Queens Chronicle South Edition 04-01-21 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. XLIV

NO. 13

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021

QCHRON.COM

SPRINGING FORTH PAGE 4

PHOTOS BY MAX PARROTT

A new class of business owners sets up shop on Jamaica Avenue

Yanette Ramales, top left, works at her family’s La Plazita Deli and Grocery, one of the new businesses to recently pop up on Jamaica Avenue. Other business owners include Jairo Ng of HDA Global II, top right, and Lexlisbette Rosario of Le’Camille, above left, here with co-worker Yanelis Rodriguez. Customer John Lopez, above right, gets a cut at newly opened AMPM Barbershop.

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Congestion pricing clears large hurdle Feds clear state for environmental assessment of Manhattan toll plan by Michael Gannon Editor

he Federal Highway Administration has ruled that the state must conduct an environmental assessment of its proposal for a congestion pricing traffic plan for Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. The state is seeking to set up tolls for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street or crossing below 60th from the north. Supporters say it will raise billions for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and reduce both traffic congestion and automobile pollution. The FHWA said in Tuesday’s announcement that the proposal calls for a once-per-day variable fee. Critics call it just another tax on businesses and drivers. FHWA officials had previously explained that New York must become part of the agency’s Value Pricing Pilot Program to be able to implement congestion pricing. Entering the program automatically triggers a review under the National Environmental Policy Act. “The FHWA looks forward to assisting New York so we can arrive at a prompt and informed NEPA determination on this important and precedent-setting project,” said acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “This approach will ensure that the public participates as local and state leaders

explore new possibilities for reducing detractors. congestion, improving air quality and Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh investing in transit to increase ridership.” Meadows), who has been opposed to conShe said an environmental assessment gestion pricing from the beginning, said generally requires less time to complete Tuesday’s announcement hasn’t changed than a more stringent environmental that. But he also said it is necessary to impact statement should no significant delay implementation even if there is ultiimpacts be identified. mate federal approval. Proponents believe it will reduce vehi“I understand it’s state law,” Weprin cle congestion in Manhattan while genertold the Chronicle Tuesday evening. “But ating $15 billion over four years for the I am going to do everything I can do to Metropolitan Transportation Authority fight and to delay implementation as long for needed improvements in the existing as possible because New York is still transit system. recovering from a pandemic, and it is If implemented, the proposal would going to be for at least a couple of years. I become the nation’s first cordon congesdon’t feel this is the time to be burdening tion pricing toll zone of its size. drivers of cars and small businesses with Numerous New York officials repeatfurther expenses. ... I don’t believe it’s the edly accused President Donald Trump’s time to tax businesses for driving into administration of dragging its feet on the Manhattan.” application process. Senate Majority While the Queens Chamber of ComLeader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was the Drivers shown here last summer soon may have to pay a merce has not historically taken a stand most vociferous. toll to cross the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge into Mid- for or against congestion pricing, chamMTA Chairman and Patrick Foye, on town Manhattan. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON ber President and CEO Tom Grech also the other hand, thanked President Biden told the Chronicle on Tuesday that the and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in and Central Business District Tolling will state should proceed cautiously for now. a prepared statement on Tuesday for pushing ensure that we have the funding needed to “We need to enter a period of wait and the study forward. Foye said a healthy MTA is move forward with our historic $51.5 billion see to see how the city comes back before an essential part of the city’s post-Covid-19 Capital Program to modernize the system so we add more costs and burdens to the drivcomeback. ers of the City of New York,” Grech said in that it works better for all of us,” Foye said. continued on page 6 “Mass transit is also the great equalizer, The plan, of course, is not without its

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New businesses begin to sprout on Jamaica Ave. Though Covid challenges remain, owners report renewed optimism by Max Parrott

since last summer trash has been piling up as a result of an uptick in Despite facing multifold chal- illegal dumping — a side effect of lenges during the pandemic, busi- sanitation cuts. But in spite of those health and nesses on Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue have not only proven their hygiene concerns, as the sun set on resilience, in some cases the corri- Woodhaven last Friday evening, dor has actually attracted a new groups of residents walked up the strip window-shopping or socializclass of entrepreneurs. The commercial strip, which ing. There was undeniably a sense runs in the shadow of a subway of spring revival in the air. “Something that I have noticed line, with limited street and sidewalk space, did not take to outdoor on Jamaica Avenue, I’ve seen more dining over the summer to the foot traffic. I’ve seen the businessdegree that those in other neigh- es more optimistic,” Olivares said. Yanette Ramales, a member of borhoods did. While the economic downturn ended up shuttering the family that runs La Plazita some storefronts, in a handful of Deli, a Mexican grocer and sandc a s e s , n ew bu si n e s s e s h ave wich shop that opened in March, already begun to pounce on the said that the idea to start a business boiled down to “opportunity.” spaces and make a fresh start. Ramales’ uncle, who works in “We have seen a lot of small new shops coming to the avenue, the food industry, noticed the and I’m really surprised about vacant space around Jamaica and that. For me, it was like, really, we 96th Street and enlisted his family have new shops coming to the ave- members to work in the kitchen nue?” Raquel Olivares, the execu- and man the register. “Opening up a business wasn’t tive director of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, something that we had in mind,” she said. “But it was mostly my told the Chronicle. But despite the good news, Oli- uncle’s idea. He wanted to own a business. He’s a vares was candid chef. So he just about the strip’s said, ‘Why not?’” Covid challenges. t least here it The deli has I n t he or y, t he distinguished biggest threat to feels like it’s itself with bright business should be the virus back to normal.” “papel picardo” f lags and homeitself, and subse— Jonathan Jerez, barber m a de Mex ica n quent shutdowns. fare like tor tas As of Tuesday, Woodhaven had the second-high- and tacos, made with imported est level of Covid positivity in the spices and cheeses. T houg h R a m ales said she city. On top of that, quality-of-life thinks more of the neighborhood’s issues have popped up during the Latin community tends to live farpandemic. Olivares said that ever ther west, that has allowed the deli Associate Editor

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New businesses have been opening up along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven, PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT and owners are feeling positive. to stand out more on the stretch east of Woodhaven Boulevard. Jairo Ng, who opened up an electronics store and repair shop called HDA Global II around 88th Street in December, said he began looking for a space along Jamaica during the pandemic. Ng, who owns another electronics store in Corona, said he was looking to replicate the model in a friendly, residential neighborhood. “A lot of old people — they don’t know anything about technology,” Ng said. “So of course they won’t go to Manhattan to fix a computer because it’s too expensive, so yeah, it’s good to help them.” For him, it was all about getting a good deal on the space, so that he could fit as much merchandise as he can. The shop used to be a 99-cent store, but the former own-

ers vacated after retiring. Jonathan Jerez, a barber at AMPM Barbershop, said that the new business was branded for customers looking for a more luxurious haircut experience. “We do hot towel shaves. We do color enhancement. We do hair dying. We do facial massages. If you want to run a barbershop, you have to be up-to-date. You have to be appealing to the eye,” Jerez said. Next to the window, a bigscreen TV played a boxing match last Friday afternoon. “Always making power moves,” reads a neon banner in the reception area. The branding of the shop, Jerez said, has helped attract customers who trust that the very carefully designed business has higher cleaning standards.

Customers “seem more wowed than anything else. Not really nervous,” Jerez said. Le’Camille, a new hair and nail salon next door to AMPM, has a similar sheen. Its owner, Lexlisbette Rosario, said that she worked in construction before, so she was able to renovate much of the interior of her shop herself. She said that as the weather warms up and the shop has seen more foot traffic, she’s been able to attract more regulars. Though Chef Toribio 2, a Latin restaurant to crop up over the past year, built a large outdoor seating area, on Monday afternoon it was serving mainly takeout. It’s not alone in its shift away from outdoor seating. Those diners who seek a sit-down restaurant on the avenue tend to eat indoors. The loosening of rest r ictions has allowed many restaurants to bail on street seating. Pop’s Cocina and Bar, an established Latin-American restaurant on the corner of 86th Street, was “one of those businesses that worked with DOT to play around with outside seating,” according to Olivares. But as of Friday evening, the bustling restaurant was serving patrons inside the main dining area with plastic dividers between tables, marking something like a return to pre-pandemic normal. That sense of business as usual was shared by several of the new stores. “At least here [business] feels like it’s back to normal. Except for everybody wears a mask, it’s like nothing ever happened,” said Q Jerez, the AMPM barber.

Ozone Park Library to be a vaccine site by Max Parrott Associate Editor

The city announced March 24 that the Ozone Park Library at 92-24 Rockaway Blvd. will turn into a new Covid vaccination site in the near future. The city did not say exactly when the site will open. And while the Queens Public Library did not have any additional details as of Wednesday afternoon on that either, it said that library service will be unavailable at the location while it serves the city in its new role.

For those who were unable to pick up requested materials at Ozone Park before it closed last Saturday, they will be available at the South Ozone Park Library, at 128-16 Rockaway Blvd., starting April 2. The QPL made a statement that it chose that site after careful consideration of a number of factors, including the high need in the community and its ability to offer resources at nearby branches. The library will release more details about the vaccine site as they become available.

Any New York State resident 30 or over can get vaccinated. Younger adults with certain jobs or certain medical conditions also qualify. For eligibility rules, visit am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. To sign up for an appointment, visit the nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines. page. Those who are not online can call 1 (877) Q VAX-4NYC (829-4692) to sign up.

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Queens gathers as Lyft driver attacked Nepalese man was threatened by passenger; GoFundMe started by David Russell Associate Editor

A Nepalese Lyft driver was attacked on the Van Wyck Expressway earlier in the month, an incident that sent him to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Now he’s getting support from officials and groups fed up with violence. “No Taxi and Limousine Commission driver should have to live in fear that the next person who enters their car might attack them,” Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) said during a press conference last Friday at Borough Hall. Ashish Sapkota picked up two passengers who began fighting in the backseat of the car. He pulled over, which is when the passengers turned on him, with one man punching Sapkota multiple times. He continued to drive to Hillside Avenue, where the passengers exited. Lyft banned them from using the rideshare service again, according to a release from Weprin. Video of the incident shows a passenger telling Sapkota, “Take me to my address before I hurt you, bro.” He also took Sapkota’s phone and told him to drive or else he would throw it out. “I got a $60,000 chain, I don’t want your phone,” the man said. “What happened to our Nepalese brother

Councilman Peter Koo and Assemblyman David Weprin joined community leaders to speak out PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL against anti-Asian attacks last Friday at Borough Hall. is disgusting and things like this must end now,” said Mazeda Uddin, president of the South Asian Fund for Education, Scholarship and Training, adding, “All Asians are under attack.” The NYPD is not labeling the incident as a hate crime, though Weprin and Sapkota said they would like the department to reconsider that.

Other elected officials spoke at the rally with Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) saying, “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.” Assembly woman Jen ifer Rajk u mar (D-Woodhaven) said she is appalled at hate crimes in the borough and the country. “It is unconscionable and enough is enough,” she said.

‘Independent’ candidate goes R Rubén Cruz files with BOE to run in Republican primary by Max Parrott

Democrat. I want to go Republican because I believe in this person, not because I’m Board of Elections filings released last Republican,’” Cruz said, referring to the week showed that Council District 32’s fact that the Council seat, which represents Republican primary is potentially expand- parts of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Howard Beach and the western poring from a two- to three-candidate race. Rubén Cruz, a Richmond Hill resident tion of the Rockaways, is currently held by who told the Chronicle back in November Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), the only nonthat he was planning to run as an indepen- Democrat councilmember in Queens. “I’m against this party system dent, filed as a Republican. because of all the nonsense and Cruz, an entrepreneur who runs not looking for what we need,” a theater and film group for Cruz said. seniors, insisted to the ChroniAsked what the major policy cle that he is still running as an planks he will be campaigning independent voice even though on t o e a r n t he s up p or t of he registered with the RepubliRepublican primary voters are, can Party. Cruz responded, “I think it’s the “The Republican Party is divid2021 little details that we really need to ed here,” Cruz said. “I didn’t know how bad it was until I got into this arena focus on.” He then described his idea to stop comand I realized I didn’t belong there either. I need to do this independent and show what panies from putting a lien on someone’s house without telling the person and his we could do,” he said. Cruz said he doesn’t identify with either concern about the MTA’s liability insurance the Democratic or Republican party lines, system. Asked how he would influence a statebut he thought that Republican primary voters would be on his wavelength as “inde- run agency as a city official, Cruz said that Gov. Cuomo’s recent string of controversies pendent thinkers.” “We’ve always been independent think- could provide an opportunity for the city to ing, which is why we stand up and say, ‘I’m wrest control of the MTA. All three Republican candidates in the not going to go with everyone else and go

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eens votes u Q

Rubén Cruz, a Richmond Hill resident who insists he is running for Council District 32 as an independent candidate, has filed to run in COURTESY PHOTO the Republican primary. race sustained objections to their list of petition signatures, according to a public spreadsheet of all Council races compiled by Democratic District Leader Émilia Decaudin. It remains to be seen what the impact the objections — a common proceQ dural step — will have.

Rajkumar said a focus on mental health is vital in preventing attacks, while education on the past, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, is also key. “We have overcome this discrimination but we must learn about it so we know where we’ve been and where we have to go,” she said, adding that a third factor is remembering to love each other. A GoFundMe titled “Help for Assaulted Lyft Driver Ashish Sapkota” raised more than $1,500 of its $30,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon. The driver, who is the father of a 5-year-old and a husband whose family is dependent on him, has not returned to work and is suffering from nightmares. The fundraiser was started by Sonam Ghising Lama, an organizer with Independent Driver Guild IDG. Borough Hall was the site of another remembrance on Monday, as leaders held a candlelight vigil for the eight people killed in a string of shootings in Atlanta, including six Asian women. “Hate will never win here in #Queens,” Borough President Donovan Richards tweeted Monday. “It must never win anywhere else in our country. Tonight, we pay tribute to the victims of the Atlanta killings and uplift the survivors of Asian hate wherQ ever it strikes.”

Congestion continued from page 2 an interview. Conversely, Betsy Plum, executive director of the Riders Alliance, praised the decision out of Washington. “Riders welcome the Biden administration’s prompt decision to order an environmental assessment of congestion pricing,” she said in an email. “This accelerated public review will expedite essential new revenue to make New York’s subway system reliable and accessible.” Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, an organization that promotes commerce in the city, said in an email to the Chronicle that her group also is on board. “The Partnership supports congestion pricing as the best way to reduce excess traffic congestion, which costs city employers and workers about $20 billion a year in lost travel time, excess fuel and general inefficiency,” Wylde said. “Federal environmental assessment will find that this is a means to reduce greenhouse gas, improve health, and generate much needed revenues for the MTA. Covid-19 has reduced vehicular traffic and promoted new uses of our streets. Congestion pricing will help maintain these benefits in the post-panQ demic world,” she added.

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Hop ’N’ Treat fun in HB

Coordination Officers Sardone and Frazier with the NYPD Explorers and HBL Civic President Joann Ariola, top right; Avianna Abruzzino enjoying the beautiful day on the boulevard, near right; and members of the St. Helen Catholic Academy community, far right.

PHOTOS COURTESY HBL CIVIC ASSOCIATION

Getting a jump on Easter and giving kids a fun day, the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic hosted its first Hop ’N’ Treat last Saturday. Children of all ages hopped from one end of Cross Bay Boulevard to the other picking up treats from various businesses and organizations along the way, in what the civic plans to make an annual event. On hand were all the local schools and the NYPD’s 106th Precinct. Among the sights: Tony Modica strolling Cross Bay doing the pizza dance, above; the Norfo boys with Hunny Bunny, center; Youth

The HBL Civic has been hosting many community events over the past few months and has a lot more in store, incuding a similar event for the fall — Haunt ’N’ Treat. To keep up with the events, follow the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic on its Facebook page.

Emmy winner Walter was 80 In 1975, she won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her performance as the title character on NBCs “Amy Prentiss.” Walter played an investigator who becomes the first female chief of detectives for the San Francisco Police Department. She was married to Ross Bowman from 1966 to 1978 and to actor Ron Liebman from 1983 to his death in 2019. Walter is survived by her daughter, Brooke Bowman; a brother, Richard; and Q a grandson. — David Russell

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Jessica Walter, the longtime actress who is best remembered for playing mothers on TV shows “Arrested Development” and “Archer,” died last Wednesday at 80. A cause was not given. Walter was born in 1941 in Brooklyn and was raised in Sunnyside. Her most famous movie role was as Evelyn Draper in the 1971 Clint Eastwood film “Play Misty for Me.” Walter played a fan obsessed with a disc jockey, played by Eastwood. She was nominated for a Golden Globe.

C M SQ page 9 Y K Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

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P Go slow on congestion fee EDITORIAL

o the feds are “fast tracking” the plan to charge you a new fee every time you drive into Manhattan, by allowing for a lessonerous environmental assessment of the project instead of a deeper environmental impact statement. We can only hope this remains fasttracking at the lethargic speed of government bureaucracy, because the absolute last thing we need right now is to raise the cost of doing business in the heart of New York City. The city’s unemployment rate was 13.2 percent in February, the most recent full-month figure available, compared to 6.2 percent nationwide. Before the pandemic, New York was at 3.8 percent and the nation at 3.5. Clearly the city is struggling to recover, compared to much of the rest of the country. The office vacancy rate in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan is 16.4 percent, higher than it was after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 or the financial crisis of 2008, according to The New York Times. As of early March,

AGE

only about 10 percent of Manhattan office employees had returned to their desks, says a survey by the Partnership for New York City. And now we want to make it harder and more expensive for companies to lure their workers back to the office? Of course not, but that’s just what congestion pricing, which translates to you and us as “tolls,” would do. We recognize the plan to impose tolls on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street is nearly inevitable. It’s meant to help fund the perennially poor MTA. It’ll discourage driving. It fits the zeitgeist prevalent in City Hall, Albany and, since January, Washington. We just hope it takes a while, because New York really can’t take any more hits right now. Many shuttered businesses won’t be back. Tax hikes are coming. Crime is spiking. The virus is stubborn. The psychological toll has been immense. Please, public officials. Go slow on congestion pricing and let us get back on our feet before jacking up the cost of living again.

Follow the science and jet over

magine you had the chance to ask questions of one of the scientists behind the new Perseverance rover we just landed on Mars to cruise around, study the soil, take photos, video and audio and, of course, gather samples that might yield info about whether life once existed there. Thanks to the Queens Historical Society, you have that chance! On Saturday the QHS will feature a talk on You Tube with Vishnu Sridhar, a Rego Park native and graduate of Aviation High School in Long Island City who engineered the rover’s “eye,” called SuperCam. Before the event, you can submit questions to Sridhar, who’s at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, through the Historical Society. Just imagine — it’ll be like speaking with one of the guys on “The Big Bang Theory” but without the neuroses and slapstick. You want to “follow the science”? Check out a guy from Queens who made it so that a spaceship could send us photos from one of those tiny points of light you see in the sky at night when outside the city. He’ll show you the science. One week later, QHS educator Jeran Halfpap will make the Jet Age in Queens come alive again in another talk. For this one, the society wants your stories — of life in and around planes and our airports in the 1960s and ’70s. More neat stuff. All you need to know to join in both events, which are free, is in our lead story in this week’s qboro section, “From JFK to Mars.” Queens has a lot to be proud of, and these events help bring us together as we slowly emerge from the shadow of the virus. Take a flight of fancy and join in!

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Dear Editor: Now that springtime is here, I still see plastic gloves and masks on the ground, wherever I walk. When are people going to take care of their own personal garbage, and dispose of it properly? It’s like a sexually transmitted disease in that “you don’t know where they’ve been,” so why leave it blowing in the wind, where anyone can catch it? Joan Silaco Queens Village

Make vaccination easier Dear Editor: As Passover and Easter mark the beginning of spring and renewal of life, Covid victims are still hospitalized, intubated and dying. Numbers are decreasing gradually but herd immunity won’t be here as soon as we would like. Opening more eligibility categories is not the way to effectively increase vaccination numbers. It is important to make it easier for people to get vaccinated on the community level. Local pharmacies could extend their hours for vaccinations only. Schools and community centers could open their larger rooms after business hours, overnight and on weekends so no one is left behind. As they do on election days, volunteers could offer free rides back © Copyright 2021 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part thereof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the publishers. This copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. Reproduction of said advertisement or any part thereof without the express written permission of MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. is strictly prohibited. This publication will not be responsiblefor errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not necessarily in accordance with the views of the QUEENS CHRONICLE. This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objectionable. The Queens Chronicle is published weekly by Mark I Publications, Inc.at a subscription rate of $19 per year and out of state, $25 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid (USPS0013-572) at Flushing, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mark I Publications, Inc., 71-19 80th St., Suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385.

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and forth to vaccination places. Community leaders and local elected officials could help to organize these services as well as implementing an easier-to-use system of making appointments. Perhaps vaccination sites could schedule drop-in times to make appointments and/or get vaccinated. Dorothy M. Philipps Forest Hills

Tow car, find body Dear Editor: Re “Homicide victim found in South Ozone Park,” March 18, qchron.com: I don’t understand how that car could have been on that street for so long without being towed. It probably wouldn’t have saved this woman’s life, but it would certainly have given her family some closure as to what happened to her and allow a proper burial. Shame on the

NYPD for not doing something about this unmoved vehicle for months. Linda Sperling Forest Hills

Equity is not equality Dear Editor: Regarding Susan Asatur’s March 25 letter, “Are unequal results racist?,” her remarks underscore the difference between equality and equity. Equality means equal opportunity for all. Everyone should be equal at the starting line. Equity — woke warriors’ new Holy Grail — demands equal results for all. Everyone must be equal at the finish line. This denies reality and defies a fundamental principle of our nation. We are a meritocracy where people succeed or fail based on their education, experience, abilities and determination. Everyone deserves a fair

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I despise Republicans

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Dear Editor: Every state secretary of state made clear the results in the 2020 presidential election were legitimate and Biden the winner. About 30 lawsuits pursued by Donald Trump seeking to overturn the 2020 election were rejected by the courts, which in some cases even included judges that had been appointed by Trump. Notwithstanding the above, Trump and many so-called Republican legislators still claim it was Trump who won the presidential election. While the photographs taken on Jan. 6, 2021 made clear an insurrection occurred at the Capitol, Trump now claims it was a peaceful protest. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, in the face of 18 deaths in one week in Atlanta and Boulder, said, “If you want to stop these murders, go after the murderers.” If he told that to the massacre victims’ relatives they would remind him the proper saying should be, “If you want to stop murders, you support significant gun legislation” — something Cruz does not support. At one time there was a legitimate Republican Party known as the Grand Old Party (GOP), which dealt with bipartisan legislation to benefit all the people. Under a Trump party, that would no longer exist. Benjamin M. Haber Flushing

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I hate them Dear Editor: For years, voter suppression has been a mostly unspoken but obvious Republican election strategy. They’ve admitted that they cannot win a fair election, stating that as voting numbers increase their chances of winning elections decreases. But now, the vision of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signing a new elections law said it all: Six white legislators at his side, pen in hand, poised above a gleaming wood table. And behind them? A painting of the Callaway Plantation — a former slave plantation that once enslaved people who picked cotton. Did they hide the paintings of Klan rallies, lynchings or cross burnings before the signing? And outside the door of the “private signing”? Black state Rep. Park Cannon, arrested by white state troopers. Her crime? Knocking repeatedly on the door to witness the bill signing. Among many other disgraceful things, the new law makes it a crime to provide water or food to people waiting in line to vote. Read that again, people. Republicans in Georgia just passed a law making it illegal to provide continued on next page

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Dear Editor: In response to the March 18 piece about the AirTrain LGA (“AirTrain plan clears environmental bar,” multiple editions), I would like to say that something about this AirTrain does not sit right with me. In addition to the possible environmental impacts, I cannot wrap my head around this idea of needing to get to Manhattan quicker. Why is it needed? The 7 train and the MTA buses can easily get people to Manhattan from LaGuardia Airport. People might say that the MTA is not as pretty as a brand-new AirTrain but there is a way to fix that: Reallocate the billions going toward the AirTrain to the MTA! Every New Yorker has dealt with an unreliable, unsanitary or unsafe train or train station. It’s a rite of passage to have a subway horror story. However, this issue is exacerbated when the MTA does not get the funding it needs. Funding is especially needed in central Queens, where the AirTrain is being constructed. As a Queens resident, I’ve seen subway stations that not only look outdated but have posed a literal threat to public safety (Anyone remember the falling debris from the 7 train line?). There are so many subways stations across New York City that need maintenance, and the MTA overall needs more funding, but I would argue that it would be more effective for LaGuardia Airport, East Elmhurst and the surrounding communities to improve the already existing public transportation options. Ultimately, I feel like the AirTrain LGA is unnecessary when there is infrastructure that already exists and doesn’t have opposition from the local communities. Joann Villacres Corona

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Dear Editor: The beast who assaulted the Asian woman is on parole for killing his own mother. What psychologist gave approval to let him live outside the most secure jail? Does he go to counseling or forget to take anti-psychotic drugs? Worse yet, was he inf luenced by Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric? No amount of scrutiny can keep an eye on sickos of this type 24/7. Ray Hackinson Ozone Park

chance to succeed, but not a guaranteed measure of success. We celebrate different outcomes with awards like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Pulitzer Prizes. Honors like these would be worthless if everyone who competes received them. Social justice junkies want to replace merit with manipulation via race- and gender-based hiring and admissions policies. They hope to benefit “underserved” segments of our society. But tilting the scales for one such group disadvantages another. Affirmative action admission policies are a glaring example of this injustice. They began in the 1960s to boost Black student enrollment at U.S. colleges and achieved that goal. But they discriminate against AsianAmerican students who claim they’re denied admission because of their race. These students filed class action lawsuits against Yale, Harvard and other elite universities. Their case is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. I hope the court rejects affirmative action, as California voters did last November in a ballot proposal referendum. They realized that affirmative action is really negative reaction that replaces one form of discrimination with another. Politically correct crusaders fail to recognize that the equity they demand for some select groups is total inequity for all of us. Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

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Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

LETTERS TO THE

An Easter story with a twist: It isn’t about a bunny As we enter Holy Week, I wanted to share this story of kindness and love for one another. Thinking about all the families in our area that are food insecure, I wondered how they would be celebrating Easter. Thinking about children with nothing to look forward to on Easter morning was heartbreaking. Children have been having a particularly hard time lately and I had an idea of bringing a little sunshine into their lives. We don’t have a lot, but we have enough, and that means we can share with others. I called over to the Our Lady of Grace food pantry, as I had partnered with them in the past to reach out to families in need. They agreed to distribute Easter baskets to the children on their list if we could manage to make them. They said they had wanted to make baskets for these children, but just didn’t have the resources to do so. Our mission began with collecting new toys for the baskets. I put it out into the community and the response was overwhelming. They say it

PHOTO COURTESY STARS COMMUNITY CENTER

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 12

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takes a village, and I am so honored to be a part of this one. Because of a number of kind and generous people and some volunteers, who also donated, we were able to make almost 200 baskets filled with toys, stuffed animals, coloring books, puzzles and more. The wonderful people in charge of the food pantry stated that they would be feeding about 600 families from our neighborhood this Easter. That number is higher than in years past but has gone down since the height of the pandemic.

The pantry accepts monetary donations as well as food donations all year. It is a wonderful place to make a donation if you are so inclined. If you can’t contribute, please keep them in your prayers, for they are truly doing God’s work. Happy Easter! A special thank you to those who donated: (in no particular order): David Porrello of Casey and Porrello Funeral Home; Peter DeLucia of The Shops at Atlas Park; P.J. Connolly of Vetro; Randy McNeil of Blue Sky Landscaping; Margie

Arnold of Reach For The Stars; Kim Estremo of Mia Bella Laser; Jennifer and Lance Oseff of Security Central; Deborah and Peter Tighe; Nicole and Roberto Gallo; Priscilla and Frank Tuzio; Vanessa and Chris Dunic; Francesca Scarantino; Leslie Skyba; Adriana Sinacore; Kerry and Peter Wright; Bridget, Christopher and Matthew Karrow; and there were some anonymous donations as well. — Frances O. Scarantino STARS Community Center

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continued from previous page water or food to people waiting in line to vote! So let’s recap: According to Republicans, beating a Capitol police officer to death makes you a patriot. But handing a bottle of water to someone waiting in line to vote makes you a criminal? Absolutely disgusting. But oh so Repugnantcan. Robert LaRosa Whitestone

The fault is in ourselves Dear Editor: This letter is directed to two letter writers, Sebastian Mannuzza (“Pols ignore murder”) and Edwin Cadiz (“Term limits for Congress”), in the March 25 Queens Chronicle. Mr. Mannuzza, I wholeheartedly agree with you about crime and the tragedy you mention, and while I have no personal knowledge of the politicians you name I agree with you about allegedly MIA congresswomen. But the fact of the matter is there is little a member of Congress can do about local crime. It’s a city and not a state or local issue. John Cummings ran against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in my district. He tried to break the world record for how many times he could say he’s not AOC and doesn’t want to defund the police. Ocasio-Cortez blew out the election.

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To Mr. Cadiz, who wants term limits: The pure and simple fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the people do not vote. Of those who vote, the vast majority simply pull the lever for Democrat. There’s Republican and Conservative candidates for mayor, and I’ve read next to nothing about them. People do not wish to participate in or even learn about the process. I just ran for district leader. Fifteen doors knocked on for petition signatures, five people refused to sign. Yet they will wait in line in 20-degree weather when Yankee tickets go on sale, they will stand on rooftops in 104-degree weather participating in tailgate parties (I witnessed both personally), they will wait in line at Foot Action for $400 sneakers, they will wait in line at the Apple Store for the next iPhone it will take them three years to pay off. On the day Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit I was out with my 9-year-old son, listening to 1010 WINS for a traffic report. It wasn’t blazing hot but very uncomfortable with the humidity. A man who witnessed Jeter’s hit said it was incredible and he felt “full of joy.” About what? Sitting in the stadium and baking, paying $4 for a $1 water, subsidizing a millionaire athlete who probably wouldn’t cross the street to urinate on you if you were on fire? Don’t blame the politicians. Nat Weiner Bronx

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Cannabis becomes legal in New York Advocates celebrate move but top cop voices concerns over change by David Russell Associate Editor

Smoke up. Gov. Cuomo signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis into law Wednesday. The New York State Legislature voted Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana. The Senate voted 40-23 in favor and the Assembly approved it 100-49. “New York has a storied history of being the progressive capital of the nation and this important legislation will once again carry on that legacy,” Cuomo said. New Yorkers 21 and over will be allowed to possess up to three ounces of marijuana. It will have a 13 percent sales tax, with 9 percent going to the state and 4 percent to localities. The state said tax collection is projected to reach $350 million annually and has the potential to create 30,000 to 60,000 jobs. Marijuana was decriminalized in the state in 2019 but previous attempts to legalize it failed. Criminal justice reform advocates applauded the legislation. “For decades, New York State’s racist war on marijuana ensnared thousands of our clients — nearly all of whom are from Black and Latinx communities — resulting in needless incarceration and a host of other devastating consequences that inevitably arise from contacts with the criminal legal system,” The

Legal Aid Society said. “This landmark legislation will right many of those injustices.” Advocates and critics said minorities were unfairly impacted by the drug laws. “For years, New York marijuana convictions have caused immeasurable harm to immigrant communities across New York State,” said Jose Chapa of the Immigrant Defense Project. But NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea voiced concern about the changes. “I hope I’m missing something but it appears it is legalizing the smoking of marijuana outside,” he said Wednesday on WPIX. “That’s not something that most other states did. They legalized marijuana but it was still illegal to smoke outside and in public.” Shea said it’s “troubling” that it won’t be a police matter. “I don’t know what we’re going to be telling New Yorkers when they call up and say there’s people smoking in front of my house or apartment building or I take my kids to a parade, whether it’s on Eastern Parkway or on Fifth Avenue, and there are people smoking marijuana next to me as I try to enjoy the parade,” he said. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, head of the Catholic Church in Queens and Brooklyn, called the legislation disappointing. “Marijuana is a gateway drug that is not good for your health and has the same carcino-

New Yorkers 21 and over will be allowed to possess three ounces of marijuana due to new PHOTO BY JAMES ST. JOHN / FLICKR legislation. genic effects that cigarettes do,” he said. “With this law, more young people will start to use marijuana because they think they are invincible and nothing will affect them.” A goal of the state is to have 50 percent of licenses for selling marijuana to go to a minori-

ty- or woman- owned business enterprise, or distressed far mers or ser vice-disabled veterans. The bill establishes the Office of Cannabis Management, a five-member board, with three appointed by Cuomo and one by each house of the Legislature. The OCM will be an independent office operating as part of the New York State Liquor Authority. All cannabis taxes will be deposited in a state revenue fund for administering programs and implementing the law. Remaining funding will be split, with 40 percent going to education, 40 percent to a community grants reinvestment fund and 20 percent to drug treatment and public education funds. The bill also creates automatic expungement or resentencing for anyone with a previous marijuana conviction for something that would now be legal. “This law comprehensively addresses the harms of overcriminalization and establishes one of the most ambitious marijuana legalization programs in the nation,” said Melissa Moore, New York State director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “Through this sweeping legislation, New York is delivering reforms that place community reinvestment, social equity and justice at the core of the law. At long last, Q victory is here.”

How to snag a vax: for those 30 and older by Max Parrott Since all New Yorkers ages 30 and older became eligible for the Covid vaccine as of Tuesday, the race to book an appointment just got even more intense. As older millennials took to social media to either bemoan their frustrations or celebrate their successes, one point of consensus is that refreshing the screen often is key. That’s how you land a Covid vaccine appointment online, whether you’re get-

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers became vaccine-eligible Tuesday. FILE PHOTO

ting one through vaccinefinder.nyc.gov, the city’s site, or turbovax.info, the one created by software engineer Huge Ma and operated by a Twitter bot that scans government web pages for information. Appointments come and go within minutes. Open vaccinefinder.nyc.gov, and keep refreshing the page to check if new appointments have opened. But as some observers have noted, sometimes it’s necessary to try at different times in the day to help get new appointments to appear. The Turbovax account advised those having trouble locking down an appointment to be patient on Tuesday. “NYC (via vax4nyc or H+H sites) releases appts on a cadence but generally in the afternoons/evenings,” it tweeted. Those who are not online can call 1 (877) VAX-4NYC (829-4692) to sign up. Beyond that expansion, Cuomo set a vaccine eligibility timeline for everyone 16 and over as well, who will be able to get shots starting April 6. The rules on eligibility are posted online at am-i-eligible. Q covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. Peter C. Mastrosimone contributed to this story.

PHOTO COURTESY NYC COUNCIL

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Ulrich mounts spring cleaning Councilman Eric Ulrich, fourth from right, hosted a spring community cleanup last Saturday in partnership with the city Department of Sanitation. Joined by members of his staff, the Queens Explorers, auxiliary officers from the NYPD 106th Precinct and community leaders, the initiative targeted trash- and graffitiprone areas in Ozone Park and Centreville.

The materials for the cleanup efforts were provided by the DSNY. Volunteers tackled some of the most problematic locations in the district, including Liberty Avenue; 101st Avenue; 114th Place and North Conduit Avenue; and Centreville Street and Huron Street. By the end, they had filled dozens of garbage bags and painted over several graffiti hot spots.

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Message encouraged parents to stay remote in coming months by Max Parrott

chose to keep their children learning from home the last time an opt-in window was offered. A Bayside principal recently sent The letter flies in the face of the a letter to parents encouraging them message that Mayor de Blasio and to stay remote, a move that contraSchools Chancellor Meisha Porter dicts the messaging the city has used have used to assure parents that in approaching an in-person return CDC data shows that returning to for students this spring. school buildings is safe while “You made a good decision when announcing the new window for you chose Remote Learning for your them to choose in-person child. Please stay with it,” wrote programming. Bayside High School Pr incipal “New York City schools are safe, Michael Athy in a letter allegedly and we already have more than sent out prior to the city’s new opt-in 25,000 new students who have opted window. in to in-person learning because they A slew of parents eager to expand want to return to classrooms. This in-person learning criticized Athy’s letter, after it was shared on social Parents recently shared a letter sent out by the principal of letter is inaccurate and does not media last Friday, arguing that it’s Bayside High School, which encouraged them to choose reflect our mission to maximize inunfair for an administrator to pres- remote over in-person learning. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE person learning for our students,” said Depa r t ment of Educat ion su re pa rent s not to ret u r n to to choose remote learning or now stay spokesperson Danielle Filson in response to buildings. In the letter, Athy lays out a future remote,” said Daniela Jampel, a Washington the letter. The DOE added that it would take approreopening for his high school in which stu- Heights parent and advocate with the group dents enrolled in blended learning last #KeepNYCSchoolsOpen, who shared the priate follow-up action with the principal. November will be invited to return to the letter on Twitter after a parent at Bayside He could not be reached for comment. Community Education Council 26 Presihigh school “to receive assistance with their High School forwarded it to a member of her organization. dent Adriana Aviles said that while she, as a online classes.” Roughly 30 percent of students in public parent, feels that school buildings are safe “What this letter is, is not unusual. There are many stories of teachers and principals schools across the city are receiving in-per- enough to warrant sending her children really pressuring parents over the summer son education. The majority of parents back, she’s been hearing varied reactions to Associate Editor

the letter. “As far as parents, it’s mixed reviews on both sides. It all depends on how they feel about going back to school,” said Aviles. “Those parents who are scared about going back feel like he’s putting out as much as he can so parents can make an infor med decision.” Athy’s cor respondence with parents emphasizes the dangers of the virus in the school and the practical challenges of returning to in-person classes, and argues that being in school is more harmful to kids than learning from home. In a long frequently-asked-questions section of the letter, Athy includes the query, “Aren’t Bayside kids stressed out by full remote learning?” “Sickness, hospitalization, or the possible death of a loved one are far more stressful tha n remote lea r n i ng,” he w r ites i n response. Athy also stresses that school officials cannot guarantee children would not contract the virus if they return to school. “Those other parents, like myself, who feel that schools are safe, it feels very biased,” Aviles said. “How do you congratulate these parents on making a decision to stay home — ‘Congratulations on your deciQ sion’ — don’t tell me that’s not biased.”

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

Controversy over BHS principal’s letter

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Panhandling steadily grows aggressive Rising homeless population accosting Flushing customers by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

Panhandling has plagued Flushing for years. Homeless individuals set up camp and ask passersby for loose change along the Main Street commercial corridor, especially in front of the Long Island Rail Road and 7-train stations. Handmade cardboard signs line the roads between street vendors, often positioned beside an empty Big Gulp cup and a sleeping body. The Downtown Flushing homeless population has been steadily rising over the last year — tents have popped up on Prince Street directly across the road from the La Jornada food pantry, which draws hundreds of people each day in a line that often stretches for several blocks — but the small business owners who share the district with the beggars have noticed an increase in their hostility as well. “Some of them get drunk and they just walk into the restaurant and they take the customer’s seat and sit there and start yelling and screaming,” said a 40th Road restaurant owner who asked to be identified as Vincent. The employees ask the intruders to leave, but they typically refuse and stay seated for up to half an hour. Their abrasive behavior and lack of face coverings drives customers away, the owner said. Beggars had asked his customers for money in the past, but Vincent said the homeless population recently seems more interested in harassing them and damaging his property. Just the night before, he said, he caught one man using his outdoor seating venue as a toilet. The incidents happen multiple

times a week, and have been becoming more aggressive. Sometime in March, which Vincent said was the worst month yet, a man with liquor in hand walked to the second-floor office and hounded the women inside. The door now stays locked. Vincent has only called the police twice. In both instances, the homeless persons had left the building before officers arrived, but he did not feel comfortable detaining the intruders himself. Threatening to call the police doesn’t affect their behavior either — Vincent said the homeless don’t seem intimidated by the idea of arrest. “Before the pandemic, the safety environment was better. Every year was improving, but [during the] pandemic, it’s getting worse,” he said. There is no perfectly reliable data on how many New Yorkers sleep on the streets each night because the number varies from day to day, but it was estimated at 3,500 to 4,000 before the pandemic. The number of individuals sleeping in shelters each night has been decreasing, but is not indicative of the homeless living outdoors or in the subways. A n individual exper iencing homelessness must consent to transitioning into a shelter, a spokesperson for the Depar tment of Homeless Services stated. Unless individuals are caught conducting illegal activities or are voluntarily leaving their camp on Main Street, they cannot be removed no matter how many times law enforcement is called on them. Because the police can do little about the situation, Flushing busi-

The number of homeless individuals living in Downtown Flushing has visibly increased during the pandemic. The majority congregate in front of transit hubs and train stations to panhandle commuters, but area business owners PHOTOS BY KATHERINE DONLEVY note the aggression toward customers has also been on the rise. ness owners have not even bothered reporting the trouble to the 109th Precinct, located just a few blocks away. “We’ve seen an increase in homelessness, but as far as aggravated panhandling, I’m not seeing spikes in the 109,” said Captain John O’Connell, the commanding officer. The commander said he’s aware of the ongoi ng problem, a nd encourages business owners to report escalating instances, especially now that the police presence in Flushing has increased. The addition of new patrols was ordered to deter anti-Asian hate crimes following the Atlanta shootings. Li ke the busi ness ow ners, O’Connell suspects the aggravated panhandling is another symptom of the pandemic: About 578,000 New York City residents lost their

Tents have popped up around Prince Street during the pandemic and are sometimes removed by the Sanitation Department, but always return, according to the Flushing BID. Timothy Hwang, who owns a liquor store around the corner, says the city needs to do more for the homeless before the problem ruins the neighborhood’s character.

jobs during 2020, according to state Labor Department data. “The pandemic has changed everybody’s life,” he said. “The homeless population has less things available to them. There’s just devastation on their part.” In the face of growing desperation, the homeless have flocked to Flushing in hopes of raising money, said Timothy Chuang, cochair person of the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub Business Improvement District. “This is a ver y good place because a lot of kind people give them the money. Asian people are very kind,” he said, pointing out that the Main Street strip between Roosevelt and Sanford below the train tracks is the worst. Chuang owns two businesses on the strip: a bubble tea shop and a grocery store. The homeless sit on the street and beg passersby for cash, a nd though they of ten remain passive, he worries they are adding another undue burden onto Downtown Flushing businesses that are already dealing with so much: financial shortfalls, anti-Asian sentiment and a new and unpopular busway. Thomas Hwang, the owner of Taipei Fine Wine & Liquor on 40th Road, echoed Chuang’s concern and pointed out his belief the growing homeless population is affecting neighborhood character. He suggested the city find a way to provide the indigent with shelter, whether voluntary or not, in a way that treats individuals with kindness and respect, a mission he has asked his own employees to

replicate. Homeless individuals come into the store several times a week asking for money from customers or free liquor from the employees. Hwang has directed his workers not to give away any merchandise, but also not to call the police unless the behavior becomes too aggressive. Usually, the beggars leave on their own. “One time a customer was buying liquor and he left $100 right by the register. I saw one guy come in and snatch the $100 and r un away,” Hwang recounted. “I was chasing after him, trying to find out where he went. Obviously, I didn’t get anywhere. I also reported it to the Police Department, but they said there’s not much they can do. It’s a very difficult situation.” Smaller scale theft is not worth the chase for other businesses. Michael, an employee at a Roosevelt Avenue bakery, said he has to hide his tip jar because it’s been stolen before. A man came in and asked for money, but Michael refused, so the man helped himself: He reached through the Plexiglas divider where a hole had been left for customers to slip tips through, grabbed the jar and ran out the door. Reporting the theft or chasing after the thief was not worth the $3 that was inside, Michael said. Foot traffic and sales are more valuable than the tip jar, he added, but he worries the homeless man’s antics may have stolen them, too. “Customers will turn around and leave,” Michael said. “The customQ ers don’t want to deal with it.”

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The vaccinated can still give; and Covid survivors are able to provide plasma by Justin Davila

shortages as a result of the pandemic and recent winter weather. “The region’s blood supply is The New York Blood Center has issued an urgent call for all dangerously low and donors are New Yorkers to donate their blood desperately needed,” the NYBC says on its website. and plasma today. Many locations that would have “New York is in a state of a b l o o d e m e r g e n c y ” A n d r e a been host to community blood Cefarelli, the NYBC’s senior exec- drives, such as schools and offices, utive director, said in a statement have had to close, causing hospital as she called for donations. “We blood supplies to drop dangerously need folks to come into our centers low. Add it ionally, ma ny of t he and donate blood. It’s an easy way mobile blood centers that the to help a fellow New Yorker.” Hospitals all around New York NYBC used before the pandemic are grappling with extreme blood have been taken out of operation or are not used as regularly. “Right now, there is a very big need for blood donation, in New York and the trist at e a r e a — a nd throughout the country,” said Dr. Swathi Ratkal, dedical director of the blood bank at Nassau University Medical Center and associate director at Northwell’s LIJ Medical Center, highlighting just how widespread and urgent the dem a nd for blood donation is. A constant supply of blood is needed to t r e at a l l t y p e s of patients, Ratkal explained. “The red The need to donate blood is only greater during cel ls i n t he blood the Covid-19 pandemic. Certain donors may also could be used for anycontribute plasma used to treat coronavirus one that has trauma, FILE PHOTO anemia, or surger y. patients. Chronicle Contributor

The plasma in the blood is used as part of a massive transfusion protocol for trauma victims.” That plasma can be extracted from the blood of any healthy donor and is not to be confused with the type of plasma that is being used to treat Covid-19, convalescent plasma, Ratkal noted. The guidelines set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for who can donate convalescent plasma have been made stricter, meaning that now, not just anyone who has been infected with Covid-19 will be able to give it. The levels of antibodies in their blood must first meet a certain t h r e s h old t o b e c o n s id e r e d acceptable. Ratkal explained that because of that change in guidelines by the FDA, it is up to the blood bank to determine which donors are eligible to give convalescent plasma, by testing their blood when they come in to make a donation. “With convalescent plasma, the picture has changed,” he said. “Previously we used to collect plasma from anyone that had recovered from Covid, but now there is a limitation. The FDA has required that only those who have a very high titer, or number of antibodies [in their blood], will be used to make plasma for patients’ treatment.” You could be eligible to donate convalescent plasma if you had a positive test for Covid-19 in the past, have been symptom-free for more than 14 days and meet the requirements to make a normal blood donation. That is just one more reason to find a local center and make a blood donation today — you could be helping in more ways than one. There is a particular need for donors with type O-positive and O-negative blood. People who have gotten the Covid-19 vaccine are still eligible

to donate, with no deferral period in most cases. Donations are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 1 (800) 933-2566 or visitingnybc.org. You can also search for

blood drives by county or ZIP CODE on the NYBC website. More information about donating convalescent plasma is posted by t he blo o d c e nt e r at bit . Q ly/39udRcq.

Their lives depend on your donations by Justin Davila Chronicle Contributor

The New York Blood Center recently partnered with community organizations and the Queens Borough President’s Office to host blood drives specifically in support of two young brothers from Queens Village with a rare disease. King and Mesiah Singh are two little boys who were both born with a rare blood disease called glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency, G6PD. G6PD causes red blood cells to break King and Mesiah Singh of down in response to certain triggers Queens Village. FAMILY PHOTO which could be things like medications, illness or other stressors. When the disease is triggered and the red blood cells begin to break down, the only life-saving treatment is a blood transfusion. There is no cure for the disease, and King and Mesiah require regular blood transfusions to survive. The boys are fighters. King was also diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 2 — high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia — but after three years of chemotherapy and several blood transfusions, he is now cancer-free. That success and King and Mesiah’s ongoing battles are a testament to the incredible strength of these little boys, as well as the efforts of the NYBC. “Blood donations save lives and King and Mesiah are proof of that,” Andrea Cefarelli, the center’s senior executive director, said in a statement that urged people to donate and gave them proof that their donations are producing tangible results — they are saving lives. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who hosted the last of the Singh-focused blood drives on March 31 at Queens Borough Hall, applauded the courage of the two boys, saying that they inspire people to donate and provide for those in need. “Their courage is an inspiration for us to make sure they and all of those who rely on donated blood can Q always get their transfusions when they need them,” he said.

Associate Editor

Assembly man Dan iel Rosenthal (D-Flushing) and state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) announced Tuesday that legislation to protect the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge in Kew Gardens has passed both houses. The bills would give right of first refusal to existing small businesses and to preserve the current structure as the MTA looks for a new property manager. The lawmakers said there had been no

provisions for existing tenants in the MTA’s request for proposals for the property manager. “Over decades, the diverse small businesses along this corridor have been entrenched in the civic and cultural life of our neighborhood,” Rosenthal said. “To destroy their livelihoods without cause during a pandemic is both unconscionable and preventable.” Comrie added, “we remain committed to ensuring that the existing commercial tenants who have built their livelihoods on this bridge are not treated as if they are

expendable.” The nearly 100-year-old bridge narrowly avoided being torn down. In 2017, the MTA said the span had decayed so much it would have to be torn down in 2020, when the lease was set to expire. Elected officials passed legislation the next year calling for a rehabilitation study of the bridge, which kept it from being demolished. Late in 2019, merchants received a letter saying the Long Island Rail Road, through the MTA Real Estate Department, is formu-

lating a long-term plan for the complex. Kew Gardens Civic Association President Dominick Pistone said the community thanks the lawmakers “for their continued support of the Kew Gardens community and maintaining our historic bridge which has been the commercial center of our urban village in the big city.” The bill passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously and will be sent to Gov. Cuomo for final approval. A spokesperson for the governor did not respond when asked Q if Cuomo plans on signing the bill.

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Businesses on the bridge get protection by David Russell

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

Blood donations are badly needed

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 18

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METS 2021 SEASON PREVIEW by Lloyd Carroll

Chronicle Contributor

The Flushing boys of summer are back at Citi Field and things are looking a lot better than they did last year at this time. While Covid-19 hasn’t been eradicated, and the threat of new strains hangs over our heads, the vaccine rollout (and the Mets’ home has served as a Queens vaccine hub) has gone well and there is real hope life is getting back to normal. Last year Major League Baseball didn’t start the season until late July and it went 60 games instead of the traditional 162. The Mets never seemed to get started, as their longest winning streak was a mere three games and they finished 26-34. This year spring training started on time and a normal 162-game season is the plan. More importantly, fans are being welcomed back to ballparks, albeit in limited numbers. Capacity should be allowed to increase as more of us get vaccinated and, we hope, the numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths decreases markedly. Facial coverings will probably be required throughout the season. Expect face masks with the Mets insignia to be popular items at Citi Field concession stands. Along with an improving national health situation, most Mets fans are ecstatic their favorite baseball team has a new and deep-pocketed owner, hedge fund financier Steve Cohen, who grew up a Mets fan just across the Queens-Nassau County border in Great Neck. Cohen officially purchased the team early last November from the Wilpon family for a rumored sales price of $2.475 billion. Upper management A familiar face to Mets fans, Sandy Alderson has returned after a two-year hiatus. Alderson left the Mets in 2019 ostensibly to battle cancer but there was speculation he was fed up working as general manager under Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon. Now the team president, Alderson appears to have beaten cancer and is eager to work with an owner who has financial resources, something that has been rare for him. Unfortunately, Alderson’s first hire for the executive suite, former Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general manager Jared Porter, turned out to be a fiasco as a story leaked in January concerning Porter’s inappropriate behavior with a female reporter in Chicago five years earlier. Porter was fired with cause as Mets general manager and replaced by an earlier candidate for that job, Zack Scott. Manager Luis Rojas, who was a young veteran of managing Mets minor league teams, was named the Mets manager

in early 2020 after Carlos Beltran had to resign from that post less than three months after being named to it. Beltran lost the job as a result of his involvement with the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Rojas got the job because he was a familiar face in the Mets organization. Since he was hired during the Wilpon regime it is also safe to say he was an inexpensive option. There was understandable speculation Rojas would be canned by Cohen since they didn’t know each other, as well as the fact Rojas had little leverage following a season when the Mets went 26-34 and failed to make the playoffs which were expanded to allow eight teams to participate in the shortened season. Luckily for Rojas, Cohen’s hire of Alderson may have given him a reprieve since they worked together during the latter’s tenure as Mets general manager. Alderson has made it no secret he thinks highly of Rojas. If he is to continue being the Mets skipper into 2022 and beyond the Mets had better win at the very minimum 85 games this year.

Starting pitching Every baseball team’s fortunes depend on the quality of its starting pitching but no team in recent baseball history has lived and died with its starters on the mound as the Mets have. The team has always managed to win games in spite of not being able to hit their way out of a paper bag in seasons past. Jacob deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019 and placed third in voting in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He is the greatest Mets pitcher aside from the late Tom Seaver. Enough said. Noah Syndergaard, who has been the Mets’ No. 2 starter ever since deGrom’s emergence, will be out of action until June at the earliest recovering from the Tommy John surgery he had last spring. Syndergaard seemed to be tossing without pain at the Mets’ spring training base in Port St. Lucie, Fla., so the June timetable should be accurate barring anything unforeseen. Marcus Stroman, who was an ace with the Toronto Blue Jays not so long ago, was acquired by deposed Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, at the July 31, 2019 trade deadline for a pair of pitching prospects, Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson. Van Wagenen was hoping Stroman would lead the Mets into the postseason as they were falling out of the race when the deal was made. Unfortunately for Van Wagenen and Mets fans, Stro-

man was no great shakes as he started only 11 games and failed to dominate even when he got the win. He opted not to play in 2020 because of Covid-19 concerns and was slated to become a free agent. Realizing the market for his services would be far from robust, Stroman quickly accepted the Mets’ qualifying offer in excess of $18 million to pitch for them in 2021. That was also the last move Van Wagenen made as Mets GM. Cohen fired him within 90 minutes of signing the papers to become the new Mets owner. Stroman has always talked a good game about how he is ready to dominate on the mound but it really is putup or shut-up time for him as he will be a free agent after this season. While shortstop Francisco Lindor was the centerpiece of the Mets big trade with Cleveland in December, pitcher Carlos Carrasco was more than just a throw-in. The deal would not have been made had Cleveland not included him. Carrasco missed the 2019 season battling leukemia (which appears to be in total remission, thankfully) and pitched well in the 2020 season, being named the American League Comeback Player of the Year. This past spring training was a bust for Carrasco as he was hampered by a sore elbow and did not face opposing teams’ hitters during spring training. Even with the sore elbow he claimed he would be ready to go once April arrived. On March 18 he felt pain in his hamstring and an MRI revealed a tear there. The consensus is he will be out of action until June the earliest. Lefty David Peterson won the battle for the fifth starter’s spot. He was the Mets’ top pick in the 2017 amateur draft and rewarded their faith in him by turning in a 6-2 record with a very respectable 3.44 earned run average in nine starts last summer. Joining Peterson in the back end of the rotation will be former Toronto Blue Jay Taijuan Walker, who is known for throwing heat. Former Miami Marlins pitcher Jordan Yamamoto will start the year with the AAA Syracuse Mets. Former San Diego Padres hurler Joey Lucchesi will fill the open starter’s spot until Carrasco or Syndergaard is ready. Either should be a less expensive upgrade over 2020’s Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. Bullpen It wasn’t that long ago when the term “firemen” was a nickname for relief pitchers. “Arsonists” would be a more fitting description for the Mets bullpen in recent years.

Seth Lugo has been the Mets most reliable relief pitcher over the last two years. Last month he underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. He is expected to return sometime in May. Lugo knows how to get big outs in the late innings but he would rather be getting them from the onset of a game and is frustrated the Mets have only let him start games on rare occasions. He has been a victim of his own success in the Mets subpar bullpen. A key reason why Lugo was kept in the bullpen was because neither former manager Mickey Callaway nor his replacement, Rojas, had any confidence in anyone else. Closer Edwin Diaz was a Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor FEMA disaster area giving up PHOTO COURTESY NY METS gut-wrenching ninth-inning home runs more often it seemed than Trevor May, journeyman Jacob not during most of the two years he Barnes (who was very impressive has been the closer. In fairness, Diaz during spring training) and lefty did improve during the second half finesse thrower Aaron Loup. He also of last year’s shortened season but he inked an intriguing pair of relievers is still, fairly or not, an object of deri- who did not get much press at the sion for Mets fans. Aside from blow- time, former Atlanta Braves closer ing games, they’ll always remember Arodys Vizcaino (who is very effechim as the player Van Wagenen was tive but is also frequently injured as willing to trade top prospect Jarred is the case going into Opening Day Kelenic to the Seattle Mariners for. 2021) and a young veteran minor They rightfully worry this talent league flamethrower, Sam McWilexchange will be their modern-day liams. He can throw 100 mph but no Nolan Ryan-Jim Fregosi trade. one knows where the pitch is going It wasn’t that long ago hard- to wind up. throwing Jeurys Familia and Dellin Betances were big favorites in this Catcher town of Mets and Yankees fans, When the 2020 season ended it respectively. The last two seasons was clear the Mets’ most pressing have been forgettable for both men. need was to find a new starting Familia seemed to fall behind the catcher. Wilson Ramos, who had pitch count to nearly every batter he been with them for the past two faced — always a recipe for getting years, was always a liability for the pelted by opposing hitters. Betances pitching staff because of his inability was signed as a free agent by Van to catch balls in the dirt, throw out Wagenen after his Yankees counter- runners attempting to steal and call a part, Brian Cashman, refused to game. By the time 2020 ended he make him an offer because of a torn was also a liability in the batter’s Achilles and other injuries. How box. awful was Betances in 2020? His Mets fans were hoping Cohen’s ERA was an egregious 7.71. first flashy move would be signing Betances, however, was Mariano All-Star catcher JT Realmuto, whom Rivera last year when compared to they knew and respected from his another colleague in the Flushing years playing for two NL East divibullpen, Robert Gsellman, who post- sion rivals, the Miami Marlins and ed a ghastly 9.65 ERA. Gsellman Philadelphia Phillies. Realmuto did was just as awful this past spring not seem amenable to the notion of training. moving 100 miles northeast from One of Van Wagenen’s last acqui- Citizens Bank Park (he did re-up sitions was getting reliever Miguel with the Phillies) to Citi Field. Castro from the Baltimore Orioles Alderson quickly shifted his focus during the tail-end of the 2020 sea- to James McCann, who, after a so-so son. Castro pitched well in Port St. career start with the Detroit Tigers, Lucie last month and should expect blossomed with the Chicago White to be called upon frequently by Sox. He became the first major Mets Rojas. acquisition under Cohen’s new Alderson realized the Mets badly stewardship. needed reinforcements to back up his Tomas Nido, who came up starters and he signed hard-throwing continued on page 20

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Mets 2021 continued from page 18 through the Mets farm system and is a favorite of both Rojas and Alderson, should get significant action behind the plate assuming he can handle the bat better. He has shown flashes of power.

Infield The shortstop is the anchor of the infield, and when the 2020 season ended this was one area where the Mets seemed to have few concerns. The incumbent, Amed Rosario, was a highly touted prospect who hit with power and was finally learning to lay off bad pitches. His defense was also solid. If Rosario faltered the Mets had his replacement, Andres Gimenez, waiting in the wings. Gimenez looked very impressive at both the plate and in the field last season. Many observers thought Gimenez had a higher upside than not just Rosario but most shortstops in other teams’ farm systems. It was therefore a surprise that the first marquee trade under the Cohen-Alderson administration was the dealing of both Rosario and Gimenez to Cleveland for Lindor and Carrasco. While Rosario has been a perennial All-Star, and one of the most exciting players in the game, he appeared to be a luxury the Mets didn’t need in light of their weaknesses elsewhere. He was also entering the last year of his contract and the question of whether the Mets would re-sign him became a major, and frankly annoying, spring training storyline. “Who’s playing third?” has been a parlor game regarding the Mets for most of their history. Just about the only time it wasn’t asked was when David Wright was healthy. It’s back to business as usual now as there’s still no clear answer there. JD Davis, who was arguably Van Wagenen’s best acquisition, is a fine hitter and is versatile as he can play the corner outfield positions and third base. He will, however, never be considered for a Gold Glove anywhere, especially at third. But Davis is Brooks Robinson compared to teammate Jeff McNeil, who was absolutely brutal when he played the hot cor-

ner during spring training. Rojas admitted McNeil will stay where he is most comfortable — at second base. McNeil is a terrific contact hitter who has superior discipline at the plate when he is not trying to hit home runs. The best defensive players in the Mets infield are also their most versatile, homegrown Met Luis Guillorme and much-traveled veteran Jonathan Villar. Both can play practically every position and they hit pretty well, though simply not good enough to be everyday players. First baseman Pete Alonso, who won the 2019 Rookie of the Year Award and set a rookie record by belting 53 homers, got off to a slow start last summer. He undoubtedly felt the pressure to duplicate that magic and it hampered him. He relaxed a bit in August and September and resembled his old self. Alonso looked solid this spring and wasn’t chasing bad pitches the way we saw in 2020. He should have a good season if he doesn’t obsess over 2019, when he became the toast of the town. Outfield The Mets were clear beneficiaries of the National League utilizing the designated hitter in 2020. They were able to start both Alonso and Dominic Smith in the same game as one would play first and the other would serve as the designated hitter. The Mets won’t have that luxury this year as pitchers once again will have to hit in the Senior Circuit, and that means Dominic Smith will be shifted to left field. Smith struggled at the plate when he first came up to the Mets, and as he got more experience he also became more confident as a slugger. Mets fans will need to be patient with Smith in the outfield and should expect some flubs, but he is a dedicated, hardworking athlete, and I would be surprised if he doesn’t become a quality outfielder. Holding down the fort in right field once again will be Michael Conforto, who is entering the last year of his contract. Conforto may be the Mets best pure hitter, as he hits to all fields with power. He was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2014 amateur draft and it would be somewhat disappointing, though not franchise-altering, if he and the Mets do not strike a long-term deal.

Centerfielder Brandon Nimmo was selected by the Mets right out of his Cheyenne, Wyo., high school in the first round of the 2011 draft. He has become a fan favorite because of his infectious smile and enthusiasm on the field, such as how he runs to first base after working out a walk. Nimmo is a good contact hitter who gets into trouble when he thinks about home runs even though he does possess some power. He is better suited for a corner outfield spot but is adequate enough in the field to hold down center. The Mets have decent outfield bench options. Veteran Kevin Pillar signed as a free agent during the off-season. He was once known as a “good glove, no-hit” kind of outfielder. In recent years, his fielding has slipped but his bat has more than made up for any glove weakness. Former Cubs centerfielder Albert Almora, Jr. was also signed as a free agent. He really has been the quintessential “no-hit, great glove” outfielder. He did have some offensive success with the Cubs when Chili Davis was their hitting coach. Davis now has that role with the Mets, and the hope is he can instill that magic once again into Almora. Expect Nimmo to shift to left field to replace Dom Smith as either Pillar or Almora will come in to play centerfield in the late innings when the Mets have a slim lead or are tied. Outlook Mets owner Steve Cohen said at his November introductory press conference he expects the Mets to win a World Series within three to five years. OK, but he shouldn’t get his hopes too high that it will happen in 2021. The Mets need to be able to field their positions and find ways to score without waiting for someone to hit the ball out of the park. Not having two starting pitchers, Carrasco and Syndergaard, until June at the earliest hurts, as does not having Lugo until May. The Mets relief corps has to step up. Betances and Familia in particular have to prove they aren’t dead wood and can be counted on in late innings. In short, the Mets seem to be in the middle of the pack in the NL East. If Rojas can equal the 86 wins the Mets achieved under Callaway in 2019, then both Mets management and fans should Q consider it to be a successful season.

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by David Russell

Last season’s abbreviated 60-game schedule saw the Mets play division opponents 10 times apiece with the remaining 20 games

against American League East opponents. Now the 162-game schedule is back and the Amazin’s will face their National League East rivals 19 times each. The Braves are searching for a third

straight division title. The Marlins are looking to show last season’s surprise playoff appearance was no fluke. The Phillies want to prove they have the pieces to make the postseason, despite a bullpen that betrayed

them in 2020. And the Nationals are hoping there is another deep playoff run for the franchise that won the 2019 World Series. The Mets were active in the offseason but will it be enough to win the division?

Atlanta Braves After falling one game short of getting into the World Series, the Braves are hungry to finish what they couldn’t in 2020. Atlanta features Met-killer and reigning MVP first baseman Freddie Freeman, who hit .341 with 13 home runs last season. Freeman will be extramotivated entering a contract season. The team re-signed outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who hit .338 with 18 home runs. Former Met castoff Travis d’Arnaud hit .321 in 44 games behind the plate. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. received some MVP votes and hit

14 home runs in 52 games. Atlanta is hoping for a repeat of the good health enjoyed last season when Freeman, Ozuna and shortshop Dansby Swanson played in all 60 games. In the starting rotation, the team is hoping for repeat performances from Max Fried, who went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 starts, and Ian Anderson, who pitched to a 1.95 ERA in six starts. The Braves also acquired Charlie Morton, an All-Star with the Astros in 2018 and the Rays in 2019, though he struggled last season in Tampa Bay.

Miami Marlins Of nine opponents, Miami was the only team the Mets had a winning record against last season, with New York going 6-4 headto-head against the Fish. The Marlins lost 105 games in 2019 before making an unexpected playoff push in 2020. Former Yankees star Don Mattingly earned NL Manager of the Year honors for going 31-29 with a Miami squad that was ravaged by Covid and used 61 players. Pablo Lopez led the team with six wins and 11 starts in 2020. Sandy Alcantara and

Sixto Sanchez both went 3-2 with solid ERAs. Third baseman Brian Anderson hit a teamhigh 11 home runs and played in 59 games, despite the Marlins seeing 18 players sidelined to Covid during the year. Shortstop Miguel Rojas provided a steady bat, hitting .304 in 40 games. The team acquired centerfielder Starling Marte from Arizona during the season. Miami is hoping for production from Marte, who was a 2016 All-Star with the Pirates. Many pundits believe the Marlins will finish last, but that’s what they thought last year.

Washington Nationals Outfielder Juan Soto has quickly become a star since debuting in May 2018. He hit five home runs in the 2019 postseason and followed that up by leading the NL in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in 2020. Shortstop Trea Turner also had an impressive season, batting .335 with 12 homers and 12 stolen bases. The Nationals will lean on a veteran-laden staff. Max Scherzer is in the final season of his seven-year contract. The future Hall of

Famer, who is entering his 14th season, went 5-4 with a 3.74 ERA. Southpaw Patrick Corbin hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2-7 campaign. Stephen Strasburg was 2019 World Series MVP and signed a seven-year, $245 million contract. He pitched all of five innings last season, sidelined with a nerve issue in his throwing hand. The Nats went out and acquired Jon Lester, who is approaching his 200th career win. The five-time All-Star with the Red Sox and Cubs struggled in Chicago last year, pitching to a 5.16 ERA.

Philadelphia Phillies For years, Joe Girardi used his weapons to the max with a talented Yankees relief corps. In his first season as Phillies skipper, he watched a beleagured bullpen pitch to a 7.06 ERA, the second-worst in MLB history. Philadelphia added a few relievers including Archie Bradley, Brandon Kintzler and Tony Watson. It’s impossible for the bullpen to be as bad as it was in 2020. The Phillies, looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, do have some impressive bats. Catcher J.T. Realmuto hit 11

homers and signed a five-year, $115 million deal. Infielders Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius both hit 10 home runs. And star outfielder Bryce Harper hit 13 homers, while walking more times than striking out for the first time in his impressive nine-year career. Leading the rotation are Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. Nola led the team with five wins, 12 starts and two complete games. Wheeler, the former Met who signed a fiveyear, $118 million deal with the Phillies, went 4-2 with an impressive 2.92 ERA in his first season in Philadelphia red.

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A PEEK AROUND THE NL EAST

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 22

C M SQ page 22 Y K

Police reform bills pass in the Council Supporters say all measures are necessary; cop unions beg to differ by Michael Gannon

police officers — requiring a plaintiff to sue the government for officer misconduct The City Council last week, as expected, instead — already is established in both passed a package of police reforms — and New York State and federal law. “Together, state and federal versions of unions representing officers, as expected, qualified immunity have effectively prehave come out against it. Just how all the moving parts will come vented countless victims of police brutality and their families from obtaining financial together next remains to be seen. The most talked-about provision ends damages and holding officers and the cities qualified immunity for police officers for that employ them accountable,” the Council certain civil rights claims regarding illegal said in a statement issued last week. The Council statement said the city is search and seizure and use of excessive creating “a new local force. T he prov ision civil right.” would make it easier for The Cou ncil also a plaintiff to sue an indihis is work that approve d a bi l l t h at vidual officer. The Cou ncil also has to be ongoing.” would take responsibility for investigating vehicle adopted Mayor de Bla— Mayor de Blasio on police c r a she s r e s u lt i ng i n sio’s plans for police reform legislation death or serious injury reform crafted to comply from the NYPD and turn with orders from Gov. Cuomo mandating that every municipality it over to the Department of Transportation. The bill, sponsored by Transportation in the state with a law enforcement agency Chairman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhatadopt such a plan by April 1. The mayor’s reforms include changing tan), requires the DOT to establish such an the disciplinary process, adding community investigatory unit by January, but no details input into the selection process for precinct on how many inspectors would be needed commanders and broadening the powers of or how they would be trained were in a version of the bill on the Council’s website. the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Rodriguez did say in a press release that “A whole host of reforms that people have been talking about for years are now the NYPD would retain “a level of the happening through this reform process,” de investigative process, a concern expressed Blasio said in a press conference on March by the district attorneys.” Yet another measure would allow the 25. “And by the way, the most important CCRB to investigate officers with a history point I can make, this is today with this of bias and racial profiling complaints. Also approved was a bill by Councilwomaction in the City Council, tomorrow we start the work on further police reforms, an Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), chairbecause this is work that has to be ongo- woman of the Public Safety Committee, that will require the NYPD to issue quarterly ing,” he added. “It never should end.” The doctrine of qualified immunity for reports on all vehicle stops, including the Editor

“T

number of summonses, arrests made, vehicles seized and other actions. The information would be broken down by precinct, race, ethnicity and age of the driver. Two other controversial proposals could turn out to be wish-list items. The Council approved resolutions to support one bill in Albany that would take the final word on officer discipline away from the police commissioner and give it to the CCRB; and one that would require new police hires to reside within the five boroughs. Being resolutions, they are not binding on the Legislature or anyone else. Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, addressed the residency question in a statement issued March 12. A package of police reforms and resolutions sailed “This isn’t complicated,” Lynch through the City Council last week. But police unions are said. “If you want more city resi- calling them ill-advised — and worse. FILE PHOTO dents to become police officers — and remain city residents once they take the was anything that could conceivably bring job — you need to pay them a fair market shootings and homicides back down to their wage that allows them to maintain a foot- recent lows,” said the PBA on Twitter. “Such hold in the city’s ever-shrinking middle reforms send a message to those who care class. Any residency proposal that does not about public safety: help is not on the way.” address pay is just another political prop.” The Detectives Endowment Association A source told the Chronicle that the was equally blunt on Tuesday in the wake state’s Division of the Budget has received of a bias attack in Manhattan. 300 municipal police reform plans as of last “As Detectives & our fellow cops in the week. Those that fail to submit a plan for @NYCPBA work tirelessly to bring this review run the risk of losing state funding. hate-filed, violent criminal to justice — Reaction from the police unions fol- NYC Council members not only offer NO lowing the Council vote on March 25 help, but want to take resources away from was swift. the police. They need to start worrying Q “Absent from @NYCCouncil’s package about victims,” the union said.

Doctors celebrated at Elmhurst Hospital by David Russell

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Associate Editor

National Doctors’ Day took on extra meaning last Thursday at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, considered the “epicenter of the epicenter” during the height of the Covid crisis. Dr. Suzanne Bentley, co-director of the Helping Healers Heal program at the hospital, said partners and loved ones were concerned during the trying times. “Even the in-laws that didn’t like you that much were terrified,” she said. But Bentley said the staff never lost hope and that the hospital became a home away from home for them. “We were all pushed to the breaking point but we did not break,” she said. “We showed up. We showed up for each other, for our patients and for our community. We were scared, we were tired and we often felt hopeless from the mounting uncertainty but we showed up and we came together.” More than 30,000 New Yorkers have succumbed to Covid, including 53 Health +

A doctor at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst looks on as workers were celebrated during PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL National Doctors’ Day. Hospitals employees. “We all saw death in a way that as doctors we never anticipated in terms of volume,” said NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr.

Mitchell Katz. Katz spoke of how the brave staff “walked into rooms and knowing they would be putting themselves at risk. They intubated patients knowing that the risks are particularly high.” Dr. Frank Proscia, president of Doctors Council Service Employees International Union, said the group created a hotline in the early days of the crisis so members could call, text or email. “We’ve never experienced anything like this” in the half-century of the union’s existence, Proscia said. He said doctors would call saying they contacted loved ones, telling them they would be away for weeks or months so as not to infect them. “This was a pretense because they knew that they may very well succumb to the virus,” Proscia said. Several elected officials, including state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing), spoke at the event. “I think what’s unique about Elmhurst

Hospital is that everybody comes here,” she said. “You don’t care what they look like, the language they speak, where they came from, whether they have papers or not. Everybody comes here.” NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde told the Chronicle that the medical center’s capacity is back to its pre-Covid volume and the patient load is being managed “better and faster.” She said the number of patients changes each day but “the important thing is that we’re able to manage the flow and there’s space for everybody.” Asked if she was concerned about variants, Landaverde said vaccinations are key. “The more we get vaccinated the less time the variant has to mutate because the mutation occurs when someone has the active virus,” she said. Proscia said there is a way people can celebrate frontline workers. “We call on everyone to honor doctors by continuing to wear masks, wash your hands, Q social distance and vaccinate,” he said.

C M SQ page 23 Y K

22nd District member cites family, health concerns; Boys & Girls Club next by Michael Gannon Editor

With his term officially ending this year and six people already vying to replace him, City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) announced Wednesday morning that he will step down effective April 9, citing family considerations. He has accepted the position of chief executive officer of the Variety Boys and Girls Club, which is located in Long Island City. “It’s not a decision I made quickly or lightly,” Constantinides told the Chronicle in a telephone interview on Wednesday. He said the Covid-19 outbreak has struck his family hard in the last year, and that his wife is in poor health. “I want to be a husband; I want to be a dad,” he said. “There are many ways to perform public service.” As to the timing and when he knew it was right, Constantinides said he has received a number of offers. “This lined up with what I wanted to do,” he said, adding that his mother years ago worked at the club for about a year. Constantinides was elected in 2013. Under the City Charter, as the vacancy will take place less than 90 days before the June 22 primary, the seat will remain vacant until

Councilman Costa Constantinides will resign FILE PHOTO from the Council effective April 9. after the general election in November, at which time his successor will be sworn in immediately rather than waiting until Jan. 1. The district covers Astoria and Rikers Island and parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside and East Elmhurst. The councilman admitted there will be

unfinished business upon his departure. “This is New York City — there are always going to be some loose ends,” he said. “There’s always going to be more that I wanted to do. But I’m proud of what we have achieved.” He cited an announcement coming next week about the impending removal of temporary trailers outside of PS 85 — the last ones remaining from when he took office. In an accompanying statement, Constantinides named a number of initiatives of which he is proud. “We have passed 44 bills in my time in the Council, including landmark legislation such as the Climate Mobilization Act, the largest emissions reduction policy enacted by any city in the world, and the Renewable Rikers Act, setting us on a path to transforming an island that has stained our city history into a renewable energy hub for the 21st century,” the statement said. He also spoke of funding his office has secured for Mount Sinai Queens hospital. In regard to open space, the councilman pointed to $30 million worth of investments in the district’s parks, including Astoria Park, creating a soccer field and rebuilding Charybdis Playground. He also spoke of senior housing projects created with Catholic Charities and future

units for a vacant lot on 31st Street. He also mentioned $25 million that has been invested in Hallets Cove. Constantinides had to correct the impression that he chose the new position for saner hou r s t h a n t hose requ i red of a councilmember. “I don’t really do sane hours,” he said welcoming anyone to check with his staffers. “That’s why I was probably the worst Covid patient ever. My mind is always going 1,000 miles per hour. I had to learn how to chill out.” And he did not have to think at all when asked about his craziest sitcom-worthy moment as an elected official. “Dealing with coyotes and feral cats in Northern Astoria about five years ago,” he said without hesitation. “I was going to my son’s Little League game and the field was still locked — no one had been there to open it yet.” Parents did, however, see a park officer by the gate, and convinced Constantinides to go “put on my councilman face” and ask what was going on. “She told me, ‘Coyotes,’” he said. “She was there with a paintball gun to shoot at them to keep them away so they didn’t get comfortable around humans. That was the craziest thing I’ve dealt with on the CounQ cil.”

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

Constantinides to resign from Council

Celebrate Easter at Home to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus. If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, book your appointment by calling 877-829-4692 (877-VAX-4NYC) or visiting nyc.gov/vaccineﬁnder.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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• Keep your gathering small and celebrate with household members only. • If you choose to celebrate in person, wear a snug ﬁtting face covering to protect the elderly and vulnerable. • Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, including which groups are currently eligible to receive one.

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What to know before claiming your Social Security Benefits Hardworking adults spend years striving to achieve their professional goals. Along the way, planning for retirement is a way to ensure all that hard work pays off when the time comes to call it a career. In the United States, men and women nearing retirement age may be thinking about when they should begin collecting their Social Security retirement benefits. Social Security is a social insurance program instituted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. The program consists of retirement, disability and survivor benefits, and workers in the United States contribute to Social Security each week. The decision about when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is one all those who have contributed to the program must eventually make. In recognition of the difficulty of that decision, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers the following tips to people wondering when they should begin collecting their Social Security benefits. • Confirm your full retirement age. Full retirement age refers to the age at which people can begin collecting their full benefits. Depending on the year you were born, you can begin collecting your full benefit at age 66 or 67. Claiming your benefit before you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent decrease in your monthly benefits. Conversely, claiming after you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent increase in your monthly benefits. Since the stakes are so considerable, it’s vital for adults to confirm their full retirement age before they claim their benefits.

• Delay claiming if you can. The CFPB notes that you can expect to get an additional 5 to 8 percent in monthly benefits for every year you wait to claim your Social Security benefits after age 62, maxing out at age 70. If you can afford to do so, wait to claim your full benefit until age 70, as doing so can translate to a benefit that’s 32 percent higher than it would have been had you claimed your benefit at age 62. • Budget for retirement. Short- and longterm budgeting for retirement can help you assess how much money you will need to cover your expenses when you stop working. This step can help you understand how much a reduced or increased Social Security benefit will affect your bottom line in retirement. • Continue working. Remaining in the workforce full-time or even part-time can have a considerable impact on the size of your Social Security benefit. The CFPB notes that continuing to work for one or two additional years can replace low- or no-income earnings from your earnings record, thereby increasing your benefit. • Consider the long-term needs of your spouse. Surviving spouses receive the higher of the two spouses’ benefits. So it makes sense for the higher earning spouse to wait to collect his or her benefit until he or she reaches full retirement age. The decision about when to collect your Social Security benefit is complex. Discussing your options with your spouse and financial advisor can help you make the most informed P decision. — Metro Creative Connection

C M SQ page 25 Y K

Social Security’s many online services by Nilsa Henriquez There’s probably been a time in your life when you’ve wondered, “Can I do this online instead of visiting a Social Security office?” The answer is more than likely yes, and you can find more information about our online services at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices. Online, you can apply for retirement and disability benefits, appeal a decision and do much more. We’ve organized our Online Services webpage into four popular categories for easy navigation:

• Review Your Information. You can access your secure, personal information and earnings history to make sure everything is correct. • Apply for Benefits. You can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits without having to visit a local Social Security office. • Manage Your Account. You can change your direct deposit information and your address, if you are receiving benefits, online. • Find Help and Answers. You can find answers to your most frequently asked questions, as well as links to publications and other informational websites. You can also access personalized information with your “my Social Security” account. This is a useful resource even if you are not receiving benefits. You can: • request a replacement Social Security number or Medicare card; • get personalized retirement benefit estimates; • get estimates for spouse’s

benefits; • print proof that you do not receive benefits; • check your a p p li c a t i o n o r appeal s t atus ; and • read your Nilsa Henriquez Social Security Statement. If you are receiving benefits, you can: • Request a replacement Social Security number or Medicare card; • set up or change direct deposit; • print a Social Security 1099 (SSA1099) form; • opt out of mailed notices for those available online; • print a benefit verification letter; and • change your address. Please let your family and friends know they can do much of their business with us online at www.ssa.gov. P Nilsa Henriquez is a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist located in Queens.

Stimulus Payment merry-go-round A third round of stimulus payments are on their way. But has your second one shown up yet? Next question: Did you file last year’s 2019 taxes on paper instead of e-filing? If so, that might well be the reason you don’t have your money yet. The IRS got behind on processing the paper tax forms sent a year ago. If all had gone well, those who were eligible should have received a $600 stimulus check (the second one) by Jan. 29, 2021. The IRS has a specific page for you to check the status of your stimulus payment, but it’s only good for the third stimulus check. All information for your first and second stimulus money has been removed from their website. Confused yet? You’re not alone. Start with www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment and scroll to “Get My Payment.” Click on it and fill out the information. You’ll go to a page that tells you the status of the payment you’re to receive now, the third payment. If it says that payment information is Not Available, it means you’re not going to receive a payment the easy way (and might be why your second payment is still missing). On the “Get My Payment” page, click on Frequently Asked Questions to see what applies to you. Even if you don’t normally file, you’ll need to file for 2020 (preferably e-file) if you want that stimulus money quickly. Look for Line 30 on the Form 1040 or 1040-SR. It’s called the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you received Notice 1444 or 1444B in the mail from the IRS, it will tell you what figures to use. If you did receive the money but your financial situation has changed and you should have received a different amount, click on Recovery P Rebate Credit. — King Features Syndicate

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

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PA pushing AirTrain benefits, awaits FAA Agency says economic, employment gains will have huge community impact by Michael Gannon Editor

A final ruling on the proposed AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport is not due from the Federal Aviation Administration until at least the middle of this month. And while FAA approval of the Port Authority’s environmental and remediation plans on March 15 certainly meant clearing a substantial hurdle, the agency is leaving nothing to chance. The PA of New York and New Jersey this past week reiterated its stance that the project is necessary from a transportation standpoint, and will, if approved, bring major economic and educational benefits to East Elmhurst and surrounding neighborhoods. “Among the many community benefits to come with AirTrain LaGuardia, the Port Authority has set a goal of hiring 80 percent of the project’s permanent workforce locally,” said a PA spokesman in an email to the Chronicle. “The success of local hiring at JFK AirTrain demonstrates the project’s potential to provide real economic benefits to the communities around LaGuardia, including local, Queens-based and [minority- and women-owned business enterprises]. The project will also fund investments in educational oppor tunities, community events and local parks.”

The aim is to speed up travel time between LaGuardia, which the PA operates, and both Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. Numerous residents and environmental groups are opposed to the plan, which would create a rail loop connecting LaGuardia with a station that would be built adjacent to the elevated 7 train subway station at Mets-Willets Point. The rail link also would be elevated and run along the Flushing Promenade, which critics say will take up parkland and destroy the view of the Promenade and Flushing Bay. The PA said the project will deliver more than $500 million in contracting opportunities for firms in Queens, including MWBEs. “The AirTrain project will create approximately 3,000 union construction jobs, with a focus on minority and women for construction opportunities,” the PA’s statement said. There are plans to work with the Building & Construction Trades Council to fund 75 pre-apprentice positions ; expand the LaGuardia career center operated by the Council for Airport Opportunities; and work with Elmcore and Queens Neighborhood Housing services to match area residents with permanent AirTrain and on-airport jobs. Refer ring back to the original JFK AirTrain workforce from December 2003,

With a ruling as close as two weeks away, the Port Authority is emphasizing the benefits the community can reap from an AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport. FILE RENDERING COURTESY PANYNJ the PA said 22 percent still remain on a force of 208; and that others have gone on to employment at other systems throughout the country and overseas. The environmental plan approved by the FAA requires massive investment — more than $50 million — to upgrade the Prome-

nade and other nearby parks. In addition, there must be constant monitoring for noise and pollution from the site. It also requires monitoring of vibrations from things like pile-driving operations like those that have damaged homes in East Elmhurst in connection with the separate $8 billion project to reconstruct LaGuardia. The PA also has agreed to compensate homeowners whose property values would be negatively impacted by the loss of view caused by the elevated tracks. Critics of the plan still are not satisfied. And, like the PA, they are not waiting passively for the final FA ruling. “We’re still going over the FAA’s environmental report and we’re finding deficiencies,” Rebecca Pryor, program coordinator for Guardians for Flushing Bay and Riverkeeper, told the Chronicle. She also said they are reviewing material she said they had to go to court to secure, including correspondence between the PA and FAA. Pryor said her organizations and neighborhood groups including the Ditmars Boulevard Block Association and the Jackson Heights Beautification Group are planning an in-person and online town hall meeting along with state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-East Elmhurst) on April 6 to discuss issues and Q how to proceed.

A bounce in the step: Atlas Park biz is back Parents, kids and owners happy to see return of Glendale Laser Bounce by David Russell

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Associate Editor

The pings and dings of arcade games, the buzz of tickets being dispensed and the laughter of kids in bouncing areas were finally heard once again at Laser Bounce Family Fun Center in Glendale last Friday. It was the first day such entertainment centers were allowed to open, at 25 percent capacity. “It’s something,” said Randy Wasserman, who coowns the center at The Shops at Atlas Park. “We’re happy to get whatever we can get at this point.” He said he expects the business to lose money while it operates at limited capacity and that 75 to 100 percent is where the profit is. But he still wanted to return. “If you don’t reopen, people think you’re out of business,” Wasserman said. A few parties have been booked at Laser Bounce, including one on the first day for James O’Malley, who turned 11. “I was really happy,” he said when he learned Laser Bounce would open. His mother, Susan, said one positive of the business returning was that the family would

not have to travel to Long Island, where Laser Bounce has another location. “This is so exciting ... We love it here,” she said. The laser tag and bouncing area are back, as well as a variety of arcade games, including motorcycle racing and basketball. The prize stand is back as well — 250 tickets will get you a tiny car, 425 will get you handcuffs and 5,250 can earn you a disco party light. Wa s s e r m a n s a i d h e received a lot of positive feedback. “The kids really suffered. I’m not just saying that. The kids really had no place to go,” he said. The location is consistently cleaned and disinfected. There is a mobile wallet option with Google Pay, so customers do not need to put a game card in a machine. The option also cuts down on people waiting on lines. James, a father in Forest Hills, took his 5-year-old son, Jackson, to Laser Bounce on the first day back. “I’m excited. This guy loves this place. We used to come here all the time,” James said, adding, “We wanted to be here to support the

James O’Malley, second from left, celebrated his birthday with friends at Laser Bounce Family PHOTOS BY DAVID RUSSELL Fun Center in Glendale, which reopened last Friday. guys. They’re just as excited as us to open.” Gov. Cuomo announced in February that indoor family entertainment centers, such as arcades, trampoline parks and laser tag facilities, could reopen March 26 at 25 percent capacity. Outdoor amusement parks can return in April and summer camps can resume in June.

The Shops at Atlas Park should get another boost when the Regal movie theater reopens April 16. Wasserman is happy that kids can socialize again after 12 months of going stir crazy. “I’m not saying they have to hug and kiss each other but they should get out and see Q there’s a real world,” he said.

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING

JFK Mars

From to

Page 27 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

April 1, 2021

C M SQ page 27 Y K

Meet Queens’ space rover tech and talk the Jet Age with QHS

by Michael Gannon

a ffuture mission that them to Earth h willll bring b h h for f further study. “That’s the next mission,” Sridhar said, one still in the early planning stages. The robot also is testing technologies that might be of use for a future manned mission. “So we actually have a mechanism onboard that continued on page 29

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Queens was at the forefront of aviation in its formative years after the Wright Brothers’ flier took off at Kitty Hawk. And in the coming days, the Queens Historical Society will offer a pair of free online talks that take guests from the golden age of air travel to the surface of Mars, the latter courtesy of Rego Park native Vishnu Sridhar, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab who played a huge role in the development and operation of Perseverance, the rover that landed on Mars last month. Sridhar, a 2011 graduate of Aviation High School in Long Island City, will offer his talk and answer questions from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, April 3, via YouTube. He was the engineer of SuperCam, the eye of Perseverance that has been sending back spectacular images of the Jezero Crater.

He told the Chronicle in an interview that Perseverance is similar to the Curiosity rover that landed on Mars in 2012, though more sophisticated, and with unprecedented missions. “The goal of the mission is to do geology, to study rocks and soil on a scale from large boulders to microscopic scale,” Sridhar said. “We want to find out what their composition is, how they got there.” The second mission is astrobiology. “We want to study this ancient river delta where we landed in the Jezero Crater,” he said. d “We think this region might have biosignatures that might indicate that there was past life on Mars. We’re hoping to find some organic compounds that can tell us if millions of years ago there was life on Mars.” Going farther, the rover will collect rock and soil samples in tubes and leave them to be collected by

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 28

C M SQ page 28 Y K

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

King Crossword Puzzle Da dum. Da dum. ‘Jaws’ composer Wms. started here

ACROSS

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DOWN

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1 Cudgel 2 Pie -- mode

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

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John Towner Williams was born on Feb. 8, 1932 in Flushing. He was a middle child, with an older sister, Joan, and younger brother, Gerard. They lived comfortably in a big house at 143-40 Poplar Ave. His dad, John Sr., was a professional drummer who worked as a percussionist on the famous Kate Smith Radio Show. His Irish-French Canadian grandmother, Ada Towner, also lived in the house and helped nurture young John’s love of music. He became a piano player. In 1948, the family moved to California. Williams started his own jazz band, experimenting with arranging tunes. Originally wanting to be a concert pianist and mastering the instrument, he deciding on composing as a career instead. Starting in television, he progressed to motion pictures — and is now regarded as one of the greatest film composers of all time. Willams has earned 52 Academy Award nominations, winning five Oscars — for “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Jaws,” “Star Wars,” “E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial” and “Schindler’s List.” He also has amassed six Emmy Award

The Williams home at 143-40 Poplar Ave. in Flushing, as it appeared in the 1940s, when future famous composer John lived there. INSET PHOTO VIA WIKIPEDIA / NATIONAL PARKS nominations, winning three; 25 Golden Globe bids, winning four; and 71 Grammy Award nominations, winning 25. His beloved work has deeply influenced other composers Q and contemporary and classical music.

Answers on next page

Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine? If you’re 60 or older, a TLC licensed driver, a home health care aide, a restaurant or delivery worker, a grocery store or bodega worker, you are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are available to eligible New Yorkers at no cost, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Look for an appointment today! Visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC to make an appointment at a City-run vaccination site.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

C M SQ page 29 Y K

by Max Parrott Associate Editor

Flushing Town Hall is hosting a series of lectures that take an approach in contrast to its usual live music programming: the art of record listening. The arts organization will host jazz researcher and educator Ben Young for a new Jazz 101 lecture series, a series of programming covering the history of jazz music, held weekly over eight, two-hour sessions from April 6 to May 25. Young, who worked at Columbia University’s radio station and has made a career of documenting jazz artists and remastering old jazz recordings, said that the lectures will build off “hot clubs,” another word for the listening groups that he has previously organized with Flushing Town Hall to do some focused listening to 78 rpm records. He sees it as a complement to the live performance programming that the arts organization usually puts together. About half of each session will consist of music listening, he said. The other half of the class will guide listeners through what to listen for, and tell some of the histories of the musicians, relating them back to the culture of 20th century America. “You can’t hear Louis Armstrong in person anymore, right? So let’s make sure that

in contemplating Louis Armstrong, we’re actually playing his recordings rather than just listening to modern interpreters,” Young said. In its historical content, the course will situate early jazz as an early 20th century pop phenomenon related to ragtime music and social dancing. But even more broadly, Young aims to “understand how black American culture fits into the multiplex panoply of pre-Civil War days, of Reconstruction, of Jim Crow life and then of the advancement through the various stages of the lowercase civil rights era.” For Young, researching jazz is a lifelong passion. He’s hosted programs at WKCRFM curating a range of jazz and modern improvised music. Since 2010, he has taught courses in jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University program. He’s also worked to document the lives of several prominent New York City-based jazz artists including trumpeter Bill Dixon and the recently deceased Milford Graves, an avant garde jazz percussionist who lived in Jamaica for most of his life. “[Graves] was central to the way that what we call the avant garde in jazz has unfolded since the ’60s. And I was forever after him to talk about the stories, about the history part and also the theory part,”

Young said. Though the different classes revolve around different geographic nodes of jazz history like New Orleans and Chicago, Young said that he’ll take every chance to tie the art form back to its intersections with New York City, and Queens in particular. “Even if folks don’t know the names and don’t know the sounds or the styles or the history, they will know the geography, and that can be very useful,” he said. Though jazz culture can sometimes take on the air of exclusivity to the uninitiated, Young emphasized that part of his goal is to demystify the music for the layman and bring on people who aren’t already fans. “There’s really no assumptions, everything gets explained, and no question is too basic,” he said Tickets are $10 or $7 for members for an individual class and $56 or $40 for members for all eight classes. To find out more about the class or to sign up, visit flushingtownhall.org/jazz-101. Q

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

Welcoming newcomers to the world of jazz listening

Jazz aficionado Ben Young will lead a series of lectures on the genre through Flushing Town Hall that will give participants a chance to hone their listening skills. PHOTO BY RACHEL QUIMBY VIA FLUSHING TOWN HALL

From the dawn of the jet age to the Martian frontier

Crossword Answers

tory of the Jet Age,” features Jeran Halfpap, the society’s education and outreach coordinator. He will focus on the traveling public’s experience in the 1960s and 1970s; the influence of technology; and the “modern” terminals that kept springing up, such as the Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal. His talk is scheduled for 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. “Queens used to have six airfields,” Halfpap said, referring to the World War I-era Navy base on the Rockaway Peninsula on the site of Jacob Riis Park; Flushing Airport, also known as Speed’s Airport, which still has remnants of its runways and taxiways visible from the air; Holmes, or Grand Central Airport; and North Beach or Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, along with LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International, previously Idlewild Airport. “I don’t like flying, but I’m interested in the experience people had when flying, and the architecture over the years at the airports,” Halfpap said. The QHS educator said he has long been fascinated by aviation, and that his research, begun back in December, introduced him to a wealth of material main-

Rego Park’s own Vishnu Sridhar, center, in front of the Perseverance rover that has been exploring Mars since February. On the cover: Perseverance works its way across the Martian landscape; and a DC-4 from Peru becomes the first international flight to PHOTOS COURTESY JPL, ABOVE AND COVER; FILE PHOTO COURTESY PANYNJ land at Idlewild Airport. tained by historians and hobbyists Halfpap is inviting people who traveled to and from LaGuardia and JFK in the 1960s and 1970s to submit their stories and

reminiscences on the society’s website. They can RSVP as well. Both events are free but the Historical Q Society will accept donations online.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

continued from page 27 produces oxygen out of the Mar tian atmosphere.” It also has microphones. “It was really exciting ... I’m one of the first few humans to listen to sounds from the surface of Mars.” Guests can submit questions for Sridhar and RSVP online at queenshistoricalsociety. org. The second talk, “Air Fair & Queens His-

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AUTO BODY REPAIR MAN & PAINTER ALSO A COMPOUND & POLISH / DETAILER. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE! Looking for immediate hire!!!!!! Full Time 2500 BOSTON ROAD, BRONX, NY 10467 Tel: 718-652-3383

Eddie’s of New Hyde Park famous for thin crust pizza & full Italian menu.

HIRING F/T AND P/T COOKS starting at $18-$20. Also P/T & F/T dishwashers. Please call

(516) 354-9780 or walk in at 2048 Hillside Ave. New Hyde Park. Ask for Joe

Always Affordable Chimney Inc. We do more than just sweep chimneys! • Stainless Steel Chimney Relining Systems • Stainless Steel Caps • Tuck Pointing (replacing the mortar between bricks) ALL BRIC K W • Expert Masonry Repairs CHIMN EY HOORK O N • Cleaning Fireplace and Furnace Flues USIN G MENT ME NTIO IONN AD AD FO FORR DI DISC SCOU OUNT NT • Level I, II and III Chimney Inspections • Chimney Caps Supplied and Installed Full Camera • Violations Corrected Inspections • 24 Hour Emergency Service

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BOILER FLUE CLEANING Starting at $99 for residential; call for commericial quotes

FIREPLACE CLEANING

P/T Receptionist Needed for Ozone Park Printer • Pleasant telephone manners • Computer literate • Neat handwriting

Email resume to:

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TOWING

Car Donations

JUNK VEHICLE REMOVAL

Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup—24hr Response Tax Deduction—Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

SCHOOL BUS/VAN DRIVERS Best Pay Package in the Industry! Start at $25.19* (Bus), $21.97* (Van) Equal Opportunity Employer Free CDL Training 25 Hrs. a week minimum FULL BENEFIT PACKAGE

HUNTINGTON COACH 631-271-8931 *Attendance Bonus Included

Wanted Experienced Hair Stylist & Barber w/Following Your salon station awaits you! Pandemic restrictions in order. Want to make a change?? This is your opportunity. Free Parking every day – all day.

718-835-0118 Closed Mon & Sun

Help Wanted. $18.50 NYC, $17.00 L.I. & up to $13.50 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553.

Merchandise For Sale CARS, TRUCKS, VANS

CASH PAID UPON PICKUP, 7 DAYS CALL

917-885-2315

Career Training

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! call 888-508-5313 DISH TV $64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. 1-888-609-9405 The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) PLEASE CALL LORI, TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL 1-929-361-0643 (Cell Phone). I BILLING! Become a Medical Office PAY THE BEST, MOST HONEST Professional online at CTI! Get PRICES FOR ESTATES, FURNItrained, certified & ready to work TURE, CHANDELIERS, LAMPS, in months! Call 855-543-6440. COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT WORKING), (M-F 8am-6pm ET) FURS, COINS, POCKETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES, GLASSWARE, STERLING SILVERWARE, FIGCertified Teacher will tutor URINES, CANDLESTICKS, PAINTremotely or in person, in Math, INGS, PRINTS, RUGS, PIANOS, Science, Social Studies & SATs, GUITARS, VIOLINS, FLUTES, TAG SALES, CLEANOUTS, CARS very reasonable, 718-763-6524

Merchandise Wanted

Tutoring

Health Services

Elder Care Services, Inc. MEDICAID PROFESSIONALS Jack Lippmann Over 18 years experience filing Medicaid Home Care and Nursing Home applications Protect your income, home, life savings • Apply for Medicaid, medical assistance

FREE Consultation - 718-575-5700 www.eldercareservicesny.com

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1-855-225-1434 dental50plus.com/nypress

Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255

Merchandise Wanted

Health Services

LOOKING TO BUY Estates, gold, costume jewelry, old & mod furn, records, silver, coins, art, toys, comics, action figures, oriental items. Call George, 718-386-1104 or 917-775-3048

VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150 FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-855-579-8907

Garage/Yard Sales

Adoption

Family-oriented single woman looking to welcome a child into Glendale, Sidewalk & Driveway her life. Any ethnicity welcome, Sale! 77-65 76 St. Collectibles of a expenses paid. Please call: 347-470-5228 or my attorney: lifetime. Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm. 800-582-3678 for information Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noon on Tuesday for Thursday’s paper. 718-205-8000 to place your ad NOW!

C M SQ page 33 Y K SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Index No. 712664/2017 WELLS

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Legal Notices

Legal Notices NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000012-21/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assume the name of (First) MANNOJ (Middle) JAMMU (Last) MELWANI. My present name is (First) MANOJ (Middle) JAMMU (Last) MELWANI AKA MANOJ J MELWANI AKA MANOJ MELWANI. The city and state of my present address are Forest Hills, NY. My place of birth is INDIA. The month and year of my birth are April 1976.

NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000682-20/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assume the name of (First) ADELA (Middle) DEL PILAR (Last) HUAYAMAVE TORRES. My present name is (First) ADELA (Last) SANYER FKA ADELA DEL PILAR SANYER AKA ADELA DEL PILAR HUAYAMAVE TORRES. The city and state of my present address are Forest Hills, NY. My place of birth is ECUADOR. The month and year of my birth are December 1971.

6058 CATALPA AVE LLC, Arts.

NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000701-20/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assume the name of (First) HEMISH (Middle) MADRAMUTHOO (Last) NAIDOO. My present name is (First) HEMISH (Last) MADRAMUTHOO NAIDOO AKA HEMISH MADRAMUTHOO NAIDOO (infant). The city and state of my present address are Bellerose, NY. My place of birth is QUEENS, NY. The month and year of my birth are March 2004.

Allamor Entertainment LLC Art of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/16/2020. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, LEGALCORP SOLUTIONS 11 BROADWAY SUITE 615 NEW YORK, NY 10004 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000732-20/QU, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435, grants me (us) the right to: Assume the name of (First) JOHN (Middle) JOSEPH (Last) CAPONES. My present name is (First) JOHN (Middle) JOSEPH (Last) SZYMKIEWICZ AKA JOHN J SZYMKIEWICZ. The city and state of my present address are Bayside, NY. My place of birth is MEXICO. The month and year of my birth are June 1998.

Notice of Formation of Banuma Construction LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/21/2021. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: DINA UDDIN, 85-05 167 STREET, JAMAICA, NY 11432. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

195 EVERGRENE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/12/21. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 60-49 77th Street, Middle Village, NY 11379. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/05/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 330 Oxford Blvd. South, Garden City, NY 11530. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Apts. For Rent

OF THE LATE YVONNE GORDON, IF LIVING, AND IF ANY BE DEAD, Bushwick, 6 Stanhope St, #3R. NO ANY AND ALL PERSONS WHO ARE SPOUSES, WIDOWS, GRANTEES, FEE. 1 MO FREE. 1 BR/1 bath. $1,900/mo. Beautiful renov apt. MORTGAGEES, LIENORS, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES, HWF, SS. Small pets OK. New conEXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF struction bldg. Avail Now. Call Stellina Napolitano, 646-372-7145. SUCH OF THEM AS MAY BE DEAD, AND THEIR SPOUSES, HEIRS, Capri Jet Realty

DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, ALL Bushwick, 842 Bushwick Ave, OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE Apt 2L. 2BR, 1 bath. Fully renov

apt, railroad layout. NO Fee.

UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CITY OF NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL $1,850/mo. HW fls, SS appli, full CONTROL BOARD, CITY OF NEW YORK PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, Defendants. To the above named Defendants: You are hereby summoned to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or if the complaint is not served with

bath. Avail NOW. Call Stellina Napolitano, 646-372-7145, Capri Jet Realty Howard Beach/Lindenwood 6 rms 1 1/2 baths. No pets/smoking. New carpet. Credit ck. Working professionals. $2,300/mo. 718-323-4552

Ridgewood, 6002 Catalpa Ave, #1. this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s NO FEE. $1,550/mo. 1 BR, HWF, attorneys within thirty days after the service of this summons, very high ceilings, full LR, kit. Avail May 1. Call Stellina exclusive of the day of service, and in case of your failure to appear Napolitano, 646-372-7145. Capri Jet Realty

or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the

relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. The foregoing summons is served upon you by

Furn. Rm. For Rent

FLORIDA Boca Raton, FL, 2 BR, 1 1/2 bath, DR, LR, Kit. Fully furHoward Beach Furnished Room nished. 55 yrs & over. $1,500/mo. for rent: $250 per week. Gas and 718-650-0106 electric, cable, Wi-Fi all included. Contact 347-797-9878

Houses For Sale

South Richmond Hill, pvt house, 2nd fl. Working female preferred. Non-smoker. No pets, owner has a dog. Close to trans. Quiet house. $800/mo. 718-683-6761

Co-ops For Sale PARKWAY VILLAGE COMMUNITY

203rd Street, distant 190 feet northerly from the corner formed

Sunny 1 Bed, 1 bath, Renovated Kitchen with granite countertops, hardwood floors, Excellent Condition, vacant $1,020 Maint Fee ONLY 10% DOWN Parking available $299,900

by the intersection of the easterly side of 203rd Street and the

917-295-6928

northerly side of 111th Avenue; RUNNING THENCE easterly at right

LINDENWOOD CO-OP FOR SALE

plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of

angles to 203rd Street, 100 feet; THENCE northerly parallel with 203rd Street, 30 feet; THENCE westerly again at right angles to 203rd Street, 100 feet to the easterly side of 203rd Street; THENCE southerly along the easterly side of 203rd Street, 30 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. Subject to easement, covenants, and restriction of record. These premises are also known as

1 bedroom, 1 bath, w/terrace. Board approval. Main. approx. $825. 33% down. $30 per share flip tax. $225K

109-93 203rd Street a/k/a 10993 203rd Street, Saint Albans,

Email:

NY 11412. WOODS OVIATT GILMAN LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff,

apartmentforsale2021@ gmail.com

500 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 14604.

Condos For Sale

Condos For Rent

Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed the

property: Tax I.D. No. BLOCK: 10943 LOT: 247 ALL that certain

BRIGHT HORIZONS REALTY 718-615-1441

Arverne, half block to beach. Townhouse-ground fl, 2 BR 1 bath, all updated. Incls W/D. Lady seeking room for rent. Furn Asking $355K. Connexion RE, or unfurn. Near convenient public 718-845-1136 trans. Very good refs. Short term ok as well. Call 929-990-1675

KEW GARDENS

object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage on the following

REGO PARK Sunny and bright 1,100 sq. ft. corner unit located in the heart of Rego Park on highly desired Austin Street. Hardwood floors throughout, newly renovated kitchen & bath with porcelain floor tiles and granite counter top. All new stainless steel appliances & eat in nook, with separate dining area which opens to living room for entertaining. $1,075/mo. maintenance includes gas, heat, water, real estate taxes. Close to schools, transportation, shopping & restaurants $625,000

Rooms For Rent

publication pursuant to an order of Honorable Robert J. McDonald, 9th day of December, 2020 at Long Island City, New York. The

Co-ops For Sale

Howard Beach, lovely legal 2 fam. Old Side. Top fl, new kit with granite countertops, SS appli, new cabinets, new bath, 3 BRs. Also use of half walk-in w/half bath. Rest of walk-in is a legal 1 BR apt w/sep ent. Asking $879K. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136 Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, unique home, 5 BR, 4 bath, huge master, whole 3rd fl. Cathedral ceiling, radiant heat, granite countertops, SS appli, wood burning fireplace, I/G pool & pavers. Too much to list! Asking $1.5M Connexion RE, 718-845-1136

Comm. Space For Rent FLUSHING/BAYSIDE WALK IN MEDICAL OFFICE 32-40 Francis Lewis Blvd. No Fee 3 Exam w/Plumbing, Consult, Waiting, Reception, Storage, 2 Parking, Central HVAC, Heat, Water, Taxes, incl., Great Rent/Terms. Call

917.440.2555

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

For the latest news visit qchron.com

NOTICE Re: Marie Daniella Cineas v. Iran Devon Cook, Jr. Docket No: FM-121685-20C TO: IRAN DEVON COOK, JR., This is to notify you that there is an action for Divorce pending in the Middlesex County Superior Court, Family Division, New Brunswick, N.J. We have been unable to successfully serve you via mail or private server. You are therefore being notified via publication. If you cannot afford an attorney you may call Legal Aid of Middlesex County 732-249-7600 or Middlesex County Bar Association 732828-3433 or 732-828-0053 for assistance.

FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. GUITRY BERGEN, ANY UNKNOWN

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 34

C M SQ page 34 Y K Howard Beach e Real Estat Experts!

Queens Real Estat e Experts!

Located in WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn’s hottest neighborhood. We have Qualified International Buyers.

• OPEN HOUSE •

Sunday, April 4th 2 - 3pm

Sunday, April 4th 3:30 - 4:30pm

18-73 Greene Ave., Ridgewood 4 Family w/ Backyard & Full Basement! $1,249,000

97 Moore St., Apt 2A, Williamsburg Spacious 1 BR/1 BA Condo in Williamsburg! $610,000

WE ARE HIRING LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS!

63-15 53rd Drive, Maspeth Legal Brick 2 Family with 2 Car Garage and City Views! $1,260,000

23-02 30th Ave., Astoria Corner Brick Renovated 3 Family w/ Full Basement! $1,649,000

Do you know why the average sales agent at Capri Jet Realty earns $75,000 per year? Hint: Extensive training, superior inside support, new leads everyday and more...

Ask about our “Earn while You Learn” Program

RECRUITING/CAREER ZOOM SEMINAR: April 9, 2021 (11:30 - 2:3O PM)

CALL TODAY TO JOIN THE WINNING TEAM! • OPEN HOUSE • 78-57 81st Street, Glendale Gorgeously Renovated 3 Family (5 Lvls) w/ Backyard & Pvt Dvwy! $1,049,000

FREE Tax Liability (if any) analysis of the sale of your Home, by our in-house accountant, Mario Saggese, CPA, specializing in 1031 Exchanges and saving you money. The consultation is FREE and you are under no obligation to use his services

For more listings, please visit our website CAPJ-078330

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Inquire in confidence for details

www.CapriJetRealty.com 533 Metropolitan Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211

Sunday, April 4th 12 - 1:30pm 6070 St Felix Ave., Glendale Semi-Detached 2 Family w/ Garage! $900,000

Thinking of Listing, call anyone. Thinking of Selling, Call Us! Call Today for a FREE over the phone CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) O: 347-450-3577 info@CapriJetRealty.com

C M SQ page 35 Y K

BEAT

82-17 153 RD Ave., Suite 202, Howard Beach, NY 11414

‘Stockton salute’ are compiled. He was CBS’s top NBA voice when playoff games were shown on tape delay at 11:30 p.m. in the early 1980s. The use of catchphrases such as Brent Musburger’s “You are looking live!,” Marv Albert’s “Yes!,” and Jim Nantz’s “Hello friends!” was eschewed by Stockton. Unlike Kevin Harlan, Gus Johnson and recently retired Mike Emrick, who all needlessly convey excitement when it’s not warranted, Stockton was always economical with his words and even-keeled. It was somewhat in keeping with Stockton’s low profile that his retirement was quickly obscured by reports of CBS Sports’ signature voice, Jim Nantz, agreeing to stay with the Tiffany Network for another decade. Nantz is a tremendous talent but that news was as shocking as learning it’s cold in North Dakota in January. It would only be right if Stockton, who never won an Emmy Award, were to receive a Lifetime Achievement one. The Sports Video Group, which curates the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, should induct Stockton in its Class of 2021. He deserves these honors not just on account of a meritorious career but because he has served as a mentor to many, including fellow Forest Hills High alum Ian Eagle. See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

Chronicle Contributor

Last Thursday, Fox Sports issued a press release announcing the retirement of veteran play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton who spent 27 years there. Stockton grew up in Kew Gardens Hills and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1960. He called contests for 55 years for NBC, CBS, Turner and Fox. When I heard the news about Stockton, I thought of another celebrity who grew up in central Queens, the late comic Rodney Dangerfield. While it wouldn’t be right to say Stockton never got respect it is fair to say he never received the adulation he deserved. Stockton did call one of the most famous moments in baseball history, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk’s 12th inning home run down the left field line in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. “If it stays fair,” was all Stockton said as the ball was sailing out of Fenway Park. Yet that call didn’t catapult his career the way Al Michaels’ career went into the stratosphere after he said, “Do you believe in miracles?” when the U.S. men’s hockey team shocked the Russians in 1980. Although he could handle the broadcasting chores for any sport, Stockton was never the top announcer at any network, and that might account for why he has been overlooked when lists of the greatest announcers

Connexion REAL ESTATE

161-14A Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach

Get Your House

(Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

SOLD!

ARLENE PACCHIANO Broker/Owner

718-845-1136 FREE MARKET EVALUATION

CONNEXIONREALESTATE.COM HOWARD BEACH

SED

$355K

MIDDLE VILLAGE

Too New

718-628-4700

• Lindenwood • Bright sunlit 1 bedroom Garden Co-op. Full bath, living room, dining room, eff kitchen. Hardwood floors, crown moldings, updated kitchen and bathroom, storage room, option for garage parking, close to shopping and transportation. $35/ share fl ip tax.

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK MASSAPEQUA PARK Unique home, 5 BRs, 4 baths, huge master, whole 3rd flr., Cathedral ceilings, radiant heat, granite countertops, S.S. appliances, wood burning fireplace, I/G pool and pavers.

TOO MUCH TO LIST!

Asking $1.5M

Asking $938K

T CO N

R AC

MASSAPEQUA

T! IN

School District 23, Split level home. 3 BRs, 2 baths, great location, full basement, large family room, Close to parks & schools in Unqua Gardens. Asking $599K

ARVERNE CONDO FOR SALE

T CO N

R AC

Colonial 6 BRs, 3 full baths, granite, fin, basement, semi-in ground pool, 1½ car garage.

$925K

HOWARD BEACH Lovely Legal 2 Family in Desirable Old Howard Beach!

Townhouse - Ground Floor, 2 BRs, 1 Bath, All Updated Includes Washer Dryer.

Top Floor Features: Beautiful New Kitchen with Granite Countertops. S.S. Appliances, New Cabinets, New Bathroom, 3 BRs. Also On Top Floor Use of Half of the Walk-in with ½ Bath. The Rest of Walk-in is a Legal 1 BR Appt. With Separate Entrance.

Asking $355K

Asking $879K

HOWARD BEACH

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

FREE

IN HOWARD BEACH

Market Evaluation 718-845-1136

For Photo

All new 4/5 BRs, 3 bath. All updated!

HALF BLOCK TO BEAUTIFUL BEACH!

ROSEDALE

Large 2 Family on oversized lot (84’x121’) Ideal for contractor or to park multiple trucks 7+, with 2 car det. garage, house in (22’x50’), full bsmnt. House sold as is. Needs updating, 6 BR, 3 full baths, Great Price Asking $798K

• Lindenwood • 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom co-op in a beautiful, well-maintained building. Conveniently located near public transportation, schools, shops and restaurants. Only 15 minute drive to the beach! The building offers a laundry room, storage, parking, and a private playground. It is a beautiful and very spacious corner unit with plenty of daylight. Maintenance: $809.73, A/C: $45.00, Dishwasher: $6.00, Refrigerator: $10.00, Security: $11.50, Assessment: $131.10, Additional Assessment: $53.98, Total: $1067.31

Wishing our customers, clients, family and friends a very Happy and Healthy Easter!!

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT Mint Det Colonial, pvt dvwy & 2 car gar, 3 BRs, 2 full baths, completely renovated throughout within 7 years, windows, roof, gas boiler, hotwater heater, stoop, wood doors, porcelain tiles on 1st flr, hardwood flrs upstairs, lg living rm, lg formal dining rm. lg kit with cherry cabinets, S.S. appl, island, Beautiful.

• Rockwood Park Estates • Welcome back to “Howard Beach Estates”! Magnificent Custom Brick Center Hall Colonial. Solid brick home being offered for sale by the original owners. Built in 2010, sitting on an 80x100 lot. 2 story grand entrance with crystal chandelier. Formal living room, formal dining room, 1/2 bath, family room, gourmet chefs kitchen which includes commercial Thermador stove, 2 wall ovens, dishwasher, refrigerator, built in microwave, wine cooler, granite island, plus eating area with fi replace. Sliders which lead to private country club backyard for entertaining. Gated in-ground salt water heated pool, brick pizza oven, BBQ kitchen with refrigerator. Patio with plenty of seating areas. 2nd floor features 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, plus a master bedroom suite with private bath, sitting area and walk-in closet. Full fi nished basement with commercial washer and dryer and 1/2 bath. 1 car garage plus 2 pvt driveways. Flood insurance not mandatory, natural gas generator.

Cross Bay Blvd., 2nd Floor, 350 sq. ft., Plus Heat & Electric, All New Tiles & New Bathroom

$1,500/mo

AND

OZONE PARK 1 TO 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS

For the latest news visit qchron.com

C LO

Condo for Sale

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

69-39 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385

CONR-078951

by Lloyd Carroll

718-835-4700

CENTURY 21 AMIABLE II

Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021

SPORTS

FREE DELIVERY For All SENIOR CITIZENS

Your neighborhood market since 1937 FRI. SAT. SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS.

Sale April April April April April April April Dates 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

PHONE ORDERS GLADLY ACCEPTED

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS A

HAPPY EASTER

$5.00 OFF Your Order WHEN YOU SPEND $100 Excluding catering orders. With this coupon. Expires 04/08/21. Limit One per family.

“It’s not our intention to please a customer or to satisfy them, our intention is to amaze them”

102-02 101st AVE, OZONE PARK • 718-849-8200 FREE CUSTOMER PARKING (Across The Street)

We Accept All Major Credit Cards WIC - EBT

STORE HOURS: Mon.-Sun. 8 am to 9 pm

KEYF-078958

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 1, 2021 Page 36

C M SQ page 36 Y K

We reserve the right to limit quantities to one can or package on sale items. Items offered for sale are not available in case lots. Alcoholic beverages may not be available in all locations. We are not responsible for typographical errors. Some Items Not Available in all Locations.