Rail Road. The freight trains are equipped with “Tier 0” 1970s engines. The Environmental Protection Agency applies a Tier 0 label to locomotives originally manufactured after 1973 that use no exhaust gas after-treatment. The engines run on diesel fuel, the exhaust of which, when inhaled by humans, can cause an array of respiratory problems. “We have the worst engines possible and the oldest in the fleet do the most damage,” Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) said. “When we were trying to get support from other elected officials, the ones on Long Island weren’t really affected by the issue, but people in our neighborhoods have trains driving by every day. The noise and smoke is right in their backyards.” “Our success would not have been possible but for the tireless efforts of the community activists in Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions,” Hevesi said. “By shining and keeping a bright light on this problem, CURES has galvanized community support and made this solution a reality.” Bob Holden of the Juniper Park Civic Association, a CURES member group, said the funding is a step in the right direction in providing Queens residents quality air and living conditions. “Anybody who walks by the park will hear these things rev up and not only are they noisy, they also spew toxic diesel fuel into the air so anything we can do to modernize our trains is definitely welcome,” Holden said. Though voting is not complete, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) says residents can be comfortable that the Senate and Assembly will adopt the recom-

A locomotive running on an old diesel engine at the Fresh Pond Terminal. mended budget. “The state budget we adopt this week for mally acknowledges the long-standing need to bring relief to those who live along the railroad lines in Maspeth and Middle Village,” Markey said. “As a senior member of the Assembly, chair of the Tourism-Parks Committee and member of the joint Assembly-Senate Transportation Conference Committee, my colleagues and I work hard to ensure that the funding for upgraded locomotives was part of the final budget for the LIRR.” Miller said that the Assembly hopes to receive funding each year for additional engines, one for each year.

PHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN

“The fleet should be completed in 10 years or so, we are hoping,” Miller said. The trains that carry waste and cargo near residents’ backyards, schools, parks and beaches will become the first state-owned locomotives with engines that meet U.S. EPA Tier 3 standards. The first new locomotive engine should be in place by the end of the year. Benefits of this upgrade will be a reduction of nitrogen oxide emission, a known byproduct of diesel engines linked to lung infections, by up to 76 percent over 10 Q years.

Astoria Park lanes to get a tuneup For the latest news visit qchron.com

Departments propose to mitigate potentially dangerous, ugly spots by Josey Bartlett Editor

The Parks Department and the Department of Transportation have suggested some alterations to the shared bike and pedestrian lanes PHOTO BY JOSEY BARTLETT through Astoria Park.

Sharing isn’t always beneficial. Members of the Astoria Park Alliance were dismayed in the fall to find that the shared bike and pedestrian lanes in Astoria Park, which were constructed as part of the $3.4 million Queens East River and North Shore Greenway that aims to connect the shoreline from Newtown Creek in Long Island City all the way to the Flushing Bay Promenade via a pedestrian-cyclist path, were a narrow 4 feet in width. They told the Parks Department that once the weather warmed up the tight squeeze could lead to collisions. Residents have also complained that excessive signage has become an eyesore in the neighborhood.

The Parks Department and the Department of Transportation then came back with some f ixes, CB 1 Parks Chairman Richard Khuzami said at a meeting on March 19. “They said they would do these things, but it’s not that specific,” Khuzami said, noting the lack of exact locations for the alterations. “Once we see it we will make our comments.” The proposal includes: • subtracting redundant Greenway signs in tight spaces while focusing on where bike paths diverge from pedestrian areas; • attaching metal reflectors to barrier fences where the path runs alongside roadways used by cars such as between Greenway and Shore Boulevard; and • removing some of the markings for

separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians and creating a wider shared lane instead. “If you have any problems with meetings between bikes, pedestrians or with these with automobiles, or any visual pollution, you should call 311,” Khuzami said. “City agencies tend to make adjustments based on the 311 complaints they get.” Neither the DOT nor Parks has given a timeline for when these changes may be made. Last Friday not very many individuals were braving the cold, but one older man who walks the paths daily said he was ambivalent about the changes. “They f ixed it last year. It’s OK,” he said. As for future upgrades he said, “Why Q not?”

SQ page 33

Preservationist confirms talks of bringing concerts to stadium by Tess McRae

through proposals to find a good fit for the old stadium. In the past, offers have included turning the venue into a condominium but Bob Ingersole, the tennis director at the WSTC, said remaining a tennis club is of the upmost importance. “We’d like to become a real force in the tennis community,” he said. “We need to make the stadium a place that is much more viable and the concerts will be a very small part of the club. We are first and foremost a tennis club.” In the summer, to promote the WSTC’s 100th year in Forest Hills, the venue will host the first NY Open, from July 4 to July 7. The invitational tournament will feature 16 male and 16 female singles players and 18 men’s and 18 women’s doubles teams. Perlman and Ingersole both say there are plans to make it an annual tradition. In addition to the concerts and the NY Open, Perlman said he hopes to fundraise with the WSTC to speed up the process and get the stadium up and running as soon as possible. “I’m feeling more optimistic as the weeks go on,” Perlman said. “Engineering tests were recently done and concluded that the structure is sound, despite claims that it wasn’t. And the price for restoration was exaggerated during the 2010 and 2011 meetings. I feel confident though and I am very interested in helping Q WSTC generate additional revenue.”

Reporter

West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills has been in need of restoration for years. Club officials are hoping to fund necessary construction by holding concerts and other events in the venue in the PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL PERLMAN coming years.

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interested in reaching out to the neighboring community.” Perlman also said only musical acts that “abide with the integrity of the club and the neighborhood,” such as classical music, would be invited to perform. For years, the WSTC has been searching

neighborhood’s best interest at heart. “Meier said that perhaps the first year there would only be one or two concerts and then it would gradually go up from there,” Perlman said. “He was assuring me that it wouldn’t be disruptive to the community and, for the first time in the history of the club, the board is

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The iconic tennis stadium where the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan once rocked may soon have music in it’s halls again. In an effort to raise funds to restore the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, club administrators and neighborhood preservationists are hoping to bring concerts back to the stadium that once held the US Open. “Basically, the West Side Tennis Club is closely exploring the concept of reintroducing concerts to the venue,” Michael Perlman, the chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, said. Perlman, who has been meeting regularly with tennis club President Roland Meier, said that the concerts will help fund a gradual restoration to the stadium, which was declared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as being too costly to return to landmark status. But local residents have complained that reinventing the tennis club as an entertainment venue will lead to unwanted crowds, garbage and noise. Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) has said in the past she would scrutinize any plan that would mean loud crowds, parking concerns or excess garbage. Due to Passover, Koslowitz was unable to comment. Perlman assured that the WSTC had the

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Music may return to West Side Tennis Club

Ice Jewelry: where the owners Sandy aid money to fix homes can relate to their clients

Ice Jewelry Buying Service is located on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park.

by Denis Deck

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Chronicle Contributor

PHOTO BY DONNA DECAROLIS

In addition to buying gold, silver, diamonds, watches and coins, Ice Jewelry Buying also offers instant cash loans for jewelry and eBay selling services.

Recently, a woman and her boyfriend went into an unassuming gold buying and cash loan shop on Queens Boulevard. She had a $35 offer on Their cash loans program is straightforward her ring from another area shop, but was looking and simple. “It’s a perfect solution for someone to get a better deal. In what may be viewed who has a bill due and a check on the way,” as poor business acumen, she told her new Goldberg said. “But we make sure they have a prospective buyer what her previous offer was. game plan to buy their jewelry back before the Still, after examining her piece, he offered her end of the term. Sometimes these are people’s $1,600. He did so, as he says, “...because that’s heirlooms we’re talking about and we respect what it was worth.” that.” The plight of the worker who’s hard-up for cash For those who are less Internet-savvy or in today’s economy is something that Arthur Elias just don’t have the time, Ice Jewelry Buying and Edward Goldberg can relate to firsthand, offers a convenient eBay sales service. If what having been laid off from their jobs in jewelry a customer has isn’t an item that Ice Jewelry manufacturing. They understand that people get Buying would purchase, like a handbag or antique into situations where they just need a little cash furniture, they can help find a buyer on their eBay fast to make the bills and Ice Jewelry Buying store. Elias consults with the customer to find a Service hopes to help out in the most honest way target price and let the Internet they can. auctioneers handle the rest. STORE HOURS “For this, I like to think we’re doing the community a service,” For anyone who has ever MON.-FRI. 11am - 7pm Elias said. “We’re in the business dealt with the hassle of selling SAT. 10am 5pm of helping people who are in a and shipping an item on eBay SUN. by Appointment tough spot. They can come to — all the forms involved in our store and know that we can setting up a user and paypal educate them on what they have and we’ll give account, the 10-15 percent fee that Ice Jewelry them what their items are worth. When that Buying charges to do all the work is really a woman told me her previous offer, it made me bargain deal. wonder how many times this happens — how “At the end of the day, I just want people to many people who really need that money get feel comfortable doing business with us. People taken advantage of?” have this conception of gold buying stores as Elias opened his Rego Park shop with Goldberg these slimy places with slimy people, and they’re less than a year ago, and already they’re seeing typically right. But we want to be different. I don’t a lot of repeat customers and referrals. This is think it’s cool to see someone buy a ring for a sign to them that they’re doing something right $200 and put it in their counter for $800. We — the pawn business typically deals in one-time don’t do that.” transactions but Elias is determined to break that Ice Jewelry Buying Service is located at mold, building a reputation on trust. 98-30 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. Hours of “Everyone around here is buying gold these operation are Monday-Friday from 11 am to 7:00 days; you can go into the barber shop down the pm and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday– private road and sell your jewelry. The problem with all appoinments are available. Call for more these places is they treat everything like it’s a Q information (718) 830-0030. one-shot deal and we don’t do that,” Elias said. - ADVERTISEMENT -

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continued from page 5 Another $400 million will go toward infrastructure repair, while $327 million will be put toward “resiliency investments,” which Bloomberg said would be detailed in a future action plan. The plan will only go into effect after a two-week public comment period that began this week and ends on April 4. Those interested in commenting on the plan or suggesting ideas can read the entire proposal and submit their comments at nyc.gov/ html/cdbg/html/home/home.shtml. Bloomberg said he hopes to have the funds dispersed starting in late May, early June. The funding will be allocated through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief program and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But if you’ve already paid for reconstruction work for your home, you would not qualify for the grants. HUD, the federal agency allocating the money, will not use any funds to reimburse costs for rebuilding efforts that have already been done. Goldfeder said it is possible HUD could decide to use some of the money for reimbursements, but the Bloomberg administration would have to pressure it to change that rule. “The city has to make the case to HUD,” he said, adding it was a request citizens can

make during the public comment period. The announcement came after Bloomberg called an end to the city’s Rapid Repair campaign, which began a month after Sandy and sought to make important fixes, such as installing heat and electrical systems, in damaged homes so residents can get to live in the house while permanent repairs are made. “In the four months since it launched, Rapid Repairs has restored essential services to more than 20,000 residences, allowing nearly 54,000 New Yorkers to return to their homes where real recovery can begin,” he said Bloomberg heralded the program as “a new model for disaster recovery that we proved can work.” But it was not without its problems. Early on, a number of homeowners who scheduled work with Rapid Repairs complained of broken appointments and delayed construction. The program went through some reorganization in January. Among the problems that were fixed was the fact that contractors would be assigned to jobs far away from each other — such as one in Staten Island and another in Rockaway the same day. City records show Rapid Repairs did a vast majority of its projects in January, going from 3,000 buildings repaired on Jan. 1 to 9,000 at the end of the month. Q

Troubled IBZs

believed in the city’s commitment and made investment decisions based on that commitment will be betrayed,” the letter read. Despite repeated requests, both the Mayor’s Office and City Planning did not respond. “Contrary to what people may think, these businesses are job generators, not storage facilities,” Gayle Baron, the executive director of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, said. “These new residential buildings are not creating jobs. There is so much competition for space in these areas and with this explosive growth in residential and commercial buildings, you can end up losing sections that have viable Q businesses.

continued from page 25 owners hike up rents so high that industrial companies cannot afford to remain in the area. This year, the IBZ fund that grants industrial businesses tax incentives for remaining in the zones has been zeroed out. In a letter sent to the mayor earlier this month, Friedman said zeroing out IBZ funding could be detrimental. “Unless funding for the local development organizations is restored and the city moves forward with new IBZ zoning, the resources invested by the city will be wasted and the conf idence of the business owners who

Wishing everyone a Joyous Passover and a Happy Easter Assemblyman

Mike Miller 83-91 Woodhaven Boulevard Woodhaven, NY 11421 Tel: (718) 805-0950 millermg@assembly.state.ny.us

MIMI-060915

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 34

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Chabad of Rego Park organizes community seder for Sandy victims by Tess McRae Reporter

Chabad of Rego Park brought a community seder to Far Rockaway for residents in the area, including families affected by the Superstorm Sandy. “We want to give them something to celebrate, give them more reasons to be a part of something larger,” Rabbi Eli Blokh said before the Passover dinner. “Bringing a seder here will hopefully let people know, boy or girl, whatever their age or wherever they are ,that there are people who care for them.” Blokh, who hosts four other seders throughout Queens, said he has been planning to bring a community seder to the Far Rockaway area for a few years now. “I have always had my eye on Far Rockaway because many of us forget that this is in fact part of Queens as well,” he said. “When the storm happened, it gave me the push I needed to make this happen.” The event was hosted in the Jewish Association Serving the Aging building at 155 Beach 19th Street. JASA Director of Community Based Projects Elaine Rockoff said she was more than thrilled to have the rabbi host a seder at the Far Rockaway facility. “You know, this area was hit very hard,” she said. “There were many people with no power, no heat and there were many who struggled and continue to struggle. JASA was here for

Rabbi Eli Blokh, right, and Elaine Rockoff, discuss seder plans with a JASA resident. PHOTO BY TESS MCRAE

them every step of the way and we are thrilled to serve the seniors and other community members especially following the storm.” As a request, JASA asked that Blokh allow for the seder to be read both in English and Russian. Chabad of Rego Park, which works specifically with Russian Jewish Americans, normally recites readings in

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traditional Russian. “JASA is about helping all seniors,” Rockoff said. “Whether you’re Asian or Jewish or whatever it may be, we want all of our seniors to feel comfortable and cared for.” The Passover seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of one of the most important Jewish holidays. It is a ritual per-

formed by a community or by multiple generations of family, involving the retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. “This holiday is all about freedom from not just physical oppression but from spiritual oppression, and for the people in this area, who have suffered so much, we need to remember the importance of being connected to the community and celebrate in the best way possible.” Rockoff said that about 30 community members had RSVP’d for the seder, many of whom have lost homes, cars and other possessions. As the dinner is considered a holy event, reporters and photographers were asked not to attend. “I just want to stress how important it is that they know there are people who care and that they are able to have a good holiday,” Blokh said. “All of the organizing done by JASA, the Kings Bay Y and by Chabad of Rego Park has just gone above and beyond and is hopefully going to give them hope, give them strength and show them that they matter.” Blokh also said he hopes to continue to hold more celebrations at the JASA building in Far Rockaway. “We certainly hope to come here again,” he said. “After all, we have nothing but many Q holidays in the Jewish faith.”

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Rabbi brings spirit of Passover to Rockaway

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SQ page 36rev

Best Wishes

to all our friends and neighbors for a very

Happy and Healthy

Easter & Passover PHOTOS COURTESY MARIA THOMSON

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Springtime in Woodhaven

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An activity of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

The air temperature might still have said winter this past week, but springtime is blooming in Woodhaven. The Woodhaven Business Improvement District sponsored its annual Spring Promotion last weekend aimed at bringing shoppers to Jamaica Avenue for springtime purchases. The event featured an appear-

ance by the Easter Bunny and the musical group Plastic Soul, top, in the neighborhood’s “town square” at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue. Above, Woodhaven BID volunteers hand out quarters for shoppers to use at Jamaica Avenue parking meters, allowing them some free shopping time.

Insurance

albeit at higher premiums. Flood insurance is still available for anyone in Howard Beach because it’s underwritten by the federal government. However, premiums may be high, especially for residents who do not take steps suggested by FEMA, including raising homes above flood level. Addabbo announced that the DFS will bring its services van back to Howard Beach. It will be parked outside Staples on Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone with questions about insurance can also call the DFS at 1 (800) 339-1759, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., SaturQ day and Sunday.

continued from page 12 exactly why it’s happening. Homeowners can do that by filing a complaint with the agency online at dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm There are some companies still writing policies in the area, including Nationwide and Narragansett Bay. Other companies are revamping their own maps to coincide with the temporary flood maps FEMA released in February. Though that could mean they may stop writing policies, it could also be a sign that they will continue to offer ones,

SQ page 37

Bunny fun and bargains on our avenue Executive Director GWDC

Although Saturday, March 23, at our Woodhaven Business Improvement Districtsponsored spring promotion was chilly and more like the continuation of winter, our WBID team persevered and many children could be spotted walking on Jamaica Avenue with a bunny and other designs on their little faces holding brightly colored balloons. Drivers were accepting free quarters for the Muni-Meters and a flyer from the WBID aides stating that the first 15 minutes of parking was courtesy of the WBID and thanks for shopping Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue. Our handsome, white Easter bunny took many pictures with smiling children in their wollen hats and scarfs. So, in spite of the weather, this WBID Easter promotion made many children happy and saved our shoppers many quarters. There were 110 free pictures taken with our fluffy bunny at our Forest Parkway Plaza and 100 quarters distributed along our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue. The WBID also had clowns painting faces and distributing balloons. The musical group Plastic Soul warmed up our shoppers with their toe-tapping songs. It was a cold but a fun day. The shopping on our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue, “The Everything Avenue,” had bargains and so many choices. The prices are very reasonable, especially for New York City with our high cost of living.

Did you know that Queens’ cost of living is 54 percent higher than the national average? We trail only Manhattan, Brooklyn, Honolulu and San Francisco in high cost according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. So spend your money in your community and save money when you buy your special clothing and shoes for Easter Sunday, which will be, hopefully, warm enough for Easter bonnets. Now mark your calendars for our Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle 88th Street cafeteria. This meeting will be very informative and have very interesting guests. A Metropolitan Transportation Authority representative will speak in regard to our Jamaica Avenue elevated train and the progress of its painting, repair and our Woodhaven train stations. There will also be a New York City transit officer there to speak about security on our J train. A representative from the police will be in attendance to record serial numbers for your Ipads and Iphones. Our “Happiness is Spring” dinner dance will be held on Friday, June 7. At this holy and joyous time, may we wish you and your families a happy Easter and a joyful Passover. May God bless our leaders, may God bless our armed forces and coalition forces Q and may God bless America.

Your Pharmacist Speaks Presented by Joseph Testa, R.Ph.

by Maria A. Thomson

SOMETHING EVERYONE! FOR

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Page 37 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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Many people are aware of the fact that prescription drugs can interact with each other with sometimes dangerous consequences. They may also be aware of the fact that many herbal remedies can interact with prescription meds. However, they might not think to ask if they should limit their intake of grapefruit while on certain medications. Unfortunately, grapefruit, Seville oranges, limes,

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 38

SQ page 38

Please clean up after your pups Students from PS 150 team with councilman for poster campaign by Josey Bartlett Editor

Scoop the poop — it’s the law. One PS 150 student will have his or her poster, imploring dog owners to pick up after their pooches, mass produced and hung in stores and on public bulletin boards in Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside via a new “Curb Your Dog” campaign ignited by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside). He showed off the top five posters made by Matthew Sebastian, pre-kindergarten; Angelina Yegoryan, first grade; Sophia Aguirre, second grade; and Alex Cazan and Isabel Lourdes, both of the fourth grade last Friday, whittling

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer unveils the five finalist posters in the “Curb Your Dog” campaign.

them down from 280 submissions by Sunnyside PS 150 students. Readers can vote for their favorite of the five finalists at Jimmyvanbramer.com. Each poster references the current law 13.10, reiterates the $250 fine associated with the law and says why the student artist would like dog owners to curb their dogs. “We have been battling dog poop on sidewalks and streets for too long,” Van Bramer said at the event, which was attended by dozens of proud students holding their contributions, dog owners and their furry friends and residents of Sunnyside Gardens, one who said his or her area of the neighborhood has become an unofficial dog run. “Most dog owners are not guilty of leaving their pet’s poop behind,” Van Bramer said. “The irresponsible dog owners are really hard to catch and the law is hard to enforce. They have to be caught in the act.” The idea sprang from a parent email to PS 150 Principal Carmen Parache decrying the amount of poop around the school. Parache teamed with pre-kindergarten teacher Erin Gursynski, a Sunnyside resident as well, who wanted to expand the project beyond making posters for just the school, but also to teach students a lesson in civics. “I’m not the only one bothered by it,” Gursynski said, adding that with a call to the councilman the project became more. Her pre-kindergarteners attend class in the

Two of the PS 150 students, Patricia Cataneda, 7, left, and Michelle Romero, 6, who participated PHOTOS BY JOSEY BARTLETT in the poster competition. “We have tried on our own to clean up the problem, but we need help,” said SUDS member Jeannette Remak, whose dog, Shanghai, contracted E. coli from coming in contact with leftover dog feces last summer. Wespaw Pets store also donated 5,000 disposable biodegradable dog poop bags. The free bags are available at Van Bramer’s district office at 47-01 Queens Blvd., suite 205, in Q Sunnyside.

PS 150 annex down the block. The neighborhood’s dog poop problem poses a real health issue to the little ones who sometimes don’t know better, Gursynski said. She called up the councilman, who worked with the school and the Sunnyside United Dog Society, a dedicated neighborhood group that hosts several events and leads an annual spring street cleanup, to launch the campaign.

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SQ page 39 Page 39 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

March 28, 2013

by Tess McRae

Sunnyside nonprofit travels to India with NYC teens, many who have never flown, to create a documentary

continued on page 43

For the latest news visit qchron.com

PHOTO BY ERIKA HOULE

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

In 2010, 13 students were selected to leave their homes in New York City and spend two weeks at the base of the Himalayas in India. They lived in Dharamsala, a largely Tibeten-populated village in India with host families, abandoning the comforts that come with living in a developed neighborhood. “Across All Borders,” directed by Kier Moreano and Erika Houle, documents their journey. The film opens with quick shots of graffiti, the Brooklyn Bridge and the subway. Deep, saturated colors pop off the screen showing off the city palette and are interwoven with traditional Indian folk music playing in the background, no doubt preparing the audience for a tale of clashing cultures and global awareness. We are introduced to three students: Peter Borges, Kristina Xie and Jazzminn Mack, and while there were 10 others chosen by local nonprofit Global Learning Across All Borders, these students were specifically chosen to propel the film forward. “I went to the preliminary meetings and I interviewed the students who would be going on the trip one by one on camera in their homes,” Houle, the co-director and cinematographer, said of her selection process. “I would talk to Keir and we’d choose three that we thought would contrast each other well and show the range of students.”

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 40

SQ page 40

qb boro

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G The Samuel Field Y has two weekday programs for preschool children ages 3-5 with developmental disabilities and their families. On Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. there is Monday Magic: Learn and Play at the Bay Terrace Center, 212-00 23 Ave., Bayside. On Wednesdays from 3-4:30 there is Gym and Creative Exploration at the Little Neck Site, 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Contact Amanda at (718) 225-6750 ext. 262 or email asmith@sfy.org for more information.

HOLIDAY

The First Presbyterian Church of Newton, corner of Queens Boulevard and 54th Avenue, Elmhurst, is giving a concert of sacred choral music on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Free. The congregation of Emanuel United Church of Christ at Woodhaven Boulevard and 91st Avenue, Woodhaven, hosts a Maundy Thursday Communion service on March 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Good Friday service on March 29 at 1 p.m.; and Easter Sunday service on March 31 at 10:45 a.m..

SUPPORT GROUPS

On Saturday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting, Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, hosts an egg hunt. $5 per child. A barnyard Easter egg hunt will be held at the Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, on Saturday, March 30 from noon to 4 p.m. $5 per person.

THEATER STAR (Senior Theater Acting Repertory) will be presenting free drama/comedy series and musical numbers at the Hollis Library, 202-05 Hillside Ave., Jamaica on Wednesday, April 10 at 2 p.m. Call (718) 465-7355.

FILM There will be a free screening of “Strangers on a Train” on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. at Cinemart Cinemas, 10603 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills. Includes a slideshow of Forest Hills film cameos led by Nicholas Hirshon, author of the new book “Images of America: Forest Hills.” Visit Facebook.com/imagesofamericaforesthills. “Spectacle: The Music Video” explores the art, history and future of the art form at the Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria from April 3 through June 16. For more information call (718) 777-6888 or visit movingimage.us.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Floral Park Historical Society will show “The Braddock Boys” on Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. at Floral Park Centennial Hall at Tulip and Carnation avenues. Free. For more information contact (516) 775-6849 or visit floralparkhistorical.org and thebraddockboys.weebly.com.

Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria, hosts a screening series, “The Life of Film, Celebrating a Decade of Reverse Shot,” from April 4-7. Tickets $20. Call (718) 777-6888.

LECTURE A talk by a Holocaust survivor presented by the Hevesi Jewish Heritage Library of the Central Queens YM & YWHA, 67-09 108 St., in Forest Hills on Monday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $6. For more information call (718) 268-5011, ext. 151, or email pkurtz@cqy.org.

MEETINGS Flushing Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m. in Flushing Hospital, 146-01 45 Ave.; enter at 45th Avenue and Burling Street, 5th floor, on the first, third and fifth Wednesdays of the month. For more information call (718) 749-0643 or visit flushingcameraclub.org.

Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams in Terrence Malick’s “To the Wonder,” screening April 5 at Museum of the Moving Image as part of the series “The Life of Film: Celebrating a Decade of Reverse Shot.”

The Lupus Alliance of Long Island and Queens meets once a month on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Flushing. To attend and for more information, Alliance members can register by calling Paula Goldstein at (516) 802-3142. Anyone with Lupus and family members are invited to attend Education Days on Saturdays, March 23 and June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is required in advance. A fee of $10 per person for members and $15 for nonmembers includes a light breakfast, handouts and lunch. Call (516)826-2058 for more information.

IMAGE COURTESY MAGNOLIA PICTURES

CLASSES Watercolor classes at the National Art League, 4421 Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston. All techniques, beginners to advanced. Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $25 per session. Call (718) 969-1128. The JCC-Chabad of Long Island City/Astoria, 10-31 Jackson Blvd., hosts Torah Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.; Taam Shabbat, Mommy and me, on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Carlbach Shabbat service and LeChaim on Fridays at 6 p.m.; Shabbat morning service and kiddush on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m..Call or visit (718) 6090066 or jewishlic.com for more information. Italian Charities of America, 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, hosts dance with instructions every Monday and Friday from 7:15 to 8 p.m. and a social dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Call (718) 4783100. $10. The Central Queens YM & YWHA 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills, announces the return of PERC, a club for retirees. Come meet and speak with others about what concerns you Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. Free for members of the CQY. Nonmembers free for first session, then $2 per session. Call the Adult and Senior Department at (718) 268-5011 ext. 160 or 622 for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTS Family board game day at Bay Terrace Library, 1836 Bell Blvd., on Friday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. Call (718) 423-7004 for more information. Free. The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens, Inc. invites you to the 27th Annual Celebration of Women’s History Month at the John F. Kennedy Jr. School, 57-12 94 St., Elmhurst, on Sunday, March 31 at 3 p.m. For more information call (718) 261-7664 or email laccq@aol.com.

Kick off party for the 6th Annual College Point Relay For Life on Thursday, April 4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. to be held at the CP Ambulance Corps located on 18th Avenue and 123rd Street. Lite snacks and refreshments will be served. All are welcome. For more information go to relayforlife.org/collegepointny. Join the Queens County Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals on Saturday, April 6 at noon at Marbella Restaurant, 220-33 Northern Blvd., Bayside, for a luncheon and fashion show. $40. Call Irene at (516) 437-7038 (evening). A Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial Day program will be held on Sunday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Briarwood Jewish Center, 139-06 86 Ave. Free. Call (917) 747-2922. On Sunday, April 7 there will be a Holocaust Memorial service at 5 p.m. at Rockwood Park Jewish Center, 156-45 84 St., Howard Beach. For information call (718) 641-5822. The Annual Maspeth Kiwanis Club auction will be held Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Moose Lodge at 72-15 Grand Ave., Maspeth. A $20 admission includes a buffet dinner, beer, wine, dessert and coffee. Donations of auctionable items are wanted. Call Marie for tickets at (917) 623-6306. Human Growth Foundation, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to help children and adults with disorders of growth and growth hormone, will host its first annual 4.8K Step Up and Walk on Sunday, April 21 from 7 a.m. to noon at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 113-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing. Individual and team registration is now open online at hgfound.org/stepupandwalk_event_registration.html. Afternoon Composting: Weekly Food Waste Drop-Off at the Broadway Library, 40-20 Broadway in Long Island City on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Call (718) 721-2462.

Emotions Anonymous, an emotional support group, will be held on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Victoria Congregational Church, 148th Street and 87th Avenue, Briarwood. Call (718) 938-8869 or (917) 312-7150. Nar-Anon is a self-help support group for anyone affected by a loved one’s use/abuse of drugs. The group meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the basement lounge at The-Church-In-The-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills. For information, call 1(800) 984-0066, or go to nar-anon.org. Free caregiver support groups at Queens Community House, Kew Gardens Community Center, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road. Call (718) 226-5960 Ext. 226 for details. Drug problem? Call Narcotics Anonymous Helpline at (718) 962-6244 or visit westernqueensna.com. Meetings are held seven days a week. Al-anon meets every Sunday at noon at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral Center basement, 85-18 61 Rd., Rego Park. Problem with cocaine or other mind-altering substances? For local Cocaine Anonymous meetings call: 1 (212) COCAINE (262-2463). Co-Dependents Anonymous (women only) meetings are held every Friday from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at Resurrection Ascension Pastoral Center, Fr. Freely Hall, 85-18 61 Rd., Rego Park.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, 92-47 165 St., details its safety program about rent, IT 214 tax form, Medicaid and food stamps. Call for an appointment at (718) 657-6500. Free. Activities at the Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26th Ave., Bayside, are held Monday-Friday. For more information, call (718) 224-7888.

To submit a theater, music, art or entertainment item to What’s Happening, email artslistingqchron@gmail.com

C M SQ page 41 Y K

Drumming up support for young musicians by Michael Gannon

are more than just an afternoon of lessons and entertainment. Julie Sriken and Jim Vasquez were tired “Children who learn music do better of watching school music programs get- socially,” she said. “They benefit neuroting cut for lack of funding. logically. It’s more than just fun.” Rather than complain, they created They have been able to bring in friends Jamaica Drum Jam in 2012, a nonprofit who are talented and even professional music education program aimed at bring- musicians to work with children and adults ing musical instrucin settings such as tion and perforlibraries to bring their mances to low- and mission to more and When: April 27, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. moderate-income more people. And neighborhoods in they are having a Where: St. Patrick Church basement New York City. carnival-themed 39-28 29 St., LIC Sriken said she fundraiser in Long Tickets: $20 adults; $15 students; and Vasquez, her Island City on April age 12 and under free. husband, always 27. jamaicadrumjam.org have had strong ties The dinner dance to music. will feature a buffet, “We met when we were 12 years old in mini carnival games, with dance classes band class,” she said, adding they they are and performances by Cashel Campbell, heartbroken at the economic toll that is Rodrigo Dance Studio and Junyversal being taken on the Department of Educa- Dance Studio; and musical performances tion’s music instruction. by the the Jamaica Drum Jam Drum Corps They bring instruments, genuine and featuring Sriken and Vasquez with percusimprovised, to give people who attend sionists Mike Veny, Brendan Finnegan and their lessons hand-on experience. Geraldo Flores. And Sriken said their demonstrations Other musicians scheduled to appear Editor

Jamaica Drum Jam

Mike Veny, left, Jamaica Drum Jam co-founder Jim Vasquez, Brendan Finnegan and COURTESY PHOTO Geraldo Flores with some of the tools of their trade. are Linda LaPorte, Nelson Jenkins, Albert Benscome, Oliver Demetrius, Matthew Marcial and Robin Mitchell. Sriken said the money raised will be used to strengthen the program. Acquiring instruments, she said, is the primary concern at the moment.

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer invites you to attend

FREE

Page 41 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

boro

Citizenship Application Assistance

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 11 am-2 pm

LaGuardia Community College E Building Atrium 31-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101

continued on page 00 45

You must meet the following requirements: • Reside in the United States as a permanent resident for five years (three years if living with and married to the same U.S. citizen) • Live in the United States for half of the five or three year period • You are at least 18 years old What to bring: • Green card and all passports since obtaining green card • Home addresses for the last five or three years • Children’s information (date of birth, A#, addresses)* • School/Employment history for the last five or three years* • Marital history/criminal history* *(If applicable)

Applicants pay a $680 filing fee to USCIS. Please do not bring this fee to this event. To apply for fee waiver, bring as many of these items as applicable: • Copy of award letter from the state or federal agency granting the benefit, e.g., SSI award letter and/or budget letter • Copy of benefits cards • Copy of IRS tax returns for the most recent tax year

DIRECTIONS: hopstop.com or call (718) 330-1234 cuny.edu/citizenshipnow

Experienced lawyers and immigration professionals will assist you with your application. CUNY-060847

For the latest news visit qchron.com

To RSVP, please call 212-568-4679 ONLY FIRST 150 WILL BE SERVED

“We’ve been able to bring in our friends or sometimes borrow their instruments,” she said. In some cases, things like old buckets are turned into drums that students can practice on before getting their hands on a

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 42

C M SQ page 42 Y K

boro

Best beer in Queens? Try best in the city themselves (though Yuen said a few amateur homebrewers have been known to glibly pipe up). Alewife isn’t a misnomer. It is about the beer. The bar has Things changed for Long Island City’s Alewife at the end 28 drafts available; all craft, all specially chosen by owner of October. A cruel mistress named Sandy swept across the Patrick Donagher. borough, leaving the Long Island City gastro pub’s first floor The attention to quality and unique offerings led the brew in ankle-deep waters. geeks at RateBeer.com in January to dub Alewife the best It came at a time of flux for the neighborhood watering beer bar in the entire city. It’s somehole, with a new menu brought on by thing the staff takes pride in, and the a change in the kitchen, tossed into bar itself places beer at the heart of the usual roving beer menu. everything it does. Mother Nature and the MTA had The system, as explained by chefs other plans. Gregorio Pedroza and Travis Yuen, The joint, at 5-14 51 Ave., shut When: Sunday, April 14, goes something like this: They cook down for a week and a half after Hurnoon to 2 a.m. up a dish and pass along the flavor ricane Sandy. A backup generator fed Where: 5-14 51st Ave., LIC profile to Donagher, who picks the a tiny pump cranking a 6-foot pool of 718-937-7494 appropriate beer to accompany it. water out of the basement. The wood alewifequeens.com It causes something of a stir and floor once lining the place was admitted challenge for Alewife’s Craft scrapped. Beer Week, which featured six beer dinners. It reopened to little fanfare and a tough go. “The belief is that beer has more complexity than wine “We were limited to serving burgers and pizza,” Yuen does,” Yuen said. “We try to cook with the beer in mind.” said. To that end, the foods are designed to keep you sated but Then came the seemingly ritualistic shutdown of the No. 7 not stuffed — and just thirsty enough to keep you drinking. train on weekends. “We’re not a turn-and-burn,” Pedroza said. “We don’t Then came RateBeer.com’s designation. serve you then kick you out.” It’s no surprise then, following the success of the recent Still, the chefs said to leave your beer-snob tendencies at aPORKalypse, upcoming events such as the Green Flash the door. Pedroza said many of the connoisseurs keep to Tap Takeoever and a changing menu, that Yuen and

by Joseph Orovic

Assistant Managing/Online Editor

Green Flash Tap Takeover at Alewife

Mac and cheese was just one item on a roving menu that evolves along with Alewife’s beer selection. COURTESY PHOTO Pedroza have a positive outlook. “This neighborhood isn’t a bunch of dolts,” Pedroza said in the blunt elegance one comes to expect from a restaurant’s back-of-house staff. It doesn’t hurt to be known for beer either. The duo expects the kitchen’s churn to truly kick up as the months grow warmer and the 7 line returns to full service. But they know their bread and butter rests with the locals. “Think back five to six years ago and you wouldn’t want to live in this area,” Pedroza said. Now, it’s a destination — for hurricanes and beer Q lovers alike.

Wishing You and Your Family

A Blessed Easter & Joyous Passover. For the latest news visit qchron.com

Peter F. Vallone Vallone Jr. Borough President Peter forfor Borough President 22-45 31st Street, Street Astoria 22-45 31st Astoria, NY NY 11105 11105

PVJR-060903

C M SQ page 43 Y K

continued continued from from page page 39 00 These three students are heavily, if not exclusively, featured, allowing for a tight overarching story. Joelvy Nunez, who is from Queens, went on the journey as well. Houle and Moreano create a lighthearted, and optimistic piece, with a familiar storyline in the vein of “Mad Hot Ballroom” and other films that introduce inner-city youth to cultures they otherwise would never be exposed to. Nevertheless, the film is quite satisfying. Of course, there were kinks. The loud colors highlighted in New York City weren’t as prominent in the India footage and portions of the audio could’ve been cleaned up a bit. But with a tight budget consisting mostly of Kickstarter campaign donations, the documentarians do well with that they have. One of the most beautiful moments involved a dance party of sorts where the teenagers and a few natives showed off their moves. The dance moves from both cultures were surprisingly similar and

showed the message clearer than any other scene in the 20-minute film. Moments like these, which demonstrate how similar teenagers can be regardless of nationality, gave the film some weight and would’ve proven useful if used more often. With time constraints taken into consideration, Houle and Moreano put together a solid documentary. Filming in India, especially in an isolated village filled mostly with Tibetan monks, can prove difficult when trying to put a film together. Houle even recalls finding a suitable electrical outlet to be a challenge. “There’s problems with power in the area so charging batteries was a problem,” Houle, who carried equipment and filmed all of the footage on her own, said. “The first night we were there, I plugged in a power strip and after a few minutes it sparked and we had a miniature electrical fire. There were certain small dangers like that that would happen from time to time.” Danger or not, Houle said the Buddist community was kind and

accepting and didn’t take notice of the camera she toted around everyday. Houle filmed much of the piece on a small Canon camera that sits comfortably in one hand. “Using a small camera helped in putting everyone at ease,” Houle said of her camera choice. “You know, nowadays, kids are using cameras all of the time. They’re always taking images and videos of themselves so standing in front of a camera is kind of natural for them all.” Global LAB, based in Sunnyside, was founded in 2006 by John Eastman and Brad Choyt. Students are nominated by their school principals based on evidence of leadership and grades. As Global LAB requires selected students to implement a leadership project in their school after returning from India, the program is only open to high school sophomores and juniors. “Many private high schools in NYC and across the country are able

to fund and staff Global Citizenship Initiatives to make sure their students leave high school with strong global awareness and experience,” Eastman said. “Yet most of our public schools, and certainly those struggling with budget cuts and the many other challenges of inner-city life, cannot offer their students anything comparable. Eastman says that Global LAB hopes to balance that inequality. “I think there are two main points we wanted to hit when we made this film,” Houle said. “Most obviously, it’s showing the positive effects of traveling with teenagers who don’t usually get to travel. Giving disadvantaged kids the opportunity to do something that, more often, advantaged kids get to do.” The second point, Houle said, was to show students who typically come from lower-income families, be placed in a setting where the poverty level is lower than any city in the United States. “Most of the kids walked away thinking that they do in fact have a

Joelvy Nunez, a Queens resident, in a still from the documentary “Across All Borders.” PHOTO COURTESY KEIR MOEREANO

lot compared to other countries,” Houle said. “Now they sort of appreciate what it is they do have.” That juxtaposition was most prevalent when one student speaks about a small Indian boy who lived in the home of her host family. He was purchased as a servant to clean, cook and serve the family. Eastman said many of the students who participate in the program follow similar paths. The film will premiere online on April 2 and a private screening will be held at Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. It will also be available on YouTube. More information is available at acrossallbordersfilm.com. Q

Page 43 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

boro Students travel to India in new documentary

For 2nd Consecutive Year Kawaii Sushi of Howard Beach Wins Asian Food Top 100 Restaurants Award

KAWS-060852

ated. Restaurant candidates are judged for their level of compliance with the health department. • Value: Restaurants are recognized for outstanding offerings under optimum costs. During the 9th Annual Top 100 Asian Restaurants in the USA Awards ceremony recently held at the Asian Restaurant Foundation Center in Newark, California, this past February, 2013, Kawaii Sushi Inc. received recognition as one of the Top 100 Asian Restaurants in USA. Kawaii Sushi Inc. offers the highest quality and consistently prepared Japanese cuisine. Making sure to integrate traditional recipes with new trends, – Advertisement –

the restaurant offers menu items that are prepared in a healthy manner using only the finest and freshest ingredients. Each dish is a perfect blend of vivid flavors and vibrant textures, which satisfies every taste bud. Each delectable dish is reasonably priced and tastefully presented by our extraordinary kitchen staff. Meals are served promptly by our friendly and courteous wait staff. Kawii Sushi is located at Lindenwood Shopping Center 82-19 153rd Avenue, Howard Beach, NY 11414. The telephone number is 718-848- (right to left) 6888. They accept all major Congresswoman Judy Chu, Owner Bill Ng, his wife and credit cards. famous chef Martin Yan

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A panel of carefully selected food critics, journalists, Chinese Restaurant News editors, and other industry experts evaluated the restaurant’s merits as a whole. The criteria they voted on were: • Food: The critical factors are consistency, quality, taste and variety. • Décor and atmosphere: Based on restaurant type: family-style, upscale, buffet, take-out, special theme, and chains. • Service: Customer satisfaction, friendliness, and efficiency are some important factors. • Cleanliness and presentation: The dining room, kitchen, and restrooms are evalu-

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 44

C M SQ page 44 Y K

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boro SENIOR ACTIVITIES The Peter Cardella Senior Citizen Center, 68-52 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, hosts dancing to live music, bingo, blood pressure screening, chair yoga, monthly theme parties, oil painting, movies and much more. Lunch served daily at noon. Requested donation is $1.50. Meals on wheels is delivered for homebound seniors. Call (718) 497-2908. The Selfhelp Latimer Gardens Senior Center, 34-30 137 St., Flushing, offers ballroom dancing, Mondays, Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. to noon; tai chi, Tuesdays at 10 a.m. to noon; English as a second language, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. to noon; Ping Pong, exercise and mahjong, Mondays though Fridays. (718) 961-3660. The Innovative SNAP of Eastern Queens Senior Center, 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Queens Village, offers a wide array of programs and services including: healthy lunches, current events, diabetes selfmanagement classes, yoga and the Reminiscence Groups. Receive information on benefits and entitlements or share your life story in a safe, private setting. For more information on classes and transportation call Kathleen at (718) 454-2100 or visit snapqueens.org. The Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26 Ave., Bayside, hosts: In the News, Mondays at 10 a.m.; Qi Gong, Mondays at 10:45 a.m.; Wii time, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:45 p.m.; Music with Dee, Mondays at 1 p.m.; dance aerobics, Tuesdays at 9 a.m.; health education, Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; aerobics, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.; ballroom dancing, Tuesdays at 12:45 p.m.; drawing/painting, Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.; yoga, Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.; bingo, Wednesdays at 12:45 p.m.; jewelry making, Wednesdays at 1 p.m.; tai chi, Wednesdays at 2 p.m.; stay well exercises, Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.; reminiscing group, Thursdays at 10:45 a.m.; Scrabble, Thursdays at 12:45 p.m.; dance fitness, Fridays at 10:45 a.m.; â&#x20AC;&#x153;You Be the Judge,â&#x20AC;? Fridays at 10:45 a.m.; and AARP chorus, Fridays at 1 p.m. Easy Choice Health plan speaker on Thursday, March 28 at 10:15 a.m. Call (718) 224-7888 for further information. A leisure group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, Prince Room, 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing. Cost is $6 for lunch. The program includes yoga instruction, discussion groups, card games, bingo, birthday celebrations, guest speakers and holiday celebrations. For info., call Dr. Roz Gold at (718) 229-7511. The Ridgewood Older Adult Center, 59-14 70 Ave., has a food pantry Tuesdays-Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. The MetroCard van is at the Center on the fourth Thursday of every month. Movies are held every Monday or Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. Art classes are held every Monday at 12:30 p.m. Call Karen at (718) 4562000 for more information. The Rockaway Boulevard Senior Center, 123-10 143 St., South Ozone Park, offers service programs Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Lunch is at noon with a suggested donation of $1.50. Exercise programs include: tai chi stretch, dance groups, choral group, ceramics, camera class, computer classes, trips, birthday parties and more. For more information, call (718) 657-6752.

An exercise class for seniors. meets Saturdays at 9 a.m. at the SNAP of Eastern Queens Senior Center, 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Bldg. 4 on the Creedmoor Community Campus, Queens Village. For more information call Kathleen at (718) 454-2100. The Brooks Senior Center, 143-22 109 Ave., Jamaica, hosts a healthy lunch from noon to 1 p.m., activities such as Wii sports, bowling, bingo, laptop classes, exercise, ceramics, cards and board games, blood pressure checks, trips, monthly nutrition presentations and monthly birthday celebrations and theme parties. Suggested contribution is $1.25. For more information call (718) 291-3935. The Pomonok Senior Center, 67-09 Kissena Blvd., is offering free Chinese language classes every Thursday at 1 p.m.; its very first Dear Abby Group every Thursday at 11 a.m.; free ESL classes for Chinese speakers, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-10:30 a.m.; and the Knitting and Crochet club every Thursday at 1 p.m. for beg inners and experts. For more information, please contact the Pomonok Senior Center at (718) 591-3377, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center (Benjamin Rosenthal-Prince Street Senior Center), 45-25 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, has a special Saturday program, open every other Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all seniors, especially South Asians, offering basic computer classes, basic English, health education, Indian movies, Indian yoga, games, Kinect bowling, tai chi, Yuan Ji dancing, breathing yoga, Ping-Pong, karaoke, field trips, case assistance and have a vegetarian Indian-style lunch. Call (718) 886-5777 for further information.

VOLUNTEERS The Louis Armstrong House, the longtime home of the great musician Louis Armstrong, is a national historic landmark located on 107 St. in Corona. It is open to the public as a historic house museum and needs volunteers to assist in the Welcome Center. For information, contact Deslyn Dyer at (718) 4788274 or on the web: satchmo.net. The Samuel Field YWHA, 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy., Little Neck, is seeking individuals who would like to volunteer their time to teach a class in the older adult services or computer department. Applicants should have some experience either teaching or working in their field of interest, but those with a specific hobby they would like to share are welcome to apply. To volunteer, call (718) 225-6750, ext. 233.

LISTING INFORMATION Items for the Community Calendar must be sent two weeks before the date of the event. Listings should be typed, from a nonprofit organization, either free or moderately priced, and be open to the public. Keep the information to one paragraph. Because of the large number of requests for the free calendar listings, we cannot include every event submitted. Send to: Queens Chronicle, Community Calendar, P.O. Box 74-7769, Rego Park, NY 11374, fax to (718) 205-0150.

C M SQ page 45 Y K Page 45 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

boro

King Crossword Puzzle ACROSS

Entertainment For Kids Including The Easter Bunny, a Magician and D.J.

Easter Dinner Sunday, March 31st, 2013 From 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm INCLUDES:

11-ITEM COCKTAIL HOUR APPETIZER - PASTA ENTRÉE: CHOICE OF • Steak • Breast of Chicken Francaise • Veal Marsala • Shrimp Scampi • Filet of Sole • Eggplant Towers

1 Gunshot sound 2 State with certainty 3 Information 4 Clique 5 Lawyers’ org. 6 Zero 7 Sans escort 8 Owl, at times 9 Past 10 “- Doubtfire” 11 Catch a glimpse of 17 Jazz style

Drum jam fundraiser continued from page 00 41

real, professional set. “We’d like to start purchasing so that we don’t have to rely on borrowed instruments,” she said. “And sometimes we are able to recycle other materials into things like small percussion instruments, so we

19 A Bobbsey twin 22 Dire prophecy 23 Titanic VIP 25 Start over 26 Red and Black 27 Lip 28 Diagonal 29 Press on 30 Harvest 31 Coastal flier 35 Highbrow 38 Hooligan 40 Bear, in Barcelona

42 Piercing tool 45 Biblical boatwright 47 Finish a film shoot 48 Clinton’s 1996 opponent 49 Shrill bark 50 Media watchdog org. 51 Reaction to fireworks 52 Eggs in a lab 53 Raw rock 54 Round Table address

Answers below

would like to be able to buy things like craft supplies.” The fundraiser will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the basement of St. Patrick Church, located at 39-28 29 St. in Long Island City. Parking is limited to the back of the church, but St. Patrick is accessible by the E and R trains to Queens Plaza and the N to Queensboro Plaza. Further information on Jamaica Drum Jam, its workshops and instructors, as well as the April 27 fundraiser, are available on the organization’s website, Q jamaicadrumjam.org.

Jim Vasquez with students drumming on plastic buckets at the start of his “Find the COURTESY PHOTO Funk” class.

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◆ ◆ EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! ◆ Shop the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District ◆ (Myrtle Avenue & adjacent side streets from Wyckoff Avenue to Fresh Pond Road) ◆ — FIND SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT OUR — ◆ ◆ ◆ Thursday, March 28th thru Sunday, March 31st ◆ ★ MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 2013! ★ ◆ Visit Our ◆ SPRING STREET FESTIVAL ◆ Sunday, April 14th – 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Myrtle Avenue from Forest to Wyckoff Avenues) ◆ Entertainment, Food, Games, Rides & More! ◆ Myrtle Avenue Sidewalk Sale Days 2013 • Summer Sale - August 1-4 ◆ • Spring Sale - April 18-21 • Mother’s Day Sale - May 9-12 • Labor Day Sale - Aug. 30-Sept. 2 ◆ • *Memorial Day Sale - May 24-27 • Columbus Day Sale - Oct. 11-14 ◆ • Father’s Day Sale - June 13-16 • Fall Sale - Nov. 27-Dec. 1 • 4th of July Sale July 3-7 • *Holiday Sale - December 6-24 ◆ *These two sale events are not sidewalk sales. ◆ Ridgewood Youth Farm Market ◆ Farm stand run by local teens featuring fresh, local produce, flowers & potted plants Program of GrowNYC ◆ At Ridgewood Memorial Triangle, Myrtle & Cypress Avenues EVERY SATURDAY FROM JULY TO NOVEMBER ◆ FALL STREET FESTIVAL ◆ Sunday, September 15th – 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Like Us On ◆ Facebook (Myrtle Avenue from Fresh Pond Road to Madison Street) Entertainment, Food, Games, Rides & More! ◆ Visit the Ridgewood website: www.ridgewood-ny.com ◆ Myrtle Avenue BID Store Directory • About the BID • BID News • Calendar For more information, call the Myrtle Avenue BID at 718-381-7974 ◆

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Crossword Answers

Wine on the table, Beer & Soda

DOWN

1 Foul 4 Supporters 8 Easter entrees 12 Actress Gardner 13 Somewhat 14 Shrek, e.g. 15 Trawler need 16 Jail 18 18th president 20 Obtained 21 Verdi opera 24 Intrinsically 28 Arab’s hooded cloak 32 Clarinet insert 33 Anger 34 - Dame 36 Mr. Hammarskjöld 37 Culture medium 39 Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is one 41 Old photograph hue 43 Rules, for short 44 Have 46 Cowboy’s greeting 50 1984 movie remade in 2011 55 Fish eggs 56 Inlet 57 Met melody 58 The whole enchilada 59 Burn some 60 Drove 61 Energy

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 46

C M SQ page 46 Y K

A new level of style and comfort Transit retiree gives his home a makeover, thanks to Housing Rehabilitation Assistance HRA-approved contractors are done to the homeowner’s satisfaction.” Soto cer tainly is. “I’m quite pleased with the work and would definitely recommend them to anybody interested in spending a little money to fix up their house,” he said. Soto’s home, built in 1920 in a hilly section of the Bronx, provides a perfect example of how utilizing HRA can help the homeowner. Though solid overall, it had a roof that leaked for years, a drafty foyer, some bad floor joists and a small kitchen that needed a modern makeover. It wasn’t that Soto wanted to upgrade the home he’s lived in for 27 years just for himself. With his daughter and his grandchildren having moved out for a place in the suburbs a few years ago, he’s decided it’s getting near time to sell. So he needed more curb appeal and a more inviting interior, one where the kitchen and foyer matched the quality of other rooms he remodeled himself over the years. He will miss his home, but Soto has been retired for nearly 23 years and says it’s time to move to an apartment where someone else can take care of the maintenance. “I’m fixing it up for the next owner,” he said. “It’s cozy and I love it, and if it wasn’t for the snow and the grass and everything else, I’d stay here. But I don’t need a house. It’s just me; the kids are gone, and it’s time to move on.” Until he does sell, Soto’s enjoying a new level of comfort and style provided by those HRAapproved workers he’s so glad to be employing. The first thing they did was replace the roof, taking care of the leaks. On the inside, the kitchen was the first part of the project to

be finished. Formerly a bit drab, it now features new granite countertops and complementary floor tiles in soft, eye-pleasing earthtones, rich real-wood cabinets, a ceramic brick backsplash and wall treatment, a gleaming stainless steel stove, new lighting, energy-efficient windows and a new door. “I love these cabinets; they still smell like wood,” Soto said as he made himself dinner one recent night. “These are not the cabinets you buy in your local Home Depot. And the ceramic brick is beautiful; it’s a beautiful selection.” It’s not just the parts you see that have been upgraded, though. The HRA-approved crew removed and replaced all the walls, the floor, the joists below it and the ceiling. Because the home had settled over the years, when they replaced the rafters they also had to raise the floor. To make up for the difference, they then lifted the ceiling a little, allowing those new wood cabinets to fit as well as they do. Since the kitchen juts out of the rear of the house, and none of the secondfloor rooms are above it, they were able to make the adjustments without causing any other issues. That’s how it is with the contractors HRA suppor ts — they respond to whatever unique needs a client has. The only thing Soto decided to change after the kitchen was done was the color of the door, so he was repainting that when he received a visitor recently. Soto just couldn’t resist getting in on the work somehow. “I love projects,” he said. In the foyer, which looks out over the hilly street, the crew removed the old ceiling, walls and front windows. They replaced any beams that had rotted because of the

Soto’s HRA-approved contractors replaced inefficient windows in the foyer with a beautiful new bay window, adding tremendously to his home’s curb appeal.

Soto enjoys his cozy new kitchen, but decided to repaint the door.

Tito Soto likes to see people working, especially in these difficult times. So when he decided it was time to do major renovations on his house — more than he could do himself, though he’s always working on some project or another — he was glad to hire the crew of construction workers that has been doing the job. “They’re hardworking guys, very hardworking guys,” said Soto, who learned something about hard work during his 32 years as an electrician for the MTA. “I’m happy to be putting people to work with the way the economy is. I told them every day, ‘I’m glad to see you guys working.’” Soto didn’t select the crew all on his own, however. The company was prescreened for him by the group that helped make the entire project — and the jobs it created — possible: Housing Rehabilitation Assistance. HRA is the organization that’s helping homeowners all over the city and on Long Island do the home renovations of their dreams, by not just screening for the best contractors but working with banks to get the loans for major projects, finding extra financial assistance for clients who qualify, explaining the tax breaks that come with energy-efficient door and window treatments and new insulation — and ensuring that the job is always done right by holding contractors’ payments in escrow until clients certify that they’re absolutely satisfied. “The services offered by the HRA extend beyond just financial assistance for home improvement projects,” an administrator with the program explains. “We have implemented numerous processes to ensure that projects completed by

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Rich wood cabinets, granite countertops and ceramic brick make Tito Soto’s kitchen more inviting than it’s ever been. leak and put in a beautiful new bay window that gives the home’s curb appeal a major boost. Since there’s nothing like a first impression, that window alone will have a big impact on prospective buyers. “It’s a tremendous, tremendous difference,” he said. “Without a doubt, just seeing it adds value to the house.” Like many HRA clients, Soto found out about the program through a card that came in the mail. Deciding it was worth checking out, he called and met with HRA representatives, who explained how the program works. “T hey were ver y amiable,”

he said. “They make you feel comfortable, because it is a big investment.” He received financial assistance for the window treatments and help with getting the loan that covered most of the project, and has remained in touch with his HRA representative as the work continues. “I would recommend them to anybody,” Soto said. To find out if you qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program, just call HRA toll-free at 866-791-6302. Tell them you read about the great job they’re doing for Tito Soto, and they’ll be sure to give you the same level of excellent service.

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Commercial & Residential

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 48

SQ page 48

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(Treads, Stringers or Risers)

Crown Moulding, Cabinets & Doors

347-233-3730

FREE ESTIMATES 33 LICENSED & INSURED

FREE ESTIMATES

718-894-0659

Lic. #1270074

J&B HOME IMPROVEMENTS Celebrating Our 30 th Anniversary

• Window

• Roofing

• Siding

• Doors

• Painting

• Masonry

EXPERT WINDOW REPAIRS WINDOWS

COMPLETELY INSTALLED $ 00

199

Only

Capping Available

VINYL SIDING SALE! Call For s ate tim Es Special EE FR or Visit Our Showroom

22500

per 100 Sq. Ft.

ROOFING • SEAMLESS LEADERS & GUTTERS ALL MASONRY WORK • CEMENT • PAVERS • BRICK NYC Lic. # 0927491

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L.I. Lic. #H18D2240000

GARAGE DOORS Complete Framing Available • Garages Extended Center Post Removed • Openings Widened

Insulated Garage Doors

HUGE CLEARANCE SALE • Steel • Entrance Doors • Wood • Gate Operators • Raised Panels • Parking Systems

• Storm Doors • Security Doors • Maintenance Free Doors

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Authorized Distributors & Installers For:

BROKEN SPRINGS, DOORS, CABLES

$25.00 COUPON With Installation of Any New Garage Door

718-468-0408 866-989-4424

Expires 04/25/13.

PRO-VISION HOME IMPROVEMENT

Lic. #1412084 14

718-218-5347

WHISKEY PLUMBING SERVICE

– SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT –

UP TO $50 DISCOUNT

Broken or Missing Baluster/Spindles Weak or Broken Steps

• Kitchens & Bathrooms • Basements • Garage • Cement & Brickwork • Carpentry • Windows • Painting • Roofing • Plumbing • Electric • Tiling • Hardwood Floors • Decks • Fencing & More

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• Kitchens & Bathrooms

No Job Too Big or Too Small 17 Free Estimates 718-600-5186 Licensed & Insured

SERVICES

Lic./Ins.

Same Day Service

Brickwork • Pavers • Concrete • Waterproofing Sidewalk Violations Removed Anthony Interior • Exterior

VICKAR FLOOR SERVICE 14

Old Furniture, Household Items, Appliances, Yard Waste, Construction Debris And More.

Licensed & Insured

We Remove

• Window & Door Replacement

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SPRING SPECIALS ON WINDOWS SPRING SPECIAL Gutters - Leaders Siding

HEATING & HOME

NEW HEIGHTS CONSTRUCTION LLC • • • •

718-968-5987

718-502-4437

718-558-0333 917-731-7636

We Remove Your Junk, So You Don’t Have To!

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PARTS • REPAIRS • REMOTE CONTROLS FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE

CASSEL & & FREYMUTH, FREYMUTH, INC. INC. CASSEL Serving Queens For Over 50 Years

718-739-8006

Fully Licensed & Insured

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

SQ page 49 Page 49 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

CLEANCO

CLEANOUT

To Place A Service Ad Call 718-205-8000

SERVICE We Will Remove All Your Unwanted Furniture Junk Removal • From One Piece To A Truck Load From Home or Office Attic • Garage • Basement, Etc. No Job Too Big or Small Fast, Honest, Reliable Service

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Thunder Tree Experts

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Dan’s Upholstery Too!

Cell

OFF*

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*Reg. price quoted Lic. # 0859173

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• Gutters Cleaned & Installed • Leaders • Skylights • Specialists in Flat Roofs & Shingles • Roofing Repairs • Rubberoid Roofs

Driveways Stoops/Patios Retaining Walls Cleanouts

Call Leon 718-296-6525 22

All Work Guaranteed • Se Habla Español

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718-205-8000 qchron.com

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VIOLATIONS REMOVED ROADSTONE CONTRACTING 14

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◆ Conversions, Renovations, Remodeling, Additions & Extensions ◆ Residential & Commercial Design ◆ Space Planning ◆ Construction Management ◆ Engineering Reports ◆ Insurance Estimates ◆ Zoning Analysis ◆ Home Inspections for Refinancing & Pre-Purchase ◆ Windstorm Applications

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Double Box Ad 15/8” x 37/8”

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9 EDITIONS SERVICES

Single Box Ad 15/8” x 15/8”

718-938-2127 Lic. #1258952

If requested, tearsheet mailed $5.00 ea. Copy of newspaper mailed $7.00 ea. Enclose payment & instructions

Write your ad copy on a separate piece of paper. Maximum of 25 words per box. NO changes during the 5 weeks. Send order form, completely filled out with a check for the appropriate amount or you can place your ad by phone on Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover

QUEENS CHRONICLE

Mail to: P.O. Box 74-7769, Rego Park, NY 11374-7769 Or Call: Name

(718) 205-8000

_____________________________________

Address ________________________________________________ __________________________Phone ________________________ Signature

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Deadline: Friday, 3 p.m. • Payment Must Accompany Order Call for prices and discounts for larger ads & longer advertising periods $25 CHARGE FOR RETURNED CHECKS

For the latest news visit qchron.com

OMNI TREE SERVICE

THE QUEENS CHRONICLE

718-326-7500

R. REID ARCHITECT, P.C.

Specializing in: Brick & Block (patio) Sidewalk, Driveways, Stoops, Interlock Brick Paving, Brick Pointing, Carpentry, Roofing and Waterproofing Lic. #1229326 Licensed & Insured

LOW PRICES • FREE ESTIMATES 24 Hours A Day • 7 Days A Week

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• • • •

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Sidewalks Blacktop Waterproofing Basements

Licensed & Insured Free Estimates

Call or email us for your flat rate quote 13

• • • •

• Renovations • Free Estimates • Senior Citizen Discounts • Residential & Commercial • Financing Available

Lic. #0889386 14

CONCRETE EXPERTS

Call 917-577-2598

347-418-7309 347-531-3609

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- Low Cost Boiler Repairs - Same Day Boiler Removal and Professional Installation at a Discounted Cost

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• TREE REMOVAL • FULL SERVICE LANDSCAPING • SIDEWALK REPAIR • SNOW REMOVAL/CLEANUP – Masonry Work Also Available –

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American Dream Builders Corp. • All Phases of Construction • Over 25 Years Experience • New Construction, Renovations/Additions • Finished Basements, Roofs, Siding, Tiling, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Etc. • Residential & Commercial • Projects Successfully Completed Within All Budgets • Projects Completed Without Delays

D/B/A Martin’s G.C.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 50

SQ page 50

Chronicle CLASSIFIEDS To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Help Wanted

IMMEDIATE WORK AVAILABLE BRONX / QUEENS CERTIFIED Bilingual English/Spanish H.H.A'S

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UPON HIRE

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Bronx 718-741-9535

Queens 718-429-6565

Nassau 516-681-2300

Suffolk 631-654-0789

F/T CARPENTER WANTED With at least 10 years experience. Must have own vehicle. Please fax resume to

718-641-1955 or call after 6pm

718-641-4164 Deli/Counter Person. P/T after school weekdays & weekends. Apply to Brothers, 161-10 Crossbay Blvd, Howard Beach. Call 718-835-7508

Kaplan is looking for host families in Queens who are interested in housing our international students from all over the world. Bring the world to your home and supplement your income with a competitive stipend! Please Contact Felicitas Reinhold if interested at 646-285-0300 Ext. 36 or email to nychomestay@kaplan.com

ELECTRICIANS

Queens Electrical Contractor looking for mechanics/helpers for immediate start. Must have basic knowledge of electrical systems. Salary based on experience. Fax or Email resumes to:

718-323-3753 ctecelectric@ctecelectric.com

$8,000 6,000 - $7,000

COMPENSATION Women 21-31 Egg Donors Needed. 100% conﬁdential Help turn couples into families with physicians onThe Best Doctor's List. 1-877-9-DONATE 1-877-936-6283 www.longislandivf.com

Best Pay Package in the Industry! Start at $20.62* Bus, $18.00* Van Equal Opportunity Employer FREE CDL Training 5 to 7 Hrs. per day Guaranteed Full Benefit Package

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c0371

WWW.CALLAHEAD.COM For the latest news visit qchron.com

607511

CALL FOR APPOIINTMENT

Immediate hire, will train. Duties include: answer phones, filing, order taking, etc. $35,000$65,000 starting pay. Medical, Dental, 401(K), 2 weeks vacation. Apply in person: 304 Cross Bay Blvd., Queens bet. 9am & 7pm, Mon-Fri. Visit your new company at:

HOST INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

SCHOOL BUS/VAN Merchandise For Sale DRIVERS SAWMILLS from only $3997.00-

EOE FAMILY AIDES INC.

SECRETARY/ INSIDE SALES

Help Wanted

MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N

Merchandise Wanted PLEASE CALL US! We’ve been in business at same location for 30 years.

HOME HEALTH AIDES: Immediate Work! Free Training-Nassau/Suffolk Only. Sign-on Bonus, Paid Vacation,Paid In-Service, Direct Deposit, FAMILY AIDES, INC. Nassau 516-681-2300,Suffolk 631654-0789, Bronx 718-741-9535, Queens 718-429-6565

WE BUY ANTIQUES, GOLD, SILVER, OLD FURNITURE, PAINTINGS, OLD TOYS, TRAINS & COSTUME JEWELRY.

Situation Wanted

105-18 Metropolitan Ave. Forest Hills, NY

Compassionate, loving, mature woman with over 20 yrs exp seeks job as a companion/aide to the elderly. Live in/out, Mon-Fri, excellent refs. Call Noreen 917-6401045 or 718-949-7398

Bus. Opportunities Riverside Hotel and Bowling Center For Sale- Located in the Olympic Region of the Adirondacks, 8-Lane Brunswick center, cosmic bowling and sound system, Qubica auto scoring & AMF SPC synthetic lanes installed 6 years ago, established leagues with 37 year annual tournament, turn key operation with many improvements - $300,000www.riversidebowlinglanes.com (800) 982-3747

Trackside Auto Tech needs person to clean facility & drop off and pick up cars. Must have driver’s license. Call Sal 718-322-1212, Ph.D. provides Outstanding 90-03 Liberty Ave, Ozone Park Tutoring in Math, English, Special Driver- Qualify for any portion of Exams. All levels. Study skills $.03/mile quarterly bonus: $.01 taught. 718-767-0233 Safety, $.01 Production, $.01 www.joetutor.com. Columbia, 2 MPG. Two raises in first year. 3 Masters. Math (3-9), test taking months recent experience. 800- (SAT, etc.), Lifecoach. Read many 414-9569 success stories. I can help your www.driveknight.com child. 646-387-0561

Tutoring

718-843-0628 CASH BUYER, 1970 and Before, Comic Books, Toys, Sports, entire collections wanted. I travel to you and Buy EVERYTHING YOU have! Call Brian TODAY: 1-800-617-3551 CASH for Coins! Buying ALL Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in NYC 1-800-959-3419

Cars Wanted

NORTHSIDE AUTO TOWING 1-888-712-5865 www.wantedjunkcars.com

AUTO REPAIR • AUTO COLLISION FLOOD DAMAGE EXPERTS TOWING/JUNK CAR REMOVAL AVAILABLE 24/7 We’re a local company and want to help you while you deal with more urgent matters. May you and your loved ones be Blessed during this time of disaster. We deal with your insurance company directly and store your vehicle in a safe location.

Junk Cars Wanted

DONATE YOUR CAR

1-877-591-3075 Free Towing - Tax Deductible Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually

Merchandise For Sale Merchandise For Sale

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LOOKING TO BUY Estates, gold, costume jewelry, old & mod furn, records, silver, coins, art, toys, oriental items. Call George, 718-386-1104 PLEASE CALL LORI, 718-3244330. I PAY THE BEST, MOST HONEST PRICES FOR ESTATES, FURNITURE, CHANDELIERS, LAMPS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT WORKING), FURS, COINS, POCKETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES, GLASSWARE, STERLING SILVERWARE, FIGURINES, CANDLESTICKS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS, RUGS, PIANOS, GUITARS, VIOLINS, FLUTES, TAG SALES, CLEANOUTS, CARS

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To redeem this special offer, go to

PersonalCreations.com/Grace or call 1.888.706.8071 *Take 20% off minimum product purchase of $19.00. Discounts: (i) apply to the regular price of the products, (ii) will appear upon checkout, (iii) cannot be combined with other offers or discounts, (iv) do not apply to clearance items, and (v) do not apply to shipping, care and handling, or taxes. Prices valid while supplies last. Offer expires 3/29/2013.

SQ page 51

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Merchandise For Sale Merchandise For Sale

*20% off discount will appear upon checkout. Minimum purchase of $29.00. Does not apply to gift cards or certiﬁcates, sameday or international delivery, shipping and handling, taxes, or third-party hosted products (e.g. wine) and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Discounts not valid on bulk or corporate purchases of 10 units or more. Offer expires: 11/15/13.

Flea Market

OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET VENDORS BROWSERS, BUYERS WANTED SAT. 4/27, 10AM-4PM (Rain Date, Sun. 4/28, same hours)

At the historic Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Ave. Corner of Onderdonk Ave., Ridgewood 11385. Large 12x12’ canopy spaces $25, 8x10’ table spaces $20, reduced rates for not-for-profit organizations. Early vendor registration/payment encouraged. Food and drinks will be available on site. For more info, call 718-456-1776, or visit the Onderdonk House on Saturdays, Mondays, or Wednesdays, 11am-3pm, for vendor registration and payment.

Financial Services

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PLACING AN AD IS EASY, JUST... CALL US

MAIL US

Call 1-718-205-8000 Deadline to place, correct or cancel ads: Tuesday noon, before Thursday publication Fax 1-718-205-1957

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Queens Chronicle 62-33 Woodhaven Boulevard Rego Park, NY 11374

around

per week

*with $99 cust omer installa purchase of alar tion m monitoring charge and services.

Call Today, Protect Tomorrow!

1-888-708-1540

Mon-Fri 8am - 11pm • Sat 9am - 8pm • Sun 10am - 6pm EST

Services

Furniture Repairs

Responsible, honest, reliable cleaning lady. I will clean your apt or house. I have exp. Call anytime, 718-460-6779

Cellini Chair Doctor. Refinishing, Reupholstery, Caning, Drapery, Chairs, Tables, Bedrooms, Diningrooms, Custom Upholstered Headboards, Valences, Cornices & more. Over 50 years experience. FREE ESTIMATES call 347-627AIRLINES ARE HIRING -Train for 5273. hands on Aviation Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS Maintenance 866-296-7093 $895.00. Expd Attorney. Free ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Buy/Sell Guide. ESTATES/CRIMIhome. *Medical, *Business, NAL MATTERS Richard H. Lovell, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality, P.C., 10748 Cross Bay, Ozone Job placement assistance. Park, NY 11417 718 835-9300. Computer available. Financial Aid LovellLawnewyork@gmail.com if qualified. SCHEV Authorized. Call 888-201-8657 www.CenturaOnline.com TRACTOR TRAILER TRAINING - Notice of Formation of limited Financial aid, Pell Grants, POST-911 liability company. Name: Law GI Bill and housing, if qualified! Office of Leonidas Fampritsis, National Tractor Trailer School, PLLC. Articles of Organization Liverpool, NY CALL TODAY: 1-800- were filed with the Secretary 243-9300 www.ntts.edu Consumer of State of New York (SSNY) Information: www.ntts.edu/pro- on 02/05/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY grams/disclosures designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 35-01 30th Ave., Suite 404, NY 11103. The general By Certified Public purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Educational Services

Legal Service

Legal Notices

Tax Services

INCOME TAX Accountants

Notice of Formation of Teddy Bear Breads LLC. Arts. of Org. filed Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/3/13. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Dadia Valles Vendiola LLP SSNY shall mail process The LLC, 249-31 64th Health/Fitness Services to: Ave., Little Neck, NY 11362. BUY REAL VIAGRA, Cialis, Levitra, Purpose: any lawful activity. Providing Excellent Tax and Accounting Services Since 1986. Office next to R or M Train Woodhaven Station. for quick refunds. Get smart, let us help you. Tel: 718-275-1422 Fax: 718-275-6762

Staxyn, Propecia & more... FDAApproved, U.S.A. Pharmacies. Next day delivery avaiable. Order online or by phone at viamedic.com, 800-467-0295

Having a garage sale? Let everyone know about it by advertising in the Queens Classifieds. Call 718-205-8000 and place the ad!

Notice of Formation of 9505 41ST AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/11/13. Office loc: Queens. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 147-27 21st Ave., Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful activity.

BORPIT REALTY TWO, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/21/12. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC C/O Petr Paskhover 64-33 99th St., Apt. 4M, Rego Park, NY 11374. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

LEGAL NOTICE AMBROSINO EQUITIES LLC Notice of formation of a domestic Limited Liability Company (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Sec. of State of NY (“SSNY”) on 2/22/13. Office location: Queens Co. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY may mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 57-52 49th Place, Maspeth, New York 11378. The LLC does not have a specific date of dissolution. Purpose: all purposes permitted by the LLC.

Notice of Formation of Forum 343 East 74, LLC, Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 1/25/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 144-21 Jewel Ave., Flushing, NY 11367. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of Dos Estrellas LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/1/13. Office location: Queens. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Waleed Zaiter, 22-06 38th St., #1A, Astoria, NY 11105. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: MATTEIRU LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/24/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Kevin Cheng, 10740 Queens Boulevard, Apartment 11A, Forest Hills, NY 11375. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 163-165 BEACH 96TH STREET, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/13/13. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 24-30 85th St., Jackson Heights, NY 11370. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Steven Danza, 884-04 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11370. As amended by Cert. of Change filed with SSNY on 02/22/13, the process addr. is: 84-04 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11370. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: TRI-US PEST CONTROL SERVICES LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/24/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 6713 60th Ln., Ridgewood, NY 11385. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

TKF 168 REALTY LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/28/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 153-19 78th Ave., Flushing, NY 11367. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: CPRP LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/05/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 2410 98th Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11369. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Call toll-free: 1-800-264-1353

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Miscellaneous

Page 51 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

LEGAL NOTICES

Chronicle CLASSIFIEDS

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 52

SQ page 52

Chronicle

LEGAL NOTICES

REAL ESTATE

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Notice of Formation of GRC REALTY ASSOCIATES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/07/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 73-01 Grand Ave., Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Name of LLC: AccTrove LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 2/22/13. Office loc.: Queens Co. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Business Filings Inc., 187 Wolf Rd., Ste. 101, Albany, NY 12205, regd. agt. upon whom process may be served. Purpose: any lawful act.

SIDETRACKS NYC LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/6/12. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC, 560 State Street , Apt. 4C, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: PARTRIDGE EQUITY GROUP LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/06/13. The latest date of dissolution is 12/31/2099. 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 LLC, 23-08 Newtown Avenue, Astoria, New York 11102. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: J. DANIEL CLUB LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/31/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 41-08 12 ST., APT. 1E, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101-6303. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

ERIC HELMS LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 3/1/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 5-20 47th Rd., Long Island City, NY 11101. General Purposes.

AIDEA DESIGNS, LLC, a foreign LLC, filed with the SSNY on 1/23/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 2000 Broadway, Unit PH1C, NY, NY 10023. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: Dutch Kills Studio LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/08/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 41-16A 47th St., Sunnyside, NY 11104. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

560 Seneca Ave Qiu’s Realty LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/15/13. Office in Queens County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Ji Min Qiu, 560 Seneca Ave., Ridgewood, NY 11385. Purpose: General.

7237 67 STREET LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/19/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Peter Mohan, 7018 67 Pl., Glendale, NY 11385. General Purposes.

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Real Estate EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 212306-7500. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Apts. For Rent Howard Beach, 3 1/2 rooms, 1 BR, terr, laundry room on-premises, mint cond. Asking $1,150/mo. H o w a r d B e a c h R e a l t y, 7 1 8 641-6800 Howard Beach, exclusive agent for studios & 1 BR apts, absentee L/L. Call Joe Trotta, Broker, 718843-3333 Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 2 BR plus office, bright & sunny w/2 full baths, new windows, separate ent, $1,600/mo, incl heat. Call 917723-0158 Howard Beach/Lindenwood 2 BR duplex in excel cond, new carpet, no smoking/pets, credit check & ref req, $1,550/mo. 718-835-0306 Jamaica, 2 BR cozy apt, gas & hot water incl, $1,300/mo. 718840-8036 Ozone Park, 1 BR, 1 fl, heat/hot water incl. $1,200/mo. Near shopping/transit. 917-945-2430

Furn. Rm. For Rent Howard Beach/Astoria, lg nicely furn rm, close to shops, restaurants, parks. Utils/premium cable, Internet incl, $650/mo. 718-7044639

Co-ops For Sale Whitestone Gardens, 2 BR, 1 bath, close to golf course, asking $185K. Howard Beach/Lindenwood, 1 BR, $99K. Connexion I RE, 718-845-1136

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Houses For Sale Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, move-in cond, hi-ranch, 4 BRs, 3 full baths, maple wood kit cabinets, granite countertops, HW fls throughout, new windows, half inground pool w/ deck, call for info. Asking $649K. Connexion I RE, 718-845-1136 Sebastian, Florida Affordable custom factory constructed homes $45,900+, Friendly community, No Real Estate or State Income Taxes, minutes to Atlantic Ocean. 772581-0080, www.beach-cove.com. Limited seasonal rentals

Legal Service NOTICE OF ACTION BEFORE THE BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY IN RE: The license to practice massage therapy of Jingnan Zhang, L.M.T., 41-14B Main Street, Suite A-5, Flushing, New York 11355. CASE NO.: 2012-14048 LICENSE NO.: MA 61846 The Department of Health has filed an Administrative Complaint against you, a copy of which may be obtained by contacting Alicia E. Adams, Assistant General Counsel, Prosecution Services Unit, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C65, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265, (850) 245-4444. If no contact has been made by you concerning the above by May 6, 2013, the matter of the Administrative Complaint will be presented at an ensuing meeting of the Board of Massage Therapy in an informal proceeding. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the individual or agency sending this notice not later than seven days prior to the proceeding at the address given on the notice. Telephone:(850) 245-4444, 1-800-955-877(TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (V), via Florida Relay Service.

TREVI MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC. Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/30/12. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC, 85-34 66th Road, Rego Park, NY 11374. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-638-2102. Online Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noon reservations: www.holidayoc.com on Tuesday for Thursday’s paper.

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Page 53 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013 Page 54

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BEAT

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

SPORTS

O’Keefe’s ‘homestyle’ restaurant

A painful spring training by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Baseball fans are far more concerned with the health of the players on their favorite teams coming out of spring training than they are with their March win-loss records. Given that criterion, you can’t blame Yankees and Mets fans if they are not brimming with excitement about the start of the 2013 season this Monday. Comparisons of the 2013 Yankees with the infamous 1965 Bronx Bombers team, when nearly all of the big names — such as Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Elston Howard, Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek — seemingly all got old overnight together, started right after Derek Jeter broke his ankle during the 2012 playoffs. It picked up in intensity after Alex Rodriguez underwent hip surgery last fall. It now appears that A-Rod will not play until after the All-Star Game at the earliest. Then again, many think he may never play again. As much as Yankees fans like to vent their frustration at A-Rod, they’ll miss his bat in light of the absence of both Curtis Granderson (a broken hand) and Mark Texeira (a torn wrist tendon). Fans had better hope that the newly acquired Kevin Youkilis and Travis Hafner can find the Fountain of Youth, or at least the short right and left field porches at Yankee Stadium with regularity. Mets fans are used to their heroes being on

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

In 1934, after the sale of alcohol became legal again, Arthur J. O’Keefe, a widower, decided to turn his home at 59-28 Little Neck Parkway into an inn. At that time the only businesses for blocks around were Joe’s Riding Academy, located at 54-47 and Alfred Allen’s Greenhouse at 54-40 Little Neck Parkway. O’Keefe was lucky that the zoning where he lived allowed him to The Arthur J. O’Keefe Restaurant at 59-28 Little Neck go commercial. Years later, to add Parkway in Little Neck, October 1949. a touch of class, he changed the name from O’Keefe’s Inn to the Arthur J. him upstairs as lodgers. When he turned 65, O’Keefe sold the O’Keefe Restaurant. He adorned the eatery with photographs of his favorite movie stars business and it became La Vie En Rose, a and other entertainers, such as Kate Smith, French restaurant, for the next 31 years. In Judy Garland, Joan Davis and Bing Crosby, the 1980s the owner, a Mr. Monte, sold it, to name a few. It’s unknown if any of them and it became Attilio’s Restaurant. Today the ever came to the restaurant, but their photos quaint house houses CAPE, the Community Advisory Program for the Elderly, a service added a mystique. Being a widower, O’Keefe had Cyril of the Samuel Field Y affiliated with the Churella, the waiter, and John Braun, his Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Q chef, who was born in Hungary, live with according to the signs on the door.

the disabled list for long stretches. Johan Santana probably won’t be in Flushing until Mother’s Day at the earliest, by which time the Mets will probably be eliminated for all intents and purposes from the National League East race. Frank Francisco, the Mets nominal closer, has been plagued by tendinitis in his throwing arm this spring and just started pitching in Florida. He’ll probably stay there through April. As far as the Mets’ offense goes, a lot has been written about David Wright’s rib cage injury, but he should be ready to go on Monday. Surprisingly little has been written about one of the Mets’ best hitters, Daniel Murphy, who has missed all of spring training with a mysterious mid-section muscle injury. Under the best of circumstances, the Mets’ hitters do not intimidate opposing pitchers. Without Murphy’s bat, their lineup is absolutely anemic. Congratulations to Woodside’s Michael Rappaport and his three other colleagues from the New York University Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, for winning the Diamond Dollars Undergraduate Case Study Competition sponsored by the Society of American Baseball Research. The competition highlighted the growing field of baseball analytics, a form of statistics that became famous in the Q book, and later the film, “Moneyball.”

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Wishing Our Customers A Happy Passover & Joyous Easter

PHOTO COURTESY ROSEMARY CIULLA-FRISONE

HOWARD BEACH All Brick Colonial (New Construction 2009),4 BRs, 3½ Baths, LR with Fireplace, 9' Ceilings 1st and 2nd Flrs, Full Finished Basement, Pvt Dvwy, Det 1 Car Gar, Sprinklers, PVC Fencing, Pavers in yard, Wrough iron gates, Mint condition, All New! NE W

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HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK Move-in Condition, Hi-Ranch, 4 BRs, 3 Full Baths, Maple wood kit cabinets, Granite countertops, Hardwood floors thruout, New windows. Half inground pool, Deck. Call for info. Asking $649K

Page 55 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 28, 2013

Connexion I

ING !

Sons of Italy elects officers The Sons of Italy’s Fiorello LaGuardia Lodge #2867 held an election and installation for officers earlier this month at the Old Mill Yacht Club in Howard Beach. The current leadership team of Rosemary Ciulla-Frisone and Geoffrey Duldulao as president and vice president was re-elected and

HB y t l a e R

HOWARD BEACH

reinstalled. They were visited and congratulated by New York State Supreme Court judge Augustus Agate. Celebrating above are Duldulao, left, Justice Agate, Ciulla-Frisone and Joseph Rondanelli, vice president of the New York State Sons of Italy Grand Lodge.

Mint "Amazing" Corner Ranch on 40x100, 2 Car Detached Garage, 3 BRs, 2½ Baths, All HOWARD BEACH/ New Kitchen, Cherry Cabinets, ROCKWOOD PARK Granite Countertop, Stainless Steel Appl, Lg LR w/Fireplace, Empire Style Hi-Ranch, 5 BRs and Huge DR, All New Baths, Full Fin 3 Full Baths, Central Air, Pvt Dvwy & 1 Car Garage, 40x100 Lot, Bsmnt w/Wood Burning Stove. Great Block! Asking $655K Much More! Asking $549K

Hi-Ranch, Extra Large 5 BRs, 3 Full Baths, 27x55, On 40x109 Lot. Asking $699K

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HOWARD BEACH OZONE PARK

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Mint Hi-Ranch, All redone in 2004,

HOWARD BEACH/ circular driveway, 2 Car Garage, 3/4 BRs, All New Kitchen w/ 4 BRs, 3½ Baths, New Oak Flrs, Stainless Steel, Appl, All New Brick, ROCKWOOD PARK 2 Fireplaces, IGP, Built-in BBQ, Stucco Windows, Kitchen, Baths, Cape on 40x100, 4 BRs, 1 Bath, Pavers front & back, New Roof, Central Vac, CAC & Baseboard Full unfinished basement, New Gas Boiler, CAC, Polished Heating, Pavers, Front & Back, New Porcelin Tiles. Asking $699K Needs TLC. Asking $499K Roof, Freshly Painted. HOWARD BEACH/ LINDENWOOD CO-OPS

HOWARD BEACH ROCKWOOD PARK

• JR4 Hi-Rise Coops ................ Only $85K • XLG Updated 1 BR Hi-Rise .... Only $99K • Updated 1 BR Co-op.....................$109K HOWARD BEACH • Well maint. 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op ...$112K WOODHAVEN Mint Unique extended open Charming very spacious brick Victorian, • Hi-Rise 2 BRs/2 Updated Baths ...$150K floor plan home. 3 BRs, 3 Full Exquisite wood moldings and wood • Garden, Mint, 1st Fl, Updated kitchen & Baths, Lg EIK wood cabinets, bannister leading up to 3rd fl. 9 stained bath, 2 BRs, 1 Bath with FDR.......$169K glass windows, glass doorknobs, pocket 2 Skylights, All new doors, Lg • 2 BR, 1 Bath, S/S Appl, Mint ........$189K doors and French doors. 6 BRs, 3½ baths, family room leading to large

Hi-Ranch, 46x100 lot, 3/4 BRs, 1st fl gutt needs sheetrock, Gar, New boiler and Hot water heater.

OR EW F N O TO O! PHOT HOWARD BEACH

4 Rms, 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op, All redone, New Granite Kit, New Bath, New Appl. PARKING AVAILABLE! Asking $110K

Just Listed! Flood damaged, Hi Ranch 40x100 brick, 8 Rms, 3 BRs, 2 car garage, Needs TLC. Asking $450K

yard. Asking $499K

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Charming Tudor, 1 Fam SD on a large corner double lot. HOWARD BEACH/ 3 BRs, 2½ OLD SIDE Baths, Det 3 Car Garage, Updated Kit, Parquet Just what you are looking for! fls on 1st fl, Fin bsmnt. 40x100 Cape, 4 BRs, 1½ Baths, Just Reduced $499K Unfinished Basement. $449K

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OZONE PARK/CENTERVILLE CONDO • Park Village Condo, Mint 2 BRs, 2 Baths w/Terrace, Unit comes w/1 Parking Spot .............$269K

HOWARD BEACH/ COMMERCIAL SUBLET • Old Howard Beach - 800 sq ft office space, Totally renovated, Ground fl, Across the street from "A" Train. • New Howard Beach - 1400 sq ft office space, Ground floor. $2200/mo. FREE MARKET APPRAISAL! Call Today! 718-845-1136

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All new granite kit, New fls, New bath, skylight, lots of closets, 5 Rm, 2 BR, brick attached home with full fin bsmnt and gar, must see. Asking only $399K

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