Queens Chronicle South Edition 04-08-21 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. 14

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

QCHRON.COM

CROSS BAY’S COMEBACK Restaurants are surviving but wonder when the strip’s nightlife will return

PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT

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Joe DeCandia, the owner of Lenny’s Clam Bar, Roma View catering hall and Abba’s Italian Steaks and Chops, said that he’s been able to adapt his business models to keep aﬂoat but he’s noticed that while more people are trickling indoors to eat, they don’t stay out as late on Cross Bay Boulevard.

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State leaders reach budget agreement

Looking at the impacts of marijuana legalization

New book hits the high notes in Steinway’s storied history

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PAGES 8, 12 AND 13

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Shots: ‘Do it for the people around you’ Queens native in Test & Trace Corps says vaccinations remain important by Michael Gannon Editor

es, Sequoia King is a program manager for the New York City Test & Trace

Corps. But her advice for people who might be hesitant or nonchalant about getting tested and vaccinated for Covid-19 is at least as practical as it is clinical — get the shots. “I say don’t do it for yourself; do it for the people around you,” the Queens native told the Chronicle in an interview Tuesday. “For me, I got vaccinated for my father, who has a compromised immune system,” said King, who splits her time between her native Jamaica and Forest Hills. “And for my aunt who has diabetes, and the rest of my community that is a lot more vulnerable than I am. “If I was on the fence, I would say the sooner I have some level of protection against the Covid-19 illness, the sooner I have protection against hospitalization. But for me it was really making sure that I didn’t just think about myself. I was thinking about the people who are at greater risk than I

am, and being able to protect them.” King is a program manager in the Community Development Outreach section, which she says supports all aspects of the Test & Trace mission involving food programs, isolation hotels, social services and help for people to sign up for the vaccine. The Test & Trace Corps was created by the de Blasio administration to help slow the spread of coronavirus. A number of neighborhoods in Queens still are posting double-digit positive testing rates for numbers collected in the week of March 28 through April 3. The 11354 ZIP code in FlushingMurray Hill has a positive test rate of 13.9 percent, according to the city’s official website. Woodhaven’s 11421 neighborhood registered 12.22 percent. College Point’s 11356 ZIP code registered a rate of 11.81. Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park’s 11419 neighborhood came in at 11.26 percent. Further down the scale, Bayside in 11364 measured 8.59 percent, while Jamaica in 11434 came in at 8.18. The 11413 section of Laurelton and Rosedale measured 7.73 percent. Test results for all city ZIP codes

are available on an interactive map at on.nyc.gov/3cT4cOE . King said she considered the opportunity to join Test & Trace a natural fit, and a logical extension of her work. “I’ve dedicated my career, at least the past 15 years, to community organizing, building and mobilizing communities to educate themselves,” she said. “I wanted the opportunity to help other New Yorkers. A year ago, the only thing I could do to help others was to stay home. And I wanted to be part of the solution, bringing New York back to life but also helping my fellow New Yorkers.” While the number of people who have been vaccinated is going up — with the total expected to increase exponentially now that all in the state are eligible — King believes regular testing still is important. “I still recommend that everyone continues to follow our Core Four,” King said. “Wear masks. Keep social distancing. Keep getting tested about once a month. And wash or sanitize your hands regularly.” King said city officials are fully aware that some people, particularly

Residents line up for Covid-19 vaccinations outside of the York College athletic complex in Jamaica. Sequoia King is encouraging people to care for themselves — and those around them. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON; COURTESY PHOTO

the elderly, may have difficulty accessing the technology to schedule vaccine appointments online, and that they are working with community groups, elected officials and others to help get people registered. The city also is moving toward mobile vaccine services to get additional resources into its so-called task force areas like Jamaica where infor-

mation, testing and vaccines were all in short supply in the early going. King said one of the hardest parts in a county as diverse as Queens — “A cultural melting pot,” she noted — has been getting the important information and services into communities in the languages spoken there. She said Test & Trace is now working in at least 27 languages. Q

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What will become of Cross Bay nightlife? Though restaurants have survived, they’re wondering about the future by Max Parrott Associate Editor

Although restaurants along Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach have adapted in order to survive the economic pressures of the pandemic, it’s unclear when the strip’s night life will return to normal. The boulevard is home to a 24/7 diner, mom ’n’ pop eateries and a group of established Italian restaurants like Lenny’s Clam Bar, Prima Pasta, Gino’s and Bruno Ristorante that attract diners from across the city. While civic and business leaders haven’t heard of any closing along the corridor, they

Frank Zummo said that the coffee shop location that he started in October has struggled to find footing during the pandemic. PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT

pointed out that many restaurants are just eeking by and can’t predict how long they can keep open with reduced capacity. Although Gov. Cuomo loosened indoor dining restrictions to 50 percent capacity last month, many restaurants say they’re still relying on takeout as a major source of income even as the weather warms and makes going out more common. “People are hesitating a little bit. Some people are just open to life and some people are a little terrified,” said Tony Modica, the owner of Prima Pasta. Modica said that his bottom line has recovered with the loosening of restrictions but still has a way to go toward stability. Whereas he estimated that when relying on takeout alone the restaurant lost about 80 percent of business, now, “we’re doing about 50 percent of business,” he said. When the restrictions are fully loosened some restaurateurs wonder whether nightlife in the corridor will be the same. Joe DeCandia, the owner of the Roma View catering and Lenny’s Clam Bar, a Cross Bay mainstay since the ’70s, recently said while Lenny’s is doing well under the circumstances, he has noticed people’s dining habits have changed. “We used to be open until 2 a.m. and do business until 2 a.m. Closing at 11 clearly hurts our bottom line, but I find that Cross Bay after 9 o’clock it’s dead. It used to be a late night [destination],” he said. Pablo Flores, manager of the Cross Bay

Tony Modica, the owner of Prima Pasta on Cross Bay, said that his restaurant lost 80 percent of normal business at the peak of the pandemic but that it’s been picking up gradually with each PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT loosening of restrictions. Diner, said that he is eagerly looking forward to returning to 24/7 service, but isn’t sure when it would be allowed. “Hopefully we’ll go back to 24/7 soon. We don’t know how long it’s going to take — maybe a couple of months — we don’t know,” Flores said. Last Friday evening diners populated Lenny’s Clam Bar, but with an open table or two separating most of the dining parties. DeCandia said that he had learned Lenny’s could rely

on takeout for a lot of his business, but the fact that the restaurant was doing only that from Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day weekend left a dent in his income streams. “Opening on Valentine’s Day really was a gift,” he said. While many of the more established restaurants on Cross Bay have been able to hang on to their customer base through takeout options, newcomer businesses have struggled continued on page 6

Fault lines emerge in D32 Dem primary Petition challenges spark discord, threaten to halt two campaigns by Max Parrott

off the ballot. Though O’Brien-Israel has not formally When a group of Democratic candidates been linked to any campaign, the pattern of running for District 32 came together in a sol- those targeted suggests that she is associated idarity pact not to challenge each other’s peti- with Mike Scala, a Howard Beach attorney running for the seat. Two of the three tion signatures to get on the ballot, they candidates that O’Br ien-Israel had hoped the agreement would refrained from challenging were avoid objections and reduce the those that Scala ranked to qns. risk of in-person campaigning. com as his favorites after his own Their health-first goal of stopbid. ping petition challenges was not Scala did not confirm or deny successful. Two weeks ago, a whether O’Brien-Israel was associRockaway resident named Teresa ated with his campaign when the A. O’Brien-Israel filed general 2021 Chronicle asked him directly. objections against five of the Demo“I can’t comment out of respect for the cratic candidates — the first step in chalprocess,” he said. lenging petition signatures. O’Brien-Israel could not be reached. She has followed up with specifications Graziano, one of the two candidates whose against the petitions of Community Board 9 Chairman Kenichi Wilson and community campaign remains threatened by the petitions, organizer Raimondo Graziano — a process said the person who lodged the challenges is that will kickstart a review by the Board of probably a moderate, like himself, who is Elections, and could end up keeping them afraid of competition.

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Mike Scala, left, Raimondo Graziano, Kenichi Wilson and Felicia Singh are all Democratic candiFILE PHOTOS dates running for City Council in District 32. “It’s obviously an individual who shares the same kind of views as we do, but it doesn’t really like the idea of competition and believes that, ‘Hey, you got a bunch of progressives in the race. Let the progressives fight each other out — Felicia [Singh] and Shaeleigh Severino — divide the votes that way.” Under election law, those running for Council needed to physically collect 270 sig-

natures from registered voters in their districts. While that threshold was lower than usual this year due to the pandemic, some candidates say that the signature provision should have been completely done away with for the sake of safety. In theory, the objections process allows candidates to challenge their competitors if they feel that they have not proven valid continued on page 12

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State lawmakers reach budget deal Agreement includes sports betting, billions for rent relief and schools by Max Parrott Associate Editor

Better late than never. Gov. Cuomo reached an agreement on the state’s 2021-22 budget with state legislative leaders on Tuesday afternoon almost a week after its April 1 deadline. The $212 billion state budget for fiscal year 2022 includes $29.5 billion in aid to schools, $2.1 billion for undocumented immigrants impacted by the pandemic, $2.4 billion for rent and mortgage relief and legalized mobile sports betting. It represents a stark increase from the $177 billion budget approved last year. “Thanks to the State’s strong fiscal management and relentless pursuit to secure the federal support that the pandemic demanded, we not only balanced our budget, we are also making historic investments to reimagine, rebuild and renew New York in the aftermath of the worst health and economic crisis in a century,” Cuomo said in a press release announcing the deal. Democratic lawmakers heralded the public school spending as a major victory in a press release on the budget. It includes a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid, funding that fulfills a years-old court decision requiring more state funding for public schools. “This is historic, the NYS legislature has

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Virtual job fairs April 9 and 15 Borough President Donovan Richards announced two interactive, virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fairs for April. Richards and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Corona) will co-host a fair on Friday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Richards will host his monthly jobs fair on Thursday, April 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Organizations at the April 9 fair include 82nd Street Academics, Animal Care Centers of NYC, Building Skills NY, CAMBA, Inc., formerly the Church Avenue Merchant Block Association, Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, Express Employment Professionals, New York Life, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Workforce1. The second fair will have those and The Child Center of New York, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Empire Vets, Forest Hills Financial Group, the New York City Children’s Center, NYC Transit/MTA, Queens Centers for Progress, Resorts World Casino NYC, Turning Point for Women and Families, Watch Guard 24/7 and Westhab, Inc. To participate in a fair, RSVP by the day before it is held at queensbp.org/rsvp. Q

agreed to phase-in the full Found a t io n A id owe d t o N Y’s schools!” tweeted Jasmine Gripper, an advocate with Alliance for Quality Education, a group that lobbied for the school funding. The budget also includes funding for “excluded workers,” a program that will provide cash payments to workers who have suffered income loss due to Covid but who are ineligible for unemployment insurance or related federal benef its due to their immigration status. Lawmakers on the left and activists had been pushing for $3.5 billion for such a relief fund, but the negotiations ended up reducing it. “Aid of this size also provides New York state lawmakers reached a deal on a $212 billion a substantial boost to the commu- 2021-22 on Tuesday. n it ies where u ndocu mented immigrants live,” David Dyssegaard Kallick, Hot on the heels of the state’s decision to director of the Fiscal Policy Institute’s Immi- legalize marijuana, last week, the budget gration Research Initiative, said in a state- agreement includes a plan to legalize mobile ment. “That will provide a much-needed sports betting, an effort that state Sen. Joe boost to shops, grocery stores, and gas sta- Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) has speartions around the state.” headed for years as the chairman of the SenThe think tank estimated the program’s a t e R a c i n g , G a m i n g a n d Wa g e r i n g economic boost at $1.5 billion for New York Committee. City. The state will select at least two betting

New arrest in $280G Aqueduct robbery by Michael Gannon Editor

Federal authorities have indicted a third man in connection with the March 2020 robbery that netted $280,000 from Aqueduct Race Track, and have added an obstruction of justice charge against a former security guard who was arrested last June as the alleged inside man on the crime. A superseding indictment handed up by a federal grand jury last week charged Khaleel Williams, 32, with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and possessing and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Lafayette Morrison of Jamaica, formerly a security guard at the track, and Lamel Miller already were facing the same three charges. Mor rison also was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly posing as a victim during the robbery and lying to investigators during the investigation, in the five-page indictment obtained Monday from the office of Mark Lesko, acting United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The robbery took place at about 9:45 p.m. on March 7 following the Aqueduct Gotham Day races. Morrison was escorting two clerks with the day’s cash to the track’s vault when two armed men wearing surgical masks confronted them on a catwalk between the first and second floors of the office area. The gunmen took the victims’ cell phones and the money while forcing them, along with Morrison, into a nearby closet. Federal author ities back in Ju ne alleged that cell phones that were purchased from a MetroPCS store on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard the day before, as well as cell tower data from Miller’s and Morrison’s own phones tie the men to the crime. In a related 28-page statement, federal prosecutors have asked the court to deny defense motions to suppress statements made by Morrison during interviews prior to his arrest; and by Miller to suppress evidence from two cars he allegedly purchased on consecutive days three weeks after the robbery and subsequently Q gave to others.

platforms to set up the mobile sports wagering based on how they will be able to maximize revenue for the state, according to language in the budget bill. Those platforms will work with at least four casino operators implementing sports wagering. Once fully phased in, the program will provide $5 million annually to youth sports, and $6 million to combat problem gambling, according to the Senate press release on the budget. The remainder of the new revenue will be dedicated to education. In terms of rent and mortgage relief, the budget will establish a $2.4 billion rent relief program budget for using federal and state funds. The FILE PHOTO program will support households owing rent that have experienced financial hardship, are at risk of homelessness or housing instability and that earn less than 80 percent of area median income. The program would prioritize those with the lowest incomes, the unemployed and other vulnerable populations, according to the governor’s press release. Renters in the program will also be eligible to receive relief for utility Q arrears.

Cross Bay Blvd. continued from page 4 to find their footing. Frank Zummo, the co-owner of Etto Espresso Bar, a small artisanal coffee shop that opened up in October, said that it’s been really tough for him to hang on. “For small businesses, it’s harder than ever,” he said. Zummo had to close down the coffee company’s flagship store in Long Island City over the past year. In Howard Beach, his main competitor is the Starbucks a few blocks away — a challenge that has prompted him to create a custom-built app just to compete in the world of made-to-order takeout drinks. “It’s the businesses that were doing OK that need the most support post-pandemic and they have to get that or else they will be gone. That’s where the support should really go, to businesses that Q really need it,” said Zummo.

Correction Due to a production error, page 10, the editorial page, and page 12 of the April 1 South Queens edition were not printed as intended. The correct pages can be seen in the electronic edition of the paper, available at qchron.com/ digital_edition. The item missing from page 12, “An Easter story with a twist: It isn’t about a bunny,” is also printed on page 11 in this week’s Q edition. We regret the error.

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P Haze new world in the Hempire State EDITORIAL

AGE

mong the 16 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, only one allows it to be smoked in public. This one. That’s right: Aside from allowing people to smoke weed in their own homes, the new law just signed by Gov. Cuomo lets tokers indulge just about anywhere it’s legal to smoke cigarettes. Wanna do bong hits on your front stoop and watch the world go by? Go ahead. Wanna head down to the strip and hit a joint on the sidewalk before you go into your favorite watering hole? Enjoy that multiplier effect. Feeling obnoxious and thinking it’d be fun to walk up and down the sidewalk in front of the police precinct while you drag on a blunt? As long as you’re not too close to the entrance, we don’t think they’d have any way to stop you, legally speaking. It gets a little tougher by your neighborhood school. You can’t smoke weed within 100 feet of that place. Ever notice how little 100 feet is? It’s certainly not enough to ensure that exhaled pot smoke will be so dissipated in the air that the kids won’t inhale it. But hey, they’re just going to have to get used to it. They and everyone else are going to be smelling weed a lot more often now. This is what our representatives voted for. The only dissenters from Queens were state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. of Howard Beach and Assemblymembers Stacey Pheffer Amato of Rockaway Park, Jenifer Rajkumar of Woodhaven and Brian Barnwell of Maspeth.

The first three were largely concerned about the fact that no reliable tests exist to see if someone is driving under the influence of marijuana, unlike those that determine blood alcohol content. We don’t know why the fourth voted no; he didn’t answer our queries. Addabbo told the Chronicle he might have voted yes if the bill regulated marijuana like alcohol. But in the end, it regulates weed more like tobacco, allowing open consumption. “Are we ready for it?” Addabbo asked. “As a society I don’t know. I don’t think so.” Some other elements of the new law that concern him may come as a surprise to some. While you’re toking up outside, you can have up to three ounces of pot on your person. If you don’t know, that’s a lot of weed. It’s a lot more than a casual user would ever have at one time. And eventually, when the provisions on growing it at home take effect, you’ll be allowed to have five pounds in your house. The only people with five pounds of weed today are dealers, and they’re not the low-level folks selling it on the street or in the dorm room. Oh, and if you do sell to someone under 21, it’s a misdemeanor, but if your age difference is less than three years, that’s a legal defense. And don’t forget, smoking weed is actually not good for you. “Are we looking to legalize marijuana or are we looking to promote it?” Addabbo asked. Good question, Senator. Your colleagues seem to have answered it — as they get high on more tax revenue.

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Dear Editor: Not so fast “PA pushing AirTrain Benefits, awaits FAA” (by Michael Gannon, April 1, multiple editions). Something was missing from the Federal Aviation Administration Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed LaGuardia AirTrain. Neither Gov. Cuomo, Port Authority Chairman Rick Cotton, MTA Chairman Pat Foye, LIRR President Phil Eng nor NYC Transit interim President Sarah Feinberg has ever revealed what the additional operating costs would be to provide supporting LIRR and NYC Transit service. No one has identified the funding sources to pay for increasing frequency of service. Only Cuomo, the Port Authority and their consultants, along with labor unions and construction contractors who would benefit by this project, refuse to acknowledge the reality that a 30-minute trip is fantasy. In 2014, Cuomo said the cost for the LaGuardia AirTrain was $450 million with a completion date of 2019. The Port Authority has budgeted $2.05 billion for the project with a completion date of 2025. This doesn’t include several hundred million more that is necessary to relocate NYC Transit’s Casey Stengel Bus Depot in Flushing. There is no funding within the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-24 capital plan to pay for this cost. Who will pay for the additional costs if the construction bids come in above © 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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the available funding? Who can guarantee the final cost and completion date? Larry Penner Great Neck, LI The writer is a transportation historian, advocate and writer who worked for 31 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office.

Parole board a threat to us Dear Editor: Re your April 1 editorial “End Anti-Asian Hate”: Thanks for setting the record straight about so-called “white supremacist” hate crimes. As you noted, most of those arrested by the NYPD for hate crimes in 2020 were not white, and that trend continues so far this year. But another disturbing trend has emerged. Some of the assailants are parolees recently released from prison who should not have been on the streets in the first place. One of them is Brandon Elliot, 38, who is charged with violently attacking a 65-year-old Asian woman in

Cockloft fire fix

or the third time in a month, a fire in Queens turned out much worse than it had to be because of an outdated building feature: the cockloft. On March 4 a Jackson Heights fire damaged six businesses. Last Saturday a Queens Village blaze trashed three shops. Then on Tuesday a Jackson Heights apartment house fire displaced more than 300 people. Each fire spread through the cockloft, the space between the ceiling and roof of older buildings. State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. has for years sponsored a bill that would give owners a tax credit to seal up cocklofts to thwart fires. New Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar is carrying the companion in the lower house. It’s high time the Assembly join the Senate in passing this simple, common-sense, potentially lifesaving legislation.

Manhattan. He was sentenced to 15 years to life for stabbing his mother to death in 2002. He was denied parole in 2017 and 2018, but was sprung after Gov. Cuomo packed the state Parole Board with “soft-on-crime” social justice crusaders, noted the New York Post (April 1). Another recently released parolee, Darryl Jones, 30, was arrested for allegedly slashing a Hasidic couple and their 1-year-old daughter in Manhattan. Police investigated the attack as a possible hate crime. Jones was out on parole after serving seven years in prison for a violent robbery in 2011. But parole perversity reached a new height (or depth) of insanity when news reports revealed that Richard Rivera, who killed an offduty NYPD cop 40 years ago in Queens, now sits on a police reform board for the city of Ithaca, NY. He was sprung in 2019 after spending four decades in prison. Putting a convicted copkiller on a police “reform” board is like asking an arsonist to reform a fire department. Cuomo’s Parole Board appointees believe that all violent criminals, even murderers, deserve a second chance. But did their victims

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get a second chance? Why does Cuomo pick felon-friendly fools to determine who gets paroled? Perhaps he’s looking toward his future as a politician facing possible criminal changes. If he serves time and then seeks freedom, he wants the deck stacked in his favor. Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

trol and end any chance of a future Republican victory. That would be the death knell of this republic and an ascendency of a monarchy. Didn’t we fight that battle in 1776 and win? Wake up folks, we need an alert citizenship! Thomas and Constance Dowd Oakland Gardens

Get OAS on border crisis

Dear Editor: President Biden has led the Democrats in making false claims about the recently passed Georgia election law. It is time to set the record straight. First, Biden claimed that the law restricts voting hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Washington Post gave that comment four pinocchios. In fact, the election hours remain the same as always: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The early voting hours that were previously not explicitly stated are now listed as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with counties allowed to extend them from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More days were added so this gives voters more flexibility. If a voter wants an absentee ballot an acceptable ID must be provided. This is not unreasonable. Also, state and local governments are no longer allowed to send unsolicited applications and third-party groups that send applications have new rules to follow. The part of the bill that has gotten the most attention has to do with third-party interest groups not being allowed to hand out water or food to people on line to vote. It does not prohibit people from bringing their own water or going to a nearby vendor and buying it. Also, polling places can provide food and water on their own if they want. If someone wearing a “Make America Great Again” or other political T-shirt wanted to give out water, that would be prohibited. There’s no reason to have a problem with that. Biden has called the bill “Jim Crow on steroids.” That is an obvious lie. Democrats are trying to build a case for their very flawed voting rights bill being considered in the Senate by demonizing the Georgia bill. Shame on them. Lenny Rodin Forest Hills

Dear Editor: The Truman presidency encouraged two international organizations to be created to assist affairs in their regions: NATO in Europe and the Organization of American States in the 21 nations of the Western Hemisphere. For decades, the USA has been plagued with illegal border crossings. In 2007 my book “Wave Mexicana” concerning border security and illegal aliens was published. Trump invoked his border wall as a solution to the problem and failed! Now, the Biden presidency is confronted with a children’s crusade. My advice to Mr. 46 is to call upon the OAS to develop a blueprint to solve the serious border violation. The “supreme organ” of the OAS is the International Conference, which meets every five years. I urge our president to call for an emergency session of the OAS to deal with this crisis. Anthony G. Pilla Forest Hills

Dems seek monarchy

GOP vs. corporations Dear Editor: Mitch McConnell and other Republicans are calling for corporations to stay out of politics, concerning voting rights. That position is disingenuous considering how much the Republicans gloated over the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court win, which allowed corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections. Some state legislatures are threatening to increase taxes and reduce other benefits allowed to corporations that do business in their states if the corporations do not support their state’s voting policy changes. The battle between Republicans and corporations might be a definitive moment in politics because the Citizens United decision does not stipulate that the unlimited campaign funding go to Republican candidates. That scythe can swing both ways. Glenn Hayes Kew Gardens

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Dear Editor: From the first day in office President Biden proceeded to cancel, by way of 50 executive orders, all the previous work of the Trump’s presidency. Gone was the humbling, uplifting talk of coming together and working toward a united nonpartisan healing conducive to creating an atmosphere that would nurture a healthy, productive comeback for our nation and the end of bitter conflict. Instead, we have a terrible crisis at the border with thousands of migrants, both adults and children, trying to get in, some wearing Biden shirts (where did they come from?). This at a time when Americans are still hurting for jobs and are trying to get vaccinated. Where is the rational thinking here? And now not to be outdone, there is the HR 1 Voting Act, which would nationalize elections (800 pages no one has read) and would gut the constitutional requirement of the states’ legislatures to control state election rules, allowing the following: 1) Absentee ballots reserved for out-of-towners and military with no witness signatures. 2) Ballot harvesting, subject to fraud. 3) Sixteen- and 17-year-olds eligible to vote. 4) Registering online, subject to fraud. 5) Same-day voting, absent ID and address? 6) No voter ID or signature confirmation? 7) Voting in different precincts? 8) Delaying election outcomes by 10 days. 9) Complaints to be made only in Washington, DC. Finally, the recent call for the elimination of the filibuster in the Senate by this administration would provide the momentum to bring to fruition their goal of complete Democratic con-

Georgia lies on my mind

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Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 10

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Public schools to replace two-case rule Mayor has yet to come to agreement with teachers union on new policy by Max Parrott Associate Editor

Mayor de Blasio announced that he will be replacing the “two-case” rule for public school closures in the coming days at his press event on Monday. The mayor said that he wanted to announce the decision to replace the rule before he was ready to actually release a new policy because it would be important to parents making their decision about whether to sign their children up for in-person learning, the timeline for which now extends through Friday. The rule requires a public school building to close for at least 10 days after two unlinked Covid cases are detected. Critics have argued for months that the rule has proved a major hurdle to maintaining stable in-person schedules without reflecting the most up-to-date research about Covid transmission. “The way to beat Covid is not by closing schools excessively but by suppressing transmission inside and outside of schools through a focus on fundamentals,” said Dave Chokshi, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, at the Monday press event. Media attention has built around the issue recently as medical experts have told Pro-

Publica, among other publications, that the rule does not comport with evidence-based science, and called it arbitrary. The mayor had promised that the city would re-evaluate the two-case policy in early February, but has yet to come to agreement with the city’s public teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers. “We’re going to work with the unions that represent all school employees — educators and school staff — on the new rule, and again, we’ll be announcing that new rule and implementing it within the coming days,” de Blasio said on Monday. Asked if he would have the new policy ready by the end of the opt-in period Friday, de Blasio declined to give a concrete time frame. He also did not give specifics about how many cases would form the threshold for the new rule. “I’ve talked to lots of parents. I was a public school parent. I don’t think they’re out there with banners saying they want it to be X number of cases or Y number of cases. I think what parents feel, and they’re right, is that the two-case rule has outlived its usefulness,” de Blasio said. Shor tly af ter the mayor made the announcement Monday, the UFT released a statement pushing back on de Blasio’s remarks.

“A proclamation is not a plan. The city can’t change the two-case rule without Albany’s approva l ,” U F T P r e s i d e n t Michael Mulgrew, who has supported the rule, said in a prepared statement. He added that the union will continue to discuss the issue with the city. In response to Mulgrew’s assertion, the s t a t e D e p a r t m e nt of Health clarified that no state guidance requires the “two case” rule. Last su m mer, “ we required every school district to work with their local health department and bring together teachers, families and students Mayor de Blasio announced that he will be eliminating the controfor a conversation on versial policy that guides school closures before he had crafted its reopening to develop replacement in order to inform parents who were weighing whether plans that worked within to participate in the opt-in period. FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN ou r g uidance,” w rote DOH spokesperson Jill Montag in a statement ations should work with their local health to the Chronicle. “That remains true, and any department and ensure they have another Q school system that wants to change their oper- community conversation.”

Richards introduces list of CB reforms The BP announced new measures in unveiling his new appointments by Max Parrott

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Associate Editor

A new borough president means a new approach toward community boards. When Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a virtual webinar on Tuesday announcing his first slate of community board appointments since being elected he also took the opportunity to make several reforms to the Queens community board network. The reforms include establishing a centralized code of conduct for board members in addition to the call for every community board to conduct a review of its bylaws in order to try and create more uniformity throughout the 14 boards. In describing his office’s process of naming new members to the borough’s community boards, Richards said his staff paid close attention to making appointments and reappointments that would make the panels more inclusive, adding more racial diversity and more women to them. The boards only had room for 110 appointees chosen from over 900 applicants.

Borough President Donovan Richards held a virtual meeting on Tuesday announcing that he was releasing a slate of new community board appointZOOM SCREENSHOT ments and outlining several reforms. In his presentation, Richards described the “huge lift” that his staff undertook to interview every single person who applied. In selecting candidates, not only did they consider gender, age, race and ethnicity but the applicants’ civic backgrounds, whether they owned

cars or took public transit and whether they were homeowners or renters. “We need to make sure that we’re doing better as we move forward on behalf of the people of Queens,” Richards said. “Democracy is at its strongest when the voices

of all the people it serves are elevated, a principle we are happy to strive toward with this new class of appointees.” Of the borough president’s 110 first-time appointees, 62.4 percent are women, which he highlighted as a 20.2 point increase from the current ratio of female membership. But it wasn’t just gender imbalances he sought to address. Richards also made a concerted effort to appoint more young people to the boards. A resulting 74.3 percent of this year’s first-time appointees are 45 years old or younger, while individuals 35 or younger make up 43.1 percent of all new appointees. Compared to board membership as of 2020, the new appointees include greater percentages of Latinx, East Asian/Pacific Islander, South Asian and African-American members. The immigrant LGBTQI A+ re present at ion h a s also increased. The code of conduct outlines rules and responsibilities of board members, and gives Richards’ office the power to provide disciplinary measures or remove mem-

bers who violate those rules. “I will say in terms of discipline, we can have a private discussion with individuals. There can be mediation as well, and then in some situations we will remove people,” Richards said. Complaints against community board members for alleged violations of the code will be investigated by the Borough President’s General Counsel’s Office. The new bylaw revision committee is aimed at modernizing community boards and making their meetings more accessible to the public. Richards called on each board to establish a bylaw revision committee this April to conduct a comprehensive review of its bylaws, policies and procedures. He said in the presentation that part of his vision for the committee is for every board to adopt a video livestream of every meeting, and make the recordings publicly accessible. It also involves formalizing a time for public comments during each meeting and making the process easier for the general public to Q participate in.

C M SQ page 11 Y K

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

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

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Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine?

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

Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

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

An Easter story with a twist: It isn’t about a bunny

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 12

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Cops, biz leaders react to pot laws BID directors concerned about users scaring customers in front of stores by David Russell

and other crimes.” He said in his experience as an officer, Weed is legal in New York and the NYPD though not specifically in Forest Hills and Rego Park, people arrested with pot often is adjusting. A memo to officers says people 21 and have firearms. Cappelmann said he believes cannabis has older can legally smoke weed “almost anywhere that cigarette smoking is allowed been prevalent since it was decriminalized including on sidewalks, on front stoops and but now with it legalized, there won’t be much to do if residents complain about the other public places.” People are allowed to have up to three aroma being a quality-of-life issue. “You want to help people out but you’re ounces of cannabis under the law. When it comes to cars, the smell of “burnt limited as to what you can do,” he said. The officers will be trained in regards to and unburnt” weed “alone no longer establishes probable cause of a crime to search a what they can and cannot do but he said he vehicle,” according to the memo, which was doesn’t believe cops will be scared off from taking any action. posted online by the New York Post. “I don’t think that’s the case,” he said. “I If a driver admits to smoking recently, officers can search the vehicle’s passenger think they’re still going to enforce the law compartment, but “the trunk may not be and they’re still going to do their job.” Cermeli said the NYPD does a good job of searched unless the officer develops separate probable cause to believe the trunk contains getting the message out, whether it’s through evidence of a crime (e.g., gun recovered from in-person training, sending memos or instructional videos. under driver seat).” “When something happens, it’s right at Capt. Jonathan Cermeli, commanding officer of the 110th Precinct, told the Chroni- your fingertips,” he said. Cappelmann said he is concerned about cle it’s not the first time the department has people driving under made a policy the influence of marchange. a n a , wh ich is “We change with e change with the laws, iju tougher to determine a lot of things,” he said. “We change we change with society, than drinking and driving. with the laws, we we change with certain Ma r iju a n a wa s change with society, decriminalized in we change with cerdemands from New York in 2019 tain demands from and made legal last communities.” communities.” Wednesday. CrimiThe commander — Capt. Jonathan Cermeli, nal justice advocates did admit that “a commanding officer of the 110th Precinct celebrated the move. c o n c e r n” i s n o t New Yorkers of color checking vehicles for pot as firearms or other drugs could be made up 94 percent of marijuana-related arrests and summonses in 2020, according to found. “If you came across a kilo of heroin, you The Legal Aid Society. Smoking is banned in all city parks, weren’t just going to push that aside and say, ‘That isn’t marijuana.’ You would then arrest beaches and boardwalks, public golf courses, them on that charge. And you’d still look for playgrounds, pools and pedestrian plazas like marijuana but that was because marijuana Times Square and Herald Square. CUNY campuses and St. John’s Universiwas not legal,” Cermeli said. Capt. Joseph Cappelman, commanding ty are smoke-free as well. But it is legal to smoke pot wherever you officer of the 112th Precinct, said, “There’s definitely a correlation between marijuana can smoke tobacco. Associate Editor

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“W

D32 petition challenges continued from page 4 community support for running. In practice, the process has historically been used by the Queens Democratic Party to invalidate the bids of insurgent candidates for technical errors. Scala said the signature requirement is important because otherwise the system is too easily manipulated. “At the end of the day, if you have the signatures and you follow the process, you’ll get on the ballot,” Scala said. Felicia Singh, one of the candidates who received a general objection but not any

specifications, argued that the archaic rules of the objections process often have the effect of keeping women or people of color off the ballot. “I don’t think it should exist because it inherently has problematic issues with that system unless we change it to something that’s different. But right now the way it is it’s super archaic,” she said. In the case of Wilson and Graziano, both candidates have hundreds of signatures beyond the 270 threshold. Wilson, who said he stopped collecting signatures at around 750, is seeing over 550 challenged. Grazia-

Police in New York are facing another change, as cannabis use was legalized March 31. It was FILE PHOTO decriminalized in 2019. New Yorkers are allowed to possess up to three ounces of cannabis for recreational use or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, such as oils derived from a cannabis plant. At home, people eventually will be permitted to store up to five pounds of cannabis but have to take “reasonable steps” to make sure it is in a secure place. Gov. Cuomo signed the bill into law on March 31. Smoking publicly where it’s not allowed can mean a civil penalty of $25 or up to 20 hours of community service. Some business leaders are concerned about the new rules, with Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District Executive Director Glen n G reenidge calling it “horrible.” He said the smell has been common at hubs such as Sutphin Boulevard and Archer Avenue, and Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue. “It’s going to be harder to get them off the street,” Greenidge said, adding that shopkeepers should be careful because the smokers can get violent. “You’re going to have more loitering and more activity in front of the storeowners property at the hot spots,” he said. “It’s going to be tough.” The smokers take up room near doorways no, who said that he received almost 1,000 signatures, is having over 700 challenged. One of Singh’s volunteers, Marva Kerwin, told the Chronicle that a staffer on Scala’s campaign, Andrey Bystrov, openly talked about planning to use petition objection as part of a strategy when the attorney was first considering a 2021 run. Kerwin said Bystrov talked about his intention to lodge challenges against Singh in particular. “He said, ‘She’s not going to get on the ballot because we’re going to challenge her because a South Asian can never win this district.’ He went off saying like, ‘The district is this and there’s not enough South Asians who are going to vote for her,’” said Kerwin.

of businesses. “They stand, they block the doors,” Greenidge said. “Families with small children don’t want to have to wade through.” Derek Irby, executive director of the 165th Street Mall Improvement Association and 180th Street Business Improvement District, voiced similar concerns. “As they keep smoking it becomes unsightly for older customers who want to come and shop,” he said. Greenidge said he hopes people will go to dispensaries, which are reportedly expected to open in 2022, when possible. “I would imagine the dispensaries would have a better product than the people on the street,” he said. Irby said it will be problematic because the police can’t do anything now. “We always had on-and-off drug problems but every time we had them, it took a little time, but we got them [away] but this is different because they’ve been told not to do anything about it,” he said. Greenidge said the situation will be very challenging for business owners. He wants to see the District Attorney’s Office to introduce a trespassing order that would protect owners if someone has already been asked to leave once. “That’s our only hope at this point and Q time,” he said. Bystrov disputed the anecdote, saying that he doesn’t believe Singh’s platform in particular can win the seat but that he does think it would be possible for a South Asian candidate to come out on top. “The statement attributed to me would be odd given that I’ve run candidates of all ethnic backgrounds throughout the state in the fifteen years since I’ve begun organizing. This includes South Asian candidates running for Congress, state office and City Council, including in the district immediately bordering ours,” Bystrov said in an email. Wilson and Graziano will now have to mount a legal defense of their petition signaQ tures in order to get on the ballot.

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Addabbo, Rajkumar and Pheffer Amato share their pot peeves by Max Parrott Associate Editor

While New York legislators signed into law a plan to legalize marijuana last week, a chunk of the Queens Democratic delegation was not on board. The state Senate voted last Tuesday 40-23 to pass the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, and the Assembly voted 100-49 in favor of the bill. Four of Queens’ legislators, who are all Democrats, voted against the bill — all of them from the southwestern section of the borough. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblymembers Brian Barnwell (D-Maspeth), Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park) and Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) each had sticking points that they say the large, multipronged law did not address. The law makes it so that people 21 and older will be able to grow and use marijuana. The law also establishes a regulated marijuana market, with tax revenues split between the state and localities. It will also expunge criminal records of those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses. The state estimates the industry will create $350 million in taxes annually and has the potential to create 30,000 to 60,000 jobs. For both Addabbo and Pheffer Amato the primary concerns revolved around driving under the influence of pot. Rajkumar, on the

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., left, and Assemblymembers Stacey Pheffer Amato and Jenifer Rajkumar each had sticking points that they say the marijuana law did not address. Assemblymember FILE PHOTOS Biran Barnwell declined to comment on his vote. other hand, said that she had overwhelming health concerns about the effects of a legalized marijuana industry. Addabbo talked about his vote on the phone for this story. Rajkumar and Pheffer Amato both provided written statements to the Chronicle. Barnwell did not respond to calls from the Chronicle. Addabbo raised a point that was brought up by police and some Republican lawmakers that the bill doesn’t do enough to address the issue of driving while impaired. He said that there are currently no accurate roadside tests to detect marijuana in an impaired driver, which could present obstacles to preventing impaired driving. “I think we should have waited for technolo-

gy to catch up to us to give law enforcement a chance to credibly address the issue,” Addabbo said. Though he said he heard arguments from advocates of the bill saying that it will take roughly a year for the state to implement the dispensaries and have widespread effect by making marijuana more widely available, the rest of the law takes effect immediately. He said that he couldn’t conscience the idea of an accident happening in the interim. Pheffer Amato said it was difficult for her to come to a decision on the bill, but she had a similar sticking point. “Ultimately, I believe we missed an opportunity to adequately close current loopholes and bring the DUI laws up to the level that they

need to be with the potential for increased marijuana use and legal distribution,” she said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues in the legislature to close these loopholes and strengthen our DUI laws so that we can have a safe and effective implementation of this new act.” Addabbo also said he had concerns over the penalties for selling to a minor, which be believed in some instances to be too lenient, and the legalization of personal cultivation. Rajkumar also said that she fully supported the law’s criminal justice reforms and the automatic expungement of marijuana convictions and she thought the end to the discriminatory enforcement of cannabis laws is a long overdue win for civil rights that will uplift minority communities. However, she said she opposed the creation of a marijuana industry. “The commodification of marijuana will allow businesses to exploit the health of New Yorkers, much the same way Purdue Pharma exploited people with opioids and Big Tobacco with cigarettes,” she said. “As the daughter of doctors who work in drug addiction medicine, I have seen firsthand how drug addiction has ruined lives. I know too many constituents who have lost a child to drugs. I could not in good conscience vote for a law that could have a detrimental effect on the health of New Yorkers.” Q

Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

Four Queens pols opposed legal weed

WE’RE HERE TO HELP. If you have been the victim of a crime, a scam, or illegal exploitation, you have the right to seek justice, regardless of your immigration status. The Ofﬁce of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is here to help. Elder Fraud We are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our senior citizens. If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud or abuse, contact our Elder Fraud Unit at 718-286-6578. Housing and Worker Protection Bureau If you or someone you know has been a victim of a housing scam or an unscrupulous employer engaged in wage theft or not providing a safe workplace, call the Housing and Worker Protection Bureau at 718-286-6673.

Hate Crimes Bureau We are dedicated to the safety of all Queens residents, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or who they love. If you or someone you know has experienced a hate or bias-motivated crime, call our Hate Crimes Bureau at 718-286-7010. DA’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration issues bring unique challenges to the criminal justice system. Our office can help guide you through the legal system. Call us at 718-286-6690 or email OIA@queensda.org. @QueensDAKatz

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Domestic Violence Bureau If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, there are resources available. Call the 24/7 Domestic Violence helpline at 718-286-4410. You’ll have the option of connecting with legal or social services to help get you to safety.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 14

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107 CO and Holy Cross alum takes own life Denis Mullaney, 20-year NYPD vet, called loved ones in final minutes by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

Deputy Inspector Denis Mullaney, a 20-year NYPD veteran and the 107th Precinct’s commanding officer, took his life inside a department vehicle April 5. The 44-year-old parked his car near Flushing’s Kissena Park before calling his executive officer, Capt. Taso Karathanasis, and family members in the minutes leading up to his death and expressed his suicidal thoughts, The New York Post reported. But by the time officers located Mullaney, it was too late. The commander had parked his department vehicle on Underhill Avenue near the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway and shot himself in the head. Mullaney started his post at the 107th Precinct in September, the same week he celebrated his two-decade career anniversary. He previously worked for four years as the commanding officer of NYPD Transit District 20, which overlaps with the 107th, as well as seven other precincts. He grew up in Flushing and graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1995. When he took over the post seven months ago, the 107th Precinct’s year-to-date crime was on a slight increase, most of which was thanks to a 95.2 percent surge in auto thefts.

Deputy Inspector Denis Mullaney started his post as the 107th Precinct commander in September. On Monday, April 5, he took his own life near Kissena Park in Flushing. FILE PHOTO BY KATHERINE DONLEVY With Mullaney at the helm, the precinct’s total year-to-date crime dropped by nearly 46 percent as of March 28. The troublesome auto thefts had dipped by 32 percent. “Every week, I do an analysis of where our spikes in crimes are,” Mullaney told the Chronicle during his first week on the job. “If we see a spike, we’re going to concentrate in that area ... We’re going to put our resources there to combat the crime.”

Mullaney’s top priority was maintaining a strong communication with the neighborhood and preserving quality of life. He inherited the longstanding drag racing issue, which was top of mind for him during his tenure. He had been brainstorming various avenues to curb the dangerous and obnoxious driving with local leaders — he’d work on the ground to penalize reckless driving, while area Assemblywoman

Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) was fighting for more stringent regulations on the Assembly floor. “Devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Deputy Inspector Denis Mullaney who was just welcomed as Commanding Officer of the [107th] not long ago,” Rozic wrote on Twitter following the news. “To anyone struggling with mental health, help is only a phone call away: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (800) 273-8255.” Mullaney is believed to be the first NYPD officer to die of suicide in 2021. Ten officers took their own lives in 2019, a record number. During an email conversation, Mullaney told the Chronicle he was out sick during the last week of March. The NYPD did not respond by press time when asked if the time off was for mental health recuperation. The 107th Precinct changed its social media profile pictures, which had been portraits of Mullaney, to images of a police badge. He is still listed on all websites as the 107th commander. Mullaney’s wake is today, April 8, at Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home in Whitestone, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. His funeral will be the following morning, Friday, April 9, at 10:45 a.m. at St. Q Mel’s Church in Flushing.

Vaccines now open to all 16 and over in NYS Homebound shots offered in all boros by Peter C. Mastrosimone Any New York State resident 16 or over is now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. In the city, people can make appointments online by finding available slots through vaccinefinder.nyc.gov, the city’s site, or private ones such as turbovax.info, which scans government web pages for information and then posts it. Appointments come and go quickly. People find that frequently refreshing the web page helps in getting one before someone else takes it. Those who are not online can call 1 (877) VAX-4NYC (829-4692) to sign up. The city’s program to vaccinate homebound people has expanded to all boroughs, a spokesman for the Health Department said. More than 4,000 have gotten their shots that way. Interested parties may fill out a form online at forms.cityofnewyork. us/f/homebound to show their interest and then will receive a phone call. According to state data, 6,871,863 people, or 34.4 percent of the population, had received at least one dose of the vaccine as

of 11 a.m. April 7. Of those, 4,339,413, or 21.7 percent of the population, had completed the vaccine series. In the city, 3,041,917 people had gotten at least one dose, according to municipal data. Among them were 2,477,142 city residents and 564,775 from outside the five boroughs. A total of 1,876,992 people, including 1,535,311 city residents and 341,681 from elsewhere, were fully vaccinated. The city did not note the percentage of residents who had been vaccinated. But with the five boroughs’ population at approximately 8.3 million, the reported numbers mean that about 29.8 percent of residents have gotten at least one dose and 18.5 percent are fully vaccinated. Neither the state’s figures for the proportion of people vaccinated nor those calculated for the city by the Queens Chronicle account for the share of the population that is below 16 and therefore not eligible for the shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday announced grants of $100,449,264 for the state and $ 81,479,388 Q for the city to aid vaccination efforts.

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Housing heroes NYPD Youth Officers Maygan Forssell, left, and Frederick Barth of Public Service Area 9, last week were alerted to a fire in the New York City Housing Authority’s Woodside Houses. The officers assisted in removing a fran-

tic resident from harm’s way. Forssell reentered the building and emerged carrying a small child while awaiting the arrival of the FDNY. PSA 9 serves public housing developments in Queens.

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Kaufman convicted after 2 week trial Editor

PS 97, The Forest Park School, celebrated a year of remote and blended education on March 17 with a festive St. Patrick’s Day reading. The school community is learning in a way it never thought to be possible and truly rocking it, with Zoom and Google Meets. Everyone has learned how to use technology to bring the school together at all times of the day. Teacher Bridget Bass, all in her green, and her first-grade class helped get everyone in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by reading “How to Catch a Leprechaun” and sharing many fun activities that can be done to encourage reading at home. All par ent s in at tendanc e received St. Patrick’s Day trinkets to add to the festivities. “It is said that everyone is Irish when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!” the school said. “Whether in person or remote, learning continues to be so much fun at 97!”

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The former CEO of the defunct Melrose Credit Union in Briarwood was convicted on bribery charges in Manhattan federal court on Thursday following a two-week trial. Alan Kaufman was found guilty on two counts of bribery of a financial institution officer, according to a statement from the office of Audrey Strauss, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The case evolved around Kaufman’s accepting gifts and other considerations from businessman Tony Georgiton in return for favorable interest rates on millions of dollars in loans to Georgiton. He was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery of a financial institution officer. Each guilty charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 30 years, though no other specifics were included in Strauss’ statement. Kaufman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on June 23. Georgiton accepted a plea deal back in September. “A unanimous Manhattan jury has found that Alan Kaufman, the former CEO of Melrose Credit Union, accepted luxurious gifts from Tony Georgiton as a reward for favorable loan rates for his companies,” Strauss said in a statement on her office’s website. “In doing so, Kaufman shirked his fiduciary obligation to act in the best interests of Melrose to instead exploit his control of union funds for his own personal gain,” she added. “Melrose’s members cer tainly deserved better representation than Alan Kaufman, who placed his own selfish needs above theirs — and thanks to the work of the FBI, Kaufman and Georgiton both stand convicted of federal crimes.” Melrose’s main office was on Queens Boulevard. Kaufman’s grandfather was one of the co-founders of the institution in 1922. Both he and Kaufman’s father served as CEO. Prosecutors in the case showed that Geor-

giton allowed Kaufman to live rent-free in a house he bought in Jericho, LI, in 2010. While living there Kaufman personally approved the refinancing of over $100 million in loans to a company owned by Georgiton. “The head of Melrose CU’s loan department did not sign off on the loans given to Georgiton because, among other things, he believed the terms to be too favorable and did not comply with Melrose CU’s loan policy,” according to the U.S. attorney’s statement. In 2011 Kaufman also sought approval from Melrose’s board of directors to buy the naming rights to a ballroom that was being built by a company owned by Georgiton. He did not disclose to the board that he was living in a house owned by Georgiton. Over the next five years Melrose paid $2 million to Georgiton’s company for the rights. Kaufman eventually bought the Jericho house with a loan from Melrose co-signed by Georgiton and secured with Georgiton’s shares in Melrose. He also gave Kaufman an unsecured $240,000 loan on which prosecutors say Kaufman has never made a payment. Between 2010 and 2015, Kaufman also solicited trips and vacations from an unnamed media company and other vendors in return for approving advertising by Melrose. Those included trips for Kaufman and his wife to Paris in 2010; to Hawaii in 2013; and to the Super Bowl in New Orleans in 2013. The trips were not disclosed to or approved by the Melrose board of directors. Kaufman was removed by the MCU board in 2016. In 2017 Melrose was taken into conservatorship by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company was said to have about 80 percent of its loan portfolio tied up in taxi medallions, and the emergence of Uber, Lyft and other app-based car share services hit its clients and business interests hard. Teachers Federal Credit Union obtained Melrose, its accounts and the Briarwood Q property in August 2018.

by Michael Gannon

‘How to Catch a Leprechaun’

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

Ex-Melrose CEO guilty in federal bribery case

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 16

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Glendale radio host looks to save vets Gold Shield is a nationwide group dedicated to helping with PTSD by David Russell Associate Editor

The 2020 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report determined the average number of veteran suicides per day was 17.6 in 2018. “The government is incapable of really doing anything about it,” said Mike Porcelli, a Glendale resident and chief of staff of The Gold Shield, a nationwide membership organization dedicated to helping vets with PTSD and cancer. Porcelli is advising and overseeing the group’s media and membership campaigns, as well as coordinating all operations. A professor at Bronx Community College, he is perhaps best known for hosting the Auto Lab Talk Radio show on WNYM AM 970, the longest-running international automotive radio show in the city. Covid paused what was supposed to be The Gold Shield’s big rollout last March. The group is active in New York, New Jersey and Delaware for now. Some groups involved include: • Reining Liberty Ranch, which provides veterans with specialized therapy programs to help them readjust to life after war; • Dryhootch, which provides outreach programs and social events to veterans, giving them a community to thrive in; and

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How to stop Asian hate In the face of rising anti-AsianAmerican sentiment among some people, elected officials are asking community members to share their thoughts on how to protect potential victims of hate and prejudice. The virtual conversation will take place on Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. Constituents are encouraged to share concerns and suggestions on how to halt bias and hate crimes against Asians, which have steadily increased since the star t of the pandemic. The event will be hosted by state Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside). State Sens. Anna Kaplan (D-Nassau) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), state Assemby member Dav id Wepr i n (D-Fresh Meadows) and City Councilmembers Daneek Miller (D-St. A lba ns) a nd Ba r r y G rodench i k (D-Oakland Gardens) will also be in attendance. To receive the Zoom link, register at bit.ly/JohnLiuStopAsianHate. The event will also be broadcast live at facebook.com/Liu.NYC. For more information, call Liu’s office at (718) 765-6675 or email Q events@johnliusenate.com.

• A Matter of Honor, whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by PTSD and veteran suicides. “We want to be the fundraising arm for all these veterans charities,” Porcelli said. He said PTSD is a problem and one that is usually undiagnosed until it is too late. “We should be embarrassed as a nation that we let these people who defend us kill themselves,” Porcelli said. Vietnam vets received a different reaction when they returned from service compared to their predecessors. “World War II, the whole country was involved in winning the war ... either by fighting or supporting the guys that fought,” Porcelli said. But, he said, men returning from Vietnam would be spit at after risking their lives and possibly even losing limbs. “You can’t blame them for being depressed,” Porcelli said, adding that a generation earlier “Anybody who would spit on a troop would soon be corrected.” There are also fewer members of the military than there were in the past. “They have nobody to talk to,” Porcelli said. “They’re few and far between.” Porcelli spent a year as an infantry officer, serving as a counterintelligence officer. He didn’t serve in Vietnam but Porcelli, a

member of the 82nd Airborne Division, said he saw the troops that were coming back. “A lot of them were messed up,” he said, noting it was his first exposure to the problem of PTSD. The cost to become a Gold Shield business partner is $275 per year, which can be deducted as an advertising expense. Upon purchase of a membership, a merchant will receive the Gold Shield decals, advertising and a host of marketing materials. Porcelli said nearly 100 businesses are part of the movement. “This is a way everybody can do something about it,” he said. Porcelli has been an active member of the community, serving for decades as a member of Community Board 5, Glendale Kiwanis, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32, American Legion Post 2001 and CUNY advisory panels. Porcelli’s father was an aircraft mechanic in the Navy during World War II and his son became a Marine with four years in active duty before being hurt in training. He said if his 3-year-old granddaughter chooses to join the Air Force, then the family will have four military branches covered. “Then I’ll have to find another grandchild to join the space force,” Porcelli said. For more information or to sign up, visit Q thesimpletruth.us.

Mopeds make way back to Forest Hills by David Russell Associate Editor

Revel scooters recently reappeared in Forest Hills. At least four were parked in the vicinity of Yellowstone Boulevard and 63rd Avenue last weekend. One sat through Wednesday at least on the west side of Yellowstone between 63rd Avenue and 62nd Drive, despite it being a no-standing zone during the day on weekdays. Asked if the scooters are subject to tickets or whether their sudden appearance is part of a pilot program, the Department of Transportation directed questions to the shareable electric moped company. A Revel spokesperson said they first were put out in March 2020, as part of an expansion project to help out at the start of the pandemic. The company sought to include more Queens neighborhoods, including Forest Hills, at the time. Revel suspended service in the city for a month last year after a pair of rider deaths in July. A third rider, who was injured in July, died during the suspension in August. Stricter rules were put in place when Revel resumed operations, including

Revel scooters have been seen recently between 63rd Avenue and 62nd Drive in PHOTO BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE Forest Hills. a 21-question test and photographic evidence of wearing a helmet. The scooters can travel up to 30 miles per hour. There are 3,000 Revel mopeds in the city, though the spokesperson said there was no exact number for Queens as they Q move around frequently.

Glendale resident Mike Porcelli is raising awareness and money for veterans dealing COURTESY PHOTO with PTSD and cancer.

City hiring 10K to aid cleanup Taking a cue from President Delano Franklin Roosevelt and thanking President Biden for doing the same with new and future federal spending, Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city will hire 10,000 people to clean up garbage and graffiti that have accumulated during the pandemic and beautify neighborhoods. All are welcome to apply for the jobs, which will pay $15 an hour, de Blasio said. The city has posted 500 openings online at nyc.gov/ccc and plans to keep posting more until 10,000 people have been hired. The mayor tipped his cap to FDR by naming the new effort the City Cleanup Corps, a nod to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. He said the new CCC is about jobs, opportunity and recovery. “We’re going to focus on the 33 neighborhoods delineated by our Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity and make sure there are special cleanup efforts there where needed most,” de Blasio said. “We’re also going to focus on business districts, commercial streets, places where we depend on our economic recovery to Q happen. We want to beautify them.” — Peter C. Mastrosimone

ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING by Michael Gannon It can be said that while other companies might make pianos, Steinway & Sons creates Steinways. “A Steinway is a Steinway and there is nothing like it in the world.” Legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein wasn’t engaging in hyperbole when discussing his favorite instrument — merely expressing what was and still is considered an incontrovertible fact.

Author Laura Lee Smith offers Rubinstein plenty of corroborating evidence, as if any was needed, in her new book “Steinway & Sons,” a pictorial history of the company that has been crafting some of the finest pianos in the world since 1829, and doing so in Astoria since 1870. The 127-page book, published in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, contains nearly 200 black-and-white photographs, many obtained from the official Steinway archives at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City. Smith, a Florida resident, has written two novels and is working on a third. “That’s a sideline,” she said. “My day job is in marketing.” It was with that in mind a few years ago that she got a phone call from Todd Sanders, a former client she had lost touch with, who now is Steinway’s vice president of sales and marketing. He needed a copywriter to help with marketing

and asked if she was interested. “The Steinway & Sons?” she asked. “The only Steinway & Sons,” he replied. When Arcadia reached out to Steinway looking for someone to write a book on the company, Smith was asked by Anthony Gilroy, director of marketing, himself. The book begins with a young German woodworker named Heinrich Steinweg, born in 1797, who took an interest in making pianos while working for an organ maker. He went out on his own in 1829, but was lured by the promise of America, and arrived in Manhattan in 1850. He and his sons, according to Smith, first worked for other manufac turer s, learning ever y thing they could about making pianos better and the American marketplace. The Steinwegs even Americanized their name.

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

April 8, 2021

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continued on page 19

New b N book kh hi hits the h h hi high h notes iin S Steinway’s i ’ storied i d hi history h

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 18

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boro

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

King Crossword Puzzle Wherever people went, George Horn was there first

ACROSS

1 Zilch 5 Male swan 8 “Ditto” 12 Mideast airline 13 Glacial 14 “Let’s go!” 15 Pattern 17 Help a hood 18 Old photo tint 19 Walks with pride 21 Yuletide tune 24 Archipelago unit (Abbr.) 25 Verifiable 28 Carton sealer 30 Mimic 33 Hostel 34 Goes belly up 35 Water tester 36 “Acid” 37 French 101 verb 38 Quick look 39 Online address 41 Ump’s call 43 Steak choices 46 Toy bricks 50 Actor McGregor 51 Intensify 54 Damon of Hollywood 55 Essen exclamation 56 Grand tale 57 On the briny 58 Fish story 59 Take five

DOWN 1 Tennis barriers

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

2 Sheltered 3 Slightly wet 4 Skiing style 5 Spy org. 6 Halloween mo. 7 Tournament passes 8 Surgery reminders 9 Walk 10 Champagne brand 11 Tolkien creatures 16 Thai language

20 Cravats 22 Coup d’ -23 Hideaways 25 Up to 26 ER workers 27 Move in waves 29 Entreaty 31 “The Raven” writer 32 “A mouse!” 34 Fedora fabric 38 Kitchen gadget

40 Oscar de la -42 Ga. neighbor 43 Disaster aid org. 44 “As -- saying ...” 45 Barking critter 47 Be slack-jawed 48 Elevator name 49 Faction 52 High school subj. 53 “Evita” role

George Edward Horn was born in Brooklyn on Sept. 28, 1918. His parents bought a brand-new house in 1925 at 115-41 217 St. in Cambria Heights. He was the first man through the westbound lane of the Lincoln Tunnel when it opened in 1937 when he also first met his lifelong competitor at being first, Omero Catan, who drove the first car traveling in the eastbound lane. They shook hands. Horn was also the first to drop a nickel in the turnstile in the Sixth Avenue IND subway that opened in 1940 at West 4th Street. As a motorman for the New York City Transit Authority he also was the first to enter the 1939 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs from the Willets Point train station entrance. He was the editor for The Electric Railroaders Association for many years. He produced a film in 1958 on the vanishing Third and Ninth Avenue elevated lines. He eventually became yardmaster of the Transit Authority’s Jamaica subway yards. Unlike his competitor, Catan, who had more “firsts” than him, Horn was a true historian who

Answers on next page

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Earth Week 2021

The childhood home of “Mr. Firster” George E. Horn, inset, at 115-41 217 St. in Cambria Heights in the 1940s. photographed and documented everything. He passed away on Jan. 30. 2006 in Vallejo, Calif. At his memorial he was credited with being the first or last fare on various NYC subway lines. The lifelong bachelor was credited with at least 60 “firsts” in his Q life and was called “Mr. Firster.”

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by Mark Lord qboro contributor

For most people, the recent surge in anti-Asian-American sentiment that has been sweeping much of the country is no laughing matter. Not so for Otter Lee and some of the other performers in “Crazy Talented Asians & Friends, an Evening of Comedy,” a virtual program to be live-streamed on YouTube on April 17 at 8 p.m. that will highlight rising East and South Asian-American comedy talents. Take, for instance, one of Lee’s own favorite lines: “You don’t scare me, racist. My own relatives have said far worse to me than anyone in the street.” And Lee, 26, who will host the program, said he has, actually, been the target of less-than-kind street rhetoric. He recalled in a recent telephone interview that he and his mother were out for a walk one day in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. “A man called us racial slurs and threatened us,” he said. “But I learned how to yell it back to hell. We look racism in the face and shame it so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.” The Covid-19 pandemic has provided Lee with additional motivation to perform. “It’s important because both artists and Asian-Americans have been suffering. We need to show the world that we’re still kicking ass. It’s artistically important to stay busy,” he said. In fact, the theme of the upcoming program, the second annual for the event, is “Triumphing Over Quarantine.” Lee’s sentiments are echoed by Becky Yamamoto, a 10-year veteran of the comedy scene who will be among those joining Lee virtually on April 17.

The Overstep Comedy troupe, left, Otter Lee, Vivek Netrakanti and Becky Yamamoto are all expected to be a part of PHOTOS COURTESY FTH; RIGHT BY MINDY TUCKER Flushing Town Hall’s online comedy show “Crazy Talented Asians & Friends.” “I feel we all need a break to reset, have a laugh, let loose,” she said. Yamamoto is acutely aware of the spreading of antiAsian rhetoric, though, she said, it’s less obvious in her native Los Angeles than in some other places. “In New York,” she said, “you have to walk around. There’s so much more exposure, shoulder rubbing.” Nonetheless, she, too, has felt the pain of being singled out because of her race. “Every once in a while someone yells something at you,” she said. “It ruins your day. It’s hard to escape.” But unlike Lee, Yamamoto is not planning — at least at this point — to address the issue in her act next week. She said her comedy is more absurdist than topical, though she admitted that “there’s pressure to speak to topical issues.” “Crazy Talented Asians & Friends” was originally sched-

Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

Asians strike back — with preplanned comedy show

uled to make its debut live on stage at Flushing Town Hall last May. The viral outbreak interrupted the plan but, according to Ya Yun Teng, the venue’s community outreach and Chinese project director since 2018, “We were able to pivot it” into the virtual performance it has become. “It’s tough to perform in front of a cell phone,” she said. “It’s pretty challenging. We always find ways to cope.” Teng indicated that, following last year’s virtual performance, “We received really great feedback.” Comedy, she said, “brings people together. It’s really galvanizing.” And, at this time in particular, “Having a group of Asian-Americans telling stories is very important.” The program, recommended for those 13 and up, serves as a prelude to the upcoming Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. It will also feature members of Overstep Comedy, an indie sketch team. It’s free but reservations are Q required. Learn more at flushingtownhall.org.

More than just a piano — it’s a Steinway

Crossword Answers

that people lived in and worked in,” Smith said. “There was a theme park; there were schools; there were fire stat ions ; there wa s company housing. I had never realized how much the company that I know and love as a piano manufacturer is actually bigger than that in American history. Because they had such a hand in developing such an important part of New York and therefore an important part of America.” Many photos show each instrument being handcrafted rather than mass-produced, each worker an artisan in his field. “They had tours of the factory before Covid,” Smith said. “They took about two hours. And you could see workers using some of the same tools, the same procedures that you might have seen in 1916 or even years earlier,” she said. She mentioned 2009’s “Note by Note,” a documentary that chronicles the yearlong process of creating a single grand

Then-Princess Elizabeth, above left, and her sister, Princess Margaret, partake in classical music on a classic in a new book by Laura Lee Smith, left. On the cover: Workmen of a bygone era handcraft pianos much the same as their modern counterparts do ABOVE AND COVER PHOTOS COURTESY LGCC AND WAGNER ARCHIVES; AUTHOR PHOTO BY ZACH THOMAS today. piano, starting with the tree selected for the wood. Photos in the book also include Rubinstein, Van Cliburn, Vladimir Horowitz and Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen of

England. Pianist Michael Feinstein, who has the distinction of being a Steinway Artist, penned the forward. The book, $21.99, is available in bookstores or online at arcadiapublishing.com. Q

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continued from page 17 “There are still some Steinways around,” Smith said. “But they haven’t run the company for many years.” It was the need for expansion — and labor peace — that prompted one of Heinrich’s sons, William, to buy land and set up shop in Astoria. Now, not just a street but a whole neighborhood bears his name. “He, in particular, was instrumental in building not just the company, but the area

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 20

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Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

MY WAY CONSTRUCTION

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Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of SKYBURY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/15/21. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Kristen Gehnrich, 53-19 46th St., Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

WALT LYONS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/12/21. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2071. 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, 60-42 69 Lane, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of The Black Mermaid Society LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/17/2021. 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: THELMA ERICA SMALL, 194-13 116 ROAD, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of: ZaJoy Boutique LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/12/2021. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the Joyce J. Washington 14812 Edgewood St., 2nd Fl, Rosedale, NY 11422. Purpose: Any lawful purpose or Activity.

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To advertise, call Stela today

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 22

C M SQ page 22 Y K To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Help Wanted

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Health Services

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Penfield Central School District is seeking a dynamic and collaborative instructional leader with a focus on supporting the social and emotional needs of all learners. Ideal candidates will possess teaching and leadership experience, strong knowledge of student developmental levels and a passionate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all learners. Interested candidates please visit www.penfield.edu, click on the Job Opportunities and follow directions to apply. EOE

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Help Wanted ADMINISTRATIVE Community Service Aide PT POSITION Wanted Experienced Job Posting #: IN GREAT NECK Hair Stylist & Barber JVN 2021-438-001 Deputy Village Clerk Treasurer/ Court Clerk F/T Position with Salary + Benefits. Must have administrative, bookkeeping, and strong computer skills to work for a local municipality. Work hrs. are from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Candidates submit their resume to:

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COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER Commercial Driver’s License preferred but not required to drive a 26-foot box truck. Completes assigned daily tasks for deliveries and pick-up of furniture, technology, and contents, assists movers by performing duties. Salary depends on experience $20-$28hr. -----------------------

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Help Wanted

20 hrs/wk –$18/hr – No benefits. Excellent computer, organizational skills & writing skills required. Must have excellent communication skills. Knowledge of NYC Government a plus. Send resume & cover letter by Certified Mail to:

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.

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CRS is a commercial moving company looking for a skilled relocation laborer, ready for immediate work. Salary $15-$18 hr.

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careers@crsmove.com CRS-Corporate Relocation Systems, Inc.

AUTO BODY SHOP LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED 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

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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.

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Career Training 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) TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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Merchandise Wanted

PLEASE CALL LORI, 1-929-361-0643 (Cell Phone). I PAY THE BEST, MOST HONEST PRICES FOR ESTATES, FURNITURE, CHANDELIERS, LAMPS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT WORKING), FURS, COINS, POCKETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES, GLASSWARE, CALL STERLING SILVERWARE, FIGURINES, CANDLESTICKS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS, RUGS, PIANOS, Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noon GUITARS, VIOLINS, FLUTES, on Tuesday for Thursday’s paper. TAG SALES, CLEANOUTS, CARS

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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

Garage/Yard Sales

Pet Services

Glendale, Sidewalk & Driveway Animal lover, experienced in pet Sale! 77-65 76 St. Collectibles of a care. Take a vacation or go to work w/ no worries. Feed, walk, lifetime. Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm. laugh & play w/ your pet. Very Howard Beach, Sat 4/10 & Sun responsible, make house visits or 4/11, 9am-3pm, 159-26 90 St. babysit at my place. Female. Reasonable rates. 718-641-1472 HUGE MULTI-FAMILY SALE! or 347-494-5972 NO TEXTS

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C M SQ page 23 Y K To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Adoption

Legal Notices

Real Estate

Family-oriented single woman looking to welcome a child into her life. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call: 347-470-5228 or my attorney: 800-582-3678 for information

NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000714-20/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) SHPETIM (Last) BEKTESHI. My present name is (First) SHPTIM (Last) BEKTESHI AKA SHPETIM BEKTESHI. The city and state of my present address are Little Neck, NY. My place of birth is MANHASSET, NY. The month and year of my birth are August 1988.

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 of Formation of Fox Management Realty LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/06/2021. 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: FOX MANAGEMENT REALTY LLC, 84-03 CUTHBERT ROAD, STE 1B, KEW GARDENS, NY 11415. Purpose: For 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-000004-21/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) TAKEEM (Middle) DELANO (Last) OWENS. My present name is (First) TAKEEM (Middle) DELANO (Last) BONNETT AKA TAKEEM BONNETT. The city and state of my present address are Saint Albans, NY. My place of birth is QUEENS, NEW YORK. The month and year of my birth are February 1991.

Notice of Formation of BohoChelly LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/28/20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 3056 30th St. Apt 1J, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of Gentle Souls Grooming LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/08/2020. 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: GENTLE SOULS GROOMING LLC, 10225 W 67TH DR, APT 3U, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718-722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

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.

Notice of Formation of Chewy Approved LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/23/2021. 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: VERNELL GILES, 130-39 146TH STREET, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY 11346. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Nellys’s Fine Jewelry LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Secy. of State (SSNY) 02/03/2021. Location: Queens County. SSNY designated for service of process and shall mail copy of process served against the LLC to Registered Agent: c/o Network Solution & TC Inc, 10516 Jamaica Ave., Richmond Hill, NY 11418. Purpose: New Business.

3056 44TH STREET LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/30/2021. 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, 30-56 44th Street, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of DEYANI SIGNATURES LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/11/2020. 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: LEGALINC CORPORATE SERVICES INC., 1967 WEHRLE DRIVE SUITE 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY 14221. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of NOZA K9 LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/01/2021. 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: JULIO ESPINOZA, 83-17 241ST ST. 2 FL, BELLEROSE, NY 11426. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

6058 CATALPA AVE LLC, Arts.

Notice of Formation of DIABETES CARE MEDICAL, PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/23/21. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of PLLC: 36-36 33 St., Ste. 311, Long Island City, NY 11106. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the PLLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Medicine.

Notice of Formation of REBURY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/15/21. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Kristen Gehnrich, 53-19 46th St., Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Legal Notices New York City Department of Transportation Notice of Public Hearing Publish in Queens Chronicle. The New York City Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing, the hearing will be held remotely commencing on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. via the WebEx platform, on the following petition for revocable consent, in the Borough of Queens. JFK Logistics Center LLC– to construct, maintain & use a force main, together with a manhole under & across Riverside Ave., under & across Rockaway Blvd., & under, along & across Brookville Blvd., in the Borough of Queens. Interested parties can obtain copies of proposed agreement or request sign-language interpreters (with at least seven days prior notice) at 55 Water Street, 9 Floor, New York, NY 10041, or by calling (212) 839-6550 NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Queens County on 03-18-2021, bearing Index Number NC-000687-20/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) CARA (Last) HUANG. My present name is (First) CARA (Last) CHAN (infant). The city and state of my present address are Oakland Gardens, NY. My place of birth is QUEENS, NY. The month and year of my birth are March 2015.

We Court Your Legal Advertising. For Legal Notice Rates & Information,

Call 718-205-8000

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.

Bushwick, 6 Stanhope St, #3R. NO FEE. 1 MO FREE. 1 BR/1 bath. $1,900/mo. Beautiful renov apt. HWF, SS. Small pets OK. New construction bldg. Avail Now. Call Stellina Napolitano, 646-372-7145. Capri Jet Realty

Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, beautiful Empire style hi-ranch on 40x100 lot, all new kit, siding, pavers, SS appli, windows, PVC fence, Quartz countertops, built-in heated saltwater pool/waterfall & slide and much more. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136

Co-ops For Sale KEW GARDENS PARKWAY VILLAGE COMMUNITY 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

917-295-6928

Open House

Bushwick, 842 Bushwick Ave, Apt 2L. 2BR, 1 bath. Fully renov apt, railroad layout. NO Fee. $1,850/ mo. HW fls, SS appli, full bath. Avail NOW. Call Stellina Napolitano, 646-372-7145, Capri Jet Realty Howard Beach, beauitful, spacious 3 BR, 1 bath, 2nd fl of 2 family house. $2,500/mo. 718-909-2650 Howard Beach/Lindenwood 6 rms 1 1/2 baths. No pets/smoking. New carpet. Credit ck. Proof of income. $2,300/mo. 718-323-4552 Ridgewood, 6002 Catalpa Ave, #1. NO FEE. $1,550/mo. 1 BR, HWF, very high ceilings, full LR, kit. Avail May 1. Call Stellina Napolitano, 646-372-7145. Capri Jet Realty

Rooms For Rent Lady seeking room for rent. Furn or unfurn. Near convenient public trans. Very good refs. Long or short term ok as well. Call 929-990-1675

Furn. Rm. For Rent Howard Beach Furnished Room for rent: $250 per week. Gas and electric, cable, Wi-Fi all included. Contact 347-797-9878

Houses For Sale Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Legal 6 fam, six 2 BR apts. Asking $2.9Mil. Connexion RE, 718-845-1136 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

FORT LEE, NJ Deluxe 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Co-op in Luxurious Mediterranean West. Southern Exposure. Panoramic Views/NYC Skyline. EF, LR/DA, Terrace. Building Amenities include: Hair Salon, General Store, Pool, Tennis, more!

$145,000 www.russorealestate.com

(201) 837-8800 Ozone Park/Centreville, Sat 4/10, 1pm-3pm, 135-34 94 St. Mint 1 fam Colonial, great loc, new EIK, cherry cabinets, Quartz counter, SS appli, pvt ent, 1 car det gar, pvt dvwy, paid for solar panels, fenced yard, alarm system & security cameras outside, new roof on home & gar, close to express bus & A train. Asking $698,888. 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

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Notice is hereby given that an on-premises license, #TBD, has been applied for by Kyrenia Rest Corp to sell beer, wine, cider and liquor at retail, in an on-premises establishment, under the ABC Law, for on-premises consumption at 23-15 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105.

Apts. For Rent

Houses For Sale

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

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AirTrain opponents take fight outside Residents, environmental groups organizing, awaiting FAA decision by Michael Gannon Editor

Opponents of the proposed AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport are hoping to engage a higher power as they await a decision by the Federal Aviation Administration — namely U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The secretary’s name was brought up Tuesday evening at a town hall meeting with attendees both at Flushing Bay at the World’s Fair Marina Restaurant and on Zoom. The meeting was hosted by state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-East Elmhurst), the Ditmars Boulevard Block Association and the Sensible Way to LGA Coalition. Frank Taylor, president of the block association, said more than 100 attended either virtually or in person. “This plan is destructive at its best and ludicrous at its worst,” he said. The Port Authority, with Gov. Cuomo’s enthusiastic backing, is looking to build a rail loop between the airport and a station that would be built near the No. 7 subway stop at Willets Point-Mets. It would run along the Flushing Promenade, taking up some parkland and disrupting the view of the park and Flushing Bay with tracks perhaps 30 feet in the air. The PA’s intention is to speed up travel time between LaGuardia and both Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. Critics of the plan say there are less expensive and less environmentally intrusive options, such as expanded bus service or extending the existing N/W elevated subway line from its terminus at 31st Street and Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria to the airport. The FAA last month approved the PA’s

Frank Taylor, president of the Ditmars Boulevard Block Association, said residents are not backing down as they await a decision on the proposed AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport. ZOOM SCREENSHOT environmental study and mitigation plan. It could issue a final decision as early as April 14. “I’m a resident. I pay my taxes,” Taylor said. “I believe we deserve better ... We’re going to spend $2.5 billion on an AirTrain that does not serve the community?” Ramos, speaking from her office in Albany, said the residents must be prepared to do more than sign petitions and call their elected officials.

“Our community needs to organize over this issue,” the senator said. “This is a vanity project for the governor that does nothi n g t o a d d r e s s t h e n e e d s of o u r community.” Ramos said she favors extending the N/W line. Mike Dulong, senior attorney at the environmental group Riverkeeper, outlined points he made in a letter to Buttigieg dated Tuesday. He said first that the studies

and public hearing process were flawed as there was not sufficient outreach to the multiple communities where English is not the first language. He also said the analysis of alternatives proposed for the environmental impact study had any option but an AirTrain “set up to fail.” He also said the PA’s commitment to upgrade and maintain the promenade falls short at $16.5 million, though the PA says the number is $50 million over 15 years for the Promenade and other parks in the area. Rebecca Pr yor of Riverkeeper and Guardians of Flushing Bay encouraged people to send an email to Buttigieg at secretaryscheduler@dot.gov and to call the FAA comment hotline on the project at 1 (855) LGA-EIS9 (542-3479). A PA spokesman on Wednesday morning responded to a number of points that Riverkeeper made. “The FAA conducted a thorough process that resulted in a 600-page environmental impact statement that appropriately and independently examined all alternatives and ultimately identified the Port Authority’s proposed route as the preferred alternative for bringing mass rail transit to LaGuardia Airport,” the spokesman said in an email. “AirTrain LaGuardia will significantly reduce traffic congestion on local streets and highways, and the project will provide a robust package of public benefits identified by residents in the neighboring communities — from local workforce development to education, public art and a $50 million investment in the Flushing Bay PromeQ nade and other local parks.”

World War II vet, Gerard Opitz, 97 Daughter remembers familiar face in community who died March 30 by David Russell For the latest news visit qchron.com

Associate Editor

Gerard Opitz, who lived in Glendale for decades, died March 30 at 97 from a coronary issue, his daughter Dorie Figliola told the Chronicle Tuesday. Born and raised in Richmond Hill, he enlisted in the service shortly after graduating from Richmond Hill High School in 1942. Though he didn’t become a gunner like he originally hoped, he eventually became trained in photography. While stationed in Norwich, England, with the 8th Air Force 389th Bomber Group, 564th Squadron, Opitz, a sergeant, flew in Consolidated B-24 Liberators as an aerial reconnaissance photographer. After returning to the states, he married Doris Schneider and moved to Glendale. They had three daughters before she passed away in 1987. He married his second wife, Bonnie, in the early 2000s. Figliola said Opitz was pulled back on a

mission he was supposed to go on and a close friend who went instead didn’t make it back home. “He didn’t like talking about the service much because he always missed his friend and the other friends he had lost,” she said. Opitz was a manufacturer of pesticides, working at a family business. Figliola said he was also a handyman for the area. “When people needed a hand they knew who to call and my father would go over,” she said. Opitz offered his services at Sacred Heart RC Church, where he was an usher for 50 years, and was also involved with youth programs and sports. He was also with the Glendale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. “He was a wonderful father and loved life, loved his family,” Figliola said. She said her favorite memory was dancing with him to “Wind Beneath My Wings” at every wedding they attended.

“Him and I would always dance to that song,” she said. Opitz is survived by Bonnie, his three daughters, Figliola, Gail Opitz and Jeannie Hernandez, and six grandchildren. Visitation for him was held at Sacred Heart Church in Glendale and he was buried Tuesday at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens. On dignitymemorial.com, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force extended its condolences. “Please know the passing of your loved one is felt by all those who honor the Greatest Generation and their sacrifices,” the group wrote. Memorial donations can be made in Opitz’s memory to the Elle Foundation Inc. for chilQ dren battling cancer.

Gerard Opitz served as Grand Marshal of the Queens Veterans Day Parade in November FILE PHOTO BY WALTER KARLING 2018.

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COMING SOON A Cape On A 50x100 Lot

OZONE PARK

A Beautiful 2 Bedroom Duplex Style Condo. First Floor Has Kitchen With Granite Countertops, Stainless Steel Appliances, Living Room, Dining Room, 2 Full Bathrooms and 2 Bedrooms. A Full Basement With A Huge Family Room, Laundry Room And Half Bathroom. Lots of Closet Space. Parking Available And A Walk-Out Terrace!

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

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LINDENWOOD

A Beautiful 2 Family Colonial With A Full Finished Basement And Full Bathroom. 1st Floor Has 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms, Living Room, Dining Room and Eat-In Kitchen. 2nd Floor Has 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms, Living Room, Dining Room And Eat-In Kitchen And A Terrace. Closets Galore. Private Driveway.

OLD HOWARD BEACH

A Beautiful One Bedroom Co-op In The Greenwood Arms. Hardwood Floors In Living Room and Bedroom, Tile In Kitchen & Carpet In The Living Room. A Newly Updated Full Bathroom and Lots of Closet Space. Close To Shopping Center and Transportation!

A 4 Bedroom Hi-Ranch With 2 And A Half Bathrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Family Room And Laundry Area. Garage With Private Driveway And Nice Size Yard.

A Lovely Colonial On A 80x100 Lot With 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms, Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room And Huge Private Driveway.

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

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NEW HOWARD BEACH

LINDENWOOD

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 26

C M SQ page 26 Y K Howard Beach e Real Estat Experts!

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

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• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, April 11th 1-3pm 18-73 Greene Ave., Ridgewood 4 Family w/ Backyard & Full Basement! $1,249,000

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

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

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• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, April 11th 12-1:30pm 6070 St Felix Ave., Glendale Semi-Detached 2 Family w/ Garage! $900,000

8375 117th St., Unit 7B, Kew Gardens Renovated 2Br/2Bath Condo w/Balcony! $559,000

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• OPEN HOUSE • Sunday, April 11th 2-3pm

26-22 30th Street, Astoria Fully Renovated Brick 2 Family. $1,599,000

506 Graham Ave., Greenpoint Semi-Detached 3 Family Development Opportunity! $1,799,000

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

45 Harman Street, Bushwick Extra Large Renovated 3 Family! $1,400,000

63-23 60th Place, Ridgewood Brick 2 Family w/ 2 Car Garage and Full Finished Basement! $999,000

282 Leonard St., Williamsburg Renovated Brick 3 Family! $2,388,000

46 Sutton Street, Greenpoint Renovated high-income 6 Family w/ 2 Vacant Units! $2,795,000

756 Grand St., Williamsburg Brick 6 Family + Store w/Backyard & Full Basement! $2,388,000

50 Orchard St., Unit 2D, Lower East Side Gorgeous 2BD/2BA Condo w/ Private 600 sq. ft. Terrace! $2,288,000

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C M SQ page 27 Y K

BEAT

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

Georgia on our minds MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred shook up the sports and political worlds last Friday by announcing he was relocating the All-Star Game from Truist Field in Atlanta to Denver’s Coors Field because of the new Georgia voting law. Based on prima facie evidence the Georgia law seems overly and needlessly restrictive. Had the legislation been simply about requiring voter ID, for which persuasive arguments can be made (even though voter fraud seems more anecdotal than fact-based) the odds are the game would have remained in Cobb County. What angered many were provisions that threatened to arrest anyone distributing water or any other beverage or food, along with the Georgia Legislature having the right to overrule county election boards. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp should have spoken with his Republican predecessor, Nathan Deal. In 2016, North Carolina passed a controversial transgender bathroom law and in the process forbade NC counties and cities to pass laws whose intent was to contradict the state edict. The NBA immediately pulled the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte; many Fortune 500 companies canceled expansion plans in the Tar Heel State; and tourism plummeted as both leisure and business travelers avoided the state. The result was North Carolina absorbing a multibillion-dollar hit to its economy. Some Georgia

backwoods legislators wanted to emulate what North Carolina did. Deal had worked hard to lure film studios and television production companies to Georgia with various tax credits and sweetheart land deals. The result was a $2 billion industry had sprung up in his state. He was also aware Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport was the busiest in the nation and he wanted to keep it that way. Deal was an old-school Republican who was far more concerned with creating a robust economy and a pro-business climate than he was in fighting culture wars in which the major economic winners are cable news networks that feast on stoking outrage. When right-wing politicos approached Deal to see if he’d commit the same kind of economic harikari that North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory did, he coolly told them, “Do you have a check for $2 billion to cover the exodus of the entertainment industry?” That quickly ended the conversation. Given that Covid is still a force, as was proved yet again with the postponement of the Mets-Nationals opening series, it might have been prudent for MLB to skip the All-Star Game this year and give everyone a four-day break. Denver will probably not accrue the economic benefits the game normally provides because of the short notice and Covid concerns relating to travel. See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

Connexion

69-39 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385

718-628-4700 • OPEN HOUSE • Sat., April 10th & Sun., April 11th 1-3pm - 61-43 67th Street

• Broad Channel • Beautiful home sits on the open bay! Spectacular sunsets from the balcony off master bedroom or back deck. Sliding doors to the deck, open kitchen with plenty of cabinets and counter space, pantry, laundry room and bathroom. Trex decking, unobstructed views of Gateway National Park, walk to library, tennis courts, express bus, train station, 15 minutes to JFK airport and 5 minutes to Rockaway Beach!!

• Middle Village • Attached 1 Family Townhouse with attached 1 Car Garage. Brand New Ductless AC on 1st floor. Hardwood floors throughout. Can be used for extended family.

• OPEN HOUSE •

Sun., April 11th 1-3pm 158-42 95th Street

Sat., April 10th & Sun., April 11th 1:30-3:30pm - 164-33 83rd Street • Rockwood Park Estates •

• Old Howard Beach •

• Forest Hills •

Boat lovers dream waterfront home on 40’ deep canal of Shellbank Basin. Floating dock, aluminum gangway, fi nger pier, cement bulkhead & boat house for loads of enjoyment. Enjoy the outdoors on the deck off the kitchen or the lower deck in the yard surrounded by a 4’ chain link fence with privacy slots. The second story was added to this lovely home in 1997 & entire house was renovated including plumbing & electric. Master BR features walk in closet & sitting room. New GAF hurricane roof guaranteed to withstand 130 mph winds installed in 2012, plywood floor attic, double dvwy, attached gar, full un-fi nished bsnmt & recessed SunRad cast iron Radiate heaters Enjoy beautiful sunsets every night!

Lovely, airy, high-vaulted ceilings which highlight incredible natural light from large windows on both sides of this roof-top co-op in Forest Hills Gardens. Unique architectural style. Nice open layout. Kitchen has a butler’s pantry with plenty of storage. A must see!

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

GREENPOINT BROOKLYN

REAL ESTATE

SOLD!

Legal 6 family, Six 2 Bedroom Apts.

Mint 1 family Colonial, great location, new eat-in-kit, cherry cabinets, Quartz counter, S.S. Appliances, 3/4 BRs, 2 full baths, fin. bsmnt, pvt entrance, 1 car det gar, pvt dvwy, paid for solar panels, fenced yard, alarm system & security cameras outside, new roof on home & gar, close to express bus & A train.

Asking $2.9 Mil

Asking $698,888

(Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

ARLENE PACCHIANO Broker/Owner

718-845-1136 FREE MARKET EVALUATION

CONNEXIONREALESTATE.COM HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

OZONE PARK/CENTREVILLE OPEN HOUSE Sat., April 10th 1-3pm 135-34 94th Street

161-14A Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach

Get Your House

Beautiful Empire style Hi-Ranch on 40x100 lot, all new kitchen, siding, pavers, S.S. appliances, windows, PVC fence, quartz countertop, built-in heated saltwater pool/waterfall & slide.

AND MUCH MORE!!!

ARVERNE CONDO FOR SALE

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

All new mint AAA Ranch, 3 BR, 2½ baths, granite countertops, S.S. appliances, new baths, full fin. bsmnt

HALF BLOCK TO BEAUTIFUL BEACH! Townhouse - Ground Floor, 2 BRs, 1 Bath, All Updated Includes Washer Dryer.

TOO MUCH TO LIST!

Asking $855K

Asking $355K

Asking $879K

MIDDLE VILLAGE

ROSEDALE

HOWARD BEACH

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT

Asking $938K

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

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

$1,500/mo

Corner Hi-Ranch on 46x100 lot, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, CAC, vaulted ceilings, 1 car attached garage, large yard,

Needs TLC

FREE Market Evaluation 718-845-1136

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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.

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.

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.

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 pvt 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 ½ bath. 1 car garage plus 2 pvt driveways. Flood insurance not mandatory, natural gas generator.

CONR-078952

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

718-835-4700

CENTURY 21 AMIABLE II

Page 27 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021

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

We Accept All Major Credit Cards WIC - EBT

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KEYF-078959

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 8, 2021 Page 28

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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.